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Friday 7 October: SKYSCRAPER STAN AND THE COMMISSION FLATS (AUS/NZ) w/ Ravens
Returning to the festival for the second year in a row we have New Zealand's own towering troubadour, Skyscraper Stan with his band The Commission Flats.
The first-born child of a novelist and a documentary editor, "Skyscraper" Stan Woodhouse was raised with an innate appreciation for language. Although he had been writing poetry and fiction from a young age, it wasn't until his mid teens that he first turned his attention to songwriting whilst working at a basement music venue in his hometown. Just shy of his 21st Birthday Stan relocated to Melbourne under the pretence of completing his zoology degree. Which he did, half-heartedly, and all the while moonlighting as a troubadour.
The expansive emptiness of Australia has served as a great inspiration to Stan's songwriting. His autobiographical and observational lyricism seems to belie his relative youth. Most at home on the Hume Highway or any of the other tarmac ribbons criss-crossing the country, Stan tours extensively both solo and with The Commission Flats. The Commission Flats consist of Oskar Herbig, Stan's younger cousin, on guitar, Martin Schilov on bass guitar and Corbin Kuhtze on drums. Reb Fountain and Alice Ryan Williams will join The Commission Flats on backing vocals.
Last Year's Tune, released in March 2015 with The Commission Flats, showcases Stan's songwriting ability over eleven disparate yet beautifully unified tracks. Currently Stan is maintaining a relatively constant touring schedule, performing in major centres, regional venues and at festivals nationwide. Recently he has written music for film, recorded a live solo record, supported Aussie legends like James Reyne, Ian Moss and Jon Stevens and embarked on a three date Bowie Tribute concert tour of New Zealand as a guest vocalist.
Saturday 8 October: HAYES CARLL w/ Adam McGrath
Vector Arena, 95bFM and Under The Radar are proud to present Grammy nominated and Americana Music Association award winning singer-songwriter, Hayes Carll as part of the Southern Fork Americana Fest 2016.
Clever, witty, self-deprecating and heartfelt are some of the adjectives thrown around when discussing Texan singer-songwriter Hayes Carll. Whilst his previous albums have concentrated on the first three his most recent offering, Lovers and Leavers comes straight from the heart. It is certainly his most personal album so far and the one that comes closest to reflecting his position as a singer-songwriter than any to date.
Five albums in and to those who know his work its no surprise that Hayes is still winning awards and nominations from some of the most respected institutions in the music industry. This year saw him nominated for Best Country Song at the Grammys for Chances Are performed by Lee Ann Womack and in 2011 he was awarded Song of the Year by American Songwriter for the humorous duet, Another Like You with Cary Ann Hearst (Shovels & Rope). The latter track from his rollicking, critically acclaimed fourth album, KMAG YOYO & Other American Stories (the acronym in the title is military slang for Kiss my ass, guys, you're on your own). And back in 2008 his satirical lament She Left Me For Jesus from his third album, Trouble In Mind nabbed him another Americana Music Associations Song of the Year award.
His catalogue of work, eye for the absurd and clever wordsmanship make him one of Americas most capable lyricists. On his most recent collection of songs Lovers and Leavers, he focuses on the pain and joy of losing and rediscovering love from a very personal angle. Despite the subject matter and that there are very few hoots and hollers, he says it is joyous, and it makes me smile. Released five years after his fourth album he has once again reaffirmed his place as a major player in the world of Americana songwriting.
Special guest for the show will be New Zealands own Adam McGrath (of The Eastern). McGraths songs have gathered a clutch of good reviews in NZ and overseas, Graham Reid from the NZ Herald referred to him as 'NZ's toughest minded songwriter and Barry Saunders from The Warratahs simply described him as The Truth. McGrath has shared stages and opened for numerous Americana acts including Fleetwood Mac, Steve Earle and Old Crow Medicine Show.
Wednesday 12 October: ROBERT ELLIS (USA) + JOE PUG (USA) w/ Matthew Mitchinson
ROBERT ELLIS
A bonafide regular to The Tuning Fork, having played here twice in 2014, the second time in the very first incarnation of the Southern Fork Americana Fest, country songwriter Robert Ellis is joining us for a third time to celebrate the release of his new, self-titled album.
Ellis made a name for himself in Houston, Texas. Inspired by the country, folk, and bluegrass records he heard while growing up in southern Texas. His audience grew as a result of his weekly residency, which was nicknamed "Whiskey Wednesdays" for their rowdy nature and Ellis went on to earn even more fans on the strength of his self-released debut album, The Great Rearranger. One of those converted fans was George Fontaine, Sr., President of New West Records, who signed Ellis in 2011. Photographs was released that summer. It mixes acoustic folk songs with uptempo country numbers and was selected by American Songwriter as one of its Top 50 albums for that year.
