A Look Back at Summer Festivals...

Our front door photo!

As Summer gives way (rather abruptly) to Autumn, and a time for “school photos in front of doors”, we are looking back at our festival summer.  We attended festivals at opposite ends of the spectrum!  From The Long Road (TLR) - established, celebrity endorsed which offered FIVE stages and a whole lot of music and activities attended by thousands and the home of the festival fashionista , all the way to Pure Country, a little smaller – hundreds of people and just the two stages, but still plenty of activities for the attendees, where we were honoured to be invited to once again act as Stage managers/stage hosts.

 

At Pure Country MDF

Are the two festivals very different?  Yes.  And no.  Sure, TLR is on a massive scale, but just like Pure it features great country music, it’s full of country music loving people who are friendly and inviting, providing the opportunity to meet old friends, new friends, drink, dance, eat, and even shop.  You won’t know all the artists, but that’s the best bit!  While Pure features the acoustic stage with slots available for anyone brave enough to ask, TLR  featured an open mic and the finals of the Homegrown Talent contest.

 

Open Mic at TLR

What did we learn from our two festivals this summer (while “working” at both!)?

 

• We learned to line dance – Alex Wise at Pure Country will make use of any gap in the music to get everyone up on the dancefloors, and it doesn’t matter how good you are.  If you do different steps, it’s just a “variation”.
• We learned that it’s not just US music that has line dances – up and down the country people are creating dances to UK songs that can be found on Copper Knob, a website set up just for this.  Learning a dance to an artist who is playing live is exciting for the dancers – and the artists!
• We learned that tassels are this year’s big fashion item – on tops, on jackets, on hats and especially on boots.  We learned that even Kurt Geiger is getting in on the tassel action!
• We also learned that Dogs are the new influencers,
• and Pickle backs are the new shots!

 

We love festivals, whether working or attending, and we are very grateful to the teams that make them happen and the artists who play.  For some it’s the pinnacle of their career, for others it’s the very first step.  This year we watched artists take their first nervous steps onto an open mic stage, seasoned artists play a bigger stage, a better slot, we even celebrated with a certain UK artist who has just signed a record deal! 

Home grown talent was all around us, at the Long Road we watched Jake O’Neill on the main stage, First Time Flyers on the Interstate, Kezia Gill on Buddy’s and the Round Up take to the Hitching Post Stage, all flying the flag for UK Country music.  At the Showground we watched Scarlett Whincup and Tom Hodges, both veterans of Pure Country MDF. 

 

Jake O'Neill on the Main Stage

With Tom Hodge and Scarlett Whincup

It's not just artists that grow, just like those children in the first day photos, festivals grow from small ideas and big ambitions.  Pure turned two this year, next year Buckle and Boots celebrates its tenth show and Country Calling was this year’s new kid on the block.  The British Country Music Festival shows each year that you can have a fully indoor festival and has become the anchor at the end of the summer so that we can see August out with a bang and a “yee haw”.

 

How does an artist get to the main stage (or record deal) and how does a festival grow?  Well, in both cases it involves hard work.  Hitting every opportunity, loading the van in the pouring rain, pouring your heart into every song.  Slogging round the club scene, playing every night, every hour you can.  Being your own roadie, promoter, manager, social media team.  For the festivals it means setting up in the rain, being your own stage crew, ticket seller, gate agent and everything else that pops up.

For both it takes a leap of faith, starting over again, and again, and again. Hoping someone will hear you, come to you and support you.  It can be as unnerving as that first day at school.  As you master one level, you have to move on to the next…

It’s not instant success, if nothing else the festivals show us - it’s a long road to success.

Silverball Country attended The Long Road as guests of Lime Tree Music 

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Single Review - Look What You've Done - Jade Helliwell

 

There’s some big things coming in Jade’s world (and one very special small thing!).  Although she released two albums in her younger, formative years, she is now working on what she will consider to be her debut album, the first one since the massive leap in her music career (thanks to a small thing, that became a big thing – that Youtube video!)

In the same week that she reached her kickstarter target, Jade releases her new single Look What You’ve Done. Written in conjunction with Laura Oakes, and produced by Alyssa Bonagura, this is certainly a blend of some real powerhouse women of Country Music, and we are here for that!  A tale of falling for someone despite trying your best not to.  It’s a summer pop song, the melody is sublime, the instrumentation as ever is superb and Jade’s vocal just floats over the top.  The theme is certainly something most people can relate to and it really shows off Jade’s vocal skills.  You can certainly hear the country roots in the song, although its not strictly in that genre – but Jade is all about the performance and blurring the edges, taking inspiration from different sources.

