The Grateful Fred House Concerts...
The whole "idea" behind Grateful Fred's came when I first heard about the concept of "House Concerts" after stumbling across my friend Rob Ellen's wonderful website "The European House Concert Hub". The idea that leading, professional musicians would come to your home and perform a full concert for your friends and neighbours was amazing to me and I loved the concept as soon as I heard about it. And the thought of being able to hear live music in the comfort of your own home with friends really fired me up.
I researched more and more and the more I found out about house concerts the more I thought "I've got to do this". Excitedly I told my lovely wife, Barbara, about it and she agreed that it was a great idea and a wonderful way to hear (and support) music. Sadly, she had one proviso...
"Not in my house".
Ah. Problem. That's when the idea breaks down...and the rest is history, as they say.
I managed to find an alternative venue, The Freshfield Hotel, in Formby and, after almost nine years ( at the time of writing) we are now happily housed at the superb Atkinson Theatre in Southport.
But the idea of house concerts remained with me and when we moved house late last year, we were lucky enough to find a property that has sufficient space for Barbara to let me set up the Grateful Fred House Concert series and, (again at the time of writing) we've already held our first house concert with the superb "Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz", who played a blinding show for over thirty of us.
Hopefully, we'll be continuing holding house concerts for the foreseeable future and below you'll see details of what's in store over the coming months and some music and video from past house concerts.
TICKETS...
If you'd like to come and join us for any of our concerts please either email me at gratefulfreddie (at) gmail.com or call me direct on 0797 077 4618 or use the form on the "Contact Us" page.
Our house concerts tickets are normally £10 per person (there may be an exception every now and then) and you can keep up to date on whose appearing at the house concerts and at Grateful Fred's at The Atkinson by subscribing to our Newsletter.
I researched more and more and the more I found out about house concerts the more I thought "I've got to do this". Excitedly I told my lovely wife, Barbara, about it and she agreed that it was a great idea and a wonderful way to hear (and support) music. Sadly, she had one proviso...
"Not in my house".
Ah. Problem. That's when the idea breaks down...and the rest is history, as they say.
I managed to find an alternative venue, The Freshfield Hotel, in Formby and, after almost nine years ( at the time of writing) we are now happily housed at the superb Atkinson Theatre in Southport.
But the idea of house concerts remained with me and when we moved house late last year, we were lucky enough to find a property that has sufficient space for Barbara to let me set up the Grateful Fred House Concert series and, (again at the time of writing) we've already held our first house concert with the superb "Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz", who played a blinding show for over thirty of us.
Hopefully, we'll be continuing holding house concerts for the foreseeable future and below you'll see details of what's in store over the coming months and some music and video from past house concerts.
TICKETS...
If you'd like to come and join us for any of our concerts please either email me at gratefulfreddie (at) gmail.com or call me direct on 0797 077 4618 or use the form on the "Contact Us" page.
Our house concerts tickets are normally £10 per person (there may be an exception every now and then) and you can keep up to date on whose appearing at the house concerts and at Grateful Fred's at The Atkinson by subscribing to our Newsletter.
Thomm Jutz & Eric Brace at the first Grateful Fred House Concert, July 2017
The Grateful Fred House Concerts Series...
2021 House Concerts...
DATE |
ARTIST |
September 22nd 2021 |
2020 House Concerts...
DATE |
ARTIST |
Friday 24th January 2020 |
|
February 2020 |
No Show |
March 26th 2020 |
Stillhouse Junkies - SADLY CANCELLED, VIRUS CRISIS |
April 15th 2020 |
Katie Spencer - SADLY CANCELLED, VIRUS CRISIS |
Thursday 12th May 2020 |
Aaron Jonah Lewis - SADLY CANCELLED, VIRUS CRISIS |
Wednesday 17th June 2020 |
Max & Veronica - SADLY CANCELLED, VIRUS CRISIS |
Thursday 16th July 2020 |
No Show |
August 2020 |
No Show |
Wednesday 16th September 2020 |
Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen - SADLY CANCELLED, VIRIS CRISIS |
October 2020 |
No Show |
Wednesday 18th November 2020 |
Riley Baugus - SADLY CANCELLED, VIRUS CRISIS |
December 2020 |
No Show |
Past House Concerts...
Monday July 6th 2017 - 8.00 pm |
|
Tuesday 2nd November 2017 - 8.00 pm |
|
Tuesday 13th November 2017 - 8.00 pm |
|
Tuesday 17th November 2017 - 8.00 pm |
|
Friday 26th January 2018 - 8.00 pm |
|
Tuesday 20th February 2018 - 8.00pm |
"Jon Byrd" |
Monday 20th March 2018 - 8.00 pm |
|
Monday 15th May 2018 - 8.00 pm |
|
Monday 25th June 2018 - 8.00pm |
|
Tuesday 25th July 2018 - 8.00 pm |
|
Tuesday 21st August 2018 - 8.00 pm |
|
Wednesday 17th October - 8.00pm |
|
Friday 1st March 2019 - 8.00pm |
|
Tuesday 23rd April 2019 - 7.30 pm |
|
Tuesday 21st May 2019 - 8.00pm |
|
Wednesday 29th May 2019 - 8.00pm |
|
|
|
Thursday 18th July 2019 - 8.00pm |
|
Friday 2nd August 2019 - 8.00pm |
|
Thursday 26th September 2019 - 8.00pm |
"Words & Music" Iain Matthews & Ian Clayton |
Wednesday 16th October 2019 - 8.00pm |
Grateful Fred's House Concerts 2021
Wednesday 16th September 2021
Ben Bedford
Join us for the first Grateful Fred House Concert since the pandemic stopped everything, to be held this time at the EDDA building, formerly Ainsdale Library to see and hear the Illinois, USA based singer-songwriter Ben Bedford, supported by The Silver Freds.
