Linton Music Festival: 19th - 21st June 2009
Alma Inn, Linton, Ross-on-Wye. Herefordshire. HR9 7RY
www.lintonfestival.org

Following months of deliberation the smoke from the Alma Inn chimney finally turned from black to white this weekend and Graham emerged from his isolation with the official announcement of this years festival beer list!  Pleased to say that he appears to have excelled himself again with no fewer than 29 real ales lined up for the festival weekend (and he is even promising not to run out this year).

Its rare indeed for us Linton folks to book a band or artist without first seeing them play live, but so high was the recommendation from one of our most trusted contacts for Italian (yes Italy !) pianist Matthew Lee, it left us with little option.  Unfortunately, by the time we became aware of this Italian virtuoso we only had the first slot on Sunday left; don’t be fooled by the billing, this guy is headline material.

Despite his tender years and the fact that 2008 was his first European tour, Matthew Lee has hit the European festival circuit like an express train, gaining plaudits (and return requests) everywhere he has played. He has already developed a reputation as one of the most complete and charismatic artists on the scene today, combining brilliant showmanship, a ferocious, boogie-style instrumental style with rowdy, uninhibited vocals.

Having seen his promo DVD we can tell you that his style is moulded in the Jerry Lee Lewis wild man image, kicking his piano bench out of the way to play standing, raking his hands up and down the keyboard for dramatic accent, and even standing on top of the instrument and playing with his feet.  But more than that his music is pure rock ‘n roll and embodies its most reckless and high-spirited impulses - although we don’t believe he has a 13 year old wife ;-)

And it just gets better - this is not a one man show as Lee fronts an amazingly strong band. With guitarist Frank Carrera (savour him playing slide on Ol’ Whisky Blues on the myspace link below) and bass player JJ Latini leading the charge, together they knock out the old rock and roll standards with a passion that is as good as or better than anything around today.

If you love the rock’n’roll and rockabilly world and that hair raising, spine tingling sound of the piano-pounding rockers from the late Fifties, then Matthew Lee is going to going to be a sensation – don’t be late, there’s gonna be a whole lotta shakin’ going on.

Anyway if you want to check him out yourself:

http://www.myspace.com/matthewleeitaly 

PS. for all the ladies out there my missus also says he’s real hot stuff !

Linton Festival Team
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Key Francis Band (USA)

The Linton ‘away team’ caught  the “Key Frances Band” live at the Belgium Rhythm & Blues festival last year. With impressive speed the distinctive rocking sound, incessant funky swing and fiery driving guitar pulled in a huge audience with magnetic force, then turned them into a contagious, foot tapping, head bobbing  mass (check out the videos of some of the actual BRBF set on youtube for a real treat – link below).

Defying labels, but demanding the attention of even the casual listeners in the crowd, the expressive vocal interpretations and guitar led psychedelic intensity of the music rocked simply took the breathe away.  

This guy has presence, tone, psychedelic blues, passion & raw gut emotion. He eats, breathes & feels blood curdling licks, and, taking no prisoners along the way, plays his guitar like a certified psychedelic shaman.

We liked him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJodsEyUfkc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrGl9kHFLgE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jt_5HtIVx4

Tip: turn the volume up

(Stop Press: please be aware that Youtube and the PRS are currently having a little spat. These links are working now but may disappear at any point until the dispute is settled)

Linton Festival Team
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Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (USA)

OK, so a few of you out there were lucky enough to be at the 2008 Rhythm Festival with the Linton away team and know what to expect; but we know that the majority of you out there are living in inexcusable ignorance of what for us was THE band of 2008. 

At the Rhythm Festival we saw the name, and like  everyone else thought we were probably going to get something along the lines of a fill in  traditional Romanian gypsy taraf belting out strange tunes on a cobza, violin and panflute, whilst wailing in some unintelligible foreign language (it happened in 2007 !). 

 Instead we got something special - a riveting, mesmerizing, crazy, amazing machine of music.  How good were they ? Ever seen 2000 people get up at the end of a set to buy the CD simultaneously ?  We have ! 

Imagine a band that has mixed 25 years of rock and roll with a dash of folk and a pinch of Americana in an enormous caldron over a blazing fire.  Stir it around, then blend in generous slug of creativity and season with a huge dose of talent. The result takes shape in one of the best American bands on the road today - and the music rocks !   

Gandalf Murphy and the SCOD are at once completely original and entirely familiar, citing influences as diverse as Hank Williams, Dylan, Bowie, Incredible String Band and early Pink Floyd, they describe their music as "punk-classical-hillbilly-Floyd" -  a mental rollercoaster of whimsical, thought-provoking songs. 

Believe us poor Linton folk - this band is a knockout; and they are as fascinating to watch as they are to hear. Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams kick some mean hillbilly butt.

Youtube links for your enjoyment below - but a must see live experience. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5Q_iH1aWys&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhzZ1cnmEHU

Linton Festival Team