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MAY/JUNE 2014 www.maverick-country.com

MAVERICK FROM THE EDITOR... MEET THE TEAM

Welcome to the May/June issue of Maverick Magazine! Editor Laura Bethell I wanted to start by saying that when we as a team produced the March/April issue of Goldings, Elphicks Farm, Water Lane, Maverick Magazine, I couldn’t have been prouder.  e moment you see something like that Hunton, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 0SG 01622 823922 come back from press, you know it’s something people will get excited about. It suddenly [email protected] became very real for me and it wasn’t long before all of the wonderful feedback we received Managing Editor started pouring in. I can’t thank you enough for your continued support - this journey has been Michelle Teeman incredible and your feedback will continue to guide the magazine forward, so keep writing in! 01622 823920 [email protected] We are still celebrating the success of the second year of Country2Country Festival in the UK.  e event was incredible - the O2 was a great venue for the show and the performances Editorial Assistants Chris Beck this year were second-to-none.  ough it was my † rst year at the festival, I’d heard a lot of [email protected] progress had been made on last year.  e pop-up stages around the O2 bought their own fans, Charlotte Taylor the acts for the main arena bought people in from far and wide. For me, the biggest eye-opener [email protected] was when we stepped inside the arena late on Saturday night to watch last month’s cover stars Project Manager the Zac Brown perform. It was only the second time throughout the whole event that I’d Natasha Smith 01622 823927 actually managed to get inside the arena and what an incredible atmosphere there was. It was so [email protected] wonderful to see so many thousands of people turning up to support country . In fact as

Offi ce Manager the show opened and the Zac Brown Band took to the stage we turned to look at the audience Cherry Batchelor - and what an incredible sight it was!  e show also gave me the opportunity to really welcome 01622 823920 [email protected] people to the magazine and also to listen to their opinions. I loved my time on the stand for this reason - asking people about the music they liked and the music they didn’t, and it was great Publisher David Rossiter to welcome so many new subscribers and readers to the magazine! So from myself and the 01622 823920 Maverick team, thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us and for making the show [email protected] an unprecedented success. Maverick Staying on the topic of festivals a moment longer, this issue will be going to the CMA Festival Published by hand media Goldings, Elphicks Farm, in Nashville in June. We to meet many of you out there if you are making it across, but if Water Lane, Hunton, you’re not, we’ll make sure we bring you news of the event as it takes place and also follow it Kent, ME15 0SG. UK. Telephone: +44 (0) 1622 823920 with a write-up in the magazine. Fax: +44 (0) 1622 823933 Lastly, you’ll notice a few changes in this issue and online. Firstly, I’d like to highlight Email: [email protected] Website: www.maverick-country.com the new writers we welcome with this issue - I hope you like what they bring to the magazine and look forward to hearing your thoughts. Secondly, the magazine’s growing Subscriptions Maverick is on sale in the UK via the presence world-wide has resulted in an overall audience of over WH Smith network. Also available in 830,000 people! Ireland, Sweden, and the USA. Contact Charlotte Taylor on 01622 823921 After meeting the American stars in the UK, or email [email protected] introducing new readers to the magazine and to the leading Reprints acts of the future and looking out over the packed arena at the For reprints of specifi c pages within O2, Maverick asks you, who said country music wasn’t thriving this magazine please telephone Natasha Smith on 01622 823927 in the UK? or email: [email protected] for more details. Designed and produced by hand media. ©2014. 235/mav/03/14 Laura Bethell Front cover image: © Anthony D’Angio www.frography.com @Maverick_Mag www.facebook.com/MaverickMagazine

Contributors: Ian Ambrose, Chris Beck, Laura Bethell, David Brassington, John Brindle, Hayley Burgess, Bryan Chalker, Keith Clark, Paul Collins, Eric Dahl, Nick Dalton, Nick Dent-Robinson, Holley Dey, Alan Harrison, Ian Horne, John Jobling, Paul Kerr, Christopher Mark, Kevin Moug, Simon Redley, John Roffey, Emily Saxton, Chuck Schultz, Jeremy Searle, Jonathan Swift, Charlotte Taylor, Jela Webb, Arthur Wood. Photos: Anthony D’Angio, Kristin Barlowe, Keith Clark, Mikko Huotari, Claire O’Rorke,

h a McLister, Simon Redley, Sue Roffey, Brian Tortoro, Richard Webb, Michael Wilson an di d me With thanks to: The Voice/The BBC

Maverick 1 C O N T E N T S FEATURES 006 COUNTRY2COUNTRY A REVIEW OF THE MANY EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE AT C2C 2014 020 FESTIVAL PREVIEW 2014 THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL ROUND-UP 030 RHIANNON GIDDENS ENRICHING THE MUSICAL LANDSCAPE 032 FIREWORK MOUNTAIN COMPANY 036 TRUE GRIT AND DIRT 038 ‘THE VOICE’ WINNER 2014? 052 MARTINA McBRIDE COUNTRY SOUL 040 OCHRE ROOM 042 ELEPHANT REVIVAL LIFESTYLE 046 STEPHANIE MANNS 035 KALA U-BASS GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS 043 THE HISTORY OF THE HARMONICA 048 ALEX HART HART TO HEART 050 PAWNSHOP AMPS 052 MARTINA McBRIDE 058 COUNTRY SOUL 055 SWINGING THE PENDULUM 060 BAND PERRY PIONEERS OF CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY

062 068 EDITOR’S PICKS COVER FEATURE

ISSUE NUMBER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY- SIX MAY - JUNE 2014 C O N T E N T S 062 RASCAL FLATTS COVER FEATURE

REGULARS 004 Letters 005 Maverick Covermount CD 010 Pickin & Grinnin’ ANAïS MITCHELL, LAURA CANTRELL, THE COALPORTERS, , 028 Nashville Notebook 068 CD Index & Editor’s Picks 069 CD Reviews NEW RELEASES 103 CD Reviews DUSTY RELICS 108 Tour Dates Index

036 ELI YOUNG BAND TRUE GRIT & TEXAS DIRT LETTERS, MESSAGES & TWEETS MARCH/APRIL 2014 FACEBOOK Keep the good work up Laura and thanks for the article on . She is playing Gateshead soon. Can’t wait to see her again. Been a Maverick subscriber since day 1. An essential guide to most of my musical tastes !!. I’m still applauding after seeing the Transatlantic WWW.MAVERICK-COUNTRY.COM Sessions a few weeks ago, then John Mc, John Doyle and Mike McGoldrick 4 days layer, also at Gatesheads Sage, a fantastic venue for acoustics. Take care n best seeing Lisa Redford, Raintown and Jessica wishes on yr New post! Clemmons on the pop up stages was a Geoff Lisle great bonus. There was something for everybody, cannot wait for 2015 and

229_Mav_cover FINAL.indd 1 31/01/2014 17:04 Laura,congrats on your first Maverick seeing who is on the lineup? Bring it on! Back in the early 90s, a friend as editor.Great issue.Really like the Albert Steven Walker gave me an LP knowing I was a Lee,Shelby Lynne and Suzy Boguss collector of anything strongly or features..... I’m sure you’ll be a great editor It was a wonderful weekend with loosely connected with country Laura, ,having worked ‘on everything such a great atmosphere and so much music. The cover had a cream Maverick’,as you say in your frst ever amazing live music going on. I did pop by marble effect and a mostly black ‘From The Editor’ You’ve interviewed Tay to say hello and great that you were so and white photo of , taken Swift and writen fine articles on her,even busy. Hope you like this video I’ve made in a graveyard with a statue of an the one you were too ill to have done the of C2C, has a little clip of the Maverick angel behind them with a layer of interviewing for.I’ve enjoyed your writing - stand!http://youtu.be/8aimMVWTTQw snow on the ground. The band on I think you did the Cerys Matthew feature. Lisa Redford the cover and back of the You’ve often answered the phone to me was reminiscent of a on subscription & back issue orders & Picked up your magazine, it’s a great band and very effective. other queries.So you know Maverick.By read. Festival was brilliant, first time I almost always disregarded the look of the new Maverick,it’s in good attendees. particularly Irish and British bands with a few hands.Congrats. good and a great headliner, exceptions, but because of the Francis Hatfield I also enjoyed Lisa Redord on the small unusual cover I played the album. stage and I got this lovely photo of her. I enjoyed it a lot. For me the song Great to meet you all again at C2C Jonathan Higham Our Song was outstanding, as good town square stand! The whole weekend as anything I had heard. The band was great, my highlights of the weekend These guys were so lovely to chat to... (British) was Red Moon Joe (what a were and Chris Young, Caz Batten name!). When I saw the review of a new album from RMJ I ordered it on the spot. The CD MIDNIGHT TWITTER TRAINS has not been out of my player. This album is as good as zzbuckley @Spbuckley your new issue. I blushed. any of the high quality material Do Saturday mornings get better? from the States. Bluegrass, country, In bed with a coffee and @Maverick_mag Tara @tarajoant Americana, Guy Clark – it can’t get Nice to read the love from across much better than this. Our Song Culpepper Club UK @CulpepperClub the pond. Thx @Maverick_mag for showed no sign of age but still Just subscribed to @Maverick_mag Looking the @DierksBentley article contained the haunting harmonica forward to @zacbrownband article : ) and vocals. Well done Red Moon wendy jack music @wendyjackmusic Joe! Markus Rill @markusrill @Maverick_mag Great to meet Natasha I have complained about some Maverick mag in the UK have from Maverick at my #Belnash Festival of the reviews in Maverick, but reviewed Late Night Drive. Excellent. showcase last night - thanks for listening! only for magazines like yours the Americana music would not get the Lara Ewen @LaraEwen Sandi Thom @Sandi_Thom coverage it deserves. Massive thanks to @Maverick_mag #ThrowbackThursday - @Maverick_mag Never miss your mag! (and reviewer Jeremy Searle) for giving review Sandi’s third album Merchants and Gerry Owens my new album such a lovely review in Thieves - “Perfect in every way”

4 Maverick MAVERICK Here is the track listing and details of the 14 songs featured on Vol. 10 of the covermountMusic CD 1. Josh Taerk – : Our opener, Virginia, comes from Josh Taerk, a to Nashville. Space You Needed from latest album BE MANY GONE talented 23 year old singer- from who continues showcases Eileen’s powerful vocal perfectly. Her performance and to impress audiences with summery, country storytelling. Taerk’s storytelling is confident, quirky and full of emotion. latest collection JOSH chronicle a young man’s life and Virginia www.eileenrose.com shows off his ongoing strength in combing a great melody with emotive lyrics and distinct vocal style. This is not just a ‘fairytale love 8. Mick Richard – Please Blame Me: This beautiful track is taken from song’ (though it really does sound pretty) but a thoughtful tale album HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS which presents 17 different about a girl who slums it ‘like a street dog, always begging for a hand artists from the Western parts of Sweden. Please, Blame Me tells a sad out’. www.joshtaerk.com tale of blame with a mellow melody, soothing vocals and . The contrast really does work and it’s even better 2. Heather Stewart – Black And Blue: The talented and fiery Heather when the song kicks in around 2 minutes in. www.hemifran.com Stewart really goes for it with Black and Blue! She begins the track with a sultry vocal but the accompaniment warns of 9. Ochre Room – Other Side Of Town: The opening track of Ochre Room’s something powerful and the song builds and builds to an absolute new album exemplifies the bands’ melancholy Americana-sound with rock out! This track is taken from Heather’s second album, WHAT IT IS, sweet vocal harmonies, a and a wailing pedal steel. The which was produced by Greg Critchley and mastered by Robert Finnish folk-rockers’ second album BOX, BAR AND DIAMOND will be Vosgien at Capital Studios and Mastering. released in the UK on May 19. They continue to impress with their www.heather-stewart.com contemplative lyrics and beautiful . Enjoy the wonderfully calming vocals on this track. www.ochreroom.com 3. Stephanie Manns – The Way You Want Me To: Scottish singer- songwriter Stephanie Manns has already performed with Midge 10. Jake Leg – Alabama Blues: The Jake Leg Jug Band bring the Ure, and KT Tunstall. The Way You Want Me To is authentic sounds of 1920s and 30s America - , Blues, Gospel, from her debut album COME CLOSER. It’s a genuinely moving song - and put their own twist on it. Songs about murder, betrayal, full of raw emotion. Stephanie Manns is one to watch out for! gambling, liquor and redemption. They are quickly gaining a www.stephaniemanns.com reputation as a lively, feel-good band and Alabama Blues shows us why. A very cool, vintage sound. www.thejakelegjugband.com 4. The New Madrids – Shake: Americana roots and soul are at the heart of The New Madrids’ sound with a powerhouse of 11. Ayesha – 3 Ashes Of A Man: Ayesha is a Swansea based Americana Maurice McPherson on drums, Andrew Bonnar on bass backing the and blues artist. A passionate singer/songwriter/ incomparable Owen Nicholson on any variety of stringed creations. she has been playing in bands and writing music for 15 years Ian Hutchison and Donny McElligott share lead vocal duties as well and performed all over the world. Her rich, passionate vocals are full of as the writing. Shake is a gorgeous country crooner. Sexy vocals and a wisdom beyond her years and then there’s her wonderful lyrical a wailing guitar make this one bittersweet breakup song. maturity too. www.ayeshamusic.com www.thenewmadrids.com 12. Clutching At Straws – Come What May: Clutching At Straws are a 5. – Dream #26: Dream #26 has been taken from Marc Ford’s multi-talented and diverse alternative folk quartet, hailing from the HOLY GHOST, an album that will no doubtedly stand out as one of creative county of Staffordshire. They use an impressive variety of the finest Americana releases of 2014. Ford has been widely hailed instruments to build a full, layered sound suffused with subtlety. It’s as one of the most gifted, in-demand rock guitarists of his hard not to compare the band and this track Come What May to the generation but now he has gone down a completely different route. sounds of Mumford & Sons. www.clutchingatstraws.com Dream #26 shows that Marc Ford has a convincing and unique soulful, country style. www.marcfordmusic.com 13. Ed Goodale – Calm The Storm: Young singer-songwriter from West Sussex, Ed Goodale, writes beautifully crafted songs full of thought- 6. M Callahan – God’s Green Earth: Hitting the pavement non-stop provoking lyrics. Ed has aspergers syndrome and he has used his Callahan has performed at venues from the Rodeo to music to help him understand the condition. Poignant Calm The Storm Nashville’s Country Music Hall Of Fame. Callahan creates modern relates to Ed’s brother who served in Afghanistan. country while still retaining of traditional country too. If www.edgoodale.com you enjoy the music of Tim McGraw, , and you are bound to consider M Callahan a rare gem. God’s 14. The Former Members – Steeltown Blues: For nearly half a century the Green Earth is an upbeat, affectionate song about that great country The Former Members have been creating musical history. David, theme, the connection between a man and his home-town. Bruce, Greg and Roy have all followed their own careers, collaborating www.mcallahanmusic.com with a plethora of world-class along the way. Each one of them has been a key contributor to some of the most seminal 7. Eileen Rose – Space You Needed: Eileen Rose has established herself creations of our era with their compositions, theatrical productions, as a brave, eclectic artist who defies easy categoriation. Her writings, musical performances and recordings. Steeltown Blues extraordinary voice, songwriting, offbeat arrangements, rye and comes from their latest release THE FORMER MEMBERS. canny humour have gained her fans from Boston to , Rome www.theformermembers.com

Maverick 5 rom Friday March 15 until Monday 17, professionals, world-renowned acts and passionate country fans, from the UK and abroad, packed out the London O2 for the Country2Country Festival - and its various associated events - a weekendF of world-class entertainment, industry discussion and socialising. Maverick Magazine, proud media partners for the event, brought along an enthusiastic team to get involved with all the action – interviewing the acts, talking to our readers and enjoying the ever-growing energy and enthusiasm that surrounds country music here in the UK.

CMA Series • country with acoustic guitar histrionics. Not heard of them? IndigO2, London • March 15, 2014 Well, they’ve managed to get six songs on hit TV show Song-writing is a dicey career if you believe the chaps on Nashville, including When The Right One Comes Along and I stage. “Songwriters are usually retired two years before they Ain’t Leaving Without Your Love, which they perform. The more realise it,” says . He can afford to see the lighter progressive side of their music is about to be showcased on side as he is most definitely still in a job, going on to tell us an album they’re recording with . But back to about his chum Dierks Bentley still driving his old pick-up and the show...Martina sings her hit Blessed, performed for the first living life the way he used to despite fame, and how the pair time with James, the writer, as well one she co-wrote with crafted , a stand-out track on Bentley’s new album, James, Always Be This Way, and McBride’s own Top 20 Teenage RISER. It’s a gentle, acoustic performance in a small room - Daughters. a fascinating contrast to Bentley’s anthemic roar when he James tells us how enticed him away “to performs it in the main arena the following evening. the islands” the day after Christmas and they came up with And that’s what this is; it’s not just about songwriters, it’s Chesney’s chart topper Out Last Night. DiPiero talks about his about hearing classic tracks played solo on acoustic in song Blue Clear Sky, a Forrest Gump phrase, and the phone call a reasonably intimate setting. from George Strait who wanted to call it Clear Blue Sky but Leading the evening is Bob DiPiero, who one would saw sense and had a huge smash - even using the title for his probably call a veteran Nashville songwriter. He tells us how million-selling album. he wrote You Can’t Take The Honky Tonk Out Of The Girl about The hits keep on coming: DiPiero’s Southern Boys (Tim his wife’s sister (and it was a smash for Brooks & Dunn in McGraw) and Cowboys Like Us (Strait again), and James’s Mr 2003). Adding dressed-in-black glamour to the heavily bearded Know It All, a worldwide pop hit for . and jeaned proceedings is Martina McBride and it’s fascinating It’s a jolly, amiable evening, a triumph for the CMA, and one to see her performing acoustically, the day before she takes that ends with Martina standing and belting out her signature the main stage. tune, Independence Day. No one on stage wrote it, but, hey, To offset the old-handers is the young duo Striking Matches it was written by a songwriter, Gretchen Peters, so it sort of - Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis – who combine classy counts. Nick Dalton Dierks Bentley: RISER • Cineworld, O2 • March 15, 2014 The 45 minute screening of RISER, with Dierks Bentley himself in attendance, was a great start to the C2C festival. The incredibly personal RISER documentary told the emotional story of inspiration from Dierks’ life over the two years that he was creating the album RISER. It was raw, humble and truly refreshing – a rewarding insight to the album, Dierk’s songwriting techniques and the contrasting themes that weave the songs together. Also just great viewing that showed glimpses into the life of a down to earth humble man. The documentary featured behind the scenes in-studio footage, intimate band rehearsal footage and personal video documenting Dierks against a backdrop of grief and joy: These years saw the tragic passing of Dierks’ father as well as the birth of his third child and first son. And there is the bittersweet touring in between, seeing this family man doing what he truly loves, but leaving a beautiful young family for weeks at a time. The screening added much empathy and understanding of the album was an absolute treat for fans, the first 50 of which got in for free, who loved every minute of the Question and Answer session at the end of the screening and also got the chance to win a signed copy of the RISER sampler. Charlotte Taylor

Photos from above clockwise: Dierks Bentley © Anthony D’Angio www.frography. com, Dixie Chicks; Zac Brown; Chris Young; Brad Paisley; Rascal Flatts © Anthony D’Angio www.frography.com, Martina McBride; Dierks Bentley; Chris Young. All photos unless otherwise stated © Simon Redley Saturday round-up • March 15, 2014 the middle of the crowd at one point. Just like his back- Saturday at Country2Country was our first taste of catalogue, Paisley’s set was filled with character and the crowds to come. As soon as the doors opened at humour. He even took full advantage of his opportunity 11am, thousands of people flocked to see the stands to let loose his shoddy but amusing English accent, and the various artists performing at the pop-up stands opening his set with a cheeky “’ello!” around the O2. The evening’s entertainment kicked off The gig was a huge success and demonstrated the with a typically soulful performance from the legendary potential for country music overseas. Many in the 40,000- Martina McBride. She was followed by the Dixie Chicks, plus crowd knew all the words to many of the songs, whose reunion on stage after a hiatus of several years and the atmosphere in the O2 was nothing short of proved controversial for the crowd, for many of whom the electrifying. As Paisley worked his way through an array group’s performance was a pre-show highlight. Phoenix, of hits including , Outstanding In Our Arizona native Dierks Bentley rocked out before Zac Field, , and The Mona Lisa, it seemed Brown and his Band closed the night with another set obvious that we were witnessing something brilliant in that left tongues wagging. On top of playing numbers these truly exciting times for the genre as a whole. It from their new album, THE DAVE GROHL SESSIONS VOL. would also be a mistake to overlook the moving rendition 1, including the marvellous All Alright, they surprised of Whiskey Lullaby, with Kimberley Perry offering the audience with an intense cover of Metallica’s Enter outstanding vocal support for Paisley. Sandman and the more laid-back Into The Mystic by Van This year’s Country 2 Country appears to have been Morrison. Chris Beck a momentous success and the future of the event looks very bright. Whilst it’s still in its early years, Country 2 Sunday round-up • March 16, 2014 Country has strong foundations and looks set to develop The O2 Arena gave country music the stage it deserved its own rich history and tradition. If this continues it at Country 2 Country, with Brad Paisley headlining will only be a matter of time before we see more of Sunday’s star-studded show. Nashville’s biggest names dusting off their passports for The growing popularity of country music in the U.K is the lengthy flight to Europe. Ian Horne hard to ignore, but if you needed further confirmation you’d have found it at the O2 Arena in March. The venue, Brad Paisley at the BBC • March 17, 2014 formerly known as the Millennium Dome, proved the Brad Paisley and his team provided an intimate perfect setting for a superb weekend of music featuring insight into their songwriting process at the BBC many of the industry’s marquee names. Studios as part of the array of country events taking Sunday’s show was headlined by country superstar over the UK this March. Brad Paisley, and also featured sets from Chris Young, Joined by the trio of Kelley Lovelace, Chris DuBois The Band Perry and Rascal Flatts. winner and , Brad Paisley treated a small Young got proceedings underway and was followed by gathering at the BBC Radio Theatre in London to a closer The Band Perry, whose high-energy routine blew away look at some of his greatest hits. All of the songs were the audience. I’ll admit that I’d not been overly-enthused reconfigured for the acoustic set, with which Paisley by the chance to see The Band Perry live on stage, but enthralled the crowd with his powerful vocals and Mona quickly acknowledged that I should have been. The Lisa-styled guitar - more than a subtle hint to his song of musical backing from Neil and Reid Perry was faultless, the same name. whilst Kimberly Perry’s enthusiasm and heartfelt vocals We learned a few interesting things about some of will have won the group some new fans for sure. Brad’s most popular songs. , as it followed by Rascal Flatts, who despite happens, comes from Paisley’s experiences of travelling providing a well-polished set didn’t appear to draw as across the world and dreaming of home. I’m Still A Guy, on much of a reaction from the crowd. This may have been the other hand, was penned by the team shortly before a simple case of people making bathroom breaks ahead the birth of Brad’s first son. The proximity of the two of Paisley’s appearance, though it may also have been a events was such that Paisley had to sprint away from the reflection of something deeper. The increasing demand writing session when he discovered his wife had gone for country music in Britain has coincided with a more into labour. rock-driven approach to the genre, as well as what some Another revelation was that Mud On The Tires, one of have called the ‘de-twanging’ of country music. It seemed Paisley’s biggest hits, had been effectively discarded until like many fans in the O2 - especially given that it was the chorus was added. The first verse had been written getting late - were looking for something a little grittier but the team wasn’t sure if the song was strong enough than what Rascal Flatts provide. Whilst the band’s pop to make it onto an album. The sense of things clicking and family-friendly approach are guaranteed to win them into place must have been sensational when Brad first fans on both sides of the Atlantic, it’s inevitable that some launched into the first line of the chorus, and took the will be turned off by their general aura of being less edgy ditty to a new place by simply ‘Cause it’s a good than a wheel of soft cheese. That’s not to say that they night, to be out there soaking up the moonlight’. didn’t entertain, however, and fans will have enjoyed their Radio 2’s Bob Harris described the evening as one of performance of , , the most memorable musical moments of his life, and he and a handful of other hits. won’t have been the only person in attendance thinking Shortly after the conclusion of Rascal Flatts’s set, Paisley along those lines, as Paisley and his team are both superb emerged to a hair-raising reception. The hat-wearing musicians and storytellers. Fans should make sure to guitar maestro had the crowd’s attention from the get-go, tune in to BBC Radio 2 in November when the set will be and even strutted through the arena to a small stage in broadcast. Ian Horne

Photos from top down: Martina McBride; Brad Paisley; Zac Brown; Chris Young; Dixie Chicks. All © Simon Redley

PICKIN’ & GRINNIN’ • ANAIS MITCHELL

© Richard Webb

Anaïs Mitchell your restless daughter?’… She also sang an unrecorded song, which might be titled When I Think About You, and although it Komedia, Brighton • March 4, 2014 was written long before she became a mother, her daughter whom she lovingly described as a ‘bad ass’ now ‘figures in it’. pening with Willie of Winsbury Anaïs Mitchell Just about on the halfway mark Mitchell invited requests reminded us that she and Jefferson Hamer were and was bombarded with suggestions! Old Fashioned Hat an O the worthy winners of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award autobiographical song (a firm favourite of mine) won out first for ‘Best Traditional Track’ just a couple of weeks ago – not followed by Shenandoah and then Flowers, Eurydice’s Song, that the Brighton audience needed any reminder as she’s which she said she never plays and might not remember all the been a Sussex favourite ever since playing her first UK date words so ‘talk amongst yourselves’. There wasn’t much ‘talking in the county back in 2005. The song is the lead track from amongst ourselves’ at all - Mitchell captured and held the their collaboration CHILD ; adapting the traditional attention of the audience throughout the 75-minute set. versions of songs, originally collected by Francis Child back Her ambitious folk opera HADESTOWN released in 2010 saw in the 1800s, drawing inspiration from interpretations by her win many new fans and five of tonight’s 17 songs were contemporary folk singers. Mitchell and Hamer were from this album. In fact, she finished off the show with an honoured to play it at the award ceremony, which took energetic version of Our Lady of the Underground. I gather that place at the Royal Albert Hall. HADESTOWN is likely to become a full stage production and Tonight Mitchell was alone on stage, accompanying herself I’m sure that that will broaden her appeal even further. on acoustic guitar. She performed songs from her latest solo Growing up, Mitchell was influenced by among others, folk- release YOUNG MAN IN AMERICA but also delved back in time pop singer/songwriter Dar Williams and who should be playing even giving us Cosmic American from 2004’s HYMNS FOR THE in the neighbouring room tonight? Yes, Dar Williams! As a EXILED. At times she chatted amusingly between songs and tribute Mitchell covered Williams’ Iowa, which she’d learnt to at others segued one song into another –Shepherd, Wilderland play whilst in high school. and Young Man in America played in sequence were extremely I’m sure that there are youngsters out there who are in turn effective. influenced by Mitchell - not a bad role model to have! She Seven months ago Mitchell gave birth to daughter Ramona always showed great potential and it is wonderful to see a (she was asleep backstage under the watchful eye of father, young girl blossom in to the artist she has become. When I first Noah Hahn) and she talked about how having a baby had saw her years ago she looked like a punk rocker with bleached changed the meaning of lyrics with Shenandoah illustrating hair, dark roots and ripped tights but look at her now – all this beautifully. She wrote the song with two lovers in mind grown up with a baby daughter! She’s worked hard, writing, but now when she sings it, it resonates differently… ‘O, touring, recording and is so deserving of the recognition she is Shenandoah, cross the rolling water, O, Shenandoah, where’s now receiving. Jela Webb • www.anaismitchell.com

10 Maverick

PICKIN’ & GRINNIN’ • LAURA CANTRELL

© Keith Clark

Laura Cantrell & Mark Spencer Despite having a new album to promote, Laura Cantrell’s set included a large number of songs taken from her back with Sturgill Simpson catalogue. The willowy singer songwriter gave us old favourites like St Bonaventure’s, Bristol • February 15, 2014 Queen Of The Coast, Not The Tremblin’ Kind, Rose and 14th Street. hen it comes to live tours and issuing Laura There were some covers too including a version of Burt Cantrell is hardly prolific but in October last year she Bacharach’s Trains And Boats And Planes, Amy Rigby’s Don’t Break W made her first UK tour for a while, which included a The Heart and Robert McCreedy’s stunningly beautiful Two sold out gig at this Bristol venue. Seconds. Just four months later and she was back, accompanied by her She sang ’ Don’t Claim To Be An Angel and her own first new album of original songs in eight years. tribute Kitty Wells’ Dresses, although she seemed rather cross that As with her last gig the tickets for this return to Bristol sold so few people in the audience seemed to be familiar with the out as soon as they were announced. So many people were left ‘Queen of Country Music’ causing someone in the audience to disappointed that the organisers moved to the larger hall above comment to his neighbour: “I feel I have just been severely told the well-known social club in which gigs are usually held. off.” Inevitably all the extra tickets for this were also snapped up Of course there were numerous new songs from just as quickly. album notably the title track No Where There From Here, All The The only concern, however, was whether the very personal Girls Are Complicated, Starry Skies and the very lovely Someday relationship she built up with her audience in the intimate club Sparrow which was one of the highlights of the set. room on previous visits could be replicated in a larger hall that, Her voice seemed to be straining a little, especially on the it has to be said, lacked much in the way of atmosphere. higher notes in Not The Tremblin’ Kind, but it still had that clear We had to wait to find out because she had brought a support almost fragile beauty and she has an understated way of singing act with her, a singer songwriter from Kentucky with the that is a real delight. wonderful name of Sturgill Simpson who has been attracting a She was accompanied throughout by Son Volt’s Mark Spencer lot of music media interest of late. whose playing thankfully showed a lot more restraint than on Obviously nervous he had a very strong voice but he did their previous visit. sound as if he was auditioning to become one of the Country As feared she didn’t seem anywhere near as relaxed as she Outlaws and his sudden bursts of manic bluegrass-style guitar had in the downstairs club room, her performance lacked the seemed at odds with the moods of his songs. same sparkle and inevitably perhaps given the concert hall-style It wasn’t a completely convincing set but with numbers like setting there was far less interaction with the audience. the rather timely Listening To The Rain and an excellent cover of All that said, it was still a delightful gig by a singer songwriter the Stanley Brothers’ Could You Love Me One More Time you were who manages to write melodic, narrative, literate and thoroughly left with the impression that he could well be someone to add to modern songs that still manage to resonate with the feel of old- the ‘ones to watch out for’ list. style country . Keith Clark • www.lauracantrell.com

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PICKIN’PICKIN’ & GRINNIN’ & GRINNIN’ • THE •COAL CORY PORTERS CHISEL

© Sue Roffey

The Coal Porters Once the long queue at the merchandise counter had cleared, the second set got underway with more from FIND Ocean View Hotel, Bournemouth • February 23, 2014 THE ONE. Barefoot on the Courthouse Lawn, Carly’s Never Right His Wrong, Neil’s Farmer’s Hands and Hush U Babe which featured fter an initial scare over poor ticket sales, Bournemouth Sid on a second . One Is Way Too Many, a great drinking were rewarded with a bumper turnout song, ’s anti war protest Draft Morning and ’s A for the visit of alt. bluegrass outfit The Coal Porters. Rolling in the Deep were surprising but welcome inclusions. Fronted by ageless ex Long Ryder , the ‘Porters’ have Sadly, it was time to wind down with another drinking number, undergone numerous personnel changes since their formation Closing Time Genius before Carly again took lead vocals to close in 1989. A quarter of a century and a stack of albums later, with Sail Away, Ladies! from DURANGO. This was great stuff the band boast an amazing line-up of quality musicians; John warmly appreciated by the BFC faithful and it was no surprise Breese (banjo), Carly Frey (fiddle, vocals), Neil Robert Herd when the band returned to encore with A Light From The (guitar, vocals), Tali Trow (bass, vocals) with Sid chipping in on Mountains which they performed ‘unplugged’. and taking a lion’s share of lead vocals. The Coal Porters are a top quality act, self-penning most of Needing no introduction, the band launched into You Only their material and Sid Griffin must take credit for continuing Miss Her When She’s Gone and Brand New Home, with Neil taking to recruit musicians of the highest calibre to keep the band the lead, before slowing the pace slightly with Ask Me Again alive. Having got a settled line up, it’s a shame that fiddle and the obligatory religious number, Gospel Shore, all taken player extraordinaire Carly Frey is returning to her native from their most recent offering FIND THE ONE. ’s Canada later in the year. Her shoes will be difficult to fill but no instrumental Pine County Breakdown and ’s doubt Sid will have something up his sleeve! This was superb Moonlight Midnight got the Coal Porters’ treatment, this one entertainment which could perhaps have been enhanced with perfectly suited to Carly’s husky vocals, before she took the the inclusion of a Gram Parsons or number to fiddle lead on another instrumental, The Betsy Trotwood. David emphasise Sid Griffin’s roots and his passion for country rock. Bowie’s Olympic signature Heroes and the slave anthem No Local singer/songwriter Catherine Burke got things More Chains led to the first set closing with punk band The underway with a short set mostly taken from her excellent Only Ones’ Another Girl, Another Planet, surely one of the most album EXES, LOSERS & OTHER MEN. John Roffey • covered songs of all time. www.sidgriffin.com/the-coal-porters

Maverick 15 PICKIN’ & GRINNIN’ • TAYLOR SWIFT

was full of potential young country fans - Taylor Swift quite an amazing force to be reckoned with!

O2 Arena, London • February 1, 2014 As Taylor was about to come on stage, the stage set had a massive RED sign on the floor and the audience started their aylor Swift’s opening night at the O2 was unlike any chanting. Taylor could be seen standing at the top of the steps gig I’ve seen. The fans were incredible. They included singing with her silhouette outlined on the red curtain. As the T all ages and many were brightly dressed in red, making curtain dropped Taylor opened with State of Grace from the a massive effort to impress their idol. The venue is one of album RED. At the end of the song she stood at the front of the the largest music venues in the UK and didn’t fail to impress stage waiting for the applause to stop and then for the fans to either. The overall tone of the evening was fun, but with many stop screaming. She then thanked the crowd and threw her hat parents embracing their child’s wishes to see the talented into the crowd, going into Holy Ground with light up blocks on songstress and either turning up to accompany their children, stage and a true display of performance prowess as Taylor and or meeting them at the gates after. her on-stage team put on a real show for the crowds.

The opening act was The Vamps and they had the teenagers 15,000 people decided to join Taylor on this, the first of surrounding me screaming and jumping throughout their three sell-out shows at the O2 Arena. Taylor pointed this out set. The band were visibly enjoying themselves and making to the crowd and talked to them about her time in London, headway with their pop success. The lead singer Brad Simpson and the fact that it means so much to her to come back led with purpose and had the band putting in 100%, going and play to such adoring fans. After a quick dress change, backwards and forwards, left and right across the stage and Taylor sported a beautiful red sparkly gown. She didn’t tire interacting with the audience. Though definitely not country, of costume changes, keeping her fans stunned and the stage they probably appealed to about 80% of the audience, and show itself was equally glamorous. With acrobatics, impressive bought everyone else into the fold with their rendition of costumes for the entire team and the band all on show and Cecilia, the Simon and Garfunkel song from 1970. At the end of making their mark, it was nothing but impressive. The entire their set they had everyone screaming for Taylor. crowd didn’t stop singing or screaming and the atmosphere was electrifying. Whilst waiting in the interval, you could tell the venue was extremely well managed. The staff at the O2 inside and The Lucky One approached a subject that must affect her, outside the arena were helpful, very polite and seemed to be as the stage show depicted the paparazzi and their constant very much in control all of the time. You saw staff in the arena and relentless attacks on her. Taylor continued this theme 24/7, so it was no surprise to see so many teenagers having throughout, her songs are all recounts of events or people an amazing time together, without fears from parents. It was who have had an impact on her life and she sells the songs also great to see so many young people enjoying country. magnificently, really getting the teenage girls especially Even though Swift is now considered in the UK, more of a pop totally immersed in what she’s been through. It connects all of act, she defiantly embraced her country roots in the set and as these young women together. Taylor performs as a constant this shone through, it made me realise that the entire stadium troubadour to the country music scene, she may not be what

16 Maverick PICKIN’ & GRINNIN’ • TAYLOR SWIFT

Photos © Anthony D’Angio www.frography.com

everyone would like her to be, but she connects country Taylor then moved to a small platform with her songs and country methods with a strong and powerful microphone to sing Sparks Fly and travelled across the audience; an audience that hang onto her every word and audience towards the main stage again. She then announced will go forward to embrace other artists in this genre. that she may have bought a special guest with her to make an appearance and brought Ed Sheeran to the stage. At this The fans are creative and thoughtful: They have put so point the entire audience went crazy, and as they launched much effort into their signs for Taylor, their costumes and into Ed Sheeran’s song Lego House as a duet, the girls around their efforts don’t go unnoticed, as Taylor rushes to comment me continuex to scream, before he vanished and Taylor on their incredible efforts. Mean is a song that literally heads into the closing section of the night. bought the whole arena together and was sung by Taylor acoustically on her banjo, after a moment she took with The following songs I Knew You Were Trouble, All Too Well, the fans to explain that when people they tell you that you Love Story, Treacherous and the closer We Are Never Ever Getting can’t achieve something the only thing you can do is go out Back Together consisted of some of Taylor’s most successful there and prove them wrong. This is a great message and releases to date. Love Story was beautifully performed, with to come from Taylor to these girls, it was something I hope dancers jumping out of a wind up music box, when Taylor stays with them all. Taylor’s set at this point was moved to a joined the scene with her Romeo. Treacherous saw Taylor stage at the rear end of the arena, within direct view of many walk across a beam over the audience in a ballet style dress who would not have direct view of the main stage. This was and We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together was put together a brilliant thing to do and actually meant that a few of the in a funky circus scene and showed her singing on a raised seven or eight year olds that surrounded my seat actually got platform rotating 360 degrees over the audience with to see Taylor. confetti showering down.

At this point it is worth pointing out one criticism I had I have no doubt, this show was a massive event for of the show and that was that the entire audience stood for country music, it brought fans from all over to witness an the entire performance, meaning that those smaller children incredible stage show that only Taylor’s commercial success could not see a thing. I felt very sorry for the parents who could bring, with a masterful musician and songstress like accompanied them and obviously paid a lot of money for herself who still believes in country music and carries this such seats only to find that their child was very disappointed wonderful crossover without judgement from her fans. I because they found it so hard to see a thing. Maybe they have never liked the fact that the UK country scene wants could consider a section of seating closer to the front purely to abandon Taylor Swift because she’s not country enough - for the youngsters or maybe it’s just not something those she performs very differently in America and it works - she parents will pay out for again until they are teenagers, has adapted her sound to suit the UK market and I can’t see something I feel is a very sad outcome to this wondrous anything wrong with that, when she’s bringing some real stage event. However, moving the stage to the back of the music lovers who maybe wouldn’t have been at a gig on a venue just for three or four songs did prove successful and Saturday night watching live music into the music world, and gave those young girls a glimpse of a star, before this, they for me, anyone managing to do that nowadays deserves a could still only see on a screen. huge amount of credit. Laura Bethell • www.taylorswift.com

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©PICKIN’ Anthony & GRINNIN’ • ERIC CHURCH D’Angio of Frography On both nights the crowd was quite diverse, especially with regards to the age of those in attendance. It was refreshing to see that people ranging in age from their twenties to sixties and beyond might all ‘like their country rocking’. Both venues appeared well suited to deal with this diverse group. In both Shepherd’s Bush and The Ritz the upper tiers allowed for more personal space and a sit down, whereas the pit was packed to the point where at least a couple of people will have left with scuffed boots. It’s reasonable to surmise that Eric will have Eric Church enjoyed this. The overall vibe within each venue was highly positive, with numerous fans singing along from start to finish, The Ritz, • March 1, 2014 even during the recently released songs from THE OUTSIDERS. Even a brief technical fault at Shepherd’s Bush couldn’t kill Shepherd’s Bush, London • March 2, 2014 the mood. Another mention should go to . Their set ountry music has come a long way in recent years, and may have been a little rough around the edges for some, but this could hardly have been made more obvious than there’s no doubting that the trio provided a highly polished C it was in the first weekend of March at Eric Church’s warm-up on both nights. Charismatic frontman Jaren Johnston Manchester and London gigs. Ably supported by hard-rocking owned the stage, displaying an impressive vocal range and Nashville natives The Cadillac Three, Church fist-pumped his throwing in several humorous asides to break things up. way through two largely up-tempo sets including a mixture of Tennessee Mojo, a song from their album of the same name, was new material and more familiar songs from his back catalogue. unfamiliar to many but went down as smoothly as the beer and Set to the fairly basic backdrop of a skull with a capital E and bottle of cheap red that Johnston placed on the speaker nearest C on either side, Church launched into his latest U.K venture to him in Manchester. All in all, both evenings were thoroughly with enthusiasm and vigour; on both nights looking in need enjoyable and it’s probable that the ‘Church Choir’ will have of a shower by the conclusion of the country rocking. The grown considerably by the time Church next steps foot on performance was in fitting with his current OUTSIDERS agenda British soil. Ian Horne • www.ericchurch.com and it’s clear when you see Church up close that he’s not your typical country star. Whilst Church regularly expresses his admiration for the legends of the genre, his particular brand of country could easily be mistaken for mainstream rock were it not for his lyrics and North Carolinian drawl. That said, besides Church’s rebellious streak, and the expletive-filled set from The Cadillac Three, there wasn’t much to upset ‘the establishment’ here. Church’s new material offers something a little different to his other albums, CHIEF, CAROLINA, and SINNERS LIKE ME, though he treads familiar Southern territory with songs about drinking, women and NASCAR. There’s even a textbook nod towards religion with Devil, Devil. Anyone familiar with Church’s back catalogue will most likely be able to predict the extent to which they’ll enjoy the new stuff and he’s unlikely to lose any existing fans. To say that this is a bad thing would be harsh. Rather, it’s encouraging that Church stays true to his country roots, and to criticise an artist like Church for singing about drinking, smoking and women would be like slamming a gospel singer for penning songs about Jesus. This is what it is, and it’s pretty damn good. As for the set itself, there were subtle differences in the ordering though nothing considerable. The decision to start in Manchester with Creepin’ rather than Smoke a Little Smoke seemed a wise option however, as The Cadillac Three’s support set sounded slightly metal in the Ritz, and Creepin’ offered a smooth transition into Church’s material. Highlights of the night were provided by lively new track That’s Damn , drinking anthem Jack Daniels, and of course, Springsteen, which unsurprisingly closed the show on both nights. The boot-raising antics during These Boots also added to the night, as did the faultless guitar and drum work along with Church’s outstanding vocals. Photos © Anthony D’Angio www.frography.com

Maverick 19 FESTIVAL PREVIEW • CONTENTS welcome... to the feStival pReview 2014

he festival season is upon us again, and music fans will soon be packing out fields, parks and pubs for the chance to see T their favourite acts, and maybe discover new ones. here, we profile some of the biggest festivals in the uk, as well as a couple you may not have heard of…

contentS

page: 21 page: 24 the village pump folk feStival puRbeck folk feStival location: westbury location: wilkswood farm, dorset date: july 25-27 date: august 22-24 headlineRS: joe brown; the blues headlineRS: the South, idlewood band; page: 25 page: 22 acouStic feStival of bRitain location: uttoxeter location: Shropshire date: may 30-june 1 date: august 22-25 headlineRS: , headlineRS: blackie and the Rodeo matt cardle, Steve harley kings, , Seth lakeman page: 26 page: 23 SummeRtyne ameRicana beveRley folk feStival feStival location: beverley Racecourse location: date: june 20-22 date: july 18-20 headlineRS: , home headlineRS: booker t, bettye Service, chas & dave lavette, Sarah jarosz

page: 23 page: 27 the gate to haRveSt time blueS feStival Southwell folk feStival location: monaghan, ireland location: Southwell date: September 5-7 date: june 5-8 headlineRS: Royal Southern headlineRS: the bills, feast of brotherhood fiddles, vin garbutt, Ross ainslie

20 Maverick FESTIVAL PREVIEW • THE VILLAGE PUMP FOLK FESTIVAL the village pump folk feStival weStbuRy, july 25-27, 2014

why chooSe the village pump folk feStival (july 25-27)?

Folkies have a huge choice of festivals. We offer big names in a small festival with a friendly atmosphere and stunning location.

All stages are under cover and there are indoor facilities including concert hall, restaurant and toilets! Bring your instruments and dancing shoes for the Open Mic, Sessions and Ceilidhs or workshops led by professionals. A full children’s programme of clowns, magic, games and activities makes this a festival for all the family. Throw in yoga, dance sides, street theatre, food stalls and traders, and real ales! Children aged 10 -17 are half price, under 10s free. Day tickets are available. There’s no charge for camping and parking on flat fields close to the main arena. Hardcore tracks make life easier and there is disabled access camping.

More at www.villagepumpfolkfestival.co.uk and the Facebook page.

