There’s no denying that Western swing, country blues and ragtime are on the rise again and one of the finest UK based purveyors of that scene and a firm favorite of Folk Radio UK is based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Following a busy summer Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra will be hitting the road again (dates below) for an extensive winter tour of the UK & Ireland in support of their second album Talk About The Weather, released to much acclaim earlier this year. Reviewing if for Folk Radio UK, Rachel Devine said:
A combination of offbeat, quirky lyrics and wonderfully tight and inventive musicianship raises their new album Talk About The Weather firmly out of the humdrum. Heron’s smokey, expressive vocals and keen sense of dynamics inject a sense of continuity into a varied repertoire of upbeat ragtime and swing numbers, country songs and a mambo. There is a real sense of fun and occasion that runs throughout the album. (read the full review here)
In addition to Rob Heron (vocals, guitar), the white-hot six-piece comprise Ben Fitzgerald (guitar, vocals), Tom Cronin (mandolin, harmonica, vocals), Colin Nicholson (accordion, vocals), Ted Harbot (double bass, vocals) and Paul Archibald (drums, kitchens utensils, piano), with the majority of the band meeting while studying Folk & Traditional Music at Newcastle University. If you’ve not yet had the pleasure of hearing them then just feast your ears on this:
Tour Dates
November
01 – Penryn, Miss Peapod’s
02 – Redruth, The Melting Pot Cafe
06 – Brixham, Brixham Theatre
08 – Lewes, The Con Club
09 – Milverton, Somerset, The Victoria Rooms
10 – Bath, The Bell Inn
11 – Leamington Spa, Zephyr Lounge
12 – Martletwy, Pembs. Burnett’s Hill Chapel
13 – Bristol, The Stag & Hounds
14 – Southampton, Marshals
15 – London, The Harrison
16 – Camber Sands, Rhythm Riot!
18 – Newcastle upon Tyne, The Cumberland Arms with The Wiyos
19 – Leeds, Trinity Church
20 – Hull, The New Adelphi Club
21 – Liverpool, The Kazimier
22 – Dublin, The Grand Social
23 – Dundalk, The Spirit Store
24 – Cork, The Crane Lane Theatre
25 – Wexford, The Sky & The Ground
26 – Glastonbury, The King Arthur
27 – Clevedon, Curzon Cinema
28 – Edinburgh, The Jazz Bar
29 – Stranraer, The Grapes
30 – Glasgow, Woodend Bowling & Lawn Tennis Club
December
04 – Kingsland, Herefordshire, Coronation Hall
05 – Chelmarsh, Shropshire, Parish Hall
06 – Whitbourne, Herefordshire, Whitbourne Church Hall
07 – Putley, Herefordshire, Putley Parish Hall