So there once was a group of musicians that lived back in the woods, and they played traditional American roots music, with story songs about, hangings, murder, and moonshine running, with titles like “Hillbilly Hick”, and Sons O’Dixie. After the release of their début album, they will be touring throughout the country playing dates in Rougham Suffolk, Cambridge, Wisbech, Cambs and in October they will be playing sets both days at the Prickwillow ploughing festival and country fair near Ely, Cambs. Not sure what part of the south they’re from – well you should be because this terrific new band is from jolly old England!!
Rattleshack is their name and playing great American roots music is their game!! Their début album is self-titled and great. According to the band they were:
Brought up on a diet of The Sex Pistols, Black Sabbath, Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams deep in the swampy, dark and mysterious fen lands of the east of the UK, it’s not surprising that their particular take on country music has an edgy twist – think Johnny Clash
The band is composed of:
Andy Stanhope, Guitar, Mandolin,Dan Moi and main Vocals. The songs he writes have a story to tell and you will listen.
Georgia Shackleton, Fiddle and Vocals. Sings like an angel, plays like a demon, sweats like a pig. She’s a siren and there’s no escape.
Gene Pellier, Doghouse Bass. He don’t sing, he don’t speak. He just grows beard. But he’s watching you son, he’s watching you!
Joe ‘Stony’ Mason, Drums and Vocals. There ain’t nothin’ he can’t get a rhythm out of and his crazy country shuffles are as mad as a box of frogs.
Pat Voodoo, Washboard. The ghost member of Rattleshack. You may see him, you may not but his scrapin’ and rattlin’ won’t escape you Read More
The first time I listened to the album, I wasn’t really paying that much attention to the songs, but on the second and third listens the songs and stories they tell came alive, and now this is one of my favorite albums of the year!! I always write that I love story songs and “The Tale of Jakie Tiger” and “The Wreck of Duval County” are new classics for me!!! Couple them, with the other 11 great songs on the album, including two penned and sung by fiddler Georgia Shackleton and you have one great album!!!
So check them out at all the usual places including Facebook
