The Coal Porters

"Ladies and gentlemen, meet The Coal Porters, the world's first alt-bluegrass act. 

The Coal Porters were formed ten years ago by ex-Long Ryder, former NME cover boy Sid Griffin. Producing Lindisfarne gave Griffin the impetus to move from electric music to acoustic music, to revamp old themes and melodies and soup them up for the 21st century. 

After five well-received albums and performances from Glastonbury to Stagecoach (USA) to Hultsfredsfestivalen (Sweden) to LaRoche (France) and more the Coal Porters left the road early this year to record their brand new album, Find The One. Produced by the legendary John Wood (Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, John Cale, Squeeze, Beth Orton) Find The One is an impressive package. The entire album demonstrates the intense power of fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with four-part harmonies and memorable melodies. Find The One's immediate success meant the Coal Porters have recently been described as "an acoustic Clash" and to top it all off British guitar God Richard Thompson plays on the album, providing the icing on the cake. 

The Coal Porters have been reviewed favourably in everything from Billboard to Mojo, Uncut to The Daily Mail and El Pais to The Los Angeles Times. (To read these reviews please visit http://www.sidgriffin.com/the-coal-porters-reviews/) With two world-class virtuosos in fiddler Carly Frey & banjo man John Breese, a former stand-up comedian in guitarist Neil Herd and author/Americana guiding light Griffin on board this is a night to mark on your calendar because 2013 will be the Coal Porters' year! 

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

“Not your average fish and chips bluegrass, the Coal Porters have expanded their music with broad strokes and fearless execution.” Chris Hillman (Byrds/Flying Burrito Bros/Desert Rose) 

“...the Coal Porters whisk together a hugely listenable cocktail of bluegrass, folk and country..." Uncut Magazine ****                      

“Sid Griffin was playing Americana years before the term was invented and that pioneer spirit shines on with his current band, the Coal Porters.”  Billy Bragg

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