May festival: Roberto Fonseca, Mica Millar and Ian Shaw in the Sidmouth mix for 2024

Acantha Lang whose Beautiful Dreams we loved back in the summer - the pace of 'River Keep Runnin' with its rampaging horns and the sweet honey in the rock quality of the London based New Orleanian's voice so distinctive on 'It's Gonna Be Alright' …

Published: 12 Mar 2024. Updated: 45 days.

Acantha Lang whose Beautiful Dreams we loved back in the summer - the pace of 'River Keep Runnin' with its rampaging horns and the sweet honey in the rock quality of the London based New Orleanian's voice so distinctive on 'It's Gonna Be Alright' - is in the line-up along with Cuban ace Roberto Fonseca, Mancunian soulstress Mica Millar and jazz singer Ian Shaw among the stand-out names heading to the Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues festival this spring. Making for Devon too are Betty Accorsi, Snowboy and The Latin Section, Ruby Turner and Steve Banks among the bookings. The festival opener is Spandau Ballet New Romantic, Tony Hadley. Acantha Lang, photo: press. Info. Dates are 23-27 May

Tags: festivals

Aengus Hackett, Aengus Hackett Trio ***1/2

The work of an experienced, at times, experimental Irish jazz trio led by guitarist Aengus Hackett from Galway, the brain behind these instrumentals - joined by bassist Derek Whyte and by drummer Matthew Jacobson. A studio album recorded in County …

Published: 12 Mar 2024. Updated: 46 days.

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The work of an experienced, at times, experimental Irish jazz trio led by guitarist Aengus Hackett from Galway, the brain behind these instrumentals - joined by bassist Derek Whyte and by drummer Matthew Jacobson. A studio album recorded in County Wicklow, Hackett's sound makes us think of the style of long time doyen of the Sligo jazz scene Mike Nielsen who is certainly a kindred spirit and with whom Hackett has worked. Tunes make you stick around. Best track is the electronics shrouded 'Gerrymandering' that has firm bass developmental scene setting from Whyte reminiscent of the John Edwards manner in freeness situations and some detunery from Hackett that Mary Halvorson has done so much to bring the practice of which to the fore. Whyte's arco passages on 'The Ineffable' are also a firm favourite of ours. And 'Requiem for the Natural World' even sounds a little Nordic so much so that fans of Eivind Aarset might even be drawn to its brightening air.

Aengus Hackett, photo: press

Out on 24 April