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9TH SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE TWO WWW.THELONGROAD.COM

aaron watson brings

style to the long road
Words: Paul Sexton / Photo: Steve Turvey
consistently and hard-edged country-rock melodies. At times
authentically he sounded like Jack White with the ambience
replicated the vibe of a young Elvis, and his third album Other
of a Music City Arrangements ended the day with many
barroom. There new admirers.
were pleasing sets by The centrepiece Rhinestone Stage opened
husband and wife with a superb set from Liverpool songbird
team the Arlenes and Laura Oakes, whose easy-going melodies and
Yola Carter, whose smart lyrics blended wonderfully on ‘Better
unique roots-gospel In Blue Jeans,’ ‘Nashville Stole Your Girl’ and
melange has made others. She also pulled off the best country
her a favourite at refit of the weekend by turning Deee-Lite’s
both the UK and US dance anthem ‘Groove Is In The Heart’ into
Americana Awards. a double-time fiddle-fuelled hoedown.
William The The main stage also contained Nashville
Conqueror and Erin glamour in the pop sensibilities of Danielle
Rae were among Bradbery, the unswerving rock-flavoured
others to emerge melodicism of Logan Brill and the intuitive
from the Honky interaction of Striking Matches, who
Tonk with honours, complemented their own songs with a closing
and Danny and the pass at the blues staple ‘Crossroads.’
Champions of the Aaron Watson, the man who has broken

I f Friday night was the Long Road scene-
setter, Saturday was the day that the new
country and Americana festival truly made
its mark. The weather at Stanford Hall
may have been grey, but the spread of fine
performances across numerous attractive
stage settings produced a sunny disposition of
its own.
The Country Family were in high spirits
yesterday as Texas Royalty, Aaron Watson,
stepped up in the absence of Nashville
Royalty, Carrie Underwood, but the
numerous riches on the bill more than
compensated. The Front Porch Stage, which
quickly established itself as a favourite
outdoor “hang,” hosted such daytime
attractions as the British female trio the
Adelaides, just ahead of their Tennessee
songwriting sojourn, and singer-songwriter
Jess Morgan.
The frequently-packed Honky Tonk,
presented by the admirable Loose Records,
World delighted
with tracks from their current Loose album
Brilliant Light, notably ‘Gotta Get Things
Right In My Life.’
Australian-born, Nashville-based Ruby
Boots fearlessly sang an accappella hymn on
the Interstate Stage and added melodic rock
chords to her country mixture on the catchy
‘Don’t Talk About It.’ In the same spot,
Angaleena Presley brought her usual real-life
grit to highlights of last year’s Wrangled
album such as ‘Dreams Don’t Come True’
and ‘Motel Bible.’ She also featured the
Pistol Annies’ ‘Lemon Drop,’ promising a
new album by the roots trio she shares with
Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe in
the autumn.
One of the most widely-admired sets of
the festival arrived on the Interstate in the
shape of Oklahoma’s Parker Millsap and
his awesome band, who shared a brilliant,
exhilarating 45 minutes of guitar-fuelled,
every industry rule with a series of top-selling
independent releases, seized the bill-topping
opportunity, with songs from the true tradition
of country that had fans taking their partners
and dancing into the night. But perhaps
the greatest delight came back in a packed-
beyond-capacity Interstate performance by
one of the greatest treasures roots music has
to offer.
Lee Ann Womack has completed a
compelling return to her Texas roots with
her album The Lonely, The Lonesome &
The Gone, from which she showed her vocal
mastery and presence on the mournful ‘All
The Trouble’ and retraced the connection
between country and blues on the much-
travelled ‘Long Black Veil.’ But Womack knew
to reach into her Music Row past, and did so
with a visit to her Grammy-winning anthem
of 2000, ‘I Hope You Dance,’ that was both
elegant and uplifting. A final trip down The
Long Road now beckons.

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 STAGE PARTNERS Baylen Leonard’s
Introduction To Americana
as Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, Radio 1’s
Big Weekend and now The Long Road!

Line up includes: Words: Martin Chilton / Photos: Debbie Pippen (Baylen Leonard); Michael Halsband (Lucinda Williams)
• Robert J Hunter
• The Adelaides Baylen Leonard, Radio DJ and Creative Director behind The Long Road Festival,
BBC Music Introducing is BBC • Emma Moore
Radio’s platform supporting unsigned, • Little Folk reveals the music that moves him the most.
undiscovered, and under-the-radar UK • Painting Box
talent. It gives artists the opportunity to be
played on BBC local radio and nationally
• Jess Morgan
• Cooper & Davies B BC Radio 2 presenter Baylen Leonard,
an executive board member of the
Americana Music Association UK, and the
no apologies.

