2021 Shows
October 6th 2021
Midnight Skyracer
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I’m sure that “Fredheads” will remember when we were still based at The Freshfield Pub all those many years ago when we had a briliant night with “The Carrivick Sisters”, Laura and Charlotte. Well, I’m delighted to say the we are welcoming Laura and Charlotte back to Grateful Fred’s but this time as members of the brilliant “Midnight Skyracer”.
Midnight Skyracer have come a long way in a very short time. Since forming in 2017, the Anglo-Irish all-female quintet have become festival sensations across the UK, Europe and Australasia, toured regularly at home and released a critically-lauded debut album. They also carry the distinction of being the first British act nominated for an award by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Their all star lineup boasts Leanne Thorose, with her powerhouse vocals and driving mandolin; the virtuoso banjo playing and delicate vocals of Tabitha Benedict; Eleanor Wilkie and her rock solid bass grooves; the versatile Laura Carrivick, equally adept on both fiddle and dobro; and the lightning guitar playing of Charlotte Carrivick. Not only are they all masters of their respective instruments, but the vocal harmonies shared between the five women are second to none. www.midnightskyracer.com Support will be: Mark Pountney We are delighted to welcome back Mark Pountney to Grateful Fred’s. Mark Pountney is a singer-songwriter from Liverpool, over the years Mark has honed his songwriting craft; seamlessly blending the Mersey vernacular with American roots and rock music. His songbook consists of over two hundred songs. As a performer, Mark has captivated audiences across the globe with his strong presence, unique voice, powerful melodies and intriguing lyrics. He has steadily become stalwart of the underground Liverpool music scene, garnering the endorsement of music lovers and fellow musicians alike. markpountney.com Tickets available here: https://theatkinson.ticketsolve.com/shows/873624957 |
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November 3rd 2021
Jeni Hankins & Friends
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Old-timey Appalachian American Family-Band Vibes with Ballads, Country Blues, Bluegrass, and Banter, Eerie mountain modal harmonies and good-ole foot-stomping joy!
Jeni has been making music and composing with Alfred John Hickling and Tim Curtis, both of York’s “King Courgette”, since their bands shared a multi-band bill with Jeni & Billy in York back in 2010. Since then, they’ve played together throughout England. Altogether, the trio cover guitar, banjo, autoharp, mandolin, fiddle, steel guitar, ukulele, harmonica, feet, bass, accordion, and xylophone. Get ready for songs about everything from Jeni’s childhood in the Appalachian Coalfields to her Astra-zeneca induced meditation on socks. https://jenihankins.blogspot.com/ Support artists will be: Ivan Campo No, not the Spanish footballer! Indie folk trio “Ivan Campo” met in the city of Preston whilst studying contemporary music at the University of Central Lancashire. Their latest track ‘The Girl Who Dreamed’, with its light and uplifting aesthetic that combines wistful guitar hooks and sweeping vocals, is the first in a string of songs planned for release in 2021 leading up to their tenth album. Their last album ‘Season of the King’ secured the band a 4th live session on BBC 6 Music, as well as a special appearance on prime time Spanish TV programme, “Late Motiv”, performing ‘The Bloodhound and the Fox’. ivancampo.net Tickets available here: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/grateful-freds-nov21/ |
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December 1st 2021
The Izzie Walsh Band
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Izzie Walsh has a unique sound that blends country, bluegrass, folk and Americana. Izzie has built an impressive organic fanbase over the last couple of years. Not only does she have two BCMA Awards and an Indie Week UK award under her belt, but Izzie is also a former BBC Introducing Artist of the Week and has even performed on ITV’s “Cold Feet”.
