Motel Sundown are an Americana band based in Liverpool consisting of three songwriters, Karen Turley, Naomi Campbell and Robert Johnson. Formed in 2018, together they combine the sounds they grew up with such as The Beatles, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, with three-part harmonies inspired by the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
In 2022 the band released their debut album If You Were Listening, produced by Mercury Prize nominee Andy Ross and featuring Pedal Steel legend Gerry Hogan.
Since releasing the album, Motel Sundown have been playing shows across the UK both as a full band accompanied by piano, drums and bass, and as an acoustic trio. In this format, the band have played support slots for both local and international Americana artists such as The Hanging Stars, Ashley Campbell, The Chapin Sisters and more recently, US Grammy nominated artist Courtney Marie Andrews.
Motel Sundown have also made various festival appearances including the British Country Music Festival, Cosmic Cape and Sound City.
In June 2023 the band performed at Black Deer Festival alongside Bonnie Raitt, The Pretenders and Allison Russell after winning a slot via public vote through the Black Deer Emerging Competition. The band returned again in 2024 to play the Caffe Nero stage.
Radio stations BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Ulster and Liverpool Live have remained a great support to Motel Sundown since their first single release, Chicago in 2019 and the band were recently titled ‘artist of the week’ on The Late Show on BBC Radio Ulster (Belfast) with Eve Blair. The band were also given a two-page interview in Maverick, one of the UK’s most prestigious Americana and Country magazines.
If You Were Listening, the title track from the debut album was added to Apple Music’s Today’s Country playlist following its release, since gaining over 30,000 streams. The album has also gained over 20,000 streams on Spotify.
Motel Sundown embarked on a summer tour in 2023 which saw them play across Birmingham, Kent, London and Manchester before finishing up at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in September.
They then had two sold out shows in April 2024, one at Green Note in London and one at Liverpool Philharmonic Music Rooms.
The band are now focusing on writing and recording new material and will be releasing their debut EP, El Dorado on 28th June 2024.
“After all their time playing in Liverpool, it’s no surprise their sound is already honed and song craft accomplished.” AMERICANA UK
“The perfect soundtrack to a road trip at sunset, leaving your troubles behind and your hopes out in front.” URBANISTA
“This is sophisticated Americana that should see them going places.” FATEA
Dark and Twisties are; Sarah Birch, Kate Ronconi, Sarah Passmore, Danny Kilbride and Huw Rees, a collective made up of members of Lost Tuesday Society, Rag Foundation, and Sarah and the Creepy Uncles.
They have received a rapturous reception since bursting into the local music scene, weaving stories old and new into strange and beautiful songs with glorious harmonies and skilful musicianship.
Parson Howl sings songs about the mundanity of life with a beauty that you may not at first expect. Soulful and skilful in equal measure, he’s one to watch on the local folk scene.
Tickets here:
Motel Sundown + Dark And Twisties + Parson Howl Tickets, Sat, Oct 19, 2024 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite