Ma Polaine's Great Decline

The rootsy duo, Ma Polaine's Great Decline have been described as “like a young Billie Holiday gate-crashing a Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones recording session.” This is a good thing in my books. On stage, singer, Beth Packer, moves between double bass, accordion and harmonica, with partner, Clinton Hough, accompanying her powerful yet sensitive vocal on electric or acoustic guitar and an occasional percussive foot. The songs, which take in elements of jazz as well as blues and country, have a haunting quality, hanging in the air long after the last note has been plucked and faded into nothing.

Their Wild Hare Club show was the first date of a mini-tour to promote the release of their Small Town e.p. Putting the needle down on the 10” record, a thing of beauty, is to be transported back to the candlelit room and be transfixed once again. Magical.