REVIEW: The Slow Country at Sidney&Matilda

Full disclosure: I went to this gig around 3 weeks ago, and then went on holiday.

I know, the professionalism of this publication knows no bounds.

But wait: it gets worse.

Due to timing constraints (beyond by control, I assure you), I missed both support bands.

I am an awful person. I hope both Faint Paint and Umarells can accept my sincere apologies.

However, my incompetence aside, watching the The Slow Country at Sidney&Matilda (as part of their run-up to the Tramlines Fringe) was easily one of the most fun nights I have had at a gig in a while.

Arriving just as the main support, the magnificent Faint Paint, finished their set, I identified a huge issue with tonight’s performance right away.

Germany vs Spain in the Women’s Euros was still 0-0, and it was getting close to full-time.

So, like any professional reviewer, I bought myself and my girlfriend a pint, and instead of members of the audience about how the supports were, or trying to grab a quick few words with the headliners, I sat us down in view of one of Sidney&Matilda’s screens and watched as much as I could before their set started.

Pints sunk, another round bought, and the headliners were starting. Result? 0-0 still.

Extra time.

Fuck.

Well, I knew the professionalism had to kick in and some point, so I took the brave, magnanimous, and journalistically unsual decision of finally heading into the show of which I intended to review. Easily the best choice I made all night.

The Slow Country at Sidney&Matilda [Credit: Molly Darrington]

I have seen The Slow Country a few times before, all of which at Sidney&Matilda, and each time they have been fantastic. But this time around, I was taken aback by just how good they were. A seven-piece band blurring the lines between indie rock, bluegrass, and folk, they are made up of 3 guitars, a drummer, a violinist, and an accordion. Already, you know you’re in for a good time with an accordion and a violinist. Bet you can’t name a single live performance that wouldn’t be improved by the addition of a violin, let alone an accordion. Just pure magic.

Their set had a Nick Cave-meets-Wilco vibe to it; simultaneously relaxed and nonchalant, and intensely hypnotic. One of the absolute standouts was ‘Fundementally Fucked’, a blues-influenced ballad describing how fascists lose all the time. What’s not to love? With all the screaming, hooting, and hollering you would get from the best pub Trad session, the band had the crowd two-stepping along to the song, making the song feel practically alive. This was followed up by ‘Numbers’, which was also brilliant.

Then? Aitana Bonmatí scores in the 113’ minute.

Then? The band perform their next song, ‘Firing Line’. A really great track, the song had an incredibly mesmerising chorus, which absolutely broke my focus on the football (nothing to do with the full-time whistle). What was especially cool about this track was the band using it as a tool to introduce themselves, improvising little riffs and fills that actually suited the track itself.

At this point it’s just showing off.

The band’s penultimate track, and their final original song, was their latest single, ‘Right There Inside’. This was probably by favourite track of the night, and definitely had the best crowd reaction. The chorus features a beautiful vocalisation, which the band got the crowd to sing, creating an utterly beautiful sound, that really elevated the track. Then, just to further show off, the band finished with a cover of The Waterboys’ ‘Fisherman’s Blues’. I mean, come on. Seriously? Immense.

The Slow Country at Sidney&Matilda [Credit: Molly Darrington]

After the gig, my girlfriend and I brought a very reasonably priced tote bag (and it was the last one, haha you suckers) from the band, as well as a t-shirt from Faint Paint (because it looked cool as fuck), and then we went on our merry way home.

The Slow Country are easily one of the best up-and-coming bands in the UK at the moment, and I urge everyone to go see them whenever you can. They are destined for big things, and you definitely wanna see them now, before they play bigger venues, so you can act cool and show off to your mates.

NOTE: I was unable to get the setlist from the band, so song titles may be inaccurate.