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B-K Bands In Fine Form

The Wiyos and Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three both made a huge impact during their time at the Celtic Connections Festival, with a serious and enthusiastic buzz generated following great performances.

If you missed The Wiyos, there's a chance to see the band in action as footage of their appearance at the BBC's Pacific Quay studios can be seen by clicking here.

Since releasing the brand new album, Riverboat Soul, Pokey and his sidekicks have also been causing quite a stir across Europe with the latest CD, on Free Dirt Records.

Reaction has been hugely positive and Paul van Gelder, one of the great authorities on the genre in The Netherlands, had this to say: "One of the best records I've heard since 2008! The sheer joy it reflects overwhelmed me." 

Reviewing the band’s recent performance at the ‘Live’ Theatre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne for the Northern Echo, Maurice Hope said:

‘Pokey Lafarge and his band The South City Three may have entered as an unknown quantity, but we all went home much the wiser and happier for having enjoyed a fabulous night’s music.

‘…To do the boys justice would take a full page. There was their tribute to Jimmie Rodgers’ In The Graveyard Now and Ryan Koenig’s version of Mysterious Mose.

‘Ear-to-ear smiles were standard as the dumbstruck audience left after a great night.’ 
 
Pokey and Band Land The Big One

The 2010 Newport Folk Festival is shaping up to be one of the best ever, thanks to a line-up that includes Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Levon Helm, Felice Brothers, Justin Townes Earle and The Low Anthem - all big hitters and no mistake. But what we find even more exciting is this: Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three have just been added to the bill and that's got us wondering about booking the round-trip flights, festival tickets and accommodation, while there is still time to get that organised (July 30 - August 1).

The band's latest release, Riverboat Soul, continues to impress on both sides of the Atlantic with trend-setting radio station WNCW featuring the album as "a great new release" and Britain's top radio presenter, Bob Harris, selecting the track Bag of Bones and telling listeners to his BBC Radio 2 show that it was "a lovely album", adding "it presses all the Bob Harris buttons".

Frank Hennessy of BBC Radio Wales played two tracks on his show as soon as he got his hands on the CD and said it was: '"absolutely brilliant - fantastic", adding "I love every second".

 
 
 
Wiyos Kick Up a Storm

The Wiyos’ latest visit to these shores turned into a triumphant return and following their knock-em-dead appearance at Glasgow’s prestigious Celtic Connections Festival, the band was selected for inclusion in the BBC 2 TV Highlights programme, televised at the end of January.

They went on to play to capacity crowds in Nottingham, London and Barton on Humber, winning great reviews from ecstatic writers.

Take Shaun Belcher, for instance...Contributing to The Flyinshoes Review, he explained why so many in the audience had been so impressed in Nottingham:

‘This gig should be in black and white...and slightly scratchy around the edges. Even before the Wiyos play a note you are transported back to a pre-war movie-hall. This is the look and sound of Dylan’s Theme Time brought up to date, no wonder they appealed to his Bobness enough to accompany him on tour. Indeed, they would probably make his ideal backing band in heaven should he ever need them.

‘Straight in with washboard to the fore and suddenly the ghost of the Three Stooges is playing pranks and a lead singer straight out of a prohibition gangster movie via Bruce’s New Jersey is spinning tales and spells. Brilliantly arranged and syncopated, they wear their busker hearts on their sleeves and pay homage to a lost era of brilliant musicianship and often neglected song-writing. How many would have honestly heard of the Washboard Rhythm Kings before the gig. A first set included many highlights including a fine rendition of Charlie Poole’s Milwaukee Blues and a song I think called Crapshooter Blues which outdid Tom Waits for funereal bliss...closer to theatre than simple singing...a stunner. Ensemble playing, especially the slide and steel guitar was fabulous throughout. Without missing a beat there was plenty of visual slapstick a la Mack Sennet to keep the eyes and ears involved...and even Dereck Guyler (ask your mum and dad) couldn’t have kept up with these washboard kings!

‘After a brilliant first set they had a short break and then took up the reins at an even greater pace and many were open mouthed at the sheer musicianship on offer. This was probably one of the tightest outfits ever to play the Maze in recent years and much appreciated by the sell-out crowd. Before I had to leave early (the gig went on and on) I caught a fine rendition of Bessie Smith’s Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out - and a quick lesson on how to play the Piedmont Blues properly.

‘Apparently they’re keen to return although next time the Maze may not be big enough. Catch them before they hit the big stages.’

Stop Press:

The Wiyos have just been confirmed as one of the main acts at Shetland Folk Festival and will be flown in specially at the end of April for the event, widely regarded (by musicians and audiences alike) as one of the best in the world. Making the announcement, the festival committee said they saw the band's addition to the line-up as "the icing on the cake".
 
 
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