"Bobby Long's name has slipped under the radar in a way that's both surprising and needs rectification. The 24 year old British folk singer echoes the likes of Dylan, Buckley and Donovan, or perhaps more appropriately the late and still largely undiscovered Tim Hardin. Marcus and Genevieve reviewed A Winter Tale, his debut album on Friday.

Long is essentially a storyteller, most at home under a single spotlight with his guitar. The album's territory covers tales of love, loss and retribution in a manner that recalls the great storytellers of the American South. Like Faulkner and Steinbeck, Long is less influenced by the demands of a mass audience than by the urgency of his tales, and the music that emerges is heartfelt and unfussy. We began with the title track, then played Two Years Old, followed by A Stranger Song.

This is music that grows on you, and the fact that its quality has not been recognised by the mainstream music press is puzzling. Seek it out for its beauty and mark Long down as someone to watch carefully - this is surely a talent for the long term."  Read more...
 

Emerging out of London's vibrant new folk scene, 24 year old Bobby Long has been acquiring an impressive set of reviews for his debut album, A Winter Tale. The rave reviews have been coming from notable media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Entertainment Weekly and Pollstar. One even described Long's sound as reminiscent of early Bob Dylan. Serendipitous perhaps that Long found himself on the same bill as Dylan at this year's Bluesfest.

"I had the Beatles and Bob Dylan thrust down my throat from a very early age," said Long backstage at Bluesfest on the afternoon that Dylan was due to fly into the artist compound. He was referring to his family upbringing and the ever presence of music by sixties icons. Long not only admires Dylan for his significant songwriting contribution, but also for his thumb-picking guitar style. "I really like Dylan's playing on some of the early albums, especially the first self titled one. The song 'Baby Let Me Follow You Down',
I learned as a kid. Mississippi John Hurt I really like too, and Robert Johnson ... his finger picking style ... you can't copy that."

Earlier in the day, Long had made quite an impression on a reasonably sized pre-lunch crowd on the Mojo stage. I noticed that the soundhole of his acoustic guitar contained a soft rubber covering, a piece of extraneous noise reducing kit commonly called a feedback-buster, which is becoming quite prevalent. I wondered if he'd tried many different ways of modifying his sound or fiddled with different pickup configurations in his pursuit of an ideal sound ..."  Read more...

 

"Singer and songwriter Bobby Long grew up in a family of musicians, and after resisting music for awhile, he ended up as part of the London folk scene. He also made a friend in actor Robert Pattinson, whose success and performance in 'Twilight' translated to success for Long too. Get more of the story as Bobby Long talks with Alisa Ali in Studio A about his album, 'A Winter Tale'." 

 

"Beautiful poetic lyrics, a young strong and haunting voice. Meet Bobby Long, he is absurdly talented.

Influences of Dylan and Neil Young resonate through his folky style. When I read that Bobby Long only started learning guitar at age 17, I had to re read the article. I caught this guy at Bluesfest in Byron recently and previously on the London circuit in Notting Hill. He is sweet and engaging, on stage. You know the sort of gig where although packed, everyone goes silent as they try to soak up every bit of the artist, hanging on his every word, forgetting about the last tube, and hoping the gig will never end. His music and lyrics sound beyond his years."  Read more...

"Bobby Long at Bluesfest 2011." (interview) 

"In the UK there is a hunger & desire for American Roots music. Bands that were once hard to come by in the UK are now a lot easier to find through a quick internet search or a visit to iTunes. This new found access to American Roots music is shaping & inspiring bands like Mumford & Sons, Admiral Fallow, Adele, as well as this week’s Free Music Friday artist, Bobby Long.

Bobby Long is the kind of artist that creates music that is poetic. His bluesy/soulful voice combine with these poetic lyrics to create songs that are reminiscent of folk music from the late 60′s. Long’s debut album on ATO Records, A Winter’s Tale, is one of the best Americana albums to come out this year & our free track this week, “Hide Yours, I’ll Hide Mine”, is a great example of what one can expect from it. Long’s soulful vocals, which remind me of Richie Havens’ at times, are backed by an acoustic guitar, allowing the lyrics to be the central focus. As is the case with most songs the lyrics can be left up to interpretation. To me it’s about a relationship that is hindered by past heartache. Both are unable to forget it but one is trying desperately to move on from it. Long’s ability to write a deep & poetic song is very much evident on “Hide Yours, I’ll Hide Mine”."  Read more...

"Winter, a season known for being beautiful yet also dark and rough, which is very much a fitting description for the music of singer-songwriter Bobby Long. The 24-year-old musician, originally from Wiltshire but now residing in New York, has been playing guitar and writing music since he was 17 and after moving to London to study at university, he quickly established himself around the open mic scene.

While in London he developed friendships with a variety of musicians and before he knew it, was crossing the Atlantic to play sold out shows all around America. A Winter Tale is the title track from his album of the same name, which was produced with Liam Watson and is due to be released late this year through ATO records. The song mixes distorted guitars and blues-esque drums with warming, heartfelt lyrics and Bobby's soulful vocals. If this track is anything to go by, then the album will make for one captivating listen."  Read more...

"Bobby Long has been making quite an impression here in Australia and overseas. We managed to grab a few minutes with him during his time at Bluesfest.

KT Bell: I’m sitting here with Bobby Long, now you played twice here at Bluesfest, and it’s your first time to Australia – how are you finding Australia?
Bobby Long: I think the people are the nicest people I’ve ever run in to. Really sweet and on a musical level, the crowds have been great. For a first time over here, it’s exceeded my expectations.

KT: A responsive crowd?
BL: Yeah, really great and it’s really exciting. The way that people are grabbing hold of the record, they’re listening to it and it’s just been so positive, I really think that this is going to be a good stronghold for me in the future years, which is really great. And it’s nice that it’s really beautiful too, and the beach, it’s great!

KT: There are a few people who make Bluesfest their regular trip to Australia, like Eric Bibb
BL: Yeah, I met Eric Bibb the other day actually, he’s lovely, and I supported Michael Franti last summer in America and it’s a regular thing for him. I supported Rodrigo y Gabriela and they come back, it’s great. I mean, one year and you feel a bit guilty because you’re working but it feels like a bit of a holiday. I’m sure you’re busier than I am, coz I just play and then do an hour of interviews and what not, and then I get to go and lie on the beach a lot – I haven’t done that yet, but you get to chill out and it’s beautiful weather. Usually at festivals in England it’s raining the whole time, and I heard this is the first time it hasn’t rained in 3 years or something, so it’s just great.

KT: Now, you said yesterday that you managed to leave your harmonica holder on a beach, was that an Aussie beach?
BL: [laughs] That was just a lie! I didn’t know where I left it and didn’t want to confess.
KT: Let’s just say it was Bondi Beach?
BL: [laughs] Yeah! Yeah, I left it on Bondi Beach! I buried it and couldn’t find where I buried it!"