Sarah McClurg & Other Snippets
Sarah McClurg hails from Ottowa, Canada and her new CD was recorded in Nashville, which she describes as an incredible experience. The result, Tennessee Rain, will be released in July 2010. Sarah gave Fatea a sneak preview of three of the album tracks. The title track, Tennessee Rain, is a catchy, country sounding, up-tempo track which speaks of 'washing away the pain tonight in the Tennessee rain.' Sarah told me this song was inspired when there was a spell of heavy rain in Canada, then she travelled down to Nashville, only to be greeted by more rain. The timing was eerie as I received this track right after the recent Nashville floods.
Neverland speaks of love where there is no happy, fairytale ending for either party and is a cleverly written song, quite upbeat, despite its rather sad subject matter. One Soul talks of the one left behind, 'One soul on the side of the road, one more soul left at home, still dreaming..' This song especially, reminds me of the songs I loved during the 90s when i first discovered country music.
Perhaps Sarah McClurg's appeal, then, lies in the fact that she sings contemporary songs, with a contemporary sound, yet she taps into the quality of music when country really was county. The CD, Tennessee Rain, is released in July and I have already got my copy reserved. I suggest the rest of you do the same, as it promises to be one of the best county CDs of 2010. Or if you really can't wait, the first three tracks have just been made available to sample on the website, www.sarahmcclurg.com
Just weeks after the North of England's biggest roots festival - Brampton Live - was cancelled, the proverbial phoenix has risen from the ashes of the 16th Cumbrian music extravaganza.
The festival was due to take place near Carlisle between July 16-18 with a bumper line-up of artists from the UK, America and Canada but was sadly pulled by the organizers last month, amid disappointing ticket sales and decreased funding and sponsorship.
But now a new chapter has begun in the Brampton Live story. The specially commissioned, star-studded songwriting and poetry show celebrating Hadrian's Wall, which was to be the centrepiece of the 2010 festival, is to take to the road under the banner "Brampton Live's All Along the Wall". It will now receive its official premiere on Sunday, August 22 at the first Green Phoenix Festival on the National Trust's glorious Gibside Estate at Rowlands Gill, near Gateshead, Newcastle and Durham. www.myspace.com/bramptonlive
After a winter of dyscontent and a coiled spring humming with potential, Lupen Crook is preparing to reassert his presence with a vengeance through a combination of single, video and album releases, plus live performances at some of the UK’s music festivals.
The double ‘A’ side single (7” & download), World’s End/Devil’s Son will be released via Label Fandango on 12 July 2010. This is his first recorded output of the year, kicking off a summer of festivals, fun and mayhem, leading up to the release of his latest album later in the year.
World’s End is a reflective and powerful tale of regret for a life lived without regard to consequence. Its vulnerability is underpinned by a stripped-back vocal and warm, wistful harmonies. By contrast, Devil’s Son invokes the full power of the band in a blistering attack of self-analysis and defiant nihilism.
Both tracks were recorded by Jim Riley in the earthy, analogue environment of Ranscome Studios in Medway and remixed by legendary producer Howie B (Björk, U2, Tricky). Howie has also worked on the third Lupen Crook album, The Pros and Cons of Eating Out, planned for release on Fierce Panda in the Autumn. www.lupencrook.com.