Single Review - Walking In Rain - Alan Finlan

 

Alan Finlan loves music.  I mean, he REALLY loves music, especially performing it.  If he’s not playing at a festival, he’ll probably be there anyway, and he’ll probably be playing music -  wherever he can get an audience.  Alan doesn’t need a stage, a chair will do, normally outside The Trading Post.  A stage is of course preferred – and at Buckle and Boots he moved from Paddock stage (where he gave a showstopping performance) to the main stage which he truly deserved.  Although a great performer, Alan never takes his shows for granted and will always be assessing so he can improve and move forward.

 

His next move forward is the release of his new single – Walking In Rain.  It’s a darker track, reminiscent of Jace Everett, with real “Western” vibes, a very measured pace, atmospheric background sounds and demonstrates Alan’s vocal talent.  The gruffness of his voice, the gritty sound, this feels new for Alan and its very very good.  Written by Stephen Manley and Nicky Murphy this does feel like a big leap forward for Alan.  The song also feels personal – echoing Alan’s own journey, as it

tells the story of someone down on their luck

It’s a feeling many people can relate to – but they do say “you make your own luck” – and Alan is definitely working at that.  His work ethic is excellent – travelling the UK to perform at gigs, popping up in Blackpool (Cowboy and Co, Dirty Blondes), Glasgow (supporting Robyn Red) and always by train!  Closer to home there will be a gig in hometown Gosport next year – more evidence of that constant push to build his career.  We are also promised that this collaboration with Stephen Manley is just the first of new music to come.

 

Alan may be Walking In Rain right now, but in the future is sunshine – and Alan, it isn’t far off!

Walking In Rain, the new single from Alan Finlan is available to download and stream from Monday 30 October.

You can find Alan on Facebook and Instagram and follow him on Spotify

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Gig Review - Nashville Sounds In The Round - Birmingham Symphony Hall October 2023

 

If you haven’t yet had the chance to go to a songwriters round, you are really missing out!  With a range of songwriters all sharing one stage and taking it in turns to perform, it is a very different and very special type of show!

 

Gasoline and Matches, with Your Life In A Song and B:Music host a regular songwriters round at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, alternating between evenings, lunchtimes and Saturday mornings to bring a mostly country music based show to a wide range of visitors

 

A show like this isn’t just about hearing the music, because of the format of the show it is an opportunity to hear from the artists and listen as they tell you the story behind the song, the inspiration and the often humorous tales!

The October edition did all this and more.  The evening was very much a celebration of story-telling and creativity – as all of the artists not only told their own stories but joined in with others and picked up on themes, creating some hilarious moments

 

Sally and Steve of Gasoline and Matches were the hosts, with guests Cody Pennington, Em/Elle, Neil from Blue Nation and Essex based singer Megan Rose.  While we were treated to stories covering an unfortunate relationship in America (Sally) house hunting in Kentucky (Cody), a band splitting up over satin shirts (Neil) and falling off a rodeo bull (Megan), the story with the most value of the night was from Em/Elle whose first song (Crash) was written about falling for the trainer in her first restaurant job, and how she forced herself to not like him for fear of not learning how to make desserts!  Not only did Neil follow on from this story as though he had been that trainer, all the others picked up on the thread for the whole first half of the show!

Sally and Steve play a lot of these rounds and have amassed a back catalogue of stories to almost rival their catalogue of songs, but guest Em/Elle, despite being the youngest on the line up by some years also had stories and songs aplenty, having started to write when she was still at school.  Her recent appearance on BBC’s Project Icon has introduced her to more opportunities for songwriting collaborations, including a beautiful new song about the pain of childhood bullying.  Often, the song or story of one artist will lead in to the song and story of the next, as setlists are rare at these events, with each artist picking up the vibe and running with it.

We had the chance to learn a little more about the artists as well as hearing them in a different setting to perhaps their normal – Cody Pennington told us he isn’t used to the intimacy of a songwriters round, but appreciated the chance to “chillout a bit” and really engage with the audience.

If you love music and want to go a bit deeper into the art of songwriting, then a songwriters round is definitely for you!

Your next chance in Birmingham will be on Saturday 16 December with tickets available now - tickets 

Silverball Country attended Nashville Sounds in the Round as guests of Gasoline and Matches and B:Music

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When Silverball Country met...Cody Pennington

 

Ahead of his very special Country Show in Birmingham, we had the chance to sit down with Cody (after he had ordered Papa Johns because it tastes like it does in the US) to find out a little more about the man behind the show.

