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.

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.

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.

Sara Watkins - Bush Hall, London UK

November 15, 2016 by Rich Barnard in Bluegrass, Americana, Country, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

Having chairs set in rows tends to have a civilising effect on a crowd but tonight at Bush Hall the attendees need no reminders when it comes to audience etiquette. A respectful silence falls over them long before support act Dietrich Strause has got himself comfy behind the mic and we're sat so still and expectant I suspect we're actually starting to freak him out. Undeterred, Strause paddles through his set of deftly fingerpicked and tender folk songs perhaps a little too apologetically but is nonetheless warmly received.

Old Crow Medicine Show with Parker Millsap - The Roundhouse, London UK

October 27, 2014 by David Vousden in Country, Alt-Country, Bluegrass

The Roundhouse is best known for a period in the late 1960s when it played host to the likes of Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and the only UK show by The Doors. Dig a little deeper and the Grade II listed building that features a circular design, hence the name, has a very interesting history that dates back to 1847. The venue has been used for many ventures over the decades as initially it housed a railway turntable before it had a fifty year stretch as a storage facility for a Gin distillery. This sense of history, with its images of railways and alcohol consumption, feels like the perfect setting for tonight’s acts as both Parker Millsap and Old Crow Medicine Show draw on the past for their musical inspiration.