October 2000
London Gigs - October 2000
Mon 2nd & Tue 3rd Richie Havens
http://www.richiehavens.com/
Jazz Cafe
From his youthful days singing doo-wop on Brooklyn street corners and his emergence on the sixties Greenwich Village folk scene, leading to his legendary three-hour appearance opening Woodstock in 1969 (where, called back for yet another encore, he improvised a song based on the spiritual "Motherless Child" that became "Freedom", reaching an audience of millions in the 1970 Woodstock film) and thoughout his subsequent four-decade career, he has remained true to his calling. "I really sing songs that move me", he told the Denver Post. "I'm not in show business and never was. I'm in the communications business. That's what it's about for me." On his website Richie has a great tutorial on his unique guitar style and tunings (mainly D A D F# A D), with pictures showing all his fingerings (or should I say 'thumbings' - you need a big one!!)
Tue 3rd Roy Rogers and Shana Morrison
http://www.applecoremusic.com/artists/royandshana/
The Borderline
Despite 7 solo albums, Roy Rogers is probably better known as a producer, including 4 highly acclaimed John Lee Hooker albums, all nominated for Grammy Awards, two of which received Grammy's ('I'm In The Mood' with Bonnie Raitt from The Healer in 1990 and Chill Out in 1994) and more recently folk legend Ramblin' Jack Elliot's 'Friends Of Mine', also a Grammy nominee, featuring John Prine, Tom Waits, Guy Clark, Arlo Guthrie, Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith among others. Shana has toured the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, and all across the US, recently with her father, Van Morrison, sharing the bill with Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. Their debut album as a duo, 'Everybody's Angel', will be shortly released in the UK.
Wed 4th Van Morrison & Linda Gail Lewis
http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/
Hammersmith Apollo
When Linda Gail Lewis first heard the mixes for their new album of duets, 'You Win Again' (Virgin/Point Blank), she admits she was reduced to tears. "It took me back to the first time I heard my brother's records. It's got the same magic those old Sun recordings had. In fact the whole experience was a lot like playing with my brother. These two guys have given their whole lives to creating wonderful music and I put Van right up there with Jerry Lee." (see full interview and tracklisting)
Wed 4th Freedy Johnston
http://www.freedyjohnston.com
Adam Reichmann (Nadine) http://www.www.nadinemusic.com
Fillup Shack http://www.mindspring.com/~fillupshack/
The Borderline
A mini US singer songwriter festival - each performing their own set. Freedy Johnston toured the UK in January this year, promoting his 7th album 'Blue Days, Black Nights' produced by T- Bone B. According to 'Rolling Stone', "Freedy has joined that elite cadre of songwriters - Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Elvis Costello - whose brilliant pop compositions turn magical with the addition of a defiantly idiosyncratic singing voice." A solo set from Adam Reichmann, lead singer songwriter of 'Nadine' from St. Louis, Missouri, described by Mojo Magazine as "A nervey, convincing vocalist somewhere between Neil Young and the Jayhawks via Wilco". Fillup Shack, from Alabama - has a striking voice "placed in a Dylanesque setting of acoustic guitar and harmonica" who, according to Mojo Magazine, writes "simple affecting songs, mostly melancholic in a Son Volt way, that suit the catch in his high sad voice...". His debut album is 'Hipolit' (see full European tour dates)
Thur 5th & Fri 6th Bob Dylan
http://www.bobdylan.com
Wembley Arena (Thur 5th Sold Out)
Whilst the never-ending tour rolls on from one cavernous arena to the next, we can only dream of the joys of seeing Dylan today in a tiny venue like the Troubadour, a still- thriving coffee house on the Old Brompton Road, which had such an effect on his life some 38 years ago. It was there, on his first visit to London in December 1962, that he first met Martin Carthy and, not long after, Martin's friend Bob Davenport, both of whom had such a major influence on Dylan's early folksong writing. According to Clinton Heylin in his biography 'Dylan Behind the Shades', "When Carthy played him songs from his own repetoire, Dylan, ever the sponge, was soon working on his first adaptations of authentic English folksongs... 'Lord Franklin' was rewritten as 'Bob Dylan's Dream', and 'Scarborough Fair' provided him with the basic melody for two of his most beautiful love songs, 'Girl from the North Country' and 'Boots of Spanish Leather', whilst 'Masters of War' and 'Only a Hobo', Heylin claims, took as their respective sources 'Nottamun Town' and 'Poor Miner's Lament', both based on versions played by Bob Devenport.
Thur 5th Elliot Smith
http://www.elliottsmith.net
Forum (020) 7344 0044
Reviewing his latest album 'Figure 8' (Dreamworks), the UK's Observer newspaper described him as " the archetypal singer/ songwriter, a wispy voiced super-sensitive soul, always in retreat from romance, forever focused on his naval and fretboard....His lyrical material is the same beautiful, bitter stuff from which Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell built their careers, though Smith is gauche by comparison, and therein lies part of his appeal."
Thur 5th Tish Hinojosa
http://www.mundotish.com/
The Borderline
One-off gig for Texan songwriter promoting her new album 'Sign of Truth' (Rounder), co-produced with her long-time guitar partner Marvin Dykhuis.
Fri 6th Jaqui McShee's Pentangle
http://www.folkcorp.co.uk/pent/welcome.htm
The Borderline
The original Pentangle, comprising Jacqui McShee, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox, was one of the most creative and innovative bands on the folk scene in the late 1960s and early '70s. The unique vocal talent of Jacqui McShee and the fusion of folk and jazz were the key elements of the band's success, embracing the music of Charlie Mingus and Miles Davis alongside traditional folk songs and their own original compositions. The latest incarnation includes Jacqui (vocals) Spencer Cozens (keyboards), Gerry Conway (drums), Jerry Underwood (tenor and soprano saxophones) and Alan Thomson (bass and guitar). Their last album 'Avant Passe' (Park Records) was described by the Birmingham Post as "their best , most focused and most rewarding work in years."
Fri 6th, Sat 7th, Sun 8th kd Lang
http://www.kdlang.com
Hammersmith Apollo (020) 8748 8660
Three nights in Hammersmith promoting her latest album 'Invincible Summer', described as "a bubbly musical cocktail that combines a bit of everything, from '60's-influences California pop to Brit flavored synth."
Sun 8th The Albion Band
http://www.folkicons.co.uk/albion.htm
Blackheath Halls
Still led by the legendary Ashley Hutchings, with a glorious history stretching back over twenty years, The Albion Band has been a showcase for some of the finest folk musicians in the land. Past members include Phil Beer, Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins, John Kirkpatrick, Chris Leslie, Cathy Lesurf, Dave Mattacks, Julie Matthews, Simon Nicol, Ric Sanders, John Tams, Richard Thompson and Chris While. The current line-up follows in this fine tradition, with Joe Broughton (one of Britain's leading fiddlers), singer Kellie While, top-rated guitarist Ken Nicol and drummer Neil Marshall.
Sun 8th
Iain Matthews http://leden.tref.nl/~tenho003/matthews/index.html
+ Ad Vanderveen http://www.advanderveen.com
The Spitz
"One of contemporary music's finest singers, Iain Matthews' sublime voice & guitar playing are legendary. Co-founder of 'Fairport Convention' with Richard Thompson, Ashley Hutchings & Simon Nicol, 'Plainsong' with Andy Roberts, 'Matthews Southern Comfort' of course and the UK #1 hit version of Joni Mitchell's 'Woodstock'. A solo career that's spanned 3 incredible decades and tours last year with Nanci Griffith's 'Other Voices, Too' and Plainsong's 'New Place Now'. Long-time resident in Texas, the optimist from Scunthorpe visits Britain with his new album 'A Tiniest Wham', containing more tingling acoustic power, semi-clad emotion & lip-smacking harmony than is legally permitted."
Tue 10
Joan Armatrading http://www.joanarmatrading.com/
+ Martyn Joseph http://www.martynjoseph.co.uk/
Fairfield Halls
Croydon (also Wed 11th Shepherds Bush Empire)
Fri 13th
Sean Keane http://www.seankeane.com/
+ Susan McKeown http://house-of-music.com/susan/
Union Chapel, Islington
From County Galway in Ireland, Sean is a member of one of Ireland's most celebrated musical families. Before going solo in 1991 he played with his sister Dolores Keane in 'Reel Union', before founding renowned Irish band 'Arcady' in the late 80's with Sharon Shannon, Frances Black and others. Winner of Irish Music Magazine's 'Best Male Folk Singer Award for the third consecutive year, his latest album, 'The Man That I Am' (Grapevine) includes songs by Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott, Townes Van Zandt, Dick Gaughan and Jimmy MacCarthy, plus a version of Paul McCartney's 'Blackbird', arranged by Sir George Martin. Singer Susan McKeown (pronounced Mick-yone) grew up in Dublin Ireland, moving to New York in 1990. Described by The Victoria Music Review as having "perhaps the most potent and versatile voice in all of folk or pop music", she is often likened to the late Sandy Denny. Describing her performance of 'Tam Lin' at a SD tribute show in New York, Rolling Stone said "McKeown grabbed both song and audience by the throat, dragged them through heaven and hell and back again, and left the stage to the loudest applause heard all evening.
Wed 11th Allison Moorer
http://www.allisonmoorer.com
Dingwalls (020) 7267 1577
Fine country singer whose debut work earned her an Academy Award nomination (for 'A Soft Place to Fall' included in Robert Redford's film 'The Horse Whisperers'). Sister of Shelby Lynne, Allison's voice has been described as "a sweet and smoky delight, as pungent as barbecue sauce and as liltingly memorable as a first kiss." Her new album 'The Hardest Part' (MCA) is currently riding high on the UK country charts and her single 'Send Down an Angel' is is being played heavily on BBC Radio 2.
Thur 12th Darden Smith
http://www.dardensmith.com
The Borderline
Coming of age in the musical hotbed of Austin, Darden developed his craft while in the company of Nanci Griffith, Butch Hancock, Townes Van Zandt, Joe Ely, and Lyle Lovett. Beginning with his debut album in 1986, Native Soil', he has since built a strong reputation as a versatile musician, incorporating country, jazz, folk, soul, and pop into his unique repertoire. His latest album 'Extra Extra' (Valley Entertainment) mainly includes new recordings of his most memorable songs, including 'Midnight Train', 'Bottom of a Deep Well' and 'Little Victories', amongst others.
Fri 13th Martin Simpson
http://www.martinsimpson.com
Watermans Arts Centre
Top English fingerstyle guitarist whose latest album, 'Bootleg USA' (Bohemia Records), is a collection of live cuts gleaned from a handful of recent concerts in the US. "Not a dull moment in it's almost 67 minutes of music, and the next best thing to seeing him live." [Dirty Linen Magazine]
Sat 14th Clive Gregson
http://imusic.com/showcase/contemporary/clivegregson.html
Watermans Arts Centre
Another fine English guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with Christine Collister (from 1985 to 1992) and as a member of the 'Richard Thompson Band' and 'Plainsong' with Iain Matthews and Andy Roberts In recent years he has toured solo, making guest appearances on Nanci Griffiths' 'Other Voices Too...' tour, whilst also working as a trio with Boo Hewerdine and Eddi Reader.
Tue17th
Willard Grant Conspirary http://www.popnews.com/wgc/
The Borderline
Categorised by the UK newspaper,The Guardian, as "Acid/Folk/Country", the Boston band's latest album 'Everything's Fine' (Slow River - Rykodisc) has been described by Q Magazine as .."mellow, languorous and tuneful country rock redolent of CSN&Y or J.J. Cale at their best...warm, wise music as comfortingly lived-in as an old shed."
Wed 18th
Bill Mallonee and Vigilantes of Love http://www.billandvol.com
The Borderline
Their fourth visit to the UK, this time promoting their latest album 'Audible Sigh' (Compass Records) described by The [London] Times as "a classic slice of Americana." The album's producer, Buddy Miller, guitarist with Emmylou Harris' band 'Spyboy' (touring the UK in November) says, "The poetry and intelligence of Bill Mallonee's songs rivals Dylan's....He is one of our all time favorite artists", whilst BBC Radio 2 DJ, Bob Harris says "The band have caused an enormous stir on my radio program. 'Audible Sigh' is the reason why. Music from reality... Bill Mallonee is a true trooper."
Fri 20th
Kelly Joe Phelps http://www.kellyjoephelps.com
Union Chapel, Islington
"Formerly a music tutor at various US colleges, Phelps' discovery of Mississippi Fred McDowell 10 years ago resulted in his forging of something simultaneously grounded in the Delta and soaring to the moon. Those who thought they'd nailed his muse with 'Roll Away The Stone' in 1997 had to think again with last year's 'Shine Eyed Mister Zen' - from spine-tingling langour to "a twisted folk thing"." -- Colin Harper, Mojo
Sat 21st
Slaid Cleaves http://www.slaid.com
+ Lynn Miles http://www.rounder.com/rounder/artists/miles_lynn/profile.html
The Borderline
Described in the Birmingham (Alabama) News as "Part folk, part country, all fabulous, Cleaves proves he deserves to be the Next Big Thing in American music". His latest album 'Broke Down' (Philo/Rounder) has recently been released in the UK. Reviewing Candadian singer songwriter Lynn Miles' latest album, 'Night in a Strange Town' (Philo/Rounder), CMJ said, "Every once in a while an unassuming little album passes across our desk that has such extraordinary melodic brilliance that we wish we could force everyone in the world to sit down, have a cappuccino, and listen to a track or two."
Sat 21st Kathryn Williams
http://www.mercurymusicprize.com/2000/kathryn.shtml
Bloomsbury Theatre (020) 7388 8822
Newcastle based singer-songwriter whose debut album 'Dog Leap Stairs', was released to much critical approval in 1999. Kathryn followed this up by guesting on John Martyn's latest CD before releasing her second album, 'Little Black Numbers', in June 2000 on her own Caw label. Nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, the Judging Panel said, "Sparse tunes, rich words, beautiful arrangements; an unexpected acoustic gem."
Sat 21st Joe Louis Walker
http://www.bayfrontblues.com/biography/joe_walker.htm
Queen Elizabeth Hall
"By the age of 16 he had left home ending up in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, rooming with guitarist Mike Bloomfield (the influential guitarist with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band). During this time Walker played with people like Steve Miller, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Lightnin' Hopkins, Earl Hooker, and Magic Sam...Through his years of constant touring he has honed his considerable blues guitar skills to a fine point that strikes right at the heart of his listeners and Walker's slide guitar playing is a sight to behold...simply one of the most versatile, exciting and innovative blues guitarists performing today." Ray Stiles, Bayfront Blues Festival
Mon 23rd - Wed 25th Paul Simon
http://www.paulsimon.com
Hammersmith Apollo
Like Dylan, Paul Simon's time in England in the mid-60s proved to have a major effect on his future career. A regular on the small folk club scene, for a while he shared a house in London with Art Garfunkel, Al Stewart, Sandy Denny and fellow American songwriter, Jackson C Frank, whose influential album 'Blues Run the Game' he produced in 1965. He, too, met Martin Carthy, whose arrangement of 'Scarborough Fair' he literally made his own (see Martin's story) and from whom he also learnt Davey Graham's classic instrumental, 'Angie' which he included on Simon & Garfunkel's 1966 'Sounds of Silence' album. According to an 1984 interview in Playboy magazine, his song 'Homeward Bound' was written in Liverpool - "actually in a railway station. I'd just played a little folk job...I wanted to get home to my girlfriend, Kathy in London." [ NB. www.paulsimon.com is currently under construction. See this detailed Paul Simon discography from 1955 to 1999]
Thur 26th Eliza Carthy Band
http://www.elizacarthy.com
Scala (020) 7833 2022
Since the release of her critically acclaimed independent albums 'Heat, Light and Sound' and the 1998 Mercury Prize nominated double offering 'Red Rice', 24 year old Eliza has been widely acknowledged as one of the most creative, and original, young talents in music today. Her latest album 'Angels and Cigarettes' (Warner Bros) is described as "a modern sounding collection of personal, passionate and intensely affecting songs", and includes guest appearances by her father Martin Carthy, Van Dyke Parks, and UK pedal steel player BJ Cole amongst others
Thur 26th Isaac Guillory & John Renbourn
http://www.anetstation.com/guillory/
http://www.johnrenbourn.com/
Purcell Room
Fri 27th Liz Carroll
http://www.lizcarroll.com
Purcell Room
Describing her new album 'Lost in the Loop' (Green Linnet), The Irish Times said, "There's some pure magic communicated here through the sweet, energising fiddling of this well respected Irish-American colleen, her urbanised clarity impregnated by plenty of flavours, from Donegal to Cajun to Cape Breton, at a pell-mell pace and with a gypsyesque, Paganini, bluegrass tilt."
