NewsWillie Sugarcapps

“A Trip to Eddie’s Attic for a Willie Sugarcapps Show”

An Article by Johnny Cole
Photos by Stephen Anderson

The first time I had the privilege of seeing Willie Sugarcapps was directly after their self-titled debut release, “Willie Sugarcapps”, became available on vinyl. The show at The Soul Kitchen in Mobile, Alabama that evening was met with enthusiasm and excitement by an audience of loyal fans of this newly formed ensemble originating only months earlier at The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm in the charming country community of Silverhill, Alabama. In the months that followed, I continued to attend Willie Sugarcapps shows, as well as shows by each individual band member – Will Kimbrough, Sugarcane Jane’s Anthony and Savana Lee Crawford, Grayson Capps, and Corky Hughes, with growing appreciation of their talents.

In 2014, The Southland Music Line named Willie Sugarcapps as our Music Artist of the Year. Over the years, we have written several articles about each member of the band. Stephen Anderson created hundreds of outstanding photographs, and Robby Amonett has captured some of his most successful work on canvas featuring this most loved group of musicians. It can be easily said that Will, Anthony, Savana, Grayson and Corky have been a major part of what we set out to do five years ago at “The Line”. Speaking to Willie Sugarcapps, from all of us, thank you.

Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA

On the evening of Sunday, September 2, 2018 several Gulf Coast fans traveled to the famous Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia (outside Atlanta) to attend a Willie Sugarcapps show. They were wrapping up a series of shows which included a performance at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe. Though I had seen everyone numerous times individually in the last couple years, it had been awhile since I had enjoyed a show by all of them together as Willie Sugarcapps. I felt that one of my favorite venues in the South would be a great place to enjoy such a show and my decision couldn’t have been more right. Quite frankly, I believe it was one of their very best shows. Something special comes alive when these five hit the stage together at a place like Eddie’s Attic – maybe it is a bit of old-fashioned magic, but regardless it was one of the best evenings of music I’ve enjoyed in 2018.


Looking Back: How I Came To Learn About Willie Sugarcapps

In 2012, I was asked by Stephen Anderson and Robby Amonett to come to Jack’s by the Tracks, in Pascagoula, to see a duo called Sugarcane Jane. They said this guy named Anthony Crawford used to tour and record with Neil Young. After a moment or two, I responded: “Didn’t he also use to tour with Steve Winwood?” To make a long story short, I remembered Crawford from his days with Neil’s bands like The Shocking Pinks and the International Harvesters, his days with Winwood and others. It was in part because of my trip to see Anthony and Savana at Jack’s by the Tracks that The Southland Music Line was formed, which further led me to become a fan of all the members of Willie Sugarcapps and encouraged my interest in the Gulf Coast’s incredible music scene, which includes venues such as The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm, Callaghan’s, The Listening Room, and of course, Jack’s and how could one forget the nice, big, growing family of like-minded music fans.

Though I continue to travel abroad in search of great music, my heart and mind never drift far from what takes place across the Gulf Coast, which I look forward to enjoying more of in the months and years to come.

Willie Sugarcapps at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA (From left: Corky Hughes, Grayson Capps, Will Kimbrough, Savana Crawford & Anthony Crawford
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Here are some of the ways “The Line” has recognized Willie Sugarcapps & its band members in the last five years:

2013
– Willie Sugarcapps self-titled debut was listed as one of The Line’s Five Favorite Albums of the Year.
2014
– Willie Sugarcapps was named Music Artist of the Year.
– Will Kimbrough’s “Sideshow Love” was named Top Album of the Year by The Line’s Johnny Cole.
2015
– Sugarcane Jane was named Readers’ Choice Music Artist of the Year.
– “Dirt Road’s End” by Sugarcane Jane was named Readers’ Choice Album of the Year.
– The article “Why We Love Sugarcane Jane: As Told by the Friends & Fans of Sugarcane Jane” is our most read and viewed article in our five years (posted in April, 2015).
2016
– Willie Sugarcapps was named Readers’ Choice Music Artist of the Year.
– Anthony Crawford’s “National Treasure” was named #2 album of the Year by The Line’s Johnny Cole.
2017
– Grayson Capps was named Music Artist of the Year by The Southland Music Line.
– Sugarcane Jane was named Readers’ Choice Music Artist of the Year.
– “Scarlett Roses” by Grayson Capps was named Readers’ Choice Album of the Year.
Additional
The music of Willie Sugarcapps and its band members have been featured a number of times as our Spotlight Music of the Month.
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Some of The Line’s Articles featuring Willie Sugarcapps and its band members:

“From Muscle Shoals to Magnolia Springs, AL: Willie Sugarcapps Gives Us A Sample of What’s To Come” (Apr. 2014); “Will Kimbrough: From “Sideshow Love” to Willie Sugarcapps – It’s Abundantly Clear, He Loves What He’s Doing” (Sept. 2014); “From Muscle Shoals to Magnolia Springs, AL: Willie Sugarcapps Gives Us A Sample of What’s To Come” (Apr. 2014); “Wash Hole Jam – Brewton, AL” Starring Willie Sugarcapps” (Oct. 2014); “Willie Sugarcapps: 2014’s Artist of the Year” (Dec. 2014); “Why We Love Sugarcane Jane As Told by the Friends & Fans of Sugarcane Jane” (Apr. 2015); “The Road Leads To Birmingham: Sugarcane Jane Opens Show For Steve Winwood” (May 2015); “The Road To Natchez Leads To Rolling River Bistro And 408 Listening Room” (an article featuring Grayson Capps & Corky Hughes from Aug. 2015); “Willie Sugarcapps Returns with “Paradise Right Here”” (May 2016); “Grayson Capps: Music Artist of the Year – “The Gift of Grayson Capps” by Glenda Campbell with additional commentary by Johnny Cole (Nov. 2017)
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Additional Links:

Click Here for Willie Sugarcapps’ official website.
Click Here for Will Kimbrough’s official website
Click Here for Sugarcane Jane’s official website.
Click Here for Grayson Capps’ official website
Click Here for the official website for Eddie’s Attic

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Thank you to our travelin’ friends – John & Michele Boland, Ron & Cindy Thamert, Mark & Beth Allen, Glenda Campbell, Cindy Sibley, Christine Kennedy and Charlie & Christine Wright.

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© The Southland Music Line. 2018. All rights reserved

©The Southland Music Line

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