Izzie Walsh has a vibrant touring history to date, with performances all across the UK and internationally. She has played sold-out headline shows at venues such as Manchester’s Deaf Institute and London’s Slaughtered Lamb as well as co-headlining with the amazing Curse of Lono, and touring Australia with Buckle & Boots Festival. She is a festival regular and you’ll be sure to see her all over the festival line-ups again this year! Some of the highlights she has played to date include; Bluedot, The Long Road, Buckle & Boots, AmericanaFest UK and SummerTyne Americana Festival. “I always think the (BCMA) Horizon award is one of the most exciting because there we’re looking into the future, a Star of the future, in this case it’s Izzie Walsh.” – Bob Harris: BBC Radio 2 https://www.izziewalsh.com/ Support artist will be: Rhiannon Scutt Influenced by Ani DiFranco’s percussive guitar style and Lindsey Buckingham’s rapid fingerpicking, Rhiannon’s unique guitar technique has often garnered attention. Together with her charismatic stage presence and emotive lyrics, she has alone as a captivating performer without need of supporting instrumentation. As an urge to collaborate with other artists and extend her sound outside her own capabilities has grown; through experimentation, play, and an impressive array of accomplished musical collaborators, Rhiannon has developed a new sound, and through that, an intriguing collection of new work. Think the tender lyrics of Adrienne Lenker, the syncopated electronic rhythms of Sylvan Esso and the witchy magic of Stevie Nicks. rhiannonscutt.com Tickets available here: www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/grateful-freds-dec21/ |
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2020 Shows
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Jan 2nd Jaywalkers
Feb 5th April Verch & Joe Newberry Mar 4th Bronwynne Brent Apr 1st Doug MacLeod - SADLY CANCELLED DUE TO VIRUS CRISIS May 6th Evie Ladin & Keith Terry - SADLY CANCELLED as above Jun 3rd The Fretless - SADLY CANCELLED as above Jul 1st Midnight Skyracer - SADLY CANCELLED as above Aug 5th Lowri Evan's Tapestri - SADLY CANCELLED as above Sep 2nd 10th Anniversary Show - SADLY CANCELLED as above Oct 7th Rum Drum Ramblers Nov 4th Bill and The Belles Dec 2nd Hoth Brothers |
& Gerry fFrench, Gary McGinnis
& Danny Bradley & Calum Gilligan & Motel Sundown & Rhiannon Scutt & The Silver Freds & To be confirmed & Dawn & The Embers & Hannah Rose Platt & Danny Bradley & Mark Pountney & To be confirmed |
January 8th 2020
Jaywalkers
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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. www.jaywalkers.co.uk Support will be: Gerry fFrench Winner of Folk Northwest Magazine’s talent showcase at Costa del Folk Portugal in October 2017, Gerry is one of the finest singer songwriters working in the Northwest today. Her Liverpool-Irish roots have helped nurture a wonderful performer, writer and recording artist of rich contemporary folk music.
With their strong local flavour, Gerry’s own songs make many references to Liverpool’s maritime history while their style is firmly rooted in traditional folk and shanty. Now she is embarked on a mission to record and celebrate a way of life which has all but disappeared from Liverpool and every other major seaport. The hard lives of the sailors’ wives have never been fully given a voice in the same way that the lives of their husbands and sons were; Gerry’s songs such as The Other Maggie May, When the Wind Blows Up From The Mersey and of course Cunard Yanks – do just that, telling the stories of the wives and the families left behind. A regular performer in the Northwest, Gerry is a musician with a great voice who is in demand at festivals and live venues across Merseyside and the UK. Holland, Ireland and Costa del Folk – in both Ibiza and Portugal – have now been added to her list of Festival destinations. Her appeal is growing as her own songs and stories are played out in her very popular live performances. gerryffrench.com Opening the evening will be: Gary McGinnis Irish born but Liverpool based Gary McGinnis is a singer-songwriter and teller of terrible jokes who has played at Grateful Fred’s twice before.
His songs and delivery make him a favourite of the “Fredheads” and his music is a great introduction to what is sure to be a fantastic night of live music to launch Grateful Fred’s into it’s 10th Anniversary Year. |
Jaywalkers & Scott Poley live at Grateful Fred's January 8th 2020
Gerry fFrench and Harry Lowry live at Grateful Fred's January 8th 2020
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February 5th 2020
April Verch & Joe Newberry
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Joe Newberry appeared with Mike Compton at Grateful Fred’s in February of 2017. Joe has now teamed up with fiddle player extraordinairre April Verth and we a thrilled to be able to bring them to Grateful Fred’s.
