2016 - Page 29 of 38 - STAGING Maverick

The Lumineers to kickoff of the AMA's 17th annual festival & conference

The Americana Music Association expands its festival and conference in its 17th year by announcing its most ambitious kickoff event ever featuring The Lumineers at the Ascend Amphitheater Tuesday, September 20, 2016. “We’re very excited to have the Americana Music Association presenting our show at Ascend Amphitheater. Nashville is a very special place for us, aside from our love of the amazing music scene and history, both our label Dualtone and agent are based there, and it’s where we mixed the new album.” – Wesley Schultz AmericanaFest will bring more than 200 artists to multiple venues around music city including 3rd & Lindsley, The Basement, City Winery, High Watt, Cannery Ballroom, Mercy Lounge, The Family Wash, Station Inn, Downtown Presbyterian Church and The 5 Spot, to name a few. The daytime conference will feature the best and the brightest in the music industry kicking off with a keynote address from legendary producer T Bone Burnett. The capstone event of the week-long roots music celebration is the Americana Honors & Awards program taking place at the historically cool Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, September 21.

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Sam Carter announces UK tour to support new album HOW THE CITY SINGS

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Since being named Best Newcomer at the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Sam Carter has been stirring audiences from Camden to Canada, via an attention grabbing appearance on Later… with Jools Hollandand a performance in a specially assembled band to back Richard Thompson at Shrewsbury Folk Festival. Since the release of his last solo album THE NO TESTAMENT, Sam has toured the world, equally happy to perform on his own, with a band or to collaborate with other artists – including a trip to Pakistan to work with revered South Asian classical musicians Sajid Hussain and Haroon Samuel; an appearance on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show playing songs cowritten with Zimbabwean musician and former refugee Lucky Moyo. Sam’s third solo album HOW THE CITY SINGS captures the singer, songwriter and guitarist at his most passionate and moving. Recorded live to tape in the studio, the album was produced by Dom Monks (who worked with Ethan Johns on records by Laura Marling, Paolo Nutini and The Staves) and keyboardist Neil Cowley (Neil Cowley Trio, best known for his contributions to Adele’s 19and 21albums). In addition to Neil, whose emotive piano lines were often improvised, the band includes fiddler Sam Sweeney (Bellowhead, Leveret and BBC Folk Musician of the Year) drummer Evan Jenkins (Neil Cowley Trio) and Sam’s longstanding bassist Matt Ridley. Carter will tour the UK this summer in support of the new release. Tour Dates: Sun May 1: Settle, Victoria Hall Fri 6: Devon, Kingskerswell Parish Church Sat 7: Ashcroft Arts Centre Mon 9: Colchester Arts Centre Wed 11: Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn Fri 13: Durham, Gala Theatre Thu 19: Aldershot, West End Theatre Sat 21: Whitchurch, The Talbot Theatre Fri Jun 3: Saltaire, The Live Room Sat 11: Bromsgrove, Jinney Ring Folk Day Thu 16: Sheffield, The Greystones Sat 18: Basingstoke, The Forge @ The Anvil Thu 23: New Milton, Forest Arts Centre Sat 25: South Woodchester, The Convent

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Folk-Americana trio Underhill Rose announce debut UK & Ireland tour

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Asheville, North Carolina folk-Americana trio Underhill Rose have announced their debut UK & Ireland tour for April & May in support of their new album THE GREAT TOMORROW. With Eleanor playing her distinctive claw-hammer style on a Deering banjo along with harmonica, Molly Rose on guitar, and Salley plucking the upright bass, the trio has carved out a place in the Americana scene with songs that run the gamut from heart wrenching to sassy and playful to thought-provoking. Eleanor’s salty blues-inspired voice and Molly’s soaring range lead the group in tandem with Salley’s country twang to create three-part harmony music that is real and inspired, and rooted in everything life has thrown at Asheville, North Carolina’s pre-eminent female trinity. Molly Rose and Eleanor Underhill’s musical partnership is the result of a chance meeting at a makeshift performance of Angel from Montgomery between classes at Warren Wilson College. Molly Rose’s beautiful voice resonated with Eleanor, and the two eventually started performing live together. Their affinity for the music they make, has kept them together for more than 12 years. Underhill Rose formed in 2009, and the addition of Salley Williamson two years later created the foundation for an internationally-recognised female trio known for blending aspects of Americana, rhythm and blues, country and bluegrass into an authentic sound that is all their own. Their third album, THE GREAT TOMORROW, was released on March 25. Tour Dates: Thu Apr 21: London, Half Moon (with Benjamin Folke Thomas) Sat 23: Surrey, Cranleigh Arts Centre Wed 27: Staffordshire, The Biddulph Arms Thu 28: Oxford, The Harcourt Arms Fri 29: London, Green Note May Sun 1: Milton Keynes, The Stables Wed 4: Belfast, The John Hewitt, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival Thu 5: Naas, The Ivy Fri 6: Ratoath, The Venue Theatre Sat 7: Rathfriland, The Bronte Centre

