Page 85 – Maverick Country

UK Americana Award Winners Announced

Leave a Comment / Live Events, News / Rochelle Mills

Last night, in a glittering ceremony at Hackney Empire in London, the winners of 2023’s UK Americana Awards, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, were revealed. During a remarkable evening celebrating the best in UK and international Americana music, acclaimed US singer-songwriter Allison Russell and English roots singer-songwriter and pianist Elles Bailey received two awards each; Russell for International Artist of the Year and International Song of the Year and Bailey for UK Artist of the Year and the newly-established UK Live Act of the Year. Alison Krauss and Robert Plant won International Album of the Year for Raise The Roof (produced by T Bone Burnett) and its UK counterpart was awarded to Superhuman by Ferris and Sylvester (produced by Ryan Hadlock and Michael Rendall). London-based singer-songwriter Hannah White triumphed in the UK Song of the Year category for her self-penned “Car Crash”. Finger-style guitartist and one of the UK’s only female professional pedal steel players Holly Carter took home the award for UK Instrumentalist of the Year. The award for the best-selling Americana album of the year, in association with the Official Charts Company, was scooped by Frank Turner for FTHC. A heartfelt rendition of “Coal Miner’s Daughter” by Allison Russell, Elles Bailey and Miko Marks paid tribute to the ground-breaking contribution to the genre of the late Loretta Lynn, who was given a special Songwriter Legacy Award in honour of her life and work. Her granddaughter Emmy Rose Russell accepted the award via video from the USA. Other prestigious awards, conferred by the AMA-UK Board, were presented to: Judy Collins (International Lifetime Achievement Award), Mike Scott of The Waterboys (UK Lifetime Achievement Award), Nickel Creek (International Trailblazer Award), BBC Radio Ulster’s Ralph McLean (Grassroots Award) and The Hanging Stars (Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award). The UK Americana Music Awards show was hosted by broadcasters Baylen Leonard and Bob Harris and special guest award presenters on the night included: Martyn Joseph, Ward Thomas, Robert Elms, Shaun Keaveny, Katherine Priddy, Tim Dowling, Lauren Down and Bev Whitrick, Ben Earle, Patrick Kielty, Ricky Ross, Belinda O’Hooley & Heidi Tidow, Paul Gambaccini, Andy Facer from Sweet Home Alabama and Becca Monahan from The Official Chart Company. The audience of music industry delegates, artists and fans were treated to wonderful performances from Judy Collins, Mike Scott of The Waterboys, Frank Turner, Allison Russell, Lady Nade, Nickel Creek, The Hanging Stars, The Heavy Heavy, Ferris and Sylvester, Simeon Hammond Dallas, Elles Bailey and Miko Marks. The evening was brought to an emotional close as the assembled artists, led by Judy Collins, sang “Amazing Grace”, backed by the all female house band led by Michele Stodart (The Magic Numbers), and Hackney Empire Community Choir. The Awards ceremony rounded off an exceptional UK Americana Music Week which took place from Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th January in Hackney, London and also featured a 4 day industry conference attended by 300 delegates and 2 nights of exclusive showcases from 80 artists in 6 venues. Marking its 10th anniversary in 2023, UK Americana Music Week and Awards has gone from strength to strength since its inception with huge increases in delegate numbers, artists involved and Americana Music Association UK (AMA-UK) members. Its impact has been widespread, raising the profile of the genre, providing a platform for new and established talent, including opportunities for UK artists at festivals here and abroad, and establishing the Official UK Americana Chart in conjunction with The Official Chart Company. The Americana Music Association UK continues to focus on its PRS Foundation Keychange pledge to deliver a minimum 50:50 gender balance in female participants at 2023’s UK Americana Music Week, alongside working hard to ensure an inclusive and diverse line-up across the whole event, including showcases from indigenous Canadian artists William Prince and Digging Roots.

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Kane Brown’s successful UK tour

