BONNIE PRINCE Charlie was the leader of the oft-romanticised, but in truth deeply tragic Jacobite Rising in Scotland in 1745-6.
It’s a period of history that has inspired songs, poems, novels, art, films, and libraries of historical writing, so much indeed that there seems to be no end to the amount of works ‘The ‘45’ can inspire.
Prince Charlie’s nickname was borrowed by an American singer-songwriter who himself is a byword for prolificness with a constant stream of quality albums both solo and in collaboration with other artists - Will Oldham.
“Bonnie Prince Charlie has such a beautiful ring to it, and I was very conscious of appropriating that mellifluous sound,” Oldham told The Boston Phoenix. “I was also thinking about the name Nat King Cole. It wasn’t until later, and this may have been subconscious, that I remembered that Billy the Kid was William Bonney or Billy Bonney.”
Will Oldham, aka Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, pretty much releases an album of new material each year - a rarity in these days of two/three year gaps between albums.
The Kentucky folk/country/roots singer is arguably one of the finest songwriters at work in America today and each album sees him delve deep into the human condition, whether it be death (I See A Darkness, 1999 ); sex (Ease On Down The Road, 2001 ); love, relationships, and the need for companionship (Master And Everyone, 2003 ); or the experience of being a mother, father, son, daughter, wife, husband (The Wondershow Of The World, 2010 ).
There have also been numerous collaborations throughout Oldham’s career. Superwolf (2005 ) was recorded with former Zwan guitarist Matt Sweeney, while there was the eccentric, but charming collections of covers, The Brave and The Bold, with Tortoise in 2006.
For The Wondershow Of The World Oldham was joined by The Cairo Gang, led by Californian guitarist Emmett Kelly. A strong album (opening track ‘Troublesome Houses’ will go down in my book as one of the songs of 2010 ), it finds both artists complementing each other well. As Pitchfork said:
“This is a clear move away from the country-based records of recent years...Kelly’s guitar work here spans a long list of genres, gathering ingredients from blues, jazz, country, and Spanish guitar. And no matter the flavour, Kelly does well to buttress Oldham’s zigs and zags, never overwhelming any of his verses. He just lets him do his thing and vice versa...there’s much to dig into.”
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & The Cairo Gang play the Róisín Dubh on Friday July 30 at 8pm. Tickets are available from the Róisín Dubh and Zhivago.