Joe Newberry grew up in a family full of singers and dancers. He took up the guitar and banjo as a teenager and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. April Verch grew up listening to her Dad’s country band play for dances in the Ottawa Valley. She started step dancing at age three and fiddling at age six. Both Newberry & Verch became masters of their traditions and tour the world with their respective bands and projects. Yet they never forget the roots of their music, that connection to the people in the audience, on the dance floor, to the community sparked by a good song. For these veteran performers who come from distinct traditions and parts of the world, their collaboration is fueled by their kindred passion for bringing people together to celebrate traditional music. Blues and ballads stem into Canadian regional styles and originals. Their voices blend in harmony, their tasteful instrumentals prove that these masters have nothing left to prove, and then their feet kick up the dust in perfect rhythm…and together, they make you remember why this music existed in the first place. Joe is a frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, Joe performs in a duo with Mike Compton, and also performs with guitarist Jon Shain. Another special side project pairs Joe with old-time music legends Bill Hicks, Mike Craver, and Jim Watson. He was recently a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions tour of the United Kingdom with fiddler Aly Bain and Dobro master Jerry Douglas, along with an all-star band and fellow singers Rhiannon Giddens, the Milk Carton Kids, Carla Dillon, and Karen Matheson. Fiddler, singer, and stepdancer April Verch knows how relevant an old tune can be. She grew up surrounded by living, breathing roots music and decided early she wanted to be a professional musician. She took that leap, and has been quietly leaping into new, nuanced places for more than two decades. Moving from exuberant stepdancer to fiddle wunderkind and silver-voiced singer. Verch keeps the community-fired celebratory side of her music at the forefront, honing a keen awareness of how to engage contemporary listeners. With countless awards, ten albums and sixteen years of touring under her belt with “The April Verch Band”, Verch has moved from upstart prodigy to mature and reflective songwriter, interpreter, and storyteller. She has performed around the world, including festival, theatre and performing arts centre appearances in Canada, USA, China, Australia, United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany, Austria, France, Czech Republic and the United Arab Emirates. Passionate about giving back, she makes master classes, workshops and camps a regular part of her touring activity. Verch was one of 6 fiddlers who represented the Canadian fiddle tradition to the world at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, as part of a segment called “Fiddle Nation”. aprilverch.com/about/newberry-verch Supporting April and Joe will be: Danny Bradley Last July, Danny played a wonderful set at Grateful Fred’s and so we have asked him if he would come and play for us again and we are delighted to say he has agreed. Danny performed his first gig at the age of four, when he sang a song about a tree to his kindergarten class. Despite extensive heckling, he decided to pursue a career in music. A blues-folk musician, a multi-instrumentalist, and a singer-songwriter, Danny has performed as a lead singer/guitarist in a acoustic blues-folk trio, a slap bassist in a funk band, a drummer in a rock band and an electric guitarist in an ambient-folk duet. He is currently based in Liverpool, U.K. and gigs regularly as a solo artist. Across the U.K., Danny has supported and gigged with touring acts such as Jon Gomm, Edwina Hayes, Mark Morriss, Brooks Williams, Amy Wadge, Pete Reily, Amelia Curran, Astrid Williamson and Jason Feddy as well as international bands The Once, The Amanda Rheume Trio, Derrin Nauendorf, The Paperboys and Callaghan. dannybradleymusic.com |
April & Joe live at Grateful Fred's February 5th 2020
Danny Bradley live at Grateful Fred's February 5th 2020
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March 4th 2020
Bronwynne Brent
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Bronwynne Brent has played twice before at Grateful Fred’s and each time she gets better and better.
Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, Bronwynne has the kind of stop-in-your-tracks voice that sounds like Southern sunshine. There’s a hint of Delta blues behind the ache in her songs, a glimpse of honky-tonk twang, an echo of riverboat can-cans, a whiff of Morricone, and an atmosphere of the darker side of country songwriting. Harkening back to the glory days of Lee Hazlewood and Gram Parsons, Brent’s songs tap into the dark undercurrent of country that starts with old Appalachian murder ballads and continues to today’s current crop of psychedelic country songwriters. Like a Juke Joint Nancy Sinatra, Bronwynne Brent unites all the best elements of Southern American roots music and ties these many different influences into a sound that’s comforting and refreshing. Her songs have a heavy weight on their shoulders. Battered women, defeated lovers, devilish characters, highway ghosts, and lonesome wanderers populate her songs. Her voice sounds aged beyond its years, brittle and fragile, almost as if it might shatter into razor-sharp fragments under too much pressure. But underneath everything, there’s a steel spine to this music, a thoroughly grounded foundation in American roots music that allows Brent to build her songs to greater heights than you might expect. If you havent’ heard and seen Bronwynne’s live performances before then you are in for a real treat. www.bronwynnebrent.com Supporting Bronwynne will be: Calum Gilligan Calum last appeared solo at Grateful Fred’s last June supporting California band “Blue Summit“, but has appeared three times at Grateful Fred’s as half of one of our absolute favourite duos “Limerance“. We are absolutely delighted to welcome Calum back this month after the release of his debut EP. Calum is a Scottish folk singer-songwriter born in Galloway and based in Liverpool. He has been writing his own music and gigging from an early age, playing around the UK and beyond over the years. He writes a subtle blend of Celtic folk and Americana music with influences ranging from Woody Guthrie and Christy Moore, to contemporary folk artists such as Kris Drever and Kate Rusby. His lyrics form the heart of his music, with melodic guitar and powerful vocals carrying the words aloft. He formed the Folk-Americana duo ‘Limerance’ with Jenny Coyle in 2016 and has been playing as part of that ever since alongside his solo career, supporting the likes of Kitty MacFarlane, Chloe Foy, Molly Tuttle, Ren Harvieu, Nick Ellis and many others in that time, as well as releasing their debut EP ‘In the First Place’, produced by acclaimed Sound Engineer Mark Coyle (Oasis). Having appeared at several festivals over the summer including Cambridge Folk Festival, Eden Festival and Not a Cult Festival, 2019 has already been a resounding success, and with the launch of the ‘Maybe Half a Lifetime’ EP on the 8th September, and a support slot with the incredible Talisk lined up for November, it just keeps getting better! www.calumgilligan.com Tickets at £13 in advance and £15 on the door from: https://theatkinson.ticketsolve.com/shows/873614920 |
