The latest Simple Folk Radio show goes out this Sunday at 5pm (UK time), the show will be presented by your regular host Dillon who will be joined by Nicol (check out Frozy on bandcamp here). This week you will be hearing WETLANDS in session who hail from the swamps and porches of St. Augustine!
I love WETLANDS, their the real deal. By “real deal” I don’t mean their one of the many bands out their with that ol’ time Appalachian sound, clinging with religious zeal to some regimented rules of how music was played back in the day, this is a bunch of punks playing old-time music. By “real deal” I mean Wetlands are a no bullshit band, they have honesty, beauty, a lot of heart, and I can’t recommend them enough. –Dillon/Simple Folk Radio
“Music true to Florida’s wet, gator-friendly nature thrives in St. Augustine’s own Lincolnville through three mud-loving musicians with unique sound of the south. Wetlands plays a “swamp-folk, porch-core” soundtrack utilising good ol’ banjo, harmonica, guitar and washboard, encouraging fans to stomp feet and put a little more sugar in that mason jar of iced tea.
Billy Blanchard (guitar/vocals), Kalien McLevey (ukulele/vocals) and Matthew Batty (banjo/mouth harp/vocals) began about 10 months ago [spring 2011], breaking into the traditional old-time sound so appropriate for the south.
“A lot of it is about mud and surroundings” Blanchard said. Nodding, Batty added “just from fishing and being around this setting – Northeast Florida”.
Utilizing a washboard from the former Hamblen’s Hardware store in old town St. Augustine, McLevy flips over a Bic lighter and scrapes up and down, creating the rhythm of the band. Batty plucks an Old Time banjo he obtained from Grandpa’s Music while Blanchard strums his Blue Ridge guitar.
“a lot of people say that because we have a banjo we’re bluegrass, but the way I play banjo is traditionally a Appalachian style, so it’s not bluegrass,” Batty said.
The trio says their inspiration’s range range from camping and travelling to heartache. “A lot of heartache,” Betty laughed. “But that’s why I think we have trouble writing new songs – because we are so happy.’
Musical influences include Michael Hurley, Mississippi John Hurt and Tim Barry, yet a couple of their songs began with a more folk/punk feel, McLevy said.
Wetlands completed their first album ‘Underwater Mountain’ in February, before taking off for a short tour up the east coast and back down through New Orleans. They expect their second album to be out this winter, with a few music video plans already in play. Without giving too much away, let’s just say it’s something to “die” for.”
-Kristin Chambers/Calameo
Broadcast Times
First Broadcast: Sunday 4th November @ 5.00pm
Then Repeated on the following times:
Monday: @ 2am
Wednesday: @ 9pm
Friday: @ 1pm
CET: +1 hour EST: -5 hours PST: -8 hours
http://www.simplefolkradio.com/
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