Features / Three-part harmonies and dynamic anthems
SHETLAND is gearing up to host another top night of genre-hopping American music this week.
Brooklyn five-piece The Lone Bellow will perform at Lerwick’s Mareel on Thursday for the opening date of their latest European tour.
The band will bring with them an arsenal of assured songwriting collated from their two album releases.
Gig-goers should expect succulent three-part harmonies allied with dynamic Americana-flecked anthems. The Lone Bellow’s sound spans across a host of genres, with folk, indie, roots, pop and soul all mooted.
Their core comprises of lead vocalist and guitarist Zach Williams, mandolin and bass player Kanene Donehey Pipkin and guitarist Brian Elmquist – and it seems the threesome and backing band are more than happy to start their tour at Britain’s most northerly outpost.
“We’re definitely looking forward to it,” said Williams.
“It’s first show of our tour in the UK, but we’re not quite sure what to expect. We’ve enjoyed Scotland in general. It has wonderful people and a beautiful land.
“This is hands down the most remote place we’ve played before, though. And it’s absolutely the first island with indigenous horses that we’ve played.”
The Lone Bellow are currently promoting their latest record, 2015’s Then Came The Morning, which was produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner.
The group delve into a myriad of influences to form their sound – but they do “whatever the song calls for”.
“We all come from different places musically, and have never made a real attempt to be one thing,” Williams added.
The band have enjoyed slots on the likes of Later with Jools Holland, as well as The David Letterman Show and Conan O’Brien back home.
So what are the Lone Bellow’s top three influences?
“1980s country music, RnB from the 1990s and just growing up in the south in the United States with all its musical heritage.”
The event is being hosted by Ragged Wood, who have previously enticed fellow US acts Punch Brothers and Jason Isbell to the isles.
It is set to act as a fine precursor to the recently announced 36th Shetland Folk Festival, which is taking place in April and May.
Thursday’s packed crowd at Mareel, however, look set to be in for a raucous night.
“The audience should expect heavy metal thunder and a lot of Brian’s sweat,” Williams quipped.
- A small handful of balcony tickets are still available for tomorrow night’s show from Shetland Box Office. Doors are at 7pm with support from Bob Heron and local duo Megan and Lauren.
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