FAN CONCERT REVIEWS
Hi Everyone ..please share you thoughts on Tia's Recent UK tour with us here ..if you would like to submit a review please feel free to email us at tiamcgraffukfanclub@yahoo.com. Indeed if you have seen Tia and Tommy in the USA or Canada and would like ti share the magic with us, please send ina review and I will happily post it..this site is for all Tia's fans to enjoy and connect!
The Beehive, Swindon, July 12th 2006 Glad you liked the photos we sent you in the week. Here is my Tia review. There was a full house at The Beehive in Tia was happy to chat to fans before the jig started and seemed relaxed and eager to entertain the crowd that had gathered to hear her sing. The numbers swelled greatly as the evening progressed, everyone cheering and clapping loudly. Die hard fans singing along to all of the songs, even dancing at times to the music. This Tia commented on as being fantastic. People actually dancing - WOW! Tia did a fantastic rendition of Outside of the Circle and had the audience singing along to Cracks in the Sidewalk or for the I managed to get my daughter and some friends from work to go along to the evening with me. Sara, my daughter, was captivated by Tia's music and her friendly nature. As we were right at the front of the pub we had a birds eye view of Tia and Tommy and she could obviously see that we were all having great fun. Sara loved it when Tia sang one of her favourite tracks - But You Did. A great song and one that the audience was all singing loudly along with. Obviously they had practised all the words before leaving home!!! That Ain't My Story, a new song, a song about how all that we hear on the news is depressing and miserable - never any good news. Tia sang this and got a great reception, probably because a lot of people could relate to the sentiment of the song. A lovely song - can't wait for that to be on a CD. Tia obviously likes that song a lot as she had a big smile on her face the whole time she was singing it. Other songs included in the set: Catfish Deacon, How Much Fun Can a Cowgirl Have (loved that one and it was fun to sing along to), a great rendition of Me and Bobby McGee that had the whole of the pub singing and Thing Called Love (another personal favourite and classic song). Most of the audience knew Thing Called Love and were loudly singing along to that one. In the interval Tia and Tommy took the time to pose for photos with their fans. They are keen to release their new album but want it to be as good as it can possibly be. Hence a bit of a delay. Can't wait for it to be released! Will certainly be buying a copy of that as soon as it is released. The evening finished all too soon with a brilliant rendition of the popular song - Mr Bojangles. This had everyone in the pub singing and dancing. Tia does a great version of what is already a classic song. The last time she played at The Beehive she finished the evening with Mr Bojangles so it seemed fitting that this evening was also rounded off with what is such a popular and universally well known song. Tia finally left the stage at 11.30pm to shouts of more, more, more. Tia seemed pleased with the turn out and the applause and praise she had received throughout the night. After the show Tia was more than willing to sign autographs and again chat to fans. Sara had her photo taken with Tia and got Tia and Tommy's autograph. We chatted for some time about the evenings show and the songs that Tia had sung. Even when we left we chatted to Tommy, who was by then loading up the car. Tia certainly has a good following in Swindon and has some very devoted fans. Let's hope that she manages to make a return visit to Swindon next year until then we will have to make do with her CD's and the promise of the new CD to be released soon I hope!!! House Concert, Turners Hill, Gatwick. Thankyou to Simon who hosted this event, for sharing his website review and photographs with us. To see the review click here. You can access the photographs via the same page or via the Photographs page on thisd site. Please send us your reviews of the concerts you attend and any photogrpahs you take as we can't wait to share Tia and Tommy's tour with the rest of you! Silver Lake Canada Day Celebrations - Port July 1ST, 2006 Hi Helen, Hey there kiddo, you are next! Tia is all warmed up and ready to come to the What a great Canada Day Party and summer kick off! Tia & Tommy were in top form. It was so good to see and hear them live and just letting it all hang out. The whole park at Bernie & Dave Barber, Port Dover, Ontario, Canada. I would like to personally thank Bernie and Dave for this wonderful review. I don’t know about you, but I almost felt like I was there, reading it! Thankyou also, for their interest and involvement in the UK Fanclub, from all the way over in Canada….I really appreciate your input and support guys! I also happen to know that Bernie and Dave have been rather