ALBUM REVIEW: Casino Rockets – ‘Reality Distortion Field’

30 May 2021

It’s been a long time since I’ve reviewed anything from Casino Rockets and, on the evidence of this album, boy have they grown. They still have that ‘we refuse to be forced into any musical niche’ thing going on; but their music is more complex, more layered and if anything taking in more influences. It’s more inventive and something you can really get your musical teeth in.

Opening track ‘Impala’ surprises with a pulsing electronica rave intro before smoothly morphing into some of a classic rock track, hint of R’n’B, dash of psychedelia. Sections of crashing guitar, sections of delicately played guitar, sections that burst into full-on psychedelic rock. It’s one of those tracks which sounds better the louder you play it, you get me?

‘People Like You’ is a smoother, sparser thing. Driving beat, washes of sound, almost Afro-beat plucked guitar. But is this enough, no way. Suddenly it changes into something that has more than a hint of later period Floyd. This is a blast of joy. ‘Only Light Can Save You’ kind of has the same feel but it’s infused with electro-rock and is slower, and then faster. This thing changes and changes – sudden vocoder like sections, weirdly off-kilter drums.

And suddenly it’s angular – ‘Simpatico Thieves’ is all clashing rhythms, a cascade of plucked guitar. Mysterious lyrics. But suddenly it changes – it becomes lusher. It reminds me of something – something I can’t quite put my figure on, but it’s vaguely 80s. Perhaps a touch of Robert Plant’s solo work. It’s enigmatic, compelling, hypnotic.

‘Fonzerelli’ – now there’s a name to ponder over for people of a certain age (Google it people) – is a lush piece of electro-pop. A tune to die for, a bass line to swoon over, the sweetest vocal, lovely tasteful guitar. Why this is called ‘Fonzerelli’ I have not the slightest idea but who cares when a song is this good.

Sweeping synth introduces ‘The Maker’ which I’m going to describe as electronica with the smallest hint of pop edge. Layers of beautiful sound sweep over each other. It builds, no it bubbles, into something more rhythmic while keeping those mismerising sweeps of sound.

And with ‘Black & Red’ there is a change of sound. Psychedelic warped guitar that has more than a hint of those early acid psychedelic jams by Pink Floyd. Like those you can hear the blues at the heart of it. But this a track that changes constantly – full on psychedelic rock, found sound sounding spoken word. My only complaint; could be much, much longer.

‘Drive Me To The Dusk’ takes the psychedelic rock up a gear, adds in a more than a hint of fuzzy garage rock. Swirling sounds. It’s a trip, people, a journey into sound. This comes at you in waves, waves that build and fall. Each build is wilder and wilder. Dig it.

Coming at you from left field, far left field ‘Feel Me Now’ is one part psychedelic rock, one part ‘jam it out’ acid rock, one part Gong-like sonic freakout. Guitars are taken to the limit and far beyond, synths are taken to distortion level.

Closing epic ‘Kachumber’ (this is an album of tracks that clock in at over 4 ½ minutes, with tracks that are longer) is, in contrast to the three previous tracks, a beautifully restainted song. Fantastically put together it sweeps from sparse to lush and rich and back again. It seems to get louder only as other instruments come in. It oozes beauty. This is something you need to hear.

As different as the tracks are on this album, and there is an incredible range of feel and sounds, it hangs together as a journey through sound, a trip through the musical mind of the band. A trip that has a beginning, a middle and an end. There’s a shape to the album as a whole that is incredibly satisfying. It reminds me of albums of old. This is definitely one to be played as a whole in the order the band put the tracks in.

So there is the journey of the album as a whole, but there is also the journey through the individual songs. Casino Rockets’ songs twist and turn, surprise you. They start off one way and end in another; and yet, for all twists and turns, they never sound disjointed.

The reason for this is that is the band’s music, and while it takes in many influences, it’s something that is their music. Beautifully put together, wonderfully played and very much their music.

I urge you to join Casino Rockets on their journey; it’s a trip, sometimes wild, sometimes taking unexpected paths but it is fabulous.

SINGLE, ALBUM & TOURS NEWS: Newton Faulkner new single ‘Together’ out now, new LP ‘Interference (Of Light)’ out 20th August, rescheduled 2020 dates September/October & full UK tour Autumn 2021

LSF Staff Writers

29 May 2021

Newton Faulkner has announced the release of ‘Together’, the first single to be taken from his forthcoming new album ‘Interference (Of Light)’ which will be released on 20 August via Battenberg Records on vinyl, CD and digital formats.

