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Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets - London Palladium 24/09/2024 (Live Review)

September 28, 2024 by David Vousden in Alt-Country, Americana, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

Nick Lowe seemed genuinely surprised that so many folks had come out on a Tuesday night for the first show of his UK tour at the London Palladium. It was standing room only at the 2200+ capacity venue. This says much about the high esteem in which Nick Lowe is held as an artist and songwriter. From his early days in Brinsley Schwartz and late 70s solo chart success, Rockpile with Dave Edmunds and on through the critically acclaimed Brentford Trilogy of albums to his latest work with Los Straightjackets, Lowe has been a mainstay of British music for fifty years. Lowe is also well known for his production work in the 80s with the Stiff record label that included ‘New Rose’ for The Damned and a run of classic albums for Elvis Costello. I’m pleased to report that, even at 75, Lowe shows no signs of slowing down, and he looks to be enjoying keeping things fresh with Los Straitjackets.

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September 28, 2024 /David Vousden
Nick Lowe, Andy Fairweather Lowe, Los Straitjackets
Alt-Country, Americana, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment

Tara MacLean + Edwina Hayes – Camden Club, London 30/05/2023

June 28, 2023 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

There’s something about the Camden area of London that has defiantly resisted gentrification and the seemingly inevitable advance of big corporate names. You’ll see the odd famous name coffee shop, but generally, the corporate giants feel like temporary intruders just passing through. The short walk from Camden station, over the canal and up to Chalk Farm for this evening’s entertainment feels bohemian and otherworldly. The area is home to the outsider and those rooted in the arts, with a hint of danger, amongst other things, hanging in the early evening air as you walk past the various chancers, reprobates and not one, but two charity organisations trying to make a difference by offering hot meals from temporary street stalls. For an artist such as Tara MacLean, who had an unconventional (to put it mildly) upbringing in the wilds of Canada fraught with danger and uncertainty - that would most certainly be considered outside the norm - it seems strangely fitting that she should find herself telling stories and singing songs in the Camden Club, an intimate venue with a blink you will miss it, black entrance staircase leading to a large door, complete with a ridiculously oversized door handle, that looks like it should have its own portcullis and a moat.

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June 28, 2023 /David Vousden
Tara MacLean, Edwina Hayes
Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment

The Milk Carton Kids + Jesca Hoop - Union Chapel 20/05/23

May 27, 2023 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

As the audience settle themselves among the pews in the Union Chapel, the vacant stage is as uncluttered as it gets: a solitary central mic and two empty guitar stands.  That’s it.  I would wager that the sleep of the tour manager is long and undisturbed on this one.  Also onstage, dwarfing all else, is a massive stone pulpit, lest we forget we are in a place of worship.  Those guitar stands, of course, belong to Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, the titular Milk Carton Kids who have sold out tonight’s show, timed to coincide with the release of their new album, I Only See The Moon.

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May 27, 2023 /Rich Barnard
The Milk Carton Kids, Jesca Hoop
Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment

Jesse Malin + Trapper Schoepp - The Garage, London 17/02/2023

February 23, 2023 by David Vousden in Americana, Alternative Rock, Country, Folk, Singer Songwriter, Live

The Garage in London’s Highbury area is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, and there are few better places to see a live band in the capital. Originally a Temperance Billiard Hall, the venue supposedly served great pies but was typical of such establishments back in the day attracted an interestingly varied clientele (In my head, I’m picturing a scene from Get Carter or The Krays). It became a venue in 1993, hence the anniversary, with Pulp as one of the first big-name acts to appear. On my arrival, a decent-sized, yet orderly, queue is snaking its way down the street, but I’m still able to get in for an unfathomable, to me, early start to find Trapper Schoepp is already in full swing. I’d forgotten how good The Garage was until this evening, as it’s been a few years since we’ve crossed paths, but with friendly door staff and clear as a bell sound, things are definitely looking good.

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February 23, 2023 /David Vousden
Jesse Malin, Trapper Schoepp
Americana, Alternative Rock, Country, Folk, Singer Songwriter, Live
Comment

Canada House - Moth Club, Jan 25th 2023

February 07, 2023 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Roots

On a facecrunchingly cold January evening, I throw myself selflessly upon the mercy of the bus gods, in a futile effort to travel in an approximately straight line from my house to the MOTH club in Hackney.  For why?  Well, it’s the second of two Canada House shows promoting independent Canadian artists and I owe them, frankly.  Having taken a sabbatical from my regular RGM Maple Leaf duties, I feel it’s time to make amends with that wonderful country to which we are so culturally – and, of course, monarchically – connected.  The shows are taking place as part of UK Americana Music Week and the MOTH is pleasingly bedecked with Canadian flags, to make double-sure we all remember which countries are which.

