Three Chords and the Truth UK

www.merryhell.co.uk From the cotton mills of Wigan to the glassworks of Stourbridge, Merry Hell cherish a distinguished English heritage wrapped in a progressive blanket of unity, while expunging differences at every opportune moment. Blending a fiery fervour with wry humour, this seven-piece band deliver an amenable basket of relatable folk-rock inviting people of all persuasions to join the affray. The key to the appeal is that no previous experience is required to bask in their crafted humility. Accessible lyrics are heartily sung from the floor with minimal instruction and being part of a crusade for justice is an immediate fix. All was in place as they closed a gig year in several quarters with a debut Stourbridge performance that raised the roof of Katie Fitzgerald's cellar venue. For many years my hometown of Stourbridge has been been the departing point for a gig journey, but far too infrequently the destination. Shows that pierce the core of a musical odyssey crop up from ...

www.mydarlingclementinemusic.co.uk 'Tis the season for indulgence, so why not slap on plenty of the self variety as another gig year winds down. In some guise or another, the work of Michael Weston King and My Darling Clementine has featured on these pages consistently for twelve years. In other words the entire existence of this blog. If December 10th is leaving it late for 2023, it was December 22nd in 2019. Now that night was one for the personal memory bank as it was tagged with the epitaph 'our race is run'. Borrowing a My Darling Clementine song title was a little presumptuous as six moths after closing the blog it was magically resuscitated into what has become a supercharged extended second life. What else were you supposed to do in the midst of a global pandemic with loads of good music lapping up onto your shore and plenty of time at hand.  Let's continue this self indulgent run before turning to the Kitchen Garden Cafe 2023. A quick scan over the blog's h...

  www.thefurrowcollective.co.uk Cosy, warm and affectionate. A simplistic take on listening to live music, then sometimes the basics just hit the spot. Of course, there are a multiple layers to The Furrow Collectives's approach drawing on a sophisticated skill base that emanates in an ease of style and craft. Three was the optimum number soothing the path as the Collective slimmed down to a trio while honing the triple effect of sing, song and sound. This third folk presentation by the MAC in little over a month raised the bar in terms of contextual appeal as The Furrow Collective showed why they are one of their genre's most durable 'part-time' collaborations.  Emily Portman, Alasdair Roberts and Lucy Farrell took the helm this evening. The cello and assorted presence of the maternity-occupied Rachel Newton was confined to the imagination on an evening where what was on offer erased a void. The combined talents of this Anglo-Scottish ensemble explored a theme, shared p...

  www.showofhands.co.uk England's South-West may well be their roots, but the world has been the oyster for Show of Hands in the aftermath of emerging around thirty years ago. The cupboard has barely enough room for any more superlatives describing the lengthy stint of Steve Knightly and Phil Beer for the entirety and the dynamic addition of Miranda Sykes since 2004. Now the inevitable time is deemed right to wrap things up and gift fans a considerable compilation of what's been cooking over the last fifteen years. The reason for the halved timespan forming this compilation is that ROOTS 1 appeared in 2007 and what simpler title for its follow up focusing on the intervening period than ROOTS 2. Whatever the trio do in the future, whether solo or some sort of veiled reunion, the current phase is set to be closed with twin tours and this comprehensive addition to a rich and varied back catalogue.  Any dip into the British folk scene in recent times (and further back) will have r...

  www.aftonwolfe.com THE HARVEST is the latest record from Nashville roots artist Anton Wolfe and is straight out of the 'keep it in the family' playbook. The unique status of this 7-track effort is that all are compositions by Wolfe's father-in-law LJ Halliburton, who appears to be a prolific but largely undiscovered songwriter. It's probably appropriate to call this record a project such is the route of progression and is Wolfe's second record of the year on the back of a 5-track EP released in February.  The standout song from this short sample of both artist's work is the melody driven ' Mississippi' that comes across wonderfully as a galactic collide of 60s lush pop and rough blues. Not your usual bedfellows but it works in this context. The feel of this lauded 3 minutes is in contrast to the understated closer ' Here to Stay ' that appears rinsed in melancholy and is one for a pensive moment. This sound is not reflective of the record as e...

www.hannahaldridge.com The story of Hannah Aldridge's overseas venture is approaching a decade old and continues to turn out blockbusting chapters. Periods of lull often simmer and set the scene before an eruption blasts the dynamics shedding new light on an artist. Solo is the de facto format when touring, frequently filtering into duo mode when opportunities rise. Collaboration, whether with homegrown musicians or fellow touring acts, is rife, all wrapping each show in its own individual blanket. You often sense the yearn to share the band format, especially with rock credentials, is always lurking. A few years ago, shows with Swedish outfit Jetbone briefly surfaced in the UK to turn the live agenda on its head. Promises were made of another foray into the band zone and fans have been stunningly blessed with a 2023 version of Hannah Aldridge submerging her stage aura in the heady waters of frontperson. There appears two catalysts for the current touring phase. Firstly, an escalat...