spoiled having Tia and Tommy back home for two weeks and are going to miss them. I know they’d appreciate it if we all make sure they are welcomed and loved whilst they are here with us…..no problem..right? "What The Hell Am I Doin’ Here," to quote one Tia McGraff’s latest songs, was clearly not a sentiment echoed by those lucky to be in The Riverside, South Shields, on Wednesday 23rd November. Tia and Tommy undertook a very encouraging first UK tour in May/June of this year which captured the attention of, among others, radio 2’s Bob Harris, who called them in during this second tour in November, to play a live session on his Thursday night show. Having brought fellow singer songwriters Gretchen Peters and Beth Nielsen Chapman to national attention, Bob clearly wants the same for Tia. Several venues had booked them in for this tour during their first tour back in May. This November, they returned to play a larger number of venues. In this, the final week of a four week tour, her performance was the best I’d seen. Canadian, but six year Nashville resident, ex music teacher Tia McGraff, and her songwriting partner and fiancé Tommy Parham, originally from Colorado, treated the audience to an eclectic mix of their own recorded material and previews of recently written material which is under consideration for the new album. The audience, many of whom hadn’t heard Tia’s music prior to this evening clearly knew they were experiencing something special and were soon won over by their outstanding performance. Tommy is a wonderful guitarist and provides excellent harmony for Tia’s vocals. Tia’s personality comes across easily in her anecdotes between songs about their origins and her experiences in the UK. From the touching simplicity of songs such as ‘This is How Waiting Feels’ where the soft sound of Tia’s voice is accompanied by Tommy gently plucking the guitar, to a never before heard cover of fellow Canadian artist Amanda Marshall’s "Believe in You," Tia showed The Riverside’s audience the true range of her vocal ability. It is very difficult indeed to select particular songs from Tia’s set, but two which stood out for me were the title track of her new album, "Outside of the Circle," a song which was inspired by her Canadian outspokenness in a somewhat more reserved Nashville, and "Ought To Be Rock" another of her new offerings, inspired by a chance remarkby a friend. We were also taken down to the Louisiana Bayou with the wonderful "Catfish Deacon" and Tia ended the night with a beautiful acoustic version of one of my favourites, "Jewel’s Café," from her second album of the same title, which describes a bar ‘not dissimilar to this one’ back in Tia’s hometown, ‘where life goes down easy….’ The audience were obviously impressed with Tia, having enjoyed the music, and afterwards wanting to chat, buy CDs and in the case of two new fans, asking to ‘jam’ with them after the show was over. Tia and Tommy were impressed too; something utterly magical happened that night, we all sensed it, even a ghost messing with Tia's mics couldn't take that away, and are determined to come back to this venue on their next tour, mid 2006, when their new album is released. Book your seats early! Thankyou so so much to Tia and Tommy, for being as determined as me to get a gig here in South Shields, for an incredible gig, and for a magical night and following day which I will treasure the memories of forever.....
Hi Helen
July 8th 2006
Tia McGraff and Tommy Parham
at The Riverside, South Shields, November 23rd 2005
This review was also featured in Maverick magazine and the americana-uk.com website. check out
http://www.americana-uk.com/auk/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=19&page_id=142
Swindon ‘The Beehive’ 22nd November 2005... Andy Cole writes:
Setlist : 1. But You Did 2. I End Up Goin' That Way 3. Cross The Line 4. Ought To Be Rock 5. Love Lies Bleeding 6. Can't Rain Everyday 7. Cracks In The Sidewalk 8. Outside The Circle interval....9. Somethin' 10. Slip Away 11. Life Lines 12. This Is How Waiting Feels 13. Kinengan (Gypsy Queen) 14. What The Hell Am I Doin' Here 15. Everytime I See you 16. Fisherman's Song 17.Mr Bojangles 18. Catfish Deacon 19. Jewel's Cafe
Great to meet up with Tia & Tommy on a damp, misty November’s night in Swindon. I heard previously from various sources what a very intimate venue the Beehive is, described as ‘a cultural oasis in the desert of the Swindon scene'. I was very much looking forward to this gig as fans of Eve Selis who had seen her there waxed lyrically about, it was fantastic night, barely breathing room with the whole band crammed in there, a gig which will be much talked about for some time to come! Behind the bar was a great photo of Eve posing as a barmaid! …Andy who organizes the live music at the Beehive told me they had to turn away punters at the door it was so packed! …I hope Tia's fanbase grows to such an enthusiastic extent!
