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John Fullbright

TT logo-newThe Return Of John Fullbright

Plays 9 UK Shows This July

New Album ‘Songs’ Out July 21st

 

‘Throughout there is a world weariness and wisdom far beyond John Fullbright’s 25 years. 4*’ MOJO

Hot off the back of his biggest London show to date at the Islington Assembly Hall last night, John Fullbright has announced 9 further unmissable dates for July.

John is already confirmed to play festivals in July including Secret Garden Party on the 26th and to coincide with this, ‘he will be playing Manchester, Sheffield, Birghton and Leicester, places he could not get through on his mini jaunt in June.

John Fullbright plays:

July

Fri 18th                      GATESHEAD, SummerTyne Americana Festival

Sat 19th                    MANCHESTER, Ruby Lounge

Sun 20th                   SHEFFIELD, Greystones

Mon 21st                  BRIGHTON, Green Door

Tues 22nd                 LEICESTER, The Musician

Thu 24th                   GUILDFORD, St. Mary’s Church

Fri 25th                     WINCHESTER, The Railway

Sat 26th                    HUNTINGDON, Secret Garden Party

Sun 27th                   PERTH, Southern Fried Festival

Born in Woody Guthrie’s hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma, John Fullbright grew up surrounded by a rich musical heritage. He started playing the piano at 5 and learned to play guitar at the legendary Blue Door eventually supporting Joe Ely and Jimmy Webb.

His stunning debut LP ‘From the Ground Up’ – released in 2013-was a lyrically diverse, genre-spanning collection of memorable songs with staggering depth and promise and more than deserving of its Grammy nomination, up for the Americana award.

The press were unanimous in their praise for the LP with Uncut declaring “…The arrival of a major talent”, The Evening Standard calling John “A new all-American idol” and Sunday Times Culture saying he has “…a remarkable way with words”.

 

http://www.johnfullbrightmusic.com/

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The Weatherman cometh…

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GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV

GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Including London’s Bush Hall

THE WEATHERMAN DEBUTS AT #5 ON BILLBOARD’S FOLK CHART

#1 ON BILLBOARD’S MOUNTAIN AND PACIFIC HEATSEEKERS CHART



“There’s a gentle, comforting ease to Gregory Alan Isakov’s songs on The Weatherman, at times recalling the likes of Bob Dylan or Paul Simon with a little more banjo. But the ease of his tunes is deceptive; they’re beautifully arranged and more than a little haunting. That kind of impact doesn’t always come so easy.” –American Songwriter

About The Weatherman “Lauded for its genuine lyricism and hushed, yet powerful, vocals” – Paste Magazine

“…an eloquent lyricist who delivers soul-searching ruminations filled with cosmic pondering, nomadic wisdom and plenty of earthy metaphors. His understated voice has a hushed force akin to that of Jose Gonzalez’s and, at its best, the alluring comfort of Paul Simon’s.” — The Washington Post

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Stream The Weatherman single ‘Amsterdam’ – https://soundcloud.com/suitcasetown/amsterdam

Gregory Alan Isakov has announced an eighteen-date tour of Europe across October and November 2014 in support of his new album The Weatherman. This will be Isakov’s first tour in Europe since the album’s release in late 2013 and will commence with five UK headline shows, including London’s Bush Hall on Tuesday, October 21.

G.A.I europe 2014 dates

Recorded and mixed outside the quiet mountain town of Nederland, CO, The Weatherman was produced by Isakov along with Jamie Mefford. Of making the record, Isakov notes, “I wanted to make something that felt genuine. We recorded everything with analogue gear and mixed it on tape, which gives the songs a raw and vulnerable feeling.” He goes on to add, “The idea of a weatherman is really powerful. There’s a guy on television or on the radio telling us the future, and nobody cares. It’s this daily mundane miracle, and I think the songs I chose are about noticing the beauty in normal, everyday life.”



The Weatherman is Isakov’s third full-length release and follows 2009’s This Empty Northern Hemisphere, which the Denver Post praised as “an artistic masterwork” and Paste Magazine described as “quietly lush” and “deeply vibrant.” Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now calling Colorado home, Isakov is a lifelong traveler.  With a degree in horticulture, Isakov balances the art of making and exhibiting his music with the art of gardening and connecting to the land. 

