It has been anything but a quiet year for Dry The River. Having racked up an endless
string of major festival dates last summer – and this one too – as well as supporting
Bombay Bicycle Club in winter, it was only time before they played could prove their
own. And where a more fitting and beautiful place to end this UK tour than Norwich’s
Arts Centre.

The evening gets off to a mesmerising start with local band Deers. Ploughing through
rumbling numbers such as Sleep.Recover and the Foals-laden Fires, the crowd are
pleasantly surprised by Norwich’s very own, pumped up for the rest of the evening’s
delights. Next it is the challenge of Cut Ribbons to continue this winning streak. Quietly
belting out their mix of passionate pop and seductive melodies, they are certainly
enjoying themselves, if not faintly awkward in presence. A pleasurable warm-up, but
narrowly underwhelming at the same time.

So it turned to Dry The River. Entering to Michael Jackson’s Will You Be There?, the
crowd are forced a guilty grin on their faces. But the band waste no time as they launch
into No Rest, lead single off their debut Shallow Bay; a gorgeous slow-soaring anthem, it
is already clear that this is going to be one hell of a gig. Meandering (yes, pun intended)
through rising harmonious serenities like Shield Your Eyes and seductive joys à la
History Book, you could mistake yourself for winding up at a Fleet Foxes show in an
abandoned church.

Although the night is partially special for frontman Peter Liddle on his 26 th birthday, the
band as a whole put in all their energy and stir a subtle passion that never leaves them.
Demons, a mid-set delight, provides a romantic intimacy even in its busiest moments.
The assembled are clearly just in awe. There is also a wonderful moment in Weights and
Measures where the band step back from their mics and belt out to the packed church,
giving an air of apt authenticity. This instant is somewhat turned on its head when band
reveals a banana, with what looks like the setlist written on it. They clearly have a sense
of humour.

After a brief break, Dry The River return to the petite stage for Lion’s Den, another
gradual riser that ends in a frenzy reminiscent of the Arcade Fire. In fact, it almost feels
like half of the Fire have taken to the stage and been given a healthy dose of morphine:
the passion and subtle energy that band leave the crowd with is just that huge. And if
tonight is anything to go by, this (regrettably) will be one of the last times that they play
venues of this size and intimacy; and write their setlists on phallic shaped pieces of fruit.

Sam Warner

Touring the 3^rd album, last year’s Hearts and Arrows, the band are in Belfast as part of the year’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and enjoying the good bank holiday vibe from the audience.

Set opener, Ghosts, was a great taste of what was to come. Hectic, pounding drums with backing vocals straight out of Nashville got the gig off to a flyer and continued in the same vein with second number Hearts & Arrows.

Wilson’s current band is a different set of musicians than backed him up on the album (Streets of our Time) that brought him to the attention of Drive-By Truckers and The Magic Numbers, both groups he had toured with and the current band’s sound is very different to what I had heard and expected. The current band doesn’t have the pedal steel guitar or the country stylings of the old one so tonight we get a much more rock & roll vibe with touches of blues and soul thanks mainly to the addition of a saxophone.

The sax player and lead guitarist were the stars of the band as they traded solos, riffs and the Thin Lizzy-esque harmonies on Soul In The City were a highlight.

The next track, The Colonel & The King was about the ‘1950’s Peter Andre’, Elvis Presley and showcased one of the main characteristics of the band with its extended outro as the lead guitar fired out a bluesy solo before handing over to the sax player with band leader Wilson keeping everyone as tight and calling out changes in pace and tempo. There were 5 or 6 of these outros which personally I sometimes find a little boring. There were a few whispers around me as well of people with a similar complaint but on this occasion I loved the showmanship and ability on display. And Wilson showed what a talented bunch of players he had backing him up and what a good band leader he was as he built tempos and brought them back down again with ease keeping it interesting and enjoyable.

Let’s Grab This With Both Hands was a set highlight for me. It showed another style to The Champions with its plaintive vocal, sweet guitar riff it showed Wilson does a nice line in blue-eyed soul.

There were frequent sing-alongs on the night with the crowd ‘sha-la-la’ing their hearts out. Henry the Van was a big favourite as the band went acoustic for a couple of minutes. There were requests for another acoustic number and Wilson managed a couple of lines of Streets of our Time before admitting he couldn’t remember the lyrics and giving up – despite the smartphones endowed with the words that were soon thrust towards him.

He plugged the strat back in and picked up the pace with a few more rock & roll numbers. The opening chords of Restless Feet were met with whoops of recognition, You Don’t Know had the dancers thronging to the front and the encore of These Days rounded off a great night.

