Music / Previews
Americana, Blues & Country Picks: Jun 2016
After a jam packed month of gigs in April, May was a little less hectic; highlights included the Long Ryders burning down the stage at the Fleece and a superbly understated but passionate performance from Mandolin Orange at the Tunnels. Festival season is upon us but there’s still plenty of action in town with both national and international touring bands as well as our own local talent, and if you’re limited with your nights out then please consider supporting our local outfits. Then again if you’re flush with your nights out, get to the local bands too. Much to enjoy in June then – see you down the front (Download hangover permitting).
Colston Hall: Thursday, 02 Jun
is needed now More than ever
In truth an awful lot of tourists to the blues world associate the form with male guitar players and are really only aware of the famous white players, so depending on the age of the person concerned their idea of a blues guitar player will be Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan or Joe Bonamassa. That does a disservice to some fine female players and a disservice to the history of the blues as there’s always been a strong female contingent within the genre. To name a couple or three that instantly spring to mind: Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and not forgetting Bo Diddley’s excellent band members Norma-Jean Wofford (The Duchess) and Peggy Jones (Lady Bo). If you’ve got five minutes expand your horizons here. Foremost amongst the post-rock n roll generation of players is Bonne Raitt who makes a long overdue visit to Bristol to kick the month off in classy style. Raitt has sold records by the container load, picked up ten Grammies and produced some fantastic blues / country / soul sides so it will be a real treat to see her on stage at the Colston. Support comes from Mark Cohn, a fine songwriter and singer but not the most prolific of recording artists, nonetheless he’s a Grammy winner and most people will know him from Walking in Memphis, infamously murdered by Cher (er, surely covered – editor). If you’ve missed out on a ticket then alas you’re gonna miss a treat as it’s sold out. Meanwhile if you’re wondering where the next generation of ladies with the blues are…check out the further ahead picks below for some stellar talent heading our way.
Thunderbolt: Friday 03 Jun
Bristol’s lairiest country rock band headline a superbly tasty four band bill at the Thunderbolt. You’ve got no excuse for missing this one if you’re a fan of good music, and more importantly grab a ticket because it’s the right thing to do to support local talent playing small local venues. Up first are Red Ray (we’ll forgive ‘em for claiming to be based in Bristol based “…but Newcastle really”) and suggest you get there early to see their duo set. Last seen supporting Yola Carter at the this very venue Newton Country are an exciting new act out of Lower Bristol (ok…Bath then); they play refreshingly stripped back country with some terrific rock n roll Telecaster on top. Catch ‘em now as they’ve already been spotted by national radio and are set to be performing live on that Dermot O’Leary programme. Frankie Spain & the Inquisition Position are a great fit with the headliners – their bluesy rock n roll will get yer feet tapping nicely and it’s good to hear a band pushing the genre beyond its clichés and limitations (listen here). As for the guys at the top of the bill, well… in your face guitar sweetened with sublime three part harmony vox and a kick arse rhythm section playing exceedingly strong material from their debut Alligator Joyride. You will struggle to find a better live rock n roll band. To reemphasis the point – four bloody good bands for a fiver at a cracking venue.
Fleece: Sunday, 05 Jun
Based in that London this twelve strong collective describe themselves as “Bourbon soaked gypsy blues bop & stroll” but that ain’t the half of it. They’re the soundtrack to a Sergio Leone drug revenge film noir neo-western set in a speakeasy underneath a bordello in a steampunk London written by a collection of idiot savants after a four day absinthe binge. Starring the Marx Brothers. Taking all that’s greasy sleazy and right about rock n roll, blues, country and folk (with some Oompah and Mariachi thrown in for good measure) and then topping it off with the best punk-noir lyrics since Shane McGowan in his prime, this band are rather unique. Furthermore they promise a show just this side of bedlam. If that isn’t enough to drag your sorry arse away from the Antique Roadshow then check the support – double trouble with the Wigan Jimi Hendrix and the Long Tall V (aka John Fairhurst and John E Vistic), two acts that should need no introduction if you’re a fan of incendiary guitar playing and no compromise, no bullshit rock n roll. Incidentally word on the street is the two Johns will be acoustic, apparently if they were both to go electric the resulting guitarmageddon would level most of BS1.
Tunnels: Thursday, 16 Jun
This lot are a five piece outfit from New Orleans and play a delightful mash up of jazz, country and blues with a splash of that undefinable New Orleans fonk. Five songwriters means a nice broad palette of sounds and their harmonies are absolutely spot on. Their piano led tunes manage to sound both ancient and contemporary at the same time, but then that’s no wonder given the music that’s emanated from New Orleans (arguably the cradle of rock n roll) and has fed in to their gumbo. Support comes from Twain offering some hushed and nuanced folky Americana: have a listen here as if you try using Google (note: other tax dodging search engine providers are available) you may end up with yards of Shania Twain and Mark Twain links – and who would ever consider those two as kindred spirits.
