Across the Pond #11 August 2000 - cont'd

London Gigs - August 2000

Wed 2nd Michelle Shocked
http://members.xoom.com/g_limbo/
Jazz Cafe
Another 'Fast Folk' graduate, Michelle has retained a
firm following in the UK over the years having first
started to make a name for herself when an English
producer recorded her on a Sony Walkman at the
1986 Kerrville Folk Festival and released it in the UK
without her knowledge as 'The Texas Campfire Tapes',
becoming a surprise hit over here. Her 1992
'Arkansas Traveler' album featured the likes of Doc
Watson, The Band's Levon Helm and Garth Hudson,
the Alison Brown Quartet, Alison Krauss and the Union
Station, blues legend Taj Mahal and renowned flatpicker
Norman Blake. [See links ] Her most recent albums,
both independently produced - 1994's 'Kind Hearted
Woman' and 1998's Gospel-and-jazz-inspired 'Good
News' have been available only at gigs and by mail order.

Wed 2nd & Thur 3rd David Gray
http://www.davidgray.com/
Shepherds Bush Empire

Hugely popular songwriter from Manchester, now riding
high in the UK charts with his originally home produced
album 'White Ladder' (IHT/East West) which topped the
Irish charts in January. His single 'Babylon' is currently in
the UK Top 20 chart. The Wed 2nd show is Sold Out.

Fri 4th The Richard Thompson Band
http://www.amug.org/~deeg1225/
Shepherds Bush Empire

For more on RT and his forthcoming US tour, see
'Across the Pond # 9 - June 2000 . Richard's band
for this special London gig includes Danny Thompson
on bass , Michael Jerome on drums and Pete Zorn on
mandolin and guitar.

Fri 4th Slip Jigolos
http://www.iim.co.uk/matters-musical/glob-lat.htm
Hammersmith Irish Centre

Powerful band featuring the fine tonsils of Paddy Gallagher.
The standard 3 piece band (guitar/ vocals, fiddle and accordion)
is sometimes expanded with the addition of uillean pipes, flute
and bodhran.

Sat 5th JCB with Betty Davila
http://freespace.virgin.net/angela.powell/JCB/JCB.htm
Old Coffee House Pub, Soho

Contemporary folk group from Surrey with fine singer,
Betty Davila.

Sun 6th & Mon 7th Dale Watson
http://imusic.com/showcase/country/dalewatson.html
The Borderline

"No, it isn't true that Dale Watson's heart pumps black coffee
or that his boots are soled with steel belted radials or his
electric guitar is diesel-powered. But listening to "The Truckin'
Sessions," the new album by Watson and his band, The
Lone Stars, the casual listener can be forgiven for thinking
that inside Watson's chest rumbles a Peterbilt plant."
[John T. Davis, imusic.com]

Mon 14th Danu
http://www.danu.net/
The Borderline
Top Irish traditional band promoting their latest album,
'Think Before You Think' (Shanachie).

Fri 18th Incredible String Band
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac455/index.htm
(Bloomsbury Theatre)

Whilst Robin Williamson's first solo album for ECM Records,
'The Seed-At-Zero' will be released in Europe in August,
here he teams up with original members Mike Heron and
Clive Palmer for a long-awaited reunion of the original
1966 Incredible String Band line-up. There's also news
of a compilation album due later this year from Island
Records. Here's an interesting interview with Joe Boyd,
their producer and manager from 1966-1970.

Mon 21st Lennie Gallant
http://www.lennygallant.com
+ Sheila Nicholls
http://www.essexgirl.com/sheilanicholls/
The Borderline

"We've been used to welcoming visitors from Canada's
east coast in recent years. The biggest impression of all,
though, could be the one Lennie Gallant makes when
word about him reaches beyond the dedicated seekers
of transatlantic talent who investigated this Scottish debut."
The Herald- Glasgow, Scotland

Tue 22nd Jay Farrar
http://www.wbr.com/sonvolt
The Borderline

Acoustic gig by lead singer of US alt. country band
Son Volt, whose influences include the Byrds, Louvin
Brothers and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Previously
a member of Uncle Tupelo, his songs are said to chronicle
the smalltown angst of modern America.

Thur 24th Le Gop
http://www.adastra-music.co.uk/legop.html
Canary Wharf Main Stage

One of the most exciting French bands to have emerged
in recent years. With a line-up including fiddles, hurdy-gurdy,
guitar, bass and drums, they produce irresistible dance music
described by Folk Roots as "One of the finest invitations to
boogie currently available - anywhere"

Tue 29th Kevin Montgomery & Pettibone
http://www.kevinmontgomery.com
The Borderline

Emerging US country singer songwriter, over for the second
time this year, with Robert Reynolds & Paul Deakin of
'The Mavericks' in the band. According to Stereo Review,
"His songs - extremely well-crafted, thoughtful and heartfelt -
resonate with decades of great American songwriters, from
Buddy Holly... to Bob Dylan and beyond."