Energetic with a massive sound, Wilson and the band obviously had a good time and there was a Springsteen vibe to the music which made me yearn to see them on a bigger stage. I think they’d be right at home on one.

Words: Owen McNulty

Pics: Gerry McNally

Our Krypton Son in the alter-ego Derry’s Chris McConaghy. Formerly a member of noisy indie art-rock outfit Red Organ Serpent Sound, he’s been honing his solo songwriting skills over the last number of years and based on tonight’s performance it’s been time well spent. He’s a likeable guy with an affable onstage persona but often that’s not quite going to cut it. Our Krypton Son has the tunes to back it up though.

Opening with ‘Birds on the Skylight’ there’s a hint of Bob Dylan drawl but with the occasional foray into an unexpected chord change which serves only to keep your ears drawn to the performance. At times he struggles to really be heard over the Friday night chatters at the bar but by the time we reach ‘Sunlight In The Ashes’ we’re all settled in for a show that’s really going to appeal to fans of Dylan, Waits, Cohen or even ‘Love Is Hell’ era Ryan Adams… and well that’s more than good enough for us!

A few of the noisier patrons at the bar finally shush when Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy fronted The Leisure Society take the stage. They seem genuinely enthused to be making their debut in Belfast and truth be told Belfast looks pleased to have them. It’s not every Friday we’re treated to such close vocal harmonies and lavish instrumentation. We’ve got keys, flutes, finger picked violin and the mix from the sound desk is almost perfect. Every note’s falling on eager ears.

For a band, relatively unknown in some parts they have a few big tunes with ‘Save It For Someone Who Cares’ being the first to draw glints of recognition and a little outburst of singalong. While their are obvious comparisons to the likes of Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear, The Leisure Society aren’t averse to cranking things up a notch and rocking out with an outro that wouldn’t have sounded out of place in Sam Philips’ Sun Studios. Occasionally it’s contemplative country, occasionally rock and roll and at times there’s an almost Eastern European Gypsy thing going on up there. Just when you’ve settled in a little groove there’s a haunting flute solo or quirky ukulele riff from the left field. Inventive, interesting, incredible songwriting.

Highlights of the set include a sterling cover of Paul Simon’s ‘Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard’ and the Ivor Novello nominated song ‘Last Of The Melting Snow’ which rightfully demands a revered hush throughout the venue. The tempo, heat and intensity are raised throughout the night and by the time we’ve got past the likes of ‘The Phantom Life’ and ‘A Matter of Time’ the dancefloor is full, the Guinness is flowing and the whole evening has become well, very leisurely indeed.

Scott Edgar

Belfast’s Real Music Club has been running in the cosy confines of the Errigle Inn for many years showcasing some huge international stars, as well as local talent and up and coming performers from around the world. Tonight we’ve got a real blues treat with performances from Canadian bluesman Matt Andersen ably supported by local lass Mama Caz.

Caz oozes stage presence with a massive voice that often makes up for slightly under par guitar work. There’s an element of dark Northern Irish humour from the off as the set begins with ‘Coffin Dodger’. Caz jokes:

We love giving young musicians a chance but Skip here is on his last!

Skip’s got many years under the belt and considerable skills on percussion. Tonight he’s playing a cajon and playing the clown. The on stage banter is down to earth and jokey and several tunes like ‘Lipstick and Cocaine’ and ‘Mama’s Express’ are memorable enough to hum while you’re waiting at the bar for a pint.

The growing crowd is only there for one reason though, to witness the first ever Irish performance from Matt Andersen.

To call Matt a blues picker is a massive understatement, yet this is how he is introduced with a lengthy ramble about blues greats and Van Morrison. From the off the set is reminiscent of Van’s 1967 New York session with it’s blues licks and chatty interaction.

Matt Andersen is a likeable big man though and all Van comparisons are soon forgotten as he tears through some riproaring blues riffs and stunning solos. There’s little need at all for a microphone or PA tonight. I can easily imagine that voice booming through the forests and mountains of rural Canada, creating a real bluesy rumble through the valleys.

Lead track of his latest album ‘Coal Mining Blues’ takes things down a notch showing off a more fragile side of the performer allowing the more soulfull tones of his vocal to shine through. ‘Home Sweet Home’ and the requested ‘Angel Gets The Blues’ continue in the same vein. It’s starting to get emotional!

Matt and the crowd are enjoying themselves so much he returns to the stage for another full set of top notch blues, tales of the Cookie Monster and a delightful cover of Springsteen’s ‘I’m On Fire’. The set finally closes with the raw emotion of ‘Feel Like Going Home’ and you genuinely believe this is a man who delights in those rare instances with loved ones when he’s not guitar in hand out on the road. He feels like going home… We sincerely hope he’ll be back!

