The Coal Porters

Jake Watson

THE COAL PORTERS were formed in the 1990s by ex-Long Ryder Sid Griffin. Relocating from Los Angeles to London the band left its electric instrumentation behind and slowly mutated into the acoustic act they are today. In fact, the Coal Porters claim to be the world's first "alt-bluegrass" act, given as they take old themes and melodies and soup them up for the 21st century and their expanded listening audience.

The band has demonstrated the power of fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with three-part harmonies and memorable melodies - and taken this sound around the world. They have wowed audiences at numerous UK and European arts centres, done no less than four North American tours and performed to tens of thousands at festivals such as Glastonbury, HebCelt, Stagecoach (USA), Larmer Tree, Didmarton, LaRoche (France), Cork Midsummer Fest (Eire), Wombwell and Hultsfredsfestivalen (Sweden).

The Coal Porters have recorded four albums. Their most recent album, Durango, was produced by industry veteran Ed Stasium, once Phil Spector's main engineer and producer of hits for Belinda Carlisle, the Smithereens, the Ramones and the Jeff Healey Band. Durango was recorded in the town of the same name in Colorado USA last year and was wildly received with great reviews in Mojo, Uncut, Word, The Daily Mail, The Sunday Times, Rolling Stone and many other publications.

The current line-up is Griffin (a native of Kentucky), long-term sidekick Neil Robert Herd from Scotland, Canadian fiddle virtuoso Carly Frey, banjo whiz John Breese and bassist Andrew Stafford. Breese and Stafford are English as shepherd's pie and so the band remains a walking advertisement for a multi-cultural society. They have performed live BBC sessions for seemingly everyone on the airwaves in Blighty and are no strangers to radio abroad be it Italy or Norway.

Last February the Coal Porters were recorded by NPR in the USA for their prestigious Regional Voices series at a benefit concert they gave at the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky and this performance can be heard at http://www.sidgriffin.com/category/the-coal-porters/

“Great harmony singing and memorable songs that often recall a British Flying Burrito Brothers or a back porch Ronnie Laine” Mojo Magazine

“A sumptious bluegrass spread impeccably served” Uncut Magazine

“Swell picking, sweet vocals, strong tunes...a bucketful of tradition” Time Out

“A fine set of rousing bluegrass......always a joy to see and hear” Americana UK

Jake Watson

Jake Watson (born March 1992) is a Singer/Songwriter originally from Farnborough, Hampshire. He recently released his 2nd studio EP 'To where the mighty ocean calls my name' and has been collecting a growing fanbase and much needed support. He has many influences, including Dylan, Fionn Regan, Johnny Flynn, Johnny Cash and Laura Marling.