Emily Barker and Applewood Road at the P. Albert

I heard by chance that Emily Barker would be playing again here in Stroud, this time at the Prince Albert pub in Rodborough.  Emily lives in Stroud, when she isn't touring around the world playing music, and often plays benefit gigs at local venues.  But tonight was the first time in England that she was playing with two American musicians, whom she had met in Nashville where they live.

They met last year and within days were writing songs together and decided to record an album in Nashville this year calling themselves Applewood Road.  I hadn't heard their music together, but I like most music that Emily plays and the musicians she chooses to accompany her.  Tonight was intended as a low key start to their mini tour and they are playing at the Union Chapel in Islington, London on Saturday afternoon, as well as singing live on Radio 2 after 5pm on Dermot Leary's show.

Before the gig started I managed to speak to Emily, and to Amy Speace (on the left in the picture) and Amber Rubarth (in the middle) and they gave me permission to take pictures.  The pub is small and a very informal setting as noted by Amy when she said it was the first time she had played to an audience where dogs were walking about. The lighting was very basic with one white spot and a couple of other coloured lights on all the time, but none of it very bright.

I thought that this picture would be a good blip as it shows them all singing together.  They are all very experienced performers, write their own songs and can all take the lead vocals as well as playing many instruments.  By the time they'd finished their set, they were really enjoying singing together which bodes really well for them.  I wish them well.

Applewood Road – from Nashville to London