Sid Griffin vocals, mandolin, harmonica and autoharp
Andrew Stafford bass
Carly Frey fiddle
Dick Smith banjo
Neil Robert Herd guitar, sporran and vocals
The Coal Porters are an acoustic act with attitude, the world’s first “alt-bluegrass” act and the UK’s most entertaining bluegrass ensemble, one firmly established on the European touring circuits. Their live show is polished yet passionate and second to none, having earned them the monicker “the bluegrass Clash”. Should the Coal Porters come to a venue nearby check them out if you dig quick pickin’, warm harmony vocals and the wittiest stage announcements this side of The Comedy Store.
Their new album Durango is out in January 2010 on Prima Records Ltd., distributed in the UK by Proper and in the USA by Burnside. The first track here, Sail Away, Ladies! (rough mix), is from the Durango album and this is an early, rare mix. More tracks we will be uploaded every ten days or so till the album is out. Produced by the legendary Ed Stasium (Ramones, Smithereens, Belinda Carlisle, Mick Jagger, etc.) just outside the Colorado town which gave the CD its name this is the best album of the band’s career and the grooviest work ex-Long Ryder Sid Griffin has ever done. (The album will be digitally available at sites such as Amazon and iTunes…the Coal Porters, solo Sid Griffin and Long Ryders back catalogs are digitally available there already!)
The CPs previous CD is entitled Turn The Water On, Boy! The album received rave four star reviews in Mojo, Uncut, The Sunday Times, Maverick and Word magazines. Bluegrass News and Sing Out! noted its excellence as well. Turn The Water On, Boy! features songs by Coal Porters Neil Robert Herd and Sid Griffin as well as a startling cover of ex-Byrd Gene Clark’s classic Silver Raven. Legendary Byrds great Chris Hillman plays mandolin on the second song on this album, a tune called Mr. Guthrie in tribute to Woody.
Formed nineteen years ago in Los Angeles the Coal Porters were originally an electric rock group centred around native Kentuckian Sid Griffin, the ex-Long Ryder who wrote the hit single “Looking For Lewis And Clark”. Exchanging a home in Los Angeles for one in London in February 1992 Griffin’s original Coal Porters enjoyed indie chart success in Europe and toured frequently. But when Griffin produced the comeback album of British folk-rock legends Lindisfarne in 1998 he was greatly inspired by that band’s acoustic instrumentation. Upon completion of Lindisfarne’s Here Comes The Neighborhood album Griffin found himself the proud new owner of a mandolin and the acoustic, bluegrass Coal Porters were born. Soon bluegrass music received a very real shot in the arm as the Coal Porter’s roots in punk and rockabilly gave their music an edge and the genre of “alt-bluegrass” was born.
Two previous Coal Porters bluegrass albums were How Dark This Earth Will Shine in 2004, their first studio effort and one featuring both Peter Case and Amy Rigby, and The Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts in 2001, with songs by the Byrds, Dylan and Gram Parsons. Killer reviews piled in…from America’s Bluegrass News and Sing Out! as well as from periodicals from L.A. to London to Lisbon who all agreed: bluegrass was being performed via a fresh approach. And even Ricky Skaggs was spotted with a copy of How Dark This Earth Will Shine!
The Coal Porters have toured the USA twice and showcased in Sid Griffin’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s prestigious World Of Bluegrass festival, one of only fifteen bands invited worldwide out of 300 applications!
Oh yes, the song Butterfly Hearts (from Turn The Water On, Boy!) is heard on Doing It For The Kids '08: A Compilation for the Yorkhill Children's Foundation, a worthy addition to any home and the royalties go to a terrific cause. For more information go to www.MySpace.com/yorkhillproject or www.yorkhillchildrensfoundation.org.
The Coal Porters were accurately described by one USA bluegrass festival attendee as “a cross between the Clash and Bill Monroe”. The band loved that description as it encapsulated how dedicated they were to updating tradition and how passionate they are about playing from the heart. Currently performing with noted Jacobite/guitarist Neil Robert Herd, Griffin on mandolin, banjo virtuoso Dick Smith, Andrew Stafford on doghouse bass and ace fiddler Carly Frey, the Coal Porters are coming your way and here to stay!
The Coal Porters
Half Moon, Herne Hill, London Friday 5 December 2008
"Come forward, come forward, everybody come forward" chanted The Coal
Porters before kicking into "Fair Play, Virgina". Tables and chairs
were dragged (or pushed) and the crowd moved closer to the stage. Led
by the writer, broadcaster, journalist, singer, songwriter, producer
and mandolin player, Sid Griffin The Coal Porters play their bluegrass
with an edge. Guitarist Neil Robert Herd alternates with Griffin on
lead vocals, banjo picker Dick Smith and fiddler player Hana Loftus
provide backing vocals when needed, Paul Sandy on doghouse bass
completes the line-up.
On the songs "Final Wild Son" (Jerry Lee Lewis) and "Mr Guthrie" (Woody
Guthrie) we are taken to the beginnings of rock and roll and then
further back to the great depression. This was the second Coal Porters
gig of the day and Griffin's vocal chords are in need of some
help and he calls for (and receives) whisky and hot water. Smith shines
on "The Sound of Life", the cover of Gene Clarks's "Silver Raven" is
sublime and the set closes with a raucous version Guy Clarks' "New Cut
Road" (with Herd singing the part of Ma Bonner worryingly well).
They return for a two song encore; firstly "a traditional sing-along
number from Ireland" - The Undertones' "Teenage Kicks". If there were
ever a song to get people to sing to, this was it. The last song of the
night was worth the admission fee on its own. The Faces' "Ooh, La La"
was played with no amplification at all. They all climbed off the
stage, stood in with the audience or, in Griffin's case,
stood on a table and played "the way your grandparents, or great
grandparents at your age, heard music". This was perfect, absolutely
perfect.
at The Magnolia, 211 Lordship Land, East Dulwich, London SE22 8AH Telephone : 020 8299 4116
An intimate warm-up to the 3-day event in the small upstairs room at The Magnolia featuring the great Miller Anderson (accompanied by Kris Gray) with The Broadkasters, Dr King & Nervous Jonty Atkinson supporting.
at the Half Moon, 10 Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill, London SE24 9HU Telephone : 020 7274 2733
Afternoon Session : 12.00 noon til 5.00 p.m. £5.00 entry (money back with vinyl purchases of £5.00 from Jailhouse Records who will be selling at the accompanying 'Dream Machine' Record Fayre)
Miller Anderson Jonty Atkinson Dr King Steve 'Boltz' Bolton Butch & Femme Gabriel Mesh Archie 'Zoo Kid'
Evening Session : 6.00 p.m. til 12.00 midnight. £10.00 entry (money back with vinyl purchases of £10.00 from Jailhouse Records who will be selling at the accompanying 'Dream Machine' Record Fayre)
Miller Anderson (with Kris Gray) East of Ealing Dave Sutherland Siobhan Parr The Broadkasters Steve Morrison
at the Half Moon, 10 Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill, London SE24 9HU
Telephone : 020 7274 2733
Afternoon Session : 12.00 noon til 4.30 p.m. £5.00 entry (money back with vinyl purchases of £5.00 from Jailhouse Records who will be selling rare & collectable vinly at the accompanying 'Dream Machine' Record Fayre)
Miller Anderson
Jonty Atkinson
Dr King
Joe Wooley Sasha Adamcewski
Evening Session : 5.30 p.m. til 10.30 p.m. £10.00 entry (money back with vinyl purchases of £10.00 from Jailhouse Records who will be selling rare & collectable vinyl at the accompanying 'Dream Machine' Record Fayre)
Miller Anderson (with Kris Gray)
The Coal Porters Big Joe Louis Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke The Hine Brothers
The world serves us what it considers important, urgent, vital It prefers speed Effectiveness Results Ostentation Noise The illusion of certainty I wish for you to celebrate what serves no purpose I wish you beauty I wish for you to string pearls I wish for you to dream with your feet dangling in a pretty brook I wish for you to listen to birdsong I wish for you to lie down in a broad, poppy-strewn meadow I wish for you to have a small bike in your head I wish for you to experience love at first sight I wish for you " to carry coals to Newcastle" I wish for you to seek beauty Within yourself For yourself I wish for you only what is free Gracious Grace
Thanks for the gig and thanks to all those who attended
23 Oct 2009, 20:00
- Steve Morrison Trio @ The Jailhouse @ The Mag
211 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London SE22
London, London and South East SE22
UK
Cost:£5.00
Description:A welcome return for tone of the finest slide players in the country - this time he’ll be accompanied by the great Al Richardson on harmonica- Nervous Jonty Atkinson supports
24 Oct 2009, 20:00 Roger Hubbard at the Jailhouse at Hoopers
28 Ivanhoe Road, Camberwell
London, London and South East SE5 8DH
UK
Cost:FREE
Description:The Jailhouse returns with a regular saturday slot with the fantastic delta blues and slide guitar playing of Roger Hubbard (singer and guitarist with Buick 6), he’s played with both Muddy Waters and Taj Mahal - Nervous Jonty Atkinson supports
heyyy thank you for being our friend. What do you think of our songs and video? If you get a chance please have a listen... Maybe give us some feedback? We will appreciate it :}
You can now download or purchase a copy of our DEBUT EP - 'Useless Souvenirs' on Itunes & Amazon!
Dr King's Jailhouse - Upstairs at the The Magnolia, 211 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London, SE22 - 020 8299 4216
Sat Oct 24 Petersfield School, Cranford Road, Petersfield, GU32 3LU - 01730 234641 The Petersfield School was where we had such a magical gig last year!!www.MySpace.com/thecoalporters has BBC TV and S4C TV footage of us live so you can check out the Coal Porters there.
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