Best of the Rest of the UK - August 2000

Tue 1 Mick Ryan & Pete Harris
http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/trg/SCoFF/ryhar.htm
Beehive Folk Club Beehive Pub, Harthill Village.
(Ken Atkinson - 0114 2664206)

Described by Folk Roots as "definitely the most
underrated singer in the country" Mick Ryan, with
talented multi-instrumentalist and singer Peter Harris.
Of their 2nd album 'Another Time Another Place',
Dirty Linen magazine said "There are some terrific
songs on this album ....Couldn't ask for more in the
world of English Folk music."

Thur 3rd - Sun 27th (not 13th) Simon Mayor & Hilary James
http://www.acousticsrecords.co.uk/fringe2.htm
Cafe Royal, Edinburgh, Scotland 0131 226 5138

Part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, these nightly shows
between 6.30 - 7.30pm are billed as the 'Musical Mystery
Tour 2000 - An hour of musical fun for children from 7 to
107.' "Catchy songs, crazy characters and a plethora of
musical instruments delight audiences young and old alike.
The musicianship is masterly throughout." Folk Roots

Thur 3rd Eileen McGann
http://www.canuck.com/~jscown/mcgann/index.html
Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York.
(Roland Walls - 01904 632922)

"Calgary-based Eileen McGann is rapidly becoming
Canada's folk music voice to the world. She is one of
this country's best folk songwriters, an exceptional singer
and one of the finest interpreters of traditional music to
be found on the music scene today."
[Regina Folk Festival]

Thu 10th Kieran Halpin
http://www.mulligans.demon.nl/bio/kieran.html
Black Swan Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York.
(Roland Walls - 01904 632922)

Kieran has recorded ten albums since his first recording
with Tom McConville back in the early eighties and is
today regarded as one of the finest contemporary
writers around.

Mon 14th Fred Wedlock & Mike Evans
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~gunning/fredlock.html#fredbiog
Nettlebed Folk Song Club, Oxfordshire

West Country singer, comedian and raconteur from Bristol,
Fred has been performing in folk clubs and concerts since
the late 1960s. Still best known for his 1981 UK hit song,
'The Oldest Swinger in Town'. Here with Stackridge fiddler,
Mike Evans

Sat 19th Mary Black
http://www.rmgplc.com/grapevine/artists/maryblack/biog.html
The Lyric Theatre, The Lowry, Salford Quays

Highly acclaimed Irish singer described by Mary Chapin
Carpenter as "one of the most passionate and gifted
performers its been my privilege to know". From her
early days when she busked her way around the east
coast of the USA with her brothers in The Black Family
to her spell as vocalist with top Irish traditional band
De Dannan in the 80's, she has established herself as
a world renowned performer with a series of hugely
popular solo albums, culminating in her latest,
'Speaking with the Angel' (Grapevine). "This album
is folkier, rootsier, that's what I wanted it to be,"
says Mary decisively. "Over the years, people have
said to me, why don't you make a folky album again?
I felt ready for it now."

Sun 20th Alan Stivell Band
http://www.alan-stivell.com/Framesus.htm
High Lodge Forest Centre, Thetford Forest,
Suffolk 01842 814612

"Uncontested leader of the New Celtic music movement",
world renowned Breton Celtic harpist, here playing a two
hour concert featuring classics from his 30 year career and
material from his current CD (his 20th), 'Back To Breizh'
(Disques Dreyfus) with his band featuring guitar player
Xavier Geronimi, bass player Marcel Aubé, and drummer
Hubert Motteau.

Sat 26th Summer Nights in the City
http://www.hurtleparrott.com
with:
Little Feat
http://littlefeat.net/
Emmylou Harris
http://www.emmylou.com/
Steve Earle
http://www.steveearle.net/
Hopetoun House, South Queensferry, Scotland
0131-331-2451 Automated ticketline 0870 739 6677

Legendary California band with a Southern-fried blues
feel Little Feat, touring Europe to promote their latest
album 'Chinese Work Songs'. Today, the band includes
Paul Barrere, Sam Clayton, Kenny Gradney, Richie
Hayward, Shaun Murphy, Bill Payne and Fred Tackett,
whilst the late Lowell George remains in spirit. Details
of the LG tribute album, 'Rock 'n Roll Doctor' featuring
Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Randy
Newman, the Bottle Rockets & David Lindley, Allen
Toussaint, Taj Mahal, J.D. Souther, and more can be
found on the website at. Emmylou is probably at the
very pinnacle of world-wide esteem at the moment,
described by Rolling Stone as "making arguably the
most daring music of her thirty year career...she brings
a spiritual glow to everything she touches..". whilst
Steve Earle is on a roll in the UK following last year's
raved-about shows with the Del McCoury band and
the release of his latest album 'Transcendental Blues'.
Quite a bill!!

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Contact Paul Castle: pdcmusic@freeuk.com

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