2017 gigs

Hot Rock Pilgrims

Friday 8th December

Marsden Mechanics

Bluegrass & Americana double bill, with special guests The Reckless Abandoners

Thanks to everyone who came out on a very cold and snowy night for the final True North Music gig of the year – and what a great gig it was! See you all in 2018 for more fun and frolics…

Based in the South East of England, Hot Rock Pilgrims are one of the most entertaining live acts on the UK acoustic scene. This popular band features some top flight musicians, performing a rip-roaring blend of bluegrass, old time, folk and blues. With two powerhouse lead singers with complementary styles and some fantastic vocal harmonies, the instrumental prowess of all five members is truly impressive on guitar, banjo, fiddle, dobro and double bass. After a well-received debut EP, their first full-length album was released in September 2017. Opening up the show will be The Reckless Abandoners, playing an eclectic mix of Americana and bluegrass, with big soulful vocals and great instrumental picking on fiddle, dobro, mandolin, guitar and double bass.

 

The Horsenecks

Friday 1st December

The Carlile Institute, Meltham

Yet another full room of music lovers at The Carlile on Friday night! Thanks to everyone who came out for The Horsenecks, who were absolutely brilliant and great fun too!

This is hard-hitting and heartfelt old-time country and classic bluegrass music from the USA & UK! With roots in Portland, Oregon and Liverpool, England, The Horsenecks play a dynamic mix of American roots music that they bring to life with top-shelf musicianship and high-energy performance, featuring fiery fiddle, awesome banjo picking and a rock-solid stomping guitar & double bass rhythm section. 

 

Front Country

Friday 13th October 2017

Marsden Mechanics

Thanks to everyone who came out on Friday where we had a big lively crowd at the Mechanics for a truly jaw-dropping performance by Front Country. We’ve had a run of excellent gigs this year but this one was exceptional!

This absolutely top-notch band played a gig for us at Sheffield Greystones last summer and knocked everyone’s socks off. Fronted by sublimely gifted singer and songwriter Melody Walker, the band is packed full of talent, with Jacob Groopman, Jeremy Darrow, Adam “Roscoe” Roszkiewicz and Leif Karlstrom all bringing their instrumental, songwriting and performance chops to the party. Front Country are a little bit different from the norm, using traditional bluegrass/folk instrumentation (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, resonator guitar & double bass) in their highly original interpretations of songs bridging pop, folk, rock, blues and bluegrass. From their superb originals to their creative versions of a handful of covers and traditional songs, the band’s quality shines through. Plus excellent local band Porch Lizards in support.

Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards

Saturday 30th September 2017

The Carlile Institute, Meltham

Yet another sold out show at the Carlile Institute! Thanks to everyone who came along and supported this fantastic concert, including young support band Don’t Feed the Peacocks.

Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards combine the best of folk, rock & roll, Cajun, bluegrass and pop, with phenomenal instrumental virtuosity and catchy grooves. This dynamic quartet is led by California singer and fiddle player Laura Cortese, ably backed by cellist Valerie Thompson, fiddler Jenna Moynihan, and joined on the UK tour by double bassist Emma Smith, with sophisticated string arrangements and rich vocal harmonies complementing Cortese’s powerful voice. They are a seriously impressive live act whether on a large festival stage or in an intimate club – this is post-folk that seriously rocks! Having seen this band a couple of times and been blown away by how entertaining, musical and thoroughly brilliant they are, I’m delighted to have booked them for a True North Music gig in Meltham! Doors 7:30pm, showtime 8pm. 

 

Tony Furtado

Saturday 22nd July 2017

The Carlile Institute, Meltham

Another sold out show for True North Music! Thanks to everyone who squeezed into a packed-out room at The Carlile for a lovely performance by Tony & Steph.

California-born Tony Furtado is a stunning live performer who’s been hailed as a genius on banjo and slide guitar. He took up the banjo at age 12 and first attracted national attention at the age of 19, when he won the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas. Not long after that, Tony opted for the life of a full-time professional musician. He has performed and recorded with folk and bluegrass greats including Alison Krauss, Stuart Duncan and Jerry Douglas, touring worldwide since the 1990s playing his own captivating brand of Americana and acoustic roots. Tony will be joined on guitar and harmony vocals by duo partner, accomplished singer-songwriter Stephanie Schneiderman, who will also perform a short opening set.

Sierra Hull

Friday 30th June 2017

Hepworth Village Hall

What a gig this was! Thanks to everyone who came to this completely packed-out show from Sierra & Ethan on Friday. Awesome and gobsmacking doesn’t even begin to describe it.

True North Music is delighted to welcome Sierra Hull to Hepworth on Friday 30th June. We’re very lucky to host this rising star of American roots music for a concert at this intimate venue. This is Sierra’s first UK headline tour and she’ll be joined by regular duo partner, the phenomenal young double bassist Ethan Jodciewicz. Ethan is another outstanding talent and has worked with the very best musicians in the genre including Béla Fleck, David Grisman, Alison Brown, Darol Anger and Michael Daves to name just a few!

Mandolin prodigy, talented songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist Sierra Hull first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry stage aged just 11. Still only 25, Sierra was recently Grammy nominated for her most recent and acclaimed album Weighted Mind, which showcases her growing stature as a songwriter as well as her stunning musicianship. Warm, humorous and entertaining as well as a prodigiously talented, versatile and tasteful player, this acclaimed young artist is a class act. Don’t miss this one!

Foghorn Stringband//Evie Ladin & Keith Terry

Friday 26th May 2017

The Greystones, Sheffield

Thanks to all who packed the room for this AWESOME double bill concert the other week – it lived up to our expectations as possible gig of the year – check out this amazing review from Northern Sky! Here’s a bit of footage from the finale with all six musicians.

I’m absolutely delighted to announce a very special double bill concert coming up in May, featuring two outstanding American bands. I’ve been booking a full UK tour for the fabulous Californian duo Evie Ladin & Keith Terry, and was also keen to host this talented twosome for my own concert in Yorkshire. With fantastic clawhammer banjo, creative percussion, great singing and spectacular dancing, Evie and Keith put on a superbly entertaining show. Then, as luck would have it I got the opportunity to book the fabled Foghorn Stringband – celebrated for their down home, foot stomping, ass-kickin’ brand of old time music, with some Cajun and honky-tonk thrown in for good measure. With fiery fiddle, rapidfire mandolin, a rock steady rhythm section and great harmonies, this band draws on French-Canadian influences as well as roots in the South and West of the USA. The stars aligned and I’ve managed to put together one hell of a double bill featuring both these amazing bands. Do not miss this scorching old-timey spectacular – it will be an unmissable, one night only event. Woo hoo – cannot wait!