  www.frankiearchermusic.com Never underestimate how music can adapt and enrich perceptions. Nor ever undervalue the art of delivery. Preserving the past by moulding it for the future requires an innovative approach to breakthrough. When that natural ability exists in your artistic DNA, the ground is set for the hard yards to reap the just desserts. North-East based musician, vocalist and folk archivist Frankie Archer is at the outset of an exciting solo journey. An ability to lock in a new audience from the off is a useful trait when starting out and this compounds when the effect lingers long after the last plug has been pulled out. The term 'plug' is more relevant here than most folk acts plying their trade as samplers and synths join fiddle and vocals to embrace the art of traditional song, while propelling it into the future.  It is unsurprising that venues hosting this inaugural tour take an eclectic approach to their bookings and are unafraid of re-aligning the folk mus...

  www.jareddustingriffin.com Jared Dustin Griffin is a Portland-based artist bursting at the seams with songs to share. Rather than drench new listeners with a style that needs some adjusting to, the chosen few for this debut album is a neatly packaged ten track selection requesting a brief half hour initial attention . BATTLE CRY MERCY rattles with emotion in the title and seeps through in a sound bristling with Americana vibes. The unwrapping of Griffin's vocals sees erudite ears seeking similarities. A cross between Otis Gibbs and Ryan Bingham is a starting point where through the haze of gruffness simmering songs decorated in pleasing instrumentation emerge.  The album kicks off with ' My Name is Cannonball' ,  a strong folk-like character song announcing the arrival of a distinctive sound. Now in the throes of being accustomed with the vocal tone, the rounder sounding ' Bleed You Away ' ignites a greater uplifting appeal that belies some of the deeper issues. F...

  The phenomena that is Billy Strings rode into Birmingham for the last date of his latest European venture. There is a lot more to come from this prodigious talent, so expect him to grace some pretty big events this side of the pond as he courts parts few of his contemporaries can reach. All the ingredients are in place for a seismic show. Authenticity drips out of this premium picker, whether flaying the frets or exposing a deep rural drawl. Lining up your band with top exponents of mandolin, stand up bass, banjo and fiddle is a bluegrass dream. Allowing each one to systematically own their space is a credit to adept band leadership. If you love the sound of these four instruments plus virtuoso lead guitar, then absorbing a Billy Strings show is a heaven sent opportunity to bring your musical desires to life. Therein lies the big but. It doesn't take long in a Billy Strings show for the newly fangled terms 'psyche grass' and 'blue jazz' to take hold. You sense som...

  www.jimmitchellmusic.com REPEAT OFFENDER by Mid-Atlantic country rocker Jim Mitchell is an album right on the mark meeting a range of listeners on shared terms. It varies in style balancing on a narrow beam while relatively straightforward to define. The back story to this artist in published bios is rich adding spice and an outlaw mystique when tuning in. The vocals are lived in and the overarching sensation is a road tested approach to making music with a sense of purpose and vibrancy.  Ten tracks quantify the record with an added nuance of the styles rolling out in a near-cyclical sequence.  We start off with a couple of robust straight up rockers occasionally described as the heartland fraternity. First to grace your ears is the brash anthem ' Why You Rockin' On Me' , a beaut at the heart of promoting the record with its crafted video presence. The landscape created sits perfectly for follow on number ' Running the Gauntlet' before a subtle shift begins.  Ove...

It was a late arrival to the year's album stack and straight out of left field. For those used to Paul Lush playing his trademark lead guitar in numerous collaborations (most notably in Danny and the Champions of the World), a little re-adjustment is needed as right up front is the place he frequents for this debut solo release in name. From a usual position of not participating in any vocal role, this London-based Aussie sings lead, plays lead and is the architect of a dozen carefully curated absorbing songs. SIX WAYS FROM SUNDAY toys, teases and invites before capturing the inquisitive and astute ear.  As you would expect from a record with Paul Lush at the centre, guitar instrumental interludes are rife with plenty of pedal steel found courtesy of fellow Champion of the World player Henry Senior. Also enhancing the familiar profile is a certain Danny George Wilson, this time faintly heard on backing vocals leaving his long term collaborator to own the show. There are plenty of r...

