Sharp sugar Preview by Peter Ashton
YOU don’t see many blondes singing the blues but you can see one at Winchester’s Railway Inn later this month. Texan singer Sarah Sharp appears there on Tuesday June 24. Born in Austin, Texas, Sarah grew up in a musical family. She joined the local choir at age fourteen and later earned a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating three years later. Her predictable progress took a surprising turn when Sarah decided to move to London to start her career as a professional singer. Despite not having a work permit, she became a favourite at Soho’s “Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues Bar.” Gigs there led to spells in jazz and cover bands, giving her two years experience and the confidence to return to Austin and kickstart a solo career there. Towards the end of her spell in London Sarah had started writing her own songs. When she returned to Austin she started singing jazz while she looked for players and gigs for her original music. She was voted one of the top ten jazz musicians in the 2002 Austin Chronicle Music Awards and released a debut EP "Out of Nowhere" which received much local airplay, leading to radio and television interviews. Sarah has recently been collaborating with various musicians and songwriters including Michael Ramos who has written songs for John Mellencamp and Patty Griffin. She is also working with producer Dan Workman of Sugarhill Studios in Houston who has worked with Destiny’s Child and ZZ Top, with a view to recording her first album. The gig at Winchester’s Railway Inn on June 24 also features local support acts Kate Stables, Rachel Dadd and The Sense. For more details ring 01962 867795. (©Peter Ashton 2003)
Ayers Machine Preview by Peter Ashton
CULT musician Kevin Ayers makes a rare UK appearance when he plays The Brook in Southampton on Sunday June 8th. Once a member of the improvisational underground rock band The Soft Machine, Kevin is one of music scene’s most eccentric characters. Born in 1944 in Herne Bay, Kent, Kevin spent most of his childhood in Malaysia where his father served as a District Officer. When they returned to England Ayers became a central figure on the Canterbury music scene, forming The Wilde Flowers, and later The Soft Machine where he played bass guitar alongside David Allen, later of Gong, and Andy Summers, eventually to find fame in The Police. Ayers quit The Soft Machine in 1968 after a gruelling tour of the USA. He released a solo album “Joy Of A Toy” which set a pattern for his later work with a series of self-written haunting and languid ballads including "The Lady Rachel" and "Girl On A Swing". In 1970 Ayers formed The Whole World, with saxophonist Lol Coxhill, guitarist Mike Oldfield and pianist/arranger David Bedford, releasing an album “Shooting At The Moon”, an ambitious progressive rock effort, and “Whatevershebringswesing”. Following the demise of The Whole World, Kevin resumed his solo career, establishing a quirky eclectic style which has earnt him the sobriquet “the Noel Coward of Rock”, and releasing albums like “Bananamour” in 1974. He also collaborated with Steve Hillage, John Cale, Brian Eno and Andy Summers on “Confessions of Dr Dream” in the same year. Moving to the island of Ibiza early in his career, Ayers spends most of his time there, only making occasional concert appearances in the USA and Europe, and releasing an album every few years. Never one to take much interest in the business side of things, Kevin just writes beautiful songs with pertinent lyrics, delivering them in his own wry, idiosyncratic way. Tickets for an enticing night at The Brook are available through 02380 555366. (©Peter Ashton 2003)
Slingshot Kelly Preview by Peter Ashton
AMERICAN singer-songwriter Kelly Joe Phelps makes two appearances in Hampshire next month. The talented guitarist from Washington is touring the UK to promote his new album “Slingshot Professionals.” Kelly Joe grew up in a musical family - his dad played piano, guitar and harmonica, his mum played the fiddle and guitar and his elder brother also played guitar. So it was no surprise when Kelly Joe started playing guitar when he was twelve, after hearing Jimmy Page play on the first two Led Zeppelin albums. Over the years Kelly Joe became fascinated with different musical styles: the country guitar picking of Chet Atkins, the folk style of Bert Jansch, and later the improvisational jazz styles of artists like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. Kelly Joe started his career as a bass player on the local Washington state jazz and be-bop scene. For ten years he played in various bands before discovering folk blues and basically decided to reinvent it. He created his own style of playing with the guitar flat on his lap and taught himself to sing. Hundreds of gigs and many sore fingers later he landed a record deal in 1994, releasing his first album “Lead Me On” with Burnside Records. Switching to Rykodisc Records in 1997 Kelly Joe recorded the album “Roll Away The Stone” which won high praise nationally and internationally. The album led to tours throughout Europe, Australia and Canada and his first visit to Hampshire when he played The Brook in Southampton. His next album for Rykodisc, “Shine Eyed Mister Zen” in 1999, was also well received, demonstrating that Kelly Joe had developed considerably as a songwriter. Although his work was still bluesy and his vocals hoarse and soulful the music was becoming identifiable as “Kelly Joe Phelps music” rather than blues. His new album “Slingshot Professionals” recorded with a band for the first time, reinforces this fact. Kelly Joe plays at the Winter Gardens, Ventnor, Isle of Wight on Saturday June 7 and a free concert at The Bandstand in Southsea on the afternoon of the following day. (©Peter Ashton 2003)
Top Billing Preview by Peter Ashton
