Shovels & Rope have gained a reputation as one of the hardest-working bands on the road today. A husband and wife duo from Charleston, South Carolina, Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst blend traditional folk, new wave, rock and roll and country rock.
In addition to releasing seven albums, launching a feature film and winning two Americana Music Association awards, Trent and Hearst have also taken on the twin challenges of raising a family and helming a successful music festival in their home state, Charleston’s High Water Festival. Their latest album, ‘By Blood’, came out in April 2019 and is a gritty, powerful look into their lives and the world around them, with songs commenting on their relationship, and human stories weaving throughout.
In his 8 out of 10 review of the album last May, Harold Hogan of Americana-UK said: “The husband and wife duo are veterans of a decade long career, touring, curating the excellent High Water Festival for the past few years, recording everything themselves in their home studio, and above all producing consistently brilliant music. Their latest offering ‘By Blood’ is no exception to this trend. Known for their live performances, Hearst and Trent have managed to inject this record with a lot of the raw energy and chemistry which make their shows so enjoyable; see their NPR tiny desk concert for evidence of this. ‘By Blood’ is a cracking collection of lively, catchy songs, with a wonderful stylistic mix of authentic American folk music and driving new-wave.”
Now UK fans have the chance to see them during a run of five dates beginning at the end of this month.
Shovels and Rope UK tour dates 2020:
WED 29 JAN – Brighton, Komedia
THU 30 JAN – London, Electric Ballroom
FRI 31 JAN – Manchester, Gorilla
SAT 1 FEB – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
SUN 2 FEB – Glasgow, Òran Mór
