Americana UK 'Scene'

[Mykesbass]

I have a bit of an idea for the next band I want to put together, and thought it would probably fall under the Americana label (not that I am one for labels, but they do serve a purpose when putting something together and then marketing that act).

 

Anybody here playing in such a band? Is there a 'scene' (it looks like there is a bit of one from my Facebook feed)? 

Who are some of the bands out there?

 

Thanks in advance!

[grapefruitmoon]

Sounds like a good project! I've been in a couple of Americana/Americana-adjacent bands. This site has always been good for what's happening on the scene, if you've not seen it already - https://americana-uk.com/

[ezbass]

1 hour ago, Mykesbass said:

Who are some of the bands out there?

Elles Bailey is one that immediately springs to mind, as is, young, local band, Longstay.

[Rosie C]

1 hour ago, Mykesbass said:

Anybody here playing in such a band? Is there a 'scene' (it looks like there is a bit of one from my Facebook feed)? 

Who are some of the bands out there?

 

 

I played in a bluegrass band in 2022-23 - mostly bluegrass but some country music too - Johnny Cash, etc. I was surprised that here in South Wales there are a lot of bands playing Americana and it was fairly easy to get bookings and decent audiences. Just a couple of weeks ago we went to see Texas Tick Fever who do a range of Americana styles and the venue was packed.

 

[Mykesbass]

22 minutes ago, grapefruitmoon said:

Sounds like a good project! I've been in a couple of Americana/Americana-adjacent bands. This site has always been good for what's happening on the scene, if you've not seen it already - https://americana-uk.com/

Thanks - yes, been following their Facebook page - need to delve deeper into their own website, thanks.

[Mykesbass]

19 minutes ago, ezbass said:

Elles Bailey is one that immediately springs to mind, as is, young, local band, Longstay.

Yes, guess I'm coming to it from the Blues side, which is where Elles Bailey started (along with Alice Armstrong and a couple of others). Looks like there is a fair bit of crossover. Will check out Longstay, thanks.

[Mykesbass]

18 minutes ago, Rosie C said:

 

I played in a bluegrass band in 2022-23 - mostly bluegrass but some country music too - Johnny Cash, etc. I was surprised that here in South Wales there are a lot of bands playing Americana and it was fairly easy to get bookings and decent audiences. Just a couple of weeks ago we went to see Texas Tick Fever who do a range of Americana styles and the venue was packed.

 

Does seem to be growing, which is another great reason to explore!

[Len_derby]

Coincidentally, I’ve been considering buying a ticket for the Marsden Americana and Bluegrass festival in June. Marsden is a small town near Huddersfield. 
 

http://www.truenorthmusic.co.uk/upcoming-yorkshire-gigs/marsden-americana-bluegrass-day-22-june-2024/

[Rosie C]

22 hours ago, Mykesbass said:

Does seem to be growing, which is another great reason to explore!

 

Although quite simple - root-5 with a run here and there, but I found the bass lines a lot of fun to play. No drummer in our band, so the bass and banjo were the rhythm section. 

I played on upright too, which always adds a bit of theatre. 

 

Edited May 6, 2024 by Rosie C

[jimmyb625]

We're sort of Americana (we have a violin player and have had a pedal steel player on a few tracks in the past).

Some of the bigger festivals (Black Deer, Long Road etc) seem a bit of a "closed shop", especially if you're not based in the South, which appears to be where there's a bigger scene.

Having said that, we might just be rubbish.

[meterman]

Would The Hanging Stars fit the bill? “Sweetheart Of The Rodeo” era Byrds vibes meets Flying Burrito Brothers, sometimes a bit of Tom Petty influence too. Have been on a couple of festival bills in Oxford and London with them and they can really tear it up live.
 

 

There’s definitely a ‘cosmic country’ / Americana overlap in the UK with folks like Bobby Lee, Joe Harvey-Whyte, Spencer Cullum, etc.

 

 

And it’s funny how it’s all come around again. I remember The Rockingbirds doing country rock / Americana in the 1990s but not gaining much traction beyond the true believers. They were amazing live though, and if they were still going now they’d definitely be seen as keepers of the flame. 

[Merton]

10 hours ago, Mykesbass said:

I have a bit of an idea for the next band I want to put together, and thought it would probably fall under the Americana label (not that I am one for labels, but they do serve a purpose when putting something together and then marketing that act).

 

Anybody here playing in such a band? Is there a 'scene' (it looks like there is a bit of one from my Facebook feed)? 

