Sunday 4th July 2021
Viv & Riley
followed by an in-the-round Fourth of July song circle featuring
* Melody Walker * Joe Troop * Benjamin Hunter* Liv Greene
Part 1 of our Streaming Across the Sea was another exceptional evening of music, with added incisive conversation from Melody, Joe, Ben and Liv in our in-the-round special. Thanks to all of you who tuned in, donated, commented and shared on social media! You can watch the show again on YouTube here:
SUNDAY 4TH JULY – RUNNING ORDER (UK times)
2pm Step dance workshop with April Verch
Livestreamed concert:
7pm Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno
Two of the brightest talents coming up on the USA’s roots music scene, Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno combine exquisite musicianship (on guitars, fiddle and clawhammer banjo), compelling songs and gorgeous singing. Also known for being the core of footstomping old time band The Onlies, Viv and Riley’s duo project has a more reflective and evocative flavour. Their debut self-titled album was released earlier this year and was produced by acclaimed Cajun musician Joel Savoy. It’s a real corker, combining acoustic Americana, classic country and dashes of old time and bluegrass.
8-10pm (approx) An in-the-round special featuring Melody Walker, Benjamin Hunter, Joe Troop & Liv Greene
No stranger to our regular followers, the brilliant Melody Walker is best known as the frontwoman for mighty Americana-roots band Front Country, with whom she has toured worldwide for many years. She is an exceptional songwriter and one of the most soulful and powerful vocalists out there. She has recorded three acclaimed albums with Front Country in addition to her 2012 solo release and 2014 duo album with Jacob Groopman. Melody has also co-written songs with renowned artists including Molly Tuttle. Winner of the 2016 Vocalist of the Year Momentum Award at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, she has been a longstanding and fearless voice for diversity and inclusion in roots music. The multi-talented Benjamin Hunter has been playing the violin since the age of five, and is also no slouch on guitar and mandolin (and rattlin’ bones!) as well as having a fabulous singing voice. Best known for his award-winning work with Joe Seamons, Ben has toured the world performing the duo’s compelling blend of old time American roots, country blues and folk music. With a degree in Performance Violin, Ben has also always had a keen interest in politics and philosophy. Alongside his performing career, he works tirelessly to promote participation and inclusivity in the arts. He has co-founded a variety of vibrant initiatives in his hometown of Seattle, including the non-profit music education centre Community Arts Create and co-operatively owned restaurant and performing arts venue The Black & Tan Hall. Joe Troop is a wildly entertaining singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (banjo, fiddle) from North Carolina whose musical adventures have taken him around the world, including a long stint living in Argentina where he founded the Grammy-nominated stringband Che Apalache in Buenos Aires. Beginning as a bluegrass band, the quartet eventually incorporated Latin American styles into their repertoire, combining instrumental prowess with tight vocal harmonies. At just 23, Liv Greene is already an accomplished, award-winning songwriter and performer. Her 2020 album Every Bright Penny is packed with dreamy, evocative songs that feature Liv’s gorgeous, distinctive voice front and centre. Born in Washington DC, as a teen Liv took up guitar and songwriting and discovered Americana, bluegrass and old-time music. With a clutch of songwriting awards already to her credit, Liv is an alum of Interlochen Arts Academy and the New England Conservatory.
Online workshop: step dance with April Verch
Sunday 4th July, 2pm UK (9am EDT)
As well as being an exceptional fiddle player, April Verch is also a sensational dancer! JUNO-nominated artist April has recorded numerous albums, toured worldwide for over 20 years and even featured in the Vancouver Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Whether performing with her trio the April Verch Band or in her duo with Joe Newberry, the show always includes some of April’s spectacular Ottawa Valley step dancing, a style which originated in the region of Canada where she was born and raised. We’re thrilled that April has agreed to teach an hour long class to introduce aspiring step dancers to this style, and she’ll be accompanied by her musician husband and bandmate Cody Walters on banjo.
Once again, we acknowledge the generous support of Arts Council England who awarded us funding from the Project Grants: Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund. This support has been vital in helping True North Music survive this time of no real-life tours and concerts. It will enable us to pay all our workshop leaders a reasonable guaranteed fee, but we still need to sell a decent number of workshop tickets (and raise donations for the online concerts) to balance the budget. Workshops are an important part of our programming, as we’re passionate about getting people involved and participating. Learning to play different instruments and getting involved in singing and playing with other people have certainly been life-changing for me, and it’s especially important to keep those connections going through these difficult times.