On Sunday September 7th we welcome the explosive Southern Tenant Folk Union to Americana Night. The London based outfit's unique brand of Old-Time, Bluegrass, Gospel and Celtic Folk has won them wide acclaim and proved a popular live draw across Europe and the UK. Support comes from Garron Frith and the Tom Stuckey Band. Advance tickets priced at £5 are available from Jacks Records and Seetickets. com. Doors open at 7.45pm.
***Southern Tenant Folk Union***
Formed by Belfast born five-string banjo player Pat McGarvey and taking their name from the ground breaking multi-racial union of sharecroppers and non-landowning tenant farmers founded in Arkansas in the 1930's, the Southern Tenant Folk Union are an explosive new London based folk and bluegrass outfit.
Writing and performing their own unique brand of Old-Time, Bluegrass, Gospel and Celtic Folk, Southern Tenant Folk Union appropriate the themes, ideas and metaphors from traditional folk songs and 20th century Americana music to document and reflect modern life through styles popularised by musicians such as The Carter Family, The Stanley Brothers and even Dillard & Clark.
Pat McGarvey served his musical apprenticeship touring the world and recording a number of albums with UK/US Americana band The Coal Porters. That grounding plus countless other collaborations with key Americana acts including Peter Case, The Arlenes, Tandy, Amy Rigby, Ian Dunlop (of Gram Parsons' International Submarine Band), Rosie Flores, Jason McNiff & Bob Neuwirth gave him the real experience needed to fuse together the band's American folk sound and British roots with his own Celtic heritage.
Keen to find a more personal outlet for his writing, in early 2006, McGarvey gathered a collective of like minded musicians that share his love of traditional music, but each with their own individual take on such tradition; Oliver Talkes (guitar), who's unique, soulful voice is at the heart of the STFU sound. Pete Gow (guitar), from the Alt. Country band Case Hardin who has performed with the likes of Chris Mills, Stacey Earle and Caitlin Cary. Frances Vaux (Fiddle) with her background in jazz and Irish Folk and anchored by stalwarts of the London folk scene Eamonn Flynn (mandolin) and Matt Lloyd (upright bass).
Once up and running, Southern Tenant Folk Union released their debut album of original material in January 2007 to acclaim, positive reviews and national radio play. The rest of the year saw them playing festivals, arts centres and clubs around the UK and Ireland and only a little more than twelve months after the self-titled LP a follow-up was released. 'Revivals, Rituals & Union Songs' – a step forward for them with its strong, confident tone and the darkly reflective yet heart-warming nature of the eleven brand new songs presented. With positive reviews coming in and even more well deserved nationwide recognition (including a live session for BBC Radio 2's Mark Lamarr) the band are set to finish their extensive UK & European tour and go back to studio at the end of 2008 to work on new material.
"An excellent new album" Mark Lamarr, BBC Radio 2
"The smoothest, bluegrass tinged, measured acoustic country singing and playing you could wish for this side of the Atlantic.
" Maverick magazine
"bar-hopping ballads stuffed with fiddles and banjo.
" Uncut magazine
"This is a great album (9/10)" Americana UK
http://www.myspace.com/southerntenantfolkunion
http://www.southerntenantfolkunion.com
You can also hear the lead track, 'Never Get The Best Of Me', from new album 'Revivals, Rituals & Union Songs' on our MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/wagonwheelmediapromotion
And here's a little taster of what we can hopefully expect to round off the night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-pHCc90F9c
***GARRON FRITH***
Northwest singer/songwriter Garron Frith is quietly making a name for himself off the back of constant gigging, and not least his stunning self-titled debut album which is available now on Ravine Records. The record was produced by one time member of The Willard Grant Conspiracy Simon Alpin, who also plays on the album. Other great musicians that contributed to the tracks include members of Grand Drive and legendary Green On Red guitarist and singer/songwriter Chuck Prophet.
Garron has opened for many acts such as Glen Tilbrook, Martin Stephenson, Danny George Wilson plus Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes and has always proved very popular on his previous appearances at our Americana Night. Last time out when he opened for Jenn Grant and Neil McSweeney we were treated to some of the new material he's been working on and hopefully we can expect more of the same tonight.
"excellent" 4/5 Maverick Magazine
"beautiful country rock gem of an album" 5/5 Sunday Express
http://www.myspace.com/garronfrith
***TOM STUCKEY BAND***
The Tom Stuckey Band are a group of musicians from Sheffield, blending folk and blues sounds with Tom's lyrics. Taking influence from the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Richard Thompson, their bluesy sound is complemented by a line up that also features mandolins and occasional fiddle. The band are regulars on the local acoustic circuit and are hoping to return to the studio soon to undertake some new recording.
http://www.myspace.com/tomstuckeyband
Facebook Event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=23707352421