2019 Shows...
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Jan 2nd The Jaywalkers
Feb 6th Gordie Tentress & Jaxon Haldane Mar 7th Thunder & Rain Apr 3rd Captain of The Lost Waves May 2nd Ron Block & Tony Furtado Jun 6th Blue Summit Jul 3rd Resonant Rogues Aug 7th Witherward Sep 5th 3hatrio Oct 3rd Alice Wallace Nov 7th Brenna Leigh & Noel McKay Dec 5th CUA Full details of all shows below... |
& Gerry Ffrench, Silver Freds
& Caitlin Gilligan & Alan O'Hare, Mountainface & White Little Lies, Alison Benson & Jenny Colquitt & Limerance, Calum Gilligan & Danny Bradley & The Silver Freds & Tom Blackwell & Stuat Todd & White Little Lies, Caitlin Gilligan & Mark Pountney & The Silver Freds & Limerance & Mikey Kenney & Thom Morecroft |
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Since starting out back in 2008, Jaywalkers have cemented their place as one of the most exciting, virtuosic and entertaining young bands working on the British Acoustic Music scene.
Effortlessly creating their own unique version of Acoustic Americana, the band takes influences from Old-Time, Bluegrass, Country, Folk and Western Swing in the form of virtuosic instrumentals, three part harmony and impressive slap bass. Add good humour, great song-writing, tasteful arrangements and exceptional musicianship to the mix and they are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. The music Jaywalkers create is innovative and exhilarating but rooted deeply in tradition. Support will be: Gerry French Tickets at just £11 are available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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Gordie Tentrees returns to play 25 record release concerts in England, Ireland and Scotland including famed Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland with much loved multi-instrumentalist Jaxon Haldane who also opens all concerts solo before joining Gordie on stage.
Deeply personal and moving, melodic and uplifting and lyrically rich – these are the songs that will tear your heart out, one note at a time. Master storyteller and multi-instrumental performer Gordie Tentrees has arrived. Yukon based, Ontario raised, farm boy, golden glove boxer, school teacher, youth counsellor turned folk artist, Tentrees has released 6 records touring North America, UK, Australia and Europe up to 200 concerts each year, nominated for Western Canadian Music Awards, international song competitions and toured with Kelly Joe Phelps, Fred Eaglesmith, Steve Poltz and Mary Gauthier. Opening the show will be... Caitlin Gilligan Tickets at just £11 are available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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Thunder and Rain is a 4-piece acoustic Americana band from the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Consisting of acoustic guitar, mandolin, dobro, and upright bass, Thunder and Rain seamlessly blends their favourite elements of bluegrass, country, pop and alt-rock to cultivate their own take on the American roots music traditions. Driven by the catchy choruses and dreamy melodies sung by Erinn Peet-Lukes, the band perfectly supports her heartfelt songwriting with strong country grooves, lush harmonies and rich instrumental decoration.
