The Coal Porters

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

• Facebook
• Last.fm
• Twitter
• MySpace

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..."Sid Griffin's breakneck bluegrass band has made the album of their career. Swift yet surefooted, banjos, mandolins and fiddles gallop along...while harmonies glow like, well, coals. Brilliant." ****

• The Coal Porters - Durango [+ Show ]
  

  "...a feast of highly crafted ensemble playing with the odd virtuoso turn. Special mentions go to Ca..."...a feast of highly crafted ensemble playing with the odd virtuoso turn. Special mentions go to Carly Frey, whose fiddle-playing is often breathless, and the exquisite banjo playing of Dick Smith. Griffin has rarely written better songs..." ****

• The Coal Porters - Durango [+ Show ]
  

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

• The Coal Porters - Durango [+ Show ]
  

  "The audio equivalent of a feel-good movie...recorded all in one room, with everyone as much intent ..."The audio equivalent of a feel-good movie...recorded all in one room, with everyone as much intent on capturing the vibes as much as the undoubted quality of the music...gorgeous." ****

• The Coal Porters - Durango [+ Show ]
  

  "...Dick Smith's breathless banjo picking and Carly Frey's fleet fiddle power the standards...bluegr..."...Dick Smith's breathless banjo picking and Carly Frey's fleet fiddle power the standards...bluegrass legend Peter Rowan guests on his Midnight Moonlight, the album's highlight." ***

• 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