Margo Cilker and Nick Shoulders bringing Americana to Sydney

Fans of Americana music are about witness the talent of two fast emerging stars of the genre when Margo Cilker and Nick Shoulders hit the stage at the Factory Theatre in October.

Shoulders’ music is rooted in American country and is know for his views questioning the culture of modern country music, while Cilker is a child of California who leans towards the more poetic outlook influenced by her Washington state home where she now lives on a farm.

“I currently live on a sheep ranch, but I am touring most of the time,” Margo Cilker said. “There’s a house that we rent and we are not in charge of the sheep, and that’s probably a very good thing.”

When City Hub spoke with Cilker she was in Seattle preparing to support her friends in the indie rock band The Decemberists, and is beyond excitement about her first tour of Australia.

“Everyone is very excited my end and I can’t wait to get down there,” Cilker said. “I read the Bill Bryson book about Australia, In a Sunburnt Country a few years back and I learned a bit about the landscape and the creatures.”

Cilker describes her music as being “a little bit country, a little bit rock’n’roll, and I love performing in rural places and playing in the cities and everything in between.”

Nick Shoulders has just come of a month of dates supporting Sierra Ferrell, the new queen of alt-country. This Australia tour will be the first chance that Cilker and he have had to perform together.

“I have never played with Nick Shoulders before, but I saw him play years ago when we crossed paths in a little bar in Oregon, so it will be fun to do some shows together,” Cilker said.

Like many performers in the alt-country/Americana scene, Cilker releases her albums on small independent labels and must rely on word of mouth from shows and the little bit of coverage that fan sites and mainstream media give.

One break for Cilker came when the respected British music magazine “Uncut” did a feature article on her and included her then single Wine in the World on the magazine’s free CD.

“A number of people have told me that they discovered my music through the magazine and that is a good opportunity,” Cilker said. “I might have to dust that song off as I haven’t been playing it too much.”

In terms of influences Cilker is decidedly old school, citing two legends, both known for their independent approaches to music and their careers.

“Of course there is Bob Dylan and Neil Young,” Cilker said. “They have left big impressions on me. I love Neil Young for his approach to guitar, which is kind of unwieldy. These artists I have always looked up to and they themselves grow and allow changes in style and that brings an evolution to the scene.” She also mentions to the alt-county band from Minneapolis,The Jayhawks, as being among her favourites.

Cilker has been playing the guitar since she was 12 and after her Australian dates is looking forward to playing with her band and hitting the road.

“It so, so much fun and you form such good friendships,”Cilker said.

Margo Cilker and Nick Shoulders
Wednesday October 9
Factory Theatre, Marrickville
https://www.factorytheatre.com.au/event/nick-shoulders-margo-cilker/