We all saw the recent announcement about the future of Millport Country Music festival – but whilst that won’t be going ahead (at least for now) we knew that you can’t stop Gavin and Christine Chittick from putting on amazing country music events!
In addition to Millport and
a fabulous intimate concert in a private club in Barnes they have been giving
us a two-day mini festival in South West London over the past few years.
If you haven’t experienced
Country In The Afternoon, how can we describe it to you? Take an iconic music venue (Half Moon
Putney), open the doors just after lunch and put on four incredible – and often
diverse – Country and Americana acts, finishing in time for a meal in the main
pub.
The Chitticks have an
incredible track record for selecting line ups, to the extent that each
individual day rivals many full-scale festivals, and if you can only spare one
day of the weekend, you will be hard pressed to choose! The latest instalment saw a Saturday line up
of Chloe Chadwick, Kenny Foster, Lorna Reid and TheOutlaw Orchestra, while Sunday saw a stripped back stage featuring Robyn
Red, Dan Olsen, Poppy Fardell and Jeremy McComb. Sadly, life got in the way of being able to
spend both days at the show, but we did manage to get down for Sunday!
Robyn Red
opened the show on day 2 – a talented youngster from Scotland, Robyn has already
appeared at Millport CMF on the Maverick Acoustic stage and made an appearance
at the recent BCMA showcase. A real
talent to watch for the future Robyn has a beautiful voice and a very
passionate support team! After
travelling so far, Robyn and her family spent both days listening to all the
other artists and making new friends!
Dan Olsen is
usually seen in the company of Jeremy McComb, and has been accompanying him on
his UK tour as well as performing with him at Buckle and Boots earlier this
year, but seeing him take to the stage alone with just his guitar shows what a
talent he is of his own. As with so
many US performers, Dan is a great storyteller between his songs and bring a
real warmth to his show.
Poppy Fardell has
had quite a year – from major surgery to a storming set on the paddock stage at
Buckle and Boots and a slew of recent single releases. Poppy was accompanied by Michael Clancy
on guitar and vocals and Jason Boyd on bass. Poppy opened her set with her single “Beer
Budget” which Jeremy McComb later declared to be “a definite hit” which he
can’t wait to play to his own management team in the states. It is fair to say that UK country has a
slightly different sound to US country, but Poppy, with her songwriting and
singing neatly bridges the gap, with one foot on each side! While performing Poppy brings joy to the
stage and shows her true self to the appreciative audience who were treated to
the first live performance of her new single which drops on Friday.
Sunday’s headliner was Jeremy McComb. It is not easy to sum up a
Jeremy show. He introduced his set by
asking if we were all “ready for some Hill Billy Bulls**t”. To call Jeremy “a storyteller” is an
understatement, and with 45 minutes he was worried that he’d only manage 3
songs between talking. There is no
filter in the stories, but every one of them is hilarious and had the whole
room fits of laughter. From tales of his
wife to a guided tour of Folsom Prison (“I’m a prison 10” needs to be a single
title) with truly fabulous country songs in between (yes, it did feel like it
was that way round!) Jeremy really puts on a unique show that really has to be
experienced! His songs though vary
between heart-warming and really quite dark.
13 Steps, a song about death row and the story of a murder is in
the greatest traditions of Country songwriting and even without the video
(banned on most platforms) it is incredible evocative. By the end of the set you feel like you know
Jeremy’s life, hometown and even some of the characters who live there.
Gavin and Christine Chittick
– Cumbrae Promotions – will undoubtedly carry on bringing us unique events and
amazing line ups, promoting, supporting and nurturing UK Country artists and
Country Music in the UK. We can’t wait
to see what will be next, and we are eagerly awaiting the dates for the next
Country In The Afternoon - which you will of course find on Silverball Country!
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