Rod’s Americana craftwork

Straight from two nights playing in Norway, Rod kicks off the UK leg of his European tour at the Kenlis Arms, Barnacre, near Garstang, this Thursday, October 24.

It’s a hectic schedule too, from Garstang one day to Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, the next, and two the following Sunday alone, one in Surrey and one on the Sussex coast.

And he’ll be back to the North West on November 6, for an appearance at Grateful Fred’s in Liverpool, the UK part of his travels ending in Glasgow on November 10.

Rod, the son of a welder from rural New England, is described as a masterful songwriter and soulful singer who carries with him ‘as fine a suitcase of songs as you’ll find anywhere’, with Slaid Cleaves, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Fred Eagelsmith having recorded songs by this former construction worker, who hung up his tools when he released his debut CD in 2000.

He’s since carved a career for himself with a run of six crafted self-released CDs over 13 years, earning a reputation as an engaging performer.

Hang Your Hopes On A Crooked Nail, produced by RS Field, is described as ‘a collection of carefully-crafted songs of rugged truth and beauty’, and was recorded at Middletree Studios in East Nashville, and described by Acoustic magazine as “Americana of the highest order”. For more details about Rod and his UK tour, head to www.rodpicott.com