York Music Latest: Vinnie live records his album… and five more must-see gigs

My fellow YorkMixer, Ian Massey, fears the slight let-up in live music in the city this month may be the start of a worrying trend.

I’m hoping it’s a seasonal blip, as there is abundant evidence that York’s musicians are working harder than ever.

One of the hardest working is open-mic organiser, Craig Vinnie Whitehead, whose Duchess show on Friday, April 22 is a live solo acoustic recording for an album to be released later this year.

The frontman and songwriter from the band Vinnie & The Stars and has been writing, producing and releasing music with his band since 2007

He told YorkMix that the set will feature songs from Vinnie & The Stars’ previous three albums and unreleased songs.

Tickets are £5 from The Duchess website or from Vinnie in person at any of his open mic nights in York.

More must-see gigs

Some shows definitely worth adding to your gig diary later in the year.

Kate Rusby: Grand Opera House, October 30
Welcome return for British folk’s leading crossover artist.

Loudon Wainright III: Barbican, October 25
After 26 albums of sharply observed, touching and humorous insights into his tangled family life the incandescent one returns with Chaim Tannenbaum supporting.

Tannenbaum is best known for his rich vocal contributions to performances by Loudon, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and Emmylou Harris. Now, finally with an album of his own originals.

Buzzcocks: Fibbers, October 6
More than punk, more than new wave; simply one of the most influential bands of a generation.

Love Revisited: The Crescent, June 26
Ten years since the death of Arthur Lee, his long-time collaborators, Baby Lemonade, revisit the seminal albums, Love, Da Capo and Forever Changes. No mere covers band, these top flight musicians were part of the story.

And, one that no one should miss:

Cale Tyson, The Crescent, May 2
Anyone who witnessed Cale’s show at the Basement last year, knows what a special talent he is. If you’re one of those who ‘doesn’t get’ country, I urge you to give this Bank Holiday show a try.

Tyson is pitched emotionally somewhere between Hank Williams and Gram Parsons, but for all the genuine rootsy Nashville heritage, he’s bang up to date and knows how to hit a blue note. His new album, Careless Soul, has already garnered rave reviews, and was released on April 8.

Support comes from York’s excellent Boss Caine and Mulholland, both of whom have new releases well worthy of your attention, but more of that later.

Open Mic update

The city is still a haven for turn-up-and-play musicians.

YorkMix is updating our comprehensive open mic guide.

If you are an open mic night organiser and want to add to or make changes to our guide, contact us direct by email. Please make ‘Open Mic Update’ the subject of your email.

And if you’re a musician or promoter or venue, you can now add your own listing to our What’s On Guide here.