Where: Kitchen Garden Cafe
Birmingham
B14 7SA
United Kingdom
Birmingham
What: The Coal Porters @ Kitchen Garden Cafe
When:
The Coal Porters were shining lights of the UK Americana and Bluegrass circuit for 17 years before hanging up their instruments within moments of England?s defeat by Croatia in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup (true, though possibly unrelated). Led by AMA Award winner Sid Griffin (Long Ryders) and featuring on fiddle Grammy winner and Adele string section leader Kerenza Peacock. They are reuniting for a select number of dates in 2025 ? including this one! They have featured on NPR’s Morning Edition in the USA, live sessions for Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2 and Marc Riley for Radio 6 Music, and appearances at Glastonbury, SXSW and MerleFest.
?Not your average fish & chips bluegrass, the Coal Porters have expanded their music with broad strokes and fearless execution? (Chris Hillman - Byrds/Flying Burrito Bros).
?The Coal Porters whisk together a hugely listenable cocktail of bluegrass, folk and country? (Uncut Magazine).
?Sid Griffin was playing Americana long before it was called that with his Long Ryders and his pioneering spirit lives on in his work with the Coal Porters? (Billy Bragg).
How Much:
www.bandsintown.com InStockBirmingham
B14 7SA
United Kingdom
Who: The Coal Porters
Folk
The Coal Porters are a British based Bluegrass band formed in 1992. Widely accepted to be the best Bluegrass band in Britain, the Coal Porters are actually led by an American from south of the Macon-Dixie Line. Singer and mandolin player Sid Griffin is a native of Louisville, Kentucky - the very heartland of the Bluegrass world - although he has been a resident of South London for many years. He first came to international recognition at the head of legendary Paisley Underground band the Long Ryders of “Looking for Lewis and Clark” fame more than 20 years ago.
Vocal duties are shared with Scotsman Neil Robert Herd, who also plays guitar, and fiddle player Gemma White. The band are completed by banjo man Dick Smith, dog-bassist Paul Sandy and second fiddle player Hana Loftus.
They have a well earned reputation as a passionate, entertaining and exciting live band and one of the highlights of their sets is a Bluegrass reworking of The Undertones “Teenage Kicks”. New album, “Turn the Water On, Boy!” has been received as their best to date. The album features a cover of Silver Raven written by former Byrd Gene Clark who Sid has known for many years since his L.A. days with the Long Ryders.