Playlist week of 18th July 2015

2015-07-18

18th July 2015 – BBC Playlist

Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire Show playlist July 18, 2015
Brand new music from Alan Jackson, Emerson Drive, T Graham Brown & Laura Bell Bundy.

Highlights from last Weekend's Wolvestock country festival, plus classics from George Hamilton IV and Pam Tillis 

Ricky Skaggs - Simple Life | Album: My Father's Son (1991) CD (July 18, 1954) BIRTHDAY

Tania Kernaghan - Murray Meets The Darling | Album: December Moon CD (July 18) BIRTHDAY

George Hamilton IV - My Nova Scotia Home | Album: My North Country Home (Boxset) (July 19, 1937 died Sept 17, 2014 (age 77)) BIRTHDAY

Stephanie Urbina Jones - Old Mexico | Album: Stephanie Urbina Jones CD (2002)

Laura Bell Bundy - Happy Yet | Album: Another Piece Of Me NEW MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

Radney Foster - California | Album: Everything I Should Have Said CD - MP3 - UK iTunes (July 20, 1959) BIRTHDAY

Della Mae - Take One Day | Album: Della Mae NEW CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Marty Haggard - Rollin’ River | Album: Borders & Boundaries (1996) CD

Blue Genes (Family Band) - Something To Kiss (demo track)

Outlander - I Want Crazy

Gold Heart - Back With Me | Album: Places I've Been NEW CD - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Tim McGraw – Everywhere | Album: Everywhere CD  

Kim Carnes - Too Far Gone | Album: (July 20, 1946) BIRTHDAY

Emerson Drive - Til The Summer’s Gone (single) NEW | Album:Tilt-A-Whirl (EP) MP3 - iTunes Canada (April 14, 2015) Amazon.com

Lorraine Jordon & TG Sheppard - Do You Want To Go To Heaven | Album: Country Grass (Pinecastle Records) CD - MP3 - Amazon.com (T G Sheppard July 20, 1942) BIRTHDAY

Tiffany Huggins Grant - One Too Many | Album: Jonquil Child MP3 - Amazon.com

Jerry Lawson - Woman In White | Album: Just A Mortal Man (Red Beet Records) CD - MP3 - Amazon.com 

Susan Hickman - Moth To A Flame (Single; expected 3 Aug 2015) Hotdisc #199 July Single  MP3 - Amazon.com  

T. Graham Brown - Which Way To Pray (with special guest Sonya Isaacs; Writers: T. G. Brown, G. Nicholson, B. Anderson | Album: Forever Changed CD - Amazon.com (Sonya Isaacs; July 22, 1975) BIRTHDAY

Alison Krauss - Lucky One | Album: New Favorite CD (July 23, 1971) BIRTHDAY

Richard Lynch & Billy Yates - She Got Me Drinking Again Hotdisc #198 June Single | Album: A Better Place MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com  

Pam Tillis - In Between Dances | Album: Sweetheart's Dance & All Of This Love (2 on 1) CD - MP3  (July 24, 1957) BIRTHDAY

Alan Jackson - Gone Before You Met Me | Album: Angels and Alcohol NEW CD - MP3 - Amazon.com

Vera Van Herringen - My Sweet Man | Album: Proper Brew Website (CD) - Bandcamp

Good As Gone - Sweet As Going Home | Album: Leave the Light On (23 March 2015) MP3 - UK iTunes - CD Baby - Amazon.com

New on The Show

Blue Genes (Family Band)

“Something To Kiss” (demo track) Album: “I think they’re really great (x5)..one’s to watch” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Genre: Country Music band

Band Members: Megan Erica Lee (11yr old; born in 2003), Stephen Shaun Lee (father), Kay Louise Lee  (Mother)

Although Blue Genes are a brand new band two of its members are seasoned Musicians and performers who have almost two decades of experience in the music industry. Kay and Stephen now in their thirties have performed as duo Calon since the mid-nineties, touching on all genres of music including country. Kay’s roots lie firmly in country music and Stephen the former blues man has been happy to indulge her passion, growing to love the genre equally. When their daughter Megan was born in 2003 the couple raised her very close to the stage and it soon became apparent that she shared not only their musical ability but their love of music. The band are passionate about the USA and UK country music scene and hope to bring a unique blend of contemporary country covers and self-penned material to audiences nationwide.

According to their blurb: The bands diverse talents allow them to perform a huge range of songs from acoustic ballads to country rock. What appears to appeal to audiences is their tight three part harmonies, strong musicianship and family chemistry. The young family from North Wales hope to show audiences in the U.K that the family who sing together stay together and remind them of the family values that country music has always held close to its heart.

