Dates: 19, 20, 26 and 27 September
Times: 12pm – 6pm
Location: River walkway outside Tate Modern, Bankside, London, SE1 9TG
FREE
The Riverside Stage was on the river walkway by Millennium Bridge and showcased live music throughout the festival. The stage was created to showcase and promote original song writing and musical talent. Bands this year included winner of the BBC 2 Folk awards ‘Stick in the Wheel’ and the adventurous seven piece band ‘Mishaped Pearls’, nominated for Best Song- Folk Singer in The Independent Music Awards 2014.
The Riverside Stage was programmed by Rory Carlile from New Roots. New Roots is committed to promoting events that shine a light on up and coming talent in the UK roots scene.
Programme:
Saturday 19 September
12pm Jack Harris
1pm iyatraQuartet
2pm Shama Rahman
3pm Ma Polaine's Great Decline
4pm Self Help Group
5pm Mishaped Pearls
12pm - Jack Harris
Jack Harris was a South by Southwest showcasing artist at 17. He was the first international act to win the New Folk songwriting competition at The Kerrville Folk Festival, Texas. Previous winners include Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Gillian Welch and Devon Sproule. A virtuosic guitar player and wonderfully authentic folk singer and songwriter, he has shared the stage with everyone from Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick, to Anais Mitchell and Jeffrey Foucault.
1pm - iyatraQuartet
iyatraQuartet draw on a diverse range of musical styles, rhythms and melodies from around the world to devise and perform their own music. With backgrounds in classical, jazz, Cuban, Brazilian and Indian music, the quartet combine Indian raga with drum and bass rhythms, plainchant with extended percussion techniques, and many more to create a unique sound and collection of musical experiences.
2pm - Shama Rahman
Sitar-player, singer/songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, actress/spoken word artist and scientist (PhD in neuroscience), Shama Rahman, presents material from her debut solo album "Fable:Time". This project uses sitar in the context of storytelling; musically arranged to sit within layered harmonies and complex grooves of a 6-piece band ranging within keys, sax, violin, guitar, double bass and percussion. From jazz to dubstep, punk to folk (Bulgarian, Bengali and English), spoken word, trip hop to hip hop, swing to bosa nova, she writes and arranges all music and lyrics from her poems: and in doing so the focus is storytelling crossing a lot of genres. Poetic Music or Musical Poetry if you will, with a whole heap of energy.
3pm - Ma Polaine's Great Decline
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.
4pm - Self Help Group
The Self Help Group formed in Brighton in 2009. Their music is a harmony drenched blend of folk and Americana imbued with the spirit of the Laurel Canyon. In 2013 they released their first album, "Not Waving But Drowning", which was featured on Folk Radio UK's Best Albums list for 2013. The success of the album has led to them sharing the stage with Woodpigeon, Peter Bruntnell, Josh Record and Laish.
"Absolutely wonderful" Bob Harris Radio 2
"Stunning debut" Maverick Magazine
“Gorgeous, wistful melodies" American Roots UK
5pm - Mishaped Pearls
At the forefront of a very exciting new wave of UK folk, six piece Mishaped Pearls most recent album “Thamesis' has received four star reviews from The Guardian, the Financial Times and the Telegraph, and garnered the highest of praise from Tom Robinson, Mark Radcliffe and Bob Harris. Their adventurous song combination of the ancient and the new finds an echo in their musical make up: dulcimer, bodhran, violin and mandolin mix with acoustic guitar, electric bass and drums - all led by the classically trained mezzo-soprano voice of Manuella Schutte. Their music's roots in tradition expands into progressive folk and rock, eastern modal music and shows elements of contemporary classical influence.
Sunday 20 September
12pm Ned Roberts
1pm Quest Ensemble
2pm Alice Phelps
3pm Adam Beattie
4pm Jones
5pm Son of Kirk
12pm - Ned Roberts
Ned Roberts is a wonderfully accomplished folk musician with a timeless quality to his sound. His perfectly balanced Laurel Canyon-esque songs, delivered with a poetic turn of phrase, excellent musicianship and a perfectly judged vocal sensibility, sit comfortably amongst the classics of the acoustic folk world. He recently released his debut album, recorded in L.A and produced by Luther Russell (Noah and the Whale/ Richmond Fontaine), to rave reviews. He also completed a support tour with folk legend Anais Mitchell.