The single is a deeply personal track, as Newton explains: “I wrote this song with a couple of guys called Michael. I was in Australia having a great time but missing home, and this song is about being reunited with the people you love. When it was written I had no idea of the levels of isolation the global population would be subjected to and, now that things are starting to edge their way back to normality, it seems more relevant than ever.”

The album sees Newton at his most daring, and his most familiar. Keeping to his trademark songwriting and storytelling, the album reflects his feelings on current times. “I don’t think things get better or worse, they just change,” he says. “I’ve kind of purposefully steered away from any of the cliques that have appeared around me. I’ve just remained this solitary figure. I love it!”

Four years on from his last studio album, Newton worked throughout lockdown from his recording studio in East London, exploring a number of new and unexplored styles and ideas, using them as the building blocks for this new album. “I’m not very precious anymore,” he remarks. “The music is a bit chunkier, it’s definitely way heavier and much less acoustic than previously. I feel like the stuff I’ve written recently is simpler but it’s tasteful.”

‘Interference (Of Light)’ will be released on vinyl, CD and digital formats, all featuring different track lists, as Newton explains “The way we listen to music has changed dramatically in the time I’ve been making music and, for me, each medium has a different purpose and requires a different approach. Interludes, which played a huge part in Hand Built by Robots, make no sense being streamed on an online playlist but work amazingly on a CD, and vinyl is a different experience again. So, I’ve decided to package this album differently for each format: streaming sites will get a 17-track album with no interludes; the CD will be 17 tracks plus interludes for a smoother flow; and the vinyl will be 11 tracks curated to work on one disc with the best possible flow from one side to the other and the best possible sound.”

Album pre-order: https://linktr.ee/NewtonFaulkner

Since the release of ‘Hand Built by Robots’ in 2007 (featuring the massive hit ‘Dream Catch Me’) Newton Faulkner has become one of the UK’s most successful singer-songwriters of the millennium. Later this year, he will be heading out to tour the album to live music-starved fans throughout the UK.

RESCHEDULED FROM MAY 2020

SEPTEMBER

Fri 24 CHESTER Live Room
Sat 25 CASTLETON Peak Cavern
Sun 26 HOLMFIRTH Picture Drome
Thu 30 BURY ST EDMUNDS Apex

OCTOBER

Fri 01 TENBY De Valence Pavilion
Sat 02 SWANSEA Patti Pavilion

INTERFERENCE (OF LIGHT) TOUR

OCTOBER

Mon 11 GLASGOW Galvanizers SWG 3
Tue 12 EDINBURGH Liquid Room
Sat 16 NEWCASTLE University
Mon 18 HULL Asylum
Tue 19 SHEFFIELD Leadmill
Wed 20 MANCHESTER Ritz
Fri 22 LIVERPOOL Academy
Sat 23 CARDIFF Tramshed
Mon 25 BIRMINGHAM Institute
Tue 26 LONDON Shepherds Bush Empire
Thu 28 NORWICH UEA
Fri 29 OXFORD Academy
Sat 30 BRISTOL Anson Rooms
Sun 31 TORQUAY Foundry

NOVEMBER

Tue 02 DUBLIN Academy

TICKETS: https://www.newtonfaulkner.com/

WEBSITE https://www.newtonfaulkner.com/
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/newtonfaulkner/?hl=en
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/newtonfaulkner/
TWITTER https://twitter.com/NewtonFaulkner

SINGLE & VIDEO NEWS: The Calls drop ‘Way Far Out’ and video

LSF Staff Writers

29 May 2021

The Calls have released their new single and video, ‘Way Far Out’, the first track to be taken from their forthcoming EP due to be released later this year.

The single is far from a conventional introduction to the next phase in the band’s progression, but one of the band’s strengths is that they rarely if ever play it by the book. “I suppose it’s a statement of defiance against the traditional music industry,” vocalist and songwriter Tom Fuller explains. “Why does a single need to follow their rules?”

Elaborating further about the song, Tom explains: “We were trying to make a song with a mood that made the listener feel like they were in the desert, hence the aesthetic of the video. The psychedelic sounds intend to recreate that sense of hallucination and heat exhaustion, with the lyrics focusing on introspective feelings of guilt that cycle around; feelings of guilt and sorrow that can leave someone feeling as if they are stranded alone, far away.”

