Robert Vincent – Americana UK

AMA-UK announce nominations and honours for 2021 awards

It seems a lifetime ago since the revelries of the 2020 AMAUK awards back in January, but it’s that time of year again – The UK Americana Music Association has revealed the nominations for the seven member-voted categories of the UK Americana Awards 2021, and also the winners of the special awards presented by the AMA-UK board, which this year includes Elvis Costello for the AMA-UK 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award, Mavis Staples for the International Lifetime Achievement Award, Christine McVie for the Trailblazer Award, Steve Earle for the International Trailblazer Award and the Songwriter Legacy Award, specially created this year for the late John Prine, in celebration of the legendary US singer-songwriter’s life and work. Continue reading “AMA-UK announce nominations and honours for 2021 awards”

Video: Whispering Bob’s Allstars “Stand by Me (2020)”

60 years ago, Ben E King wrote the beautiful ballad ‘Stand By Me’. Right now, in the middle of a crisis for the live music industry, Whispering Bob Harris is asking all of us to stand by those working in music’s grassroots who need our support. Harris has assembled a huge list of musicians from both sides of the Atlantic, including the likes of Rosanne Cash, Keb’ Mo’, Richard Thompson, Sam Outlaw, Darius Rucker, Martyn Joseph, Elles Bailey, Robert Vincent and many more. The resulting cover of the King classic is simply glorious. Continue reading “Video: Whispering Bob’s Allstars “Stand by Me (2020)””

Thirty Tigers announces “Sounds of the Storytellers”

Inspired by the ‘new normal’ artists face, in particular with touring by and large on hold for now, our friends over at Thirty Tigers have announced “a destination playlist for fans to stream their favourite UK artists in the UK Americana world, along with an online campaign to promote the great storytelling artists in our community, hosted exclusively on Spotify.” Continue reading “Thirty Tigers announces “Sounds of the Storytellers””

Americana Music Fest, 28th – 29th January, Various Venues, Hackney

Americana Music Fest, organised by the Americana Music Association UK, is two glorious nights of artist showcases that take place from about 6PM until almost midnight in a half dozen venues. That’s a lot of acts to catch, with a lot of choices to be made – here’s what David Chalfin selected. Continue reading “Americana Music Fest, 28th – 29th January, Various Venues, Hackney”

Robert Vincent “In This Town You’re Owned” (Thirty Tigers, 2020)

There’s no reason to waste any time, so let’s get straight to the point. Robert Vincent’s third album ‘In This Town You’re Owned’ is a corker (for those not familiar with this UK term, that’s a really good thing!) and from the moment the first notes of the opening track ‘This Town’ descend upon your eardrums, to the fade-out on the final track ‘Cuckoo’, the quality of the songwriting, the performance and the production never drops beneath a level that can only be described as outstanding. Continue reading “Robert Vincent “In This Town You’re Owned” (Thirty Tigers, 2020)”

Blue Rose Code Caledonia Soul @Celtic Connections, The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 30th January 2020

Celtic Connections is well known for its set pieces – curated concerts gathering a wealth of musicians together. Transatlantic Sessions began as a television programme but its live incarnation was premiered at Celtic Connections almost two decades ago while Roddy Hart’s Rambling Roots has grown in stature over the years as it has celebrated various artists, events, albums and places, this year’s celebrant being Bruce Springsteen. By comparison, Caledonia Soul is a mere whippersnapper, the brainchild of Ross Wilson and first performed in 2018. It’s a much more nebulous affair than Roaming Roots, the basic premise being that Wilson’s band, Blue Rose Code, are the equivalent of The MG’s back in Stax touring days. It allows the guest artists to “curate the evening and perform re-worked versions of our own favourite songs along the Celtic theme, but with a soul band,” as he explained in an interview last year. Continue reading “Blue Rose Code Caledonia Soul @Celtic Connections, The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 30th January 2020”

Video: Robert Vincent “My Neighbour’s Ghost”

Ahead of the release of his new album, ‘In This Town You’re Owned’, Liverpool-based Robert Vincent has released a new video. ‘My Neighbour’s Ghost’ is an upbeat, rhythmic song and the video is charming. Check it out. The song was produced by the brilliant Ethan Johns, who has worked with the likes of Ray Lamontagne and Laura Marling as well as writing his own material. Continue reading “Video: Robert Vincent “My Neighbour’s Ghost””

Robert Vincent “Conundrum” – Listen

Robert Vincent is two things for sure – prolific, thanks be, and one of the leading producers that Americana that is definitely UK. ‘Conundrum‘ is the new single from Robert Vincent’s upcoming third album ‘In This Town You’re Owned’ which is due for release on 14th February on Thirty Tigers. Continue reading “Robert Vincent “Conundrum” – Listen”

Robert Vincent “My Neighbour’s Ghost” – Listen

It must be quite a ride being Robert Vincent – a couple of years ago we’d be listing out his CV, mentioning this and that EP, and generally inviting our beloved readership to cock an ear to what he was laying down. And now – well we can safely assume that Robert Vincent is a name that our readership would know by now. Life is strange (although, we concede, compared to what ?). Continue reading “Robert Vincent “My Neighbour’s Ghost” – Listen”

Robert Vincent + The Curse Of Lono + Foreign Affairs, Under The Apple Tree Sessions, Bush Hall, London, 26th October 2019

The hosts for this particular night of what was Country Music Week at Bush Hall were none other than Bob Harris’s Under The Apple Tree, the digital platform for Harris, his son Miles and various family members. No surprise then that Harris elected to showcase two acts he has selected for his AMAUK Emerging Artist award over the past years, namely, Robert Vincent and Curse Of Lono. Endless gratitude should always head Whispering Bob’s way, who even after another recent brush of health issues shows no sign of easing his ever-enthusiastic musical passions. Keep well Bob. Continue reading “Robert Vincent + The Curse Of Lono + Foreign Affairs, Under The Apple Tree Sessions, Bush Hall, London, 26th October 2019”