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PLAYING OUT LOUD!
ARTICLES
GIG OF THE MONTH
NANCI GRIFFITH, WEDGEWOOD ROOMS, PORTSMOUTH – SUNDAY
JULY 27
 One
of America’s most versatile singers comes to the Wedgewood Rooms at the end of
the month. Nanci Griffith is perhaps best-known as a country and folk artist,
and what she terms “folkabilly.”
Nanci was born in Texas in 1953, and currently resides in Austin. She first
began performing at the age of fourteen. Legendary songwriter Tom Russell was
the first to recognise her potential when he heard her singing around a campfire
at the Kerrville Folk Festival in her teens, but it was not until the late 1970s
and early’80s that Nanci’s career began to blossom.
Her first two albums “There’s A Light Beyond These Woods” and “Poet In My
Window” were followed by “Once In A Very Blue Moon” and “Last Of The True
Believers.” The latter album was nominated for a Grammy in Contemporary Folk in
1986, and the song “Love At The Five And Dime” was nominated for Country Song of
the Year for Kathy Mattea who covered it.
Moving to Nashville, Nanci swept the town of its’ collective feet with her
unique style, and she soon became one of the new generation of artists merging
folk with country and pop, that included Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yokum and Steve
Earle. Amongst her many admirers is Bob Dylan who specifically requested that
Nanci sing “Boots of Spanish Leather” at his historic Madison Square Garden
anniversary concert.
Nanci went on to get five more Grammy nominations, including a win for her
recording of “Other Voices, Other Rooms” in 1993. Amongst the other Grammy
nominations were two for her performances by the Irish folk group The
Chieftains. Her songs continued to be recorded by some of country music’s
foremost artists including Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson.
Nanci has kept her band, The Blue Moon Orchestra together since 1986, and has
toured with various other artists including The Crickets, John Prine, Judy
Collins and many more. She has also recorded duets with a host of artists
including Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Don McLean and Willie Nelson. Nanci has
recorded over twenty albums in her long career, including her latest “Ruby’s
Torch.”
Tickets for her appearance at the Wedgewood Rooms are £22.50, and are available
through www.wedgewod-rooms.co.uk
ROD THOMAS, THE RAILWAY INN, WINCHESTER
– TUESDAY, JULY 29
 Rod
Thomas is a name new to me, so it was time to Google. The result was Rod’s entry
on MySpace and I’m sure he won’t mind if we repeat it here!
“I'm a singer/songwriter who grew up between two villages in the South Wales
valleys with not much else to do but learn how to play a number of instruments
and start to write my own songs. I set up my own label Self Raising Records in
2006 and put out my first 7" 'Good Coat' which had lots of nice things said
about it.”
“Since then I've put out two other songs as limited releases - 'You Get
Goodbyes' which got lots of radio play (thanks to everyone who supported) and
'Your Love Is A Tease' whose video features all my toys from childhood, some ace
people have remixed my songs which you can hear at
www.myspace.com/rodthomasremixed , and I've been spending my time going
around the place playing gigs and busking on the London underground. (If you see
me, please smile!)”
“I've been lucky enough to play with some of my favourite artists including Noah
& The Whale, James Yuill, Kathryn Williams, Bass Clef, Mr Hudson & The Library
and Peter & The Wolf as well as playing at Glastonbury and a nice string of
festivals coming up in 2008.”
“I play live with a guitar, childhood instruments, a loop pedal, a synth and
handclaps, and make music often described as folk disco to make people dance,
smile, laugh and occasionally think a little bit.”
ASH GRUNWALD, VARIOUS GIGS THROUGHOUT
JULY
 ASH
GRUNWALD, THE RAILWAY INN, WINCHESTER – FRI JULY 11
LARMER TREE FESTIVAL, TOLLARD ROYAL – FRI JULY 18 & SAT 19
PLATFORM TAVERN, SOUTHAMPTON – SUN JULY 20
Ash Grunwald is one of many upcoming Australian blues singers and guitarists.
And he must be pretty good, because he’s getting loads of bookings!
Ash was formerly with The Blue Grunwalds and The Groove Catalysts. The latter
trio was formed in 2001 and played every major blues venue in Melbourne and
several major outdoor festivals sharing the stage with Australian blues acts
such as Geoff Achison, Harper, Collard Greens And Gravy, and Lloyd Spiegel.