European live dates & tickets:

Thu Oct 16 / UK / Oxford / The Jericho Tavern

Fri Oct 17 / UK / Brighton / Komedia Studio Bar
Sat Oct 18 / UK / Bristol / Louisiana
Sun Oct 19 / UK / Glasgow / King Tut’s
Mon Oct 20 / UK / Manchester / Gullivers
Tue Oct 21 / UK / London / Bush Hall
Thu Oct 23 / Brussels / Belgium / Witloof Bar
Fri Oct 24 / Netherlands / Nijmegen / Doornroosje
Sat Oct 25 / Netherlands / Amsterdam / Paradiso
Sun Oct 26 / Germany / Hamburg / Prinzenbar
Mon Oct 27 / Germany / Cologne / Studio 672
Wed Oct 29 / Norway / Oslo / Parkteatret
Thu Oct 30 / Sweden / Stockholm / Nalen
Fri Oct 31 / Denmark / Copenhagen / Ideal Bar VEGA
Sat Nov 1 / Germany / Berlin / Privatclub
Mon Nov 3 / Austria / Vienna / TBA in June
Tue Nov 4 / Germany / Munich / Amphere
Wed Nov 5 / Switzerland / Stans / Pillow Song Loft

Fri Nov 7 / France / Paris / La Maroquinerie

http://gregoryalanisakov.com/

https://www.facebook.com/gregoryalanisakov

https://twitter.com/GregoryAIsakov

Watch ‘Saint Valentine’ Serialbox Presents session

G.A.I videohttp://vimeo.com/87543379

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Top Americana duo Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis release ‘Our Year’ ‘A modern take on classic country music.’

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If Austin’s happily egalitarian music scene suddenly switched to a monarchy, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis might have to learn to perform while balancing heft crowns. The two already reign as one of Americana music’s coolest couples, and their latest release, Our Year, elevates them closer to the lofty territory once occupied by beloved royals, Johnny ‘n’ June and George ‘n’ Tammy.

Working again in Nashville with producer Brad Jones (Cheater’s Game), they delivered their musical thoughts in 10 outstanding tracks, from formidable originals to well-honed covers including a knockout version of the Tom T. Hall-penned “Harper Valley PTA.” Jeannie C. Riley’s 1968 hit sounds like a classic all over again in the hands of this pair — and the chicken-pickin’, mandolin-plucking, shaker-grooving players who back them on this tart tale. 

The desire to capture that live dynamic — their “swampier, grittier side” — drove the creation of Our Year, Willis says. Robison calls their style “a modern take on classic country music, without being retro.”

Watch the stunning performance of Bruce and Kelly’s song ‘Harper’s Valley PTA’ here:

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Tracklisting:

1.Departing Louisiana
2. Motor City Man
3. Carousel
4. Lonely For You
5. A Hanging On
6. Shake Yourself Loose
7. Harper Valley PTA
8. Anywhere But Here
9. I’ll Go To My Grave Loving You
10. This Will Be Our Year

For more information about the Thirty Tigers roster, including Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, please contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772
http://www.silverprojects.com/news/

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Bombadil: Scattered By Fate, A Band Regroups And Rebuilds (NPR) – ‘Tarpits and Canyonlands’ Out 24th June 2014

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In both digital and double vinyl formats! 

Remastered from the original analog tapes direct to 24/96 at 45rpm, producing the highest sound quality possible bringing out the warmth and intimacy of Bombadil’s whimsical arrangements and studio production like never heard before.

Custom triple jacket gatefold with string closure includes 14 art prints by American illustrator Robbi Behr of Idiots’ Books for each of the album’s songs.

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Bombadil’s last album was almost its swan song. The quartet of singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists – Stuart Robinson, Daniel Michalak, Bryan Rahija and James Phillips recorded All That the Rain Promises in ten days, while living in a barn in Oregon. The barn was so cold, they had to warm their hands by a wood-burning stove between takes. The album’s sparkling blend of folk, rock and gentle psychedlia earned rave reviews, but Michalak’s continuing hand problems made the future look grim. He¹d developed a case of neural tension that made playing and driving painful.  They toured sporadically and weren’t sure about the future of the band.

Just prior to the original 2009 CD release, Tarpits and Canyonlands was receiving absolute rave notices from press that concurred that this was the band’s breakthrough album. It was only their second record, but they were already soaking in some very heady accolades.

But then, everything fell apart. The band’s Daniel Michalak, considered Bombadil’s main driving force, was diagnosed with neural tension, an ailment that caused such debilitating pain and incapacitation, he couldn’t play keyboards, bass, harmonica, guitar or ukulele. Consequently, Bombadil couldn’t tour, an essential component in the promotion of the album. So, despite all of the tremendous early reviews, the buzz, and the forecasting of a great success, Tarpits and Canyonlands was essentially stillborn.

