Music / Previews
Americana, Blues & Country Picks: Mar 2016
Pix: King King by Laurence Harvey and The Rosellys by John Morgan
February had a great selection of music to pick from and some great shows…as predicted Lindi Ortega was a blast whilst Dan Stuart headlined a fantastic night at the Exchange (and B247 is hoping that Mike Crawford and the Various Sorrows are gonna be playing again soon, and hopefully recording too given the quality of the tunes played at the Exchange). March has much good music – The Golden Lion has some great stuff lined up and the ever reliable CRH Music have a great Canadian band at the Tunnels. There’s plenty to choose from including a show that’s already sold out so make sure you have a good look at the Further Ahead listing to avoid future disappointment.
Tunnels, Mar 03
If you like The Sheepdogs then fellow Canadians The Bros. Landreth (two Landreth brothers in the band, hence the name) are gonna be right up your street. Not sure what they’re putting in the water up there, probably Bourbon, or more likely moonshine, but Blackberry Smoke notwithstanding these two bands are producing some of the best southern rock around. These guys bring gorgeous slide guitar, dusty harmonies and plenty of soulful Hammond to the mix and are touring their debut LP Let it Lie. It’s the kind of music that just eases you away from your troubles and in to a laid back world of flares, vinyl and endless summer nights…
Golden Lion, Mar 06
It may well be Mother’s Day but Clubhouse Records have a treat for everyone at the Golden Lion – a full bill of excellent acts and headlined by our very own Rosellys. Everything kicks off at 2pm (so plenty of time to give yer mum her gifts and treat her to a slap up dinner before you leave her snoring in front of the telly). The full line-up includes The Dreaming Spires (brothers Robin and Joe Bennett, whose exquisite harmonies are set in superb folky / country tunes) The Redlands Palamino Company (whose new LP Broken Carelessly is a gorgeous country rock recording that sounds like it was recorded in Nashville but was actually laid down in a Methodist chapel in the Forest of Dean) and Paul McLure (careworn slices of life from deepest darkest Rutland). The Rosellys themselves are purveyors of British Americana, drawing from bluegrass & Cajun to provide a sound that is both traditional and refreshingly contemporary. They regularly tour the States and have a fine recording The Granary Sessions that deserves a thorough listening.
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
02 Academy, Mar 09
At the arse end of 2016, Nathaniel Rateliff played a sold out show at the Fleece – at the time the venue already had posters for this gig on the wall and B247 predicted that Rateliff was destined for big things. Well if you don’t have tix for this show you’re out of luck because it’s already sold out, and in fact he already has an autumn date booked at the Colston. Rateliff and the Night Sweats play gut bucket soul – Stax style – and Rateliff has an agreeably gruff voice reminiscent of Van the Man, and having spent several years as a folky singer / songwriter knows how to put a tune together. If you have a ticket bring your dancing shoes and be prepared to sweat, if you missed out get clicking as the Colston will sell out.
Fleece, Mar 10
King King have been blazing a hell of trail lately, they’re time served musicians and half a dozen years in to their career they’re making a big impact. They’ve opened for the UK’s finest extant hard rock band (that would be Thunder) and are now out on their own headlining tour in support of their 2015 recording Reaching for the Line. They’ve a deliciously retro sound – blues rock but with plenty of soul, and they’re not afraid to take it to the church either, the gospel stylings separating them from your typical blues rock band. Meanwhile if you’re a fan of blues power trios with virtuoso lead players, then make sure you catch the opening act at this gig. Young Jones has picked up a massive amount of critical acclaim and been blessed / cursed (delete as appropriate) with being deemed the future of British blues. His recent LP What’s it Gonna Be is well worth a listen and it’s good to hear someone referencing the mighty Robin Trower as well as the more well-known influences. If you’re a blues fan you’d be a mug to miss this show.
