Big Big Country
16-27 May 2006
Background and context
The programme
Glasgow's annual festival of Americana takes place at four venues around the city in May.
Big Big Country is riding the crest of a wave of popularity following the newly charged interest in Americana created by the release of the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line. New audiences are now seeking out the music of Cash and of his wide and varied influences.
Big Big Country’s 2006 programme promises to be every bit as varied. The festival’s promoter, Billy Kelly, says ‘No matter what strands of Americana get your juices flowing, there’s something here to keep everyone happy. From rockabilly, blues, gospel, bluegrass and old-time to the craft of the singer-songwriter – and everything in between, including the odd legendary name for good measure – this is a dream line-up.’
| One such legendary name is John Hammond, the guitarist long recognised for his authoritative takes on classic blues. Hammond has been perfecting his style for the past 40 years, continuing the tradition of the solo blues artist. On recent albums Hammond has added an acute song-writing talent to his gritty voice and fluent guitar mastery. He will be performing at The Arches on Monday 22 May at 8.00 pm. And life-long aspiring cowboy Ramblin' Jack Elliott, a primary influence on Bob Dylan and travelling companion of Woody Guthrie, takes centre stage on Wednesday 17 May. |
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Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham have been shaping the sound of southern soul music for the past 40 years. Penn wrote such classics as Do Right Woman performed by Aretha Franklin and Conway Twitty's first hit Is A Bluebird Blue. Oldham contributed the unmistakeable organ part on Percy Sledge's When A Man Loves A Woman and went on to play with Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. They play Big Big Country on Friday 19 May at The Arches.
Scottish band $outhpaw support the Willy Clay Band at The Arches on the first night of the festival. The Willy Clay Band are a five-piece from the mining town of Kiruna, Sweden whose trademark is strong, straight-forward songs. On Sunday 21 May Scottish singer-songwriter Roddy Hart performs at the ABC. Having already toured in Japan, Spain, America, Ireland and the UK, and performed with such artists as Eddi Reader, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Ray LaMontagne and Teddy Thompson, Hart has been earmarked as one of Scotland's finest young talents, destined for great things.
American singer-songwriter Tracy Bonham performs at Brel on Saturday 20 May. Described as 'tender, fearless and utterly genuine', Bonham's beautifully written and performed songs display her classical, rock, pop R&B and soul influences in the festival's West End venue. Singer and guitarist Eliza Gilkyson performs at The Tron Theatre on Tuesday 23 May. Personal recollection and political observation form the basis of her songs, which are conveyed in an intimate performance style.
Friday 26 May sees Vienna Teng and Sarah Harmer performing on a double bill at The Arches. Canadian Sarah Harmer's inspiration is drawn from the farmlands she grew up in and stil calls home. Her most recent album, All of Our Names, earned her a Juno award for her strong and passionate country, folk and bluegrass-flavoured songs. San Franciscan singer-pianist Vienna Teng performs original songs and Taiwanese lullabies with a heartfelt delivery in her spellbinding live performances.
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Giant Sand frontman Howe Gelb teams up with The Voices of Praise Gospel Choir following their five-star album 'Sno Angel ... Like You, on Thursday 18 May. The collaboration sprang from a chance meeting at the Ottawa Bluesfest, and this gig offers audiences the chance to hear the choir's glorious sound meshing with Gelb's folk, soul and blues drawl. |
The Master Musicians from The Crooked Road present a package of singers and players steeped in American roots music traditions. The Crooked Road is southwest Virginia's heritage music trail and brings to Glasgow singer and banjo-layer Laura Boosinger, Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz, young bluegrass band No Speed Limit, extraordinary mountain fiddler Montana Young and Anderson & Strickland. The Tron Theatre is the venue for their Sunday 21 May performance.
Jesse Dayton appears for the second year in a row at Big Big Country. Dayton's musical apprenticeship was served with Ray Price's orchestra, and studio dates with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and The Supersuckers honed his talents and spread the word of his song-writing style around the country scene before his debut album Raisin' Cain was released. He and his band play ABC on Wednesday 24 May, performing Dayton's 'unique, brisk and bluesy brand of country'.
| John Stewart, composer of songs for such artists as The Monkees, The Byrds, Nanci Griffiths, Joan Baez and The Four Tops and former member of The Kingson Trio, appears at ABC on Thursday 25 May with his rich, sonorous voice and engaging repartee. Big Big Country ends with Alejandro Escovedo at The Arches following the May release of his album The Boxing Mirror, produced by John Cale. |
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| For more information about Big Big Country, visit the Soundsfine website. |
Big Big Country is funded by the Scottish Arts Council and Glasgow City Council. |