Grateful Fred Newsletter No: 98
April here we come...
Next Wednesday, (at the time of writing this), the 2nd of April at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson in Southport, our headliner will be award-winning singer/songwriter Kirsten Adamson (daughter of rock legend Stuart Adamson (Big Country, Skids) and her band The Tanagers.
Since spending summers soaking up the atmosphere in Nashville with her dad, and singing on Big Country’s Driving To Damascus album, Kirsten has been steadily developing her own voice and songwriting, with indie folkers Aberfeldy, country rockers The Gillyflowers and Americana duo The Marriage.
https://www.kirstenadamson.com
Adamson and her band The Tanagers have impressed audiences and critics at festivals this summer including The British Country Music Festival in Blackpool’s prestigious Winter Gardens, Moseley Folk Festival, Fringe By The Sea, Outwith Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival.
“Adamson knows how to hold a crowd in the palm of her hand, her vocals are clear and powerful, her songs are strong, she is an all-round entertainer.” – The Writers Room
‘Exceptional” – Americana-UK.com
‘A talent to watch’ – NoDepression
“I could listen to Adamson’s voice all day every day, it’s angelic” – Maverick Magazine
“Recalling the late Nanci Griffith… with an added edge” – R2 Magazine
And…supporting Kirsten I am delighted to be able to welcome back our friends Jaime and Jason of April Moon.
APRIL MOON call their genre Canadiana – think Americana but with a big helping of northern charm that oozes through their style of kooky storytelling and lyrics, creating a vivid, sunshine-filled world that covers everything from love, scandal and divorce to growing up on the prairies, living in an abandoned brewery, life on the road and cow autopsies.
Combining irresistibly charming, boot-stompin tunes with intertwined guitars, big vocal harmonies and a kick drum made from an old suitcase, Jaime April and Jason Moon make up the UK-based duo APRIL MOON. Although they grew up on the prairies beside the North Saskatchewan River, the pair split their time between several countries a year, living out of a cool campervan they call ‘The Clubhouse’.
Jaime and Jason have been awarded a funding grant through Help Musicians to support their releases and have been enjoying radio play on BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and Countryline Homegrown. 2025 will see the release of an EP and tour that takes them around the UK, to Europe and Canada.
Opening the evening will be my bandmates and I, The Silver Freds.
There are still some tickets left at the moment which you can book here: https://theatkinson.co.uk/events/grateful-freds-april-2025/
The Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions
https://www.davidstarrmusic.com
On Thursday 24th of April, we welcome back, all the way from Colorado, acclaimed singer-songwriter David Starr.
“His music is authentic, his songs are honest; full of emotion and truth. A voice you will never forget.” — John Oates (Hall & Oates).
David has honed his decades-long career releasing over eleven albums, touring internationally, sharing the stage with esteemed artists such as John Oates and John McEuen, and opening for acts like America, John Oates (Hall & Oates), Jim Messina, Travis Tritt, Restless Heart, Karla Bonoff, The Steel Wheels, Survivor, and more.
His unique mix of soulful vocals and honest lyrics create a Blues/Americana sound all his own; garnering him prestigious showcase performances at Folk Alliance International, AmericanaFest, and Southwest Regional Folk Alliance. He consistently independently books and performs over 70 dates per year, including dates in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, where he has continued to grow recurring audiences year after year. David frequently tops the Colorado Music Chart and is one of the most downloaded artists on Airplay Direct. A master guitarist, he is endorsed by Breedlove Guitars and was honored to create his own limited edition signature guitar and featured on the cover of their Spring 2021 magazine.
His latest project Starr & Stucky is an acoustic album with longtime accompanist and mandolin player Erik Stucky. The record is a nod to Starr’s dynamic live show with reimagined acoustic versions of setlist favorites. With each song recorded in one take at Addiction Sound Studios in Nashville, TN there are virtually no edits, showcasing both of their raw talents.
Starr’s prestige extends beyond the stage as well, having launched Starr’s Guitars in Little Rock, before relocating to Cedaredge, CO in 2001, where it is now a beloved institution. Starr is a founding member of the board for the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center in Cedaredge, an intimate event space aimed at attracting musicians and visual artists to Colorado’s Western Slope. He curates the town’s annual Apple Fest, which draws over 15,000 people to the area, securing live music from more than a dozen acts on the Starr’s Guitar Stage over the course of the 3 day festival.
Please come along and support great, live, acoustic music here in Southport. Tickets are still available from: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/southport-bijou-cinema/t-xmkdxpp
Brooks Williams
Many of you will have seen Brooks perform at Grateful Fred’s over the last few years and so will know what an amazing artist he is. A brilliant guitarist and great performer.
He will be performing for us at the Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions on Thursday November 20th and tickets are on sale now for that date. However, prior to that he is appearing at The Bothy Folk Club, also held at the Bijou, on Sunday May the 4th. So Brooks Williams fans have two chances to enjoy his music.
You can find out more from the Bothy website.
Tickets for the November show are available here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/southport-bijou-cinema/t-rpvzypl
To end this issue, here’s a preview of what’s already in the diary for Grateful Fred Concerts in 2025:
Wed Apr 2nd at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson: KIRSTEN ADAMSON - APRIL MOON - mTHE SILVER FREDS
Thu Apr 24th at the Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions: DAVID STARR
Thu May 1st at the Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions: MEAN MARY
Wed May 7th at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson: THE OFTEN HERD - LIMERANCE - PHIL CAFFREY
Thu May 22nd at the Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions: JOCELYN PETIT & ELLEN GIRA
Wed Jun 4th at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson: SAIJE - PENNI NEALE - THE SILVER FREDS
Fri Jun 20th at the Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions: JAMES KEELAGHAN & DAVID WOODHEAD
Wed Jul 2nd at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson: RANAGRI - UMLAUT - VINNY & THE ENGINEERS
Thu Jul 17th at the Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions: MAX & VERONICA
Wed Aug 6th at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson: RACHEL CROFT - IGLOO HEARTS - THE SILVER FREDS
Wed Sep 3rd at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson: REG MEUROSS - JACKSON WILLIAMS - SIOBHAN & CHRIS NELSON
Wed Oct 1st at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson: JESSE TERRY - PELICAN BABIES - THE SILVER FREDS
Wed Oct 29th at the Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions: ALICE HOWE & FREEBO
Wed Nov 5th at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson: SARAH JANE SCOUTEN - THOM MORECROFT
Thu Nov 20th at the Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions: BROOKS WILLIAMS
Wed Dec 3rd at Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson: CHARLIE DORE & GARETH HEW DAVIES - THE SILVER FREDS
I hope to see you soon at one of the shows.
Until then,
Peace and Love…and do we need it right now!
Grateful Fred
