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The Wagon Tales – Introducing – Out Now

The Wagon Tales

Introducing
Out Now
Fire Eater Music

“The bluegrass revival continues, with this entertainingly original, energetic debut set …”
The Guardian ****

“The Wagon Tales are a group of seriously accomplished musicians who have taken time out from their other musical activities – which are multifarious and high-flying – to make a notable contribution to the Bluegrass scene. There is, after all, nothing quite like the raw passion of young , talented musicians getting completely stuck into music which excites them right to the guts.” – UK Bluegrass Magazine

‘A band that is both joyful and skilful’ - Lonesome Highway

‘The Wagon Tales deliver unrestrained, energetic, carefully crafted music that’s awash with finely placed vocal harmonies and startlingly precise musicianship’ – Folkwords Review

‘You can sense the enjoyment coming out in each and every song. This is bluegrass to get the feet tappin’ or break your heart’ – Fatea Magazine

The Wagon Tales have in the past year become one of London and the UK’s most talked about acoustic groups. Although using traditional Bluegrass instrumentation and inspired by the likes of Bill Monroe, Emmylou Harris and the Stanley Brothers, The Wagon Tales’ songs are based on personal experiences such as Ben Somers’ “Treading Water” or Lewis Cohen’s “Carry That Load”; the sounds of “Slowly Slowly” and “Home Again” are influenced by their involvement in the commercial music world. They are amongst the new wave of acts drawing on the roots of traditional American folk music and they have most recently been compared to bands such as The SteelDrivers, The Punch Brothers, The Deadly Gentlemen, Crooked Still and Mumford & Sons.

In the last two years The Wagon Tales have gone from strength to strength. They’ve toured Sweden thanks to Sweden’s American Folk Music Association; played Glastonbury, the Big Chill, Bestival; backed American singer/songwriter Krystle Warren (solo artist and member of Rufus Wainwright’s group); headlined the largest Bluegrass festivals in the UK such as Didmarten, Cornwall and Orwell; played sessions on numerous BBC and commercial radio stations and have been actively trying to popularise Bluegrass and contemporary roots music in London where they are based.

The Wagon Tales formed in 2007 when founding members Ben Somers and Joe Auckland were living in a shared house of jazz musicians in north London. Ben’s father, (Steve Somers) would come to the house where he and Ben would play country songs and sing in harmony. Being an open-minded bunch the other musicians became interested in the music and began learning the repertoire whilst all playing their second instruments, Ben having been primarily a sax player and Joe a trumpet player. Joe soon got hold of a banjo and the other jazz musicians slowly dropped by the wayside. Joe and Ben became more and more serious about the music developing not only a vast knowledge of the repertoire but also their skills on the double bass and banjo. Kate Robinson found them through another jazz related connection although she was and still is a serious classical violinist in her own right playing regularly with the English Chamber Orchestra. Keeping with the cultural traditions of the music the group has always been active on the festival and jam session or “picking scene” which is how they met their mandolinist Joe Hymas, a very well known and memorable character on the Bluegrass circuit. Finally after a few short spells with different guitarists they found one of the linchpins of the band, Lewis Cohen. Lewis is seriously accomplished and respected on the acoustic blues scene in the UK and Europe, his voice and playing style have become an irreplaceable part of The Wagon Tales’ sound.

The band line up:
Ben Somers – double bass/vocals: Muse (opening of the BRIT awards), Dizzee Rascal, Mika, Awale, Dr John, Krystle Warren, Dub Colossus, Kate Nash
Joe Auckland – banjo/vocals: Mumford & Sons, Madness, Smith & Burroughs, Girls Aloud, Krystle Warren
Kate Robinson – fiddle/vocals: Tim Minchin, English Chamber Orchestra, Nitin Sawhney, Tori Amos
Lewis Cohen – guitar/vocals: International solo blues artist, Krystle Warren, demonstrator for National Resophonic guitars.
Joe Hymas – mandolin: Uncle Peter, Krystle Warren

