Join Serious Sam Barrett and The Burner Band on their joint tour for a night of Folk, Country, Punk and Blues at The Swinging Arm with support from local Alt Country artist Mike West.
Touring together to celebrate the release of their new albums, these Northern songwriters bring their unique sounds to Birkenhead.
Raised in the Dales village of Addingham, Sam began performing in and around Leeds in 2004, with word spreading further afield with the release of his 2009 debut album Close To Home. Performing at SXSW in Austin, Texas in 2010, he has toured the US widely, usually in the company of friends and fellow skaters The Pine Hill Haints. Along the way, Sam has shared stages with the likes of Katherine Tickell, Lucero, The Young Un's, Frank Fairfield and Karine Polwart, and received airplay and praise plaudits from the BBC’s Bob Harris, Gideon Coe and Marc Riley.
“The sustained brilliance of this playing is really something to behold.” Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2
“Songs that rattle with the ghosts of Appalachian folk, and southern blues, yet sound emphatically English.” Uncut Magazine
“Old before his years country-folk fellow who mixes intricate John Fahey finger-picking with confessional tales of dirty old Leeds” The Guardian.
“Excellent stripped back folk” Maverick Magazine
The Burner Band bridge the gap between bluegrass, country and rock n roll. The new self titled album boasts a possible world first: a bluegrass song denouncing The Sun newspaper. The previous album “Dark Wheels Turn Above Our Heads” was in 2020 and features 11 politically charged folk punk songs. In 2018, Lewis released his debut solo album Dog Songs”, featuring themes of recovery from depression and the tragedy of the Bradford Stadium fire. The band’s live performance is an energetic combination of guitar, banjo, double bass snare drum and vocal harmony.
From Rock Ferry, Wirral in the North West of England and inspired by the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Blind Willie Johnson, Son House, Johnny Cash and Howlin’ Wolf, Mike picked up his acoustic guitar, writing, in his unique style, songs that weaved between Country and Folk, Hard Rock and Blues.
'There are million and one troubadours who ...think this stuff is easy. There aren’t many as interesting as this' Maximum Volume Music
A walking dichotomy of genres and styles, West has found himself accepted by music fans from all walks of life with the tongue in cheek slogan of Not Country Enough. Not Blues Enough. Not Folk Enough. Too Heavy, capturing the essence of his music and live shows. His grounded storytelling and existential lyricism combined with the driving rhythms of his guitar have helped Mike build a reputation as an honest and raw musician who can captivate crowds wherever he plays.
'This UK troubadour is raw at near every note, creating haunting landscapes. And when West summons that guttural growl, it wants to tear at your soul.' Global Texan Chronicles