the-low-country are sort of based in Cambridge, UK, though singer/songwriter for the band, Emily Barker, is a Western Australian currently living in London. The band was formed by guitarist Rob Jackson roughly 3 years ago. Also in the band are Ian Pickering on drums, and Alex Machell on bass guitar. In the first few weeks of their existence, they put together a demo cd which they abruptly sent to their DJ hero the late John Peel. He liked it and subsequently played their version of the Stephen Foster song, "Oh Susanna" on his show. The band have since been gigging around the UK at various Americana-friendly venues and festivals, and have managed within a couple of years to record and self-release two albums, the latter of which received distribution through Proper.
They are currently gigging around the UK as well as pursuing individual musical ventures. There are rumours about a possible third album....
Here is what some nice people have said about them...
"A sparse Americana type sound that calls to mind the likes of both Lucinda Williams and Low" - Sound On Sound magazine feature / interview
"Emily Barker's songs, as well as her voice, have a tempered reverence that coats the sadness with an aura of beauty. A terrific new voice" - Miles Of Music online CD store
"Indeed, Barker's voice not only breathes new life into established classics but can also make a new song sound like it may have already been a classic that somehow passed you by" - americana-uk website review
"We're talking pure audio magic here. It takes a while for this laidback album to overwhelm, but when it does, it will lead to repeated listening pleasure" (4/5 stars) - Maverick magazine "welcome to..." review