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Patsy Cline Museum to open in Nashville, Tennessee

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Founder of The Johnny Cash Museum, Bill Miller, with his wife Shannon, have revealed preliminary details to open a museum honouring the late, great Patsy Cline. The venture will be entirely funded and operated by the Miller family organisation and construction is scheduled to begin in June. “Of all the artists in the history of country music, few are as recognised and as recognisable as Patsy Cline. Despite the fact that she passed decades ago, her impact and presence are every bit as big today as ever. She has transcended generations and genres and is indisputably the greatest and most influential female country music artist of all time. She’s a true icon deserving of her own museum. Her fans from around the globe will have a place to come and celebrate her life and legacy. It’s a pleasure and an honour to be working with Patsy’s children on this world-class museum project,” Bill Miller said on behalf of the future attraction. Julie Fudge, Patsy Cline’s daughter added: “I am very happy to speak on behalf of my brothers, Randy and Chip and in honour of the legacy of my mother Patsy Cline. Since the passing of our father last fall, this is our first step together in continuing to share Mom’s music, life and story, as we feel Dad would have. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with and experience what Bill will present to old and new fans alike.” To span several thousand square feet located directly above the Johnny Cash Museum in the heart of downtown Nashville (119 Third Ave.), the exhibits will feature interactive cutting-edge audio and touch screen video technology. The family of Patsy Cline are currently furnishing many never-before-seen pieces from their personal archive allowing the museum to host the largest collection of rare Patsy Cline artifacts in the world; including many of Patsy Cline’s personal possessions, costumes, awards, letters, furniture and photographs. “I’m grateful for Bill Miller’s leadership in helping to preserve and showcase Nashville’s history, and I’m looking forward to visiting the new museum and learning more about the remarkable life and career of Patsy Cline,” said Mayor Megan Barry. Patsy Cline was a crucial part of the 1960s sound – country and pop. Cline broke barriers in Nashville as the first female to successfully record and chart cross-over pop hits while mirroring the iconic level of stardom of her male peers Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley before the infamous plane crash that took her life too soon. Photo Credit: Erin Lee Allender

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Alt-country duo, Two Ways Home, announce May Tour and new video for Still In Love

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Anglo / Austrian alt-country duo Two Ways Home have announced a UK tour this May. The tour will be supported with the release of the beautiful new video for the track Still In Love, taken from their recently released EP, BETTER DAYS. Produced by MsM (Ed Sheeran, The Saturdays), Still In Love continues Two Ways Home’s signature sound of country inspired harmonies mixed with pop-rock sensibility. Isabella Mariee and Lewis Fowler’s blend of infectious pop melodies with the melancholic makes Still In Love their most intriguing single yet. Lewis Fowler said: “The song conveys the feeling in a relationship where you are physically close but emotionally far away from one another. The video shoot was intense; we had limited time and it was freezing up in the Lake District, but we managed to capture some majestic moments.” The four tracks on EP, BETTER DAYS, were produced by mixer, producer, engineer MsM (Ed Sheeran, Royksopp, The Saturdays) and recorded at The Doghouse in Henley-on-Thames, the studio owned by Jethro Tull drummer Barrie Barlow and famed for sessions with Amy Winehouse, Bellowhead, Coldplay and Jake Bugg. Tour Dates: Thu May 5: Oxford, The Cellar Fri 6: Cardiff, Ten Feet Tall Sun 8: Warwick, Cape Of Good Hope Thu 12: Birmingham, The Roadhouse Fri 13: Bath, St. James Wine Bar Fri 20: Cheltenham, Frog & Fiddle Thu 26: London, The Underbelly

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Country music legend Merle Haggard has passed away

