Memphis In The Meantime

The songwriter Robbie Robertson says you always know you're in the American South because the audience claps on the off-beat. There's a similar line of thought on the new album by Amy LaVere, 'Anchors And Anvils'. She's continuously looking for the groove, the syncopation, the swamp dimension

Amy has her own philosophy about the wellspring of American music. She says it's in the current of the Mississippi River, that runs fresh in northern parts and disgorges near New Orleans, where the current is slow, muddy and strange. But in Memphis, she reckons, the pace is just about perfect. That's where she made the record with legendary producer Jim Dickinson (Aretha, The Stones, The Replacements) and the mood is ideal.

It was successfully transported to the Opera House, Belfast on Monday night, where Amy supported Seasick Steve .Earlier in the day, she met with myself in the BBC studios, where she gave a top interview. Tune in tonight at 10pm for the results.