I first heard Carousel quite by chance when they performed at the Billericay Christmas Market in December 2016.  Suitably impressed, I saw them shortly afterwards at The Alex in Southend and, wowed even more, I arranged for them to headline a sold-out MIND fundraising gig at St Mary’s, Billericay in May 2017.

They recently won the Laurel Canyon Music favourite new artist of the year award for 2017 and they are definitely ones to watch in 2018.  I’m pleased to have persuaded them to play a ‘House Gig’ here at the Rectory on the most miserable weekend of the year on Friday 19 January 2018.   Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy them in such an intimate atmosphere.

Doors will open at 7.00 pm and Carousel will play two sets from 7.30 pm (ish!).  We’ll provide some hot food during the interval (with a veggie option) all for £15 (payable in advance, please). All proceeds from this evening will go to Carousel! There will also be a reasonably priced honesty bar!

Carousel are a four-piece Indie-Americana music collective based in Southend-on-Sea – Tom, Chris, Sarah and Toby. They fuse Americana, country, folk, rock’n’roll, blues and roots music into their own unique approach and take advantage of having four accomplished vocalists at their disposal with lucious harmonies.  They describe their songs as: “… uplifting and sombre. Wistful yet forward-looking …” and they hover around the sounds of bands like The Shires, Rend Collective and The Chorlton Country Club!  The band’s influences include artists such as Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash to the modern-day Americana stylings of Brandi Carlile, The Lone Bellow and Glen Hansard.

Two years in the making, Carousel finally released their debut EP in the autumn of 2017, which includes five of their most energising and emotive songs and is full of energy and enthusiasm and includes some very good songs indeed – ‘Show’ is actually one of my faves of 2017! You can watch a ‘live’ version of ‘Show’ here

They performed on a number of festival bills last summer; most notably Leigh Folk Festival, Live Expressions Festival, Daxtonbury Festival and are becoming increasingly sought after within the UK’s live music scene.

I saw their last gig of 2017 in the quirky venue that is Peggy Sue’s Music Bar in Southend and it was a fabulous evening – you can tell they have played together a lot this year and that shows in their musicianship, their confidence and the variety in their set list too.  We’re in for a great treat in January.  One not to miss.

Obviously, a House Gig is a cosy (!?) event and, whilst we’ll provide some seating, some of you will be required to sit on a cushion on the floor – we have plenty of these – so you might want to dress accordingly!

NB. A house gig is a private invitation only gig. You can contact me on revpacman@btinternet.com if you’d like to reserve a spot on the floor and I’ll get back to you to confirm your attendance.  Maximum two tickets per person – spaces are very limited!