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

If you've enjoyed this review, please give us a follow on our Facebook page and on our Insta 

 

 

 

Single Review - Saving Grace - Georgia Nevada and Emma Moore

 

We’ve hosted both Georgia and Emma onstage at Buckle and Boots and at Millport CMF, and it is fair to say that both give a power performance, both of them can certainly perform on the rock side of country!

With their new single the two have come together to duet a song which is – well, about coming together! Celebrating friends that are always there, even in the middle of the night Saving Grace is a wonderful blend of both singers and rather than being purely “country rock” it actually blends the two styles together – a powerful country song but written and performed with the rock edge that we have seen from both of them. 

You will be drawn in by the acapella opening, you might think you’re going to hear a ballad until that guitar kicks in.  The opening lines describe the friendship

I’m your front row, first in line, call me up in the middle of the night.

And then the rock hits you, showing you the energy of that friendship.  This isn’t just about sharing secrets and confidences but the fierceness of having your friend’s back through everything

From the cradle to the grave

My sounding board and saving grace

Opened by that pure vocal, the rest of the track is absolutely driven by the guitar, with Emma and Georgia’s voices combining and taking control.

This an anthem to friendship, to supporting each other through troubles – and maybe sometimes causing some mischief, together

This is not a song that can fade out – the last few seconds we revert to just those two voices…together.

Saving Grace, the new single from Georgia Nevada and Emma Moore is available to download and stream from Friday 24 February

Find and follow Georgia  on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify

Emma is also on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify

 

If you've enjoyed this review, please give us a follow on our Facebook page and on our Insta 

Single Review - Wish I Could Give You Up - Katy Hurt

 

At first glance the new single from Katy Hurt - Wish I Could Give you Up - is a love song, the classic story of being in love but wishing you could move on, realising that they aren’t right for you, but knowing that you will never be able to

“I wish I could give you up but you’re in my blood”

In this case though Katy isn’t singing about a guy, she’s singing about the absolute love of her life, the highs and lows of being a musician!  Yes, this time its about music and performing.  Katy herself tells us that she has given her whole life to music, that music has been what she turns to for joy and in her darkest hours but in with the highs there are inevitable lows.  This isn’t the first time that Katy has written about the genuine struggles of a musician, her previous single “Sounds Good In A Bar” was alone the same theme, although this latest singe is more about the deeper personal relationship.

When you reassess a relationship, sometimes the outcome is that you stay, work at it and continue, and that would certainly be the outcome we all selfishly hope for with Katy!

Even with an emotive and personal subject, Katy makes the song light and poppy.  Her voice grabs you from the opening lines, the backing instrumentation carries us along, the drum beat punctuating the story as the melody and song builds with the emotion that is being expressed.

 

Don’t give up Katy!

Wish I Could Give You Up, the new single from Katy Hurt is available to download and stream now

You can find and follow Katy on Facebook, Instagram and on Spotify

If you've enjoyed this review, please give us a follow on our Facebook page and on our Insta 

Single Review - Along The Hippie Trail - Richard Gregory

We were intrigued when we recently received an email that said “I humbly submit” and went on to describe the song as “Country and Eastern”

How could we not take a listen? The polite artiste is Richard Gregory, the song All Along The Hippie Trail

Richard Gregory is not a familiar name to us, so the next step was to take a look at the bio.  Intriguing?  And some!  To say that Richard has “done some things in his life” would be a massive understatement!  It looks like he has packed several lifetimes into his mere 65 years on the planet, stretching from his native Shepherds Bush all the way to Kathmandu.

A signwriter (a real one), writer, editor, IT genius, father, “always a freak but never a hippie” and a musician, you feel that Richard could write albums of music about his life, but for now we must content ourselves with a single song about his 1974 trip from west London to Kathmandu by bus (the 207 from outside Shepherds Bush Market?).

Richard says the song includes a little poetic licence – I think it was also written and recorded with a little tongue in cheek too!  It has what can only be described as a unique sound, combining guitar, harmonica and eastern influenced pipes.  Its not a slick recording, but that adds to the charm.  It certainly includes the country tradition of storytelling.  There’s travel, there’s a girl, there’s reminiscing – truly country, whilst not necessarily being country!  The repeated “Far East Far East man” and reference to the green eyed yellow idol will make you crack a smile!

Without a doubt, this song is not quite the usual music that we are sent or listen to, but it is different, its fun and you will be singing along to the chorus before long.

If you don’t write the full album Richard, can we have a drink and hear some more stories from you?

