Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three will be rolling into Kilkenny in the coming week, with their self-described ‘creative mix of early jazz, string ragtime, country blues and western swing.’
Roots, Americana, neo-folk – it is difficult to actually ascribe any particular genre to the group. This music moves beyond the trappings of genre labels, and simply arrives in style.
Cleere’s Theatre is the venue of choice, and it promises to be jumping – as usual whenever the pub plays host to international acts of this quality.
With the release of Marmalade, LaFarge’s debut solo album in 2007 he began to attract serious attention, before teaming up with fellow St Louis musicians, the South City Three, in 2009.
Pokey LaFarge is almost certainly a relic – but only if the term can have any positive connotations these days. After all, the man is only 27.
The music is pure, oak barrel-aged and distilled; it’s John Dillinger and it’s coming from the American heartland, a rejection of autotune, synthesiser and asinine pop hook.
That is not to say that the group’s sound is in any way dated. It simply has a rare quality that transcends era, a sound that could probably flow out in any venue at any point during the last century, and be greeted with nothing but universal acclaim.
Mark Robertson, of the List, is one of LaFarge’s biggest fans, and he too marvels at the range of instrumental talent that falls within the band’s repertoire.
“LaFarge is a sweet singer, sure, but he’s also a dextrous instrumentalist – harmonica, guitar, banjo and kazoo all take a beating – and throws out a timeless sound that could date from any period in the last 80 years. Go be delighted,” he says.
Luckily for us, it is happening now, and it is happening here in Kilkenny.
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three play Cleere’s Theatre on Parliament Street on Wednesday July 6 at 9.30pm. Tickets are €15 and are available from John Cleere’s pub.
The support act on the night is Tom Kirwan, who rose to acclaim with his performances in this year’s Stars In Our Bars competition, in which he achieved second place in the regional final.
This week, Cleere’s Theatre also welcomes the return of the city’s Blues Club, tonight (Friday ) at 10pm. The stage will be open to any musicians or singers who want to try their hand.
