Friday 13 –Saturday 14 November 2015
The Atkinson’s third Americana Festival takes place every year in November and welcome’s the best UK and USA Americana and Roots Music to the town.
The 2015 line up has been announced with artists including Martin Harley, Jaywalkers, Gilmore and Roberts, Amelia Curran, The Coal Porters and Danny & The Champions of the World all appearing.
This Festival is a time to celebrate and come together to enjoy some great music from some great names. This year’s line up is like a good recipe for fried chicken – bringing together the best of what the UK has to offer, but mixing it with a little USA spice!
Kicking of the party on Friday 13 November is Martin Harley a phenomenally talented guitarist, singer and songwriter. He has released five critically celebrated albums, years of international touring and countless festivals have built Martin a strong and solid fan-base spanning the globe. Notable Festival appearances include Bottle Rock and Cognac Blues in the US, Glastonbury and Beautiful Days in the UK and many many more. Renowned for his prowess as a slide guitarist, he is almost unique in the UK in his playing lap slide. In other areas and styles, however, he has proved himself a master guitarist and a consistently astounding songwriter.
Saturday begins with the Jaywalkers (1pm), they are one of the most exciting, virtuosic and entertaining young bands working on the British Folk scene. Effortlessly they create a unique sound based on their collective and individual musical backgrounds; the band takes influence from Folk, Bluegrass, Country and Western Swing music in the form of virtuosic instrumentals, three part harmony and impressive slap bass. Add good humour, tasteful arrangements and exceptional musicianship to the mix and they are guaranteed to put a smile on your face…. The music Jaywalkers create is in¬novative, rooted deeply in tradition, and exhilarating.
We are delighted to welcome back the award-winning Gilmore and Roberts (2.45pm) performing tracks from their fourth album Conflict Tourism. Following a year of touring in mainland Europe, Canada, and their native Britain, Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts noticed a common thread running through their latest crop of original songs. Conflict, whether an internal struggle between positive and negative, or a healthy body and a disease, is an everyday phenomenon captured perfectly by these 11 tracks.
Amelia Curran (4.30pm) was such a big hit here in February as part of the monthly Grateful Fred’s nights, we asked her back! They Promised You Mercy is the newest collection of songs by Amelia Curran, Canada’s master contemporary songstress. On this album, Amelia’s knife-sharp lyrics find peace and even cheerfulness amidst lush layers provided by producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda’s nuanced studio vision. The album is a poised, focused and consummate work that showcases Amelia’s singular songwriting talent. They Promised You Mercy raises the lyrical bar yet again with its unrivalled eloquence.
The Coal Porters (7pm) claim to be the world’s first “alt-bluegrass” act, demonstrating the power of fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with four-part harmonies and memorable melodies. They have taken this sound around the world being featured on NPR’s Morning Edition in the USA and having recorded a live session for Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2.
The Coal Porters have five albums available. Their most recent, Find The One, was produced by folk-rock legend John Wood, producer of Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, Squeeze and Beth Orton.
We end the festival on a high with Danny & The Champions of the World (8.45pm). Having spent much of 2014 on the road, playing shows all over the world, the kind of legendary, life-affirming rock and soul revues (with country fringing) that have seduced them a global following, and which they finally committed to wax on last year’s glorious concert double-album, Live Champs!
The new album, What Kind Of Love – is some of Wilson’s very best. There’s a glint in his eye as he talks about the vibe within the Champs camp right now. “We’re a bit more of a gang than we used to be,” he grins. “It’s not hard for a band to feel like a gang, because generally you’re up against it, but you keep on at it because you’re dogged and in love with it. And it feels amazing, like my old bands Soul Green and Grand Drive did back in the early days.”
The Americana Festival weekend is all about the food, and drink, music and a bunch of people who all love the same thing…great music!
Early Bird Festival Tickets are now available for just £30 and can be booked online at www.theatkinson.co.uk or by calling The Atkinson’s Box Office on 01704 533333. Tickets are also available over the counter.
To be added to the venue mailing list visit www.theatkinson.co.uk
*Please be advised that there is a £2.50 booking fee for telephone and online sales.
-ENDS-______________________________________________________________________
Notes to Editors:
For more information, interviews or press tickets please contact Emma Lloyd. 0151 934 2129 / emma.lloyd@sefton.gov.uk
Listing Information
Friday 13 November
8pm: Martin Harley
Saturday 14 November
1pm: Jaywalkers
2.45pm:Gilmore & Roberts
4.30pm: Amelia Curran
7pm: The Coal Porters
8.45pm: Danny & The Champions of the World
Early Bird Tickets: £30 (until end of Sept)
Festival Tickets: £35 (from 1 October)
About The Atkinson
The Atkinson is Southport’s beautiful new home for music, theatre, art, poetry, literature and history, right in the middle of Lord Street in Southport. Significant investment has been made in refurbishing the stunning 19th century buildings, to create a really welcoming multi art-form venue with a strong contemporary feel.
The Atkinson offers an exciting and varied destination for families, cultural tourists and arts enthusiasts alike, with a full day and night time offer. Wile the day away visiting the new shop, that sells gifts and contemporary crafts from regional makers and then relax in the Bakery, choosing from a selection of artisan bread sandwiches, cakes and sharing platters. You can even take little bit of The Atkinson home with you from the delicatessen. Wonder through the major exhibitions and see performances from some of the UK’s foremost musicians, actors, performers and companies, films, family activities and much more.
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Posted on 1 July 2015 under Just announced