“Born to be on stage” is a over used cliché, but Jade was definitely “determined to be on stage” – in her latest (and hilarious) kickstarter video she tells her story, from school day singing to getting more serious and winning competitions, gaining awards and plaudits along the way.  She’s graced so many festival stages now, and performed alongside some huge names, but she’s not taking any of it for granted – and if you’ve met Jade in person, success has never gone to her head or changed her, she’s still that friendly and approachable lass from Batley.

It feels like the new album marks a new era, but really its another step.  Not even Jade is sure where those steps will take her, but right now she’s just having the time of her life!

With that new album promised, we can’t wait for its arrival and a chance to review it – and we’re looking forward to that other arrival too…do we review new babies?

Look What You’ve Done, the new single from Jade Helliwell is available to pre-save now, and download or stream from Friday 27 June

Find Jade on Facebook and Instagram, and follow her music on Spotify

 

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Single Review - I Am All I Need - Scarlett Whincup

 

The title of the new single from Scarlett Whincup - I Am All I Need – makes a clear statement of the theme of the track.  Taken from her new EP, this is a song about self-empowerment and inner strength

Scarlett explains, 

This song is a reminder that no matter what life throws at us, everything we need is already within us. It’s about choosing yourself — not because you have to, but because you’re worth it.

The song starts with a strong, powerful vocal, backed by subtle guitar which both showcases her voice and sets the tone for the rest of the track.  When the instrumental drops in, the tempo rises, making this a catchy number.  The backing has a traditional country feel but with a modern sound to it.  Having played the clubs around Yorkshire, this whole EP feels like Scarlett coming out to the wider UK Country scene.  As an introduction, it’s a great one!  Scarlett’s music perfectly bridges between trad country and modern, and also acknowledges US Country whilst still being unashamedly UK – and Yorkshire!  All that club experience clearly influences Scarlett’s writing, her songs are not just easy to listen to, but fast enough to dance to – and her love of Country is obvious!

The new single drops on Friday for you to stream or download, and Scarlett will be launching the full EP live at her Band Launch Party ‘Scarlett & her Rednecks’ on May 2nd at The Hop Monkey Music Bar, Dean Clough — as she puts it 

A celebration of resilience, self-belief, and new beginnings.

Scarlett will also be performing at this year’s Pure Country Music and Dance Festival in July which, in it turn, also makes the same connections as Scarlett’s music does, with a mix of music and dancing and this time features a visiting US duo amongst the home-grown talent

I Am All I Need, the new single from Scarlett Whincup is available from Friday 2 May

Find Scarlett on her socials - Facebook, Instagram and Spotify

For more information about Pure Country Music and Dance Festival check their Facebook page

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Album Review - All I Own - Jessica Lynn

 

Jessica Lynn is an absolute bundle of energy, which shows in both her live performances and in her recordings.  With musicians for parents (who are part of her band) it is fair to say that Jessica was born to be on stage, and if you’ve had chance to see her, you will probably agree!

 

It would take too long to list all of Jessica’s attributes, but being a fighter is near the top of that list, and the new album – All I Own – is testament to her resilience.  Dealing with health issues, wider global problems that affected tours and even adopting a disabled dog, Jessica doesn’t let anything hold her back – in fact, she seems to channel it all into her music!

The first track, Bet On It, lays down a marker for the album.  Heavy guitar riff, strong rhythm and Jessica’s Country Rock vocal lets you know from the off that this is not an album of soft ballads! Something Bout You continues the vibe, albeit with a slightly lighter instrumental line, putting more focus on the words and emotion in them.  Ain’t Done With You shows that the band can drive a song in different ways, always guitar driven but this time with a great drum/percussion added to it.  The title track All I Own takes a small break from the rock, with acoustic guitar and strings perfectly accompanying the first softer song.  Jessica has the ability to switch between rocking out and emotional, at live shows she has reduced an audience to absolute silence while listening. 

Shame changes tempo again, a very Latin feel incorporating some pop style production and using the best of these styles.  If Shame is Latin, Mixed Signals is unashamedly rock, summoning up a smoke-filled dive bar sound and feel, bringing in a bluesy edge.