Maverick 21 FESTIVAL PREVIEW • SHREWSBURY FOLK FESTIVAL

ShRewSbuRy folk feStival ShRopShiRe, auguSt 22-25, 2014

anadian band Blackie and The Rodeo Kings are just one of the top headliners at Cthe ever popular Shrewsbury Folk Festival this year. The winning group is flying over just to perform during the four day event from August 22 - 25. Other visiting bands include former Wailin’ Jenny Cara Luft, Canadian JP Hoe, duo Madison Violet and former Duhks frontman Leonard Podolak and Matty Gordon. The line up also includes including Bellowhead, Seth Lakeman, Lau, Bella Hardy, The Dhol Foundation, Four Men and a Dog & Moulettes. Based in a glorious riverside setting, there will be five music stages, children & youth programmes, dance tent, workshops, craft fair, good food, real ale bars & superb onsite camping. The Daily Telegraph has described Shrewsbury Folk Festival as a “key date in the UK folk music calendar” and the Sunday Times says the festival is a “family friendly folk staple”. Tickets start from £32.50.

www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

22 Maverick

FESTIVAL PREVIEW • PURBECK FOLK FESTIVAL puRbeck folk feStival wilkSwood faRm, doRSet, auguSt 22-24, 2014

urbeck Folk Festival, in its sixth year on a Sarah Savoy remote Dorset farm, has among its headliners, P US band Caravan Of Thieves. The band is known for its driving gypsy jazz rhythms, acoustic guitars, upright bass and violin which lay the foundation for mesmerising vocal harmonies and fantastic stories. The festival also welcomes , The South (still beautiful!), Lloyd Cole, Idlewild and Turin Brakes as well as young bluegrass prodigies Flats and Sharps and Cajun star Sarah Savoy with her ‘hell-raising hayride’ of Cajun and workshop. Purbeck Folk Festival takes place August 22-24 at Wilkswood Farm in Langton Matravers, Dorset BH19 3DU.

Tickets are available from Ticket South 02380-711818.

www.purbeckfolk.co.uk FESTIVAL PREVIEW • THE ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN acouStic feStival of bRitain uttoxeteR, may 30-june 1

he popular Acoustic Festival of Britain will return this year, offering four stages of T unplugged and this Friday May 30 until Sunday June 1 Uttoxeter Racecourse, in Staffordshire.. The festival features live folk guitar music, country music, bluegrass, and a few musical legends too. The Acoustic Festival of Britain is now in its ninth year and has become well known for its beautiful site and wonderful atmosphere. The latest additions to the festivals line-up include John Smith, John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett, and The Outcast Band. The first acts confirmed were Fairport Convention, Steve Harley, Tir Na Nog, The Animals, Quill, The Ben Waters Big Band, Marcus Bonafontui, Ian Prowse (Pele), Polly and the Billets, The Ukulele Theatre, Tracy Hunter & The Rebelles, Arthur Kitchener, James Warren (), Dan Walsh, Adam Palma, Barlow Cree & Shae Maunders, The Attix, Gaudy Orde, Andrew Bazeley, Wildfire Folk, Sons of Clogger, Richard Taylor, Pelico and The Daisy Chain Quartet, BabaJack, Biggles Wartime Band, Chris Woods, Emma Stevens, Fleetwood Bac, Gwyn Ashton, John Smith, Jon Gomm, Lauren Thalia, Lucy Ward, Matt Cardle, Mr H, Murphys Marbles, Nick Harper, Pig Earth, Piva, Rodney Branigan & Tim Snider, Sisters in Grease, Steel Threads, Steve Turner, The Cheesecutters, Moulettes, SwanVesta Social Club, Warren James, and Wille & The Bandits. The Acoustic Festival of Britain will fill its 92 acres of parkland with 4 stages and dozens of crafts and food tents. There will also be a huge real ale tent over 200ft long, a stage powered by bicycles. The festival also boasts stalls, craft displays, juggling schools, workshops, a cinema, food hall, breakfast café on camp site, comedy hour, a busker’s stage, a children’s area, a tipi circle and more. The Children’s Big Top Marquee will host chidren’s workshops and activities, including free face-painting, and plenty more activities to keep the whole family entertained.

www.acousticfestival.co.uk FESTIVAL PREVIEW • SUMMERTYNE AMERICANA FESTIVAL SummeRtyne ameRicana feStival Sage gateShead, july 18-20, 2014

ummerTyne Americana Festival is back from July 18-20 featuring The Jayhawks, Booker T, Bettye Lavette, S & the SummerTyne , Steven Seagal Blues Band, Sarah Jarosz, John Fullbright, Eve Selis, Otis Gibbs, Davina & The Vagabonds and much more. Situated on the South bank of the River Tyne, SummerTyne Americana Festival serves up a sizzling gumbo of the finest American roots music from classic country and Americana, through and blues, to bluegrass, roots and rock & roll, in and around the iconic Sage Gateshead in one of the most stunning city locations in the world! This year, among a plethora of newer breakthrough acts we are delighted to be presenting some legends of Americana; from Stax legend Booker T alongside soul queen Bettye Lavette; to one of the bands for whom the term ‘Americana’ was coined, The Jayhawks, and a very special UK exclusive performance by Chuck Prophet, with the SummerTyne String Orchestra performing material from his hit album TEMPLE BEAUTIFUL. Hope to see y’all! Tickets on sale now.

Booker T www.summertyne.com FESTIVAL PREVIEW • HARVEST TIME BLUES FESTIVAL 2014 monaghan Rhythm & blueS feStival monaghan town, iReland, SeptembeR 5-7, 2014

dOuG MaCleOd many more acts to be announced! he Harvest Time Blues Festival celebrates the music that gave birth to rock & roll. This T is the festival’s 19th edition and over the years it has hosted some astounding Blues Stars. It is “considered to be one of the best blues festivals in Europe.” Seven international US blues acts feature in the Late Night Marquee. Doors open at 10pm and music plays until 3am. Tickets are €20 per night or €50 for all three. There are full bar facilities and great food on offer here. Five high calibre artists spend the weekend performing in the intimate 18th century acoustic room at The Market House, where you get an up close and personal experience with the music and their stories. To witness these intimate shows is €12 on Friday and €15 each for Saturday/Sunday. Then finally there is the Blues Trail , where six great pub venues host ten top blues acts , Like Crow Black Chicken, The Juke Joints, Joe Fury & Hayride, The Hardchargers , and of course more to come. The Festival is 1 hour 20 minutes away from Dublin airport. You can get a bus there door to door. This is not a ‘family friendly’ festival, it is for live music aficionados who like to stay up late with other adults. [email protected] • +353 4738162 • www.harvestblues.ie

Maverick 27 NASHVILLE Notebook THE NEWS LIVE FROM NASHVILLE BY CHUCK SCHULTZ

Grand Ole Opry House “My heart is overflowing,” shares honours those in the international Celebrates 40 Years Ballard. “I’m so thankful to Country Radio community with awards including the On March 15, The for taking a chance on this song. I’m International Country Broadcaster Award, celebrated The Opry House’s 40th more than happy to play this one for the International Artist Achievement Award, anniversary with performances by several rest of my helluva life!” Global Country Music Artist Award, artists and the induction of its newest The native is currently the Wesley Rose International Media member, , which touring all over North America and will Achievement Award, and the Jo Walker- kicked things off with a rendition of Roy join ’s Tour Meador International Award, which is Acuff’s Wabash Cannonball. Additional for select dates through the summer. named for the original executive director performers included , Ballard is equal parts Soul and of CMA. , Bill Anderson, , Country Rock Roll. His album SUNSHINE The 2014 CMA Music Festival will be , and more. & WHISKEY isn’t the same drivel that held in Nashville from Thursday through “It’s good to tonight, y’all,” said seems to be coming out of Nashville, Sunday, June 5–8. Lambert, after performing her current though Drinky Drink, is a bit silly. It’s a single, Automatic. “I thought this next great mix of traditional country sounds Swift and Chesney song would be appropriate to sing tonight incorporated with some Motown R&B. Rake In The Dough to celebrate the Opry,” she said, before Helluva Life, won’t be the only number Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney lead treating audiences to her hit The House one song we get from Frankie Ballard. Billboard‘s ranking of top “Money Makers” That Built Me. for 2013. For these superstars, and most The Opry House’s 40th anniversary CMA Rebrands others on the list, touring was the single leads into The Opry’s 90th anniversary International Party biggest source of income. next year; the Opry was founded on During CMA Music Artists were ranked by U.S. earnings, Nov. 29, 1925. The Opry House opened Festival which were calculated from touring, on March 16, 1974; it is the Opry’s sixth The Country Music Association has recorded music sales, publishing home. In addition to its many Country rebranded its Global Artist Party during royalties, and revenues from digital performances, the Opry House boasts a the CMA Music Festival in June. Presented music and video streaming. Revenue performance by President Nixon, who under the CMA World Global brand, the from sponsorships, merchandising and serenaded First Lady Pat Nixon on the CMA World GlobaLive concert will be held synchronisation was not included. house’s opening night in 1974. Monday, June 2 from 6pm until 11pm CT Swift’s earnings for 2013 totalled “Happy 40th anniversary to the Grand on a free, outdoor stage on Broadway $39,699,575.60, placing her at the Ole Opry House!” Shelton said, after in Nashville. The concert will highlight pinnacle of the list. Her Red Tour alone performing his song Honey Bee. “This performers from Australia, Canada, New brought in an estimated $30 million. particular building is the one I grew up Zealand, Sweden, and the U.K. The publication predicts she grossed an dreaming of performing in someday…I The concert began in 2004 as additional $10 million in merchandise was trying to think coming in here the Global Artist Party. CMA CEO sales and endorsement deals. today: ‘what’s something I can do that’s Sarah Trahern made the rebranding Chesney’s income for 2013 topped cool?’ There’s nothing cool about me announcement during the Second Annual $32,956,240.70, due in large part to his whatsoever. The only real cool thing International Marketing Summit at the 02 major outing the No Shoes Nation Tour, about me that’s cool is my wife, so if it’s in London. which earned $90 million. The superstar’s OK, I’ll have her come back out here.” “The Summit was the perfect platform past 10 consecutive tours topped 1 Lambert returned to the stage and the and this was the ideal audience to million in attendance. couple performed Shelton’s hit Home. announce the strategic growth of the Justin Timberlake, and Upcoming performers at the storied international showcase from a club rounded out the venue include The Band Perry, Hunter gathering to a main-stage event,” said magazine’s Top 5 Money Makers for Hayes, and . Trahern. “Moving this incredibly popular 2013. www.opry.com event from a club setting to a large stage danced his way to No. 8 on with international food and beverage the list, with $22,142,235.98. Much of the Ballard Scores #1 vendors will enhance the experience for income is thanks to 2.7 million albums With Helluva Life our visiting artists, and create a bigger and 7.6 million digital tracks sold. He also It has been a helluva ride for country platform to reach an even broader brought in $15.4 million from touring in guitarist-singer Frankie Ballard, who has audience of fans and press from around 2013. topped both the Mediabase Country the world. Country Music is not limited George Strait landed at No. 15 on the Chart and Billboard Country Charts, with by its American roots. Closer than a click, list, bringing in $16,002,761.63. His The his smash Helluva Life. Ballard’s fastest through technology we are reaching a Cowboy Rides Away farewell tour earned rising single to date has earned him his broader audience and developing new $13.8 million. The icon also earned the first ever number one single, with nearly fans around the world.” Country Music Association’s Entertainer of 400,000 digital copies sold. Throughout the year, CMA also the Year trophy in November 2013.

28 Maverick

Rhiannon Giddens Enriching the musical landscape

riveting performance by Rhiannon Giddens influences, the group has strived to pull forward the rhythmic shared his poignant tale. The prisoner is feel of old-time traditional songs. Their exploration of music an older man sentenced to work the fields history began some eight years ago with fiddle and banjo under the crushing heat of the midday sun. in the jug band tradition, and offered a fresh perspective on He calls repeatedly for water, and those southern black music created a century or more ago. Their plaintive cries carry a veiled warning to energetic, string and percussion-driven live performances the youngA boy summoned to his side. ‘Don’t do it, don’t filled concert seats and earned devoted fans. Their originality you make the same mistakes. Don’t you follow my path to and creativity led to a Grammy award for 2010 debut album a sorry end in this field. Wa-ah-ter bo-oh-oy!’ The power of GENUINE NEGRO . Giddens’ vocal, the sense of urgency in her delivery have Shortly after that Grammy success, founding member and brought audiences to their feet in New York and , fiddler Justin Robinson left to pursue an individual career, leading to declare that she gave the old leaving Giddens and musician/vocalist as the folk song “…the fervor of a spiritual, the yips of a field holler band’s remaining core. New members were recruited to play and the sultry insinuation of the blues.” and tour with the band, including beatboxer Adam Matta, The invitation to perform in New York came unexpectedly cellist Leyla McCalla and muli-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins. last fall, just as Giddens returned from an extended Carolina The heavy touring schedule proved too much for Matta, but Chocolate Drops tour. The concert had been inspired by the the others stayed, and with those new band members came recently released ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’, a film that celebrates exciting possibilities. the early 1960s folk revival. Other invitees included the Hubby Jenkins brought an extensive knowledge of jazz Punch Brothers, , Marcus Mumford, and The and swing music to the group, allowing the band to explore Avett Brothers. All of the rehearsals and performances were new performance territory. Tunes like No Man’s Mama, recorded for subsequent television broadcast. Bandmate originally performed by legendary jazz/blues vocalist Ethel Hubby Jenkins accompanied Rhiannon on banjo for her Waters, were added to the setlist. First recorded in 1925, the rendition of Water Boy, and on bones for the two Gaelic tunes song was unusual for its time, describing a woman’s glee that followed. Dressed in elegant red lace, she captivated the at receiving her final divorce decree. ‘I got rid of my cat, audience with her classically trained voice and expressive ‘cause the cat’s name was Pat, won’t even have a mailbox in style. The camera lingered first at her face, and then on hips my flat, because I’m no man’s mama now!’ With Dom and that circled smoothly and rhythmically to the music. Hers Hubby on banjo, Rhiannon served those saucy lines with was the standout performance of the evening, recognised relish at each live performance, offering a smiling, spirited not only in the show reviews, but by producer T Bone performance that routinely delighted audiences. Burnett whose response (paraphrased) was: “I want to do a Cellist Leyla McCalla also flavoured the band’s mix. Her solo album for you. Now” focus on Caribbean folk and traditional music led to the Solo work wasn’t anticipated or planned before that inclusion of at least one Haitian song in every live music set. New York evening. Says Rhiannon: “I’ve always been more Her instrumental skill, and the unique contribution that the of a band person.” One of three original members of the cello made to the band’s sound, were included on LEAVING Carolina Chocolate Drops, Giddens remains committed to the EDEN, the band’s 2012 Grammy nominated album. So taken founding philosophy of the African-American string band. were her bandmates with the rich tone of the instrument that “We represent,” she explains, “We represent the birth of when Leyla parted with the group last fall to embark on a American music.” From a melange of African and European solo career, the Drops were prompted to find another cellist.

© Claire O’Rorke 30 Maverick RHIANNON GIDDENS • ENRICHING THE MUSICAL LANDSCAPE

Leyla’s departure was not unexpected; she had been working on a solo album throughout her tenure with the Chocolate Drops. Nor was founding member Dom Flemons’ recent exit a surprise. He and Giddens had been contemplating the future of the band for some time. Both were committed to the music, but after eight years Flemons felt that the time was right to move ahead as a solo artist and to take on projects that were simply not feasible in the band context. Giddens was then left with a decision to make. “As the sole remaining original member, could I continue to represent the ideal of the Carolina Chocolate Drops?” Ultimately, it was important to Rhiannon to find musicians cut from the same mold as the original Chocolate Drop members, invested in the heritage of American music, yet able to reinterpret and reinvigorate that music for a modern- day audience. Both she and Flemons were convinced that © Michael Wilson the musical and educational missions of the band were more important than any one person, any particular band already begun work on the next album, anticipating a 2015 make-up. Once Giddens found the right players, she was release date. They’re looking for more great traditional music, ready to continue the five string band ideal, and Flemons felt and finding plenty on the road. “Just last night”, says Rhiannon, comfortable walking a different path. “someone brought a record to the show and played some In a creative analogy, Rhiannon likens the changes in band wonderful old songs I’d never heard.” configuration to Hydra, the nine-headed serpent of Greek Giddens has also been writing music. While the Chocolate mythology. “Chop off one head and three more grow in its Drops will never be an all original band, she does believe there place!” Justin left, but then came Hubby and Leyla. Now is room for new material in line with the band’s aesthetic. Leyla and Dom are moving on as well, but all of the former Recently, she’s been working on a few re-imagined folk songs bandmates continue to make music and to support each other. based on books she’s read, and on slave narratives shared Says Giddens: “It’s like we’re enriching the landscape; rather with Government interviewers in the 1930s. Her goal is to than the band becoming less, it’s becoming more. We’re kind of match those times, and to create the folk songs that the slaves like the Chocolate Drops collective. Once you’re a Drop, you’re themselves could not have written for fear of reprisal. always a Drop.” There are already plans for Justin Robinson More of her original work may be included on a yet to be to join the group for a few shows this year. Will the dynamic titled solo album that is currently slated for a September 2014 Flemons be back as well? Says Rhiannon, “Well, we’ll each do release. It’s “the record of a lifetime” says Rhiannon, and one our own thing for a bit, but I can definitely see that happening. that she honestly didn’t anticipate making until producer T It’s just a matter of timing.” Bone Burnett paved the way. The content reflects the diversity Joining Rhiannon and continuing band member Hubby of American music, as well as the diverse influences that have Jenkins on the road in 2014 are cellist Malcolm Parson and guided Giddens’ musical choices. It’s a great opportunity, she multi-instrumentalist Rowan Corbett. Rowan is well known feels, to herald some amazing female artists. There are covers to the group. A chance meeting at a 2007 Folk Alliance of roots songs from strong women, both black and white, showcase found Flemons and Corbett jamming in the hallway such as Nina Simone, Ethel Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Jean on two-handed bones. In the intervening years, Rhiannon Ritchie and . Also included among the recorded has collaborated with Rowan on minstrel music projects, and tracks are Factory Girl and Black is the Colour, traditional folk now welcomes the percussionist, guitar and banjo player as a songs that Rhiannon has rewritten for the disc. “Hopefully,” she full-time touring member of the Chocolate Drops. Motivated says with a smile, “those songs will make the final cut!” by technology as well as music, Corbett is slated to be the At the January recording session, many of Burnett’s group’s new social media guru. Don’t expect too much of that outstanding lineup of session musicians were in studio. technology know-how to bleed onto the stage, however. “We’re Members of the Punch Brothers also contributed, and bandmate already plugged in,” says Giddens, “And that’s huge for us. Hubby Jenkins was a steady presence. When the record is Hubby has a pick-up in his guitar, so no more live mics.” Will released, the music will be toured, but as part and parcel of technology impact the band’s musical style? “Electronic music the existing Chocolate Drops schedule and with the support on stage. Yeah, I think that will probably be ... never!” of the group. Says Rhiannon: “I’m not interested in saying The youngest Chocolate Drop is new member Malcolm – it’s all about me.” For this musician and songwriter, it’s all Parson, a native of New Orleans, . An award winning about the band and about sharing music history through live, cellist, the 24 year old uses percussive plucking and smooth interactive performances that both engage and entertain. It’s bowing techniques that allow an expressive, soulful yet about embracing change, incorporating new ideas and different contemporary slant on traditional music. Malcolm’s knowledge backgrounds to expand rather than diminish the depth and of jazz and classical forms and Rowan’s experience with Irish scope of the music. “It’s interesting,” confides Giddens, “It’s a folk music are likely to influence new arrangements and new grand experiment that seems to be going alright.” Holley Dey • music from the band. While touring this spring, the Drops have www.rhiannongiddens.com

Maverick 31 Mountain Firework Company the lonesome losing blues

t’s a cold and wet night in that greets The Undeterred McGahan went back to his finger picking Mountain Firework Company as they prepare for their endeavours, this time with a purpose. “When we first folded, we debut at , a festival that has become had no songs remember, it just made me go back to my roots an important rite of passage for many a roots act. A sold and I tried to write some songs on my guitar. Try to do stuff outI Old Fruitmarket venue awaits their support slot with Irish that was more natural but it was a good two or three years, lost singer Imelda May but front man Gareth McGahan took some years perhaps, but we got the band back together and the first time out to talk to Maverick about the band starting off with his album was recorded above the pub. A couple of mics and bang. introduction to acoustic music. Straight in. We still do a couple of the songs.”

“When I first picked up the guitar I was about 18 and I really A ROUGH GUIDE TO FEELING ROUGH (an appropriate title got into the finger picking thing. I heard John James on this old perhaps for an album recorded above a pub) shows the ragtime LP doing this ragtime stuff and I thought ‘if he can do that on a guitar picking influence while the band backing owes much guitar then I’ll have to learn how to do it.’ I came to Brighton to to skiffle. The second album, SAMURAI, released several years go to college to do music but ended up working in pubs for a later with the band supplemented by fiddle long time before eventually putting the band together.” player Mike Simmonds from nearby Lewes is much more assured, with McGahan It was at The Sidewinder pub in Brighton that the band growing into his role as songwriter initially came together.”One by one they all came through the while the band add much more door and one by one the band just came together. It took a light and shade to the songs. In few years, we bashed out tunes upstairs for a while but it didn’t the interim they were becoming a really work because we didn’t have any songs, we were playing major draw in the Brighton area Afro drum and bass, , that sort of stuff. Then, after a few and much further afield including musical disagreements it folded.” an appearance at Glastonbury.

32 Maverick MOUNTAIN FIREWORK COMPANY • THE LONESOME LOSING BLUES

Tuesday which was quite a fast turnaround. It was just a bit of fun really but it was a pretty nice version of the song. But that’s the limit really of the covers.”

Given the similar line ups and devotion to acoustic roots music some reviewers have compared the Firework Company to Mumford and Sons. Asked about this McGahan responded “We get compared to them quite a bit. It’s not a bad thing that they’re around but they’ve never been on our radar as an inspiration or something we aspire to, They’re just people doing what they do and we’ve been doing this for quite a while now and of course there are similarities but it’s not relevant, it’s just all part of the scene that we’re in. It’s great that there’s an appetite for this sort of music and we’ll always encourage that. They get a lot of stick but it’s the success, it always happens, people get a slagging if they do well.”

It’s a fair bet that any Mumfords fan who chanced to hear Their third album, THE LONESOME LOSING BLUES, has the rippling banjo and fluid fiddle of THE LONESOME LOSING received some rave reviews including a four star mention in BLUES’ opening song Creeping Vine would be inclined to Maverick. McGahan wrote all of the songs and we asked him investigate further. When the band eventually stepped on stage about the band’s influences. “Everything. Rootsy, acoustic, at the Old Fruitmarket their rendition of the song had some of pretty broad church; anything good. The Be Good Tanyas, The the audience dancing as McGahan and company picked and Avett Brothers. Being of semi advancing years we’ve got a lot bowed away. With his very fine light Irish brogue McGahan had of music behind us. , , Abba! It’s hard to the Imelda May contingent immediately on his side and when answer a question like that. If you’re a bunch of teenagers then they launched into the epic Gold with its Western twang and you could reel them off but we’ve gone through phases over Cinerama vision they were on a roll. Innately hummable and the years. It was really just to do something with the songs that begging to be sung along with songs like Sometimes, Daylight we like playing while being acoustic based. There’s so much Robbery and Rolling River struck a chord with the audience and music that’s made on these instruments all over the world. it was a pity that as a support act they had to make way for the You don’t want to be too religious about it, copying something main act as the crowd cried for more. when you can just really do your own thing with it. See what you can do with it, make your songs accessible to people.” Any appearance at Celtic Connections leads to fringe opportunities and after the Old Fruitmarket show the band McGahan is not big on covers. While they offered a version were bundled into taxis to deliver a late night show at the of She Moved Through The Fair on the debut album and he Piping Centre while they had a “pop up” show, a short filmed adapted two traditional songs, Poor Boy Blues and Vestapol for performance, lined up for the Festival Club the following day. Poor Girl on the LONESOME LOSING BLUES album the rest of the McGahan was enthusiastic about the opportunities opening up material is original. At this point bassist Simon C. Russell offered in 2014. The band are lined up to appear at the Folk this titbit: ”We did a version of Walking in The Air, our Christmas Festival in May. The return of original guitarist Matt Oldfield single! We were asked by a local radio station to take a well following a spell spent in Australia bodes well for the future known Christmas song and do a version of it and it turned out with McGahan saying: “We’d like to do a new album, we’ve got really nice, a bit faster though. So we decided to record it the lots of material and now that Mat’s back from Australia we’ll next year. We sent it to every single radio station we could get stuck in.” Paul Kerr • think of on the Sunday and it got played on Radio One on the www.themountainfireworkcompany.com

Maverick 33

KALA • BASS IN A UKULELE SIZE KALA BRINGS THE BASS... IN A UKULELE SIZE!

had heard of the Kala Brand Music Company in the past but I assumed they were just a ukulele builder and I hadn’t seen their bass offerings in person until I attended the Winter Namm show. And I’ll be honest I was very sceptical that any instrument so tiny could provide anything resembling the Isound of a full size bass – and I was wrong. Kala Music was founded by Mike Upton in northern California back in 2005. In the beginning they launched as purely a ukulele company since that was Upton’s background and his father had always played the instrument as he was a child growing up. A few years later they introduced the U-Bass, thanks to Owen Holt’s help, which found favor with gigging and recording bass players for its portable size and incredible tone!

Now back to the Winter Namm show where I tracked down the Kala booth and strapped on one of the assorted Kala U-Basses and put the headphones on so I could hear it for myself. Hearing so much bottom end bass tone coming out of a toy sized instrument is very disarming and delightful. The Kala proprietary polyurethane strings help provide the bass sound, are easy on the fingers, and give the instrument a standup bass tonality.

The new additions to the Kala lineup are the Solid Body S-U-B U-Bass and the California U-Bass (which is available in 4 and 5 string models and is built in the Petaluma Custom shop in California). The S-U-B U-Bass as its name states is a solid body instrument compared to the acoustic models that the company has offered in the past. It is tuned to standard bass tuning (E-A-D-G) and is available in Black, Red, Cherryburst and Sunburst. Features include a bolt on neck, 22 frets with a 21 inch scale, Shadow pickup system with volume and two band EQ, rosewood fret board and nut, poplar body and hipshot tuners. It comes with a U-Bass logo gig bag and meets the requirements of airlines qualify as a carry-on. Plus neither the price nor the weight (it only weighs 2.54 kilograms) will break your back!

The California U-Bass takes many of the favorite features of other Kala basses while allowing you to personalise to your wants and needs with custom wood choices, four or five string, and fretted or fretless. The bolt on neck has a scale length of 23.5 inches and if you choose the fretted version there are 24 of them. The polyurethane strings sound is conveyed to your amp via L.R. Baggs Mi-Si Electronics. The bass’s preamp is battery free and a 60 second charge will allow you to play for eight hours. Likes its cousins it has a volume and 2 band EQ and custom hipshot tuners. Other details include a self-lubricating Graph Tech TUSQ nut and it comes with a deluxe U-Bass gig bag. This is an American built handmade instrument and you can tell the difference in the feel, sound and yes the price too.

I found both instruments to be very playable and to provide surprising deep smooth bass sound. The S-U-B is lighter since it is smaller and the body is made of popular wood, while the California looks and feels more substantial. For my purposes I would probably purchase the S-U-B as I would use this bass more for recording and jams and of course retain full sizes basses as well. But I do recommend that you try one out just to see how great they sound and how easy they play. You may want to clear a little space in your bass stable to add one of Kala Brand Music Companies diminutive instruments? The shock factor alone is worth it when people hear you playing deep bass notes through the speakers but see you on stage with a ukulele! Eric Dahl • www.kalabrand.com

Maverick 35 ELI YOUNG BAND • TRUE GRIT & TEXAS DIRT

Photo © Kristin Barlowe

we didn’t want it to sound forced and we tried to keep it as close to the original and we really like what we came up with.” The title track, 10,000 Towns is an all encompassing song. Eli Young Band A song that any country music fan in any town, in the world would appreciate . true grit & texas dirt “It feels like sometimes the last song you record is the best song because you feel very free when you are doing it. I don’t think the record would be complete without this song. It’s hen a band comes along that is equal maybe the most fun song for us to play live, which sometimes parts true grit and Texas dirt you get an doesn’t translate well when you record it, but I think it did on amazing result. Eli Young Band is the best this one. There’s an energy in that song that I think comes comparison. From being road dogs to studio from a deep place from the four of us. I think all four of us geniuses, Eli Young show of those talents in really just love that song and we were really excited about Wthe latest and best release 10.000 TOWNS. When you meet putting it on the record and playing it live and you can see musicians with so much passion for their craft and love of that kind of in our eyes when we get to that song on the their fans you immediately become a fan yourself. We hit the set list.” highlights of the album and talked about the song that, in The Eli Young Band are pretty much a ‘family band’ in a some respect, gave them the opportunity to take it to loose sense:Songs come about from their spouses. the next level. “We kind of had that idea on DUST and didn’t really know was the first cut off the album. Luckily where to go with it. Then we started thinking that our wives enough it went straight to number one (the band’s third). are all from small towns and they weren’t meant for the small “The first day of the Kenny Chesney tour was the first time towns for long. We’ve all known those girls who are itching we ever played it for a live audience. It was before it was to get out of those small towns, so that’s where we got the a single. We hadn’t even finished recording it in the studio idea. We all married girls like that, so we were all immediately and from those first few shows our gut feeling on that song attracted to the concept of that girl in the song. We fell in love was that it was going to be a really big one for us because with that girl, so I think that’s a reason why all four of us love people wanted to sing along to it right away and they didn’t this tune.” know the song at all.The song was so different than anything is a recurring character, writer and friend in we’ve done before, we gravitate to different types of songs everything the Eli Young Band does. One would think he was either with time signature, melody, lyrics. We’ve never done a their writing. In many ways he is, and honestly they have one straight up drinking song and after hearing the opening guitar of, if not THE best writer in Nashville right now. to this song really got us to cut it. In doing a drinking song “Yeah we love Will. Really is a friend, and if we could cut

36 Maverick 10,000 TOWNS... ROAD DOGS TO STUDIO GENIUSES

all his songs we would, or at least give it a show. With A Lot Like Love it pulls from that input that we had way “our goal was to always go out back when we couldn’t pull the Ryan Adams GOLD CD out of and take over the world.” our CD player for a long time. You can hear that in this song. It’s a tune that was one of the early picks for the record and send the listener and fan away so happy, yet wanting more. it kind of went through a few transformations while we were “With Prayer For The Road the four of us wrote this with Billy recording and it finally kind of landed in this place that we are Montana and Kyle Jacobs out at Blackberry Farms. We spent a really, really happy with. This is how this song is supposed to weekend out there writing some tunes. We were just in a place sound. Originally when Will sent it to us, it was just him and where we wanted to write that band road song. James and I an acoustic guitar. We had a lot of room to really be creative were talking about how our wives leave these notes in our bags with this song because we were really starting from scratch, that we’ll find on the road five days later and we were talking and that’s rare when you are getting an outside song pitched about how much we really love that. I can show you one right to you from a songwriter. We really got to start from scratch now that’s in my bag from four years ago and that’s where this on this one and it came out good. On all our records we have song started. We go out on the road and sometimes they worry a lot of songs where you’ve got to sit down and just really about us. They worry about us flying in the planes and riding focus on the lyrics and hear what the song is saying. That’s in the tour bus and putting our lives in the hands of drivers what is great about this song. It’s really a reflective song and pilots. They worry about us. We really hope this is one of about your younger days when you thought you were on top those songs that starts out as truly song that is about us and of the world and the hearts you broke, the choices you made. other people can and internalise it into their own lives It’s not a sad song, but a reflective song about understanding because there are a lot of people who have similar lives and what true love is all about. things that go on and those kinds of concerns of being away “With Just Add Moonlight, this is one that he sent us and you from home. I feel like this could be something that’s not can’t deny a song that’s just this hooky. It’s a really cool tune. uniquely ours. Our plan from day one were to be successful and This is one of those songs where we looked at each other and Texas was part of it. Our goal was always to go out and take just said: ‘We can’t say no to that one. It’s just obvious that over the world. Texas was/is that foundation. We’re getting a it’s a great tune!’ You just want to sing along to it. It’s a simple chance to go back to some of those places on this tour and it’s and it shows the more carefree parts of love. It’s an honour to do that.” saying: ‘Don’t really overthink it. Just enjoy it and dive right Truly awe-inspiring listening to Eli Young Band both live and in.’ And I love the songwriter aspect of this tune. It talks about with these new album 10000 TOWNS. To anyone worrying how every songwriter knows the power of the moonlight. about the state of country music really need not worry with the That was appealing. likes of Eli Young at the helm. “Like the encore on stage, the last song on an album has to Chuck Schultz • www.eliyoungband.com

Maverick 37 Sally Barker ‘The Voice’ Winner 2014?

ack in 1986, when I was News Editor on a UK newspaper, I reviewed a vinyl LP of finalists in a national song-writing contest. One song and in particular the voice, blew me away. It was the winning entry. I raved about this female singer and predicted very big things for her. A year or so later, I was Bputting on gigs and I got a call from this same singer looking for a booking. She invited me to go see her as support to Richard Digance at the local theatre, as part of a 40-date tour. She won a standing ovation and an encore. I booked her for two shows there and then, both of which sold out. She was wonderful. Over the years, I saw her at various gigs as her career progressed, and she became a respected star of the folk world here and overseas. A couple of years ago our paths crossed again, when she contributed to a cancer charity CD project I helped out with, and we have kept in touch ever since. That singer-songwriter is Sally Barker. Currently wowing celebrity coaches Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, and Ricky Wilson, the show’s producers and crew, the studio audience and millions of viewers on Saturday night, as a contestant on the hit BBC TV series ‘The Voice’. As I write this article, 54-year-old Sally is through to the semi-finals this coming Saturday (March 29). She is the bookies’ favourite to win; her prize would be a major record deal and big management contract. The final is live on BBC TV on April 5. Sally has the rare distinction of making coach and mentor Sir Tom Jones ball his eyes out on TV. The emotion and passion in her voice, the vulnerability and fragility of her vocal is an art that not too many singers can master. She is naturally gifted and has had many people in tears on more than one occasion. Me too! She kicked of at the blind auditions in stunning form, when she sang the classic Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood. Tom sobbed and hit his button to snap her up for Team Tom. In the Battles, she sang against country singer Talia Smith and they were given the song Dear Darlin’. Sally won. In the knock-outs, she sang the classic, Walk On By. In the live quarter “I know I am a singer of finals she sang the Bee Gees song To Love Somebody, and got quality, and I have known Tom’s ‘Fast Pass’ through to the semi-finals. Sally will sing a duet with her mentor Sir Tom in the semi-final. that for a long time. But The final will have happened by the time this magazine hits the whether that quality was streets, so Sally will either be celebrating now with her two sons, Dylan, 19, and 16-year-old Ben, or packing out venues on the back of what they were looking for her boosted profile and a runner-up on ‘The Voice’. I do not think so… My sincere prediction is; she’ll be the new champion of ‘The Voice is another thing.” 2014’. She is 2-1 favourite as I write this. But Sally was actually rejected by ITV’s The X Factor seven years ago, when she and her sister sang as a duo, with tight harmonies on a pop song; Yazoo’s Only You, at Wembley. “My kids like ‘The Voice’ and kept on at me: ‘Mum you should get on this.’ I’d be making the tea and they’d keep calling me in, and saying ‘you are better than this singer.’ So eventually I thought, ‘what have I got to lose? I’ll have a go.’” She got through three ‘pre-auditions’ in Leicester, Birmingham and London. She sang three songs: Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, Cry Me A River and Young Hearts Run Free. “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood was the one that hit them emotionally. They were saying ‘ohh I’ve got chills, that’s the one.’ That’s the one that shows off that emotional side of my voice. “I was casual about the whole thing. I thought; it’s an experience, let’s see what happens. Thinking my next performance could well be my last, so just enjoy the whole thing. “I know I am a singer of quality, and I have known that for a long time. But whether that quality was what they were looking for is another thing.” With tears in his eyes, Sir Tom told Sally after her first audition: “For me, it was just so full of

Photo courtesy of The Voice/The BBC SALLY BARKER • ‘THE VOICE’ WINNER 2014?

emotion. It was just so beautiful that I couldn’t help myself. You profile. Filling huge venues as a solo artist and touring the sang so beautiful it got to me. You swept me off my feet. You country. BMG picked it up and in her words: “It went ballistic.” have the most beautiful voice that has been on this show so She toured with across Germany in 15,000 seat far.” venues, and was asked if she would sign to the label he was Sally said: “I have been singing for so many years, I just do about to launch. But that never happened in the end. She my thing, people are affected and I know that. People are toured with Fairport Convention, Taj Mahal, Richard Thompson, affected when I sing in a certain way, but I don’t sit there and Wishbone Ash, Roy Harper and among many think I am going to make everybody cry. I just do my thing.” others. . Modest and down to earth, Ms Barker is definitely no Diva. She cut a second album, at ’s Woodworm studios Asked what the reaction has been like since she was on the in Banbury, with members of Fairport Convention and other peak time TV show, she told me: “It has been very pleasant!” folk stars contributing. In 1990 she signed a deal with famed US She says she “cannot be arsed” with “that nonsense,” when producer Joe Boyd and his Hannibal , for US release it comes to acting like a star and being stroppy, just because via Rykodisc of that album, THIS RHYTHM IS MINE. That same someone can sing! year, she formed The Poozies, playing a mixture of Cajun, folk, Sally took lessons as a child but didn’t enjoy it, when blues and country. her teacher told her it was the same as learning maths! She saw The line-up featured harpist Mary McMaster and Patsy Mary Hopkin on the TV talent show ‘Opportunity Knocks’ when Seddon from Sileás, Jenny Gardner (fiddle) and she was ten-years-old, loved her voice and that folk style. “I (accordion). Sally left the band in 1996, replaced by , knew then that’s what I wanted to do.” but was back in the line-up in 2006. She has made three Sally begged her parents for a guitar, and began to learn to albums with them, and is half way through recording a new play and write songs in her bedroom. She and her sister did a album with The Poozies, put on hold while she went on The few local village hall appearances, and while she was at school Voice. There are plans for UK and overseas touring with them in the sixth form, she joined pop band Cold Feet, with three too. female singers in it. She went to college in Worcester to study In 1992 she released BEATING THE DRUM. Then it was psychology and sociology, but failed her exams and left after a decision time: “Start a family or have a career.” Sally and year, far more interested in music. her former husband Chris eventually had two sons and she But her father said she had to learn a trade, so she went to continued to tour with the help of family to look after the kids. secretarial college and then got a job as a secretary at Brush But in 2001, he was diagnosed with cancer and sadly died in British Electrical Engineering in Loughborough, for about a year. August 2003. She joined two bands; a pop band called Chapter and a Sally was 42-years-old and had two sons aged just five and metal band called Manitou. Chris Watson had been a guitarist seven. She quit her career to bring up her boys, and embarked in Manitou at a different time, and he got in touch and asked on a four-year degree course in . Moving from her to join him as a folk duo. They were eventually doing eight the rented farmhouse to a house she bought in a local village gigs a week around Loughborough, with a big following. near Lutterworth, Leicestershire. In the mid 80s, Sally went solo with her own songs. After she She has eight albums to her name, including her Joni won the Kendal Song Search with her song Hunting The Buffalo Mitchell Project with musician Glen Hughes, which came in 1986, her folk career blossomed. She landed the UK tour out in 2010, and a live album with long-term musical side-kick with Richard Digance, and had a vinyl LP and cassette album Keith Buck. MADE IN , was her last solo album, out pressed up to sell on that tour. in the same year she lost her husband. That was re-released at A copy of the record found its way to a record label in the beginning of this year as a download album. On her album Hamburg, and she was signed. After rave reviews over there, FAVOURITE DISH, Labi Siffre sings backing vocals. her album sold in the truck load and she became very high Known mainly as a folk artist, Sally’s voice extends far beyond that as her TV appearances have proven. So could she win? “It depends what the public are looking for. I am obviously at least 20 years older than any of the others. I have an incredible amount of experience, which has seen me get this far and relatively easily really, without having to sing any amazingly high notes. “It depends on what people like to see, as it is not just about the voice - it’s about what you see as well.” Well I see and hear a true superstar who has paid her dues, richly deserves this second shot at success. A singer, a songwriter and an artist with the rare gift to be able to move and touch people with her beautiful voice: A gift that should be shared. No matter what happened on April 5 in the final of ‘The Voice’, Sally Barker is already a winner – and has one of the Sally Barker announced as the winenr of her battle best voices you could ever hear. No contest… Simon Redley • round on The Voice. Photo courtesy of The Voice/The BBC. www.sallybarker.co.uk

Maverick 39 Ochre Room

© Mikko Huotari “WE ARE A GROUP OF FRIENDS WHO ALL LIKE AMERICANA AND WHICH

ast summer my eldest son emigrated IS UNUSUAL IN FINLAND...” to Finland’s second city Tampere and on his first payday some workmates took him for a Tomi took the lead: “We are a group of friends who all like few drinks and they ended up seeing a band called Americana and folk rock which is unusual in Finland; in the OchreL Room. The following day he went to the bother of sending beginning we were all in different bands but would occasionally a link to their website and telling me he thought I would like them meet in bars and clubs like this to listen to that type of music. – he was correct. About four years ago I began writing songs with Lauri. We soon put a band together with him as our singer, Antti Within a week I’d listened to some tracks on their website; liked Leikkanen on drums, Ari Savolainen on guitar and myself on what I heard so got in touch with the band and a week after first bass. A little later our second vocalist Minttu Tervaharju and hearing their name I had received their debut album EVENING our trumpet player Tanja Peltonummi joined the band and after COMING IN. some touring and one EP we were signed to the label Lumpeela Julkaisut. In 2012 our debut album EVENING COMING IN was The sound the group created excited me so much that when I released. was visiting my son in February I arranged to meet three of the band in their home town of Tampere. “Now that we are a six piece band we have tried to create our own style of music for our new album BOX, BAR & Because my mobile phone account wouldn’t allow international DIAMOND; using electric and acoustic guitars; and because calls I turned up at the city centre railway station at the time we’d Lauri and Ari are both multi-instrumentalists there is also a agreed some weeks. Thankfully singer Lauri Myllymäki turned banjo and mandolin on a couple of tracks plus Tanja plays the up on time; and even though I felt like an inconspicuous spy; he trumpet of course and also the glockenspiel; plus we invited a spotted me straight away. We were soon joined by the band’s friend [Aino] to play the cello and a famous Finnish Jazz violin female singer Minttu Tervaharju and bass player Tomi Moisio. player; Anti Heerman is something of a guest star too.”