Leave a Comment / Live Events, News / Rochelle Mills

Kane Brown has just embarked on an energetic tour of the UK and received rave reviews up and down the country. Accompanied by opening act Restless Road anyone who went along to the shows would agree that it was an unforgettable night. Restless Road kicked off the show acoustically. Their harmonies were what stood out for me and they knew how to impress the crowd; throwing in a Lewis Capaldi cover and their medley of country hits, which included ‘Your Man’, ‘Big Green Tractor’ and ‘Shoulda Been A Cowboy’ was a particular highlight. Their new song which was released on Friday, ‘On My Way’, showcased more of the groups identity and they captivated the crowd with the track. Kane burst onto the stage with his band and set the tone for the rest of the evening as he paced the stage. ‘Be Like That’ got everyone in the room moving and singing along just a few songs in and it was an upwards trajectory from there. He addressed the crowd, telling them the stories behind the songs and many of the fans guessed ‘Hometown’ which appeared to be a favourite as they whooped and cheered before he’d finished introducing the song. ‘Like I Love Country Music’ was a highlight for me on his last record and it was also a highlight live as well and with the Manchester crowd singing along like a choir (perhaps not all in tune!) it gave me goosebumps. The band was having fun as much as Kane was and they were a tight-knit, cohesive unit as they played one his biggest hits ‘Lose it’. The live version took on it’s own personality. ‘Thank God’ brought the emotion whilst ‘Good As You’ showed both Kane’s versatility and the versatility of a song as it began stripped back before building and launching into an arena ready number with epic guitars and drums. He broke up his set with a series of covers that criss-crossed genres, again showing the entertainers versatility. All the while there was a buzz throughout the venue. He’d built up a rapport with the audience and was putting on a show. He concluded with some of his biggest songs from ‘Heaven’, the chart topping single that’s now been certified seven times platinum, to ‘Famous Friends’. He concluded his set on another smash hit which the fans knew every word to, ‘What Ifs’. All in all, it was an incredible performance from a true entertainer.

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Far From Saints release debut single!

Leave a Comment / News, Top Picks / Rochelle Mills

Kelly Jones of Stereophonics has co-written an album with Austin’s Patty Lynn and Dwight Baker (aka The Wind and The Wave) resulting in the formation of a new band Far From Saints, evoking a cross-genre sound spanning country, rock, folk, and Americana. Far From Saints is a project born from a shared, unadulterated love of music and collaboration, rich with emotions, creative integrity and defined by the unique sound of Kelly and Patty’s vocal harmonies. Today sees Far From Saints share their debut track ‘Let’s Turn This Back Around’ along with the song’s official video directed by Kelly Jones. It comes as they prepare to release their debut album accompanied with live shows later this year. Listen HERE and watch the official video HERE. ‘Let’s Turn This Back Around’ encapsulates the irresistible natural magnetism that comes when two evocative voices are drawn together. In a country tinged song which ruminates on loved ones left behind, Patty and Kelly trade verses from opposing perspectives. But as the song is elevated from sparse Americana into a richer, string-laden crescendo, both their lyrics and their harmonies show the strength that comes with a partnership that surpasses that of the individual. Patty says, “It was important to us to have both perspectives in that song,” while Kelly adds, “‘Let’s Turn This Back Around’ particularly lends itself to being a duet.” As with the rest of Far From Saints’ upcoming debut album, ‘Let’s Turn This Back Around’ was written and produced by the band, with mixing from the Grammy-nominated Al Clay (Blur, Pixies). Kelly, Patty and Dwight first experimented playing together when performing a cover version of Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty’s ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’ on Kelly Jones’ solo UK tour in 2019 (Dwight and Patty were openers for Kelly each night). Very soon on that UK tour, the three found themselves jamming and co-writing songs in backstage hallways, dressing rooms, soundchecks and hotels. Each songwriter subconsciously merging their influences to nourish the alchemy between two formidable singers. They booked recording sessions, one at the end of each leg of the tour and completed the entire album in just nine days. While it was created remarkably quickly, it also took years to be unveiled after the pandemic left them an ocean apart. Still captivatingly fresh, the album is now ready to be shared with the world – details to follow soon.

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Spotlight: Jessie G

Leave a Comment / News, Top Picks / Rochelle Mills

Jessie G was the talk of Millport Festival this past summer. With an indescribably powerful voice, Jessie stunned the audience as she belted out country classics such as ‘Fancy’. She built a rapport with the crowd as she came down off the stage and mingled with the audience whilst performing. Coming from a long line of fishermen, being a military wife and a mother to her baby daughter as well as being a working musician, Jessie knows about hard work. As she gears up to release her album early next year, we sit down to talk about her career so far. Jessie has been singing and performing for as long as she can remember. “They said I was singing before I could talk,” she begins. “I would hold talent shows in my parents living room, I just loved being the entertainer. I was ten when I did my first proper talent show, I sang ‘Let ’er Rip’ by the Dixie Chicks and I won it!” After that first show, Jessie caught the bug and began to take it more seriously. Instead of it just being a hobby she started to compete regularly in talent contests. After gaining a place in the elite choir at Middle school, Jessie found herself a mentor in the form of choir master Jerry Moffitt. He was a good piano player and great Jazz musician himself and had a big influence on Jessie’s life. “He took me under his wing and entered me in a bunch of jazz competitions. I didn’t realise the gravity of that experience going forward in my career.” Her passion and talent for music would take her to college, allowing her to be one of the first in her family the opportunity to pursue further education. After forming a country-rock band and joining the school jazz band, Jessie G had the opportunity to play a show with Mic Gillette, during which she got a video singing Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’, which was the video she submitted as she applied for a scholarship. “Getting a scholarship for music was just unheard of. I was the first one to really go to college in my family, so it was something that we were really proud of. I majored in political science and music. I thought there was no way you can make a good living with music and support a family so I was thinking I’d become a lawyer in the entertainment industry and then maybe if I get my shot… so I worked as a paralegal for a while.” READ THE FULL INTERVIEW IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF MAVERICK AVAILABLE HERE! Media Contact: Zoe Hodges, Editor Email: [email protected]