Cody is originally from Nashville, but now lives in Birmingham – and we were intrigued about his journey from the home of country music to the 02 Institute in Digbeth.

The story starts with Cody playing “a little bit of music” in his hometown, albeit mostly rock and metal, but as he was under 21 he wasn’t allowed in bars so never made it in that scene.

Deciding that he needed to do something with his life (with some hinting from his Dad) Cody joined the US Air Force as a medical technician.  The Air Force took him to San Antonio Texas, then to Turkey and then to Cambridge UK. 

The story doesn’t stop there!  His military allowed him to switch his shifts to allow him to pursue music on the side, and in 2015 Cody made the decision to leave the military and return to Nashville. 

Gigging in Nashville isn’t the dream often portrayed in films – it was a tough time, until a job came up singing on Cruise Ships which led to him meeting not only Canaan Cox but also his future wife while in Australia. 

Dating a girl from Birmingham, plus his previous time in Cambridge resulted in a move back to the UK and ultimately a wedding and a beautiful (now three) daughter. 

The pursuit of a career in law once again had to give way to the music, which is clearly the real first love.  Thus, the Cody Pennington Country Show was born which has grown from a small crowd at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath to a UK tour, growing crowds and a strong following!

Cody cites John Mayer as an influence on his music, loving the idea of singing with an acoustic guitar, but also rock bands encouraged him to pick up a guitar. 

Morgan Wallen and of course (if you attend a show, you guessed it) Luke Combs have recently been a motivation to perform and write original music. 

Having seen the Cody Pennington Show before, and his philosophy to make it interesting the whole time, we knew that once we went out into the venue we were in for a great night. The Birmingham show was a special show for charity.  Cody has supported NHS charities since his time stationed in the UK with the Air Force and wants to give back by playing a charity gig at least once a year.  With his daughter being born in Birmingham’s Women’s Hospital, supporting a local hospital charity was the obvious choice.

Supported by local band Gasoline and Matches who warmed up the crowd with their own brand of Country Rock, Cody took to the stage with his band to play a mix of his own songs, some older favourites and modern country, blending Dolly Parton with Chris Stapleton, a lot of Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Shania Twain, ending with a showstopping Country Roads.

Cody finds it amazing when a crowd sings his songs back to him – at his recent Manchester gig everyone sang along to his song How About Kentucky. We were taken aback too, given that the crowd didn’t know some of the country classics. Its always an upbeat evening, that have you foot tapping if not dancing away.

Cody’s a great guy, willing to help others and his southern hospitality always shines through. Theres real effort that goes into planning his performance, his set list must be the most professional we’ve seen.   He's also a great musician, playing lead guitar throughout his set the crowd were clearly loving every minute of it.

Cody is backed by a great trio of musicians – Niran Mistry on bass, Holly Carter on pedal steel and Lee Brooks on drums, plus some backing tracks to bring the punchy sound.  We reviewed his last Birmingham show here - review

By the end of the night, through ticket sales and donations over £6,000 had been raised for BirminghamChildren’s Hospital Charity.

Cody will be touring the show again next year, with a promise of bigger venues, but in the near future he will be performing at Nashville Sounds In The Round in Birmingham Symphony Hall, this Thursday and at Country In The Afternoon this Thursday and at the Half Moon Pub in Putney, in November. (Tickets)

Silverball Country were pleased to make a donation to charity for this interview  

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Gig Review - Kezia Gill - O2 Institute Birmingham

Kezia Gill has her name in lights!  The Misfit tour rolled in to the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday night for the seventh of eight nights on the tour. The tour started on her birthday, and the party hasn’t stopped since.

 

Opening for Kezia was Sinead Burgess – an Australian who comes to us via Nashville.  Sinead has been having the time of her life travelling around the UK with the band, and Friday was extra special as it was also release day for her latest single Ain’t Thinking About You.  Sinead’s music and songwriting is very emotive and suits the UK audience, her performance is reminiscent of artists such as Sheryl Crow, whose songs and storytelling always connected well.

 

The stage lights dimmed apart from the bright green neon sign proclaiming Kezia’s name.  The Misfit Tour opened – of course – with the title song.  Full of energy Kezia was a shimmering star in the green whirl of the stage.  Even though it’s a new album, the packed room were word perfect for every song.