I was soon whisked away to a bar; with the coolest jukebox that As my knowledge of the Finnish music scene is limited to that I’ve seen in years and beer was drunk in a private upstairs room crazy group who won the I started by where our interview took place. asking why the band play Americana and roots music rather than heavy metal. Thankfully, the trio of musicians speak fluent English (more of which later) so; while there were a handful of my expressions that Lauri laughed and jumped in: ”Most of us started in heavy had to be translated, our chat went exceptionally well. rock bands! I was in metal and hardcore punk bands when I was young; well younger! It is something of a rite of passage I started by asking the obvious question; ‘Who are Ochre for most Finnish teenagers. Then I got tired of that sort of thing Room?’ when heard acoustic music. I began listening to Bob Dylan, of

40 Maverick OCHRE ROOM

course, but that turned me onto many other singer-songwriters beautiful. She is worth checking out too. and I realised that as a songwriter I could do more powerful things with an acoustic guitar than a with distortion pedals and If more British and American bands visited Finland and a screeching guitar. ” Scandinavia I’m sure more bands would be formed on the back of it; we certainly find enough fans on our own travels who are Minttu smiled at the thought and told us: “My parents were eager to see the authentic Americana acts. , so I was listening to and since before I was born.” After another refreshment break we moved onto the new album, BOX, BAR and DIAMOND. Tomi laughed and added: “For me it was in 2004/05 when I first heard bands like My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses. “It has been a painful process because we learnt so much I had listened to Neil Young and some other Americana bands when recording the first album; when we just recorded it the before that but hadn’t realised that there were new bands way we played the songs on stage; but for this album we really making that type of music too; and I wanted to be in a band studied the recording process and the songs have gradually like that too. It took several years; but the first session with evolved as the weeks have gone by. We keep adding and Lauri was special and I knew that it was possible.” taking away instruments. There are still plenty of epic songs; but we have tried to include more moods. Minttu then added: “I had known Lauri for a few years but had never heard him sing; and when I did it was like… What Some of the songs could have gone onto the first album, but the Hell? I had no idea he could sing like that; I don’t think any I’m really pleased we waited because we have rearranged them of us did.” At this stage Lauri sat blushing and shaking his head and they sound much, much better now…..more like what I had in a typical Finnish self-effacing manner before saying; “One in my head when we wrote them said Lauri who mainly writes of the reasons I didn’t sing previously was because I had been the bands’ music... or something? trying to sound like my heroes; growling and shouting…but my voice is... well... too soft; maybe even feminine.” “WE ARE A GROUP OF FRIENDS WHO ALL LIKE This got lots of laughter; but I reminded him that one AMERICANA AND FOLK ROCK of the reasons I was sitting there was because he has WHICH IS UNUSUAL IN FINLAND...” an extraordinary voice that makes him stand out in an overcrowded marketplace. When we got the opportunity to include more instruments; especially Antti Heermann on violin it immediately changed the We then chatted about their record label Lumpeela Julkaisut; sound of those songs; and recently we decided to add pedal which has a roster of Folk artists that generally sing in their steel to some tracks which makes them more... playful? native language. The track listing and the balance is more considered this “If you want to make money in our country you have to sing time; starting out lighter and becoming darker by the end of the in Finnish.” I was told, “Or form a tribute band. We don’t want album. It’s not ‘Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows’ and there’s to do that; we believe our music must be sung in English as it is nothing poppy enough to be played on Finnish radio; but it will the natural way of things; and our heart wouldn’t be in doing it hopefully be more commercial across Europe than EVENING any other way. Thankfully our fans; who are very loyal agree. COMING IN. But Finland is not a large country and when we release the new album we intend touring in Europe. The record label has some As the time flew by I felt obliged to ask about the band’s good links in Germany; so we will probably start there but we name; Ochre Room, were did it come from. would love to take our music to the UK and America; but we know we have to take small steps, because of the expense. “Like all bands we couldn’t agree on a name that suited our music. We tried to figure something out for six months “We see ourselves as professional musicians; but we also or more; but nothing sounded suitable until our drummer have other jobs that pay the bills. Minttu teaches children Antti suggested something like Dark Room, which sounded creative writing, Tanja is a teacher in a school and I (Tomi) work interesting. Then we started playing around with colours – Red in a Gallery while I study for my Masters degree. Room, Brown Room, Black Room (of course) then someone remembered a book called ’The Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte “There are a few other bands doing what we do in Finland; Perkins Gillman; which was about mental illness. Treehouse who don’t have a label yet and Koria Kitten Riot who sound a bit like ; who will be coming to the UK We all thought that ‘Yellow’ was too happy for our band in May. We’ve performed alongside both and they also sing in name and eventually Ochre was suggested and it seemed to fit English; which we find quite exciting.” perfectly. The only downside is that Finnish people; especially radio presenters struggle to pronounce it! We have heard Another interesting singer is Gudrid Hansdottir who is from ‘ocker’, ‘otcher’ and even ‘ockrey’ but we really like it and it is the Faroe Islands and has just released an album; which is quite staying.” Alan Harrison • www.ochreroom.com

Maverick 41 Elephant Revival.

five piece from Colorado, Elephant Revival has been causes like working with Native Americans on a reservation in creating something of a buzz, particularly on this side South Dakota, helping to fund education projects.” It would be A of the Atlantic, and a Celtic Connections show earlier easy to mock this but the band members are completely sincere this year cemented their standing as a band to keep an eye and it’s a pleasant change to hear an outfit spend so much on. Sitting firmly in the American tradition but with influences time on the world at large rather than themselves. Incidentally, from across the world, their general vibe can be quite laidback describing any member as a “banjoist” or a “fiddler” is a little but when they want to turn up the heat they can, with songs unfair as they all play multiple (and each others) instruments – like Grace of A Woman guaranteed to get any crowd going. It’s Cook alone manages six! a measure of how difficult they are to categorise that they’ve been described as pretty much every genre out there, and they “We find it really actually won an award for ‘progressive edge’ album of the year. fulfilling and humbling that Nobody really knows what that is, and nobody really cares either. Fiddler Bridget Law sums up their sound best as “Music we can be a part of so many that you’ve never heard before but which feels like you’ve been different communities...” listening to your whole life.” None of this cultural stuff would of course be of any interest Before forming individual members met repeatedly on to the music fan if the band wasn’t any good. But it is, and then the American festival and gigging circuit (“on a rooftop in some. All five members are consummate musicians, swapping Connecticut, dancing in a rainstorm in Colorado, in all manner instruments, vocal lines and leads throughout their live shows. of unlikely places like Wingfield, Kansas”) before formally And while their songs perhaps occasionally stray a little close becoming a band in October 2006. They claim to be a to the ‘hello birds, hello trees’ line they stay on the right side democracy (“one that’s as effective as Congress” notes guitarist of it and pieces like the aforementioned ...Woman, the rousing Daniel Rodriguez wryly after it’s taken them an hour to leave Rogue River and in particular the sultry and soulful Remembering the venue after sound check for this interview) but credits and A Beginning are fine works. They’re an ambitious outfit too, songwriting are shared across all five members and they have talking of playing live with local symphony in the feel of a genuine collective. America, something they’ve done once and are keen to do again. A quick YouTube view shows that this is a serious You could easily characterise them as hippies if it wasn’t undertaking, rather than overblown prog rock hubris, and the for the fact that that word has such a pejorative context these results are stunning. days. But the good aspects of hippy culture – a sense of community, helping others, a connection to the earth – are all All in all, Elephant Revival is not only one of the more essential parts of the Elephant Revival ethos. Banjoist/singer interesting bands working on the American roots scene but Sage Cook and washboard/vocalist Bonnie Paine say “We one of the best. Quiet and understated they may be, but they find it really fulfilling and humbling that we can be a part of have talent and chops to burn and confidence in what they do. so many different communities across the country and across Confidence that’s fully justified. Jeremy Searle • the world. For example being behind social and environmental www.elephantrevival.com

42 Maverick RETROSPECTIVE

A HISTORY OF the harmonica

Since those early times, however, the harmonica (or blues- harp/French harp) has become a pivotal part of the structure of but particularly where the blues, folk, R&B and country are concerned. Harmonica-related names abound in the annals of these genres and include , Sonny Terry, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Morton Fraser, Max Geldray, Lightnin’ Slim, , Bob Dylan, Cyril Davis, Bruce Channell, Junior Wells, Doc Watson, Onie Wheeler, Stevie Wonder, Sonny Boy Williamson, , Slim Harpo, Charlie McCoy, Mickey Raphael, Clint Black and Danish-born Lee Oskar.

Hooked on the Harp My first encounter with a harmonica came at the age of six, when my parents bought me a small Hohner Marine Band for Christmas and after a few ‘sucks’ and ‘blows’, I managed to play a passable rendition of Mocking Bird Hill and never looked back. I have been hooked on the harp ever since and, over the years, have gathered together a modest collection of vintage instruments. The oldest mouthorgans in my collection include a 1933 Bandmaster ‘Chromatic’ (with the Seydel’s System of three full octaves and ‘all sharps and flats’), a 40-year old Hohner Contessa, which sounds like a Cajun accordion and still plays well, Hohner Echo-Luxe, Hohner Pocket-Pal and a truly remarkable late 19th century A TRULY REMARKABLE LATE 19TH Richter ten-hole, brass-plated instrument retrieved by divers CENTURY RICHTER TEN-HOLE, BRASS- exploring the wreck of the German freighter S.S. Mosel, which PLATED INSTRUMENT RETRIEVED BY sank off the Cornish coast in 1883. Mine was one of a large DIVERS EXPLORING THE WRECK OF THE number of Richter harmonicas salvaged from the wreck and GERMAN FREIGHTER S.S. MOSEL, WHICH sold off as ‘surplus to requirements’ by the Shipwreck Centre/ SANK OFF THE CORNISH COAST IN 1883. Museum in Charlestown back in the 1970s. I paid £6 for the harmonica and it came with a certificate of provenance, which I have since lost. Bearing in mind that the instrument t may be small, of humble appearance and often had been under the sea for almost a century, it is still clearly dismissed as a child’s plaything but the harmonica, or recognisable as a harmonica, complete with the name mouthorgan, in the hands of a master, can be one of ‘Richter’ etched into its brass top-plate and, remarkably, the most expressive and soulful of musical instruments. much of the wood has survived the ravages of time IDuring the formative years of country music, no self-respecting and marine worm. hillbilly band would be without its harmonica player. The harmonica can boast ancient roots dating as far back We have Larry Adler to thank for elevating the humble as 3,000BC. The ‘harp’ is a ‘free-reeded’ instrument evolving mouthorgan to the status of an acknowledged musical in ancient China, spreading to South-East Asia and, ultimately, instrument, with such names as Darius Milhaud, Arthur Europe. In his ‘History of Musical Instruments and Music Benjamin and Vaughn Williams writing pieces for him. Adler, an Making’ (Southwater-Anness Publishing 2001), Max Wade- American from Baltimore, Maryland, was also a great interpreter Matthews wrote: “The free-reed is found mainly in certain of the works of George Gershwin but it was the harmonica organ pipes and bellows-blown instruments, such as the player’s recording of the theme from the 1953 film ‘Genevieve’, harmonium and accordion. It is also used in the harmonica starring John Gregson, Dinah Sheridan and Kenneth More, and (mouth-organ), as well as in the traditional Chinese sheng. its subsequent chart success here that finally established the The pitch of the reeds, which are fastened over slots cut into instrument commercially. That aside, the harmonica had always the metal frame, can be lowered by filing near the fixed end, formed an integral part of the blues and country music scenes or raised by filing near the free end. A major development since recording first began and some of those early players in the history of the accordion was the introduction by such included Jed Davenport, Ernest V. ‘Pop’ Stoneman, George firms as Hohner, founded in Trossingen, Germany, in 1857, ‘Bullet’ Williams, Palmer McAbee, Jaybird Coleman, DeFord of high-tempered steel reeds, which helped to ensure the Bailey, Carson J. Robison, Noah Lewis and John Lair. instrument’s popularity.”

Maverick 43 RETROSPECTIVE

The true predecessor to the harmonica, as we know and note configuration for ten-hole harmonicas in 1879 and it recognise it today, was the Terpodion, a free-reeded keyboard became the foremost configuration for diatonic instruments. instrument created in 1816 by German organ builder Johann Buschmann but five years later his son, Christian Friedrich, The popularity of the harmonica grew in leaps and bounds registered the ‘Aura’ for patent; Europe’s first reeded mouth and by 1887, Hohner was producing one million instruments a organ. The first 20-note, ten-hole configuration came in 1825, year. 1896 saw the introduction of Hohner’s legendary ‘Marine developed by a Bohemian named Richter and it remains in Band’ model and it became the world’s favourite harmonica. use to this day. The invention and gradual development of the gramophone Trossingen was to become the focal point of development for meant that by the 1920s, the harmonica had reached a golden harmonicas thanks, in part, to two local clockmakers, Christian age and harmonica bands sprung up everywhere. Blues, folk, Messner and his cousin, Christian Weiss, who began building jug-band, jazz and hillbilly artists were committing their talents the instru-ments there in 1827 but, interestingly, initial mass- to wax and being exposed to mass audiences. The very first production began in Vienna two years later. million-selling hillbilly record in 1924, Wreck Of The Old 97, by former opera singer Vernon Dalhart, featured a squeaky It wasn’t until 1857 that another Trossingen cloackmaker, harmonica refrain. In 1925, black harmonica player, DeFord Matthias Hohner, visited the Messner-Weiss factory and was Bailey, made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville encouraged to take up the manufacture of harmonicas himself. playing Pan American Blues on his harmonica. Bailey remained That same year Hohner, aided by family members and two with the Opry until 1941. labourers, produced no less than 700 instruments. This was quite a feat for 1857 and within five years Matthias Hohner was By now the chromatic harmonica had caught on with serious exporting harmonicas to America. By the end of the decade the players and, because of the instrument’s popularity in general, Hohner Company had produced 22,000 instruments. the Hohner Company also developed and marketed bass, chord and polyphonia models to cater for the demand created by the The mund-harmonica, as it was known in Germany, was easy incredible upsurge of harmonica bands and vaudeville acts. to play and portable. It found great favour with cowboys on the range and was quickly adopted by folk and blues musicians, So derided was the harmonica that until 1947, players were who loved its expressive tone and adaptability. You didn’t need not allowed to join the Musician’s Union but all that changed to be an accomplished musician to pull a rough tune out of a when The Harmonicats recorded the phenomenally successful harp and a little bit of vamping and foot-slapping could bring Peg O’ My Heart and saw it top 20 million sales! Suddenly the the dimes and quarters rattling into an old tin cup. A small harmonica had arrived as a true , as opposed degree of panache, however, coupled to some reed-bending to being dismissed as a cheap toy – and Larry Adler emerged as and lonesome, drawn-out wails and blues notes could produce the instrument’s first real soloist. even greater financial rewards for itinerant street musicians. Prior to this golden age, however, the humble instrument had The Golden Age proved immensely popular with cowboys on the range during In 1878, one Julius Berthold developed a machine enabling the 19th century and it wasn’t only Hohner who benefitted metal reeds to be stamped out but even now the Hohner from sales. The cowboy era spanned the 1830s until the Company continues to tune most of its instruments by hand early 1900s, reaching its peak in the 1870s, and instrument and they still offer a re-tuning service. Next came the Richter manufacturers like Hohner, Johann Schunk and Richter were exporting harmonicas to the . When the West was opened to settlers, among the items they took with them due to their cheapness, size and availability, were mouthorgans. They were used at dances and for musical contests held in barns and taverns. There was a more practical side to them as well, because the cowboy found that they were useful tools in soothing restless cattle herds. It is claimed that legendary figures of the period, such as Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid and Frank James (brother of Jesse) were avid harmonica players and would most likely have used Hohner models.

The cowboy’s image was a good marketing ployand right up until the 1950s the Hohner Company produced models associated with the West and named them accordingly. There were harmonicas called ‘Trail Rider Harp’, ‘Pioneer’, ‘Lone Star Rider’ and ‘Buffalo Bill’. Other companies like the Harmonica Reed Company and Koch cashed in with ‘Roy Rogers Riders’ and ‘Wagon-Mouthorgan’, respectively, whilst the Magnus Harmonica Company produced the ‘Gaucho’ for Spanish cowboys.

44 Maverick RETROSPECTIVE

Second World War Buschmann’s ‘Aura’ looked very much like a conventional, The Second World War disrupted harmonica exports from simple, modern mouthorgan but with the side plates removed. Germany and the great British and American bands became Musical historians have also called Buschmann’s instrument the extinct, as their members joined the Armed Forces. It was the ‘Aeolina’ or ‘Aeolian’. Buschmann was moved to call his creation: huge success of The Harmonicats that renewed interest in the “Truly remarkable. In its entirety it measures but four inches instrument once the war was over and harmonica trios began in diameter…but gives 21 notes, and all the pianissimos and springing up everywhere. Another significant development took crescendos one could want without a keyboard, harmonies place at the turn of the 1950s, when artists like Snooky Prior of six tones, and the ability to hold a note as long as one began to experiment with electric amplification. Little Walter would wish to.” allegedly became the first -based player to record an amplified harmonica, when he plugged his microphone Even the great John Philip Sousa was a harmonica devotee directly into a guitar amplifier during a session. and once endorsed a Hohner model with these words: “This The new sound was incredible, if somewhat distorted but instrument is a foundation for a musical career and many boys gave the harmonica a much-needed commercial boost. This and girls who are now learning music on the harmonica will initial success was short-lived, however, and the harmonica step into the great symphony orchestras and bands of our succumbed to the growing popularity of the . country some day.” Sales of the instrument trailed off until the advent of the 1960s folk boom spearheaded by Bob Dylan. Less than a decade The ‘umble ‘arp’, as it has been called, just happens to have later there was a blues revival led by three Chicago harmonica been the first musical instrument in outer space, when astronaut players, , and Corky Siegel. Wally Schirra played Jingle Bells on a Hohner ‘Little Lady’ on In country music terms, Johnny Cash’s Orange Blossom Special December 16, 1965. Schirra had smuggled the instrument aboard advanced the image of the harmonica and Nashville session- a Gemini-4 spacecraft! men like Charlie McCoy became cult figures. Others, like Mickey Raphael and Terry McMillan emerged to champion the cause of The Harmonica the once maligned harmonica. and the Railroad Back in the 1920s and 30s, it was the lonesome sound of EVERY DECADE HERALDED A DECLINE the freight-train whistle that really captured the imagination of IN THE HARMONICA’S POPULARITY... bluesmen and white hillbillies alike. It was the sound of freedom; but it was also a moan of despair. The plaintive, eerie sound of Every decade heralded a decline in the harmonica’s a steam whistle howling and wailing a mile or two down the popularity and the 1970s was no exception – and then along track was enough to bring tears to the eyes of downtrodden came the J. Geils Band and its incredible harp player, Magic blacks and equally impoverished white and that sound could Dick. Once again a renaissance was underway and it would be perfectly imitated on a cheap harmonica. The steam trains probably be true to say that the harmonica had never had it so themselves have passed into history but those remaining are good. The emergence of New Country and line-dancing during in museums or working on preserved tracks but where the the 1990s saw the sidelining of most traditional instruments blues and sub-genres of country music are concerned, those old associated with country music, in favour of pop re-mixes steamers are still with us – thanks to the harmonica. and a plethora of production-line singers wearing Stetsons. Nevertheless, following the slow-burning success of the Coen Country artists like , Wayne Raney, Jimmy Brothers’ movie, ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou’ and multi-million Riddle and Lonnie Glosson have all drawn inspiration from the sales of its sound-track album, the world of country music came railroad by making full use of the harmonica’s unique ability to its senses and re-discovered the joys of the autoharp, fiddle, to perfectly emulate that hugely evocative sound of a six-eight Appalachian mountain dulcimer, five-string banjo, dobro guitar, wheeler blowing off its steam siren in the night, or to simply mandolin – and harmonica. mimic the rhythm of a steam train by ‘vamping’ on the harp.

Throughout the history of recorded country music there have The Hohner Company is still top of the hill when it comes to been some unbelievably accomplished performances from brand identity but instruments made by the Lee Oscar Harmonica the likes of (The Model T and the Train Race), Walter company, first established in 1983, are currently favoured by Parham (Mama Blues), Doctor Ross (Chicago Breakdown) and the blues and R&B artists and other manufacturers such as Brendan bizarre and rather obscure Harmonica Frank Floyd (Howlin’ Tom Power, Hering and Suzuki have made their presence felt in recent Cat), who could play harmonica and guitar – and sing all at the years. My personal favourites, for stage and recordings, are both same time! Check him out on YouTube! by Hohner and the first is a 25-year-old Super 64X, with a gold- plated mouth-piece and now in need of re-tuning and much older It might be small and highly portable but the once ‘humble’ Chromonica 270. harmonica can be a formidable instrument. When Christian Friedrich Buschmann first registered his ‘Aura’, it was This story is really just an overview of the harmonica’s history, described as a free-reed instrument consisting of a series of because there is so much more to tell and so many other great steel reeds arranged together horizontally in small channels performers to highlight and I apologise if I have neglected to and offering only ‘blow’ holes arranged chromatically. include your personal favourite. Bryan Chalker

Maverick 45 Stephanie manns

getting down to business

tephanie Manns is an up-and-coming Americana, for the experience I decided to hand in a demo CD. They country and folk artist from , whose phoned me and asked me to open up for her for the three new album, COME CLOSER, was released in early nights. March. As I sat down to talk to her, the first thing sheS told me was: “I’m quite a fan of the magazine…”. Always So my first gig was supporting Joan Armatrading in a good way to start! I asked her about her career to date, front of about a thousand people! As you can imagine and found out that she was a latecomer to the industry: I was absolutely bricking it, but it was such an amazing experience. I was really under-prepared for it, in the way Tell us a bit about your that I had no idea what to expect or how I would feel background and how you got into music. about it, or the after-effect. I think most artists would agree with me when I say that post-gig you get a massive come My dad gave me a guitar when I was ten. It got put up down – it’s huge adrenaline and the nerves I felt for that in the attic and when I was 23 I finally got it down. The gig were something else. It was one of those gigs where idea was that I wanted to do an open mic before I was 30. it all went a little bit wrong. The guitar that I had wasn’t I did it when I was 23 and just thought I love doing it and I working very well when you plugged it in so I borrowed loved performing and I hadn’t even written a song at that one for the gig. Sound check was brilliant, but then I got on point – just did a couple of covers. After university, I moved stage and plugged the lead in and there was nothing – no down to Jersey, in the Channel Islands. It was such a nice sound came out of it at all. I panicked and I remembered environment down there and such a cool place to be. There my friend saying to me if that happens, pull it out and jam were competitions for a Joan Armatrading support, who was it back in again, but obviously if you do that and you don’t coming down to the island for a three night stint and just tell the sound guy to mute it you get feedback, and so I just

46 Maverick STEPHANIE MANNS • GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

heard a thousand people gasp. Then I swore and went ‘Oh was really, really lucky to get it in the first place. I know s***!’, and then I went ‘Oh f***, I just said s***!’ Just to make the arts funding has been cut, though, and when we look matters worse, before I went on stage, Joan actually came at the American and Canadian artists that come over, their up to the side of the stage and I was like: ‘Oh no that’s Joan arts councils are brilliant and really fund a lot of what the Armatrading – do you say hello first, do you wait to say hi?’ musicians do – touring in Europe and whatever. The funding We had a little bit of a chat and she said that she actually I got was great and I couldn’t have done the album without likes to see the support act, so just to make things worse, it, but it was half of what I asked for. The musicians and I could see her just out of the corner of my eye. After that studio fees got paid – just – but in terms of anything else, stumbling block, it went really well and I loved it. I couldn’t afford it. I’d have loved to spend longer in the studio doing bits, but couldn’t. I think it’s come out really I then moved back up to Glasgow to see how I’d do up well, and I’m pleased with it, and don’t get me wrong, here and how I compared to the other artists around there. there’s nothing I’d change on it, but I need to really think Glasgow’s got a really good music scene, so I wanted to about what to ask the arts council for in future. There are get involved and see where I fitted in. We do have a few things like Kickstarter, obviously, but at the moment I’m Americana artists who come and perform here, so it’s been at the stage where I’m trying to build an audience. The a question of getting on those support bills and trying to marketing side of the industry is really interesting, and find my audience. you’re always trying to get that base of fans who will come to your gigs and buy merchandise and things regularly. For someone to start pursuing their dream at the age of 23 is almost unheard of nowadays. We do Twitter and Facebook and everything, but it’s really at a grass-roots level at the moment. We’re getting Yeah, absolutely. Music was such a big thing for me. My some good press, BBC plays and things like that, so it’s dad is a DJ, so music always surrounded me, and my parents going in the right direction. I always find it interesting to see would always play different things in the car – normally how it progresses through doing different things. The level the oldies, 60s stuff, Motown, things like that. I was always of interest has changed since I started doing different things. involved in choirs and things as well, but it was always more As soon as I realised that I needed to separate myself from of a background hobby. I never really had the confidence to that side of things and treat it as a business, it changed do it properly. It took me years to pluck up the courage, but I dramatically. eventually got into the choir at school – you had to audition for it and that terrified me! Did you find that hard, though? It’s something you’re passionate about and then you have to cut yourself from it. What about the material you’ve just released? What was the process behind creating it? It was really hard to make the distinction between business and art. I’ve seen a lot of musicians that don’t COME CLOSER is my first album – all original material. separate themselves, and they make very bad decisions It was great fun making it, although looking back it was as a result. They reckon that the music will speak for itself also one of the most stressful experiences of my life! I’d and so on. Unfortunately, that’s not the way it works now. been into a studio before to record a couple of songs, but People can make records on a small budget, but there’s when you have one day in the studio and you’re doing one so much out there that you have to be a one-man-band song, you hear it from start to finish getting built up bit by in terms of being your own manager, being the artist, bit. When you’re doing a full album though, putting all the promoter, social media expert – you have to be able to do parts down and layering them as a whole thing, I just found it all! You have to regard yourself as a product and as a myself sitting there thinking ‘I have no idea how this is going brand. That became difficult – thinking about how I’d look to sound!’ on stage as well as how I sounded. Did that fit in with the brand I was promoting? Everything you do on social media In the second week of recording I started to relax a bit, or in public in general – does that fit my image? How will it because I could start to hear it coming together. But, no, it be perceived? Am I doing things often enough to keep them was great fun. The band that I have are fantastic musicians interested? – really supportive and really inventive, so that was a good process. If I do get signed, it’ll be interesting to see how that changes the nature of my decisions and the direction we Is it something you’re planning on touring with? go in. A lot of it is trusting who you’re working with. I’m a massive control freak, so having so much control is a great Yeah, of course. I’ve done all this completely thing, but also a bad thing for me. I’m not sure how I’d cope independently and there’s been so much to organise, but with having to give up some power! It should give me a lot touring is something I’m working on behind the scenes at more creative freedom, though, so who knows! the moment. There’s so much competition out there – I Laura Bethell

Maverick 47 Hart to Heart Simon Redley speaks exclusively to br and new British new to countyou ry artist Alex Hart, giving her first major interview ahead of the UK & US release of her debut album UK EXCLUSIVE lex Hart. You will not know her yet, but sang Ain’t No Sunshine, to win through to the next round. Then pretty soon I predict you just might. This she played at a venue in front a panel of judges and won that young singer-songwriter from Devon looks heat, singing the Norah Jones song, Turn Me On. After that, all set to make a global impact, with her radio listeners were invited to vote for one of 15 finalists. Alex distinctiveA voice and classy, commercial brand of modern day was the eventual outright winner and won a recording session, country music. cutting a three-track EP.

At 22-years-old and never having released a record before, From that session in a Devon studio, she met multi- Alex impressed record label bosses so much, she landed not instrumentalist and songwriter Barney Dine and the pair hit it one but two record deals for her debut album, ON THIS DAY. off musically. They wrote and recorded an as yet unreleased, It will be released nationally in the UK, USA and Canada - 15-track album together. on Right Track Records via Universal here and on OK!Good Records across the pond. “IT STILL HASN’T SUNK IN THAT I

The debut single Orange Van, was released on April 7, and the HAVE MY OWN ALBUM COMING OUT!” album is due late summer, after a second single. Maverick was granted the first and totally exclusive national media interview, After a failed whirlwind romance Alex focussed her attentions and given the finished album way ahead of anyone else. It’s on music and began singing at most of the bars, pubs, clubs pretty special stuff and ripe for mainstream cross-over success. and venues across Devon, singing covers on her own or with Massively commercial, but with credibility firmly in tact. friends. She cites KT Tunstall’s, Black Horse and the Cherry Tree as the inspiration to pick up her guitar and do solo gigs, singing Alex has an amazing similarity to in vocal her own songs. One solo wedding gig sticks vividly in her mind, tone and timbre, but that does not mean she sings with a when she fell off the stage during her performance, having had fake American (or Canadian in Shania’s case) twang. Think one too many! in terms of Shania, The Corrs, Eva Cassidy, The Dixie Chicks, Eddi Reader, Karen Carpenter and Norah Jones. Then add a After the break up with her boyfriend, now 20-years-old, distinctive vocal talent all of her own, and a sharp and sassy she yearned for music back in her life and contacted Barney writing style. I give you Ms Alex Hart. to ask him to write with her again. Using the song ideas and the journal she scribbled on board the boat trip from hell, they Born Alexandra Anne Humphries, she adopted the stage wrote and recorded basic demos of the bulk of the songs for name of Alex Hart at 13. The only child of parents who own her debut album. a charter airline based out of Exeter airport, Alex was born in Tiverton and moved to Ashill when she was nine, the same The results were exciting and after playing the tracks to village comes from. She learned violin to grade five family and friends, the track Run was sent to London-based from the age of seven, and played in the school orchestra. producer and musician Neil Stainton by a family friend. It was the first song they wrote on Alex’s return to music. Neil heard At 12-years-old, a friend loaned her a guitar and she taught something special in Alex’s voice and leaped into action. Alex, herself to play, and began writing songs. At school she was Neil and Barney then began recording the songs properly in a asked to sing in front of the class, and chose the Dionne top Surrey studio, and writing more new material together. Warwick hit, Do You Know The Way To San Jose. Her music teacher was stunned that “this voice is coming out of someone Last summer, Alex and her band played the support slot so small.” (Alex stands at 4’ 11” tall today.) to Turin Brakes in front of more than 300 people in Lyme Regis. They won a rave reaction and turned a lot of heads, When she was 13, her mum realised her daughter had including record label boss Neil Smith from Right Track Records talent, and sought advice from a village neighbour, Joss Stone’s in London. His label signed her up soon after. Since then, the Mother Wendy Joseph. Alex began working with Wendy and album has been licensed for US and Canadian release. her husband Jonathan for about two years, going to their home after school to write and record. She also began performing in Alex got into jazz via a music teacher at school, who asked the area with local jazz musicians. her to learn all the songs on a Doris Day love songs album. She had learned every song within a week, and played that At 15, she entered a singing contest on a West Country radio album non-stop for two years, driving her family and friends station. Alex went with her Gran to the first heat, held on the mad. She covers the Doris Day song Everybody Loves A Lover, on top deck of an open-top, stationery bus in Teignmouth, and her debut album. A quirky and infectious horn soaked version,

48 Maverick ALEX HART • HART TO HEART

with a sultry vocal that Imelda May could probably score a So how does she feel about having her own album ready number one hit with. A summer-time, feel good, radio-ready to go, knowing her voice and her songs will be heard across cut. Imagine that; Alex Hart making Doris Day cool for a whole the UK, and in the USA and Canada? “I am very excited and it new generation. is a massive step for me. I am so new to the whole music thing anyway. But it still hasn’t sunk in that I have my own album Her Dad’s record collection first got Alex into country coming out. “ Alex has christened her music, ‘West music, and the affection for the genre was rekindled when Country Country.’ Barney spotted a fit for her voice and a country style with their new songs. “The title ON THIS DAY is pretty apt too, because when we started recording, the track that got Neil interested was Run, the first track on the album and the very first song we wrote and recorded. The lyric in the first line of that song says, On This Day. So it was a real turning point in my life in terms of music and where I was going. It was a pivotal song on a pivotal day that changed my life, I guess. Yeah, the first day of the rest of my life.”

In reference to her voice being similar to Shania Twain’s tone: “I listened to her a lot when I was growing up, and I was really into her at one point. But back then, I thought maybe it is not cool to be into Shania Twain at my age!”

The production is subtle and understated. “Yes, we wanted it to be – I am a solo artist, just me and a guitar, so we wanted it to be low key with the backing, so it did not take over the whole song and would also be easy for me to re-create the whole album live.” The lightness of touch production and the unobtrusive but stylish musicianship, has added great value and allowed the songs and Alex’s voice to breathe – and for her to shine. It is rare to get a fully formed album for a debut from any artist, but for an unknown 22-year-old singer from Devon, it is quite something.

“EVERY SONG HAS A DIFFERENT STORY AND PLOTS MY UNUSUAL JOURNEY...”

“I just want the songs to connect with a lot of people. Every song has a different story and plots my unusual journey, and I want to people to get it. I want to be good at what I do and be seen and heard. I am not thinking about fame at all, just about trying to go as far as I can go.”

Her track I See You, is all about TV talent contests. Alex was actually rejected in her audition for the X Factor in Cardiff, after queuing for eight hours with her Mum.

On her return from the on the day she finished the album, Alex sat in the kitchen in total silence and played the CD to her biggest fan; her Mum. The reaction: “She listened to all of it and just cried.” Ah, bless.

So how does she plan to celebrate on the day of the album’s release in a few months time: “I’ll hit the water in a dinghy with my dog Tilly, and crack open a bottle of champagne.” Well I’d save that bottle of bubbly if I were you Alex; as I predict a vintage year and a really big future. Remember where you read about her first, folks… Simon Redley • www.alexhart.com

Maverick 49 FENDER • RETRO APPLIFIERS

‘57 DELUXE AMP HEAD: A RESURRECTED SOUGHT AFTER COLLECTORS AMP

FENDER CRANKS UP THE Retro AMPLIFIERS!

he Winter Namm (National Association of Music The Vaporizer amp, up close, looks like something that Merchants) show in Anaheim, California is always belongs in an old 1950 or 60s science fiction movie set. The exciting to attend and in 2014 the Namm show logo plate in the front center of the amplifier has Vaporizer in delivered with new products and new companies a vintage font while two circles rotate around the center in a Tshowing the world their latest releases! Another key factor to reference to the Space Race of the past. this music show is who has the best location in the Anaheim Convention Center, what quests/endorsees will be performing The front baffle, where the two 10 inch 16 ohm speakers or signing autographs and what level of “Wow” factor your reside behind, is in the shape of a large bow tie! If that was booth brings to visitors while showcasing your products! enough when you view the top of the amplifier it has a vintage suitcase style handle with normal and bright channels, Vaporizer The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation had it all this Red Jewel (only comes on when you engage ‘Vaporizer Mode’), year by totally re-vamping the Fender room at the Namm show old radio style volume, tone and reverb knobs, a blue jewel for and embracing all of the added brands that currently fall under power and an on/off switch. The back of the amplifier continues their umbrella like Guild, Charvel and Gretsch! the Space Theme with Vaporizer logo stenciled on the back (with other required legal information) an angled tube protector cage When musicians are asked what their top five favorite guitar that follow the shape of the lower back board of the cabinet and amplifiers are Fender inevitably is in that list and with good the Vaporizer logo on both speakers. reason! Fender was at the forefront of guitar amplification starting in 1946 with the ‘Woodies’ with such names as Internally the amplifier provides 12 watts (output power, has Princeton, Deluxe, and Professional. a very nice ‘wet’ sounding spring reverb circuit and the amp comes with a single-button ‘wedge’ footswitch for selecting the Fast forward 68 years to 2014 and FMI is creating show Vaporizer Mode which actually bypasses both the volume and stopping amps again. The Pawn Shop Special Series of tube tone controls so the amp provides a distorted/breakup overload amplifiers (currently includes the Excelsior and Rampart) have sound to your guitar. And for all of you weekend musicians been very successful for Fender and these amps feature retro/ playing in function bands, like me, it only weighs 37 lbs. (16.78 vintage style and build, simplistic controls and inputs, and great kg) so you won’t break your back hauling it to and from the sounding low wattage guitar amplifiers in a very gig. It is offered in Spaced Out colours, Surf Green, Slate Blue or portable package. Rocket Red vinyl covering with silver grille cloth.

50 Maverick FENDER • RETRO APPLIFIERS

‘65 DELUXE REVERB HEAD: A RESURRECTED SOUGHT AFTER COLLECTORS AMP

Besides the great vintage vibe that the Vaporizer puts off it really sounds incredible to at lower levels or in Vaporizer Mode and since it’s only 12 watts you can still open it up some and not upset your neighbors or landlord.

In another nod to Fender’s past achievements they have resurrected two highly sought after collectors amps the ’57 Deluxe and the 65 Deluxe Reverb both offered as amp heads instead of combos. The 57 Deluxe falls under Fender’s Custom series of tube THE VAPORIZER AMP: amps that are hand wired and feature the best components available. The 57 really has that 50s FROM THE PAWN SHOP SPECIAL SERIES vibe and look down as it is covered in tweed with a leather handle and the top panel features a chrome are highly sought after by most players and collectors! The chassis with chicken head knobs. Control wise it is pretty 65 Deluxe Reverb provides 22 watts of power thanks to its 4 x sparse so you won’t have to spend a lot of time tweaking 12AX& and 2 x 6V6 tubes which is perfect for many function knobs since it only has three of them one for Instrument band size venues. It features two Normal input channels and Volume, one for Microphone Volume (back when everyone two Vibrato input channels and provides two parallel outputs was using high impedance mics that used a ¼ inch plug) and to drive the cabinet of your choice. It also comes with a two a Tone knob! It has four inputs and two outputs and the amp button footswitch for selecting the Reverb or Vibrato and a delivers 12 watts of power with 2 x 12AX7’s and 2 x 6V6 form fit cover. I’m personally very fond of the look of the 57 tubes to warm up your guitar tone! FMI did a great job on Deluxe but for me and most players that would be more of a this recreation and if you don’t have the money for an original studio amp. On the other hand the 65 Deluxe Reverb brings (which most of us don’t) this is a great alternative at a fraction some extra wattage and effects to the table and would be of the money! perfectly paired with a 1 x 12 or 2 x 12 cabinets for gig! The 65 also won’t break the bank since it isn’t part of the Custom Taking a closer look at the 65 Deluxe Reverb head that was series and it’s one of those classic amplifiers we would all like introduced this year, Fender recreated the look of the 60s while to have in our Tone arsenal! embracing musician’s needs of today. This amplifier is part of the Fender Vintage Reissue series and besides great attention Three brand new amp offerings from the company that to detail and cosmetics this jewel also adds Reverb and Vibrato pioneered many of the top amps in music history. If you’re in effects to an already great amp. From the black face style panel the market for a new combo amp or an amp head these are (true to the 60s) to the rubber dog bone style handle on top to definitely worth plugging in and giving them a listen at your the black vinyl and silver grill cloth vintage amps of this model local music store! Eric Dahl • www.fender.com

Maverick 51 MARTINA McBRIDE: COUNTRY SOUL

Simon Redley was granted a private audience with Martina McBride, one of the undisputed queens of country, who has just released a sparkling CD of iconic soul and R&B covers

n these days of here today and gone tomorrow; Gina. Her father had a country band called The Schiffters, and 15-minute famers who trade on a sob story or hit she began performing with them from seven-years-old on the tabloid headlines for something other than their vocals and keyboards. musical talents, longevity in a music career is Following a period singing with a rock group, The Isomething to be celebrated. Penetrators in Wichita, she joined a group called Lotus US singer Martina McBride is a great example of a long and and met sound engineer John McBride, who the band credible career, most of it spent at the top. She has released rented rehearsal space from. They were married in 1988. a dozen studio albums, and sold close to 20 million records, The couple moved to Nashville in 1990. John became the scored five number one singles on the US Billboard country soundman on the 1991 tour, and Martina chart and hits on the US adult contemporary chart, including went along to sell Garth t-shirts and souvenirs, eventually one at number one. becoming his opening act. Martina has achieved many gold records, nine platinum She was turned down by every record label on Music Row honours, three double platinum records and triple platinum until RCA gave her demo a listen, after she sent them a big twice. She has been nominated 14 times for a Grammy, and purple envelope on which she cheekily wrote: “Requested contributed to the Grammy-winning album AMAZING GRACE material!” After seeing her at a showcase, RCA signed her in 1996. Her smash hit Independence Day was massive here, and she first made the country charts in 1992, a constant tackling domestic abuse in the lyrical content. presence on them ever since. She left RCA in 2010 and signed CMA Female Vocalist of the Year four times, the ACM to Republic Nashville. She’s now with Kobalt. awarded her their top female honour three times, inducted into Martina and her husband have three daughters, Delaney, the Grand Ole Opry in 1995, and she has also been recognised Emma and Ava, and they live in Nashville, where they own by Billboard, BMI, ASCAP, the CMT Video Awards, the Teen a major recording studio, which John runs as well as doing Choice awards, The and the TNN/ Martina’s live concert sound engineering. Music City News awards. There is no question that Martina McBride knows the recipe Born Martina Mariea Schiff in Kansas, she has two brothers, for success and how to sustain it, which reminds me that Martin and Steve, who play in her concert band, and a sister her first cookery book (‘Around The Table’) is published in

52 Maverick MARTINA MCBRIDE • COUNTRY SOUL

Martina McBride and Producer © Brian Tortoro

October this year. She is still serving up tasty treats with her really interested in what I want to express musically, and the latest album, EVERLASTING, released here on April 7 - her own journey I want to go on musically. Not just the next hit on unique and classy take on a dozen classic soul and R&B songs, country radio. That’s really gratifying for me, and something we by the likes of , Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, The all work for as an artist; to be able to have a fan-base that will Supremes, (Wild Night, the single) and Elvis. go with you, and really interested in what you want to express. This 12th studio album is a triumph, proves beyond doubt That’s exciting and it’s also a great compliment. she is uber-versatile, never predictable and refreshingly doesn’t “No matter what I sing, I bring myself to it. The way I try to countrify the songs. It allowed Martina to be Martina, and interpret the lyrics or the way we play it as a band. When I once again confirms her as a master of her craft. Martina sings started thinking about how am I going to do this; am I going to it as Martina, its horn-soaked and exemplary production from be able to pull this off in an authentic way, and not seem like legendary producer Don Was, giving her the perfect vehicle for I am playing a character, Don Was my producer said the thing her vocal skills to shine. is; you’re the common thread. Everything you have done in the The two duets are real showstoppers; Martina paired up with past, now and in the future, people want to hear you sing, so Kelly Clarkson on the and Sugar Pie DeSanto killer you really need to go in and sing them like Martina. track, In The Basement, and with Gavin DeGraw on the Sam “Once he said that, it was really clear to me and it was a Cooke tune, Bring It On Home To Me. great relief. Because I didn’t have to sing like Aretha Franklin, Martina is at the top of her game, and more than proved that not that I could if I wanted to. I didn’t have to feel like I was when she wowed everyone at the O2 Arena in London, on the trying on something to play act. It was just to be authentic, and first day of the Country2Country festival. real and honest and I thought that was a great piece of advice I caught up with Martina while she was taking a few days’ he gave me. holiday with her family in Paris, and asked her if she thought “The challenge for me, was interpreting them in a way that it was a brave move to do an album of soul stuff, and if any of was a bit different and really showcased the lyric. All great her fans might just shout: ‘Hey Martina, this ain’t country.’ songs, all hit records.” “I don’t think so. You always take a chance when you stretch Martina’s first exposure to soul and R&B was via her father, a a little bit and do something different. Anyone who has been big and Etta James fan. Martina inherited that love a fan of mine for a long time and has been to live shows, of Ray’s music, but she chose not to cover any of ‘Brother’ Ray’s understands my love for this music. I covered songs in my material. “I absolutely adore Ray Charles. I didn’t cover Ray shows by Aretha Franklin and different people for many years. Charles because that is intimidating to me. I do not know of “, like Broken Wing and What You Going to Do from anyone else who can be in that league. He and Aretha Franklin the last album, they have a lot of soul in them. It ties in nicely really are in a league of their own. with what I have done in the past, and I still sound like me. I’m “Aretha and Ray are the best. For me, when I hear Aretha not trying to sound like somebody different or be somebody Franklin sing, I never hear her thinking: ‘How am I gonna do different. I think there’s a common thread, and feel like soul this lick or this word, or what am I gonna do next.’ It’s like an music and country music have something in common; that they open channel; the soul just flows from her. It is really quite are songs about real life, and sung in a very emotional way. something for me to listen to her as a singer and ask myself; “I have had a long career and now I feel like I have many how is she so free - and Ray Charles too. Nobody can sound fans who have been with me a long, long time and who are like that.”

Maverick 53 MARTINA MCBRIDE • COUNTRY SOUL

with everybody. So it makes me feel really good to sing. I hope I am able to sing for ever.” So what is Martina McBride? Are you a country singer? She laughs at that blunt question! “I think I am a vocalist. I love to sing all kinds of music and I don’t think I would put myself in a box as only a country singer. I am probably not the best country singer you know. I can sing country music and I think I have a huge amount of country inflection when I try to sing anything, which is just part of who I am as a singer. But I love to sing beautiful melodies - like Somewhere Over The Rainbow or Smile; anything that has a great melody and an emotional lyric, I am in! I am a sucker for that.” So after 14 Grammy nominations but not yet taking home a gong, is this the one? “I leave all that stuff behind and just make music. I knew we would probably not get country radio airplay, so I didn’t have to think about singles, which was liberating to be honest. “I didn’t go into it thinking I have got to have a single, got to have an up-tempo, got to have a and got to win a Grammy. I was really thinking; I cannot wait to play this live, so I really made a record that will be a great live set and I am looking forward to it. But as for the Grammy; well I hope so.” Martina’s latest trip to the UK was not without its setbacks. She sat on the plane in Nashville to fly to London So was tackling such iconic songs by such iconic artists piling via Chicago, and the hydraulics broke so she and the band had on the pressure for you? “I didn’t let myself think about that. to get off and wait for a plane via Toronto before an overnight The trick is, not to do a karaoke record. Try to make it your flight to London. On arrival, all her baggage was lost. She had own, yet still pay tribute and respect to the original version, a show that night as part of the CMA Songwriters series at because to so many people, these songs are sacred to them.” the London IndigO2 venue, with Brett James, the duo Striking Almost a decade ago, Martina made TIMELESS, a collection Matches (they are gonna be huge by the way!) and Bob DiPiero. of country covers. She told a packed press conference at the Arriving in the UK a few hours before the show that evening, London O2 arena, about the difference between that album and appearing in the same clothes she wore on the flight here. and ‘Everlasting,’ the only two covers projects of her Her luggage and clothes arrived at her hotel from the airline, career so far. just an hour before she was due to sound check at the O2 the “When I made TIMELESS, my approach to the songs was very next day, for her slot on the Country2Country stage in front of faithful and I really sort of just remade those records. I wanted 20,000+ country music fans. Day one sold out. to pay tribute to those records of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s in “The O2 was fun, and really great. But I realised I need to country music. With this record, I wanted to stretch a little bit come over and play more. The response was really great, and do versions that were faithful to the originals, but also had but I could tell there were pockets of people that weren’t that my input and style. There was of a confident familiar with my music, which was tremendously exciting to me. approach, having had nine years to mature since TIMELESS, and It made me feel I gotta come over and really start building this to think about the way to approach cover material.” up, now that my kids are older and I got a daughter in college, So you have achieved so much, what drives Martina today? one at high school and a younger one as well. I can take more “I love to sing, I love to make music, and I love to perform. It is trips over here and take the time to really do it right, and I am really nothing more than that. I have achieved a certain level of really looking forward to that. success and longevity, which is amazing and something we all “I am hoping this record will be the kind of record the UK hope for in this business. It is just about the fact I do not know fans will really love, and we can come over with a horn section, what else to do, you know. It is not the kind of thing you can background singers and the whole bit. We have had really pick up and put down at will. I love to sing and love to perform, good luck here and I have some really faithful, passionate fans and want to do it as long as I can still do it.” over here.” So how does singing actually make her feel inside? “It’s the 47-year-old Martina says she is still “discovering,” still best feeling. I feel like it was what I was put here to do. When “growing,” and still “excited by it all.” She tells me she has about I start singing, it feels like home to me. Physically, when you five records “in her head” that she wants to make. can open your mouth and something comes out that is pleasing “Just finding inspiration and keeping it fresh is the challenge and emotional, the tone is good and you feel like you are at this stage of the game. I really just want to make music that having a really good night; which isn’t every night for me, it’s I am proud of, that will be around for a long time.” Well, with kind of a powerful feeling. It makes you feel strong and it just EVERLASTING, I think she just did. Simon Redley • fills me up, and comes out in a way that I just want to share it www.martinamcbride.com

54 Maverick Sandi thom Swinging the pendulum

cottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Sandi Thom, began her whirlwind career almost a decade ago, with smash hit I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) from her number one debut SMILE,S IT CONFUSES PEOPLE (2006). A controversial media campaign under Sony was followed by a second album and a third released from Sandi’s own label Guardian Angels Records, which failed to achieve great success in the charts. But the label grew and Sandi moved from strength to strength, producing a fine country/ blues/roots record with the help of some huge Nashville names (FLESH AND BLOOD) and a soulful, stripped-back acoustic covers album last year.

