Americana Fest at the American Museum & Gardens, Bath
2022 Music Line Up
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Beth Rowley
When her Top 10 album, Little Dreamer, sold over 100,000 copies in 2008 and earned Beth Rowley a Brit Award nomination it was clear there was something special going on.
With over 20 years writing and performing under her belt and celebrating the ongoing success of the album Gota Fría, a “heady mix of Blues and Americana that was well worth waiting for”. Over the years she's supported Jools Holland and Burt Bacharach and performed alongside Adele, Jamie Cullum and David Arnold.
While early influences came from Gospel, Soul and Blues, inherited from her parents who brought her up on Led Belly and Mahalia Jackson, Beth’s new sound has grown edgier, deeper, and louder over the years, and we are lucky to have the full band with us at The 7 Hills.
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Louis Brennan
London-based Dubliner, Louis Brennan, is a folk singer-songwriter with a difference. In a cracked baritone he tells tales of bad sex, half-drunk commutes and interpersonal claustrophobia.
Front View Magazine say he has "Johnny Cash’s rich vocal tonality, the opulent musicality of Tindersticks and Nick Cave’s deeply intellectual lyrical prowess, creating a deep, rich sensibility which marks him out as an artist of remarkable talent and immeasurable depth of mind."
Dead Capital debuted in 2018 with Love Island as the eagerly anticipated follow-up, described by Americana UK as “deep, dark and demanding of attention”.
The show will be a journey, turning the mirror from himself onto the audience, commanding dynamics as if conducting an orchestra, not standing alone with an acoustic guitar.
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Lady Nade
We welcome Lady Nade to The 7 Hills hot on the heels of her UK Americana Award nomination! An accomplished singer-songwriter with eclectic Americana and folk influences and a third studio album ‘Willing’. It continues her championing of the positive connection between music, well-being and the importance of equality and diversity within the arts.
Despite the global pandemic, 2020 was full of high-notes; taking the show online in the UK and USA at Thriving Roots, Folk On Foot and Folk Alliance international.
Lady Nade started writing poems and songs as a form of healing from grief. Performing in venues across her native city of Bristol, her work developed into a calling to connect with her fans on a deeper level and help lead them through life’s complicated tapestry with the healing power of music.
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Michele Stodart
You’ll know Michele Stodart as bassist, vocalist and songwriter with much-loved, double-platinum selling The Magic Numbers. After almost a decade of touring the world, in 2012, Michele self-released an album of her own songs. Wide-Eyed Crossing was a southern-drenched journey into Americana country blues. She released Pieces in 2016 on One Little Indian and toured extensively.
She has collaborated as songwriter and multi-instrumentalist on projects with artists including Kathryn Williams, David Ford, Ren Harvieu, Charlie Dore, David Kitt, O'Hooley & Tidow both on stage and in the studio. She's also musical director, curator and collaborator of live events and you may have spotted her in the Danny Boyle / Richard Curtis blockbuster film ‘Yesterday’ too, performing and featuring on the soundtrack.
Michele is taking time out from finishing her third solo studio album to join The 7 Hills line up due to be released later this year.
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JUST ANNOUNCED - Robert Vincent
Robert Vincent is one of the most acclaimed new voices on the Americana music scene.
Robert has performed extensively across the UK, Europe and the USA alongside such classic artists as Elvis Costello, Robert Plant, James Blunt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Beth Neilson Chapman and Paul Carrack.
Vincent’s most relevant and ambitious work to-date comes in the form of his 2020 release, ‘In This Town You’re Owned’, recorded in Legendary Rockfield Studios by Brit Award winning producer Ethan Johns. The record charted at number 2 in the UK Americana Charts and American Songwriter Magazine named it in its top 20 albums (every genre) in 2020.
Notable accolades include the Americana Music Association UK’s Emerging Artist Award in 2016, UK Artist of the Year and UK Album of the Year in 2021.
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Ali George
Ali George is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Bath with five studio albums and an armful of EP’s under his belt - yes this man is busy. He’s performed at Glastonbury and The Village Pump festivals, and many regional spots.
His parents bought him a guitar at the age of 6, he was in a band at 10 and at 16 traded his electric for an acoustic and was performing solo gigs in pubs and venues around Bath and the South-West, recording demos and developing his skills as a songwriter.
In September 2018 The Old Innocence EP was released on Myriad Pink but now Ali joins The 7 Hills to promote his latest album, performing both solo and with the innovative double-bassist Tom Allen (The Zen Hussies, Bartoune)
"An artist who has an unusually earthy quality, sounding genuinely natural in an otherwise processed world." MP3 Hugger.
Find Ali on:
Twitter
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Blue Violet
Sarah, a Scot with Parisienne roots, teamed up with Sam bringing the perfect voice to the story teller and song writer; together they have evolved to create a subtle breed of alternative, indie dream-pop.
In November 2019 Blue Violet spent a month at a studio in Devon recording their debut album with producer Rob Ellis (Anna Calvi, Marianne Faithful, PJ Harvey) and though the pandemic put touring on hold, we are delighted they are finally able to take the stage at The 7 Hills to bring their music to us.
2021 has seen them release tracks from the album with diverse lyrical themes and genre crossing song-writing all delivered with a raw, beautifully anguished husk. This is surrounded by harmonious arrangements courtesy of Ellis, bringing the duos first release to life.
We are delighted to welcomed them for this glorious sonic blanket of melodies and stories.
Find Blue Violet on:
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Ellie Gowers
Ellie Gowers makes an impression wherever she lands! Her music embeds a fierce energy that echoes the 60’s folk revival scene with songs emerging from a childhood love of literature and the folk tradition while exploring more present day narratives and situations. These influences are intertwined in her unique performance.
