Across The Borders is a new partnership event between independent music programmer Gathered In Song, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Arts and Culture Service and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s Cultural Services department. Bringing some of the biggest names in international americana and alt. folk to South Wales over two days…
Buy a ticket for one show or a discounted weekend package which includes a free bus service from Ponty to Porthcawl after the show on Saturday. Diverse and Spillers have tickets to this (£19 inc BF), the Sunday (same price) and it’s £33 for both gigs and the bus.
Sun 6th September 2009 @ The Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl
1.00pm-11.00pm
VETIVER
Based around lush, acoustic textures; simple yet charming, effective arrangements; and a core of really strong writing, Vetiver’s sound takes influence from a deep well of influences – late-’60s pastoral folk, tropicalia, ’70s west coast rock, and much more beyond.
Lead singer and songwriter Andy Cabic’s close friendship and regular collaborations with the likes of Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom and Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval have helped Vetiver develop a celebrated following on the psych-folk scene, but with each release Cabic’s own talent has gently ambled towards centre stage. Tight Knit, the band’s latest album, and first for the groundbreaking Bella Union label, sounds blissfully warm and analogue in essence, capturing Cabic’s spirited modern twist on country and folk rock with a sympathetic ear.
After the success of labelmates Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver last year it seems timely that Vetiver’s music should find crossover success, and undoubtedly, Tight Knit is a deeply accomplished album that’s sure to hit the spot for anyone with any degree of susceptibility to classy Americana.
Vetiver’s songs have been described as “dreamy, gentle songs that George Harrison would have written in some sunny country garden.”
“a complex hybrid somewhere between the Kinks at their most relaxed and the Band at their most committed, Vetiver have made a record that’s as summery as a field full of butterflies.”
– Observer Music Monthly
MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO (Pictured above)
Despite the major labels’ best efforts, a huge diversity of indie music continues to thrive in out-of-the-way corners of America, part of an underground network of inspired invention that’s chosen to simply ignore the ossified mainstream. A vehicle for the songs of Jason Molina, Magnolia Electric Co are from Indiana’s slate-town, Bloomington, about as midwest middle-of-nowhere as it gets; but with a sequence of Steve Albini-produced albums the band have put the place firmly on the musical map.
Drawing heavily from the heartland rock and folk-rock of the 1960s/70s, Magnolia Electric Co blend Molina’s spectral folk leanings with working class rock in the tradition of Springsteen, Tom Petty and Bob Seger, with Mojo Magazine likening them to “Neil Young and Crazy Horse at the peak of their 70’s powers”.
Along his travels Molina has collaborated with some of the most highly respected musicians of his peer group, including Will Oldham, Scout Niblett, My Morning Jacket and both Alasdair Roberts and Aidan Moffat who share this bill.
“Hard to avoid thinking of Neil Young and Crazy Horse at the peak of their ’70s powers” – 4/5 Mojo
“The sound of a major talent gone major league” – 4/5 Uncut
ADEM
“A Nick Drake for the new millenium” NME
ALASDAIR ROBERTS
“Brilliant, utterly transfixing” The Telegraph
AIDAN MOFFAT AND THE BEST OFS
“A stupendous album…one of Britain’s greatest lyricists.” 5/5 The Sunday Times
OHBIJOU
“Rather gorgeous” BBC
More info on all the bands can be found HERE
