The Wagon Tales 'Introducing...' - Self-Release

This is a Bluegrass sound in the best traditions of America, from a collective who hail from England. What gives the secret away is the inclusion of saxophones and trumpet into the mix of banjo, mandolin and fiddle that defines the Bluegrass brand of music.All five musicians have impressive pedigrees with plenty of experience playing for other artists in different genres among them Dizee Rascal, Seal, Tori Amos, Nitin Sawney, Madness and Dr John to name just a few.

So, this is an eclectic band of gypsies who enjoy the simple pleasure of playing together and this overriding vibe comes through strongly in the arrangements and the playing. The quality of musicianship is really top drawer and the vocal harmonies are excellent throughout. The opening track the walker is anything but, as it races along with dextrous playing and similarly carry that load carries an infectious groove that mixes the best Cajun swing with elements of a light, jazzy, early summer evening lilt. We get a Gospel tinged beginning on Another cup of coffee that quickly swerves into a back porch swing of fiddle and banjo.

All twelve tracks display a collective riding along the top of the waves and having fun at every turn. Whoop & Holler at all stages; this makes for the perfect party CD, so move back the chairs and let’s get dancing.  

The Wagon Tales 'EP' - Self-Release

This London based band play bluegrass and the five piece band's five songs featured here show a band that is both skillful and joyful. Being distinctive within bluegrass is often a problem with a lot of acts relying on oft-covered songs but all the material here are original songs written by three members of the band who share the vocals to give them the sense of a close knit unit that understand the music's history and where it can go and given their location that's a mite harder than if you're born in the shadow of the Appalachians. They can bring some humour to bear with titles like Dad, You Better Start Drinking and some deeper emotion to songs like the slow-paced Lie And Wait. Five songs give you a taste of what the band could bring to a full length album but this serves as a introduction to The Wagon Tales and the trails they could follow in the future as well as a calling card for live gigs.