OXFORD: The Bullingdon

Friday 9th May, 2014

7:30pm

Event information

The Redlands Palomino Company is a UK country rock band, described by The Guardian newspaper as “Alt-country heroes” and BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris as "Exceptional". The Sun newspaper said the band "prove that you don't have to be American to do great country rock". Next month they release their fourth full length album, ‘Broken Carelessly’, and it is a real cracker.

The band have gained scores of devoted fans in the UK and beyond over the last 10 years - thanks in part to their trademark harmonies, their often riotous live shows, and enthusiastic support and radio play from a range of DJs. They have made countless festival appearances in the UK and abroad over the last few years and have toured extensively with a wide range of Americana artists including: Richmond Fontaine, The Sadies, Peter Bruntnell, The Rockingbirds, Tift Merritt and The Deadstring Brothers.

The band released two critically acclaimed albums 'By the time you hear this...' (2004) and 'Take Me Home' (2007) and the EP 'She Is Yours' (2008) on Laughing Outlaw Records. In 2011 they signed with Clubhouse Records and release their third album 'Don't Fade'.

"Illustrious purveyors of beautifully crafted country rock"  ROCK N REEL

Evokes memories of Gram and Emmylou"  NETRHYTHMS
"They're back and they're better than ever... the Redlands aren't just Britain's best country rock band but one of the very best anywhere...they really are at the height of their powers, there won't be a better country rock record released this year (anywhere)."  AMERICANA-UK

“Her voice soars like an eagle over the Rockies, and British or not, there are moments on this record that more than rival the real deal"  THE SUN

Case Hardin

Much-loved UK band Case Hardin, fronted by enigmatic songwriter and vocalist Pete Gow, released their third studio album, ‘PM’, on Clubhouse Records last August. A follow up to the acclaimed ‘Every Dirty Mirror’ released in 2011, PM delivers nine original tracks written by Gow that focus on the lives of dark, troubled souls, whose aspirations have been compromised, either by their own choices or by circumstance. Pitching Gow as narrator, a voice for the underbelly of a corner of society too often ignored.

‘PM’ was recorded at Platform Studios in Berkshire by the core band of Tim Emery (bass, mandolin), Andy Bastow (drums) and Jim Maving (guitars) – aided by Mike Wesson (piano/ keyboards) and new full time band member, Hana Piranha (violin, cello) adding a new aural texture to proceedings.

Given the low-key, less rock & roll sound of ‘PM’, it’s clear that this is an album more akin, sonically, to the band’s debut, ‘Some Tunes For Charlie Spencer’ than it’s rockier follow-up. “This is the album I was actually planning on making in 2011 after ‘Charlie’,” reflects Gow. “But I got temporarily distracted by recruiting a fully functioning rock band.”

Written, recorded and sequenced as two individual sides, as it would appear on vinyl, PM was cut in two three-day sessions. Its nine songs are wonderfully evocative, reflective, yet brutally honest, shining a light on life’s complex emotional and social challenges. The trio of songs, “Three Beautiful Daughters” “Lady Hill” and “His God Damn Eyes,” focus primarily on parenthood, both within broken homes and disintegrating relationships. An un-varnished appraisal of subject matter and perspective rarely addressed in song.