In the last two years, Ellie has released the EP From Here on Out, folliwng this with her latest single Against the Tide which earned her a TEDx talk. She has been touring the new songs in headline and support slots for critically acclaimed artists.
After the unpredictable circumstances that 2020 brought, Ellie pushed herself to take advantage of the time at home and worked on those fringe and braver projects and collaborations which had never quite seemed to happen. New sounds, new co-writers and new songs.
The new EP, Parting Breath, is out now.
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Avalon Highway
Avalon Highway are local boys, hailing from Bath and Midsomer Norton but coming together over a love of Johnny Cash, The Eagles, Mumford & Sons and Counting Crows.
This 5 piece span country, rock and indie but bring with it a cheeky smile and charm that nods to their West Country roots.
A couple of years back they caught the attention of none other than Mike Batt, musical maestro best known for discovering Katie Melua, at one of their live shows, and he then offered to produce the band, recording several tracks. They took him up and the rest is history.
We're delighted they took the Avalon Highway towards Widcombe and are taking the stage today.
Find Avalon Highway on:
Facebook
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Alex Lipinski
The first thing that hits you is the voice. Alex Lipinski's caressing sympathy, full-throated resentment, and the raw rockabilly excitement of earliest Elvis have grabbed unwary listeners from the West Country to Krakow, Berlin and New York since he first left Somerset to become a crucial habitué of Soho’s legendary 12 Bar Club. Like his hero Dylan he has written in the Chelsea Hotel, and sung in the home of an admiring Liam Gallagher, now a firm champion.
A brief tenure heading up Phoneys & The Freaks with Oasis’s Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs brought forth an EP, festival appearances and touring in the U.S. and Italy. Lipinski’s latest album ‘ALEX’ was recorded Berlin by Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) who said "Make no mistake, these songs have all the qualities of timeless music.”
Relentless graft and restless experience are now seeing his potential being fulfilled.
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Jimmy Lee
Born in Bristol, Jimmy Lee is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who has written and recorded albums with many bands and toured the U.S., Japan, Europe, and the UK. He has has performed for the last fifteen years in pubs, clubs, restaurants and small venues right up to Grand theatres and Vegas casinos, as well appearing on numerous TV and radio shows.
His debut album, Broken, is out now, recorded and mastered by Nicholas Dover at Canyon Sound Studios in Bristol, and brings out the raw Folky, Bluesy, Country blood in his veins. According to Mike Wistow from Folking.com “The playing is nimble, dextrous – without being showy. I’d call it understated – except that it’s bang on.”
You can hear Jimmy's influences through the songs that are reminiscent of early works by singer-songwriters such as Donovan, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, Cohen and Dylan.
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Samuel Taylor
Samuel Taylor is young talent hailng from Suffolk but relocated to our own city of Bath to study music. For 10 years he's been developing his craft as a singer-songwriter and banjo player. With minimal ability to play in the past two years this is a wonderful opportunity to hear the songs he's been locked away working on.
His music sits comfortably between Americana and Folk, with heavy influences from his inherited love for Bluegrass banjo playing, all the while still maintaining its British heritage. His lyrics touch upon everything from local folklore, history, past experiences, to his outlook on life.
He released his latest EP earlier this year titled, The Woods.
Find Samuel on:
Instagram
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Bob Gallie
We know Bob Gallie will be at home in Lyncombe as he is originally from the Valleys of South Wales. Bob Gallie started music when in school and learned to play guitar and sing the hard way.
After leaving Wales, Bob played in bands in the South West as a vocalist, progressing to vocalist for Diamond Head guitarist, Brian Tatler in his new band, Radio Moscow.
After four years of performing at major venue's such as The Marquee, and relentless gigging, Bob left the music behind him. Time as they say is a great healer and Bob returned to his roots, playing acoustic guitar, learning to sing again, and to write. Today, he enjoys playing at festivals and gigs, close to home and further afield.
If you have music in you, you can never really walk away and we’re delighted to have him share his music with us.
Find Bob on:
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Matt Owens and the D.V.P.
The 7 Hills very own founder and curator Matt Owens is bringing his sharp song-noir narratives and trademark gritty guitar style to the festival. He first came to prominence as a founder member of indie-folk band Noah and the Whale with 4 albums, 8 years of touring and huge international success, selling over one million albums in the UK alone!
Matt released his debut solo album, "Whiskey and Orchids" in 2019 with a band including Tom Waits' drummer Michael Blair, Thea Gilmore, and Carleigh Aikins from Bahamas playing 25 festivals before the pandemic halted the tour bus.
2020 saw the release of "Scored Earth", many BBC Radio Shows made it their album of the week, Bob Harris included “Cargo for the Road” on his first “Best of Under the Apple Tree” compilation and the album went on to feature in many Americana album of the year polls.
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Jonny Morgan
Jonny Morgan is an indie singer songwriter with an unashamed passion for ambient, emotive music - drawing inspiration from artists such as The Paper Kites, The Lumineers, & David Ramirez.
Growing up in the South West of England and spending a lot of time in the States, Jonny’s transatlantic sound is unmistakably influenced by his love for country/roots music.
Since signing to Peer Music, Jonny has been meticulously working on his craft in preparation for an exciting latter half of 2021.
In 2019, Jonny made his debut at Glastonbury and supported the likes of Wildwood Kin & Turin Brakes. He then released his debut EP in 2020 'A Brief Introduction' which put him on the radar of Mahogany, Alex Rainbird, and Sofar Sounds. More recently, his poignant lockdown song 'Treading Water' landed him a BBC Upload 'Track of the Week' and an appearance on 'The Whispering BOBCAST' alongside the legendary Rosanne Cash.