The best all round roots music club in West Yorkshire
Tag: Americana
Dec 6 2024
Track Dogs
Sunday 24th November 2024
Photos by Nigel Plant
It was the third visit of the Madrid-based quartet to TLR and their biggest crowd to date. In fact, the band said it was their biggest crowd – as a stand alone act – of their career! They have been building a reputation for their live shows over the past few years and they never leave an audience without huge smiles on their faces. Tonight was no different as they delivered another fabulous performance of their rootsy blend of folk, Americana, Latin rhythms and friendly air of chaos – a great night!
Dec 5 2024
Joachim Cooder
Sunday 10th November 2024
Review, photos and videos by Keith Belcher
Sunday 10th November 2024. The debut appearance of Joachim Cooder at The Live Room. Accompanied by virtuoso old time fiddler Rayna Gellert. I hadn’t seen Joachim before but had seen Rayna a few times many years back when she was playing in the late lamented Uncle Earl band.
Rayna played fiddle and viola tonight as well as backing vocals and harmonies. Joachim was playing an electric Mbira and main vocals (photo below). A very interesting and intriguing, infectious sound in that the Mbira, an upsizing and adaptation of an African instrument obviously imparted an African vibe to the sound, this merged with Joachim’s self penned songs and several songs from the catalogue of Uncle Dave Macon (David Harrison Macon October 7, 1870 – March 22, 1952), known professionally as Uncle Dave Macon an American old-time banjo player and singer.
The banjo was originally an African instrument also so in many ways the adaptation of another African instrument continues a logical pairing (Darrell Scott’s Banjo Clark tells the story of the banjo in music-that’s today’s trivia!) Rayna contributed to the old timey vibe with her playing and 2 solo fiddle tunes. This was a rapidly sold out gig, well received by a very enthusiastic audience, some solid eclectic rhythms and sound, ably narrated throughout by Joachim. The tour and albums have been getting very good reviews.
videos by keith belcher
Hold The Woodpile Down
I Thought You Were A Goat No.1
Morning Blues
Nov 10 2024
Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra
Sunday 13th October 2024
Photos & Video by Keith Belcher
It was a sparkling evening with Rob and the band on their second visit here, this time with their new album, Feet First. A great night of honky tonk, Western Swing, old school rock & roll and country. Rob is a sharp and very funny songwriter.
videos by ketih belcher
Blood In The Water
Honest Man Blues
Good Lovin'
Oct 2 2024
Peter Bruntnell Band
Sunday 15th September 2024
Photos and video by Keith Belcher
A return visit from The Peter Bruntnell Band. Touring and playing music from new record (CD and vinyl) Houdini And The Sucker Punch The band is Peter Bruntnell guitar and main vocals, Mick Clews, drums, Dave Little , electric guitar and Peter Noone on bass.
videos by keith belcher
No Place Like Home
Out Of The Pines
Perfume River
Oct 2 2024
Kristian Bush
Sunday 1st September 2024
Photos & video by Keith Belcher
We were very lucky to secure the services of this multi-platinum selling, Grammy Award-winning artist here at TLR, and we weren’t disappointed, as Kristian, accompanied by his brother Brandon on keyboards, gave us a sparkling show, full of warmth and great songs. Another award winning artist, Jeff Cohen, opened the show and gave a very engaging performance that had the audience laughing. It was a mark of how popular the show was that we’ve rarely seen such a queue at the merch desk after the show!
videos by keith belcher
Jeff Cohen: Hey Love
Kristian Bush: A Different Way To Get There
Kristian Bush: All I Wanna Do
Kristian Bush: Giving It Up
Aug 28 2024
Andrew Combs
Sunday 25th August 2024
Photos, video by Keith Belcher; show comments from Kevin Thomas
We’d been chasing Andrew since about 2018 when we discovered him at Americanafest in Nashville, so we were very excited to bring this wonderfully talented singer songwriter to The Live Room for the first time. With a new record just released, Dream Pictures, Andrew was on a tour of the UK, Ireland and Europe. He was supported by Bradford Americana singer songwriter, Chris Dover.
Andrew Combs was a revelation to me. An excellent musician, very calm, composed and insightful. I really like his songs, delivered with a relaxed style that grows on you as the night proceeds. His modest, no bullshit patter is not typically American, another plus. The long queue to buy his albums at the end showed I was not the only one impressed. – Kevin Thomas
videos by keith belcher
Chris Dover: Whiskeyhead
Chris Dover: Sweet Angeline
Andrew Combs:Eventide
Andrew Combs: Too Stoned To Cry
Andrew Combs: Better Way
Jul 10 2024
Mark Radcliffe & Dave Boardman/Weeping Willows Double Bill
Sunday 30th June 2024
Photos, video and review by Keith Belcher
Sunday 30th June 2024. The Live Room, Saltaire. A double header of two debutantes to TLR. From Australia, The Weeping Willows (not to be confused with Weeping Willows- a Swedish band ) and Boltons own Mark Radcliffe with Knutsford resident David Boardman.
