Reviews

Loretta Lynn Tribute Concert Troubadour Theatre LA 11th Feb 2017 – Lesley Hastings

February 13, 2017 Nick Cantwell brandy clark, coalminer's daughter, loretta lynn, lori mckenna

There must be very few female country music artists who haven’t been influenced in some way or other by Loretta Lynn, and ahead of this year’s Grammy Awards (where her latest album “Full Circle” is nominated for Best Country Album) a host of artists paid tribute to her at LA’s legendary Troubadour Club. In the city for a few days (mainly for Brandy Clark’s concert at the same venue on Valentines Day) I was fortunate enough to be at the tribute and what a fantastic bonus it turned out to be!! Two hours of superb musicians singing Loretta’s songs (plenty to chose from, her career has spanned 57 years!) and of the female performers (as this site is dedicated to them!) I’ll mention a few who really stood out for me. Lori McKenna had flown in earlier in the day from Boston and despite saying how tired she felt performed ” Woman of the World” and the really amusing ” You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” totally beautifully.

Loretta’s family was well represented and clearly county music is in the genes, her daughter Patsy Lynn Russell (accompanied by John Carter Cash – they co-produced ” Full Circle”) sang “Everything It Takes”
which is on the aforementioned album and is a rare Loretta co-write (with Todd Snyder) before granddaughter Emmy Rose gave an emotional performance of a song she wrote about the guitar Loretta had handed down to her, the very one she had written many of her iconic songs on. Last but by no means least it was Brandy Clark’s turn to pay tribute to the artist that has, on her own admission, inspired her so much over the years, but before her performance she had the honour of reading out a letter from Loretta apologising for missing the evening and thanking everyone for their support throughout her career. Rounding off the evening by fabulous renditions of “You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man” and “Coalminer’s Daughter” (accompanied by her trusted guitarist Miles Aubrey).