Gig - Carrie Rodriguez

Carrie Rodriguez started in the music business with the modest ambition to “get a gig playing fiddle with somebody great, be on the road and make a living.”. And she managed to do just that - before blowing her expectations well and truly out of the water. Five years ago she was spotted at the South by South West festival by the legendary Chip Taylor. “He’s a real big name”, says Barn D’Or promoter Mike Lance. “He’s from this amazing family - one brother is a physicist working on earthquake technology, another is Angelina Jolie’s dad, John Voigt and a big actor in his own right”. And Chip? “Well he’s written some huge songs - ‘Wild Thing’ amongst others - that have been covered and covered. And he’s banned from every casino in Atlanta City - but that’s another story…”

It was Chip that invited Carrie to tour with him and for a few years she lived out the dream of playing fiddle - and singing backing - with “somebody great”. Now, she has made a critically acclaimed transition to the foreground - fronting her own music. Reviewers of her recent album have described it as “hot and steamy” and “pure Nashville”. “She’s just been touring with Lucinda Williams”, says Lance, “which is an amazing compliment to her. You don’t get that kind of gig without the solid approval of the whole industry”. Tonight Carrie plays the Anchor as one of her few UK tour dates. ER