the violent femmes having a drink with hank williams and a melodic pogues

12 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Country Rock, COUNTRY: Country Folk



Details:
Andy, of Anglo-Irish extraction, was born in Alexandria, Scotland, in 1974. Thanks to his father's passion for American folk music and bluegrass, he was exposed to the likes of Hank Williams, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Munroe, Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie from an early age. Pretty soon, Andy was pestering Dad, banjo player in various local folk and jazz bands, to teach him the basics of banjo and acoustic guitar.

A few years later, when he was old enough to be allowed into pubs, Andy accompanied his father to the jam sessions which were held in various watering holes throughout Northamptonshire, England. Here he became familiar with elements of British and Irish folk music as well as the American variety, and he subsequently began writing songs, inspired in no small measure by brother Mark, founder of British rockabilly band the Caravans.
The more raw and aggressive qualities of rockabilly led to an interest in punk and indie as well as alternative forms of country and folk.

After completing a period of study in Turin, Italy, Andy put together a folk/country/rock combo called Garrulous 'n' Green, and although somewhat short-lived, the experience led to a meeting with Max Arrigo, guitarist, singer and songwriter with Torinese southern rock band, Voodoo Lake. After a number of musical collaborations (which are still ongoing) Max convinced Andy to record some of his own songs at Bottleneck Studios, owned and run by Simone Ubezio (also a member of Voodoo Lake).

Aided by the members of Voodoo Lake and other musicians from the Torinese music scene, recording took place intermittently over 2003 and 2004, and the result is the debut album, "Cheated Hearts".