Many years ago in the halycon days of the Peterborough Country Music Festival I had the pleasure of seeing a fairly new artist at the time called Nanci Griffith.
Nanci was new to hard core British country music audiences and it was not perhaps until the release of her album ‘Lone Star State of Mind’ that many realised her brilliance.
Her musical attributes span the boundaries of musical genres but predominately folk and country, she often describes it as folkabilly.
As a songwriter she excels often with other artists having had hits with her songs.
Kathy Mattea gained chart success with ‘Love At The Five and Dime’ and Suzy Bogguss with ‘Outbound Plane’ also written by Nanci and Tom Russell.
The worst thing that can ever happen to an artist of her calibre is what is termed in writers circles as ‘writers block’ and this scenario took her away from the writing world for around five year, however in 2009 she returned triumphantly with her ‘The Loving Kind’ album which contained nine self-penned and co written songs.
She has just released her twentieth album entitled ‘Intersections’ which is sheer class and proves her writing worthiness is once again going to gain her the accolades she deserves.
The last time she appeared in our area she was touring with The Crickets but in three weeks time she returns to the North East to appear at The Sage Gateshead on March 22nd.
No doubt the audience will be treated to a mix of old and new songs especially from her new album which will include a song I’m sure will be come a national anthem called “Hell No I’m Not Alright”.
Treat yourself to a great new album and a brilliant ‘live’ musical night out.
Tickets are available for the Sage Gateshead gig by calling 0191 443 4661
Nanci Griffith Intersections Proper Records
She always gets a great reception at The Sage.
Never come across mosh pits here in Newcastle …she must have got her geography wrong.
As for babies on stage, that’s what happens when you play kindergartens…..
Wonder what sort of reception she will get at The Sage?
She described some early UK shows on Bob Harris and mentioned Newcastle as a memorable one for the wrong reasons.
They were clubs that had mosh pits. Playing “some place in Newcastle” a baby got passed onto the stage and was crawling around in the middle of them.
The clinical Sage is somewhat more upmarket for her these days