The Coal Porters

We’re delighted to finally welcome back the rather awesome British bluegrass legends Coal Porters to our historic and beautiful venue. It’s been a few years now since they last rocked the Square Tower with their unique brand of good time music, and then it was a show that sold out very quickly – and we anticipate exactly the same this time around! Grab your tickets while they’re still available!

“Not your average fish and chips bluegrass, the Coal Porters have expanded their music with broad strokes and fearless execution!” (Chris Hillman)

“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)

The current line-up is Griffin (a native of Kentucky), long-term sidekick Neil Robert Herd from Scotland, fiddle virtuoso Kerenza Peacock, bassist Andrew Stafford and ace banjo guru Paul Fitzgerald. Griffin sums it up by saying ‘The Coal Porters are five musicians who play four chord songs from three countries for two good reasons; for health and for happiness’.

They have performed live BBC sessions for the hippest DJs on the airwaves in Blighty such as Whisperin’ Bob Harris and Marc Riley and indeed are no strangers to radio abroad be it the USA, Italy or Norway. In February 2011 the Coal Porters were recorded by NPR in the USA for their prestigious Regional Voices series at a benefit concert they gave at the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky, and they were recently featured nationwide in the States on NPR’s prestigious Weekend Edition show. Which proves they are truly international!

“Sidlicious licks from this vicious kid, a plucky Kentuckian who blows the socks off of Rocky Top, turns Mason’s Apron into shreds and leaves the audience in a foggy mental breakdown. Sid & his Coal Porters sidmen will leave you besid yourself with joy. Enough Sid!” (Rich Hall)

More information at www.squarerootspromotions.co.uk