‘Country Darkness Vol. 2’ is an EP featuring songs originally penned by Elvis Costello, which are given the duet treatment by My Darling Clementine, AKA Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish. Providing the deftly delivered keyboards, which form the musical bedrock of these songs, is Costello’s own keyboard player, Steve Nieve. King is also known for forming The Good Sons who took their name from Nick Cave’s The Good Son whilst prior to My Darling Clementine, Lou Dalgleish has worked with Bryan Ferry and The Brodsky Quartet. Continue reading “My Darling Clementine “Country Darkness Vol.2” (Fretsore Records, 2020)”
Tag: My Darling Clementine
Home Life: Michael Weston King
For nigh on thirty years UK singer-songwriter Michael Weston King has been forging himself a well-respected lofty position on the roots scene with his solo work, the now defunct country rockers The Good Sons, and most recently alongside his musical and life partner Lou Dalgleish in My Darling Clementine. Drawing inspiration from the classic Texan songwriters of the 70’s alongside the honky-tonk bravado of the likes of George and Tammy, King has managed to fuse a love of country music, both idealogical and conceptual, with a deep sense of political angst to produce albums that always deserve full attention. Most recently My Darling Clementine have teamed up with Steve Nieve to produce a number of four-track EP’s dedicated to the work of Elvis Costello called ‘Country Darkness‘ the second of which is released on June 5th. Americana-UK spoke to the midlands based songwriter and asked how things are panning out right now for usually noticeably active performer. Continue reading “Home Life: Michael Weston King”
My Darling Clementine “Country Darkness Vol. 1” (Fretsore Records, 2019)
‘Country Darkness Vol. 1′ is a four-track EP of Elvis Costello songs performed by Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish AKA My Darling Clementine. The duo has been described by the Guardian as “a bravely unfashionable British Band who set out to play tribute to those great country duos Tammy and George, or Johnny Cash and June Carter. And they do it remarkably well”, and on the pages of this site as “one of the best bands the UK has offered in a good while”.
Continue reading “My Darling Clementine “Country Darkness Vol. 1” (Fretsore Records, 2019)”
Al Festo returns for 2019 – free americana in Colchester!
Free americana is always a good thing (well, maybe not if you’re a musician) and in that spirit the Al Festo festival which takes place at the Sun Inn, Dedham, Colchester is returning for a fifth year on 13th and 14th July. It’s described as “a mini-Maverick and without the camping that mixes the best of Americana and Folk music with craft beer and great food in beautiful surroundings with wonderful people.” Continue reading “Al Festo returns for 2019 – free americana in Colchester!”
My Darling Clementine + Taylor & Leigh @Celtic Connections, Oran Mor, Glasgow, 19th January 2019
If you’re looking for a great night of cheatin’ country songs then there’s no better way to go about it than to pull up a seat at a My Darling Clementine show. Married couple Lou Dalgleish and Michael Weston King have been performing their quarrelsome pairing for almost a decade now and while, initially, the primary inspiration for the band were Nashville’s warring duos such as George and Tammy and Porter and Dolly, they’ve moved on quite a bit since then. They channel the melting pot of country and soul which was perfected in Memphis in the late sixties while there’s also a grand Brill Building pop sensibility to some of their songs. Tonight they returned to Celtic Connections with a red hot line up and while the theatrics are still there, there’s a deep and abiding love of the genre they so admire with several of the songs performed deep cuts from the country canon. Continue reading “My Darling Clementine + Taylor & Leigh @Celtic Connections, Oran Mor, Glasgow, 19th January 2019”
My Darling Clementine announce UK dates for the autumn
That’s the meteorological autumn to you. My Darling Clementine, the now well established side project of husband and wife Michael Weston King & Lou Dalgleish, have announced a run of September and October UK dates, including a show a London’s St Pancras Old Church on October 31st. Continue reading “My Darling Clementine announce UK dates for the autumn”
Glasgow Americana Festival, 4th – 8th October 2017
Now in its 11th year, Glasgow Americana brightened up the dark nights coming in as we prepare for winter. Over five days the festival provided a strong set of concerts which showcased some of the brightest talents from the Scottish roots scene along with the usual complement of visiting stars. Altogether over 20 acts appeared at several venues across the city with many of the shows selling out, the venues including converted churches, a brewery, tiny pub back rooms and, according to Michael Weston King of My Darling Clementine, a squash court. As often happens when such a lot of music is squeezed into such a tight time line there were clashes meaning your correspondent had to forego some shows however online comments and actual chat with those who had gone to those shows beamed back with positive smiles and thumbs up. There was a fine mix of standard gigs featuring a headliner along with a couple of portmanteau shows offering a range of acts playing shorter sets. Continue reading “Glasgow Americana Festival, 4th – 8th October 2017”
Red Rooster Festival, Euston Hall, Suffolk, 1-3 June 2017
Suffolk is such a green place when you live in treeless Yorkshire, every time I stray there I feel the inner workings of my soul refreshed. Normally I wander that way once a year for Maverick, but this year it’s two journeys in a month, for the three day Red Rooster Festival is on the cards. The first thing I notice is the amount of camper vans and caravans vs tents, a 50:50 split suggests this is an older, more affluent crowd. Continue reading “Red Rooster Festival, Euston Hall, Suffolk, 1-3 June 2017”
My Darling Clementine still testifying – New album and tour dates
Husband and wife team, Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish – My Darling Clementine – continue to forge ahead with their celebration of the classic country duets of the sixties and seventies with their fourth album, Still Testifying, which is due out in June. Continue reading “My Darling Clementine still testifying – New album and tour dates”