Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Miriam Jones & Flocks 11 October 2012
The Live at All Hallows series of gigs returns for our autumn run. We start with a rare trip to Leeds for Canadian singer-songwriter Miriam Jones with support from Leeds's own Flocks. Miriam is probably best know in the UK for her appearances at the Greenbelt arts festival. She's passing through Yorkshire enroute home from Scotland and we jumped at the chance to host her.
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Miriam has a way of singing the soul back home without putting it to sleep. Poppy and light? Yes. Soulful and reflective? Indeed. Folky and human? Absolutely.
She has a particular gift for writing earth and angels side by side, and a voice to sound them so. Described in a recent live review as 'Springsteen in a Kitchenette', Jones' skilful and passionate performances (whether as a no-frills bass and acoustic duo or her full-band the Red Sea), along with a vulnerable writing style, never fail to delight her audience. This will be a duo gig with Miriam's husband Jez Carr.
Following two studio albums recorded in Canada, (Sign & Semblance 2005 and Being Here 2007) Miriam moved to the UK, wrote an EP (Inside Free 2008), recorded and released a song a month in 2009 (The Solitary Songs), and then finished her third album Fire-Lives in late 2010, subsequently rerecording a couple of tracks at Abbey Road, for radio play. Recorded live in her Oxford terrace with a band of bass, drums, electric guitar and Miriam's own acoustic guitar and straight-forward piano, Fire-lives sparkles with raw spirit and power in a thoughtfully combined set of heartening songs, sometimes buoyant and winsome, at other times slow-burning and dark.
"Miriam isn't just mining the usual female singer-songwriter vein. She's got some fresh ideas, rhythmically and harmonically. It was a privilege to be a part of her project. I hope lots of people find this music. It's got beauty and surprise all in one package. Which is a lot like life, right?"
Charlie Peacock, Sr. A&R Consultant-Sony/ATV
www.miriamjones.com
Support is from local 4 piece Flocks. Two of Flocks played LAAH back in January 2012 as members of Hunting Bears: Reece Jacob stepped out from behind the drums back then to treat us to some of his own songs: this has developed into Flocks, and we are delighted to welcome Reece and co back to play for us.
http://www.facebook.com/Flocksmusic
Doors 7pm, Tickets £5 in advance, more on the door.
Buy tickets here!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Acoustic party with Plumhall
Formerly of Chumbawamba, Waking the Witch and Accidental Tourists, Michelle Plum has teamed up with Nick B Hall of The Hall Brothers to bring you exciting acoustic roots music as plumhall. Together they have created a sound which delivers powerful and emotive original songs, gorgeous harmonies and dynamic guitar playing. The pair's natural chemistry is plain to see, and they capture hearts wherever they go.
Plumhall's music draws inspiration from many different genres, with a propensity towards pop, folk and Americana. You just can't pin them down and that's how they like it! Both Nick and Michelle play acoustic 6-string and 12-string guitars with Nick swapping to electric guitar from time to time when the mood takes him.
Plumhall are recording their debut album Smoke & Mirrors which will be released in Spring 2012.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
O'Hooley and Tidow with The Gary Stewart Band
Belinda has played piano for a number of folk acts including Nic Jones, Jackie Oates and (with Heidi) contributed to albums by Lucy Ward and Chumbawamba. They are also both activists for the LGBT community and as such, write for various publications including Shout! Their debut album Silent June was released in February 2010 on the No Masters label to widespread critical acclaim. Neil Spencer at The Observer described it as “Striking and refreshingly ambitious, a bold, unsettling debut”. Three tours and a string of summer festivals followed. They have garnered a reputation for honest, heart-breaking and at times, humorous performances; Julian May at Songlines Magazine describing their live show as “Mightily impressive”. The duo’s beautifully unusual songs touch on everything from dark folk tales, ecology and cross-dressing historical figures through to the invisibility of the elderly and the global economy. Their new album The Fragile, released in February 2012, sees them touring the country with their irresistible blend of striking arrangements, sublime harmonies and cheeky Northern banter.
The Gary Stewart Band
Gary Stewart is a Scottish singer/songwriter who has carved out a strong fan-base in his adopted home of Leeds and around the U.K. with songs about paranoia,love and prostitution.
Tickets: Doors open 7pm Tickets now on sale. See www.facebook.com/allhallows.gigs and go to the buy tickets tab
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Lobeila, Steve Lawson & She Makes War Sunday 26th February 2012
www.lobelia.net/wordpressblog/
Steve Lawson is an extremely talented instrumentalist creating warm organic soundscapes, he plays solo bass guitar to create sounds that really wouldn't be expected. Steve released "Believe in Peace" live album on 2/1/2012, which was recorded last summer in an art exhibition during a hurricane in Minneapolis!
www.stevelawson.net/2012/01/believe-in-peace-out-now/
Check out Lobelias latest release 'Beautifully Undone':
Check out his 2011 studio album "11 Reasons Why 3 Is Greater Than Everything:
Lobelia and Steve also work together as a duo and have released a number of live duo recording including "Live So Far" (2010)
She Makes War is Laura Kidd, a London-based alternative pop singer (with folkie influences), multi-instrumentalist, videomaker, writer and photographer who seems to be going for the record for the greatest distance travelled for an All Hallows opening slot. She has supported Midge Ure, played bass with I Blame Coco, Tricky, Lil’ Chris, Alex Parks and A-Ha, loves hulahooping and is the proud owner of Benji the Miniature Schnauzer.
Her second album "Little Battles" is due out the week after this gig (but is available for pre-order now):
http://shemakeswar.bandcamp.com/album/little-battles
Preview video for "Little Battles":
And in the meantime her 2010 solo debut "Disarm" is well worth checking out:
http://shemakeswar.bandcamp.com/album/disarm
www.shemakeswar.com/video.htm
Doors open 7pm
Tickets now on sale. See www.facebook.com/allhallows.gigs and go to the buy tickets tab
£6 in advance or £7 on the door
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Hunting Bears plus Jasmine Kennedy 29th January 2012
Our series of concerts re-opens with Leeds based alternative folk five-piece Hunting Bears. They list their influences as including Andrew Bird, Beirut, Bjork, Bon Iver, Dirty Projectors, Explosions in the Sky, Iron & Wine, Joanna Newsom, Joni Mitchell, Loudon Wainwright III, Portico Quartet, Tom Waits and come highly recommended live.
www.facebook.com/huntingbearsmusic
Support is from Jasmine Kennedy:
Jasmine is a Batley lass, who "sings from the heart and produces the most soulful voice you will hear. This 19-year-old has immense talent and an endearing charm". Just don't shout "Tracy Chapman" at her more than once
www.jasminekennedy.co.uk
Doors open 7pm
Tickets now on sale.
£5 in advance or £6 on the door
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