FESTIVAL PREVIEW / LIVE REVIEW: COUNTDOWN TO COUNTRY CALLING 2026 - OUTPOST DRIVE
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
It seems certain that Country Calling may be one of the last chances you get to see Outpost Drive, up close and personal, as surely they will be on everyone's must see list following the release of their upcoming album The Outpost on September 18th. Willow and Mary Bragg Robinson are certainly the critics faves with their unique brand of Americana, this Anglo / American mix coming out somewhere between The Civil Wars and Striking Matches without particularly sounding like either - they are their own unique sound.
Since our first sighting of them at the Two Ways Home Round Up at the Cumberland Hotel, their style seems to have somewhat evolved, at times they don't write songs per se, they write events, where pace and volume might change repeatedly throughout.
The lead vocals may switch between numbers and like most duos, the absolute magic comes when their vocals entwine. Sightings at follow up shows with First Time Flyers, or their recent Buckle & Boots set, only confirmed that they seem inevitably destined for greater things.
Our latest encounter came at The Islington Assembly Halls where on a hot balmy night temperatures were on a par with those in Mobile Alabama, as they opened for The Castellows. Their 30 minute set would only deliver five songs but the impact was immense, in fact they subliminally were sending a message from the stage, way before they even arrived, with a huge lit up sign proclaiming their name.
They would commence facing each other, side on to the audience, Willow as ever looking huge with his wife, Mary Bragg by comparison looking diminutive, sporting her red dress with black hat and boots. They launch into "Country Revival", possibly their most overtly standard song, Mary Bragg leading off on the vocals, with Willow providing additional harmonies. Both are playing their guitars and three quarters of the way through Willow kicks in on the stomp pedal giving a real punch to the overall dynamics. It is a nice introduction to their sound and still afforded time for Willow to add some intricate guitar work.
Having just taken her guitar off Mary Bragg then realised she needed it for "Envious Heart" so had to hastily put it back on. Willow would open the vocals for this one, yet soon it becomes a dreamy duet with their harmonies working perfectly together, especially on the "I honestly don't know everything" line. It then develops and divides into new areas Mary Bragg keeps a "Yeah Yeah" section while Willow's vocals soar occasionally hitting the highest of notes. It also develops into an audience singalong - as we said at the start, Outpost Drive deliver events!!
Mary Bragg would preface the next song by saying it was "A little more rocky, a little more intense". By now Mary Bragg had again divested herself of her guitar, and had unwrapped her microphone from the stand. The intro of "Lord Have Mercy" combines Willow's guitar work with Mary Bragg's siren like vocals, to make quite the atmosphere. It then heads off into a darker grungy guitar sound with both pleading "Please help me please". With the arrival once again of the stomp pedal and the loud begging of the title, this was attention grabbing stuff. Willow will shout out "Talk to the heavens!" before the chorus. There is a lot to absorb, Willow's massively extended note sent up into the rafters, his head vigorously shaking as he played guitar, sending his long locks flying around, and those heavy heavy stomping beats all merge to assault the senses.
It was back to the twin guitars for "Rough Riders", Mary Bragg firing off the vocals to quick effect, and soon the pair are again creating an atmosphere just be joining together on a communal cry. Gradually there is a ramp up in sound, beefed up by the stomp pedal and the intensity of Willow's playing.
The final song "Mobile Alabama", was by comparison initially quite gentle for the opening minute or so, with Mary Bragg singing quite gently over Willows relaxed playing style. That was until Mary Bragg shouted "1 2 3 4" and in an instant all hell broke loose again.
"I'm going back to my roots
I gotta find my beat
Put on my cowboy boots
And get on down to Cedar Street
I'm going back to my roots
I'm gonna join the stampede
To hear those delta blues
Sing your heart out guaranteed"
Soon it seemed the whole of the Assembly Hall were joining in, singing of going back to their roots at some volume.
Outpost Drive bring a sense of theatre, their songs have real drama and they have to be seen as well as heard. They also bring a degree of humour between songs as we find Mary Bragg's observations on life in the UK. It all makes for a heady cocktail well worth imbibing at Country Calling
Outpost Drive Appear Friday 14th August at Country Calling
Find out about their new album & UK Tour https://www.outpostdrive.com/
Additional pictures courtesy of John Gillespie
