A
gig
held at The Thunderbolt
on Thursday 11th April. The event starts at 19:30.
“Thirty years on from his remarkable, indescribably dark and damn right startling Americana debut “Wrong Side Of Memphis”, Ithaca, NY, legend Johnny Dowd returns to the roots rock arena with his latest release 'Family Picnic'.
Over the last thirty years, Dowd has been releasing records that
defy trends, a unique catalogue of work that stands head and
shoulders above many of his lauded contemporaries. Now in his
seventieth year on God’s good earth, Dowd has lost none of the
vigour, enthusiasm, and attitude that has seen him forge his
position as one of America’s most inquisitive musical minds, a
musical explorer who has charted expeditions to genre-defying
destinations that, at their heart, question, challenge, and dissect in their own way notions of the American Dream.
'Family Picnic' — once again featuring long-time cohorts Michael Edmondson and Kim Sherwood-Caso — is the first time Dowd has really looked backwards in all that time, instead of plunging forward into a sonic unknown with the playfulness of a child.
As Dowd says himself:
“I had to dig pretty deep for this one. Not sure how many more tunes I have in me. Tick tock. This record took an unexpected turn to the past — my past. It’s kind of like Wrong Side of Memphis 30 years down the road. Surprisingly little has changed for me (emotionally, that is). I’m still drawn to the same themes — unrequited love, murder, general foolishness. Waltzes and shuffles and boom chuck beats abound. Ice cream chord changes. Plus Kim Sherwood-Caso and Mike Edmondson. What’s not to like? An Americana classic, if I do say so myself.”
Family Picnic, released on Mother Jinx Records on March 1, 2019 will be available digitally worldwide, and the CD will be available at www.johnnydowd.com and on the European tour which begins April 4 and comes to Bristol on April 11th.”
Over the last thirty years, Johnny Dowd has been releasing records that defy trends. A unique catalogue of work that stands head and shoulders above many of his lauded contemporaries. Now in his seventieth year on God’s good earth, Dowd has lost none of the vigour, enthusiasm, and attitude that has seen him forge his position as one of America’s most inquisitive musical minds, a musical explorer who has charted expeditions to genre-defying destinations that, at their heart, question, challenge, and dissect in their own way notions of the American Dream.
Support comes from Park Doing the NY-based solo artist who has spent much of 2018 on the road with Johnny Dowd and also Guided By Voices - www.parkdoing.org