Lyric Nights 2005

---

 

The Lyric Hammersmith has announced the line up for their fourth season of Lyric Nights. By far the most extensive series of shows yet, Lyric Nights runs between Thursday 12 May and Saturday 4 June and presents a unique array of performers and songwriters, crossing many fascinating genres. The Lyric’s crystal clear acoustics and intimate atmosphere make it perfect for live music.

In keeping with the international tradition of the event, it brings together artists from the UK, the Middle East and America and features headline performances from Linda Thompson, Jimmy Webb, Ilham Al Madfai, Gwyneth Herbert, Richmond Fontaine, The Czars, Patty Griffin, Patrick Wolf and Twisted Folk. It’s a remarkable cross section taking in contemporary and alternative folk and country, world music, musical variety and classic song writing and interpretation. Lyric Nights commences with a return performance over three nights from the peerless Linda Thompson following her sell-out visit to the Lyric in 2002.

The 2005 season is as follows:

Linda Thompson
In an evening of musical variety
Strange How Potent
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12, 13, 14, May
7.45pm
Tickets: £25

Linda Thompson, Martha Wainwright, Teddy Thompson, Justin Bond and Neil Bartlett will be presenting a ‘variety show’ that promises to be both unique and hugely entertaining. They will be performing an eclectic selection of late nineteenth and early twentieth century British and American music hall, vaudeville and variety songs. The show’s director, Neil Bartlett, will act as Chairman/MC linking the numbers, introducing the acts and joining the rest of the cast in telling music hall anecdotes and reciting monologues.
They will be joined on stage by a three piece band and with a guest appearance each night by Bob Davenport. Other special guests to be announced.

Ilham Al Madfai
Tuesday 17 May
7.45pm
£18

From the café society of 1960s Baghdad to London's thriving jazz scene, Ronnie Scott's and the legendary 60's hangout Café Baghdad, Ilham has risen to become Iraq's most prominent musician and one of the leaders in world music. Twisting together traditional Arabic song with Spanish guitar, latin and jazz-infused rhythms, his 1999 Platinum album ‘Khuttar‘ and his 2003 album ’Baghdad’ elevated him to pop status throughout the Middle East and among Arabic audiences all around the world. ‘The best of Ilham Al Madfai’ will be released in the UK in April 2005. This is his only UK Concert.

Gwyneth Herbert
Support: Martha Tilston
Wednesday 18 May
7.45pm
£15

Young British jazz singer Gwyneth Herbert won considerable acclaim for her independently produced ’First Songs’, consolidating this on her Universal debut, ‘Bittersweet And Blue’. She mixes her own songs of poetic folk and soul, alongside an eclectic range of covers from Cole Porter to Tom Waits and Portishead.

Richmond Fontaine & Broken Family Band
Thursday 19 May
7.45pm
£15

Portland Oregon's Richmond Fontaine is the brain child of songwriter, vocalist and novelist Willy Vlautin. The group’s evocative alt.country rock first came to attention in the UK with last year’s ‘Post To Wire’, voted Uncut’s 4th Best album of 2004 and their “discovery of the year...a dark, mesmerising masterpiece" adding that they were the best Americana discovery since Ryan Adam's Whiskeytown. The band headlined last years Spirit of Austin Festival in London and Willy inked a deal with Faber & Faber for his first novel, The Motel Life. They mix their country with a pop twang and a punkier edge and exist in the same domain as Wilco, Gram Parsons and Bruce Springsteen while Willy's writing has been compared to the likes of Raymnond Carver. The new album, ‘The Fitzgerald‘ released 9th May, is a far more acoustic based affair. The band will feature an additional string section and keyboards for this special one off concert.

Jimmy Webb
Friday 20 and Saturday 21 May
7.45pm
£20

Without a doubt one of the most important songwriters since the sixties when he became renowned through instant classics like ‘By The Time I Get To Phoenix’, ‘Wichita Lineman’ and ‘MacArthur Park’. Webb has also masterfully interpreted his songs on a series of solo records including ‘Words And Music’ and ‘Lands End’ in the seventies and last year’s ‘Ten Easy Pieces’ which won rave reviews and proved yet again that Jimmy Webb refuses to rest on past laurels. His next solo lp, ‘Twilight Of The Renegades’ will be released prior to these two exclusive London shows. On stage he is a charming, impassioned and dramatic performer and here makes his first visit to the UK since the nineties.

Patty Griffin
Tuesday 31 May
7.45pm
£15

Patty Griffin is one of the most compelling contemporary singer/songwriters, emerging from the Boston/Cambridge folk music scene. Griffin’s albums are sparsely produced, her poetic lyricism, bluesy alto vocals and melodic guitar striking at a deeply emotional root. By her fourth album, ‘Impossible Dream’, released in the UK at the end of May, such celebrated peers as Lisa Germano and Emmylou Harris joined her, a fitting endorsement of a captivating artist.

The Czars
Support: Dustin O’Halloran
Wednesday 1 June
7.45pm
£15

A unique group who seem to defy categorisation taking in everything from eighties guitar drone, shoe-gazing to alternate country. Built around John Grant’s vocals and song writing, The Czars reflect his eclectic tastes as diverse as Kraftwerk, Patsy Cline, Tom Waits and Nina Simone. Their haunting yet rousing live performances are more than a match for acclaimed albums like ‘The Ugly People vs. The Beautiful People’ and ‘Goodbye’.

Patrick Wolf
Plus Misty Roses
Thursday 2 June
7.45pm
£12

South London born Patrick Wolf made extraordinary use of an early musical education embracing vigorous violin lessons and church choirs, mixing it with a later obsession with electronic music and a natural talent for writing poetry, lyrics and short stories. His 2003 debut album, ’Lycanthropy’ was an impressive chronicle of his teenage triumphs and disasters and was one of the top NME albums of that year. The recent ‘Wind In The Wires’ is a darker collection of moody British folk and chamber pop.

Twisted Folk with Vetiver, Micah P. Hinson, M.Ward and Currituck Co.
Friday 3 and Saturday 4 June
7.30pm
£15

The Lyric welcomes the 2nd Twisted Folk touring package back to London for two special bills: Vetiver (performing both nights), feature Andy Cabic, Alissa Anderson, Devendra Banhart, Kevin Barker and Otto Hauser. Vetiver hail from the San Francisco Bay area and gracefully navigate the choppy waters between folk, acoustic and pop.
Also appearing M.Ward (Friday) who has a new album ’Transistor Radio’ released on Matador Records and Micah P. Hinson (Saturday) who released one of last years’ most acclaimed albums ’And the Gospel Of Progress‘ Opening both nights are the Track and Field artists:
Curritock Co.

May 8, 2005