Carrie Rodriguez performs at Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge

May 27 2009

CARRIE Rodriguez’s considerable talents will need no introduction to the many people who have witnessed her local appearances with Chip Taylor over the years.

Through her unique collaboration with veteran songwriter Taylor, which yielded four critically acclaimed albums of duets, Rodriguez enthralled record buyers and concert audiences throughout North America and Europe and has always been particularly fond of playing in North Wales.

She will be playing locally next week.

Originally nurtured by Lyle Lovett and recently hailed by Lucinda Williams, who invited Rodriguez to support her on her US tour as well as inviting her onstage every night to play with her band, singer- songwriter Carrie Rodriguez has rapidly emerged as one of the most compelling new voices on the roots- rock scene.

The Austin, Texas-raised fiddler recently released her second solo album, She Ain't Me, which captures a prodigiously talented musician in the process of forging a sound that's unapologetically tough and intriguingly sensual.

For She Ain't Me, the Brooklyn based violinist-turned-fiddler teamed with producer Malcolm Burn (Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith,) and wrote with Gary Louris of the Jayhawks, as well as Mary Gauthier, Dan Wilson and others.

Whether laying down the political gauntlet in Infinite Night and Mask of Moses, or mulling over love's sorrows in Rag Doll and Can't Cry Enough, or getting down with some gritty fiddle playing in Absence, Rodriguez delivers unforced, sincere emotion with an affecting twang and lazy sinuous phrasing which brings a wonderfully lived-in quality to her vocal performances.

Over in the UK for a short promotional visit to coincide with the release of the album, Rodriguez will be recording a session for Bob Harris’ BBC radio show and playing a few select dates which will include a visit to the Victoria Hotel in Menai Bridge on Thursday, June 4.

As a token of her appreciation for the support she has received in this area over the years, Carrie has just announced that she will be giving a free copy of her limited edition CD Live in Louisville (usually only available from her website and retailing for $10) to the first 100 people to buy tickets for the Vic. This offer is exclusive to this gig.

Accompanying her at the gig will be guitarist Hans Holzen and, for the first time in the UK, Spanish saxaphone ace Javier Vercher who will also be playing keyboards and percussion. Tickets are now on sale at Cob Records in Bangor and Porthmadog, Palas Print in Caernarfon with early booking being advisable.

For further information, ring 01248 353020 or have a look at www.carrierodriguez.com