 

Scott Vincent

The entire album is incredibly listenable, as Jessica goers “twisting and turning” through different styles, changes of tempo, fabulous use of instrumentation to accompany each track.  From the near theatrical Mixed Signals into the more country sounding Straight Outta Luck and then the beautiful, heartfelt duet You Save Me, any part of this album takes you on a journey.  While the songs form part of Jessica’s journey, you are able to use them for your own story too.

From the evocative harmonies and steel of You Save Me, the drums and rock edge are back with 16 Miles, but this time with a gospel feel, and strings playing the part of the backing choir.  Despite setbacks – medical, global and personal, Jessica will never hide, never use anything as an excuse.  The recording of this album was a physical trial and so it is fitting that the closing track is I Never Said It’d Be Easy.  Maybe the most obviously personal track of the ten, it is an anthem to overcoming struggles but in the uplifting style that we have come to expect from listening to Jessica in the studio and live.  It’s the perfect ending to an close to perfect album

 

Silverball Country

The talent, the passion, the fight is all clear to see.  Behind the performer is a tight family and a fabulous welcoming manner.  The album is a personal journey, but one we are invited to join in with and interpret our own way.  It’s like a ten track recording of Jessica cheering us all on from the sidelines.

All I Own, the new album from Jessica Lynn is available to download or stream from Friday 17 January.

You can find Jessica on Facebook and Instagram and follow her music on Spotify

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Gig Review - Country In The Afternoon November 2024 - Half Moon Putney

They say “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” but they never said that you can’t change it! 

Due to (In Gavin’s words) “The stars aligning” the latest instalment of this twice-yearly fixture in the country music calendar became a one day special – and how special it was! 

In addition, the format of the day also changed, instead of a build-up of artists which grow in experience and fan bases, we saw three of the best male artists on the scene each take to the stage following by a highly anticipated writer’s round,  combining  them for an afternoon of music and stories.

We even saw Gavin deviate from his normal strict timekeeping, this was cast aside in favour of an early set start to allow more time for a certain artist who we know likes to talk.

Kicking off the show was Matt Hodges, followed by Gary Quinn, who invited on stage, to sing a duet, his special guest Mikki Evans.  Jeremy McComb followed the trend and also invited guests to the stage, including Robyn Red (on her way to another show) for a solo performance as they can’t find a song they both know; followed by his touring guitarist Yannick Van Riet to rock out  together.  The afternoon was rounded off by that quite special writers round, and yes, it ran over time!

With Jeremy centre stage you know you were in for fits of laughter, even when the sentiment of the story is supposed to be a sad one. Matt warned we might end up in tears, based on an previous telling out in Nashville but the laughter had already taken hold. Often, we can’t believe some of these events actually happened, but we all knew where the story was going from the minute Jeremy mentioned the hot water pull cord in the Quinn’s bathroom – yes, he pulled the disability alarm cord during the show in South Wales the previous night. Whilst we are used to artists playing along during a round, these three bounced off each other adding the raucousness of the event – it certainly wasn’t PG! “Whoop whoop” could be Mr McComb’s and the event’s title – a warning of an afternoon of fantastic music and stories. Yet again CITA didn’t disappoint.

Despite the fun, throughout the day, there was a repeated sentiment of gratitude, to the hosts but also to the audience. An appreciative audience, that enables artists to deliver their craft.

We at Silverball Country echo the gratitude, as its you, the fans that enable Country Music in the UK to survive and grow. Keep buying the music, the tickets and the merchandise and we’ll see you at an event soon!

 Silverball Country attended Country In The Afternoon as guests of Cumbrae Promotions

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Gig Review - Emilia Quinn Bare Faced Tour - Hare and Hounds Birmingham

 

The Emilia Quinn Bare Faced tour has been around the country, and on Sunday night it reached its final stop in The Hare and Hounds, Birmingham.  The venue has a special place in music history, and in Emilia’s own journey.  A year ago she played here with her full band on her very first headline tour, and the show was recorded so that a series of live singles could be released.  This time around there was no band, just Emilia, her guitarist John W Doyle, a coffee table and some mugs of tea.

 

The relaxed set up suited the intimate, seated audience and perhaps was a welcome rest at the end of a tiring tour.  In another break from the “normal” concert style, the warm up act was John – just him, his guitar and his stories.

