Curtis Eller, Grain Barge 27th April 2011

Curtis Eller is a funny man who sings sad songs.  Sad songs on a banjo.  While, very occasionally, yodelling.  (There are reviewers who fixate on the yodelling aspect of the four albums he has produced with his band, Curtis Eller's American Circus.  This is to do him a disservice.   He is a songwriter who yodels.  Sometimes.) 

The Bristol leg of his UK and Irish tour saw a near-voiceless, and so yodel-light, Eller supported at the Grain Barge by his Biggest Fans, local Klezmer madmen (and -woman) Boxcar Aldous Huxley, promoting their new, 10" vinyl-only EP The Initial Proceedings of the Boxcar Aldous Huxley Historiographical Society.  Discordantly drunk-Balkan brass, saw, woodwind, banjo and harmonium complemented or, perhaps, off-set by frontman Clawhammer Xerxes' (really?) almost-in-tune voice and late-prog-rock lyrics: think Fish on Marillion's Fugazi.  Yet somehow, just somehow, it all comes together to make for an intriguing, ear-testing hour. 

The Old Dance School, Bristol Folk House 8th April 2011

The cafe at the Folk House might make for a difficult gig, carrying as it does the suggestion of spotty tablecloths and polite conversation, dipping the lemon cake in tea while studiously ignoring the band.  But with a sound big enough to call to mind Bellowhead's saner moments, the seven members of The Old Dance School seemed blissfully unaware of any "venue issues". 

Support came from Gren Bartley, a Leicester-based singer-songwriter who has clearly imbibed deep from the flagon of Nick Drake.  Intelligent and carefully-strung lyrics warmed the crowd up nicely (oh, and "he's hot" - Mrs BRoutes).  Much of Gren's banter concerned his pie-eyed adoration for the main act, whom he had apparently petitioned to support on their tour.  Great things were expected...

Introducing Bristol Routes

Today seems like a good day to kick off a new blog about the live Bristol folk and roots scene.  Venue magazine has gone monthly, leaving a hole in the heart of the up-to-the-minute reviewing of Bristol music.  On the up side, the Bristol Folk Festival has returned - three days of stunning set lists culminated yesterday in a majestic pairing: the inspired silliness of our very own Sheelanagig warmed up the folk-moshpit (or, as Mrs BRoutes tagged it, the foshpit) for the glory of the funky, punky but always seriously folky Bellowhead.  But more later. 

The idea is simple.  To start with, partisan reviews of folk / roots / acoustic sets in and around Bristol will be posted as and when BRoutes is allowed out of the house.  As time goes by, and if there's enough interest, the blog might decide to list gigs in advance.  For the moment, there's enough work to do designing the blog.  As well as sorting out what to say about the festival.

Before that, someone needs to review some of the other gigs from the last few weeks....