Tia & Tommy opened with ‘But You Did’, a song on a new 5 track EP 'Raw Acoustic Sessions' which they have been selling on this tour. They had performed it the week previously live for a session with Radio 2's Bob Harris. Indeed it proves how vital Radio airplay is with people turning up on this night impressed with what they had heard. Tia had struggled with her voice early on in the tour suffering with a bad cold. She was delighted to tell us all that she that felt great again now this had cleared. She was indeed in fine voice and much to my delight we were treated to a ballad feast, Tia picking up on how well they were being received. Towards the end of the first set there were a few gremlins with the sound system but like true professionals they kept the flow going. During the interval the problem was thankfully ironed out.
The evening just got better & better as it progressed. From where I was sitting, I could see lots of smiling faces; nods of approvals and people were generally listening attentively. It was obviously apparent Tia was winning over new fans. A night of many highlights but lovely to hear many brand new songs. ’What The Hell Am I Doin’ Here’ with its catchy chorus Jesus was a renegade from Galilee, Elvis was the King from Tennessee’‘ is such a simple and beautiful song asking for direction in one’s life.
'This Is How Waiting Feels', a gorgeous heartache song, like so many going straight to the heart and the reason so many people are finding comfort in the special music Tia and Tommy are making.
It's always a privilege to hear 'The Fisherman's Song'' which tells the story of life in her hometown of Port Dover in Canada. At the end of the performance Tia touchingly raised a glass to a late retired fisherman friend called Walt. She said at his passing, she was asked to sing it at his funeral.
Mr Bojangles' was the first song I'd heard Tia cover. Strangely unfamiliar to me, but not to the many present! A favourite song of Tia's for many years it certainly suited her style. This strange ballad about an itinerant dancer was made famous by Sammy Davis Jnr as a theatrical showstopper. Tia is certainly in good company, many well-known artists having cut it: Nina Simone, Robbie Williams, Lulu, John Denver, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and. Harry Nillsson. Lyrics
After this the Beehive crowd just wouldn't let them go, demanding more! .'Catfish Deacon' and 'Jewels Cafe' followed, rounding off a lovely evening of LIVE music. You've guessed it; Tia & Tommy have been invited back.
Galeri, Caemarfon (Wales) November 12th 2005. Keith Barrat writes:
CANADIAN CHORDS ON A DARK, WET AND WINDY NIGHT
Two weeks ago it was to the wild badlands of North Manchester that this Welshman went, unarmed and without police outriders for security, to listen in awe to John Prine.
Yesterday, the journey was simpler. A new theatre/arts complex has opened in Caernarfon, down where the fishing docks used to be on the edge of the Menai Straits and just three miles from my home.
I went to listen to a Canadian singer/song writer, Tia McGraff.
Tia is building a big reputation for her work.. She was featured live on Bob Harris's leading country music programme on the BBC earlier in the week - which guarantees a growing following in the UK. You can catch the online show until Thursday here; she is about half an hour into the programme.
I like country singers with a hard edge and a sharp political and social eye for what is going on around them. Yet all of us need periods of reflection on our relationships and how we deal with life and how life deals with us. This is mainly what Tia gave us on Saturday night. Not that Tia doesn't observe and feel things in others intensely as well, as her song Life Lines on her album "Outside of the Circle" shows.
To say "It was all enjoyable" I guess sounds a bit prosaic. It's not meant to be. That is what it was, in all its fullness: extremely enjoyable. With that little extra that lets you know you are hearing something a bit special.
