A SWINGING bunch of country musicians will be heading to Kendal from across The Pond for a spring season of Americana music at the Brewery Arts Centre.
 

The string of country music gigs kicks off on January 31 with Pennsylvanian trio The Stray Birds who have been making waves Stateside for their stripped-down, acoustic brand of traditional American folk and bluegrass.
 

Their full-length debut album, The Stray Birds, was a critical success and was named to the Top 10 Folk/Americana Releases of 2012 by America’s National Public Radio listings while their powerful live performances has led to a major tour of the UK.
 

They are followed on February 7 by acclaimed UK-based Americana exponents My Darling Clementine whose authentic American sound is reminiscent of classic country acts such as George Jones & Tammy Wynette.
 

The band picked up the Best Band prize at the prestigious British Country Music Awards in 2012.
 

Hot on their heels on February 20 is a rare opportunity to see Nashvilles’s finest Laura Cantrell, who will be jetting in from her New York home for a handful of UK dates.
 

Laura was a regular guest on John Peel’s legendary BBC Radio 1 Sessions and he named her 2000 album Not the Tremblin’ Kind as one of his favourite records of all time.
 

Last but not least on 28 February is Canadian outfit Petunia and the Vipers whose high octane honky tonk sound is guaranteed to raise the roof.
 

Petunia and the Vipers’ sound is drawn from almost every genre of American music including country, ragtime, bluegrass and rock with a dash of rockabilly gypsy rhythms thrown in for good measure.
 

Brewery music programmer Mike Chadwick said: “We will be showcasing all that is good about American music ranging from the classic country sounds of Laura Cantrell and My Darling Clementine to the contemporary interpretations of traditional tunes from the Stray Birds to the outright dance tunes of Petunia and the Vipers.
 

“This is a fantastic opportunity to experience some authentic American music from some wonderful exponents of the genre.”