  www.sunnysweeney.com You sense a full circle turning with Texas country singer Sunny Sweeney re-focussing her touring horizon on the UK. It was at the back end of this century's first decade when small venues around the country last greeted an artist winning new admirers with a debut album smart at giving a traditional sound a modern uplift. Although some may view HEARTBREAKER'S HALL OF FAME as Sweeney's finest body of work to date, its independent status proved a springboard to wider acclaim outside her own state. Now with a further four studio albums in the bank and established as one of Texas' finest modern purveyors of country music, attention has turned to giving an overseas fanbase what they crave - live shows. On the back of a successful comeback slot at 2022's Long Road Festival, an association with an active booking agent has secured a decent number of UK gigs including a Birmingham debut at the Kitchen Garden.  Demand was high for this small venue show. ...

  www.campbelljensenmusic.com Any perceptive imbalance of audience awareness gets swept away in the presence of a duo creating a significant spark. The first sign sending many in the direction of Campbell / Jensen is Ashley Campbell, a musician adept at preserving family heritage, while cutting an independent path. Twists and turns have been played out as much in the UK music scene as back home in the States with a firm foothold being sought especially since 2015 when high profile individual appearances emanated. The current situ sees two become one as the partnership with fellow American musician Thor Jensen taps into an artistry bent on blending innate and evolving talent.  Hot on the heels of releasing their debut record, Campbell / Jensen traded the palatial surroundings of Birmingham Town Hall for the quaint intimacy of the Kitchen Garden. Opening for the iconic Jimmy Webb in 2022 is one thing, baring the raw bones of your musical panache to fifty pairs of attentive ears ...

  www.boohewardine.com www.heiditalbot.com A few take aways from this show, the second of three folk-tinged presentations at the MAC this side of Christmas (Martin Carthy appeared last week and the Furrow Collective play in December). Boo Hewardine and Heidi Talbot are well established and accomplished performers with the scope for further advancement and appreciation. The MAC continues to offer a flicker of hope that it can break out to be a more prominent music venue with subtle adaptions. Perhaps the best gigs are where a defined narrative is attached to the performance. Both artists have tended to be names on pages rather than artists on the personal listening agenda for many years. Therefore two familiar acts appearing on a single shared bill was the perfect opportunity to add some context to the latter omission. Throughout their time on stage, a gifted and crafted aura wholly capable of owning the song journey shone through. The stage was shared for the entirety with a tested...

  www.thedeadlywinters.com The Deadly Winters are an Edinburgh-based band comfortable whether veering in a folk or rock direction. Like many bands they are trying to make sense of what has happened the last few years and have found the perfect tonic in the release of a new record. A six-track effort is the elected mode to get back on the recording cycle and EVER ONWARDS is a fine addition to three other releases that have kept the band active over the last decade. Two songs that stand out after perpetual plays are a value added re-working of a folk standard and a rousing closer bringing strands of all the band's derived sounds together. The deep folk dive is putting a stamp on the much recorded traditional song ' The Cuckoo' . While the structure remains intact, the version here ups the pace with fiddle driving the beat. Varying verdicts will always head the way of this song and The Deadly Winters will  proudly stand by theirs. ' Fully Grown' closes the record and m...

  www.leegallaghermusic.com Lee Gallagher is a Mid-West raised - Nashville-based musician heavily influenced by the West Coast appeal of his musical schooling. This was noted in the title of a previous release which the once San Francisco resident chose to name L.A. YESTERYEAR. That album rose to prominence in 2020 and its successor builds on the traction with a carefully curated rock sound breathing a rousing beat and subtly constructed moments. THE FALCON ATE THE FLOWER possesses energy, polished brashness and nuanced inclusions that shine a light on the varying dimensions of a musician's artistry. Ten tracks power the effect of this third release with the extended Hallelujah band and its components combining to reveal a solid scope of modern rock in an Americana veil.  Opening track ' Planes ' kicks into gear packing a sense of wizardry in motion. ' Peregrine Fly' follows adding substance to the album title from initial thought before drifting over as one of the...

  THE ROBIN'S CALL is the debut album from Irish folk balladeer Wayne Brereton. The release consists of seven personally sourced songs from an Irish, Scottish and Australian background and has succeeded amongst turbulent times. The backstory of multiple health issues, additional impact of the pandemic and a lifelong passion for such a pursuit to come to fruition adds an extra dimension to fully support the blooming impact of absorbing a sensitive and endearing take on compositions cherished with care.  A sensitive and polished fervour to the vocals breathes fresh life into songs seasoned and no doubt well road tested. The versions here make an impact given sufficient space and will prove a good fit if you fancy a quick dip into a Celtic pool. There is a vibrancy to the instrumental offering putting a modern day mark on timeless music. A refreshing listen for a diverse palate with an artist creating a little place in a busy landscape to make a mark.  The Robin's Call ...