The best soul band in the world? Undoubtedly, judging by the impressive concert that recently transformed the thousand-strong crowd at the renowned Le Guess Who? festival from gentle swaying into a trance, as if bitten by a tarantula.
The soul of singer Annie Caldwell, accompanied by her daughters on backing vocals, embodies the full power of gospel – the very kind the church in West Point, Mississippi, where the family regularly performs, experiences on a weekly basis. This family affair (with Annie’s husband Joe and sons Abel and Willie Jr. in the rhythm section) delivers energetic and moving musical testimonies, blending the fiery sounds of gospel with the slow groove of soul.
For fans of: Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, Mavis Staples
Annie Caldwell, who previously made a living running a boutique clothing store in West Point, didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Her story has a strong musical background with a promising continuation that is far from over. She grew up in a church-going family in nearby Aberdeen and was just 11 years old when she formed the group Staples Jr. Singers with her brothers, named after the famous Chicago soul-gospel group led by Pops and Mavis Staples. The band became popular in churches across the South and Midwest. Since gospel events often featured multiple groups, the teenage Staples Jr. Singers were mentored by Mississippi greats like Lee Williams and Spiritual QCs.
The current lineup of Annie & The Caldwells traces back to the moment Annie heard her daughters sing at a talent show. “They were really good. I said, ‘Let me get those girls before the devil gets them!’ I decided to raise them with the values my father taught me – singing for the Lord,” recalls Annie Caldwell. Together with her family, she released two albums under Ecko, a renowned soul and gospel label from Memphis.
In 2022, David Byrne’s label Luaka Bop reissued the Staples Jr. Singers’ only album, When Do We Get Paid. The newfound recognition for the album’s socially conscious gospel led to multiple European tours, including a performance in Ljubljana. “God has blessed us and opened doors we couldn’t even see,” says Caldwell. “If I can help just one person, I know I’m not singing in vain.”
As the release of Annie & The Caldwells’ debut album on the Luaka Bop label approaches, it’s hard not to explore soul’s rich heritage while getting ready to dance at their February concert in Ljubljana.
Lineup: Annie Brown Caldwell, vocals; Willie Joe Caldwell, electric guitar; Willie Caldwell Jr., electric bass; Abel Caldwell, drums; Deborah Moore, Toni Rivers, and Anjessica Caldwell, backing vocals
Organisation: Kino Šiška in collaboration with Domingo Productions.