As a solo artist Ash has maintained several residencies over the past few years
and has toured throughout Victoria and the east coast of Australia. Ash released
his first solo album in2002, “Introducing Ash Grunwald,” a collection of
originals and blues standards that included Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightnin’”
and Elmore James’s “The Sky is Crying.” The album was recorded live with only
acoustic guitar and foot percussion using a stompbox and tambourine.
The positive response to Grunwald's debut resulted in two 2002 Victorian Blues
awards for Emerging Talent and Album Of The Year. In 2004 Ash released his
follow up album “I Don't Believe,” once again recorded solo and live, and very
much influenced by Tom Waits. On the album he emulates Waits' experimental bang
and clang percussion using hammers, spanners, pots etc, in addition to a boss
loop station as a bed for his lap steel, dobro and acoustic guitars. The album
included six originals, two Waits compositions, "Going Out West" and "Jesus
Gonna Be Here" and several blues standards by the likes of Son House and Robert
Johnson.
On the strength of this release Grunwald won an ARIA award nomination for Best
Blues And Roots Album, and the Victorian Blues award for Male Vocalist Of The
Year (equal with Lloyd Spiegel) and in 2005 the MBAS Vic / Tas award for Solo /
Duo Of The Year (equal with Dave Hogan).
For the “Live At The Corner album” (songs from his first two releases plus
Willie Dixon’s “Spoonful” featuring Ian Collard on harmonica) Ash won the 2005
MBAS Vic / Tas and Australian Blues awards Album Of The Year in addition to
being nominated once again for the Best Blues And Roots album at the ARIAs.
In 2005 Ash released twelve original songs on “Give Signs” recorded on his own
record label Delta Groove Records. As with preceding albums it was recorded live
and solo. In 2006, Ash supported James Brown at his Tasmanian concert and last
year he was nominated for another ARIA award for Best Blues and Roots Album.
KEB MO, THE BROOK, SOUTHAMPTON –
SATURDAY JULY 19
 Keb
Mo was born in the early 1950s in Los Angeles as Kevin Moore. In his own words,
the more he got to be called Keb’ Mo’ the more he got interested in the blues.
He was given his first guitar by his uncle and by adolescence was already an
accomplished player, and could also play trumpet and French horn.
Keb' Mo' started his musical career playing steel drums and upright bass in a
calypso band, but soon moved on to play in a variety of blues and backup bands
during the 1970s and 1980s. He first started recording in the early 1970s with
Jefferson Starship violinist Papa John Creach through an R&B group Creach hired
when Moore was just 21 years old. Around that time he was also a staff writer
for A&M Records. Keb' Mo's early debut “Rainmaker”, came out on Chocolate City
Records. 1980. Keb' Mo' was further immersed in the blues with when he joined
The Whodunit Band, where he jammed with Albert Collins and Big Joe Turner and
emerged as an inheritor of a guarded tradition and as a genuine original.
In 1994, Keb' Mo' released his self-titled debut album, “Keb’ Mo’” to critical
and popular acclaim, following it up two years later with “Just Like You” for
which he won his first Grammy Award. His next two albums were “Slow Down” and
“The Door,” then he released a children’s album “Big Wide Grin.”
In 2003, veteran filmmaker Martin Scorsese collaborated with many blues
musicians including Keb' Mo' to put together a series of films entitled "The
Blues". Following its release, several albums were released in accordance, some
were compilations, some new collaborations and Keb' Mo' released an entire album
himself in the series featuring a handful of existing recordings from “Keb' Mo'”
to “The Door”. In 2004, he released “Keep It Simple” which earned him a third
Grammy Award. Later that year he released his sixth studio album, “Peace…Back By
Popular Demand.” His most recent release is “Suitcase” released in 2006. His
current touring band consists of Reggie McBride on bass, Les Falconer III on
drums, Jeff Paris on keyboards, and Clayton Gibb on guitar.
IMELDA MAY, MR KYPS, POOLE – THURSDAY
JULY 17
 Dublin-born
Imelda May brings a touch of burlesque to Mr Kyps later this month. Her unique
fusion of rockabilly, blues and jazz and her extensive self-penned repertoire
along with her dynamic stage presence has won her many admirers including the
late Kirsty MacColl and Jools Holland.
Imelda has shared the stage with an impressive array of musical talent - Alison
Moyet, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Bryan Ferry, Anastasia, The Supremes, Sister
Sledge, Scissor Sisters, Matt Bianco, Elvis Costello and Elton John, to name but
a few.