Ben is a wonderful songwriter and storyteller and has played at most of the leading festivals and venues throughout the USA and Europe so this is your chance to see a leading international artist in concert at an intimate, local venue. Ben Bedford delivers intriguing sketches of America, its individuals, their victories and their struggles. Poignant, but never sentimental, Bedford’s portrait-like songs capture the vitality of his characters and draw the listener deep into the narratives. In May 2018 Bedford was named one of the winners of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition. Thus joining the ranks of Robert Earl Keen, James McMurtry, Diana Jones, Anais Mitchell, Danny Schmidt, Jonathan Byrd, John Gorka and Pierce Pettis. Portraits is Ben Bedford’s latest album release and was included in many a critic’s ‘Best of 2020’ list. “..something truly special..” 5 stars out of 5 – Rock ‘n Reel “Like a gallery exhibition, ‘Portraits’ showcases exceptional examples of the Illinois-born artist’s vivid renderings of people, places and events in poignant settings of emotional resonance in the tradition of Pete Seeger, Townes Van Zandt, John Hartford and Lyle Lovett” Songlines “Bedford is a boon of a storyteller, a true heir to the classic US folk singers” AmericanaUK 8 /10 www.benbedford.com Tickets are strictly limited to meet Covid guidelines so please don't leave it too late to book yours, at £12 per person, from [email protected]. |
|
Past shows...
Friday 24th January 2020
Stephen Fearing
Stephen Fearing was born in 1963 in Vancouver, British Columbia and grew up in Dublin, Ireland where his schoolmates included future members of U2. In 1981, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and immersed himself in the music scene, learning the fundamentals of song writing and performing, while washing dishes to stay alive.
By 1984 he was back in Vancouver, determined to become a professional musician. In the years since, he’s been named as one of the finest songwriters in Canada and has built a national – and international – audience for his music, doing it old school through countless performances at intimate venues and on the concert stages of festivals and theatres across Canada, the US, the UK, and Europe, with appearances at major events like the Reading Festival and WOMAD, to name just a few. In 1996 he co-founded Blackie and the Rodeo Kings with Colin Linden and Tom Wilson. Originally intended to be a one-off collaboration to record a tribute album of songs written by Canadian folk music legend Willie P. Bennett, the trio quickly recognized they had created something worthy of further exploration and both critics and audiences agreed. More than 22 years later, with nine albums and a JUNO award to their credit, the band has become one of the most respected names in North American roots-rock. Their musical collaborators are many, but to name a few – Emmy Lou Harris, Nick Lowe, City and Colour, Keb’ Mo’, Jason Isbell, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Cockburn, Sam Phillips, Pam Tillis, Vince Gill, Cassandra Wilson, Serena Ryder, Holy Cole, and Mary Margaret O’Hara. In 1998, Stephen Fearing met Andy White backstage at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and a fast friendship was formed. In addition to his own work, White is known for his collaborations with Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, and Sinead O’Connor. As the duo Fearing & White they have released two critically-acclaimed albums and toured throughout Canada and the UK. Fearing has released ten albums as a solo artist, featuring musical guests including: Bruce Cockburn, Margo Timmons, Rose Cousins, Richard Thompson, Shawn Colvin, and Sarah McLachlan. When not working behind the microphone, he spends time producing records including Suzie Vinnick’s JUNO Award-nominated album Happy Here. “I really enjoy collaborating with other artists. It’s a blast and, as a bonus, gives me a chance to learn and expand my skill set.” “Fearing’s music crackles with ideas and collaborative energy… masterful guitar work from acoustic rock rhythm to elegant finger style.” Acoustic Guitar Magazine He also shares his knowledge and experience with fellow musicians through songwriting workshops. “The classes dovetail nicely with performing,” Fearing said. “My students are from all walks of life and I enjoy helping to coax them out of their comfort zones to create songs they might not have otherwise found.” Like the guests on his albums, the many awards and nominations that have come his way over the years speak to the respect he has earned among his peers, presenters, and critics. His abiding love for his craft and ability to delight audiences are further reflected in multiple JUNO and Canadian Folk Music Awards nominations and awards and an ever-expanding touring circuit throughout North America, the UK, and Europe. For his album Every Soul’s a Sailor he was awarded the 2017 Worldwide Album of the Year by Blues & Roots Radio and named 2017 Contemporary Singer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. “A master of the finely-turned phrase and the perfectly-pitched line.” Maverick Magazine Through a life of many relocations and countless months on the road performing, Fearing has become a gifted storyteller and true musical nomad with the ability to enthrall audiences of all sizes and attitudes. “Getting on stage is the fun part, especially when the adrenaline kicks in,” he says, with a broad smile. “People want to escape and be taken on a journey. I build my shows so they do just that.” http://stephenfearing.ca/ Tickets £10 in advance from [email protected] |
Stephen Fearing at Grateful Fred's Shed 24th January 2020
|
Thursday 26th March 2020
Stillhouse Junkies
Stillhouse Junkies is a one-of-a-kind creative project born out of the collecti passions of three individuals with very different musical backgrounds. With chops and stylistic leanings ranging from classical to West African, blues, bluegrass, and swing, Fred Kosak, Alissa Wolf, and Cody Tinnin came together around a shared goal of bringing sounds and grooves to their fans that fall outside of easy genre distinctions. With all three band members trading lead vocal duties and a collective command of nearly a half-dozen instruments, Stillhouse Junkies paint with a rich tonal palette that pays homage to their musical heroes while forging a unique artistic path.
