Posted by John McCart
Folk and Tumble
The Ulster Hall Belfast, 11th April 2017 What do you want to be when you grow up? An old person. I made it. One of the insightful lines spoken by Mr. Prine between songs. A sold out Ulster Hall, was JP denied the use of the Waterfront by the World Irish Dancing Championships? Visions of […]
Posted by John McCart
Folk and Tumble
No Alibis Bookstore, Belfast 15th December 2016 A generous man is Mr McGinn. He gets his own show in No Alibis after several joint shows and immediately arranges to share the gig with Na Leanai. Most readers will know Matt’s backstory. A very talented singer songwriter who has been on the scene in Belfast and […]
Posted by John McCart
Folk and Tumble
Sugar Hill Records Four Albums, several Grammy nominations, and a recent Honours Degree from a Music Conservatory… All that and more by your twenty-fifth year. Not bad going. I first heard Sarah Jarosz a number of years back playing blinding fiddle on the ‘Trans Atlantic’ television programme. She has played live in Belfast, on at […]
Posted by John McCart
Folk and Tumble
Grand Opera House Sunday 30 October 2016 I don’t have any answers, only songs. It’s a big stage and a big venue to fill, but Ms Rusby managed to reduce it to an intimate Sunday night gig. Touring around the launch of her new ‘Life In A Paper Boat’ album Kate brought her voice and a […]
Posted by John McCart
Folk and Tumble
Bob, Laughing Lenny and JP, it’s hard to keep the young talent down, isn’t it? ‘For Better Or Worse’, a new studio album, a collection of classic country songs written or made popular by artists such as Hank Williams, George Jones, Ernest Tubbs, Buck Owens. Recorded here as duets with a selection of female artists […]
Posted by John McCart
Folk and Tumble
14th April 2016 The MAC, Belfast A sold out show of soulful jazz and blues. A sold out show and a buzz of anticipation in the foyer pre-show. The gig was in the big room, I would think it holds up to three or four hundred. Nice dark setting; only drawback is that reviewers cannot […]
Posted by John McCart
Folk and Tumble
Queen’s Hall, Newtownards 10th April 2016 Inspired by a couple of world renowned guitar makers based nearby the Ards International Guitar Festival has run for over a decade, with support from the local council. This year’s event has the creative hand of Anthony Toner, fresh from organising birthday bashes for Van, at the helm and […]
Posted by John McCart
Folk and Tumble
Afternoon jazz brings out the best of Belfast… 9th January 2016 The Black Box, Hill Street, Belfast They run a slick operation the Out To Lunch crew. Sold out gig, everyone in seated drinks on tables and support act on stage just after 2:00 pm. No messing. No messing with or from Dana either, dressed […]
Posted by John McCart
Folk and Tumble
Another split, another CD, more blues. Steve Earle’s most recent work is his sixteenth studio album. It’s a blues album, his publicity informs us he is working on a musical and there is also a country music in process but this is blues. The title ‘Terraplane’ comes from a Hudson car of the thirties which […]