Since the success of 2006’s Mercury nominated Ballad of the Broken Seas we have had a Frankenstein’s monster of a musical combo on our hands; one part gruff voiced Screaming Trees troubadour Mark Lanegan who writes songs in the great outlaw country tradition of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, the other a treacle-throated Glaswegian defector of Belle and Sebastian fame. An unlikely matching by anyone’s standards, but one which has been pumping out great records over the last two years with a regularity that you could set a clock by.
For Folk’s Sake Interview: Mercury Men
FFS’s Mary Liggins caught up with Jinder from the Mercury Men to talk about the long hard road to a major label release
Album Review: Under One Sky – John McCusker
The main problem that trad. folk has in the modern world is that while it may be the best fun in the world to play and dance to, it falls down when you listen to it on a CD. That’s not just a commercial problem, but an artistic one as well. Someone somewhere decided that a 9 minute song called ‘Jigs, Strathspey and Reel’ was a good idea. That person was on a lot of drugs, or Special Brew.
Noah and the Whale announce EP, tour and album
Noah and the Whale have announced the release of ‘The A Sides’ – a mixture of original materials and covers – on the 22nd December as well as a tour and new album in the new year.
Eugene McGuinness playing in Hoxton tonight (Thurs 19th Dec)
Fresh from his spot supporting Emmy the Great at Pure Groove on Tuesday, Eugene McGuinness is all set for a special show of his own this evening. Admirers of this charmer’s ramshackle sound should pootle down to The Legion tonight for a Christmas treat, with support from Gold Teeth, Nick Harrisson and Cosmo Jarvis.
Still Flyin’ announce London shows
Californian 15-piece Still Flyin’ have announced three London shows for the new year.
The band, who have been joined on stage in the past by FFS-favourite Jens Lekman, are currently recording their debut record Never Gonna Touch The Ground, which is due for release in April.