 

Kezia doesn’t just share her music; she loves to bring you into her world.  You have to love the honesty that comes out when Kezia introduces her songs.  All the fans will forever be grateful to the Jack Daniels night in Oxford and the songs it produced.  Whilst we wish we could hear the “horrendous ones”, in Kezia’s words we will settle for what we got.  This story was the setting for Kezia to perform solo – “just me and you” as she puts it. 

Kezia says, “it wouldn’t be a Kezia Gill tour without a little cry”, but as she is a party girl at heart, she compressed them all into a little segment.  Kezia suggested that “You will cry during, but you’ll have has a good time” works just as well for describing her shows and for a Tinder profile!

Kezia blends country, with a bit of blues, some rock and some fabulous traditional storytelling, with some of her songs being very personal – House On The Hill describing that one place she loves the most, despite visiting fabulous locations there’s nothing better than putting your slippers on at home, and we heard a superb segue of Price of Loving You into the song for her father Local Man’s Star.

The setlist was mainly the new album, but some songs had to be included – Country Song (written in Nashville about Nashville) and Thirties both drawing an excited reaction from the crowd, for whom these are firm favourites.  At times a brief story is all it takes to guess what’s coming!

Kezia is a very warm, personable performer.  Her acknowledgements of not just the band (Luke Thomas, Luke Barrett, Phil Donnelly, Cristiano Pochesci) but her wider team (Sound Engineer Ian Clarke, Manager Donna Zanetti, opening artist Sinead) are heartfelt and always end up with her “Best friend, Husband and Tour Manager Lloydy”.

Every show must come to an end, but no fake encores for Kezia.  She announced her last song, forgoing the pantomime of leaving the stage only to come back on.  Although she now has quite a back catalogue to choose from, there could only be one song as the finale for the Whisky Drinking Woman - who was born a Misfit.

Silverball Country attended the Misfit Tour as guests of ZimagineD Artist Management

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Album Review - A State Of Mind - Simon James

Has it really been three years?  Apparently so!  We saw Simon James play the most recent Country In The Afternoon (a wonderful “Festival In A Day” put on by  Gavin and Christine Chittick at the Half Moon in Putney) and when he started to sing we agreed that his was a voice we have missed.

 

Fear not.  Simon is back!  His new album A State Of Mind drops on Friday 13 October, and as ever we have had a copy in advance to have a listen to.  The question is then - was it worth the wait?  We were excited to find out…

 

Well, the simple answer is yes.  Simon has always added a certain UK edge to country music.  Unashamedly a Northern Man, his songwriting reflects this, by not trying to be an imitation of American country writers and performers.  Instead, his stories and imagery are real, recognisable and they draw you in.  In terms of the sound, there are influences of folk in there, perhaps some Celtic vibes – you get the feeling that Simon presents you with his music and says, “here it is, this is me”.  Defying a specific label, just sit back and enjoy the music.  This latest album in particular feels very warm and comforting, like a malt whisky and a log fire in winter.  As you listen to the tracks, you will feel the music wash over you, as you just appreciate the tones, the words and especially the instrumentation, with his guitar augmented by strings, drums, piano, and some great backing vocals!  When we last saw Simon play he was on stage with just his acoustic guitar, but this album would be ideal to be played live with a full orchestra – just an idea for you Simon!

 

So, is there a standout track?  In reality, this album should be seen as a body of work and listened to right through, but it would be wrong not to pull out a couple of highlights!  The title track – State Of Mind - opens the album with a very attention grabbing multi-instrumental intro.  After three years we have to wait almost a full minute before hearing Simons wonderful vocal – but in a way that is Simons expert stagecraft transferred to the recording studio.  Even if you were to get no further than this one track, you know you’re listening to Simon James and his absence has only improved his sound, with an extra level of maturity to it.  It is truly music for music’s sake – as any art should be. 

But do listen to the rest of the album, if only to reach Breakers Song!  It is possible that this one song encapsulates the album and indeed Simon’s music.  Guitar to open, strings and piano joining before Simon’s voice starts to tell the story.  Mixing a soft delivery with a soaring chorus, Simon is joined by Heidi Talbot in that chorus before Heidi takes over for a full verse.  Their two voices combine and complement each other perfectly, with Heidi adding that almost mystical Celtic quality.  A Harmonica brings a new edge as a bridge before a gentle crescendo – if there can be such a thing!

 

Though we’ve missed hearing Simon’s music over these past few years, we are thrilled to see him performing live and writing new music.  Whatever comes next, this album is a testament to his songwriting and his craft. 

 

Welcome back Simon.

A State Of Mind, the new album from Simon James, is available to download and stream from Friday 13 October.

You can find Simon on Facebook and Instagram, and you can follow him on Spotify

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Album Review - The Carnival - Eleri

 

Ok, first things first.  It rhymes with Fairy.  Hailing from Wales, Eleri will no doubt have had to explain that a few times, and she includes it in press releases – which was incredibly helpful when we introduced her on stage at Buckle and Boots this year – just one of many festival appearances she has made recently.  We got the chance to simply sit and listen (and share a drink) when she appeared on the line up of the super “festival in a day” Country In The Afternoon in Putney’s Half Moon.  It was at that meeting that Eleri told us she had an album coming out, and we have been excited to hear it, so we were thrilled when it arrived in our inbox.

To be honest, we are always excited by an album release, as we don’t seem to see so many of them now.  An album allows an artist to really explore their own part of the genre, and tell a few stories, set a theme and let us properly appreciate their talents.

Of her new album The Carnival, Eleri says

I always want to push myself to be better and on this album I’ve amped up the energy on my country sound infused with rock and pop and made a few fun country party tunes that wouldn’t be out of place at a Rodeo

 

So, lets go to The Carnival…

The album opens with Magic – but it’s a live version! Hearing Eleri address the crowd and announce the song almost had me cheering the stage! Bouncy, uptempo – and excellent percussion keeps the track moving and the listener clapping along.  This is very much our welcome to The Carnival, an invitation to enter the tent and behold the wonders within!  Heels to Hell keeps the up tempo feel, with a great rhythm and Eleri’s vocal being slightly darker than in the rest of her songs.  The whole album is a wonderful mix of stories and styles, with almost every track introduced with its own instrumental style, the link in every case being Eleri’s vocal.  Heads I’m Yours (Tails Your Mine) slows the mood, while Good For A Girl has an almost ethereal opening and uses background effects that show Eleri is willing to experiment and push boundaries with her sound.  Blue Skies a Comin’ is a very slow track, allowing us to really hear the purity of Eleri’s voice, as a song it tells us of looking to a better future.

Live Wire lifts the tempo again, and incorporates an interesting blend of voice/acoustic guitar and electric guitar/beat.  Theres a great guitar line to Karaoke which summons the memories of having fun in bars on a summers night. Snake Like You is a darker, Americana infused story, and as with When We Collide covers the almost obligatory relationship stories!

Burn the Candle Down is a softer, more gentle track – a couple trying to recover from a fight at night, with the vocals, instrumental and pacing all creating the feel of a late night chat.  It’s a duet and it is actually quite beautiful!  Leon Stanford’s voice blends so well with Eleri’s giving the song a slightly folk feel.

Calling It certainly picks up again after the previous track, its rocky and pacy, it’s very much a statement - I’m done, its over Bang Bang opens with drums rather than guitar, and is probably the most “country” part of the album, but firmly modern country.

The final track is Every Road.  It’s a reflective song, the tempo moving from the slow opening moving up to a guitar driven chorus.  The mix of tempos throughout make for a great final track on an album that is a variety show from start to finish that will keep you in your seat to see what happens next.

Most albums are named after one of the tracks but titling this album “The Carnival” is spot on. A blend of new songs and some favourites, Eleri has been on a physical and metaphorical journey, now she gets to set up her tent and present her show.

The Carnival, the new album from Eleri is available to download and stream from Friday 13 October with an album launch on Saturday 14 October 

You can find Eleri on Facebook and Instagram and follow her on Spotify

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Single Review - Mr Shame - Emilia Quinn

It has been an absolute joy watching Emilia Quinn growing over the past few years.  We have the privilege of working closer with many acts when we manage stages at Independent Festivals, and whilst we are always sorry to see acts move on from our stage, it is with absolute pride that we see them take their place on a main stage.  We’ve had exactly that with Emilia, from performing solo with an early slot on the Paddock Stage at Buckle and Boots to an evening slot full band where she absolutely blew the roof off – and the following year smashing it on the main stage!

The next step in that growth is her headline tour in November this year, taking in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow before ending in her adopted hometown of Leeds.

Emilia’s new single, Mr Shame, is also about growth, in the form of growing your confidence and growing your self love.  In Emilia’s own words

The inspiration for Mr. Shame came from a situation where an ex was making me doubt myself and my confidence. It's about choosing yourself over others' thoughts and opinions and choosing to be confident despite criticisms. 