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Merle Haggard died of pneumonia on April 6, the date was also his 79th birthday. Haggard recorded more than 30 number one country hits in a musical career that spanned six decades, from the 1960s into the 2010s. The Hag was one of country music’s most influential writers and voices, he was also one of the artists that defined the Bakersfield country sound. Merle was born in California in 1937, living in a converted boxcar with his family. He overcame an early life of petty crime and a three years in prison in San Quentin and he used these experiences to create a rugged, outlaw image that helped sell millions of records. Haggard wrote, sang and played fiddle and guitar, telling tales of the American folk and outlaws that he had met along the way. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, he is best known for hits like Mama Tried, The Fugitive, If We Make It Through December and Okie from Muskogee. He was an inspiration to many of country music’s biggest names at present, many of whom took to twitter straight after the sad news was reported, to give their tributes and share their loss. Willie Nelson tweeted a simple black-and-white photo with the lines, “He was my brother, my friend. I will miss him.” “Country music has suffered one of the greatest losses it will ever experience,” said country star Charlie Daniels on Twitter. “Rest in peace Merle Haggard.” The legend had battled lung cancer in 2008 and recently cancelled his April tour dates due to illness but had said that he hoped to be back on the road in May. He died of complications from pneumonia at his home in Northern California. The new issue of Maverick Magazine will feature our full obituary of Merle Haggard.

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Mary Chapin Carpenter & Gretchen Peters to headline Under The Apple Tree Roots Festival

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The Under The Apple Tree Festival has announced that both Mary Chapin Carpenter and Gretchen Peters will headline Whispering Bob Harris’ inaugural festival. The festival will take place at Silverstone’s Woodlands Campsite on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend May 27-29, 2016. Grammy Award winning artist Mary Chapin Carpenter has chosen Bob ‘s new festival to celebrate the release of her new album. She will fly in especially for this rare UK appearance to headline the Sunday night of the festival. The set with her band will feature many new songs from the album THE THINGS THAT WE ARE MADE OF as well as many of her most memorable songs from her back catalogue. Mary Chapin is a highly respected artist by other musicians and fans alike. Best known for her album COME ON COME ON, which includes seven country chart-topping singles, and for which she was awarded a Platinum disc, she has also won five Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Headlining the Friday night of the festival will be New York born Gretchen Peters. Currently touring the UK on her 20th anniversary Tour, Gretchen’s music has always attracted a very appreciative UK audience of music fans and the music media – including Bob Harris. She is as delighted as the festival team to be playing the festival “I can’t think of anyone better qualified than Bob Harris to curate a music festival” she said “And I’m honoured to be headlining at the first of what I’m quite sure will be many!” Singer-songwriter Gretchen has had many of her tracks recorded by some of the biggest names in country music. Her songs have earned Grammy nominations and CMA song of the Year. Her most recent achievements include International Album of the Year and International Song of the Year for the album and title track ‘Blackbirds’ at the first UK Americana Music Association Awards. They will be joining a stellar line-up of artists appearing at Whispering Bob Harris’ exciting new event. “I have played both Mary Chapin and Gretchen’s music on my shows for many many years,” says Bob. “We have warm friendships and I am absolutely thrilled they have agreed to play at my first festival. Their respective sets will be beautiful – country music royalty comes to the UK.” Harris’ exciting new Under The Apple Tree Roots Festival was announced in mid January. The four-stage event features over 40 artists and takes place at the prestigious Silverstone Woodlands Campsite over the May Spring bank holiday weekend 27 to 30. The full lineup, including headliners for the Friday and Saturday is still to be announced. “We had a terrific response to the launch of the festival,” says Creative Director Miles Myerscough Harris “We are sure our audience will be as thrilled as we are that Mary Chapin Carpenter has joined the lineup.” Tickets are on sale from www.undertheappletreefestival.com

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Maverick's May Cover – Cyndi Coloured Country