Erinn formed the band in the fall of 2011 when she moved to Colorado from Brooklyn, NY. Since then, she has added the classical talents of Ian Haegele (Upright Bass), the smooth sounds of Chris Herbst (Dobro/Lap Steel), the crisp chop from Dylan McCarthy (mandolin), and sometimes the beautiful melodies provided by Natalie Padilla (Fiddle). The band is excited to have Natalie join them on their upcoming Spring 2019 tour to the UK. Thunder and Rain has played for audiences in Canada and Ireland, as well as across the US. Their meaningful lyrics and soaring choruses have connected with fans both young and old. They are now touring on the heels of their second full length album, "Start Believing". Notable past achievements include being 2014 Rockygrass Band Competition finalists, #1 Westward's Best Bluegrass bands of 2016, and Erinn Peet-Lukes being a 2018 Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition finalist. Tickets at just £11 are available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson |
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Wednesday 3rdApril
Captain Of The Lost Waves
Captain Of The Lost Waves
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“The Captain was born to be an entertainer, perhaps even a prophet…watching his show is a life altering experience…heavy excesses mixed with hedonism, gluttonies and musical debauchery. Think Monty Python meets Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody”. The Huffington Post
The Captain is not just the figurehead of his musical vessel: he’s ringmaster; bard; troubadour; master of ceremonies and sage. With one leg in early 20th Century vaudeville and the other in tomorrow’s social commentary (yes, he has very long legs!), there’s far more to him and his absurdly engaging world than any of your ten-a-penny musical stars. Seen through showers of glitter, kaleidoscopic lens flares and in the rainbows in a million puddles, the Captain of the Lost Waves tells stories to connect with everyone past, present and future. The Captain is the kind of ebullient troubadour you might imagine flitted from village to village in centuries past. Indeed, with no concrete details as to his Earthly origins (beyond some vagaries about the Wild, Wild West and Yorkshire) what can be said is that he has travelled extensively, taking his show to audiences who are transported aboard his mystical voyages as he variously inhabits the personae of Scaramouche, The Pied Piper and all the good captains rolled into one (Hook, Pugwash and Beaky for starters). captainofthelostwaves.com/ Supporting The Captain will be: White Little Lies Ali Benson Tickets for this great night of music are just £11 from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/captain-of-the-lost-waves/ |
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Wednesday 1st May
Ron Block & Tony Furtado
Ron Block & Tony Furtado
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Ron Block is one of the biggest stars on the American roots music scene. Bluegrass banjo ace Ron (Alison Krauss & Union Station) is also a superb guitarist, multiple Grammy winner and songwriter. An outstanding musician, Ron has also performed and recorded with Kate Rusby, Brad Paisley and Sierra Hull to name just a few. Tony Furtado is an exceptional banjoist, slide guitarist, singer and songwriter who shot to prominence when he won the Winfield National Banjo championships as a teenager. A charismatic live performer, Tony has toured worldwide for over 25 years and has collaborated with world class musicians including Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien and Dirk Powell. Ron and Tony are old friends, and this special live collaboration is guaranteed to be a stellar presentation of American roots music!
Ron Block’s musical pedigree is extensive and impressive, with an almost embarrassingly long list of awards and credits to his name. Nashville veteran Ron has won 14 Grammy Awards and is well known worldwide as a long time member of bluegrass supergroup Alison Krauss Ron Block banjo lo res& Union Station, playing both banjo and guitar, as well as singing harmony and writing several of the band’s best-loved songs. In addition to his work with Alison Krauss, California-born Ron has released several solo albums including 2015’s Hogan’s House of Music. With a myriad of influences ranging from blues to folk, as well as deep roots in bluegrass, Ron has played, recorded and collaborated with dozens of renowned musicians including Dolly Parton, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan and Vince Gill. He has also worked regularly with UK folk favourites Kate Rusby and Damien O’Kane, his recent collaboration with Damien resulted in 2018’s Banjophony album, and he also toured the UK in 2016 with rising star and Grammy nominee Sierra Hull. Ron also performed on the soundtrack for the award-winning Coen Brothers film O Brother Where Art Thou, which brought bluegrass and old time music to wider prominence back in 2000. Tony Furtado is a stunning live performer who has been hailed as a genius on banjo and slide guitar. Also born in California, at the age of 19 Tony won the prestigious National Banjo Championships in Winfield, Kansas and subsequently signed to Rounder Records, releasing six acclaimed albums withTony F guitar lo res them which blended jazz, bluegrass, folk and blues influences. Over the years Tony has collaborated, performed and recorded with numerous master musicians and acoustic greats including Alison Krauss, Kelly Joe Phelps, Mike Marshall, Seth Lakeman, Laurie Lewis, Matt Flinner and many more. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele. A tireless road musician, Tony has toured worldwide since the 1990s, playing his captivating brand of Americana and acoustic roots both solo and with his band, and performing at top venues and prestigious festivals including the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival and countless others. Supporting Ron and Tony will be: Jenny Colquitt Tickets for this great night of music are just £11 from: www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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California’s Blue Summit is an outstanding contemporary bluegrass and Americana quartet featuring young rising stars AJ Lee and Sullivan Tuttle, who before Blue Summit were members of “The Tuttles with AJ Lee” (alongside Sullivan’s elder sister, celebrated guitarist and singer/songwriter Molly Tuttle, who played in May last year at Grateful Fred’s). Now 20 and 22 respectively, in Blue Summit Lee and Tuttle and their talented bandmates Jesse Fichman and Chad Bowen combine virtuoso instrumental work with soaring vocals and sweet harmonies, bringing a fresh modern approach to bluegrass music. Formed in 2015, Blue Summit also takes in elements of western swing, soul, folk, jazz and pop/rock and was named 2018 Band of the Year by the Northern California Bluegrass Society (NCBS).
