Artist: Colin Macleod
Hometown: Isle of Lewis, Scotland
Song: “The Long Road”
Album: Hold Fast
Release Date: June 18, 2021
Label: So Recordings
In Their Words: “‘The Long Road’ is a song about the ins-and-outs of regret. The times when you can’t help but think you could have tried a little harder, maybe reached out a little further. It’s also about the redemptive powers of a good friend and some strong words.” — Colin Macleod
Photo credit: Jack Johns
It’s not every day that you get to handpick folks for a songwriters round in your very own personal Honky Tonk bar, but that was exactly the task handed down to us for this year’s Long Road Festival in Leicestershire in the UK last weekend. Outside, a bright, bustling, jovial festival celebrating the awe-inspiring depth and breadth of American roots music from around the globe. Inside? A dark, divey, straight-out-of-Nashville honky tonk — the perfect setting for Rose Cousins, Rhiannon Giddens, Sean McConnell, Jessica Mitchell, Francesco Turrisi, and our host Matt the Electrician to share songs and stories. And laughter. A lot of it!
Check out a few photos from the BGS Songwriters Parlour:
All photos: Justine Trickett
There aren’t many British festivals that get American roots music as right as The Long Road. One of the UK’s biggest celebrations of country and Americana, it made a stellar debut last September. BGS is thrilled to be heading back to Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, where we’re once more curating the Honky Tonk stage in the afternoon on Sunday.
Here are just a few highlights heading your way at one of the most epic festival weekends of the year:
Friday, 6 September
You’ve just got away from work and you’re still feeling a bit stressed. Can we recommend you head straight for Jake Morrell at the Honky Tonk, and let this Nashville-by-way-of-Norfolk singer ease your pain?
Failing that, Katy Hurt is opening the Interstate stage, with The Cactus Blossoms following straight behind. If you’re still needing some catharsis, don’t miss Sam Outlaw’s set; if you’re ready to party, the CC Smugglers will help you shake it all off. With fifteen acts across three stages, there’s plenty to warm you up for the big two days ahead.
Saturday, 7th September
Where to start? Is it Jessie Buckley’s intimate lunchtime set, which we guarantee will have a crowd spilling out of the sides of the Honky Tonk? Or Jake Morrell of the Civil Wars on the Interstate stage? From the searing honesty of Roseanne Reid, to Curse of Lono’s Gothic rock show, to the out-and-out hilarity of Rich Hall’s Hoedown, there’s something for every mood.
There’s also an all-day schedule of ridiculously entertaining activities including a lasso workshop, the Cowboy Olympics and a hot dog eating contest. Oh, and did we mention that Kip Moore is headlining on the Rhinestone Stage? Yeah, that Kip Moore.
Sunday, 8th September
We think this’ll be the best day — but then, we’re biased, because from 2pm onwards, we’re getting to handpick who plays in our own personal Honky Tonk bar, and that includes Rose Cousins, Beth Rowley, and Jessica Mitchell. We’re also hosting the Long Road’s first ever Songwriting Parlour, led by Matt the Electrician, in the intimate, in-the-round style of the Bluebird Café in Nashville.
What else do you want — Rhiannon Giddens? Asleep at the Wheel’s first UK performance in 10 years? A DJ set from the Flying Mojito Brothers? Oh all right then, you can have them. They’re on the stage next door. And with BGS’s takeover ending at 8.15 pm, we won’t even take it personally if you head off for Josh Turner’s headline set.
Editor’s Note: Sean McConnell will take part in the Bluegrass Situation Takeover at The Long Road festival, to be held September 6-8 in Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, England.
“The quickest song I’ve ever written is the title track off of my newest record, Secondhand Smoke. For me, my favorite songs, and the ones I feel are my best, happen very quickly. They tend to be the ones that come out of nowhere, like they are already finished and are just trying to birth themselves into this world.
“‘Secondhand Smoke’ came to me while I was driving. I had just had an intense reunion with my father who I hadn’t seen in many years. I was thinking about our time together that day as well as our time together when I was a kid. The lyrics just started coming and coming and coming. I heard the chords that belonged underneath them and everything.