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13

The Relatives – The Electric Word – YEP ROC RECORDS – Out Now

Gospel-delic funk and sandpaper-voiced soul from a Texas family band … the Relatives infused Pentecostalism with Sly Stone-style grooves on a few legendary 45s. Now they’ve reformed … "What’s Wrong with America" is the masterpiece, doo-wop and social protest mixed with God-bothering. Independent on Sunday ****

“… just get[s] better with every play.” Mojo ****

Produced by Spoon’s Jim Eno, its 37 minutes crackle with conviction, mixing gospel vocals with tough funk rhythms and psych-rock guitar. Bad Trip and Let Your Light Shine recall Ball of Confusion-era Temptations, while the slow Speak to Me (What’s Wrong With America?) still resonates after 40 years’ hibernation. A welcome time warp. The Observer ****

As featured on Don Letts and Gilles Peterson shows and The Craig Charles Soul and Funk Show on
BBC Radio 6 Music

“This ‘vintage’ trio present a unique blend of funk, blues & gospel. The guys give a great performance and I’m really into the gorgeous mid-ballads.” Dr. Bob Jones – http://www.mi-soul.com

The Relatives
The Electric Word

YEP ROC RECORDS
19/02/2013
YEP-2309

• Call it Gospel Funk! In truth, the sound of The Relatives is so much more.
• Mixing in psychedelic soul and funk, Dallas gospel group The Relatives were Texas legends in the ’70s, sharing bills with The Staple Singers, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, among others.
• Formed in 1970 by veteran Dallas Gospel singer Rev. Gean West and his brother Tommie, The Relatives’ sound bridges the gap between

traditional Gospel, Soul and Psychedelia.

• In the early 1970’s, they recorded three obscure singles all of which are compiled on their acclaimed 2009 anthology, Don’t Let Me Fall (Heavy Light Records).
• The release of Don’t Let Me Fall brought The Relatives back together as a band, planting the seeds for their 2013 Yep Roc release, The Electric
  

Word.

• The Electric Word was recorded and produced in Austin, Texas by Jim Eno of Spoon.

The Relatives are spawned from the fervent Pentecostal tradition and in the 1950′s and 60′s, the West family were Dallas Gospel royalty and often hosted travelling musicians, including a young Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers, Lou Rawls, and O.V. Wright. Rev. Tommie recalls climbing a tree to watch Soul Stirrer Sam Cooke play guitar and sing on their front porch. When Rev. Gean returned home from 1970 tour, a young Tommie had written a song in a new voice influenced as much by traditional Gospel quartets as it was James Brown and Hendrix. "Speak to Me (What’s Wrong With America?)" marked the beginning of The Relatives and a new musical direction, dubbed the "Street Sound" by Rev. Gean. The group quickly realised that their contemporary sound would get them bookings in nightclubs as well as churches. As Rev. Gean says, "If the people won’t come to church, we’ll bring church to the people."

The Relatives spent the 1970′s touring nationwide and pressing small batches of 7” singles that did well regionally, but never made a splash outside of North Texas. Known for their powerful original songs and searing stage show, their reputation survived the 1970′s, but the group did not, recording their final session with legendary engineer Phil York in 1975 and disbanding in 1980. Rev. Tommie founded his No Walls Ministries, while Rev. Gean continued to manage touring Gospel artists, founded his own church and hosted a popular radio show on Dallas’ KKDA, "Soul 73 AM." With only a cracked copy of The Relatives’ "Don’t Let Me Fall" single to go on, Heavy Light Records located Rev. Gean in 2009 and began the process of reissuing The Relatives’ vintage recordings. Rev. Gean calls The Relatives’ rediscovery and resurgence, "nothing short of a miracle."

After a stunning, sold-out 2009 reunion performance at the Continental Club in Austin, The Relatives began performing regularly again, barnstorming major festivals and venues worldwide, taking their incredible stage show and four-part harmonies to Lincoln Center, ACL Fest, Bonnaroo and Splendour in the Grass. Summer 2011 found the group in southern France, where they appeared at the Cognac Blues Passions festival, collaborating with a 30-member French community choir for an impassioned performance of Relatives originals. 2011 also saw The Relatives combine forces with Garage/Soul powerhouse Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears to record “You Been Lyin,” which appears on the BJL album, Scandalous. Their Austin City Limits TV taping with Black Joe Lewis has been called “one of the best we’ve ever seen” by longtime ACL staff and fans.