CONNECT with Blue Genes:

Outlander

“I Want Crazy” -  “I think they’re going to do really well, very contemporary, they went down really well at Wolvestock playing their own instruments” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Genre: Country Rock

Band Members: Ali Garner - Lead Vocals, Guitar

Alex Young - Lead Guitars, Backing Vocals, Keys

Brian Boyd - Mandolin, Banjo, Guitars, Vocals

David Roughton - Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals

Phil Tyrrell - Drums & Percussion

Home Town: Gateshead, England

Record Label: Unsigned

Outlander are a 5 piece Country-Rock band from the North East of England. With a wide variety of influences, they are hoping to bring a fresh take to the music that is taking the UK by storm.

Formed at the beginning of the year, Outlander are a British take on American Country-Rock music who are aiming big for 2015 with new music coming soon. With a summer full of festivals around the country, and new material in the works as well, 2015 is looking to be an important year for the band.

Formed from former members of Lee Paul Band, Outlander are at a new beginning with their sound, harnessing more energy than ever before. Learning from their experiences over the past few years, the band are certainly upping their game for this year. No strangers to big audiences, the band are hitting the ground running playing festivals in front of up to 4,000 people, marking their biggest shows since they started in music.

Watch their cover of >> “I Want Crazy” (Hunter Hayes) 

CONNECT with Outlander:

Gold Heart 

“Back With Me” - “I think they’ve got a really great sound..a great band, a very high standard of bluegrass music” -  Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Bluegrass / Acoustic / Americana

Location: :Virginia (VA)

Record Label: Mountain Fever Records

Mountain Fever Records Recording Artists The Gold sisters are great pickers and writers, but the blend of their three voices is jaw dropping. - Tim O'Brien

The Gold Sisters tour extensively and perform as a quintet with their father, Trent on bass. Along with some of the best banjo players in the business, Gold Heart is thrilled to have their brother, Kai Gold, join them on the banjo.

These young artists are expert songwriters, with Jocey and Shelby contributing the majority of the band’s impressive material. 
At age fifteen, Jocey was one of three finalists of 983 contestants in the 2008 Chris Austin Songwriters Competition (bluegrass category) at MerleFest. 
The work of the sisters can be heard on their previous recordings, My Sisters and Me, Never Let Go and Journey to Heaven's Bright Shore.

Their highlights include:

A major International tour of the United Kingdom, performances in 24 US States and multiple appearances in Canada.

Invited to perform as a 2009 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Official Showcase Band in Nashville, Tennessee.

Selected to perform at the 2014 World of Bluegrass Conference on the IBMA Youth Council Stage in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Gold Heart, featuring the Gold sisters Tori (mandolin), Jocey (guitar), and Shelby (fiddle) have been touring world wide and astounding audiences with their fun personalities, intense harmonies and brilliant musicianship since 2005. With nearly ten years on the bluegrass scene, hundreds of live performances and now four albums under their belt, Gold Heart were elated to join Mountain Fever Records. Of the trio, Keith Lawrence of Bluegrass Notes stated, "If angels sing bluegrass, this is what it sounds like."

On June 26th, 2015 their single "Ain't That Crazy" hit #2 on the Bluegrass Today Radio Charts

Their new album PLACES I'VE BEEN released on May 19, 2015 is described as album "full of their original songs proving that they have rounded out their talents in every aspect of the business"

Tori, Jocey, and Shelby exemplify why acoustic music has a very solid future. They give God the glory and credit Him for their talent and inspiration. Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

CONNECT with The Gold Sisters:

Jerry Lawson

“Woman In White” -  “Very listenable, a winner with me, the voice and music does the talking, beautiful soulful voice meeting country music” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Genre: Soul, R&B, Country, Folk, Great American Songbook, Gospel

Born January 23, 1944, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jerry Lawson grew up in the small town of Apopka, where he began singing at age five with the church choir. In his teens he listened at night to WLAC out of Nashville. 

It was that station’s legendary R&B broadcasters that first introduced Lawson to the likes of Lloyd Price, Chuck Berry, Charles Brown, the Coasters, the Del-Vikings, and many more. “I knew every song,” Lawson says. During the summers, Lawson would stay with family in Philadelphia, and he gradually felt the gravitational pull of New York City. He formed A Cappella group The Persuasions, five friends who quickly became well known in Brooklyn. The man who led the celebrated quintet, and recorded and toured with numerous artists such as Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Liza Minnelli, Joni Mitchell and Frank Zappa, head in many new directions in 2003.

After being introduced through a record storeowner, Frank Zappa convinced Lawson and The Persuasions to record with his label, Straight Records.

