.Rachel Harrington grew up in Oregon with a deep Pentecostal upbringing, from families of Danish dairymen and Irish lumberjacks. As a child, her only exposure to music was gospel - that and her father's secret Stax/Motown collection he'd amassed since his return from Vietnam. She especially loved the black gospel groups, the secular Otis Redding and Sam Cooke.

"I remember being a little girl, like 8 and 9, and my folks would leave to go to church often in the evenings and I'd beg to stay behind at home - when they left I'd turn out all the lights and put on the Otis Redding records and stand in front of the big window in the living room, singing into this broken little microphone I'd gotten somewhere."

More info at http://www.skinnydennis.com/

Rachel Lynne Harrington

Rachel Harrington has toured tirelessly since the release of her 2007 debut, The Bootlegger’s Daughter (“Four Stars,” Mojo) and her follow-up in 2008, City of Refuge (“inspiringly original!” Q). She’s played major festivals throughout Europe and the US, made three live appearances on the BBC’s legendary Bob Harris Show, and reached millions of listeners through airplay at Starbucks. Celilo Falls released in Europe and the UK on Rounder Europe/CRS in Nov. 2010 and Jan. 2011 respectively, debuting at #3 on the Euro-Americana Chart. Official US release is Feb 15, 2011.

Drawing from a rich array of influences including an upbringing in the Pentecostal pines of Oregon and a dad with a secret stash of Motown and Stax albums, glimpses of Otis Redding, Loretta Lynn, Sam Cooke, Hank Williams, Ray Charles and Emmylou Harris can all be spotted prowling the edges of Harrington’s work. With timeless production by Evan Brubaker, Celilo Falls brings together an inspired cast of supporting musicians including Ronnie McCoury (Del McCoury Band) and Rod Clements (Lindisfarne, Bert Jansch). Harrington and Clements are fresh off a three-month European tour.

“Rachel Harrington belongs at the top of Americana today, on equal altitude with Gillian Welch or Emmylou Harris” - Rootstime

“ancient-sounding country noir … Harrington is all about what’s left off her songs, and the skeletal arrangements leave the listener to fill in the unspoken terrors and tenderness that lie beneath”
Q magazine (Feb 2011)

“drawn from traditional American folk, shades of bluegrass, country and a rural soul, it is music which transcends its own influences (Townes Van Zandt, Lyle Lovett, the Carter Family and all the way down those Smithsonian Folkways) before being realised as a wonderfully authentic sound” - All Gigs

Rachel is coming to The Greys with her new all-girl honky tonk/rockabilly band. An exciting new line-up which we know will blow you all away.

Tickets from The Greys 01273 680734 (can be held for up to 3 days unpaid)

Rounder Records 01273 325440 (credit/debit cards)