SummerTyne Americana Festival 2010

Artist:Gateshead Americana Festival


Venue:The Sage

Town:Gateshead

Date:22-25/07/10

Website:http://www.jumpinhot.com/



The fourth year of The SummerTyne Americana Festival, staged by The Sage and The Jumpin' Hot Club, more than proved it has found its way into the diaries and hearts of many. It has come to represent, for most of us, I think, a celebration of music; three days of roots-based music, meaning that during the course of the weekend, both inside and outside of the Sage, almost every aspect of the genre is covered, in style, by a variety of over thirty acts from both sides of the Atlantic. A three day showcase of Americana music at its best; blues, soul, country , bluegrass, jazz, folk, Cajun, gospel and everything between.



Thursday 22nd



Technically, proceedings had kicked off on Thursday, with the unveiling of the concert poster exhibition on the concourse and the Stateside photography collection (from the Side Cafe's gallery), both of which I greatly enjoyed perusing during the weekend; especially the photographs, all in black and white and many portraying a side of America's History that we don't usually get to see in this medium. Also in Hall 1 was the Great Broadway Musicals, featuring songs from The Wild West, among others. I heard that attendance for this was a little disappointing but that it was a great show.



Friday 23rd



Local acts set the ball rolling from Friday lunchtime on the Jumpin' Hot Outdoor Stage, for those lucky enough not to be at work! Shipcote and Friends, Gem Andrews, Kentucky Cow Tippers, Bridie Jackson, Jack maple, Archie Brown and Sour Mash Trio, it seems, got toes tapping well in advance of Saturday's offerings.



The main line up in Hall 1 featured soul/blues outfit Phantom Limb from Bristol ahead opf the 70-year-old "King of Rock 'n' Soul" Solomon Burke, for whom this was a well received return to The Sage, and I believe, SummerTyne. I heard the next day that he had four young women - two of whom were his daughters - dressed, in Martian-red dresses, orbiting around him as part of a12-piece band. How intriguing - I guess you had to be there, but he certainly had tongues wagging, so to speak!



Hall 2's Friday night performance was also much talked about; Murder, Misery and then Goodnight - an evening of old time murder ballads, featuring The Handsome Family, Tim Eriksen, Howe Gelb, Eliza Carthy, Kristin Hersh and David Coulter; with special guests including Dayna Kurtz.



Saturday 24th



The Sage was literally a hive of activity all day, with people running in and out, myself included, in an effort to catch as much as possible. There were public tours of the building throughout the weekend as well as the various exhibitions and a wide array of special musical appearances and screenings in the SummerTyne Lounge. Unfortunately most of the ones I was interested in clashed with peformances but the room appeared full for most of the weekend. Tim Eriksen hosted a Shapenote singing school in St Mary's Church, opposite the Sage and some of us were lucky enough to see them perform what they had been working on all morning, out on the concourse. There were, as usual, Margarita and American Food themed stalls around the concourse and the outside area to keep people fed and watered for the weekend. The Children's Room featured American singing and music workshops for 'little cowgirls and cowboys,' which I thought was an inspired idea, whilst The Jumpin' Hot Stage, which again was blessed with dry, pleasant weather all weekend, played host to an array of musical acts. The East Nashville Songwriter's showcase apparently went down a storm, as did The Hi and Lo. The highlight in my opinion was Otis Gibbs, whose folk blues had those on Performance Square hanging on his every word. The Toy Hearts, The Handsome Family and The Holmes Brothers kept toes tapping throughout the afternoon with their various styles of music.



I was lucky to catch three of the acts in Hall 2; first up being Rachel Harrington. The Seattle based duo performed songs from both 'The Bootlegger's Daughter' and the more recent follow up album 'City of Refuge' Backed by local ex Lindisfarne Rod Clements on dobro, their down to earth banter and wonderful storytelling and musicianship, resulted in over and hour simply disappearing amongst the beauty that was songs such as Mississippi John Hurst's Louis Collins, Laura Veir's Up The River, Sunshine Girl, Summer's Gone, Mr Dream Seller, and my personal favourite, a stunning version of the gospel standard, I Don't want to Get adjusted to this world, during which Rachel encouraged the audience to sing along with her and Rod, who also treated us to one of his own songs during the set, Whiskey Highwy, with gorgeous backing vocals from Rachel.



