MAVERICK 12 - July 5th - 7th,
Easton Farm Park, Suffolk
Now in its twelfth year and seemingly ever more successful, the Maverick Festival has to be the most chilled out, family friendly, high quality music festival around and that's without even mentioning the incomparable lineup that the organizers, Paul Spencer and crew, seem to come up with every year. It always gives me a buzz when I arrive there on a Friday afternoon; start supping my first pint of Suffolk ale, sitting in the sun perusing the schedule. Of course there is always that moment when you realise two or even three of the artists you were desperate to see are playing at the same time, obviously on different stages and then hopefully the realisation dawns that they are playing several times over the weekend so you can actually see them. Occasionally it works out that there are acts you wanted to see but can't because of those overlapping schedules but it's not difficult to content yourself with the excellence of those you can see!
Proceedings got underway in the 'Barn' at the usual time of 5-00 p.m. on Friday with 'Broken Islands' the talented American duo of Dan Baulaurier and Claire Rabbitt. Beautiful harmonies, evocative lead vocals, whoever took them, and some excellent guitar work from Dan got things off to an unchallenging but beautifully melodic start from this couple who were both strikingly clothed from head to foot in white. I didn't manage to see their whole set, neither did I see the whole of 'Hallelujah Trails' set but saw enough of them to know they are more than a bit special. I'm now about to scour the web to find any albums they have out. Seeing only part sets was the story for the first half of the evening when I also only saw about three songs performed by the hugely talented blues performer Vincent Cross who seemed to me to be a virtuoso on both guitar and banjo (not at the same time though), something that was backed up by the album of his that I purchased and have played several dozen times this week. There was no way I was only going to see part of the set performed by the Resonant Rogues though, as they followed Vincent Cross on the Barn stage. I've yet to start writing the review of their tremendous fourth album 'Autumn of the World,' but hopefully when I can get my head around this tremendous recording of such diversity I will. They are actually a duo of 'Sparrow' on most lead vocals, accordion, banjo and songwriting and Keith J. Smith on songwriting, guitar, suitcase bass drum, percussion and vocals. On this current tour they must be delighted to have the talents of Daisy Castro playing violin and Eric Heveron-Smith on upright bass helping to add yet more colour to their songs that contain influences from the Appalachians, New Orleans and across to the Balkans and many stops in between. They are truly a band at the top of their game and whilst I love their albums, live there is an added power and depth and with Sparrow as front person her quirky style and lovely expressive vocals rivet the audience's attention perhaps more than most solo artists! Keith seems happy to take a back seat to the warmth of Sparrow but is himself an excellent, expressive vocalist and guitarist.
I only caught a brief part of English band Broken Bones Matilda's set but heard more than enough to make a note that they warranted further investigation. The reason I missed them was because a friend had told me I had to see Philadelphia band 'Man About A Horse' on the 'Moonshine stage' and needed to get somewhere near the front before the crowds flocked in! They were described as 'playing traditional bluegrass instruments but not always traditional bluegrass,' a description that in many ways understates this amazing five piece band. All five are excellent vocalists and there were some tremendous band harmonies as well, but whilst they are also excellent on their instruments it is the sheer fire, drive and personality of their performance that built the excited crowd into a state of near frenzy! An incredible band that has only made one album but it is essential listening and if you get the chance to see them live take it! I absolutely guarantee you won't be disappointed. Fifteen minutes after Man about the Horse left the stage the final act of this tremendous first evening took to the stage in the shape of the charismatic Chance McCoy and band. Chance is a member of the Old Crow Medicine Show, possibly the best live band I've ever seen, and during this recent band break has made a soon to be released solo album and has several UK tours this year. The man is a virtuoso guitar, fiddle and banjo player although at this gig there was no banjo, as well as being an excellent vocalist. I've followed his career since long before his Old Crow days and have recordings that go back to his work with the Kitchen Syncopators, with Huck Notari and Woody Pines when they played the streets of New Orleans and made some tremendous 'old timey' string band albums as well as his first solo album 'Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band' and a couple of duo recordings as 'Old Sledge' with Sabra Guzzman. His set at Maverick contained selections from his new album which seems to be, unsurprisingly really, much more experimental than his previous work as well as old string band songs and the classic Old Crow 'hit' Wagon Wheel. His voice is still excellent as is his ability to handle a crowd and his support band was excellent, leaving the packed barn looking forward to more great music from the acts playing on Saturday.