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April 3rd 2020
Doug MacLeod
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“Like all great blues men, MacLeod lives his music, and the songs are not just on the tips of his fingers and tongue, they are one with his being.” – Blues Music Magazine
“One of the great blues artists… period!” – Jorma Kaukonen Doug MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit, and unforgettable live performances. At the heart of a Doug MacLeod performance is his knack for storytelling, bringing characters-from the faceless to the legendary-to strikingly real life. Doug is a multiple Blues Music Award winner, most recently the 2018 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album Of The Year ‘Break The Chain’ and the 2017 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist Of The Year. Doug MacLeod’s recent release, ‘Break The Chain’, is quite possibly his strongest release to date, which speaks volumes. Doug is an international touring artist who writes and sings original songs that are based on his own life and experiences. He learned from the old masters and carries forward a valuable tradition. As a youth Doug overcame abuse and a crippling stutter by turning to music. After picking up a guitar, and singing – he found his voice. MacLeod’s playing landed him sideman gigs with George ‘Harmonica’ Smith, Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson, Lowell Fulson and Big Mama Thornton. Over 30 years, 21 studio albums, several live records, compilations, a blues guitar instructional DVD and a live performance DVD, MacLeod has consistently earned raves. His songs have been covered by many artists including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker and Eva Cassidy. Mac-Leod’s songs have been featured in many TV movies and the hit show In the Heat of the Night. August Wilson requested his soulful slide guitar playing in the Los Angeles opening of “Gem of the Ocean”. From 1999 to 2004 Doug hosted “Nothin’ But The Blues”, a very popular weekend blues show on Los Angeles’ KLON-KKJZ. He has also been the voice for The Blues Showcase on Continental Airlines. For ten years he penned “Doug’s Back Porch,” a regular feature column in Blues Revue Magazine in which he shared his humorous and insightful stories with thousands of readers. He is one of the four featured artists in the movie “Resonate: A Guitar Story”, the feature documentary on the making of National Guitars. Like the old masters who taught him, MacLeod’s music expresses life and times through an intangible, elusive quality that may simply be a keen sense of what matters most. Doug’s music, stories, and philosophy provide a healing that has helped others overcome the hardships of their lives. Doug says the most important lessons he learned as a young musician came from Ernest Banks a one-eyed country bluesman from Toano, VA. “Never play a note you don’t believe” and “Never write or sing about what you don’t know about.” As Pee Wee Crayton’s widow Esther once told Doug, “You have a message and you’ll send that message mainly to the people who don’t go to church.” Amen. doug-macleod.com Supporting Doug will be... Motel Sundown Motel Sundown are a three-piece band based in Liverpool, UK. Three friends of Grateful Fred. Influenced by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Neil Young, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. They like Guinness and they like harmonies. Not necessarily in that order! www.facebook.com/MotelSundownBand Tickets at £13 in advance and £15 on the door available from: https://theatkinson.ticketsolve.com/shows/873614924 |
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May 4th 2020
Evie Ladin & Keith Terry
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Innovative musicians/dancers with a quirky neo-trad soul, Oakland, California-based Evie Ladin & Keith Terry throw down original folk songs and deep interpretations of old songs, with the kinetic thrill of percussive dance.
Ladin sings and plays infectious clawhammer banjo, while Terry is a master percussionist. It was Appalachian string band music pared to the absolute minimum of accompaniment, but packed with an orchestra’s worth of rhythm. -- Music City Roots, Nashville A prolific singer-songwriter, percussive dancer and square dance caller, the polyrhythmic heat of Evie’s clawhammer banjo has been heard from A Prairie Home Companion to Celtic Connections, Lincoln Center to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. She can write, she can sing, and she pulls back from the saccharine brink with wit – a sharp intelligence. –Grant Alden, No Depression Trained as a jazz drummer, Keith Terry brings tonal percussion to stand-up bass, is a renowned percussionist/rhythm dancer, the founder of the International Body Music Festival, and a collaborator with a host of inventive performers from Bobby McFerrin, Tex Williams and Robin Williams, to Turtle Island Quartet, Charles “Honi” Coles and Bill Irwin. Mr. Terry in action is like visiting an anatomical carnival, where hands, feet, fingers, engage in a musical ballet. – Wall Street Journal http://www.evieladin.com/evie-ladin-keith-terry-duo/ Supporting Evie and Keith will be: Rhiannon Scutt An incredibly compelling artist, Rhiannon brings a new meaning to the word watchable. Armed only with her acoustic guitar, she is capable of silencing an audience the moment she utters the first line. Earlier in her career, Rhiannon was one half of the ‘foot-stomping’ duo Rita Payne; Responsible for writing/arranging the music and managing the band. You can hear her unmistakable guitar style supporting frontman Pete Sowerby’s lyrics. They begun a partnership in 2011 which saw them release two critically acclaimed albums; Stories From A Suitcase (2012) / We’re Getting There, Aren’t We? (2014) Famed for their soaring vocal harmonies and on stage chemistry, the duo achieved moderate success in their short tenure, gaining Martin Simpson, Richard Hawley and John McClure as loyal fans until Rhiannon’s departure from the duo in 2015. With seven years experience touring the UK and Europe, Rhiannon is a confident, comfortable and captivating perfomer, and since going solo, her debut EP '#9' (2018) is recorded in one night with four Sheffield musicians including Simon Stafford of Longpigs, & Finlay Stafford, winner of BBC's young composer award 2015. She is now recording her debut solo album for a 2020 release. www.facebook.com/rhiannonjscutt Tickets at £13 in advance and £15 on the door are available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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June 3rd 2020
The Fretless
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It’s not uncommon for bands to make wildly extravagant claims when attempting to describe the music they play.