Golden Lion: Thursday, 16 Jun
There’s no finer thing than seeing a triple bill of quality acts lined up at the Lion but then there’s nothing worse than sussing out it creates a gig clash with another good night (see above). As well as the sultry bluesy sounds of Hannah Aldridge (two words: Muscle Shoals. Nuff said) we have Lilly Hiatt and The Flyin A’s. The former plays a different kind of Americana exemplified by current recording Royal Blood, which features synths (yikes), punky guitars n attitude and some rockin delivered with pop nous. Yeah, her dad is John H. The latter are a rootsier proposition, a duo (and occasional five piece band) out of Texas who deliver their own take on country, with some blues grit, a touch of jazz; led by the soul inflected voice of Hilary Claire Adamson and fleshed out with some belligerent guitar from Stuart Adamsom. So that’s a grand night out that exemplifies how broad a church Americana can be…if you’ve a broad enquiring mind.
Kingsdown Wine Vaults: Friday, 17 Jun
Regular readers will know the Rosellys are an exceedingly well travelled and hardworking band; they’re still ploughing through UK dates, have international dates yet to come and are also playing some rather tidy European festivals but are still finding time to play regularly here at home. This gig will be a blinder as there will be a special guest appearance from a mysterious band from across the pond, although sworn to secrecy B247 recommends you catch the show.
Trinity: Thursday, 23 Jun
Anyone who was at Dot-to-Dot and managed to catch St Paul then will know that this gig is gonna be a barnstormer. The band play soul with total commitment, passion and enough groove to convince even the most lead footed rhythm free dancing buffoon that they can dance like a star (that’ll be me then). The music is pure gutbucket southern soul – raw, clipped and played with both passion & verve and all topped off by the immaculate voice of Paul Janeway; man can that cat wail. If you’ve ever salivated over the old black and white footage of the Stax Revues and wished you had a TARDIS, then forget that, get down to the Trinity and experience something very special.
Tunnels: Friday, 24 Jun
The band’s own website describes them as “Psychedelic voodoo rock from Nashville, Tennessee” whilst a well know free online encyclopaedia describes them as “Bourbon-Fuelled Bayou-Rock”; thus qualifying the band as a perfect pick for us. The new LP Bones has a raw, spooked, stripped down sound that not only references some of the classic blues rock bands of the seventies but is delivered with a punchy, contemporary sound. The White Stripes are (allegedly) no more and you won’t be catching the Black Keys anywhere smaller than an enormodrone now, so here’s the chance to hear something just as fresh and exciting as those two bands in their prime.
Louisiana: Sunday, 26 Jun
Buck and Evans play an irresistibly heavy & heady mix of blues and soul, hefty enough that they have a spot at Download and irresistible enough that they are selling out gigs left, right and centre and have been lauded by both Classic Rock and Radio 2. Sally Ann Evans has a terrific voice, powerful and emotive, and is matched by Chris Buck’s classic blues rock guitar (i.e. chunky in-yer-face riffs and lyrical solos). They write decent tunes too, catchy enough to crossover without compromising their integrity. This is a great opportunity to get your ears pinned back in an intimate setting but grab a ticket now as they will sell fast.
Further Ahead
If you’ve a need to plan further ahead (highly recommended to avoid crying in to your beer when gigs sell out) then here’s a glance ahead at the Beards, Blues & Twang heading our way over the next few months:
Joe Bonamassa, Colston Hall: Tuesday, 05 Jul
The Henhouse Prowlers, Tunnels: Tuesday, 05 Jul
Americana Festival, Colston Hall: Friday, 15 Jul
Lisa Mann, Tunnels: Sunday, 17 Jul
Eve Selis, Tunnels: Tuesday, 19 Jul
The Rosellys, Golden Lion: Saturday, 23 Jul
Federal Charm, Louisiana: Thursday, 07 Jul
Bob Wayne + The Montgomerys, Louisiana: Tuesday, 26 Jul
Aynsley Lister, Tunnels: Friday, 05 Aug
Jayhawks, Lantern: Saturday, 03 Sep
Sari Schorr, Tunnels: Wednesday, 14 Sep
Kirk Fletcher, Tunnels: Sunday, 25 Sep
Freakwater, Tunnels: Sunday, 09 Oct
Joanne Shaw-Taylor, Fleece: Sunday, 16 Oct
Sara Watkins, Tunnels: Tuesday, 08 Nov
Laurence Jones, Tunnels: Sunday, 13 Nov
Beth Hart, Colston Hall: Thursday, 17 Nov
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Colston Hall: Saturday, 19 Nov
Gangstagrass, Thekla: Friday, 25 Nov
Chantel McGregor, Tunnels: Friday, 02 Dec
Alabama 3, Academy: Thursday, 08 Dec
Urban Voodoo Machine image Sin Bozkurt
Bonnie Raitt image Marina Chavez
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