Music / Previews
Americana, Blues & Country Picks: June 2017
OK, so there will be no cheap attention seeking mentions of the election in the June picks just the usual strong and stable leadership in guiding you through the month’s musical delights and thus helping you to avoid a coalition of chaos when it comes to selecting Americana, Blues & Country gigs. As usual there’s plenty to suit all tastes, some great local talent, cool gigs at smaller venues and a major Hollywood star gracing the stage in little old Bristol (and of course the ABC bête noire curses us with gig clashes) . As usual we’ve tried to give adequate covfefe to local bands but if there’s something or someone missing do let us know. See you down the front.
is needed now More than ever
Úbeda is a small own in Andalusia, with a population of 36,025 inhabitants. Due to its early 16th century Renaissance style palaces and churches, UNESCO declared the historic buildings and monuments of the town a World Heritage Site. It is also the home of some of the fieriest punk blues you can shake a switchblade at in the form of Guadalupe Plata, a three piece outfit that somehow manage to combine all manner of traditional Iberian music (with a dash of Arabic and Romany for good measure) with the blues and then perform it with punk rock intensity. Think the John Spenser Blues explosion trying to play music that suits both Flamenco and pogoing with some demented head banging riffing and soloing. Really, do you want to miss a chance to find out if the above is nonsensical hyperbole or an accurate description of the soundtrack to a sensational night out? Only one way to find out…
Beth Rowley is a pretty phenomenal talent –extensive work with a whole bunch of top acts; her music plastered all over the telly & films and a classy writer. She’s about to enter the studio for her second full length album and this is a fabulous chance to see her in an intimate setting – presuming you can still snaffle up a ticket, they’ve been selling faster than snakebite at Download. Support comes from J P Ruggieri, out of NYC, who is over here on quite an extensive batch of dates – some headlines & some supports – a solo set no doubt previewing material that will be featuring on his soon come debut LP. Although primarily a songwriter he’s played guitar for a fair few other artists so expect some decent picking, although you will be forced to choose between this and an equally superior show….
Even the mighty Golden Lion can’t stave off the rock gods and their nefarious gig clashes so one is forced to choose between Beth Rowley and a rather appetising double bill at the Lion. Headliners The Flyin As are straight outta Texas, so their take on Americana is full of grit and the husband n wife duo know how to bring it to the stage, so make sure you load up on carbs and keep yourself hydrated for a rollicking night. And don’t even think about arriving fashionably late because our own Rosellys are back in town: the band are seasoned globetrotting road warriors, so know how to put on a show and are never better than at the Lion. It’s gonna be a high energy night of booty shaking quality music.
This is another classy CRH promotion at one of the best small venues in town (well, smallish – they pack ‘em in mind for an incredible atmosphere). Byrd has been described as “A folk singer with the heart of a rock ‘n’ roll band” and he’s a damn decent song writer specialising in slice of life type tunes that stray off the beaten path for somewhere more wry, somewhere more real. He’s done so via around about ten LPs since 2001 – pretty prolific in this day and age. So what better way to spend a Tuesday night than having a pint of three with some superb tunes? Well, if you look below, thanks to those capricious gods of rock there is an enticing alternative…
https://youtu.be/lk0VIF5Sf80
Bierkeller: Tuesday, 20th June
No, really, Kiefer Sutherland is playing the perpetually sticky floored venue, because as well as his splendid endeavours as an actor, he’s also a bit of a music nut. He co-owns Ironworks, a label established with the admirable aim of enabling bands to get their songs out in to the market, and has long been a musician and writer too. This tour supports the release of his debut album Down in a Hole, put together with Ironworks partner and musician Jude Cole. Judging from the online evidence this will be a fine show, Sutherland has a decent, careworn voice and Cole the pedigree to ensure a quality night. Just a damn shame it clashes with Mr Byrd.
Americana, Blues and Country – it’s all folk music in a way, so it’s pleasing when an artist takes something from Americana & Country and throws it down with a folk sensibility. For a young artist, Erin Rae is an assured and confident songwriter and her tunes have a light, deft touch that makes them incredibly easy on the ear but far from fleeting as they worm their silky way in to your memory. Her band the Meanwhiles are a might talented bunch to so what better way to spend the longest day of the year than with some real quality tunes?
