WILD PONIES

Wednesday 3rd July / 8pm / £14 

Doug and Telisha Williams, the Nashville-based, country-roots musical duo known as Wild Ponies, have a mystical connection. Partners in every way, they have spent the last decade building more than just their careers as musicians – they’ve built a life. One they’re wildly proud of and ready to share with the world. Their upcoming album, “Dreamers,” centers on exploration beyond the traditional nuclear family and into the community, joys, and heartbreaks they’ve experienced as part of a queer, polyamorous family undergoing fertility treatments and becoming foster parents in the state of Tennessee.

Their live shows, which have often totaled into the hundreds per year, are notoriously personal. No one is merely a spectator at a Wild Ponies show; there are only enthusiastic participants on a collective musical journey. Whether it’s Doug and Telisha with their acoustic guitar and upright bass, respectively, or a full rock ‘n’ roll outfit with drums and electric guitar, everyone is welcomed into the magic.

Entry on the night will be more. Doors 7.45pm. Plus support.

THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS OF HEZEKIAH PROCTER

Thursday 4th July / 8pm / £16 

One of only 4, very rare UK appearances.

Until recently very little was known about 1920’s jazz/folk evangelical singer Hezekiah Fortescue Procter, a cantankerous, talented, uber-roots musician and a self destructive genius who rose to prominence performing in medicine shows in the American South West before the Great Depression. He was also, perhaps, even a murderer.

One of the early legends of string band music he recorded some of the earliest examples of country, jazz and old time music, he ushered in a new era of music and mystery surrounding celebrity musicians. He was one of the singers who was there when “phonogram” companies started recording hillbilly music, a folk hero, a Marxist who wrote union ballads for striking labourers. He mysteriously disappeared without trace in 1929. His story is one of intrigue, it’s up there with those of country stars like Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, and Ernest Tubb the only difference being he never really existed.

The Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter is a box set, novel and experimental recording project by acclaimed, award winning Montreal country singer/songwriter Andrew McClelland-known in the music world as L’il Andy. Based upon the “life story” of Hezekiah Procter the album was recorded on original 1920’s/1930’s equipment to create the authentic 78rpm era sound played on fiddles, banjo’s, guitar, tuba and jaw-harps. This is a full band show performed by L’il Andy and the Hash House Serenaders.

L’il Andy has a reputation for producing grandiose, one of a kind concerts in the most prestigious concert halls. He was hand picked by the Pop Montreal Festival and the Montreal Museum Of Contemporary Art to lead a multi-part concert series featuring some of Quebec’s most revered music stars. The series sold out within a day of being announced.

“Best country/folk act”  Cult MTL Magazine (5 years in a row)

“Montreal’s greatest songwriter today” No Depression

“A performer who commands the stage effortlessly with his baritone voice and engaging between song banter” New York Times

“Roots based Americana that really deserves to be made” The Village Voice

“Simply put…this is great!” Nightlife Magazine

The Greystones presents

THE SPOOKY MEN’S CHORALE

at The Leadmill / Tuesday 9th July / £24 adv, under 18’s £17

Men, singing songs. A vast, rumbling, black clad behemoth. A ruthless bunch of larrikins based in the Blue Mountains of Australia, fearless investigators of all things physical, metaphysical and cheese related. They’re returning to the UK to inspire your ear things with a collection of harmonies old and new. Genial buffoonery and immaculate, testosterone drenched vocals define the Spooky Men’s Chorale. With a sound as warm and grainy as a slab of teak, they give equally loving attention to ancient Georgian table songs, terrifyingly beautiful ballads, highly inappropriate covers and immaculate man anthems such as Don’t Stand Between A Man And His Tools. They seek to comment on the absurdity and grandeur of the modern male armed with only their voices, a sly collection of hats and facial hair and a twinkle in the eye. Their stage presence is imposing and foolishly statuesque, their studied deadpan no act, like most blokes they’ve only got the faintest clue about what’s going on. In live performance they draw on a combination of musical and theatrical values which are elusive and multifarious the audience being invited to first joyously endure a wall of man sound, then laugh stupidly, then venture into areas of great tenderness. It is ideally not so much comedic but hilarious, not so much shimmeringly perfect as human in a very resonant way.
“High camp, epic folly. Probably the best choice of the entire summer festival circuit” The Irish Times
“A skilful mix of  faultless vocal expertise and maverick abandon. Compelling, serious fun and totally irresistible” Froots
“When this singularly gifted choir circles and descends with eyes closed, in a manly way, it is longing and mellow and rumbles inside the heart” Reviewsbyjudith
“Do see them live, it makes such perfect sense. Or does it? Beautiful singing. Sharp, witty lyrics” Mark Radcliffe

THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY EXPERIENCE

Friday 19th July / 8pm

The Sensational Alex Harvey Experience is the UK’s Number 1 tribute to Alex Harvey and his Sensational Band, covering their most recognisable songs and hits. The band pull out all the stops with a full on stage show filled with stage theatrics, and musically copying the sound and feel of the original band. Formed in 2014, the band have gone from strength to strength with numerous line-up changes and have performed in some of the biggest venues in the Scottish music scene. The band are still flying high with a fantastic reputation – with the likes of Alex Harvey’s son ‘Alex’ going on record to say that his “Old Man Would Have Been Proud” of this band…and the likes of legendary Rock Radio DJ Tom Russell saying they are simply “Sensational” and original SAHB Guitarist Zal Cleminson saying “Best SAHB Tribute By Far” SAHE released their first studio EP titled Witches, Dogs & Rock ‘N’ Rool in 2022 followed by a studio album to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. 

DALE STORR

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ, BLUES, BOOGIE N’ FUNK!

Saturday 20th July / 8pm / £12.50

“A very, very fine piano player indeed” Paul Jones, BBC Radio 2

Described by Jazz Journal magazine as the “piano man’s piano man…” and “a national treasure”, Dale Storr’s musical journey has now brought him recognition as one of the UK’s leading exponents of New Orleans piano. Inspired by his parents record collection of early Rhythm n’ Blues and Rock n’ Roll, the evocative music of New Orleans quickly became a passion for the young pianist. He immersed himself into the styles of heroes like Dr.John, James Booker, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino and Huey ‘Piano’ Smith to name but a few. His piano studies took him to Sheffield where he established himself as a highly sought after pianist backing many top blues stars from the UK and America. However the music of his beloved New Orleans was always going to take precedence and from 2008 Dale went solo with his now acclaimed ‘Sounds of New Orleans’ show.

“Storr’s music is authentic barrelhouse pianism and singing and should be on the play list of all broad minded jazz lovers” Jazz Journal magazineSince then he has wowed audiences across the U.K. and Europe with his intoxicating piano mastery and vocals, as well as sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of the crescent city. Dale draws in the audience with the rich history behind the music, telling the often risque stories of his much loved piano heroes. He has reached the finals of the British Blues Awards seven years in succession and also won the 2015 best musical performance award at the Buxton Fringe Festival. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride of the music and tales of the great New Orleans piano players.

“Dale is the best New Orleans player I’ve ever heard” Richard Hawley

GERAINT WATKINS and THE MOSQUITOES

Wednesday 24th July / 8pm / £16

For so long Geraint Watkins a keystone of bands of Nick Lowe, Van Morrison, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Dave Edmonds and many more, he’s now a revered creator of his own sublime music. Backed by the Mosquitoes this is a very rare opportunity to see them outside London. 

Nick Lowe described Geraint as “the missing link between Paulo Conte and Howlin’ Wolf” while Bob Dylan proclaimed himself a fan by playing 2 solo cuts on his Theme Time Radio Hour saying Geraint is his favourite British piano player. 

Trying to designate a musical category for Geraint is very difficult, his repertoire is unique showcasing not only his own compositions but also a few his own classic cover versions. A truly memorable and unmissable show.