Grateful Fred's: Americana & Roots Music

Grateful Fred's have been pioneering Americana and Roots music in Formby, Southport and Liverpool since 2010 and during that time have presented some of the best US, Canadian and World artists.

On the first Wednesday of every month, join the Fredhead's at The Atkinson for a wonderful night of live acoustic music.

The Club Night
7.30pm – Vision Thing
8.00pm – The Weeping Willows
8.40pm – Interval
9.00pm - Over The Moon
Canadian duo "Over The Moon" consists of Suzanne Levesque and Craig Bignell, both award-winning vocal and multi-instrumentalists.

There's an inner glow that comes across both in studio and live settings – the pure essence of doing it right; they radiate warmth and play and sing together so well, it's entrancing.

When they toured the UK in 2022 the impact they made was exceptional and we knew the "Fredheads" would really love them. This roots/swing partnership live and breathe real cowboy country. Living on a ranch in the foothills of Alberta's Rocky Mountains, it's inevitable there will be a strong sense of place – and the rhythms of the land – when you pick up an instrument and start to make music.

When the couple released their debut album, the resonances were there for all to hear, reflecting the pulse of life in a territory that is both dirt-hard rugged and stunningly beautiful. It was a wild ride that took in styles from 40's Western Swing and Appalachian Old-Time to cowboy blues.

Authentic and sweetly melodic, all of the material they play has a common thread that speaks of the Canadian West.

Back home, they've enjoyed immense success. Nominated in 2022 for a JUNO Award in the Roots Album of The Year category, they currently have a Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination in the Ensemble of The Year section, and a 2023 Album of The Year nomination in the Alberta Country Music Awards.

The Weeping Willows
We are delighted to be welcoming to Grateful Fred's two of Australia's most travelled and award-winning musicians, Laura Coates and Andrew Wigglesworth, of The Weeping Willows.

This Melbourne-based have performed throughout the USA and Europe and have supported artists such as Iris DeMent and Lachlan Bryan and have garnered rave reviews wherever they have played.
Vision Thing
Vision Thing are a five-piece band with members from across North West England, featuring female and male vocals, acoustic guitar, violin and bass, and with the addition of harmonium and occasional second guitar, they produce a warm and engaging sound, described by FATEA Magazine as: "the most incredibly harmonious and beautiful music, simultaneously lowering the heartbeat yet stimulating lyrically."

Quite a testimonial!

Their most recent full-length release, "Whateverland", was enthusiastically received by the folk music radio and press community and described as, "their strongest set yet of texture-based songs that compel the listener to engage. Their music seeps into your soul, it calms, it lifts and encourages. In this day and age… that's priceless".

Having recently played at Wigan Diggers Festival and been featured and interviewed on the Mike Sweeney show on BBC Radio Manchester, they are working on a new album produced by John Kettle of Tansads and Merry Hell.