Stax of great artists on eclectic Tyne festival bill
ALAN NICHOL WRAPS UP HIS PREVIEW OF THIS WEEKEND’S SUMMERTYNE AMERICANA FESTIVAL AT SAGE GATESHEAD
FOLLOWING last week’s look at the opening day of the SummerTyne Americana festival, tomorrow and Sunday present even more in the way of choices for both free events and the numerous ticketed options.
Today’s bill has a distinctly country flavour – The Shires, Merle Haggard’s Strangers and Marlon Williams among them – but tomorrow’s Hall 1 (7.30pm) attraction is the archetypal soul of William Bell and the Stax Academy Review.
The Stax component, for those unfamiliar with the name, was the iconic Memphis record label/studio which was the 60s era home to the likes of Otis Redding, Booker T & the MGs (the house band), Isaac Hayes, Sam and Dave, Rufus Thomas, Staple Singers ....... and, of course, William Bell.
Formed by musician/banker Jim Stewart and his older sister and bank employee Estelle Axton, the couple set in motion one of the most productive and influential music machines in American popular music. The first two letters of their surnames providing the punchy, memorable name.
Bell, who was born William Yarbrough in Memphis, released more than 30 singles via Stax – half a dozen albums, too – and issued several with singers like Judy Clay, Carla Thomas and Mavis Staples. He also wrote some timeless songs which were given a lasting life when recorded by others. His Born Under A Bad Sign (a joint effort with Booker T) was covered by Albert King, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Paul Rodgers, Paul Butterfield and many more and even made it on to The Simpsons TV show.
Bell recorded for other labels after his Stax period – including a 1990 version of Need Your Love So Bad (Little Willie John, Fleetwood Mac).
Despite being inducted into a number of music’s Hall of Fame institutions, he actually picked up his first Grammy earlier this year for his This Is Where I Live album (Best Americana Album). Appropriately enough, it was his return to the Stax label after a four-decade absence. His partners on this short UK tour are the Stax Academy Review, a young band of musicians/singers who, if recent reviews are anything to judge by, really do know how to conjure up the “bottled lightning” of the 60s/70s soul music heyday. Across in Hall 2 at the slightly later 8pm, there is a country combination of experience and exploration. North Carolina-born Jim Lauderdale, dubbed “King of the Broken Hearts”, is a multi-Grammy winner who has close to 30 albums to his name. There is a long list of artists who have covered his songs – George Strait, Elvis Costello, Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, for example. The exploration is provided by California-based Sam Outlaw (and his band) who is originally from South
Dakota. Outlaw is reviving the muchoverlooked SoCal – southern California – country sound.
Outlaw’s first album Angeleno (2015), was produced by Ry Cooder and his son, Joachim. The album won the UK Americana International Album of the Year, and the follow-up, Tenderheart, looks set to emulate that success.
In the afternoon (2pm) there is a Hall 2 show by Angaleena Presley, the country-singer daughter of a Kentucky coal-miner, just like Loretta Lynn. Presley is one third of the Pistol Annies (with Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe) but she has just released her second solo album, Wrangled.
Later that day, Jesca Hoop and the Worry Dolls (Zoe Nicol and Rosie Jones) are in the same Hall 2. Hoop is a Manchester-based Californian with a penchant for folk-inclined ballads, witty repartee and a laudably open mind (musically speaking).
The outdoor Jumpin’ Hot stage has guests from noon which include Stax Academy Review, Vera van Heeringen Trio, Amythyst Kiah and the Earl Thomas band from California topping the bill.
Sunday has Hall 1 headliner Beth Nielsen Chapman, who has had her songs covered by Bonnie Raitt, Faith Hill (This Kiss), Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson and many others. Twice Grammynominated, Chapman has the SummerTyne Strings to help out on stage too.
Sunday also brings a return to Tyneside for one of its adopted sons, Chuck Prophet, who is every bit as prolific as he is popular. The ever-inventive former Green On Red man is in Hall 2 at 8pm with support from Curse Of Lono.
Earlier, in the afternoon, there is a double bill with a bluesy feel when the powerhouse vocals of Jo Harman and Lisa Mills will fill the room.
The excellent folk song collector/multiinstrumentalist/re-interpreter/academic and all-round folk compendium that is Tim Eriksen has a show which sees him team up with Cath and Phil Tyler. Eriksen, from Massachusetts, once fronted the “punk-folk” band, Cordelia’s Dad, and was used by T Bone Burnett as a voice coach on Cold Mountain feature film. They are in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall at 8.30pm.
The Jumpin’ Hot stage has an eclectic lineup (yet again) in the shape of the brilliant London-based Errol Linton Blues Band, Robert Vincent Band (Liverpool), High Plains Jamboree (Austin, Texas) and the Savoy Family Cajun Band from Louisiana.
There is the option to partake in a musical river-cruise alongside the Kentucky Cowtippers and the Honey Bop Trio, free shows on the Sage Gateshead concourse-stage, films, food and so much more.
There is not space here to cover every option but comprehensive details are readily available on-line. New security arrangement will be in place throughout the weekend and full details of the policy are on the Sage Gateshead website.