Iris Dement: ‘Our Town’

Unbroken’
A timeless, glorious song that is without a
doubt the roots that keep Americana firmly
on BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, 6 Music, • Lexie Green & The Indigo Blue
the Asian Network and Radio 3, as well as • The Lew Thomas Band mastermind behind The Long Road Festival, The first time I heard Iris Dement’s voice, grounded. Any Americana (or, for that
playing Introducing stages at festivals such reveals some of the music that moves him the it cut straight through me and tapped into matter, country) artist, no matter where they
most, with an introduction to Americana, something that I had probably tried to run are from, their age, or their style, recognise
in between. As well as curating stages at hand-picked by the man himself. away from, but was such a part of me that it the importance of this song and can join in
festivals and producing their own one of didn’t matter where I went, it would follow. on the chorus at the drop of hat. There are
a kind events and shows, their online hub Lucinda Williams: ‘Car Wheels On A With that high trill, her voice reminds me numerous wonderful versions of this song,
creates unique editorial and video content Gravel Road’ of church growing up, it’s jarring in the best but my favourite is by The Carter Family, who
which has become a valuable resource for Such a huge song that sounds as good today way and so comfortable at the same time. I got their start when they first recorded in my
Head over to Fair create recognition,
the international roots music fanbase. as it did when I was singing it at the top of love it. Last year, when I rushed in late to the hometown of Bristol, Tennessee, in 1927. I
County where The opportunities, and
my lungs tearing through the backroads Americana Awards at the Ryman in Nashville, don’t think I’ve ever heard this song and not
Birthplace of Country economic benefit for
Artists include of Tennessee with the windows down as a she was singing on stage and that voice shed a tear.
Music will celebrate BCM’s local and
• Danni Nicholls teenager. stopped me dead in my tracks and it felt like
Bristol’s rich musical regional communities.
• Ashley Campbell the first time all over again.
heritage on the Front The Bluegrass Situation (also known
Porch. The history, Artist include • Cardboard Fox Old Crow Medicine Show: ‘Wagon Wheel’
as BGS) is an organisation designed to • Angaleena Presley Billy Bragg: ‘A New England’
impact and legacy • Dori Freeman The combination of Bob Dylan and OCMS
encourage and support the continued • Worry Dolls The absolute pinnacle for “modern” British
of the 1927 Bristol • Andrew Alli was always going to be a winner.
growth of bluegrass, progressive folk • Ruby Boots Roots music, long before the word Americana
Sessions, will have you • Folk Soul Revival Always makes my heart swell when I witness
rock, Americana, roots and everything was a thing, and certainly before it was
captivated and helps crowds all over the world sing along to every
word, especially the line, “But he’s a heading accepted that you can be Americana no
west from the Cumberland Gap to Johnson matter where you are from, Billy Bragg was
PHOTO GALLERY City Tennessee,” since Johnson City was the doing exactly what Billy Bragg does, and
next town over from me growing up, and making no bones about it. Wonderful.
We are very happy to share with you some of our highlights from our first Saturday at The Long Road. From well dressed pooches to play time at Lil Possum County, not
to mention our stellar line-up, the feelings of carefree fun and good time vibes were felt across the site. We would love to see the memories you’ve captured this weekend as holds many happy memories of misspent
well, so if you share any photos or videos online please #TLR18 for all the Country Family to enjoy! youth. Steve Earle: ‘Copperhead Road’
A straight-up stone-cold classic, what more
can you say.

Angaleena Presley: ‘American Middle

Class’
Holds up a mirror to an often-overlooked
American condition that a lot of people
would like to sweep under the rug, but not
Angaleena. She’s a truth-telling badass who’s
never been afraid to put the facts right out on
the front porch for everyone to see.

Townes Van Zandt: ‘Pancho & Lefty’

One of the best road trip, storytelling songs
A very special thanks to
our creative teams
ever written.
A BIG THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS Nicola, Nicole and team for producing
the amazing Crossroads County and Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss:
Honky Tonk - the attention to detail
Lee Ann Womack: ‘The Way I’m Livin’’ ‘I’ll Fly Away’
takes us straight to Nashville! A song sung at every funeral I’ve ever been to
The team at the Loop, for giving us a A total game-changer for Lee Ann Womack
in the South, and one that soothes the sorrow
more realistic Front Porch Stage than when she firmly planted her flag in seemingly
of death with the unwavering belief in a better
we could have ever imagined! new territory for her. All the hallmarks and
Katie and the creative crew for pulling place beyond this world. The saddest happy
themes are present and correct; a brave
it all together with imagination, hard song I know, or perhaps the happiest sad song.
decision by a brave artist being true to herself
work and humour! Either way, it’s food for the soul.
and doing things exactly her way with
The Carter Family: ‘Can The Circle be

2 3
 SHOWGROUND TIMINGS
tlr WORD SEARCH
Can you spot some of our TLR stars?

Brent Cobb
Thomas, Aaron Watson, Twinnie, Logan Brill, Una Healy
Answers: Billy Bragg, Lee Ann Womack, The Shires, Ward

SQUARE DANCING

W ith a crowd of 120 square

dancers, of all abilities, the
field was certainly rocking yesterday
afternoon. Everyone entered into the
spirit, and with a live banjo player and
instructor on hand to guide, the group
quickly picked up the steps. If you fancy giving it a go, we have two sessions today
in the Fair County at 4pm and 6pm. See you there!