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.

John Paul White - Bush Hall, London UK

November 14, 2016 by David Vousden in Americana, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Southern Rock, Country

The opportunity to catch John Paul White in the intimate confines of Bush Hall where the acoustics pretty much guarantee a lovely vocal sound was one not to be missed. Obviously plenty more people were following my line of thinking as the website claimed Sold Out and there was definitely a healthy crowd on the night.

The Crooked Brothers - Green Note, London UK

November 08, 2016 by David Vousden in Country, Folk, Live Review, Americana, Blues

The Crooked Brothers hail from Winnipeg in the province of Manitoba, Canada. “The Gateway To The West” according to Wiki and the home to numerous music festivals at which I’m sure The Crooked Brothers are always welcome with their impressive range of musical influences that resulted in one hell of a live show at Green Note London.

The Stray Birds + The Goat Roper Rodeo Band - Bush Hall, London UK

October 27, 2016 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Country, Folk, Live Review

The highly acclaimed The Stray Birds visited London recently for a date on their 2016 UK tour to promote their ‘Magic Fire’ release. The show was promoted by those lovely folks at Green Note who moved from their bijou Camden home to Shepherds Bush and the more palatial (if a 350 capacity can be considered palatial) confines of Bush Hall to allow for the anticipated attendance. This turned out to be excellent decision as The Stray Birds and opening act The Goat Roper Rodeo Band pulled out all the stops before a very appreciative and attentive audience.

Gitta De Ridder - Servant Jazz Quarters, London

October 14, 2016 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

The general opinion seems to be that the live music venue is an endangered species these days. Even ex Beatles recently bemoaned the issue (Ringo with rather more energy than that other bloke) and this may well be true, but dig a little deeper and there are great venues playing host to fabulous performances every night of the week in London town which brings us to Dalston on a surprisingly chilly Monday night in October.

Darlingside - The Slaughtered Lamb, London UK

August 11, 2016 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Pop

Every now and again here at Red Guitar Music we are lucky enough to receive a CD in the post that turns out to be just a little bit special. Darlingside and their ‘Birds Say’ album was a case in point, I was keen, but fellow RGM scribe Rich Barnard won the lottery, got to work and his resulting review concluded “Darlingside have stories to tell, mysteries to solve and journeys to take us on. Birds Say manages the impossible; it is humble and bold; it is familiar and strange; it is slick and fragile. It is, in short, a total delight”. To support the UK release of the album the band had a slot booked at the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival before they embarked on a short run of intimate UK shows concluding with the Slaughtered Lamb in London.

David Berkeley + Jack Harris - Paper Dress Vintage, Hackney London

June 22, 2016 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

Paper Dress Vintage is one of the more interesting venues on the London circuit. Located opposite Hackney Central Station this retro clothes boutique by day transforms into a cool and bijou live music venue by night. The intimate venue itself is upstairs and the small room has just a few tables doted about so I took up a position at the small rear bar to check out the evening’s entertainment. I was immediately struck by the rather imposing mixing desk which seemed a little incongruous in such a small venue but it did bless us with excellent sound on the night.

Ruth Theodore + Linah Rocio - Green Note, London UK

June 14, 2016 by David Vousden in Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

Green Note in Camden is fast becoming one of my favourite places to see a band in London. The Camden venue won a prestigious Time Out Magazine award ‘London Venue of the Year’ in 2015 so I’d guess I’m not alone in my view. The venue is, as they say, intimate which makes it fantastic to get up close to a quality artist or two. One such artist is Ruth Theodore and her visit to Camden was to introduce her very fine new single ‘You Can’t Help Who You Love’ and a whole lot more

Shook Twins - Green Note, London UK

June 02, 2016 by Rich Barnard in Folk, Pop, Live Review

The stage at the Green Note in Camden is tiny. You could probably just about park a car on it, if you could park cars vertically, but before they’ve even arrived, the Shook Twins have all but filled its floor with three separate boards of effects pedals. I get the feeling this isn’t going to be your average folk gig and I’m genuinely worried there’s not going to be anywhere for the band to stand. When they do squeeze themselves behind the mic stands I note (with some intrigue a little fear) that sisters Katelyn and Laurie each have two mics... this is definitely going to be interesting.

Joana Serrat with Ellie Ford - The Slaughtered Lamb, London, UK

May 19, 2016 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, Live, Singer Songwriter, Country

Spanish singer-songwriter Joana Serrat recently released her latest album ‘Cross The Verge’ on the Loose Music imprint in the UK and visited our shores for a short run of dates which included a show at the charmingly named Slaughtered Lamb in the heart of London. In stark contrast to the name The Lamb turned out to be a large pub with comfy leather sofas far removed from the image that the name might imply. Fans of the classic movie ‘An American Werewolf In London’ will be disappointed to find that there is no connection, at least initially, to the film but venture downstairs into the venue proper and the neon Slaughtered Lamb / pentagram logo is behind the stage. I must admit this did impress the inner film geek in me.

Glen Hansard - The 100 Club, London

April 21, 2016 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, Singer Songwriter, Live

Sometimes you really do just strike it lucky. On this occasion a last minute invitation down to the legendary 100 club in London on a Sunday night resulted in the opportunity to witness an artist with the confidence in his ability, and the ability of his band, to freewheel through a two hour plus set without the aid of a safety net, or a set list.

Gretchen Peters - The Old Town Hall, High Wycombe, UK

February 21, 2016 by David Vousden in Country, Singer Songwriter, Live, folk

As luck would have it Gretchen Peters and her three piece band found their way to High Wycombe for a date on her 20th Anniversary tour. The Old Town Hall is a short walk from Red Guitar Music HQ so it was an opportunity too good to miss to go along and check out the show. The Town Hall is not really that well known on the touring circuit and with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it entrance door (I did and I wasn’t the only one) I wasn’t sure quite what to expect. Luckily the venue, better known locally for the odd play and many a Tea Dance, turned out to be a good choice to hold, what would be a very enjoyable and civilised evening. The team of friendly dark suited ushers were quick to sort out my ticket and direct me to the bar where the local Rebellion brewery helped to get things off to a good start. The attendance for tonight was very impressive and I hope more acts will add High Wycombe to their tour

Colleen Brown - The Dublin Castle, London UK.

June 28, 2015 by Rich Barnard in Live, Rock, Folk, Singer Songwriter

Having been very impressed by the video for ‘Soap & Denim’, the RGM team headed out to Camden to see Canadian songstress Colleen Brown, who is here touring in support of her new album Direction…

Sam Baker - Dingwalls, London UK

November 12, 2014 by David Vousden in Country, folk, Live

‘Say Grace’ is one of those albums with the ability to creep up on you and worm its way into your subconscious, resulting in you returning to it on a regular basis, and each time it revels something new. With this in mind a trip to London for an intimate show at Dingwalls, hidden away in the bowels of Camden market, was high on my list of priorities.

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.

Police Dog Hogan with Lucas & King - Borderline, London UK

October 03, 2014 by David Vousden in folk, Country, Acoustic, Live

The Borderline in London is such a great little venue, tucked away in a backstreet in the shadow of the Centre Point tower and surrounded by the seemingly never-ending demolition / construction work. It is an oasis of calm and good music and the ideal location to launch ‘Westward Ho!’ the new album from Police Dog Hogan.