Tag Archives: Americana

Morganway, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, 10 April 2025

The Hare and Hounds has featured many, many acts over the years and with the characterful interior and musical history it is a venue of choice for performers wanting fine acoustics and immediate atmosphere.

First on stage was Savannah Gardner, showcasing her striking country voice, adept guitar playing and cleverly structured songs, many drawn from recent album ‘Recovering Good Girl’. With her confident stage presence and warm personality she was a strong opener for the show.

Halfway through an extensive tour Morganway were ready to raise the roof; as first song ‘Hurricane’ nearly did. The band have many strengths, able to create a full country rock sound driven by guitar and violin or down in the audience sharing the campfire singalong of ‘Halfway Tonight’. Through it all the power vocals of SJ Mortimer and the band harmonies take the songs to another level. An outstanding song tonight was the storming ‘Devil’s Canyon’, a relentless dark groove from their new album ‘Kill The Silence’. Full of sparkling highlights, this was a brilliant set.

https://www.morganway.co.uk/

https://savannahgardner.com/home

Morganway, Relevant Records, Cambridge, 31 January 2025

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Morganway celebrated the release of their third studio album with some in-store preview shows, kicking off in the hallowed basement of Cambridge vinyl shop and cafe, Relevant Records.

The band created a mellow, engaging sound with the space created by the acoustic line-up allowing each instrument to shine through. Starting with the punchy ‘Devil’s Canyon’ the six-piece showcased a variety of styles, from the smooth country-rock of ‘Boy On The Train’, the heartfelt ‘Don’t Turn The Lights On Yet’ to the environmental call to action of the album title track ‘Kill The Silence’ and the gentle anthem ‘We Sing’. The strong lead vocals of SJ Mortimer, subtle band harmonies and soaring violin are a key part of the sound but the individual contributions of all the members combined make this band a considerable force.

https://www.morganway.co.uk/

https://www.relevantrecordcafe.co.uk/

Two Ways Home, Tall Trees, Cambridge, 7 May 2024

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Tall Trees is a welcoming former pub and now a plant-decorated music and food venue on the edge of Cambridge city centre. Opening performer Georgia Nevada played a short set of her own heartfelt compositions and a cover of ‘Small Town Hypocrite’, with her strong voice accompanied by acoustic guitar.

Two Ways Home is duo Isabella and Lewis Folkner, tonight augmented by drums and versatile second guitar to add extra depth to their country-based sound. Like Georgia, they have a warm and engaging stage presence. A real strength of the band is their song variety; from the wide open spaces of single ‘Medicine Man’ and ‘Waiting on Luck’ to the country-rock of ‘Feet on the Asphalt’ (…watch the fun sock video too…). Then the quieter songs have a real emotional heft, using three-part harmonies to great effect on the folky ‘Push and Pull’ and especially the gorgeous ‘Don’t Give Up On Me Tonight’, performed to rapt attention from the audience.

‘Tattoo’ has neat lyrical ideas then the up-tempo pop of ‘Broken Hearts Club’ ends this excellent show, leaving behind many very impressed listeners.

https://www.twowayshome.com/

https://www.georgianevada.com/

The Wandering Hearts, Norwich Arts Centre, 13 December 2022

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Opening this fine evening of folk and Americana music in this converted church venue was Lauren Housley, showcasing her soulful voice and song writing as featured on her album ‘Girl From The North’. With just acoustic guitar backing her performance had instant appeal for the near sell-out audience.

For this tour The Wandering Hearts have stripped back to the core trio and with two excellent albums already and many new songs due for release soon their set was rich in highlights. Blending their three harmonies for an introductory cover of ‘White Christmas’ and then into the subtle delights of early single ‘Burning Bridges’, the acoustics of this ancient building showed off the gorgeous sounds.

The three performers create a very full sound, with only guitar backing for many of the tracks, sometimes augmented by mandolin and piano. To contrast the gentleness of ‘Dolores’ and ‘Lullaby’ there were plenty of anthemic choruses like ‘Build a Fire’ and main set closer ‘Devil’. With a seasonal finale of Auld Lang Syne blended with the outstanding ‘Wish I Could’ it was a superb show, echoing long in the memory.

https://www.thewanderinghearts.com/

https://www.laurenhousley.com/

Lucy Grubb : Waste My Time, EP released June 2021

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A new EP from UK country/Americana singer Lucy Grubb; her first since ‘Dear Walter’ in 2018.

1.Waste My Time. A lovely opening track, it is a mellow slice of hill country with an irrepressible momentum pushed along by intricate drumming, interleaving guitar and sustained and rich keyboard notes. Lucy’s vocal is lighter than air; effortlessly portraying the theme of dissatisfaction in the song ‘…I don’t possess the knowledge to read between your lines….don’t hold my hand….I won’t look back….’, before the instruments are giving a showcase at the end.

2.Other Side. A melodic ballad, full of longing especially in the catchy but thoughtful chorus ‘….what’s the weather like on your side?…’. With the Americana atmosphere and haunting middle-eight it is probably my favourite of the collection.

3.You Don’t Do Anything. The pace picks up again for this energetic romp, Lucy smoothly delivers her well-crafted lyric, always returning to the title line dismissal. Sounds like it would be a great crowd-pleaser in a live show.

4.When It Rains. A wistful finale, with a calm footstep tempo and plenty of wide open space in the musical arrangement. Lucy’s vocal leads strongly, supported by emotive harmonies and extra strings. Like the whole EP, it stays in the mind long after the gentle ending…

Lucy Grubb – Home | Facebook