FEVER PITCH: The Long Ryders infectious set hits The Old Woollen, Leeds, 10th October 2026
The current Long Ryders UK Tour saw a welcome stop off in Leeds at the impressive Old Woollen.
The Long Ryders
Emerging onto the Paisley Underground scene in the early 80s, the Long Ryders have a long pedigree in the Americana and Country Rock field.
Fronted by Sid Griffin the band released the seminal albums Native Sons (1984) and State Of Our Union (1985) before taking something of a hiatus after 1987’s Two Fisted Tales—the band eventually returning to live duties in 2014!
With the sad passing of longstanding bass player Tom Stevens in 2021, the remaining band members, with the blessing of Stevens’ wife, Elaine, elected to keep the band touring and recording, drafting in Murry Hammond (Old ‘97’s).
With a recent album High Noon Hymns hitting the airwaves in March this year, after dates across Europe in April and May, the current tour brought its promotion to UK shores.
The Old Woollen
Situated at Sunnybank Mills at Farsley, on the outskirts of Leeds, the site was established as a woollen scribbling and fulling mill in 1829, later expanding to commence worsted spinning and weaving, as it capitalised on the worldwide dominance of West Yorkshire in the wool trade.
The 500-capacity venue, set up in 2021 in part of the site of the old mill, is continuing to develop its presence as a key Northern venue for live music, comedy and theatre.
The Old Woollen, Farsley, Leeds (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
The Insurgent Folk Of Lewis Pugh
Lewis Pugh, Old Woollen, Leeds, 10th October 2026 (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
Keeping it local, Leeds based singer songwriter, Lewis Pugh, brought his set full of songs which explore historical narratives, working-class history, mining songs, and social commentary.
With a mission to curate a collection of “tragically beautiful left of centre insurgent folk from the Wild West of the People’s Republic of Yorkshire”, Pugh already has a number of albums full of songs that pay testament to that vision.
His recorded output paints his narratives with a blend of American roots, bluegrass, and country with English and Irish folk, skiffle, and punk, but he was armed on the night primarily with an acoustic guitar, banjo and harp. The setting of the former wool mill added a further touch of authenticity and poignancy to Pugh’s set, as he worked through his powerful folk slices of history—his American Country infused vocals merging with the West Yorkshire twang of his spoken voice.
Stories of teaching, unions (the call to join the NEU of “I Am A Union Man”) and the 1893 coal miners’ strike tragedy recounted in “The Featherstone Massacre”, which claimed the lives of James Duggan and James Gibbs, resonated powerfully as Pugh’s songs shone a light into the past.
There was even some audience participation on “Hot Dog King”, taken from Pugh’s other project, The Burner Band.
Overall it was a very rewarding set which signposted a musical catalogue deserving of further investigation.
Setlist: Saint Boy, I Am A Union Man, Coal Tattoo, Hot Dog King, The Featherstone Massacre, The Ballad Of Robert Smalls, The Ballad Of Emily Swann, Dog Song
Shaking Off The Fever
The Long Ryders, Old Woollen, Leeds, 10th October 2026 (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
A dual walk-on tape intro of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” and Micky Newbury penned “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” covered by White Denim, primed the crowd nicely for the entrance of The Long Ryders.
With Sid Griffin’s own condition clearly showing the signs of a recent fever he was still shaking off, there was added pressure from the off to ensure his voice could last the distance. However, despite a Patti Smith inspired spit at one early point, Griffin coped admirably well throughout what must have been a challenging situation for the 71-year old.
The rambunctious “Run Dusty Run” helped blow away any lingering ailments, the crowd inhaling Stephen McCarthy’s guitar licks with the gusto of a Vicks Vapour Rub.
The set drew heavily from the classic Ryders era, “Mason-Dixon Line”, “Capturing The Flag”, “State Of My Union”, “Too Close To The Light” and “I Had A Dream” all saw crisp, energetic and vibrant versions which parachuted the audience back to the mid-80s.
The seemingly ageless Stephen McCarthy was a pivotal part of the set, his keen vocal delivery adding Byrdsian textures to Mel Tillis’ “(Sweet) Mental Revenge”, Country standard “Ivory Tower”, and complemented with his fluid guitar playing, adding the necessary horsepower to many of the Ryders’ classic tunes.
Stephen McCarthy of The Long Ryders, Old Woollen, Leeds, 10th October 2026 (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
“Ramona” from the new album High Noon Hymns together with “(How How How) How Do You Wanna Be Loved”, “Stand A Little Further In The Fire”, “Down To The Well” and “Four Winters Away” proposed both a toast to the future whilst keeping good company with the older songs in the set.
“I Want You Bad” from 1987’s Two Fisted Tales, the Terry Adams penned tune covered by NRBQ, Dave Edmunds, Dan Baird and others proved that despite its lack of commercial chart success, it’s no slouch—tonight’s caustic version well and truly hitting the mark.
Greg Sowders, Sid Griffin and Murry Hammond of The Long Ryders, Old Woollen, Leeds, 10th October 2026 (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
As Griffin introduced the band, the memory of Tom Stevens was given an appropriate tribute, Murry Hammond anointing the tribute magnificently with a touching solo vocal for “Bear In The Woods”, the 2017 single that Tom Stevens himself had written.
Greg Sowders, looking dapper with his cream Fedora style Cowboy hat and shades, added his dependable rock and roll beat to the proceedings, allowing both McCarthy and Griffin’s guitar riffing to mesh and ignite.
Stephen McCarthy and Sid Griffin of The Long Ryders, Old Woollen, Leeds, 10th October 2026 (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
Needing a tonic, Griffin finally turned to the Doctor, namely of the Feelgood variety, with a blast through Wilko Johnson’s “Going Back Home” and a further tribute to Feelgood frontman Lee Brilleaux, as Griffin’s harmonica wailed its way home.
With a detour to “Greenville” from 2019 album Psychedelic Country Soul, the familiar territory of “State Of My Union” and “Lights of Downtown” signed off the main set with some panache.
An encore saw a mandolin graced “Forever Young”, the Dylan classic, also on the latest record, and inevitably “Looking For Lewis and Clark”, tonight with some Leeds United & Billy Bremner amended verses, which just about kicked Griffin’s throat over the touchline, as the crowd yelled the chorus with football chant intensity.
The Right Medicine
The Long Ryders, Old Woollen, Leeds, 10th October 2026 (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
A packed and energetic Old Woollen crowd saw a 90 minute set that prescribed a dose of the classic sounds of the band’s heyday with a healthy injection of some new material.
Sid Griffin managed to throw off the shackles of his fever and the rest of the band administered an appropriate course of medicine to ensure The Long Ryders still hit all the right notes throughout an entertaining evening.
Keep taking the tablets…
Seat: Standing - middle, towards back
The Crowd In Full Voice, Long Ryders, Old Woollen, Leeds, 10th October 2026 (Image: Sid Griffin Facebook Page)
Setlist:
Run Dusty Run
Sweet Mental Revenge
How How How
Ramona
Stand a little further In the Fire
Mason-Dixon Line
12 strings:
Ivory Tower
Four Winters Away
I Want You Bad
Bear in the Woods (Murry)
Down to the Well
Capturing the Flag
I Had a Dream
Band intros:
Going Home (Dr. Feelgood)
Greenville
State of my Union
Lights of Downtown
Encore:
Forever Young
Looking for Lewis and Clark
Muchas Gracias to Stephen McCarthy for providing the setlist!