Unique is one of the terms most commonly used to convey there’s something different going on. Of course, it’s rarely the case, unless you are talking about The Fretless. Frankly, there nothing quite as exceptional as this - and that’s precisely what has earned them must-see status, not only on their home turf in Canada, but all over the USA and Europe too. The Fretless take string music to fascinating places, transforming fiddle tunes and folk melodies through intricate, beautiful, high-energy arrangements and breathtaking performances. In 2014, following the release of their self-titled second album, they carried off a Western Canadian Music Award for Instrumental Album of the Year and the 2014 Canadian Folk Music Award for Ensemble of the Year. That followed similar success two years earlier when their debut album, Waterbound grabbed the attention of critics & fans across many genres, and also won Instrumental Album of the Year at the WCMAs and two CFMAs for Ensemble and Instrumental Group of the Year. In 2016, they issued another stunning recording focused on original music with a few traditional tunes too, to follow the trajectory set from their first two releases as they continue to expand the rhythmic, harmonic and structured style of the many folk genres they play using only string instruments. These musicians have come from very different traditional and contemporary backgrounds, and are fully formed from a vast array of influences. The band tours extensively and has enjoyed success all over the world, with a considerable following on their homeland in Canada from twelve major tours since forming in 2011. Everywhere they go, they create the kind of impact rarely experienced, largely through respect for their innovative approach and always as a result of supercharged execution. https://www.thefretless.com/ Supporting The Fretless will be: To be confirmed... Tickets at £13 in advance and £15 on the door are available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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July 1st 2020
Midnight Skyracer
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IBMA Momentum Award nominated bluegrass band, Midnight Skyracer have been tearing up the UK bluegrass and folk scene since their inception less than two years ago. Their all star lineup and exciting live performances have sent them racing skywards at an astounding pace right from the start, with Leanne Thorose’s powerhouse vocals and driving mandolin; Tabitha Agnew’s sweet voice and virtuosic banjo playing; Eleanor Wilkie’s rock solid bass grooves; Laura Carrivick’s flair, being equally adept on both fiddle and dobro; and twin sister Charlotte’s agility on the guitar, with both sisters filling in the vocal harmonies.
“…these varied aspects of their musical personalities contribute to the greater good of a band playing for the song, for the singer, for the music.” Ron Block Alison Krauss & Union Station In just over a year of performing they have racked up an impressive number of major festival slots including Cambridge Folk Festival and Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, completed a tour of Germany and Switzerland as well as two UK tours. In February 2018 they released their critically acclaimed debut album, Fire. Most recently, the band became the first UK band to gain recognition in the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum awards with a nomination for best band as well as Tabitha receiving a nomination in the instrumentalist category. “This is a band and this is an album that can go toe to toe with anything on offer from bluegrass’s spiritual home on the other side of the Atlantic.” RnR Magazine “A conflagration of a debut bluegrass album: hot stuff”: Songlines “…probably the best bluegrass I have heard from a non-American band.” fRoots “‘Fire’ combines seven self-penned pieces, traditional and bluegrass classics – tradition and contemporary working hand in hand and no sign of a join, and it’s seriously good. Harmonies to die for, delicious voices and succulent instrumentation.” FolkWords “you can’t fail to sit there open-mouthed at the astounding dexterity of the playing, which is brilliant even by championship-standard bluegrass standards – for there’s sensitivity in shading and dynamic balance too alongside and inside the high-octane note-spinning virtuosity.” Folk Radio UK “Midnight Skyracer has all the vital components to compete with other bluegrass outfits not only in the UK but also on an international scale.” Northern Sky http://midnightskyracer.com/ Supporting Midnight Skyracer will be: To be confirmed. Tickets at £13 in advance and £15 on the door are available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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August 5th 2020
Lowri Evans
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Since graduating from college in Newcastle Upon Tyne with a degree in Jazz, Popular and Commercial Music, Lowri has been constantly and steadily gathering a fan base, gigging across the country and recording an impressive back catalogue of CD’s.
