Over the duration of a busy gig year you occasionally
stumble upon that moment when all the stars align and the avenues of your mind
lead off into the sunset. This can conceivably occur across the full range of
situations from arena to house concert. The latest occurrence was perhaps one
step up from the latter as this year’s Stephen Simmons Elford gig was held in a
marquee in the village’s walled garden. The ‘stop you in your tracks’ moment arrived
at the end of the second set when the title number from Stephen’s latest album A
WORLD WITHOUT breezed into an encore version of the Townes Van Zandt classic ‘If I Needed You’. How apt that a song
signalling the call that ‘a world without art has no hope’ should be followed
by one that epitomises the spirit of the beautiful poetic song.
This year’s semi outdoors live music season began early on a
cool late April evening deep in the heart of the Staffordshire countryside. Elford
Walled Garden is a luscious secluded rural setting converted into a gig venue
for the evening c/o of a much needed spacious marquee, and the endeavour of the
Hot Burrito Promotions team to maintain their established ethos of bringing top
class American roots music to the local community.
Stephen Simmons has been departing his Tennessee home for
European shores for a decade now and around half of that time has seen a
Staffordshire drop off. Previous visits have included house concerts, garden
shows in the warmer months and a conventional venue gig in nearby Lichfield.
Each time, a solitary guitar and a ruck of fine songs are sufficient to bring a
slice of the South to foreign lands, alongside a voice etched in the country
tradition and tales that illuminate the body of his work. This latest show
retained the same winning formula, purveying an independent spirit that only
answers to a personal calling and maybe to put some food on the table a couple
of times.
The latest album reached the UK earlier this year and
Stephen wasted little time in picking some of the standout tracks to share with
audiences over here for the first time. ‘Puritan
Cowboys’, ‘West’. ‘Fairy Tales (The Flowers Burden)’ and ‘Silver Moon Saloon’ all sounded super in
their no doubt intended live format, exploring genetic lines, quirky gig venues
and other metaphorical observations. The last comment suggests there is some
lyrical license to detour in his writing, although Stephen is equally adept at
towing the literal line with your straightforward ‘three
chords and the truth’. Perhaps Stephen’s style, accent and Nashville links will
always paint a country music image when he goes overseas especially when he
repeatedly (with no complaints here) shares the Hank Williams cover ‘Wedding Bells’. However there is a wider
influence to his repertoire and ‘singer-songwriter with a distinct southern
flavour’ is a more accurate moniker.
With one eye on avoiding repetition, Stephen tended to steer
clear of some of the popular songs from previous visits, although ‘Shirley’s Stables’ did make an
appearance alongside a reference to a grandfather’s alleged misdemeanour. Chat
did frequently skirt the current political environment as well as the perils of
transporting his trusted guitar around. What you also get from an evening in
the company of Stephen Simmons and his music is the exposure to a humble
self-effacing artist who you 100% believe in. His network in the UK would
benefit from growing, but you feel it would have to be without significant
compromise. Total integrity is one of Stephen’s charms.
With a view to making this latest Stephen Simmons Elford
show a more community focussed event in line with the setting, a local duo
operating under the name of Brindley Hunt played a forty-five minute opening
set. This was a neat mix of popular covers and impressive originals from a
recently released album that possessed the legs to take their act forward.
Finding the right environment is always tricky for an acoustic duo, but the
assembled gathering in the Elford Walled Garden marquee proved ideal.
The temperature may have just been dipping when the show
ended, but the decision to host Stephen Simmons in this format proved a
resounding success in terms of fund raising and the quality of artists
providing the entertainment. We have got to know the work of Stephen over the
last few years enough to expect that much more is still to come. Attending one
of his existing shows; considering hosting him on a future visit or just
listening to his music would be a wise choice. Many folks will concur and then
there’s always a chance of a golden moment, such as that at the end of this
gig, will spring up.
www.stephensimmonsmusic.com
