A Different Thread
at The Hub at St Mary's, Lichfield
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“Warm, deep, songwriters that have drunk from the well of 20th-century tradition.”– Folk Radio UK
British-American troubadours A Different Thread are back in Lichfield with their transatlantic blend of americana. Lead singers Robert Jackson (Lichfield) and Alicia Best (North Carolina) first met busking in Ireland. Their chance encounter sparked a musical journey that spans over nine years, a dozen countries, and three albums — capturing the love of two folk singers, chasing their dreams on the road.
Their award-winning songs weave Celtic balladry with Appalachian blues, featuring fiddle, guitar, and an abundance of rich vocal harmonies. Following in the footsteps of Johnny Cash and June Carter, and Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, A Different Thread have earned acclaim for their powerful storytelling and rousing live performances. They have garnered support slots with the likes of The Milk Carton Kids, Native Harrow, and Jody Stephens (Big Star), as well as features with NPR and the BBC.
Their upcoming album, Over Again is set for release in early September, however, exclusive physical pre-release copies (CD and Vinyl) will be available at this show! These eleven songs are an ode to new beginnings and working towards a brighter future. Written around the solar eclipse and relocating to the US, it sees the band exploring new sonic territory, mixing electric slide guitar with dulcimers, gospel-esque backing vocals with honky-tonk fiddle.
A Different Thread
“One road is ending, another road begins, come on let’s do it over again” - A Different Thread In their newest album, A Different Thread weaves a sonic tapestry of hope. Born from the serendipitous meeting of Alicia Best (US) and Robert Jackson (UK) busking on the cobbled streets of Ireland, their harmonies are at the core of their musical connection. Honed across a dozen countries and almost a decade on the road, the raw honesty of their lived experience (navigating visas, vanlife, and love across oceans) runs deep in their songwriting - they deliver unforgettable live performances that have solidified their reputation as artists on the rise. Folk Radio UK hailed them as "warm, deep songwriters that have drank from the well of 20th century tradition“ and their unique blend of Americana has landed them support slots with The Milk Carton Kids and Jody Stephens (Big Star). Over Again their third album (September 2nd) is a roadmap to a brighter future, written during a period of personal transformation, marked by their arrival stateside and a solar eclipse. Recording began in their tiny-home studio in the pines of North Carolina, later refined in Sylvan Esso’s studio Betty’s (The Mountain Goats, Watchhouse), and finished at Alma Vale in the UK (Phantom Limb/Yola, Elles Bailey)
See A Different Thread tour dates
The Hub at St Mary's
Market Street
Lichfield
WS13 6LG
- Website:
- thehubstmarys.co.uk
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on Sat 24 May 2025
