Prior to our first full band night, in collaboration with Before The Gold Rush at The Sebright Arms on 29th Aug, we have a guest blog post from Steve Watson, who (along with Nina French) is the driving force behind the ace Before The Gold Rush nights (and drummer with Patch & the Giant), talking about Before The Gold Rush and the acts performing.

Before The Gold Rush is a regular London folk/Americana live music night. Two and half years old now, the night is the brain child of myself and my partner in crime Nina French. Along the way we’ve met so many wonderful musicians and had so many air-punchingly positive experiences listening to fantastic new folky artists and bands that you should hear about.

We run a full band electrified amplified loud version of Before The Gold Rush usually on the last Friday of every month at venues such as The Sebright Arms and The Slaughtered Lamb. Then on monthly wednesday nights we do the same kind of thing but reduced in volume and scaled down to fit inside a very civilised coffee house/eatery called The Haberdashery.

This Friday we’re very happy to be hooking up with Under The Influence at The Sebright Arms to present four superb acts playing a mix of original music and songs made famous by well known folk/Americana artists. We’d been to a couple of UTI nights at The Boogaloo and thought it’d be a great idea to join forces for an event.

We’ve had a sneak preview of the covers the performers will be breaking out this Friday, and if you like The Band, Neil Young and you’re a fan of the movie Oh Brother Where Art Thou, then you’re in for a treat!

You can see more about Before The Gold Rush here: http://www.beforethegoldrush.co.uk

Here’s more about the bands we have…

Suburban Dirts are a trailer trash folk blues band with hints of Americana. “A white knuckle rollercoaster ride that offers glimpses of Johnny Cash, Jack White, Bob Dylan, Leadbelly, Ryan Adams – real deals with nowt taken out” – Fatea Magazine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36dGaSO-BoA

Blind Atlas‘s songs range from whisky-soaked blues with an alt country vibe to a melancholic mix of indie folk, Americana and rock, with guitars that gently weep one minute and howl the next. File under Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Calexico and the Grateful Dead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6AGnqLizKc

Simon Stanley Ward with his live band, performs his own personal unique blend of Country, Americana and Rock n Roll. His performance combines self deprecation, sincerity and above all fun to give an emotive, energetic performance which can pull at your heart strings yet leave you upbeat and tapping your foot all the way home!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSTK4Ffy89Y

Ghost Town Showdown are one of the UK’s new generation of modern bluegrass/folk bands that blend traditional music with their own contemporary sound. They’re noted for their powerful songwriting, close harmonies and energetic live performances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c02eHmy5Pw

Before the Gold Rush: Under The Influence is at The Sebright Arms this Friday, Aug 29th. Entry £5/£6. 31-35 Coate St, London E2 9AG. 7.30pm till late. For advance tickets please visit beforethegoldrush.co.uk.