Sadly proceedings were curtailed on the Southern Sounds stage, which is outside on the green, late on Saturday afternoon due to heavy rain, which meant the indoor stages being even better supported than usual; in fact the Barn was crammed for most of the remainder of the day. I saw so many talented acts that it's impossible to report on all of them but ones who left a lasting impression were Chichester based trio 'Fire in the meadow' who brought their own interpretations to old time string band and blues songs, propelled by a charismatic front man. I've scoured the web for recordings but as yet found none. Lilly Winwood is certainly not riding on her father's coat tails although the musical talent has certainly been passed on to this talented young country singer songwriter whose expressive voice never faltered despite its wide range. Ags Connolly is simply the best 'country singer' this country has ever produced. His songwriting is excellent, his albums essential listening and his voice as good as any of Nashville's 'finest' but he possesses an edginess and individuality that they can never match. Rachel Harrington was another of the artists that I was desperate to see, having seen her last at a small venue in Brighton some (I haven't a clue how many!) years ago. She is pretty much unique among women in country music with the excellence of her songwriting, the beautiful vocals but, in the same way as Ags Connolly, she possesses an almost indefinable edge to her vocals that immediately lets any listener know this lady has a special talent. Rachel made an album a few years ago titled 'Celilo Falls,' a recording so good that I thought she could never surpass it but she has a new recording out in early September titled 'Hush the wild horses' that shades Celilo and I'm sure will eventually be looked on as a classic. She performed songs from this and previous albums and on talking to other audience members when she had left the stage no one would have complained if she had played for another couple of hours! What we needed to round off a day of great music, great beer and great food as well as great company was a really good laugh and there was an abundance of that when Rich Hall and his band took to the stage. He was obviously having a great time as he started singling out audience members because his usual deadpan face kept breaking into smiles! He was quizzing people on what work they did, how long couples had been together and then incorporating them into his quirky, hilarious songs most of which had the crammed Barn assemblage in stitches. Just what we needed as shortly afterwards we made our way back to our accommodation for some sleep and to look forward to the winding down of the festival on Sunday morning.
Sunday was another day of great artists although we only saw complete sets from two of them. The Henry Brothers are a duo, with Mark playing a beautiful steel bodied resonator guitar and Graham on double bass. They dress in a smart 'old timey' style and perform some great versions of the old murder ballads better than most, with excellent harmonies that create a pretty much authentic atmosphere. Their act perfectly blends those old deep dark songs with enough humour to prevent their audience becoming depressed and seeing them (I think this was my fourth time) is always an uplifting experience. They were supposed to be playing in the Moonshine bar but they couldn't be bothered with a sound check so set up and performed their whole set outside much to the delight of all. The final set we witnessed merely confirmed what the previous day had suggested. The Resonant Rogues are a completely unique band of such talent that they must surely reach the pinnacle of the music business. The warmth, writing, arrangements, vocals and playing are just about peerless whichever genre you choose to slot them into.
What a way to finish up yet another great Maverick festival and it was soon after that everyone made their way back to whatever mode of transport they had and started to wend their way home.
Proceedings got underway in the 'Barn' at the usual time of 5-00 p.m. on Friday with 'Broken Islands' the talented American duo of Dan Baulaurier and Claire Rabbitt. Beautiful harmonies, evocative lead vocals, whoever took them, and some excellent guitar work from Dan got things off to an unchallenging but beautifully melodic start from this couple who were both strikingly clothed from head to foot in white. I didn't manage to see their whole set, neither did I see the whole of 'Hallelujah Trails' set but saw enough of them to know they are more than a bit special. I'm now about to scour the web to find any albums they have out. Seeing only part sets was the story for the first half of the evening when I also only saw about three songs performed by the hugely talented blues performer Vincent Cross who seemed to me to be a virtuoso on both guitar and banjo (not at the same time though), something that was backed up by the album of his that I purchased and have played several dozen times this week. There was no way I was only going to see part of the set performed by the Resonant Rogues though, as they followed Vincent Cross on the Barn stage. I've yet to start writing the review of their tremendous fourth album 'Autumn of the World,' but hopefully when I can get my head around this tremendous recording of such diversity I will. They are actually a duo of 'Sparrow' on most lead vocals, accordion, banjo and songwriting and Keith J. Smith on songwriting, guitar, suitcase bass drum, percussion and vocals. On this current tour they must be delighted to have the talents of Daisy Castro playing violin and Eric Heveron-Smith on upright bass helping to add yet more colour to their songs that contain influences from the Appalachians, New Orleans and across to the Balkans and many stops in between. They are truly a band at the top of their game and whilst I love their albums, live there is an added power and depth and with Sparrow as front person her quirky style and lovely expressive vocals rivet the audience's attention perhaps more than most solo artists! Keith seems happy to take a back seat to the warmth of Sparrow but is himself an excellent, expressive vocalist and guitarist.