“By the time the idea entered my brain and I had arrived at my hotel, pulled out my guitar, and recorded a voice memo of it I think maybe 45 minutes had passed. Structure-wise and lyrically speaking, that voice memo sounds pretty much exactly like what you hear on the record. I’m grateful for it. It’s a song I know I’ll play for the rest of my life.” — Sean McConnell
Photo credit: Joshua Black Wilkins
Editor’s Note: Jessica Mitchell will take part in the Bluegrass Situation Takeover at The Long Road festival, to be held September 6-8 in Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, England.
I was on my first writing trip to Los Angeles to try and write the last couple of songs for my first record. It was an array of different songs written over the course of five years so it was all over the place emotionally and storywise, but I liked that about it.
I got into a session on one of my last few days with an amazing writer named Matthew Puckett. He did everything from Broadway to film and TV writing and was definitely a new and exciting kind of writing partner for me. We talked about a lot of things, but mostly talked about a very tough and difficult relationship that had just ended, and that I had made a decision to stop putting myself in situations that weren’t healthy or that didn’t benefit my overall well-being as a woman.
“Rain for the River” was born, and very quickly. It flowed out of us. A beautiful piano backdrop with some of my favorite lyrics I’ve ever written with anyone.
We recorded a demo in the moment that turned out so raw and had this crack in my voice trying not to cry the entire time.
I remember listening back to it and thinking, This is it, this is the last song on the record. Not only just for the record, it felt complete and true for that chapter of my life.
I’ll never forget that.
Editor’s Note: Beth Rowley will take part in the Bluegrass Situation Takeover at The Long Road festival, to be held September 6-8 in Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, England.
“This is a song I wrote with Canadian singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith. I was writing for my new album and decided to go on a trip for some inspiration. I emailed Ron and a few other friends I knew in Canada and booked to go on a writing trip. Our writing sessions were very relaxed and laid back. Ron is a genius writer. I’ve written with many people and there are very few writers like him. Even his rough ideas sound like the most beautiful finished songs. I had a few ideas up my sleeve but nothing finished. I’d been a longtime fan and knew we’d come up with something cool.
“I read one of the poems I’d written and he played a few chords on guitar. It didn’t take long for some to stick and after some lyric tweaks it was there. We chatted lots about life, music, relationships and what it meant to be in love. ‘Forest Fire’ is about passion and desire and the rush of attraction when you’re around someone new. The excitement and possibility and the pull towards someone. But it’s also about choice and responsibility. Before you let yourself go or be led, you have the choice to go along with it or not. Sometimes it can feel like we don’t have the choice, and that if we feel something it must be right. This song is about the rush and fire of passion but then on the flip side of that of taking responsibility and owning our choices and the effects they may have on others.” — Beth Rowley
Photo credit: Maria Mochnacz
Editor’s Note: Rose Cousins will take part in the Bluegrass Situation Takeover at The Long Road festival, to be held September 6-8 in Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, England.
“One of the most vulnerable songs I’ve written is “Chosen.” I had the steady, rhythmic guitar feel for this for a couple years before I wrote it. I was in the Iqaluit, Nunavut, the Canadian Arctic, in November of 2013. I remember feeling exhausted and being comforted by the meditative pulse of the one string of the guitar as I stood out at the sunny, freezing tundra. I knew that it would turn into something.
“At the beginning of 2015 I was writing in LA and deep into questioning if I had what it took to follow through with a certain relationship and it was such a vulnerable place to be. I wanted so much to be brave enough and I also wanted to run. I wanted to live up to the person I was perceived to be and I didn’t know if I could. Vulnerability is painful and I find it very tough. I suppose I was afraid of failure and disappointment. I remember crying from my gut while writing the song as the truth of the matter came out through the question that kept coming up; wondering if I had what it took to be someone’s person. The steady rhythm of the guitar was the comforting backdrop to these tender thoughts.