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February 07, 2023 /Rich Barnard
UK Americana Music Week, The Hello Darlins, Mikhail Laxton, Julian Taylor, William Prince, Whitehorse, Willie Stratton, AMAUK
Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Roots
Comment

Canada House - Moth Club, London Jan 24th 2023

February 02, 2023 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

On a bitterly cold January night, the RGM team are in London’s Hackney, where I’m pleased to report, despite the multiple issues of recent years, live music is thriving with a wide variety of venues still hanging in there. Moth Club is one such venue, tucked away just off the main street but still, very much, part of the bustling Hackney ambience. The reason for our visit this evening is the first of two nights showcasing some of the very best Americana and Roots music Canada has to offer as part of Americana UK Music Week (that’s Americana Fest to you and me) hosted by CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association) in partnership with Music PEI. Twelve acts over two days with a good mix of old favourites and new blood, so let’s dig in to Canada House.

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February 02, 2023 /David Vousden
Canada House, UK Americana Music Week, Shane Pendergast, Tara MacLean, Lawrence Maxwell, Catherine MacLellan, Dylan Menzie, Andrew Waite, CIMA, MusicPEI, AMAUK
Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment

Foy Vance + Gareth Dunlop + The Late Heavy - Eventim Apollo, London 03/09/22

September 16, 2022 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Live Review, Pop, Singer Songwriter

The Eventim Apollo in London will always have a special place in my heart. As a (very) naïve teen it was the location of my first, big London gig. In those, pre-sponsorship days, it was simply the Hammersmith Odeon and for many of us of a certain age, it always will be. The art deco Grade II listed building with its 3600 capacity seemed impossibly huge to me at the time as Status Quo rocked out on their Never Too Late tour. I’d been bitten by the live music bug and, I’m pleased to report, never recovered.

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September 16, 2022 /David Vousden
Foy Vance, Gareth Dunlop, The Late Heavy
Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Live Review, Pop, Singer Songwriter
Comment

Black Deer Festival 2022 - Eridge Park, Kent

July 19, 2022 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Rock, Stoner, World Music

My first experience of standing tightly crowded in a field for the love of music was not the euphoric epiphany it promised to be. To be fair, it was a long, long time ago; I was fifteen and fragile. Some of my fellow patrons were fearless and fighty. I retreated to a safe spot and tried not to think of the Battle of the Somme. Somewhere in a different postcode, I could vaguely make out one of my favourite bands doing their thing.

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July 19, 2022 /Rich Barnard
Black Deer Festival, Darlingside, The Waterboys, Wilco, Declan O'Rourke, London African Gospel Choir, Amy Helm, Josiah, Jack Broadbent
Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Rock, Stoner, World Music
Comment

Lee Rogers - Green Note, London 29/06/2022

July 05, 2022 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Blues, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

They say that timing is everything. This certainly seems to be the case with Lee Rogers, the Northern Irish singer-songwriter who surprisingly left the world of music behind some fifteen years ago to embark on a career as a tattooist, opening his own studio and winning multiple awards in the process. Only to return in the last couple of years with a burst of musical creativity to make many of his peers more than a little jealous. Naturally, we jumped at the chance to catch up with Lee when it was announced he would be opening for The Sam Chase at the always-welcoming Green Note in London's Camden Town.

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July 05, 2022 /David Vousden
Lee Rogers, Gareth Dunlop, Foy Vance, Green Note, Zenith Cafe
Acoustic, Americana, Blues, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment

Amigo The Devil - Hoxton Hall, London 15.02.2020

February 18, 2020 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Blues, Country, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

For the second weekend in a row, the UK was in the grip of a named storm as the RGM team made their way to Hoxton Hall in London. The onset of Storm Dennis, which would bring driving rain and treacherous winds to the majority of the country wasn’t going to put us off and proved rather fitting as Amigo The Devil seems very comfortable with the dark and the desolate.

