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Saturday 7 October: EB & SPARROW + THE MILTONES W/ DEAD LITTLE PENNY
With an edge that harks back to old time jazz and blues singers, Ebony Lamb of Eb & Sparrow has led her band of talented men on a musical journey that began in 2010. They've traversed a pathway that has led them onto stages with an astonishing string of folk-heroes: Rodriguez, Beth Orton, Pokey LaFarge, Wagons, The Warratahs, Tami Neilson and Marlon Williams to name a few, and will now appear at the Southern Fork Americana Fest on a double-bill with West Aucklands favourite Americana rockers, The Miltones.
Eb & Sparrow have carved out a niche, creating a soundscape that is at once spacious and lush, nuanced alt-country music that swings out into folk-noir, soul, and rockabilly. Ebony's voice slides along the edges of Cat Power and Gillian Welch, and with a captivating presence, she delivers lyrics that dust off the truth to life's hopes and heartbreaks.
Starting out as a teenage duo, front woman Milly Tabak and lead guitarist Liam Pratt toured the country as The Miltones, gaining friends in far away places and sharing their earlier material such as the memorable 'Gypsy Queen' and the more recent single 'Black Dahlia', which served as the duos debut single in 2014.
Led by front-woman Milly's powerful and soulful vocals, The Miltones have toured with the likes of The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band and recently released a self-titled album to rave reviews, receiving 5 stars from the NZ Herald.
Celebrating the festival launch alongside The Miltones and Eb & Sparrow will be goth-tinged alt-country four-piece Dead Little Penny. Fronted by Hayley Smith and Rodney Fisher (Goodshirt), their sound ranges from dreamy melancholic country to upbeat tongue-in-cheek rockabilly skiffle.
Sunday 8 October: THE EASTERN + THE BADS W/ STRETCH
We are sad to announce that due to a recurring injury, The Warratahs are no longer able to perform in the festival. However, we are excited to let you know that Lyttelton's hardest working band, The Eastern have joined the bill alongside The Bads and opening act Napier-based singer-songwriter Stretch & band on Sunday 8th October. With over 10 years and 1000 shows under their belt, The Eastern have earned a reputation for thrilling live performances and we are delighted to finally have them heading our way to rock our stage.
A vehicle for the musical escapades of Brett Adams and Dianne Swann, created under the fiery skies of Waitakere, Aotearoa New Zealand, The Bads have recently released their critically acclaimed fourth album, Losing Heroes, named their most genre-varied album to date which teams with shoegaze-country and indie-rock, delighting the senses. The Bads have toured the country extensively and have previously opened for Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Tim Finn and Joan Armatrading.
Hawkes Bay based singer-songwriter Stretch will serve up his dark-hearted ballads and thick, roof-raising choruses as he hits the stage with his full band in support of The Eastern and The Bads. His heavy-folk undertones have taken him across the country and has seen him perform with some of New Zealands most well-respected musicians.
Tuesday 10 October: ROBBIE FULKS W/ LISA CRAWLEY & BEN MASTWYK
Bloodshot Records troubadour and Grammy nominee for 'Best Folk Album' and 'Best American Roots Song', Robbie Fulks will take the stage at the Southern Fork Americana Festival for the first time.
Named a "masterly and multifaceted" songwriter by The Chicago Tribune, Fulks has also been hailed as one of the best guitarists around, appearing on records with New Orleans great Dr. John, with his penchant for storytelling and his back catalogue winning him fans across the globe.
"Mr. Fulks is more than a songwriter. He's a gifted guitarist, a soulful singer with an expressive honky-tonk tenor, and he's a natural performer. But what really sets him apart is his songwriting." - New York Times
Alt-country Melbournite Ben Mastwyk and pop darling Lisa Crawley join forces as they open for Grammy-nominated Robbie Fulks on October 10th. With an extensive back catalogue Lisa Crawley is regarded as one of Australasias most beloved musicians. Shell be joined by Ben Mastwyk, whose prolific country sound saw his debut album, Mornin Evenin, receive a nomination for Best Country Album at The Age Music Victoria Awards. Both charismatic performers in their own right, Mastwyks country-folk storytelling combined with Crawleys retro-soul pop sensibility results in a dynamic duo performance not to be missed.
Wed 11 & Thu 12 October: JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE & THE SADIES
Award winning Nashville songwriter Justin Townes Earle will return to the festival since his appearance in 2014 for a highly anticipated show of both new and well-loved material with backing band The Sadies.
Since launching his recording career a decade ago, Justin Townes Earle has established a reputation as a singular leading light in the Americana music community. With fearless, personally charged lyrical insight and infectious melodic craftsmanship, the young veteran singer-songwriter has built a rich body of work, with his latest album, Kids In The Street, receiving dazzling reviews from The Rolling Stone and being named as his best work in decades.
He'll be supported by Ontario-based country-rock quartet, The Sadies, whose masterful new album, Northern Passages, offers up a country sound spiked by psychedelia and punk attitude. The Sadies will also be Justin's backing band.
Friday 13 October: SON VOLT W/ LUBIN RAINS
Also appearing for the first time is legendary USA cult favourite, Son Volt. Led by the songwriting and vocal stylings of Jay Farrar, Son Volt was one of the most instrumental and influential bands in launching the alt-country movement of the 1990s. A movement that was the precursor to what is now widely referred to as Americana.
As a songwriter, Farrars depth and poetic penchant has been the foundation of a thoughtful, deep and intelligent body of work. Both attributes are on full display on their latest studio album, Notes Of Blue, where he touches on themes of redemption and the common struggle, both of which are at the core of the blues
Lubin Rains also joins the bill as he opens for cult-favourites Son Volt with a solo performance of weary tales woven with country-folk tones reminiscent of Neil Young. Best known as the singer of esteemed Auckland alt-folk act The Vietnam War, Lubins fragile and timeless songwriting style has seen him captivate audiences in his rare solo performances infused with a wayward and intoxicating country flavour.
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Saturday 14 October: 'THE SHAPE I'M IN' HOOTENANNY AND BBQ
The Shape I'm In: Hootenanny & BBQ will also return after its successful debut last year, serving up a generous helping of local talent, featuring performances from the likes of Dave Khan (The Yarra Benders), Reb Fountain, Tom Cunliffe and Hopetoun Brown.
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Sunday 15 October: TRAVELLER + JOSHUA HEDLEY
Individually, Jonny Fritz, Robert Ellis and Cory Chisel, each have a solid reputation of some of the best names in alt-country the world over, but together they are a super-group powerhouse touring under the name of Traveller and bringing this years festival to a close with an explosive final show.
Support will come from Nashvilles rising star Joshua Hedley, the most recent signing to Jack Whites label, Third Man Records.
