It’s very exciting to be able to tell you that Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage will be making a return visit… Lewis is one of our all-time favorite songwriters and performers and previous shows have always been such an evening of sheer joy.
Its hard to know where to begin when describing New York born and based Jeffrey Lewis’s creative activities. As a musician and songwriter he has been active for such a long time, both solo and with an array of bands, performing and recording with The Voltage – formerly Los Bolts – since 2015. In addition to this Jeffrey Lewis both writes and illustrates graphic novels, having published his comic book, Fuff, since 2004 and incorporates artwork and storytelling into his live sets to magical effect.
In addition to writing, performing and recording under his own name, Jeffrey Lewis also collaborates with Peter Stampfel of 60s legends The Holy Modal Rounders and they released their second album, “Hey, Hey its The Jeffrey Lewis and Peter Stampfel Band,” in 2013. A third Stampfel/Lewis album and a new album with The Voltage are both in the pipeline.
Jeffrey Lewis has attracted a great deal of praise from contemporaries such as Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), Dave Berman (Silver Jews), Paul Banks (Interpol) and Will Oldham. The latter said of Lewis, “Really great and impressive and inspiring and exciting… There’s not a lot of people that can tell a story and use language like that in music.”
The Jeffrey Lewis & Los Bolts 2015 album, Manhattan, is a work of utter genius, an original take on life in the Big Apple by that rare individual, a genuine artist still living in the city despite increasing gentrification and is a lyrical, beautiful and sublime record.
Support from Model Village
Ferris & Sylvester are songwriters – with clear references in their catchy setup to the mid-60s sounds of Greenwich Village combined with their meatier blues tones, the pair sit somewhere between Jack White and First Aid Kit.
The pair met three years ago and have since won over the nation with their ever-growing live presence and songwriting, selling out their debut headline UK tour. In 2018, the duo released their highly anticipated EP ‘Made In Streatham’ which they self-produced in their South London flat. Released through their own label ‘Archtop Records’, the EP has clocked up millions of streams and received widespread praise across the board.
With their eyes fixed on their debut album, the duo have expanded their sound into deeper and darker places. Ferris & Sylvester uncover the depths of human relationships in their writing and continue forward as proudly independent songwriters and performers.
Chance McCoy is a Grammy Award winning Indie Folk musician from West Virginia.
It can be scary to step away from something that’s been so successful, says Chance McCoy, but it’s important to follow your passion. I really believe in the music that I’m making right now, so it feels like the right time for me as an artist to get off the main road and explore the path less trodden.
A virtuoso fiddler, guitarist, and banjo player, McCoy is best known as a member of GRAMMY-winning Americana powerhouse Old Crow Medicine Show, but ‘Wander Wide,’ his debut solo album, reveals a remarkable depth and versatility far beyond anything we’ve heard from him yet. Captivating in its cross of the traditional and the progressive, the record shows little regard for the conventional boundaries of genre and decade, blending old-school bluegrass melodies with modern rock and roll arrangements and rich, atmospheric production.
Support from Sam Russo
The Ouse Valley Single Club return once again for their annual Portland show on Saturday 19th October in support of their brand new album GAMMONISTA ! Expect plenty of songs from the new album and plenty of classics in the set.
New to the Valley ??? The OVSC are a 5 piece band from the rather cosmopolitan market town of Bedford that use sounds & traditions of 1950’s Skiffle combined with the energy of Punk and a splash of Rub n dub Reggae to relay hilarious Folk-like story-telling within their rather infectious songs, often crossing the parameters of what is deemed to be socially acceptable. In doing this, they have created a truly original & highly entertaining genre that has been dubbed (by them) as “New Wave Skiffle”. Their songs and videos, (including Girl From the Fens, Milf Hunter, Spunky Dave, River Great Ouse and the east nothants anthem ‘from Rushden with Love’) have given them a pretty strong online presence and gained a massive following of lovely loyal fans and a semi.. a semi-cult status in and around the East Anglian / east midlands region… This is going to be a rather special night and one not to be missed!
Tickets on sale now priced £8 advance.
The past 2 shows O.V.S.C have played at the Portland have both sold out in advance, we cap the show at less numbers than the venue capacity so an early purchase is advised.
Mayflower Folk Club present… Alistair Anderson / Northumbrian Pipes, English Concertina.
To coincide with the release of 6th studio album, “Lostfolk”, Gaz Brookfield makes a welcome return to The Portland Arms this autumn as part of his UK tour.
Gaz Brookfield is a solo acoustic musician based in Bristol. Since winning Acoustic magazine’s 2010 Singer Songwriter of the year, he has spent his time on the road, touring the UK and Europe. In this time he has shared the stage with the likes of The Levellers, Frank Turner, New Model Army, Nick Harper, Newton Faulkner, Miles Hunt, Seth Lakeman and many more, racking up thousands of gigs to date.
Gaz remains the only unsigned solo artist to sell out The Fleece, Bristol. A feat he has now achieved four times, the last two selling out over six months in advance.