OK, that’s the strange and sad part of the story; now here’s the triumphant part:

After five years of visiting every kind of doctor imaginable and ingesting every form of medication, Michalak saw improvement.

Fast-forward to 2012. Bombadil launched its first U.S. tour in five years with Michalak, who is on the road, playing shows and doing great.

Now it’s time for Tarpits and Canyonlands to be given a second chance at life.

With an album that is “loaded with charm, playfulness and an unpredictable bent that keeps every song interesting,” it deserves a wider audience. Bombadil is set to tour for the bulk of 2014, so they’ll be able to give this magical album the support it initially deserved, and people will have the opportunity to hear what one writer called “a breakthrough and breakaway from a band whose ideas, enthusiasm, abilities and emotions have finally found their nexus.”

Watch Bombadil’s amazing video for ‘So Many Ways to Die’ which is taken from the album here:

bombadilvideo

For further information about Bombadil, please email:
sara@thirtytigers.com
+44 208 265 0772
http://www.silverprojects.com/news/

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St. Paul and the Broken Bones

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St. Paul & The Broken Bones have already garnered much attention due to their high-energy live performances, led by charismatic front man Paul Janeway. The group’s sweat-soaked, take-no prisoners style has converted many, including Paste Magazine, who named St. Paul & The Broken Bones one of their “2013 Best Of What’s Next” artists, and NPR Music, who included the album in their “Under The Radar Albums Preview”. Half The City oozes with key elements of Memphis soul, Muscle Shoals R&B and the Motown experience, which lay solid ground for Jane- way’s expressive vocals.

“Within ten seconds of hearing Paul Janeway’s voice – secondhand on a friend’s cellphone – I was in. The first five was spent in disbelief. I can count on one hand the times that’s happened. I admit it took a bit to hear past him. The beautiful thing was that the band was and is every bit as good. The same swagger, conviction, and – dare I say – soul. That’s saying something. What sealed the deal was the songwriting, the arrangements, the dynamics – all the things that comes with having been a unit for many more years than they have. And then I experienced them live.”
– John Paul White

See for yourself here:

stpaulvideo

St. Paul & The Broken Bones UK Dates

May 20 – Rough Trade East, London 7:00pm
May 21 – Oslo, Hackney, London 7:00pm
May 22 – Electric Ballroom, London 7:00pm
May 23 – Dot To Dot Festival, Manchester
May 24 – Dot To Dot Festival,Bristol
Aug 29 -31 – End Of Road Festival, North Dorset

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 For more information about St. Paul and the Broken Bones, contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772
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Langhorne Slim and the Law – Animal 7″ OUT 12.05.2014

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‘Animal’ out 12.05.2014

Independent retail and their clientele have been vital to the development and growth of Langhorne Slim & The Law, and no one knows this better than Langhorne himself. In the continued goal to support those who have supported his band throughout their career, Langhorne Slim & The Law are releasing the 100% exclusive Record Store Day piece, the Animal 7″ as a thank you to his fans who know where to shop for good music and all the stores who’ve sold, played, supported his music – as well as hosted him for instore performances.

Watch the brilliant new video for “Animal” HERE (Password: animal)

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TOUR DATES:

Feb 19th – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater*
Feb 21st – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern*
Feb 22nd – San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theatre*
Feb 24th – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios (An Intimate Solo Performance)
Feb 25th – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern (An Intimate Solo Performance)
Feb 27th – Austin, TX @ The Moody Theater* Austin City Limits
Feb 28th – Houston, TX, @ Bayou Music Center*
Mar 1 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre*
Apr 4-6 – Knoxville, TN @ Rhythm N’ Blooms
Apr 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade **
May 9-11 – Atlanta, GA @ Atlantic Station, Shaky Knees Music Festival

*With Amos Lee
**With The Felice Brothers

 For more information about Langhorne Slim and the Law, contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772

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North Mississippi Allstars – ‘An extraordinary amalgam of envelope-pushing studio manipulation and DNA-fuelled deep gut grooves – the best NMA studio album’ 9/10 – Uncut

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North Mississippi Allstars – Snake Drive (Mario Caldato Remix)
OUT 28th July 2014

VIDEO TO SNAKE DRIVE (CLICK ON IMAGE)

Screen Shot 2014-06-10 at 12.56.20North Mississippi Allstars formed in 1996; the product of a special time for modern Mississippi country blues. Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson soaked up the music of their father, Memphis legend Jim Dickinson, and absorbed the North Mississippi legacy while playing and shaking it down in the juke joints with their blues ancestors. R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Otha Turner and their musical families were at their peak, making classic records and touring the world. Eventually, Luther (guitar, vocals) and Cody (drums, vocals) formed the North Mississippi Allstars.

