Canadian Bluegrass sensation Viper Central have a tour planned at the height of the UK summer, taking in both festival stages and small rooms across Scotland and Ireland. They also have a new album – their third – coming out. It’s called The Spirit of God & Madness, and is judged to be their boldest endeavour to date. Lead songwriter, Kathleen Nisbet has taking her storytelling skills in new directions – on one track taking on the persona of her ancestor, Louis Riel, in another, that of a Saskatchewan farmer-turned-musician, in still another, that of Katherine O’Hare – a woman who crossed the Rockies on foot in the 19th century.
As a group of young friends who joined forces in their 20s to shake up the British Columbia bluegrass scene, Viper Central gained a reputation as an excellent band at festivals across western Canada. They quickly took to the road, regularly touring the west coast of the United States, the UK, and continental Europe. In 2008, they released their debut album The Devil Sure Is Hard To Please which was well liked here at Americana-UK
As well as having many self-penned songs, Viper Central can rip it up bluegrass style with sweet n’ crunchy harmonies and tight melodic breaks that’ll make your heart soar, your feet shuffle and your blood curdle! Canadian roots and the traditions of American bluegrass, Métis, country, rockabilly and old-time have influenced their ever evolving style, giving them a distinctive Canadian take on bluegrass.
Viper Central · UK & Ireland Tour · August-September 2017
Kathleen Nisbet (vocals & fiddle), Steve Charles (vocals, guitars & banjo), Patrick Metzger (vocals & bass),
Tim Tweedale* (vocals & steel guitars) & Chris Suen* (banjo & vocals) *select dates only
Wed 2-Sat 5 Belladrum, nr. Inverness Tartan Heart Festival
Sun 6 Strathpeffer, Highlands House Concert
Wed 9 Cookstown, Co. Tyrone The Red Room
Thu 10 Cookstown The Red Room
Fri 11 Naul, nr. Dublin Seamus Ennis Arts Centre with Ulaid & Duke Special
Sat 12 Rathfriland, Co. Down Bronte Music Club
Sun 13 Comber, Co. Down Enler Delta Blues Club, Comber Rec F.C.
Tue 15 Richhill, Co. Armagh Groucho’s
Wed 16 Omagh, Co. Tyrone The Weigh Inn
Thu 17 Bangor, Co. Down Ballyholme Yacht Club, Open House Festival Bangor
Fri 18 Ballincollig, Co. Cork The White Horse
Sun 20 Ballydehob, Co. Cork Levis Corner House
Tues 22-Wed 23 Carlingford, Co. Louth Thomas D’Arcy McGee Summer School
Fri 25 Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford Colfer’s Pub
Sat 26-Sun 27 Dunmore East, Co. Waterford Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival
Wed 30 Ballybofey, Co. Donegal Balor Arts Centre
Thu 31-Sun 3 Castletown, nr. Omagh Bluegrass Music Festival, Ulster American Folk Park