IT’S three years now since folk musician Bill Jones made her first public performance and more and more people turning up at gigs expecting to see a female rather than a six foot bloke! Bill, christened Belinda, a sweet voiced folk singer who also plays accordion, piano, flute and Irish whistle, performs at Forest Arts Centre, New Milton on Saturday June 7 and Harnham Village Hall near Salisbury on Saturday June 28. Born in Staffordshire and now based in the North East, Bill has enjoyed a whirlwind three years taking the folk world by storm with her lively style and fresh, unpretentious approach. She has also released three albums and picked up the Horizon Best Newcomer Award at the BBC Folk Awards in 2001. Bill spent her childhood training as a classical pianist/flautist and playing in her dad’s ceilidh band. Later as a music student in London she studied jazz piano, whilst spending all her evenings playing flute in Irish sessions. From 1994-1996, Bill played keyboards and accordion in London-based indie band The Wise Wound. Since Bill’s rapid rise to fame as a solo artist her career has become a family business with mum Felicity acting as agent and manager, dad Pete handling administration, brother Mike looking after publicity and Bill’s husband Chris acting as mailing list co-ordinator and website designer. There is also a family-owned record label, Brick Wall Records, which will release Bill’s recently completed album “Two Year Winter” this August. Bill is accompanied at most gigs by either Miranda Sykes on double bass and vocals or Sarah Wright on flute, whistle, bodhran and vocals. Both Miranda and Sarah are talented musicians in their own right - Miranda with acoustic five piece band Firebrand and The Robb Johnson Trio, and Sarah with The Kathryn Tickell Band and young trio Ola. Ticket details the Forest Arts gig are available via 01425 612393. (©Peter Ashton 2003)
Farmhouse Blues Preview by Peter Ashton
THE big top goes up again at Pumpbottom Farm at Apuldram near Chichester from June 26-29 to accommodate the annual feast of blues from the USA, UK and Europe. Organiser Julian Moores has booked a cracking line-up for Blues On The Farm 2003, with the opening Thursday night featuring the mysteriously named American band BR 549 playing some pulsating Western swing, rockabilly and country music. Two more Americans are also on that night’s bill, acoustic blues singer Ben Andrews, and veteran soul singer Charles Walker, who will be backed by UK band Mo Indigo. Friday night includes sets from rodent-rockers The Hamsters, Norwegian guitarist Vidar Busk and his band, the True Believers, plus California-based slide guitar virtuoso Eric Sardinas. The weekend gigs kick off on Saturday afternoon with sets from New York bluesman Popa Chubby (pictured), Knockout Greg & Blue Weather, The Nimmo Brothers, Rocky Athas & Bluesville and storming Liverpudlian Connie Lush and her band Blueshouter. The final day brings a feast of blues with Brian Kramer & The Couch Lizards from the USA and UK Mississippi blues specialists Sugarland Slim. The evening showcases the pugnacious R&B style of Nine Below Zero, plus the feminine touch of Ana Popvic, a Yugoslavian-born blues singer who plays sizzling slide guitar. For more details ring 01243 773828 or see the website www.pumpbottomfarm.co.uk (©Peter Ashton 2003)
Wizards of Oz Preview by Peter Ashton
THEY’RE back! Australian blues-roots duo Derrin Nauendorf and Dave Downing have just returned from a 15-date tour in their home country. Ironically, they are now less well known “down under” than they are in the UK and Europe. Says Derrin: “It's been weird playing in Aus because most folks don't know us from a bar of soap. Everything has been smooth though and the punters have enjoyed our show. We played the EastCoast Festival in Byron Bay, which was great especially as we were on the same bill as Michelle Shocked, Jimmy Vaughan, The Blind Boys from Alabama, The Violent Femmes and Morcheeba - the place was stacked with talent.” “Dave and I are both in good shape after spending some time with our families back in Aus,” continued Derrin. “Now we are off on our national “Wasteland” tour to promote the new album, and we’ll be flat out until the end of September! We’ve also got many great festival slots confirmed including the Larmer Tree Festival at the end of July.” The affable Aussies, who use Southampton as a base, play several local gigs on their “Wasteland” tour. Derrin and Dave play Mr Kyps in Poole on June 12, The Brook in Southampton on June 18 in band mode with The Hard Ground, and as a duo again at the city’s Platform Tavern on June 24. (©Peter Ashton 2003)
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YOU don’t see many blondes singing the blues but you can see one at
Winchester’s Railway Inn later this month. Texan singer Sarah Sharp appears
there on Tuesday June 24.
CULT musician Kevin Ayers makes a rare UK appearance when he plays The
Brook in Southampton on Sunday June 8th. Once a member of the improvisational
underground rock band The Soft Machine, Kevin is one of music scene’s most
eccentric characters.
AMERICAN singer-songwriter Kelly Joe Phelps makes two appearances in
Hampshire next month. The talented guitarist from Washington is touring the UK
to promote his new album “Slingshot Professionals.”
IT’S three years now since folk musician Bill Jones made her first
public performance and more and more people turning up at gigs expecting to see
a female rather than a six foot bloke! Bill, christened Belinda, a sweet voiced
folk singer who also plays accordion, piano, flute and Irish whistle, performs
at Forest Arts Centre, New Milton on Saturday June 7 and Harnham Village Hall
near Salisbury on Saturday June 28.
THE big top goes up again at Pumpbottom Farm at Apuldram near Chichester
from June 26-29 to accommodate the annual feast of blues from the USA, UK and
Europe.
THEY’RE back! Australian blues-roots duo Derrin Nauendorf and Dave
Downing have just returned from a 15-date tour in their home country.
Ironically, they are now less well known “down under” than they are in the UK
and Europe. 