I only caught a brief part of English band Broken Bones Matilda's set but heard more than enough to make a note that they warranted further investigation. The reason I missed them was because a friend had told me I had to see Philadelphia band 'Man About A Horse' on the 'Moonshine stage' and needed to get somewhere near the front before the crowds flocked in! They were described as 'playing traditional bluegrass instruments but not always traditional bluegrass,' a description that in many ways understates this amazing five piece band. All five are excellent vocalists and there were some tremendous band harmonies as well, but whilst they are also excellent on their instruments it is the sheer fire, drive and personality of their performance that built the excited crowd into a state of near frenzy! An incredible band that has only made one album but it is essential listening and if you get the chance to see them live take it! I absolutely guarantee you won't be disappointed. Fifteen minutes after Man about the Horse left the stage the final act of this tremendous first evening took to the stage in the shape of the charismatic Chance McCoy and band. Chance is a member of the Old Crow Medicine Show, possibly the best live band I've ever seen, and during this recent band break has made a soon to be released solo album and has several UK tours this year. The man is a virtuoso guitar, fiddle and banjo player although at this gig there was no banjo, as well as being an excellent vocalist. I've followed his career since long before his Old Crow days and have recordings that go back to his work with the Kitchen Syncopators, with Huck Notari and Woody Pines when they played the streets of New Orleans and made some tremendous 'old timey' string band albums as well as his first solo album 'Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band' and a couple of duo recordings as 'Old Sledge' with Sabra Guzzman. His set at Maverick contained selections from his new album which seems to be, unsurprisingly really, much more experimental than his previous work as well as old string band songs and the classic Old Crow 'hit' Wagon Wheel. His voice is still excellent as is his ability to handle a crowd and his support band was excellent, leaving the packed barn looking forward to more great music from the acts playing on Saturday.
Sadly proceedings were curtailed on the Southern Sounds stage, which is outside on the green, late on Saturday afternoon due to heavy rain, which meant the indoor stages being even better supported than usual; in fact the Barn was crammed for most of the remainder of the day. I saw so many talented acts that it's impossible to report on all of them but ones who left a lasting impression were Chichester based trio 'Fire in the meadow' who brought their own interpretations to old time string band and blues songs, propelled by a charismatic front man. I've scoured the web for recordings but as yet found none. Lilly Winwood is certainly not riding on her father's coat tails although the musical talent has certainly been passed on to this talented young country singer songwriter whose expressive voice never faltered despite its wide range. Ags Connolly is simply the best 'country singer' this country has ever produced. His songwriting is excellent, his albums essential listening and his voice as good as any of Nashville's 'finest' but he possesses an edginess and individuality that they can never match. Rachel Harrington was another of the artists that I was desperate to see, having seen her last at a small venue in Brighton some (I haven't a clue how many!) years ago. She is pretty much unique among women in country music with the excellence of her songwriting, the beautiful vocals but, in the same way as Ags Connolly, she possesses an almost indefinable edge to her vocals that immediately lets any listener know this lady has a special talent. Rachel made an album a few years ago titled 'Celilo Falls,' a recording so good that I thought she could never surpass it but she has a new recording out in early September titled 'Hush the wild horses' that shades Celilo and I'm sure will eventually be looked on as a classic. She performed songs from this and previous albums and on talking to other audience members when she had left the stage no one would have complained if she had played for another couple of hours! What we needed to round off a day of great music, great beer and great food as well as great company was a really good laugh and there was an abundance of that when Rich Hall and his band took to the stage. He was obviously having a great time as he started singling out audience members because his usual deadpan face kept breaking into smiles! He was quizzing people on what work they did, how long couples had been together and then incorporating them into his quirky, hilarious songs most of which had the crammed Barn assemblage in stitches. Just what we needed as shortly afterwards we made our way back to our accommodation for some sleep and to look forward to the winding down of the festival on Sunday morning.
Sunday was another day of great artists although we only saw complete sets from two of them. The Henry Brothers are a duo, with Mark playing a beautiful steel bodied resonator guitar and Graham on double bass. They dress in a smart 'old timey' style and perform some great versions of the old murder ballads better than most, with excellent harmonies that create a pretty much authentic atmosphere. Their act perfectly blends those old deep dark songs with enough humour to prevent their audience becoming depressed and seeing them (I think this was my fourth time) is always an uplifting experience. They were supposed to be playing in the Moonshine bar but they couldn't be bothered with a sound check so set up and performed their whole set outside much to the delight of all. The final set we witnessed merely confirmed what the previous day had suggested. The Resonant Rogues are a completely unique band of such talent that they must surely reach the pinnacle of the music business. The warmth, writing, arrangements, vocals and playing are just about peerless whichever genre you choose to slot them into.
What a way to finish up yet another great Maverick festival and it was soon after that everyone made their way back to whatever mode of transport they had and started to wend their way home.