Born out of a long-standing weekly residency at a local distillery in Durango, Coloradu.USA, Stillhouse Junkies have quickly become a staple of Colorado and the Four Corners region’s rich music scene, establishing a solid fan base through multihour performances that feature soaring group improvisations, novel reimaginings of covers from the likes of Asia, Caleb Klauder, and Bill Withers, and intimate vocal-driven ballads. Through their strong writing and creative, intricate arranging, the Junkies have built up an eclectic multi-set catalogue of original music that reflects their diverse interests and creative inclinations. Their songs run the gamut of human emotion and experience: disenchantment with the pace of modern living, confronting adversity in its many forms, mortality and aging, and story songs that imagine reality from the perspective of a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition; a small-town bartender; a lonely miner; an imperiled cattle driver. They pay tribute to the remarkable diversity of both the Four Corners area of the Southwestern US and the country as a whole, probing below the surface of everyday life to find the themes that unite us all as Americans and citizens of the world. In October 2018, Stillhouse Junkies entered the studio to record their sophomore album, Hillbilly Poetry, a collection of 5 original songs released on February 9th. This effort represented the culmination of over a year of constant writing, gigging, rehearsing, and planning and was accompanied by appearances at festivals and venues throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Stillhouse Junkies are proud to have been 2018 and 2019 Telluride Band Contest finalists (3rd & 2nd place) and to have been selected for an Emerging Artist Showcase at the 2019 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. https://stillhousejunkies.com/ Tickets £10 in advance from [email protected] |
|
Wednesday 15th April 2020
Katie Spencer
Katie played a fabulous concert for Grateful Fred last year so we immeadiately asked her to come back this year to perform for us again.
Drawing on influences such as John Martyn, Roy Harper and Laura Marling, Katie Spencer creates modern progressive folk music which owes as much the songwriters of the 60’s acoustic music heyday as it does the East Riding landscape where she has always felt a strong spiritual connection. Her striking vocals and deft songwriting are backed by an evocative and complex guitar style that takes her music to places that are both esoteric and beautiful. Katie has already built up an extremely respected profile within the national acoustic music scene, receiving praise from the likes of Ralph McTell & Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople. She has shared the stage with world-class musicians such as Ted McKenna & Foss Paterson, and is due to be a part of next year’s Celtic Connections celebrations alongside Paul Weller & Eddi Reader playing at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. With various releases already under her belt, Katie was awarded with the Yorkshire Gig Guide Outstanding Emerging Artist in 2018 and continues to receive glowing reviews of both her live performances and recorded works. Ralph McTell said “Katie’s guitar playing has echoes of my dear friend the late great Bert Jansch. Like a musical weaver she threads her poetic lyrics through the guitar’s strings and produces little tapestries of song.” ‘Weather Beaten’ is Katie Spencer’s debut full-length album, a flawless and flowing ten track journey that encapsulates her mesmerising live performance style, subtly embellished by the world-renowned instrumental dexterity of Tom Mason, Miles Bould and Martin Winning on double bass, percussion and woodwind. Produced by Spencer Cozens, long-time collaborator of John Martyn and Joan Armatrading, the sound of the album is clear and bright, bringing a precision and boldness reminiscent of the best ‘ECM’ modern jazz albums, which naturally pairs with the warm and hazy folk sound that envelops Katie’s style. https://www.katiespencer.net/ Tickets £10 in advance from [email protected] |
Katie Spencer at Grateful Fred's Shed May 2019
|
Tuesday 12th May 2020
Aaron Jonah Lewis
Aaron first played at Grateful Fred's at The Atkinson in June 2016 as a member of the Corn Potato String Band.
He's back now as a solo artist. Aaron Jonah Lewis is a champion fiddler who has been elbow-deep in traditional American fiddle and banjo music since his first lessons at the age of five with Kentucky native Robert Oppelt. Lewis has taken blue ribbons at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, WV, and at the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, VA, the oldest and largest fiddlers convention in the country. He is also noted for his mastery of multiple banjo styles. He spends most of his time teaching, touring as a solo performer, with the Corn Potato String Band, Lovestruck Balladeers, and other projects. Lewis has appeared on dozens of recordings from bluegrass and old time to traditional jazz, contemporary experimental and Turkish classical music projects. He has taught workshops at the the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow and at the English Folk Dance and Song Society in London. He also plays and teaches banjo, mandolin, and guitar and is currently based in Detroit. As a banjoist, Lewis explores some interesting veins in the roots of Old Time, Bluegrass, Ragtime and Jazz music through his newest recording, “Mozart of the Banjo: The Joe Morley Project.” This project is devoted to the music of the great English prodigy and virtuoso composer Joe Morley (1867-1937), who wrote a significant body of great banjo pieces in a technique that people today call “classic fingerstyle.” Greg Adams, Archivist at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, says, “Lewis is one of the few performing musicians with the facility to build compelling musical bridges between the printed banjo music and techniques of the 19th century and the instrument’s journey into recorded sound by the turn of the 20th century.” Other musicians featured on the album include banjoist Ben Belcher, pianists Tessa Hartle and Kevin Allswede, Grace van’t Hof on ukulele and Rachel Pearson on bass. The album has been released on Tiki Parlour Recordings in late 2019. Aaron Jonah Lewis is passionate about sharing early fingerstyle banjo music. He brings light to the fact that classic banjo was the most popular form of music a hundred years ago, though today it’s almost entirely forgotten. He is “trying to keep (classic banjo) alive and spread it around, as it’s a delight. https://aaronjonahlewis.com/ Tickets £10 in advance from [email protected] |
|
Wednesday 17th June 2020
Max & Veronica
"Good time blues is alive and well and residing in... Milan, Italy. A band with a mission" - Folk & Roots Magazine
Veronica Sbergia & Max De Bernardi passionately play country blues and ragtime, hokum, jug band and rural music from the 20's and 30's. They like to keep this precious musical heritage alive faithfully reproducing its original sound whilst playing it with a modern twist. Using strictly acoustic instruments such ukulele, washboard, kazoo, resophonic guitars and doublebass their passion for this music is perfectly represented on their last CD "OLD STORIES FOR MODERN TIMES", that also sees contributions by other leading musicians and friends, Sugar Blue (a legendary harmonica player in the past with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Willie Dixon and Frank Zappa) and the world master of resophonic guitar, Bob Brozman. The album is an overview of the American popular music from the early years of the last century with the Red Wine Serenaders reinterpreting great songs by artists like Big Bill Broonzy, Memphis Minnie, Jimmie Rodgers, Sidney Bechet, Lucille Bogan, Bo Carter, Delmore Brothers in their own unique style. With their trio called "Veronica & The Red Wine Serenaders" they won the European Blues Challenge 2013, an important international contest held in Toulouse. Thanks to this result they performed at the prestigious Notodden Blues Festival in Norway and took part in the Lucerne Blues Festival. Veronica & Max regularly perform in the USA, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Norway, Spain, England, Italy and Poland. Veronica is also the first Italian artist ever invited to the Mustique Blues Festival in the Caribbean. http://www.maxandveronica.com/ Tickets £10 in advance from [email protected] |
|
Wednesday 16th September 2020
Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen
Meeting via a chance YouTube sighting and fueled by rare musical chemistry, eclectic Roots-Folk songwriters Dan Frechette, guitar/vocals, and Laurel Thomsen, violin/vocals, prove that musical magic is not only possible, but as described by The Monterey Herald, “a match made in heaven”. Lyrically refreshing and musically diverse, over the past three years this Canadian-American duo has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada, releasing two albums of their diverse and uplifting original material. Dan & Laurel take to the stage with exuberance, and as a concert reviewer in Tappen, British Columbia wrote, with “their energy, winsome personalities, and toe tapping rhythms, keep audiences engaged with every song”.
