How To Categorise This Music?

Subject: How To Categorise This Music?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 12:59 PM

My Friend Anja has just released her new album. She's trying to get gigs but seems to fall into a strange genre hole. Many Jazz/blues venues say her music's "too folky" but a lot of folk venues seem to think it's "too jazzy" for them.

She has actually played at a few folk clubs /festivals, but where does Mudcat think she'd be best off seeking gigs?


Anja Graefe Bandcamp

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 01:22 PM

I'd suggest an "alt folk" promoter such as New Roots.

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: gillymor
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 01:29 PM

Cabaret music? It doesn't sound very "folky" to me.
I like it at first listen.

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: GUEST,Modette
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 02:03 PM

She reminds me very much of both Mary Coughlan and Imelda May. That should give you some clues.

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 02:43 PM

There's indeed a hint of what we used to call cabaret about it - small club, smoky atmosphere, intimate tables with cocktails... 1930s Berlin or French "caf'conc" bars.

Anja should hire a nice, not-too-big venue with tables and chairs set out like a cabaret - bar in proximity - get her band with her, promote it well and charge on the door.

Folk it ain't, and it's only mildly jazzy in the sense of the word that typical jazz audiences would understand. Nice stuff, though.

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 06:08 PM

Thanks all for the input!

Will, this is exactly what I've been saying to her.... I was "polling" Mudcat to see if I was on the right lines.

I've been saying to her since before she recorded this album that her best way forward would be this approach... To book a venue and "DIY". Trying to shoehorn herself into local existing venues' expectations is frustrating. She's done a few pub and bar/restaurant gigs but normally solo, as they don't pay enough to cover the band too.... and she much prefers playing with a band.

There are three or four places close to where she lives that she could book, which would seat enough to cover the band if she could fill them 80%.

It's nice that most respondents have been positive about her music, too. She's a friend, so I'm biased to like her stuff, so it's nice to have my feelings a bit validated. She doesn't like pushing herself forward though!

I'll work with her on this, and hopefully we can start making some inroads!

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: GUEST,bignige
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 02:03 PM

Its all very well saying book a venue and do it yourself, but you are then bearing the financial risk. Playing existing venues is ok but again if you do not get bums on seats the organiser will soon give you the boot. Both depend on the artists reach in terms of paying customers. I don't know what the answer is maybe there isn't one, but be in no doubt there are literally thousands of bands and artists faced with the same problem.

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 05:51 PM

I've booked venues and "done it myself" for bands and performers I've thought were good. In each case I've taken the risk personally. Of the half dozen times I've done it, I've made a profit once, broken even twice and lost money three times. I haven't risked anything I couldn't afford, and even when I've lost money, it's been worth it to give the artistes a bit more exposure.... But then I do it for pleasure, not to make a living!!

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: Jos
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 05:58 PM

You don't say where she is based. Does the track named Portesham mean she has connections in Dorset?

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 03:22 AM

Jos,

Yes, she's based in the Devon/ Dorset/ Somerset borders area. She lived in Portesham for a while.

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 03:50 AM

There are a few bands I've encountered in London (where I live and gig) that are musically similar. Bands inspired by stuff like crooner/dinner jazz, torch songs, with a touch of east european or klezmer too. A fondness for the work of Tom Waits generally being a constant!

She might like to check out acts such as Whiskey Moonface or Ma Polaine's Great Decline or Dana Immanuel & the Stolen Band on Facebook etc and see where they gig.

In London, I'd say venues like Green Note (Camden) or Hootenanny (Brixton) or the Harrison (Kings Cross).

No idea where she'd play out where she lives, but I'm sure there's places in Bristol, say. I'd say she should look for promoters specialising in, say, "alt blues" or "indie folk" rather than folk.

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 04:11 AM

First impression for me is that this is similar to the music that is often chosen on the radio 4 programme "Loose ends", Saturday evenings. Might be worth investigating the various groups that appear on this program and looking at where they perform.

Robin

Subject: RE: How To Categorise This Music?
From: G-Force
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 05:51 AM

She reminded me of a sort of female Joe Henry (which can't be bad).