Hailing from the thriving metropolis of Leeds, the band remain a proudly defiant DIY band who write, rehearse and record their music in a converted barn and travel in an old window cleaner’s van. The trio are driven by the unconventional songwriting of Tom Fuller, who puts an introspective slant on social observations through cryptic wordplay and metaphor, with lyrics often dystopian in their outlook, often reflective and always deeply personal; lead guitarist Will Johnson, a film maker and visual artist whose unrestrained and highly unusual sound is due to the fact that, remarkably, he had never picked up a guitar before joining the band; and bassist Marcell Haslewood, a lifeguard finding his way via a combination of ambience and dub and a unique approach to playing that invariably defies expectation. This versatile, chameleon-like sound is one of the band’s biggest assets, moving through dark, psychedelic dub-rock, to soaring rhythms, to bold and inventive percussion.

WEBSITE: www.thecalls.uk.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thecallsuk
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/the_calls
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_calls/

SINGLE REVIEW: Cold Culprits – ‘Renegade Days’

Frank

28 May 2021

The key thing about this Cold Culprits release is ‘no keyboards’. Yep this is your ‘basic guitar, bass, drums’ Andy explains ‘I’ve been exploring a lot of older heavy rock bands that I’ve not given much time to before, and that’s started to reshape my musical journey. Bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Alter Bridge, Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam, who I’ve been aware of, but punk was more my thing at the time. It’s made me introduce a more guitar-driven outlook and step away from the keyboards. It’s also forced a bit of a return to my roots, as the guitar was the first instrument that I chose to play when I was a kid.

‘Last year, I was kinda beginning to lean on keyboards and piano to add another dimension to my songs. I’m now making a conscious decision to strip out some of the layers and get a bit more of that guitar-driven rawness back’.

What this has produced is not quite what I expected when I cued it up for the first time. Somehow that guitar based rock, and what I’m going to assume is Andy’s NY Punk/No Wave influences, have resulted in something that kinda sounds like Bowie and then Lou Reed backed by crashing heavy rock guitars. This is mainly down to the fact that the vocals are way upfront and sung in what I can only say is a sneery statement style. It’s not all crashing guitars, there is something of a violin type sound – it’s obviously a guitar OK – at times.

My helpful friend says it bears some resemblance to ‘Man Who Sold The World’ period Bowie. I wouldn’t dare disagree.

The lyrics kind of reinforce that feel for me as well; they’re made up of short snappy lines with a decadent feel as it tells the story, as far as I can tell, of a woman about to crash and burn.

Look, this is bloody joy. And while I might be describing it in retro terms, it has a timeless classic feel. It’s one of my favourite Cold Culprits releases. It’s inventive, very much an individual sound. Raw and full of passion. Get to it people.

SINGLE REVIEW: Alien Private Eye – ‘Legion’

Frank

28 May 2021

Alien Private Eye (AKA David Kaer) is new to me, at least in this guise, but he’s half of Flash Cassette (a band I hadn’t expected to like but ended up loving) so that’s good enough for me. Much the same could be said of this track which I started out not liking that much but then fell for it in a hard way. This isn’t to say that it’s in any way a grower generally; it just was for me. The thing is that I have a strange relationship with electronica; sometimes I just don’t get it on an emotional level despite understanding that something is good or even great intellectually.

‘Legion’ is a hugely sophisticated synth/electronica track. Lush sounds overlaid with 80s’ style synth, a vocal that sinks into those lush sounds. A radio style voice that surprises.

On the other hand you could describe it as a slow sophisticated synth-pop track with an 80s’ vibe. Lush sounds overlaid with 80s’ style synth, a vocal that sinks into those lush sounds. A radio style voice that surprises.

You see what I’m getting at here – I’m not sure I can define it’s genre; I love that in music.

However you chose to describe it the whole is cinematic; it evokes images of waves of colour washing into each other, coming down onto you. It’s hypnotic and mesmerising with a hint of menace. It’s the sort of track that you’d be happy to listen to if it was extended vastly – any length above say 40 minutes. It leaves you wanting more of that lush rich sound, those carefully crafted layers of sound.

This is a wonderful track; let’s just forget how we’re defining it and describe this as great music with emotion and beauty.

