Happy Tenth Anniversary Buckle and Boots!

Since 2016 there’s been nine actual festivals and one that didn’t involve tents and queuing for showers – yes, that one affected by “the C Word!”!  Many of you will have been counting on your fingers this weekend to check how many you’ve been to – and we did the same whilst looking around to see what’s new!

A boat! - An English sparkling wine (Harlot) boat to be accurate that if you didn’t come to say hi, it serves different types of spritz.  Sorry no Hawkstone, I have asked that the umbrella is changed for next year, but there is plenty of Hawkstone everywhere else – as Jeremy Clarkson would say “The most Hawkstone taps...in the world”

The big deck chair, anniversary buckles (thanks Bro-Kin Strings) and embossed belts (The Lodge) and football jerseys together with other merchandise, including the return of handled cups.

What have we lost?

Dark fruits, frozen cocktails and the suicidal wasps, the old portacabins, the tin roof bar with the dodgy floor …

There is still a love/hate relationship with chairs, confusion over tokens, Alan Finlan popping up to play music anywhere and everywhere, Man BBQ  (after their glow up) and other great food. Grainne and her violin and the rest of the Country Orchestra. Straw sticking to bums and the signs to pose by.

We weren’t at the farm in 2016, but the next year we both came as day visitors – albeit on separate days.  By 2018, having got to know Karl and Laura, we were asked to come to support the bar (because of our previous experience in hospitality) – and it was just one bar then! It’s hard to forget the bar on the tilt, tall people at one end and shorter people at the other, but what some one of you might not have realised (unless you listened in one Monday morning) that it was still a cow shed, and they had to be moved and the area cleaned for the festival.

Since that year we’ve supported every “live” festival - in that time, like most of you we’ve witnessed standout moments on stage (and hidden a few offstage moments too) career defining main stage performances, barn storming ones on Paddock Stage. We’ve camped, slept on sofas, hunted for morning coffee, experienced problems with the showers just like you, alongside listening to the music and making some great friends.  We’ve laughed and cried alongside you.

We have also rolled beer barrels, carried hay bales, found UK phone chargers for American performers, arranged 13 late night burgers for Brett Kissel and his crew, found and applied sun cream, located replacement guitars and replacement violin bows!  Basically, we’ve always got stuck in and done what needs doing to help you have the best experience.

We’ve made the Paddock Stage our home for seven festivals, watching the festival grow alongside the artists, who have gone from solo acoustic sets to headline slots , been on hand to hype them up before their show, find them water and meet their other drinking needs and give a reassuring hug afterwards, helping them find the green room and escorting to meet and greet.

 

We’ve shared “you had to be there” moments – The Songwriters round that was just too good to end (so we kind of didn’t!), the power blowing during Sunday Service (Jeremy McComb), a guitar kicked across the stage (Jeremy again) T Shirts being swapped on stage and of course Kezia Gill writing “I’m Here” overnight, which we helped turn into a movement.

 

Buckle and Boots has thrived because of the genuine community feel, it embraces the country family. It doesn’t matter if you attend alone or bring the whole family (dogs most definitely included), whether it’s your 1^st time or the 10^th, you will make friends and be able to mingle with the artists. The homely feel starts with the Hancocks (and Robinsons) who share their home with us, the big volunteer community that keeps the bars open, the beautiful setting (in Etherow County Park) and the chilled atmosphere.  Not forgetting Big Joe who many will know keeps everything working and the water and toilets flowing., and Gavin & Christine Chittick who take time out from their own events to support the festival.

Thanks to the Hancocks and Gary Quinn, the festival offers the opportunity to see stripped back talent in the writer’s rounds and the Sunday Service but also continues to focus on emerging artists both home-grown and from all over the world - Australia, Canada and the US to name a few - resulting in the opportunity for people to discover new favourites.

These days Buckle and Boots goes on tour, with Switzerland being the latest location to benefit from all that has been learnt. We wish Laura luck and hope that no artists or guitars are lost and this trip avoids any ambulances (Australian trip for those are inquisitive).