Picking up BJL’s drummer and guitarist/musical director as full-time members, The Relatives cut the The Electric Word, their first recording in over 30 years in the summer of 2012. Still helmed by the West brothers, The Relatives’ current incarnation is the most powerful generation of this musical family to date.

http://heavylightrecords.com/the-relatives/

"The Relatives are the heroes America needs, even if we don’t deserve them."
Dean Blackwood, Revenant Records

More info: gerry lyseight – 020 7095 8146 / gerry@glpr.co.uk / http://www.gerrylyseight.co.uk

relatives sam butler liveshothi res

therelatives theelectricword

The Relatives – YEP ROC RECORDS – 19/02/2013 – Gospel Funk

The Relatives
The Electric Word

YEP ROC RECORDS
19/02/2013
YEP-2309

· Call it Gospel Funk! In truth, the sound of The Relatives is so much more.
· Formed in 1970 by veteran Dallas Gospel singer Rev. Gean West and his brother Tommie, The Relatives’ sound bridges the gap between
traditional
Gospel, Soul and Psychedelia.
· In the early 1970’s, they recorded three obscure singles all of which are compiled on their acclaimed 2009 anthology, Don’t Let Me Fall (Heavy
Light Records).
· The release of Don’t Let Me Fall brought The Relatives back together as a band, planting the seeds for their 2013 Yep Roc release, The Electric
Word.
· The Electric Word was recorded and produced in Austin, Texas by Jim Eno of Spoon.

The Relatives are spawned from the fervent Pentecostal tradition and in the 1950′s and 60′s, the West family were Dallas Gospel royalty and often hosted travelling musicians, including a young Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers, Lou Rawls, and O.V. Wright. Rev. Tommie recalls climbing a tree to watch Soul Stirrer Sam Cooke play guitar and sing on their front porch. When Rev. Gean returned home from 1970 tour, a young Tommie had written a song in a new voice influenced as much by traditional Gospel quartets as it was James Brown and Hendrix. "Speak to Me (What’s Wrong With America?)" marked the beginning of The Relatives and a new musical direction, dubbed the "Street Sound" by Rev. Gean. The group quickly realised that their contemporary sound would get them bookings in nightclubs as well as churches. As Rev. Gean says, "If the people won’t come to church, we’ll bring church to the people."

The Relatives spent the 1970′s touring nationwide and pressing small batches of 7” singles that did well regionally, but never made a splash outside of North Texas. Known for their powerful original songs and searing stage show, their reputation survived the 1970′s, but the group did not, recording their final session with legendary engineer Phil York in 1975 and disbanding in 1980. Rev. Tommie founded his No Walls Ministries, while Rev. Gean continued to manage touring Gospel artists, founded his own church and hosted a popular radio show on Dallas’ KKDA, "Soul 73 AM." With only a cracked copy of The Relatives’ "Don’t Let Me Fall" single to go on, Heavy Light Records located Rev. Gean in 2009 and began the process of reissuing The Relatives’ vintage recordings. Rev. Gean calls The Relatives’ rediscovery and resurgence, "nothing short of a miracle."

After a stunning, sold-out 2009 reunion performance at the Continental Club in Austin, The Relatives began performing regularly again, barnstorming major festivals and venues worldwide, taking their incredible stage show and four-part harmonies to Lincoln Center, ACL Fest, Bonnaroo and Splendour in the Grass. Summer 2011 found the group in southern France, where they appeared at the Cognac Blues Passions festival, collaborating with a 30-member French community choir for an impassioned performance of Relatives originals. 2011 also saw The Relatives combine forces with Garage/Soul powerhouse Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears to record “You Been Lyin,” which appears on the BJL album, Scandalous. Their Austin City Limits TV taping with Black Joe Lewis has been called “one of the best we’ve ever seen” by longtime ACL staff and fans.

