A3A Americana– The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks– 28th June 2024
Taking place in the intimate setting of The Footlights Bar at The Stag Theatre, this show was a return appearance by A3A Americana in Sevenoaks after their appearance at The Anchor last year. Composed of Kevin Barber, Cliff Baylis and Eddie Armer the band offer a relaxed evening of roots music mixing originals written by Kevin and well chosen covers with some humourous banter thrown in for good measure.
Opening with the Barber penned Big Bad Betsy ( a certified toe tapper ), the band then weaved their way through early twentieth century blues and folk tracks with gusto with Kevin’s jokes cementing the show. A splendid version of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Rhythm of The Blues sat comfortably against Lonnie Donegan’s Lost John and another great Barber original titled If I Was A Cowboy. With Cliff and Eddie adding subtle colouring to the songs with Mandolin and harmonica respectively and strong song choices, this first set certainly went down a storm with the audience.
The second set brought even more delights starting with a spirited version of Lefty Frizell’s Long Black Veil. Gram Parson’s Hickory Wind was followed by House of the Rising Sun and a suitably bluesy Little Red Rooster. Mrs. Barber favourite song by her husband (“the only one she ever liked actually,” quipped Kevin), a dark murder ballad titled The Preacher and Becky Schaefer proved to be one of the evening’s highlights. A Sleepy John Estes track titled Drop Down Mama ( in an arrangement by guitarist Mike Dowling) closed off the evening on an upbeat note.
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