It seems that this year, Thom is on the brink of something truly special. 2014 looks to be a year of change and greater successes. From the outset Sandi has been a talented musician with a vocal that is soulful, bluesy and coated in a dark, folk nuances. Perhaps all she really lacked before was confidence and consistency. Now, however, Sandi Thom is a force to be reckoned with: She has lots to say, huge dreams and a massive love for her fans that is nothing short of admirable. Thom took the time out of a visit to the UK (she now lives in California with her partner, blues artist Joe Bonamassa) to tell Maverick about her plans for the coming months – a live DVD in April, a world tour, and a new album this summer – with a refreshing attitude to musical freedom and fan loyalty that will change any misconceptions you have about Sandi Thom.

2010’s FLESH AND BLOOD really saw Sandi honing her craft. “It definitely made me step up to the plate,” she tells me. “I think that was the first time I’d really made a record with some great names [, , Mike Webb, James Haggerty, , Buffy Sainte Marie, Bobby Keys and Craig Connet]. No offence to my band, who previously played on the other records, but these cats are legends in their own rights. Those are stripes that you earn! The experience helped to challenge me and helped me deliver better performances as a singer and as a musician. Sat next to some pretty mean players, I really didn’t want to let the team down! It helped me to reach out, strive and be better as a performer and as a musician.”

With FLESH AND BLOOD Sandi was given the chance to move on from her early career with the advantage of being “so far removed, in a healthy way, from the past and what I’d previously been used to. With the same producer, same band, same team of people - everything was the same. At the end of the second record, even with the third record - I felt like I was at the mercy of others and had to please a lot of other people. But with this record, they didn’t have an agenda, it was my record. They weren’t going to start trying to co-produce or anything. They were just there to play and that was the best thing! It was almost like, the fact that we were strangers to each other, allowed me to be more open...You’re just like ‘OK, let’s just go make a really f**king great record!’ It was the perfect storm. The studio was great, the band, the producer and of course my guest performance with Buffy Saint Marie.” SANDI THOM • SWINGING THE PENDULUM

Next for Sandi was last year’s covers album, simply titled just is that sense in me. THE COVERS COLLECTION and featuring 11 bluesy, acoustic covers of mostly classic rock songs. “I never really considered “I think it comes from imagination. My imagination is so a covers album in my catalogue until I started to get requests vivid. I love stories. I like mystery too. One of the songs on the from fans to cover certain songs... When they ask me for next record, with 2014 being the 100th anniversary of World something I generally try to make them happy. I started these War I, I wrote from the perspective of one of the soldiers. I covers by making little videos the year before last. A lot of actually read old journals and accounts and that was where them became very popular and I got to the point where I it came from. Real, actual things that they did. It’s great when accumulated so many of the videos and I thought it could be you listen to it. You’ll totally hear the influence really great to put together an album. People really seemed on this song too.” to like the acoustic vibe. This was on one level practical and economical and on another level it was the best way to do it production wise, because I wasn’t trying to recreate the “i’m not a writer of originals in any way - that’s always the worst thing you can do a few words; i’m a with a cover.” woman of many words!”

As my interview continued, several traits in Sandi became Sandi continued: “I just love storytelling and that core clearer to me – her passion, her honour and loyalty to her element to songwriting, combining that with real blues infused fans and her wonderful sense of freedom. Are these all thanks singing. Yeah, it’s definitely the kind of writing I like to do. I’m to being her own boss through Guardian Angels Records? “The not a writer of few words; I’m a woman of many words!” momentum builds slower when you’re independent because you don’t have a giant machine driving you along. It’s a Writing her new album is just one of many exciting plans for slower build but I think it’s also, perhaps, more steadfast and Sandi and her team. “There’s lots of projects up ahead. There’s surefire...When I started to rebuild after the split and I started the DVD that I’m going to film in April at the Tivoli Theatre in the label and the third record, it was almost like going back to Aberdeen. The tour is mostly about me as a solo act on stage the start in a sense. I had to rebuild up a steadfast fan base but when I do the gig in Aberdeen I’ll have a really interesting that was real and not going anywhere. set of musicians joining me – a cello player, a percussionist, just a really really eclectic group of musicians. So that will be a “I think that you can be a success in your own little bubble completely different show, for the filming... It’s our first serious with your fans - directly marketing to them, making music DVD release, it should be really fun and I’m really looking that you love and that they love. That is probably the biggest forward to that. The live DVD will be out in August this year.” difference between independents and being with a big label - having to answer to someone else. There’s always someone Sandi’s sixth album will be recorded in June. “It’s taking else’s opinion to take into account, but with your own record shape and I’m drawing inspiration from all sorts of places. label and your own independence all you have to think about I’m always looking back to the 60s and 70s. My music is very is you and your fans. Just give them what they want and make centred around harmony and rhythm and so that obviously the record that they want to hear!” features heavily. It’s looking good and I think it’s gonna be a nice progression from FLESH AND BLOOD. I do a live webcast “i just love the mystery every month and usually I showcase a new song. The last one I did I showcased a new song called Bad Love. It’s great of folk... there’s also a that fans give you loads of feedback. I’ll play a couple of new lot of light too. i find it songs on the tour and see what the vibe is there too.” intriguing. it’s not run of “I’ve never played this sort of solo acoustic show in the UK the mill...” yet, so this’ll be the first airing of it over here if you like – which is really why I went to more sort of theatres and seated Sandi is herself a huge fan of . And, whilst audience areas – it’s more of that sort of show: Me and a her vocal style may have changed over the years you can couple of my 12-strings and my harmonicas and my stomp always hear that folk link throughout her work. I asked box. I’m just starting to put the set together for it all, it’ll be Sandi if this was an influence that will always be there in nice to go back and showcase it first to the home audience her music and one that continue with the current project? and then in April... Then I’ll fly back to the States. I’ll start in “I just love the mystery of folk. I think with Stevie I love her Nashville at the beginning of May and then the rest of the US mystique and the sort of darkness to it. There’s also a lot of too. In the States I have some really great guests and people light too. I find it intriguing. It’s not run of the mill. It’s not sitting in with me local to each area. In America you can be contemporary but it’s still pop and it still connects... I think I a star in your own state but then nobody knows you in the bring this in my latest albums. In the fourth album there were next state. It’s really different.” Sandi will be stopping across some seriously dark moments there. I always identify with the globe: Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Europe and black and white imagery; the two sided nature of things; the a return to the UK in November. As she humbly puts it “...that light and the dark. I don’t pre-emptively try to add this, there seems to be the rest of the year planned.”

56 Maverick SANDI THOM • SWINGING THE PENDULUM

It’s been a long journey since the first record and with plenty of twists and turns along the way. What has Sandi Thom learnt from it all? “I think that my proudest accolade is the fact that we’ve continued on. Nobody gave up even in the face of being labelled a one-hit wonder. We just kept on going and ignored the criticism and it’s really beginning to be a little success in its own right. The best thing anyone can do as a musician or an artist is to keep improving. I feel like my live show is something I’ve really come a long way with... Downsizing the band and going out as a solo artist was the best thing I ever did. It has given me much greater confidence as an artist. It also helped me to really raise my abilities as a musician, as a singer and as a performer too. I think really that the thing I’m most proud of is the show that we are now putting on and the level of professionalism that it has reached.

“Everything is just taken much more seriously. You become so much more professional as time goes by. People pay money to go see you perform so you need to do it to the best of your ability. Go out there and give them the best show that you can give them. I think my approach to performance is not just going out with the band and letting the chips fall, it’s practiced and rehearsed, put together and perfected. That’s something I’m really proud of now.”

“There’s definitely moments along the way where you feel like nothing is really getting anywhere and you may feel a little like you’re stuck in the sand, but when you get those moments where it all comes together and it seems to all fall into place... when you turn up to a gig and see the place is full – that’s the greatest feeling on Earth.

“For me, now, it’s amazing knowing that more and more people are discovering the music. It’s very organic in the sense that it’s working through word of mouth mostly, through people talking about it, spreading it, sharing it. I think that’s great, building the momentum organically. Seeing it all take shape and form, through your own hard work and graft, is the best thing.”

Sandi won’t be doing things by halves and that goes for her dreaming too: “I think the one thing that I can keep with me is that determination. You always have your goal in sight and you just keep going and keep going and hopefully one day you get there! I’ve always said, and this has been since I was a kid, the day I can fill Madison Square Gardens is the day that I’ll happily retire and say I’ve done my job. You’ve got to keep reaching high and keep raising the stakes and just keep going.” Sandi keeps fans up to date with her story and her plans through a fast-paced, generous and personal social media output. Recent online treats included a free download of classic Irish tune Danny Boy for St. Patrick’s Day, a harmonica tutorial to help master the blow/draw technique and a first look at Sandi’s new tour set via an exclusive live streaming show from the rehearsals in Aberdeen’s Tivoli Theatre. Sandi’s World Tour will kick off in the UK this April.

Watch out for Sandi Thom and Guardian Angel Records because this is just the start. “We’re at that stage now...even though it’s still hard and it’s a lot of work. It’s not for the faint hearted running an independent label, but if you’re consistent and you keep doing what you’re doing...if you believe in it and stick with it, at some point the pendulum swings...” Charlotte Taylor • www.sandithom.com

Maverick 57 THE GOOD OL’ COUNTRY BOY GLEN CAMPBELL

THIS STUNNING REPLICA OF THE GLEN CAMPBELL COUNTRY BOY GUITAR HAS BEEN EXCLUSIVELY GIVEN TO MAVERICK MAGAZINE. WE TALK WITH BILLY ROWE, OWNER OF ROCK N’ ROLL RELICS ABOUT THE STORY BEHIND THE GUITAR...

o say Glen Campbell is a country music legend at a show in Northern California to have him sign the first guitar would be doing disservice to one of the most neck. After that I was lucky enough to be able to go to Glen’s influential musicians of all time. Although now home in Malibu, where he signed the rest of the guitar necks and sadly afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease and no longer the 25 certificates of authenticity. This is where I spent the most touring,T his reach is still felt across the industry, with modern time with Glen. He told me some great stories about his life as a stars including Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, and kid and when he started playing guitar. While he was telling me many others citing him as a primary influence and inspiration these amazing stories he handed me his very first electric guitar, to their work. which is the same guitar he used on many of the hit albums he played on with the Wrecking Crew, an extremely talented and Those who visited ‘Maverick’ at London’s Country2Country successful group of studio and session musicians that played festival in March would have seen a stunning replica Glen anonymously on many important records in Los Angeles Campbell Country Boy guitar sitting pride of place at the front during the 1960s. of the stand. The Country Boy is an exact replica of Campbell’s original guitar, and one of just 25 such models in existence. “Glen has had many great accomplishments. For me one It was made especially for ‘Maverick’ by San Francisco-based of his greatest achievements has been his ability to create Rock N’ Roll Relics, and is going to be given away to one lucky a solid following and interest in country music and from reader, who takes a subscription out by the end of June. It will there grow another entirely different loyal audience by also appear with Maverick Magazine at the CMA Festival embracing pop music at a time where it had never been done in Nashville. before. Add to that achievement the fact he came back even stronger with his own TV show, ‘The Glen Campbell Goodtime To find out more about this stunning guitar and the story Hour’. Artists all have their ups and downs, but Glen never looked behind it, I spoke to Billy Rowe, owner of Rock N’ Roll Relics back and came on strong again in 2008 with the release of the and creator of the Country Boy. I asked him about how he got CD MEET GLEN CAMPBELL .” to know Glen: What do you think made his live performances so special “I met Glen through a close friend of mine: , and what has been their affect on fans, the country Julian Raymond. Julian is responsible for renewing the public’s and the wider industry? How has he inspired others through his interest in Glen and helping launch his career back into the musicianship? spotlight in 2008 with the release of the album MEET GLEN CAMPBELL. Julian became Glen’s good friend, producer and “I never saw Glen live in his prime years but I was lucky enough musical guru. After Julian produced Glen’s next album GHOST to see him on his final tour. Being a fan since I was a kid in the ON A CANVAS in 2011 he and I spoke about producing a hand 1970s I always loved how he had an amazing personality and a signed limited edition signature guitar. I meet Glen for the first great sense of humour. I believe this made a big impact on his time at in studio A when Glen received the fans, fellow musicians and the country music industry in general. recording academy lifetime achievement award. After the award He was very personable and he was real. Glen was not only an ceremony Julian and I presented Glen with the Country Boy amazing singer, he was a incredible guitar player. He inspired prototype guitar and he loved it. Soon after I meet Glen again and influenced many guitar players and singers to this day. Glen

58 Maverick GLEN CAMPBELL • THE GOOD OL’ COUNTRY BOY

had what they call ‘it’: The magic, the talent you are only born “When the idea of the guitar became a reality I instantly with. He will go down in history as one of the greatest.” thought to call it the Country Boy after one of my favourite Glen Campbell songs. I also felt it summed it up perfectly. What role do you think Glen’s equipment has played Glen is a country boy raised in the deep south of Arkansas and how important was his guitar sound? and grew up on a farm. The guitar is also aged to look as if it had been on and off stage with Glen throughout his long “Glen’s guitar sound and voice was infectious. His playing was and successful career. When Julian and I meet with Glen flawless and technically he was amazing. His guitar playing was to do the signatures, we had him sign the back of each very important. It’s what broke his career open to becoming headstock, which we clear-coated after and then included a one of the biggest solo artists of his time. He played guitar on custom ‘Glen Campbell Country Boy’ decal on the front. countless hit singles and albums including being a member of for a while. I know there are a lot of artists “The guitar comes with a hand signed certificate of today that watched Glen’s variety show and performances on authenticity which Glen personally signed. We also had a TV and were mesmerised by his fingers playing those amazing custom leather guitar strap made with an embossed leather solos up and down the neck of his guitar.” logo that says ‘Country Boy’.

What inspired you to make the Country Boy guitar? “This is a very rare and limited collector’s piece from what I consider one of the greatest guitar players and “The Glen Campbell Country Boy Model was first inspired singers of all time. It has such a personal touch knowing from my being a big fan of Glen’s growing up. I felt after that Glen signed all 25 guitars in his home at the age all these years that some people overlooked how great a of 75 while battling Alzheimer’s. I’ll never forget ringing guitar player Glen was – and still is. He broke into the music his doorbell and walking into his home, it was unreal. industry as a lead guitar player and played on so many As a kid I use to play my 45 7” singles of Southern classic recordings with The Wrecking Crew. Glen had a few Nights & Rhinestone Cowboy, loving every minute of acoustic signature guitars but I never heard of him owning and it. I never dreamed years later I would be welcomed endorsing his own electric signature guitar. So I approached into the Campbell home with a handshake from the man Julian Raymond and he made it possible for this limited-run of himself and watching him sign the necks of a signature hand signed guitars to become a reality. guitar I built on behalf of my own company, Rock N’ Roll Relics. It’s one of the memories I will cherish for the rest of “The guitar is a straightforward vintage style design. We my life and it’s still absolutely unreal!” went with a Sonic Blue colour after hearing that Glen liked the Charlotte Taylor • www.rocknrollrelics.net colour. It is customised with just a volume and tone knob and a five-way pickup selector. It has a vintage-style tremolo bridge For more details on this fantastic competition and your assembly and is loaded with custom David Allen Pickups with chance to win visit www.maverick-country.com ‘Country Boy’ printed on them. or www.rocknrollrelics.net

Maverick 59 the band peRRy pioneeRS of contempoRaRy countRy

he Band Perry are hailed as one of country and keeps the group on their toes. Between them they have a music’s most exciting new arrivals and when they loving brother-sisterly bond, professionally they are one of the arrived on British soil for their performance at the most exciting young country bands around - and they’ve really Country2Country Festival, I managed to catch up not started yet! withT them about their current musical pursuits. The band’s journey started in 2010, when they released their The band is fronted by eldest sibling and the only girl of the self-titled debut album, which included the quadruple-platinum band Kimberley, who fits the big sister role with aplomb. She song If I Die Young. This song provided the foundation of their takes on the lead female role with authority, and while many success and the song is still called for on stage four years later. only see a beautiful young woman with an incredible voice, The award-winning vocal successes of this recording group she has bags of confidence, commands attention and really hit its peak when this song was nominated for a Grammy in does have big things to say about their music career. Reid is the 2011 for Best Country Song and the award it then went on to middle sibling and the foundation for their success. He played win the band at the CMT Music Awards and CMA Awards. THE the role of the keen roadie along with his younger brother Neil BAND PERRY peaked at number one in the US Country Music for years supporting their older sister in a band of Chart and was a massive success for the newly formed Republic her own. Neil brings heaps of character Nashville label. to the band, mischief and fun ... “thiS thiRd RecoRd, wheReveR it endS up going, it feelS like a moRe effoRtleSS pRoceSS than we’ve had befoRe...”

In 2013 came PIONEER, the album that took a lot of work and showed a new depth to the band but also a quality that shone through, making them much more than a brief encounter for the industry. Though this album delivered and DONE, which also reached number one in the US Country Music Chart. The album launched The Band Perry into a ‘pave your own way’ attitude that suited the band better than ever before, and gave them the freedom to rock out, write the songs they love and immerse themselves in the country music they love.

So as they announce that new material is in the pipeline, how are they finding the writing process for album three?

“Y’know, it’s exciting – I always feel like a new record immediately begins to take on a life of its own; the three of us, as our parents’ kids, means we have very distinct personalities – they raised each one of us very differently, and our albums sort of are the same thing. They’re characters already and this third record, wherever it ends up going, it feels like a more effortless process than we’ve had before, which is good news!” says Kimberley in her soft, sultry Southern drawl.

“We’re really wanting to find the balance, too, between that ‘spitfire’ element we developed on PIONEER and recapture some of the romanticism from the first album. I really think this one will lie somewhere between those two worlds,” added Neil.

60 Maverick COURT YARD HOUNDS

All photos © McLister

With development, comes an element of change and no to the live shows to make their fans come out artist ever wants to produce the same album twice. With the time and time again? upcoming record The Band Perry are set to deliver some big songs, but also return to the element of their music, we all “I always say our job is two things: We’re the chief fell in love with in their debut. storytellers while we’re on stage, but we’re also the leaders of the pack, if you will. We always burst onto stage with a lot of “I feel like we’re bringing more and more of who we are. energy and enthusiasm because we absolutely love being that. When you go on a first date you don’t tell your whole life When I’ve watched performers who I admire, the Mick Jaggers story, so the first album was a ‘get to know you’, and the and Freddie Mercurys of the world, they have a particular second album really showed off more of what we’re like live. charisma that then, as a fan, draws me into that moment. I For the third album we’re trying to blend as much of that as think it’s really up to us to allow the fans to get lost in the we can. I feel like we have developed, but also just shown moment,” says Kimberley. a little more of who we are,” announced Reid, his iconic shaggy hair flowing to his shoulders. The fans at Country2Country were very eager to see The Band Perry return to UK soil, and though they were over in Taking inspiration from many different music arenas November, they seem eager to keep returning to grow their makes The Band Perry’s live shows especially exhilarating, UK fanbase year on year. “We love being over here, we love and while their music contains country influences the energy of the fans over here and we like bringing some of throughout, some of the sounds they draw upon come from that back home to the States as well – some of the spirit of you other places. guys when you listen to country music. It’s really infectious and it was cool to take those stories back home and share them,” “We grew up listening to so many different styles of music. notes Kimberley. Our mother loved everything from traditional country to Motown and , and our dad loved rock and Concluding our short time together in the back-rooms of the roll and, well, everything” said Kimberley. “So I don’t feel O2 before their performance, I wanted to know when the UK like we write with any sort of creative schizophrenia, but at fans could expect some new music. the same time we love so many different styles that we’re missing something if we don’t blend a certain amount from “I believe that Chainsaw is going to be a song that we release all these places.” in the UK and you can probably expect us to start gearing up for the new album shortly after that,” shares Kimberley. So Live shows are something The Band Perry live for - the until then we’re left anticipating The Band Perry’s return to UK moment they step on stage is something they look forward shores, as they continue to broaden their musical horizons and to, and the band party in their trailer before in order to get grow their fan base with dedication, hard work and sibling love. themselves ready for a party on stage. So what do they bring Laura Bethell • www.thefansperry.com

Maverick 61 Rascal flatts Rewind

“it’S like a new chapteR in ouR book” R aScal flattS talk to editoR lauR a bethell at c2c feStival 2014 COVER FEATURE • RASCAL FLATTS

hey do not fail to impress – strong in character, charisma and professionalism, the most-awarded country group of the past decade, TRascal Flatts have worked hard to get where they are. The trio comprising of Gary LeVox, guitar and piano player-turned producer Jay DeMarcus and lead guitarist are an award-winning combination. Since their debut in 2000 with Prayin’ For Daylight, which reached number three on the Billboard chart and was the first single of their debut self-titled album, they “knew right away we had something special”. Their continued partnership with Disney’s label lasted ten years. Since then the band have had eight studio albums, their last being CHANGED (released in 2012); they have just announced an upcoming release entitled REWIND, which will be their third on the label.

Rascal Flatts have sold over 22.5 million albums over 28 million digital downloads and have celebrated 14 number one singles, with over 40 trophies from the ACAs, ACMs, AMAs, CMAs and more. Promoting live music throughout their music career, they have sold over seven million concert tickets worldwide. They have shared the stage with some of the greatest country acts of recent including Taylor Swift, and Blake Shelton and are known for delivering high-powered, rock-out concerts time and time again. The group were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2011, something Jay DeMarcus announced as “one of our proudest moments”.

Maverick 63 COVER FEATURE • RASCAL FLATTS

he opportunity to meet and interview this legendary country group finally arrived when they performed at the Country 2 Country Festival at the O2 in London on Sunday March 16. Ready to discuss their upcoming album REWIND, their ninth studio offering, the first single andT title track of the upcoming album is a wonderful return to the sexy, ballad style of song many associate with Rascal Flatts: The kind of song that got you interested in the first place and the kind of song they hope will gain them many new fans going forward.

Talking with them about their return to the UK, they had performed at the Country 2 Country Festival in Dublin the night before we met and they were very excited about their performance later that day. Arriving with authority, these very tall, very intimidating figures arrived dressed mostly in black and talked with passion about their musical endeavours. “Dublin was amazing. They were awesome - every time we come over there’s more and more energy, more and more excitement and it’s just so amazing to see everyone singing along with every word when we’ve had little to no airplay over here. You’ve got some die hard fans over here, which is great!” said Jay DeMarcus, sat in between of Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney and taking lead on the interview.

So what could the UK audience look forward to for the night ahead? “Just good raw energy, we’re going to try and get to as many songs as they know and love,” announced Joe Don as lead singer Gary summed the upcoming event perfectly: “Three good looking guys, playing some good sounding music.”

There’s no mistaking them and don’t assume that because they’re so sure of themselves, they come across as arrogant. These guys are true country gentlemen – they joke, they ponder and their undeniable presence makes the whole event a professional process.

When talking about their return to the UK, I asked the band whether there is a difference between the British and American audiences. “I don’t think so, last year we were here and we played the Shepherds Bush - I don’t think there’s much difference at all, just the accent,” replied Joe Don. I ask this question, because in my experience when American artists come to the UK they tend to be pleasantly surprised by the fact that the audiences are so passionate about the music they are enjoying, they are totally immersed in the musical experience. Jay explains more: “I will say for me, it seems like maybe they’re a little more enthusiastic because a lot of people in the States have seen us many, many times so it sort of becomes like an old habit, whereas over here you have a whole new group of people that’s excited about your music and they certainly are going to be very enthusiastic. When we played the two nights in a row that we did at Shepherds Bush, we would literally stop singing and the crowd would take over and it was just really, really cool to see that kind of energy, from a group of people that really haven’t heard us on the radio that much.”

So can we expect Rascal Flatts to continue touring overseas, and are they hoping to build a new following over in the UK? “That’s our goal - that’s why we keep coming over here and keep doing the work that we’re doing over here and also to spread the gospel of country music - I think that people are pleasantly surprised once they get into it and realise what kind of great music there really is over here. Sometimes you can have a preconceived notion or a preconceived idea of what you think country music is but once you get into it and you start to dissect it you find out it’s nothing like what you thought it was. All these stereotypes that are out there about country people and the music are pretty much inaccurate - it’s really a great music format, we have some of the best musicians, singer, songwriters in the entire world. And so I think people are starting to see that and certainly with the success of the show in Nashville, it’s helped propel the popularity of country music,” answered Jay.

Photo © Anthony D’Angio www.frography.com 64 Maverick COVER FEATURE • RASCAL FLATTS

“Three good looking guys, playing some good sounding music...” GARY LEVOX COVER FEATURE • RASCAL FLATTS

So with Maverick going over to the CMA Festival in Nashville in June, can we expect to see Rascal Flatts over there too? “We play there, we’ve only missed one year I think. A lot of UK fans are coming over for that now, I’ve noticed over the past few years, from all parts of the world, which is great for country music as a whole,” said Joe Don.

Over to the music and with REWIND on the way and slated for US release in June, how are they feeling about the new music they have just produced? “One of the good problems we’ve had with REWIND has been they moved the release date up because it’s been so well received in the States. We were supposed to have a June release but now it’s been moved to May 13. I believe it gets harder with every record you make because you sit in an interview much like this and you end up saying it’s the greatest record since the last one we’ve done. But this album was a challenge for us, it’s taken us a year to complete and I think that we’ve learned more about ourselves and maybe dug into the musical side of who we are more than we ever have before and I think that’s out of necessity because we sort of were left to rely on the take the lead. I really like that about them. Without being three of us a lot through this project.” rude, they carry a professionalism with them that is more than likely associated with a seasoned understanding of With 15 years together and eight studio albums under the events around them. The whole process is very much their belt, you’d think that you’d find a formula and a known thing for the three of them and they are totally stick with it, but Rascal Flatts just aren’t that band. They unphased, as Jay quickly quips: “It was all crap until now continue to challenge themselves and for this record - this is the real thing. This is the best record since the last seemed to have removed the polish in order to allow for one...” a little space to create something different and altogether fresher in sound. Jay DeMarcus actually co-produces There is currently very little information about the some of the tracks on this record, along with producer upcoming album other than the lead single Rewind, which Dann Huff and rock producer Howard Benson. presents a love song about turning back time and doing the whole thing over again. It’s such a sweet song and unlike “We used a different producer who we were very most with this storyline – it’s not about changing a thing, unfamiliar with, but when you’re in unfamiliar territory but just reliving it again and again. it presents new challenges and you learn things about yourself and you find things out about yourself creatively “We’ve changed quite a bit of our sound especially that you may not have discovered before. It’s very easy with this record. We worked with a rock producer named to be in the safe hands of a producer you’ve worked Howard Benson who really took us in an edgier direction with on a bunch of albums before and trust that he’ll and kind of took some of the slickness off some of the ultimately get the job done. When you’re flying without music we produced in previous outings. I think that we a net with a new producer in a new environment it’s have changed our sound sonically a bit, we’ve also gotten to a little more scary and it’s a little more intimidating. where we’ve cut some songs on this album we may not have We’ve gone through this process and discovered some cut a few albums ago. We’ve got a bit more sexier overtones really, really great things about ourselves as a band, and on some of them this time, revisited some of that era, it’s been very challenging, very frustrating at times but where it’s more about the sexiness of our music and tapping also at the end of it very, very rewarding. It just feels like into that a bit more. I think we left that for the past few there’s a rennaissance of Rascal Flatts ahead here with singles, so I feel like we’ve got back to some of the things this record,” announced Jay DeMarcus. “It’s like a new that bought us to the dance a little bit,” Jay says. chapter in our book” Joe Don Rooney adds. Rascal Flatts were once known as a band that was As they laugh and joke, you can tell this band have favoured by a younger audience and they’ve never shaken, a real connection – there’s not a hint that someone or even tried to, shake the fact that they are a band liked for wanted to say more than someone else – in fact the their Disney songs for the likes of ‘Cars’ and the ‘Hannah lead singer Gary, who would normally take the lead on Montana’ movies or the young fans they have encountered such an interview, stays very quiet and lets his band along the way.

66 Maverick COVER FEATURE • RASCAL FLATTS

“it just feels like there is a rennaissance of rascal flatts ahead here with this record...”

“If you come to a Rascal Flatts show, it’s funny the age can have a great family time together,” groups cos it’s literally from the cradle to the grave, which added Jay DeMarcus. is great. We don’t really set out to target a certain area, but the girls seem to enjoy what we do and it grows from So lastly, how do these country music stars stay there, but you could come to a Rascal Flatts show and see grounded family men after so many years of continued four generations,” said Joe Don Rooney. success? “I have Joe Don come over and mow my lawn - that keeps him grounded!” Laughs Jay DeMarcus As we discussed this between us, it was very apparent “Our moms would beat our butts…” “Don’t get above that they were ever so proud of the fact that the band’s your raising” added Joe Don Rooney with a stern live shows were somewhere you’d find the entire family. finger pointing at Jay and as they laugh Joe Don With each of them a family man of their own, it most finishes the interview with a very humble note. “We’re definitely fits their overall goal. so blessed and we’re so grateful that we’re able to do what we do for a living and our families - we don’t “There have been many times standing in a meet and consider ourselves any different to anyone else.” greet line fans would come through and say we love your show so much and what you guys are doing because this So after a wonderful performance at is one of the few times we can bring the entire family to Country2Country I can’t wait to hear what experience the show. And I’m proud of that - I’m proud REWIND will do when it is released in May that a family feels like it can bring their kids and they this year. Laura Bethell

Photo © Anthony D’Angio www.frography.com Maverick 67 Editor’s Top Picks: ERIC CHURCH MARTINA MCBRIDE MATT NATHANSON

A Guide To ­ e Star Rat- ings In Maverick:

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OYSTERBAND ELI YOUNG BAND LYDIA LOVELESS

Abi Moore – 73 Doug Briney – 87 Julie Fowlis – 99 – 80 Andy Lee Lang – 74 Eagles – 104 Ken Will Morton – 78 Ross Ainslie – 95 Andy White – 70 Elephant Revival – 70 – 105 Sandi  om – 72 Angela Perley &  e Eli Young Band – 72 Luka Bloom – 78 Sara Evans – 99 Howlin’ Moons – 74 – 103 Lydia Loveless – 88 Seth Lakeman – 98 – 103 Eric Church – 98 Maggie McClure – 90 Shinyribs – 94 Bastard Sons of Johnny Eric Paslay – 101 Martina McBride – 88 Sion Russell Jones – 94 Cash – 72 Fearing & White – 87 Mary Sarah – 99 Skylark Song – 80 Belshazzar’s Feast – 75 Gordie Tentrees – 76 Matt Andersen – 90 Stephanie Manns - 96 – 82 Glen Campbell – 104 Matt Nathanson – 89 Sturgill Simpson – 80 Brad Paisley - 96 – 87 NeedToBreathe – 101 Swampcandy – 94 Cahalen Morrison & Eli Grace Slick – 105 Nickel Creek – 90  e Brook West – 84 Hat Check Girl – 83 Nitty Gritty Chivell Band – 71 Canton Junction – 84 Hugh Mo¥ att – 84 Dirt Band – 105  e David Carly Jamison – 84 ItsAcoustica – 92 Noah Gundersen – 98 Liberty Band – 94 Carrie Newcomer – 86 Jackson C Frank – 105 Nobodaddy – 78  e Henry Girls – 80 Carrie Tree – 85 Jadea Kelly – 76 Ochre Room – 101  e New Madrids – 81 Band – 104 Jaylis – 76 – 71  e O’s – 95 Charlie Parr – 82 JD Wilkes &  e Dirt Patsy Reid – 95  e Redlands Chris Eckman – 86 Daubers – 88 Paul Handyside – 90 Palomino Company – 82 Chris Spedding – 103 - 96 Peter Conway – 79 Tom Ovans – 77 Dave Clemo – 74 – 91 Peter Mulvey – 79 Troubador Kings – 91 David Berkeley – 70 Johnny Cash – 69 Phil Burdett – 92 Uncle Tupelo – 106 David G Smith – 74 Jon Pardi – 75 Rachel Ries – 92 VA: Looking Into You – 106 Dierks Bentley – 83 Josh Taerk – 75 Red Pine Timber Ward  omas – 96 – 86 Julian Dawson – 76 Company – 93 Wyatt Easterling – 82

68 Maverick SPECIAL REVIEW

Johnny Cash OUT AMONG THE STARS Legacy/Sony 88843018192 HHH The man in black is back, kind of

his is The Lost Album, a collection of TCash material from the early 80s. For the large part it is what you would expect a Cash record of that period to be – chirpy, cheerful and with the air of a Nashville TV variety show waiting to happen. It was what they did to him in those days, with the exception of the pleasingly gruff 1979 set SILVER and the Brit country-tinged BLUES from 1980, with appearances by and Nick Lowe. This, supposedly, isn’t actually a lost album as such, more bits that, perhaps even then, the record company powers that be lost interest in. Cash was by then little more than a curio, driven into the middle of the road and left there. One hint This might be The Lost Album, but it’s not of what was to be his rebirth with his Def American albums, truly the man in black, is quite The Great Lost Album, but I don’t the powerful She Used To Love Me A Lot, think we could ever have expected that. slow and growled, just like Rick Rubin at Def achieved – more a voice with deftly arranged backing. It’s a track that you Stuart, Buddy Miller and Pat cooking. Another duet with June, the would have thought, even then, that McLaughlin on guitars. charming Don’t You Think It’s Come Our someone would have pounced on, And there are cracking moments such Time is preferable, and with casual something that sticks in the subconscious as the lethal guitar on ’s I’m bluegrass edge. and refuses to leave that cranny at the Movin’ On, a duet with , Rock And Roll Shoes, by Brits Paul back of the brain and you keep on even if the overall feel could have been a Kennerley and Graham Lyle is given neat singing it. little gutsier. And the reflectiveTennessee rockabilly guitar and some of the best, As a bonus here there’s an Elvis with neat pedal steel. snappiest drums on the record. Costello-produced revamp, the track There’s a tad too much jollity, and If there are other performances that live taken apart, stripped down and unnecessary gimmicky songs – I Drove Her up to Cash’s later work they’re After All, a reimagined – with not a little owed to Out Of My Mind, and the suggestive melancholy number, and Cash’s own Rubin’s work – with echoing bass, ghostly silliness of If I Told You Who It Was, all done moving ballad, I Came To Believe, which still backing vocals and squealing guitars. It is, with that uptempo clip-clop beat that has a touch too much Sherrill strings and frankly, a work of art. seemed to be associated with Cash back backing vocals for complete comfort. Much of the rest is relentlessly happy then. Even the title track, about a youth, Perhaps John Carter Cash wasn’t the best and light, despite players of the calibre of guns and a grocery store is dealt with in a person to get deeply involved in his father’s on mandolin and Hargus ‘Pig’ manner that might have been more suited legacy, being too close. It would have been Robbins on piano; but then Billy Sherrill to dogs and pick-up trucks. interesting to see what Rubin could have never really did moody as a producer. Maybe I’m being too harsh. Little of constructed. Or even T Bone Burnett. A string of additional musicians are what’s here is different to what was This might be The Lost Album but it’s not listed who, one must assume, were available from Nashville at the time, quite The Great Lost Album, but I don’t involved in John Carter Cash’s additional although the duet with June Carter is light think we could ever have expected that. recording on what must have been entertainment pure and simple, a Nick Dalton • sketchily finished recordings… notably galloping tune about love and greasy www.legacyrecordings.com

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GUITAR a tome that offered insight into each their sorrows; or as in my own case, make David Berkeley of the album’s thirteen songs. Broken you grateful for what you have and pledge THE FIRE Crown, composed to accompany Berkeley’s to work harder at the relationship. IN MY HEAD forthcoming short story collection THE FREE Alan Harrison Straw Man Music BRONTOSAURUS, is a richly-illustrated love www.andywhite.com HHHH ode, while the title of the penultimate song Wherein Berkeley I’m Coming Home is self-explanatory. prays for rain to Berkeley will accompany Robby Hecht Elephant Revival quench THE FIRE IN MY HEAD and Peter Bradley Adams on a U.K. tour THESE Closing on his fortieth year, in a solo during late June/early July. Arthur Wood CHANGING SKIES recording career spanning twelve years, THE www.davidberkeley.com Itz Evolving Records FIRE IN MY HEAD is bred Berkeley’s HHHI sixth solo outing. Christened David Berkeley Colorado’s Elephant Friedland and Harvard educated, his parents Andy White Revival delivers attended the University of California during HOW another technicolour the 1970s before moving east, hence their THINGS ARE melange of word and melody offspring’s middle name. Now Santa Fe, New Floating World FW039 Hailing from Oklahoma and Colorado, the Mexico based and self-released on his Straw HHH five-piece Elephant Revival have been Man imprint, Berkeley launches this eight Irish troubadour based in Nederland, Colorado since midway song, 35 minute go-round with Back To Blue, pours his heart out on through the noughties, and are composed a plaintive paean to love wherein the his ‘break-up’ album of Sage Cook (banjo, guitar, mandolin, tenor narrator repeats ‘We have only this one Born and brought up in Belfast but more banjo, bass and fiddle), Bridget Law (fiddle, chance. Let’s take it my dear. Let’s taste recently a resident in Australia, this is Andy octave fiddle), Bonnie Paine (washboard, it my dear.’ White’s 11th album and he uses every canon djembe, musical saw, stompbox), Daniel Berkeley (lead vocals, guitar, percussion, in his armoury to articulately tell us he has Rodriguez (guitar, banjo, bass) and Dango bass) is joined on THE FIRE IN MY HEAD by his ‘moved on’ after a traumatic break-up and Rose (double-bass, mandolin, banjo). On road band, Bill Titus (guitar, keyboards, things are now alright; but could be better. THESE CHANGING SKIES the band members organ, drums) and Jordan Katz (trumpet, Opening track Driftin’ harks back to the share the lead and backing vocals. banjo), while Jono Manson adds electric singer’s power-pop days on Stiff Records Recorded at Bear Creek Studio in guitar to one selection. The album was with slightly psychedelic guitars, overdubs Woodinville, Washington, THESE CHANGING recorded in two days at the latter’s Kitchen and a chorus; ‘I don’t wanna be free/I don’t SKIES is their third full studio album and was Sink Studio. References to ‘rain’ and ‘water’ wanna be me’ that the Oasis brothers can produced/mixed by Ryan Hadlock (The are awash here. Seeking relief, The Fire In My only dream of these days. Lumineers, Milo Greene, Ra Ra Riot & Blonde Head narrator alludes to its absence – ‘Oh, On track two White reverts to his more Redhead). Of the dozen songs featured there’s no rain tonight. No rain in sight recognisable singer-songwriter style with Paine authored four, Rodriguez and Cook tonight.’ The Well (Wait For The Rain) is Separation Street; entwining his current supplied three each, while the only launched by the apocalyptic ‘Now feelings with the intensity and instrumental The Pasture was penned by everyone’s waiting for all this to change, a circumstances when he first met his lover all Rose. The only cover song is David Wesler’s saviour to come or a great tidal wave,’ those years previously, on a song that will The Rakers, which was arranged by Law. mentions retribution and waiting ‘for rain’ resonate with many people who have Instrumental is actually an appropriate term and concludes ‘….the water’s all gone, gone encountered the same situation. regarding the sonic contents of THESE from the well.’ In album closer Song For The It would be wrong to say everything on CHANGING SKIES, and while they’re not a Road a river floods the adjacent land, while a HOW THINGS ARE is depressing; they’re not; full-blown , Elephant Revival ‘twister roared in, made the whole city fly.’ but All It Does is Rain is a beautifully certainly lean that way here by way of Faced with these environmental miserable song and White’s soft, worn voice numerous extended instrument-only catastrophes, the narrator delivers a manfully climbs above Domini Forster’s interludes. Stylistically their music is an personal summation ‘They can flatten a string on a song that sounds energetic marriage of Scottish/Celtic, folk, house. They can flood all we see. They can’t like a modern folk song. bluegrass and psychedelic country, take the soul from my family and me’ and Closest Thing to Heaven is a blow by blow leavened by hints of , , filled with resolve repeats ‘Don’t ever account of the day ‘she’ decided to leave hip-hop. Onstage, multi-instrumentalist give up.’ and when White goes from telling us ‘she’ Paine creates additional beats by way of Autumnal indicators and expressions of was the Closest Thing to Heaven (in my heart) stomping barefoot on a plywood deck. self-doubt pervade Oh, The Hedges Are High. to recounting ‘her’ telling ‘him’ that she was The band’s ethos is founded on the Shelter was written at the request of Living in a Brand New Hell you can actually premise that even though we don’t bestselling author, Harlan Coben, to feel the knife sliding between his ribs. understand one another’s languages, we accompany promotion of his 2011 young ]Not everything works on the album; but can be moved by a rhythm, soothed by a adult novel of the same name. Berkeley’s also the songs that do work are bloody good song. In addition the band is an a writer, his fifth albumSOME KIND OF CURE and will either be the soundtrack to environmentally aware aggregation, and (2011) was accompanied by 140 GOATS AND A hundreds of men and women drowning they have worked with charity organisations

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such as the Conscious Alliance, Calling All instrumental, Baked Beans on Toast, acts as a Diamonds On The Water starts off mellow Crows and Trees Water & People. The vehicle for guest fiddle player, Lachlan enough with A Clown’s Heart although in aggregation’s social concerns manifest Davidson, to show off his superb bluegrass true folk style, the anguished lyrics are set to themselves in titles such as Rodriguez chops, and provides a welcome barn-dance a jaunty tune. The next track A River Runs is penned opener Birds And Stars, Cook’s Down themed break to the album, before the driven along by the muscular drumming of To The Sea and Paine’s Rogue River. There’s a band step back in front of the microphone Dil Davis with much stronger singing than wavering edge to Paine’s singing voice and for some classic country-pop vocal on previous albums. It’s with the next track it’s evident on all of her compositions harmonies on Thank You. Spirit of Dust that the true strength of the beginning with Remembering A Beginning. If The Brook Chivell Band never release song-writing comes through. Listen to it Sage Cook attended the Occupy Wall Street any more music, they can stand proud carefully. It’s the kind of song that Bruce demonstration in New York, and that 2011 knowing that they’ve delivered a superb Springsteen would be proud of. Take away event forms the focus of her The Obvious. contemporary country-rock album. the folk inflections, add that big Telecaster Arthur Wood Combining all of the best elements of sound, switch up the bass and it’s full on www.elephantrevival.com today’s scene while keeping a keen eye on Bruce. I mean that as a big compliment. And the past, THE BROOK CHIVELL BAND can easily so it goes on with the next Lay Your Dreams hold its own against any of its peers. Down Gently which is a song which defies The Brook Fortunately for us, the guys are already genre classification. You could do a Chivell Band working on a follow-up album and if this is bluegrass version, a soft-rock West Coast THE BROOK anything to go by then they’re on to a version or a full metal thrash and it would CHIVELL BAND winner! Christopher Mark still be a brilliant song. Diamonds on the Self-Released www.brookchivell.com Water follows in the same vein with Al HHHHI Scott’s inventive bass forcing the track Slick, high quality, forward, aligned to that great rarity, lyrics well written, well played Oysterband that are worth listening to. The Wilderness and well produced Nashville sound... DIAMONDS ON drops down to a minor key to paint a The Brook Chivell Band must have THE WATER dramatic musical landscape to match the country music burnt into their souls. Their Navigator Records song’s title. More driving bass and drums on self-titled debut album may look rather NAVIGATOR087| Palace Of Memory which is rock/folk rather unassuming on the shelf, but dig a few HHHHH than the other way round but no worse for. tracks in and you’ll find a slick, high quality, One step back, three I’d love to hear it live with the amps well written, well played and well produced steps forward. Revamped and revitalised bleeding. Back to a traditional song for an Nashville sound. The fact that Brook and the Oysterband produce their best CD in years inspired version of Once I Had a Sweetheart boys find themselves plugging their brand Ah, Oysterband (still keep wanting to add (one of Alan Prosser’s favourite). It has echo’s of country rock nearly 1,000 miles away from ‘The’ to the front). I seem to have grown up of Fairport’s Sailor’s Life in that it is strong on Music City clearly doesn’t worry them in the with them. It doesn’t seem that long ago brooding atmosphere to reflect the moving slightest and their music can stand its that I was pogo-ing in my kitchen along to words of this deeply sad song. No Ordinary ground against any of the genre’s finest. Granite Years, playing air guitar (air Girl could come from an early Oysterband Opening with the lead single, Drive On, fiddle?) and bawling ‘cruising for a bruising’ CD (and possibly have me air-fiddling again). the band hit the ground running. to my slightly puzzled collection of cats. So It is a strong and upbeat with fantastic lyrics Immediately catchy, this foot-stomping with all the sideways steps the band have and needs to be played loud. Actually, this opening track sounds like the result of an taken over the years (famous whole album has that ‘vibe’ that makes you unlikely union between Keith Urban and collaborations, acoustic albums) the big want to turn the dial up that extra notch. Call , with a chorus that will be question, as it so often when a band has You Friend has some really touching lyrics stuck in your head for days and some been together so long is ‘can they still cut set to a racing beat which in some ways has excellent electric guitar work from Brook the mustard?’. On this showing, the answer become the signature of Oysterband - the and fellow six stringer Paul Gales. Always You is not only a resounding yes but they seem juxtoposition of serious themes and shows off Brook’s sensitive side while to have got their ‘mojo’ back. Trust me there occasionally dark material married to masterfully bringing in the soulful, soaring is not bad song on this album and some melodic, harmonious tunes. Steal Away, voice of Elise Beattie, and the two combined absolute belters. although on the surface a song to a child bring the song to an emotional peak, With the departure of their bass player conquering his fear of the dark melds into a inspired in its vocal pairing and Ray ‘Chopper’ Cooper, Oysterband have deeper reflection on the ‘power of solitude’. transcendent in its delivery. co-opted their long-time producer Al Scott The final track is just a great song. Drummer Ray Deegan provides the to stand in on bass and mandolin but apart Like a Swimmer in the Ocean is a gentle perfect backbeat in Thrills ‘N’ Spills, a boozy from this enforced change the crux of the acoustic guitar and mandolin number ode to alcohol from a band that clearly band remains with Ian Telfer, Alan Prosser, ending with the words ‘I leave these songs spends Saturday night seeped in sin and John Jones and especially drummer Dil with you’. I am very glad that they did. This is Sunday morning coming down, and a track Davies showing that taking a step back to song-writing, playing and arranging out of that would sound far from out of place in a their earlier sound has proven a great the top drawer. Kevin Moug Dierks Bentley setlist. The intriguingly titled leap forward. www.oysterband.co.uk

