On this week’s Another Country we’re going to celebrate a band that have finally decided to call it quits after twenty five years. I admire their ability to make the decision though, having decided to split up a band after eight years then reform it five years later, I kinda feel there may be an encore still to come.
For clarity the band I’m talking about is Madison Violet who have been guests and favoured artists on the AC since we first discovered them back in 2009. It seems we were still late to the party even then as they had eight years of previous behind them even at that point. However I have warm memories of sessions and guest spots by Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern over these last sixteen years or so and, hearing that this would be there final tour, we thought it only right to ask them to come in and refelect on that decision and on the years of making music together.
We spoke before the last show they played at Cottiers in Glasgow which was promoted , as ever, by The Fallen Angels Club via Kevin Morris who is such a great supporter of Americana music in the city. It was fascination to hear the two women talking openly and honestly about the great times they’ve enjoyed together but also to hear how difficult some of that time has been. Like me, I know you will be moved at how the two women have faced up to grief, personal health issues and prejudice over these last years. In many ways Madison Violet’s own journey has opened the path to so many other women who have now felt able to open their personal lives to their audience. The decisions to do that have not always been straightforward or even voluntary and in a remarkable story you will hear Lisa and Brenley talk emotionally about the toll it has taken. What comes through is a great story of friendship and deep love of making music which makes a fascinating second hour of this week’s show. I urge you to catch it.
Before all that we will have some great new music from Sierra Ferrell, Jesse Wells and Nikki Lane. You’ll hear a great return to form from Tift Merritt and a lovely throwback to ten years ago when Jason Isbell first released Something More Than Free. We’re on BBC Radio Scotland FM and BBC Sounds from five past eight this coming Tuesday evening. Join me if you can.