Three Chords and the Truth UK

©Ian Dunn ©Principlephotography Every now and again the intelligentsia of the UK music press pluck a talented artist from the fringes of the Nashville mainstream country scene and expose them to an unsuspecting audience who are not necessarily avid consumers of this style of music. Following hot on the heels on the impact of Caitlin Rose a couple of years back, attention is currently focussing on Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Lindi Ortega, a performer who seems at one with what she’s striving to achieve. Despite the growing national radio airplay, this current tour remains low key thus ensuring Lindi has the opportunity to connect with her ever increasing list of admirers. The candlelit tables at the Hare and Hounds may have been more akin to the gentler performers who play the venue but the engulfing dry ice added to the mystique of the journey Lindi and her sidekick guitarist, introduced simply as Tom from Canada, was about to take the audience on. The real li...

You tend to associate the term crossover in country music when the sound merges into pop or rock. However surely a far more superior fusion is when an artist blends a little country with a touch of folk and encapsulates it in a coat of acoustic Americana. Before the genre clichés are exhausted, let’s just say that Emily Baker has perfected this art form and is all set to unleash her new album ALL AT SEA on the fortunate connoisseurs of quality music. Recorded in a stripped back manner in the studio of acclaimed producer Gavin Monaghan, the resultant masterpiece oozes with pure roots as Emily’s heartfelt and soul searching songs are brought to life with natural ease. The multi skilled string musician Fiddes Smith has expertly supplemented Emily’s folk influenced vocals with a hint of subtle twang that you would expect from slide guitar, banjo and mandolin. The album is saturated with the influences of Emily’s American experiences, yet combines such expanses with the intimacy of...

 Occasionally you come across an artist whose talent far outstrips the surroundings they are performing and you’re left scratching your head as to why this scenario exists. It didn’t take too long into this show by Nashville based singer-songwriter Jenn Bostic to realise that she falls into this category. The humble settings of an upstairs room in a suburban Birmingham pub seemed a surreal location for such a confident and accomplished performer. However it was a pleasure to be in the company of less than a hundred people to witness an hour long genuine performance of a divine collection of songs that have surfaced from the deep creative well of Jenn’s heart and mind. Jenn Bostic  ©Ian Dunn © Principle Photography After only a couple of songs into her set, Jenn was frank and honest about the perception of her musical standing. She shared to the audience a perceived view of being ‘too country for pop and too pop for country’ and how it had proved challenging to b...

One of the most gratifying aspects of this evening was witnessing a continued rise in the stock of Otis Gibbs. Having first come across the most culturally esteemed artist to emerge from Wanamaker, Indiana (any rival nominations welcome) at the Big Sessions Festival in Leicester a few years ago, his return to the city on this latest UK visit saw an extremely healthy turnout for a Wednesday evening. As per usual, the humble but equally entertaining Otis gave a consummate performance of storytelling and song delivery in the true folk tradition of a travelling troubadour.  Otis and the infamous peacock from a previous visit The Musician Pub has to be one of the country’s most supportive venues of American roots music as the citizens of this East Midlands city and nearby visitors are continually spoilt by the high quality transatlantic artists it attracts. They also continue to support emerging UK acts in this style of music and, as a support to Otis, Worcester-based Americana duo W...

For this, Annabelle Chvostek’s second post-Wailin Jennys studio release, the highly acclaimed Canadian roots artist has rolled back the years to explore the world of protest and activism. In this current age of change, first world rebellion may be only on a small scale but this recording has the potential to put Annabelle at the cultural forefront of any escalation. Over the duration of the near hour-long length of this album, given the evocative title RISE, she has written and interpreted a diverse collection of anthemic, analytical and deep rooted tracks that intersperse well with a couple of jaunty numbers which result in a raising of the levels of optimism and spirit. Right from the mandolin-led strong scene setting opener ‘End of the Road’ to the languid folk style reggae cover of Peter Tosh’s ‘ Equal Rights’ that escorts you through the exit door, the album is populated by endless significant catchy chorus hooks in the fine tradition of protest folk. This is further exe...

Jerry Douglas and Aly Bain When Mary Chapin Carpenter steps forward and praises the venue as one of the world’s great concert halls, you know you’re in the right setting. Likewise when the ensemble of artists on stage is referred to as the deepest collection of roots musicians you are likely to see, then you’ve got the quality of performers the venue warrants. With this combination, expectations are high and just like 12 months ago, the 2013 Transatlantic Sessions left the sold out Birmingham Symphony Hall audience enthralled with a stunning performance of bi-partisan roots music. This highly structured and seamless format see a core band of twelve musicians led by the near-symmetrical arrangement of Aly Bain co-ordinating three top class UK musicians and Jerry Douglas doing the same for his fellow stateside compatriots, all very fine exponents of a variety of string-based instruments. Four further backing musicians complete the sound set on keyboards, bass, drums and support gu...

Photo not taken at gig Apart from being aware of their eminent international standing within the world of Canadian roots music, my appreciation and knowledge of The Be Good Tanyas is admittedly a little sketchy. The all girl Vancouver based trio have been on a hiatus since 2008 so the decision to resume their performing career and include a Saturday evening Midlands show in their short UK tour was an opportunity not to be missed. The group have had a recent set back with Sam Parton being unable to join them on this trip due to recovering from a car accident and although Caroline Ballhorn stepped in to offer support vocals, this left main vocalist Frazey Ford and Trish Klein to carry out a bulk of the musical duties between them. The girls had a couple of guys on bass and percussion to add a little rhythm but the focus is very much centered around Frazey’s rootsy distinct vocals and the exceptional versatile guitar and banjo picking from Trish. Throughout the 90 minute set, bot...

We were barely two songs into this gig before Dale Watson voiced his opinion on the Blake Shelton controversy. Not only was the dogged modern day flag bearer of traditional country music staunchly defending his beliefs on the ‘jackasses and old farts’ assertion but he had hastily written a song which didn’t take too kind a view on his fellow performer. Conciliation was certainly not on the agenda and at least you know where you stand with Dale Watson. The seasoned adopted Texan knows his preferred style, is good at reproducing it and you know what you’re going to get at one of his gigs – curfew curtailing value for money traditional country music. Having built up a loyal UK following over the years, most of the audience packing the backroom of The Bullingdon in Oxford were of the converted variety and they were not disappointed with a stream of old favourites interwoven with selected tracks from the brand new EL RANCHO AZUL album. The strength of song delivery mixed with enlightening...