We are absolutely delighted to premiere this short concert from Americana UK favourites The Delines, recorded at Scenic Burrows Studio, where the band’s recent albums have been put together. Scenes From the Burrows is a performance and documentary series filmed at the studio in Vancouver, Washington, highlighting the talents of various artists from around the world. Musicians are invited to the studio, where an intimate concert is recorded for a small audience of friends and family, and the performance footage is edited together with short interviews and frank, open conversations. The sessions are put out on the studio’s YouTube channel and social media platforms to support the artists in building their audience. It’s a fantastic endeavour that will draw attention to deserving talents like Margo Cilker and Luther Russell. The focus is on live performances and real stories, musicians celebrating musicians and providing them with a greater reach and global visibility. From a listener’s point of view, we get to discover new artists or see our favourites in ways we never have before. As Scenes From the Burrows says: “Musicians deserve better than algorithm-driven playlists and faceless streaming.” Here, at AUK, we couldn’t agree more and strongly support this initiative to connect musicians with the fans and listeners they deserve to share their work with.
The Scenes from the Burrows Grant provides musicians with the opportunity to spend half a day in the studio, recording performance footage, conducting interviews on their backstory and chatting informally about what has inspired them and their songwriting process. Scenic Burrows are looking for talented musicians from any genre who are underrepresented and can make the most of this chance to touch a wider audience. Initially, the project is being rolled out to non-profit organisations that advocate for the arts: Albina Music Trust and Friends of Noise.
This edition of the series is such a privilege to absorb yourself in; fans of The Delines will actually feel like they are in the studio with the band, marvelling at how they perform as a collective and at how immersive the sound is in the confined space. We hear their comments and asides, their encouragement and banter, as they display their musicianship and chemistry as a group in a pre-tour rehearsal set.
Opening with one of The Delines’ best-loved songs Little Earl, the performance is steeped in atmosphere, Willie Vlautin’s narrative unfolding like pure cinema. In the middle and at the close of the song, Cory Gray’s trumpet fills the room, expanding like sonic smoke, plaintive and weary, telling its own tale alongside Vlautin’s words. The band are relaxed and easy, slipping into the melody and rhythm as if sitting you down to tell you a story over an evening drink. Beautifully filmed, the video takes in the audience and each member of the band, giving close-ups of their contributions and interactions: Amy Boone whispering into the mic, Sean Oldham’s sticks flicking quickly on the snare and high-hat, Freddy Trujillo’s smile.
In The Haunting Thoughts, Boone looks entirely lost in the music and story. Once again, the trumpet seems to swell into the recording space, rising and falling above Trujillo’s soothing, deeply melodious bass. Calling In begins brightly, the ride cymbal shimmering and Gray’s keys following a dreamily subtle tune while the backing vocals elevate the song above the swirling, effects-laden trumpet: “Darkness ain’t such a hard road.” Loose and tremendous. There’s a tonal shift for the upbeat Left Hook Like Frazier, with Boone’s striking voice projected further and Oldham’s drums beating out a forceful rhythm. The overall sound is full and sets us up for an altogether quieter and more understated closer. Grey takes to the piano for Walking With His Sleeves Down, a gentle, wistful backing for Boone’s haunting, echoing vocal. Then she’s joined by Vlautin at the mic, his voice reflective and full of character. Their back-and-forth is like an intimate dialogue that we’ve stumbled upon.
The entire set is spellbinding, offering fans a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the band connect and performs in the recording studio. The Delines are storytellers, and this five-song set finds them sharing their tales of everyday lives through understated but outstanding musicianship and songcraft. This is a must-watch for americana fans.
Set list:
Little Earl
The Haunting Thoughts
Calling In
Left Hook Like Frazier
Walking With His Sleeves Down
Check out the exclusive Q&A with John Morgan Askew below. Askew is an award-winning, film and television composer, music-producer and mixer living in Portland, Oregon. The long-time collaborator with The Delines shares fascinating insights about the Scenes From the Burrows project and working with the band.
Please talk about The Delines video and your long history with them and Willy.
