Twangville Presents: Joelton Mayfield and Ben de la Cour

Twangville Presents: Joelton Mayfield and Ben de la Cour Live at Cafe Wha? | Wednesday, October 21st | 5:00 PM Doors, 6:00 PM Show

Joelton Mayfield grew up outside a small central Texas city, running his church's music ministry as a teenager before Dylan and a run of outsider songwriters gave him somewhere else to put his questions. He left for Nashville, traded a music business degree for an English one, played in a series of college bands, and spent most of a decade building toward a debut.

He made it in February 2021, in a family barn near Alabama's Mobile Bay, with a Hammondorgan trucked from Nashville and his grandmother's century-old vibraphone from Texas. Days before the session, the woman he loved, who was also set to co-produce, ended the relationship. Crowd Pleaser came out of the three weeks that followed: ten songs about hypocrisy, doubt, and disappointment, played by a band that sometimes numbered closeto a dozen. He's since opened shows for John Moreland, American Aquarium, and Futurebirds.

Ben de la Cour's visceral songwriting weaves evocative stories of desperate characters with his signature "Americanoir" sound, shining an empathetic, raw, and at times bleak light on the human condition. Raised in Brooklyn, he lived in London, Cuba, and across the United States before settling in the American South over a decade and a half ago, drawing inspiration from writers and musicians alike—Townes Van Zandt, Jimi Hendrix, Nick Cave, Nina Simone, Leonard Cohen, James Baldwin, and Carson McCullers among them. His gothic folk songs create fully realized worlds populated by down-and-out characters trying to make it through.

New Roses is de la Cour's sixth album, following his 2023 Grammy-shortlisted Sweet Anhedonia. It grew out of late-night writing and recording sessions at his home, where he experimented with layering synthesizers and looping sounds, electric guitar, and acoustic fingerpicking. De la Cour plays every instrument on the record except fiddle and trumpet,and the songs balance doom and optimism, seeking out kernels of hope in the darkness.

For over two decades, Twangville has been a devoted champion of Americana music, shining a spotlight on the artists who give the genre its heart and soul. Whether celebrating beloved favorites or introducing emerging talents, they’ve showcased some of the most compelling voices in music through passionate album reviews, insightful interviews, exclusive videos, and even hosting memorable live performances. Their commitment to discovery and storytelling has made Twangville a trusted home for those who love and support independent music.

Founded in 2005, Twangville is a music review website covering all corners of Americana, including folk, country, bluegrass, rock, and blues.

Please Note: There is a two item minimum, per attendee.

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