TOUR NEWS: Byron Wallen – Portrait: Reflections On Belonging tour 2021

LSF Staff Writers

27 May 2021

Summer 2021 marks the UK tour of ‘Portrait: Reflections On Belonging’, the new album from innovative trumpeter Byron Wallen. Having been struck by the mix of cultures in his home borough of Woolwich in South East London, Byron Wallen was commissioned by the PRS Foundation to compose a special piece based on his experiences entitled ‘Anthem For Woolwich’, which won widespread critical acclaim from critics, peers and music fans alike.

The new album ‘Portrait’, Wallen’s first recorded release in 13 years, became an endeavour that flourished from the same source, resulting in an imaginatively constructed musical exploration into ancestry, diasporic journey and the cultural roots of contemporary and indigenous cultures. Byron explains: “Sitting in the central square in Woolwich one day, I was struck by the vibrant and wonderful people. The mixture of cultures and nationalities was so unique. Shortly after the event, PRS For Music Foundation commissioned me to put this observation into music creating a lasting homage to the area. The project, which ultimately led to this album, deepened my artistic and personal relationships with my immediate surroundings and community.”

The album is further enhanced by Wallen and his band’s personal engagement with his local surroundings through teaching, workshops and ultimately collaborations. Special guest vocals from classes 3G and 3H of Plumcroft Primary School resonate on several tracks perfectly demonstrate the theme of community spirit that runs throughout the album.
Byron Wallen’s music is distinctive and individual, also inspired by his experiences with musicians on his travels around the world, including countries such as South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, East Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Indonesia and Belize to name but a few. These diverse experiences have undoubtedly influenced Byron’s creative output, and the fact that he combines this with true and desirable elements from the jazz tradition really make his music stand out as an inimitable, one of a kind sound.

Having studied with luminaries such as Jimmy Owens, Donald Byrd and Jon Faddis, as well as being a go to trumpet player for the likes of George Benson, Chaka Khan and Hugh Masekela and also a contemporary of Andrew Hill, Mulatu Astatke and King Sunny Ade, Byron Wallen is a revered and respected musician in jazz, world music and beyond. His Gayan Gamelan project have recently attracted much attention for their adaptation of Boards of Canada’s seminal album ‘Music Has the Right to Children’, the sensitivity of the compositions marrying beautifully with Wallen’s orchestration of the gamelan sound.

On ‘Portrait’ Byron Wallen plays the trumpet, flugelhorn, shells and percussion. He is accompanied by a killer band with Rob Luft on guitar, Paul Michael on bass and Rod Youngs on drums, with congas and taking drums from Richard ‘Olatunde’ Baker. The overall result is a sublime listen, ultimately providing hope and inspiration by way of creativity, diversity and unity.

UK TOUR DATES:

Sun 13.06.2021 – Legends Festival Birmingham
Thu 17.06.2021 – Seven Arts Leeds
Fri 18.06.2021 – Crookes Social Club, Sheffield
Tue 22.06.2021 – Chester Playhouse
Sat 26.06.2021 – Ipswich Jazz Festival
Mon 04.10.2021 – Stoller Hall & The Yard, Manchester
Tue 12.10.2021 – East Side Jazz, Leytonstone
Thu 14.10.2021 – The Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington
Fri 15.10.2021 – Dorchester Arts Centre
Sat 16.10.2021 – Ashburton Arts Centre
Wed 10.11.2021 – National Centre of Early Music, York
Thu 11.11.2021 – Bonington Theatre, Nottingham
Sat 13.11.2021 – The Hive, Shrewsbury Jazz
Sun 29.11.2021 – Cambridge Jazz Festival

EP REVIEW: Lewis Jack Inman – ‘Blind Eye’

Frank

26 May 2021

I have been looking forward to the release of this EP. I am, and I may have said this before, quietly obsessed with Lewis’ music; he’s one of those artists I come back to time and time again.

Opening, and title, track ‘Blind Eye’ is dense with guitar. It’s intense and you find yourself drawn deep into the sounds. The vocal however provides a contrast; it’s sing sing. It has something of a grunge feel, it’s mainly acoustic but it has dense guitar and tuneful vocal. The lyrics are compelling and the more you listen to it, the more you uncover. This is one of those times when I may be wrong but the words seem to be about the current Government and the state of the country. This is a harsh commentary to be sure.

