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About The Event
Headline sets from Kelley Swindall & Adrian Oxaal (from James and The Oyster Band) supported by Jack Valero
Part Patsy & Part Dolly, with original songs in the story-telling tradition of WIlliams, Cash, and Dylan, KELLEY SWINDALL is equally at home in a biker bar or under a proscenium arch. Taking the stage with w/ just her moxie and an acoustic guitar, she sings about the stuff classic country and folk music is made of: heartache, heartbreak, redemption, and revenge , filtered through a sassily southern perspective, w/ equal parts humor and pathos.
Swindall is the oldest of 7 children, born and raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. As the daughter of a Conservative Evangelical US Congressman, in a staunchly fundamentalist community, she had a strict upbringing, and the only music Swindall was permitted to listen to were of the Golden Oldies, Country, and Contemporary Christian variety. It was the former two that excited her soul, though, w/their story driven narratives, honest heart on their sleeve lyrics, and timeless melodies, which would weave themselves into her original songs, years later.
Swindall left Georgia, at the age of 18, and after a brief stint at the University of Miami, dropped out and made her way to New York City, to pursue a career in the Theater. She studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and soon after became an ensemble member of, at the time, Downtown NYC theater darlings The Amoralists, performing in their plays Off- Broadway. It wasn’t until a break up with a musician,though, that she turned to writing songs, in an attempt to win him back. However, by the time she had done so, had determined that she was better off without him, having found new love in life, through music. After some time in the NYC music scene,including a Sunday nite residency at the original Holiday Cocktail Lounge i Manhattan’s East Village, she began booking herself and touring the US ,in a ‘96 Honda Civic, solo, while maintaining a homebase in NYC.
Drawn to the UK + Ireland’s rich musical heritage, particularly its influence on american folk and early country music, she crossed the Atlantic in Sept of 2021 to explore and tour the region for the first time, sharing stages and bills with Robert Vincent, Jesse Malin, Adrian Oxaal (James) and the Urban Voodoo Machine, to name a few.
ADRIAN OXAAL is an American-born English musician and music educator, best known for being the lead guitarist in James 1997–2002 and 2015–present.
Since 2012, Oxaal has also toured the UK, Germany, Austria, Canada and Scandinavia with ,and is a member of folk rock band Oysterband, mainly playing Cello, but also taking over on Bass Guitar and Electric Guitar.He has also played with bands Sharkboy,and Goat.
Adrian was born in California of mixed Norwegian-American and Guyanan ancestry, however, he grew up in Hull, England where he learned guitar and cello and befriended his future James colleague Saul Davies when both were members of the City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra. Oxaal went on to study music at the University of Sussex in Brighton, where he settled permanently.
This is a very special , rare appearance for Adrian with his Traditional Blues Set , only performed once or twice a year!
JACK VALERO’s debut single ‘Heaven Help Me’ made a big statement for a debut artist and his conversational lyricism, understated witty streak alongside spirited folk-rock instrumentation and a knack for timeless British pop songwriting proved to be a popular pick from new music champions, earning airplay from John Kennedy at Radio X and Chris Hawkins at 6 Music being moved to say ‘this is very impressive…..stand out new music from Jack Valero…with feels of classic Elvis Costello’.
Fresh from Summer sets at Avalon Cafe Stage and Strummerville at Glastonbury, a support tour with Will Varley and a first foray to the US as a solo artist Jack shared his second track ‘Hollow Warmth’ to growing appreciation.