A powerful singer and gifted mandolinist, bandleader AJ (Aissa) Lee has been making waves on the acoustic scene for many years, performing with The Tuttles since the age of just ten! Now a maturing solo artist, songwriter and leader of this outstanding band, at 20 years of age she has already released two solo albums in addition to Blue Summit’s recent debut recording Sweet Company. Sullivan Tuttle is a flatpicking guitarist with a gargantuan talent, last seen in the UK alongside big sister Molly in 2016 as a member of family band The Tuttles. Known for his blazing guitar solos and his rich baritone voice, Sully is another rising star of the acoustic Americana scene. With the line-up completed by two more accomplished musicians, Jesse Fichman (guitar) and Chad Bowen (bass), Blue Summit has performed at gigs and festivals throughout California and across the USA. Summer 2019 will see them embark on their debut European tour. www.bluesummitmusic.com Supporting Blue Summit will be: Limerance Stuart Todd Tickets for this great night of music are just £11 from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/blue-summit/ |
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Wednesday 3rd July
Resonant Rogues
Resonant Rogues
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The Resonant Rogues craft fresh songs from a variety of vintage folk styles, featuring vocal harmonies accompanied by accordion, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and upright bass. With a passion for folk music that spans continents and oceans, the band is led by partners Sparrow and Keith J. Smith. The pair met in Asheville in the Autumn of 2012, and their instant spark lit a blaze that could not be contained. Since then, they have dedicated their lives to crafting and sharing their music, touring extensively around the world. The Rogues weave the threads of European, Middle Eastern, and American folk music together into a beautiful tapestry that simultaneously showcases tradition and innovation.
The core members of Resonant Rogues, Sparrow and Keith J. Smith, boast an amazing array of talents and musical abilities. In Sparrow’s case that includes playing the accordion, banjo, viola, violin, piano, and musical saw. She has been belly dancing since 2003 and attended the Circus Centre in San Francisco. Keith began traveling around the US, hopping freight trains, and street performing for a living. As a traveling busker, he accompanied many acts from New Orleans to the Pacific Northwest and everywhere in between and eventually met Sparrow and formed the Resonant Rogues. theresonantrogues.com Supporting the Resonant Rogues will be: Danny Bradley The Silver Freds Tickets for this great night of music are just £11 from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/the-resonant-rogues/ |
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Wednesday 7th August
Witherward
Witherward
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Witherward, who hail from Nashville, Tennessee, played a blinding show in June of 2018 at the Grateful Fred House Concert series and we are absolutely delighted to welcome them back to Grateful Fred's at The Atkinson.
It began with the partnership between Nashville songwriters, Ashley E. Norton and Edward A. Williams, and now often with the addition of violinist Stephanie Groot. The pair decided to hit the road permanently, embarking on a permanent tour with no home base, never settling anywhere and living to play music they love for people who love music. Compared to a modern-day Simon & Garfunkel or The Civil Wars, with influences of rock, folk, jazz, classical and singer/songwriter. Whitherward is on tour with their fifth album release, multiple music videos and a new EP on the way. You will have a great time in the company of Ashley and Edward and co. Dont' miss this fabulous band. www.witherward.com Supporting Witherward will be: Tom Blackwell Tickets for this great night of music are just £11 from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/whitherward/ |
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Wednesday 7th September
3hattrio
3hattrio
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3hattrio was born when violinist Eli Wrankle was 15 years old. The group got together when his family held a small recital in their home to raise funds for Eli's high school orchestra to perform at Disneyland. After the rehearsal, family friends and veteran musicians Greg Istock and Hal Cannon asked if Eli wanted to jam. He had never played music that way before but agreed. When they finished he asked for more. The group was born purely out of friendship, localness, and musical chemistry.
