Rusty Shackle
Album: The Bones
Label: Get Folked
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.rustyshackle.com

If there is such a thing as stadium folk than Rusty Shackle stand in the centre circle facing the home supporters. "The Bones" continues the Welsh quintets plan to get the hootenanny out of the barns and into the arenas with that feeling that folk is fun and entertaining and appeals to the masses, not niche.

This is an album that was recorded, live, together and to tape in order to capture the sound of the band and to pretty much ensure that those these are the recordings, you'll never hear these songs quite the same, even if played in the same order.

Rusty Shackle perform very much in the showman tradition and record in the same way, so you never really know what's coming next and as live becomes more and more the crucial medium for music again it's not going to be a bad strategy.

Similarly there's actually quite a bit of depth in them there songs, if you can stop tapping your feet along long enough to hear what's actually being sung about. There's some interesting tales being told. Whilst different in style think "Devil Went Down To Georgia" an old folk tale wrapped up in an absolute barnstormer sort of way.

It's no coincidence that Rusty Shackle's cv reads like a guide to the festival scene, but "The Bones" shows that the band can crack it in the studio as well. Raw and powerful, this is folk for the big stage and big speakers. Enjoy!

Neil King