Three Chords and the Truth UK

Spend an initial evening in the company of Edwina Hayes and you will feel like you’ve known her all your life. While this was technically not the first time catching Edwina live, that experience was when she assisted The Kennedys for their Nanci Griffith tribute evening last year in Birmingham, it was a debut occasion for a full solo show. She is a well-known artist on the UK folk and acoustic scene, mainly through her extensive gig endeavours with more than a little help from a sprinkling of angelic dust that coats every note extracted from her vocal chords. Of course throw in the side dish of being one of the most warm, friendly and affectionate performers to share their songs in public and a wrong of being aware of Edwina for over ten years without encountering the full live experience has been corrected. Her return to Birmingham was part of the Crescent Theatre’s Monday night music programme and the venue’s bar was packed with dedicated fans plus the odd newbie. The intimate ...

Almost twelve months since her appearance at the Maverick Festival, Canadian artist Sarah Jane Scouten has returned to have another crack at the UK market with a series of dates across the country. In the true tradition of roots performers from Canada proudly representing their country’s musical heritage overseas, Sarah Jane follows a lengthy line of distinguished artists and a superb performance at the Marr’s Bar venue in Worcester confirmed her status as a worthy ambassador. For just over an hour in this intimate location, Sarah Jane cut a solitary composed figure on stage armed only with a faultless acoustic guitar, fleeting fiddle and a voice drenched to the core with an iconic country sound. At this point it is worth commending the superior musicality that emanated from her unplugged guitar amplified only by a vintage mic ripening the overall sound. These crisp clear tones helped transport a number of tracks from her two albums to a live setting in enriched measures. Inspire...

There is certainly nothing like an appearance at the Glastonbury Festival to give Gretchen Peters an extra kick in her step. Two years ago she was still on a high after playing the prestigious event when rounding off her UK tour in Bromsgrove a day later. In 2015 it was another Midlands venue that hosted Gretchen, albeit this time on the eve of her festival appearance. The Assembly at Leamington Spa, with its excellent sonic environment, has been acknowledged by Gretchen as a particular favourite on the UK circuit to the extent that it was the scene of the infamous back stage Couch by Couch West video on their last visit. With the anticipation of the following day’s gig spurring the band and her on, Gretchen didn’t disappoint with an exemplary performance driven mainly by songs from her last two albums. With the effects of the recent highly successful Blackbirds UK tour barely worn off, Gretchen, Barry, Christine and Conor were once again reunited as a quartet to replicate the ma...

They say you shouldn’t judge a book (or album) by its cover. Yet if there is an image so symbolic to the content then the one adorning the sleeve of the new album by The Delta Bell heads all comers. The solitary pose of Kate Gerrard, the sparseness of a pale room and its sole possession of a turntable provide the perfect backdrop to a record that oozes with stripped back, unconditional organic class. BOW OUT OF THE FADING LIGHT is the debut release from Kate who adds mystique to the record with her implicit stage name and is set to project her wave of roots sensibility across the discerning ears of intelligent music followers. A magnetic and warming sound reverberates around all eleven self-penned tracks from Kate who has adeptly assembled a fine team of players to complement her homely vocals and soothing songs. Whether utilising the harmonious sound of the harmonium, the magical twang of pedal steel guitar or the more luxurious string offerings of violin and cello, each select...

Stevie Ray Latham has seemingly been around for a while now and first crossed these paths with a set at Palmfest in Brighton a couple of years ago. Well now Stevie can be heard more extensively away from his South Eastern base with the eventual release of his debut album and MODERN ATTITUDES exemplary replicates the promise that was on display during the initial acquaintance. One man, his guitar, harmonica and a fistful of songs is a trusted and well-worn formula but Stevie brings something different to the table as he successfully blends the slightly aged in a style that acts as a bridge to his peers. That immediate first impression when listening to Stevie straight away will relate to the giants of his genre and while the similarities are abound, this record has far more substance than just a mere tribute project. MODERN ATTITUDES evolves into a raw reach out to the soul of acoustic folk blues with perpetual strains of both rough and worn elegance. All eleven self-penned tra...

For a 66 year old iconic performer who has been professionally active for close to half a century, the album title STILL is an ironic timely reminder that there’s plenty of juice left in the string tank of Richard Thompson. Never a person to rest on his laurels, this much lauded artist has continued to push personal boundaries and for this latest project he has hooked up with pioneering alt-country musician Jeff Tweedy to deliver a record packed to the hilt with Richard Thompson traits. So expect an artisan at work stretching his finger picking muscles, a master lyricist outpouring his thoughts and a distinctive vocalist appealing to tuned-in ears. Perhaps in order of universal acclaim the first of these three traits probably exceeds the third and if you are relatively new to his talents, the guitar playing is advisably the first port of call. Having witnessed Richard play live a few times, it is impossible to feel anything but mightily impressed, whether the performance is acou...

