A Different Thread

Banjo Jen

Presented by: A Different Thread

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0	SHEFFIELD: The Greystones
P	Wednesday 31st July, 2019
N	7:30pm

Event information

Transatlantic duo, A Different Thread present an intimate evening of live music on Wedneday 31st July. Support comes from Sheffield’s own bad ass banjo pickin’ pass, Banjo Jen. The concert will be at The Greystones in Sheffield, tickets are £10 and available at mygreystones.com or from the venue.

A Different Thread, is a collaboration between Alicia Best from Durham, North Carolina and Robert Jackson from Lichfield, England. Two travelling songwriters who met busking in Galway, Ireland in 2016. Their original songs are inspired by the music that has crisscrossed the Atlantic over the generations in true folk fashion.

Together they deliver a bluesy blend of Beatlesque folk rock meets Gillian Welch dark country. Their self labelled ‘British Americana’ style has been described by internet magazine, Folk Radio UK, as “a strong, independent new sound”. It led them to win first place in the open mic competition at Shrewsbury Folk Festival in 2017 and a land prime feature slot on American National Public Radio last year.

Even Country legend, Steve Earle recently praised their live performance at Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival NC, where the artists shared the bill.

Travelling and change are very much a theme, even down to Alicia’s home made suitcase drum kit and the stickers on their luggage. Live shows have been described as ‘intriguing and fascinating’ and music blog, Rocking Magpie said “they don’t sound like anyone else”.

Having just finished six months of dates in the the USA, Ireland, Mexico and Guatemala, they return to the UK for a three month tour and to record their next release in Bristol.

Banjo Jen is a singer songwriter with the gift of the gab. She plays the traditional frailing style of banjo and incorporates Appalachian style step-dancing into her set. Her debut EP Lost & Found was praised by Maverick Country magazine as “smart and sassy” and last year she was chosen to represent the UK Americana Music Association at various live events around the country.