Golden Lion, Mar 11
This gig is really quite a coup for the splendid Golden Lion (seriously, save their site to your favourites) as Ten Benson perform sporadically and have had something of an on / off career. OK so it’s stretching it perhaps to include them in the ABC listing but they arguably represent the dirty scuzzy trashy unpalatable side of Americana and B247 likes obnoxious cod-heavy metal being blasted out by hirsute trucker cap wearing reprobates. Besides support comes from the Long Tall V himself – John E Vistic is back in town and with The Montgomerys along for the ride the gig as a whole covers everything that’s great about ABC and showcases some exceptional local talent.
Colston Hall, Mar 18 – 20
This year’s has over 50 free and ticketed concerts and the festival’s approach to Blues and Jazz as genres is as generous as B247’s approach to Americana, Blues & Country. So there’s plenty to get excited about. A choir celebrating Frank Sinatra (oh and there’s 350 people in said choir); three members of James Brown’s original line-up – Maceo Parker, Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley; a Big Swing night featuring King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys and the 17-piece Bruce / Llett Big Band; and Courtney Pine. In fact there’s too much to summarise easily here so click above and you’re guaranteed to find plenty to enjoy.
Lansdown, Mar 25
B247 first became aware of the Cirencester duo after seeing the video for their sublime Chrimble tune Winter Moves In (do have a look and consider a download as it’s in aid of Marie Curie). The band are at the folkier end of the spectrum – beautiful harmonies layered over acoustic guitar, evocative of a time when folk was all about the spook, echoing the work done in the seventies by the folk rock trailblazers. Their debut recording Soaked to the Bone is an assured piece of work, extra instrumentation fleshing out the tunes and highlighting their interweaving vocal harmonies. Elliot Hall and Rapunzel share the bill, their sweet country sounds complementing that of the Black Feathers, the pedigree of Hall and Rapunzal (aka Sarah Larkham) showing in their beautifully crafted tunes and harmonies. Both outfits offering a genuine alternative to the ersatz folk / roots music approved by the fashion police and consumed by the masses.
Further Ahead
If you’re hankering for more Beards, Blues & Twang, then here’s a look ahead to some shows that will satisfy your ears and feet:
The Husky Tones, The Snug: Saturday, 02 Apr
J W Jones, Tunnels: Thursday, 07 Apr
Ruzz Guitars Blues Revue, Tunnels: Friday, 08 Apr
Sam Outlaw, Tunnels: Sunday, 10 Apr
Charles Bradley, Colston Hall: Friday, 15 Apr
Richmond Fontaine, Tunnels: Monday, 18 Apr
Giant Sand and Jason Lytle, Lantern: Monday, 18 Apr
Wilko and Joanne Shaw Taylor, Academy: Thursday, 21 Apr
Hayes Carll, Tunnels: Friday, 22 Apr
Diana Jones, Tunnels: Monday, 25 Apr
The Rosellys, Golden Lion: Tuesday, 26 Apr
Long Ryders, Fleece: Tuesday, 03 May
Blues Festival, Cheese N Grain: Sunday, 08 May
Laura Cantrell, Lantern: Friday, 13 May
Simon McBride, Tunnels: Wednesday, 18 May
Jo Harman, Tunnels: Thursday, 19 May
Ian Siegel and Jimbo Mathus, Tunnels: Wednesday, 25 May
The Rosellys, Golden Lion: Thursday, 26 May
Eric Bibb, Cheese N Grain: Sunday, 29 May
JJ Grey & Mofro, Tunnels: Sunday, 29 May
Joe Bonamassa, Colston Hall: Tuesday, 05 Jul
Americana Festival, Colston Hall: Friday 15 – Sunday 17 Jul
The Rosellys, Golden Lion: Saturday, 23 Jul
Jayhawks, Lantern: Saturday, 03 Sep
Sari Schorr, Tunnels: Wednesday, 14 Sep
Beth Hart, Colston Hall: Thursday, 17 Nov
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Colston Hall: Saturday, 19 Nov
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