North Mississippi Allstar’s latest single, ‘Snake Drive (Mario Caldato Remix),’ taken from the critically acclaimed album, ‘World Boogie is Coming.’ 

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North Mississippi Allstars Tour Europe (with Robert Plant)

JUNE

08 – Holland, Landgraaf – Pinkpop Festival
10 – Sweden, Gothenburg – Tragarn
12 – Norway, Bergen – Bergen Festival
14 – Sweden, Rattvik – Dalhalla
16 – Estonia, Tallin – Saku Arena

19  – Denmark, ODENSE-  DEN FYNSKE LANDSBY

20  –  Germany  Hamburg  -STADTPARK

22 –France  Paris -BATACLAN

23-  Germany Cologne –  TANZBRUNNEN-

25- Ireland, Cork – Live at the Marquee

29 – UK – Glastonbury Festival

JULY

11 – Pistoia, Italy – Pistoia Blues Festival
12 – Rome, Italy – Cavea
14 – Padova, Italy – Villa Conterini
16 – Berlin, Germany – Zitadelle
17 – Dresden, Germany – Junge Garde
19 – Ostrava, Czech Republic

August 2nd

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL

 

 

 

For more information about North Mississippi Allstars, contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772
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John Fullbright releases album ‘Songs’ and single ‘Never Cry Again’!

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‘Songs’ out 27.07.2014

On July 21st, John Fullbright will release his second studio album, ‘Songs,’ (Blue Dirt/Thirty Tigers). The new album showcases the strongest songwriting of the 25 year-old’s career and follows the breakout success of his 2012 debut ‘From the Ground Up,’ which was nominated for the ‘Best Americana Album’ Grammy and featured in the Wall Street Journal, LA Times, NPR and more.

If there’s a recurring motif that jumps out upon first listen to ‘Song,’ it’s the act of writing itself. ‘When I discovered Townes Van Zandt, that’s when I went, ‘You know, this is something to be taken pretty damn seriously,” says Fullbright. ‘You can write something that’s going to outlast you, and immortality through song is a big draw.’

The arrangements on ‘Songs’ are stripped down to their cores and free of ornamentation. Fullbright’s guitar and piano anchor the record, while a minimalist rhythm section weaves in an out throughout the album. That’s not to say these are simple songs; Fullbright possesses a keen ear for memorable melody and a unique approach to harmony, moving through chord progressions far outside the expected confines of traditional folk or Americana. The performances are stark and direct, though, a deliberate approach meant to deliver the songs in their purest and most honest form.

Listen to the album ‘Songs’ here:

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‘Never Cry Again,’ is the first single to be taken from the critically acclaimed album, ‘Songs‘

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‘Never Cry Again,’ out 02.06.2014

“Never Cry Again” is taken from Fullbright’s  forthcoming  second album simply entitled “Songs” . The new album is destined to firmly establish Fullbright with even greater critical acclaim following on from his stunning debut LP ‘From the Ground Up’ which was more than deserving of its Grammy and Americana Award nomination.

Born in Woody Guthrie’s hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma, John Fullbright grew up surrounded by a rich musical heritage, influencing his own music, as demonstrated in the brilliant new single, ‘Never Cry Again.’

 For more information about John Fullbright, contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772

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Nicole Atkins releases first single ‘Girl, You Look Amazing,’ from the album ‘Slow Phaser.’

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OUT 27.05.2014

The poptastic ‘Girl, You Look Amazing,’ is the first single to be taken from Nicole Atkins, ‘Slow Phaser,’ album. Being forced to pack up two years of songs, poetry and journals, after experiencing Hurricane Sandy in Memphis, Atkins collaborated with Jim Scalvunos (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Cramps) and producer Tore Johansson (Franz Ferdinand, The Cardigans) to devise a compelling new sonic approach, melding psychedelic energy, prog rock adventurism, after hours disco ambience, and the raw emotional purity of the finest country soul. Atkins stripped her traditional instrumentation to its core – Johansson handled bass duties, joined by The Cardigans’ Lars-Olaf Johansson on guitar, keyboardist Martin Gjerstad, and Asbury Park’s own Sam Bey behind drum kit – placing considerably more emphasis on electronics than on her previous recordings.

