Tipping The Hat: The Mid North

Answered by: Cath Cooper

Which act are you paying tribute to and why? Gram Parsons Project, drawing from Gram's whole career: International Submarine Band, Sweetheart Of The Rodeo-period of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers and his solo albums, as part of this year's Bello Winter Music.

What was their best period musically? Probably the first two The Flying Burrito Brothers records, but the solo albums GP and Grievous Angel with Emmylou Harris are wonderful as well.

Your favourite song of theirs and why? I have two — Sin City from the first Flying Burrito Brothers album The Gilded Palace Of Sin and Love Hurts from Grievous Angel. I get to sing them both with wonderful male duet partners.

Which album of theirs would you give to a newbie who had no idea about them to best represent them (and why)? Raven Records put out a career-spanning compilation Warm Evenings, Pale Mornings, Bottled Blues 1963-1973, Further Along: The Best of the Flying Burrito Brothers is excellent, as is GP/Grievous Angel.

When and where is your gig giving them the nod? This tribute to Gram Parsons is part of the second Bello Winter Music Festival. Many of the festival artists will be working in one-off collaborations for this event.