Three Chords and the Truth UK

“No smiling during this song” expressed Natalie. However there was a slight grin detected during the line ‘I kinda like it’ as the defiant Dixie Chicks anthem ‘ Not Ready to Make Nice’ reverberated around the Birmingham NIA (even the ticket hasn’t quite let go of the original name). This defining track of the Dixie Chicks transitional period had its rightful place at the start of the encore. It signalled the end was approaching on the first date of the first proper UK tour in thirteen years and the packed arena was left in little doubt that this was Dixie Chicks circa 2016. The most important aspect had to be that the girls were back in full pomp and glory, splashing out on a lavish show and filling the air with a deluge of much loved songs. Half hour into the show, you couldn’t help but feel that you were witnessing the unfinished business from 2006’s Accidents and Accusations Tour. While that set of dates did visit London for the ‘return to the scene of the crime’, the anticipate...

There seems to be two constants at a Hayes Carll gig: ‘ Beaumont ’ is the opening song and nobody leaves the venue disappointed. Maybe the sample of witnessing four shows over eight years is a touch small, but who cares now that Hayes has his compass set in the direction of the UK once again. Having dipped his toe into our cooler climate last year after a lengthy break, the promised quick return has materialised with a significant step up in presentation and impact. The major upgrade from last year was the introduction of pedal steel, and the dual skills of Geoff Queen injected unbelievable vibrancy into the amazing depth of Hayes’ songs. The new album may be shedding an introspective and mellow light on his current recording status, but for an hour and half tonight on show was the full breadth of what makes Hayes Carll such an exceptional artist on the contemporary Americana circuit. The trio on stage for this year’s run of dates was heralded as the Gulf Coast Orchestra with per...

It didn’t take too long into this show for the peerless harmonies and enticing melodies of Fred’s House to take a grip. The five piece outfit from Cambridge are in the throes of playing a raft of dates around the country in support of their upcoming new album and there is ample evidence that the record will serve the band well in the near future. What Fred’s House do extremely well is lift the underlying quality of their recorded material and ensure a live audience unconditionally enjoys the best parts in the purest form. Cookley Village Hall in Worcestershire has put on many good folk and roots gigs over the last couple of years with this evening’s show matching up well with the best. Fred’s House veer more towards the rock side of the folk genre and showed an acute understanding of how to balance the sound within the confines of an individual venue. Without the input of electric lead guitar, the frontier sound of Fred’s House was driven by the keyboards. Drums, electric bass a...

Josh Harty In these challenging times for both public libraries and grass roots singer-songwriters, the answer may lie in closer collaboration. Although the sound level barrier will need to be torn down, the longer you think about it, the greater the synergy reveals itself in the multi-facetted world of the written word. This association was taken to its literal conclusion as a venue was sought for Josh Harty’s return to the Birmingham area. So step in Thimblemill Library, a community focussed organisation located in an art deco building and steeped in adopting an innovative approach to securing alternative streams of funding. The result was a partially surreal but wholly captivating night of acoustic music decorated by a backdrop of the science, religion and crime fiction sections. While a modest cover charge may have contributed to a healthy turnout, it is still a feat to attract folks on a Saturday night with all the inside and counter attractions of an urban environment on...

"Pitched somewhere between the folk-blues of Karen Dalton and the epic soundscapes and storytelling of Joanna Newsom. The Other Sun is a stunning piece of work." Further info on Ellie Ford www.hatfulofrain.co.uk Get a copy of the new EP “Climb the air” is an EP of traditional material recorded by Hatful of Rain in late 2015.The songs included here started as material played at live shows amongst original ‘Hatful‘ compositions. The idea for the EP came from a desire to demonstrate how the band’s musicianship and song-writing has been influenced and inspired by folk music coming from the British Isles, crossing the Atlantic and back again." www.facebook.com/demimarrinermusic Order the EP

You know the night is turning into a good one when the first act ends with a Tim Buckley song and the main artist opens with one from the Warren Zevon catalogue. Not that this was an evening of cover songs, although the work of Bruce Springsteen and Tim O’Brien was also celebrated before the final curtain came down. This show was entirely owned by the highly accomplished duo Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman ably supported by a bright new folk starlet in Kitty MacFarlane. Across what were effectively three sets both acts excelled in the power of song, whether interpreting the traditional, covering the influential or primarily sharing the fruits of their song writing output. Good things were heard about Kitty MacFarlane prior to the announcement that she was going to open for Kathryn and Sean on this extensive tour. With a debut recording safely in a saleable format and literally minutes from hearing one of her tracks played on the BBC Radio Two Folk Show for the first time, Kitty w...