Imelda's creative evolution began at an early age. From singing with her sister
in church as a child to performing in nightclubs as an under-age teenager (she
was once turned away from one of her own gigs for being too young!) her journey
continues to be one of passion, substance and insight. In her own words "My
whole life revolves around music. There's no magic story in there, just that
I've been singing my ass off since I was four!! Oh, I did sing the jingle for a
Findus Fish Finger ad when I was fourteen but I think the less said about that
the better!!"
Inspired by such jazz greats as Billy Holiday, Dinah Washington, and the
undisputed queen of rockabilly, Wanda Jackson, Imelda is forging a contemporary
sound all of her own. Last year was an exciting, affirming year for her. She was
nominated for Best Burlesque Singer 2007 and made her movie debut in LA starring
as the singing voice for a character in forthcoming American gangster movie
“Dark Streets.” She also recorded an album of original material, “Love Tattoo,”
alongside her talented band of renowned musicians; Steve Rushton on drums, Al
Gare on bass, Darrel Higham on guitar, and Dave Priseman on trumpet.
JON CLEARY
& THE ABSOLUTE MONSTER GENTLEMEN, THE CELLARS AT EASTNEY, SOUTHSEA – TUES JULY
22.
 Born
in Kent, England, Jon Cleary has educated himself in the musical culture and
life of New Orleans for the past 20 years, steeped in the sounds of the
Caribbean from Cuba to Haiti and beyond. His deft piano style and unmistakable
vocals can be heard on recordings by Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Ryan
Adams, and Eric Burdon. Cleary’s original compositions have been recorded by Taj
Mahal on “Phantom Blues” and Bonnie Raitt’s most recent albums “Souls Alike” and
“Silver Lining.” Cleary does double duty performing as full-time keyboardist for
Grammy Winner Bonnie Raitt when not touring with his the Absolute Monster
Gentlemen.
Jon Cleary is a triple treat—with a salty-sweet voice, masterful piano skills,
and a knack for coupling infectious grooves with melodic hooks and sharp lyrics.
He balances a career performing with his band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen and
Bonnie Raitt, recording with both groups, and composing songs for various
artists. His live shows are an explosive funk party mixing old school soul with
the rhythms of New Orleans. Cleary has produced four albums over the past ten
years including “Pin Your Spin” in 2004, “Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster
Gentlemen” in 2002, “Moonburn” in 1999 and “Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice” in
1994.
While Cleary is the prime motivator throughout, his Absolute Monster Gentlemen
band does their fair share of the work to bring Cleary’s musical vision to life
in concert. “They work together very powerfully,” Cleary says emphatically.
“There’s a very high standard of technical musicianship, but the key thing is
that they also play with a lot of soul and spirit. These guys dig in and play
with a lot of passion, and I think it’s that intangible element that seems to
successfully move audiences everywhere we play. “One night, on my way home from
a gig, I stumbled across the Friendly Travelers—a gospel band—playing for tips
in a coffee bar. I dug them, and went back to their gigs many times, sitting in
sometimes, and ultimately we became friends.
In 1994, Cleary was invited perform for the first time at the famed New Orleans
Jazz and Heritage Festival. Instead of hiring all-star session musicians, he
decided to try hiring guitarist Derwin “Big D” Perkins and bassist Cornell C.
Williams, of the Friendly Travelers. “I called them, and they said, ‘What took
you so long? Of course we want to do it!’” Adding drummer Jeffrey “Jellybean”
Alexander, whom the Friendly Travelers knew from working on Bourbon Street, the
band was born. On this tour, The Monster Gents will be joined by drummers
Terence Higgins of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (July 19- August 5) and Jamal
Batiste, of Los Hombres Calientes (August 9-14).
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NANCI GRIFFITH WEDGEWOOD ROOMS, PORTSMOUTH
SUNDAY JULY 27
ROD THOMAS
THE RAILWAY INN, WINCHESTER TUESDAY, JULY 29
ASH GRUNWALD VARIOUS GIGS THROUGHOUT JULY
KEB MO
THE BROOK, SOUTHAMPTON SATURDAY JULY 19
IMELDA MAY
MR KYPS,
POOLE
THURSDAY JULY 17
JON CLEARY & THE
ABSOLUTE MONSTER GENTLEMEN
THE CELLARS
AT EASTNEY, SOUTHSEA TUESDAY JULY 22. |
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