They may reside a continent apart but Jonathan Byrd and Natalie Gelman are bound by the passion and love of song. In a venue built for the power of the beautifully sung word, both artists exhibited their inimitable styles to present an evening saturated in verse suitably fired up from the inspiration of urban and rural surroundings. This was an explicit outpouring of American folk music, engineered by the guitar and driven by the soul. The contrasting façade of each performer masked an inner desire to communicate, enthral and entertain via their gifted medium of music. Experience, enhanced profoundness and previous UK awareness enforced the seniority of Jonathan on the bill as he built on his impressive performance at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival a couple of years ago. 2015 is shaping up to be a year of major British incursion for Jonathan as this is the first of three visits including a return festival date at the end of August. He also has a new album out over here soon recorded w...

‘Henry, is this the end of the road’ bellowed the Bullingdon crowd on a song that has far from reached the scrapyard of its shelf life. Likewise, thirteen may be considered an unlucky number, but for that many minutes tonight, the ‘Colonel and the King’ fizzed, buzzed and echoed around this packed Oxford venue. Vintage Danny and the Champions of the World were certainly in fine fettle as the tour to promote the new record swung into action. Amazingly Danny seemingly failed to mention the new release, although its availability on the evening was a given and what better way to plug an album than sprinkle a majority of the tracks into this hour and a half extravaganza of home grown country, soul and roots music. Something old was evident as was something new. The only thing borrowed was a Dreaming Spire for one song, very appropriate for Oxford, and something blue will have to be left to the imagination. Pound for pound there is no finer live band in the UK than Danny and the Champion...

So now we know, STAY TRUE was only the tip of the iceberg as Danny and the Champions of the World unleash another barrage of country soul with emphasis being explicitly on the latter with a capital ‘S’. If Danny played his first hand in 2013 with the highly acclaimed above mentioned album, then the raise came from trumping records by Shinyribs, The Delines and Frazey Ford in 2014. However the South London fluid and extensive combo were certainly holding an ace up their sleeve and a renewed high has been set with the new album WHAT KIND OF LOVE. For that near optimum playing time of 41 minutes, the lavish splashing of steel, sax and strings spins into a sensational sound destined to get every muscle in your body at least manoeuvring a touch. Riddled with heavy brass, riveting riffs and Danny’s unmistakable yearning vocals, this record has stretched the recent Champs back catalogue and put the band on a highly explicit track. Maybe the natural audience for the record are more akin ...

Anchored this year on the apt date of Saturday 4th July, the Maverick Festival once again re-convenes at Easton Farm Park in Suffolk to present a delightful diet of homespun and overseas country, roots and Americana music. Over the course of the weekend, which fits concisely between a Friday teatime start and a Sunday lunchtime finish, a wealth of bands, duos and solo performers will descend on this idyllic rural setting to showcase a style of music rich in lyrical excellence, authentic in instrument utilisation and dedicated to a cause running deep through the passing of time. Long trips to this festival pre-date the life of the blog which has enthusiastically supported the event via both reviews and previews since 2012. As many of the artists appearing this year have featured several times over on the blog, it was decided to base this year's preview on re-living past articles which hopefully will go a long way to highlight what talent is on offer. In all, seventeen of this ye...

Call it a twin headed or double barrelled approach, the latest release by Alan Tyler is a timely reminder that folk n’ country is predominantly about the strength of the song. The split personality of this new album by the Rockingbirds frontman, under the banner of The ALAN TYLER SHOW, puts a very English slant on a genre born from rural surroundings, but having a distinctly urban presence on this record. In a nutshell, the playing time is shared equally between five original recordings and five timeless classics that will resonate with every genuine country fan. Amidst a period where 90’s cult alt-country rockers The Rockingbirds are in an interim stage between comeback albums, Alan has teamed up with Patrick Ralla (guitar, banjo) and Jim Morrison (fiddle, mandolin) to orchestrate a bunch of songs set to be the centre-piece of his summer tour dates. These songs possess a raw elegance initiated by a dry vocal delivery pouring an element of industrial soul especially on the origin...

The tag of Juno nominated artist let alone winning one in the Roots and Traditional category is a staple symbol for guaranteed high quality and Canadian band Good Lovelies securely match up to this broad statement. The industry success may have been half a decade ago, but, whether in the studio or perhaps their spiritual home on the road, the trio of Kerri Ough, Caroline Brooks and Sue Passmore never to fail to deliver in sublime proportion. The title of their new album BURN THE PLAN suggests a somewhat maverick approach to making music, but the delightful product on offer confirms the ladies are right on the mark with a record firmly in the exceptional camp. The four year wait between studio albums has hardly been a void for the band with countless tours, shows and an enterprising live record to keep fans happy. Maybe it was time to freshen up the songbook and the band have taken a further stride forward by digging a little deeper into their artistry to propel a revolving sound ...