I’ve been lucky to work with the Delines since the band started around 2013. After I produced and recorded the Richmond Fontaine albums The High Country and You Can’t Go Back If There is Nothing To Go Back To, Willy started talking to me about a new project he wanted to do with Amy Boone of the Damnations. Willy sent me iPhone recordings of his demo song ideas for this “new band” (which were so good) and eventually led to us booking a 5-day tracking session that would eventually become “Colfax” (2014). Willy, Sean and I worked a ton with this session following those recording dates and ultimately created the “sound” of the band.
As their career gained momentum, the record making became more frequent and the creative process continued to evolve. We experimented more, the excellent Cory Gray became a member (which brought in horns and strings and piano) and we started spending more time on the band’s sound and arrangements. Now we have done 8 full-length albums together. Side note: I have even toured with them! There was a small batch of EU/ UK shows that Willy couldn’t do so he asked if i’d fill in for him. It was the greatest tour ever! They are the coolest band to tour with.
The Delines video was a spontaneous start to our series Scenes From The Burrows. We wanted to try this idea and see how it would fly. Since The Delines have been rehearsing at my studio for a few years now, it seemed perfect to try a “hang out” show / rehearsal etc… to record it and film it. We invited friends, and piled everyone into the live room at the studio and had a blast.
Directed by Mark Ray
Executive producer by Cindy Wade
Filmed by Mark Halski and Meg Halski.
What is the idea behind the series? And why are you helping out smaller bands compared to more famous acts?
The “Scenes From The Burrows” series is a new performance and documentary series filmed at my studio Scenic Burrows where we invite artists and bands to spend a day with us in the studio recording, performing or talking with us! The results will live on our YouTube Channel and will also be used by the artists/ band for promo and social content. Ideally, we hope it will provide an outlet for artists to take advantage of a day in the studio where they can try things out, record a new song, or just hang out in the live room. We are working to create a “grant” program which will bring in young bands or artists looking to have their music reach a wider audience.
Who have you got in for it and who do you hope to? How often do you hope to do this and will you work with touring bands?
Currently, we are doing at least one “shoot / recording” a month. We are excited to host an event in April with Sera Cahoone, one in May with Maria Ray (Azure Ray), and one in July with Califone. More confirmations soon!
Tell us a Brief history of the studio.
I’ve owned the studio since 2019. Previously my studio, Scenic Burrows, was in my house. I had the entire home wired up (The Delines Scenic Sessions was made there), but as my family grew, and my studio work was taking over more and more of the home, I decided to move it out to the place in Vancouver. It wasn’t until I began to work there that I started to learn of the really cool history of the studio! In the early 60s’ it was the place to hang out and make records. Willie Nelson, who lived in Vancouver at the time, would be there, Merle Haggard recorded a song there, supposedly Buck Owens etc… From what I am learning, it was more of a hangout for the country acts that were touring through Portland / Vancouver, Seattle etc… In the 80s, under new ownership, some great albums were made there. Most importantly, Wipers (Youth Of America) was made there. So all of this history is in the walls and floors! visit: Scenic Burrows and John Morgan Askew
You can read an article about the studio that just ran in the local Vancouver WA newspaper here.
What other similar shows like Tiny Desk , KEXP etc inspired you?
Tiny Desk and From The Basement are definitely inspirations. However, the hope is to be doing something different and relaxed. We like having friends hang around while we are filming (The Delines were rehearsing a few days before a tour so it was a great to invite some friends over and film and record for their shoot.) A few weeks ago we did a shoot with the fantastic band Møtrik (I produced and recorded their latest album “EARTH” at Scenic Burrows) and they wanted to be more experimental. So they worked through new ideas and also did a 15 minute CAN cover (to be released soon!). As this concept progresses, the hope is that artists/ bands will want to come to the studio for the filming / recording aspect but also to use the studio beyond just getting social media content. Scenes From The Burrows provides a great opportunity for us to record something new or to collaborate with different people. Always evolving… but mostly a day in the studio to have fun and try things out. Bring friends or not!
