If you can sit still while she is strutting her stuff, something is wrong.
Working in France is a blast, she told Connexion: “I first came to France because I met some French people in Austin, Texas and through them ended up coming over to play a festival, and I was amazed at how well-received country music is in France.
“It’s amazing; people at festivals are so enthusiastic about the music, and the whole culture. They dress up as rockers, bikers, cowboys and even as Indians, which could be quite controversial in the US but here is just a way of referencing comic books about the Wild West.
“The Duke’s Muppets Gang (a cultural not-for-profit association) from Marseille, for example. They’re really big country music fans; they dress up and go to all the festivals.”
She believes the country music scene in France has been going for at least 40 years and thinks the seeds were sown during the Second World War.
“We played Châteauroux (Indre) last September and that’s a wild place. There were lots of American GIs stationed there during the war, and about 400 local girls married Americans, and they even have an American High School, so there’s a big reunion there every year and you can see big old American cars in the streets. Harry’s Bread started there, too. I reckon that was where country music started in France.”
The dressing up element is uniquely French, she says.
“I love it, it’s just so much fun to see all these people, like a costume ball. But they take it very seriously, they pay a lot of money for their clothes, and they do a lot more line dancing over here than back home.
“Loads of people in France belong to line dancing clubs, it’s incredibly popular. Far more so than in the States. I guess because it’s easy, and you don’t need a partner.
“Because of Facebook, people in the US know what’s happening on the scene over here. Other musicians from the States come over and they’re blown away by the scene. It’s as if a French person discovered that all over the US they were having Edith Piaf festivals, and all dressing up as French people.”
The scene is not limited to festivals. Artists will perform at smaller venues like jazz clubs.
Marty plays as ‘Marty Fields and Mountain and High’ and performs at village fêtes and night markets and more.
“I’m really excited about playing the Petit Journal Montparnasse in Paris, and playing Billy Bob’s Bar in Eurodisney was a total blast.
“All the dressing up, and the rodeos and festivals is a way of belonging, of making friends and having fun,” she says.
“I love it and I’ll be back next year. I plan to keep on playing dates in France and hope to play the rest of Europe as well – why not?
“What’s nice is to see how much the state invests in supporting festivals and music generally. There are such great musicians here, and they pay musicians pretty well too, which is an attraction.”
Marty recorded a new album over the winter, entitled Southern White Lies. It was released in the spring. See www.texasmartha.com
A simpler life ... back to the 1950s
When Connexion readers Sara and Rod Dicker moved from Surrey to Argenton, Lot-et-Garonne in 2008 they had already been bitten by the Country and Western bug. “As soon as we arrived I looked for a line-dancing club,” says Sara.
“I didn’t speak much French but joining a couple of line-dancing clubs really helped. A lot of the dances are the same, and line dancers are always glad to see a new face.
“The French love country music and dressing up. There are loads of shops selling country clothes in Bordeaux
“Lots of French people are really into le country and it’s very social. Harley fans are often into the music, and you see lots of vintage US cars, trucks and bikes at concerts and festivals. You see a lot of US flags too, and it’s also very connected to Western riding.
“I suppose the attraction could be linked to wanting a simpler life, wanting to go back to the 1950s - but I just love to line-dance.”