Who are some of the bands out there?

 

Thanks in advance!

Yep, I play bass for Katy Hurt who originally branded herself “country” but there are so many influences in her music it’s easier to call it Americana.

 

Doing Black Deer fest this year, have done Buckle and Boots, Rock’n’Ribs, Long Road in the last and hopefully again in the future. As @jimmyb625 says the festival scene does sometimes feel like a very closed club though. Have met some lovely people through it though - Gasoline and Matches, The Jackson Line, Two Ways Home to name a few bands worth checking out.

[jimmyb625]

I think we may have played on the same list as Katy, although I'm not positive. We definitely did something with Gasoline and Matches, although it was only the "front three" of guitar, vocals and violin.

[Mykesbass]

8 hours ago, meterman said:

 

 

 

And it’s funny how it’s all come around again. I remember The Rockingbirds doing country rock / Americana in the 1990s but not gaining much traction beyond the true believers. They were amazing live though, and if they were still going now they’d definitely be seen as keepers of the flame. 

Yes, it has been a long, slow burn, from the early days of Alt Country.

[pete.young]

I play in an old-time Appalacian band called East Creek Union. We've played at Red Rooster, the sadly defunct Orwell Bluegrass festival and Folk East. This year we're doing Maverick. Red Rooster in particular has a very wide ranging definition of "Americana" encompassing old-time, bluegrass, country, blues, rockablilly, new orleans style street jazz, country rock and people like Pokey Lafarge who dont' really fit into any category.

 

I like going to Red Rooster, I hear a lot of acts there I wouldn't otherwise come across.

 

The UK America Music Association who I believe are invoved in booking acts for Red Rooster and maybe other festivals too. We certainly can't get a sniff despite having played there in the past. They have slots at certain events for members to apply.  I was thinking about joining, but I don't like the T's and C's which require you to sign up to a Continuous Payment Authoritty (CPA), I'm not keen on that idea.

[Nicko]

My mate's bluegrass band seems quite busy - although it's strictly second job territory.  Not really my cup of cha but whatever floats your boat

 

https://www.thedustbowlsinners.com/

 

 

[pete.young]

26 minutes ago, Nicko said:

My mate's bluegrass band seems quite busy

 

 

 

That's a fine example of what I'd expect to see labelled Americana, but to me it's not a bluegrass band. No fiddle, no 5-string banjo, no mandolin.  The definition for bluegrass is pretty narrow and doesn't include accordions.

[Nicko]

24 minutes ago, pete.young said:

 

That's a fine example of what I'd expect to see labelled Americana, but to me it's not a bluegrass band. No fiddle, no 5-string banjo, no mandolin.  The definition for bluegrass is pretty narrow and doesn't include accordions.

I'm not that familiar with the technical differences between what they play and true bluegrass but it sounded like it to me when I saw them play a few years ago - although I don't recall them having either the accordion or the dobro then.  Despite the main photo Pete plays 6 string banjo and mandolin as well as guitar. 

[kodiakblair]

1 hour ago, pete.young said:

The definition for bluegrass is pretty narrow.

With good reason.

 

[Mykesbass]

3 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

With good reason.

 

The man behind Wish basses! What a find @kodiakblair

[kodiakblair]

4 hours ago, Mykesbass said:

The man behind Wish basses! What a find @kodiakblair

 

He has plenty of books out but that is the only one I've read, in two minds about the title of this one 😄

 

[Beer of the Bass]

21 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

With good reason.

 

 

I'm wondering if there's a little nod to John Fahey in the choice of title.

 

[toneknob]

I saw an ad recently looking for someone to join an outfit specialising in Appalachian Murder Ballads. Am I safe in saying I think that's an Americana sub-genre?

 

[kodiakblair]

23 minutes ago, Beer of the Bass said:

I'm wondering if there's a little nod to John Fahey in the choice of title.

Has to be 🙂

[Cat Burrito]

I spent several years from the early noughties until about 5yrs ago playing on the UK Americana circuit. We did 4 albums, got on prime time CBS TV in the USA and did a few UK tours and festivals. There was definitely a scene but I thought it kind of fizzled out. Looking at Basschat over the last couple of days, it seems much like everything else, like it might be coming back. I enjoyed it at the time but I think having done it for so long in a really good band, it's something that I have a passing curiosity in, rather than wanting to return to it. Definitely loads of fun and I would recommend it to anyone.