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Spotlight: Wolf Moon

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rochelle Mills

When did you first know that you wanted to be a musician? Kelly: Around 5 years old as I loved dancing and singing along to Kylie Minogue’s music videos with a lollipop as a microphone! Jimmy: It was also around that age as that’s when I began playing piano! Can you remember the first song you ever wrote? Jimmy: The first song I remember was written with Matt Gilmour as I went to school with him. It was great because that’s how I also discovered what a genius his dad was! I didn’t realise just how well respected his dad was until I learnt more about Pink Floyd and absolutely loved their music when I first heard it.  Kelly: The first song I wrote was probably in my late teens with a band. It was called ‘Somewhere I Belong’ Can you tell me a little bit about the writing and recording process of the songs on your new album ‘How Do You See Yourself?’ On this album most of the songs were written in lockdown in Ireland and are quite reflective of what was happening at the time, both for me personally and in general.  There are a few songs in the album that were written years before and were fleshed out for the album too. The main process was communicating with each other and the band over a virtual band platform called Soundtrap as we couldn’t get together in person due to lockdown.  This was a great way to add in our parts and ‘create’ and collab via a virtual music platform that allowed us to produce rough demos for the studio! When there’s a will, there’s a way!  READ THE FULL INTERVIEW IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF MAVERICK AVAILABLE HERE! Media Contact: Zoe Hodges, Editor Email: [email protected]

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Spotlight: Jeremy Parsons

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rochelle Mills

When did you first know that you wanted to be a musician? I always loved music, but it didn’t occur to me that I could do this for a living until I was about seventeen or eighteen. I started playing guitar, writing and singing my stuff within that time frame, and shortly after, I ventured out to play a writer’s night to give it a shot. It was at Rolling Oaks Sports Bar & Grill in San Antonio, TX. The people loved it and were so nice and supportive. I came back every week, which eventually led to paid gigs, and I just got caught in the whirlwind and was off from that point. I had found what I was here to do. What music did you listen to growing up? Growing up, I loved older stuff and even dated back to some of the earliest country recordings by Fiddlin’ John Carson. I gravitated toward Hank Williams Sr. the most, though. You could always find some George Strait and Bob Wills around to being from Texas. I also just really loved hearing Bob Wills make noises in the background. Can you remember the first song you ever wrote? Oh geez! I honestly can’t. The first time I wrote, I wrote for a school English project that I was going on about not wanting to do. I went downstairs and complained to dad, and he turned to me and said, “well, you’ve been playing music a lot lately. Why don’t you try writing your paper to music.” I went upstairs and knocked out the project in no time. After that, I was off and running. Writing every song idea that I had. Which at that time was a lot. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF MAVERICK AVAILABLE HERE! Media Contact: Zoe Hodges, Editor Email: [email protected]

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Gabby Barrett’s “Pick Me Up” certified Platinum

Review: Karen Jonas – The Restless

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rochelle Mills

This dark alt-country offering showcases a new side to Jonas’ songwriting. The record explores themes of romance and ill-fated love, with many of the lyrics having a nostalgic feel to them. The album opens with ‘Paris Breeze’ and the thing that strikes me is the detailed description in the lyrics, “we’re breathing lavender and jasmine and the dust that’s fallen off of some great painting.” In fact, the whole record feels like a very visceral encounter. A highlight is the intimate piano track ‘Lay Me Down’. It explores the theme of choosing to love despite knowing it could end in heartbreak whilst ‘That’s Not My Dream Couch’ is more upbeat and has its own sense of humour and wit. ‘Forever’ definitely takes a more hopeful tone when it comes to love. The production is well thought out, complementing the mood of each track whilst remaining cohesive.

