It’s that time of the year when you reflect on what you have seen, what made ya tick and what really … could have been improved!
So for what it is worth … here is my two penneth worth …!
Album of the year – The Graceless Age – John Murry … What can I say …?!
Live performance of the year – Danny & The Champions of the World, at the Maze Nottingham (Cosmic American) … A pedal steel driven, soul review, full of fun, energy and crowd pleasing connection. Danny George Wilson truly finds his metier on Stay True , with his classic blend of country-soul. It was hard to tell whether we were in Mussel Shoals or at the Wigan casino … Truly sublime!
Most emotive performance – John Murry … Doing ‘Little Colored Ballons’ live at EOTR to a stunned audience (not a dry eye in the house)
Undiscovered discovery CD – Star Wheel Press, The Life Cycle of a Falling Bird … Is this the ‘Bonnie Prince Billy’ of Scotland?
Disappointment of the year – End of The Road Festival EOTR (in part) .. For their totally inappropriate headline acts Sigur Ros, David Byrne … and Belle & Sebastian (Americana ..???)
Pleasant surprise of the year – Tim Grimm as support for Eric Taylor at the Guitar Bar Nottingham … Brilliant show, amazing fidler and possible ‘song of the year’ …‘King of The Folk Singers’
UK Festival of the year – Maverick Country Music Festival, a small but perfectly formed festival in the Suffolk countryside, for sticking true to their genre (listen up EOTR)
The gig I missed – Jason Isbell at the Bodega, Nottingam (said by some to be the ‘gig of the year’) … ah well, you can’t win em all …!
Have yourselves a very happy winter solstice and a prosperous New Year …
Follow Alan J Taylor at https://twitter.com/TaylorAlanJ
