Read about our TriFest Tour music travels 15 September 2018
Nashville TN – TriFest Music Tour
Words – Rob Dickens
Images – Jim Jacob
The Filming Station
This turned out to be an afternoon delight alright. Ovation Artist Group & Transoceanic Records presented an irresistible six hours of music featuring thirteen highly satisfying artists with minimal delays between sets, great sound in the backyard tent at this intimate venue just south of downtown. Oh, and there was hot chicken and beer on the house to top it all off.
Beth Nielsen Chapman has written number one hits for Tanya Tucker and Willie Nelson. Her thirteenth solo album Hearts Of Glass is out this year. A songwriter with a eye for a standout lyric and an ear for the perfect hook, she impressed greatly.
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Californian Tim Bluhm was front man for The Mother Hips and now hits Nashville with a new solo release (it seems like 75% of the artists here has a 2018 album to showcase). Easy going rock fitted the vibe of the afternoon perfectly.
Tim Bluhm
The all-female, all sister four piece SHEL showcased what could be described as electric Celtic. The name is an acronym for their Holbrook names, Sarah, Hannah, Eva and Liza. Shimmering strings, a folk-pop aesthetic but with dalliances into metal and hard rock, these girls have the work ethic and talent to carve out their niche. The cover of Led Zeppelin’s “The Battle Of Evermore” is still in my head.
SHEL
Micah Scott is another on this bill that I have not seen nor heard of before. Think electric barn dance music. Think tight playing. Think energy plus. Think good. The attraction of Piedmont and Delta sounds drew this native of New York State to the South, way South in fact to Jupiter Florida. His Dark Horse album from 2016 has had plenty of acclaim and we witnessed some of that material – “Little Acorns” and “Step Outta Line” were notable.
Micah Scott
Michael Logen and Lizanne Knott are independent artists who performed in-the-round on a composite stage today. Michael Logan’s voice was strikingly effective. This Nashvillian has had his songs on a number of TV shows including Nashville and Suits because of the resonance in his vocals and the intensity of his songs. Check out him and his 2016 title New Medicine.
Lizanne Knott
Lera Lynn‘s recent release Plays Well With Others is one of our favourites of the year, a collection of duets with some heavy-hitting accomplices which resonate big time. Read our glowing review. In her all-too-brief set, she performed a few of the new songs (with guitarist Todd Lombardo) plus “Drive” from an earlier release and a great Tom Petty cover “Listen To Her Heart”. A star on the rise.
Lera Lynn
The Accidentals I had seen and loved at 2016 AmericanaFest. This trio from North Michigan were again enjoying the Nashville climate and blasted us with a dazzling array of new wave electronic string musicianship, closing off with a march through the crowd. Their latest release Odyssey was released in 2017.
The Accidentals
We have written about the unexpected collaboration of Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis (sister of Jerry Lee) before with Wild! Wild! Wild!. What fun to see this rock n roll and country meld live, particularly with legendary guitarist Red Volkert pitching in.
Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis
Strung Like A Horse – memorable band name from this outfit from nearby Chattanooga TN. It’s rootsy sort of but don’t let that fool you. High potent jumping rhythms. High thrills.
Strung Like A Horse
Mike Farris. This will be the fourth time in three days and I’m not even following him around! This one was the best – a full band, a sixty minute set. I’ve said enough about this supreme soul vocalist before.
Mike Farris
The Anchor Fellowship
I had seen Max Gomez and his beat-up Martin guitar on the Cayamo music cruise this February. Laconic and lanky, easy on the ear.
Max Gomez
Jim White was the main attraction here. Wikipedia lists his professions as professional surfer, model, comedian, guitarist, fashion model, cab driver, singer-songwriter, boxer, preacher. That just about sums it up and he brings all his experience into an engaging stage performance. A guest spot from Elizabeth Cook enhanced the lightning-quick set.
Jim White
Read about our TriFest Tour music travels 15 September 2018
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