 

A heavy guitar opening gives way to Emilia’s vocal, absolutely setting the tone for the song.  Hard rocking with a story is the style we’re accustomed to from the performer often described as “a firecracker”.  The pace, the bass line, all contribute to the sense of taking control and rejecting whatever is holding you back.  The backing vocals drop in perfectly in a style we don’t hear enough off, as do the pauses and the slowing down of the instrumentation. Throughout the song, you get a sense of power from Emilia, power coming directly from her.  As a whole, it is reminiscent of the female rockers in music, and we can start to number Emilia in that group.  The final guitar solo absolutely cements this track as being on the rock side of country, and very much an Emilia Quinn badass song.

 

Mr Shame, the new single from Emilia Quinn is available to download and stream from Friday 13 October.

Emilia's  Wanderlust and Breaking Rules Tour kicks off in November with tickets available via her social media 

You can find Emilia on Facebook and Instagram, and follow her on Spotify

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Emilia is represented by Zimagined artist management and is signed to 

W21 Records

Single Review - Heroes and Heroines - Jade Helliwell

 

Jade Helliwell caught the attention of the public when a video of her singing with a busker went viral on YouTube and got 23 million views across social media platforms.  Whilst that video put her firmly in the limelight, and boosted figures for her previously released ep, it is not down to a single video that keeps Jade at the top of the UK country scene, performing on festival stages all over the country – that is down to her songwriting skills and excellent performances.

 

Ahead of her second UK headline tour, which kicks off in November, Jade is releasing her new single Heroes and Heroines (which is also the title of the tour).  Fittingly for a song about acknowledging the people in your life who are everyday heroes the track was co written with JessThristan and produced by Alyssa Bonagura – two people that Jade has worked with and admires.

 

Jade has carved her own pop country niche in the UK country genre, combining meaningful lyrics with catchy, up-tempo instrumentation.  Backed by some great guitar sounds (unsurprisingly given that she is engaged to a very talented lead guitarist in Luke Thomas!) the song is very much driven by Jade’s vocals, with the production and mixing keeping her very much to the forefront, although with well-timed instrumental breaks and inserts.

Here’s to the hold it togethers

Here’s to the no regreters

Here’s the see it throughers

Here’s to the hallelujahs

An anthem to the ordinary heroes, people doing what they can, day after day – this one will sound great on stage whether at a festival or that forthcoming tour.  Overall, it’s a great sound, and we can’t wait to hear it live!

 

Heroes and Heroines – the new single from Jade Helliwell – is available to download and stream from Friday 6 October.

Tickets for the Heroes and Heroines tour are available from here: tickets

You can find Jade on Facebook and Instagram and follow her on Spotify

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Single Review - Luke Jackson - Robyn Red

 

Robyn Red has burst on to the UK country scene, winning accolades and fans wherever she goes!  With her trademark red hat and her enthusiastic and supportive team you can’t miss her.  When you meet Robyn face to face, she comes across as quite shy and reserved, and even on stage she has a soft voice – but the moment she picks up her guitar a change comes across her and she sounds far more confident, singing her self-penned songs and getting the crowd eating out of her hand!  Those vocals are polished and mature, the songwriting excellent.

 

Hailing from Scotland, Robyn has not only played her own headline gigs in Glasgow and at the C2C festival but at festivals and shows all over the UK including Country In The Afternoon at the iconic Half Moon Putney and at Buckle and Boots, plus a visit to Birmingham for Nashville Sounds in the Round.

 

Following the success of her previous single releases (including a number 1 position) Robyn is releasing her new song Luke Jackson.  The press release accompanying the track goes to great length to point out that Robyn has written this from her imagination rather than real life – and when you listen to the story you understand why!

Our storyteller meets a guy in a bar – the Luke Jackson of the title.  He’s tall, blue eyed, handsome, everything she wants.  Sadly, he’s also married!  The song has a dark edge (he’s found out and confronted by all his girlfriends!) and is written very much in the “old school” Country Music story telling style.  Although this song is true country, it has a certain Scottish edge to it, not just from Robyn’s accent but from the strings and guitars combining to just add a touch of folk to the sound. The drums move the pace along, giving pace to an otherwise melancholy revenge song!

Luke Jackson is a wonderful blend of traditional storytelling, Robyn’s vocals and excellent instrumentation, all combining to create a polished, well rounded country song.  Anyone who has seen Robyn perform will know that she has plenty more to come, and this new single certainly proves that.

 

Luke Jackson, the new single from Robyn Red is available to download and stream from Friday 6 October.

 

You can find Robyn on Facebook and Instagram and follow her on Spotify

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