Water Valley [LP]

Up Around The Sun is a new project from DIY/punk legend Tim Kerr (Big Boys, Poison 13) and Austin clawhammer banjoist Jerry Hagins. Born out of old-time music sessions in Texas, it's a collaboration that throws off general expectations and embraces the sounds of Ireland and the Texas Hill Country- so memorable that an American radio disc jockey dubbed it "Windham Hillbilly".But first, a bit about Tim. Critics have cited bands that Tim was a member of as having been a major factor in starting everything from punkfunk to grunge and garage; and all have played an important role in what is known, for better or worse, as the US indie scene today. He shared bills with the likes of Grace Jones, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Fugazi, Black Flag, Africa Bambaataa, and X to name a few.In 2007 Tim was asked to start a session at the then new Rio Rita Cocktail Bar in Austin. No longer focusing on electric guitar, he was now playing Irish tunes on a button accordion. Austin has a strong old-time music scene, so it was only a matter of months that the session got on the map. Jerry Hagins became a regular at these sessions and was well known in the folk scene in Austin for his clawhammer banjo playing. Up Around The Sun began officially in 2012 when Kerr asked Hagins to record some banjo tunes for him to study the clawhammer technique. Kerr laid guitar over the tracks for Jerry so he could have a recording of how Tim used to accompany him.Since those auspicious beginnings, Up Around the Sun has put out three recordings, with Water Valley the latest. The band prefers playing in nontraditional spaces such as house shows and art galleries, making an early mark with frequent touring in Japan.