“I find this song connects with people in different ways depending on where they are in their lives and it’s also one that I have everyone sing along with at the end. The writing of this song was sort of like a new permission to and for myself to go a bit deeper and more vulnerable in my writing. I’m thankful for it.” — Rose Cousins
Photo credit:Shervin Lainez
The sun’s finally out, and we all know what that means — festival season is here, with its promise of long days, late nights, and all the truck-burgers you can hold down. Look, we love Glasto. But if you’re the kind of music lover who wants to actually be able to see the band while they play — and even, perhaps, locate your tent at the end of the night — can we offer a few alternatives? Here’s our guide to some of the best folk, roots and bluegrass festivals happening in Britain this summer.
Fire in the Mountain, 31 May to 2 June, Aberystwyth, Wales
This brilliant little festival in Wales has sold out every year since its inception five years ago. Held on a former riding school that a group of friends and volunteers have loved back to life, it’s an event that exists purely to support and popularise quality roots music, and everything about it holds true to its mission, from the eclectic line-up — which this year includes Bruce Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, Po’ Boys Cajun Band and vintage calypso from Trinidad and Tobago – to the extremely good value ticket prices. You’ll also find only CAMRA-approved local ales and cider at the bar. Camping options include pre-pitched tents and Bell Tent glamping, and this year there’s even a ‘music only’ ticket for sale, although fair warning, it involves wearing a blindfold.
Black Deer Festival, 21 to 23 June, Eridge Park, Kent
Launched last year to pretty instant acclaim, the Black Deer festival is run by two women who used to book the much-loved (but sadly short-lived) Hop Farm Festival. Its acts are a who’s who of Americana and roots-rock, including Band of Horses, Kris Kristofferson, The Shires, The Staves and The Magic Numbers, while Billy Bragg, John Smith, Justin Townes Earle and Jessie Buckley fight for second billing. Their food offerings are as lavish as their line-up, with a focus on authentic Southern smokehouse dishes and a barbecue competition. But our favourite thing? Their partnership with Supajam, a nearby school for teenagers who’ve fallen out of education, and who actually get to run one of the stages themselves.
Maverick Festival, 5 to 7 July, Easton Woodbridge, Suffolk
The UK’s first Americana festival, with 11 years under its belt, Maverick is proof that the people of Suffolk knew a good thing when they heard it. This year’s line-up includes the sensational Brother Brothers, so it’s clear they’ve still got great taste. The rest of the bill is a thoughtful one that uncovers so much lesser-heard talent we’d suggest the organisers move into R&D. Oh, and Otis Lee Crenshaw – the redneck jailbird musical alter ego of comedian Rich Hall – will be playing a set too, which makes it just about unmissable.
HebCelt, 17 to 20 July, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
A magical combination of folk, pop and tradition, the Hebridean Celtic Festival is one of those destination festivals where the venue is truly worth the trip. Set in the grounds of Lewis Castle, with views that look out over Stornoway Harbour to the ocean, this is a chance to experience ancient (and modern) music in one of the wildest, most remote parts of Britain: the Outer Hebrides. Expect upbeat headlining from KT Tunstall, fantastic support from the Elephant Sessions, and a whole host of Scottish folk royalty including Kris Drever and Talisk. After 20 years of making their visitors wish they lived here year round, HebCelt have even brought their own cookbook, so you can recreate the comfort of that haddock pie at home.
Beer and Bluegrass, 26 and 27 July, Poole, Dorset
A relative newcomer to the scene, Beer and Bluegrass has successfully identified the two key elements to the happiness of mankind. It’s a great place to discover new international bands – from I See Hawks in LA (who are, not surprisingly, from Los Angeles), to The Local Honeys (Kentucky) and Massy Ferguson (Seattle). But it has a serious commitment to what’s behind the bar too, sourcing a wide range of craft ales and ciders both locally and nationally. They even have sessions where you can meet the brewers – and there’s a Somerset hog roast to help you soak up the booze.
Cambridge Folk Festival, 1-4 August, Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridgeshire
The original and still the best. You won’t hear a bum note at this perfectly curated event. Cambridge has been showcasing the brightest and best since the folk revival reached the UK in the 1960s, and was founded as a direct inspiration of the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island (its first year’s line-up included a young Paul Simon). The mouthwatering line-up includes legends Ralph McTell, Graham Nash, and Lucinda Williams; elsewhere, Blind Boys of Alabama will be teaming up with Amadou and Mariam to present “From Bamako to Birmingham.” The glamping’s already sold out but you can still get in at the Cherry Hinton and Coldham’s Common Campsites.
Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, 8 to 10 August, Cropredy, Oxfordshire
Festivals don’t get much more personal than this one. There’s something of the family reunion about it – no surprise since it’s been held every August since 1976 as a way for the band members of Fairport Convention to get back together, long after they went their separate musical ways. This will be a big year for guitarist Richard Thompson (although aren’t they all?) who’s celebrating his 70th birthday in 2019, and as ever the single-stage line-up is a blend of veteran and young folksters from across the UK, including Martin Simpson, Martin Barre Band, Seth Lakeman and Frank Turner.
Shrewsbury Folk Festival, 23 to 26 August, Shropshire
Someone in Shropshire has clearly been working the phones. This one has a belter of a line-up, with stellar US acts like Birds of Chicago and Amthyst Kiah rubbing shoulders with British (wait, let’s not be modest about this – global) sensation Kate Rusby. There’s an appearance by evergreen Celtic giants Capercaillie, while Rev. Sekou will be bringing the blues and Mankala the Afrobeats. And if you don’t enjoy comedian Grace Petrie’s set, we suggest you get to the doctor stat and have them check your funny bone.
The Long Road, 6 to 8 September, Stanford Hall, Leicestershire
Full disclosure – there’s a reason BGS gets especially excited about The Long Road, the UK’s most comprehensive three-day celebration of country, Americana and roots music. And that’s because, for the second year running, we’ll be staging a takeover of the Honky Tonk to bring you some of our favourite singer-songwriter acts. With performances from Rhiannon Giddens, Sam Outlaw, John Paul White and Kip Moore – not to mention a whole host of family entertainment with a country feel – you honestly can’t afford to miss this one.
And don’t forget these local favourites:
Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, 7 to 9 June, Westport, Ireland
Gate to Southwell Festival, 6 to 9 June, Nottinghamshire
South Essex Bluegrass, 11 to 14 July, Essex
Didmarton Bluegrass Festival, 31 August to 2 September, Oxfordshire
Cornish Bluegrass Festival, 13 to 15 September, Newquay
Lede photo of Fire in the Mountain: Sabrina Dallot
Take heed, all Americana fans in the UK. Danni Nicholls will be taking the stage on the final day of the Long Road Festival at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire. Leading up to her appearance, the talented singer-songwriter fielded a few questions from The Bluegrass Situation.
As a performer, what do you enjoy most about festivals?
I think the collective good energy that you usually find at festivals is my favourite thing. Everyone has come together to have a good time and that can be infectious. I’ll usually get to bump into friends/fellow artists too which is always lovely. I love to go off and try to discover great new music too.
The life of a touring musician is certainly unpredictable. How do you like to pass the time when you have a couple of free hours on the road?
Ha, sure is! I like to try to see a bit of the place I’m playing in – not just the inside of the venue. I’ll usually go for a wander if there’s some time to kill, and try not to get too lost! I’ve stumbled across some beautiful, memorable places that way.
Do you consider yourself a collector of guitars? And do you have a favorite one that you like to use when you write songs?
I wouldn’t consider myself a collector as such but I do have quite a few that I’ve acquired over the years! My prized possession is my first ever guitar which I inherited from my uncle Heathcliffe when I was 16. It’s a stunning Burns London 1964 shortscale jazz guitar. A real beaut. But my main touring guitar is an acoustic parlour, a Tanglewood TW73 E called Meryl. She’s feisty but sweet and mellow when you get to know her. She’s my favourite for writing on as well as playing live.
How did your grandmother’s record collection influence the kind of music you’re writing and recording now?
Massively! The music that filled her house and so many family parties was mostly American roots – lots of country, soul and rock n roll. It’s deep rooted in my soul and my music. Feels like home.
How would you describe your first visit to Nashville?
