Roots Rock Wine Bar?

What a strange set up this turned out to be. 14 Lloyd St. is your typical Manc, glass and steel, bar/restaurant-cum-nigthclub pumping out house music to the cocktail brigade. So it was a bit odd to have Appalachian banjo and rockabilly guitar in one part and disco sounds in another separated only by a small set of steps and glass walls and doors. Some seepage did spoil it for the performers apparently but where I was sat (the bar) it wasn't too bad.

The banjo playing came from local lad JP Moss, a fine imitation of Dock Boggs, all Jack of Diamonds and icey graves. One for the Harry Smith afficionados I would imagine. Most laughs were provided by former Rhythmaire and Bury's answer to Johnny Cash, Stuart Warburton. Apart from decent repartee and witty songwriting he had the rocking with laughter with his Jeffrey Archer inspired adaptation of Folsom Prison Blues.

Now, as the gig was a hasty amalgamation of two separate gigs (4 acts for £5) Anders Parker , who I expexted to headline, came on third. (Abbott and Costello joke in there somewhere). Unfortunately this meek New York state resident (NC native) struggled to keep peoples attention, on piano and accoustic guitar, over the hubbub and chattering coming from the room we were in. I think he was relieved if not a little disappointed to cut his set to 6 or 7 songs.

Chatting to him afterwards (such a sweet fella) he said you could've heard a pin drop the previous night in Newcastle, and from listening to his new CD I can see how he would've benefitted from having a backing musician or two to fill out the sound and dominate the room.

Last act was alt-country rockists Buchanan who were tight but uninspiring, more suited to the Mid-west than North West. Still decent value for money, beer not prohibitively expensive, but I would be surprised if they used this place again in a hurry, this sort of gig would be better in the usual pub venues than in characterless wine bars