'Absolutely gorgeous stuff...one to really get excited about' Lauren Laverne, BBC 6Music
1pm Quest Ensemble
Bringing a unique take to the classical piano trio, this contemporary London-based ensemble, Filipe Sousa (piano), Tara Franks (cello), and Preetha Narayanan (violin), collaboratively create original work with a distinctive sound that blends their diverse musical and cultural backgrounds. With traces of Vaughn Williams, Steve Reich, and Esbjörn Svensson Trio, Quest Ensemble paint a unique and evocative musical landscape filled with lyrical melodic lines, rich harmonies, and interwoven rhythmic counterpoint.
2pm Alice Phelps
Alice Phelps has been gracing the stages of London for the past few years with her set up of harp and powerfully husky vocals, augmented by percussion, cello and violin. Influenced by folk from near and far, Celtic to Eastern, she experiments with delay, blues motifs, and intricate melodies and rhythms to create a unique melting pot of contemporary and traditional folk styles.
3pm Adam Beattie
Beattie ploughs a similar furrow to Tom Waits and Nick Cave's more downtempo work; noir folk blues with a dark edge and a big heart that never fails to move an audience. These days he's also bringing influences from old-time jazz, swing and parlour songs into his sound; though still never straying far from the deep and rich flavours of the folk blues and jazz stew cooked by the likes of Waits and Dylan over the last decade.
4pm Jones
Jones takes influence from the yearning sounds of early 40's harmony groups to the songs of America's Deep South. Combining the rural blues captured by Alan Lomax in field recordings from the first half of the twentieth century with the more sophisticated pop stylings of rhythm and blues and jazz, he filters the results through more traditional mainstream singer-songwriter methods to make for wonderfully accessible, hook-laden results.
5pm Son of Kirk
Son of Kirk mix the purest of fiddle folk tones with intricate contemporary drum rhythms, sweeping cello accompaniment and syncopated guitar lines. Four part harmonies create overlapping vocal threads, inspired by tribal and folk traditions. If DJ Shadow played drums in an acoustic folk group, it would be Son of Kirk. Great musicianship, soaring vocals and gorgeously accessible songs with a fine sense of melody, make for a strikingly original alt-folk ensemble.
Saturday 26 September
12pm Robert Chaney
1pm Jenny Wren
2pm Hallelujah Trails
3pm Lounge Cat Ideals
4pm Bouche
5pm Simon Stanley Ward
12pm Robert Chaney
Robert Chaney is an American performing artist - heir to the songwriting tradition of Townes Van Zandt, Hank Williams, and Judee Sill. Cracked Picture Frames is his highly anticipated ten-track debut which is available digitally.
1pm Jenny Wren
Fusing gutsy Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, Folk, Soul and great Song writing, Jenny Wren and Her Borrowed Wings combine all of the best parts of Roots-based music traditions. The solid energetic bounce from the double bass, effortlessly intertwining dual guitars and soulful melodies, lie beneath impassioned, stirring vocals and harmonies. Their acclaimed debut album, ‘Dead Man’s Hat,’ came out in May 2014 and they have been busy spreading their sound across Europe and the UK ever since. With airplay from Paul Jones on his BBC Radio 2 blues hour already under their belt, this exciting new trio give a sparkling live performance not to be missed.
2pm Hallelujah Trails
From San Francisco CA, guitarist/singer/writer Jeremy Mendonca has been doing his unique version of alternative/bluegrass on European and UK streets for over 10 years now, fronting bands such as Norton Money, The Rejection, and currently The Hallelujah Trails - a rocking electric four piece.
3pm Lounge Cat Ideals
Lounge Cat Ideals weave strands of 20’s swing with a thread of stomping blues. Now a fully formed 7 piece ensemble, with riotous clarinet lines and entwined vocal harmonies augmenting the driving skanks of twin guitars, the band strive to maintain the energetic pace that keeps everyone dancing. Regular adventures to London have also seen the band play at the Brixton Hootenanny, the Blues Kitchen (Camden) and The Gladstone. The Cats ventured into the studio to record their first EP, releasing their self-titled effort in January 2015.
4pm Bouche
Combining banjo, percussion, trumpet and double bass, Bouche are a product of the same London roots scene as Whiskey Moon Face and Brooke Sharkey. This wonderfully talented band blend the spirits of blues queens Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith, and the cinematic smokey folk and jazz noir of Tom Waits. Singer Rebekah Bouche delivers it with finely crafted contemporary songwriting and charismatic panache.
