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MUSIC: Folk with a political edge
Roots Around the World end their summer season with a late-booking for top Americana songwriter Eliza Gilkyson appearing in the UK for the first time with her band.
Accompanied by Austin, Texas, based musicians Cisco Ryder (percussion), and much in demand guitarist Mike Hardwick, Eliza is on a two-week tour of UK and Irish festivals and clubs.
On Tuesday, July 21 she plays the skittle alley at The Richmond Arms, West Ashling, the same intimate venue where Jeff Lang played in May.
The tour comes on the back of the release last year of Eliza's new album Beautiful World, a work hailed as the defining masterpiece from the legendary US folk singer.
For Eliza, it's an album celebrating everything that's worth fighting for.
"It's political," she explains, "but not in a nationalistic sense. It's really a statement of appreciation for all the things of great value that we haven't lost yet."
"Despite all the global worries and wastage, we are still, for example, a family-orientated people. Just about. We are losing our sense of community, under threat from the big focus now placed on individualism.
"The internet in many ways has brought us together, but it also isolates us," Eliza believes. "It breaks down our intimate relationships."
Which makes them all the more worth standing up for – and singing about. In fact, that's the whole point of folk, says Eliza.
"It's up to folk music to be relevant and not just to be a caricature of itself."
The stereotype of the folk-singer is someone righteous, horribly sincere, corny, rather retro. It's a stereotype the folk world needs to avoid.
"It's up to folk singers to keep our ear to the street. Just as the folk singers from olden times used to do. They were spreading political messages through the streets that were relevant to their times. We really need to be the new force now."
Numbers are limited to 50, tickets are 12.50, available on 01243 774641. Eliza takes to the stage at 8pm.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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