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– who’d have thought that possible? usually write in silence but the damn Sandi Thom I’ve been a fan for several years now; thing is on repeat and I never ever do THE COVERS and Sandi has continuously struggled to that. Ian Ambrose COLLECTION shake off her earlier ‘pop’ credentials, www.bsojc.com Guardian Angel but with these interpretations the HHHH Scottish siren has proved she has a Classic rock songs musical taste and vocal range second to Eli Young Band get an unplugged none and hopefully other, more 10,000 Towns and spirited makeover influential, critics than me will take her Universal Republic For whatever reason 2014 appears to more seriously from now on. Alan Records be the year of the ‘covers album’ with Harrison B00H9GJND8 the great and the good releasing their www.sandithom.com HHHHH own versions of other people’s songs. Blistering from the Some I’ve heard have obviously been start, this new album shows how contract fillers but a couple have Bastard Sons Of intelligent and perceptive good rockin’ merited more than two listens; and in Johnny Cash country music can be the case of THE COVERS COLLECTION by NEW OLD There is always a danger to start your Sandi Thom, it just might be the album STORY new album with your latest hit - as that changes her career for the better. Randm Records further songs may turn out to a Covers albums are probably the RANDM 001 disappointment. No danger on the latest bravest to make as the choice of tracks HHH CD from this group of Texas troubadours. reflects on the artistes taste and Familiar themes, new century bravado If you haven’t heard the opening Drunk judgements can be very harsh; if the Previous to this CD arriving I had only Last Night before, I’d advise you to hunt rendition of someone’s favourite song been aware of the group name, which I this as soon as possible. It’s no surprise it doesn’t come up to scratch. still think is rubbish, and not the sound was a hit on initial release. It is a solid, no This album opens with the gentle that they make. If I had how much richer frills, clever classic. Just a warning: It’s an stroking of the keys on a piano before life would have been, for this is the fifth earworm and if you don’t find yourself Sandi’s soaring voice turns Heart’s Alone album from the combo led by vocalist humming/singing this then you have no into a Gothic ballad that and songwriter Mark Stuart, and I feel soul. would be proud of. that I must investigate the previous four. The Eli Young Band have been around Here Guns and Roses November Rain So what makes this special then? for 11 years having met as students at the is virtually unrecognisable as all of the Truth be told it is hard to tell for its University of North Texas. The band pomp and caterwauling is replaced by a neither earth shattering or ground consist of Mike Eli (vocals, guitar), James piano and acoustic guitar supporting a breaking, you have heard it all before Young (guitar), Jon Jones () beautiful voice purring beautiful lyrics. – its tried and tested country fare shot and Chris Thompson (drums), who in Another heavy rock song makes an through with the passion of Waylon, various combinations share composing appearance with More Than Words by Willie and the outlaws and mixed with a credits on many of the songs. Extreme. Now no longer a power ballad healthy dash of Haggard and Joe Ely, all After Drunk Last Night comes the title Sandi manages to find hidden depths mixed into a 21st century cocktail along track 10,000 Towns. This strikes the on a song I loved many years ago. with equal measures of swagger and common theme in country songs as Not everything is ‘obvious’ with the poise. being another tribute to small town choice of Fleetwood Mac’s Songbird Of course good songs help too, on America, along the lines of No. 29 or Jack taking me by surprise; especially this score Stuart doesn’t miss out, the and Diane. This is a recurring premise on because this version flirts with Sandi’s first three tracks being exceptionally this album which resonates with tales of roots as a folk singer; and her piano strong. My favourite of the three is Well existing in a largely disappearing playing may appear simple but is Worn Heart, a plaintive cry for love that American environment. The majority of actually extraordinary. lasts longer than the average gig. Stuart songs are based around tales of modest It could be said that Johnny Cash set can also do reflective,Ain’t No Tellin’ people living (10,000 Towns), loving the benchmark for this type of album, muses poetically on the fact that we all (Angel Like You, Your Last Broken Heart) and with the Nine Inch Nail song Hurt he have no idea when the hammer is to fall, and leaving (Dust) middle America. Track (and Rick Rubin) tore up the rulebook, so complete with soulful guitar part. five,Let’s Do Something Tonight, shows singing the same song in virtually the It’s been a long time since work, this to great affect where the dream is to same style is foolhardy to say the least, honky-tonks and blue collar affairs have do ‘something we’ll be talking about in and here it stands out like a sore thumb. been made to sound this appealing, and the morning’. The song explores the idea The album ends with another more power to the elbow of Mr Stuart as of breaking away from the norm to do surprising choice and another beautiful I look forward to CD number six. In the something (anything) that is worth song: ’s The Rain Song. meantime a visit to these shores and a discussing, the implication that Again Sandi manages to find a beautiful few gigs would be most welcome. day-to-day life is badly in need of spicing song hidden in a heavy metal track By the way did I tell you this is good? I up. Following the country-style word

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play of Your Last Broken Heart, the piano me with a mother’s hand/And would it kill driven What Does slowly builds to a Abi Moore me to say to you, once in a while, ‘I love you’.’ powerful ballad, subtly changing the AMOEBA & STONE In the same vein I Nearly Told You opens with pace of the album. Things are soon back Honest Records HR01 ‘I nearly did the unthinkable, admitted the to rockin’ with A Lot Like Love, which HHH way I felt/I nearly told you I loved you in again is a lament for the past, this time Very fine follow up to spite of myself.’ Both of these songs are of a lost love. Just Add Moonlight is a THINGS WE SHOULD reminiscent of classic early seventies female straightforward lover’s advice song HAVE SAID confessional singers including Carol King driven forward by the strong drums of Almost five years have passed since and Laura Nyro and Moore sings Chris Thompson. Down to a minor key 2009’s THINGS WE SHOULD HAVE SAID, wonderfully over well crafted muted for Revelations, in which the apparently Abi Moore’s last release, which received backing. religious theme deals with decidedly unanimous praise from all who reviewed Moore carries this wistfulness over ruined secular misdemeanours. The final track, it. AMOEBA & STONE may have been love to an extreme however with the Prayer for the Road, is one of those classic some time in the making but it shows maudlin Wishful Thinking where she carries ‘last song in the set’ numbers. It’s that the Lincolnshire artist is not resting out a dialogue with a dead partner which breezy, optimistic, sad, sensitive and on her laurels as she puts herself into the starts off as if it’s a continuation of Lionel guaranteed to lift the crowd and leave picture with several of the songs Richie’s hit single from the eighties, Hello. them demanding more. There are no described as ‘autobiographical,’ However it’s the one flaw in this minor gem great issues explored on this album here documenting what she sees as the as she offers a fine folksyReturn To Oz where but as a study of the issues affecting duality of being an artist and a woman she imagines this imagined land as an most of mainstream America it shines with her muse making her a “difficult escape from her daily woes while the title with its sensitivity allied with pure partner.” The result is several arresting song is given an atmospheric electric folk musical and vocal excellence. Kevin love (or out of love) songs including the feel with David Booth’s guitars and feedback Moug wintry Protection where she sings: ‘You’re recalling prime Fairport. Paul Kerr www.EliYoungBand.com the woman and I’m the man, you touch www.abimoore.com NEW RELEASES

songs by Iowan singer/songwriter David G songs. Andy Lee Lang Smith that encourage you to pause for Angela croons, warbles and belts out SINGS EDDY thought. The album, Smith’s second, was some truly strong vocals, accompanied by ARNOLD produced by Blue Miller, who has also confident, spirited, high gear guitar. The Austro Mechana worked with names including and band throws its listeners themes of love and CD2013001 Albert King and features a cornucopia of heartbreak; lust, recklessness and adventure. H backing vocalists and instrumentalists, Their fun, full, rock-roots sound has a power Why? including the aforementioned Miller. in making you want to get out there with Ok, your starter for ten – Which country The album opens with the title track, a them and travel down the road to on this planet do you think Andy Lee Lang sultry and bluesy number that takes a swipe somewhere, anywhere new. calls home? I’m not hugely well travelled but at the political and financial situation around Heavier, country-rock, guitar driven songs name alone would not suggest Austria. the world: ‘People are mad about the dominate the album including Hurricane, Again I will confess my ignorance as I have widening gap/Between the House of Want which simply demands attention with its no idea of the magnitude of the country and the House of Have’. The song serves as a gritty vocals and explosive guitar, Bad music scene in the land of Mozart, but our call to arms for the people of Earth to Reputation and Milk In The Fridge. The songs Mr Lang is an award winner. It may be naïve improve the lives of our children. are energetic and fun, but nothing is done of me to infer award winning with Smith’s storytelling is evident through the here that hasn’t been done before. In Ghost, popularity, but I feel confident in assuming album. The fourth track, Jesus is in Prison, is a Howlin’ At The Moon and Rock And Roller, the that he is a bit of a star. beautiful Americana tale of death-row badass guitar and edge to the vocals are met Believe it or not SINGS is redemption that demonstrates Smith’s with a sense of vulnerability and softness - his 24th album, and I can safely say that I have exceptional song-writing abilities. Following from Angela’s croon, to the softer, crying not heard any of the preceding 23; this, Angels Flew is a surprisingly upbeat guitar. It’s something very well rounded and presumably Andy is of such stature that he celebration of the heroism that was on show unique that they achieve in these songs. Lust, can choose to record whatever he pleases as in New York on 9/11, which features some yearning and wildness combine flawlessly in this must be a rather than a excellent gospel-sounding backing vocals. the stand-out title track as Angela seduces calculated commercial decision. The only criticism I would have with this the listener ‘Why do you look so good? My Enough waffle, I can hold off no longer I’m album is that many of the songs sound very mouth is watering.’ afraid this is not an uplifting listen. In fact similar. That is not to detract from the quality This is a modern rock, roots album indeed pedestrian is a pedestal that it doesn’t really of the music, or Smith’s skills as a musician, but with a subtle country croon to mellow it reach, I hate to mention karaoke in relation but the very best albums have enough out and all those great themes a good county to any ‘proper’ music but I fear that I have variety to keep you interested throughout. I road-trip album needs: Taking to the road, a heard more vitality from such machines. You often found myself switching off halfway free spirit and sense of adventure…and of can’t knock the man for trying but the through songs, and missing the story that is course some heartbreak too. Charlotte results seem to belittle his best efforts, now being told. This is the musical equivalent of a Taylor the legendary Mr Arnold did come up with a velvet chocolate cake – smooth and rich, but www.angelaperley.com few good discs Make The World Go Away, gets a bit much after a while. Chris Beck Tennessee Stud, You Don’t Know Me, and www.davidgsmithmusic.com Bouquet of Roses being but four that show Dave Clemo up here. Each being a classic song that, you HARD TIMES would think, could withstand virtually any Angela Perley & CCR 2013 treatment, but Andy has a damn good shot The Howlin’ HH at proving that statement completely false. Moons Pleasant and That is all I am going to say on the subject HEY KID engaging roots music as, I hope, Andy Lee Lang has more fertile Vital Music from a survivor plans to follow and I hope that includes a HHHI Dave Clemo might be the very definition good pile of good original songs. Ian Roots-rock songs to of a jobbing musician. Now in his sixties he’s Ambrose turn up loud and take on the road played in a raft of bands going back to the www.andyleelang.at HEY KID is the much anticipated debut seventies in London and Northampton. album from leading lady Angela Perley and Following a spell of treatment for leukaemia her band The Howlin’ Moons, featuring Billy and now in remission he’s recorded this David G Smith Zehnal on bass, Chris Connor on lead guitar album of pleasant acoustic folk/rock playing ONE HOUSE and Steve Rupp on drums. Four old friends, all instruments (guitars, mandolin, fretless David G Smith Music they have released four EPs to date and built bass) himself with support from his son, HHH on their craft since their inception in 2009, Chris, on Cajon and ‘suitcase’ . Thought-provoking forming a rock, roots, country blend, with There’s nothing to fault here and the songs Americana story- standout vocals and great rhythms and are well written and performed, Clemo’s telling melodies - all of which makes for very easy voice has a fine relaxed vibe and he is This is a melancholy and thought- listening. Produced by Jerry DePizzo and certainly a nimble picker. At times one is provoking collection of Americana/folk Mike Landolt, their debut features all new minded to recall Ronnie Lane’s Slim Chance

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as the songs roll out. I Fought The Battle (You captivating instrumental pieces ranging everyone’s taste, but thanks to Pardi’s clever Won the War) stands out as Clemo rocks out from Bach’s Italian Concerto to the quaintly lyrics and crossover sound, this may just be gently with a slight sense of urgency in the named Gerald Road Mazurkas, an amusing the album to convert the sceptics. Chris vocals as his mandolin rushes the song piece about a very unlikely location – ‘a Beck along. Otherwise it’s a pleasant listen which seedy thoroughfare in Worthing’ – the www.jonpardi.com will be a fine souvenir for folk who might see melody of which could be lifted from the him live. Paul Kerr Polish national anthem or any of three or four www.daveclemo.co.uk of the classical . Josh Taerk Long may Messrs Sartin and Hutchinson JOSH continue to find a few weeks each year to get Misty Creek Records Belshazzar’s Feast together to entertain and, in an understated HHHH THE WHITING’S way, educate us all. Exciting re-issued ON THE WALL Paul Collins debut from a gifted Unearthed Records www.belshazzarsfeast.com Canadian singer- EARTHOL004 songwriter HHHH Musically energetic and poignantly 20 years together and Jon Pardi written, Canadian singer-songwriter Josh their first live album WRITE YOU A Taerk’s ten-track, pop-rock, self-titled debut This popular Biblically named folk and SONG album makes an exciting appearance to the near classical duo have released a recording HumpHead Records UK this spring, with an addition of four of performances at the Pound Arts Centre HHHHI splendidly performed acoustic numbers of Corsham during a celebratory tour in A ‘bro-country’ some of his most finest pens. September 2013. As they readily admit, crossover that will win You’re simply spoilt for choice, as this vocalist and oboist Paul Sartin and over a fair few sceptics hardworking and insightful young man, accordionist Paul Hutchinson now only get The current trend in country music is for with a knack for writing moving songs to together for a few weeks each year but they high-tempo, rock-tinged songs about beer, memorable melodies and infectious sure spread a lot of happiness whilst the pickup trucks and girls. It has become so arrangements, takes you on a musical association lasts. Amongst several other popular amongst artists like Florida journey of honest stories personal to his callings Sartin is also a member of the Line and Luke Bryan that it has developed development into maturity. multi-award-winning Bellowhead and into its own sub-genre of country, christened The strong and steady I’ll Live For You Hutchinson doubles with the folk groups ‘bro-country’. The latest ‘bro’ offering is from opens the album perfectly, with chunky Beauty & The Beast and Hoover The Dog. California native Jon Pardi, whose debut guitar chords, memorable chorus and Josh’s Inevitably for a project of this sort some of album features his two soft voice relaying the message that living the tracks are on their previous albums but breakthrough hits – Missin’ You Crazy and Up for the one you love makes you stronger, you get the pick of them here and of course All Night, as well as nine other catchy songs, whilst the thought-provoking Start Again is you also get the entertaining interaction many of which combine the ‘bro-country’ just a musically charming number. these two get with their audience. On lyrics with a surprisingly old-school A retrospective songwriter, Josh’s repeated plays such sequences can tire but honky-tonk sound that hark back to self-penned love songs are just numbers to that did not happen for me here especially country’s classic days. fall deeply in love with: The beautiful Casie, the near three minute and very funny Irish In many ways, WRITE YOU A SONG is the the musically driven My Angel and my harpist link between the opener Wild Rover best of both worlds – Pardi’s raw vocals and absolute favourite on the album, the upbeat and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto played of fiddle and slide-guitar instrumentals in and memorable Virginia providing just three course on oboe and accordion. A very tracks such as the melancholy That Man and of the albums highs. inventive duo as can be confirmed by anyone the almost bluegrass Love You From Here will I’m not sure what it is but the mid-beat who has seen them live and as is evidenced appeal to those who yearn for the days of Smell The Roses seems to musically obtrude here by the play on words for the album title , while his lyrics and wit create on the album, appearing somewhat and wry humour throughout. Also the party songs such as the insanely memorable different from the rest, but this is certainly marked divergence of the first two numbers Write You A Song or Empty Beer Cans (the lyrics no bad thing. A cut written whilst still at and variety of the rest of the musical offering, of which tick several ‘bro-country’ boxes). school and telling a memorable tale of it all grabs and keeps your attention. Another stand-out on the album is Trash A appreciating what you have before it’s too From their own Hampshire Heath the tale Hotel Room, which mixes heavy guitar late, this skippy number could easily be of work in the fields being done for the day sections with those bro-country staples of featured in a great rom-com movie. The Home Lad, Home, beautifully sung by Sartin, drinking and the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, but has musically-sultry Figure This Out deserves a is a highlight as is the traditional One Cold a more subtle instrumental section hidden thorough listen to as well. Morning, the latter the traditional tale of a away in it. Thoroughly recommended, this young naïve young man being ripped off by a Overall, this is a very impressive album man has a very long and promising career calculating woman. Can anyone write a song from a man who has the sound of an artist ahead of him; the delightful JOSH is merely with that theme these days? who has been around a lot longer than he the beginning. Emily Saxton In addition to Beethoven several other actually has. Bro-country may not be to www.joshtaerk.com

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hell-raising has seen better days, so to have of the finest when it comes to country soul. Jadea Kelly your pre-conceptions challenged is always His most recent album, DEEP RAIN, was a CLOVER good. country-souls classic, with Dan Penn at the Divergent Records Therefore it is a shame to report that the controls, but this three-CD box dips into his HHH results are rather bland and anonymous, many achievements, any one of which Smooth, ambient folk and that is not a good thing especially could, and should, have propelled him into pop when you have spent a lifetime putting the big time. Canadian Jadea your heart and soul into your songs. Of The neatly designed box also contains a Kelly is steadily making a name for herself course I may have become a cynical and fact- and photo-packed 40-page book that and for good reason too. 2010’s miserable soul who has seen and heard far takes you on a tour of Dawson’s career with independently released debut, too much in the course of living a vicarious full details of every track. And that includes EASTBOUND PLATFORM, showcased her life, but there is nothing remarkable coming two CDs and 40 tracks from albums as unique brand of folk and saw her from the speakers during the course of this varied as 1983’s AS REAL AS DISNEYLAND, nominated for the title of new emerging well produced and competently played cd. recorded at German electro rockers Can’s artist in the Canadian Folk Music Awards. Enough of this for there are 12 self studio and 1994’s TRAVEL ON, recorded in CLOVER, inspired and named after her written songs to describe, how I wish I could Woodstock, New York, and featuring the grandfather’s farm, sees a change in style find something original to say other than to likes of piano giant Nicky Hopkins and for Jadea with a focus on ambient guitars, suggest that it wouldn’t sound out of place Rodney Crowell and Eagles guitarist Steuart organ pads and full orchestration teamed on Smooth FM. Whilst perusing their Smith, a fellow Brit. Not to mention a third with her rich and emotive voice. Jadea’s website (some call it research) I note that disc of 16 demos and rareties. vocals can be calm and sweet, seductive previous reviews have called the music One can’t mention everything but there’s and cool and beautifully pained. There’s a indie-folk whimsy, and mentioned names the beautiful song How Can I Sleep Without slightly country element here but for the such as Tori Amos and Norah Jones. I think You, here both in original form (produced most this is some haunting, modern, folk all of that is valid although it would be a by Tallent, with backing vocals by both Bill that washes over you like rain on a mistake to think that this album is as good (Foster And) Lloyd and voice of Dr Hook summer‘s evening. as anything conjured up by Mses. Amos and Dennis Locorriere) and as a country duet Poetic lyrics, natural imagery and simple Jones. with . And the exquisite arrangements create a beautiful, relaxed Overall I think that disappointment is should-have-been-country-classic I Don’t atmosphere, particularly in Saintly Stare what I feel most, as I dislike being so harsh Feel Like Dancing, co-written with , and Violet. What this album does is on those who write and produce original with Tallent on , Penn on gorgeous, but perhaps it overdoes it a little. stuff. Lord knows the music world needs harmonies and Jo-El Sonnier on For me the strongest track on the album is these people as we have far too many squeezebox. And a six-track previously Lone Wolf, a gritty, soulful song that builds manufactured stars in all genres, so, despite unreleased Brit country bash with former up with great power and passion that I not being a fan, more power to their Fairport Jerry Donohue and Gerry Hogan didn’t always hear in other songs on the collective elbows. Ian Ambrose on steel. album. www.jaylis.com The list is endless, a joyous mix of pop, The laid back arrangements did linger country, folk and rock, united by Dawson’s close to samey territory and by the end I clean, soaring vocals and great tunes. If you found myself waiting for several of the Julian Dawson haven’t heard of Dawson buy this and join songs to kick in. That said, Jadea Kelly has LIFE AND SOUL: A the throng of top names who have. Nick such a truly distinctive and haunting vocal RETROSPECTIVE Dalton style that she manages to hold the listener’s 1982-1995 www.bluerose-records.com attention throughout. Charlotte Taylor Blue Rose BLU OP0620 www.darthjadea.com HHHH Mega collection by the Gordie Tentrees man who is a star to the stars NORTH COUNTRY Jaylis Quite why Julian Dawson isn’t as well HEART PRECIOUS AS THE known by the public as he is by cool names GTB 005 DIAMONDS within the music business is beyond me. HH Suisa This is an Englishman who has recorded a No gold from the HH duet with Lucinda Williams, had albums this time The difficult first album produced by the ’s Garry around Jaylis is the trade Tallent, has co-written songs with Vince Gill, This is the fifth album released into the name of singer songwriter Sandra Loerincik has worked with Dan Penn, has had Richard world by Gordie Tentrees, but it is the first Barrat and her band who, seemingly, all hail Thompson play on his records, and has that I have heard and I feel sure that I would from Switzerland. From a musical been part of folk heroes Plainsong feel a whole lot differently if I was more perspective Switzerland is only known to alongside Ian Matthews and . familiar with his work. me for the and as He’s played pure pop, in the spirit of As it stands I’m finding NORTH COUNTRY the home of semi-retired rock stars whose Squeeze, he’s played country and he’s one HEART a difficult listen with Gordie’s vocals,

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in particular, being a taste that I have yet to were to write a review in three or four three of the six cuts caught my ear. fully acquire. Not being a musician I’m not months time I’m sure the number would A Drink And A Car seems to strike the sure how best to put this but it sounds, to increase. In all honesty I look forward to the right chord. It’s a little rustic and me, as though vocally he is, for the majority next album as I feel therein lurks an artist somewhat musically infectious. With its of the time, trying to catch up with the tune, whose work I will come to enjoy. Ian simple arrangement of mid-temp guitar, which seems a little odd as he writes both. Ambrose Ovan’s weathered vocals and flourishes of Lyrically I am, also, having a bit of a www.tentrees.ca harmonica, it’s perfect for a summer’s struggle. It is not that he is trying to be afternoon, whilst the gently-paced wilfully obscure; it’s just that he has an California’s Not What It Used To Be lulls you oblique way of telling a story and I’m not Tom Ovans with its warm chordal arrangement and too good at filling in the gaps, or making a LAST DAY ON somewhat mournful melody. connection between one line and the next. EARTH Sleeping With The Boss is lyrically Granted; the tales are personal, as all the (SELECTIONS) charming as Tom carves out a scene of a best songs are, and one has to be aware of Floating World Records motel room on the outskirts of town and the law of libel, but a few clues along the HHHI an emotive tale of how an educated way would be helpful. It has to be said that Six stripped-back cuts woman, once bound by marriage to an my lack of knowledge, history, back from a self-taught dusty-bluesman abusive man, sleeps with her boss, lonely catalogue etc. will not have helped. Stripped-back, simple and eerily and depressed for having married for However, it would be rude of me to end Dylan-esque, LAST DAY ON EARTH is the money and not for love; a song that on a negative, especially as, for me, two six-cut album teaser from Massachusetts- demonstrates perfectly Ovan’s gift for songs stand head and shoulders above the born, Nashville-based songwriter and songwriting. rest and are more than worthy of mention self-taught dusty-blues musician Tom It’s a teasing collection of cuts that - Holy Moly which features some stunning Ovans; the twelfth in a proud procession of leaves you hungry for the full-length harmony vocals from Katya McQueen, and projects in which he’s comfortably made album of the same title, and with the name Black Seeds where it all comes together in this almost primitive, Bob Dylan-esque, of a dusty-bluesman you’re unlikely to one glorious noise. live-take sound his trademark. After several forget. Emily Saxton So only two stars at the moment, but if I listens, it’s a sound I can appreciate and www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-ovans NEW RELEASES

of not fitting in and the way society treats Give you wings’ and is followed by the Ken Will Morton you. Crescent Moon is based round a deceased John Hartford’s hobo cipher Slow Burn Spanish musical theme with a lovely and the waltz My Wild Rara Ava Records guitar solo. Like A River is full on rock while Irish Rose. American Bob Coltman’s HHHH the final song, the eponymousSlow Burn traditional-sounding Lonesome Robin Swinging, country ends the album on a relatively sombre previously appeared on TREATY STONE rock from an aspiring note. This is an excellent CD by a talented (1978), the debut album by Luka’s Texas singer / songwriter backed with a superb band. alter-ego Barry Moore. The memorably songwriter who deserves wider My only caveat is that Ken Will Morton’s melodic And I Love You So was penned recognition based on this bright and voice is a bit of an acquired taste and circa 1970 by Don McLean, while Luka’s clever release whilst totally fitting with the content of second original is the pastoral Liffeyside. From the rolling drum and harmonica this album may not appeal to the more Despite its perceived Emerald Isle introduction to the opening No Place For traditional country fans. Kevin Moug connection, Danny Boy was written, circa a Sensitive Man this album nails its www.kenwillmorton.com 1910, by English lawyer and lyricist colours plainly to the mast. Having Frederic Weatherly. The sonically eschewed the loose, acoustic feel of his impeccable HEAD & HEART closes with previous release Contenders, Morton Luka Bloom MacColl’s timeless ode The Joy Of Living: moves straight into a rockier HEAD & HEART ‘Farewell you northern hills, you environment. This is no bad thing as I BigSky Records mountains all goodbye.’ Arthur Wood doubt you will find better set of well HHHH www.lukabloom.com played, intelligent rockin’ country this HEAD & HEART is year. mainly a covers Based in Austin, Texas, Ken Will collection, the Nobodaddy Morton has released a series of albums shared theme – sadness LONGING FOR slowly gaining wider recognition with In 2000 Luka Bloom released KEEPER FLIGHT selected tracks being used in high profile OF THE FLAME, eleven songs penned by Self-released TV shows such as ‘’. In an area other writers. The fifty-minute HEAD & HHHH swamped by a raft of similar sounding HEART almost matches that template, Christy Moore ‘Earle Lite’ bands, it’s refreshing to hear teaming two new Bloom tunes with ten approved English someone who has taken the effort to covers, conditioned by their shared duo strike gold with their acoustic guitars, write a set of smart, witty songs which, in theme: Sadness. voices and articulate song-craft large, avoids the clichés of the norm. For Luka Bloom (vocals, guitar) was aided Adam Clark and Mike Wordingham, his latest CD, Morton has gathered on half of HEAD & HEART by the (smooth who first met as seven year olds at a around a set of superb musicians. Dean jazz) trio of Phil Ware (piano), Dave Catholic school in Norwich, take their Johnston (drums), Tim Adams (bass), Redmond (double bass) and Kevin Brady moniker from William Blake’s poem of the Scotty Nicolson (keyboards), Andrew (drums). The only other contributing same name. This is their second album, Vickery () and John Keane musician is Paul Wade, who called at the though they’ve also written music for Irish (backing vocals). All through the album studio one day to tune Ware’s piano. artist Niamh Cavlan. they are a force driving the song forward Wade plays piano on My Wild Irish Rose. Nobodaddy are new to me; so I’ve been with passion. Bloom was urged to work with Ware and listening to this record with no pre- The topics dealt with in the CD cover Co. by friend Paul G. Smyth, although conceived baggage. My research tells me many serious themes but these are prior entering the studio they hadn’t that these lads take their craft seriously. treated in an irreverent manner which played a single note together. Bloom’s The lyrics are important to them and they helps to emphasise the issues. hoped the sessions would be “a meeting are prepared to work meticulously until Scattershot covers the ‘unwed fathers’ of hearts and minds and maybe a little they are satisfied. Before they began work theme, Lady Luck is a paean to the joy of magic.” Let’s see what transpired… on this project they’d been to see Gillian finding the right one.Tell To The Wind is The late debuted Head Welch and Dave Rawlings, in concert, and closest to a conventional country song And Heart on BLESS THE WEATHER (1971). were left to ponder about their future until you hit the line ‘Just because I Supported by Ware and co it opens the direction. The album was recorded in wasn’t a Christian, doesn’t mean I read album, and is followed by another love rural Norfolk, at Ben Giller’s The Old the Koran’ and you realise that the ode, an arrangement of the traditional Granary Studio, and the setting, one comfortable format underpins quite an Banks Of The Lee. Debuting on SHOT OF suspects, has inspired and informed the uncomfortable message. The next Red, LOVE, Dylan’s image-filledEvery Grain Of music. White and Blue expands the radical Sand is a decade younger. Opener, California, sets the tone with theme with a quite ambivalent In 1957 political folk singer, the late chiming acoustic guitars and vocals that commentary on unthinking patriots. Ewan MacColl wrote The First Time Ever I blend and intertwine pleasingly. The Asshole sounds like an early Saw Your Face for Peggy Seeger, later his music isn’t overly flashy, but it serves the song and covers much the same wife. Bloom’s gentle and lilting Give You song. The lure of California, the American territory, expanding on the awkwardness Wings closes: ‘Someday I might give you/ Dream, informs the song. ‘I moved out to

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California, ‘cause there’s no work left at of Laurel Canyon’s bright young things. producer/road companion Dave home’ leads to a cautionary tale. His girl The music is well produced; Peter Goodrich. For SILVER LADDER Peter comes over to visit because; ‘She’s got the having captured a rich, quietly brooding switched coasts to collaborate with body beautiful, yeah, she’s got the perfect laid back feel, reminiscent of the likes of producer Chuck Prophet. The recording smile.’ The optimism drains, however; ‘I’m Jonathan Wilson. The record has an sessions took place during September back from California, it’s no place to be unapologetic Americana flavour to it, 2013 at the Bank in Burbank, California. poor’ while his girl remains seduced by nothing wrong with that. His voice is SILVER LADDER is Mulvey’s fourteenth shallow dream of making it in the movies. gritty and expressive. Peter supports the solo album, and its promotional budget The creation of a song; be it of two, songs with acoustic guitar or piano was raised via Kickstarter. With one three or four minute duration, still around which he has built a band of week of the month-long fundraiser left, provides a potent vehicle for Adam and sympathetic friends and colleagues. 800 plus backers had raised £54K on a Mike to create a collection of vignettes. Opener Found My Faith In You, is a slow target of £23K! Amazing. These are songs of love, hope and burner with lovely warm bass work from In the studio, Mulvey (vocals, guitars) disappointment. The playful Changes; ‘My Philippe De Hovre while talented lead was aided by Prophet (vocals, guitars, love has drowned in your indifference; it guitarist, Russell Smith, adds a cool drums), Aidan Hawken (keyboards, sank beneath the calm into the blue.’ finesse. Peter is left free to muse on love guitars, vocals), James DePrato (guitars), Their music has an ‘English’ quality to it lost and found: ‘Finally found the David Kemper (drums), Tom Freund with titles like Brief Encounter, which greatest truth, when I found my faith in (bass) with minor support from Phil reveals the bumbling Hugh Grant style you.’ Parlapiano (accordion), Sara Watkins British psyche; ‘two smiles and a sunset, Broken Shoes with piano and (violin, vocals) and Anita Suhanin you left me wanting more.’ Our hero harmonica accompaniment evokes Neil (vocals). thinks the situation is retrievable, but the Young era After The Goldrush while the The narrator of album opener Lies You moment and opportunity have already soul baring vocals on It Ain’t Over may Forgot You Told references loss and passed him by. ’I sometimes think I’ve appeal to Ray Lamontagne fans: ‘Believe betrayal and, a ‘silver ladder.’ seen you from the corner of my eye.’ me … ‘cause it ain’t over … not for me.’ Retribution for those ‘lies,’ according to The musically attractive Beautiful and Elsewhere the music is fine, the lyric, ‘…will be falling on your head Dolphins follow a similar path of thwarted particularly on the title cut when tenfold.’ You Don’t Have To Tell Me love. Time Flies is beautifully picked on Conway’s vocals are supported by Amy reflects: ‘In the middle of a lifetime the what sounds like a classical guitar, a real Lynch, though the lyrics follow a familiar road gets a little squirrelly/You might highlight ‘Time flies when you’re just path; ‘Don’t let what we could be lose your sense of humour for a year or getting by,’ while the closing Heel And Toe together … fade.’ two.’ Mulvey and Watkins share the includes the services of Norwich, Swedish It could be argued that this music, Remember The Milkman? vocal, a song buskers, who provide accordion, violin conceived as a love story, may work co-written with Massachusetts-based and mandolin to create an optimistic better in conjunction with a movie, a Matt Lorenz, who contributed to square dance finale. little like Once, which is now a successful Mulvey’s THE GOOD STUFF (2012). This is an excellent album, lovingly West End stage show. Collectively, it Trempealeau, a county on the western created by a duo destined for bigger sounds like a ‘mood piece’, the music edge of Wisconsin, doubles as a road things. John Brindle projecting a warm, but fragile quality. I and love song. www.nobodaddy.co.uk also think that it would be good if the Suhanin sings with Mulvey on Where band occasionally slipped the lo-fi leash Did You Go?, which he penned with and flexed its muscles a little more. Goodrich and Barry Rothman. The title Peter Conway Peter Conway has definite potential of John Klassen’s children’s book ‘I Want STAY and I look forward to seeing him develop My Hat Back’ is quoted in the opening True 369 further. One to watch. John Brindle line of Josephine. bred Paul HHHI www.peterconway.net Cebar has written with Mulvey before London based and their Back In The Wind is followed by troubadour’s second Copenhagen Airport a travelogue with album has taken him Peter Mulvey a difference. A ‘Mercedes in the ditch/ to ‘Nashville and back’ SILVER LADDER Horses on the hillside/A magpie swoops The stark black and white cover Signature Sounds down to the nearest branch’ are among photograph, portraying urban America, Recordings the images that inhabit the narrator’s hints at the music contained herein. There HHHHI dreams in the penultimate selection If is darkness, loneliness, love and a little Electrically You Shoot At A King You Must Kill Him. light peeping through the grey sky and propelled, SILVER Seconds in excess of one minute’s the bridge beyond to who knows where? LADDER retains Mulvey’s quirky acoustic duration, Landfall closes SILVER LADDER Inside is a picture of Peter, resplendent by folk leanings. with the initial announcement: ‘Landfall the piano, sporting a trademark hat, long Milwaukee-bred/based Peter Mulvey over Newfoundland, The ocean slips hair, beard and plaid shirt. He wouldn’t has enjoyed a long working relationship behind you.’ Arthur Wood look out of place among the current crop with Massachusetts musician// www.petermulvey.com

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true musician and songwriter such as are shared by fiddler Emma Davies and Rodney Crowell Crowell could create. Charlotte Taylor guitarist Alex McRae. The duo has a slight TARPAPER SKY www.rodneycrowell.com blues edge but on the most part these are New West Records pretty traditional English folk songs. HHHHH Poetic, natural and romantic lyrics and Each song from this The Henry Girls themes occur throughout and a gorgeous country legend feels LOUDER THAN woodland sound connects each song on like a classic jukebox WORDS the album. The Last Place You Said Goodbye favourite Beste Unterhaltung - BU is the first track to show off the lush, Rodney Crowell teamed up with New 045 technically and emotionally strong West Records to release his new, self- HHHH harmonies of these two, their two voices produced album, TARPAPER SKY. The title Hailing from County working together in a fluid, natural way. refers to the ramshackle old house in which Donegal, this is the fifth album from folk/ McRae’s vocals are also particularly Crowell spent most of his childhood and roots trio The Henry Girls impressive and controlled in Trying To the album is a beautiful, emotional country Their 2011 offering DECEMBER MOON Escape It All and Davis’ in the hopeful One collection of stories, memory and life’s proved a firm favourite and they have Who Lies. lessons. gained an international reputation with The bolder, bluesier Underneath the Renowned music and songwriter, Crowell tours abroad including the United States. Roots, Sirens and title track Relent are is a member of the Nashville Songwriters The fine close harmonies and musical soulful, dark and powerful, conjuring Hall of Fame and an Americana Music arrangements on LOUDER THAN WORDS images of shadows falling on the Association Lifetime Achievement Award elevate the girls to a higher plain and they landscapes of RELENT. Another stand out winner. His latest project follows OLD will certainly be familiar to Maverick readers track is love song South American Skies, YELLOW MOON, the critically acclaimed following the inclusion of the country soft which also features a beautiful narrative collaboration with Emmylou Harries. rocker No Matter What You Say on the and some heartbreaking harmonica from Expectations were high for this latest covermount CD with the March/April Steve Calder. project - and oh, how they have been met. edition. The three sisters, Karen, Lorna and Elegant vocals, pure melodies, skilled The album is reminiscent of Crowell’s 40 Joleen McLaughlin share lead vocals but it musicianship and imagery-rich lyrics work years in music and its sound is traditional is their harmonising that really stands out. together in RELENT. Perhaps just a little and classic, upbeat and touching. Each Eight of the ten tracks are jointly self something more is needed to make this song confirms why you love the genre and penned and their song writing album completely stand out in the thriving uses traditional sounds and techniques demonstrates a real lyrical maturity. folk scene in the UK, but nonetheless this is from classic rock and roll to country ballads, Producer Calum Malcolm has done a fine a very strong debut. Charlotte Taylor to create a sense of home and old school job and although at first, I found the first www.skylarksong.bandcamp.com energy and fun. couple of tracks labouring slightly, it quickly The Long Journey Home is a great opener. picked up and with further listening, it Sweet and soft Americana and an instant became easy to appreciate the quality of Sturgill Simpson classic about making your way home, the whole album. The girls were confident High Top settling down and realising what’s enough to tackle Springsteen’s Reason to Mountain important. The melody, vocals and lyrics are Believe and they can be proud of the result. Loose Records all simple, subtle and full of warmth. Fever The achingly and beautifully sad Home is a HHHHH On The Bayou is certainly one of my stand out track with the catchy So Long but Classic country just favourites, featuring some stunning Not Goodbye and It’s Not Easy evoking found itself a new accordion and mandolin and some cheeky memories of the likes of the Andrews honky-tonk hero lyrics, this is a song that makes you want to Sisters. The album comes in digipack form This debut album arrived at Christmas fall in love and tell your friends about it over and contains an informative 20 page amid a pile of other new releases, but has a few drinks on a summer night. booklet with lyrics, personal details and been played every day since – often as a Frankie Please and Somebody’s Shadow loads of photographs. John Roffey palette cleanser when I’ve had to suffer yet are pure 50s rock and roll delights. God I’m www.thehenrygirls.com another whiney singer-songwriter with Missing you, Grandma Loved That Old Man access to a Mac and Pro-Tools. and Jesus Talk to Mama showcase Crowell’s If I have a gripe about HIGH TOP skilled storytelling and sensitivity on the Skylark Song MOUNTAIN it is that it peaks with the other hand. Country waltz I Wouldn’t Be Me RELENT opening track, Life Ain’t Fair (and the World is Without You is outstanding, Crowell’s vocals Roseberry Records Mean), which is as good a country song as are truly touching. HHH anything Willie, Waylon or even Alan A poignant and though-provoking look A strong folk debut Jackson ever wrote in their prime and the at life in Oh What A Beautiful World - the ups with flawless delivery is worthy of that trio too. and the downs, the beauty and the harmonies Simpson manages to squeeze every style darkness - provides the perfect closer to a RELENT is the debut album from of country music into the 12 tracks, with reflective yet upbeat album - the sort only a North-East folk band Skylark Song. Vocals Railroad of Sin and Poor Rambler, being

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100mph honky-tonk gallops that leave you cracking up as he strums his Martin guitar country rock offering. The band, Ian breathless and your toes suffering from tap while a pedal steel howls in the Hutchinson (guitars, vocals), Donny fatigue; and on the slower love songs; like background. McElligott (guitars, mandolin, vocals and Hero, which is about his maternal For far too many years now, Dale Watson percussion), Owen Nicholson (guitars, steel Grandfather and Water in the Well the has been the lone standard bearer for this and vocals), Callum Keith (bass) and Maurice production manages to remain edgy style of ‘classic country,’ but with Sturgill McPherson (drums) together with a host of enough to separate Simpson from the pap Simpson we now have a new pretender to guest musicians rip through ten self being churned out from Music Row and the throne. Alan Harrison penned tracks with some gusto. Loads of keep him firmly in the alt-country camp. www.sturgillsimpson.com gutsy Telecaster, soaring pedal steel, terrific In an album full of songs about ‘cheaters, harmonies and a rocking rhythm section heartbreakers and kicks in the balls,’ You create a sound something between the Can Have The Crown has a lyric that stands The New Madrids Eagles and the . The out like a diamond in the dust: ‘I’m so poor I THROUGH THE opening track Wrapped Up gets things off to can’t even pay attention,’ and proves what HEART OF TOWN a country rocking start and the album an articulate writer the Kentuckian is. Self-released NMR0001 follows a traditional country rock path for Like myself, Sturgill Simpson is from coal HHHH most of the way. Shine a Light and Mountain mining stock, so his Old King Coal song From the ashes of of Trouble with its sedate beginning and resonated with me even before I’d heard it $outhpaw The New rocking finish are the stand-out tracks. – and boy does he know how to deliver a Madrids are born. A great debut album Texas songstress Brennan Leigh adds her lyric. Without over romanticising this brutal After Scots Americana stalwarts dulcet vocals to the beautiful ballad industry Simpson gets his weary message $outhpaw went to the wall, the four and although this is something of a across like a punch to the gut. remaining members got together with the departure from the rest of the album, it fits The album ends with a cover of a little lead singer/founder of rock and blues outfit in just perfectly. The band has been known song, I’d Have to be The Revivals to form The New Madrids in attracting rave reviews for their live shows Crazy and is the embodiment of everything 2010. Based in Perth, the band are in great and this album certainly shows why. John I’ve ever loved about country music; with demand on the Scots Americana circuit and Roffey Simpson’s voice constantly on the verge of have at last got round to producing a great www.thenewmadrids.com NEW RELEASES

and Kit Smart add their voices to, the The Redlands character study Floorboard George. As for Blair Dunlop Palomino The Big Freeze, thematically, it’s a seasonal HOUSE OF JACKS Company love song. Rooksmere Records BROKEN The instruments and vocals have been RRCD112P CARELESSLY recorded and mixed with care, and Redlands HHHH Clubhouse Records Palomino Company come across as a Complex and HHHI consummate and energetic country rock intimate folk-tinged Album four from the combo, yet nothing here is exceptional or follow up to 2012’s BLIGHT & BLOSSOM Redlands Palomino Company unique. The songs lack that breathtaking, Scheduled for release in the UK on May Following three years’ silence, the goosebump-inducing/hair-raising quality 26, singer/guitarist Blair Dunlop’s second five-piece Redlands Palomino Company that would normally have this listener album continues to build on the return with their fourth album. Actually, hollering “Yes!” It’s pleasant, though. There, foundations he laid so memorably with there’s a little more to the story. BROKEN I’ve said it… Arthur Wood his debut BLIGHT & BLOSSOM. CARELESSLY was produced, engineered and www.redlands.moonfruit.com As you’d expect of the son of Fairport mixed by Alex Eton-Wall (electric/acoustic Convention’s (who, guitar, vocals) while wife Hannah (acoustic/ with fellow Albion Band member Ken electric guitar, mandolin, vocals) composed Wyatt Easterling Nicol, co-wrote Song of Two Bridges on eleven of the twelve songs. Adopting a GOODBYE HELLO the album), there is lyrical complexity non-formal recording environment, the Phoenix Rising Records and some beautiful musical styling in sessions for BROKEN CARELESSLY (mainly) HHH this 11-song collection. took place at the Old Methodist Chapel Spanning over three Producer Mark Hutchinson has (built 1892) in Edge End, Forest of Dean decades, Nashville created a warm, intimate setting for during February 2012. A painting of the music veteran releases Dunlop to work in, perhaps nowhere corrugated steel chapel graces the album his third solo album better exemplified than in the title track, and liner booklet cover. That drummer Dan Chapel Hill, bred a beautifully written and arranged story Tilbury was moving his family to Denmark Easterling debuted as a major label of love –a great vehicle for Dunlop’s was the ‘spark’ that initiated the sessions, recording artist over three decades ago with natural ear for a tune, and his lyricism, to and two years later BROKEN CARELESSLY BOTH SIDES OF THE SHORE (1981). shine. He’s also an accomplished finally enters the public domain. Relocating to Nashville he worked for a guitarist, as the lilting instrumental Rebecca Rosewell and Simon Kelly from number of song publishers and in 1990 was Viola’s Reverie proves. Milton-Keynes-based The Rosellys appointed Head of A&R. He He’s not averse to tackling big subjects contribute to yet another Redlands co-wrote a number of Top 40 country hits – over the course of the album he covers recording. On this occasion Rebecca sings singles during that decade and into the new prejudice (opening track Something’s on three songs, and adds backing vocal and millennium, and in partnership with Miles Gonna Give), determinism (the lovely acoustic guitar to Scattered Earth. Kelly Copeland (The Police, ) worked for Chain by Design) and miscommunication wields his fiddle on two tunes and also adds Bugle Publishing Group and Firstars (Different Schools). acoustic guitar to Scattered Earth. Former Management. His sophomore album There is the impression that band member Tom Bowen contributes WHERE THIS RIVER GOES surfaced in 2009, occasionally he’s trying too hard to show electric guitar, and Hannah takes the lead and now we have his third offering, the off his writing skills – sometimes, lyrical vocal on the opening opus In These Lines. At eleven-song GOODBYE HELLO. simplicity can be a virtue, something I’m the outset the narrator relates: ‘I’ve got a Included are four songs Wyatt penned on sure he’ll realise as he continues to pen, I’ve got some paper, I’ve got the words I his own, three collaborations with Robby develop and grow as a musician. need to tell you’ and subsequently (and Hecht, and one with Andy Gullahorn. Robby But that’s a minor quibble, and in no repeatedly) enquires: ‘Are you looking for and Andy are Kerrville New Folk way detracts from a self-assured and yourself in these lines?’ Alex takes the lead Songwriting Contest winners. Recorded at mature album from an artist whose star on Solitary Strangers, a paean to loneliness Dog Den Studios in Nashville, the support will surely continue in the ascendancy in and love. vocalists include Hecht, Lisa Brokop, Celeste the years to come. Jonathan Swift Everything I’m Not portrays love in crisis, Krenz and Paul Jefferson. Beautifully www.blairdunlop.com and Don’t Ever Let Me Down is launched by recorded, you’d expect little less from a the allusion of: ‘Something old, something Nashville veteran, Easterling’s mainly new, borrow me, I’ll make you blue.’ Need I love-themed songs come across as easy Charlie Parr say more? Penned by pedal steel guitarist listening fare, the closing pair A Soldier HOLLANDALE David Rothon, the narrator of She Can Live Comes Home and Somebody Prayed being Chaperone Records Without You recalls love lost. Exceptions to the exception. All in all this is a pleasant HHHH male/female conundrum explorations are sounding disc, though hardly ground A bold, ambitious present in the equine themed Broken breaking or a challenge to the listener’s album like nothing Carelessly and the seasonal Scattered Earth, intellect. Arthur Wood most of us will have while Kelly’s fiddle introduces, and Claire www.wyatteasterling.com heard before