Living in a rural place in southern Utah, the group has a lot of time on their hands so they decided to employ that time to develop a sound that reflects the landscape they live in and the musical influences that they are passionate about. From that came a first album, "Year One," that they described in literary terms as "Magic Realism." 3hattrio's hails from Zion Canyon in Southern Utah and includes Hal Cannon who is a singer and plays banjo and guitar. He is also a cowboy music scholar. Greg Istock plays acoustic bass and foot percussion. He has a Caribbean music background and sings in a haunting and soulful style. Eli Wrankle, a classically trained violinist who studies music at Southern Utah University and comes from a family of artists. Their songs are mostly original and even their old-time cowboy and pioneer songs have an unusual twist. Living in the same isolated place, surrounded by an inspiring landscape of red cliffs is what makes this group thrive. Their first album, “Year One,” was hailed by Baxter Black as a “profundo Gregorian sagebrush chant.” Since then they released a second CD to critical acclaim, "Dark Desert Night." Their most recent album "Solitaire," comes out September 8, 2016. The 3hattrio plays American Desert Music. Their aim is to create a new music which responds to the natural world of their sacred homeland near Zion National Park in Utah. They also strive to acknowledge the cultural traditions of generations of people who have worked and lived on the deserts of the American southwest. The subject matter of the songs is often desert oriented, sometimes not. Mostly, they express the desert experientially from a daily-ness of watching light off distant mesas and hearing the way sound plays off sheer sandstone cliffs. Then they play music. They don’t over-think it. Supporting 3hatrio will be: "White Little Lies" "Caitlin Gilligan" Tickets at just £11 are available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/3hatrio/ |
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Wednesday 2ndOctober
Alice Wallace
Alice Wallace
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It was after Wallace’s return to her birth state of California that Alice Wallace fully embraced her calling as a singer-songwriter. Her musical family had relocated to rural St. Cloud, Florida, when she was a child. She grew up around the sounds of her parents playing guitars and singing, with “Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, their favorite,” she recalls. She also absorbed the country rock of ‘70s-era Linda Ronstadt on the turntable. “I really taught myself to sing by mimicking their styles,” she says. “The powerful belt that Linda has. The emotive lilt to Emmylou’s voice. Trying to navigate those different elements helped me find my own voice nestled in between all that.” She first picked up guitar at age 10, with her dad teaching her to finger-pick at 15, and by senior year in high school, Wallace was performing original compositions at the local Borders bookstore. It was in college that she discovered yet another calling: yodeling, that haunting vocal style that blends blues, country, and western. Wallace’s own “A Little Yodel” added her to the ranks of legends Patsy Montana and Carolina Cotton.
In 2008, when the Wallace family relocated back to Southern California, she joined them. There, she began focusing on writing, performing, and touring, both solo and with a band. Since 2013, she performs some 200 dates a year. One of those with whom she’s shared stages is singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard, who says she and her “stunning” songcraft have that “Steve McQueen ‘Cincinnati Kid’ cool.” Pundits agree: she won the 2017 Female Vocalist of the Year at the California Country Awards and the previous year’s Best Country/Americana Artist at the L.A. Music Critic Awards. She was recently singled out by the Los Angeles Daily News and Pollstar for her “dead-on lovely version” of Ronstadt’s “throbbing” “Long Long Time” at the “Palomino Rides Again” event celebrating the legendary California honky-tonk. “Alice Wallace, whose steady tenor is shot through with Crystal Gayle’s ache, Linda Ronstadt’s country essence” – Holly Gleason, Pollstar “Wallace, who sang a dead-on lovely version of Palomino mainstay Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time,” was clearly tickled to be a part of the revived history.” – Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News “She’s stunning, and McQueen ‘The Cincinnati Kid’ cool” – Ray Wylie Hubbard Supporting Alice will be: Mark Pountney The Silver Freds |
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Wednesday 6th November
Brennan Leigh & Noel McKay
Brennan Leigh & Noel McKay
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Grateful Fred is delighted to be welcoming back the musical partnership of Leigh Brennan & Noel McKay after an absence of over five year.
