Bluegrass, Folk

Surtout connue en Europe pour ses collaborations avec Robert Plant (leur “Raising Sang” commun de 2007, suivi il y a quatre ans de “Raise The Roof”), Alison Krauss est aussi l’une des stars internationales de l’un désormais sous-genre de l’Americana (popularisé au-delà des cercles spécialisés par les B.O. respectives du “Deliverance” de John Boorman et du “O’ Brother” des frères Coen), le bluegrass. Virtuose précoce du violon, elle effectua ses premiers enregistrements dès son quatorzième anniversaire (auprès de son contrebassiste de frère, Viktor), avant d’entamer deux ans plus tard sa propre carrière solo, puis de se joindre à l’ensemble Union Station, avec lequel elle ne publia pas moins de huit albums (dont deux live). Cela faisait quatorze ans qu’elle n’avait plus enregistré avec ces comparses de la première heure (l’album studio “Paper Airplane” et le live “Mermaid Theater London December 12”, tous deux en 2011). Alison explique: “Habituellement, je trouve une idée qui peut servir de point de départ, de première chanson, puis le reste se met en place naturellement. Cette chanson, c’était “Looks Like The End Of The Road”. C’est Jeremy Lister qui l’a écrite, et elle sonnait tellement pleine de vie que je pouvais entendre les gars la jouer devant moi”. Ouvrant le ban, cette dernière (ainsi que “The Hangman” qui lui succède) exsudent à plein nez ce spleen celtique où l’early hillbilly american music puisa tant (via ses historiques immigrés irlandais et écossais). Sans déroger davantage, “The Wrong Way”, “Granite Mills” et “One Ray Of Shine” évoquent quant à elles le folk Grand-Breton de formations telles que Pentangle, Steeleye Span et Fairport Convention (le timbre clair d’Alison y rejoignant ceux de Jacqui McShee et Sandy Denny), et l’on n’a dès lors plus guère de doutes quant aux affinités entre ce genre et le versant acoustique du Led Zep III (ainsi que, plus tard, celui du “No Quarter” de Page & Plant). Plus ouvertement bluegrass, les jigs “Richmond On The James” et “Snow” mettent en valeur le picking au dobro de l’illustre Jerry Douglas (grand master du style), avant que le rag “North Side Gal” ne rappelle les incursions du Band en ce domaine. À équidistance entre Alela Diane, Judy Dible et Judee Sill, “Forever” et “There’s A Light Up Ahead” confirment quelle splendide vocaliste demeure Alison. Lumineuse et apaisée, l’humeur de cet album s’inscrit dans une tradition reliant maintes générations successives du folk anglo-saxon. Sa performance la plus manifeste réside sans doute en sa capacité à y dissiper tout relent de naphtaline, pour en restituer le principe vital.

Patrick DALLONGEVILLE
Paris-Move, Illico & BluesBoarder, Blues & Co

PARIS-MOVE, March 13th 2025

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Album (CD et vinyle) à commander ICI

Alison Krauss & Union Station US Tour Dates:

• Thursday, April 17, 2025 | The Louisville Palace | Louisville, KY*
• Friday, April 18, 2025 | The Louisville Palace | Louisville, KY*
• Saturday, April 19, 2025 | Mershon Auditorium | Columbus, OH*
• Friday, April 25, 2025 | Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park | Atlanta, GA
• Saturday, April 26, 2025 | Live Oak Bank Pavilion | Wilmington, NC
• Sunday, April 27, 2025 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | Cary, NC
• Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | Bell Auditorium | Augusta, GA
• Wednesday, April 30, 2025 | The Adderley Amphitheater | Tallahassee, FL
• Friday, May 2, 2025 | The Wharf Amphitheater | Orange Beach, AL
• Saturday, May 3, 2025 | Brandon Amphitheater | Brandon, MS
• Sunday, May 4, 2025 | BJCC Concert Hall | Birmingham, AL
• Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | Orpheum Theatre | Memphis, TN
• Monday, May 12, 2025 | First Security Amphitheater | Little Rock, AR
• Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | The Criterion | Oklahoma City, OK
• Thursday, May 15, 2025 | Saint Louis Music Park | Maryland Heights, MO
• Friday, May 16, 2025 | Walmart AMP | Rogers, AR
• Saturday, May 17, 2025 | Starlight Theatre | Kansas City, MO
• Thursday, May 29, 2025 | Smart Financial Centre | Sugar Land, TX
• Friday, May 30, 2025 | Whitewater Amphitheater | New Braunfels, TX
• Saturday, May 31, 2025 | The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory | Irving, TX
• Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | PNC Pavilion | Cincinnati, OH
• Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater | Decatur, IL
• Friday, June 6, 2025 | BMO Pavilion | Milwaukee, WI
• Saturday, June 7, 2025 | The Chicago Theatre | Chicago, IL
• Sunday, June 8, 2025 | The Ledge | Waite Park, MN
• Tuesday, June 10, 2025 | Vetter Stone Amphitheater | Mankato, MN
• Wednesday, June 11, 2025 | Bayfront Festival Park | Duluth, MN
• Friday, June 13, 2025 | McGrath Amphitheatre | Cedar Rapids, IA
• Saturday, June 14, 2025 | Denny Sanford Premier Center | Sioux Falls, SD
• Sunday, June 15, 2025 | The Astro Amphitheater | Omaha, NE
• Monday, June 16, 2025 | Hartman Arena | Park City, KS
• Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO
• Friday, June 20, 2025 | Dillon Amphitheater | Dillon, CO
• Saturday, June 21, 2025 | Kit Carson Park | Taos, NM
• Friday, July 11, 2025 | Arizona Financial Theatre | Phoenix, AZ
• Saturday, July 12, 2025 | The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park | San Diego, CA
• Sunday, July 13, 2025 | Greek Theatre | Los Angeles, CA
• Tuesday, July 15, 2025 | Santa Barbara Bowl | Santa Barbara, CA
• Wednesday, July 16, 2025 | The Mountain Winery | Saratoga, CA
• Friday, July 18, 2025 | Grand Theatre | Reno, NV
• Saturday, July 19, 2025 | Redding Civic Auditorium | Redding, CA
• Sunday, July 20, 2025 | Edgefield Amphitheater | Troutdale, OR
• Tuesday, July 22, 2025 | Wine Country Amphitheater | Walla Walla, WA
• Wednesday, July 23, 2025 | Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden | Boise, ID
• Saturday, July 26, 2025 | Theatre at the Brick | Bozeman, MT
• Sunday, July 27, 2025 | BECU Live at Northern Quest | Airway Heights, WA
• Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | Grey Eagle Resort & Casino | Calgary, AB
• Thursday, July 31, 2025 | TCU Place | Saskatoon, SK
• Friday, August 1, 2025 | Centennial Concert Hall | Winnipeg, MB
• Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | Massey Hall | Toronto, ON
• Thursday, August 21, 2025 | Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park | Indianapolis, IN
• Friday, August 22, 2025 | Ascend Amphitheater | Nashville, TN
• Saturday, August 23, 2025 | The Tennessee Theatre | Knoxville, TN
• Sunday, August 24, 2025 | The Tennessee Theatre | Knoxville, TN
• Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium | Chattanooga, TN
• Thursday, August 28, 2025 | The Dome | Virginia Beach, VA
• Friday, August 29, 2025 | Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront | Richmond, VA
• Saturday, August 30, 2025 | Earl Scruggs Music Festival | Mill Spring, NC +
• Saturday, September 6, 2025 | Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre | Sterling Heights, MI
• Sunday, September 7, 2025 | Jacobs Pavilion | Cleveland, OH
• Tuesday, September 9, 2025 | Wolf Trap | Vienna, VA++
• Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark | Philadelphia, PA
• Friday, September 12, 2025 | Beacon Theatre | New York, NY
• Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | Veterans Memorial Auditorium | Providence, RI
• Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | Leader Bank Pavilion | Boston, MA
• Friday, September 19, 2025 | BankNH Pavilion | Gilford, NH
• Saturday, September 20, 2025 | The Green at Shelburne Museum | Shelburne, VT
• Sunday, September 21, 2025 | Artpark Mainstage Theater | Lewiston, NY
• Tuesday, September 23, 2025 | Salem Civic Center | Salem, VA
• Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | Credit One Stadium | Charleston, SC
• Friday, September 26, 2025 | The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre | St. Augustine, FL
• Saturday, September 27, 2025 | The BayCare Sound | Clearwater, FL
• Sunday, September 28, 2025 | Hard Rock Live | Hollywood, FL