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Actress, singer, songwriter and musical icon, Cyndi Lauper, has reached over 50 million global record sales thanks to her much-loved and critically acclaimed writing and performances. Her career has spanned 30 years, she has been inducted into both the Hollywood and Songwriters Hall of Fame, creating Hey Now (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun), True Colours, All Through The Night, Time After Time and Change Of Heart, to name just a few of her smash hits. Cyndi can be credited as a musical revolutionary, bringing punk elements of style and attitude into the mainstream, thanks to her signature fashion, vocals and liberal lyrics. Cyndi Lauper was the first woman to have four top five hits from a debut album, the first woman to win the composing category solo during the 2013 Tony Awards and one of a select list women to have won competitive Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards. Most reccently, she has wowed with her unique, cross-genre albums. Lauper has also become a powerful LGBT advocate (she is both a gay and feminist icon) campaigning for equality through charities and Gay Pride events around the world. She co-founded the True Colors Tour for Human Rights throughout the United States and Canada in 2007. In 2010, Lauper’s True Colors Fund launched the Give a Damn campaign, to help get straight people more involved in LGBT rights. Cyndi Lauper is a woman who, after years of gaining respect and admiration in the music industry and now 62 years old, can pretty much do what she wants – and what she’s chosen to do now is a country album! DETOUR, released on May 6, is an 11-track cover album, featuring some of country music’s very best artists and session players. It’s also her first solo album in six years. I spoke with Cyndi Lauper to find out why, and it seemed that her motives and outlook on the album were just as charming and colourful as her New York accent and bright pink hair… Read the full interview in the latest issue of Maverick – Cyndi Lauper is our May cover star…

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Luke & Mel announce double A-side single Bad Habit / Somethin’ About A Woman

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Luke & Mel formed in 2012, having met through performing in the UK’s top touring theatre show, Country Legends. Luke’s experience as a session guitarist has seen him play on top theatre stages in the UK with shows like ‘One Night of Elvis’, ‘Dolly The Show’. ‘Country Legends’ and PJ.Proby’s 2010 UK Tour. He has also performed on other artist’s albums including Raintown’s WRITING ON THE WALL and Thorne Hill’s NO MORE HOLDING BACK. Before meeting Luke, Melanie was performing singer/songwriter shows as well as performing in musicals up and down the UK including London’s West End. Having built a name for themselves on the live circuit, the duo released their debut EP In December 2014, which debuted at number two on the iTunes UK Country Album Chart, where it stayed in the top 10 for 2 weeks. The duo have since been championed by BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and Chris Country. They have supported Engelbert Humperdinck, Will Hoge and the Pistol Annies’ Angaleena Presley. At the end of April Luke & Mel will take to the road once again, joining British/Texan quintet Jess and The Bandits on their headline tour. The duo will hit the festival circuit once again this year, with performances at FSA Fest, Rock Ridge Roundup, TowerFest, Buckle and Boots and Dart Music Festival. As they build towards their summer packed with dates, the duo are also excited to unveil their new double A-side – Bad Habit (https://youtu.be/0Ly8BN90Jhg) / Somethin’ About A Woman (https://youtu.be/bHeIVCczsYs). Of the release the duo state: ‘We’re releasing a new Double-A side which will feature our brand new single Bad Habit and also a new mix of our award-winning song Somethin’ About A Woman. We chose these two songs because we feel they represent our sound going forward. Bad Habit represents that age-old problem of always finding someone who treats you badly but you can never seem to let go of them – it’s also an upbeat edgy track with a catchy riff. Somethin’ About A Woman won us the award of Song of the Year at the British Country Music Awards 2015 and we wanted to include a new mix of it in our new release as a way of honouring that.” Tour Dates: Wed apr 27: Hull, Fruit Thu 28: Birmingham, The Dark Horse Fri 29: London, Bush Hall Sun May 1: Gateshead, The Sage Mon 2: Southampton, Talking Head Sat 7: Norwich, Waterfront Studio https://www.facebook.com/lukeandmel https://twitter.com/LukeandMel

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Sheelanagig launch their new album at The Islington, London, Thursday April 28

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Folk band, Sheelanagig, will soon release their fifth album, BEARD TOWN. The album was recording at the the legendary Real World Studios; the band will celebrate its release with an album launch at The Islington, London on Thursday April 28. Sheelanagig have become a West Country institution for the past decade. The quintet come armed with a whole host of stringed instruments including banjo, fiddle and double bass. Their joint-jumping tunes ensure that a live show from the band is energetic and full of life. The band has performed extensively across the UK and Europe. They’ve honed their live show from playing venues from music clubs to theatres and from free street carnivals to major festivals like Beautiful Days, Glastonbury and Womad to name a few. The five members put their stomp and skank into gypsy-flavoured tunes from the Balkans and beyond. Their showman attitude brings a little of the circus and the theatre into every show. Tickets for the night will cost £14.75 (available at 0207-684-1577). Doors open at 7.00pm.

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