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Charlie Parr’s unique tunings on his from the very start. word and melody resonator plus his long lifetime of Bentley makes no bones about Solo releases apart, GOODBYE experience deliver a sound on his latest feeling more of a family man, especially BUTTERFIELD is the fourth studio album album, HOLLANDALE, that is from the since the birth of his son, and the in five years by Hat Check Girl, the duo of very root of primitive American music. opening track, Bourbon In Kentucky, is a Peter Gallway (vocals, various guitars, Charlie, from Deluth, Minnesota, is one of rollicking tale of missing his family while bass, keyboards, harmonica, accordion, that dwindling band of living folk on tour that starts the album off with a mandolin, hand slaps) and Annie Gallup musicians with truly original voices and bang. This is contrasted by the subtle (vocals, guitar, lap steel, dobro, banjo, an approach that really isn’t a direct and beautiful Say You Do. ukulele, clogging). Recorded and derivative of anything that came before. The self-penned I Hold On is a love co-produced in Gallway’s Santa Barbara, The late was another of song for Bentley’s beloved pickup truck California studio, Jerry Marotta (drums, these. that was bought for him by his father. In percussion) added his contributions at HOLLANDALE comprises only five it, they drove to Nashville together to Jersville Studio in Woodstock, N.Y. Ten tracks and includes a four-minute allow Bentley Jr. to perform. Here On of the twelve songs were penned by collaboration with Alan Sparhawk of the Earth is a heartbreaking lament to his Gallup/Gallway/Marotta. According to Deluth band, Low. Yet the album delivers father: ‘There’s no makin’ sense of the the duo’s liner note, “We were visiting a very full musical experience and it has senseless/While this pain is killin’me.’ Montana when the fictional town of been exquisitely recorded, mixed and According to Bentley, the original cut Butterfield and its inhabitants came to mastered (engineered with vinyl in mind). of the album was very dark, and the us.” The thematic approach of this American critics have been hugely producers recommended that he write twelve-song set isn’t radically new; Neil positive about this Charlie Parr venture, some more upbeat and humorous Young gave us GREENDALE (2003), Frank some suggesting that HOLLANDALE will songs to intersperse throughout it. Sinatra cut WATERTOWN (1970) – with set the bar of creativity and originality for is just such a track. A songs by Jake Holmes/Bob Gaudio - all country musicians for 2014 and tale of the high-jinks aboard a flight to while Richard Buckner sang about the beyond. Others have said this album Cancun for a honeymoon, the chorus is inhabitants of Edgar Lee Masters’ should be secured immediately for especially catchy and actually made me SPOON RIVER poems in THE HILL (2000). posterity by the Smithsonian’s archives of laugh out loud at points. It showcases The press release relates that important American musical works! Bentley’s playful side, and picks you up BUTTERFIELD is a ‘a small Northern city,’ I’m not sure about that - but I can again after the emotional tracks earlier and the song lyrics impart ‘stories of certainly affirm that HOLLANDALE is an in the album. people whose entire lives play out there, album that is a fascinating listen, capable Surprisingly, the title track is, in my of those who got away, and those that of taking us on a journey that is both opinion, one of the weaker ones on the pass through.’ A couple voice album enjoyable and inspiring. Nick Dent- album. Riser is pleasant enough, but opener Writers. Gallway’s character Robinson doesn’t jump out of the stereo in the recalls: ‘My sweet wife left me for www.charlieparr.com same way as some of the others. For another drunk, My kids I couldn’t think those who like their country raw and about them very much,’ Gallup dreams: manly, Sounds Of Summer is for you. ‘I wish we could move to Paris or Rome,’ Dierks Bentley With lyrics about beer, trucks, boots and and together they share: ‘Give me a RISER ‘the wide open sky’, you’ll be quiet room, some quiet time’ and ‘We’ll Capitol Records transported to a field in the Midwest be together when the day is done.’ Nashville beneath a blazing sun – even if you’re A girl with Tennessee Plates and a HHHHH actually in a flat in Basingstoke pick-up truck, finds refuge in Butterfield A surprisingly subtle underneath a raincloud. – ‘I’m not sure how I backed into this and melancholy Overall, as you would expect, RISER is town/It’s way too far North, I’ve been seventh album a great album. Many of the songs sound turned down, turned around.’ An Dierks Bentley is one of country music’s simple on the surface, but dig a little immigrant from Holland observes A biggest names, and his profile in the UK deeper and you’ll find some melancholy Thousand Stars on a winter’s night, while will have been done no harm with major and emotion-filled lyrics.Chris Beck Annie’s The Old You fantasy portrays a sell-out performances at www.dierks.com musician at the peak of his powers. A Country2Country in Dublin and London Celtic rhythm underpins Harry, and in March. RISER is his seventh album, remembering ‘…a night so hot I following on from 2012’s HOME. As with Hat Check Girl couldn’t sleep’ a resident bids farewell all Bentley’s releases, this album reflects GOODBYE in Goodbye Butterfield.The protagonists events in his life over the past two years, BUTTERFIELD in Remember set eyes upon one another and his storytelling ability really comes to Gallway Bay Music in a railway station. It closes GOODBYE the fore at various points throughout the HHHHI BUTTERFIELD and stylistically parallels album. Mixing the tragedy of the loss of The concept may Writers by way of male and female his beloved father with the joy of a new be familiar, Hat voices. Arthur Wood son, Knox, Dierks plays on the emotions Check Girl’s execution smacks of class in www.hatcheckgirl.net

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second album to think they would not make some Cahalen Here flies another album from the serious musical waves. Already renowned Morrison & Eli outer orbit of the planet Maverick, but I’m for stunning live performances, this West sure it will pick up supporters from new CD finishes with a nice sample of a I’LL SWING MY among those who have a fondness for couple of ‘live’ performances and these HAMMER WITH 1970s era . exciting tracks would surely ‘whet your BOTH MY Carly Jamison, the lady in question, has appetite’ to go and see them in person if HANDS written or co-written all eleven songs and you could possibly could! Altogether Independent the accompanying musicians include there are 14 tracks on this excellent HHHHH Keith Brogdon, who is best known for release, what I particularly liked is that a Shades of the Stanley Brothers abound in playing the drums in , and Dan lot of thought must have gone into the this wonderful alt-bluegrass album Baird, of The Georgia Satellites, whose album selection as whilst there is some Any album produced by Tim O’Brien is wondrous guitar work really lifts this familiar material such as the automatically worth a spin, and this album. Overall UNGROUNDED has the catchy opener I Wouldn’t Take Nothing For newly released 14-track gem from feel of a / album My Journey, there are also several new-old time duo Cahalen Morrison & Eli coupled with the sharper edge of an fine songs new to me such asThe Son West is as good as anything O’Brien has Alanis Morrisette, minus the epic naval Shines Down On Me, Heaven Is, and The done in the past ten years. gazing. Inviting Christ along with more familiar From the spare opener Fiddlehead So what is not to like? Answer: Nothing titles such as Dig A Little Deeper In God’s Fern, through the close harmonies, really. Despite the exemplary Love, Sweeter As The Days Go By and the driving banjo and fiddle ofAnxious Rows, musicianship, brass riffs and superb classic Softly And Tenderly. The backing is to the warm old-timey swing of Natural production by Tres Sasser the whole thing orchestrated but tastefully done. The Thing To Do, Morrison and West have lacks that indefinable something. whole album oozes class from start to crafted a collection of songs which Whatever the missing ingredient is that finish, with top quality material and great would grace any catalogue of lifts an album from out of the chasing vocals leaving me to think, ‘hey I would backwoods America’s greatest artists. bunch and into the leading pack I’m not travel a good distance to see them live!’ The duo create a sound belying their sure, but this album is not quite there. I Highly recommended! David tender years, drawing pictures of love, cannot judge the progression against her Brassington loss and yearning perfectly matched by debut as I’ve not heard it, but if album www.facebook.com/ their expressive and warm music. three is a further improvement then I look CantonJunctionMusic Vocally, Morrison has the kind of voice forward to giving it a listen, as that may you’d expect to hear coming from a well be the one that lifts Carly Jamison gnarled old boy sitting on the stoop into a position whereby a place on the Hugh Moffatt sipping moonshine – think podium is within reach. Certainly a talent ONLY ALONG at his most expressive. He’s an to watch out for. Ian Ambrose FOR THE RIDE accomplished mandolin player as well, www.carlyjamison.com Sohl CD00002 Livin’ In America perhaps showcasing his HHHH talents at their most fluent. Welcome return of a West more than holds his own with Canton Junction singer-songwriter some great picking and rhythm guitar SHOW ME YOUR Hugh Moffatt is a strange one. A slight, work, and is an able foil to Morrison’s WAY Jesus-like figure whose last album was a soaring vocals – when the duo’s voices Difference Media CD Christian concept album eight years ago, come together (as in Anxious Rows), it’s as HHHH he nonetheless rocks like a bluegrass sweet a sound as Ralph and Carter A tour de force from a freight train when the mood takes him. Stanley at their finest. brand new top- When it comes to singing, song-writing Backed by a great supporting cast quality southern gospel group greats he’s up there with Guy Clark and (including, among others, O’Brien on To great acclaim Canton Junction were both in neat tunes and bouzouki and Crooked Still’s Brittany formed as arguably the most high profile in mesmerising delivery. Moffatt, with Haas on fiddle), this album is simply an new southern in recent soaring, plaintive voice and finger-picked instant classic. Jonathan Swift times. Comprising Aaron Crabb, from the guitar manages that delicate trick of www.cahalenandeli.com highly acclaimed Crabb Family; Tim pairing himself with just enough Duncan, of the incredible bass voice who musicians to sound like a full band even if for many years was part of Ernie Haase it’s no more than choice accompaniment. Carly Jamison and Signature Sound; Mathew Hagee, son It’s a trick that James McMurtry and Ray UNGROUNDED of the well-known American Pastor John Wylie Hubbard do equally well. Desktop Recordings Hagee and an acclaimed author and Here the sound isn’t quite bluegrass, OK90126-2 minister in his own right; and Shane isn’t quite singer-songwriter and isn’t HH McConnell, who has been an arranger even country rock; it wavers somewhere Solid-as-a-rock and producer for many years, it was hard in the middle, and is all the more

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entrancing for that. The second track, Mama Kita was Moffatt deals, as some would have it, Carrie Tree recorded in Durban, South Africa and is with the devil by being a Texan yet HOME TO THE outstanding; as the supporting inhabiting the Nashville world. The INVISIBLE musicians weave in and out of the sound might be somewhat cleaner than Wild Cedar Records narrative like ghosts on a powerful you’d expect in the Lone Star State, yet it HHHI song that is memorable in numerous has a breathless, you-could-hear-a-pin- Subtle, nu-folk that ways. drop purity about it. Whether it’s the owes a debt to the The other track to make the album, barroom number, Tigers, with Bruce bedsit writers of the 70s from this session recording is Thousand Sweetman’s violin, or the sublime, Folk music; and in particular English Days and while not quite as chugging Cover Me, with Wade folk music, generally leaves me memorable, the full sound and added McCurdy’s walking bass and what is unmoved and a bit bored; so it takes musicianship leaves you thinking probably John Peppard’s breathtaking something special to hold my another trip could produce a really acoustic steel, each track is a work of art. attention, and Carrie Tree has managed special set of songs. Rock Bottom, powered by Sweetman’s that with ease. On Perfectly Cast, which has already mandolin, could rock a stadium and is The press release that accompanied had some national radio play, Carrie the perfect counterpoint to the reflective the CD lists the usual suspects that manages to sound uncannily like Bjork fiddle-led title track. Carrie was ‘influenced’ by but, if my and Rachel Unthank on a timeless This is a beautiful record, taking in memory serves me correctly she owes self-penned song. songs of his from down the years a lot more to Judee Sill and Sandy The rest of the album never strays far (including the California country lilt of Denny than Ray Lamontagne or Joni from ‘interesting’ with the atmospheric Juniper County) and it’s time for Moffatt Mitchell. Wild Winds and Sweet Oak Tree to get out more and take his place as an Opening track Never Said Goodbye suggesting that Carrie Tree a young elder statesman of singer-songwriters, features some wonderful acoustic woman on the upward arc of a alongside Clark, Hubbard and co. Nick guitar alongside some delicious potentially successful career. Alan Dalton breathy vocals that will bring many Harrison www.hughmoffatt.com young men to their knees. www.carrietree.co.uk NEW RELEASES

lyric Carrie’s liner note reveals “Before I go who might not otherwise hear them. Not Carrie Newcomer to sleep at night I say out loud three things only that but songs need to be sung, and if A PERMEABLE I’m grateful for.” Increased weekly, in the they’re only ever sung by their writers LIFE slyly worded Forever Ray, a gathering of they’ll soon vanish. More power to his Available Light garden ornaments affirms one man’s love elbow. Jeremy Searle Records for one woman. The heartfelt An Empty www.don-williams.com HHHHH Chair was written after Carrie visited the Newcomer’s Oklahoma City National Memorial. twelve-song A PERMEABLE Memories come flooding back in the Chris Eckman LIFE is thoroughly absorbing penultimate Visitation, while the HARNEY A PERMEABLE LIFE was produced by light-hearted “I can relate to that” album COUNTY Paul Mahern (John Mellencamp, Lily & closer Please Don’t Put Me On Hold Glitterhouse Records Madeleine). The PERMEABLE sessions took explores a 21st century nightmare - call GRCD785 place at a couple of Bloomington, Indiana centres. Arthur Wood HHH studios, White Arc and Primary Sounds. www.carrienewcomer.com Mature performance Commencing with THE AGE OF As a musician Chris Eckman’s main role POSSIBILITY (2002), A PERMEABLE LIFE is in life up to now has been as joint lead the ninth-consecutive liner designed for Don Williams member, with Carla Togerson, of - this Bloomington based musician by REFLECTIONS based rock band and it is award-winning Canadian graphic artist Sugar Hill SUG4096 from compiling that band’s latest album Hugh Syme (Rush, Styx). HHH project TRAVELS IN THE DUSTLAND that Mahern is credited as extra drums/ Undiminished this solo effort has sprung. However a percussion on album opener Every Little Bit country veteran with song more different from a rock band you Of It, originally the title of this fan-funded fine selection of cannot imagine, this is stripped down album project. Bringing to fruition notions songs acoustic and throughout there is little or that linger in ones subconscious, the In his day Don Williams was one of the no backing support. Harney County is a narrator confides I’ve“ been circling around most popular and lauded country singers particularly desolate area of Eastern a thought, That’s been circling round me.” out there and when he announced his , now mainly unproductive Indianapolis based duo Lily and Madeleine retirement in 2006 at the age of sixty- scrubland it has a population density of Jurkiewicz add a harmony vocal to The Ten seven he might have settled down to look less than one for each of its 10,000 square O’Clock Line. Actively promoted by back on that impressive career. But the miles, there are more flocking birds than President Harrison The Ten O’Clock Line aka lure of music proved too strong and by people. Eckman’s interest in this the Treaty of Fort Wayne (1809), witnessed 2010 he was out on the road again, with a seemingly forsaken landscape was the assigning of three-million acres of new album on Sugar Hill to boot. He’s awakened by reading American writer Indiana/ Illinois Native American lands to back in the UK this year and this latest ten William Kittredge’s memoir. white settlers. In closing, Newcomer track set has been released to coincide The songs on The Walkabouts’ album contemplates change and new with his visit. concentrate on the vista and are abstract possibilities with ‘There’s a hole in the The track selection is impeccable. and mythical; on this solo venture world/Maybe it’s only a space.’ Townes van Zandt, Merle Haggard, Jess Eckman’s songs link personalities to the Musically soulful, the lyrically spiritual Winchester and Guy Clark are just four of landscape. Given that background I Writing You A Letter deduces: ‘No gets out the writers he’s drawn upon and all are suppose that it is hardly surprising that of here alive/ Without forever being covered in his instantly recognisable laid most of the songs are raw, melancholy and changed.’ The ensuing A Light In The back style, with his smooth baritone, don’t have happy endings. The titles say it Window, focuses on those who, lifelong, undiminished by the years, front and all, examples being ‘Nothing Left To Hate’, seek truth and hence wisdom. Carrie wrote centre of a sympathetic and impressive ‘Sound Of No Return’ and ‘Ghosts Along the former in India, while hand drums on country band. Williams hasn’t gone for a The Border’. In tempo there is some light the latter reference her Asian inspired Johnny Cash-style reinvention but does relief in the middle of the album with EVERYTHING IS ENERYWHERE (2011). The what he always does and does it as well as ‘Many Moons’ but this again has a deeply Work Of Our Hands is a recipe in praise of he ever did. Even fans of the grittier end of introspective lyric. ‘humble and physical’ endeavour. Carrie’s the music, amongst whom this writer My favourite tracks are the pleasant music unpins Abide, while the spiritually- would count himself, can’t fail to be version of the traditional folk song from inflected lyrics are a collaborative effort drawn into his warm welcome. But the the American West Katy Cruel and the with author/educator and friend Parker J. point of the songs isn’t lost in treacle, compelling Rock Springs. The latter again Palmer. rather the delivery method is one that is has an unenviable set of circumstances The spotlight in Room At The Table falls toned down to appeal to the non-grit but a theme that has you hanging in there, on a household’s principle gathering audience. a man running from the law in a stolen car point, and a sans frontières invitation is It would be fair to say that none of his with a woman left homeless by a husband extended therein to ‘…everyone.’ takes ever threatens to be definitive but that has taken her children away. The car Appended to the Thank You Good Night he’s bringing great songs to an audience breaks down a few miles from Rock

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Springs, an unremarkable township in the and Stephen Fearing having relocated to instruments in addition to his trademark middle of Wyoming, and after holing up the collaboration represents drumming and a word or two about the together overnight in a cheap motel he a real labour of love particularly as, with very good and then sets about stealing another one. Well twenty-odd albums between them, not accompanying booklet, credited to performed and until I saw an to mention Stephen’s work with Blackie ‘Stylorouge’, someone there has put a lot acknowledgement to a short story by and the Rodeo Kings, they had nothing to of work into the eye catching collage of Richard Ford my thoughts were more prove. John Roffey carefully chosen vintage ephemera. Kerouac than Kittredge. www.fearingandwhite.com Fruit Cake is another profound lyric Besides being a good singer Chris around an argumentative couple who are Eckman is one heck of a storyteller but I am still surprisingly together, guess there is not sure that you would revisit this Glenn Tilbrook still some love and commitment around, collection of songs too many times. It is all HAPPY ENDING and the album concludes with a just too bleak for me. Paul Collins Quixotic Records - trademark east end singalong Ice Cream. www.chriseckman.net QUIXCD0022 A talented man Mr Tilbrook but there HHH again he clearly would not have survived Versatile this long without that. Paul Collins Fearing & White In his own words www.glenntilbrook.com TEA AND Glenn Tilbrook was making something CONFIDENCES happen during a hiatus in the activities of LowdenProud Records Squeeze. Understandable really that after Doug Briney LOWD 20141 an existence of over 30 years Squeeze SUPER COUNTRY HHHH only seem get together these days when, COWBOY A great second and please pardon the excruciating pun, Tate Records offering from this unlikely collaboration of the collective creative juices flow CD CMG 23473 two veterans of the folk and roots world between Tilbrook and the other founder HHH Award-winning Canadian folk and roots member . Anyway there is a An original album of veteran Stephen Fearing first met Belfast new Squeeze album due out later this hardcore modern gospel country! troubadour Andy White at the Winnipeg year in the meantime we have this ground Doug Briney could only be a REAL Folk Festival in 1998 and formed an instant breaking mainly acoustic collection from country singer from the very first glimpse friendship. After annual song writing Glenn. It’s different but somehow he’s of the cover, with his hat and his beard! sessions at Fearing’s home in Guelph, retained that niche 70s sound. The material is all original but I do Ontario spanning some ten years, they Tilbrook, a talented lyricist, also gets to think nine tracks is a little short value. If released their self-titled debut album in express himself more, he has written or you like the music of , Merle 2011. For TEA AND CONFIDENCES, released co- written all 12 of the songs on this his Haggard or this is for you! on March 4, they decided to concentrate third solo album, in Squeeze lyrics are the The opening track Super Country Cowboy their writing into two intensive sessions preserve of Difford. There are three stand is perhaps the heart and soul of Doug and the result is a very listenable album. out co-writes with , Briney, where he lays it out as to who he is Their song writing tends to concentrate on Persephone a story song about a and how he likes his music! I could quite the positive things in life and there is little scatterbrain, Everybody Sometimes a imagine him going down a storm in some doom and gloom on offer here. Things cynical dig at big business and Dennis a honky tonk bar room, a million miles away kick off with a couple of great guitar- general acclamation of the music and from where many gospel singers would driven rocking numbers: Tomorrow Takes a times of the Beach Boys and to Dennis dare to venture and more power to his Long Time and We Came Together, where Wilson in particular. elbow! The other tracks like I Get To, Pretty the opening could easily have been Rupert, a solo writing effort, is a very Big Deal and Believe all work well, but I mistaken for an Everly Brothers hit. Secret clever, wry and not unkind song built wasn’t so keen on The Money, The Gun and of a Long Lasting Love is country rock at its around Rupert Murdoch and with a title The Bible as in my opinion carrying a best with great lyrics to match. Things like that it could not really be about much weapon as a Christian jars on me, but I then quieten down for the aching else. Back to the co-writes with Tillbrook’s accept others may disagree. Also I’m not harmonies of Another Time Another Place. ten year old getting credit for the sure I agree with the theology of the last The album dips slightly in the middle but rhythmic Bongo Bill and collaborating track either Unknown Soldier. However if quickly picks up with the rocky Sanctuary with Simon Hanson for Kev and Dave. The you want new original material, go no before the duo come up with a couple of latter is the tale of two brothers who, further. I look forward to following the beautiful love ballads, Think of Me Like despite being polar opposite career of this most unusual new artist. I Summer and Save Yourself. Even more personalities, run a pub together and would think he might go down a storm on poignant lyrics are in evidence on the how, surprisingly, everything seems to a ‘live’ gig, where I would imagine he lovely Emigrant Song before the album get done and it seems to work! might sell a lot of product. Definitely an closes much as it began with another Squeeze member Simon Hanson lends artist to look out for in the future. David country rocker Eighth Wonder of the World. his considerable assistance throughout Brassington With Andy White now living in Australia on back-up vocals and many other www.dougbriney.com

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much more than just a country singer, never by that fine State, Joshua ‘JD’ Wilkes has Martina McBride predictable. This fun track and others on many strings to his bow (or should that be EVERLASTING here, should by rights get mainstream air holes to his harp?) as this one time Texan, Vinyl Recordings/Kobalt play, and therefore take her music to the now full blown Kentuckian, renaissance HHHH masses and not just to country fans who man not only blows the meanest harp in the A mixture of soul and already buy her stuff. south but is also an author, visual artist and Motown on McBride’s The track that would stop my car if it amateur filmmaker. Previously of the 12th studio album came on the radio is track ten of the dozen: , JD now fronts EVERLASTING, Martina’s 12th studio In The Basement. The duet with Kelly The Dirt Daubers as he brings a driving album in 22 years of recording, opens in fine Clarkson, on a song originally done by Etta earthy mixture of blues and R&B to your style with the Aretha Franklin classic, Do James and Sugar Pie DeSanto. It is funky, it is ears with WILD MOON. Right Man, Do Right Woman. Martina is in greasy and a real soul stomper. The piano Featuring the spine tingling vocals of his soulful and powerful mode, delivering an licks sound like Ramsey Lewis, and the pair’s good wife Jessica and ably assisted by emotion-soaked vocal. There are horns-a- vocals are a great match. They spur each guitarist (playing some mighty fine licks) plenty across this track and on the whole other on to give a bit more, and Kelly gives Rod Hamdullah, ’ Ralph album. This Chips Moman and Dan Penn us some really sizzling Aretha style vocal Carney on sax, Preston Corn on drums while song is a perfect fit for Martina. runs on an awesome soul vocal. I saw Etta at JD adds some bar room piano to great She covers the Elvis song Suspicious the Ryman in Nashville and she didn’t do effect on top of playing his harp. Minds, before going back to a soul and R&B this song. But Kelly and Martina sure as heck The songs all drive along at a fair lick, the vibe with the Harold Melvin and The did! exception being the sultry No More My Love Bluenotes hit, If You Don’t Know Me By Now. The Little Walter blues standard, My Babe, as Jessica gives a Billie Holiday edge to a One of the highlights for me is the benefits from some smokin’ blues harp licks soulful gospel ballad. There are some great stripped-back A Little Bit Of Rain, the Fred from Nashville guitarist and singer Michael lyrics playing around with nursery rhymes Neil song, a solid vehicle to allow Martina to Henderson. He plays every Monday night at in the wonderful Apple & Oranges. The deliver a sweet vocal and offer some light the Bluebird Café in Music City, where combination of riffing and raw slide guitar and shade. Martina and her producer Don Was caught and harp stabs on Angel Crown is another The first of two duets, the Sam Cooke his act and signed him and his band The highlight. Praise also to the title track Wild song Bring It On Home To Me, features US Bluebloods to play on this track, and on Moon showing that JD is a mean vocalist in singer Gavin DeGraw channeling Ray Bring It On Home To Me, on which Michael his own right. Charles. Nice chemistry between the two of plays an awesome electric guitar solo. If you like your country raw with plenty of them. A real show stopper moment this The set closes with The Teddy Bears’ honky tonk then this album is for you. You track. song, To Know Him Is To Love Him, a gentle are taken straight to one of those back ditty Come See About Me arrangement and a lovely way to end a street bars full of rare Bourbon, scar-faced, provides an authentic Motown sound. pleasing album from an artist we can bearded guys that you dare not look at and Jimmy Ruffin’sWhat Becomes Of The Broken always rely on to make top quality music women who you can do nothing but look Hearted is a very big song and there is only with wide appeal. The production values at. It is not for nothing that JD Wilkes one definitive version. I heard Jimmy sing it allow Martina to be Martina, and not have features on the soundtrack of the Vampire at the tribute concert after Princess Diana to try to sound like a soul singer. Gothic series True Blood. This band fits right died, held in the grounds of her family’s It is NOT a country album and you will not in. Althorp House home in Northamptonshire. hear one fiddle, mandolin or pedal steel For all lovers of raw and true country. It was pouring with rain that day, but here. But what you will hear is a real singer John Jobling Martina makes the sun shine with her and an artist at the top of her game. Martina www.thedirtdaubers.net version, a strong effort and a surprising fit has had 14 Grammy nominations in her for her. career so far. Maybe this is the one that wins You cannot get bigger than Otis Redding her a gong. Simon Redley Lydia Loveless when it comes to and soul www.martinamcbride.com SOMEWHERE ELSE singers, and Martina takes on one of his Bloodshot Records greatest songs, the iconic I’ve Been Loving BS219 You Too Long. It’s a very brave choice and JD Wilkes & The HHHH she does a great job, but it still lacks that Dirt Daubers Punk child turned heart wrenching tears and pain, soul WILD MOON country rocker moves ‘thang’ for me. Paul Rodgers covers this on Plowboy Records up a gear; and it works! his latest CD, THE ROYAL SESSIONS, and HHHHH Released on March 24, this is the second does a fabulous job, but I still think this song Raw & downhome full length offering from the Columbus, is probably best left to Mr. Redding. mixture of R&B and based young rocker. After receiving The first single is Van Morrison’sWild Country Blues mixed in with some sultry accolades from the likes of ‘’ Night, a good choice for radio play. Martina vocals, fuzzed guitar and hard blowing for her previous release INDESTRUCTABLE told me she is sure this album will not get harp – what more do you need? MACHINE, Lydia really cranks things up on on to country radio, but who cares? She is Endowed with the title Kentucky Colonel SOMEWHERE ELSE. There is the familiar diet

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of difficult relationships, mixing lust with springboard she needs to move to greater and folk songs that often twist through the love and loneliness with a sprinkling of things. Recommended for those who like darkness of love and loss, this song opens the drugs and death thrown in but all ten their country music up tempo and very album with high expectations and the numbers have been crafted superbly and loud. John Roffey second song and lead single from the album her singing is outstanding. The moodiness www.lydialoveless.com doesn’t disappoint! Mission Bells is of her vocals complements the brutal Nathanson’s soaring take on a love song and honesty of her lyrics and she is now letting the love of your life walk away. Other displaying a musical maturity not often Matt Nathanson stand-out songs on the album include seen in a twenty-three year old. Really LAST OF THE Annie’s Always Waiting (For The Next One To Wanna See You and Wine Lips get things off GREAT Leave) which again is a wonderful captivating to a country rocking start and prove to be PRETENDERS song that really is a bit of a rock anthem, highlights of a first rate album. alongside Heart Starts, which serves as a Lydia is never afraid to bare her soul and HHHHH beautiful love song and Farewell, December; Hurts So Bad really puts her heartache into Incredible album I possibly my favourite song on the album for perspective whilst Verlaine Shot Rimbaud haven’t stopped listening to since it arrived its wonderful tender vocals and the display relates the sordid relationship of two How did I miss this? Matt Nathanson has of ability to craft a beautiful and soulful folk Parisian poets from the 1800s. Recorded at eight studio albums under his belt, his first song alongside powerful rock-tinged tunes. the Sonic Lounge in Columbus, Lydia is recorded in 1993 and is performing I have listened to this album now about supported by Todd May (vocals, guitar); Jay currently with another of my favourites twenty times at least and I can’t find fault Gasper (steel guitar), Nate Holman (organ) Gavin DeGraw. This American singer with it. Every song is captivating, and Nick German (drums) and the songwriter blends folk with rock tones, and Nathanson’s ability is wondrous and the interaction with her band again displays an ultimately crafts the soundtrack to my songs are deep and connecting, without unexpected maturity. Having passed summer. being too self-obsessed and allow the songs through her rebellious teenage years and The anthemic Earthquake Weather opens to really breathe. It’s quite simply feasted on the punk scene, Lydia has now the album with an incredible vibe that had unexpectedly stunning - and definitely one settled for punk tinged country rock for this me hooked from the outset. With a I’d recommend! Laura Bethell album which could well prove to be the seasoned vocal, that’s suited to a rock tune www.mattnathanson.com NEW RELEASES

the US festival circuit as bluegrass child with a folk storyline, yet when Paul sings it, Maggie McClure prodigies. Their 2002 offering THIS SIDE it has an indie edge that wouldn’t be out of TIME MOVES ON won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk place in a dingy Camden Rock Club on a Self-released Album and WHY SHOULD THE FIRE DIE? sweaty Saturday. H followed in 2005. In 2007 all three went As a lover of love songs I simply adore He X-Factor-style slick but their separate ways with Sara Watkins Loves Her Now which is about not taking soulless set particularly being no stranger to the UK love and partner’s for granted and actually It tells you all you after her successful tour in 2013. The working at what should come naturally – need to know about this LA singer- musicianship and harmony singing on A and a lesson we could all learn. songwriter’s music that the first sentence of DOTTED LINE are first class with all three When The Good Times Roll Again is a her biography, i.e. the most important thing taking their turn at lead. Christmas Eve and genuine folk song, with a belting sing- she has to say, mentions her ‘impressive 21st Of May stood out immediately although along chorus, written from the point of synch resume’ (how many songs she’s Mother Mother’s Hayloft and You Don’t view of a WW1 soldier in the trenches but is placed in films and on TV). Yep, that’s what Know What’s Going On don’t really fit with just as relevant today, as bugger all has music is about, definitely. But just to be on the general acoustic feel of the rest of the changed for the men and women in the the safe side a quick scroll down lists some album. The frantic instrumental Elephant In front line. of them: ‘Worst Prom Ever’, ‘Cougar Town’, The Corn takes the trio back to their roots Album opener Glory Bound takes a more ‘Cowgirls N’ Angels’ (sic) to name but three. and the album closes with ’ universal approach to being at the sharp Still not sure? Ok then, to imagine how she lovely ballad Where Is Love Now, a song end of the military; and should be on every sounds it’s simpler just to picture the perfectly suited to Sara’s beautiful vocals. Government minister’s iPod. reverse of every adjective her biography Because the trio like to continue to broaden ‘Real music’ lovers will enjoy and uses: Ethereal, expansive, achingly their musical influences, it’s difficult to appreciate the intricate guitar playing and gorgeous, moody, playfully quirky. No, ‘pigeon-hole’ the album. Nickel Creek have doom-laden lyrics of Still Time Away which definitely none of those. Slick, soulless, a unique sound and the more one listens to has all the hallmarks of early predictable, power ballads by the numbers, the album, the more enjoyable it becomes. or John Martyn. its music for X-Factor devotees. John Roffey Arguably my favourite track is the The lyrics are trite, clichéd and obvious. www.nickelcreek.com miserablist and powerful song about the Dreams are like fireflies, ‘our love will always death of a loved one, Passing Through, as it remain’, she’s ‘getting closer to our perfect touches all of the things a man my age stars aligned’. And so on. And so on. Both Paul Handyside reflects upon and Handyside’s use of words production and playing are big and WAYWARD SON and the awesome arrangement had me polished (of course) but completely Malady Music clenching my fists and listening with tightly unmemorable (fortunately). There are one MALCD004 closed eyelids. or two saving graces. Amongst all this dross HHHH There aren’t may laughs on WAYWARD there’s an inkling of a decent tune or two, Grown up folk music SON but every now and again we all need to even the odd hook (Daydream At Midnight, that touches the heart, listen to some grown up music that touches Central Time) and McClure has a decent, if the soul and the brain the heart, the soul and the brain. Alan thin, voice. But really that’s it. Time does Paul Handyside first crossed my music Harrison indeed move on, and so should you. path over 30 years ago when he was the www.paulhandyside.com Jeremy Searle fresh-faced singer in a post-punk band www.maggiemcclure.com called Hurrah for Youth, who reached the dizzying heights of number seven in the Matt Andersen indie charts, and were great live. WEIGHTLESS Nickel Creek Since the band broke up in 1991 Paul has True North/Proper A DOTTED LINE performed all over the world and released Records TND587 Nonesuch several very fine albums – all of which I own HHHH HHHH and play. Bluesman not trapped A welcome return If Paul Handyside has a problem it is in a bluesman’s body celebrates the Grammy because he is what we used to know as Through the course of many albums and Award winning trio’s (simply) a ‘singer-songwriter’ who channels years of touring with his sold out dynamic 25th anniversary many forms of music to create his very own live show New Brunswick native Matt Celebrated bluegrass/folk/acoustic trio sound; and a lovely sound it is too. Andersen has built up a large following as Nickel Creek are reunited following an The title track, Wayward Son, which evidenced by several important blues ‘indefinite hiatus’ and have come up with a closes the album, sums my feelings up awards and his recently recorded its two very listenable album. Chris Thile perfectly as it could easily be sung in a folk millionth hit on YouTube. (mandolin/vocals), Sara Watkins (fiddle/ club on a Tuesday night by a man in an A recent change of management, a new vocals) and Sean Watkins (guitar/vocals) Arran sweater or by someone wearing a record label and some inspired song released their first album in 2000 after Stetson in the Bluebird Café on a Friday. It writing by Andersen and his several spending the previous eleven years playing has all the hallmarks of a great country song talented co-writers have resulted in this

90 Maverick NEW RELEASES very good album which, in addition to the band with strong Nashville credentials on new album ME de rigueur blues numbers includes samples delighted instead to rock the blues. Jo Dee Messina has been busy since the of , folk and country and even Troubadour Kings is a trio of veteran 2005 release of her last full-length album. a trace of a reggae beat in the opener I Lost musicians all of whom bring a wealth of Between a wedding, two children and a My Way and others to. As the title implies I experience and impressive credentials to new record label, she’s had plenty on her Lost My Way has quite a sad theme but one bear on the band’s first album. James House mind and even more on her plate. The that most of us have tasted sometime, is a singer-songwriter who has written and platinum recording artist now returns with wandering, feeling lost but not lost. recorded mega country hits for himself and an album of twelve original songs that As with most good albums it is difficult to others with songs including address the challenges of being ‘everything select a stand out amongst several (Martina McBride), In a Week or Two to everyone’ - lover, wife, mother, prominent tracks. References must be (), and 1995’s This Is Me Missing artist and fan. made of the folksy Alberta Gold, which is You (James House), the latter revived as a Of the twelve tracks, Messina is credited being released as a single, the harrowing 2013 dance remix. Guitarist Lou Toomey as the writer or co-writer of seven, including true story of near destitute east coast played with Keith Whitley, then with Faith two of the stronger songs on the album. seafarers heading west to work on the Hill for many years. His electric guitar is The overwhelmed mother sings an more financially rewarding oil sands, the heard on Brooks & Dunn records as well. up-tempo lament in A Woman’s Rant, ‘I got sumptuous blues of for those Bassist Michael Bradford is also a songwriter PMS and PTA, find the thing my kid can’t days when nothing sensible is possible, the and producer who has played with Anita find, I need a drink but there’s no time!’ southern rock feel to City of Dreams and the Baker, recorded for diverse artists including Written in minutes after a sleepless night memorable riffs ofLet You Down. I wasn’t so , and produced , Stevie with her toddler son, this lighthearted song keen on the title track, which is a fairly Nicks and . finds a country groove with banjo and keys, straightforward blues but, I suppose, Debut album GHOST OF JUAREZ plays reinforced by Messina’s spunky, tongue-in- WEIGHTLESS makes for a good album title. straightforward, unvarnished roadhouse cheek delivery. Credit should be given here to the blues. There is no overproduced electronic The title track features an introspective energetic and attractive harmony vocals gimmickry here; traditional electric blues Jo Dee who confesses her doubts, provided, especially on the blues tracks, by rock remains true to the form. The wondering how she can do all that is Amy Helm and Alanna Stuart. instrumentals are elegant and understated. expected of her. ‘Wish I was half the woman The final track of a good value twelve Where strings are added the tones are I’ve gotta be…I’m everything to everyone, What Will You Leave When You Go, is the expertly blended, for example on track and I’m scared as I can be, ‘cause when I third and best co-write with Ryan Hupman Water for the Dancers where violin and cello look in the mirror, all I see is me.’ The lyrics the other two being the title track and the add texture. There is smoke and rasp in and melody flow easily, smoothly; a equally bluesy Between The Lines. This one is House’s voice that draws and maintains restrained vocal brings the heartfelt in spiritual style it runs along at a fair lick attention. His laidback and matter-of-fact message home to Me. with drums pounding out the rhythm and storytelling prompts comparison to the late The remaining tunes lean heavily to with that title it is an apt closing number. and great JJ Cale. /rock. The songwriting and With his distinctive smoky soulful voice This is a record that wears well, suited to instrumentation are uniformly solid, if and mastery of the guitar Andersen is made replay. Love and other real life stories are sometimes uninventive. There is an for the blues, indeed when in that genre his presented with a gutsy, down-to-earth occasional awkward lyric and impossible voice and physical bulk brings Grammy style that is sometimes laced with rhyme, including ‘…he’s just a man who bluesman Solomon Burke to mind and southwest mysticism, as in title track Ghost gave into his kryptonite’ in closing track Say there cannot be much higher praise than of Juarez, reminiscent of work by the Eagles. Goodbye to Superman. A surprising number that. However with this album Andersen is There are undertones of a hard, sad and of tracks focus on failed relationships, making a compelling case for the quality of even outlaw existence, as in the robbery including saucy debut single Peace Sign his offering in a much wider range of tale Getaway Car. While song themes lean where a jilted lover has a pointed retort, ‘I’m musical styles. Paul Collins toward the melancholy and convey a just saying goodbye one finger shy of the www.stubbyfingers.ca general sense of resignation, the occasional peace sign.’ promise of escape into the arms of a lover Messina’s plain-spoken language and provides welcome relief. This is an album personality-filled vocals are a continuing hit Troubadour Kings likely to assume a steady presence in your with her loyal fans. ME was supported GHOST OF JUAREZ catalogue of favourites. Holley Dey through a Kickstarter campaign that easily Victor House Records www.troubadourkings.com achieved more than 120% of goal within the HHHH thirty-day fundraising window. Supporters Blues rock debut offers voted for the album title, helped to choose understated elegance Jo Dee Messina the album tracks via social media, selected and strong ME debut single Peace Sign, and will contribute musicianship Dreambound Records to a planned video for A Woman’s Rant. Now As artificial lines drawn between music HHH they’ll just need to buy the album. genres continue to blur, and former pop/ Jo Dee Messina flaunts Holley Dey rock artists pull on country boots, here’s a her independent spirit www.jodeemessina.com

