Americana Night @ The Grapes, Saturday November 14th

[Amsterdamned]

On Saturday November 14th we have one hell of a line up for our monthly Americana Night @ The Grapes. WagonWheelMedia bring you four fantastic acts to Sheffield's premier musical venue for top live tunes, great beer and the best in alt-country records between bands. Joining us for this entertainment extravaganza will be the man described as "Manchester's answer to Gram Parsons”, Quiet Loner, the glorious harmonies of Liverpool's Sparkwood & 21, local favourites The Sicknotes, and to kick the night off we have a rare treat in the form of a solo/acoustic set from Roseville Grand frontman Neil McLarty. Doors open at 8pm and entry is just £4.

 

 

***QUIET LONER***

 

Quiet Loner's debut album "Secret Ruler Of The World" was released to widespread acclaim in summer 2004, spending two months as the number one album on Maverick magazine's Americana album chart and ending the year being voted best album of 2004 by the readers of americana-uk.com.

 

Quiet loner sings songs about love, infidelity, suicide, attempted murder, capital punishment, the database state, terrorism, religion, war, fallen angels, the secret rulers of the world and the redemptive power of country music. Hinged around singer-songwriter Matt Hill, often accompanied by the remarkable pedal steel guitar playing of Alan Cook. Quiet Loner subvert traditional country and folk themes into modern day tales of urban life all set in a distinctly British landscape. In fact more than one reviewer has commented that Quiet Loner's peculiar take on the dark side of country music owes as much to Morrissey and Costello as it does to Johnny Cash and Gram Parsons.

 

As a solo, duo or band Quiet loner have shared stages with many great performers opening for acts like Lambchop, Joe Pernice, Josh Rouse, Chris Mills, Richard Buckner, Neko Case, Jackie Leven, Peter Bruntnell and Neal Casal.

 

"a real talent for songwriting plus some wonderful darker moments that you can't help but fall in love with" Maverick magazine

 

"echoes disparate bedfellows such as Gram parsons and Elvis Costello - four stars" Classic Rock magazine

 

http://www.myspace.com/quietloner

 

http://www.quietloner.com/

 

 

***SPARKWOOD & 21***

 

Spawned from a string of sessions around their former bass player's kitchen table, Sparkwood & 21 have steadily grown from a mass of acoustic guitars and bottles of wine into "Liverpool's best kept secret". Self described as "purveyors of harmonic melancholy", singer Dave Williams' haunting voice sits wonderfully with their beautifully country tinged mellow tunes. Their 2006 EP, simply titled 'E.P.' was given a 9 out of 10 rating by leading Americana website Americana-UK.com, who said of the record: " Music so beautiful, you'll be weeping into your shoes", "'All that Remains' is seriously beautiful and ghostly, with layer upon delicious layer of mandolins, haunting vocals, and some noticeably nifty drumming. Truly a thing of beauty.", "Sparkwood & 21 are set to do great things. Watch this space…".

 

Over the summer they've been busy in the studio, the result of which is their recently launched debut album "By The Water's Edge".

 

"It’s a rare thing when you come across an EP that is so sublime, so addictively wonderful, that you end up listening to it over and over again. This is one of them." Whisperin & Hollerin

 

http://www.myspace.com/sparkwoodand21

 

 

***THE SICKNOTES***

 

introducing Matt Richardson , Mel Maccallaugh , and Guy Whittaker . As individuals, they don't really add up to much. In fact, they mostly wander the earth in a state of fear and confusion, apprehension and bewilderment. Their lives, desolate islands, devoid of any real meaning. Their souls, having been crushed repeatedly by the weight of a cruel world with no mercy for such pitiful wretches, weak of mind and feeble of heart. Their stories, already told. Their destinies, already fulfilled. But together, they are THE SICKNOTES ! A cheery, charming, pop-folk trio group combo outfit from Sheffield with music to lift the spirits of all who can be bothered to listen to it. They have recently recorded a CD record of their recordings which they seem to think is good enough to sell for real money. They call it 'Cravings'.

 

Their melodic pop tunes bring to mind bands such as Eels, similarly masking an underlying sense of hopelessness. You'll also find them in residence at The Green Room on the first Tuesday of every month.

 

http://www.myspace.com/mattstamfordrichardson

 

 

***NEIL McLARTY (Of Roseville Grand)***

 

The Roseville Grand adventure began in early 2008 when singer/songwriter Neil McLarty took to putting a full time band together. After a few early changes, now with a settled line up the band have been building a sold live reputation that has seen them support the likes of Rod Picott & Amanda Shires, and Danny and The Champions of The World.

 

The band have recently finished work on their self titled debut album. Tonight will see Neil perform a rare solo/acoustic set before returning later in the year with the full band.

 

Heavily influenced by all things Americana, Neil's song writing has been described by Shut Eye Records as "somewhere between Ryan Adams and Van Morrison."

 

http://www.myspace.com/rosevillegrand

 

 

Facebook Event page:

 

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173890926525

 

 

[Amsterdamned]

This'll be tomorrow then. Lots to cram in so the live music will kick off at the slightly earlier than usual of about 8.15.