There is an electric sound to ‘Destructive Beauty’. That sing song crazy tumbling feel returns but stronger. Surprising sounds – a halting bass taking a lead, sharp penetrating acoustic. It compels, it mesmerises, it’s haunting. It does all this to it’s voice only end.

‘The Sun Is Dead’ is one of those ‘what in the’ ‘where did that come from’ moments. It starts with a radio feel that gives no indication of where the song could go. The way it goes is to turn into something quietly fuzzy with a gentle vocal. I say fuzzy but it’s also big and sweeping with hints of psych. It’s lovely, simple as that. And just wait for the surprise at the end.

The change in feel to ‘What I am To You’ is jarring at first but I have come to see this as a respite from the denseness of the first three tracks. My helpful friend describes this as raw around the edges Brit-pop. I’m not sure, i\t’s raw, yes but for me it lies somewhere in the area of grunge with a psychy edge.

‘The Breeze’ is an instrumental piece. It builds from simple plucked guitar with a folky Spanish feel, to washes of sound with strummed acoustic and delicately played guitar lines. As it goes on that guitar becomes more piercing, more strident, before it returns to that simple plucked guitar. Although you may question the inclusion of a 5 ½ minute instrumental, you shouldn’t because this is just as compelling as the songs, it has as much emotional feel and weight as the songs.

This, my friends, is one for quiet appreciation, one that you need to set aside time for, they are not in any way background music.

This is a set of songs that surprise in their different feels yet are also coherent. It had already made a spot in my favourites list on it’s first play but repeated listens reveal more and more depth to the tracks. They are full of, sometimes harsh, beauty and emotion. These are songs that come without a filter.

Stream/download: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lewisjackinman/blind-eye

ALBUM NEWS: Team Picture release ‘Music For Hauntings: Vol I’, first in a series of official bootleg compilations

Frank

21 May 2021

Fresh off the back of the release of their debut album in 2020 + a rescheduled UK tour announced for late 2021, TEAM PICTURE release Music For Hauntings: Vol I. Across 17 tracks, the band journey through early demos, unreleased tracks and remixes from their debut album, including a WH Lung re-work. The album is released digitally on 14th May.

Speaking about the release, singer + guitarist Josh explains “Music For Hauntings is the first in an (ir)regular series of Official Bootleg compilations. A musical journey through our murky past and into our glistening future. We gots early singles, unreleased songs, creepy demos, bopping remixes and other oddities. It’s one continuous sound collage of japery and pretty much the greatest mixtape you’ve (n)ever heard. Go for a long-ish night-drive, stick MFH:VI on Loud + don’t touch that shuffle button”

The incredible artwork is a hand-drawn interpretation of the cover of the band’s debut album The Menace Of Mechanical Music by artist Sarah Smith. There will be limited hand-made CDs created using recycled materials.

Track List

1. swell/air, not air
2. CLASSIC:M
3. potpourri headache
4. (if I were you)/SITTNO
5. teef
6. streisand/brass & field
7. phantom limb
8. (pink gossamer)/the_anthropocene
9. little secret (demo)
10. (CPT redux)
11. Compartment (demo)
12. (is it really so strange?)
13. DU THE KAT(H)MAN
14. Rock Hudson Tragedy (Tim Picture Remix)
15. Compartment(s) (Tea Buckley Remix)
16. Baby Rattlesnake (SAH Remix)
17. Keep Left (WH Lung Remix)

TOUR

28/9 – Bootleg Social, Blackpool
29/9 – The Parish, Huddersfield
30/9 – Broadcast, Glasgow
1/10 – Westgarth Social Club, Middlesbrough
2/10 – Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield
12/10 – Yes, Manchester
13/10 – Camden Assembly, London
14/10 – Komedia, Brighton
15/10 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
17/10 – Wild Paths Festival, Norwich
23-24/10 – Karma Festival, Nottingham

TV NEWS: Apple TV+ announces new music docuseries ‘1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything’

Frank

21 May 2021

Apple TV+ has announced 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything; an immersive, new docuseries that will explore the musicians and soundtracks that shaped the culture and politics of 1971. Executive produced by Academy, BAFTA and Grammy Award winners Asif Kapadia (“Amy,” “Senna”) and James Gay-Rees (“Amy,” “Senna,” “Exit Through the Gift Shop”), the eight-part docuseries will premiere May 21st on Apple TV+.

