Case Hardin, Pete David & The Payroll Union, K.F.O.O., The Grapes July 10th

On Saturday July 10th, WagonWheel Presents... brings three fantastic bands to The Grapes stage. Joining us will be one of the leading lights in UK Americana, Case Hardin, currently working on the follow up to "Some Tunes For Charlie Spencer". We also have two local favourites in the shape of Pete David & The Payroll Union and an acoustic set from Killing Fields Of Ontario. Doors open at 8pm and tickets priced at £4 are available from wegottickets.com ( http://www.wegottickets.com/event/77060 ). Entry on the night will be £5.

***CASE HARDIN***

'Some Tunes For Charlie Spencer' is the first full-length album from Reading band, Case Hardin. Ten perfectly executed, spontaneous and organic cuts that skillfully draw elements from rock, americana, country and folk.

Recorded at Escapade Studios in Greenwich, London by the core band of songwriter Pete Gow (guitar, harmonica) and Del Skinner (guitars, bass, mandolin, pedal steel), together with ex-Cotton Mather drummer Dana Myzer. Many of the tracks were fleshed out by stunning contributions from co-producer Gary Brady (piano, keyboards, bass, accordion, glockenspiel), Gemma Cumming (fiddle) and Southern Tenant Folk Union, of which Gow was also a member, leader Pat McGarvey (bass).

Formed back in 1999, Case Hardin take their name from the female lead in Boston Teran's noir thriller 'God Is A Bullet'. Since then they have self released three EP's, including the critically acclaimed "Hard Feelings" in 2005.

The genesis of much of the material for 'Some Tunes For Charlie Spencer' lay in the Middle East, specifically Iraq and Jordan, where Gow was sent on assignments as a journalist through 2006. While there is not a trace of politics in this work, the back-drop of the Baghdad skyline can be found as early as the opening lines... "Kind of coming undone, looking out over a city bleached by the sun." This image is inextricably linked to the hotel room balcony where that and most of the other songs assembled here were written. Elsewhere, the lonely isolation that permeates travel to strange and foreign climes is woven into the fabric of tracks like 'Sweethearts of the Radio'.

Pre-production on the album was also pretty unconventional by any bands standard; demo'd in a hotel room in Iraq, in the wee small hours, whispered into a mini-disc player using microphones gaffer-taped to an electric fan, while all around slept. The files were then e-mailed to Del Skinner to begin work on the arrangements.

The hushed intimacy of many of the original demos made it through the recording process and can be heard on 'Sweethearts of the Radio' and closer 'Dead Lines'. As true to the original idea as those tracks were, the rest of 'Some Tunes For Charlie Spencer' was documented essentially live; Gary Brady making sure, at all times, the microphones were in place and the record-button was depressed. The version of bar-room romp 'Cold N Old' used in the final sequence was not only the first take, it was the first time the band played the song together... not just music being recorded... this was music being created.

So what of Charlie Spencer? The almost title track is a cinematic look into the lives of the fictitious(ish) Charlie and Analthea. The hope that builds as their day unwittingly draws the estranged couple back towards each other is cruelly shattered when Analthea can't bring herself to turn and look into the window of a café in which Charlie is sitting. It is a dark study that, as with much of Gow's writing shows there is rarely a happy ending in real life. This performance, a real stand-out on the record, is brought to life by Sophia Marshall's (The Havenots) haunting, beautiful vocal. 'Some Tunes For Charlie Spencer' is a magnificent collection of songs that serve notice on the song writing talents of Pete Gow and showcases material that is sure to be as powerful live as it is on record.

"The songs tell the traumas of the drunken outsider, lost, looking for the right girl, or any girl. Touchingly powerful performances, calling to mind Son Volt playing The Gin Blossoms" Americana-UK.com

"Gin soaked Americana" The Windmill

"Undeniably a superior Americana album" Bucketfull of Brains

http://www.casehardin.com

http://www.myspace.com/casehardin

***PETE DAVID & THE PAYROLL UNION***

Sheffield based singer/songwriter Pete David has been performing around the city for several years. During the last couple of years the full band line up of The Payroll Union has taken shape. Classic Americana with elements of traditional American folk and country. All the yodellin', banjoin', stompin', kazooin', parpin', pickin' and pluckin' you could want for an old time good time.

"The four men in The Payroll Union are all suited and bearded and, while playing their acoustic murder ballads, could be seen as a bunch of Southern, God-fearin', gun-totin' brothers (who brought along their little sister for the ride). The songs are peppered with exhortations to the Lord, whisky, hanging, heartbreak and evil deeds. Pete's vocal delivery veers from hushed whispers to impassioned sermons and, similarly, the music changes on a dime from reverential faithfolk to uptempo secular hoedown and back again." Counterfeit Magazine

http://www.myspace.com/petedavidandthepayrollunion

***KILLING FIELDS OF ONTARIO***

Killing Fields of Ontario were formed in 2007 by Tom Brewster and Stuart Kempster. In early 2008, after months of song writing, they were put in touch with musical prodigy Dave Loffman, who kindly agreed to record a demo. Dave also took up drum duties, and semi-legendary 'Rocketeers' front man James "Roadkill" Brooks stepped in on bass to complete the line up.

The initial recordings were predominantly acoustic and banjo driven, however as new songs emerged the band became more electric, with bigger drums and bigger guitars (in a musical, not dimensional, sense). Using a varied combination of acoustic and electric instruments, the band create a sound that is powerful and modern, and yet still steeped heavily in folk roots.

The band are currently recording their debut album which they hope to launch soon. Tonight they will be appearing as an acoustic 3 piece.

"The frontmen swapped between guitar, banjo, mandolin and keyboards to produce a sumptuous set rich in variety, texture and nuance. On a couple of occasions all 4 musicians sang beautiful a capella breaks which tingled the spine" Counterfeit Magazine

"Foot-stompingly upbeat gung-ho songs like 'Tired of Being a Man' were delivered with electric force and uplifting enthusiasm. Capable of soft and sweet tunes too, Killing Fields Of Ontario really showed that they are more than a one trick pony; definitely worth catching" Leeds Music Scene

http://www.myspace.com/killingfieldsofontario

Facebook Event page:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136739219675947

Last.fm Event page:

http://www.last.fm/event/1512675

This is tomorrow night. Live music kicks off shortly after 8pm.