Dayna Kurtz was a name I'd heard a lot of recently, not least at the hands of Bob Harris, so I was excited to see her play. Maybe not being familiar with her music was, in this instance, a pitfall, as I was left a little bemused by the end of her set. Possibly I just felt that her at times almost mournful music didn't fit in with the festival atmosphere, as I was stunned by her beautiful voice, which seemed to go from husky to a whisper in a nanosecond. That said, she received great applause, having taken us through a selection of her songs; Venezuela, inspired by a dream, On the Banks of the Adislow, which we learned is a red river. I enjoyed her storytelling between songs and her at times humorous, almost deprecating manner, showing she is very much down to earth.





Elizabeth Cook made a welcome return both to The Sage and to SummerTyne, this time as a trio which included songwriting husband Tim Carroll and double bassist Bones Hillman. It also has to be said that she was wearing one of the most gorgeous dresses I've ever seen on anyone; on or off stage! The 21st centrury honkytonker delivers like any of her older counterparts, citing Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn as two of her greatest influences, as is referenced in the song Dolly, yet adds a modern twist for a new generation. However, for me, she shines when she puts her beautiful Southern voice to a ballad, none more haunting on this occasion than Mama's Funeral - it may or may not be widely known that her mother died a couple of years ago and was also a musician. Whilst incredibly moving, this song is above all a celebration of a life. Another such example is the achingly beautiful Heroin Addict Sister, which epitomises unconditional love. The line comparing the needle to the devil's DNA just took my breath away as she delivered in on stage.



Other songs from her new CD Welder, were peppered with well loved songs such as the women's anthem Balls, which had all the ladies singing along. Surprisingly for some, Elizabeth is also a talented clogger, changing her shoes and clogging all over the stage whilst Tim played one of his fabulous songs, TGV. This illustrates the other side of Elizabeth Cook - as well as her set being about great music, she also fills it with stories, fun and laughter.
Saturday 24th continued




Saturday night in Hall 1 saw the unquestionable highlight of the weekend for me, and I am sure I am not alone; Rosanne Cash. I never imagined in my wildest dreams I'd ever see Rosanne play live and this was her only England date - kudos is deserved that The Sage drew her - and moreso that I actually left daring to hope that she may return.



Martin Simpson opened; a name but not music with which I was familiar. Admittedly he has a good voice, but his selection of songs - personal favourites in honour of what Rosanne was doing - sadly failed to inspire me, other than his version of Randy Newman's Louisiana 1927.



Rosanne took to the stage of a packed Hall 1 with her full five piece band, including husband and producer John Leventhal on guitar. She appeared to genuinely be thrilled to be at The Sage, as she launched straight into Jimmie Rodger's Miss the Mississippi and You. Following this she explained the background to her new Cd and the show's title, The List. When she was eighteen, her father, the great Johnny Cash, gave her a list of songs, saying, 'Rosanne, this is your education.' She then told us she had 'saved it these past ten years, okay, twenty..okay, okay, thirty..' before twelve of those songs finally made it onto a CD. Harlan Howard's Heartaches by the Number brought the house down, followed by a stunning version of Sea of Heartache where Bruce Springsteen's vocal from the CD was replaced by John Leventhal; it was lovely to hear them sing together, actually. What is immediately striking is the incredible quality to Rosanne's voice; clearly it has aged as well as she has.



She went on to tell us that she knew a Carter Family song had to be on the CD as when she was on the road with her Dad they would sit her in the dressing room and teach her their songs, 'the lexicon' Rosanne called it, on a way as if to say 'This is yours, part of your family history. Keep it alive.' She most certainly did just that with a beautiful version of Bury me Beneath the Weeping Willow Tree. Then, recalling her father's duet of Girl from the North Country with Bob Dylan back in 1969, Cash told us that the event made her one of the coolest teenagers in the US at the time. This preceded possibly the best version of the song I have heard, her voice simply inhabited the song; as of the smile across her face didn't give it away, she declared, 'I never get tired of singing that song.' Asserting that there would be no Americana roots music without this song, she played a chilling version of Long Black Veil, which really conveyed the mood of the song.



Mowing in to some of her earlier work, Rosanne and the band suddenly launched into a rocking version of Tennessee Flat Top Box, which I think had everyone singing along and tapping their toes. Following this, Cash played an exquisite version of September When it Comes; I always found it ironic that her father sang with her on this song on the Rules of Travel CD and he actually passed away in September, adding a deeper poignancy to the lyrics. I wonder if I was alone in suspecting Johnny Cash's spirit was in that room, during several songs. Someone called out for a request and she quipped back, 'Yeah you can yell at me - I like it.' Talking about how she sometimes wonders what it would be like to torch your entire pasty and wake up with a clean slate to start over; this thought, it seems, produced Burn Down this Town, from the Black Cadillac CD, a song which worked really well live.



