Consider: The Pants

The Trick Is To Breathe is the first solo album from ex-Long Ryder Sid Griffin in a decade. Known as a founder of today's Americana/Alt-Country genre for his groundbreaking work with the Long Ryders then (and the Coal Porters since) Sid Griffin has never been far from the cutting edge. Few who could honestly claim to be a Godfather to the current roots music scene have made their mark in so many ways; bandleader, songwriter, instrumentalist, author of four books and broadcaster.

Yet it took a decade for The Trick Is To Breathe to happen. ''I was waiting for the right combination of songs and the right place to record'', says Griffin, ''I got the songs, I found the place just outside Nashville, and I found the right pickers. It was a heavenly experience''. Twelve tracks featuring ten new Sid originals, one cover song and a spoken word poem(!) combine to equal what Sid describes as ''the best album of my long career''. Find out why. 

Ode To Bobbie Gentry

I'm the guy from the Long Ryders in 1980s L.A. & the guy in the Coal Porters in London now. Yes, I also make solo albums and do some singer-songwriter gigs. Million Dollar Bash is my book on The Basement Tapes and I've never met Dylan.

“His intimate acoustic shows are consistently memorable” The Sunday Times

Sid Griffin displays many chapeaux in his career as a multi-faceted musician, proud author, knowledgeable broadcaster and professional golfer. Or is that professional go-fer? Okay, only the first three hats get anywhere near his noggin, but they all fit snugly. He is also a proud parent and part time journalist as well as a man who makes excellent cheese mushroom omelettes.

An eighth-generation native Kentuckian who currently resides in England, Sid has popped up in literary circles due to the success of his Million Dollar Bash book on Bob Dylan’s Basement Tapes as well as the follow up Shelter From The Storm. He has also appeared in music circles due to his bluegrass band the Coal Porters enjoying success after success with their new CD, No. 6. and to his many media appearances, be they via print media or the airwaves. In 2006 ABC’s The Jimmy Kimmel Show had their house band play Sid’s song Jimmy Reed as they went to commercial…our hero was watching that eve and fell off the sofa when he heard the familiar melody struck up. In addition to falling off furniture Griffin has already won a Lifetime Achievement Award in Italy in 2003 (Piero Ciampi Award), and Sid’s old band the Long Ryders, the legendary founders of alt-country, are occasionally found touring.

Sid appears as Resident Musicologist on BBC Radio 6 Music DJs Stuart Maconie and Mark Radcliffe’s excellent afternoon show and this brought Sid to an entirely new demographic. Frequently heard on late night BBC Radio, Griffin’s silver-toned vocal chords were heard extensively when the BBC broadcast Mark Lamarr’s four-part series Redneck Music in early 2008. (Griffin was not the redneck in question.)

As a musician, Griffin continues to perform on bluegrass mandolin with his acoustic Coal Porters ensemble. The Coal Porters have played festivals in many places around the world including Glastonbury in the UK, Kilkenny Festival in Ireland and the World Of Bluegrass festival in Kentucky USA. He looks forward the future as his old rock band The Long Ryders sometimes perform again. The Long Ryders box set Final Wild Songs was released in January 2016 to universal acclaim, creating a new demand for live concerts by the band.

And yes, in between all of this activity Sid Griffin still performs the occasional, and very special, solo troubadour show. Lately his solo appearances are in support of his 2015 solo album The Trick Is To Breathe, which earned Griffin four and five star reviews globally. In 2018 Sid is performing solo in Spain, Italy, the UK, Scandinavia and his native United States.

Further to all this Sid has his very own musical Podcast 'Call All Coal Porters' which is availible on iTunes as well as on his own website at SidGriffin.com
Prima Records has compiled, archived and reissued seven albums of Sid’s 1980's band, The Long Ryders. The fifth of these reissues was the first “new” Long Ryders material in sixteen years with the well-received album, Three Minute Warnings: Live In New York City.

A sixth CD was released in October 2007, Live 2004: State Of Our Reunion and a seventh, an expanded Native Sons with extra tracks, appeared to loud huzzahs in January 2011. At present there are no further Long Ryder reissues planned.

The Long Ryders reformed for live concerts in 2004, 2009, 2014 and twice in 2016 and the band hope to record some new songs for a new album! So watch this space for a major announcement as regards new Long Ryders studio tracks.

The Coal Porters, Sid’s new band, continue to perform live and release albums via Prima Records with their latest being 2016’s No. 6, their well-received sixth studio album.