 

If you’ve seen Emilia live over the last couple of years you’ll easily recognise John W Doyle, not just for his amazing beard, but also for his skilled guitar playing.  This tour allowed him to take centre stage, if only for a while, and show off those quite incredible guitar skills and his songwriting.  Normally with either Emilia’s band or a blues band, he displayed a fabulous intimacy with the listening audience.  Although he doesn’t believe in talking too much about the songs “because if you've done a good job, the song should tell the story” John is fun to listen to, with a mix of stories and one liners – and great song writing.  Inspired by his time on this tour he performed a song that he had finished that morning with the great title and repeated line Whiskey Into Wine, a song that really suits his soft yet gruff voice.

Before finishing his solo set, John apologised for singing depressing songs but said “A brighter future is coming”  Throughout the whole evening, from Emilia coming out to introduce John on stage, to the duet main show the genuine affection and mutual respect was very obvious.  These two have a genuine chemistry and have clearly enjoyed this quite special tour – the catchphrase being “I’ve had a lovely time”

 

There was a short break before Emilia came to the stage along with John – slightly delayed by eating cake in the green room!  Somehow even hearing about the cake added to the feel of the evening as we all shared in the story, if not in the actual cake!

 

Emilia is the ultimate rock chick.  An Outlaw, a firecracker, the baddest bitch in the land and has rocked out festival stages with her boundless energy, but on this tour she has gone “bare faced” and stripped back – and it suits her just as well as those big stage performances.  We were promised old songs, new songs and reimagined songs – and boy did she deliver!  Notable was the smoky, jazzy version of her anthemic Outlaw, so reimagined that it took a moment to even recognise it.  Vocally and stylistically, it was Emilia channelling her inner Amy Winehouse.  If there was ever any doubt about Emilia’s sheer musical range, this one song crushed that! 

We had a new song inspired by a chat gpt prompt, we witnessed Emilia play cello on a number of songs (incredibly well!) including on a reimagined Pretty Pink Pills, we had a “full circle” moment when we heard Let It Burn which was recorded at this venue and only ever released as a live track.

Emilia paid tribute to the important people in her life – during Father's Daughter she sang to her Father on Facetime, she dedicated the next song to her ever-worrying mother and of course she praised her wife, tour manager and voice of reason Tammy – “Everybody needs a Tammy”

 

All too soon this show, and the tour, had to come to a close (with a cover of Chris Stapleton’s Fire Away and an encore of Without You) but Emilia can’t sit still for long – she’s already announced her next live shows!

 

An album being recorded, a single release planned for February in London and Manchester all on the heels of a great tour with a change of style.

It seems there is no stopping Emilia.

Find Emilia on Facebook, Instagram and her website and follow her on Spotify

 Silverball Country attended the show as guests of Emilia Quinn

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Single Review - Something 'Bout You - Jessica Lynn

 

Something ‘Bout You is a feel-good story about falling in love and having the most amazing adventures together.

If you follow Jessica on her social media, or you’ve seen her perform live with her band, you’ll know that that one line seems to sum up her (public) life.  Married to Steve who plays lead guitar with the band and touring with her family and close friends, it sure looks like Jessica does have the most amazing adventures, especially as a lot of the gigs they play have a purpose – whether its raising money for toys at Christmas or entertaining US troops.  Jessica and the band have even recently toured in Malaysia where she took part in a panel discussion.

 

The new single is pure Jessica Lynn.  Powerful guitar intro, strong vocals, great instrumentation and a fun, bouncy melody.  The sound of the song creates a feeling of those amazing adventures – the fast pace gives almost a sense of travelling – whether that’s physical or through time, and despite listening to it on a cold misty day in England, for three and half minutes I was transported to long hot summers, and yes, adventures.

There is something nostalgic about the song and I hope it brings everyone listening back to a really special time in their lives

There is!  The song will make you think of a time – for me it conjures up an image of being young, out on our bikes exploring and having fun, but the beauty of music – and this song – is that it will bring out a different memory, a different time for every listener.

Do you wanna come along with me on the adventure of our wildest dreams

Jessica has been described as “Country Arena Rock” and her music sweeps you up, and takes you along with her.  The energy of her live shows has to be experienced, but through singles like this you certainly get a feel for it!

 

Scott Vincent

We look forward to more adventures!

Something 'Bout You, the new single from Jessica Lynn is available to download and stream from Wednesday 16 October

Find Jessica on Facebook and Instagram, and follow her on Spotify

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