Lovers of roots music will be in for a treat when The Southern Tenant Folk Union make their Manx debut tomorrow night.

They are the latest act to be brought to the Island by Jonno Gollow of JonnoPromotions, in association with the Isle of Man Arts Council.
The British roots musicians will officially release their new album, The New Farming Scene, in May.

According to the group's promo material, it is a 'groundbreaking album to start the new decade in an old-time acoustic fashion' and 'it creates the first true crossover of the modern folk tradition with it's not-so-distantly related bluegrass sound'.

Pat will be giving a five-string banjo workshop tonight (Friday) at Peter Norris Music in Douglas from 7.30pm, which costs £3.

He said it will be 'for anyone that is curious about the banjo and doesn't have one yet or someone who plays but has only just started and wants some pointers on how to develop on the instrument.

'We will have an informal run through of the basics of the banjo and I will gear it towards what the group wants.'

Pat, who started his musical career playing the bass, was encouraged to play the banjo when he was playing with a band called the Coal Porters who he toured the world with.

He said: 'As an electric bass player there was something about the rhythm and syncopation about the banjo sound that appealed to me and I connected with it.'

The Southern Tenant Folk Union take their name from the groundbreaking multi-racial union of sharecroppers and non-landowning tenant farmers founded in Arkansas in the 1930s.

They write and perform their own unique brand of Old-Time, Bluegrass, Gospel and Celtic Folk.

Pat said the band uses modern themes but 'couches them in more old time folky bluegrass style lyrics and imagery'.

He said because all the instruments are acoustic, 'we can play it anywhere, we can be in a concert hall, or an arts centre or theatre or in the back room of a pub or be on the street playing, as long as people are quiet and listen you can hear it, the sound carries and it is a beautiful sound.

'I would like to artistically progress with the sound of this musical style but yet keep the old time sound going as well.'

Pat comes from a musical family – he used to have a blues band with his dad, who is a music journalist, and brother many years ago.

Growing up surrounded by music and listening to different sounds clearly has its advantages.

'It helps of course that you hear music and have got an understanding of it that goes beyond what's in the charts and what records your friends have and also helped because of dad's understanding of how music works. Basically you are a pauper and there is a lot of travelling involved. When I became a professional musician he understood I wouldn't be making the same money as a doctor but that was okay as long as I am happy.'

Tomorrow's gig features two local support acts – singer songwriter Anna Goldsmith and Tramwreck.

Tickets are £12 (£10 concessions) and are available from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, Douglas, the Villa Marina box office, by ringing 600555 and online at www.villagaiety.com

www.southerntenantfolkunion.com

www.jonnopromotions.com