A native of Georgia who ran away from home aged 15 to join a band, Barbara Nesbitt is now firmly planted in Austin, Texas where she spends her time playing in two bands, The Whiskey Sisters, and Tim Flannery & The Lunatic Fringe in addition to her solo work. Almost Home, her third album, is a finely assembled collection of country songs replete with pedal steel, banjo and Dobro with one song, Like A Good Girl Should sneaking into the city for some low down blues. Originally released stateside in 2013 the album is getting a push here as Ms. Nesbitt this weekend commenced a UK tour taking in several Scottish dates.
There’s a grand sweep to the opening moments of the title song which kicks off the album in a classic manner. Nesbitt and drummer Bill Coomes are the star crossed couple desperate for their reunion on an achingly sweet and sad song that features fine pedal steel as the pair harmonise wonderfully. Coomes is featured vocally again on the Everly styled country lament of Graceless, written by Kasey Chambers and here the pair recall classic country duos such as George and Tammy. Nesbitt herself is a fine singer, able to be natural and clear, almost like Emmylou on Don’t Think Much, a fine Dobro driven lament while she can be forceful and dynamic as on the slow burning blues of Like A Good Girl Should. With the front porch knees up Never Been In Love complete with spritely fiddle and the tender country rock of All The Way adding to the quality the album is a fine listen.
Tour dates
Tuesday, Oct 27th – Quarter Folk club @ The Bully Inn, Quarter (near Hamilton)
Wednesday, Oct 28th – Backstage at The Green Hotel, 2 The Muirs, Kinross
Friday, Oct 30th – Aikmann’s Bar, Bell Street, St Andrews KY 16 9UX 9:30 – midnight Free entry
Saturday Oct 31st – Craigrossie Hotel, 1 High St, Auchterarder, Gleneagles Perthshire, Scotland
Sunday, Nov 1st – Rose And Crown in South Shields, Hill Street, South Shields
Monday, Nov 2nd – String Theory, Heart of Hawick, Tower Mill, Kirkstile
Tuesday, Nov 3rd – The Tap in Hull, St. Johns 10 Queens Road, Hull
Wednesday, Nov 4th, The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, Balham, London Free entry
Friday, Nov 6th – The Betsey, 56 Farringdon Rd, London Opening: Simon-Stanley-Ward
