New York born Willie Watson, co-founder of one of the most respected bands in modern Americana, Old Crow Medicine Show, as well as band member of Dave Rawlings Machine will co-headline one New Zealand show with Joshua Hedley, one of Nashville’s emerging stars, and sideman for Justin Townes Earle and many more.
Willie Watson, is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and banjo player who hails from Watkins Glen in upstate New York. Released in 2014, his debut solo album, Folk Singer Vol. 1, was produced by Dave Rawlings and was described by Rhythms Magazine as “relentlessly riveting” and by respected Americana blog Post To Wire as “Highly recommended.”
Like the music, Willie can be murderous, bawdy or lustful, sometimes in the course of a single song, with a sly sense of humour that cuts to the quick. “There’s a lot of weight in the way Willie performs,” says Rawlings, longtime friend and producer of Watson’s previous band, Old Crow Medicine Show. “There’s an emotional edge to what he does because of who he is as a human being. Willie is the only one of his generation who can make me forget these songs were ever sung before.”
Josh Hedley may have been born and raised in Naples, Florida but is no stranger to our musical venue having played with Jonny Fritz as part of our 2014 Southern Fork Americana Fest. In his 11 years as a Nashville musician he has been a mainstay in all the legendary honky tonks and has played with the likes of Jack White, Dan Auerbach, Nikki Lane and Yelawolf. Now pursuing his career as a singer and songwriter in his own right and with the greats like George Jones and Merle Haggard in mind, Joshua plans to take over the world with his own brand of traditional country music.
Special guest for the evening is New Zealand’s own folk singer Adam McGrath of The Eastern. McGrath’s songs have gathered a clutch of good reviews in NZ and overseas, Graham Reid from the NZ Herald referred to him as 'NZ's toughest minded songwriter’ and Barry Saunders from The Warratahs simply described him as “The Truth”. Having shared stages and opened for numerous Americana acts including Fleetwood Mac, Steve Earle and Old Crow Medicine Show, McGrath is a perfect accompaniment for an evening with Watson and Hedley.
Three great singers, three great musicians. One incredible show. Don’t miss it!