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February 18, 2020 /David Vousden
Amigo The Devil, Christian Hede, Boss Caine
Acoustic, Americana, Blues, Country, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment

Josh Ritter + Ida Mae - Union Chapel, London 23/07/19

August 01, 2019 by Rich Barnard in Americana, Live Review

It’s a sweltering night in London and the usually cold stone of the Union Chapel offers little in the way of relief: it’s hot everywhere.  Chris Turpin, one half Ida Mae, has broken a sweat before their set has even begun.   It’s the second of two consecutive headline shows at the venue for Josh Ritter with the Norwich duo in support.  Packing not one but two National guitars, the pair are quick to demonstrate their powerful, groove-laden blues.  Turpin’s husky gospel passion is augmented by Stephanie Jean Ward’s pin-point harmonies, delivered with all the righteous sass of a true soul diva.  Ida Mae have been based in Nashville since cutting their debut ‘Chasing Lights’ with Ethan Johns, and have been honing their craft across the States.  As a result, their performance tonight is firmly in the pocket.  From the relative smoothness of ‘Released’ through the rowdy stomp of ‘Reaching’ to the brooding of ‘Chasing Lights’ itself, Ida Mae’s tight-knit set goes down a storm with Josh Ritter’s crowd and packs a serious punch; the knockout blow coming in the form of ‘Sick In Love’, a blues so swampy I’m minded to go directly home and shower.

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August 01, 2019 /Rich Barnard
Josh Ritter, Ida Mae
Americana, Live Review
Comment

Black Deer Festival 2019 - June 23rd (Day Three)

July 08, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Blues, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

The RGM team doubled in size for day three of Black Deer in an effort to reach into even more of the many nooks and crannies from which live music could be heard floating around the site. On arrival, RGM and Black Deer favourite The Sheepdogs were doing their thing on the main stage (impressive as they’d closed the Supajam tent the previous evening). The Sheepdogs were again going down a storm with ‘Nobody’ a perfect complement to a sunny day with its Paul McCartney & Wings tribute/pastiche breakdown and no less than three guitarists trading musical blows to complete their set. A great start to the day.

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July 08, 2019 /David Vousden
Black Deer Festival, Paul Cauthen, Billy Bragg, Larkin Poe, Worry Dolls, The Sheepdogs, Irish Mythen, MG Boulter, Redwood, The Trials Of Cato
Acoustic, Americana, Blues, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment

Black Deer Festival 2019 - June 22nd (Day Two)

July 03, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Alternative Rock, Americana, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Soundtrack

Day two at Black Deer broke bright and sunny, which always does wonders for the spirit and rejuvenates a tired mind and body.  As usual, where to start our musical journey was a tough choice, but Jessie Buckley won the day, mainly on the strength of positive feedback from the photographers in the pit. This feedback turned out to be a very good tip, as Buckley and her excellent band won over a crowd that didn’t really need to be won over, as she had them in the palm of her hand from the off.

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July 03, 2019 /David Vousden
Black Deer Festival, Jessie Buckley, The Southern Companion, John Smith, The Wandering Hearts, The Staves, Irish Mythen, Band Of Horses
Acoustic, Alt-Country, Alternative Rock, Americana, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Soundtrack
Comment

Black Deer Festival 2019 - June 21st (Day One)

July 01, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Blues, Classic Rock, Country Rock, Country, Folk, Hard Rock, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Southern Rock, Stoner, Psych

For the first day of the annual Black Deer Festival, the gods have been kind and the sun is trying to break through the clouds. The UK is back in love with country music and all things Americana - at least on a musical level. This level of acceptance for the genre has not been seen on our shores since Dolly, Kenny and Tammy topped the charts and the Wembley Country Music festival was a must-see on BBC2. Black Deer is only in its sophomore year but it already feels like a must do on the crowded festival calendar.

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July 01, 2019 /David Vousden
Black Deer Festival, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, The Sheepdogs, Kris Kristofferson, The Strangers, John Butler Trio, Emily Mae Winters, Morganway, Duel, Sam Morrow, Americana
Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Blues, Classic Rock, Country Rock, Country, Folk, Hard Rock, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Southern Rock, Stoner, Psych
Comment

Darlingside - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London 01/11/2018

November 16, 2018 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Live Review

At Shepherd’s Bush Empire, the RGM team reminisce about the range of artists we’ve had the pleasure of seeing on its stage over the years.  The very fine grade II listed building was used for nearly forty years as the BBC Television Theatre and, since becoming a music venue in 1994, it really hasn’t changed much.  This is something of a comfort, particularly with the bleaching of Soho and the razing of the surrounding areas having deleted some much-loved venues from the capital’s landscape.  So, the Empire feels a bit like home.  And, in a certain way, Darlingside have made the UK feel a little like home too.  They have - deservedly - come a long way since we first featured them in  2016: they’ve appeared at the Cambridge Folk Festival, earned a live session on the BBC Radio 2 Folk show and toured the UK several times over; graduating from London’s Slaughtered Lamb via the Union Chapel to a headline show here at Shepherd’s Bush Empire.  Or should I say “Shepherd’s Empire Bush” as chief banterer Harris Paseltiner (guitar/cello) initially refers to it.  They’ve been looking forward to the show for a long time but have been syntactically confused about its name until their arrival…