Often playing as many as 200 gigs a year, Gaz’s relentless and never-ending tour schedule takes him to every corner of the country and beyond. The last few years saw Brookfield play at over 100 UK festivals, including Glastonbury, Beautiful Days, Bearded Theory and many more, firmly cementing him as a festival favourite for the future.
Support from B-Sydes. B-SYDES (aka Ben Sydes) has been lucky enough to have shared stages with the likes of Frank Turner, Sam Duckworth, Chris T-T, Dave McPherson, Walter Schreifels, Ben Marwood, Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun, Oxygen Thief, Rob Lynch, Gaz Brookfield and The Retrospective Soundtrack Players to name a few.
Gaz’s last visit to The Portland was a busy affair on a weeknight so make sure you get your tickets in advance.
The final Coda Sessions event of 2019 presents the sensational duo WardnParker & the almighty Chris Fox, with a special return of the Coda House Band to open the event. This is an exclusive opportunity to see some fantastic Folk, Blues & Jazz and keep a warm vibe for a chilly Autumn Sunday evening!
WARD & PARKER
Ward & Parker features the very talented Clifford Ward (The Willows) & John Parker (Nizlopi); their music consists of John Parker’s rhythmic Double-Bass punch and some great flowing fingerstyle acoustic from Cliff Ward, in addition to inspiring lyrics and vocal harmonies! This duo has had an incredible rise in popularity over the past year and Coda Sessions is proud to feature as a part of their Autumn tour!
Check out their latest release ‘ONE’ via their website here:
https://www.wardnparker.com/music
https://www.youtube.com/embed/hRr12a7DDVM”
CHRIS FOX
Chris Fox is an independent musician that has worked his way through the Cambridge music scene through the past few years, each year acclaiming presence at an increasing number of stages & festivals, most recently Cambridge Folk Festival. His music reflects passionate & thought-provoking topics through deep powerful vocals with bouncing guitar rhythms that combine strong elements of Folk & Blues.
Check out Chris Fox’s website here for updates & music:
https://www.chrisfoxmusic.org/
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3O9lnrj2T5Q
The Pad presents… Beans on Toast
“passionate, funny and human, articulating an everyman’s fears about these times.” The Guardian
Beans on Toast’s new album is called ‘The Inevitable Train Wreck’ and will be released on 1st December 2019.
For now, he’s holding his cards quite close to his chest, but he’s promised “a rock’n’roll album about our dying planet”
The new release from the Essex Folk hero will find him searching for hope and change in what may be Earth’s darkest hour. On-track for a 25 date tour across the nation this Winter, catch him playing songs from ‘The Inevitable Train Wreck’ and his huge, well-loved back catalogue.
Mayflower Folk Club musician and singers night.
Morganway + supports TBC
East Anglian Rock / Americana collective Morganway released their debut self-titled album in August 2019, and are playing a selection of tour dates around the UK in support of the album including this homecoming show at The Portland Arms!
Morganway was founded in 2016 by twin brothers Callum (vocals/bass) and Kieran Morgan (lead guitar), and genre-defying keyboard player Matt Brocklehurst. Their numbers quickly grew as their sound developed, with singer SJ Mortimer, whose growling vocals were a perfect complement to the Morgan brothers gritty guitar work, and fiddle player Nicole J Terry joining the ranks. The last member to officially join was drummer Ed Bullinger, whose diverse playing adds an urgent, yet tactful texture to the fray.
Inspired by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and other classic guitar bands such as The Eagles, Morganway have quickly built a name for themselves on the UK live circuit. They have already received accolades from Radio 2’s ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris, swathes of recognition from the country press, two nominations from the BCMA awards, support slots with The Shires, CC Smugglers, Wildwood Kin and an Under The Apple Tree session, slots at Cambridge Folk Festival, Black Deer, Wood Festival, Country 2 Country, The Lovefields @ Glastonbury and Lakefest.
Peppered within their classic rock influences are aspects of country, Americana, pop and even bits of indie. Their ability to dance around genres yet keep a cohesive sound has been one of the principal reasons Morganway have such a captivating live show. Fans are taken on a journey through vastly dynamic soundscapes at their concerts.
“A six-piece, superbly talented collective” “Morganway’s intoxicating
mix of Americana and all its contributing influences takes the breath away.”
– Rock’n’Reel – ★★★★
“The key thing that strikes on the album is the level of musicianship”… “Morganway have it all”
– Maverick – ★★★★★
Reviewsfrom Country 2 Country 2019
“Their blistering set on the Icon Stage certainly drew in the crowds, making them one of the most exciting prospects to appear on the scene since The Wandering Hearts.”
Gaz Williams, March 2019
Review from Black Deer 2019
“Morganway demonstrated real crossover appeal and have a sound that should appeal to classic rock, pop and Americana fans. A great show from a band who should go far. “
David Vousden, Red Guitar Music June 2019
Noble Jacks (TBC) + supports
TBC
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