The band took their leave of the stage, leaving just Rosanne and John. Backtracking to the list for a moment, she told us it contained one hundred songs; this got Rosanne and the band to wondering what the 101st song would be. A few suggestions were shouted out, all greeted with a 'no.' The response then came in the song they decided it would be...Ode to Bille Joe. This song suited her voice so well, it was the best I've heard it sung. It also struck me that for whatever reason, something about Cash's delivery meant I actually heard the words - all of them - properly - and was struck by the fact that someone has died and yet it is discussed so flippantly as a dinner table conversation; so cleverly written. Stating the list of people who have previously recorded it, they moved into a rocking version of Motherless Children - the sadness in her voice at times, perhaps suggesting how much she relates to the song.



The band returned as Rosanne told us that two of her daughters were there; one just married a Brit and moved over here so she dedicated a touching version of Dreams are Not my Home to her, followed by The World Unseen; the line 'I am a list of everyone I have to lose' couldn't help but move, especially knowing how many people Rosanne lost, so close together.



Next came the absolute highlight of the night for me; the first song of Rosanne's I ever loved - The Wheel. Played live, with the band, it was simply stunning and for me, having waited so long to hear it, absolute magic. It reminded me that no matter how many times I see live music, there is still something so magical about being in a venue you love, hearing an artist you love, sing songs that you love; it is like being given an opportunity to share something special beyond words.



Telling us that her middle daughter, Chelsea, has made her own record and in the middle of recording it she asked Rosanne 'So where's my list, Mom?' So Rosanne is working on it. She pondered aloud that ' Maybe one day Chelsea will have a daughter who might ask the same, and maybe, just maybe, the list Chelsea gives her, will include one of her Mom's songs. It might be this one.' This one turned out to be the brilliant Seven Year Ache, before she left the stage to a huge applause, by which she appeared touched.



Returning to the stage, she played 500 Miles and the Belafonte classic, It Ain't Me. My only gripe would be the omission of I Don't Know why you don't want me and Runaway Train, but you can't have everything. As Rosanne and the band left the stage for the final time, there was a palpable air of elation - that we had her among us and disappointment - that it was over too soon. I suspect there was more than a little hope that this is merely her first visit to The Sag, otherwise she will be leaving her loyal Gateshead fans in a 'sea of heartbreak.'



In the meanwhile, I would guess that I am not alone in taking away some amazing memories of a night I never thought I'd see; not to mention a greater understanding and deeper appreciation of The List, which I suspect will become a regular fixture on many CD players.



Sunday 25th



Sunday's cloudy skies looked ominous but the weather held out for another day on the Jumpin' Hot Stage. Californian Rita Hosking got things off to a great start with her soulful sound, Canada's Grass Mountain Hobos added a touch of bluegrass and Sarah Savoy and the Francadians got toes tapping to a Louisiana Cajun beat. Paul Burch from lambchop played a set, followed by The Bikini Beach band who added some quirky fun, folloowed by some old time American swing from the Quebe Sisters Band, who went down a storm.



Eleanor and Julia's Big Yee Ha again got the little ones involved and hopefully interested in the USA and its music, over in Hall 2, whilst the Horn Dogs entertained on the concourse. Not to mention Rachel Harrington and Dayna Kurtz sailing up the River Tyne on the SummerTyne Boat, which unfortunately sold out faster than I could call up for tickets. Apparently a great afternoon was had by all.



The New Orleans night in Hall 2, featuring Jon Cleary and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band was much talked about, whilst Jakob Dylan got rather mixed reviews following his appearance in Hall 1. In case you were wondering, yes, Jakob is the son of Bob Dylan. He was supported by Nell Bryden, before performing his own ninety minute plus set.



Overall it was yet another amazing weekend of Americana music and a reminder of why we love the genre so much. I can only begin to imagine how much organisation goes into this weekend, but think it is important to mention that more than one artist commented on how organised it all was backstage and how well the Sage staff were treating them. So, I think all that is left is for me to say thankyou to involved for another amazing weekend, for bringing us Rosanne Cash, and for being such a great music venue. Next year will be the fifth SummerTyne; I already can't wait to see what is in store.