Hot on the heels of their return from their latest headline tour of mainland Europe, tonight’s show celebrates the launch of ‘The End Of The Golden Age’, the third album by Edinburgh-based band The Wynntown Marshals. This, the band’s second release on Blue Rose Records, is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed LPs ‘The Long Haul’ (2013) and ‘Westerner’ (2009).
The new album sees the band drawing on their Scottish roots to give their own uniquely personal take on the Americana genre – the cinematic lyrics on this Caledonian scrapbook tell tales of migrations from Hebridean islands, modern life in the capital city, the sights. smells and sounds of Aberdeenshire fairgrounds, and the rural landscapes of West Lothian.
The music is similarly widescreen in scope and the influences are diverse; the jangling, pile-driving guitars and rich harmonies owing as much to countrymen Teenage Fanclub as to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers; the use of effects, horns and synths evoking the music of peers such as Jim Bryson, and The Weakerthans.
While much of the instrumentation on the album is undeniably ‘classic’ Americana – the jangle of the 12-string guitar, acoustic and electric guitars interweaving with Wurlitzer organ, aching pedal steel, and plaintive piano – not everything on ‘The End of The Golden Age’ fits so comfortably into the genre. Hushed horns, synths, and stacked harmonies add to the often expansive soundscapes, but the Marshals continue to do what they love most, and do best; lyrically strong guitar-driven pop and rock with plenty of hooks.
Following the release of the critically acclaimed album ‘Big Ideas’ in September 2022, The Wynntown Marshals will return to The Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh on Friday 5th May - this time in the intimate surroundings of the Speakeasy.
The band will be playing songs from all their studio albums, and this will be the first gig featuring new guitarist Andy Nicholson. We'll also be joined by our good friends The Sunshine Delay. Tickets are limited to 70, so buy yours here now to avoid disappointment!
Whisky-soaked, with blurry echoes of a decelerated Husker Du. 8/10
One of my favourite bands… period!
The Marshals’ take on Americana and rock ‘n’ roll just doesn’t get old
More info at http://www.thewynntownmarshals.com
More info at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wynntown-Marshals/209668275248?ref=hl
Dropkick
Led by multi-instrumentalist Andrew Taylor - who produced and appeared on the Marshals’ two most recent releases - Dropkick are another Edinburgh-based 5-piece who also list Teenage Fanclub, Tom Petty, The Jayhawks, and Wilco amongst their main influences. After a decade of playing together, Dropkick released the album, 'Homeward' last year which, according to Maverick Magazine, has “an originality about it that defies explanation… blending almost equal parts alternative, indie-pop, folk and country”'. To celebrate the wealth of material the band have released over the years, Spanish label, Rock Indiana Records have just released a special retrospective album of early Dropkick songs - many of which will feature in this special show with The Wynntown Marshals.
More info at http://www.dropkickmusic.co.uk
Advance tickets £10 stbf from Ripping Records. Buy online here. Buy online here. Over 18 only.