Southern Fried; Half-Way There!

I say half way because I’ve not been in bed before 2am for the past two nights but of course, Saturday and Sunday are the biggest two days in the Southern Fried Calendar so there is still more to enjoy than has past!

I am a lover of live music and Southern Fried Festival is one of my favourite weekends in Perth; however, I am in no way versed in the modern day musicians and songwriters from the world of Southern Fried’s Americana, Blue Grass, Country or Soul; in fact if we get right down to it, I’m not even sure I know the difference between all of these genres! There is not a headline name on any of the tickets I have in my possession that I knew before the Horsecross banners went up and the flyers started flashing their big blue sky around town.

Why then, you might ask, would I sign up for an entire weekend of this? Well, first off, a weekend of live music always beats a weekend in front of the TV. Southern Fried is as much about the atmosphere and vibe as it is about the music. But more importantly, at 43 years old, I am way past the idea that I need to be a ‘follower’ to enjoy a band or musician. The programme at #SFriedPerth has never let me down yet so I’m confident I’ll be standing whooping and cheering  in the aisles with the Country Die Hards and Official Fans.  

THURSDAY 30th JULY

We kicked off at teatime on Thursday with a ‘social media call’ by the Horsecross marketing team. Open to everyone with a smart phone, we were treated to a rehearsal style half hour and given a little taster of Saturday night’s ‘Songs of Dolly Parton’.  Opened by the extremely talented bluegrass quintet that is Della Mae, and introducing the young up-and-coming Amythyst Kiah and the award-winning Meaghan Blanchard, this is the kind of gateway drug your too-cool-for-school, country-mocking pals warned you about. I overheard more than one conversation start with the line ‘I told you we should’ve got the whole weekend ticket’.

With a wee flavour of what was to come whetting our appetites, we headed for The Twa Tams for the offically opening party, kicked off by Della Mae.  Filled with a crowd ready and waiting for local heroes, The Red Pine Timber Co, I felt for this group of young American girls who were tasked with keeping everyone entertained until Gav and Co kicked off. 

Not a problem for Della Mae.  Five years into a touring career, this talented group of musicians, singers and songwriters pulled the crowd into their glorious world of acoustic Blue Grass and set the tone for what was to be a night of music just as we like it; in the pub, beers flowing, crowd cheering and everyone close enough to smell the sweat forming on the heads of these hard-working Southern Fried music makers. 

Red Pine… what can I say? They never fail to deliver and if anything, appear only to be improving with age.   Playing tracks from their now much-acclaimed album, Different Lonesome, favourite covers that show off the immense scale of their talents and new material currently being recorded, they lived up to every last expectation of this local crowd, filling the room with mountainous cheers and crowd-sing-a-longs.    

It’s easy to single out the phenonomal voice of Katie Whittaker and the songwriting talents of Gav Munro for individual acclaim but it was the young Chris Marshall - trombone, mouthie, voice, dancing – who stole the show for outrageously good, unabashed showmanship!

FRIDAY 31^st JULY

Invited to a bit of a soiree at Horsecross, we were all ready to go again by 7pm on Friday night.  Sponsored by local brewery Inveralmond Beer, the room was full of beers and people ready to be entertained.  The idea that we were about to see “the best band on the planet” (as written by The Herald about Punch Brothers) was thrilling, if a little reminiscent of an over excited PR student.

Before the best band ever, came Rhiannon Giddens. And she was clear on the pronounciation...  “that’s Rhiannon, rhymes with Shannon. Not to be confused with that pop singer”. Whichever way you say it, in just a few bars this diminutive figure united the souls of country groupies, wet behind the ears Americana newcomers and those dragged along as unwilling partners, into one enraptured throng.  By song four, Waterboy, the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up and her command of the stage, and Horsecross’s entire auditorium, was as effortless as her barefoot dancing.  

She moved between soul, gospel and blues with a voice that sung out with the presence of an entire gospel choir; and if you believe the old adage that like-attracts-like, then it will be no surprise to learn her small band of musicians lifted what was already going to be a phenomenal live show, into another dimension. Cello, drums, fiddle, guitar, banjo and instruments I don’t even know the name of, filled the room with spotless perfection (Owen on ‘the bones’ is a man I will never forget!). 

With only a few songs to go, audience already hers to do with as she wished, Rhiannon Giddens pulled the Southern Fried rabbit clean out of the hat and gave us a powerful, warrior-like performance of Scots Gaelic at its very best.  Followed by tales of Scottish settlements in North Carolina, it is inconceivable to think this may have been a token gesture practiced for a Scottish show.  It was immaculate, and brought Giddens and her band a standing ovation before she had completed her set. Barefoot and Brilliant. I am now officially a fan.

How were Punch Brothers ever going to follow that?

Well, after a few technical hitches that would have thrown lesser musicians into turmoil, this five piece string band proved the loud call of the Herald Journalist was in fact worthy of the hyperbole.   Gathered around a lonesome mic they gave a performance of which I've never seen the like.

So incredibly unique, the trick, I realised after the first couple of numbers, is to relax into this amazingly eclectic sound and allow it to carry you. Don't try to second guess it, don't wonder at what they are doing; just sit back and enjoy as they deliver a seamless display of extraordinary talent.

The idea that without brass, with little percussion (this is the first time I have seen a man sit behind a set of drums with a fiddle and switch between the two), and with not a mouth organ in sight, you can create this level of big, bold, ballsy entertainment is incredible.  Their talent is so immense you could almost taste it in the air and their quirky, funny, offbeat presence only enhances this tremendous Southern Fried headline act. I am a little in love with them all. 

Late And Southern Fried

We headed to Greyfriars to catch the end of the Country-Oke but sadly had missed the show. The aftermath was apparent though, with one drunk man belting out Jolene on a microphone that was switched off and the barmaid standing proudly in Blonde wig and Stetson. 

The Salutation was where the late night party people were heading for, and a large crowd had already filled the room by the time we arrived. We had to remain content with beers and a space at the back, entertained once again by Della Mae who tonight had more time to chat about how five girls from across the states came to be one of the most talked about Blue Grass bands touring today.  Another crowd-pleasing set that has got me even more pumped up for The Songs of Dolly Parton, as the prepare to host the stage. 

I’ll go back to my confession at the start; I had no idea who these people were. I have no idea what I might find tonight or tomorrow. But this is an incredible Festival and if you place your trust in the capable hands of Andy Shearer, and his ability to cherry pick out the very best in Southern Fried musicians playing today, then you’ll enjoy every last minute.

Now, go and buy the few tickets that remain and I’ll see you at the live stage.