5pm Simon Stanley Ward
Simon Stanley Ward is a young country singer, pure and simple. He sounds like the original lonesome cowboy crooner: a perfect cross between Neil Young and Charlie Rich, with a voice to match. It's hard-rocking country, the kind that spawned Elvis and Johnny Cash, and with a band that includes Danny & The Champions of the World guitarist Paul Lush in its ranks, he delivers on his promise as one of UK alt-country's rising stars.
Sunday 27 September
12pm Nic Dawson Kelly
1pm James McArthur and the Head Gardeners
2pm Samantha Whates
3pm Lords of Thyme
4pm Dana Immanuel and the Stolen Band
5pm Stick In The Wheel
12pm Nic Dawson Kelly
Sheffield born, London based songwriter Nic Dawson Kelly has a Bob Dylan and Van Morrison meets Devendra electric folk sound, steeped in rockabilly and country soul. He has been described by The Times as 'a visceral, compelling new presence on the UK music scene', The Sun calls him 'one of the most distinctive British voices in years' and Q maintains his is 'a soulful take on some of the finest blues-folk around'. After sharing stages with Laura Marling, Adele and Richard Hawley amongst others, Dawson Kelly has gone on to showcase his music extensively within the capital. His new EP, recorded with the talents of Jim Barr (Portishead), Clive Deemer (Radiohead/ Roni Size) & Dan Moore (Booker T/ Rodriguez) amongst others, takes its cues from Deep South country-soul traditions.
1pm James McArthur and the Head Gardeners
James McArthur has independently released albums ‘Plan Your Own Escape’ (2005) and ‘Cover Up’ (2008). Following the release of the EP ‘Lawn Order’, his new album Strange Readings From The Weather Station, which was released in June 2015, delivers a startlingly accomplished brace of songs in a unique style of hazy folk; with plucked guitar lines and breathy, playful vocals that are reinforced with yearning violin parts and haunting pedal steel guitar.
The album was recorded at Tin Room Studios in Hackney, London and Wickham Farm, Welling (once the home and studio of singer Kate Bush). It was recorded with Head Gardeners’ Johnny O and Jim Willis, and features guest musicians Samantha Whates and Syd Arthurs’ Joel Magill, and Raven Bush.
2pm Samantha Whates
Singer/songwriter and flautist Samantha Whates was born in Bridgnorth and spent her formative years in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and various places in the UK. She is now based in London where she is a regular on the singer/songwriter circuit; performing at many of the capital’s top venues, including The Electroacoustic Club, Cargo and the Strongroom Bar. Recently, her demo recordings for NSR have been receiving radio airplay, most notably on ‘New Ground’ for KCRW radio, Southern California’s premier independent station. Though based in London’s East End, Samantha’s music has more in common with contemporary Scandinavian music (Rune Grammofon et al.) where a lot of importance is placed upon the subtleties of tone, timbre and atmospherics. Of equal influence is instrumental and so-called ‘absolute’ music which constantly informs her melodic approach. Her songs are typically reflective, always honest; they deal with everyday issues with pensive melancholy, nostalgic yearning and a mature insight that belies her years.
3pm Lords of Thyme
Sharing a love of esoteric folk, psych and progressive music, The Lords of Thyme were formed after Joe Woolley, Tali Trow and Pat Kenneally, past members UK prog-folk act Circulus, decided to record together. Describing themselves as psych-folk, four piece Lords of Thyme name Pentangle, Davy Graham and Neu! as artists that inform their sound. Currently recording their debut album with John Wood (Nick Drake/ Pentangle), they're a leading act in the exciting newly emerging UK folk underground. Their sound features fine harmony and dual guitars, with hints of Americana, psychedelia and traditional English folk.
4pm Dana Immanuel and the Stolen Band
Dana Immanuel is a North London banjo-toting, whiskey-drinking, poker-playing no-prisoners-taking singer-songwriter. She and her all-girl, super-heavy folk-blues Stolen Band make a sound straight out of the American bayou, triple filtered through bourbon, washboard, and a touch of alt-country attitude.
5pm Stick In The Wheel
The brilliant Stick In The Wheel are fROOTS Magazine's Album of 2014 winners, and are favourites of Tom Robinson on 6Music and XFM's Jon Kennedy (having recently recorded sessions for both). Featuring Ian Carter on dobro, Si Foote on Percussion, Joolie Wood on fiddle, and Nicola Kearey and Fran Morter as singers, they specialise in distinctly London-centric, rarely heard traditional British folk songs. Their repertoire includes pieces up to 400 years old, and they seamlessly combine this deep link to the past with their own compositions. Their music is sparklingly original, fiercely fresh and fearless in its attitude: a breath of fresh air, definitely not to be missed.