Words: Scott Edgar
Pics: Gerry McNally

All money raised from sales will help towards future releases so do your bit to keep good independent music going strong!

Due for release on May 29th in the UK on the Nettwerk label, we’ve received all the details we could ever want from both band and label.

Entitled “Tree Bursts in Snow”, the record will feature 10 tracks recorded and mixed by “breakthrough producer of the year” Paul Savage at Chem 19 in Glasgow and mastered by Greg Calbi (The National, Fleet Foxes, Paul Simon, Grizzly Bear) at Sterling Sound in New York City.

Front man and songwriter Louis Abbott gives us some insight into the origins of the album’s unusual title.

“The title refers to the sound and the image of an artillery shell exploding into a cluster of snow-drenched trees. I’m also astounded by the sheer volume of gun related violent crimes throughout the world but in particular in the U.S. The lyric from ‘Tree Bursts’ was inspired by the idea of the effect that losing friends through violence, in particular during times of war or conflict has on young men and women. They are “the leaves that fall louder than backfire, all orange and halloween red…”

The first single from “Tree Bursts in Snow” is “Beetle in the Box”, which is available for a limited time as a free download and will be released on a strictly limited white label vinyl also featuring a cover of the beautiful Associates’ song “Party Fears Two”. The can be purchased from admiralfallow.com, and indie stores from March 2012.

Tracklisting

Tree Bursts
The Paper Trench
Guest Of The Government
Beetle In The Box
Old Fools
Isn’t This World Enough?
Brother
The Way You Were Raised
Burn
Oh, Oscar

Scott Edgar

Somewhere down by the River Thames in London, Duke Special is locked up in the studio, with fellow musicians including brass and clarinet maestro Ben Castle, putting the finishing touches to the record, hemmed in by timpani, vibraphone, marimba and glockenspiel and throwing the merest of hints as to the new tracks.

Seventeen creations beginning to crystallise into little songs with their own little faces. After today… 3 days left. Time for them to start getting dressed and put on a little make up. Not too much, just to highlight the natural features.

Duke and his band will be previewing songs from the upcoming record at two intimate shows in London and Dublin.

April 23rd
Lexington Arms, London
BUY TICKETS

April 25th
Workman’s Club, Dublin
BUY TICKETS

http://folkandtumble.com/?p=187 It’s been a hectic start to 2012 for Northern Irish songwriter Foy Vance. In January alone he has completed a mini-tour of Europe, paid a quick visit to NYC and released a new single on iTunes.

‘Be The Song’ is the lead single from the upcoming ‘Melrose EP’ and is a collaboration with long time friend and producer David Holmes. If you can’t yet get your hands on a copy of the song check out Series 10 of American drama “House” where you can hear a little on the soundtrack.

Foy and David have also collaborated on a soundtrack for Terry George’s new short film, The Shore. The movie has been nominated for an Oscar which is an exciting prospect for any songwriter.

If you’re already a fan of Mr Vance are are based in or around London you may be able to catch him play as part of HMV’s Next Big Thing series of shows. Foy plays London’s ‘Garage’ on 9th February with support from One Sixth of Tommy & Tom Moriarty.

BUY BE THE SONG ON ITUNES

BUY TICKETS FOR HMV’S NEXT BIG THING

You may know him as Captain Cameron and while the name may have changed, the songwriting prowess, keen ear for a melody and raw emotional delivery of a song have not.

The new EP is entitled Flow River, Flow and is available for free over on David’s Bandcamp page.

And while you’re there check out his sublime cover of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Video Games’ recorded for BBC Northern Ireland’s Across The Line show.

Scott Edgar

If you’re new to the music of Ben Howard then check out this session for BBC Radio One with Zane Lowe.

If you’re already well versed in the tunes of this young Englishman then get ready for pre-sale tickets to go on sale tomorrow (February 8th) and if all that wasn’t enough, special guest for the UK shows is none other than the fantastic Willy Mason.

2nd November – Brighton, The Dome
3rd November – Plymouth, Pavilions
4th November – Cardiff, University (Great Hall)
5th November – Bristol, Colston Hall
7th November – Dublin, Olympia
9th November – Belfast, Mandela Hall
10th November – Glasgow, O2 Academy
12th November – Manchester, Apollo
14th November – Leeds, O2 Academy
16th November – Newcastle, O2 Academy
17th November – Aberdeen, Music Hall
19th November – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
20th November – Lincoln, Engine Shed
21st November – Leicester, O2 Academy
22nd November – Nottingham, Rock City
24th November – Birmingham, O2 Academy
25th November – Bournemouth, O2 Academy
26th November – Southampton, GuildHall
28th November – London, O2 Brixton Academy

Scott Edgar