Since the duo played their first concert together in early 2013, they have performed close to 100's and 100's of concerts each year ranging from house shows to festivals and theaters. Highlights have included a twelve date Home Routes tour of northern British Columbia, opening for The Wailin’ Jennys at a sold out theater in Grass Valley, the definitive Russ & Julie’s House Concert in Los Angeles, the Eastern Manitoba Concert Association (EMCA) series, and official showcases at the FAR-West Conference in 2014. With broad influences ranging from Folk, Classical, Old Time and Celtic, to Gospel, Jazz, Vintage Country, Rock N' Roll, Blues and Bluegrass, Dan and Laurel flow seamlessly through genres, tempos, stories, and moods, embodying each style with virtuosic command and keeping music fans on the edge of their seats. The enjoyment is palpable. www.danandlaurel.ca Tickets £10 in advance from [email protected] |
|
Grateful Fred's House Concerts 2019...
Friday 1st March 2019 8.00pm
Eric Brace, Thomm Jutz and Peter Cooper
Eric Brace, Thomm Jutz and Peter Cooper
We are absolutely pleased as punch to be welcoming back to Grateful Fred's the wonderful music and songs of Eric Brace, Thomm Jutz, and on this occasion, Peter Cooper.
Eric and Thomm gave us a wonderful evening at Grateful Fred's when they played in July 2018 and this time they will be joined by another great songwriter, singer and musician, their friend Peter Cooper. Eric, Peter and Thomm are each, in their own right, accomplished singers, songwriters, musicians, and performers. There are long lists of awards, nominations, and chart-topping tunes to prove as much. Sometimes a team of all-stars has trouble gelling as a team. With their second album as a trio Brace, Cooper, and Jutz alleviate any concerns that this may be the case for them. They will be performing songs from their new album. All of the songs deal with Mississippi – the state, the river, the people, and the history. At the same time, listeners can’t help but get the impression that Mississippi is serving as a metaphor for something bigger. The musicianship on the album is top shelf. The trio, their rhythm section, and a few featured instrumentalists contribute to a soundscape that is subtle but rock solid. At no point does any piece of the puzzle get in the way of the combined effort. Everyone seems to know that when you’re a part of something this good, there’s no need to show off. The album opens with ‘River City’, a song that captures the permanence of transience in the places around America’s first superhighway. The first verse shows us a young man “getting off a boat just for the night” while the next sees “an old man getting off the ride just one more night.” The two could be separated by generations or they could be the same man separated by a lifetime. They could be lying down in separate rooms of the same hotel on the same night. From there the album traces a broad historical arc via the technologies, people and events that have shaped Mississippi. The river is graced by canoes then keelboats, steamboats then tugboats, towboats, barges, and tankers. Battles and floods are balanced against pleasure cruises on floating palaces. Giants like Mike Fink, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Faulkner cross paths with sharecroppers, nomads, farmers, and retirees. Dont' miss what will be another great evening at Grateful Fred's! |
|
Tuesday 23rd April 2019 7.30pm
Amber Cross
Amber Cross
“The discovery of the year was surely Amber Cross, the most thrilling folksinger-songwriter I’ve heard in recent years.”Jerome Clark, Rambles.net
Originally from Maine, Amber spent her early years surrounded by gospel music in a small town church where her father preached and her mother played piano. In 2003 Amber left her studies at New Mexico State University to pursue her love for music. She moved up and down the coast of California; the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sierra Foothills, the San Joaquin River Valley, the coastal range of Sonoma County, and now San Luis Obispo County. She has opened for such artists as Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Jerry Douglas, Gurf Morlix, Mary Gauthier and Dave Stamey, as well as made frequent guest performances with The Wronglers, Warren Hellman’s band, founder of San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. Amber released her debut album You Can Come In in March of 2013. Country Music People Magazine/UK, discovered the album and gave it a 5 Star Review and CD Of The Month, saying “Every now and again a debut CD arrives and you know about 30 seconds in that you are experiencing something a bit special… it’s appeal is likely to be broad, from bluegrass, rootsy Appalachian, to country or honky-tonk.” “Every once in a while music comes along that you just know instantly that you are going to like. Amber’s melodies are more than complimented by thoughtful, interesting and honest lyrics, along with fine, understated musicianship that proves the old adage that "less is more”. The result is a set of superbly crafted, well-rounded, addictive songs that stay with you long after the last notes have ended, and make you hungry for more.“ -Duncan Warwick, Country Music People Magazine Amber will be accompanied by James Moore on guitar and mandolin. Opening the evening for Amber at 7.30pm will be: "Mandolin Jack" |
|
Tuesday May 21st 2019 8.00pm
Katie Spencer
Katie Spencer
Drawing on influences such as John Martyn, Roy Harper and Laura Marling, Katie Spencer creates modern progressive folk music which owes as much the songwriters of the 60’s acoustic music heyday as it does the East Riding landscape where she has always felt a strong spiritual connection. Her striking vocals and deft songwriting are backed by an evocative and complex guitar style that takes her music to places that are both esoteric and beautiful.