After college, and returning from a 5 month trip in South America in 2003, she settled back in Wales and put all her efforts into writing and performing music, soon becoming a popular face on the local music scene. Lowri was asked in January 2005 to donate a song to a local charity CD project (Pembrokeshire Acoustic Sessions) raising money for victims of the Boxing Day tsunami in South Asia, it was during this recording session she met guitarist, singer and studio engineer/producer Lee Mason who was also recording a song for the project. Since meeting in 2005 Lowri and Lee have worked tirelessly as a duo to create and develop our musical sound. They have 10 years experience writing, recording, producing and performing music together as a unit and their musical presence as a duo is firmly established within the music scene. Performing an average of 50 shows a year, appear on S4C programmes on a regular basis and their music is regularly played on BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales. BBC Radio Cymru has twice commissioned them to write, produce and record songs for specific programmes in their schedule. Lowri and Lee continue to perform at many UK festivals – these include Wychwood Festival, Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau, The Acoustic Festival of Britain, The Small Nations Festival, Broadstairs Folk Festival, Llangollen Fringe, Pontardawe Festival, Priddy Folk Festival. We have also supported Cara Dillon, Martin Simpson and Andy Cutting, Richie Havens, Jez Lowe, Jim Moray, Findlay Brown, Cerys Matthews, and played in venues across the UK including Clwb Ifor Bach, Wales Millennium Centre and University of Wales in Cardiff, The Queens Hall in Narberth, The Prom in Bristol, The Troubadour Club and The Bedford in London, The Talbot in Tregaron. They have performed live radio sessions for Frank Hennessy, Roy Noble, Alan Thompson, Lyn Bowles, Jamie Owen and Eleri Sion on BBC Radio Wales, and with Richard Rees, Shan Cothi, Lisa Gwilym and Nia Roberts on BBC Radio Cymru. They have been appearing and performing regularly on S4C television shows including Heno, Bandit, Nodyn, Noson Lawen since releasing “Clyw Sibrydion” in 2006. https://www.lowriandlee.co.uk/ Supporting Lowri and Lee will be: Dawn & The Embers We are delighted to also welcome back Dawn and The Embers who last played at Grateful Fred’s August of 2017. Dawn and the Embers are a female folk-pop, harmony trio from Liverpool. The group plays well-crafted, catchy pop songs, singing about love, loss and trees that hold secrets. Using their harmonious voices and dynamic musicianship, the band create a lush and vibrant sound that invites you to join them in haunted tales of modern romance and wistful dreams of the future. Echoes of Laurel Canyon harmony groups and English folk artists can be heard entwined within their unique tight-knit sound, although, the girls do not want to be labelled and restricted to one style or genre. The trio experiment with their acoustic style by adding shades of funk, jazz, rock and flamenco, keeping it interesting and fresh both for themselves and their fans. www.facebook.com/dawnandtheembers Tickets at £13 in advance and £15 on the door are available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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September 2nd 2020
10th Anniversary Concert
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Headliner to be announced.