The Weeping Willows are Australians Andrew Wrigglesworth (guitar, lead vocals) and Laura Coates (lead vocals, accordion and tambourine). Currently resident in Melbourne. Ron and Hilary “discovered” The Weeping Willows on one of their Nashville visits, meeting up with them again in Kansas (the pandemic came between the visits I think). The usual good taste in bringing these two musicians to TLR. It took a while but happened eventually.
There was the little matter of a football match on Sunday night but the gig was sold out regardless. On Monday I saw a gig cancellation at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton ( Jon Palmer Acoustic Band) for this Saturday (July 6th). The reason for the cancellation “EVENT POSTPONED DUE TO UNFORESEEN FOOTBALL”. On Sunday there were a few who crept in at 8pm after the travesty had reached its conclusion. They would have missed the best part of The Weeping Willows but probably caught up with their sleep during the football.
The Weeping Willows opened a really tremendous night of high quality entertainment. I was not familiar with Andrew and Laura’s music before the night. I was very impressed. Their opening song “River Of Gold” reminded me greatly of The Civil Wars (remember them, a meteoric rise and similar crash but absolutely phenomenal on stage – I saw them twice), Andrew’s very accomplished guitar and Laura’s tremendous voice create a very large sound for 2 people. They had that same power and presence on stage. Andrew took lead on several songs and they combined their voices beautifully. On another song, “Singin’ The Blues”, I was reminded of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (who I adore) with homage to Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.
They covered a vast range of musical genres, Americana , Southern Gothic, obviously but a touch of bluegrass, some blues , some rock, uptempo and ballads. In just under an hour they crammed a lot of music in as well as getting the audience to check the footie scores . They left the stage to serious applause . They returned during Mark’s set to help with “Out On The Shore”. After the show they posted that they couldn’t stop smiling . They were not alone. It was one of those evening where everyone went home smiling, even the football supporters. Let’s have them back for a full show please.
Continuing with the action on 30th June 2024. Mark Radcliffe and David Boardman took the stage following The Weeping Willows. At times you may have thought you had come to a comedy night. There were lots of very funny stories mixed in with the largely self penned songs mainly about the North of England.
videos by keith belcher
Bells Are Ringing In The Churchyard
Singin' The Blues
First Light
Steal The Sea
Jul 10 2024
Dean Owens & The Sinners
Sunday 23rd June 2024
Photos by Ron Pengelly
We had been really looking forward to welcoming Dean and his band to TLR since seeing them give a wonderful showcase performance at The Folk Alliance in Kansas in February and we weren’t disappointed. It was a brilliant show, full of the flavours of the South Western United States, great songs, harmonies and musicianship from Scotland’s finest. They were rewarded with a standing ovation.
Jul 10 2024
Slambovian Circus of Dreams
Sunday 16th June 2024
Photos, video and review by Keith Belcher
Sunday 16th June 2024, The Live Room, Saltaire. The debut appearance at TLR of The Slambovian Circus of Dreams. The band are singer-songwriter Joziah Longo (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Sharkey McEwen (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals), Tink Lloyd (accordion, cello, keys, flute,backing vocals ). RJ McCarty (bass, backing vocals) and Matthew Abourezk (drums). Some shots of a very memorable night at The Live Room.
This has to be up there as one of THE great nights at TLR. As well as some brilliant songs and stellar playing, it was just the craziest atmosphere, with what seemed like a room full of pirates and jellyfish – see the video of TransSlambovian Bipolar Express below! An amazing show by an amazing band.
videos by keith belcher
Holy Rollers (Roll The Dice)
TransSlambovian Bipolar Express
May 28 2024
The Paperboys
Friday 24th May 2024
Photos by Nigel Plant, review by Mike Latham
Uplifting!
I think that sums up last night’s performance neatly. Here was a band who had just endured a long trek north and yet they were able to conjure up such a magnificent show.
From the opening song they had the audience captured and the connection between those two groups within the room encouraged them to give a stellar performance. In the information sent out about the band previously, it was highlighted that the opening number was the only one agreed upon. The room was then read to determine the direction of travel and what a journey we were taken on. Stirring tunes, songs of light and shade and a true session of roots music through folk, Latin, a touch of reggae and the syncopated sounds of New Orleans. What more could an audience ask for?
We didn’t see them on their original appearance but we know they, like many performers we have been introduced to at The Live Room, are ones that we will look forward to seeing once again.
Many thanks to Hilary and Ron for another splendid evening.
