KELLY JOE PHELPS

Event information

One of the greatest finds on the American folk/blues scene in the last twenty years, and perhaps the finest slide guitarist alive today. Kelly Joe Phelps' acoustic country blues have an achingly beautiful melancholy at the emotional core of his music.

Kelly Joe Phelps has been doing lot of soul searching since his last record, 'Western Bell' came out in 2009. Three years later, his journey has wound its way to a recording studio in Vancouver. Together Phelps and veteran producer Steve Dawson embarked on a three day recording odyssey that marked their fourth collaboration since Dawson played slide on 'Slingshot Professionals', produced 'Tunesmith Retrofit' and released 'Western Bell' after it proved too daring for Rounder Records. The result is 'Brother Sinner and the Whale', a record that may very well come to be recognized as the best of an already very impressive body of work.

Kelly Joe Phelps grew up in Sumner, Washington, a blue-collar and farming town. He learned country and folk songs, as well as drums and piano, from his father. He began playing guitar at 12.

Initially gaining notice for his solo lap-style slide guitar playing, which he played by laying the instrument flat and fretting it with a heavy steel bar, he was inspired by the birth of his daughter Rachel in 1990 to begin writing songs. He began singing and released his critically praised debut, Lead Me On, in 1995.

"I'm talking about a feeling, a smoky, lonesome, painful - yet somehow comforting groove that lets you know that you are not alone - even when you're blue. Play on brother." - STEVE EARLE

"He seems to have tapped into the artery somehow. There's a lot going on in between and behind the notes. Mystery. He's been an inspiration to me." - BILL FRISELL

"His music is a wide world with three hundred and sixty degrees of influence.... Kelly Joe is a musical slight of hand master. He pulls world wide sounds out of his guitar." - TIM O'BRIEN

Praise for 'Brother Sinner & The Whale':

"Mahalia Jackson once said: "When you sing gospel you have a feeling there is a cure for what's wrong" and a spirit of optimism shines through the new album Brother Sinner & The Whale from Kelly Joe Phelps" TELEGRAPH 4****

"John Fahey as pilgrim father....often brilliant!" - INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

"Brother Sinner & The Whale is dazzling, moving too, and bordering on perfection..." MOJO 4****

For more information see:

www.pulluptheroots.co.uk