Rocking the city with the sound of Americana
ALAN NICHOL REVIEWS THE FULL THREE DAYS AT THIS YEAR’S SUMMERTYNE AMERICANA FESTIVAL AT SAGE GATESHEAD
AS usual, this year’s SummerTyne Americana festival – the twelfth – kicked-off at noon under an indifferent sky but the ominous threat of showers did not deter the audience numbers for the local bands on the outdoor Jumpin’ Hot stage.
By the time the indoor activities started in earnest it was a sunny early evening and the temperature inside Sage Gateshead was as humid as a Louisiana kitchen.
A sell-out crowd for the UK’s own hugely popular country act The Shires generated a real buzz in the main hall and after two solo support acts, the crowd was in party mood for the Home Counties duo – Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle – and their band. The venue has become something of a home from home for them and they were greeted like returning family.
In Hall 2, the sons of Merle Haggard – Ben and Noel – plus the rest of Merle’s band, The Strangers, also received a hot reception.
Merle, one of the co-architects of the Bakersfield sound (with Buck Owens), may have shuffled off this mortal coil last year but his legacy lives on in the capable hands of his progeny.
Before they took to the stage, Ashley Campbell (youngest daughter of Glen) and her band proved that there is indeed something in the genes. She demonstrated an easy confidence as band-leader but given the fact that she paid her dues in her father’s band, that was no great surprise.
Those people who arrived early on Friday were given a taste of what was in store the following night when the Stax Academy Review entertained a crammed concourse with an energy-packed rendition of some 60s soul classics, courtesy of their iconic Stax forebears.
Later in the evening, there were more soul-tinged offerings – and audience participation – from Cyndi Cain and her band.
Running in tandem with that, in the adjacent Northern Rock Foundation Hall, was a new name to me – New Zealand acoustic-guitarist/ country singer Marlon Williams, who is now based in Nashville. He must surely be destined for much bigger things.
Saturday’s start was anything but auspicious for the outdoor stalwarts! However, early morning downpours abated as the day progressed and the sun, as it frequently does, put in a welcome appearance in the late afternoon and early evening.
In fact, the final act of the day on the outdoor stage was Earl Thomas and his band, who brought some of their San Diego sunshine to warm the big crowd. His up-tempo soulblues and persuasive patter were
just what was needed to close the free-stage line-up.
Inside, the afternoon had Hall 2 shows from Danni Nicholls (who I missed) and Angaleena Presley and the latter was joyously received for her sassy, outspoken independence.
For the evening headline event, the Stax Academy Review once again duped the crowd into thinking it was 1967 all over again with vibrant and authentic re-workings of some choice material and set the scene perfectly for one of the remaining originals from that era, William Bell, who issued over 30 singles and six albums on the Memphis imprint.
Hall 2 on Saturday night was country through and through but offered a distinct contrast in styles, including Jim Lauderdale, surely one of the best-connected and most accomplished musicians in Nashville.
Following him was Californiabased Sam Outlaw and his sevenpiece band.
Sunday’s outdoor stage was blighted, though not curtailed, by some grisly weather. Just as the Errol Linton band were hitting the spot with their harmonica-led blues-reggae mix, the umbrellas sprang up like mushrooms as the rain increased in intensity.
The sonic intensity increased in Hall 2 as well, as the powerful vocals of both Lisa Mills and Jo Harman riveted the crowd.
As the last round of internal gigs got underway, the concourse was packed with folks in transit and those listening to Hayley McKay’s performance.
As Beth Nielsen Chapman was serenading the rapt audience in Hall 1, I left Hall 2 in the hands of a true pro. Chuck Prophet, always great value as a live act – and a virtual Geordie by now, given the regularity of his visits – was rocking the room as always.
The enhanced security appeared to present little in the way of problems – efficient and friendly without being overly officious – and the timing of events, as far as I could tell, ran like a Swiss-watch. Here’s to number 13 next year!