The Often Herd THE PUMP, TROWBRIDGE

The Often Herd
The Pump,
Trowbridge
Wiltshire

Friday 26th April 2024

This was my first visit to this historic, VERY West Country venue: cue a characterful old barn converted into a Folk Club back in the 1970s and still houses the original water pump by the stage!

I cannot think of a more perfect setting to catch The Often Herd, as RMHQ loved their debut album Where the Big Lamp Shines, describing it as “Pedigree bluegrass meets folk to become classy and classless newgrass” and that’s exactly why I have been so keen to see this Newcastle band live as they offer something quite refreshing and genre defying.

Kicking off the night, the support slot from Frome based duo Masa (Latvian for sisters) and this explains the spine-tingling sibling harmonies which charge the room the minute they took to the stage, opening with their atmospheric track Little Boat, from their first album Sailors and Insomniacs, Faron and Merle describe themselves as playing “Miserable Folk” which had the opposite effect on the audience as we immediately warmed to their honest songs and introductions. Their style echoing ethereal, timeless, sea shanties played across keys, violin, guitar and harmonium which forged a varied and intriguing set.

A highlight was their atmospheric new single The Last Chord of a Love Song Played at 21,000 Beats Per Minute which is a piano driven ballad about “never declaring how you feel”, a rapid heartbeat chant-like string chorus ends dramatically with a whisper and … rapturous applause.

The most fascinating track had to be the title song from their new album Meat for Grandma which they loosely based on the Russian folktale of Baba Yaga (An ogress who eats children!!!), an epic folk/ goth macabre strumming tale, casting a delicious spooky shadow over the barn and altogether making for a very memorable first half.

You can catch Masa next at The Bell Inn, Bath on June 4th.

In the interval I popped upstairs to check out a quaint gallery which was full of bench seating, and as imitate in feel as downstairs, and a charming way to increase capacity.
The rafters are covered in signatures of bands who have treaded the boards here but before I can get stuck into deciphering some of them, The Often Herd bounded on stage.

They launched with an energetic, pacey cover of a classic bluegrass song Blue Night, immediately laying down their gauntlet of tightly woven, toe tappin’ exemplary musicianship: fiddle, guitar, mandolin and double bass all bouncing off each other, whilst allowing space for every instrument to dance individually. This gig is early into the tour and they have a stand in bass player, courtesy of Elliott Roffe, yet they really ‘fit together like a glove’ indeed.

Fiddle player Niles Krieger introduced Sycamore Gap, a fiddle driven instrumental inspired and written after his first visit to the (sadly no longer with us) famous tree in Hadrian’s Wall and as he explains “It never was meant to be a lament, but it’s turned out to be that way”.
Their beautiful folk strings fill the barn, circling around both levels as the attentive audience absorbs this traditional melodic song which seemingly reflects the joy of nature, now a poignant tribute indeed.

Next up, vocal duties are from guitarist Rupert Hughes who co-wrote Casablanca, with Niles. Rupert admits he’s not even sure what it’s about; but that doesn’t matter a jot as it’s one of my favourites on the album: and live it’s sung sweetly, with backing harmonies that amplify it’s hook and transforms it into a new smash hit genre for me “Popgrass” as they sing
“The sun is calling and the flowers are all in bloom”.
The feel-good barometer in the barn hits 11 at this point and stays there for the rest of the night.

The set was incredibly varied; from the Country Twang of Hold On, lead vocals this time by mandolin whiz Evan Davies, who hits the mood just right with a mournfully Bluesy delivery and Niles taking a turn singing a Mickey Newbury song “Why You Been Gone So Long” which is unexpectedly one of my favourite moments of the night.
The crowd prepped to singalong as Rupert dispatches a blistering harmonica solo but best of all the band’s harmonies are vintage 50’s’ divine and sliding up-pitch right on the money.

I now appreciate why The Often Herd are breaking down barriers within the Roots world, the set genuinely flew by.
Other highlights included the album’s opening track Inner Peace, written by Evan whilst in the French Alps and without a phone signal … it’s a feisty, Celtic drenched breezy song which inspires us to get back to basics once in a while and “rise with the sun”.
To close they showcased two impressive new, but unnamed songs, based around the theme of love, which are due to be released in the coming months.

Little time to mention the hilarious banter between the music, the friendship is infectious between these four: from Spinal Tap moments involving a camp fire and stay-press trousers to Niles doing his best Arthur Daley impression with Merc sales pitches.
BTW they had the best variety of goods I’ve seen at a gig in a long time!
I know I’m getting old to be genuinely delighted to see tea towels and shopping bags for sale, all with the striking, hand linocut artwork of a bison by Phoebe Stephenson.

There was one huge surprise left for the enthusiastic crowd; they bid farewell by covering The Letter by The Box Tops.
Originally a two-minute hit from the 60’s, they completely elongate and own it, summing up their bridge between Pop and Bluegrass for me.
No matter what you normally listen to, this simply put, is an outstanding band with a bunch of superb songs that will hook you into their blended Bluegrass world!
Go see them and join in the fun, we guarantee you’ll come out smiling.

The Often Herd 2024 tour continues
1st May Grateful Fred’s Southport,
2nd Kitchen Garden Café Birmingham,
12th Tredegar House Folk Festival,
18th Spring Grass Festival Newton Stewart,
24th Cambridge Folk Festival, 25th Fishery Wharf Café, Hemel Hempstead.

Review by Anita Joyce

Buy Don’t Spotify
https://www.theoftenherd.com/
https://masaband.com/
https://phoebestephenson.wixsite.com/phoebestephenson/about