Now, at age 71, Lawson is finally releasing an album of music under his own name: a solo debut, titled JUST A MORTAL MAN, released on East Nashville independent label Red Beet Records in April 2015.  

With the help of Grammy-nominated producer Eric Brace, Lawson transforms a selection of new and classic songs with his astonishingly rich voice.

Just a Mortal Man was featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition and in The Wall Street Journal.

CONNECT with Jerry Lawson:

Vera Van Herringen 
“My Sweet Man” – “a great album, real folk infusion” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire 

Americana/Roots/Bluegrass/Old-time

Home Town: Holland

Record Label:  RootBeat Records

Flatpicking Singer Songwriter

Vera van Heeringen hails from Holland but has long left the flatlands to give way for the beautiful hills of Northern Wales where she settled down over a decade ago.

Her debut album STANDING TALL was very much a modest beginning of her solo career and a marking point for a change of direction. As a song writer, tunesmith and multi instrumentalist she is strongly influenced by American music and combines these flavours with contemporary songwriting. 
Her acclaimed acoustic guitar playing skills have graced a number of acts over the last decade in Europe and the UK. She’s toured with people like Dirk Powell, the late Eddie LeJeune, Sheryl Cormier, the Flatville Aces, Sharon King and Neil McSweeney.

For nearly five years she was a part of the comic genius called the New Rope String Band.

The new album PROPER BREW produced by Andy Bell and Vera, arrived on 18th of June and appeared on Bandcamp. It also comes in a digi-pak, with graphic design by Rhiannon Taylor and includes 12-page booklet and full lyrics. Her music has also been played on BBC Radio scotland and BBC Radio Shropshire's Genevieve Tudor's Sunday Folk Heeringen is slated to appear at the Underneath the Stars Festival in Barnsley on July 25th.

NoDepression review: I absolutely raved about her debut album Standing Tall, a couple of years ago and she’s been a constant fixture on the UK circuit ever since; yet I doubt 5% of the people reading this have heard of her. Harrumph! Sermon over; Vera has a beautiful voice; warm and not too deep and not only can she write imaginative songs she can play the acoustic guitar better than most.…To the untrained ear like mine it’s difficult to say whether Vera Van Heeringen is a Folk Singer fronting a Country band or vice versa; but whatever it is I urge you to discover this charming album.

CONNECT with Vera van Heeringen:

Good As Gone

”Sweet As Going Home” “Saving one of the best till last, already one of my favourites this year, it’s really great” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire   

Genre: Country: Americana

Founded: 1 January 2012

Genre: Americana

Band Members: LeighAnn Heil and Alexa Thompson Manza

Home Town: Austin, TX     Record Label: Independent

Girl Country, upbeat, Roots- Americana music. Catchy melodies, power vocals, heavy harmony, and energetic instrumentation.

Sounds Like: Pistol Annies, The Wreckers, The Civil Wars, Dixie Chicks, Lucinda Williams.

Debut LP recorded at Congress House Studios and produced by Mark Hallman.

Good As Gone music is a blend of tight harmonies, killer lead vocals, catchy hooks, deep roots country music and down home lyrics reflecting America. Alexa Manza and LeighAnn Heil have made a big splash on the music scene in central Texas, playing gigs every week while gaining a large fan base wherever they play.

Alexa and LeighAnn each knew from a very early age they had a gift of music. Alexa started in musical theater then in Dallas and Houston explored cover bands from classic to modern rock to blues and folk. Alexa has fronted many rock bands, but Americana had always been their first love.

LeighAnn who has a music degree in Opera, played in metal bands, hard rock cover bands and a long term gig with a Celtic original band called "Siren's Song". Both girls are veterans of the stage and gig consistently through Texas.

"We were singing 80's songs together in a cover band, and I asked Alexa, 'Hey, you wanna go rogue?' We quit that band and I started writing. We never looked back!" LeighAnn said.

Good As Gone is now the house band for Teresa's Stocktank, and plays there the first Saturday of each month.

The girls won the Bordeaux International songwriting contest with the Bordeaux Wine Council, in Bordeaux, France. They have  incorporated into a limited liability company, Gypsy Highway Productions LLC.

Influenced by Southern-gospel, bluegrass, folk, and artists like The Civil Wars, Eagles and Little Big Town, Good As Gone’s music is a combination of catchy melodies, power vocals, heavy harmony, and energetic instrumentation.

On Nov 14, 2014 they released the lead off single "Thelma & Louise" from their debut album

Consisting of all-original songs written solely by the girls and produced by Mark Hallman, their album LEAVE THE LIGHT ON, (released March 23, 2015) reflects Good As Gone’s laid back ‘roots’ style and the energy of the open road.

CONNECT with Tiffany Huggins Grant: