Perth’s popular Southern Fried Festival returns next month
Perth will get a taste of Americana next month with the return of Southern Fried; the city’s annual celebration of country, blues, R&B and soul. If you’re a lover of good music and fancy making the most of your stay at Crieff Hydro next month, you won’t want to miss out on this small but colourful salute to some of the most important genres, developments and influences in modern musical history – with a jam-packed programme of events from tributes to the lives and work of Johnny Cash and Gram Parsons, to fresh new talent such as Anais Mitchell and Lera Lynn.
Now in its fifth year, Southern Fried has become a fantastic draw for local fans and visiting appreciators of American roots music and this year’s festival is sure to be just as busy as ever. The festival takes place in four different venues throughout Perth city centre – Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre, Twa Tams and Greyfriars Bar – across four days. Southern Fried kicks off this year on Thursday July 26 with a FREE launch party concert at Twa Tams with a Scottish double bill featuring the first ever live appearance of songwriter, Dean Owens’ band Deer Lake and Scottish The Sunshine Delay . The music then continues throughout Friday and Saturday, all day, ending on Sunday July 29.
The Johnny Cash: Songwriter event on Friday night is sure to be one of the biggest pulls in the program, bringing together some of the top names on the weekend’s bill to celebrate the songs and swagger of the Man in Black himself, while Soul Explosion! brings together two incendiary acts in one pulsating package. Nashville’s finest, The Dynamites take to the stage with the legendary Charles Walker, and they’re joined on the bill by the wonderful Niki King and her big funky Edinburgh-based soul combo, The Elements. If you like it funky, soulful and authentic, this is one not to be missed.
According to the Southern Fried website: “Charles Walker doesn’t imitate, emulate or try to resuscitate a bygone era. He is soul; the real deal, still carrying the flaming torch that burst into flame back in the 60’s at the Apollo Theater where he opened for icons like James Brown, Etta James, Jackie Wilson and Wilson Pickett.“
Some events are free, although you can also save money on full price events with a festival pass which allows you access to every event across the weekend for £75.50, saving festival goers up to 30%. Tickets for individual events can be bought too. Authentic Southern Soul Food will also be lovingly served up every day in the Glassrooms restaurant in Perth Concert Hall to help you get a real taste of Southern American culture in a small-scale Scottish setting.
Make a real weekend of it by taking advantage of our special summer offers and book a stay at Crieff Hydro. Or for more information, call us on 01764 651 670.
