- Saturday 5 July
The old songwriting virtues are carried on by Vincent Neil Emerson in an expression that combines authenticity, nerve and craftsmanship. The Texas-based singer-songwriter has become one of the most cherished names in a new wave of country music and is often compared to the likes of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Steve Earle.
The title of his 2019 debut album, Fried Chicken & Evil Women, reveals a good dose of humour in their clever take on country music and Southern archetypes. Make no mistake, though, behind the play on country mythology are deeply personal stories that dig deep into Neil Emerson's own upbringing, while gently depicting characters, environments and historical layers. As in the song "The Ballad of the Choctaw-Apache", which depicts a Native American culture that he himself is part of through his mother’s part of the family.
Musically, Neil Emerson offers a tour de force of wistful ballads, sweaty honky tonk and electrifying folk rock passages with echoes of Bob Dylan and Neil Young. His latest album, The Golden Crystal Kingdom from 2023, was praised by alt-country magazine No Depression, who wrote: "Brings a rebellious sense of history and keen-eyed lyrical perspective to modern Americana, insisting that there's an exciting next chapter to be told."
Expectations are high for Neil Emerson's new album, due out this spring, and we look forward to seeing the masterful country innovator live at Roskilde Festival this summer.
