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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EP Review - Kiss Me Cowboy - Tommy Atkins

 

Tommy Atkins is back with his first EP following up the success of his two single releases Cinderella’s Had A Drink and his country Cover of Freedom.  Both of these are included on the EP along with new tracks Wild in the Wind and the title track Kiss Me Cowboy

Kiss Me Cowboy is not just another cowboy love song –this time it’s about LGBT acceptance, but also just about acceptance generally.  Opening with acoustic guitar and violin, with drums giving us the rhythm, the strings really add to the mood of the song, providing almost a second vocal.

The song contains strong emotion without being overly emotional, contains a message without preaching.

As before, despite being from the North East UK, Tommy has written about classic Country themes – the setting of a country fair, reference to a truck - the imagery is all there and it is easy to picture the scenes as they play out through the song almost as though watching it on a screen.  It’s a story of a relationship that meets with disapproval, two people fighting against parents and – in this case – against prejudice.  Finding those moments, away from everyone where you feel safe to ask “Kiss me, cowboy”. Tommy voice is quieter than normal, a hush effect that helps explain the situation.

Although the ending isn’t quite fairy tale, the story isn’t quite finished and there is certainly hope in there – hope that their love will survive distance and hope for acceptance.

Tommy has won awards and nominations not just for his music but for being a positive role model in the LGBT community, and surely, he will continue to be recognised in both fields.  Tommy’s first single – Cinderella’s Had a Drink – was nominated for our own Silverball Country Awards and lost out only due to very tough competition

 

The second new track - Wild In The Wind – is a very listenable relaxing track, showcasing Tommy’s voice against a varied instrumental, with drums, guitar, strings, pedal steel, and dobro.  In a way it’s another love song, but a tribute to a lost friend, quite wistful with the emotion again supported by the violin and very subtle backing vocals from Anna Pearson. 

It’s a song about wanting to go back and experience all those firsts again with your friend, looking on the brighter side of life. The friend in every memory, forever 17 in the shot gun seat and wild in the wind. The friend you miss and would give anything to see again. 

It’s a perfect ending to this 4 track EP

  

Kiss Me Cowboy, the new EP from Tommy Atkins is available to download and stream now on all major platforms

Find and follow Tommy on Facebook, his website and on Spotify

Music Video Review - When I See You - Danny McMahon

Danny McMahon, a rising star of UK Country music, has come of age. 

“When I See You” shows a really developed, mature side to his music – even his distinctive singing voice sounds to have mellowed in this track. 

Written by a friend as a tribute to his grandfather, Danny felt particularly honoured to be asked to sing this, as he explained at a recent gig when he performed it to an appreciative audience

Originally the single was released in October 2018 and hit #1 on the iTunes Country Chart, Danny has now had the opportunity to make a video to accompany it, which will be released on 26 April 2019, although a teaser is now available

The video itself is a combination of evocative performance shots cut with original home videos of Danny growing up, focusing on his relationship with his own grandfather and his extended family, but through very ordinary scenes captured at various occasions. It is the very “ordinariness” that adds to the emotion of the video – and on first watching I honestly had tears in my eyes and chills down my spine.

While this style of video storytelling is not unique, it works so well for this song and had been put together really well - surely it will be in the ward shortlists later this year, it will certainly be considered for a "Silver Ball"

Both the song and the video are not just a memorial, but a celebration of a life lived, of a life shared, a life that has impacted on others – and lives that must still be lived.

When the video is released later this month, have a Kleenex to hand, a drink to loved ones, and raise that glass to Harold Evans, 1927 - 2004

Song Review - "Dear Country Music" by Lars Pluto and The Reavers

Our recent Silverball Country Awards – “The Silver Balls” saw us recognise Lars Pluto as our Male Singer of the year.  His Georgia accent means that anything he sings will always sound country, but with Lars it goes much deeper than that – as his new singe “Dear Country Music” explains

Starting off as a country lament this song very quickly -  having firmly established the theme - kicks up a gear into a very up tempo country number, with the unmistakable traditional sounds of tick tock percussion, fiddle and pedal steel

There can be no doubt when listening to this that not only is Lars the real deal in terms of his country sound but also that he believes strongly in the country sound being the Real Deal -  there's certainly nothing electronic on this track, just traditional country sounds for a country song lamenting and demanding to know how and why the music that is called country music seems to have changed so much

Through the song Lars switches from questioning and mocking the almost plastic country fan image of trucker and trucker cap to pleading with country music for an answer, for an explanation for the change from the old days, for what has perhaps been lost

If you want to know how country music should be Lars will tell you throughout the song - the themes, the instruments, the style - but it doesn't come across as a lesson, it doesn't come across even as ranting because “Dear Country Music” actually comes across as a feel good look back at traditional country music. I first heard Lars sing this live and felt from that first time that it is very listenable - you cannot listen to this without tapping your foot and singing along, although with some of the language used maybe don’t sing it in front of Grandma!Top of Form

Lars himself describes the song as

 “a letter to the greatest love of my life which seems to be going through an identity crisis”

And reminds us that

“somewhere right now there's a honky tonk band tuning up and getting ready to pick and grin all night long for the hard working and hard drinking folks who like to hear their country music the way it's meant to sound. No snap tracks, no auto tune, no sampled drum beats, no dishonest swindlers trying to sell us on how "country" they are. It's three chords and the truth. So tell the truth.”