Katie has already built up an extremely respected profile within the national acoustic music scene, receiving praise from the likes of Ralph McTell & Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople. She has shared the stage with world-class musicians such as Ted McKenna & Foss Paterson, and is due to be a part of next year’s Celtic Connections celebrations alongside Paul Weller & Eddi Reader playing at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. With various releases already under her belt, Katie was awarded with the Yorkshire Gig Guide Outstanding Emerging Artist in 2018 and continues to receive glowing reviews of both her live performances and recorded works. Ralph McTell said “Katie’s guitar playing has echoes of my dear friend the late great Bert Jansch. Like a musical weaver she threads her poetic lyrics through the guitar’s strings and produces little tapestries of song.” ‘Weather Beaten’ is Katie Spencer’s debut full-length album, a flawless and flowing ten track journey that encapsulates her mesmerising live performance style, subtly embellished by the world-renowned instrumental dexterity of Tom Mason, Miles Bould and Martin Winning on double bass, percussion and woodwind. Produced by Spencer Cozens, long-time collaborator of John Martyn and Joan Armatrading, the sound of the album is clear and bright, bringing a precision and boldness reminiscent of the best ‘ECM’ modern jazz albums, which naturally pairs with the warm and hazy folk sound that envelops Katie’s style. |
|
Wednesday 29th May 2019 8.00pm
Rick Shea
Rick Shea
Rick Shea cut his teeth in the bars and honky-tonks of San Bernardino where he grew up. He's since gone on to build a solid career for himself as a solo artist, singer, guitarist and songwriter. Shea is equally at home with an acoustic guitar and a set of ballads and stories, or with his worn old Telecaster burning through a set of his own songs and a few honky-tonk standards. With nine critically acclaimed albums he’s performed all over Southern California, the West Coast and across the country.
His songs reflect the folk, country, rock and Mexican influences he grew up with. As a songwriter Shea lets the songs find their own settings. “Starting out you might be hearing a song one way and then when its done realize it’s about something else altogether.” And on his songwriting influences Shea says, “When I was younger Merle Haggard cast a long shadow, but since then Dave Alvin, Jim Ringer and a lot of other music has found its way in.” Rick’s latest album Sweet Bernardine, his ninth, is a collection of his own stories and stories of California and beyond. From the train journey he took as a brokenhearted young man in “Mexicali Train” to the harrowing tale of his great grandfather’s time in Civil war prisoner camps in “John Shea from Kenmare”, Shea’s songs resonate deeply. Recently Rick has toured Texas, New England, Ireland, the U.K. and Hawaii. “Playing live shows is what I've always done, from the bars, honky-tonks and coffeehouses I started in to the shows I do now. It’s a chance for me to meet people and see them connect with the songs, that’s really what it’s all about.” "If your tastes run toward hard working, literate, back 40 folkies like Tom Russell, Chuck Pyle, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and others like that, Shea is sure to be another that you're going to dig. With a very personal edge to his writing and singing, this is classic folkie/troubadour stuff that cuts right to the chase and delivers moves that others can only turn into clichés. Check it out, it's the real deal." - Chris Spector MIDWEST RECORD "a hauntingly nostalgic vocalist, imperative guitarist and literate, detail-rich songwriter, do yourself a favour." - Gary von Tersch, Sing Out |
|
Tuesday 11th June 2019 8.00pm
Terry Lee Hale
Terry Lee Hale
One of the most powerful singer-songwriters, Terry Lee Hale has been making great records for twenty five years.
He first made an impact on the Seattle scene, playing the clubs and bars with his open guitar tunings and deeply interesting, sometimes dangerous songs, and went on to build a faithful fan base that’s spread around the planet. In 2013, he delivered The Long Draw on Glitterhouse Records, and Bound, Chained, Fettered appeared in 2016, built from truthful stories sung with a voice that reflects and carries the emotional impact of time, obstacles overcome and wisdom earned. Making a rare visit to these shores, those who have seen the man in action will tell you that this is as good as it gets. “Rarely has he sounded better” – Americana UK writer Paul Kerr “The Long Draw is packed with great music and stories, from a man who is not only a very talented musician, he is also an artist. The Long Draw is one of 2013’s best CDs and in this critic’s view it is a masterpiece” Paul Riley – Country Music People UK “Hale has made the record that Dylan seems nowadays incapable of thinking and create. He perfectly knows the rules of songwriting and still handles them masterfully” Giancarlo Susanna – Outsider Italy “This Texan born, Paris based songwriter has released one of the better albums of the year.” Paul Kerr – Americana UK |
|
Thursday 18th July 2019 8.00pm
I See Hawks In LA
I See Hawks In LA
After one of the best Grateful Fred House Concerts in July of last year we are so pleased to be welcoming back Los Angeles band "I See Hawks In LA" back to Grateful Fred's.
