In Cranfield, the Forest Folk and Roots season continues with Bedford's Danni Nicholls on Thursday evening (July 16).
Danni is a classic songwriter, with her feet so firmly rooted in Americana, you can almost hear the creak of cowboy boots on the studio floor!
She recently followed up her debut album, the Nashville-recorded A Little Redemption with Mockingbird Lane, also recorded in Music City.
This time though, she has achieved a grittier sounding opus, but like all true musicians, in the live setting is where it excels.
And Danni is so enamoured with touring that she hasn't has a permanent home for years!
At first glance, Bedford is far removed from American roots music. But her folks loved their music and brought it to her ears at an early age.
“The anglo-indian side of my family are party animals...we had constant house parties at my grandparents place, in halls, or with family in London. There would just always be great American roots music blasting out, jive dancing and singing.
"Music from rock n roll to country and western to soul.
“My grandmother loves country music and would often talk about the Grand Ole Opry, so it was in my psyche from a really young age.”
Age 16 she inherited a 1963 Burns London electric guitar (that legend says once beloned to Billy Fury) and she was hooked.
“...songwriting was immediate and natural...” she says.
She's come a long way, has Danni, and is well worth tipping your ear to at Thursday's College Arms gig.
If you do make it over, get inside nice and early and catch Lloyd North up in support.
Doors open at 7.30pm, tickets are £10 (£8 for concessions).
Call 07931 859737 to reserve in advance.
