Ahab and Benjamin Folke Thomas @ The Greystones, Wed 28th September

[Dornock]

Here's a great chance to find out why Bob Harris among many others is excited about this band when ahab make their first Sheffield appearance at The Greystones on Wednesday 28 September.

 

Bob is a big fan of the band having seen them last year at Fairport Convention’s annual music festival in Cropredy, Oxfordshire. “I thought their live set was blistering,” he says. “They showed real class and I love their alt-country edge.” Bob immediately booked the band to appear on his BBC 2 show. He is not the only BBC presenter to sing ahab’s praises; Radio 2’s Simon Mayo says: "This band’s top-notch British Americana is the real deal."

 

The London group’s uniquely British take on country rock is based around stunning four-part vocal harmony. Add up-tempo rhythms into the mix and you have an exciting sound that makes sitting still impossible. The members are also talented songwriters and the Sheffield concert will feature many of their original compostions.

 

ahab features Callum Adamson (son of Stuart Adamson of The Skids and Big Country) on 12-string guitar and vocals, Luke Price on mandolin and vocals, Dave Burn on guitar and vocals and Steve Llewellyn on bass and vocals. As well as their concert and radio appearances the band is living up to Bob Harris’s enthusiasm becoming a firm favourite on the festival circuit both in the UK and on the continent. This year they have played major events including Beautiful Days, Secret Garden Party, Larmer Tree, Camden Crawl and many others.

 

Their appearance at The Greystones coincides with the release of their second EP. KMVT was recorded and mixed by legendary producer John Leckie who has worked with Stone Roses, Radiohead, Muse, and Bellowhead, whom ahab will be supporting on their forthcoming national tour.

 

To add extra spice to this fantastic show we have Benjamin Folke Thomas. Starting his musical career as a drummer in a grunge band his life was transformed when he heard Kurt Cobain singing ‘In The Pines’ on the Unplugged record. Steeping himself in Leadbelly, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen, by the age of 20 Ben was an excellent finger-picker, confident performer, and mature songwriter.

 

Jaded Londoners didn’t know what had hit them when they first heard songs like ‘Paradise Lost (Heaven Found)’ or ‘Only Got Blues For You’, and saw this robust performer with a stage presence recalling the Bob Dylan of two decades ago.

 

“Captures the spirit of Greenwich Village Circa 1965…a convincing calling card.” – The Sunday Times

“Stands out like Oliver Reed at an AA meeting.” – Will Hodgkinson, The Guardian

 

You can buy advance discount tickets for this show from The Greystones or online at http://www.wegottickets.com/event/121784 or http://www.seetickets.com or http://www.ticketweb.co.uk

 

Hope to see you on the 28th.