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Spotlight: The County Affair

Leave a Comment / News, Top Picks / Rochelle Mills

Tony and Kevin had a busy 2022 as they released some fantastic new tracks and gained a larger following through their presence and performances at a number of major festivals. The friends who grew up together loving music but who parted ways to pursue successful careers away from the limelight have reunited to become one of the leading forces of the UK country scene. The duo began the year with a fabulous set at Country 2 Country – Europe’s biggest country festival before playing Black Deer and The British Country Music Festival. “It’s great to have been able to thread those festivals throughout the year especially such high caliber ones as well,” Tony begins, a smile appearing on his face as he reflects on the year they’ve had together as a duo. “We’ve loved getting to know the audience as well as them getting to know us.” The pair have exploded onto the country scene over the last couple of years but their friendship goes back years. Tony tells the story of how they first met. “We met at school age 11. We traveled on the same bus for part of our journeys home and it came up in conversation that we were both musicians. At the age of 14 we were playing in Kev’s dad’s Irish Country band. We as youngsters had the opportunity to play live so that’s where it began.” When they were 17 or 18, before they left for Uni, the pair were driving themselves to gigs, playing two or three nights a week. They played over two hundred shows together. “We were listening to Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris during that time,” Kevin says, “and that wasn’t the norm for a couple of 16 or 17 year old school boys in Nottingham. That love stayed with us all these years so it’s no surprise that’s what we’ve come back to.” The UK country scene is still very much a growing market and Kevin and Tony are delighted that The County Affair are a part of that growth. “I think one of the things that excites us about what we’re doing is the rapid growth of country and Americana as a genre in the UK. There’s been a growing number of good high caliber, British artists coming through.” One of their songs off their debut album ‘Every Ghost’ captured the hearts of fans in the UK as it showcased their compelling storytelling lyrics. Kevin, the main writer of the pair divulged the story behind the thought-provoking track that put the duo on the map. “The general idea of my songwriting is to be a storyteller, which is a great American tradition. That can be drawn upon snippets of things I’ve seen in life. The inspiration for that song was really passing somebody sleeping on the street near to where I lived, and my wife stopping and we gave the person some money and was chatting to him. Afterwards she said she had met him before and just basically explained that you know, two or three years earlier, he had a house and a family. He lost his job, found out a few mental health issues and the next thing, he is a guy sleeping on the street and people are just ignoring him. Nobody chooses to sleep on the street and have people just wander past them all day. That was the inspiration of the song. You might realise it could happen to any of us in reality, it’s not a life choice for sure.” The duo began their recording career at one of the most famous studios in the world – Abbey Road. “Imagine how we felt the first time we had that invitation!” Tony begins. “It came from a producer who randomly discovered our music and contacted Kevin and said, I like what you’re doing, I think I can take you to that level beyond what you’re doing by yourselves. Do you fancy coming and working with me out of Abbey Road Studios? You can imagine how many milliseconds it took for us to say yes to that. That was a terrific experience, it’s a very special place with its history and meaning to the UK music world – global legends of music, have recorded there. You can sort of sense it in the walls of the place, I suppose.” Though it started off as a happy coincidence that they began recording at Abbey Road, they have returned time and time again and one of the reasons for that is due to the general consensus that the British country scene doesn’t thrive as much as it should not because of the quality of the songs but because of the quality of the production. “Speaking to people in the industry, from an AirPlay point of view, there is a challenge about production quality of some of the music out of the UK versus our US competitors. So one of the things we’re making sure is to have a high caliber of production, not just good songs, but they’re really well produced so they’ve got the best chance of radio play.” If 2022 was a good year for The County Affair, 2023 is looking even better. The release of their latest single, ‘Weekend Cowboy’ is sure to whet fans appetite for their upcoming second album due out in March. “We’re very fortunate to have been signed to a small record label called Lassman records,” Kevin says as he begins to introduce us to the music they’ve been working on. “They’ve worked with us on making album number two which is now complete. It’s been great fun and we’re really proud of it. Our single ‘Weekend Cowboy’ comes out on the sixth of January and the album which is called ‘Two Days Drive’ will be out in March. We were shooting a video for ‘Weekend Cowboy’ and we put a note out to see if anybody wanted to come along.” Tony adds further to the inspiration

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Review: Vic Allen – Some Place I’d Rather Be

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rochelle Mills

Vic Allen is one of our brightest homegrown talents and I truly believe 2023 will be her year! The tone of her voice is quite simply beautiful, she exhibits such control and delivers each line with perfectly weighted emotion. ‘Pictures of Us’ is the standout track for me, the lyrics are so cleverly written, the harmonies add a depth to the song and the melody tugs on the heartstrings. Inspired by her travels and those she met whilst exploring the world, the album very much feels like it takes you on a journey with songs such as ‘Drive’ and ‘Barcelona’ the perfect soundtrack for a road trip. The dreamy soundscapes she creates in the arrangement and production further solidify the themes of the record. New single ‘Suitcase’ with an accompanying video shot in California with the help of her brother is a flagship song for the record which showcases her strong songwriting ability alongside her brilliant voice. I can’t wait to see Allen go from strength to strength over the next year!

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