She sang sweetly and she sang strongly, at times with passion and at times with a quiet longing in a way that offset the wet, cold night outside. She even dared enter sacred territory for this Welshman by singing Mr Bojangles and I was truly captured by her version, as I was by her signature song Jewel's Café
I guess I should talk more about her singing because it deserves the attention but instead I will just tell you that I also thought she was beautiful as well. You know this Welshman - always a pushover for a pretty face. But hey, there are truly beautiful girls in Canada - something that I had almost forgotten since I had that thing for Margot Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies. I must say an evening listening to Tia left me feeling a bit more on the upbeat side of life than I do after playing a track or two of The Trinity Session - much as I like that record late at night after enough wine to mellow the soul.
Her partner and accompanying guitarist Tommy Parham is a nice guy, too. I even forgave him his pride in the genuine Texas origins of his strangely decorated Stetson hat. Didn't expect any Lone Star State affection from a Virginian now. I suppose that ol' Confederate thing still retains some hold. A few caustic remarks by me about George Bush, however, seemed to cause no obvious rancour and Tia wrote "Peace" on my CD so, whether there was common ground on all of this or not, that makes her O.K. in more ways than just three for me.
Wokingham House Concert 14th May 2005 ...Andy Cole writes:
" This was the first night of Tia & Tommy's tour on their first visit to the UK. Having been completely blown away by Tia's music since discovering her in March this day couldn't have come round quick enough! ;) ..What an evening so very intimate! Great to hear the songs but most importantly to discover the stories about where the special music came from. The sound was beautifully set up and an attentive audience knew they were in for somethin' special from Tia and her partner Tommy Parham who accompanied her on guitar throughout & adding harmony vocal. The opening new song therefore very apt …the words in the song immediately striking a chord.."Somethin' that makes my heart beat, passion or pain don't matter…somethin' that makes my adrenaline rush"
I was then completely touched when Tia dedicated 'Cracks in the Sidewalk' to me, a favourite song from the new album 'Outside the Circle' from which I have drawn such strength .....The words are truly special and uplifting and full of hopefulness..'There are Cracks in the Sidewalk where a tiny seed can fall, become a miracle even though it might seem hopeless'. A song inspired by a book called 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' that was also an old black & white movie.
'Can't rain Everyday' was a song written with James House (Grammy nominated songwriter for Dwight Yoakham's 'Ain't That Lonely Yet' ) . Tia commented 'Were lucky that it hasn't rained yet..We've brought the sun hopefully with us ' ..Strangely it was very showery for the 2 weeks that followed!!. LOL .Continuing in a 'weather vane' ( sorry bad pun !)
'Beautiful Sky' was another new song being showcased written with a co-writer friend Lisa Chesney? An observation song of people on a gorgeous Nashville day, soaking up everything, being peaceful and enjoying the moment…lovely.
'Outside The Circle' was channelled as an outburst of emotions as a reaction to the 'Written Rules Of Nashville'; Tia's outspoken Canadian background being somewhat hard to tame ..hee ..Hence the words ' I wanna see a new colour
when i walk out my front door, and if it’s freaky people purple, that's somethin’ i ain’t seen before' …and being proud of her individualism..'God made these lines on my hands so very different from yours, to separate me from the crowd.
Greg Crowe was mentioned known for writing "Little Did I Know" by Sammy Kershaw, and "Lonely and Gone" by Montgomery Gentry. He co-wrote 2 songs on the new album 'I End Up Goin' That Way' and latter in the set 'Life Lines'.
Tia narrated a lovely story behind 'Eyes Of My Eyes' inspired by a line in a book by a writer some 5 years earlier talking about seeing life through 'the eyes of his eyes'…Tia connected with these feelings, having found it really hard to leave her family in Canada. A move to Nashville brought a lot of new challenges, resulting in a sense of growing. Starting a new relationship and consequently having her soul opened up by a whole new 'set of eyes'.
