Read about the Sounds Australia scheduling for AmericanaFest
Radio Station PBS Presents
‘Follow Me to Tennessee’
Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes * Dan Waters * The Weeping Willows
I have been thinking lately about my experiences at the Americana Music Festival and Conference last year in Nashville Tennessee.
What part of the festivities did I enjoy the most?
- The two-hour star-studded Honors and Awards Show (with the best Americana music of the previous twelve months, Jim Lauderdale as host and featuring a stellar Buddy Miller-led band)?
- The torrent of high quality Showcase events each night?
- The Q and A’s with some of the best – Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell to name just two?
- Even sitting in one of my favourite music venues in the world, the Ryman Auditorium, during rehearsals for the Awards show?
- What about the closing concert – Lucinda Williams – my top live show of the year?
- Was it just enjoying the delights of the city between live performances and conference sessions?
- Meeting like-minded new and old friends?
Well, it’s hard to say, but as well as all the above treats, there was the Australian presence at the event.
Sounds Australia organised some terrific live music gatherings:
- The Silver Fiddle at noon one day with beer and pizza,
- Showcase performances at The Bluebird
- The screening of a documentary on Paul Kelly and a Q n A with Kelly himself at the Nashville Public Library and
- The day-long session at The Basement which, amongst other things, helped raised funds for the local Australian Rules side – The Nashville Kangaroos.
I don’t believe that Sounds Australia has yet announced the Aussie performers going to Nashville in 2014. But I do know that Mustered Courage will be there and also Katie Briana. As will the three exciting acts the subject of this article.
Award-winning Melbourne artists Dan Waters and Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes are teaming up with Americana-sweethearts The Weeping Willows for a Southern-style country/roots extravaganza in Victoria before the three acts travel to Tennessee to continue live touring.
Bryan and The Wildes took out the coveted Golden Guitar for Alt-Country Album of the Year at the 2014 Country Music Awards of Australia (for Black Coffee), whilst Waters’ debut La Vita Bella won last year’s The Age Music Victoria Award for Best Country Album amongst a string of other accolades.
“Bryan and band have a peculiar talent for engaging with the tropes and mores of the country/Americana tradition while imbuing their songs with pathos, sharp pop sensibilities, and a uniquely Australian outlook” says Gareth Hipwell of Country Update, whilst Denise Hylands of (Triple RRR radio station’s show) ‘Twang’ calls Bryan “a truly gifted talent…whose songs sit comfortably alongside storytellers John Prine and Townes Van Zandt”.
Waters’ unique southern delivery conjured up comparisons to Tod Snider and even Merle Haggard, with Rhythms Magazine editor Martin Jones describing him as a “charming and completely convincing character who’s songs are consistently affecting”.
I can vouch for both these albums.
The Weeping Willows are Andrew Wrigglesworth – vocals/guitars/resonator/harmonica and Laura Coates – vocals/piano accordion//lap steel/harmonica. The band’s debut album Till the North Wind Blows, released in 2012, is one I haven’t heard yet fully but the material that I have listened to, is a slice of sparse, elegant folk which will fit in beautifully with the Americana environs.
As mentioned before, all three acts are headed to Nashville for the 2014 Americana Festival and Conference – but in the meantime they’re inviting Victorians to “Follow me to Tennessee!”
I certainly will! I’ll be following them to The Caravan Club in August (see below) and then to Nashville TN in September.
Tour Dates
Friday 4th July – Revolver Bandroom Prahan 8p.m $15 www.revolverupstairs.com.au
Sunday 13th July – Old Hepburn Hotel Hepburn Springs 4p.m $20 www.oldhepburnhotel.com.au
Friday 18th July – Holgate Brewery Wooden www.holgatebrewhouse.com
(Lachlan Bryan and Dan Waters ONLY)
Saturday 19th July – Barwon Club Geelong 8p.m $15 www.barwonclub.com.au
Thursday 24th July – Music Man Megastore Bendigo 8p.m $10
Saturday 26th July – The Bridge Hotel Castlemaine 8.30p.m $10 www.bridgehotelcastlemaine.com
Saturday 9th August – Caravan Club Oakleigh 8p.m www.caravanmusic.com.au
Thursday 24th August – Sookie Lounge Belgrave 8p.m $10
Saturday 22nd August -Baha in Rye 8p.m $10
For more info on these artists, go here
Read about the Sounds Australia scheduling for AmericanaFest