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November 16, 2018 /Rich Barnard
Darlingside, Wildwood Kin
Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Live Review
Comment

Aaron Lee Tasjan - Omeara, London 02/11/2018

November 05, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Rock

A typical Friday night in London and unsurprisingly the streets are full of people with things to do and places to go. The London Bridge area is as good a place as any to experience the hustle and bustle of London life with seemingly every other doorway leading into a coffee shop, restaurant or pub, while the imposing 95-story Shard skyscraper looms overhead.  Just up the road from London Bridge tube station, we find Omeara a bijou live venue (capacity 350) which opened in 2016 and is the brainchild of Ben Lovett (Mumford & Sons). After two or three near misses this is my first visit to Omeara and I’m immediately impressed with the venue hidden away in Flat Iron Square, an open courtyard type area with galleries, street food etc. The vibe is cool and hip but not annoyingly so, the door and bar staff proved friendly and the venue itself looks like a decaying regency ballroom as imagined by Universal Studios for ‘Poseidon’s Fury’.

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November 05, 2018 /David Vousden
Aaron Lee Tasjan, Loud Mountains
Americana, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Rock
Comment

BluesFest - Zac Brown Band + Beth Hart, The O2 London 27/10/2018

October 29, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Blues, Country, Live

On what feels like the first cold night of the year your RGM scribe is at the O2 in London for the Zac Brown Band and Beth Hart. Tonight's show is part of the annual BluesFest which has found a home at the O2 and is now in its sixth year. With ticket in hand, airport-style security negotiated and a sharp intake of breath at the beer prices I'm in my seat bright and early for Beth Hart to get things started.

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October 29, 2018 /David Vousden
BluesFest, Zac Brown Band, Beth Hart
Americana, Blues, Country, Live
Comment

Ruston Kelly + Ferris & Sylvester - The Slaughtered Lamb, London 17/09/2018 (Live Review).

September 19, 2018 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Country, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

Singer-somgwriter Ruston Kelly is in London promoting his excellent debut album ‘Dying Star’ with a low key show at the bijou Slaughtered Lamb.  Needless to say the gig is sold-out and it’s pretty obvious the crowd are expecting good things long before Kelly ambles on stage.

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September 19, 2018 /David Vousden
Ruston Kelly, Ferris & Sylvester, Live Review
Acoustic, Americana, Country, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment

Mary Chapin Carpenter + Emily Barker - Barbican Theatre, London (15/05/18)

May 17, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

The Barbican complex in London seems to be undergoing something of a renaissance in recent times as people are able to see past the Brutalist 70’s Architecture and enjoy the large open communal areas, the conservatory (a lush tropical garden in the concrete bowels… who knew), cinemas and a wonderfully varied musical palate. Don’t get me wrong, the covered walk from Barbican Station past the car parks is beyond ugly and the convoluted journey down multiple levels to find the correct area of the actual venue could be a little intimidating, but the concert hall is superb with comfy seats, plenty of legroom (I’m 6’ 2”), great sightlines and impressively clear sound. It was also refreshing to find a ban on photography and mobile phones, people actually had to pay attention to the acts which made a welcome change.

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May 17, 2018 /David Vousden
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Emily Barker, Rose Hill Drive
Americana, Country, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment

Glen Hansard - Royal Festival Hall (09.02.18)

February 19, 2018 by Rich Barnard in Americana, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

I pride myself on never being late for anything.  But unavoidably late I am for Glen Hansard’s show at The Royal Festival Hall (it’s a long and boring story involving a room full of teenage guitarists - I will spare you) and I kick myself as I am ushered by torchlight to my seat and Hansard’s eleven-strong band (3 strings, 3 horns, 2 keys, drums, bass and guitar) promptly leave the stage in order that the man himself can take the piano alone.  What?!  I’ve arrived in the lull?!  Dammit!  I discover later than I’ve missed eight whole songs but, luckily for me, there’s plenty still to come.

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February 19, 2018 /Rich Barnard
Glen Hansard, The Frames
Americana, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter
Comment
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