FOLK rockers Rusty Shackle have sold out next week’s hometown Caldicot Castle gig, at the sane time as reaching No 1 in the iTunes singer-songwriter charts with their latest album, beating the likes of Sam Fender and George Ezra.
The Monmouthshire band said they were “overwhelmed” at the success of Under a Blood Shot Moon, which was released last Friday and rose to No 6 in the overall iTunes album charts.
And after a 2,200 sell out of their castle gig a week tomorrow (Saturday, August 13), delighted Liam Collins (vocals, guitar), Scott McKeon (fiddle, banjo, vocals), Baz Barwick (guitar), Ryan Williams (bass), George Barrell (drums, percussion) and Alex McConnachie (guitar) have warned the likes of Harry Styles and Beyoncé “we’re coming for you”.
Formed in 2010, the six piece ‘dirty bluegrass folk ‘n rollers’ beat other acts to win the ‘Cardiff’s Big Gig’ competition in 2012, which saw them gain a performing slot at the Olympic Torch Relay Concert in the city’s Cooper’s Field, and have since gained a big live reputation, performing in the UK, Europe and the US.
Encouraging their fans to help the new album climb the charts, they posted last Friday: “What a start!! #2 in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts and #29 in the iTunes Album Charts. We’re coming for you Beyoncé.”
Later they added: “NUMBER SEVEN… Harry Styles, we’re coming for you and your beautifully chiselled jawline.”
And on Saturday, they said: “Still flying high from yesterday. The power of the people helped us reach #6 in the iTunes UK Album Chart and #1 in the iTune Singer Songwriter charts. So many lovely comments coming in. We love this album and hope you guys do too.”
A review in Liverpool Sound & Vision said: “Triumph is often captured within the bloodshot moon, the sense of drama being more than equal to a starless night, and so that triumph, that achievement is heartily welcomed in the Welsh folk-rock wonders that is Rusty Shackle, and their brand-new recording, the superb and influential Under A Bloodshot Moon.”
“A genuine class recording by the band, their finest album yet.”
One fan posted after listening to the new tracks: “I love them all, you’ve outdone yourselves. I’ve listened so many times over the past couple of days.
I love Lanterns and Song of the Siren most. Rain is beautiful and Listen Boy sounds like the Beatles,” while others described it as “genius” and “amazing”.
Fans as far away as Australia, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands and Scotland also praised the new tracks, which reference a local Wye Valley beauty spot in album opener The Devil’s Pulpit.
The band are playing a castle warm-up gig at the Phyllis Maud Performance Space in Newport next Friday night (August 12), and they are also appearing at the Between The Trees Festival in Merthyr Mawr on Friday, August 26, Bunkfest in Wallingford on Sunday, September 4, and St Paul’s Church, Weston-super-Mare on Saturday, September 10.
For more information and to buy the album go to www.facebook.com/RustyShackleUK/