The Hawks pursue a kind of cerebral, witty, and at times refreshingly silly alt-country path along the lines of earlier California country-rock bands like the Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, and the Byrds, following the template of what Gram Parsons once called "cosmic American music." If the Eagles in their Hotel California heyday represented the LA Orange County picture everyone believed, I See Hawks In L.A document the reality of the 99%, set to a soundtrack of weeping guitars and three part harmonies. They bring their four-piece acoustic incarnation for this very special two-set performance- don’t miss this superb incarnation of genuine LA country-rock royalty. They’ve a loyal following around the globe from many U.S. and Europe/UK tours, consistently rave reviews from critics. It’s been almost 17 years since the release of their eponymous debut. They didn’t get rich, they didn’t get famous, and yet they’re still here, perhaps benefitting artistically from the rocky passage. The rich flavour of battered soul. It’s clear these Hawks are in it for the music, for each other, and for the adventure of it all. “One of California’s unique treasures” – Dave Alvin “The finest country rock band on the planet” – MOJO |
|
Friday 2nd August 2019 8.00pm
Henry Priestman & Les Glover
Henry Priestman & Les Glover
Like "The Hawks" above, we had another brilliant night last year when Henry and Les gave us "Fredheads" one of the best, funny and friendliest evenings we've enjoyed since we started the house concerts.
Henry and Les are two of our absolute favourite performers and people and if you've never seen them yet dont' miss them this time! After many in the music business – and with a credit list longer than both your arms – in 2009 Henry Priestman (having not sung since 1981!!) reinvented himself as a singer-songwriter, and released his debut solo CD “The Chronicles of Modern Life” (on legendary Island Records) to critical acclaim. Never one to rush things, 5 years later, in Feb 2014 Proper Records released the eagerly awaited follow-up entitled “The Last Mad Surge of Youth”, which garnered Henry the best reviews he’s had in his many years of releasing albums. Les Glover, Henry’s sparring partner, has, over the last 39 years, been performing, either as a solo artist or as part of a band, both in the UK and across Europe, and has several TV and radio appearances (including BBC Cambridge, Coventry, Hull, Merseyside and Stoke) to his credit. He has played and sung with a variety of top acts, including Henry Priestman (The Christians /It’s Immaterial/Yachts), Graham Gouldman (10cc), Pete Riley (Edwin McCain/Amy Wadge), John Reilly (Boy on a Dolphin), JJ Gilmour (The Silencers), Lotte Mullan, and Micaela Haslam (BBC singers/Synergy Vocals) and Gary Barlow, to name but a few. He has also supported artists such as Deaf School, Fisherman’s Friends, Nick Harper, Ian McNabb, Martin Stephenson and Wreckless Eric. He has a healthy love of all styles of music, from Hank Williams to Motorhead and an unhealthy love of 70’s Pop. We can promise you a truly entertaining evening with Henry and Les that you wont’ want to miss! |
|
Thursday 26th September 2019 8.00pm
Words & Music and Evening with Iain Matthews & Ian Clayton
Words & Music and Evening with Iain Matthews & Ian Clayton
Iain Matthews's critically acclaimed memoir "Thro' My Eyes", was written in collaboration with author, broadcaster and storyteller Ian Clayton.
The book is structured around a series of Matthews's songs and illustrated by the stories that inspired them. The pair are taking to the road to bring the book to life with a new music and words show. Ian Clayton will read stories from the book interspersed with live songs from Iain Matthews. The show will follow the story of Iain's life, from a Scunthorpe childhood obsessed with football and music, to thrusting himself into the heart of Carnaby Street in the swinging-sixties. Iain first gained attention as a founding member and vocalist for the innovative Fairport Convention’s first three albums, changing the voice of folk music in his country. He moved on to create Matthews’ Southern Comfort, exploring his interest in American music. They had a No 1 hit in the UK with Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’. Never one to stand still for very long Iain moved on during the 1970’s with another group, Plainsong. An ensemble that allowed Iain to blossom as a songwriter and acoustic guitarist – supported by his ex-Fairport mates Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson both in the studio and in Richard’s case on tour. Between his own solo recording and various Plainsong line-ups Iain released ten albums to critical acclaim including another well known Top Ten US hit with the single ‘Shake It’. During the early 1980’s Matthews turned towards the business side of musicas a rep for Island Records, but was persuaded by Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin to get back to making music.He returned to the USA for more solo work and Plainsong records. During this period he recorded a wonderful version of Peter Gabriel’s ‘Mercy Street”, contributed to a Phil Ochs’s Tribute album and recorded plus toured with Nanci Griffith. Next he released another respected record with the somewhat sarcastic title “Excerpts from Swine Lake”. In 2000 Matthews settled in the Netherlands and found a busy, happy life in Europe with more touring of the UK and continent. Yet more well received collaborative recordings were issued including a Tribute album to Sandy Denny. Since then Matthews has found one of his most sympathetic musical companions the pianist Egbert Derix. However Matthews feels he has finally found an almost perfect musical sweet spot, playing solo, in support of his most recent solo album ‘A Baker’s Dozen”. As his 50 years (can this be true) in the business prove, things do come around again and again. TICKETS £15 from [email protected] or 0797 077 4618 |
|
Tuesday 16th October 2019 8.00pm
Grainne Hunt
Grainne Hunt
Grainne Hunt is a contemporary folk singer and songwriter, raised in Monaghan and living in Kildare. With consistently on-point, captivating vocals and well-honed, insightful songs, Grainne has shared stages with Glen Hansard and Mark Geary and has been compared to vocal icons Tracy Chapman and Nathalie Merchant.
Having just returned from Nashville, with a new record, 'This Secret', in her pocket, Grainne is working towards it's release in September 2019. Recorded with Thomm Jutz (Nanci Griffith, Maura O’Connell) and featuring the skills of Mark Fain (Ry Cooder) on bass and Lynn Williams (John Hiatt) on drums, it is already gaining attention in the US. April 2019 has also seen the release of an Irish folk album, Songs from Ireland, recorded with award winning guitarist Brendan Walsh. Recorded in May 2018 in Soundville Studios Luzern, including songs Buachaill on Eirne and Raglan Road, |
|
Tuesday 12th November 2019 8.00pm
Allison De Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
Allison De Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
Drawing on the roots of old-time and bluegrass, this impressive duo features two gifted young musicians who are already leading lights in the new generation of American roots music. We’re very excited to bring Tatiana and Allison to the UK later this year for their first European duo tour!
Talented banjoist Allison De Groot has made a name for herself as a member of powerful quartet The Goodbye Girls (alongside Molly Tuttle) and for her intricate clawhammer work in Molsky’s Mountain Drifters. Originally from Winnipeg, Canada, Allison gained a performance degree from the prestigious AllisonTatianaedit2Berklee College of Music and has since toured all over the world, playing festivals from Celtic Connections to Rockygrass and Denmark’s Tønder Festival. Tatiana Hargreaves is a phenomenal old-time and bluegrass fiddler. Based in North Carolina, Tatiana was a fiddle prodigy from a young age. She has toured with bluegrass and Americana luminaries including Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings, and Bruce Molsky and contributed her bluegrass fiddling to Laurie Lewis’ Grammy-nominated album The Hazel And Alice Sessions. She released her first solo album in 2009 and has gained acclaim for duo projects with award-winning old-time musician Jake Blount and with superstar bassist Ethan Jodciewicz. Together, Allison and Tatiana create a sound that is adventurous, masterful, and original, whilst still paying homage to the best of Appalachian traditions. Their recently released self-titled debut album not only showcases their hugely impressive musicianship but also reflects on the expansive, diverse canon of American roots music. Alongside classic tunes, the duo performs lesser-known American fiddle and banjo songs from the likes of African-American duo Nathan Frazier & Frank Patterson, bluegrass pioneer Alice Gerrard, centenarian Arkansas fiddler Violet Hensley and more. In live performance, Allison and Tatiana create scintillating, foot-tapping music, taking the banjo and fiddle duet to another level! |
|
Tickets... |
If you would like a ticket for any of the above house concerts, at £10 per ticket, (apart from September 26th) please either email [email protected] or call Colin on 0797 077 4618
Past House Concerts...
One of the first House Concerts I ever saw was at Gabi & Pete's house of The Good Intentions featuring the aforesaid Henry and Les and it was a brilliant, fun night of great live music and a lot of laughs.
Since that evening at Gabi & Pete's we've been lucky enough to have Henry and Les play at Grateful Fred's at The Atkinson on two separate occasions with a third appearance lined up for September the 5th this year (2018). Henry Priestman, (yes “that” Henry Priestman of The Christians and The Yachts fame) is arguably one the most entertaining singer-songwriters that I have ever seen live. Combine great truly-singable songs with a wicked sense of humour and a charm you’ll fall for straight away and you have “Henry”. Henry has travelled throughout the world as a true “pop star” with “The Christians” before leaving to become one of the best-loved entertainers on the folk and acoustic music scene. "Loved Up Les", Henry's partner in crime is a great singer-songwriter in his own right and as Henry's "accomplice" he's "Eric" to Henry's "Ernie", or is it the other way around? A champion of the intimate “house-concert” concept I am so pleased to have been able to book Henry and Les to play at the Grateful Fred House Concert series. If you'd like one of the few tickets left at £12, please message me at gratefulfreddie (at) gmail.com or call me on 0797 077 4618 Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jon Byrd is one of Grateful Fred's favourite musicians who has played for "The Fredheads" on two previous occasions. Once at the now sadly closed "Lomax" venue in Liverpool city-centre and once at the "Grateful Fred Cafe' Sessions Series" in Formby near Liverpool. Both shows were wonderful and we've been trying to get Jon back since then. This appearance at the new "Grateful Fred House Concerts" is sure to be a great night. Jon writes great songs and has a wonderful way of telling the stories behind the songs that ensure his audiences are carried along with him.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, JON BYRD lived his formative years in small town America, deep in the piney woods of south Alabama just one county over from the birthplace of legendary country artist Hank Williams. When Jon was just eight years old, his dad was diagnosed with TB and began singing the immortal Jimmie Rogers’ song “TB Blues” all around the house. That same year Jon saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan and his obsession with the musical tension between country and rock ‘n’ roll was born. After touring nationally with jangle-pop purists Tim Lee and the Windbreakers and Birmingham’s Primitons in the 1980s, the 1990s saw Byrd attempting a Ph.D. in American Studies at Emory University in Atlanta… while becoming a central figure in Atlanta’s storied Redneck Underground music scene as lead guitarist for the seminal and legendary country band Slim Chance and the Convicts (Letters to Mama, 1993, and Twang Peaks, 1996). He also formed the hard country band the Ratchet Set as a musical outlet for his love of old trucking songs and two chord honky-tonk gems. In 1998, after 7 years of teaching and no diss, Byrd helped country traditionalist Greta Lee record her first full-length record This Ain’t Over Yet. In 2001, he co-produced and again handled lead guitar duties on Lee’s follow-up You Must Be Present to Win. That same year, Byrd relocated to Nashville, Tennessee where he quickly made a name for himself in Music City as a singularly authentic country singer and Telecaster slinger recording with such fine artists as the soulful Davis Raines, Texas country singer Buck Jones, folk-rock songwriter Stephen Simmons, and the rockabilly whirlwind Suzette Lawrence. Ultimately, Jon brings music lovers of all stripes out to hear great country songs sung and played with heart and soul. He’s a little more accomplished now, but he’s still that little kid playing for the hometown crowd. If you'd like a ticket to see Jon at £10, please message me at gratefulfreddie (at) gmail.com or call me on 0797 077 4618 |
|
Thursday 2nd November 2017 - 8.00pm
"Jim Kweskin"
Yes, "that" Jim Kweskin of "Jim Kweskin Jug Band" fame.
Jim Kweskin is probably best known as a singer and bandleader. He also created one of the bedrock guitar styles of the folk revival, adapting the ragtime-blues fingerpicking of artists like Blind Boy Fuller to the more complex chords of pop and jazz. He has maintained a remarkably consistent musical vision since his jug band days, continuing to explore traditional folk and blues with the sophisticated sensibility of a jazz musician and jazz with the communal simplicity of a folk artist. He has recorded solo ventures, as a member of the U and I band, and with U and I bandmate Samoa Wilson, and continues to perform widely in various formats. In recent years he and Geoff Muldaur have often appeared as a duo, revisiting and expanding on their Jug Band repertoire.
"There has never been another group like Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band. The original "Americana" band, playing everything from classic blues to hillbilly country, ragtime, jazz, and rock 'n' roll, they perfectly captured the legendary 1960s mix of exuberant anarchy and heartfelt sincerity. Their imitators were legion, including a San Francisco jug band that became the Grateful Dead and a New York jug band that became the Lovin' Spoonful, but no other group attained their unique blend of youthful energy and antiquarian expertise, tight musicianship, loose camaraderie, and infectious swing".
www.jimkweskin.com
"Jim Kweskin"
Yes, "that" Jim Kweskin of "Jim Kweskin Jug Band" fame.
Jim Kweskin is probably best known as a singer and bandleader. He also created one of the bedrock guitar styles of the folk revival, adapting the ragtime-blues fingerpicking of artists like Blind Boy Fuller to the more complex chords of pop and jazz. He has maintained a remarkably consistent musical vision since his jug band days, continuing to explore traditional folk and blues with the sophisticated sensibility of a jazz musician and jazz with the communal simplicity of a folk artist. He has recorded solo ventures, as a member of the U and I band, and with U and I bandmate Samoa Wilson, and continues to perform widely in various formats. In recent years he and Geoff Muldaur have often appeared as a duo, revisiting and expanding on their Jug Band repertoire.
"There has never been another group like Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band. The original "Americana" band, playing everything from classic blues to hillbilly country, ragtime, jazz, and rock 'n' roll, they perfectly captured the legendary 1960s mix of exuberant anarchy and heartfelt sincerity. Their imitators were legion, including a San Francisco jug band that became the Grateful Dead and a New York jug band that became the Lovin' Spoonful, but no other group attained their unique blend of youthful energy and antiquarian expertise, tight musicianship, loose camaraderie, and infectious swing".
www.jimkweskin.com
|
Monday 13th November 2017 - 8.00pm
"Nathan Bell"
Nathan Bell is a songwriter’s songwriter, a man who has shared bills with legends like Townes Van Zandt, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal and Norman Blake. The son of a poet and professor, his concise narratives come wrapped in gorgeously downhome yet ethereal production, adorned with gentle harmonies, daydreaming mandolin and the occasional blanket of pedal steel. He’s got a keen eye for detail, and an unapologetic penchant for the political, populist humanism of his literary heroes John Steinbeck, Jack London and Studs Terkel.
Nathan Bell has lived life. At 56, the wizened songwriter’s weary voice bleeds experience. He’s seen both sides of the coin—traveled the nomadic, bohemian path of the hard-luck troubadour, and found comfort and meaning in the stability of a family, a home and a near two-decade corporate gig. And now, with a guitar back in his hands where it should be, he’s ready to tell the tale. But it’s not just his own story he’s after. It’s a story of America, of the working classes—both blue and white collar.
www.nathanbellmusic.com
"Nathan Bell"
Nathan Bell is a songwriter’s songwriter, a man who has shared bills with legends like Townes Van Zandt, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal and Norman Blake. The son of a poet and professor, his concise narratives come wrapped in gorgeously downhome yet ethereal production, adorned with gentle harmonies, daydreaming mandolin and the occasional blanket of pedal steel. He’s got a keen eye for detail, and an unapologetic penchant for the political, populist humanism of his literary heroes John Steinbeck, Jack London and Studs Terkel.
Nathan Bell has lived life. At 56, the wizened songwriter’s weary voice bleeds experience. He’s seen both sides of the coin—traveled the nomadic, bohemian path of the hard-luck troubadour, and found comfort and meaning in the stability of a family, a home and a near two-decade corporate gig. And now, with a guitar back in his hands where it should be, he’s ready to tell the tale. But it’s not just his own story he’s after. It’s a story of America, of the working classes—both blue and white collar.
www.nathanbellmusic.com
|
Tuesday 21 November 2017 - 8.00pm
"Amelia White"
2016 was a good year for Amelia White in the UK, where her last full-length release, “Home Sweet Hotel,” landed some killer reviews, like a top country pick in the Telegraph (along with Buddy Miller, Bonnie Raitt, and John Moreland.) She played Maverick, Summertyne, and Platform festivals, along with a month of club dates. While touring, White stayed in a promoter’s attic in York, and reading the news from the US began to write, the songs that would make up “Rain.” That ocean of separation gave her the necessary distance to comment on the shake-up back home without finger pointing, something that White has always done. No judgement, just sharp observations that lead to emotions. Music City Roots host and journalist Craig Havighurst wrote that “her songs each have some fascinating crystalline shape that invites close attention and touch. “Rhythm of the Rain” is a collection of tunes touched by White’s tenure in theUK, where it will be released on Oct. 27th, 2017, (Distribution through Proper Records) as an offering of thanks for feeling embraced just when she needed it.
www.ameliawhite.com
"Amelia White"
2016 was a good year for Amelia White in the UK, where her last full-length release, “Home Sweet Hotel,” landed some killer reviews, like a top country pick in the Telegraph (along with Buddy Miller, Bonnie Raitt, and John Moreland.) She played Maverick, Summertyne, and Platform festivals, along with a month of club dates. While touring, White stayed in a promoter’s attic in York, and reading the news from the US began to write, the songs that would make up “Rain.” That ocean of separation gave her the necessary distance to comment on the shake-up back home without finger pointing, something that White has always done. No judgement, just sharp observations that lead to emotions. Music City Roots host and journalist Craig Havighurst wrote that “her songs each have some fascinating crystalline shape that invites close attention and touch. “Rhythm of the Rain” is a collection of tunes touched by White’s tenure in theUK, where it will be released on Oct. 27th, 2017, (Distribution through Proper Records) as an offering of thanks for feeling embraced just when she needed it.
www.ameliawhite.com