Sunday 4th July 2021
A thoughtful presentation for Fourth of July
Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno
* Melody Walker * Joe Troop * Benjamin Hunter* Liv Greene
Part 1 of our Streaming Across the Sea was another exceptional evening of music, with some added incisive conversation from Melody, Joe, Ben and Liv in our in-the-round special. Thanks to all of you who tuned in, donated, commented and shared on social media! You can watch the show again below. Join us for Part 2 on 10th July! Donations are still open at: paypal.me/truenorthmusicuk
SUNDAY 4TH JULY – RUNNING ORDER (UK times)
2pm Step dance workshop with April Verch – more info here
Livestreamed concert:
7pm Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno
Two of the brightest talents coming up on the USA’s roots music scene, Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno combine exquisite musicianship (on guitars, fiddle and clawhammer banjo), compelling songs and gorgeous singing. Also known for being the core of footstomping old time band The Onlies, Viv and Riley’s duo project has a more reflective and evocative flavour, with exceptional original songs the focus of their music. Their debut self-titled album was released earlier this year and was produced by acclaimed Cajun musician Joel Savoy. It’s a real corker, combining acoustic Americana, classic country and dashes of old time and bluegrass. We’re really looking forward to hosting this brilliant twosome from Oregon!
8-10pm (approx) An in-the-round special featuring
Melody Walker * Benjamin Hunter * Joe Troop * Liv Greene
We’re planning to make a virtue out of necessity, bringing together four exceptionally talented performers from across the USA to participate virtually in a songwriter-circle style evening of music and chat – thanks to our friends at Green Note for the format inspiration!
No stranger to our regular followers, the brilliant Melody Walker is best known as the frontwoman for mighty Americana-roots band Front Country, with whom she has toured worldwide for many years. She is an exceptional songwriter and one of the most soulful and powerful vocalists out there. She has recorded three acclaimed albums with Front Country in addition to her 2012 solo release and 2014 duo album with Jacob Groopman. Melody has also co-written songs with renowned artists including Molly Tuttle and Justin Hiltner. Winner of the 2016 Vocalist of the Year Momentum Award at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, she has been a longstanding and fearless voice for diversity and inclusion in roots music. Melody is a longtime supporter of Bluegrass Pride, and co-wrote their unofficial anthem, Live and Let Live.
The multi-talented Benjamin Hunter has been playing the violin since the age of five, and is also no slouch on guitar and mandolin (and rattlin’ bones!) as well as having a fabulous singing voice. Perhaps best known for his award-winning work with Joe Seamons, Ben has toured the world performing the duo’s compelling blend of old time American roots, country blues and folk music. With a degree in Performance Violin, Ben has also always had a keen interest in politics and philosophy. Alongside his performing career, he works tirelessly to promote participation and inclusivity in the arts. He has co-founded a variety of vibrant initiatives in his hometown of Seattle, including the non-profit music education centre Community Arts Create and co-operatively owned restaurant and performing arts venue The Black & Tan Hall.
Joe Troop is a wildly talented and entertaining singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (banjo, fiddle) from North Carolina whose musical adventures have taken him around the world, including a long stint living in Argentina where he founded the Grammy-nominated stringband Che Apalache in Buenos Aires. While teaching bluegrass and old time music there, he formed a band with several of his students, forming Che Apalache in 2013. Beginning as a bluegrass band, the quartet eventually incorporated Latin American styles into their repertoire, combining instrumental prowess with tight vocal harmonies. Since the Covid-19 pandemic saw Joe locked down back in North Carolina for many months in 2020, he has been doing more solo work and other projects (including Boojum with fiddle ace Nokosee Fields). Joe has also produced some fine music over the last year as part of his Pickin’ for Progress project. A brilliant and original talent!
At just 23, Liv Greene is already an astonishingly accomplished, award-winning songwriter and performer. Her 2020 album Every Bright Penny was produced by Isa Burke (Lula Wiles), and is packed with dreamy, evocative songs that feature Liv’s gorgeous, distinctive voice front and centre, and a stellar band that includes Maddie Witler and Sean Trischka. Born in Washington DC, as a teen Liv took up guitar and songwriting and discovered Americana, bluegrass and old-time music. With a clutch of songwriting awards already to her credit, Liv is an alum of Interlochen Arts Academy and the New England Conservatory. She was a showcase artist at Folk Alliance International’s 2021 online event, and recently moved to Nashville from Boston.
We want to acknowledge the generous support of Arts Council England who awarded us funding from the Project Grants: Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund to support what was originally planned to be our first real-life Yorkshire Americana & Bluegrass Day in May 2020. Having postponed for a year due to the pandemic, and with continuing concerns around international tours and indoor gatherings in summer 2021, with ACE’s approval we have now adapted the event into the #StreamingAcrosstheSea Online Festival. This funding support has been absolutely vital to help True North Music to survive this time of no real-life tours and concerts and adapt to producing online events. It will enable us to pay all participating musicians a reasonable guaranteed fee, but we still need and welcome your donations!