Yet another great and enjoyable gig from a group that I never heard of at all until Mike Trotman of Empty Rooms promoted them in this iconic Oxford location. Sold Out notices outside on the Iffley Road bought a smile to my face and sure enough a packed church of some 400 souls. It was a shame that only three of the audience had black faces for what was African American music: country and classic blues, early jazz and "hot music", string band numbers, African and Caribbean songs, with overtones of gospel.
Total acoustic set, fiddle, various guitars, a cello used as a bass, and some simple percussion instruments one which if I heard correctly were bones but played like maracas. Oh and a beat box.
Lead singer Rhiannon Giddens has a wonderful voice and she sure can sing. Big Hubby Jenkins is from new York but sounded like he was born and bred in the deep south.
Not surprisingly they won a Grammy in 2010 for their Genuine Negro Jig album.
A well deserved standing ovation and two encores. Catch them if you have the chance.
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