One day, two bands (plus support!): Harbottle & Jonas plus William The Conqueror at Kingskerswell Parish Church
March 9, 2017 by the Devon Week
A Saturday to stuff your ears with some of the finest music in the South West is a spring treat that Kingskerswell Parish Church is happy to indulge – it's the day after St Patrick's Day, after all.
On Saturday, March 18, the venue will offer you not one, but two (count them) acts that kicks off at 3pm and stretches on into the crepescule.
First up (Doors 3pm) is Harbottle & Jonas – a stunning young folk duo based in Totnes, Devon.
Their music is eclectic and is always accompanied with a great story, says their blub. They have received plaudits from folk royalty including Seth Lakeman, Jon Boden, Rod Clements, Declan Sinnott, BBC Introducing and have recently been endorsed by Seasalt Clothing. Playing over 100 gigs each year, these troubadours are to be found far and wide across our beautiful island.
They will be playing new material to celebrate their new album 'Anna is a Dancer'.
Supporting them will be Velvet & Stone an indie-folk band from Devon, UK, who 'combine rich vocals, acoustic guitar and violin, to give an original take on a traditional genre.'
(Tickets and more)
Next up at (Doors 7pm) there's William The Conqueror.
Once a treasure of the folk circuit, Ruarri Joseph had been leading a double existence, 4 studio albums in under his own name the singer created an alter-ego, William the Conqueror, as a way of being able to play live music away from the obligatory promotional touring, and hit a vein of creativity recording 3 albums of new music in his garage and finally deciding to switch things round, bringing William to the forefront and sending Joseph (at least the persona of him!) back into the shadows, says the blurb.
William The Conqueror (EP) by William the Conqueror
'Bursting with retro-infused energy, there are a myriad influences, underpinned by a taste for good, old-fashioned roots. One minute it's a hushed JJ Cale that somehow finds its way to an angry Jim Morrison or a 60's Dylan; the next it's a grunge era Pearl Jam via Leonard Cohen and a nod to Tom Waits. What is undoubtedly unique is the rich, earnest voice and the poetic nuance of a man clearly wise to the complexities and hardships of love and life.
'As well as being a switch creatively it appears the new direction is lining up to bring some well deserved success William's way too. Sneaking onto a showcase at the Americana Awards early 2016, the three piece band, fronted by Joseph blew the crowds away leading to immediate talks with labels and publishers all vying for a piece of William.
'Having gone through the major label machine before with his solo act though, Joseph held off opting instead to focus on the music and the recording of the album whilst still independent. An invite to Nashville followed where again the band wowed with their unique fusion of blues, country and rock. A nomination for best song at the following Americana Awards saw them take to the stage with some real music heavy weights including Jools Holland, Van Morrison, Richard Thompson and Ethan Johns and just before Christmas 2016 William The Conqueror, having made their debut record in Joseph's garage, signed a distribution deal with the fantastically retro Loose Music along side the likes of The Handsome Family, Danny and The Champions of the World and The Felice Brothers.
'Never ones to forget their roots and while the label prepare for the release of the album later in the year, William The Conqueror continue to play on the local scene that helped them cut their teeth. They are undoubtedly a band grounded in their determination to keep the creation and playing of music at the core of their endeavors. Be sure to catch them at one of these intimate settings before the inevitable conquering begins.'
William The Conqueror will supported by Pete Falloon – singer, indie folk/country-rock and psychedelia songwriter inspired by Byrds, REM, James Taylor, Paul Simon.
Harbottle & Jonas | Facebook | Twitter: @David_Harbottle
Velvet & Stone | Facebook | Twitter: @VelvetStoneMus
William The Conqueror | Facebook | Twitter: @ruarrijoseph
Pete Falloon | Facebook | Twitter: @PeteFalloon
(from a press release)
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Filed Under: Music Tagged With: Devon, Harbottle & Jonas, Kingskerswell Parish Church, Newton Abbot, Pete Falloon, Ruarri Joseph, totnes, Velvet & Stone, William The Conqueror