Fine songsters, guitarists & all round “bluegrassy” musicians, Brennen Leigh & Noel McKay are very unique & highly acclaimed in the music capital of USA….. Austin Texas. The songs of mandolin and guitar player Brennen Leigh have been recorded by country stars Sunny Sweeney and Grammy winner Lee Ann Womack. Leigh has a cult following in Scandinavia, and has performed and recorded with artists such as Charlie Louvin, Robbie Fulks and Jim Lauderdale. Guitarist Noel McKay was discovered by Guy Clark in 1993 while performing at the Jimmie Rodgers Festival in Kerrville, Texas. Clark and McKay’s co-write “El Coyote” went on to win a Grammy for “Best Folk Album.” Brennen Leigh’s ‘You’ve Never Been to North Dakota’ soothes like Cole Porter, timelessly lyrical both literally and vocally.” –Raoul Hernandez, Austin Chronicle“It’s great to hear music that affects you on an intellectual level as well as makes you want to dance.” Tommy X Hancock. Brennan Leigh: American singer-songwriter, guitar and mandolin player, Brennen Leigh’s to-the-point storytelling style has elevated her to cult icon status in Europe, the Americas and the UK. It’s easy to see why she’s caught the ear of greats like legendary Lubbock fiddler Tommy Hancock (widely regarded as the godfather of West Texas music), who was quoted as saying of Leigh’s work: “It’s great to hear music that affects you on an intellectual level as well as makes you want to dance”. With whip-smart songwriting, her songs have been recorded by country music legend Lee Ann Womack, Sunny Sweeney, Charley Crockett, Whitney Rose, among others. Leigh has collaborated with songwriting greats such as Jim Lauderdale, Rodney Crowell, John Scott Sherrill, and David Olney. On the critically acclaimed duet album Holdin’ Our Own (2008), Leigh sang duets penned with country rockabilly giant Jesse Dayton. In 2013 Leigh released the Gurf Morlix produced Before The World Was Made with her frequent songwriting and touring partner Noel McKay. Leigh was a core member of country bluegrass band High Plains Jamboree from 2015 to 2017. Leigh is two time Texas Music Awards Best Female Vocalist, 2018 Ameripolitan Music Honky Tonk Award winner, appeared on USA Network’s Nashville Star in 2003, and most notably, was champion of the 1993 Vergas Loon Calling Contest as a child in her home state of Minnesota. Noel McKay: American singer-songwriter, guitar and mandolin player, Brennen Leigh’s to-the-point storytelling style has elevated her to cult icon status in Europe, the Americas and the UK. It’s easy to see why she’s caught the ear of greats like legendary Lubbock fiddler Tommy Hancock (widely regarded as the godfather of West Texas music), who was quoted as saying of Leigh’s work: “It’s great to hear music that affects you on an intellectual level as well as makes you want to dance”. With whip-smart songwriting, her songs have been recorded by country music legend Lee Ann Womack, Sunny Sweeney, Charley Crockett, Whitney Rose, among others. Leigh has collaborated with songwriting greats such as Jim Lauderdale, Rodney Crowell, John Scott Sherrill, and David Olney. On the critically acclaimed duet album Holdin’ Our Own (2008), Leigh sang duets penned with country rockabilly giant Jesse Dayton. In 2013 Leigh released the Gurf Morlix produced Before The World Was Made with her frequent songwriting and touring partner Noel McKay. Leigh was a core member of country bluegrass band High Plains Jamboree from 2015 to 2017. Leigh is two time Texas Music Awards Best Female Vocalist, 2018 Ameripolitan Music Honky Tonk Award winner, appeared on USA Network’s Nashville Star in 2003, and most notably, was champion of the 1993 Vergas Loon Calling Contest as a child in her home state of Minnesota. www.brennenleighandnoelmckay.com Opening the show will be: Limerance One of Grateful Fred’s favourite musical duos, Jenny and Calum return to perform their wonderful close harmonies and great songs. Limerance are an acoustic Americana duo, based in Liverpool. Playing original songs with heartfelt, optimistic and interesting lyrics, they have a growing repertoire of original music. Their unique performances comprise of one microphone, one acoustic guitar and two voices in close harmony, which have been compared to Simon and Garfunkel and First Aid Kit. Limerance have an excellent reputation for their live shows, combining their unmistakable chemistry together with light-hearted chatter, making for engaging performances. www.limerance.co.uk |