Don’t bother looking in the diaries for this double bill show as it only existed in the world of two people. Due to the close proximity of the Kitchen Garden Café and the Hare and Hounds, it was always on the cards that the venues would be combined one evening and the opportunity finally presented itself. The main feature of the night was Treetop Flyers returning to Birmingham to promote their new album and it was initially unfortunate that this clashed with Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards playing the city on the same evening. However a touch of good fortune appeared when it was announced that Treetop Flyers would hit the Hare and Hounds stage at 9:45 and Laura’s first fifty minute set would end around 9:30. Hence a super gig evolved out of two venues barely twenty yards apart. First of all apologies to Laura and her musical companions for not returning to see their second set after the break. However enough was seen in the first half to give the four piece band, assembled from...

The Black Feathers  It was a case of similarities and differences with the dual line up presented at the Tower of Song in Birmingham this evening. Both artists appeared in the duo format and set about demonstrating why they are accumulating acclaim in the UK indie Americana sector. The promotion gave The Rosellys and The Black Feathers roughly equal stage time with the latter awarded the prestigious headline slot, although the evening had a double bill feel to it. The contrasts began with The Rosellys informing folks that this was in effect the launch date for a set of forthcoming gigs, while The Black Feathers announced that this return to Birmingham was effectively the final date of their album launch tour, with an upcoming American trip soon on the horizon for this Gloucestershire based couple. Musically each artist arrives on the Americana spectrum from a different perspective. The Black Feathers is heavily influenced by a folk style delivery, sprinkling a stripped back ...

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It was another case of ‘Boulder to Birmingham’ at the Kitchen Garden Café this evening, albeit there was no sight or sound of the Emmylou Harris classic. What we did have on offer was a highly talented quintet of musicians, once again leaving their hometown in Colorado, and on this UK tour paying a visit to the Second City suburb of Kings Heath. The Railsplitters are the latest in a long line of old time string bands to grace this venue and the evidence on show suggested that they are up there with the best. Throughout this twin set show, the band was rarely shy on attempting to re-define the scope for the type of music they love with sporadic references to pop grass, new grass, Colorado green grass and occasionally offering defiance to the bluegrass police. Putting sub-genre subtleties aside for a moment, the chosen gathering at the Kitchen Garden Café was ultimately privileged to listen to a procession of super sumptuous sounds from the full range of fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin ...

Four artists appear in the first Friday Freedom Feature, designed to share some music that may need a helping hand in reaching out to more folks. There is an even split between the four artists with two homegrown and two from the US. Leading the way from across the pond is the new album by Josh Harty. Holding On is an excellent release and Josh is currently on tour in the UK, following up the live dates he played with Kelley McCrae last year. Full tour dates for Josh are listed below. A new name to me is Katey Laurel, who recently made contact following the review of the Ashley Riley album. Katey has some sample tracks available from Noise Trade and the link to these can also be found below. Well worth checking out. First up representing the UK this week is the singer-songwriter from Norfolk Lisa Redford. Lisa is fairly well known on the country, roots and Americana circuit and has just released a four track EP of songs worth adding to your collection. Last but by no means least wi...

When you use the term ‘maverick’ in your festival title, the challenge is to continually update what you have to offer and seek which barriers are there for stretching. Of course this hasn’t been too difficult for the first eight years of the Maverick Festival and the ninth annual gathering of roots music fans in the Suffolk countryside over the first weekend in July is set to be no different. In the wake of several strategic leaks during the course of March culminating in an official press launch on the day before Easter, the picture is now becoming clearer on what to expect if you venture down to Easton Farm Park for the mixture of great ambience, marvellous music, fine food and drink,  and historically – good weather!.   Paul & Jamie from Los Pacamonos The beautiful rustic location is a draw for committed and casual fans alike, along with the laid back feel, ease of access within the site and a guarantee that all attendees will be catered for from kids to th...