Steve Earle has, as two of the Dukes, lead guitarist Chris Masterson and multi-instrumentalist Eleanor Whitmore. Husband and wife, they record and perform as a duo as The Mastersons and they are the opening act on this evening at The Barbican. Their music is predominantly made up of crystal clear vocals, Chris Masterson’s exemplary guitar and the achingly beautiful violin playing of Eleanor Whitmore. They also have a new album – ‘Transient Lullaby’ – out, a follow up to their debut ‘Birds Fly South‘, the title song of both make up parts of the set. Continue reading “Steve Earle and the Dukes, The Mastersons, The Barbican, London, 29th July 2018”
It was with great anticipation that I finally got to see Steve Earle and The Dukes live for the first time when they came to the O2 Academy in Bristol. As anyone who has seen the great man will agree, with 33 albums, 3 Grammies and a roller coaster 44 year career behind him this guy is Americana Royalty. 
South Yorkshire’s stellar music & arts festival Underneath The Stars is returning this summer with a line-up of established and emerging talent across the folk, jazz, roots, bluegrass, fusion and Americana music worlds, as well as the promise of some enticing workshops, arts, crafts and food stalls, highlighting the creative talents of the Yorkshire region. Organised by the family production team of Yorkshire folk singer-songwriter Kate Rusby, and now in its fifth year, 2018’s edition also sees its relocation to a brand-new site at Cinderhill Farm, Cawthorne, near Barnsley. 
And so these clips keep coming in and deservedly so. RS reports: “Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Patty Griffin teamed for powerful cover of Tom Petty’s “Refugee” during a benefit show in Seattle, Relix notes. Petty died Monday at the age of 66 after going into cardiac arrest. Griffin took on the song with an understated touch, while Earle followed with his thick drawl and Harris delivered the lyrics with verve. All four singers came together for impromptu harmonies, while Matthews sang the chorus with his unmistakable wail. 
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear as the saying goes but imagine being taught the art of writing a song by anyone on this list. Rolling Stone reports: “It’s still summer but music fans anticipating the mid-winter blahs are already planning a trip to Florida’s South Walton County next January for the ninth annual 30A Songwriters Festival. Set for January 12th through 15th, 2018, the event will include appearances from Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Lee Ann Womack, North Mississippi Allstars, Shawn Mullins, classic rock band The Zombies, Indigo Girls’ singer Emily Saliers, fronting her Murmuration Nation Band and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley. 
There’s a fascinating interview with Steve Earle over at RS Country this morning where he talks extensively about, among other things, his latest record and Trump. He tells them: “I don’t see him finishing the term. I don’t see how he does it. Although it’s hard to predict what this guy’s gonna do. We’ve never had an orangutan in the White House before. There’s a lot of “What does this button do?” going on. It’s scary. He really is a fascist. Whether he intended to be or not, he’s a real live fascist. 
Back in 2004 we had Steve Earle’s “Beatles” album – “The Revolution Starts Now”; then, in 2015, we had his “Blues” album – “Terraplane”. Now we have his latest release, his “Waylon Jennings” album – “So You Wanna Be an Outlaw”. Of course, none of these are an album of covers or an attempt to sound like the artists referenced; it’s more about Steve Earle wearing his influences on his sleeve and specifically acknowledging them in the way he writes and performs for that particular album.