'Everytime I See You' from Tia's previous album 'Jewel's Café' brought much laughter knowing it written for one ex and recorded for another! hee :)…It was released as a video to CMT Canada. Another brand new song was instantly catchy called 'Slip Away' proving there are great songs 'in the can' for the next album..Tia & Tommy sure are ON FIRE!!
A truly magical moment followed with a first hearing of ' Ought'a be Rock' written with Rick Giles who has had 4 songs cut by Reba McEntire most notably 'Is There Life Out There'. This was a spine chilling stuff..drawn from someone who had been through many difficult moments in life with words…' if time and life & love and hurt and sticks and stones and mud and dirt and hope and faith and bad mistakes make your heart stronger ..I oughta be rock by now'.
The first halve ended with new material once more 'But You Did' a song which has apparently evolved in a more spiritual direction but still maintaining a great sense of love.
Kinengan ( Gypsy Queen ) opened the 2nd halve from the 'Jewels Café' album. Story draws from the experience of Tia's grandparents who emigrated to Canada from Transylvania' shortly before World War 2, her grandmother embarked on a journey with her 2yr old daughter never to see her family again. The name 'Kinengan' being Rumanian for 'Gypsy Queen' fitting in neatly with the chorus..' And I'll be anywhere you wanna run just to see your body shine in the midnight sun..I'll be your Kinengan'..Proving to her grandma she could rhyme it with something..How very cool !!
'Life Lines' brought warm applause having been featured on Bob Harris' BBC Radio 2 Country Program earlier on in the week . Tia & Tommy overjoyed at the way their music has been embraced in such a short time in the UK.
Tia was openly excited to tell us of co-writing with one of 'Canada's Jewels' ..Mr.Randy Bachman of 'Bachman Turner Overdrive' fame,a band who had chart success in the UK chart in the seventies with 'You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet'. Randy's wife Denise who played mandolin on ' Love-Lies-Bleeding' described how the flower grows through all kind of weathers and never dies, So the love in the track mirrors this enduring quality.
An unexpected treat followed hearing ' Fishermans Song' from Tia's first album 'Small Town life' . A song very much drawn from the heart about life back in her hometown of Port Dover on the North Shore of Lake Erie. The tale tells of a sea captain she knew as a late teenager who went down with his fishing boat in a storm. Such courage and devotion really moved her and Tia took the opportunity to write a song for a fishing album about commercial fisherman. Tia expressed that one of her most wonderful times in her musical career was seeing the reaction to it by a burly, retired fisherman who had been inducted into the 'Port Dover Hall Of Fame' when she sang it for him.
'Rest On Me' was superbly adapted for the house concert as the album version has heavy synthesiser and strings arranged by Jimmy Nichols ( Musical Director For Reba McEntire) .Tommy explained that the song was originally written on guitar and that Tia's voice on the track was cut on the 1st take. If theres a better love song out there I'd love to hear it !!!…oh the words "well it should be so easy to let the clock just tick away, but you’re lying here beside me feelin’ guilty ‘cause it’s the middle of the day, what's wrong with stayin’ here a while ,cast your cares away and let me love you in my style "
'Dog House for Sale' was described as a 'letting go of issues' song, as we all put ourselves in the preverbal doghouse at some point in our lives!
'Rocks That You Can't Move' was written by Tommy and the song has been cut by Lee Greenwood on his last album and released as a single . A trio on songwriters one of which Rob Crosby wrote 'Concrete Angel' for Martina McBride helped out Tommy with the song). Its about friends who instil into a black farmer his responsibility of taking care of his fields so not to starve to death then devoting so much time as a stargazer with his telescope. A beautifully constructed track and tastefully handled song with words… 'He'd seen a world where minds are closed and so many hearts were made of stone, but I never heard a bitter word when I asked him about the pain he had known…when it comes to harvest time were all bound to reap just what we sow, so the best that I can tell yer is always do the best that you can do, move the rocks & plough your fields and plough between the rocks that you can't move'.
