There seem to be two distinct audiences for country music in the UK.
One is a network of Country & Western Clubs where the acts are mostly
local bands playing covers of country classics, and the patrons like to
dress up in cowboy/girl outfits with spurs and guns etc. Quick draw
contests are common, as are enactments of the American Trilogy, complete
with saluting the flag etc. To my eyes and ears, all very bizarre. A band
playing their own material, or any kind of alternative brand of country
would not be welcome in these very conservative places I think.
Those venues are therefore not really an option for touring rootsy or
alternative country acts, and so they tend to play at more mainstream
rock or indie venues. An alternative to this is that some areas have
strong folk/roots clubs or gigs, promoted largely as a spare time activity.
For simplicity of PA etc, these often concentrate on acoustic acts, usually
solo or duos. I lived in the West Midlands for a time and a club called
Acoustic Roots put on a show every month ot two with acts like Butch
Hancock, Guy Clark or John Stewart. These tend to be advertised by mailing
lists, and I was frequently surprised by the number of people who would
turn up to see these acts at a village hall in the middle of nowhere.
I now live in Glasgow and John & Barclay Thomson of Goldrush Records
promote similar fine shows in Perth. The mailing list and "brand loyalty"
is important in drawing the audience, as sometimes the same acts will
play to a much smaller audience in a club in Glasgow, a much bigger city.
The small promoters with a loyal audience no longer have to really describe
the musical genre, as the audience will trust them to a large extent,
whereas the mainstream clubs will be more likely to describe an act as
country, which may backfire.
Once a band gather a following, like BR5-49 or Joe Ely, then they can
do well in the small rock venues, but it is hard for lesser known acts
to draw people if you mention the word "country" in advertising. This
is just prejudice as a lot people will enjoy country rock bands if you
can get them to get past the c-word and go.
I'm not sure exactly where line dancing fits into the above. In some areas
it is promoted more as a keep-fit activity for middle aged people in church
halls, and the music is almost irrelevant. It can be prevalent in the C&W
clubs though too, I think.
Sorry for being so verbose,
Phil.
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Phil Dennison ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