Three chords and the truth – the way Country Music should be?  Lars Pluto thinks so

“Dear Country Music by Lars Pluto and the Reavers is released on Thursday 24 January – Lars’ 40^th Birthday

Now Y’all know what to buy him as a present!

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Song Review - Tequila's A Healer by Gasoline & Matches

After an amazing breakthrough year, opening at festivals, playing huge stages and bagging Duo of the Year at the BCMA British Country Music Association Awards, Gasoline & Matches have given us all a Christmas Present this year by releasing their latest single on Christmas Eve.

More stripped back than the rest of the EP, Tequila's A Healer really brings into focus Sally Rea Morris' vocals with Steven Marks harmonies and a stunning, almost plaintive, guitar solo

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The co-star of this piece is the 40 year old 12 string Epiphone guitar - although its our heart strings that are tugged and plucked in this song of lost love and memories of those loved ones

The song is raw and emotive, in Sally's own words:

"‘We all lose someone we love, and there’s always those things that remind you of them. It’s those memories that keep them alive in your heart and I hope this song helps remind you of that.” 

Do yourself a favour, download this track and play it while sipping a glass of a smooth bourbon, whilst toasting those lost loves, (Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey for us)

Download Tequila's A Healer

The Silver Balls - Silverball Country Awards 2018 pt 2

Part 2 of our Silver Balls - the awards for the best we saw in 2018....

Best Duo

At Silverball Country we are big fans of all Country music - new and old, established acts and the new, independent artistes. These awards are focused on acts that we have seen and heard, and on those who are promoting Country Music in the UK. There aren't many "big" acts from the UK yet but one duo in particular can probably claim to be the face (at the moment) of UK Country. 
Our award for *Duo of the Year*, in recognition of the music they make, the albums they have sold and the mainstream attention that they bring to UK country music goes to the biggest act on the list - The Shires

Best Musician

Lets face it - all these singers are nothing without the bands behind them! There are some amazing musicians on the UK country scene, whether it is Johnny Pedals on the pedal steel, Steven John Marks making a guitar do things I didn't know they could do, or Luke Thomas playing guitar for...well, almost everyone...we are spoiled by the talent out there. One performer though is a class above. Rik first saw this musician at Buckle & Boots Country Festival when he was told that he really MUST go to the main stage. Francesca was already there and loved the show, and was able to confirm this at the BCMAS 2018 when we sent some time chatting after the show

Our Silver Ball for best musician goes to Sarah Jory

Group Of The Year

Some of these categories were really tough to judge because there are so many potential winners, and this category is no exception! One of the myriad wonderful things about Country Music is the fact that so many performers are in bands, with combinations of instruments bringing out a different or bigger sound.

One such UK band combine music and voices so well, change up the tempo and are getting the recognition they deserve, both across UK festivals and even on Radio2 where Michael Ball is a self confessed big fan.

Our Silver Ball for Group of the Year goes to The Wandering Hearts

Entertainer Of The Year

We weren't sure about including this category - because we weren't entirely sure what it means, but it did get us thinking. 

Live music performances in our opinion - is not simply down to musicianship, its about putting on a show, getting the crowd going and really leaving an impression. Whether it is on stage banter, sheer energy, coming into the audience singing 80s pop tunes, we'd probably all want to see an "entertainer". 

Phil Vassar provided all of these things on his recent tour - long intros to songs, engaging with the crowd (there was no set list!) and a cracking after show in Bilston, we would therefore like to award Entertainer of the Year to the amazing Phil Vassar

Best Female Vocalist

We wanted to choose a solo artiste for this award, someone known for performing as them self, rather than fronting a band. With this in mind, and based n 2018 there was really only one choice. With a fantastic voice whether on a big stage, a small event or even on a street corner with a busker (!) our Female Vocalist Silver Ball goes to Jade Helliwell

Best Male Vocalist

Same criteria - and a this one is a bit...unexpected? There were some obvious contenders - runners up if you will. Gary Quinn, Darren from the Southern Companion - both excellent singers (Darren is singing solo quite a bit now) and both great songwriters.