Support from: Hannah Rose Platt Hannah Rose Platt is an acclaimed singer-songwriter, talented guitarist and storyteller. Hannah has just finishing recording her second album, a co-production with AMAUK Instrumentalist of the Year Winner, Thomas Collison (Dreaming Spires, Danny & the Champions of the World). Her latest video ‘Chanel and Cigarettes’ debuted on SKY and Freeview TV, she also performed live on BBC One and was named as a rising independent star on the Americana scene in ‘Billboard’ magazine. Earlier this year Hannah wrote and released the heart-wrenching and striking track ‘Sorry’. A song written from personal experiences of her own and of her friends, of domestic abuse in it’s many forms, with all proceeds donated to Women’s Aid. Hannah recorded her debut album Portraits in Nashville where she worked with some of the industry's leading names, Grammy award-winning musicians Mark Fain, (Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton) Stuart Duncan (Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss) Her melodic, poetic and powerful music offers self-written narratives to ordinary people who had no one to unfurl their stories; tales of luck, stoicism, loneliness, love, heartbreak and hope. She warmly builds characters like an author, penning songs that almost eavesdrop on other people's lives. ‘Portraits’ was released independently to widespread critical acclaim, receiving 5star and 4star reviews across the board after which, she was invited to legendary BBC broadcaster Bob Harris’ home to record a live session for his ‘Under the Apple Tree’ youtube channel. Championed by broadcasters Sid Griffin, Baylen Leonard and Ralph McLean, Hannah has also had TV sync successes, with several tracks used for Channel 4, and considerable airplay on BBC, national and international radio. http://hannahroseplatt.com/ Tickets at £13 in advance or £15 on the door from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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October 7th 2020
Rum Drum Ramblers
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“The Americana music genre is painted with a very broad brush and this band has paint on every bristle” --No Depression
Since forming in 2006, the Rum Drum Ramblers have been honing their original St Louis string band blues in barrooms, clubs, street corners, listening rooms, and festivals. Powerful dual lead vocals by Mat Wilson and Ryan Koenig and the ever stylish slap bass of Joey Glynn weave through a tapestry of syncopated resonator guitar, screaming harmonica, mandolin, fiddle, bones, and washboard. This trio of multi-instrumentalists have a refreshing groove that swings at a perfectly danceable pace. The Rum Drum Ramblers have netted awards such as “Best Blues Band” and “Best Blues Album” over the years, but that only begins to scratch the surface of what these individuals have accomplished in the formative early years of their careers, including performing around the globe, contributing to Grammy nominated albums, and sharing the stage with many cherished roots music stalwarts. Some may remember Koenig and Glynn from their decade long run with Pokey LaFarge, which yielded memorable appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, The Conan O’Brien Show, The Marty Stuart Show, Prairie Home Companion, UKs’ Jools Holland Hootenanny, and guest features in Disney’s “The Lone Ranger”, Jack White’s “American Epic” mini-series, and Jack White's "Blunderbuss". One of the final proteges of Henry Townsend, guitarist Mat Wilson is a living link to the origins of St Louis blues. Their music both is timeless and exciting, the band plays with sincerity and respect to the original blues forbearers. https://www.rumdrumramblers.net/ Supporting the Rum Drum Ramblers will be: Danny Bradley "Fredhead favourite" Danny will be returning for the third time, by populare demand to perform songs from his newly released album. A blues-folk musician, a multi-instrumentalist, and a singer-songwriter, Danny has performed as a lead singer/guitarist in a acoustic blues-folk trio, a slap bassist in a funk band, a drummer in a rock band and an electric guitarist in an ambient-folk duet. He is currently based in Liverpool, U.K. and gigs regularly as a solo artist. Across the U.K., Danny has supported and gigged with touring acts such as Jon Gomm, Edwina Hayes, Mark Morriss, Brooks Williams, Amy Wadge, Pete Reily, Amelia Curran, Astrid Williamson and Jason Feddy as well as international bands The Once, The Amanda Rheume Trio, Derrin Nauendorf, The Paperboys and Callaghan. dannybradleymusic.com Tickets at £13 in advance or £15 on the door available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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November 4th 2020
Bill & The Belles
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With their enchanting debut album, Dreamsongs, Etc., Bill and the Belles have captured the freewheeling, lighthearted approach to music that has endeared them to listeners of every generation. With a spirited sound that falls somewhere between old-time country and vaudeville, the group puts its own spin on a golden era of music, specifically the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
“We like old music and some of us are consumed by it,” says lead singer and guitarist Kris Truelsen with a knowing laugh. “But we don't have a desire to copy it. We want to sound like ourselves and tell our story.” As a result, a majority of the material on DreamSongs, Etc., is original, from the upbeat number, “Wedding Bell Chimes,” through the yearning ode to youth, “Back to My Childhood Days.” While Truelsen’s distinctive tenor anchors the project, the Tennessee-based band’s trio harmonies gleam against a backdrop of banjo, fiddle, accordion, ukulele, and clarinet. “The title seemed appropriate in that a lot of the songs are about dreaming for something better, better days, better lovers, better whatever it may be,” Truelsen says. “Not to mention many of the songs we chose to sing are about the sentimental dreamer.” The band takes its name from Bill and Belle Reed, performers from the 1920s who recorded the songs “Old Lady and the Devil” and “You Shall Be Free” in Johnson City, Tennessee. Truelsen says, “That was the first time I heard ‘Old Lady and the Devil,’ and since then it’s become clear to me why it’s stood the test of time. Simple, plaintive, stripped-down but incredibly expressive, tough as nails and funny as hell. I first heard that side on the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music, a collection that continues to inspire. Our band’s name is a