Tag: Country Music

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'

Apr 23 2024

Sara Petite Band

Sunday 14th April 2024

Photos and video by Keith Belcher

The first visit of San Diego’s Sara Petite to The Live Room with her UK band, who many of you will be familiar with from Annie Keating’s shows! A really cracking evening of country and Americana from a great songwriter and performer; you could tell that she loved playing with this band.

VIDEOS BY KEITH BELCHER

(I Can't Stand The Smell of Her) Perfume and God Save The Queen

Jan 30 2024

Tim O’Brien & Jan Fabricius

Friday 19th January 2024

Review, photos and video by Keith Belcher

The first gig of the year. The very welcome return of Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius with special guest, master fiddler Kevin Burke for the start of Set 2. We were very lucky to see Tim and Jan. They had a 36 hour nightmare journey from Nashville, delayed by snow. The gig scheduled for Sheffield on Thursday was cancelled. Tim and Jan had travelled up from Heathrow to make our show.

You really would not have guessed they had been travelling for 36 hours. The quality of the playing and singing was top notch. Jan playing mandolin , Tim, guitar, fiddle and mandolin and Kevin fiddle. Tim sang most lead vocals with Jan taking 2 songs as lead and they harmonised beautifully.

Special guest Kevin Burke opened the second set with Tim with 2 instrumentals . Jan joined the stage with Kevin and Tim for a third instrumental (Pear Tree/The Muddy Roads/Ladies Pantalettes/ The Kid On The Mountain and O’Carolans’s Concerto – for those interested) Lots of new songs as it’s been quite a few years and 3 albums since we’ve seen Tim on these shores.

Some old favourites like Brother Wind and Look Down That Lonesome Road.As you would expect at a Tim O’Brien show lots of humour throughout especially in new song Nervous.

70 years young this year and 50 years in the business and he played for just under 2 hours! The beauty of Tim is that it all looks so effortless whether its guitar,mandolin, fiddle or banjo. A true master tradesman.

Videos

Pretty Maid In A Garden; Bear; Pear Tree/The Muddy Roads/Ladies Pantalettes

May 1 2023

Joe Martin & His Band

Friday 28th April 2023

Photos by Ron Pengelly

This was Joe’s second visit here to TLR with his full band, this time on his first ever full tour in support of his debut album, Empty Passenger Seat, from which we heard a good selection of tracks. We love Joe’s songs, his dedication and that wonderful voice of his and he deserves support as he builds his career. This was a fabulous performance from him and his stellar band, Tom Dibb on guitar, Mark Lewis on bass and Dan Wiebe on drums. Ten shows in on the tour, they were firing on all cylinders and were a tight and dynamic unit, a perfect frame for Joe’s songwriting.

Supporting Joe on this leg of his tour was young Sheffield-based singer songwriter, Harriet Rose, who delivered a sparkling and confident set. Another beautiful singer, she has a great future ahead of her and we’ll no doubt be seeing her back here at TLR in the not too distant future.

Feb 13 2023

Del Barber

Sunday 5th February 2023

Photos and video by Keith Belcher

We were absolutely blown away by Canada’s Del Barber last Sunday, as were the crowd. We love it when a show exceeds expectations and this one did that by a country mile. Del and his band were absolutely superb in every sense: fabulous songs, amazing musicianship, funny, engaging and entertaining. The whole evening was fantastic from start to finish and we can’t wait to welcome them back to TLR again, when we’re sure it will be a sell-out.

Video by Keith Belcher

Hang Me, Oh Hang Me & Spanish Pipedream (Blow Up The TV)

Jan 22 2023

Lonesome Ace Stringband 2023

Friday 20th January 2023

Review & photos by Keith Belcher

Friday 20th January, The Live Room.

Opening for Canadian Trio The Lonesome Ace Stringband were Phrase and Fable, a duo consisting of Maria Wallace and Phil Stott . Maria Wallace on vocals, claw hammer banjo and fiddle and Phil on vocals and guitar.

This was Lonesome Ace Stringband’s second visit to TLR. Last time was 15th September 2019. I saw them earlier that year sharing a double header with The Local Honeys at Celtic Connections on 26th January 2019. They would have been back a long time ago had it not been for you know what.

Like a fine wine they just carried on getting better and better and the audience had a real treat on Friday. They are Chris Coole on banjo, John Showman on fiddle and Max Malone on upright bass. Singing is divided between all three in both as soloists and harmonies.

Not surprisingly the show had been sold out for quite a while. A double gig weekend with Sierra Hull and Justin Moses (also sold out)on Sunday 22nd January. Judging from the very rapturous response from the audience they will be back.

Video by Keith Belcher

Damned Old Piney Mountain, Brown County Breakdown

Sep 28 2022

Annie Keating Band

Sunday 25th September 2022

Photos by Keith Belcher

The first visit of New Yorker, Annie Keating and her band to The Live Room was an absolute triumph. Her band – Joe Coombs, guitar; Scott Warman, basses; and Jamie Dawson, drums – supported Annie superbly, with a performance of skill, maturity and power that had the audience cheering wildly from the first number. Read a full review of the show by John Barlass of At The Barrier here.

Live Video by Keith Belcher

Kindred Spirit & Road By 10

Jul 20 2021

Joe Martin Band

Sunday 4th July 2021

Photos by Keith Belcher

It was Joe’s third visit to TLR, but the first as a headliner and also with his full band. It’s great when you see an artist develop and you’re part of that journey. It was a fabulous night with a great young artist and a brilliant band. We’ve already booked a return visit for them in 2022, so watch out for that!