Sunday 22nd September
12.00 MA POLAINE'S GREAT DECLINE
13.00 THE KIRKLAND TURN
14.00 TROUBADOR ROSE
15.00 THE ELY PLAINS
16.00 DAN RAZA + THE SHROUDS
17.00 THE ABSENTEES
Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
MA POLAINE’S GREAT DECLINE
Sunday 22 September 12.00 - Riverside Stage
Ma Polaine's Great Decline play a highly potent mix of rhythm and blues and country soul with flavours of gypsy jazz, vaudeville and music hall, all performed with a focused intensity. Taking inspiration from the 1940's jazz of Billie Holiday, the delta blues of Howlin' Wolf and the genre sidestepping of Tom Waits, their music moves from foot tapping abandon to subtle intensity. Beth Packer’s superbly soulful voice, mean blues harp and Clinton Hough’s virtuoso guitar are supported by a superbly tight rhythm section, intertwining horns, piano and accordion to produce a truly exciting roots sound.
THE KIRKLAND TURN
Sunday 22 September 13.00 - Riverside Stage
The Kirkland Turn are a three piece based around the sublime harmonies of Daryl Kirkland and Katie Shields. Capable of making a very big sound indeed, they bring a pure and deeply soulful sensibility to perfectly pitched pop-folk gems. Each song sounds as though its rightful place is alongside the classics in your music collection.
TROUBADOUR ROSE
Sunday 22 September 14.00 - Riverside Stage
Troubadour Rose are a three piece female fronted ball of folk ‘n’ roll energy. Based around guitar, banjo and fiddle, they’ve been championed by Tom Robinson on 6 Music, for obvious reasons once you hear them. Citing influences as diverse as Stevie Nicks, The National, Iron and Wine and The Pretenders, their mighty pop folk reflects their immaculate taste. A wonderfully original and supremely talented band. Troubadour Rose singer and songwriter Bryony Afferson grew up on Fleetwood Mac, Nanci Griffith and PJ Harvey records - these influences are abundantly clear in her stunning vocal delivery and exquisite song writing style. Banjo player Lizzy O’Connor hailed from the North East steeped in traditional Irish music, travelling the world with raucous ceilidh bands, and wields her unique approach - delicate harmonies, banjo and mandolin hooks “to stunning effect.” Violinist Gary Bridgewood, has toured globally with subversive pop/jazz band The Real Tuesday Weld and Klezmer outfit Beskydy, and brings a kaleidoscopic, wildly exciting and unpredictable edge to the band's sound.
ELY PLAINS
Sunday 22 September 15.00 - Riverside Stage
The Ely Plains have been described as a 'Grapes of Wrath' style transportation to a mid west sound with a unique British feel'. Formed in 2008 and influenced by the music and imagery of depression era North America the band have written songs debasing the perpetrators of the worlds current fiscal fiasco as well as tales of the loves, hopes and fears of the everyman. Close harmony vocals, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, drums and guitars all appear in the bands set of original foot stomping folk tinged Americana which the band call 'alt.dustbowl'.
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DAN RAZA
Sunday 22 September 16.00 - Riverside Stage
Dan Raza's uplifting, powerful songs have won him many fans and led to a support slot with Joan Armatrading on a recent European tour and opening for artists such as Mary Gauthier, Badly Drawn Boy, Cara Dillon and Chris Farlowe throughout the UK and USA. He has just released his debut album in collaboration with Charlie Hart, multi-instrumentalist and producer, who has worked previously with Ronnie Lane, Ian Dury, Eric Clapton and Mose Allison. It features a stellar array of guest appearances from Geraint Watkins (Van Morrison, Paul McCartney), BJ Cole (Dolly Parton, Martin Simpson) Steve Simpson (Eric Bibb, Ronnie Lane), Frank Mead (Albert King, Eric Clapton) and Mosi Conde (Mory Kante, Salif Keita). Channelling the spirit of Van Morrison and Fisherman's Blues-era Waterboys, his band The Shrouds has fantastic range, providing subtle textures behind his deft, powerful melodies and features ace Polish violinist Barbara Bartz, bassist Guy Farrow, drummer Jamie Shaw, and multi-instrumentalist Lyle Zimmerman on mandolin/bouzouki and electric 12string.
THE ABSENTEES
Sunday 22 September 17.00 - Riverside Stage
A cross cultural group from the US, Ireland and the UK, The Absentees' music is steeped in tradition and infused with a freshness that delivers a fantastically entertaining show. Something of a Bluegrass Supergroup, they feature some of the UK's finest session players playing the music they really love. Keeping American folk culture and political song alive, along with contemporary roots music, The Absentees use stunning three and four part vocal harmonies to produce a dazzlingly virtuosic performance. The band are Ben Somers on double bass (Dr. John, Dizzee Rascal, Seal) Leanne Thorose on mandolin (Peter Rowan, Essence of Ireland) Joe Auckland on banjo (Mumford & Sons, Madness, the Horne Section) and Lewis Cohen on acoustic and resonator guitars (international solo blues artist, Krystle Warren, National-Resophonic Guitars demonstrator)