way to honor their music, the music of this place, and this region in general that we’ve come to call home. In 2015 Bill and the Belles stepped into the role of house band upon the launch of a live radio show, Farm and Fun Time, presented by Radio Bristol. Truelsen launched that community radio station, housed within the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Tennessee. Along with sharing the stage with the nation’s top roots artists (Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives, Del McCoury and Earls of Leicester), the band writes and performs the snappy, comical jingles for the show’s monthly sponsors. “Singing and playing music in front of audiences is great but when you add in the platform of live radio it’s even better,” Truelsen believes. “Especially when the audience is a community of folks who come day in and day out to support you. What a feeling, and boy, the stakes seem higher with live radio – like it’s bigger than just us playing music. It keeps us on our toes and makes us want to deliver not only good music but a good show.” It’s that same combination of expert musicianship and spontaneity that makes DreamSongs, Etc. sound so alive. Working with engineer Joseph Dejarnette, the band recorded the project in just two days of sessions inside a beautiful old farmhouse in the rolling hills of Southeast Virginia. The trio recorded around one microphone while rounding out the sound with addition of accordion and clarinet. Home-cooked meals and picturesque surroundings made the experience even more rewarding. “The small cities like Johnson City and Bristol tucked in between the mountains are inspiring to me,” Truelsen says. “I find the tension of urban and countryside to be a beautiful thing.” After growing up in the mountains of Colorado, Truelsen rambled through Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Chicago, before landing in Johnson City in 2011. “The musical history of the region is what brought me here,” he says. “I have long listened to recordings from ‘20s and ‘30s, and once you start digging into the stories and the people behind the music it's incredible to find how many talented musicians through the years made their home in these mountains. How many people were drawn here because of the advent of location recordings, development of radio, and various music-making opportunities that were hard to come by in certain parts of the world.” Of course one of the most prominent artists with ties to the area is Jimmie Rodgers, known as the Father of Country Music. DreamSongs, Etc. includes superb renditions of his compositions “Carolina Sunshine Gal” and “Tuck Away My Lonesome Blues,” which fit neatly into the album’s overall vibe. “I definitely try to channel some Jimmie Rodgers in my approach to songwriting. Simplicity and purpose...every word should count. I will never tire of the diversity of his catalog. It seems like every week I find a song of his I may have overlooked prior that hits me like a ton of bricks,” Truelsen says. “Generally speaking I'm writing from my personal experiences, though I do my best to not make songs feel like they are part of any particular time. I would like to think someone could listen to ‘Finger Pointin' Mama’ and think it was written today, or maybe their Grandma might hear it and think it was written when she was a kid. I hope timelines are blurred and that the music speaks for here and now, and for way back when.” https://billandthebelles.com/ Supporting Bill and The Belles will be: Mark Pountney Marc, a regular and very welcome performer at Grateful Fred’s, is a singer-songwriter from Liverpool, over the years Mark has honed his songwriting craft; seamlessly blending the Mersey vernacular with American roots and rock music. His songbook boasts over one hundred and fifty titles. As a performer, Mark has captivated audiences across the globe with his strong presence, unique voice, powerful melodies and intriguing lyrics. He has steadily become a stalwart of the underground Liverpool music scene, garnering the endorsement of music lovers and fellow musicians alike. markpountney.com Tickets at £13 in advance and £15 on the door are available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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December 2nd 2020
Hoth Brothers
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Hoth Brothers deliver a feel and sound that others fail to achieve by trying too hard to capture such essence of style.
It comes naturally to them so they don’t have to work at it – spontaneous with a strong heartbeat and depth of substance. The tectonic plates were nudged when they released the Workin' and Dreamin’ album. They had, from live performances on their home turf, already thrown down the gauntlet to let the world know that they meant business. When the record finally emerged, it was as if they came out of the corner with all guns blazin,’ the no-holds-barred song-writing of Bard Edrington and Boris McCutcheon delivered with all the earthy character of two men who are no strangers to getting dirt under their fingernails. Formed when the pair first came together in 2017, they whooped up powerfully-charged material that lifted the spirits like tumbleweeds in a dust devil, creating a whirlwind of timeless roots music and salt-cured New Mexicana. Each had also put out solo projects to help make their mark. When they produced Workin’ and Dreamin’ it felt like there had been a seismic shift. “Best release of 2019 so far,” was one comment. "All you ever liked about John Fogerty, JJ Cale, John Hartford, Tony Joe, Hillfolk Noir The Earl Brothers and Ramsay Midwood, rolled into one amazing album," said another. The album was recorded in February, 2019 when a portable studio was set up at Edrington’s house. After three colossal days, the best cuts of prime meat were canned and ready for market, complete with the just-right percussion of Greg Williams and the instinctive brilliance of Sarah Ferrell on upright bass and vocals. They set out to create a true folk album with as little “production” as possible to keep it honest and pure, understated but punchy. Together, they lay rail lines through the deep wonders of the American West on a journey that allows listeners to experience truth, wonder the wilderness. It’s an exhilarating ride. https://www.hothbrothers.com/ Support for Hoth Brothers will be from: To be confirmed. Tickets at £13 in advance and £15 on the door available from: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/whats-on/regular-events/grateful-freds-at-the-atkinson/ |
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