An immersive, deep-dive rich with archival footage and interviews the series will show how the musical icons of the time were influenced by the changing tides of history; and, in turn, how they used their music to inspire hope, change and the culture around them. it will examine the most iconic artists and songs that we still listen to 50 years later, including The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Joni Mitchell, Lou Reed and more.

EVENT NEWS: The latest events news from Pocklington Arts Centre, York

Frank

21 May 2021

Further information about all of their forthcoming events and tickets is available at http://www.pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk

Primrose Wood Acoustics: Martin Simpson & Katie Spencer – Thursday 1 July, 7pm. Tickets £15.00.
Experience an evening of acoustic music, open air, in the atmospheric setting of Primrose Wood, in Pocklington. Featuring virtuoso guitarist and singer-songwriter Martin Simpson, with support from Yorkshire’s very own singer-songwriter Katie Spencer. Tickets £15.00

Primrose Wood Acoustics: The Dunwells & Rachel Croft – Thursday 8 July, 7pm. Tickets £12.50.
Experience live acoustic music at twilight within the beautiful woodland setting at Primrose Wood, in Pocklington. Featuring Leeds based indie-folk/Americana band The Dunwells with support by York based singer-songwriter Rachel Croft. Tickets £12.50.

Loudon Wainwright III, Suzzy Roche, Lucy Wainwright Roche – Friday 24 September, 7.30pm. Tickets £44.
A song-writing legend loved by generations of music fans for his uniquely joyful songs.
He is one of music’s eternal survivors, alarmingly prolific and always revered for the way humour and dignity shine through his work in a recording career which has produced 23 albums. Joined by family members Suzzy and Lucy, they will be performing their own songs plus the work of songwriters they admire including Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks and Baker Knight.

Holy Moly & The Crackers – Saturday 16 October, 8pm. Tickets £20.00.
Holy Moly & The Crackers are the innovative and fiery folk-rockers from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, who bombastically mash together unique flavours of soul, rock, indie and Balkan folk. However you describe them, one thing is sure – Holy Moly & The Crackers put on a raucous and feel good party, where everyone is invited, and have become renowned for their blazing live shows.

Mary Coughlan – Tuesday 19 October, 8pm. Tickets £18.
One of Ireland’s greatest female jazz and blues singers, a true artist who has carved out a highly regarded career and a legion of devoted fans worldwide. Described as “Ireland’s Billie Holiday’” Mary has overcome childhood trauma, alcoholism & drug addiction to become a musical force like no other. Her seminal first album Tired and Emotional rocketed her to overnight fame in 1985, and 15 albums later, her ability to deeply connect with both the song & her audience remains undiminished.

Spiers & Boden (plus special guest) – Wednesday 20 October, 8pm. Tickets £20.
We all could do with a bit of good news right now, and here it is. After years of speculation, English folk’s best-loved duo are back together and working on new material. Described by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, the founding members of Bellowhead will be back on stage in 2021 in their acclaimed duo Spiers & Boden.

Beth Nielsen Chapman – Saturday 23 October, 8pm. Tickets £30.
Twice Grammy-nominated Nashville based, Beth Nielsen Chapman has released 13 solo albums and written seven #1 hits and songs recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Michael McDonald, Keb Mo’, Roberta Flack, Waylon Jennings, Indigo Girls, & Faith Hill’s mega-hit This Kiss, ASCAP’S 1999 Song of The Year. Autumn 2021 will bring the release of Beth’s 15th solo album and a world tour starting in the UK.

Women In Rock – Friday 29 October, 8pm. Tickets £20.
Since 2016, Women In Rock have been wowing audiences across the UK & Europe with their high-energy performances. Featuring soaring vocals, choreography, audience interaction, striking costumes and backed by a band of world-class musicians, Women In Rock has built a reputation as the leading rock show around. Having performed to audiences of up to 120,000, these women are ready to take you on a spectacular journey through five decades of female rock leaving you cheering for more. Featuring the songs of Cher, Blondie, Janis Joplin, Republica, Belinda Carlisle, Bonnie Tyler, P!nk, Suzi Quatro, Tina Turner & many more. Women In Rock are guaranteed to get you on your feet. Grab your tickets and let’s get ready to sing, dance and ROCK!

