Listen: Bernie Griffin and the Grifters - 29 Diamonds (UTR Premiere)

Bernie Griffin and the Grifters will release Everything So Far - a compilation of their 2011 EP and a set of brand new songs - before their Gunslinger's Ball national tour begins this weekend. Bernie has presented UTR with single '29 Diamonds'; apparently an ode to the miners who lost their lives in the Pike River disaster. Read what Bernie had to say about the track, listen to it, and check out their national Gunslinger's Ball tour dates below.

“I wrote '29 Diamonds' to document the terrible fire in the Pike River mine. I have spent a lot of my life in dangerous places earning a living and felt strong empathy towards the families who were suffering.
There is a long history of songwriting about the powerlessness and exploitation of miners by mine owners in folk music.
I was sure, right from the beginning that all the owners wanted was for the problem to disappear and not cost them too much. And so it prove, which is the history of these disasters and general corporate neglect. There is really no recourse for the families, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters of the local people. It was so sad. The only thing I had to offer was perhaps a little money and my meager talent as a songwriter.
As I was writing the song I thought I would try to keep the emotions I felt on the surface and the lyrics simple and easy to understand.. As I was writing I read the story about one of the families having a baby shortly afterwards and that moment of hope and rebirth became the last verse.
Also it is a tribute to the spirit of the people of the West Coast and to the souls of all miners.”