 

Buckle and Boots was our first taste of festival trials and tribulations and since then we have been able to support Millport CMF and Pure Country Music and Dance. We have eaten, drunk and shopped alongside you, whether you be an attendee, a trader, an artist, paid staff or volunteer. 

You won’t see our name on the line up, but we’re proud of our contribution to the ten years and to the wider UK Country scene.

Until next time.

 

Gig Review - Jade Helliwell Rebegin Tour - Hare and Hounds Birmingham

 

If you’re heading off to see Jade Helliwell on her rebegin tour this week, make sure you’re there in time for the opener – Matt Rogers.  Matt is a Nashville based singer songwriter with a humble demeanour, a great talent for storytelling and clearly – from some of his songs – a rather cheeky side!

Matt worked hard to awaken the Tuesday night crowd, throwing out options for song choice, not being defined by a set list. He even taught them “Holla and Swalla”

 

Despite the big, deep voice, Matt comes across as humble, giving the backstory to each song. He is bound to hook you in. Warning though, he not a fan of the cosplay cowboy, hailing as he does from a farm in Atlanta.

 

The room grew darker and the band (Arnie, Harry and Luke) took to the stage first, before Jade made her entrance. In room 1 of the Hare and Hounds the artists must make their way from the back of the room, across the dance floor and up a flight of steps.  Later than advertised, it was a confident entrance and Jade looked great (especially having a 5-month baby) in a black bodysuit, sparkly trousers and cow-print arm tassels.  No messing, straight into her opening number, full of energy.

Although the tour and album are called “Rebegin”, when Jade took to the stage, it was the Jade we know and love. 

Jade played a mixture of old and new music including the 2022 BCMA Single of the Year – Smoke.  Asking if there were any couples in the audience, she decided “How Love Goes” to them, rather than husband Luke. Incorporating their names in the same and a slight hint at another baby (“a house built for 4”) she displayed not just her writing skills (it’s absolutely one of her best songs) but her sense of humour and ability to interact with the crowd. The performance and vocals probably belong on a West End stage belting out musical theatre.

After ending with “Drink You Outta My Mind”; Jade briefly exited the stage, returning for the encore with “Women I am”, despite Luke’s claims that they “didn’t know any more songs”.

Motherhood hasn’t slowed Jade down at all, a new album, a tour and booked up for an array of country festivals this summer -  but it has influenced her merch, adding a Baby grow to the mix alongside her first vinyl album!

Don’t worry if you not got your tickets for this rest of this tour yet -  Tickets -  you can catch up with both Matt (with full band) and Jade at Buckle and Boots Festival in May.

 

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

 Silverball Country attended the show as guests of Jade Helliwell and UK Country Live

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Album Review - Rebegin - Jade Helliwell

 

What can we say about Jade that we haven’t said before?  We’ve known Jade both professionally and personally for years now, spent time with her on festival stages, green rooms, award shows and in quieter moments post show and during those festivals.  Although her arrival on the scene was pretty spectacular (how many views now on THAT video?) and despite winning many awards, Jade is still – well, Jade!

We’ve all seen her sing her own creations, duet with other UK artists and absolutely rock the stage with the Honky Tonk Roadshow and those big finale shows at Buckle and Boots, we’ve seen her play intimate shows with all the same energy and professionalism too.

Performer, songwriter and now mother, Jade has never sat still.  Never really “re-inventing” herself, Jade keeps pushing, pushing at the industry, pushing at the genre and pushing at herself.  Girls Night In, The Company You Keep, Do You Know Any Oasis, One Night Stand – it feels like there’s just no limits!