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electric guitar, piano, organ, synthesiser, Rachel’s use of the instruments at her Phil Burdett glockenspiel) was joined on the GHOST disposal – particularly the strings - is DUNFEARING OF A GARDENER sessions by a coterie of inventive, vibrant and atmospheric. Her AND THE WEST New York and Midwest players including words are sublime throughout. Arthur COUNTRY HIGH co-producer David Vandervelde Wood Drumfire DRMFR016 (acoustic/electric guitar, bass, www.rachelries.com HHH synthesiser, percussion, vocals), Ariel Cool songs from a Bolles (upright bass), Evan Bivens (drums, strange country percussion), Emmett Kelly (lead guitar), ItsAcoustica Phil Burdett inhabits a dreamy, rootsy Cole Kamen (trumpet), Alec Spiegelman ITSACOUSTICA Americana otherworld somewhere (clarinet, flute) and three-quarters of the Organic Soup between East and West. The Brit country Real Voice Strings Quartet - Alisa Rose Records OSRAC05 veteran has become progressively more (violin), Dina MacCabee (viola) and Jess HHHH out on the edge over the years, and his Ivry (cello). Roots-y duo hit their latest opus was written in the waterfront A piano solo introduces album opener stride with record bars of Cornwall and recorded in Essex. Time; joined by many of the support number four. Their best to date The result is a swirling mix of country, players, Rachel sings joyously of our Catherine and Andy Higgins are one of roots and rock with Gallic overtones. allotted time on this earthly plane. It’s a North-East England’s finest live acts. Burdett has been described as being sparkling start. Similarly blissful, Words Polished and professional, they always somewhere between Van Morrison and gives substance to our utterances as deliver. Andy is an accomplished Tom Waits but that oversimplifies things. minutes merge with hours, days, weeks, acoustic guitarist, banjoist, uke player He’s neither so rambling as the former months and years. The Austin, Texas and singer. He is also an astute arranger. and certainly no where near as affected based quartet of , Raina Catherine is the chief songwriter with a as the latter; with his rich growl and Rose, and striking, emotive voice, which she ably go-it-alone attitude he’s more David furnish backing vocals to the latter. A supports with her fiddle and accordion. Allan Coe-meets-Steve Earle, surrounded gentle melody and restrained vocal On this CD, as on stage, they are very by a rich backing freed from any musical underpins Ghost, a paean to life and the much a self-contained musical marriage. constraints. hereafter, while collectively the This fourth CD is a step up in class; in This is perhaps his most off-the-wall instruments deliver another luminous terms of writing, performing and album, which is saying something backdrop. It’s (totally) glib to relate that marketing. Engineer Ron Angus has considering the variety of music he’s only a time-served offspring of created a warm, crystal clear audio come up with in the past. There’s a poet Mennonite Missionaries could have experience for the listener. The artwork at work on numbers such as See The penned Holiest Day. While those cover shot (also provided by Mr Angus) Sunset Slow & Beckon True and the missionaries are factual, replete with the features the duo, instrument cases in 11-minute Night Horses Of The Wireless repeating hint of a Simon & Garfunkel hand, walking into the distance along a Road, a dark, mystical masterwork. 1960’s guitar riff,Holiest Day is one hell of leafy path through columns of trees It’s rarely clear what Burdett is singing a grounded, down-to-earth towards the distant light. It’s like a about but the strange and twisted lyrics, composition. visualisation of Robert Frost’s The Road Kerouac-like in their stream of Ries’ long-time band-mate Bolles Not Taken. It may be a cliché, but to this consciousness feel, somehow work supplies a support vocal to the segue reviewer it conjures up visions of within the ever-moving framework of Mercy, Willow and You Can Go. Mercy Catherine and Andy taking us on their the music. doubles as a travelogue - with musical journey. Fascinating and beautifully produced. destinations familiar to Ries - and love The ten song set contains eight Nick Dalton song; Willow is a hymn to long-gone, originals and a couple of choice covers; www.philburdett.com simpler times, while parental nurturing Darrell Scott’s Great Day To Be Alive and and guidance – the lack of it, actually - Chris Smithers’ Leave The Light On. Ably stands centre-stage in You Can Go. Detail sung by Andy, both illustrate their taste Rachel Ries upon detail of a nightmarish childhood for organic American classic country, folk GHOST OF A memory constitutes the main fabric of I material. Yet, their own material is also, GARDENER See It Coming. Gregory Alan Isakov duets somehow, very English, too. Books We’ll SoDak Records with Rachel on album closer Standing Never Read Again, finds Catherine HHHHH Still. Set in Iowa, ‘in the house upon a hill’ clearing out old junk and her random Rachel’s GHOST OF the day after a series of tornadoes passed thoughts are echoed by the stream of A GARDENER is a through, the narrator alludes to love consciousness lyrics, equally funny and Technicolor treasure, in word and – ‘What it is I’ve got for you’ and eternity touching: ‘Today I found a hand-held melody. – ‘On the day that we pass on into, paper shredder and a torch, if I keep Recorded at former alumni, the nobody knows/May we leave a memory them both then I can do my shredding in late Jay Bennett’s, Pieholden Suite of us after the storm.’ Whew, what a the dark’. ‘Every item in its time has made Sounds in Chicago, Rachel Ries (vocals, thought and couplet to close with. a day complete.’ The instrumental

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arrangement is equally impressive, investigation. John Brindle album. Most of the remaining tracks are far beginning with a lone uke, then banjo, www.itsacoustica.com too long – five, six, seven minutes – an accordion, guitar lead into a fuller sound. occupational hazard of the self-produced The layered vocals are also very attractive. album with nobody to rein you in. This The material is universally strong; the Red Pine Timber would be ok if the songs justified it but beautiful Hannah and Home touch on Company they don’t. Too many instrumental bits, spirituality, ‘I know it is with nothing I was DIFFERENT too much dragging out. Dark Clouds is a born.’ A trio of songs that run together, LONESOME case in point. It has a nice loping groove Nowhere Near, Talking In American and Set In Independent but is dragged down by the endless Stone are particularly strong, sounding like RPRCD001 repetition of the chorus. You look at your numbers would have been HHI watch thinking the album must be done pleased to have penned. Nowhere Near Talented Scots in need of an editor by now only to discover it’s only halfway with its fiddle and banjo is a knockout song If, as they say, you can’t judge a book by through. with a classic melody and sing-a-long its cover, then perhaps you shouldn’t But, and but again. Inside every six chorus. Andy excels on harmonies here. judge an album by its first track, and minute epic is two hundred and ten Set In Stone is a real highlight with a indeed you certainly shouldn’t do so with seconds of at least a decent song and melody slightly reminiscent of this set. Lonely Days Are Gone hits the sometimes a very good one. Melancholy, Springsteen’s One Step Up, it has a beautiful sweet spot, being as it is a slice of that despair and darkness are the bands resigned air to it. The picked mandolin and jangly Americana that Scots seem to do stock-in-trade, and that’s just fine too. guitar give way to a surprising organ fill and so well. It has a big sound complete with Katie Burgoyne has a massive voice and a closing fiddle jig, a snippet of Dougie brass section and if the vocals are a little gives it some welly on the title track (it MacLean’s Bob Macintosh. The closing lines strained it doesn’t really matter as the would have been good to hear more of serve as a fitting epitaph for the album. tune, hooks and playing catch you up and her) and the playing is solid throughout. ‘Long live those who stay united; they will swing you along with them. There’s distinct talent here, but it needs sing in harmony…’ But, and you probably saw this coming, harnessing. Jeremy Searle This is an excellent CD, worthy of your it’s far and away the best thing on the www.redpinetimbercompany.com NEW RELEASES

SUDDENLY. He is gaining widespread Shinyribs praise from the movers and shakers, with Swampcandy GULF COAST the likes of Janice Long, Huw Jones and MIDNIGHT CREEP MUSEUM Tom Robinson donating air play and NOONDAY STOMP Nine Mile Records mucho verbal compliments. Self release NMR 0211 Sion has done 500 gigs in the last two HH HHHI years, appearing at SSXW in Texas, Blues with a pie and a A decent helping of Canadian Music Week in Toronto, shows pint Texas swampy country soul from The at Rockwood Music Hall in New York, Swampcandy play pub blues to perfection. Gourds front man Sound City in Liverpool, Hop Farm Their gig list is crammed with dates in the Kevin ‘Shinyribs’ Russell is best known as Festival, The Acoustic Festival of Great finest alehouses and taverns of their base in front man of Austin combo The Gourds but Britain and Europe’s leading new music the state of Maryland, and if you fancy a he found he had such a stockpile of new festival, The Great Escape. decent, if undemanding, night out they are songs needing an airing that he decided to He has supported Ocean Colour Scene, over here in May. begin performing as Shinyribs in 2006. Newton Faulkner, Mara Carlyle, Thomas The cd and website are both full of not After playing a monthly show in Houston Leeb and fellow Welsh native Charlotte much information, but I can pass on the for a couple of years, Shinyribs evolved into Church. Oh, and the recent Hanson tour. information that Swampcandy are a duo a sought after band with fellow Gourd Keith The new CD was produced by Gordon comprising singer, songwriter and guitarist Langford (drums), Jeff Brown (bass) and Mills Jr, son of the late manager and Ruben Dobbs alongside Joey Mitchell on Winfield Creek (keyboards) completing the record label mogul - the man behind Tom upright bass and kick drum. current line-up. Things kick off in catchy Jones and Mr Humperdinck – Gordon As already mentioned they would sound country style with the melancholy, if rather Mills. . great in a pub whilst sharing a shandy and a long-winded Sweeter Than The Scars, a tale Gordon Jr produced Ed Sheeran, Lissie, packet of pork scratchings with your fellow of memories and regret, sounding rather Newton Faulkner and others, and is a blue collar friends after a hard day at the mill. like Texas compatriot Guy Clark; great perfect fit for Sion’s effortless vocals and The guitar sound is dark and dirty, with vocals supporting vocals from Sally Allen. Take Me superior song-writing skills, and allowing pitched somewhere between Nick Cave and (To) Lake Charles has a funky soulful feel him the freedom to deliver an unbeatable Tom Waits, and the songs, predominantly before some great traditional slow country ‘difficult second album.’ original, mine the seams already picked clean with Limpia Hotel (Chihuahua Desert). This is a gentle, folk tinged, quality by the greats like Robert Johnson, Son House, Somebody Else, a typical country love ballad roots record that has shades of Simon & Leadbelly etc. finds Shinyrig in mellow mood but things Garfunkel’s sweet harmonies and class You would, quite likely, buy this CD as a hot up again with Texas Talking and the peppered across it. His work has memento of the evening, but how often you rocky Bolshevik Sugarcane. Kevin’s vocals previously drawn comparison to Gram would play it in the relative solitude of your are elevated a few octaves for Sweet Potato Parsons and Elliot Smith. lounge is for you to choose, but I venture to before he rocks with Song of Lime Juice & Many music critics at the end of each suggest that the number would be small. Despair on which he tries his hand at year and the start of a new year, bang on Therein lies the rub: To me the songs offer yodelling. The album closes with a about ‘ones to watch,’ predicting which nothing outstanding and, without sympathetic rendering of If You Don’t Know artists and bands are gonna be the next concentration, merge into a seamless, Me By Now, recorded by the good and the big thing. While Sion is obviously not uneventful whole. Great in the Dog and Duck great and a hit for Harold Melvin & the chasing chart stardom and Radio 1 but, for the moment, the spring bulbs and Bluenotes in 1972 as well as in airplay, I will say that this guy really is one sunshine of my garden are, by far, the bigger 1989; just Kevin and his ukulele on this one to watch in 2014. draw. Ian Ambrose with background vocals supplied by Brandy His voice has a mesmerising, soothing www.swampcandy.com Zdan. This is an album of finely crafted quality to it. The subtle production numbers which, whilst not a classic, should beautifully showcases that unique vocal appeal to most diehard devotees of talent, and these 10 splendid songs. The David Liberty Americana. John Roffey Nothing is out of place among the ten Band www.shinyribs.org here. Mother Mary perhaps a standout CHAINS AND BONES track, but it is all pretty superb. Freudian Slip Inc This will be one CD that finds its way RDRCD-11466 Sion Russell Jones into my own collection, and is unlikely to H LOST NO MORE gather dust. Infectious? Addictive? Dire and discordant SARJ Records Essential? One of those records that’ll get singer-songwriter collection HHHHH introduced to friends and family at the By and large the reduced cost of entry and Gentle, folk tinged next gathering. “Have you heard of a guy increased ease of making music has not quality roots record called Sion Russell Jones? No. Well take a resulted in a rash of rubbish albums, rather a Welsh-born singer listen to this little gem then.” Yes, please plethora of mediocrity. There’s always an songwriter Sion Russell Jones releases the do. You’ll thank me. Simon Redley exception or two though and this album is follow-up to his acclaimed 2010 album AND www.sionrusselljones.com one of them. Boy it is one of them. All the

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musical virtues we tend to take for granted matter. What can be heard suggest that any circumstance. Ian Ambrose – singing in tune, interesting songs, a melody neither John Pedigo or Taylor Young are not www.rossainslie.com or two – are all conspicuous by their absence. going to be knocking Bob Dylan off his perch It’s apparently Liberty’s sixth, which displays any time soon but if they’re not Premier admirable persistence but also a complete League writers they’re definitely First Patsy Reid disregard for the aural happiness of the Division. THE BRIGHTEST human race. This is an enjoyable album but The O’s are PATH According to his PR sheet Liberty possesses better live. Next time maybe they could Classy Trad Records a three octave voice. That’s as maybe but strike a bit more of a balance between power HHHH here he sings almost everything in the key of and subtlety, at least in the studio. Oh, and A mixture of traditional flat while the guitarist frequently appears to sort out their punctuation? Jeremy Searle melodies allied to some be playing licks from a completely different www.wearetheos.com self penned gems as highly talented Scottish song (though sadly not a better one). Then fiddle player releases first solo recordings there’s the lyrics. Liberty is clearly a leftie, since 1978 which should have found him favour with this Ross Ainslie Patsy Reid is renowned as the go-to reviewer at least, but oh dear, no thought is WIDE OPEN person if you want some excellent and too obvious, no sentiment too lumpen, to Records unique fiddle work, either on your escape inclusion in a Liberty song. As for the GWR001CD recordings or as an addition to your live non-political ones, let’s just say that William HHH band. Previously with well respected folk McGonagall would be proud. To complete Debut solo album from band Breabatch, over the last couple of years the package his website is one of the most terrific piper Patsy has added her lovely fiddle sound to poorly designed ever and the album artwork For how long can one be regarded as a artists of the calibre of Kathryn Tickell and seriously disturbing, and not in a good way. rising star? I guess that is a matter for Bella Hardy, to name just two. This is a listening experience that philosophical debate rather than CD review, This album features Patsy accompanied by genuinely justifies the adjective painful. ‘Give but what we have here is the debut solo her own core band of Ewan McPherson me liberty or give me death!’ goes the album from the above mentioned who has (guitar), Signy Jakobsdottir (percussion), famous rallying cry. I know which I’d pick. long been thought of as one of the bright Mhairi Hall (piano) and Matty Foulds (drums). Jeremy Searle young things of , Also in attendance to add some really www.davidliberty.com particularly noted for his highly acclaimed melodic saxophone is Fraser Fifield. Patsy duo with Jarlath Henderson, the Irish herself plays viola and cello as well as her uilleann piper. violin. The O’s This, though, is a different kettle of fish, a The five traditional fiddle tunes on here, all THUNDERDOG much more rocky sound with the drums of whisk you off on an audio journey through Electric Honey EH1304 James Mackintosh high in the mix and, the Highlands. From a joyful Donside & Mrs HHH possibly, sounding like the second cousin of Ross’s rant to a medley of Miss General Dallas duo deliver Wolfstone. The first sign of subtlety, to my Campbell/The Bridge Of Garry/The Foullers driving down-home ears, comes with the third track which is a set Rant to really get your feet and fingers Americana of tunes entitled, perhaps ironically, Beer. As tapping. Live Dallas duo The O’s kick up a mighty well as being a superb piper Mr Ainslie also Patsy herself however is no slouch at fearsome racket, as anyone who saw them excels on the whistle, amply demonstrated penning her own reels, such as the delicious out with Del Amitri recently can attest. Kick by his playing on the Wedding Waltzes set. Thugainn and Springa Like Marit. To be fair her drum, tambourine, harmonica and a guitar Thus far I have managed to mention two of fiddle playing is of such a standard, hitting all and banjo that are not so much played as the gentler pieces as I found the more up the emotional notes, it is easy to see why she beaten into submission all combine to deliver tempo stuff much of a muchness, although is so acclaimed by so many. a mighty . On this, their third my pick would be the Morning After set, She sings vocal on band member album, although the instrumentation is the which may be indicative of a quiet night in. McPherson’s The River Princes and her take on same things are toned down (a bit) from their However everything neatly comes together American band HEM’s Half Acre. She also live sound, you can still feel the power. No in the splendid To The Woods Suite which nails a standout Kite Song written by Patty shrinking violet singer-songwriters these but brilliantly closes the album. Griffin. full-on attack deliverers that demand your After searching through the website I have There is some fiddle playing onA Precious attention. And, having demanded it, keep it. been unable to find any gigs specifically Place (Donald Shaw) that is heart There’s more than a hint of Jay Farrar in the lined up to promote this album, and that is an wrenchingly exquisite and worth the vocals and overall it’s a bit like the soundtrack absolute shame as, I suspect, it would be an entrance money alone. I must admit fiddle to ‘Deliverance’ played by The Cramps, which absolute blast in a live setting, particularly as music on its own often leaves me cold. Well, of course is a good thing. What is less of a the closing act of a festival. But listening on a Patsy Reid has managed to create with THE good thing is the fact that said noise means damp and dismal Saturday afternoon in BRIGHTEST PATH a collection that has that it’s often difficult to hear, let along judge, Essex the album seems to lack the variation definitely thawed me out! the lyrics, but this is more of a band to pogo and excitement that Ross and his supremely Well worth a listen folks. John Jobling to than ponder on so maybe that doesn’t talented band can usually muster in almost www.patsyreid.com

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country music superstar plenty of fine songs on this four track digital download EP, Jennifer Nettles listening. which is an ideal and economical THAT GIRL I like Brad Paisley. I’ve never met him, but I introduction to a full album later this year. imagine that if I did, I’d find him a decent Two upbeat numbers with, almost HHHH man. There’s something endearing about his inevitably I suppose, a Dixie Chicks sound Debut from Sugarland desire to broaden his horizons and to use his The Good And The Right and Take That Train lead vocalist explores a music to challenge his millions of fans to do separated by the slower tempo and very new, more personal the same. WHEELHOUSE is the album where attractive title track and finally a somewhat vision he most explicitly sets out this challenge and subdued cover of Dougie Maclean’s classic With a UK release date of April 7, Jennifer articulates his view that the world is a big ol’ Caledonia. Blissful sibling harmonies, a great Nettles’ debut album THAT GIRL is a place, so get out there and explore it, y’all. sound and with the sisters revisiting charming, personal and serious attempt to As well as the 17 new tracks which make up Nashville for the full album launch there establish the artist as a major solo artist. the body of WHEELHOUSE, this special could be a big story about to break here. Produced by Rick Rubin and already edition also contains an additional 14 tracks Paul Collins released in the States, the album went bundled up as his Studio Hits, which offers a www.wardthomasmusic.com straight to number one in the US on nice counterpoint to compare the new Billboard’s Country Chart, an indication of material, and for the most part, it stands up the strength of the material on this 11 track pretty well. Stephanie Manns collection. Rubin’s involvement is evident Musically, WHEELHOUSE offers Paisley’s COME CLOSER throughout the album – from the lush strings trademark mix of catchy lyrical hooks (he’s a Self-Released on the beautiful This Angel and Me Without much better lyricist than he’s often given HHHH You, to the spidery guitar of title track and credit for), humour, searing guitar licks, Impressive debut from first singleThat Girl (apparently inspired by contemplative ballads and stadium-friendly an artist with a big Dolly Parton’s Jolene) and the good time sing-alongs. Of course, one track breaks the future ahead of her singalong Know You Wanna Know, Nettles’ mould – the collaboration Accidental Racist Scottish singer-songwriter Stephanie partnership with the multi-award winning with rapper LL Cool J. This could have been a Manns is a late-comer to the music scene, producer has produced some great music. serious misfire, but Paisley carries it off – just. having done her first open mic at the The album marks a significant departure Elsewhere, there are collaborations with (relatively) ripe old age of 23. COME CLOSER for Nettles as she has written or co-written Dierks Bentley, Roger Miller and Hunter is her debut album, and was made possible ten of the 11 songs on the album – the Hayes (the rip-roaring Outstanding In Our by funding from Creative Scotland. It exception being a thoughtful cover of Bob Field), Matt Kearney (Pressing On A Bruise), debuted at number ten on the iTunes Seger’s 1986 hit Like A Rock. You get the Charlie Daniels (Karate), and even Eric Idle Country Music Chart – an impressive start! feeling this track really means something to (Death Of A Married Man). Having already supported names such as Nettles – while there are other songs on the Using his own tour band rather than Joan Armatrading, Midge Ure, KT Tunstall album where she eschews power for a more Nashville session musicians gives the album and Emeli Sandé, it’s clear that many in the sensitive and intimate vibe, her powerful a tight live feel, and the fact he recorded and industry think Manns has a bright future vocal delivery really stands out on this one. produced it at his home has allowed Paisley ahead of her. And that’s my one gripe with this to follow his muse to interesting and COME CLOSER is a charming country/folk/ otherwise flawless album – I just wish that satisfying effect. Quite what’s next for Paisley Americana hybrid album that has a fresh, vocally she’d let herself go a little more is anyone’s guess, but WHEELHOUSE will summery feel. Opening track Follow You is a sometimes, and allow her wonderfully warm keep his fans more than happy for now. jaunty and optimistic number, in which voice to complement the personal and Jonathan Swift Manns’ voice is showcased straight away. thoughtful lyrics. Don’t let that put you off www.bradpaisley.com The Way You Want Me To is another highlight though, this is a fine contemporary country – a moving and heartfelt ballad with a album from a talented and emotionally catchy Americana sound. articulate artist. Jonathan Swift Ward Thomas For those who like their music a bit more www.jennifernettles.com FOOTNOTES country, Fingers and Toes should fit the bill. Independent Slide guitars abound in this slow, majestic HHH love song. Closing track Daisy Chains was Brad Paisley There could be a big written specially for a friend’s wedding, and WHEELHOUSE story about to break was a last-minute addition to the album, but here... it doesn’t feel out of place at all. HHHH Twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward- On this evidence, Mann’s strong, crisp Double CD special Thomas have been working hard for a couple vocals are sure to win admirers wherever she edition collection of years now to break into the Country/ goes, both on the folk and more traditional celebrates Paisley’s Americana scene and their tenacity had its country scene. For a debut album, especially continuing evolution reward when a demo tape of Footnotes from such a late bloomer, this is a hugely Released in the UK on March 10, this found its way into the hands of Nashville exciting piece of work. Chris Beck limited edition double CD offers fans of the session man Bobby Blazier. A good variety of www.stephaniemanns.com

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from the title, it has a definite rock and roll many US soldiers. There is the ‘lest we forget’ Eric Church edge, and definitely isn’t what traditionalists Each Man – a recognition of those who THE OUTSIDERS would call country. In fact, the lyric ‘It’s a guy honour the Tolpuddle Martyrs through to Big Machine Records/ with the balls to tell the establishment to go the joys of Campanology (bell-ringing to you Decca to hell’ reflects the overarching theme of the and me) in Bells. HHHHI whole album – this isn’t one for the Nashville There are, to be fair, a few songs where the A rip-roaring crossover old guard – especially not once he starts complexities of the tale and the multitude of album that will leave rapping halfway through. instruments don’t quite work and the slower you exhausted Church himself said of THE OUTSIDERS: songs definitely stand out. But Lakeman can Eric Church has something of a reputation ‘It’s crazy that people try to put all these be proud of this collection as he plays his part as a showman and entertainer with an constraints on music. Music is universal … it in keeping the folk tradition alive. unconventional sound, and THE OUTSIDERS, speaks to people’s souls on the deepest There is a CD accompanying this disc his fourth album, is his most adventurous level.’ Well said, Eric. Whatever genre THE which has interviews with many of the real release yet. While definitely still a country OUSIDERS falls in to, one thing’s for sure: It’s life characters in the songs. Well worth a album, Church draws on everything from damn good fun! Chris Beck listen as they add real meat to Lakeman’s gospel to rap to hard rock at various points. www.ericchurch.com material. John Jobling For some, that may be sacrilegious, but I www.sethlakeman.co.uk think it is a great way of getting new fans into the music. Seth Lakeman There’s no easing you into THE WORD OF MOUTH Noah Gundersen OUTSIDERS: The opening title track sucks Cooking Vinyl LEDGES you in with some gritty vocals and a bluesy HHHI Noah Gundersen Music guitar riff, before exploding into a wall of Renowned folk artist HHHHH noise that’s sure to get your attention. links together a wide Superb debut solo Following this is the much mellower and variety of tales based on album: Awesome is a traditional-sounding A Man Who Was Going real stories by real people mixed together simply inadequate To Die Young, which features just Church and with his own unique and award winning summation his guitar and is dripping with raw emotion. style Following three solo EPs and two by his, Track three, Cold One, starts off as a pleasant Seth Lakeman releases WORD OF MOUTH now defunct, band The Courage, LEDGES is traditional country song, until the chorus three years after his well received TALES 24-year-old Olympia, Washington-born, now kicks in, with a dirty bass line and some FROM THE BARREL HOUSE (2011). Using his Centralia-based, Noah Gundersen’s official interesting guitar effects, followed by a studio that resides in a church in Cornwall debut solo album. Following the lyric ‘I high-tempo banjo and electric guitar-led Lakeman has utilised his own band to bring a would buy pearls for my lover/And a brand bluegrass bridge. The song highlights warm and thick sound to this release. Always new set of guitar strings,’ a lightly strummed Church’s talent for writing edgy, humorous a superb fiddle and guitar player the addition acoustic guitar debuts two-minutes into the songs and mixing them with an of Leon Hunt (banjo), India Bourne (cello) and five-minute plus, initially a cappella, experimental sound. Martin Green (accordion) to the mix make for gospel-flavoured, opening opus Poor Man’s The harmonious and mellow Talladega is some inspired sounds. Son. Allusions to poverty pervade this the surprise of the album for me. On first The key to this album though are the magnificent marriage of word and melody hearing, I didn’t like it at all. However, on twelve individual and collected tales that – it opened the 2008 band release LIVE AT repeated listening it grew on me, and Lakeman has utilised to ensure that, in the THE TRIPLE DOOR – here, the song reaches a became one of my favourite tracks – so much best folk tradition, history is recorded and goose-bump inducing vocal and guitar so that I found myself humming the chorus remembered through song and melody. crescendo during the closing 60 seconds. all day. It’s one of the more traditional The range of these stories go from the Recorded at Pearl Jam guitarist Stone ‘rock-country’ tracks on the album, and gets strong opener The Wanderer which starts Goddard’s Studio Litho in Seattle, on the better every time you hear it. with what appears to sound like a bagpipe eleven-song LEDGES, Gundersen (lead Broke Record is the one downside to THE drone before exploding into life with strident vocals, guitar, bass, piano, harmonica) is OUTSIDERS. It starts off well enough, with guitar. Telling of a longing for the old solely supported by his siblings – Abby some heavy country riffs and gravelly vocals, travelling days, hard though they were, to (violin, cello, piano, vocals) co-produced the but the chorus is disappointing – I assume it’s the last track a beautiful lament, with disc with Noah, plus Jonathan (drums, vocals) meant to sound like a broke record, but it’s gorgeous fiddle, calledPortrait Of My Wife and Elizabeth (vocals) contribute. Although just annoying, unfortunately. Like A Wrecking that is a bitter/sweet memory of a woman the Gundersen home was filled with music Ball has a chilled, gospel-y sound, although much loved but now gone. while Noah was growing up, secular songs the lyrics are a bit more edgy – it tells the In between these two strong tracks is The were banned. In the LEDGES press release story of how Church is going to come home Last Rider that recounts the journey of a Noah offers “I’m not a religious person to his ‘gal’ and ‘Love you like a wrecking ball’. railway worker who has lived through it all, anymore, but I’ve learned that spiritual Subtle it ain’t. Tiger a man haunted still by the memories of energy transcends religion and that’s The other main talking point of the album an awful event during an exercise preparing something I’ve attempted to incorporate in is That’s Damn Rock & Roll. As you’d imagine for D Day which resulted in the death of my music.” Attempted? – yes. Succeeded –

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totally! engaging listen. Ribinnean Riomhach BRIDGES is just a series of covers. It’s so The second selection Boathouse, one of (Beautiful Ribbons) is another highlight, and much more than that. The future of two previously unreleased songs on the you’ll want to clap along and imagine country music is in safe hands with Mary ten-song EP compilation ROCKS & VALLEYS you’re at a traditional céilidh. The album Sarah. Chris Beck (2013), focuses on lost love. Abby’s skill with closes with the evocative sea song An Ron www.marysarah.com string and keys is indisputable, and her violin (The Seal)/Ann An Caolas Od Odram (In The throughout Boathouse is revelatory. The Narrow Of Od Odram), whose soothing Isaiah chorus ‘I will protect you from all sound and wistful melody ends the album Sara Evans earthly harm/Fear thou not/My right hand on a relaxing and emotional note. SLOW ME DOWN will hold you/Fear thou not,’ paraphrases the Overall, this is a must-have album for Sony Music Bible text. anyone with even a passing interest in HHHHI Sung in a voice practically breaking with Gaelic traditional music. Check it out! Laura Beautiful album by emotion, the heartfelt remembrance Poison Bethell award-winning Vine recalls the drug overdose death of an www.juliefowlis.com songstress features acquaintance. The segue of First Defeat, power-ballads, love songs and some Cigarettes and Liberator, merge like laser-cut delightful duets jigsaw pieces. A lovelorn individual’s (still Mary Sarah SLOW ME DOWN is Sara Evans’ seventh raw) memories unfold in the scenically BRIDGES – GREAT studio album and features 11 songs sensual First Defeat - the first ‘knocks you off AMERICAN opening with the title track from the your feet,’ the second ‘throws you to the COUNTRY DUETS record. Sara’s style is sweet and floor.’ The post-addictionCigarettes (also) AGR Music identifiable-she brings a sultry touch to debuted on ROCKS & VALLEYS, while HHHH every song with the power-ballad chorus Liberator recalls finding fleeting love on the 18-year-old country and an even more powerful vocal. Slow Me road. Piano-led, the tempo of album closer sensation teams up with her heroes Down is a love song perfectly suited to Time Moves Quickly, a smidgen above If, like many, you lament the death of Evans’ tone and with producer Mark Bright deliberate, finds the narrator reflects: ‘You go ‘traditional’ country music and the rise of co-producing with her who has worked on fast and I go slow.’ It’s one of the many jewels rockier crossover artists, this album is sure the albums of , Rascal found on Gundersen’s LEDGE. Arthur Wood to reassure you that the genre is here to stay Flatts and Reba McEntire, you can expect www.noahgundersenmusic.com for a while yet! Mary Sarah has teamed up big things. Not Over You is one of my with ten of the greatest living legends of favourite tracks featuring Gavin DeGraw, country music to produce this album of an artist who remains one of my favourites. Julie Fowlis duets, as a way of figuratively passing the Put My Heart Down is a soulful and GACH SGEUL torch to the new generation. resilient tune about love taking over and (EVERY STORY) As you’d expect from an artist who has making the tough decision to walk away, Cadiz Music B00HZ9IDQC been touring and performing on stage while You Never Know has been a stand- HHHH since she was eight, this is a very confident out track on the album for me with its A modern take on some collection from Texan Sarah. Even in the powerful opening and wonderful old-fashioned Gaelic presence of names such as Dolly Parton, song-writing style about someone folk songs Merle Haggard and Neil Sedaka, she more walking away from love but never It’s been four years since Julie Fowlis’ last than holds her own. Indeed, in the opener, understanding where it went wrong. studio release, and in that time, the singer the Dolly classic Jolene, you’re hard pressed There’s a definitive theme to this record, from the very edge of Scotland’s Outer to tell the difference between the global but the theme isn’t love - it’s resilience. Hebrides has further enhanced her legend and the young upstart. Crazy is Every song isn’t about being beaten by knowledge of Gaelic culture and traditions sensitively dealt with alongside Willie matters of the heart, but overcoming them through a Masters degree and her work on Nelson, as is Go Rest High On That Mountain, and it’s a powerful message. If I Run is a the cultural heritage project, Tobar an with Vince Gill. Her vocal range is incredible beautiful and powerful Nashville country Dualchais. Her profile has also been raised for someone so young, and her sound is as track and reminds me of the first album I through her work in the Oscar-nominated pure trad-country as you could ever wish bought by that got me into Pixar hit film ‘Brave’, for which she recorded for. Personal highlights include the country, before I even knew it was country. and produced several songs. She also rip-roaring Texas, When I Die (featuring This is powerful music, Sara Evans has a recently performed hits from the album on ) and the classic (I Never talent that cannot be denied and the BBC Radio 2. Promised You A) Rose Garden, which is power of her vocal ability will continue to GACH SGEUL is a wonderful collection of superbly covered by Sarah and Lynn gather her fans. If you like the big vocal Gaelic music, lovingly sung by an expert in Anderson. female country singers, Sara is up there the genre and delightfully accompanied and Chances are you’ll know all the songs on with the likes of Faith Hill, Carrie arranged. From the beautiful and haunting the album, although one of Mary Sarah’s Underwood and the likes - you’re missing opener, A Ghaoil, Leig Dhachaigh Gum own songs, I’m Sorry, which closes the out if you don’t have your hands on this Mhathair Mi (Love, Let Me Home To My Mother), album may be new to some. Don’t be one! Laura Bethell you can tell that this will be a soothing and fooled into thinking, however, that www.saraevans.com

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NEW RELEASES

If you take all of the constituent parts of others. Far from it: This is a high-quality Ochre Room this album, like the multitude of album from a band that deserves more BOX, BAR & instruments from electric guitar to banjo, recognition and appreciation. Chris Beck DIAMOND trumpet and glockenspiel, plus the fact www.needtobreathe.com Lumpeela Julkaisut that Ochre Room come from Finland it HHHHH would be all too easy to give this album a Fulsome Countrified wide berth; but if you like intelligent Eric Paslay Americana for the well-crafted Americana music, you will ERIC PASLAY discerning music fan love this album.Alan Harrison EMI Records Nashville Ochre Room’s debut album EVENING www.ochreroom.com HHH COMING IN took me by surprise with its Eric Paslay’s eagerly simplistic production and intelligent awaited self-titled songs when I discovered it last year; so NeedToBreathe debut album is a receiving an early copy of their latest work RIVERS IN wonderfully catchy release that left me feeling a little bit nervous when I WASTELAND showcases the limitless talent that this unwrapped the disc. Atlantic Records songwriter possesses The six-piece band from Finland have HHHHH The opening track Keep On Falling kept the same basic formula that Sounds ranging from blends the melodic vocals to a beautiful impressed me; but this time each song Coldplay to the Beach crescendo of seamlessly catchy guitar appears more considered in its Boys to Mumford & Sons – but totally riffs and toe tapping percussion which construction; with instruments as diverse unique in their own right continue throughout the entire release. I as a cello and a pedal steel being used to This is the second album from South can imagine driving in an open top car glorious effect when added to the bands Carolinian trio NeedToBreathe, following down highways and open roads at core sound. their acclaimed 2011 debut THE sunset, feeling free without a care in the Opening track Other Side of the Town’s RECKONING. Comprising of the brilliant world. sparse guitar, luscious harmonies and named brothers, Bear and Bo Reinhart and Less Than Whole gives a glimpse of the trumpet solo conjures up like Seth Bolt, the band are renowned for their vocal range that Paslay carries, with imagery and you immediately know this anthemic songs and belting choruses, beautiful tone and striking keys he album is going to be a keeper. with a Southern rock sound. delivers a heartfelt and sincere Less, which follows, belts along at a fair Opening track, Wasteland, is a gorgeous performance that really strikes a chord old lick and the pedal steel guitar that and rousing tune that sounds almost like with relatable emotion and familiarity. entwines every line in this beautiful song something from Coldplay’s catalogue – I Each track is simple yet effective in just smacks of a band that has been mean this in the most positive way delivering a great catchy sound which listening to lots of classic 80s country possible, guys! Starting slow and gradually gets you humming along before you music or perhaps bands like the building to a stunning climax, it whets the even realise and that, is the overall Deadstring Brothers. appetite for the ten tracks to follow. Track beauty of an album like this. It has an all One of the tracks that harks back to the two, State I’m In, is fresh out of the 60s – round general purpose of enjoyment, previous album’s mix of southern gothic think The Beach Boys’ Wouldn’t It Be Nice which could be the soundtrack to and northern melancholy is Wistful Smiles, crossed with a bit of Elvis. Awesome! anyone’s hazy summer days or nights which highlights Lauri Myllymäkis Feet Don’t Fail Me Now is a rockier which will be memorable for years to delicious voice and features some number, before the more traditionally come. I fondly look back at music I’ve stunning harmonies and backing vocals country-sounding Oh, Carolina, which will listened to at certain periods throughout from Minttu Tervaharju. get your feet tapping and your head my life and still think back on the Probably the strongest song here and nodding. It reminded me straight away of moments and remember the songs as the single is another Country flavoured those gods of country rock, the Eagles. they mark out the sounds of the past - toe-tapper; like the rest of the album Again, a genre shift for the subtle, this album I believe could form the vital Garbage Trucks Are On The Move has a acoustic Difference Maker, which has notes foundations of fond memories. magnificent narrative quality but coupled of Dylan and, along with the gospel- A standout feature of this record is the with a commercial melody; which should sounding anthem Rise Again, calms things clever songwriting and the way it is so get it and Ochre Room the radio play they down once more before The Heart, which, fantastically accompanied by well undoubtedly deserve. dare I say it, has hints of Mumford and written and perfectly executed music, BOX, BAR and DIAMOND ends with the Sons. Song About A Girl is an excellent example title track itself and at last Minttu is As you may have gathered, of the tonal tricks Paslay has up his sleeve allowed to take lead, with Lauri providing NeedToBreathe are an incredibly versatile – a well rounded and memorable first harmonies. Wow! Somehow she manages band, able to shift their sound throughout release that can only leave us eager for to have a crystal clear voice with sexy, the album. While I may have alluded to what is yet to come and the future of this smoky overtones, which just left my jaw many artists through this review, please highly talented musician. Hayley hanging open leaving me hardly able to don’t assume that they’re just a covers Burgess concentrate on another epic song. band, or can only imitate the music of www.ericpaslay.com

Maverick 101 DOCUMENTARY REVIEW

Everly Brothers ARENA: , SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE BBC 4. February 7, 2014

don’t think I am alone in thinking British The programme opens and closes with clips from TV is now a very poor area for music of Iany sort, certainly from mainstream the famous 1984 Royal Albert Hall re-union concert terrestrial stations. Long gone are the prime time musical/variety shows where either new or successful musical acts of any sound of the Everlys singing the Atkins is well featured here as not only a consequence could appear. Therefore, a classic Paradise, one of the most heartfelt good friend but the producer of many of repeat of this 1984 production as a tribute tributes you are ever likely to hear, but their early hits. Life as big stars saw the to the late Phil Everly was more than never the great hit it deserved. The brothers joining the Marines and then welcome. At the risk of sounding biased as I dreadful conditions endured by the having to find that by the later 1960s they am an unashamed fan of the Everlys, I miners are vividly highlighted along with were no longer such a ‘hot’ act with the rise thought when it was first broadcast that it one of Merle Travis’s classic coal mining and success of and the Rolling was one of the best musical documentaries songs Nine Pound Hammer. Ike always Stones. It’s a pity really as they still made I had ever seen, and now having had the hoped his boys could make a name for some great records during this time, but chance to see it again (and this time to have themselves to avoid having to work the without chart success. The break up is dealt it recorded), nothing has changed my mind. mines, so I found it very moving to see Don with, and by the time of this excellent & Phil down in the same mines their music programme, they seemed ‘ready to go The programme opens and closes with spared them from! Even more poignant again’ after they had had time to clips from the famous 1984 Royal Albert was that their home town of Brownie had themselves and with individual records Hall re-union concert. The BBC had sent a now been flattened in the name of under their belt. It is true to say that after film crew over to the States to re-create the progress! the success of this comeback and the many musical history of the Everly Brothers in a years they subsequently spent back way I have never seen elsewhere, hence the Phil went on to explain that where they touring together, they never again title ‘Songs Of Innocence And Experience’. grew up, songs were all about life, being achieved much new musical acclaim, It opens with them driving through happy and sad and also about death, almost being victims of their early Nashville to the Grand Ole Opry where they which probably sums up the roots of successes. Whilst they could fill theatres, it aspired one day to appear and then very country music! We are now also seemed everybody only wanted to hear quickly switches to their very early days experiencing the real heart and soul of the the old hits! with their talented dad Ike, who for many Everlys as we hear that great musical years toured and had his own country tribute to their home state, Kentucky, Maybe some newer readers of this music radio show, sadly without ever which is in my opinion the finest harmony magazine may wonder what really achieving the acclaim his talent warranted. singing I have ever heard anywhere! As connects the Everlys to country music? Well We are then introduced to some of Ike’s they became famous worldwide for their if you ever get the chance to see this musical influences which included blues many great pop hits, the country music fantastic programme, herein you will and Mose Rager who Ike played with, along sound was played down, but of all the discover not only the heart and soul of with Merle Travis. original rock’n’roll stars, the Everlys were what made this duo truly great, but that definitely the most country. We get a great their roots were right in country music! In The film then takes us to Drakesborough, treat here with Long Time Gone recorded at my opinion the last album they cut for Kentucky where we find a large number of the height of their fame which is about as Cadence (before their big move to the new the Everly clan in a church service country as you could ever get! Warner brothers label) SONGS OUR DADDY conducted by their preacher cousin! We are TAUGHT is one of the all time great country next given a very moving tour of The latter part of the show details how albums. I saw them in London the first time Muhlenburg County’s coal mines, to the they achieved huge initial success. Chet they came to the UK when Cathy’s Clown was number one in the UK & USA, Maybe some newer readers of this magazine plus many times more until their very last visit,when they performed a much longer may wonder what really connects the Everlys to show than usual, with a bigger country country music? Well if you ever get the chance to see portion including the classic this fantastic programme, herein you will discover... Kentucky which personally delighted me. To sum up an amazing musical tribute to an that their roots were right in country music... iconic musical duo. David Brassington

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follow. Mesmerising stuff.Nick Dalton Family classics, Keep on the Sunny Side and Chris Spedding www.cherryred.co.uk Under the Weepin’ Willow. Emmylou is at BACKWOOD her unforgettable best and the sound PROGRESSION quality is just perfection. This is a must for Esoteric ECLEC2433 Emmylou Harris all Emmylou devotees and lovers of high HHH with the Hot Band quality country music. John Roffey THE ONLY LICK I and www.emmylouharris.com KNOW LIVE IN 1978 Esoteric ECLEC2434 All Access AACD0117 HHHH HHHHH Barefoot Jerry Guitar hero before he All Access have done it Watchin’ got on his bike again with another superb Emmylou live TV(With The People know Chris release Radio On)/You Spedding, singer, Hot on the heels of their 2012 Emmylou Can’t Get Off writer and shockingly good guitar player, Harris release COWBOY ANGELS comes With Your for varied reasons – his 1975 hit Motorbikin’, another excellent live ‘All Access’ offering Shoes On his reworking of classic songs (his version of taken from two radio broadcasts aired in Cherry Red Records CD CDLEMD 219 Buddy Holly’s It’s So Easy on the New Rose 1978. The first fourteen tracks showcase HHH label’s celebration EVERY DAY’S A HOLLY a WXRT FM broadcast from the PBS A welcome reissue of two long out of print DAY is a masterpiece of foot-tapping Soundstage, Chicago and features Ricky albums from a group that have achieved understatement), his work with Robert Skaggs (guitar, fiddle), cult status Gordon, , hell, even the (Dobro), John Ware (drums), Emory Gordy In the early 1970s there were definitely Wombles. But these two albums, his first (bass) with guests, those celebrated ‘down musicians in the States who whilst being solo work, from the early 70s are forgotten home folks’, Buck White and daughters rock orientated had a yen to cut country treasures. A jazzer by trade, in recently Sharon and Cheryl aka ‘’. This simply because they liked it! The problem disbanded progressive rockers the Battered is classic Emmylou as she wades in with for many West Coast musicians in particular Ornaments, Spedding fused his playing and six concert staples, Two More Bottles of was they had no real desire to be associated nascent song-writing abilities with an Wine, Easy From Now On, To Daddy, Luxury with the Nashville country establishment, admiration for Dylan, the Stones and the Liner, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and My and it would be some time in the late 1970s Flying Burritos. Songbird. Although it’s not made clear before the ‘outlaw movement was The title track of BACKWOOD is a in the liner notes, The Whites then take accepted in country music. Thus the four meandering musical piece with centre stage with some great bluegrass. albums Barefoot Jerry cut in the early/mid namechecks of country and folk names My Window Faces the South, Tumbling 1970s were commercial failures, like many while there’s a wonderful, boogieing take Tumbleweeds, Karla Bonoff’s Home and artists or groups who have found on Dylan’s Please Mrs Henry amid some prog Swing Down Sweet Chariot are all delivered themselves as part of a ‘cult status’, this was doodling. There’s also the snappy, poppy impeccably with of course, Emmylou never achieved by word of mouth or in some She’s My Friend that should have been a hit far away on backing vocals. Three more cases personal appearances, despite the there and then, if not later when Spedding from Emmylou, I Ain’t Living Long Like This, almost minimal sales by, in this case, a was a chart star. The Angels Rejoiced Last Night and Leaving group of musicians pulled together THE ONLY LICK I KNOW is a progression Louisana in the Broad Daylight before originally by Mac Gayden and Wayne Moss. from BACKWOOD, less progressive and Ricky Skaggs leads on the closing number, How best to describe the music of taking the mix of country and rock one Hallelujah I’m Ready to Go: Rousing stuff! Barefoot Jerry? Country rock probably fits stage further. There’s The Dark End Of The This is Emmylou at her best when the Hot best and most of the material here is of an Street, a soulful Dan Penn/Chips Moman Band was at somewhat of a transitional original nature with the big exception song that had just been covered by the stage. The likes of , Ronnie of the western Burritos on their debut album – Spedding Tutt and Hank DeVito having departed, classic Faded Love, and on the second album takes the country lilt and adds slide guitar Emmylou never had a problem finding top Little Richard’s classic rocker Lucille. soulful Hammond-like keyboard, while class replacements and this band was as Barefoot Jerry were a sort of musical Honky Tonk Blues is the good as any. offspring of Area Code 615 who I thought number, turned into a rockabilly riot, The final tracks are from a KFAT FM were more musically exciting, but their somewhere between Shakin’ All Over and broadcast from The Catalyst, Santa Cruz material was of a more familiar country Motorbikin’. The title track, along with much and feature duets with Ricky Skaggs with vein, albeit done in a more rocked up style! else, is the sort of rootsy ramble that the just Roy Huskey Jr. supporting on upright The title track of the second album was the Stones did so beautifully in the Mick Taylor bass. Traditional country music was the only time Barefoot Jerry enjoyed a years. order of the day with Could You Love Me modicum of commercial success. Listening Throughout one can hear snatches of the One More Time, Green Rolling Hills, I Believe to them almost 40 years later do I still enjoy slurring vocals (in retrospect owing not a Jesus Loves Me, Townes Van Zandt’s If them, yes I do! Sadly some members of the little to Dylan), the choppy rock ‘n’ roll I Needed You and Satan’s Jewel Crown guys playing here are no longer with us, but guitar and the path that Spedding was to before they finish with a couple of Carter this is a nice package to an era when to

