http://www.SpiralEarth.co.uk en-us Copyright SpiralEarth.co.uk. All Rights Reserved. Tue, 21 May 2013 19:49:01 GMT 20 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7275 For some the blues never lets up and this Blues Bulletin will cup an ear to what some of the ol' warhorses are up to. These guys took the long road, renewing their creativity with the passing years, and for that we doff our cap. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7275 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7256 Firmly positioned at the poppier end of the roots market are Welsh duo, Paper Aeroplanes, capable of hook-laden radio-friendly treats and a distinct intimacy which leaves a lasting impression of life in the coastal towns of the wild west. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7256 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7211 Chris Wood stands centre stage with a large bodied semi-acoustic guitar flanked by double bass (Neil Harland) and keyboard (Justin Mitchel). But this isn't The Jimmy Smith Trio. And, although there are signs, funky chops aren't the order of the day. However, it is a sizable step which opens doors to pastures new. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7211 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7034 So far reaching has Nick Drake's influence been it's easy to forget he died at twenty-six with only three completed studio albums to his name, the last being released in 1972. Jo Boyd was there at the start giving the fledging performer his first contract, then becoming his producer. Now, almost forty years after Drake's death, Boyd's long planned tribute project has come to fruition. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7034 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7015 The third album from the gifted Niamh Ní Charra, the brilliant fiddle and concertina player has created an album that is both tribute and celebration of a unique mans life. The 'Cuz' of the title is Terry Teahan who emigrated to America in his early twenties in 1923. The Sliabh Luachra musical tradition that he took with him had a huge impact on the music scene over there. Teahan was also a huge help to newly arrived Irish emigrants, telling them who to go to for work and to tell them that they were his cousin, as he called everyone 'Cuz' the name stuck to him. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=7015 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6960 Maybe opposites really do attract. 'Night', a collaborative piece from Simone Dinnerstein and Tift Merritt, contains ample evidence to prove the theory. Some collaborations only lead to compromise, sapping the life from performers, but to hear the sparkle of true artistic enhancement as these two musicians get to rub shoulders is a thrill. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6960 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6942 Live at Band On The Wall in Manchester, 15th March 2013. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6942 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6919 The great song collector Alan Lomax once said, "you can't kill off a culture until you kill the last person who carries it." And, as far as the blues goes, that day is a long way off. Today's scene is bursting with a myriad of diverse talent and a thriving live circuit populated by a fiercely loyal fanbase. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6919 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6870 Caitlin asks the incredibly hushed sell-out audience if we are communicating by telepathy and the enquiry receives a telepathic response. Luckily for us, she's unfazed by the silence, as she hitches up the sleeves of her navy blazer and gets to work. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6870 www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6820 It shows the strength of an artist's personality when they can stamp their authority on an album full of superstars. Not so strange for Heidi Talbot, as the song always comes first, superstars will have to wait. http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=6820