Friday 10th October 2008

Kim Richey has been plying her brand of insightful song craft since arriving in Nashville in the early ‘90s. A tunesmith with a wide stylistic range – she’s written or co-written songs for Mary Chapin Carpenter, Trisha Yearwood and UK pop sensation James Morrison, among others – she’s also made four acclaimed solo albums and had her music featured in films and television shows.

But over the last five years, Richey found herself growing estranged from the artist side of her career. “It seemed like whenever I would travel and write a lot of stuff for other people, I’d come back home and then start writing songs that I would like to sing and not trying to write songs that would fit in with the pop genre, or whatever.” With a notebook full of songs that she wanted to record, Richey set off for her home away from home - London. “London’s not a place I go as a tourist,” Richey says. “I feel really at home there. To make the record there and to have my friends involved, I thought that would be really wonderful.” “Also, I wanted to put a different kind of spin on things. I’m an American, from Nashville, based in that particular tradition of songwriting. Then I would go over there where they have a different musical tradition. So I thought it would be interesting to mix the two together.”

Finally, Live At The Institute promoters James & Tony are ready to present their own band Songs from the Blue House for a proper slot! "About the only thing missing from Songs From The Blue House's latest album 'Tree', is a barrel of beer and a pub full of good friends. This is music to be enjoyed in good company. It is also about as far from shallow, meaningless and soulless entertainment as you could get, it is warm and full of life. 'Tree' is the kind of music, non-musicians dream about making. Instead of being ornate, fussy and unnecessarily over emotional, the delicate shades of folk, roots, country and perhaps the merest whisper of bluegrass combine to create a diamond." - Mike Mee, www.netrhythms.co.uk 

£12.50 DOORS 8.00pm

Canada's Cara Luft was a founder member of  'The Wailin' Jennys', and is touring the UK backed on bass, mandolin and vocals by multi-instrumentalist virtuoso Hugh McMillan of the legendary Canadian folk-rock band 'Spirit of the West'. Cara is an extremely accomplished guitarist and a captivating singer - an all round dynamic performer with deep roots in both folk and rock 'n' roll. Hugh's  background cuts a wide musical swathe, and melds well with Cara's deep folk heritage and powerful energy. The combination is outstanding!

"I have just had the privilege to listen to a few tracks from Cara Luft's new album 'The Light Fantastic'. [These tracks] are indeed fantastic and I hope it is not too long before she graces our UK shores!' - Robert Mills, Maverick magazine.

"Piefinger are a breath of fresh air in this acoustic revival," says Keith Warmington of BBC Radio Bristol. "They write, play and perform with absolute originality. They were one of my favourite sessions of the year". The band formed initially as a duo in Vienna when acoustic singer-songwriter Glynne Steele met vocalist Jana Carpenter whilst working at the English Theatre. In the subsequent three years, the band has steadily evolved into a dynamic and original fivepiece with the addition of violinist Rachel Steadman, singer-songwriter David Sherwood on bass and Ben Woollacott, formerly of The Veils, on percussion.

Kiss The Mistress - "Complex rhythms and syncopation inspired by the driving accordion and the soaring melodies of 'cello underpinned by percussion, guitar and vocals." "An energetic, atmospheric, goosebump-producing set of music from Celtic nations and further." (Cambridge Folk Club)

£10.00 DOORS 8.00pm