Its not scattergun though, Jade is taking stock of her life and career, which leads us to her new album.  Rebegin is as much a statement as a body of work.  We’ve heard some of the tracks as singles, we’ve heard some live, but put together it shows us where Jade is, and where she’s going.  Blending emotional songs (Rebegin, Monster) with pure power (Drink You Outta My Mind) the focus is on her vocal, although with husband Luke Thomas in her corner, the instrumentation is obviously superb.  The vocal – even the slower tracks have power to them, Jade sings them like she means every word, because she does!  The words themselves are powerful, with the album featuring additional writing by producer Alyssa Bonagura, Laura Oakes, Phil Donnelly, and Jessica Thristan.  The writing reflects Country – it’s honest storytelling, and it comes from the heart.

So, great vocals, great instrumentation, great songwriting.  An album that means something and is very listenable.  What else could we ask for?  Well, a tour obviously!  Live performances are the backbone of music, especially Country.  You can sit at home listening to this album (and you really should!) but to hear it live, to hear Jade talk about the songs (we can’t imagine Jade on stage not talking!) has to be the best way to experience it. 

Playing across the UK from April 20 you can catch Jade in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, and Leeds before she takes a breath ahead of festival season, starting at Buckle and Boots.

I changed my name, changed my address and I let some people go.  I got a baby on the way, something I didn’t think Id say for a while, but I wouldn’t change a thing, I’m ready to rebegin.

It’s a new chapter for Jade in so many ways, and we’re thrilled to see it – and excited for what comes next!

Rebegin, The new album from Jade Helliwell is available to presave now and download from Friday 20 March.  Tickets for the Rebegin tour can be found on her website.

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

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Single Review - Glitter Curtain - Scarlett Whincup

 The airing of TV shows such as American Idol/Pop idol, the Voice and American/Britain’s Got Talent, many individuals are looking for the fast track to success, with rapid exposure and a helping hand to kick start a music career. However, for many (and definitely before the mid-1990s) exposure meant playing and singing as much as possible, often on the social club circuit.

We have heard of this experience before: Kezia Gill sings about her father making it on his own, singing for a living in the back street bars in Local Man’s Star.  Well, when you get people of a certain age together, add a little alcohol to the mix, they talk about shared experiences.

That’s exactly what happened at a certain festival in Leicestershire last year. Laughing about the poor facilities, the “you need to move your car”, the incorrect names and bingo takes priority, it was agreed that one item made all the difference in everyone’s eyes. The glitter curtain, no matter the size it announced the entrance of the performer and commanded quite a lot of respect, if only for 5 minutes until you decided if they were any good.

It was agreed that it would make an excellent song title.

Scarlett Whincup has delivered, singing about her own real-life experiences. Giving tribute to that Glitter Curtain where it all began and continued to grow.  "A kid in cowboy boots" is a subtle hint at her young age when she started, reflecting her love of singing regardless of the setting or the number in the audience.

  With a distinctive start, guitar and drums, Scarlett’s deep voice that hints at her Yorkshire roots sets the scene and tells her own story of being the one on stage under the spotlight. If you have ever been in a social club, you can picture the stage and all the antics that happen in front of it that threaten to disrupt the performance.  Scarlett has given you a peek behind the scenes - dust, clutter, let’s not mention the sink, and a mirror covered in stickers, but one that shows who you will be compared to. She also talks of the family support needed along the journey.

Despite the tale, it is upbeat and will have you toe tapping along, you may even join Scarlett with a smile when she tells of the smile on her own face. The tempo gently increases and you’ll be struggling to stay still and not join in before the song is halfway through.  It’s heart-warming and should give you confidence.

Watch out for the accompanying line dance which is being choreographed by Alex Wise (Wise Move line dancing and Co-founder of Pure Country Music and Dance Festival).

Scarlet isn’t hiding in the shadows these days and has a busy schedule on top of a full-time job, jumping into any open-mic spot that opens. So, there is plenty of opportunities to see her perform live. Check out her website:

scarlettwhincup.co.uk/

I should add that a few other titles were also suggested, so fingers crossed for a full-on album soon.

 

Glitter Curtain, the new single from Scarlett Whincup is available to pre-save now and download/stream from Thursday 12 September.

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

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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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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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