Picking up BJL’s drummer and guitarist/musical director as full-time members, The Relatives cut the The Electric Word, their first recording in over 30 years in the summer of 2012. Still helmed by the West brothers, The Relatives’ current incarnation is the most powerful generation of this musical family to date.

NB

"The Relatives are the heroes America needs, even if we don’t deserve them."
Dean Blackwood, Revenant Records

More info: gerry lyseight – 020 7095 8146 / gerry@glpr.co.uk / http://www.gerrylyseight.co.uk

Jane Birkin sings Serge Gainsbourg – Thursday 31st January – Cadogan Hall. Barbican show announced for November 9th.

The Cadogan Hall show is now sold out. Bad news for fans who miss out, but the good news is that the iconic chanteuse and actress returns on Saturday 9th November to perform her Arabesque album at Barbican Hall. Tickets are on sale now. Please scroll down for details*

Jane Birkin
sings Serge Gainsbourg
via Japan

Thursday 31st January 7.30pm
Cadogan Hall
5 Sloane Terrace
London
SW1X 9DQ
020 7730 4500
cadoganhall.com
Tickets: £18, £25, £30, £40
Tickets also available from Ticketmaster, SEE and Ticketweb

Jane Birkin makes a rare London appearance singing the songs of her late partner Serge Gainsbourg. Jane was Serge’s muse and this special concert is a reinterpretation of his repertoire performed by Jane with a group of very special musicians, with whom she first performed in Japan soon after the earthquake.

FOREWORD

"Why do another tour, another concert?

Well, when it was going to be conventional, I too wondered why I was singing Serge again, even if it was celebrating the 20 years after Serge’s death, even if it was a very personal 40 years since "Melody Nelson" but what did I have to offer … I’d done it all before, Serge in pop, arabesque, classic quator, 14 musicians, 6 musicians, a harp, a squeeze box, violins … this year others have started. Their "Serge" was a new point of view, their interpretations… so I started contemplating, putting it all off …

Then there was the Japanese disaster … of unbelievable horror, earthquake, tsunami, and then the ghastly news of the nuclear horror, the like of which we had never witnessed … the images …the gigantic waves pounding down, the cars trying to escape, the people running, the dignified faces of poor parents looking for their children, the numbers of dead and missing mounting, the terrifying views, over and over, the great wave, the fuming nuclear centres … what to do ? I have known these people for forty years… "go there" I thought… tell them that back home folk are thinking of them, but get there, "and do what ?" what can I do ?….the only thing I can do… a concert …

So this is the immediate result of that concert, Sachiko had fixed up the best Japanese group of musicians in four days! "I’m coming to Tokyo" we were Friday, by Monday I was there…When Gluzman asked if I wanted to do the concerts for Serge in America … I said "yes, BUT with these Japanese musicians.
I had found my reason …

Here we come… Serge Gainsbourg and Jane via Japan"

For more info: gerry lyseight – 020 7095 8146 / gerry@glpr.co.uk / http://www.gerrylyseight.co.uk

Promoted by Como No

* JUST CONFIRMED

Jane Birkin
Arabesque
Sat 9 Nov / 8pm, Barbican Hall
Tickets £25 – 35 from http://www.barbican.org.uk

Iconic chanteuse and actress Jane Birkin appears at the Barbican for one night only to perform repertoire created for her by her late partner Serge Gainsbourg. In Arabesque, Gainsbourg’s classic songs are reinterpreted by Birkin with an Arabic music flavour, combined with shades of Andalusia and a touch of the Orient.

Marking the tenth anniversary of the album release on EMI and her sold-out Barbican performance in 2003, Jane Birkin’s Arabesque remains one of the bravest and most successful reinventions of the legendary French singer-songwriter’s oeuvre.

Jane is joined on this journey into Maghreb rhythms and Eastern harmonies by Djamel Benyelles, virtuoso violinist and collaborator with Chebs Khaled and Mami, and his band Djam & Fam. Explaining her desire to continue to reinvent Gainsbourg’s work, Jane says, ‘The poets do not die if one carries their words.’

Produced by the Barbican in association with Como No