The band Ida Mae is the project of a prolific UK artist couple who have been based in Nashville for a number of years. Even before their move, Chris Turpin and Stephanie Jean Ward, who met at university and soon discovered a mutual love of music, released three ravishing albums with their former band, Kill It Kid, to critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic were recorded. As Ida Mae, Turpin and Ward have garnered further acclaim for their bold sound that blends classic English folk, sprawling Americana and mangy, frenetic rock.
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POSTER Ida Mae
Ida Mae
Moving to Nashville in 2019 led to the release of her debut album, Chasing Lights, produced by Ethan Johns (Laura Marling, Kings of Leon, Ray Lamontagne, among others). Praised by the Independent and Rolling Stone, Ida Mae embarked on a tour that would serve as the backdrop for her second album: the self-produced Click Click Domino. Recorded in the isolation of the COVID lockdown, the record combines well-known country blues and folk tones with more synthetic sounds. The swing of the title track sees Turpin duel with guitar hero Marcus King. The pounding riff is reminiscent of Howlin' Wolf or Jack White. After the release, the duo played support for Allison Krauss, Willie Nelson, Greta Van Fleet, The Marcus King Band and many others and opened the main stage of the famous Newport Folk Festival.
Their latest album, Thunder Above You, continues to explore the effervescent indie rock aesthetic they've been known for since their first gig. Now Ida Mae is going on tour with it and will inspire Berlin.