The Husky Tones have gone through a metamorphosis in the past six months or so since the release of their debut and the arrival of their second album Who Can I Turn to Now (launched to a packed house at The Crofter’s Rights earlier this year). The band are down to the core duo of Chris Harper on guitar and Victoria Bourne on drums & vox, and they’ve released a fierce album that really chimes with these fractured times. This is a Labour Party benefit (acoustic style) and in the interest of impartiality there won’t be a recommendation to attend to support said Party, but rather to support fantastic new music (and the Party. Oops).
https://youtu.be/_N-bCVyvDUM
The last time he was in town Earle sold out The Tunnels, so best act sharpish if you’ve not scored a ticket yet. Skipping past his background (that’s what the interweb is for) Earle is a tremendous song writer in his own right and a damn fine night out, as he’s got an enviable catalogue of songs to draw from and is also a rather hilarious raconteur. He’s just released a fresh collection – Kids in the Street – so that will surely get an airing, along with back catalogue and he does have a way with unexpected covers so expect the unexpected.
The Wardrobe is an absolutely fabulous, funky little venue and as well as some tasty theatre they put on equally tasty gigs – folky stuff, ABC and more, so it’s well worth keeping an eye on their listings – the room deserves your support. This one’s a bit special as Hull has been playing mandolin since she was 11 and been highly praise by none other than Alison Krauss. This tour is in support of Weighted Mind and although that record features an array of guests this show (one of only four in the UK) will be Hull and Ethan Jodziewicz on bass.
Some artists like to portray themselves as tough-nut bad-asses, but not many can claim to have survived on a train blown up by the Shining Path, which Baker did in 1986. As a result he had to relearn the guitar to accommodate his injuries and the event has cleared played in to his song writing. This will be a masterclass in song writing and the tune will be delivered with his singular voice. Such a shame then that this is the second gig clash of the month damn it because a several hundred yards away is this humdinger…
Rita Lynch + Husky Tones + Drunken Butterfly
Yep, three excellent bands for just five of your English pounds. The genre Taliban may wonder why the gig is featured here, but the Husky Tones are on the bill so that’s reason enough. Meanwhile it would be churlish to ignore the gig because it’s sensational value for money; Rita Lynch should be supported at every opportunity and Drunken Butterfly are a great young act and, like the other two acts, they’re punching out fiery politically charged music at a time when we need fiery politically charged music. Furthermore even though we’re in the sci-fi 21st century it’s fair to say the music industry is still awash with testosterone so how refreshing to have a night of predominantly female punk, punk-blues and punk-folk. Get yourselves down there and pogo like it’s 1977, you can always pull a sickie to recover.
https://youtu.be/EHC_nMgNN9U
Further Ahead:
So July is absolutely jam-packed and not only are there a splendid range of stand-alone gigs but the River Town Festival arrives and is packed with fabulous treats (find out more here). As usual tickets will be selling fast for many of these gigs – not everyone will be buggering off to festivals – and there are acts of real quality in some small venues. The gig clash forecast is fair to middling for the short term (apart from the inevitable difficult choices at River Town – so much quality) but keep an eye open and plan ahead.
King King, Fleece: Saturday, 01 Jul
Darlingside, Lantern: Sunday, 02 Jul
Backyard Bash, Golden Lion: Saturday, 08 Jul
Pierce Brothers, Thekla: Monday, 10 Jul
River Town Festival, Colston Hall et al: Friday, 14 -17 Jul
Groundhogs, Husky Tones and more, Fleece: Saturday, 15 Jul
The Roselleys, Golden Lion: Thursday, 20 Jul
Sam Outlaw, Tunnels: Monday, 24 Jul
Indigo Girls, Bierkeller: Tuesday, 25 Jul
Rev Peyton’s Big Band, Tunnels: Tuesday, 15 Aug
Husky Tones, Louisiana: Sunday, 20 Aug
Michael Chapman, Grain Barge: Saturday, 09 Sep
Danny & the Champions of the World, Lantern: Monday, 18 Sep
Kirk Fletcher, Tunnels: Sunday, 24 Sep
Erja Lyytinen, Tunnels: Tuesday, 26 Sep
Slaid Cleaves, Tunnels: Sunday, 01 Oct
Little Big Town, Colston Hall: Tuesday, 03 Oct
Brandy Clark, St. Georges: Saturday, 21 Oct
Mad Dog Mcrea, Bierkeller: Saturday, 21 Oct
The Sadies, Tunnels: Sunday, 29 Oct
John Mayall, Colston Hall: Sunday, 05 Nov
Harrow Fair, Tunnels: Tuesday, 07 Nov
Simon McBride, Tunnels: Monday, 13 Nov
Joanne Shaw Taylor, Colston Hall: Tuesday, 14 Nov
Sari Schorr, Louisiana: Thursday, 16 Nov
Tom Russell, Thekla: Thursday, 23 Nov
Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, St. Georges: Friday, 24 Nov
Songhoy Blues, Anson: Friday, 01 Dec
Chantel McGregor, Tunnels: Sunday, 10 Dec
Ainsley Lister, Tunnels: Tuesday, 12 Dec
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