Unforgettable. Really – it was like a dream, I remember walking down a side street and turning onto Broadway where so many of my heroes have walked and known so well and feeling this rush of energy and joy. Seeing the Ryman, Tootsies where the likes of Patsy Cline would have hung out before crossing over to Ernest Tubb’s place. My first night in the city I ended up on stage in two of the bars singing old country songs being backed by these incredible musical strangers and I felt so welcome and included. I was hooked and have explored and fallen in love with many more parts of the city since then and I’m so grateful to have had that opportunity.
What are you working on now?
I just returned from Nashville where I have recorded my third studio album with the wonderful, talented Jordan Brooke Hamlin (Indigo Girls, Lucy Wainwright-Roche) at the new and wondrous studio MOXE, out in the woods just north of the city. I’m very excited to be getting it into shape to send off out into the world in early 2019.
When you finish a song that you’re proud of, who is the first person that gets to hear it?
My cat, Winnie. Yes I think of her as a person. I should maybe address that.
For those people who come to see you at the Long Road Festival, what do you hope they take away from that experience?
I hope they can find some connection, some resonance perhaps. By going out singing my truth I hope to contribute to raising positive vibrations, so I hope they walk away with a little lift, a smile, or at least a bit of one of the songs stuck in their heads.
Photo courtesy of the artist
As this is being written, we’re on our way to the UK to prepare for our FIRST EVER international stage takeover, taking place next weekend at The Long Road Festival, in Leicestershire (near Birmingham). It’s a milestone event for BGS, and part of a larger initiative to reach our dedicated audience outside North America and shed light on some incredible talent that is putting their own spin on folk and roots traditions from other parts of the globe.
To prepare for The Long Road, held Sept. 7-9, we’ve summed up the top stuff we can’t wait to see and do while we’re in town. Hope some of you can join us to check out these highlights too:
1) That lineup tho…
With main stage appearances ranging from Carrie Underwood and Lee Ann Womack to Billy Bragg and Joshua Hedley, TLR is representing a variety of talent from commercial [read: Pop] Country to Americana with a capital A. The lines between roots and country music seem a bit more blurred over here, and we can’t wait to see how it all comes together.
2) Birmingham
Less than an hour from the festival lies the city of Birmingham. What was once a hardened industrialist town is now a breeding ground for creatives and start-ups, fostering one of the youngest populations in Europe (nearly 40 percent of the population is under 25). There’s plenty to discover here — from the old Custard Factory market to four (4!) Michelin-starred restaurants — so it’s a great stopover before or after the festival weekend.
3) AMA-UK stage takeover
Friday kicks off the fest with our friends at Americana Music-UK curating a stage featuring their freshest crop of British Americana talent. (Stay tuned to the BGS site for an announcement highlighting an upcoming collaboration with that team very soon….)
4) Moonshine + whiskey tastings?!
Say no more. You can find us in the Honky Tonk for more than just the BGS stage…
5) Stanford Hall
This is not your mama’s country festival. TLR is held on the grounds of Stanford Hall, a 400-year-old stately home in the heart of Leicestershire, sitting on over 700 acres of expansive parkland. Not too shabby!
6) Born in Bristol film screening
Produced and presented by the Birthplace of Country Music, retracing the 90 years since the recording of the original Bristol Sessions the resounding impact that music has had on the world, the documentary features the likes of Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Marty Stuart, Sheryl Crow, and Doyle Lawson. Special screenings of the film will take place on site at TLR.
7) The Bluegrass Situation Takeover at the Honky Tonk stage on Sunday, September 9 (DUH!)
Featuring a cavalcade of fierce females from three different continents, our BGS-curated stage highlights everything ranging from bluegrass (Cardboard Fox) to country (Ashley Campbell, Angaleena Presley) to folk (Dori Freeman, Worry Dolls) to Americana (Danni Nicholls, Ruby Boots). It’s gonna be great. You can check out the full day’s schedule below:
13:05-13:45: Danni Nicholls
14:10-14:50: Ashley Campbell
15:15-15:55: Worry Dolls
16:20-17:00: Angaleena Presley
17:25-18:05: Cardboard Fox
18:30-19:10: Ruby Boots
19:35-20:15: Dori Freeman
Discover more about The Long Road and stay in the know by liking our BGS-UK Facebook page.