Ellis toured the United States and Europe before relocating to Nashville. His more eclectic sophomore album, The Lights from the Chemical Plant, was recorded there, produced by Jacquire King and released in February 2014.
After extensive touring and experiencing the dissolution of his marriage, he returned to recording. He self-produced his next album, simply titled Robert Ellis, which was recorded at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston. It was engineered by Steve Christiansen and mixed by John Agnello. This album was released in June 2016.
Robert Ellis has named his new album after himself and the reason is clear. The album is both his most personal statement yet and a summation of his career thus far. It's the most accurate reflection yet of Robert Ellis (the man). It's analytical and emotional, calculated in spots and improvisational in others, restless, peaceful, never indifferent, never dispassionate.
JOE PUG
If the opening notes on Joe Pug's new album Windfall are a bit disorienting, his fans won't likely be surprised. The Austin, Texas singer songwriter has made a habit of defying expectations so the piano-driven "Bright Beginnings" and the atmospheric rumination of "Great Hosannas" are just further indication that he's quite comfortable stepping outside of the guy-with-a-guitar trappings of the genre.
His rise has been as improbable as it has been impressive. After dropping out of college and taking on work as a carpenter in Chicago, he got his musical start by providing CDs for his fans to pass along to their friends. This led to a string of sold out shows and a record deal with Nashville indie Lightning Rod Records (Jason Isbell, Billy Joe Shaver).
As he toured behind Messenger (2010) and The Great Despiser (2012) it was with a band that looked as much like a jazz trio as an Americana band. "I never quite found a live band that captured what I was aiming for until I connected with Greg (Tuoheyelectric guitar) and Matt (Schuesslerupright bass)". The following years would have them on the road for over four hundred shows, including stops at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and The Newport Folk Festival.
The relentless grind of four years of nonstop touring had taken its toll though, and by late 2013 he was ready to call it quits. Thankfully after some respite Pug was ready to get rolling again. He set up camp in Lexington, Kentucky in 2014 to record, he did so with some of the best songs he has ever written. The result is a collection of songs that are as close as we've gotten to a road map to Pug's ambitions. He has collected plenty of the requisite Dylan comparisons over his young career but on this record it's easier to hear the sway of more contemporary influences like Josh Ritter, Ryan Adams and M.Ward.
As the saying goes, "All's well that ends well". Joe Pug didn't call it quits after all. He's engaged to be married and still drinks bourbon on occasion. His new album, Windfall, was released in March 2015.
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Thursday 13 October: JOSH RENNIE-HYNES (AUS) + LIAM GERNER (AUS) w/ Milly Tabak
JOSH RENNIE-HYNES
There's been a steady buzz building around Josh Rennie-Hynes in the last few years. Relatively new to the scene, he's quickly garnered praise as one of Australia's finest songwriters in the alt.country/Americana scene. Rennie-Hynes combines his love of honest and raw storytelling with deep introspection to create songs that are timeless and familiar, yet uniquely his own.
He released his debut album February in 2014 through MGM. The album was produced and recorded by ARIA award winning Artist, Shane Nicholson, to critical acclaim. Rennie-Hynes' live show takes the audience on a moving journey, and since the release of February he has toured relentlessly throughout Australia, New Zealand and the USA playing major festivals such as The Americana Music Festival in Nashville, Woodford Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival and the Nannup Music Festival among many others.
In late 2015, Rennie-Hynes stepped back into his studio on the family farm in Woodford, Queensland to begin recording his second album. The album, titled Furthermore is a stunning collection of 11 songs that was recorded over the period of three weeks. Rennie-Hynes produced, engineered and recorded all of the songs alongside his friend and collaborator, Steve Grady. Together they played the bulk of the instruments; with a focus on capturing the essence of each song and building it from a Bedrock live performance of just Rennie-Hynes and a guitar. The result is an album which is organic, cohesive, yet also eclectic, with Rennie-Hynes' warm and assured vocal providing the common thread throughout.
LIAM GERNER
Steeped in blues and country music, Liam Gerner left his rural family life in the Adelaide hills to seek his fortune in London. Almost immediately he was treated as a "hot new talent" and experienced the music business at its most corporate. Breaking free, he headed to the U.S., joined Texan country rocker Ryan Bingham's band The Dead Horses on guitar and experienced frontline American roots music.
Whilst in the U.S. Liam got to meet some of his heroes, play songs with Jackson Browne and Kris Kristofferson, trade licks with Dale Watson in Austin bars. He even got to play Johnny Cash's J200 at Marty Stuart's house and discussed songwriting with Tom T. Hall in Nashville.