All Along the Hippie Trail, the new single from Richard Gregory is available to purchase from Bandcamp or stream now on Spotify

To read more about the fascinating Richard, check his website

If you've enjoyed this review, please give us a follow on our Facebook page and on our Insta 

Single Review - Blame It On The Rain - Jack Galloway

 

Jack describes his new single Blame it on the rain as “country meets 80s rock power-ballad” but while it has elements of both, it is in fact a heartfelt love song – a love song to the love that he has lost.

Our storyteller is missing his love, but he is trying to be brave or he’s not admitting it to himself, he keeps telling himself he is over them.  If he cries – Blame It on The Rain or anything else going on.

As the tale progresses he denies that he cares, he denies that he misses her he denies that he is thinking of her, but the truth is apparent – he does care, he does miss her and he doesn’t want to think that the love he had could cause him these feelings or this pain.

Jack has a surprisingly gentle voice, with some great instrumentation backing the vocal.  The track has that country storytelling vibe but in a modern style, and there is certainly 80s influence with the dramatic key changes and drum track.  The video to accompany the song also has that moody, night-time 80s feel, shot around London really adding to the emotion of the song.

The mix of styles works, not sure if denying your feelings works though!

Blame It On The Rain, the new single from Jack Galloway is available on all major platforms from Friday 13 November

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

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

Single review - Front Porch - Emily Lockett

 

It is more usual to see and hear Staffordshire’s  Emily Lockett performing with just her and her guitar, but with her new single Front Porch we have a fuller, more produced sound – although still with her distinctive voice.

Emily often points out that her songs are written from imagination rather than actual experience as she hasn’t yet been through all the troubles that are the staples of Country Music – and on this occasion the topic is breakups, where both sides should have fought harder to save the relationship.  They should be on the Front Porch pleading and explaining.

Despite her lack of experiences Emily always succeeds in creating the image of the story she is telling as she is a talented song writer, and with her young age she has time and talent to simply keep improving.

Despite being mostly recorded and produced in lockdown with Tim Prottey- Jones and Honey Ryder’s Matt Bishop Front Porch has a very polished sound, adding to Emily’s usual simple style with drums, electric guitar and additional vocal

The song repeatedly asks “why weren’t you standing on my front porch” but with a twist it ends with “I should be standing right on your front porch” highlighting that you need to people to make a relationship work.

Currently studying at Manchester’s BIMM, Front Porch shows that Emily is still developing her style as a musician, not afraid to push on and try new things while still holding true to her traditional song-writing style and confident delivery – as she demonstrated just about a year ago at the British Country Music Festival where she not only performed one of the first sets but also on the outdoor stage for the people of Blackpool. 

Front Porch - the new single from Emily Lockett is available to stream and download from today

Find and follow Emily on Facebook, her website, Spotify - and on the front porch!

Single Review - Love at Night - Gareth Heesom

 

Songwriters take their inspiration from many places, but with his new single Love At Night, Gareth Heesom was inspired by an Instagram post of a piece of artwork that hangs on his wall next to his acoustic guitar, that sparked a conversation with the artist.

Opening – fittingly - with a gentle acoustic guitar, Gareth’s vocals and style are reminiscent of the 70s folk/country crossover artistes – especially Michael Nesmith’s Flying Down To Rio.

The song is a soft and relaxing, a gentle night-time feel, veering more to the folk side of Country music, Gareth himself describes it

For much of the song I wanted to blur the lines between painting and music, I wanted it to feel like a song you would hear in the middle of the night, a feeling, a moment.

You can almost feel that for Gareth the guitar is his paintbrush, his words are the colours of the artwork and for anyone who isn’t familiar with the Remi Labarre painting, the young man in the hat sat at the bar is not in a happy place tonight, but beyond the image the overall effect on the painting fading away with the whiteness of the background trying to claim back the canvas adds to the despair.

This isn’t a song to rock a festival stage, but it is certainly one to sit back and listen to, allow to wash over you. The song and those long lingering notes, and the dark imagery of the dark lack, loneliness and thoughts of disappearing and overflowing red wine are one take on the painting but they compliment each other.  There is an accompanying video that Gareth thinks is the best way to fully appreciate the song alongside the artist that provided the inspiration.

Love at Night has already been played as our single of the Week – and you can stream and download it this week from Friday

Find and follow Gareth on Facebook, Instagram, on his website and on Spotify

Single Review - Way Past Words - Jesse Lopez

 

This is a love song, it’s a dedication to a girl that he really likes, to him, she already holds his heart in her hands.  However, he finds it easier to show his love than talk about it. His feelings are way past words

Way Past Words is the new single from Jesse Lopez.

Opening with a slow acoustic guitar and gorgeous soaring steel, Jesse’s vocals have a unique sound, reflecting his Mexican-Italian heritage as he tells his own love song.  While the underlying style is country, this isn’t chewin’ tobacco country, it’s a softer, more gentle song but very much in the storytelling style that we expect from Country music.