‘Girl, You Look Amazing,’ is the first single to be taken from the album, ‘Slow Phaser,’ out 28th April 2014

Watch the amazing video for ‘Girl, You Look Amazing,’ here:

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Nicole Atkins May 2014 Tour

May 02 – Night & Day – Manchester 7:30pm
May 05 – Rough Trade Records – London1:00pm
May 06 – Louisiana – Bristol 7:00pm
May 07 – Bush Hall – London 7:30pm
May 08 – Red Room, Rescue Rooms –Nottingham

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 For more information about Nicole Atkins, contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772

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I’m a hell of a lot more like my old man than I’d care to admit. Like him, I work for a living. My job is to make people feel something and that’s what I’ve tried to do with “Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth.” OTIS GIBBS

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SOUVENIRS OF A MISSPENT YOUTH

To be released on CD/Digital THIRTY TIGERS EU on 7th JULY 2014.

TOUR DATES ….

Wednesday 9th July 2014: FYFIELD (Essex) – The Garret Sessions at The Queens Head (01277 899231 / www.thequeensheadfyfield.co.uk/The-Garret-Sessions) £35 adv / door including dinner, doors 8.30pm (double header with Brooks Williams)
Thursday 10th July 2014: CARDIFF – The Full Moon (02920 373022 / www.thefullmooncardiff.com) £6 adv / £TBC door, 7.30pm doors
Friday 11th July 2014: LIVERPOOL – Americana UK Promotions present Acoustic Dustbowl at the View Two Gallery (www.acousticdustbowl.co.uk) £5 in advance / £6 on the door, 8pm doors
Monday 14th July 2014: BIRMINGHAM (Kings Heath) – The Kitchen Garden Cafe (0121 443 4725 / www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk) £7 advance / £8 door, 7.30pm doors
Tuesday 15th July 2014: HOVE (East Sussex) – The Palmeira (www.brighthelmstonepromotions.co.uk / www.wegottickets.com) £9 adv / £TBC door, 8pm doors
Wednesday 16th July 2014: NORWICH – The Bicycle Shop (01603 625777 / http://thebicycleshopcafe.com / http://ueaticketbookings.co.uk) £10 adv / door, 7.30pm doors
Friday 18th July 2014: STEVENTON (Oxfordshire) – Truck Festival (http://truckfestival.com/) (3pm)
Saturday 19th July 2014: GATESHEAD – SummerTyne Americana Festival 2014 at The Sage Gateshead (0191 443 4661 / www.sagegateshead.com / www.jumpinhot.com) (outside stage) £FREE, TBCpm
Sunday 20th July 2014: MILTON KEYNES – The Stables (Stage 2) (01908 280800 / www.stables.org) £10 adv / £12 door, 8.45pm doors
Tuesday 22nd July 2014: LONDON (Islington) – Pull Up The Roots presents at The Old Queens Head (www.pulluptheroots.co.uk) £12.50 advance / £14 door, 7.30pm doors
Wednesday 23rd July 2014: BIDDULPH (Staffordshire) – The Biddulph Arms (01782 523277 / www.biddulphupinarms.com) £10 adv / door, 7.30pm doors
Thursday 24th July 2014: BURY (Greater Manchester) – The Met (studio) (0161 761 2216 / www.themet.biz) £12 adv / £14 door, 8pm
Friday 25th July 2014: DONCASTER – The Roots Music Club @ Doncaster Ukrainian Centre (07939 148603 / www.rootsmusicclub.co.uk / www.wegottickets.com) £8 adv / £TBC door, 7.30pm doors
Saturday 26th July 2014: BROSELEY (Shropshire) – The Birchmeadow Community Centre (07890 057832 / www.birchmeadow.org.uk / www.wegottickets.com) £8 advance / £9 door,  7.30pm
Sunday 27th July 2014: NOTTINGHAM – The Maze @ The Forest Tavern (0115 947 5650 / www.cosmicamerican.com / www.wegottickets.com) £TBC adv / £TBC door, 7.30pm
Wednesday 30th July 2014: ZURICH (Switzerland) – Bogen F (www.bogenf.ch)
Thursday 31st July 2014: SOLOHURN (Switzerland) Acoustic Nights, Altes Spital (www.altesspital.ch)

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Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth
by Otis Gibbs

While writing the songs on this record, I found myself thinking an awful lot about my father and how he encouraged me to do everything I could to pursue a creative life. He rode a Harley Davidson chopper, sang along to Jerry Lee Lewis records and took absolutely no shit from anyone. The only job he ever enjoyed was driving a tow truck, but he couldn’t support the family on just 85 cents an hour. He was convinced he’d finally hit the jackpot when he got a job throwing 100 pound bags of starch into boxcars for $1.85 an hour. 30 years later he retired with a worn out back, a bad shoulder and a cheap certificate in a cardboard frame. He once told me they were his, “Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth.”