There is one artiste that Rik has met a couple of times but Francesca hadn't heard of. Francesca then started to talk about an Artiste she had seen on one of the stages at C2C, a guy with a genuinely Country voice, a country style. Its a voice that can ONLY sing country. On checking the video, it was the same guy! If you haven't seen it, check the vie of him singing "Oh Holy Night"

Our Silver Ball for best Male Vocalist goes to Lars Pluto

Best Gig of 2018

I'll be honest, we argued. We talked. We discussed. We argued some more.

How do you decide what is the best gig? Or even what constitutes a gig rather than an event?

Francesca had a great time at the Brothers Osborne, the energy in the room was amazing. Rik saw Luke Combs in Birmingham - it was one long party

Francesca thought that Live In The Living Room was such great value for money, but sadly under-attended. Rik has met so many new (to him) artistes at Gasoline and Matches' Nashville Suns In The Round, Jenn Bostic's album launch for Revival was a great evening, Carousel at the Hare and Hounds was our first formal review

So many great gigs and events, so many new friends made over the past year that we simply can't award a Silver Ball - so to you all, feel nominated! We look forward to a new year of music, gigs and friends and if you are planning a gig - please drop us a line, we'd love to come, see you and write it up afterwards!

The Silver Balls - Silverball Country Awards 2018 Pt 1

We at Silverball Country wanted to give our own awards for standout Artistes that we have seen and heard in 2018, plus events we have been to - kind of our review for the year!

The awards were carefully thought about, discussed and voted n by our panel of experts - both of us!

Not everyone will always agree with awards when they are announced - so why not tell us who YOUR nominations would have been!

First announced on our Facebook page SilverballCountry, here is the full list of the Silver Balls 2018!

Best Event

We wanted this to reflect anything that wasn't a "gig", and we have both been to a range of events this year. Nashville Meets London was a great day out an a chance to meet up with lots of friends (the picnic blanket needs to be a more official meeting place next year!) Live in the Living Room was a fabulous day that Francesca really enjoyed - (although it would have been nice to see a bigger attendance)

But in terms of both of us having a fantastic time, meeting friends and making new ones, working long hours but going to bed each night smiling - the crown and first ever "Silver Ball" goes to.....

Buckle & Boots Country Festival - with our massive thanks to Laura, Jan and Karl Hancock making us feel so welcome and valued!

The Buckle & Boots Buckle!

Best Video

We don't necessarily see a lot of videos as we are both big fans of live gigs - and we've been to a lot of those! There was an absolute stand out video this year though. Rik was delighted to meet this band at Buckle & Boots Country Festival and get an early copy of their EP, and Francesca has met the boys on a couple of occasions - including meeting up with Yannick at the NYE bash at Under The Bridge.

The Silver Ball for best video is awarded - without any argument at all - To Backwoods Creek for their incredible video to "When I Grow Up" A great song, a great message, a great story and a great sentiment

#ForChris

When I Grow Up Video

Album of the Year. 

There have been a couple of stand out albums - The Lounge Recordings by Gary Quinn is worth a listen or three, and Revival by Jenn Bostic is a huge step in her career but for us the award goes to an album so good they released it twice -

The Wandering Hearts with "Wild Silence". We saw and met these guys this year, and they are fabulous live AND recorded!

Song of the Year

Between us we have had an amazing year hearing a huge number of artistes singing a huge number of amazing songs. Some of them make us dance, some fill our eyes with tears. 

One in particular made us stop, listen again...and again and again. It is quite different from the rest of the band's catalogue, and that is why we have agreed that the song of the year 2018 is

Backwoods Creek with "When I Grow Up"

Beautifully written, so evocative with the lyrics and performed with so much feeling - it stands out even without the Silver Ball winning video

#ForChris

Backwoods Creek with Francesca and Rik of Silverball Country

Best Newcomer

We were tempted to award this to ourselves, as 2018 was the year that Francesca and Rik really became immersed in the UK country scene - and that means that we have been able to watch some new artistes grow over the past 12 months

We met Danny McMahon at Buckle & Boots Country Festival 2018 when he camped next to us, and again when he performed on the Paddock Stage. An unassuming guy with floppy hair and bags of talent, Danny has discovered and grown his love of country music - and it shows in every performance. From Paddock stage to headline UK tour and appearances at songwriters events all over the country Danny McMahon is destined for big things and therefore he is the obvious choice for the Silver Ball for best Newcomer

Danny McMahon performing at the BCMAs

One To Watch

We felt that we had to add an award at this stage. Both of us have seen - at different events - a new artiste who is doing an excellent job of establishing himself, although he is yet to release any music. With a very distinctive singing style, we are certain that we will be seeing an awful lot more of Stevie O'Connor in 2019 - and we are looking forward to catching up with him again, so a special "One To Watch" award goes to Stevie O'Connor

Stevie O'Connor at Live in The Living Room