I was not aware of the story around the gorgeous title track 'Jewel's Café' from Tia's second album. So that night it took on a whole new meaning. Tia recalling a pub where she used to hang around as a teenager and the pictures on the walls were of baseball teams who represented the pub. One of the photos was of her late cousin Rob who died at aged 30 in an industrial accident trying to save his friends life. Whilst writing 'Jewels Café' Tia remembered those times looking up at Rob's picture and those feelings remain in her heart to this day.
On a very different level Tia & Tommy launched into the fun live song 'Catfish Deacon' again written with Rick Giles, it’s a philosophy swampy song that’s certainly goes down a storm heard live!
The wonderful evening was rounded off with ' What A Life' which along with the title cut a song, inspired the concept of the new album. A deeply moving song being thankful for what you have …with words that so express the feeling…'don’t cry, it’s just growin’ pains it’s all right, don’t have to fight the changes, we live, we die, and if we find the key ,oh what a life, life can be'
I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Robert & Shirley Mills who very kindly invited me over to their house to share in this special night. It was indeed a privilege to be there and I will remember it always. Tia is indeed such a sweet person and the enjoyment, which she & Tommy radiated with their performance, certainly lit up my face and those around me.
"And when you find the key. Oh what a life, life can be! "
Happy Times..Thank you Tia & Tommy
Rcckridge Festival at Rockridge, Burnhope, Durham; May 29th 2005. Well, I have to admit; it was advertised as “Rick ridge Country Music Festival” and I should have known. That said, the venue was intriguing; a huge marquee in the field of a big farm, set back from a residential area, although it felt miles form anywhere! There were people dressed in all kinds of crazy outfits and people selling various wares form stalls. (I have to confess to buying a rather gorgeous bead belt, made by a local woman whose husband is a native Indian from Arizona.) The inside of the marquee was set up with huge rows of tables, mostly covered in US and confederate flags – the same as those waving above the hundreds of caravans parked around the marquee. Dad and I managed to grab two folding seats and place them right in front of the stage! The Haleys performed first -I have heard of them but never seen them, and they did a decent set of cover songs. Their harmony is good, and Becky’s yodelling wasn’t far out from Suzy Bogguss.’ Their Dad was dragged up on stage and he did the most amazing yodelling I’ve ever heard – you can see where Becky gets it from! They threw in lots of line dance favourites, which is clearly what they expected! I tried it at the Bluebird Café in 1996 aged 16, and made a fool of myself with my two left feet! The Haleys went off and I saw Tia standing to the side of the stage. As I had been emailing her for a while prior to this day, and she was expecting me there – (we’d been trying to rig a more local to me gig but alas it was too late….) I decided to just go on up and say hi. I wandered over and said “Sorry to interrupt, can I just quickly say, hi Tia, I’m Helen.” I got a huge hug and “It’s so awesome to finally meet you!” then was introduced to and hugged by Tommy. It struck me immediately that they seemed genuinely pleased to meet me and that I had made it there. Tia asked where I was sitting and I told her, right at the front, to which she replied ‘great’, talk to you afterwards.' then off they went to get started. In no particular order – I’m, always too caught in the moment to make setlists! – they sang; Something – this is a new song but quite 'beaty' and one I enjoyed. Outside of the Circle – I love this song – Tia explained its origins – that she was frustrated by the ‘say and don’t say’ rules of Nashville being an outspoken Canadian. There is lots in this song I relate to in my own way -Tia dedicated this song to me which was lovely. AS she did so I got a huge smile. Cracks in the Sidewalk – Again Tia explained its origins – inspired by a book called ‘A tree grows in Brooklyn’ which I am now trying to get hold of so I can read it! This is a beautiful song and some of the lyrics are very meaningful to me. Can’t Rain Everyday – along with a joke, which naturally tempted fate as it rained the next day! Lifelines – With a brief but lovely explanation that it was to do with grandmothers – a beautiful song, which naturally brought to mind my grandmas who died when I was young. I also love the aspect of this song that is about settlers.
By Helen Mitchell
bravenet.com