Liam lived for two years in a cabin in Topanga Canyon, California; a welcome change from the city and road life. There he worked on the songs for his new album Land of No Roads which was recorded at Rick Rubin's studio Shangri La over 3 days. It was produced by Rubin's engineer Eric Lynn. Gary Louris of the Jayhawks co-wrote "Window To a Wall", Gary and Robbie Fulks both sang harmony on several tunes while legendary Cajun accordionist Steve Riley played accordion and Lucky Oceans added pedal steel and dobro.
Liam returned to Australia in early 2013 with his guitar, songs and first album Land Of No Roads. Liam now based in Melbourne plays and works with his new band The Alan Ladds. He tours and records with Pnau, Pnau vs Elton John, records with Empire Of The Sun, and plays in Vika and Linda Bulls band.
"Liam is an extraordinary musician. Both as a songwriter and performer Liam is a force to be reckoned with". Ryan Bingham
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Friday 14 October: LINDI ORTEGA (CAN) + THE CACTUS BLOSSOMS (USA) w/ Brendan & Alison Turner
LINDI ORTEGA
Canadian born and Nashville based honky tonk lady Lindi Ortega is once again on the Southern Fork Americana Fest bill for her long awaited New Zealand debut performance.
Lindi was awarded Roots Artist of the Year in both 2014 and 2015 by the Canadian Country Music Association, finally achieving the recognition she deserves after numerous years of nominations.
As with all her previous releases, her recently released fourth album, Faded Gloryville, is another stunning collection of country-kissed songs. It is an album that is filled with the sights and sounds and souls of those who've found themselves in Faded Gloryville, brought to its saloons, flophouses and cheap motels by drink, by debt, by vanity, heartbreak, failure, fear or misfortune.
"I had a moment where I thought, 'Could this be me? Could I wind up like this?'" says Lindi. "That was a very honest question to myself."
That idea that she would question that shouldn't come as much of a surprise to those familiar with the subject matter of her past work, specifically 2013's Juno Award-nominated Tin Star, considering much of it was powered by Lindi's experiences as a young, struggling artist.
Together, the nine original tracks and heartfelt cover of the Bee Gee's classic "To Love Somebody", on Faded Gloryville all make sense, delivering what is the singer-songwriter's most assured, varied and engaging release to date. It features everything from barnburner songs and the good ol' foot-stomping, toe-tapping numbers to the ballads that Lindi has made her calling card, all delivered with an energy and emotional investment that makes them utterly her own.
But lest you think that the album is one with no hope, an obituary for those who find themselves at the outskirts and on their way into a life from which there is no return, Lindi points to the opening song "Ashes", which speaks of rising, Phoenix-like, out of that heartbreak and despair and finding oneself, evolving into something more. Ultimately this story, her story, everyone's story can and should be one of redemption.
"I always look at it like in order to get to paradise you have to travel through Faded Gloryville," she says.
THE CACTUS BLOSSOMS
When brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum started making music as The Cactus Blossoms they didn't have a big plan. They cut their teeth performing some well known and obscure country songs that were popular or unpopular pre-1960, partly out of curiosity and deep appreciation, but mostly because it was fun. Early on they were given a residency at the Turf Club in St. Paul, Minnesota. They got a band together and it became their weekly practice-in-public where they would pull out every song they could think of, no matter how well we knew it. It was their first chance to play all night and do whatever they wanted.
Over the course of a year and a half at the Turf Club their repertoire had snowballed into an amalgam of original songs and a bunch of gut wrenching, tongue-in-cheek heartbreakers, that were 30 years older than the brothers. Not everyone could tell what was new and what was old, and it didn't really matter. People just seemed to enjoy it. That's when the wheel got going and gave the illusion of spinning backwards. They weren't born in the wrong era. They just got into some music from a different era and found a way to make it their own.
Good fortune has followed them every step of the way, offering opportunities that seemed just beyond what they were ready for. It always stretches them and makes them feel lucky as hell.
Their album You're Dreaming, is the culmination of several years of songwriting and the kindness of thousands of miles and friends. With a cast of characters, experiences, and personal perspectives, set in simple rhymes and sung in harmony, they try to paint a picture in your mind.
Sunday 16 October: 'THE SHAPE I'M IN' HOOTENANNY AND BBQ
Closing out the festival in true party style get set for Sunday evenings The Shape Im In hootenanny and bbq featuring an all star band and some of New Zealands hottest talents. Grab a tasty bbq plate and enjoy performances from country songstress Ebony Lamb (of Eb & Sparrow), Lyttelton Records newest poster boy Tom Cunliffe, horn blasting superstars Hopetoun Brown, superduper Skyscraper Stan and The Eastern's Reb Fountain.
