Wednesday 15th November. Shepherds Bush Empire, London. Maren Morris. It’s a crisp winter evening in London Town as we look forward to another country night out with a super talented female. It’s somewhat ironic at a time when there is so much great new female country talent like Maren, Margo Price, Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley, Amanda Shires and Nikki Lane to name just a few that they are all so woefully recognised within the Nashville country establishment. Their loss is our gain especially as we can still see these great singer songwriters in relatively small venues.

Tonight, it’s Maren Morris, Texas born and once a jobbing songwriter in Nashville but now moving front and centre singing her own material. She’s over here promoting her debut album ‘Hero’ in her largest headline show to date.

The first thing that strikes you about Maren is that she’s tiny. The second thing is that voice. How someone so small can generate something so powerful is incredible. It’s a hair standing, spine tingling force of nature.

It’s a strong start with ‘Sugar’, ‘Just another thing’ and ‘How it’s done’ and then we get a great version of the John Prine classic ‘Angel from Montgomery’. I may have been one of the few that knew the song but hopefully some of the younger members of the audience can check him out. The next sixty minutes fly by as we are treated to most of the new album, a new one, a very old one and even a Beyoncé cover to boot.

The show builds to a crescendo with ’80 Mercedes’, ‘Rich’ and ‘My church’ and it’s been some time since I heard such a loud crowd singing it all back.

A wonderful night ending on a thoughtful note with the passionate letter ‘Dear Hate’ in memory to the victims of the Las Vegas shooting.

A star very much on the rise for the wonderful Maren Morris.

Keep on country rockin’ y’all

​Monday 6th November. Wildwood Kin. The Borderline, London. So after the family affair that is Syd Arthur last week we keep the sibling theme going with sisters Emillie and Beth Key and cousin Meghann Loney otherwise known as Wildwood Kin.
 
We first caught these Devonian girls for the first time at a BBC introducing set at their local venue, Glasto this year where unfortunately they were competing with a banging drum n bass session in The Blues area at about 4 in the afternoon. Still we saw enough to be impressed and so here we are to see the girls perform their debut album plus a couple of covers and oldies.
 
Often described as pleasantly awkward and their opening line apologies for the eggy smell in the venue sets the tone for the rest of the evening. Whilst they can certainly work on their between song banter it’s all very natural and unforced.
 
The first thing you notice tonight is that you can actually hear the delicious three part harmonies. Each takes their turn on lead and every song is a vocal delight. The sound is crisp and sharp and the Key sisters swap instruments throughout showcasing their musical talents ably supported by Meghann on sticks.
 
Their lush sounds takes you back to warm summer days and nights as its dreamy quality envelopes you. Highlights for me are ‘Steady My Heart’ and ‘Turning Tides’. Whilst not every song was a winner tonight, the band still have some growing to do and I’m sure the songs will mature to match the peaks of their beautiful voices.
 
A thoroughly enjoyable night with a great young band whose star can only rise.
 
Till the next time, keep on country rockin y’all

PS you might even spy me in the Glasto clip below, to the left of stage in that great folk band Rage against the machine t-shirt.

Wednesday 1st November. Syd Arthur. The Boileroom, Guildford. Keeping it local again tonight in Guildford with Canterbury’s finest purveyors of folk. Well that’s what I thought but tonight we witness a heady mix of acid house, jazz, prog, psychedelic, country tinged, folk rock. Yep I think that about covers it.
 
Syd Arthur are definitely a groove band and if you’re in the groove you just get swept along with the magnificent cacophony of it all. Don’t get me wrong there’s some good songs in there too. Syd Arthur are the three Magill brothers and Raven Bush, multi-instrumentalist nephew of Kate.
 
It’s a decent crowd in the Boileroom tonight and the intimacy of the venue suits the feel of the music perfectly. Its difficult to pick out a specific highlight as the gig I think needs to be taken in the round as a single piece of music with ebbs and flows, highs and lows but that said ‘into eternity’ is a fine track.
 
A thoroughly enjoyable night with a great young band keeping the groove alive.
 
Till the next time, keep on prog rockin y’all