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admit to liking country music was definitely one country 1979 album, and from the of good steel guitar backing, as I was to not ‘cool’. Bringing together a bunch of summer of the following year FULL MOON. discover when I saw them at Wembley all musicians who just wanted to make music The latter platinum- seller peaked at number those years ago. So as someone who has they liked has turned out to be an enjoyable five on the country charts. The 1979 and 1980 always enjoyed their music, why am I less listening experience from a bygone era! nine-song albums were produced by John than enthusiastic about this release? The David Brassington Boylan (Linda Ronstadt, Pure Prairie League, first two CDs THE EARLY DAYS and THE www.barefootjerry.com Boston) by which time Daniels’ musical BALLADS are absolutely fine containing approach favoured country to rock. Across much classic Eagles music. However things the six albums presented here, apart from go downhill with the third CD, THE FAST Charlie Daniels those genres already mentioned, Daniels LANE as despite a couple of major hits the CD Band (vocals, guitar, fiddle, banjo) and his opens with a weird intro to One Of These THE EPIC TRILOGY dynamite band delve into rhythm & blues, Nights, but that pales into insignificance - FIRE ON THE , gospel and bluegrass. The when you get to the very last track Random MOUNTAIN/ main feature here, of course, is the Grammy- Victims Part 3 which just beggars belief as NIGHTRIDER/HIGH winning, Best Country Performance by a Duo they venture in and out of words and music LONESOME & THE or Group with vocal musical phenomenon in a noisy and incoherent fashion, makings EPIC, TRILOGY that is The Devil Went Down To Georgia. me wonder whether they were ‘high’ on VOL. 2 - MIDNIGHT Arthur Wood either drink or drugs! It’s something that WIND/MILLION www.charliedaniels.com should never have been released, I just hope MILE Parts 1 and 2 never saw the light of day! REFLECTIONS/ The fourth CD, THE MILLENIUM CONCERT is FULL MOON Eagles ok but as far as ‘live’ albums go I have heard a Floating World/Retroworld Records EAGLES SELECTED lot better. There are a couple of tracks I am HHHH WORKS 1972-1999 just not keen on, Funky New Year, Dirty Some of Charlie’s back pages, tracing his Electra 4 CD 8122796 Laundry and Funk which are just not good transition from Southern rock to country HHH Eagles music in my opinion. To sum up, music A unique four-CD this good value CD release is in my opinion Each of these two-disc sets is housed in a release covering the only for Eagles completists! There are many three-way, fold-out card case, and includes early work of this iconic group fine Eagles releases available of great Eagles an eight-page, full-colour liner booklet I doubt there would be many readers of music available and I would suggest they containing an Alan Robinson penned liner the magazine unfamiliar with at least some offer better musical value than this. David note, details of the contributing musicians, of the work of this major recording group Brassington although the song-writing credits are a who, as I write, are set to tour major venues in www.eaglesband.com major omission on THE EPIC TRILOGY. By the the UK. One of my very fondest musical time the Charlie Daniels Band became a memories is of enjoying the Eagles at major 1970s concert draw alongside ‘South on a ‘comeback’ tour in Glen Campbell of the Mason Dixon Line’ combos the Allman the mid 1990s. It was a very hot summers THE DEFINITIVE Brothers, Lynryd Skynyrd and their ilk, North evening at a packed Wembley listening to a COLLECTION Carolina born Daniels had been a session truly outstanding concert. I remember HumpHead Records player on a number of Dylan albums, toured thinking at the time how many in the large HHHH with Cohen, wrote a song that Elvis recorded, crowd realised that they were actually Covering all this and produced The Youngbloods ELEPHANT listening to a very country orientated sound! legend’s career from his MOUNTAIN. In fact for me the Eagles have always been first outing in bluegrass, taking in all the hits THE EPIC TRILOGY is composed of the something of a musical anomaly as to me of a long and glorious career not-quite sequential, platinum seller FIRE ON many of their early major hits (all contained If you search the internet to try and get a THE MOUNTAIN, initially a 1974 Kama Sutra here), such as Hotel California, Lyin’ Eyes, definitive discography of Glen Campbell you Records release, the late 1975 follow-up Desperado, and One Of These will be greeted by sixty original recordings NIGHTRIDER and (omitting the early 1976 Nights were every bit as country in my (and that just takes us to 2004) and around Gold-seller SADDLE TRAMP) the late 1976 opinion as much contemporary country hits eighty compilations and re-packages. For an release HIGH LONESOME. There is some of the era. The difference being that with artist that started out in 1962 playing symmetry - each disc contains nine-songs, their long hair and alternative life style there bluegrass with the Green River Boys – was recorded in Capricorn Studios in Macon, was simply no way the Nashville represented here by that instantly Georgia with album production credited to establishment would ever accept them as recognisable singing style with Kentucky Paul Hornsby (Marshall Tucker Band, Wet ‘country’, nor would I think the Eagles ever Means Paradise – it is a mark of his talent and Willie). wanted to be associated with flash Nashville wide appeal that he has been marketed in THE EPIC TRILOGY VOL. 2 gathers together suits! They were truly musical outlaws, who the way of a Johnny Cash, Presley or Dean the late 1977, ten-song, Hornsby-produced of all those who espoused what came to be Martin (the latter two whom Campbell gold-seller MIDNIGHT WIND, MILLION MILE known as ‘country rock, veered strongly at backed as a on guitar!). REFLECTIONS the multi-platinum number times towards country with their regular use This collection pulls together a pretty

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good broad church of Campbell’s career. DOWN THE WIND, which had Eagle Don After all this is a man who garnered 12 Jackson C Frank Henley guesting, and PRISONER IN DISGUISE, a Gold, four Platinum and one Double JACKSON C FRANK gorgeous duet with John David Souther. Three Platinum awards, four Grammys in country Earth Records CD numbers are featured from Ronstadt’s final and pop categories as well as quite a few EARTH001 recorded work, with CMA awards. Not forgetting a Golden HHH Cajun superstar Ann Savoy whilst Globe nomination for his role alongside A reissue of a classic is featured on I Think it’s Gonna Work Out Fine as John Wayne in True Grit. folk album is Dolly Parton on I Never Will Marry. Linda joins So we obviously have the biggies such Jackson Frank was a highly acclaimed folk Carl Jackson on The New Partner Waltz taken as Wichita Lineman, Galveston (which I artist in the late 1960s whose talent never from the LIVIN’, LOVIN’, love), Gentle On My Mind and Rhinestone received the claim it should have. Possessed LOSIN’ – SONGS OF , Cowboy. These still sound as fresh and of a fine singing voice and with ten very and James Ingram on Somewhere Out There, a valid today as when first released as listenable songs accompanied by Jackson’s surprise hit recorded for the soundtrack of the Campbell took like a fish to water with fine guitar playing, this album still has a animated film ‘An American Tail’. Just a couple gorgeous lyrics and tunes provided by freshness about it, perhaps this is helped by are taken from other artists albums; Sisters with Jimmy Webb especially. But it includes the imaginative production by the Bette Midler and Moonlight in Vermont with other worthy songs like Sunflower, The Last legendary . It is fair to say that his Frank Sinatra although Rhino have managed Time I Saw Her and many more. music could best be described as folk/blues to unearth a previously unissued number, There are a few surprises, such as his and a voice very like early Bob Dylan and Pretty Bird with bluegrass star Laurie Lewis. brave take on Buffy Sainte-Marie’s . This could easily have been a box set but no Universal Soldier from 1965 and a jaunty The album starts off withBlues Run The doubt Rhino will be issuing a DUETS II in due Bonaparte’s Retreat (plus bagpipes!) from Game and other nice songs include Yellow course. John Roffey 1974 allied with duets with some of the big Walls and Milk And Honey. Apparently the www.ronstadt-linda.com names in country at the time such as great problem with the artist was that he Bobbie Gentry, Tanya Tucker, Ann Murray was not a confident public performer, so he and Rita Coolidge. joins the band of those whose musical talent Nitty Gritty Dirt Band There is much to admire in this was sadly not rewarded with the success he : THE collection. Whether it is truly ‘Definitive’ is merited. Having listened to this album DEFINITIVE for you to decide. But just let yourself be several times whilst the songs are all good, COLLECTION wrapped in the lovely vocals of a true none of them had that cutting edge which HumpHead Records Hump master who crossed the country/pop might have meant more commercial 151 divide with ease. John Jobling success. If singer/songwriters in the folk vein HHH www.glencampbellmusic.com are your type of music, give this a listen – I A collection of 45 years of history am sure you will enjoy it. David Brassington Forever destined to live in the shadow of their monumental 1972 recording, WILL THE Grace Slick Linda Ronstadt CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN, the Nitty Gritty Dirt DREAMS DUETS Band have amassed around 45 years as a band, Morello Records CD Rhino from their early days to eventual MRLL25 HHHHH mainstream country success. Over the course HH A set of timeless there have been lulls and fallow periods with A mishmash of late classics from the latest members of the band leaving and rejoining 1960s pop Rock and Roll Hall of but throughout they’ve proved a resilient Grace Slick was the lead singer in Fame inductee bunch capable of penning some fine songs Jefferson Airplane, a cult band of the late Issued to coincide with the artist’s while their musicianship has never been in 1960s and early 1970s who induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of question. This modestly priced double disc set achieved considerable commercial Fame on April 10, this 15 strong collection covers their entire career starting with Buy For success at the time. Grace had a nice lead has been created with help from Ronstadt Me The Rain from 1967 and ending with Catfish voice and there are a couple of nice songs and her long-time musical compatriot John John from 2002’s second follow up to the on here such as the title track, but the Boylan. Widely regarded as the most original WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN album is desperately over produced, in a successful female singer of the 1970s, Linda concept. manner very popular at the time but now has also been feted for her countless WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN, the sounds terribly dated. It always defies logic collaborations with other artists and this set Grammy-winning all-acoustic triple vinyl set to me that when you have someone highlights duets with some of the top that featured a host of veteran country stars possessed of a fine voice, producers then names in the music world. From her own backed by NGDB is represented by five songs, drown her out. Thankfully things back catalogue come Grammy winning indeed their first decade (arguably when they have improved nowadays! I can’t think that songs, I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love With were at their most innovative), musters a total this album would appeal to anyone other You) with Emmylou Harris, Don’t Know Much of 16 cuts out of 42. The remainder show a than Jefferson Airplay diehards.David and All My Life with Aaron Neville, as well as band that for the most part remain solidly Brassington the title tracks from her albums HASTEN country but at times veer wildly into the pop

Maverick 105 DUSTY RELICS

mainstream with Make A Little Magic, Bless something a quarter of a century old and it 1977’s album title song Running On Empty, the The Broken Road and Fire In The Sky sticking has the power to excite, then the answer has Indigo Girls tackle , and Paul out like (well-polished) sore thumbs amidst to be yes, and I feel sure that, on occasion, I Thorn reprises Browne’s number eight, 1972 the surrounding and fiddles, I shall play this for a good few years to come. US pop chart hit Doctor My Eyes. The same year, suppose one can blame the eighties. But, I hear you ask; as this is the legacy it was a number nine UK hit for The Jacksons. The selections are not presented in a edition you must get something extra for Lucky 13! That’s the number of musicians chronological order which improves the your money. Indeed you do - a whole pile of supporting ’s almost seven- overall listening experience. In addition and demos, two tracks from LIVE AND minute reading of the classic For Everyman. with three sets of Circle collaborations to OTHERWISE, five from COLORBLIND AND From Rad Lorkovic’s light-as-a-feather touch choose from there are appearances from Doc RHYMELESS and a further five from no one on piano, to Scott Crago’s stampeding-buffalo Watson, , Jimmy Martin, Roy knows where. Personally I can live drums, John Inmon’s mellifluous acoustic Acuff, Emmylou Harris, , Rosanna comfortably without the extra tracks as they guitar to Will Taylor’s stratospheric two- Cash, Linda Ronstadt and . Their just serve to show the brilliance of the minute fiddle solo, Jimmy owns the song. presence underlines the Dirt Band’s original 13. The honourable exception being Alone, it’s worth the price of this set. From dilemma as they may just be remembered as a fabulous version of Sin City. midway through the closing decade of last a great country backup band overshadowing So there we have it, an old album that century, Browne and his studio band penned their own efforts.Paul Kerr sounds marvellous today and long may it Griffin House’s pick,Barricades Of Heaven. Lyle www.nittygritty.com continue to frighten the horses. Ian Lovett enjoys two bites of the cherry, the first Ambrose being Our Lady Of The Well, and it’s followed by www.uncletupelo.com ’s offeringJamaica Say You Will Uncle Tupelo - written for Joel Rafael’s, then, young NO DEPRESSION daughter (Jamaica). For me Before The Deluge is (LEGACY EDITION) Various Artists the definitive Browne composition, its dire Sony Music LOOKING INTO predictions having attained fruition. Replete HHHH YOU: A TRIBUTE with support vocals from kids Delia and Cisco, The album that TO JACKSON pal John Gorka, and aided by Warren Hood’s spawned a magazine BROWNE soulful fiddle, ’s take is a It really is 25 years, hence the moniker Music Road Records perfectly understated ‘hammer in a velvet ‘Legacy Edition’, since this beast first HHHHH glove.’ For A Dancer from California’s familial battered its way into the consciousness of Stunning 1970s-centric celebration of one of quartet Venice, and Kevin Welch’s soulful take the music listening public and gave birth to California’s finest song scribes on Looking Into You complete Disc 1. the genre known as alternative country, and This double-disc set delivers 23 Jackson Barring ’s voice and guitar gave its name to the title of an esteemed Browne compositions that span the interpretation of the 1980 Browne/Lindley magazine. opening quarter of a century of the co-write Call It A Loan and the 1990’s tunes Sadly, 25 years ago this whole thing songwriter’s recording career, officially Many Angels by Marc Cohn feat. Joan As Police passed me by. I’d like to say that I was totally launched in 1972 by David Geffen’s Asylum Woman and I’m Alive from feat. absorbed in other exciting pastimes but I imprint release of SATURATE BEFORE USING. Ruth Moody, Disc 2 ploughs Browne’s very think it is nearer the truth to say that Initial evidence of Browne’s potential was fertile 1970s canon. complete ignorance is the thing to blame. So, captured in voice and guitar, publishing Keb’ Mo plays slide – à la Lindley - and wails glory be, eventually I get the chance to find demos recorded during January 1967 for soulful on Disc 2 opener , out what all the fuss is all about, and what an Nina Music (part of Elektra Records); that while Lucinda Williams’ The Pretender is mean absolute joy it has been. potential had developed immeasurably by n’ moody. Penned over 35 years ago by The very first track,Graveyard Shift lifts the April 1970 and the Criterion Music demos. Jackson and current co-manager Donald speakers from the wall in the manner of On LOOKING INTO YOU, Browne’s creations Miller, Lovett’s second offering isRosie the STICKY FINGERS-era Rolling Stones or an are performed by an all-star cast of 27 poignant tale of load-in love. The Watkins early encounter with , and it is easy named performers. siblings contributed to Rosie; left to their own to imagine the look of astonishment on Composed when Browne was aged 16, a devices Sean’s acoustic/electric guitars those looking forward to a gentle whirl rendering of These Days by Eagles founder support Sara’s Your Bright Baby Blues vocal, around the dance hall in the arms of the one and the Portland, Oregon Curt Ramm’s trumpet adds a Tex-Mex edge to they share their dreams with. For this is not septet launches this tribute. By Springsteen n’ Scialfa’s Linda Paloma, while country rock hewn from the treacle the time Jackson’s FOR EVERYMAN (1973) ’s laidback will mountain where The Eagles dwell – this is version appeared, he was in his mid- simply rip your heart out. The sixth SATURATE heavy duty blue collar stuff from the likes of twenties. Bonnie Raitt is joined by long-time BEFORE USING selection, J.D. Souther closes Seger, Springsteen and Hank Williams. Browne sideman for the Disc 2 with the appropriately titled My Opening The isolation, hopes and fears of small reggae propelled Everywhere I Go. One of Farewell. town America are all here in three minute only four songs (in this set) from the 1990’s, The contributors here, consistently succeed sized chunks of musical reality. But enough Raitt warbles while Lindley raps and delivers in capturing Browne’s subtle lyrical take on of the hyperbole, does it stand the test of an ‘old-as-time’ guitar solo. Adopted human emotion. Arthur Wood time? As I’m listening, for the first time, to Austinite Bob Schneider waxes pensive on www.musicroadrecords.com/jb

106 Maverick

TOUR DATES INDEX • A - D

Eric Andersen Tue 3: Manchester, Chads Theatre Brasy Sun 25: Brede, The Red Lion Tue Apr 15: Watford, The Horns Wed 4: Birmingham, Fri Apr 11: London, Sat Jun 14: Dean’s Court, Wed 16: Birmingham, Hare and Hounds Polish Jazz Club Party in the Paddock The Hare & Hounds Thu 5: Gateshead, Ceadmon Hall Sat 12 – Sun 13: Hartlepool, Sun 25: The Cornmarket, Sat 19: Bromsgrave, Atrix Fri 6: Aberdeen, The Blue Lamp Headland Folk Festival The White Hart Tue 22: Cardiff, The Gate Arts Sat 7: , Mon 14: Leeds College of Music Fri 20: Lewes, The Volunteer Wed 23: Shoreham by Sea, The Pleasance Cabaret Bar Tue 15: Manchester, Royal Fri 21: Coscombe Festival Ropetackle Centre Sun 8: Nottingham, Northern College of Music Sat 22: Beach Dreams Festival Thu 24: Camden, Green Note The Forest Tavern Wed 16: Sheffield, The Fri 27: Farncombe, The Three Lions Fri 25: Bath, Chapel Arts Centre Shakespeare Sat 28: Portslade, The Stanley Arms Sat 26: Ravenshead, Birds Of Chicago Thu 17: Newcastle, The Village Hall Thu Apr 24: The Square Tyneside Irish Centre Krista Detour Tower, Portsmouth Fri 18: Barton-on-Humber, (*with Dan Stuart) Dave Arcari Sat 26: Lewes, Elephant & Castle Ropery Hall Fri Apr 25: Tingewick, (*with Erin Harpe) Wed 30: London, Green Note Sat 19: Bedale, The Riverside Club Tingewick Village Hall * Fri Apr 25: Maybole, Croy House Sat 26: , Sat 26: Milton of Buchanan, The Black Feathers Bridie Jackson Acoustic Routes Buchanan Memorial Hall * Sat May 3: Bristol, & the Arbour Sun 27: Sheffield, The Greystones Fri 2 May – DeBarras, Bristol Folk Festival Fri Apr 11: Bristol, Colston Hall Wed 30: Glasgow, The Clonakilty, Ireland Blackbeard’s Tea Party Sat 12: Barnstaple, Pilton Hall Admiral & The Hold Fri 2-Mon 5 – Southern Gothic Sat Mar 29: York, The Stonebow Sun 13: Exeter, Exeter Phoenix Fri May 2: Bathgate, Torphichen Inn Weekender, Cork, Ireland Sun 30: Barnsley, York Tue 15: Leicester, The Musician Sat 3: Seahouses, Sat 24: Hebden Bridge, Hebden Thu Apr 3: Birmingham, Wed 16: Bromsgrove, Artrix St. Cuthbert’s House Bridge Blues Festival Hare & Hounds Thu 17: Derby, The Wed 7: Bristol, The Trinity Centre Fri-Sun Aug 29-31: Cookeville TN, Fri 4: Sheffield, The Greystones Guildhall Centre Thur 8: London, Green Note Music Festival Sat 5: Hampshire, West End Sat 19: Glasgow, Centre Sat 10: Darley Dale, The Joseph Sun Jun 1: Ayr, Fresh Ayr Festival Centre for Contemporary Art Whitworth Centre Fri 6: Powys, Heart of Rock Sun 6: Shopshire, Sun 20: Aviemore, Old Bridge Inn & Blues Festival The Edge Arts Centre Thu 24: Kendal, Wed 9: Hull, Fruit Brewary Arts Centre Sat Apr 12: Shaftsbury, Arc Iris Fri 11: Stroud, The Albert Fri 25: Manchester, Shaftesbury Arts Centre Fri May 2: Manchester, Night & Day Sat 12: Huntington, Rake and Band On The Wall Wed 23: Ormskirk, The Arts Centre Sat 3: Leeds, Live in Leeds Pikel Sat 26: Gateshead, Old Town Hall Thu 24: Sheffield, Memorial Hall Tue 6: Bristol, Louisiana Fri 25 – Sat 26: Oxford, Fri 25: Saltaire, Victoria Hall Wed 7: London, Bush Hall Folk Weekend Garth Brooks Fri May 2: West Totton, Fri 9: Brighton, Brighthelm Fri May 16: Howden, Howden Live Fri Jul 25 – Tue 29: Hangar Farm Arts Centre Fri 23: Ireby Festival Croke Park, Dublin Fri 9: Farnham, Farnham Maltings Audrey Auld Sat 24: Chippenham Folk Festival Thu 15: Bromsgrave, Artrix and Mean Mary Sun 25: Chester Folk Festival Fri 16: High Wycombe, Wed May 7: Faversham, Wed Apr 30: London, Barbican Old Town Hall Faversham Folk Club Blackheart Sat 17: London, Blackheath Halls Fri-Sat 9-10: Ipswich, Fri Apr 11: Cheltenham, Daisy Chapman Fri 23: Cookstown, The Burnavon Orwell Bluegrass Festival Sound Venue Fri Apr 11: Bristol, The Louisiana Sat 24: Enniskillen, Thu 15: London, The Green Note Sat 12: Tewkesbury, Sat 12: Totnes, South Ardhowen Theatre Fri 16: High Wycombe, Apperley Village Hall Devon Arts Centre Sun 25: Lennerkenny, Kingsmead Concerts Thu 24: Totnes, South An Grianan Theatre Devon Arts Centre Gary Clark Jr Thu 29: Antrim, The Sam Baker Fri May 2: Cheltenham, Sun Jun 1: London, Old Courthouse Wed May 28: Basingstoke, Sound Music Venue O2 Shepherd’s Bush Fri 30: Coleraine, Riverside Theatre The Forge Sat 3: Milton Keynes, Stables Tue 3: Manchester, Sat 31: Armagh, Thu 29: Bristol, Sun 4: Market Harborough, Manchester Academy Market Place Theatre St. Bonaventure’s Parish Club Joules Yard Fri 30: Llantwit Major, Fri 23: Bolton, Railway Venue The Curst Sons Blair Dunlop St. Donat’s Art Centre Sat 24: Cumbria, The Fri May 2: The Con Club, Lewes Wed May 21: York, The Basement Sat 31: Elford, Elford Village Hall Browfoot Rooms Sun 4: The Queens Head, Farnham Sat 24: Hull, Fruit Sun June 1: Lewes, Sun 25: Lancaster, Grand Theatre Fri 9: The Jenny Lind, Hastings Sun 25: South Derbyshire, Bearded The All Saints Centre Wed 28: Cumbria, The Sat 10: London, Green Note Theory Festival Mon 2: London, Leystone Browfoot Rooms Sat 17: Boldre Working Sun 25: Bristol, Thekla Ex-servicemens Club Sat 31: Bath, Chapel Arts Centre Men’s Club, Pilley Mon 26: Cambridge, Junction

108 Maverick TOUR DATES INDEX • D - J

Tue 27: Birmingham, Sat 9: Kendal, Rooms Malcolm Holcombe Hare & Hounds The Brewery Arts Centre Sat 17: New Milton, Sun Apr 13: Glasgow, The Fallen Wed 28: Sheffield, The Greystones Sun 10: St Helens, The Citadel Forest Arts Centre Angels Club Thu 29; Nottingham, Mon 12: , Folk Song Club Sun 18: Bury, The Met Tue 15: York, The Basement Wed 16: Shipley, The Live Room Bodega Social Tue 13: Ipswich, Cameo Tue 20: Sheffield, Greystones Thu 17: Plymouth, The B-Bar Fri 30: Manchester, Thu 15: Leek, The Thu 22: Glasgow, St. Andrews Fri 18: Winchester, The Railway Band on the Wall Foxlowe Arts Centre Fri 23: Shipley, Caroline Club Sat 19: Penarth, The Backroom Sat 31: London, House Fri 16: London, The Borderline Sat 24: Ireby Festival Tue 22: Brighton, The Palmeira Sat Jun 1: Newton Abbot, Sat 17: Malpass, Malfest Wed 23: London, The Green St. Bartholomew’s Church Sun 18: Cardiff, The Globe The Good Intentions Tue 20: Lytham St Annes, The Sat May 3: Filey Folk Festival Rita Hosking The Dunwells Lowther Pavilion Sun 4: Hunmanby, The White Swan Fri Apr 11: Torquay, Fri Apr 11: Kent, The Ink Bar Wed 21: Ilkley, Kings Hall Mon Jun 2: Etton, The Crown & Sceptre Sat 12: London, The Borderline Thu 22: Bury, The Met The Processed Pea Sun 13: London, Wed 16: Hull, The New Adelphi Fri 23: Worcester, Huntingdon Hall Fri 20: Beverley Folk Festival Walthamstow Folk Club Thu 17: Manchester, Deaf Institute Sat 24: Broseley, Fri 18: Glasgow, Oran Mor The Birchmeadow Centre Jon Gomm Warren James Fri 25: Leeds, Town Hall Sun 25: Looe, Millendreath Festival (* with Mira Awad) Fri Apr 11: Telford, Wrens Nest Mon 26: Nottingham, Fri May 16: London, 100 Club * Mon 14: Leamington Spa, The Eagles Lowdham Village Hall Fri 17: Leeds, Holy Trinity * Grand Union Wed May 28: Thu 29: Spalding, Sat 31: Staffordshire, The Acoustic Fri 18: Dorset, Greyhound Inn Birmingham, LG Arena South Holland Centre Festival of Britain Corfe Castle Thu 29: Birmingham, LG Arena Fri 30: Didcot, Tue Jun 3: Brighton, Fri 25: Coventry, Greyhound Inn Sat 31: Glasgow, The Hydro Cornerstone Arts Centre Sticky Miles Frog Bar May Fri 2: Leamington Spa, Mon Jun 2: Glasgow, The Hydro Sat 31: Uttoxeter, Acoustic Wed 4: Milton Keynes, Grand Union Wed 4: Dublin, The O2 Festival Of Great Britain Crauford Arms* Sat 3: Earl Shilton, Red Lion Fri 6: Dublin, The O2 Thu 5: Maidstone, Rafters Mon 5: Leominster, Grape Vaults Sat 7: Dublin, The O2 Fish Thu 8: Swindon, Beehive Mon 16: London, The O2 Fri May 2: Sheffield, City Hall Handsome Family Fri 9: Droitwich, Gardeners Arms Wed 18: London, The O2 Sat 3: Liverpool, O2 Academy Mon May 5: Belfast, Black Box Sat 10: Market Rasen, The Chase Fri 20: London, The O2 Sun 4: Durham, Gala Theatre Wed 7: Cork, Crane Lane Theatre Mon 12: Leamington Spa, Sat 21 London, The O2 Tue 6: Wolverhampton, Robin Fri 9: Manchester, Deaf Institute Somerville Arms Mon 23: Leeds, First Direct Arena Thu 8: Norwich, Waterfront Sat 10: Hebden Bridge, Trades Club Fri 23: Maltlock Bath, The Fishpond Wed 25: Manchester, Fri 9: London, Islington Sun 11: Swansea, The Garage Sat 24: Coventry, Wyken Club Phones 4u Arena Assembly Hall Mon 12: Brighton, Komedia Fri 30: Dorset, Greyhound Inn Thu 26: Liverpool, Echo Arena Sat 10: Cardiff, Globe Wed 14: London, 100 Club Sun 11: Bristol, Fleece Fri 16: Newbury, Jill and Kate Tue 13: Brighton, Concorde Arlington Arts Centre Mon Jun 2: Manchester, Tue Apr 22: Belfast, Errigle Inn Thu 15: Exeter, Phoenix Deaf Institute Wed 23: Dublin, Whelans Fri 16: Northampton, Roadmender Emmylou Harris Tue 3: Bristol, Colston Hall Thu 24: Birmingham, Sat 17: Holmfirth, Picturedome and Daniel Lanois Wed 4: London, The Borderline Hare and Hounds Sun 18: Glasgow, O2 ABC Fri May 23: Brighton, The Dome Thu 5: Birmingham, The Loft Fri 25: Manchester, Academy 3 Sun 25: London, Barbican Mon 28: Norwich, Arts Centre The Gentle Good Mon 26: London, Barbican Joan As Police Woman Tue 29: Nottingham, The Maze Sat Apr 26: Focus Wales, Wrexham Tue 27: Bristol, Colston Hall Tue Apr 15: London, Wed 30: London, The Borderline Village Underground Thu May 1: Bristol, St Bonaventures Eliza Gilkyson John Hinshelwood Wed 16: London, Fri 2: Oxford, Arts Bar Thu May 8: Fareham, Sat Apr 12: County Hotel, Selkirk Village Underground (The Bullington) Ashcroft Arts Centre Tue 22: The Admiral, Glasgow Thu 17: Brighton, Komedia Fri 9: Whitstable, Royal Fri 25: Girvan, Queen’s Hotel Sat 19: Leeds, The Belgrave Fairport Convention Native Oyster Stores Tues May 27: Glasgow, Tchai Ovna Sun 20: Hebden Bridge, Thu May 1: Hastings, Sat 10: Basingstoke, Wed 28: Aberdeen, The Blue Lamp The Trades Club St. Mary In The Castle The Forge at the Anvil Fri 30: Tarland, McRobert Mon 21: Manchester, Gorilla Fri 2: Brighton, The Concorde 2 Sun 11: Nottingham, The Maze Memorial Hall Wed 23: Nottingham, Sat 3: Chatham, Central Theatre Mon 12: Cottingham, Sat 31: , Aikman’s Rescue Rooms Sun 4: Bristol, Bristol Folk Festival The Back Room Tues June 10: Quarter, Thu 24: Bristol, Thekla Wed 7: Hebden Bridge, Tue 13: London, Green Note The Bully Inn Fri 25: Exeter, Phoenix The Trades Club Thu 15: Exeter, Barnfield Theatre Sun 15: Edinburgh, The Royal Oak Sun 27: Gateshead, Sage 2 Thu 8: Pocklington, The Arts Centre Fri 16: Milverton, The Victoria Mon 23: Glenfarg, Glenfarg Hotel Mon 28: Glasgow, Oran Mor

Maverick 109 TOUR DATES INDEX • K - R

Thu May 1: Belfast, The Limelight Madison Violet Sat 3: Lyness, Gable End Theatre Fri 20: Leeds, First Direct Arena Fri Apr 25: Bristol, Tue 6: Corran, The Ceilidh Sat 21: Manchester, Steve Knightley St. Bonaventure’s Club House & Heritage Centre Phones 4U Arena Fri Apr 11: Midhurst, Cowdray Hall Sat 26: Calderbridge, Thur 8: Tullynessle, Sun 22: Birmingham, LG Arena Sat 12: nr Cheltenham, Calderbride Village Hall Tullynessle and Forbes Public Hall Mon 24: Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena Woodmancote Village Hall, Sun 27: Gateshead, Caedmon Hall Fri 9: Stonehaven, Tue 25: Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena Wed 16: Somerset, Pilton Tue 29: Aberdeen, The Blue Lamp Stonehaven Folk Club Fri 27: London, O2 Arena ’s Club Thu May 1 – Tue 6: Shetland, Sat 10: Whorlton, Sat 28: London, O2 Arena Thu 17: Ilfracombe, Shetland Folk Festival The Little Theatre on the Green Wed July 2: Nottingham, Arena West Down Parish Hall Thu 8: Antrim, The Old Courthouse Wed 23: Chippenham, Kington Fri 9: Rathfriland, Minor Alps Bev Pegg Langley Village Hall The Bronte Music Club Thu Apr 24: Manchester, Fri Apr 11: Redditch, Thu 24: Kings Somborne Sat 10: Belfast, Black Box The Roadhouse Abbeydale Community Club Village Hall Sun 11: Ballincollig, Whitehorse Inn Fri 25: London, Wed 16: Sutton Coldfield, Fri 25: Codford Village Hall Tue 13: Milton Keynes, The Stables The Shacklewell Arms Walmley Social Club Tue 29: Silverton, St. Mary’s Church Fri 16: Easton, Maverick Festival Sat 26: Brighton, Bermuda Triangle Sun 20: Bilston, The Trumpet Wed 30: Taunton, EMN Hall Sat 17: Culford, Culford Hall Sat May 17: Hagley, Hagley Thu May 1: Bristol, Westbury on Mon 19: Brighton, Christy Moore Community Centre Trym Village Hall The Prince Albert Fri Apr 11: Glasgow, Barrowland Sun Jun 29: Coventry, Wed 7: Wotton Under Edge, Under Tue 20: London, Bush Hall Sun 13: Glasgow, The Westwood Heath Club the Edge Arts Thu 22 – Sun 25: Orkney, Royal Concert Hall Sat Jul 5: Stourport-on-Severn, Thu 8: Glasbury Village Hall Orkney Folk Festival Tue 15: Manchester, Astley and Dunley Village Hall Fri 9: Donyatt Village Hall Bridgewater Hall Mon 7: Warwick, Warwick Folk Club Sat 17: Wadebridge, Fran McGillivray Band Thu 17: London, Royal Festival Hall Fri 18: Kingswinford, St Issey Village Hall Fri Apr 25: Wandsworth, Fri 18: London, Royal Festival Hall The Woodman Folk Club Sun 18: Exmouth, Court Sessions Folk Club Thu May 29 – Fri 30: Belfast, Mon Aug 11: Halesowen, Lympstone Village Hall Sat 26: Farncombe, Scratchers Waterfront Hall Auditorium Park Lane Unitarian Church Hall Thu 22: Menai, The Victoria Hotel Sat 16: Kidderminster, Fri 23: Salford, The Lowry Tia McGraff Marissa Nadler Blakedown Parish Rooms Thu 29: Isles of Scilly, St. Mary’s Thu May 22: London, Green Note Sun Apr 20: Bristol, The Cube Wed 20: Sutton Coldfield, Methodist Chapel Fri 23: Milton Keynes, The Stables Mon 21: Halifax, Square Chapel Walmley Social Club Sat 24: Market Harborough, Tue 22: Brighton, Komedia Mon 25: Walton-on-Trent, Lanterns On The Lake Joules Yard Wed 23: London, Café Oto Catton Hall Park Fri Apr 11: Limerick, Dolans Sun 25: Shrewsbury, Tue Sept 2: London, Dingwalls Sat Nov 8: Hagley, Hagley Sat 12: Cork, Pavilion Henry Tudor House Mon 14: Swansea, Sin City Mon 26: Banbury, Danni Nicholls Community Centre Tue 15: Portsmouth, Wedgewood The Brasenose Arms Fri Apr 11: Kelvedon, Porchlight Smoker Rooms Tue 27: Leicester, the Musician Live at the Institute (*—Police Dog Hogan) Wed 16: Oxford, Academy 2 Thu 29: Axminster, Village Hall Sat 19: Colchester, Sun Apr 13: Charlwood, Half Moon Thu 17: Hull, Adelphi Theatre Fri 30: Bickington, Village Hall Little Rabbit Barn Sun May 11: Icklesham, Sat 31: Bolton, Belmont Bull Tue 22: Ullapool, Argyll Hotel Queen’s Head Lau Sun Jun 1: Gloucester, Hopkins Hall Tue 29: Aberdeen, The Blue Lamp Wed 14: Arundel, Willows Folk Club Fri Jun 20 – Sun 22: Thu 5: Otterton, Otterton Mill Thu 22: Countryman, Shipley Beverley Folk Festival Fri 6: Cilcain, Village Hall P.J. Pacifico Sat 31: Wandsworth, The Cat’s Back Sat 7: Glasgow, CCA and Garrison Starr Thu Jun 26: Laurie Levine Sun 8: Embleton, Hale Village Hall Fri Apr 11: Nottingham, The Half Moon Putney * Fri May 9: Kelvedon, The Guitar Bar at Hoteol Deux Sat Aug 9: Sussex, The Con Club Live at The Institue Sarah McQuaid Sun 13: Glasgow, The Roxy Fri Sep 26: Portsmouth, Mon 12: Brighton, Thu Apr 17: Helston, The Square Tower The Prince Albert The Blue Anchor Inn Dolly Parton Tue 13: London, Sat 19: Penryn, Sun Jun 8: Liverpool, Echo Arena Patsy Reid The Half Moon Putney Miss Peapod’s Kitchen Café Tue 10: Belfast, Odyssey Arena Fri Apr 11: Tobermory, An Tobar Wed 14: London, Green Note Sun 27: Ivybridge, Wed 11: Dublin, O2 Arena Sat 12: Tayvallich, Village Hall Folk On The Moor Thu 12: Cork, Live At The Marquee Tue 15: Montrose, Folk Club Nick Lowe Tue 29: Glasgow, Live At The Star Sat 14: Newcastle, Fri 18: Glasgow, Star Folk Club Mon May 5: Brighton, Komedia Wed 30: Argyll, Resipole Studios Metro Radio Arena Fri 25: Nailsea, Folk Club Fri 9: London, Union Chapel Thu May 1: Gairloch, Sun 15: Aberdeen, GE Arena Sat 26: Broad Hinton, Village Hall Sat 10: London, Union Chapel Community Hall Tue 17: Glasgow, Hydro Arena Sun 27: Shrewsbury, The Hive Sun 11: London, Union Chapel Fri 2: Ardross, Community Hall Wed 18: Glasgow, Hydro Arena Tue 29: Silverton, Big Church

110 Maverick

TOUR DATES INDEX • R - Z

Wed 30: London, Sun May 5: Sat 12: Sheffield The Harley Fri 16: Leicester, O2 Cecil Sharp House Harpenden Beer Festival Mon 14: Bristol The Old Bookshop Sun 18: London, Bush Hall Thu May 1: Abingdon, Guidhall Sat Jul 7: Hemel Hempstead Tue 15: London Oslo Mon 19: Birmingham, O2 Fri 2: May Bury, The Met Old town re-opening Tue 20: Bristol, Thekla Sat Aug 30: Windsor, The Big Picnic Heidi Talbot Eddie Reader Sat Sep 6: Croxley Green Sat Apr 12: Boxford, Fleece Hotel The Will Pound Band Thu Apr 17: Sheffield, Hertfordshire, Croxfest Sun 13: Shipley Bradford, Fri May 23: Portsmouth, Square Tower Memorial Hall Sun 20: Watford, The Horns Caroline Social Club Sat 24: Wigton, Ireby Festival Fri 18: Gateshead, The Sage Mon 14: York, National Sat 19: Runcorn, The Brindley Southern Tenant Centre for Early Music Don Williams Mon 21: Leeds, City Varieties Folk Union Thu 17: Peebles, Eastgate Theatre Fri May 9: Manchester, Tue 22: Bath, Komedia Fri Apr 11: Woolacombe, Fri 18: Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline Bridgewater Hall Thu 24: Inverness, Village Hall Fri 24: Didcot, Cornerstone Sat 10: Birmingham, Eden Court Theatre Sat 12: Dorset, Bridport Arts Centre Sat 25: London, Blackheath Symphony Hall Fri 25: Edinburgh, Queens Hall Concert Hall Recital Rooms Sun 11: Glasgow, Sun 27: Glasgow, O2 Martin Stephenson Sat 26: The David Hall South Royal Concert Hall Tue 29: Worcester, Huntington Hall & The Daintees Petherton, Somerset Mon 12: Liverpool, Wed 30: Lincoln, Drill Hall Sat Apr 26: Ullapool, Argyll Hotel Sun 27: Bradford on Avon, Philharmonic Hall Fri May 23: Ireby, Ireby Folk Festival Thu May 1: York, The Duchess Wiltshire Music Centre Wed 14: Gateshead, The Sage Wed Jun 11: London, Barbican Fri 2: Glasgow, Oran Mor Tue 29: Norwich, Thu 15: Bristol, Colston Hall Sat 3: Gateshead, The Sage Norwich Arts Centre Fri 16: Bournemouth, Eve Selis & Berkley Hart Wed 7: Liverpool, O2 Academy Bournemouth Convention Centre Fri Jul 11: Kent, Cranbrook Thu 8: Manchester, Sandi Thom Sat 17: Southend, Cliffs Pavilion Sat 12: Chapel Allerton, Manchester Academy Fri 11: Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Sun 18: London, London Palladium Seven Arts Centre Fri 9: Nottingham, The Maltings Theatre Tue 20: Croydon, Fairfield Hall Tue 15: London, The Rescue Rooms Sun 13: Dunfermline, Carnegie Hall Thu 22: Dublin, Olympia Theatre The Half Moon Putney Sat 10: Cambridge, Tue 15: Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen Fri 23: Dublin, Olympia Theatre Wed 16: Bristol, The Tunnels Cambridge Junction Thu 17: Livingston, Sat 24: Belfast, Waterfront Hall Fri 18: Tingewick, Tue 13: Birmingham, O2 Academy Howden Park Centre Tingewick Village Hall Wed 14: Bristol, Thekla Sat 19: London, Tooting Market Winter Wilson Sat 19: Bury, The MET Fri 16: Reading, Sub89 Sun 20: Killarney, INEC Fri Apr 25: Wessex Acoustic Tue 22: Sheffield, The Greystone Sat 17: Brighton, The Haunt Fri Mon May 23-26: Wed 23: Bilston, Robin 2 Mon 22 Dec – Tue 23: Newcastle Tiny Ruins Fishguard, Folk Festival Thu 24: Farncombe, Upon Tyne, The Cluny Thu Apr 17: London, Thu Sun Jun 5-8: St. John’s Church Servant Jazz Quarters Southwell, Folk Festival Fri 25: Adleigh, Emma Stevens Sun 20: Norwich, The Bicycle Shop Mon 9: Skipton, Folk Club Live at Little Rabbit Barn Fri Apr 11: Bristol, The Louisiana Wed 23: Glasgow, Tue 10: Redcar, Sat 12: Totnes, South Royal Concert Hall Cutty Wren Folk Club Ian Siegal Devon Arts Centre Thu 24: Gateshead, Sage Wed 11: Upper Mill, Fri Apr 11: London, Green Note Tue 15: , Sat 26: Bristol, Colston Hall Cross Keys Folk Club The Cluny & The Cluny 2 Sun 27: Manchester, Lowry Mon 23: Tunbridge Wells, Thu 17: Nottingham, The Maze Mon 28: Birmingham, Beacon Folk Club Thu May 1: Manchester, Fri 18: Glasgow, Broadcast Symphony Hall Tue 24: Hoy at Anchor, Waterside Arts Centre Sat 19: Liverpool, The Zanzibar Wed 30: Dublin, Olympia Westcliffe-on-Sea Thu 8: Swansea, The Garage Thu 24: Near Clitheroe, Hurst Thu May 1: Cork, Opera House Wed 25: Dorking, Folk Club Fri 9: Wolverhampton, Green Village Hall Sat 3: London, Royal Festival Hall Thu 26: Maidenhead, Folk Club Newhampton Arts Centre Thu May 1: Southampton, Sun 4: Cambridge, Corn Exchange Wed Jul 2: Spalding, Folk Club Sat 10: Shaw, Playhouse The Brook Mon 5: Nottingham, Fri 4 – Sun 6: Cleckheaton, Fri 16: York, The Basement Fri May 30 – Sun Jun 1: Uttoxeter, Royal Concert Hall Cleckheaton Folk Festival Fri Jul 11: , Merlin Theatre The Acoustic Festival of Britain Thu 22: Birmingham, The Glee Club Sat 19: Sale, Folk Club Fri Sep 26: London, The Ivy House Fri 23: Bristol, Grain Barge Mon 21: Warwick, Folk Club Sun Oct 5: Derby, Calum Stewart Sat 24: London, Heath Street Fri Mon Aug 8-11: Derby Folk Festival and Heiki Bourgault Baptist Church Saitburn Festival Sat Apr 5: Gateshead, The Sage Fri Sun Sep 5-7: Swanage Festival Sturgill Simpson Sat 12: Belfast, Culterlann Hank Wangford Wed 17: Arundel, Folk Club Fri May 2: Edinburgh, Sun 13: Chapel Arts Centre, Bath Tue 13 May: Manchester, Thu 18: Peisall, Common Folk Victoria Park House Hotel Ruby Lounge Fri 19: Swindon, Folk Club Peggy Sue Wed 14: Liverpool, O2 Academy Sat Oct 4 – Sun 5: Derby The Sonny Walters Band Fri Apr 11: Liverpool Leaf Thu 15: Glasgow, O2 Academy Folk Festival, Assembly Rooms

112 Maverick