Americana, Blues & Country Picks: Jul 2016

June may have seen the country lurch into a massive crisis brought on by a wave of xenophobia and a second even more embarrassing exit from Europe, but there was a splendid selection of gigs to distract us from the real world. J J Grey & Mofro delivered a mega set of pimped out R ‘n’ B at the Tunnels; the Urban Voodoo Machine played a raucous gig at the Fleece (with cracking support from John E Vistic and John Fairhurst), and Bonnie Raitt wowed a packed Colston with a career spanning set of quality tunes played with humour, sass and considerable aplomb. Oh, and the arse end of the month saw St. Paul & the Broken Bones secure themselves a spot in the top ten gigs of the year with a superb set that tore the roof of the Trinity. The month ahead promises more quality than you can shake a banjo at…you can hear blues, country, and bluegrass; oh and the Colston have thrown together a wee Americana shindig. Plenty of fun for July then – see you down the front.

Grillstock

Bristol Harbourside, Saturday 02 – Sunday 03 Jul

Whilst the idea of a massive barbecue disguised as a festival will not appeal to all, there’s more than a few outfits of interest here… On Saturday Rev Payton’s Big Damn Band will no doubt provide a massive degree of rambunctiousness; The Mariachis may not be as popular with the fashion police as Mariachi el Bronx, but these Dorito endorsing fellas will undoubtedly get people moving and grooving (and craving tequila); ABC fave John E Visitc will be on hand to twist a whole load of roots forms in to new shapes and Big Joe Bone will satisfy those craving some raw blues. Sunday provides less music that we can squeeze into our (admittedly broad) definition of ABC, but The Montgomerys should be enjoyed whenever feasible, and especially when unfeasible; and The Graveltones are massively recommended – their pounding rock n roll blues guaranteed to put a Zep sized spring in your step and a Little Richard sized swivel in your swagger.

Joe Bonamassa

Colston Hall: Tuesday, 05 Jul

If memory serves the last time Joe B played round these parts was at the Cheese n Grain about the time of his game changing LP Sloe Gin, a sizzling set that signposted his rise to the top of the blues rock pile. Since then he’s formed a massively successful career without the aid or approval of the fashion police by simply working hard and recording damn good music; and by recording prolifically too – Joe is capable of writing and recording an album in the time it takes the Edge to figure out which hat best matches his latest effects pedal. Not content with his own stuff there have been collaborations with Beth Hart, massive sold out gigs and tiny dues paying sold out small gigs too; recording with the on / off / on again (correct at the time of typing) super group Black Country Communion and he’s not content to either sit on his laurels or re-tread previous work either. So this sold out show sees him playing tribute to the giants of British blues, i.e. those players and bands that grew up on obscure American blues and then successfully exported it back to the States. It’s gonna be a fret melting blast.

The Henhouse Prowlers

Tunnels: Tuesday, 05 Jul

This Chicago unit are bringing some fantastic old school (old ranch?) bluegrass to the Fleece, with a set that’s guaranteed to get ya moving – but with a few slower tunes and ballads too. They’re not your ordinary tour the States / tour Europe type band either, courtesy of the US State Department they’ve gigged in Africa, and they’ve also journeyed to Russia – all the extensive travelling informing their music too (their last recording Still On That Ride included a cover of a Nigerian pop hit Chop My Money. If you missed out on Joe B, don’t sit on yer arse, put on your dancing boots and get down to the Tunnels.

Federal Charm

Louisiana: Thursday, 07 Jul

This lot have been making a few waves lately, including submitting to our Vinyl Enquirer, and if you have a craving for some old school blues rock with a contemporary vibe, then this is the gig for you. The band are touring their second album Across the Divide, and are promising a hefty set – punchy old school rock influenced by, well, all of the usual suspects but also informed by the vibrant rock scene that’s coalesced around the Black Keys and the Rival Sons.

Americana Festival

Colston Hall: Friday, 15 Jul – Sun, 17 Jul

The second Americana festival takes place over the weekend and we’ve an interview with programmer Todd Wills along with full details here.

Eve Selis

Tunnels: Tuesday, 19 Jul

Buddy Blue (Blue Notes) said…“The Eve Selis Band erupted in an acute explosion of Americana, wailing and twanging and thundering and throbbing, conjuring demons and angels alike”, crikey – all that wailing and twanging and thundering and throbbing, conjuring demons stuff sounds like just the sort of thing for a Tuesday night. Selis is in fact a criticality acclaimed artist rather than a throbbing demon conjurer (Throbbing Demon? I think they supported Decapitated at the Bierkeller a few years back actually). With getting on for a dozen albums under her belt and a shit hot band this is guaranteed to be a fabulous night, (of wailing and twanging and thundering and throbbing).

The Husky Tones

Bristol Bootlegger: Friday 22 Jul

Our best local blues band have been busy since their last Bristol date: they’ve been taken on by Robmont Music Management and already have major blues festivals booked at Harpenden and Maryport at the end of the month. Furthermore their second album will be recorded at Platform Studios with the producer Stuart Dixon, so with a warm up show in town, you’ll have chance to hear some new material and find out why there’s a massive buzz building around the band.

The Rosellys

Golden Lion: Saturday, 23 Jul

The Rosellys have been on an extensive tour since the early spring, including a festival date in Spain (smart move given the monsoon weather we’ve been enduring). They’re back at the splendid Golden Lion with a rather tasty support from over the pond – The Lavens – a family thang (but: “We are a band made up of family – the kids hate the “family band” moniker and it makes us sound too wholesome, we aren’t The Partridge Family!”) and purveyors of gnarly rootsy Americana free from artifice. This is a cracking night out and thoroughly recommended.

Bob Wayne

Louisiana: Tuesday, 26 Jul

“From the arenas in Germany to the tool sheds of Kentucky…” comes Bob Wayne, who can probably be described as ornery and a maverick – his most recent recording blah is a covers set but rather than playing the reverential card or demonstrating his credentials by selecting some worthy but obscure country pickers he covers Rihanna, Led Zeppelin, Adele and The Offspring. His own material is mighty fine too, so this promises to be a rowdy affair, especially as warm up comes from The Montgomerys. So don’t come expecting decorum, stetsons and sequins; come expecting a raucous night of bellicose guitars and drinkin’.

Further Ahead

If you’ve a need to plan further ahead (highly recommended to avoid getting the paying an arm and a leg to a tout blues when gigs sell out) then here’s a glance ahead at the Beards, Blues & Twang heading our way over the next few months:

Aynsley Lister, Tunnels: Friday, 05 Aug

Jayhawks, Lantern: Saturday, 03 Sep

Sari Schorr, Tunnels: Wednesday, 14 Sep

Madison Violet, Tunnels: Tuesday, 20 Sep

Kirk Fletcher, Tunnels: Sunday, 25 Sep

Freakwater, Tunnels: Sunday, 09 Oct

Robin Trower, Cheese n Grain: Friday, 14 Oct

Joanne Shaw-Taylor, Fleece: Sunday, 16 Oct

Sara Watkins, Tunnels: Tuesday, 08 Nov

Cadillac Three, Academy: Friday, 11 Nov

Ben Caplin, Thekla: Sunday, 13 Nov

Laurence Jones, Tunnels: Sunday, 13 Nov

Beth Hart, Colston Hall: Thursday, 17 Nov

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Colston Hall: Saturday, 19 Nov

Simo / Arron Keylock / Federal Charm, Tunnels: Wednesday, 23 Nov

Gangstagrass, Thekla: Friday, 25 Nov

Chantel McGregor, Tunnels: Friday, 02 Dec

Alabama 3, Academy: Thursday, 08 Dec