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Wednesday 4th December
CUA
CUA
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CUA are John Davidson, Shane Booth & Ros O’Meara who bring together dynamic and contrasting instrumentation and vocal arrangements. The group have an expansive acoustic soundtrack blending guitars, fiddle, bouzouki, percussion and 3 part harmony arrangements to create a world music folk styling that the group call Atlantean. Cua have steadily built a reputation and following for their engaging, passionate and highly original performances. The Cua live experience has been compared to the intricacies of Planxty melodies combined with the harmony skills of Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Cua truly pride themselves on their diversity, with subtle nods to many genres, whilst keeping a folk, world, roots and traditional line throughout. All members are multi-instrumentalists and are inspired by many aspects of the musical spectrum from jazz to classical, traditional to music therapy, bluegrass to acapella. Their neo-classical approach to music is what they believe is creating an Atlantean style, that is, inspired by the history, landscape and peoples of the Atlantic areas. From the release of their self-titled ep, Cua have been recognised on a European as well as national level. The group are now set to return with their new 15 track album entitled “Songs of the Hollow”. Their distinct sound has wowed audiences in the last year and the group’s gathering momentum will bring them farther afield to a theatre, café, or street corner near you in the near future. Keep your ears open for soaring melody lines, dirgy, intense 3 part acapella vocals, and rhythm structures which will have the blood pumping through even the coldest of auditoriums. This is a collaboration between three songwriter/composers, who, combined, bring 90 years of musical experience, stories and journeys to audiences at home and abroad. Cua are receiving radio airplay in Scotland, England, Ireland, America, France, Holland, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland and Germany and are delighted to have received a creative Ireland grant for the development of their creative aspirations and local community arts touring expeditions. www.cuamusic.com Supporting CUA will be: Mikey Kenney Mikey Kenney – majestic singer, poetic songwriter, and English folk, Irish, Celtic, Bluegrass and Americana style fiddle player and multi-instrumentalist – could’ve been born any time in the past 500 years, but it’s no coincidence that he is alive and well today; for there are no coincidences in nature or the music that grows from its seed. This is indeed a stroke of luck for today’s booking agents, tavern owners, and all present and future lovers of ‘the real’. A veritable magician of such substantive law, Kenney’s music (solo or collaborative) is a subtly powerful homage to the earth and hearts of humankind, and it succeeds from the bawdy level of spit and sawdust barroom sing-alongs to the lofty heights of the soul set free. Once heard, never forgotten. www.mikeykenney.co.uk Opening the show will be: Thom Morecroft Thom Morecroft is a British singer-songwriter from Shrewsbury, currently living in a shack in Sefton Park, Liverpool. When he isn’t sitting in said-shack, Thom plays music live for a living and has even opened for the likes of Robert Vincent, Roxanne de Bastion, Beans on Toast and Will Varley. Having just finished his second UK tour (and a short tour of Germany), Thom is currently working on a new album with a group of musicians who definitely know their parts but who also aren’t allowed to meet each other until the day of the recording. http://thommorecroft.com/ |
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