One thing I inherited from my father was his low tolerance for bullshit and let’s face it, the arts world is full of it. With that in mind, one morning I scribbled a thought onto the cover of my notebook that served as a reminder while working on these songs. “There are only two people in art who matter. There’s the creative individual and the person experiencing it, everything else is an artificial filter.”  If I have one core artistic belief, that would probably be it. That principle and a whole lot of scratching, clawing and sacrifice has earned me a loyal cult following throughout Europe and in parts of the USA, but don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of me. I like to joke around the house that I’ve done everything I can to remain obscure without realizing it.

While my parents worked during the day, it fell upon some strange individuals to babysit me. One of these people was my uncle. He wasn’t the best choice to babysit a 4 year old because he’d just got out of prison. He wasn’t even really my uncle, he and my aunt were just shacking up. Living in sin. Renting with the option to buy. He got bored watching me so he took me to a neighborhood bar that had an upright piano in the corner. He’d sit me on top of that piano and I’d sing Hank Williams and Jimmy Rodgers songs while he accompanied me. The drunks thought I was a cute kid, so they gave me tip money and I’d sing their requests. My uncle would then take that money and get drunk on it. That’s when I first learned how the music industry actually works.

One of the benefits of being a touring musician is I often find myself dropped into unexpected situations.  These moments sometimes make their way into my songwriting. Experiences like crossing the Carpathian Mountains in Romania in a snowstorm and picking up a nine year old hitchhiker named “Cozmina.” She told me her family’s tragic story as I gave her a ride over the top of the mountain.

I recently visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. There’s a saying that every American knows someone whose name is on that wall, but as I stood there, I couldn’t think of anyone. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.  As a kid in Wanamaker, Indiana, we had an aging boxer living in the house next door who had just lost his son in Vietnam. My Father did everything he could to be supportive, so we stopped by every day to visit. At the time, I was just a kid and didn’t understand any of it. After finding my neighbor’s son’s name on the wall, I found myself standing there silently grieving beside strangers and remembering his Father (and mine). These newfound memories of my father and our pugilist friend stuck with me and eventually lead to  “Ghosts Of Our Fathers.”

I’ve planted 7,176 trees in my lifetime. These were all large trees and were planted without the benefit of heavy machinery. Just shovels, spades and strong backs. It was my day job for about ten years and I loved it, but my body started to break down towards the end. Luckily, I started touring more in the UK and Europe which allowed me to play music full time. I quit that job about 8 years ago and haven’t had a day job since. “No Rust On My Spade” is a song that looks back to those days when I prided myself in being a Nurseryman.

“It Was A Train” and “The Darker Side Of Me” are loosely based on stories told to me by hobo friends around Midwestern campfires.

My father was a hunter. At a very young age I followed him into the forests of Indiana in search of deer, rabbit and squirrel. I struggled for years to find a way to tell him that I loved being alone in the woods with him more than anything, but the idea of killing animals for “sport” repulsed me. “With A Gun In My Hand” tells the story that I was unable to tell as a kid. I’m happy to report that as he aged he lost all interest in hunting. This made him love the outdoors even more.

I host a show called Thanks For Giving A Damn. It features your favorite musicians telling road stories, tall tales and vague recollections. There’s no music, just talk. It’s available as a podcast and there’s a new episode posted to iTunes every Wednesday. I love hearing road stories, so I started the show as a way to share these stories directly with the people who enjoy my work. I had modest expectations at first, but was pleasantly surprised when the audience grew much quicker than I ever could have hoped.

I’m happily living in East Nashville with my partner, Amy Lashley and a few too many rescued pets (Let me know if you need a cat). Amy and I have been together for over 15 years, but I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. We’re just hanging out.

I’m a hell of a lot more like my old man than I’d care to admit. Like him, I work for a living. My job is to make people feel something and that’s what I’ve tried to do with “Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth.” It’s a record that I’m proud of and I believe it’s my finest work to date. Thank you kindly for taking the time to experience it and I hope we might one day meet in person.
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis Gibbs

For Further information, Promo Cd, Pics, Interviews Please email sara@thirtytigers.com
+44 208 265 0772

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