Four of the country’s finest Australiana acts are set to gather at the Bassendean Hotel on Friday March 3rd for a night of Sad Songs and Waltzes. Local troubadour Davey Craddock will be joined by Melbourne’s Small Town Romance, James Kenyon and Perth ex-pats Brooke Russell and The Mean Reds to kick off the long weekend with alt-country goodness.
Sad Songs and Waltzes
Starring Davey Craddock, Brooke Russell and The Mean Reds, Small Town Romance (duo) and James Kenyon
Friday 3rd March 7.30pm
The Bassendean Hotel
$10 entry on the door
Davey Craddock, Brooke Russell, Small Town Romance and James Kenyon announce Sad Songs and Waltzes at the Bassendean Hotel (WA) Friday 3rd March
Davey Craddock
Cracked asbestos fences, tangled romances in fishing towns, the smell of horse shit on ANZAC day and a hommus-stained taxi receipt – welcome to the world of City West, the debut album from West Australian singer songwriter Davey Craddock.
Recorded live to tape with his band The Spectacles and released in February 2016, the album is the culmination of a big 12 months for Craddock which saw singles Better Alone and Girls Light Fires added to rotation on Double J and ABC Radio, three national tours, a WA Music Award and WAM Song of the Year nominations and critical acclaim from the indie, folk and alt-country communities.
On top of solid national radio play, City West was received glowingly by the press with four star reviews in The Australian and The Music and Perth magazine X-Press calling it “the best release to come out of these parts for some time”. Craddock and his band’s captivating live shows have seen him invited to support artists as diverse as Old Crow Medicine Show, Don Walker, Diana Krall, Marlon Williams, The Waifs, The Basics and Tim Easton (Nasvhille) as well as appearances at West Coast Blues n Roots, Fairbridge, Nannup, Mt Beauty, Kyneton and Wave Rock festivals.
“Craddock’s uniquely Australian power of observation and gift of storytelling is matched by an uncanny knack for creating classic hooks” – The Australian – Four Stars
“City West is a world class introduction to one of this country’s finest singer-songwriters” – The Music – Four Stars
Brooke Russell and The Mean Reds
With songs about boozy nights, bad decisions, broken hearts and the best intentions, Brooke Russell and The Mean Reds blend vintage Americana with widescreen, dark country. Culminating in a kitchen in Fitzroy North, The Mean Reds are based in Melbourne and consist of Brooke Russell on voice, guitar and mandolin, Grant Taylor on lead guitar, Ben Franz on pedal steel, Luke Richardson on double bass and Roger Bergodaz on drums.
Drawing influence from alt country, jazz and folk styles, the band are also inspired by the songs of Ryan Adams, Joe Henry, Sharon Van Etten, Gillian Welch, Tom Waits and Neko Case. Their debut album, Poor Virginia was released in August 2013, and listed in Basement Discs Top 10 Australian Albums of The Year and Unpaved’s 50 Best Albums of 2013. After showcasing at the 2014 Americana Festival in Nashville, the band released a single, Never’s Gonna Take Too Long in April 2015 and an EP of the same name in December 2015. The single was listed in Inside Sleeve’s favourite releases of 2015 on Radio National.
Brooke recently received a Creative Victoria grant to return to Nashville in March 2016 and has been writing with artists such as Andrew Combs, Mick Thomas, Jim Lawrie and Clare Reynolds. She also performs regularly as a backing vocalist and is musical director of the Melbourne based choir, If You See Her, Say Hello. Brooke was the 2016 winner of the Darebin Music Feast Songwriters Award for her song Never’s Gonna Take Too Long.
“Brooke Russell and the Mean Reds’ country-inflected take on timeless pop that you’ll dig if you like Caitlin Rose.” – Nashville Scene
“She’d be at home in the Nighthawks diner, except that she’s maybe not jaded enough. There’s an innocence and hope to most of her songs that feels like a balm.” – McKinley Valentine, unpaved.com.au
www.brookerussellandthemeanreds.com
Small Town Romance
Fronted by Jim Arneman and Flora Smith Small Town Romance have been steadily garnering a fan base of true country music lovers everywhere they play. Sharing the writing and singing duties Jim brings a love of narrative and Flora a love of melody – together they are each the others perfect musical foil. At the heart of Small Town Romance is a partnership that celebrates their unique musical backgrounds creating a sound that is more than just a sum of their parts.
Jim Arneman is the son of songstress Anne Kirkpatrick and grandson of Slim Dusty and Joy McKean, raised on the traditions of Australian country music and touring life. His latter influences range across 70’s singer songwriters, alt-country and Americana. At the centre of his work is an admiration of, and ambition to strive for classic song-craft and musicianship. With a honeyed vocal and cracking honky tonk band behind him Jim knows his way around a classic country song but makes no apologies for being an Australian artist.
Flora Smith grew up in a household filled with Irish folk music and then spent a rebellious period dabbling in opera. She was set back on the right path after a period living in Texas where she studied tex-mex button accordion and fell in love with the energy and spirit of classic country.
“One of the records of the year” – Michael Park, The International Americana Show, Best of 2016.
“I need to get over my prejudice that only Americans can make good country music. It couldn’t be farther from the truth as evidenced by Small Town Romance.” Harry Kaplan, twangri-la.com
James Kenyon
James Kenyon is a Melbourne based, Adelaide-raised, singer songwriter. Following in the tradition of Don Walker and Paul Kelly, Kenyon threads narrative through music to tell Australian stories from a unique perspective and distinct voice.
Songs of broad plains, bright sun, grit of bitumen and the exhilaration of speed, they traverse regret, grief and hope, and sing of those who do not go gently into that good night.
Following up his critically acclaimed 2012 debut album ‘The North Pole’, Kenyon has spent over 2 years crafting his sophomore release ‘Imagine you are Driving’ with producer Nick Huggins, which was released through Little Lake and MGM records on October 7, 2016. Kenyon has been touring the album nationally to critical acclaim and the album appeared in many 2016 ‘best of’ lists including Radio National’s Inside Sleeve and Timber and Steel.
“James Kenyon’s style is comparable to the quieter side of Ryan Adams mixed with a hint of Bon Iver and a dash of The Felice Brothers with their rougher edges polished.” – Chris Familton, The Music
“Australia’s most underrated songwriter” – Gareth Evans, Timber & Steel
“Exploring the creative potential of soundscape in songwriting, he places the listener in the landscapes he depicts with sensitive artistry. A meditative, authentic journey that is genuinely in tune with its subject.” – Jessie Cunniffe, Sydney Morning Herald – Four Stars