Cocaine Train opens a storming night of everything from blues to bluegrass and zydeco…and more besides

The Rosellys with support Richard Cox-Smith
at Ace Space, Newbury
on Saturday, October 19

Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

A great night of Americana covering everything from blues to bluegrass and zydeco, and more besides.

Richard Cox-Smith, we were told, is known for his "twiddly bits" and gave an excellent opening set on National guitar with a mix of vocal and instrumental tracks. He opened with a wonderful rendition of Dr Jazz, a song originally released as far back as 1926 by King Oliver.

Tracks originally by Django Reinhardt, Michael Chapman and others followed. I particularly enjoyed the John James track Picture Rag and the brilliant Rabbit Hills, a track Richard actually got to play with its writer Michael Chapman.

The set finished with a ‘melange’ of tunes themed around transport, sail, rail and walking. Richard is an exceptional guitarist, a treat to see such an accomplished musician.

The Rosellys are a five-piece (extended) family band now based in Herefordshire, based around husband and wife pairing Simon and Rebecca, who met around 20 years ago at an open mic night.

Now on their fifth studio album they opened with the excellent Cocaine Train and dazzled the audience with both the range of instruments played and of musical genres. Yes, they fall in to the category of Americana but there are folk and roots influences too.

I loved Lafayette Louisiana, the more folky The River Wye and the philosophical Dark Clouds And Blue Skies, but there was so much to enjoy in tonight's set that it would be wrong to pick out individual highlights as so many of the songs from their current (2022) album On The Porch were outstanding.

Their final track tonight was the appropriate If You Ain’t Gotta Go Home.

Great to see a band revelling in performing live and taking such pleasure in sharing the music they love. Their enthusiasm totally captivated tonight's audience and guaranteed a great night.

Wonderful.