Walter Trout announces new album and UK tour

Critically acclaimed American blues rock guitarist, Walter Trout, today announced the release of his new studio album Blues For The Modern Daze.  The album is released by Provogue Records (a division of Mascot Label Group), in the UK on Monday 23^rd April, followed by US release on 24^th April.  

To support the upcoming album, Trout will embark on a UK tour in March. Ticket Hotline: 0844, 478 0898, www.thegigcartel.com.  Dates include Leeds City Varieties (March 8), Sheffield O2 Academy (March 9), Clitheroe The Grand (March 10), Salford The Lowry (March 11), Bristol The Tunnel (March 15) and Tavistock The Wharf (March 16). 

Blues for the Modern Daze, showcases the contemporary guitar legend’s return to his hardcore blues roots.  The album is Trout’s sixth recording for Provogue, and his first fully-fledged blues album in 23 years as a bandleader.  Trout’s practical schooling in blues started when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1973 and secured gigs behind Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Finis Tasby, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulsom, Percy Mayfield and Joe Tex. By 1981 he joined the remaining original members of Canned Heat. 

The turning point for Trout was his tenure with British blues giant John Mayall. Trout became part of the Bluesbreakers’ lineage of great guitarists along with Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. By 1989, Trout formed his own band, released his debut album Life In the Jungle, and rapidly became a star in Europe. His first US release, 1998's critically heralded Walter Trout, made him a permanent fixture in the American blues rock scene.

"My main inspiration for this album,” says Trout, “was the country bluesman Blind Willie Johnson, an early blues innovator who recorded such timeless gospel informed blues numbers as Soul of a Man and Nobody’s Fault But Mine. His music is beautiful, primal, direct and deeply spiritual. “The album explores a side of my music that’s rooted in my first musical love, and it reveals something about me, too. It sums up the thoughts and attitudes of somebody who is getting a little older and is feeling like he’s a part of another era, with different values and a different perspective on life that’s prevalent today.”

http://www.waltertrout.com/

Read More

Sandriver - EP Review

Hailing from Durham in the Northeast of the UK has entirely no reflection on the music the sandriver band compose and sing. The music they conjure up is more likely to remind you of the Mississippi and the deep south of America than a city in England. The sandriver band consists of Si Robinson on Guitar and vocals and Guy Siviour on Drums / percussion and their mix of blues and folk influenced music will definitely leave you wanting more.
We were lucky to be invited by the band to review their self titled E.P Sandriver.
Consisting of 6 songs the variation in sounds between them is vast. They cover blue grass, indie, blues, and folk and though at times very derivative they bring a unique and fresh outlook to the music. The slow and melancholy sounds and lyrics of songs such as Love will have you slipping back and wishing of an open log fire to crawl to. Where as in songs, like the reprisal and Kid Dust, are complete contrasts to this and make you want tap your feet and clap your hands. Though, as mentioned before, the songs can be derivative of other musicians, as in the song Letter to the Lovers which sounds not far off a Radio Head track, Si Robinson brings his own unique vocal talent to it so you are soon you are oblivious to any similarity that it may have had.

Over all this was a well rounded EP with much variation on each track so that you don’t become bored listening to it. It opens a new sound to many listeners who may not be familiar with blues and folk and puts a nice slant on the familiar sounds created in this genre

The EP can be downloaded at the site below

http://sandriver.bandcamp.com

http://www.myspace.com/sandriveruk

Read More