Its love song from personal experience, it’s his truth and perhaps it might be yours too.  In Jesse’s own words

I was in love with my girl long before we had ever even kissed. I’m such a physical touch type of person, that sometimes expressing my love comes down to an intimate setting... cause I guess from my perspective, nothing says I love you like a little physical attention.

Jesse’s vocals very much carry the whole song, the instrumentation doesn’t overpower but provides a background melody allowing the focus to be on the words and the story.

Its not big night out music, but easy listening, one to relax to and share with someone you like…

Way Past Words, the new single from Jesse Lopez is available to download and stream from all major platforms

You can find and follow Jesse on Facebook  on his website and on Spotify

Single Review - Come On Over - Kyle Elliott

Not to be confused with the Shania Twain hit, Come on Over is a tale of romancing the girl and regretting missed chances.  Opening with drums and a very Country electric guitar riff, Kyle has a gruff Southern accent telling us about the pretty girl he is longing for – in fact   he’s made a real effort by arranging “a bottle of wine and candlelight”.

Whatever went wrong, he admits to being “same old me, same old fool” but he’s hopeful, almost pleading, that she will come on over, particularly as he drives by her house. There aren’t many alternatives in a small town.

It’s not just about the romance though, as Kyle reminds us that you can’t turn back the hands on the clock, and in fact he’s thinking back to the past and wishing he could have a second chance.  We aren’t told what went wrong, but “the old bottle of wine’s empty and the candles burned down too”.

It’s an all too recognisable tale and maybe you are rooting for him – Kyle says: 

Come On Over’ describes a scenario that I think a lot of us can put ourselves in. Wishing we could go back and get a second chance. This was an easy song to write and I must admit that songs that are true and come from within are typically the ones that write themselves like ‘Come On Over’ did.

Kyle is influenced from the likes of Randy Travis, Chris Stapleton & Eric Church, but this song reminds me of Jake Owen – The One That Got Away

It is smoother than Love hangover released earlier this year but on the same topic.

Despite the regret and loss, the song has a strong beat, drive for driving along to bit also worth a spin on the dance floor.

Truth, lost love and an old Ford; sure sounds like a winning Country song!

Can he come on over to the UK soon please?

Come On Over, the new single from Kyle Elliott is available on all major platforms from Friday 7 August

Find and follow Kyle on Facebook, his website and on spotify

EP Review - Firecracker - Emilia Quinn

If you’ve ever met Emilia Quinn in person or followed her career you might think that Firecracker is a great way to describe this feisty little Leeds Tyke – so its an obvious choice for the title of her new EP

Ready Right Now opens the EP with a statement of intent.  From the urgent acoustic guitar intro which builds in volume, power and pace into Emilia’s softer, folky vocal to the picked up drum beat the song shows Emilia’s song writing skills and style, using changes of pace and repetitive phrasing where the words vary ever so slightly with each line to make a point

Ready right now, ready to find out, ready to fight now

As the song builds the instruments build with it - from acoustic guitar to drums to electric guitar dropping back to that repetitive beat for the chorus

The song also showcases Emilia’s range from that mellow vocal at the opening to her rocky country voice – it’s a great choice for the opening track

We sent the EP over to the Queen of crossing genres Sam Coe for a listen, and in her words

I love it! I would refer to this as new outlaw country 

She’s got loads of traditional influences in there, it’s just got proper grit. Could hear it on lots of tv shows... feels like her voice is held back throughout then you just get those WHAM moments when she lets the gruffness out.

Emilia loves to put a twist in her songs, demonstrated in Nothing To Lose – opening with a slow vocal , then the powerful voice takes us up a gear and into a faster toe tapping rhythm, but that doesn’t disguise the emotion in the song, punctuated by that powerful voice Emilia has.  Able to change tempo at will, you just have to listen to what she is telling you.

Drunk has a heavy beat from the abrupt spoken intro, the song shows the power of Emilia’s voice and the raw edge to her music. Every EP, every album needs the song that you can visualise being blasted out from a festival stage, and for Firecracker this is the one.

Emilia’s own favourite track on the EP is Outlaw. it starts almost stripped back, with a great, solid beat and Emilia’s sass all over it.  If Drunk is the “blast it from stage” track then this is the live show encore that will have you stamping your feet rather than tapping your toes and singing along by the first chorus

Outlaw Outlaw show me what you got

sounds like a direct challenge – and you get the feeling that Emilia can issue and stand up to any challenge!

Show me who’s the baddest bitch in the land

Judging by this track, and this EP – its you Emilia!

Firecracker, the new EP from Emilia Quinn is available on all major platforms from Friday 24 July

You can find and follow Emilia on Facebook  her website  and on Spotify