The Coal Porters

Genre: Americana
Secondary Genre: Bluegrass London, England United Kingdom Contact

Led by former Long Ryder Sid Griffin, The Coal Porters are a stunningly unconventional five-piece bluegrass band from London. New release 'Find The One' defies traditional boundaries of bluegrass music which is why they proudly call themselves “the world’s first Alt-Bluegrass band.”

Artist Information

Biography

The Coal Porters were formed ten years ago by ex-Long Ryder, former NME cover boy Sid Griffin. Producing the band Lindisfarne gave Griffin the impetus to move from electric music to acoustic music, to revamp old themes and melodies and soup them up for the 21st century.

After five well-received albums and performances from Glastonbury to Stagecoach (USA), from Hultsfredsfestivalen (Sweden) to LaRoche (France) and back again, the Coal Porters left the road early this year to record their brand new album, Find The One. Produced by the legendary John Wood (Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, John Cale, Squeeze, Beth Orton) Find The One is an impressive package. The entire album demonstrates the intense power of fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with four-part harmonies and memorable melodies. Find The One's immediate success meant the Coal Porters have recently been described as "an acoustic Clash" and "Mumford & Sons with a Ph.D. in songwriting". And to top it all off British guitar God Richard Thompson plays on the album, providing the icing on the cake.

The Coal Porters have been reviewed favourably in everything from Billboard to Mojo to Uncut to The Daily Mail to The Observer to El Pais and The Los Angeles Times. (To read these reviews please visit http://www.sidgriffin.com/the-coal-porters-reviews/) With two world-class virtuosos in fiddler Carly Frey & banjo man John Breese, a former stand-up comedian in guitarist Neil Herd and author/Americana guiding light Griffin on board this is a night to mark on your calendar because 2013 will be the Coal Porters' year!


“Great harmony singing and memorable songs that often recall a British Flying Burrito Brothers or a back porch Ronnie Lane” Mojo Magazine ****

“Not your average fish and chips bluegrass, the Coal Porters have expanded their music with broad strokes and fearless execution.” Chris Hillman (Byrds/Flying Burrito Bros/Desert Rose)

“...the Coal Porters whisk together a hugely listenable cocktail of bluegrass, folk and country..." Uncut Magazine ****

“Sid Griffin was playing Americana years before the term was invented and that pioneer spirit shines on with his current band, the Coal Porters.” Billy Bragg

“Swell picking, sweet vocals, strong tunes...a bucketful of tradition” Time Out

Instrumentation

John Breese - Banjo
Sid Griffin - Vocals, mandolin
Neil Robert Herd - Vocals, Guitar, Dobro
Carly Frey - Vocals, Fiddle
Tali Trow - Double Bass, Bass & Vocals

Discography

FIND THE ONE
Prima Records Ltd. 2012 SID025

DURANGO {April17- April30}
Prima Records Ltd. 2010 SID023

TURN THE WATER ON, BOY!
Prima Records Ltd. 2008 SID020

HOW DARK THIS EARTH WILL SHINE
Prima Records Ltd. 2004 SID017

THE CHRIS HILLMAN TRIBUTE CONCERT
Prima Records Ltd. 2001 SID013



Official Website

http://www.sidgriffin.com

Links

Audio

  • Paint It, Black
    Listen  
  • Barefoot On The Courthouse Law
    Listen  
  • Never Right His Wrong
    Listen  
  • Burnham Thorpe
    Listen  
  • The Betsey Trotwood 
    Listen  

Video

The Coal Porters 'Find The One" PART A

The Coal Porters 'Find The One" PART B

Photo Gallery

Press

  • The Coal Porters - Durango [+ Show ]

    "Sid Griffin's breakneck bluegrass band has made the album of their career. Swift yet surefooted, ba...

  • The Coal Porters - Durango [+ Show ]

    "...a feast of highly crafted ensemble playing with the odd virtuoso turn. Special mentions go to Ca...

  • The Coal Porters - Durango [+ Show ]

    "This is a talented bunch of musicians...overall a wonderful achievement by a band that is going fro...

  • The Coal Porters - Durango [+ Show ]

    "The audio equivalent of a feel-good movie...recorded all in one room, with everyone as much intent ...

  • The Coal Porters - Durango [+ Show ]

    "...Dick Smith's breathless banjo picking and Carly Frey's fleet fiddle power the standards...bluegr...

  • Radio Interview

    Sid Griffin talks live on Taproot Radio about The Coal Porters new album Durango

Setlist

June Apple/Let’s Say Goodbye
One Is Way Too Many
Final Wild Son
No More Chains
Looking For A Soft Place To Fall
Roadkill Breakdown
I’m Not Going Away
Like A Hurricane
Mr. Guthrie
How Mtn Girls Can Love

A Light From The Mtns
Flying South
They’re Burnin’ Down The House
Clinch Mtn Backstep
Little Cabin Home On The Hill
Teenage Kicks
Closing Time Genius
Adam & Evil
New Cut Road

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

coalporters_tech_jan13.pdf

Calendar

DateTimeVenueCity
May 31, 2013 Friday 7:00 PM Burnett's Hill Chapel England, GB
Jun 1, 2013 Saturday 7:00 PM The Chattery Swansea, Wales, GB
Jun 29, 2013 Saturday 12:00 PM Eurofolk Festival Ingelheim, DE
Jul 4, 2013 Thursday 8:45 PM St Julians Club Kent, England, GB
Jul 7, 2013 Sunday 3:00 PM Cafe Terrace Golders Green, England, GB
Jul 19, 2013 Friday TBA Shetlands Festival Shetland Islands, GB
Jul 20, 2013 Saturday TBA Shetlands Festival Shetland Islands , GB
Jul 27, 2013 Saturday TBA Summer of Love Festival near Hawkhurst, Kent, England, GB
Sep 21, 2013 Saturday TBA South Street Arts Centre Reading, GB
Oct 19, 2013 Saturday 7:00 PM Green Note London, GB
Oct 25, 2013 Friday TBA Philharmonie Luxembourg Luxembourg, LU
Nov 5, 2013 Tuesday 7:00 PM Leith Folk Club Edinburgh, GB