Howdy bab,
We have our first summer 2019 festival booking, which is nice. We’ll be at The Mello Festival at Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, over the weekend of 24-26th May.
You’ll find us on the main stage on the Friday evening, alongside the likes of The Wonder Stuff and Tom Hingley.
Weekend tickets are now on sale here.
Other acts announced so far include EMF, Goldie Lookin’ Chain, Stereo MCs and Brand New Heavies.
See you there.
Howdy bab,
Our next show is on Thursday 6th December at The Hare and Hounds in Birmingham’s fashionable Kings Heath. We’ll be supporting guitarist and songwriter Malcolm Middleton.
Malcolm is best known for his work with the Scottish alternative rock band Arab Strap. Over the course of 10 years they released 6 studio albums before splitting amicably in 2006. Malcolm has continued to write and perform as a solo artist and has released six solo albums.
Both Malcolm and Independent Country will be playing acoustic sets. Tickets are available from Songkick.
See you there
Howby bab,
Our next show will be a special ‘Farewell To The Flapper’ event in Birmingham on Wednesday 6th June – it will one of the last shows taking place in this much-loved Brum venue before the march of progress turns it into flats. Hey ho.
Support on the night comes James Summerfield, Ben Calvert and The Swifts, and Chris Tye, who together are worth the entry fee alone. Then we tread the boards, and may even dust off some songs from our former lives as 1990s/2000s indie kids. It’s be emotional.
The show is being put on by Birmingham Promoters, and full info below is taken from their event page.
Tickets are £7 and available here.
In the meantime, you can broadcast your intention/hope of attending to friends and family by clicking the relevant buttons over on the Facebook event page
See you there, kids.
Full details…
Independent Country are a 6-piece band from Birmingham, UK, who play Country versions of classic Indie tunes.
Our debut LP, “TrailerParkLife”, was released in December 2016 and features new versions of songs by Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, New Order, Teenage Fanclub, and others. Jim Reid from The Jesus and Mary Chain recently described our version of ‘Blues From A Gun’ as ‘the best thing I have EVER heard’.
Our 2nd album, “The True Adventures of Independent Country” will be released in summer 2018. It will feature songs by Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, The Smiths, Inspiral Carpets, Spiritualized, and more.
Since our debut live show in the summer of 2016 we’ve played festivals all over the UK and have supported artists such as Karl Blau, Cale Tyson, and The Surfing Magazines. With a repertoire of over 40 songs – and counting – we can play either full-band sets that’ll tear the house down on a drunken Friday night, or else a laid-back acoustic show that will provide the ideal soundtrack to a regretful, hungover Sunday.
Independent Country Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp
Wath the video to ‘Blues Like A Gun’ here:
Chris Tye is a singer-songwriter who makes beautiful harmonic pop music with roots in a folk and jazz tradition. He is a sublime guitar player with a complex sense of rhythm, and a talented and ambitious composer and arranger of his music. But perhaps what strikes the listener first is his hugely distinctive voice, expressive and versatile, veering from melancholy to ecstasy, which at times recalls such important musical influences as Nick Drake, John Martyn, Grizzly Bear, The Beatles and Paul Simon.
After early releases Somewhere Down the Line(Headwrecker Records) and Matchbox Stand he released his ambitious debut album The Paper Grenade in November 2014: urban folk music on a huge canvas, intimate, anthemic and built for the big stage.
Chris is well-known on the Birmingham’s revitalised music scene, where he collaborates with diverse artists including Sam Redmore and Michael Clarke, and he has played to full venues across the country as a headline act as well as supported artists including Amy Winehouse, Fionn Regan and Ben Howard.
Chris Tye Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Watch the video for ‘Vicious Words’ below:
Ben Calvert & The Swifts
While making experimental theatre at Dartington College of Arts, Ben picked up a guitar and started writing his own songs immediately. Influenced by British folk, early 90’s Indie and US Psychedelia, audiences and reviewers alike have been charmed by his understated lo-fi post-folk sound that has melodic, narrative, songwriting at the core.
Having played a show at Union Chapel in November 2013, Ben took a year-long hiatus to write. The single The Sea, The Sea marked his return. The single was self-recorded and self-produced by Ben in his home studio and was mastered by Pete Maher. (Paul Weller, Damien Rice, Beady Eye) Within five minutes of the track being uploaded to BBC Introducing, it was playlisted for the following Friday.
‘This ghostly single makes a beautiful introduction. If you like Bon Iver, Midlake or Fleet Foxes then this was made for you.’ Brum Notes
Ben’s spent the last four years writing, recording and occasionally playing his songs at poetry nights in London houses. As well as returning to stage acting. There are new songs aplenty, including an EP that’s been recorded and mastered and all ready for release on vinyl in 2018.
Ben Calvert Links: Website | Bandcamp | Youtube
Watch the video to ‘Bright Lights’ here:
The Birmingham-born alt-country singer-songwriter James Summerfield played with John Peel favourites Buick 6 (later The Toques) throughout the mid- 2000’s which saw them collaborate with Julian Wilson (Grand Drive), Simon Alpin(the late Willard Grant Conspiracy) and Neil Coddling(Suede). Since going solo James has released 6 studio albums, toured twice with pal Scott Matthews, collaborated with Rankin Roger (The Beat) and the late Paul Murphy(The Destroyers).
“Paced like Gillian Welch at her Bible-black best” – Uncut
“One of the finest exponents of moss-hung backwoods Americana you’ll find in the UK” – The Scotsman
James Summerfield Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Watch the video to ‘Nightingale’ here:
On Saturday 13th May we’ll be playing an acoustic show at the inaugural Independent Birmingham Festival, which takes place at The Bond in Digbeth between 12-6pm. We’re onstage at 1pm, playing some stripped-down versions of songs from our recent TrailerParkLike LP. More info on the festival below.
On Saturday 13th May (12pm – 6pm), the inaugural Independent Birmingham Festival will be taking place at The Bond, Digbeth, showcasing the very best of Birmingham’s independent restaurants, bars, pubs, street food traders, retailers, artists, designers, producers and more in a day-long celebration of all that is great about our city.
Having begun life as a website and guide to independent culture in Birmingham, actively encouraging people to explore Brum’s lesser-known aspects and rediscover their city, Independent Birmingham then went on to create the Independent Birmingham Membership Card. The IBcard is now owned by over 15,000 people, acting as a key to the city and entitling cardholders to fantastic discounts and deals at over 95 of the very best independents in Birmingham. The website and the Independent Birmingham Membership Card both act to encourage the people of Birmingham to support local, celebrate the unique and to Believe In Birmingham.
The festival will take place between 12pm – 6pm at The Bond, with restaurant pop-ups, street food, cocktails, craft beer, local artists, designers and retailers showcasing why Birmingham is so great throughout the day.
Line-up (so far): The Church, El Borracho De Oro, The Warehouse Cafe, Baked In Brick, Low ’N’ Slow, Rob Wood (showcasing drinks from The Wilderness, Smultronställe, The Loft and Zindiya), The Cuban Embassy, Buddha Belly, The Victoria, Ross Jukes, The Bournville Waffle Company, Clink, Quarter Horse Coffee, Boo Boo Coffee, Twist, Peel and Stone, Anderson and Hill, Cheval Blanc, Brumhaus, Dot Moth, Connolly’s, The Birmingham Whisky Club, The Chocolate Quarter, Zen, Vincent Van Doodle, Pin Game and many more.
More news as it comes on our events page.
Tickets cost just £8 (children under 12 go free – no ticket required) and can be purchased here.
See you there.
