Preview: Bristol Americana Weekend

People who aren’t lucky enough to live in Bristol may be forgiven for presuming that the city is all about the bass, but we residents know the city has an incredibly diverse & vibrant local scene encompassing many styles. Americana is particularly well loved here, with local promoter CRH providing a steady stream of great gigs at the Tunnels; established local acts such as the Rosellys & the Montgomerys and up and coming talent like Newton Country.

So strong is the scene in fact that it sustains its own three day festival. The Bristol Americana Festival will be taking place over the weekend of July 15-17 at the Colston Hall, St. George’s and the Tunnels.

“The Americana Weekend is a collaboration between Colston Hall and St George’s which came about over a pint or two I believe, as most things do,” says programmer Todd Wills. “Both venues have long programmed Americana artists and Bristol has a strong affinity with roots music in its many guises so bringing acts together across one weekend in a festival context is really an ideal way to celebrate the genre and attract the best international talent to the city.”

As anyone who reads our online monthly picks knows, Americana is a genre as broad as it is long and the festival programme reflects that. “There are so many styles that sit under the Americana umbrella and we’re highlighting that with the lineup,” Todd adds. “There’s Grammy-winning acts like Lucinda Williams and Mary Chapin Carpenter playing at Colston Hall – two artists who have been integral in shaping the genre over the last 30 years. Bluegrass band The HillBenders are doing a rather unique banjo-picking version of The Who’s classic album Tommy at St George’s. Then in The Lantern there’s newer artists like The White Buffalo and Frazey Ford of The Be Good Tanyas with Howe Gelb of Giant Sand, who give Americana their own twist.”

The point is well made with the Sunday night headline act, says Todd: “It’s topped off by Elvis Costello and The Imposters, who you might not instinctively put into the Americana bracket, but he has a well-known, deep appreciation for country music having lived in Nashville for many years, perhaps epitomised by his cover of George Jones’ Good Year for the Roses as well as his numerous collaborations with Emmylou Harris, T Bone Burnett and so on. I think there’s the opportunity with this line-up to see the quality and the flexibility that this style of music can offer.” As well as the international touring bands, local band Furlined will be performing in the foyer on Sunday 17th June and whilst Gil Landry is not local, he will be playing in the foyer on Saturday, both gigs are free. Meanwhile Lisa Mann will be over at the Tunnels with her Really Good Band, alas clashing with Elvis but offering “down home rough and ready blues-soul” for you.

It’s a mug’s game to try and pick out any highlights from such a great lineup and alas gig clashes force one to pick and choose as it’s difficult to be in two places at once (why isn’t science working on a cure for that?) The White Buffalo has been picking up a lot of accolades (in no small part due to his tune appearing on faux biker soap opera Sons of Anarchy) and will impress those who enjoy the Johnny Cash American Recordings; Lucinda Williams has got agreeably bluesy on her more recent recordings and The Hillbenders’ Bluegrass Opera sounds like a blast.

For more information, visit www.colstonhall.org/shows/bristol-americana-weekend-2/