July's Americana Night @ The Grapes plays host to Austin based US singer/songwriter Bob Cheevers as he embarks on his annual mammouth UK tour. Now whilst the traveling American singer/songwriter armed with little more than an acoustic guitar and bag of CDs to sell are ten a penny, few have the credentials of Cheevers. A multi award winning songwriter, Bob also holds the notable honour of having been asked personally by Johnny Cash to support him on what proved to be Cash's final tour. Providing backing for Bob as well as playing some songs of his own will be his fellow countryman David MacNeill. Popular local songwriter Julian Jones opens the show with songs from his forthcoming new album. Doors will be 7.45pm for an early start, and entry will be £4.
***BOB CHEEVERS***
A master tune-smith, Bob Cheevers has certainly earned his place as an Americana singer/songwriter rounding out his 4th decade in the industry. His style is an eclectic mix of rootsy blues and a touch of folk and country. As an Americana artist, Bob's songs include tales of romance, blues-flavored tales of the Mississippi Delta, and personal looks at the world through his own eyes as well as character studies of people who were caught up in the Civil War learned from his young days growing up in Memphis, Tennessee.
Bob, who lived in Nashville, Tennessee for many years, has recently just made the move to Austin, Texas. He has met many people and gained an extraordinary amount of respect along those 40 years. "Borrowing from some, but stealing from none, you can dub him one of those forgotten or unknown American originals like, say a James Talley," wrote Acoustic Musician Magazine. Bob has spent the last six years touring relentlessly in Europe, where he maintains a large fan base in addition to his fans in the U.S. The release of "Texas to Tennessee" in February, 2006, was followed up with a 95 day tour in the UK over that 2006 summer. 2007 saw another string of dates across the UK, and this summer he returns to support latest record "Fion's World".
From an early age, Bob's creative feet were firmly planted in the Mississippi Delta mud and his songs began to feature characters whose lives reflected the life style along the rivers of the South over the past one hundred years. Growing up in Memphis, not only was he influenced by the icons of his youth such as Elvis and Johnny Cash but also from his mother, who was a radio star during the Great Depression performing with the Big Bands of the era. Thinking of his roots, a 100 year photo of his grandmother graces the cover of his 1998 release of Gettysburg to Graceland. After starting his first band during college, Bob and his musical direction migrated west to California following a dream to become a serious singer/songwriter. In the late 1980's, he launched the Sacramento Songwriter Showcase, which featured high profile regional and national hit writers. It was the Sacramento Songwriter Showcase that served as his springboard to Nashville. The move from California took him from the pop craze in Hollywood to country and roots music in Nashville, Tennessee, with stops in between to gather the tools and trophies of his career. After moving to Nashville, Bob organized and hosted a yearly benefit with a series of shows at The Bluebird Café for Nashville's Alive Hospice Organization featuring Nashville's most famous writers, artists and performers. Now in its second decade, it's still The Bluebird's most popular series. Among Bob's many accomplishments during his career is an Emmy awarded by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the music video category for Best Musical Composition with his song "Big City Gambler". When talking with him, he says his greatest honor and accomplishment is being asked in person by Johnny Cash to join what would become Cash's final tour.
As a seasoned songwriter and performer, Bob has found his own voice spinning rootsy, blues-flavored tales of the Delta in a conversational language of the heart. Just as Bob says about his music, "I don't know if these stories are true…but they happened to me."
"Bob is a born storyteller. This man could put Shakespeare to shame. And that voice! Does he gargle gravel and honey for breakfast? Whatever, it works. Not only could Bob charm the birds from the trees, he could have them singing backing vocals for free if he wanted." BBC Radio Newcastle
"It's well paced and displays some excellent lead and steel guitar. Cheevers voice is perfect for these type of songs. It's a lovely album. It really is. 8/10" Americana-uk.com review of 'Fiona's World'.
http://www.myspace.com/bobcheeversmusic
http://www.bobcheevers.com
***DAVID MacNEILL***
Joining Bob for his UK tour will be fellow US singer/songwriter David MacNeill. In the grand American songwriting tradition of Buddy Holly, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Steve Earle, MacNeill's soaring melodies and insightful lyrics are unforgettable. From driving rockers to acoustic ballads, his songs are built to last.
MacNeill is a performing songwriter/guitarist/record producer from northern California, now based in Boise, Idaho. David considers himself fortunate to have learned the art of songwriting from his friend and mentor for over two decades Bob Cheevers. Having also joined Bob for his 2007 UK tour, they recently completed writing and producing Bob's 'Fiona's World' album together. Two of the songs, including the first song on the CD 'What I've Done For Love', were written by MacNeill. In January 2008 he released his first solo CD 'Morningtown' which he is currently shopping to US and UK labels.
David describes his own music as "It's rock 'n roll like Buddy Holly and the Beatles, it's country rock like the Byrds and the Eagles, it's singer/songwriter like Jackson Browne and Warren Zevon, it's pub rock like Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, it's uplifting like Bruce Springsteen and cynical like Elvis Costello, it's old school guitar rock like Tom Petty and the BoDeans, and it's acoustic alt-country/Americana like Steve Earle and Kevin Welch."
http://www.myspace.com/davidmacneillmusic
http://www.davidmacneill.com
***JULIAN JONES***
Julian Jones is a country influenced singer/songwriter from Sheffield who has been performing in various bands in the past. His main band was the Lazy Dollies whom he fronted and wrote songs for. Following their split after 2 albums and some high profile support slots (including Oasis), Julian composed a solo album of new and old songs. One Shoe On And One Shoe Off was well received and he is currently working on the soon to be released follow up.
Julian is also a member of the Acoustic Angels, who often play to full houses at Sheffield's Boardwalk on the last Friday of every month. He opened for Ray Davies on his last UK tour and has also previously supported local legend Richard Hawley.
http://www.myspace.com/julianasjones
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