Southern Tenant Folk Union

Praise for Southern Tenant Folk Union's debut album...
"Penetrating lyrical lines, impressive harmonising... Influenced by dafthe likes of The Stanley Brothers, The Carter Family and The Country Gentlemen... showmanship that came over as sincere and affecting." Americana UK
"3 stars (out of 5)" Uncut Magazine
"A brilliant debut" Rock N' Reel Magazine
"Listening to the Southern Tenant Folk Union is like hearing a tune you have heard many times before, for the first time." .ISM Quarterly Magazine
If you like the Southern Tenant Folk Union you may also enjoy other bands on Ugly Nephew Records such as The Zetland Players!
Formed by Belfast born five-string banjo player Pat McGarvey and taking their name from the ground breaking multi-racial union of sharecroppers and non-landowning tenant farmers founded in Arkansas in the 1930's, the Southern Tenant Folk Union are an explosive new London based bluegrass outfit.
Writing and performing their own unique brand of Old-Time, Bluegrass, Gospel and Celtic Folk, Southern Tenant Folk Union appropriate the themes, ideas and metaphors from traditional folk songs and 20th century Americana music to document and reflect modern life through styles popularised by musicians such as The Carter Family, The Stanley Brothers and even Dillard & Clark.
Pat McGarvey, band member and songwriter for (ex Long Ryder) Sid Griffin?s bluegrass project The Coal Porters since 1993, has served his musical apprenticeship touring the world and recording a number of albums, as well as countless collaborations with other key Americana acts including Tandy, Amy Rigby, Ian Dunlop (of Gram Parsons? International Submarine Band), Rosie Flores, Jason McNiff, Bob Neuwirth & The Arlenes.
Keen to find a more personal outlet for his writing, in early 2006, McGarvey gathered a collective of like minded musicians that share his love of traditional music, but each with their own individual take on such tradition; Oliver Talkes (guitar), who's unique, soulful voice is at the heart of the STFU sound. Pete Gow (guitar), from the Alt. Country band Case Hardin who has performed with the likes of Chris Mills, Stacey Earle and Caitlin Cary. Frances Vaux (Fiddle) with her background in jazz and Irish Folk and anchored by stalwarts of the London folk scene Eamon Flynn (mandolin) and Matt Lloyd (upright bass).
Having spent the remainder of 2006, shaping the songs and honing their stage craft through extensive live performances in and around London, Southern Tenant Folk Union have produced and recorded a much anticipated album of original material which will see a release in January 2007.