MULHOLLAND BRING IT ALL BACK HOME WITH NORTH COUNTRY
York-based Alt-Country/Americana duo Mulholland are set to release their debut album, North Country, on Good Friday (25th March) 2016 with a home-town performance at The Basement, City Screen in York.
In the few months since becoming a duo in July 2015, husband and wife, Stan and Ann have been busy performing regularly and writing this varied set of lyrical songs. They are influenced by the sounds of America’s heartlands and cover subjects such as everyman and his burden, unfulfilled dreams, lost love (sometimes reclaimed) and the lure of the itinerant life all underpinned by strong, intertwining vocals and harmonies and a rootsy fiddle sound.
Ann (harmonies, fiddle, keyboards, accordion) said ‘We feel that we have truly found our voice with this album and have taken many years’ worth of influences from Bob Dylan to Laurel Canyon to Jason Isbell via the Byrds and distilled them down into these songs. We were lucky enough to work with a number of great musicians from York and the surrounding area all of whom made outstanding contributions to North Country and gave it a real home town feel.’
The eight-track album is the result of six months of work with producer Vinnie Whitehead (of Vinnie & the Stars). Recorded at Loom Studios in Batley and Vinnie’s studio in York, the album comprises seven self-penned songs by the duo and one cover. Stan, (lead vocal, guitar and harmonica) commented, ‘We wanted to take our time over the album so that the end result would be a blend of the right instrumentation and vocals, but still retain the essential live qualities that define Mulholland. Vinnie has done a great job of achieving this.’
Firmly established as part of the York music scene for some time, Mulholland have been making a name for themselves further afield over recent months with gigs all over the North and Scotland. They recently appeared at The Troubadour, London and will be supporting, among others, Lowri Evans in York in March and Virginia band The Hot Seats in Whitby in August. They are currently planning tours in Scotland and Northern Europe and will be appearing at various festivals over the summer. In amongst all the gigs and recording they also found time for a photo shoot with rock photographer Ami Barwell and to film a video in Belfast for the first single off the album ‘Black Feathers’ with York film school alumni James Arden and Ronnie McQuillan.
Mulholland will be joined for the album launch gig by The Lungs and The Bronze. Stan Smith said, ‘We are delighted to be joined by both of these duos. We have been fans of The Lungs, with their dark, offbeat take on country, for a long time and the delicacy and feeling of The Bronze’s songs is just breath taking. This will be a real treat.’ Mulholland have also invited local artist Jo Walton of Rogues Atelier to exhibit her lino prints at the evening. Most of the musicians who contributed to North Country will be joining Mulholland and the entire album will be played on the night. Tickets, which cost £6 in advance and £8 on the night and are available from The Basement at City Screen , Tel: 0871 9025726 or online via: (https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/York_Picturehouse/film/mulholland/tickets/5516). A copy of North Country will be given away with each ticket. Doors open at 8.00pm and the show starts at 8.30pm.
Mulholland are an Alt-Country/Americana duo (fiddle, guitar and two voices) based in York and currently playing all around the region and beyond. Their sound fuses the sounds of the canyons and the sounds of the city with close harmonies and an authentic rootsy sound.
They can be contacted either via email on mulhollandband@hotmail.com, by mobile on 07904 006935 or via the following social media links.
Website: www.mulhollandband.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mulhollandband
Twitter: @Mulhollandband
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/mulholland-band
North Country
A track listing and artist credits are attached to this press release.
Album cover and photos © Ami Barwell (http://www.musicphotographer.co.uk/)
Credits
Stan Smith (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica)
Ann Dunford (Vocals, Fiddle, Piano, Accordion)
Backing Vocals: Holly Taymar (The Bronze), Laura Jackets (Gilded Thieves)
Dobro: Mike Tavener (Moonshine Creek, Swing Collision, Murston Bapchild & The Braxton Hicks)
Electric Guitar: Dan Archer (Continental Drift)
Cigarbox Guitar: Dogfinger Steve
Banjo: Rob Hughes (The Mothers, We Could Be Astronauts)
Mandolin: Jack Woods (Leather’o), Lewis Thresh
Double Bass: Kai West (The Littlemores, Hyde Family Jam)
Percussion: Steve Aspley
Stan Smith (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Ann Dunford (fiddle, backing vocals), Holly Taymar (backing vocals), Mike Tavener (dobro), Lewis Thresh (mandolin), Dan Archer (electric guitar), Kai West (double bass)
Black Feathers:
Stan Smith (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Ann Dunford (piano, accordion, backing vocals), Laura Jackets (backing vocals), Mike Tavener (dobro), Lewis Thresh (mandolin), Kai West (double bass)
My Wasted Heart:
Stan Smith (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica), Ann Dunford (lead vocals), Laura Jackets (backing vocals), Mike Tavener (dobro), Dan Archer (electric guitar), Rob Hughes (banjo), Kai West (double bass), Steve Aspley (percussion)
So Sorry Blues (Revisited):
Stan Smith (lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar), Ann Dunford (fiddle, backing vocals), Holly Taymar (backing vocals), Dan Archer (electric guitar), Kai West (double bass), Steve Aspley (percussion)
Shifting Sands:
Stan Smith (lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar), Ann Dunford (fiddle, backing vocals), Holly Taymar (backing vocals), Mike Tavener (dobro), Rob Hughes (banjo, backing vocals), Kai West (double bass), Steve Aspley (percussion)
Summertime:
Stan Smith (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Ann Dunford (fiddle, accordion, backing vocals), Laura Jackets (backing vocals), Dan Archer (electric guitar), Kai West (double bass), Steve Aspley (percussion)
Don’t Let Us Get Sick:
Stan Smith (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Ann Dunford (fiddle, backing vocals), Mike Tavener (dobro), Jack Woods (mandolin), Kai West (double bass)
Highway 101:
Stan Smith (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Ann Dunford (lead vocals), Holly Taymar (backing vocals), Rob Hughes (backing vocals), Dogfinger Steve (cigar box guitar, backing vocals), Kai West (double bass), Steve Aspley (percussion)