Willie Watson

The name of Willie Watson is almost invariably mentioned in the very same breath as Old Crow Medicine Show. He was, after all, one of the founding members of the celebrated American roots outfit and performed with them with great distinction from their inception in 1998 until his leaving the band some 13 years later.

Great Scott Boston, Boston

Willie Watson at the Largo at the Coronet

She's a bubbly, confident performer who nailed her songs with a professional approach, but one senses she's still peeling back her artistic layers and refining her craft.

Their namesake and lead vocalist has one of those grainy, ragged voices similar to The Felice Brothers and a freewheeling sound akin to The Band.

It was a dark and stormy night…but that didn’t keep the music lovers away from Auckland’s Tuning Fork as Joshua Hedley and Willie Watson each brought their distinctive takes on what can loosely be called Americana to New Zealand.

And yet, when it comes to time spent strictly having fun -- encouraged all the more by a cruise that puts the focus entirely on music -- the time seems to pass way too fast.