Touring before a new album is released can be risky. There’s a desire from the artist to showcase their new material but these are songs that the audience doesn’t yet know. The sense of audience expectation is based on much loved tracks from previous albums and snap judgements can made on unfamiliar new songs. Frazey Ford notes that tonight’s Celtic Connections’ gig is essentially the first that she’s playing to tour her new album ‘U Kin Be The Sun’. It’s a risk she recognises as she observes that she’s “Here to play some old songs, to play some new songs and to try not to f**k things up.” Continue reading “Frazey Ford @Celtic Connections, Saint Luke’s, Glasgow, 23rd January 2020”
Author: Alistair Thorn
Laura Gibson, The Hug and Pint, Glasgow, 28th February 2019
Laura Gibson has been making music for 15 years now. During that time she has self-released a debut EP, collaborated with sound artist and composer Ethan Rose, worked with ballet and musical theatre groups and released five albums of carefully crafted songs that inhabits the overlapping spaces between modern alternative, folk and Americana music. It’s a fertile space for music lovers that she shares with some talented contemporaries such as Laura Veirs, Jolie Holland and Joan Shelley, and the evocative and compelling narratives of Gibson’s songs have earned her no shortage of praise. Tonight’s show at Glasgow’s Hug and Pint venue is her first in the city for some time, for which she admits to being a little sorry, and follows the Autumn 2018 release of her most recent album ‘Goners’. Continue reading “Laura Gibson, The Hug and Pint, Glasgow, 28th February 2019”
Joan Shelley + Maiden Radio, The Glad Cafe, Glasgow, 10th October 2018
Joan Shelley is no stranger to Glasgow’s Glad Cafe. Returning to the venue for a fourth time, the Kentucky-born artist has built up a loyal following. Whether a long term fan or a relative newbie attracted by Shelley’s 2017 self-titled album, a sell-out crowd filled the intimate south side room anticipating a night of fine music. Tonight’s openers were Maiden Radio, an all female trio consisting of Cheyenne Marie Mize, Julia Purcell and Joan Shelley herself. It’s arguable that Shelley has been making music with her band for as long as under her own name, both self-releasing debuts in 2010. Purcell confesses that this is their first non-US tour in the ten years they’ve been together and you can’t help but feel a little regret that we’ve waited so long for them to explore beyond their home shores. Firmly rooted in classic country and Appalachian traditionals, it was a chance for Shelley to show another side of her musical talents with which many fans may be unfamiliar. Continue reading “Joan Shelley + Maiden Radio, The Glad Cafe, Glasgow, 10th October 2018”
Carter Sampson + Jesse Aycock & Lauren Barth, Glad Café, Glasgow, 12 May 2018
Oklahoma’s Carter Sampson is no stranger to these shores. Her trademark red boots have graced many a UK music venue over the past few years. This was the opening night of her UK tour promoting her brand new album ‘Lucky,’ and the healthy Glad Café crowd took to their seats in anticipation of the latest show from a very welcome return visitor. Continue reading “Carter Sampson + Jesse Aycock & Lauren Barth, Glad Café, Glasgow, 12 May 2018”