Ben Caplan – Thursday 11 November, 8pm. Tickets £12 advance, £14 on the door.
Combining timeless melodies with a contemporary folk-rock twist, singer-songwriter Ben Caplan is both the roar of the hurricane and the eye of the storm. He has an uncanny ability to channel both wild abandon and quiet introspection. For the ten-year anniversary of his first release, he has recorded a retrospective collection of stripped back re-interpretations of songs from across his catalogue. The album, ‘Recollection’, will be released in October of 2021 followed by an extensive European and Canadian tour. Support by the award-winning Gabrielle Papillon.

Martyn Joseph – Thursday 2 December, 8pm. Tickets £18.
Hailed as “The Welsh Springsteen” singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph was awarded a “Wales Folk Award” in April 2019 for “Here Come The Young”, the title track of his most recent album, and in 2018 was honoured with a “Spirit of Folk” Award by Folk Alliance International in Kansas, USA. Compared to Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews, he has created his own style and reputation as a mesmerizing live performer.

Jesse Malin – Tuesday 7 December, 8pm. Tickets £17.50
Jesse Malin made his name as a thoughtful and introspective singer/songwriter but also played raucous, over-the-top rock & roll with the band D Generation. Malin has recorded with Bruce Springsteen and Green Day, performed on The Tonight Show and Letterman, and shared stages with everyone from The Hold Steady to Bob Weir and The Gaslight Anthem. A prolific writer and relentless road warrior, he continues to circle the globe with his band and in 2019 released his seventh studio album, produced by American roots icon Lucinda Williams.

Teddy Thompson – Saturday 22 January, 8pm. Tickets £20.00
Called ‘one of the most gifted singer-songwriters of his generation’ by The New York Times, singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson is famously the son of singer-songwriters Richard and Linda Thompson. As a kid, he listened to early rock ‘n’ roll and country music exclusively, resulting in a unique voice that is at once rock and country, then pop and folk. He has released five albums to critical acclaim, contributed to the soundtrack of Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning film Brokeback Mountain, has collaborated with Rufus and Martha Wainwright, and recorded two songs for the soundtrack to the Leonard Cohen tribute I’m Your Man. Support from Roseanne Reid – the daughter of The Proclaimers’ Craig Reid.

The Delines – Tuesday 15 February, 7pm. Tickets £20.00.
Country-soul outfit, The Delines come to PAC as part of a European tour in February 2022 with support from Jerry Joseph. The Delines sold out their last UK tour and will be returning with new material for this special date with the full line up. The band hails from Portland, Oregon where they have been working on new material over the past months before the lockdown, which is set to be finished shortly. Look forward to new songs and older classics from their previous albums.

Steeleye Span – Thursday 5 May, 8pm. Tickets £35.
For Steeleye Span 1970 would mark a major milestone. The band released their debut album Hark The Village Wait, a record that would not only launch one of the most enduring stories in the folk world and beyond but also come to influence further generations of artists. Five decades on and the band, led by the iconic vocals of Maddy Prior, and with a seven-piece line-up featuring some of the most skilled musicians on the UK folk scene, their 50th anniversary tour will be a celebration of the key tracks from that famous album as well as favourites and gems from their long and famous career.

Catrin Finch & Seckou keita – Saturday 21 May, 7.30pm. Tickets £22.
This sublime, critically acclaimed and multi award-winning collaboration between two adventurous virtuoso musicians – Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita – delivers a stunning exhibition of world-class musicianship. Following the success of their debut release Clychau Dibonback in 2013, their long-awaited second album SOAR launched in April 2018, followed by major UK tours in spring and autumn of 2018. Entrancing, mesmerising, intricate and ethereal, this is remarkable music and a thrilling live experience.

The Felice Brothers – Thursday 23 June, 8pm. Tickets £20.00.
The Felice Brothers’ distinct brand of song-writing and lawless sound has earned them comparisons to Neil Young, Bob Dylan and James Brown. Self-taught musicians Ian and James Felice began playing subway platforms and sidewalks in NYC, in 2006, and have gone on to release nine albums of original songs and to tour extensively throughout the world. Following the release of Life in the Dark, they served as the backing band for Conor Oberst’s 2017 release Salutations and subsequent tour. Their album ‘Undress’ was released last year to critical acclaim and they will be performing songs from this and their extensive back catalogue accompanied by Will Lawrence (drums) and Jesske Hume (bass).

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