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Anais Mitchell and The Mastersons-Southport Festival of Americana

Venue: The Atkinson
Town: Southport
Date: 31/10/14
Website: http://anaismitchell.com/

Tonight was the opening night of the second Southport Festival of Americana at The Atkinson, with a superb double bill comprising The Mastersons and Anais Mitchell.

Tonight was also Hallowe'en which probably accounts for the somewhat bizarre mixture of Americana fans and assorted zombies, vampires and ghouls which populated the bar area[the latter were apparently attending a Burlesque Hallowe'en party in the adjacent Studio]. However, there were only good spirits in the main auditorium where we were treated a night of great music.

Opening the evening was Bedford singer-songwriter Luke Tuchscherer, who played a selection of songs from his debut solo album [he is also a member of the band The Whybirds ]. I was particularly impressed with Luke's song "One Of Us", which is about a youth who becomes embroiled with a criminal gang. Luke has a pleasing voice and is clearly a talented songwriter. He also sang a fine cover of Tom Waits' "Picture In A Frame".

Next up were husband and wife duo The Mastersons who are Chris Masterson [guitar and vocals] and Eleanor Whitmore [guitar, violin and vocals]. The Mastersons were members of Steve Earle's touring band The Dukes and Duchesses and they have been mentored by Steve. They have recently released their second album titled "Good Luck Charm" and naturally their set tonight featured songs from that album.

The first thing that strikes you about The Mastersons is their exceptionally fine harmony singing. Both are excellent singers in their own right but when they sing together they take it a different level, as demonstrated in their opening number "If I Wanted To" and the lovely "Uniform".

Eleanor took lead vocals on the upbeat "Closer To You"[ which was co-written with Steve Poltz] and showed just how good a singer she is. Not only that, but she is an excellent violin player, as she showed on the gorgeous love song "I found You" on which she duetted with husband Chris.

By way of contrast we had the boot stompin' "Anywhere But Here" on which Chris took lead vocals whilst Eleanor added some fiery fiddle.

In summary, it was a most impressive set from The Mastersons, in fact, so impressive that I immediately bought their new album "Good Luck Charm" from them during the interval.

Final act of the evening was headliner Anais Mitchell who first came to my attention via her album [with Jefferson Hamer] of traditional folk songs "Child Ballads". Anais and Jefferson won the prestigious "Best Traditional Track" award at this year's BBC Folk Awards for their superb version of "Willie of Winsbury".

Thus, it was with great anticipation that I awaited Anais's appearance in Southport. I was not disappointed as I found her to be a charismatic, engaging and charming artist.

Despite the fact that it had taken her and her family [including her 15 month old baby] eight hours, rather than the usual four hours, to travel up from London, Anais put on a spellbinding performance of her own superb compositions, as well of a couple of traditional Child Ballads.

Anais has recently released an album [Xoa] which features solo acoustic versions of some of her earlier songs as well as new ones. From that album we were treated to magical versions of "Why We Build The Wall", "Now You Know", "Young Man In America" and "Two Kids".

From "Child Ballads", Anais performed an epic version of "Clyde Waters" and a great version of the aforementioned "Willie of Winsbury".

Anais's ambition is to have one of her songs recorded by Bonnie Raitt, so that she can put her "kid through college". To this end, she has written a "brand new thing" called "Anyway You Come", which she sang and asked us to imagine Bonnie's slide guitar solo in the middle. Let's hope Bonnie takes it up!

At the conclusion of her fabulous set, Anais invited The Mastersons to join her on stage. Initially, Eleanor joined her for an audience participation version of "Irene Goodnight" and then Chris also came on for an unplugged rendition of Townes Van Zandt's "Waiting Around To Die". It was a fine way to end a superb night's entertainment and a great start to the Festival of Americana.

It was then home on the train, with some slightly worse- for- wear ghouls, goblins and zombies.

Peter Cowley
Pics Neil King, not taken at gig

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