The Moulettes - 'Sing Unto Me'

On Friday I was asked: "Is this of interest to you? I’d like to get it covered if possible".  So I said: "Yep, I can do the 31st".  This evening I thought that I should really have a look at the accompany video, you know, do a modicum of research into why I agreed to travel to Bush Hall Thursday week.


So that's the thick end of five days that I could have been watching this glorious mix of folk and classical and prog.  I'll learn for next time; next time I'll listen a little earlier.


If you're going to a festival this summer chances are you'll find The Moulettes playing.  They're at the Nova Festival, Secret Garden Party, Cambridge Folk Festival, Purbeck Folk, End Of The Road, Bestival and lots more.  They'll undoubtedly be playing 'Sing Unto Me'and probably a few more from their upcoming album 'The Bears Revenge'.

The Dreaming Spires: Not Every Song From The Sixties Is A Classic

If it wasn't for me being a couple of hundred miles north seeing the "best band in the world"* this Thursday night then I would be at The Alleycat Club on Denmark Street for the single launch party of 'Not Every Song From The Sixties Is A Classic' by the Dreaming Spires.  It is taken from the forthcoming Clubhouse Records release 'Brothers In Brooklyn' and is due out on 11th June.  Support come from Trevor Moss and Hannah Lou and tickets are available from WeGotTickets.

* The Handsome Family (M Rose, multiple times over many years).

Maia - Zuma Aluma

Maia - Zuma Aluma from Maia on Vimeo.



You couldn't turn around without bumping into Maia at last summers Cambridge Folk Festival.  Their posters were everywhere, they were handing out leaf-lets (actual leaves with their name stamped on) and it when they played in the Den was a struggle to get onto the green area outside let alone the tent.


Their latest singe 'Zuma Aluma' was shot on an iphone and edited on an ipad and has gained them a gig at the apple store at London's Regent Street on June 26th. They have the talent to go with the graft so it can only be a matter of time before they achieve global domination (but I still think that this is the best ever use of an apple product). 

An Americana-centric preview of the 2012 Cambridge Folk Festival

It has often been said before, but bears repeating, that the strength of the Cambridge Folk Festival is its diversity of line-up.  As well as folk in all its forms from all around the British Isles, there is always a strong showing from the other side of the pond, especially in the multi stranded genre that is Americana.

If the current listings are correct then the festivals first dash from one stage is likely to happen on Thursday.  As ahab close their set in the club tent Billy Bragg should just be starting to celebrate Woody Guthrie’s 100^th birthday proving two of the rules of American: 1. you don’t have to be American and 2. if you have the spirit of traditional American folk, blues or country we’ll claim you as one of our own.

Friday sees, ten years on from his last performance, one of the great singer songwriters, John Prine.  Gretchen Peters is a more recent visitor to the festival appearing in 2010 and again she is playing two days.  Cajun/Creole music always gets a look in and Louisianans The Pine Leaf Boys will be providing this years non celtic fiddle and accordion led dance music. Like Gretchen Peters they will be playing both Friday and Saturday.

If you like soul with a twang, Bristol based band (yes, trust me, Bristol) Phantom Limb are playing the Saturday. I’m hoping that they’ll be able to sneak in their cover of Little Feat’s classic Willin’ that was put up on you tube recently  but they could sing the telephone directory (if such things still exist) and I’ll be happy.  Also making a welcome return is Nanci Griffith.  Griffith is the reason why (20 years ago) I first visited Cambridge when she was on the same day as John Prine (I think they dueted on Prine’s ‘Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness’ but my memory my well be playing me tricks. Also playing on Saturday is Lazy Lester and Friends - a man that truly encompasses traditional folk, blues and country and wraps them up in a Marine Band.

Both Ruthie Foster and Lera Lynn are only playing on the final day and if they clash I will probably cry, or say something that probably shouldn’t be said on a Sunday.  If I have to make a choice, it will be on the flip of a coin for this one, but that’s the thing with Cambridge; it’s always a long weekend of choices.

Jacket's Americana Jukebox

It started with a bit of gig reviewing, then a few albums, the odd interview and maybe an article every so often.  Now, not content with just the written word I will be taking to the internet's equivalent of the airwaves to present the Jacket's Americana Jukebox - a two hour weekly show of the best (obviously, I'll not be playing any rubbish) americana music.

The mic's been purchased as has the recording software.  Playlists have been written, re-written then written again.  Thoughts of playing entire albums by Gram Parsons or Townes Van Zandt have been (probably) dismissed; warnings of not playing two hours of mournful music have been (probably) heeded.

Acoustic Spectrum radio launches in four weeks so just a month left for rehearsing - it's gonna be fun.