Julian Taylor |
Since its inception around a decade ago, attending the AMAUK showcases had been rendered out of bounds. Working in education meant a 2-day midweek January trip to London was impractical. Eventually circumstances change and once the opportunity cropped up a chance to experience what others have been crowing about was seized. The first task as the event approaches is to whittle 60 artists down to a dozen. 12 is the maximum number of full sets you can see as the showcase is spread across 5 venues over 2 evenings. The bonus is the venues are very close to each other in Hackney, therefore widening the accessible choice from a pool of exceptional artists.
The purity of a showcase is a musician sharing the best they have to offer to new ears over a short period of time. With the AMAUK selecting many familiar names to seasoned observers of Americana music, sticking to the ideal of prioritising new names slims down the options. Luckily for me, acts of interest tended to be chunked together. However tinkering with a personal schedule is a constant as you chat with fellow attendees and get tips from showcase regulars.
My first lead came from reviewing a new Canadian artist prior to the festival. The music of Jade Turner was enjoyed to the extent her 30-minute showcase was not to be missed. Further good news was that she was part of a Canadian presentation with 5 other acts in the Moth Club. The only artist up for debate was Julian Taylor on the basis of knowing his music for a few years, seeing him at the Long Road Festival last year and being due to attend his Birmingham gig within the next week.
Jade Turner |
Choosing to spend the whole of Tuesday evening in the Moth Club proved a wise decision. Julian Taylor with a full band played a storming half hour set, which had the impact of one twice as long. It was gambled that Birmingham would be solo thus not replicating the effect. The showcase was a masterclass in wasting not a second of a short exposure. Crowd interaction from the off with a relentless pace throughout. Stirring stuff and hard to top across the event.
Jade Turner backed up the promise of listening intently to her upcoming album. The record has a big sound and it was interesting to hear how much could cross the pond in a limited format. Flanked by two guitarists paved the way and you felt the force of her powerhouse vocals within carefully crafted songs. Maybe the inclusion of pedal steel next time would provide the full country experience.
Elsewhere in the Moth Club, a quartet of unknown to me though highly experienced artists in their own sphere displayed the breadth and depth of Canadian roots music. Opening act The Once and closing duo Altameda both spoke of significant support slots when previously playing the UK. The former were a trio leaning in a folk direction and trading delectable harmonies for audience appreciation. The latter a stripped down duo for the evening with a strong alt-country feel to an appealing sound. You could easily imagine the force of their full band.
Ryland Moranz |
In the early phase of the evening, Ryland Moranz proudly from Lethbridge Alberta used a decent chunk of his slot to share some stories. While it opened up a debate, this is a core aspect of his act so why not showcase who you are. With a punk background and banjo in the armoury, this rootsy troubadour met a lot of the Americana ideals festival goers crave. The more polished Logan Richard from Prince Edward Island completed the line up and brought a keyboard player with him to add a extra sound dimension. Exquisite guitar playing was amongst his forte and you could see why he was an in-demand player with guest slots for Canadian royalty Bahamas.
At the half way point of my inaugural AMAUK Festival Showcase I was happy with the outcome after much deliberation. Although whoever you choose won’t disappoint as the standard is exceedingly high. To give an event oversight, the Tuesday and Wednesday night showcases are the middle of a four day celebration of Americana music in the UK with daytime industry conferences, a Monday night welcome party and Thursday evening awards ceremony.
An initial thought for Wednesday evening was to replicate the success of Tuesday and see the Canadian contingent in their entirety with six more acts of which only one I’d seen before. However to broaden the backdrop experience, a host of new names were sought elsewhere.
Luke LeBlanc |
In line with my selection criteria, the smaller Night Tales 2 was to be the base for the full sets with a quick hop to see some full band snippets during the changeover. This worked well. The bar stage hosted 4 artists I’d never seen before or knew very little about out. The other 2 had a varied history with me but fully worth adding to the schedule. The main stage was stacked with familiar UK based acts seen many times before and no doubt in the future especially in light of the Ramblin’ Roots line up announcement. So seeing 10-15 minute snippets of Robbie Cavanagh, Peter Bruntnell, Steady Habits, Hannah Lou and Trevor Moss plus the reforming Dreaming Spires proved the side dish for the serving. Main focus days for them lie ahead.
In contrast to the Canadian theme for the previous evening, 5 touring American artists formed the bulk of the Wednesday menu. Overseas artists are in the minority for the showcases, likely due to the time of year but also the festival is a celebration of what us Brits can churn out in this Stateside influenced genre.
James Hodder |
Opening the night was ex-Old Crow Medicine Show member Willie Watson who Is now a long standing touring solo artist. I came close to seeing him play a cramped room in the Salutation Hotel at the 2015 Southern Fried Festival in Scotland. That proved an impossible task and it was more comfortable and practical seeing his old time influenced folk and roots style in Hackney. His name is well known in these circles and an enthusiastic gathering cheered along to an authentic set of southern roots music with a little bit of Swedish folk thrown in.
Following Willie Watson was probably my find of AMAUK 2025. The music of Luke LeBlanc was virtually unknown to me bar the odd track and a faintly recalled radio session. Half an hour of him and his bass playing sidekick altered the perspective with an urge to delve a lot deeper when back home. This Minnesota-based singer-songwriter in the true folk-Americana tradition commandeered all the bases making this music tick for me: distinctive voice, affable and humble persona, and strongly resonating songs. The purpose of a showcase was fully felt.
Daniel Kimbro and Chris Acker were different artists leaving similar impressions. Both had a slightly quirky delivery style and shared songs of an alternative nature. The name Kimbro was associated with the Transatlantic Sessions and part of the Harley, Kimbro, Lewis trio. He is better known as a bassist but this venture into conventional singer songwriting with a southern twist proved a hit. Acker was entirely unknown and it was fitting that such an artist brought the curtain down on my first foray into January Hackney. Hailing from Louisiana and a touch miffed by missing that state’s once in a generation snowfall, sincerity and humour juxtaposed in a fast paced delivery style that grew with confidence across a rare occurrence of a set allowed to extend a meagre 5 minutes past the half hour. It was a rigidly adhered to festival.
Beth Bombara |
The final pair of acts to win my attention were both previously known. It had been seven years since Beth Bombara visited our shores to play some shows with Jaimee Wyatt. Her performance at Tingewick Village Hall is etched in the memory bank. In the intervening years her career has been tracked from afar and it was good to see her play live again albeit solo. A key take from her set was how she immersed herself into the music and an ability to transmit an emotive intensity into a listener friendly trait. Connectivity is innate and a wonderful ingredient of meaningful music.
Close to home is James Hodder who had the honour of being the sole Brit to make my final dozen. Mind you the music he makes from Bromley is akin to that of the 6 Canadians and 5 Americans to whom he admirably shared my time with. Since discovering his music rather than just an online name, the fortitude and elegance of his songs is a treat to the ears.I would love him to expand his live presence around the UK but alas my Midlands influence hasn’t quite yielded enough impact. I will persevere.
So that’s the wrap on my first AMAUK showcase. A much better January experience than a class full of students. The lure of a matinee performance of Hadestown in the West End and the 7:40 Avanti service back to Birmingham meant no Thursday awards ceremony this year. Will there be a repeat visit? I hope so as long as the sterling work of the organisers continues to enable future stagings.