Sun 29th Niamh Parsons
http://www.pressproms.demon.co.uk/page9.html
Purcell Room
Niamh (pronounced Neeve) Parson's debut album 'Blackbirds and Thrushes' (Green Linnet) was a major critical success. "A lovely heartache of a voice", according to David W. Johnson on his excellent 'Folklinks.com' site , which "expresses the sorrow and longing of the Celtic soul more deeply than any within recent memory." The Irish vocalist has had a whirlwind 18 months, appearing before President Clinton and the Irish Prime Minister in Washington last St Patrick's Day, joining Grammy Award winner Paul Winter in his annual Summer Solstice Concert in New York, and performing on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" when the show broadcast from Dublin this March. Her new album. 'In My Prime' (Green Linnet) features her regular accompanist, guitarist Graham Dunne, as well as special guests including Josephine Marsh (accordion), Siobhan Peoples (fiddle) and Mick Kinsella (harmonica).
Sun 29 Capercaillie
http://www.capercaillie.co.uk/
Dominion Theatre (0870 6077400)
Back with their first new studio album for three years entitled 'Nàdurra' (Survival Records), featuring what 'Mojo Magazine' describe as their 'marriage made in heaven' line-up from their last 2 years of touring - Donald Shaw on accordian and keyboards, Charlie McKerron on fiddle and Manus Lunny on bouzouki and guitar, plus the exquisite voice of Karen Matheson. According to the UK's 'Daily Telegraph, "Few women fronting any kind of British band possess a voice to touch Karen Matheson's, remarkable in English but breathtaking when she draws on her Hebridean roots to sing in Gaelic."
Sun 29th The Waterboys
http://www.mikescottwaterboys.com
Astoria
Whilst Mike Scott and Steve Wickham have been playing acoustic shows together in the West of Ireland recently, here Mike returns with a new line up and a new Waterboys album, their first for seven years, 'A Rock in the Weary Land' (RCA Records).
Mon 30th Maria Muldaur
http://www.muldaur.com/
Jazz Cafe
Still best known for her million selling 1974 hit 'Midnight at the Oasis', Maria Muldaur's musical history is firmly planted in American roots music, a blend of jazz, R&B and blues that she calls 'bluesiana'. Born and raised in Greenwich Village, on leaving high school she literally found herself "sitting at the feet of the Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Son House and blues diva Victoria Spivey. "It was an incredible time", she says. Having learnt fiddle from Doc Watson, she first joined John Sebastian, David Grisman and Stefan Grossman in the 'Even Dozen Jug Band' before moving to Boston in 1964 to join the 'Jim Kweskin Jug Band', soon marrying fellow band member, Geoff Muldaur, her music and life partner until 1972. Over the years she has worked with an impressive list of musicians including Dr John, Ry Cooder, Kenny Burrell, JJ Cale and Hoagy Carmichael, to name but a few. Her latest album 'Richland Woman Blues' (Stony Plain Records) was inspired by a recent visit to the grave of perhaps her main musical influence, Memphis Minnie.
Mon 30th Ira Bernstein with Trevor Stuart & Friends
http://www.tentoepercussion.com/
Purcell Room
American dance master - one of the most versatile percussive step dancers in the world, described by The Sheffield Telegraph as "A one-man Riverdance", here with southern Appalachian string band accompaniment.
Tue 31st Buddy Mondlock
http://songs.com/buddy/index.html
The Borderline
A top Nashville writer whose songs have been covered by the likes of Garth Brooks, Joan Baez, Nanci Griffith, Janis Ian, David Wilcox and Peter, Paul & Mary, he has been described by fellow US songwriter Mark Germino as "modern-day folksong cybernetics with a slight fusionist attitude having only a little to do with jazz. Right now he's an A&R department's nightmare - should be their daydream." His latest album, 'Poetic Justice' includes guest artists Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith and Ellis Paul.
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