If Aldous Harding’s debut album was her introduction – a musical germination – then Party is her blossoming. It’s a glorious shift from sombre introspection to expansive exultation, an artist having the tools and confidence to fully realise her thoughts and ideas without losing an ounce of the essence that defines her creativity. The first …
Reportedly the first of two volumes to be released this year, Americana is the first solo album from Ray Davies in nearly decade. It is also a companion of sorts to his autobiography of the same name and it certainly has a nostalgic feel to it – both geographically and culturally – and a predominantly …
Ryan Adams & The Unknown Band, Middle Kids @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (27.05.17) According to messages on his Instagram account, this was the last AU/NZ tour for Ryan Adams. For 15 years he’s sacrificed his mind and body and battle with Ménière’s disease to make the long flights down to this part of the world …
Across these thirteen new songs, Sam Outlaw hits more consistent territory than he did on his debut album. The music is fuller and finds a greater synchronicity with his voice and the required sympathetic tones for his tales of affairs of the heart. Outlaw’s wordplay is in fine form, “trading looks and gossip over bottomless …
Marty Stuart has been long considered as one of the key links between the traditional country world and the Americana side of town, having played in Johnny Cash’s band and previously with Lester Flatt and Doc Watson. Way Out West finds him corralling all of those influences and more into a dream-like paean to the …
An early start due to the public holiday meant a sparse room at the start of Ruby Boots’ set but by its conclusion the room had filled considerably. Back in town after a year in Nashville, she started off tentatively with a new song, from her forthcoming album and what a superb song it was, …
FROM FORMATION TO PRESERVATION Nadia Reid has made good on the promise of her debut album and ahead of a run of Australian shows she talks with Chris Familton about the emotional investment in her new release Preservation. Avoiding the much talked about second album syndrome is a big thing, given that it has unraveled …
Burnt-Out Pedalboards & Fucked-Up Guitars Prior to entering Ryan Adams’ hotel room I had preconceived ideas running through my head about what I might encounter. Will there be a pinball machine in the corner? Will Adams be reclining on the bed strumming a guitar, having just written a dozen new songs? The reality of the …
Nothing Is Ever Too Personal Lucinda Williams talks to Chris Familton about challenging songwriting, freedom as an artist, and taking advantage of being on a roll. Since her mother’s death in 2004, Lucinda Williams has found herself constantly writing and producing music at a much faster rate than ever before. As such, 2014’s Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone was …
By now Justin Townes Earle has released enough albums and developed his songwriting to the extent where he’s found his own distinct corner of the country music world. He’s developed an identifiable sound, particularly in the effortless swing he places in his music and the way he delivers his lyrics – that fluid and melodious, … Continue reading
On the back of her recent run of Australian shows with Joe Pug, Courtney Marie Andrews has released the new video clip for ‘Irene’, the standout track from her album Honest Life. Continue reading
Steve Gunn, Angie @ The Basement, Sydney 6th July, 2017 Hypnotic music can take many forms, it can be ambient and soothing, heavy and droning or purely fuelled by repetition. Steve Gunn sits right at the nexus of all of these and he took The Basement audience on a varied and dextrous musical journey. Up … Continue reading
The Sydney quartet take a slick approach on their debut album which finds them blending folk harmonies with the retro-tinged indie pop of acts such as Jenny Lewis and Neko Case. Fleshing out their live sound with a fuller band one was a wise move. It gives the songs a greater depth and a lush … Continue reading
Sydney songwriter Taryn La Fauci takes a restrained and intimate approach on her debut album Cycling. She lays herself – her thoughts and emotions – bare on ten songs that have a folk feel in the acoustic instrumentation, paired with a classic singer/songwriter mood. Nothing threatens, with soft electric guitar shimmers, shuffling drums and a … Continue reading
Gretta Ziller builds on the success of her Hell’s Half Acre EP from 2014 with her long-awaited new single ‘Slaughterhouse Blues’. It’s a wonderful slow-build of a song with a Steve Earle stomp and strum and that rich and resonant voice of hers documenting a scene of life’s struggles. The exciting news is that the song … Continue reading
Dashville Skyline in the Belford area of the Hunter Valley, NSW is now in its third year and they’re going from strength to strength. They’ve just unveiled their full lineup for this year’s event and it looks stronger than ever with artists from across Australia plus touring acts from USA, Ireland, Netherlands and New Zealand. … Continue reading
![NEW MUSIC: Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Behold The Seer [Video]](https://posttowire.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/screen-shot-2017-07-19-at-10-45-35-am.png?w=290&h=290&crop=1 "NEW MUSIC: Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Behold The Seer [Video]")
Chris Robinson Brotherhood release their fifth album Barefoot In The Head (Silver Arrow Records) this week and it finds them in fine, carefree form; blending cosmic country, funk, blues, soul, psych and rock with Robinson’s distinct voice tying it all together. Here’s the clip for the single and album opener ‘Behold The Seer’. Continue reading
Sunday July 2nd is the next Red-Eyed and Blue session at The Bearded Tit in Redfern Sydney and we’ve got a great double bill of local folk and country music. THE SINGING SKIES SAM NEWTON + PTW Jukebox DJ sets The Singing Skies, led by Kell Derrig-Hall, have just released their 2nd LP, ‘Head In … Continue reading
The driving force behind The Singing Skies is Sydney songwriter Kell Derrig-Hall, who has previously worked with Melodie Nelson and Moonmilk. This is his second album as The Singing Skies and it’s quite the immersive, mesmerising and atmospheric listening experience. Evocative moods via a lush and swooning sonic palette afford Derrig the ability to paint … Continue reading
Album number three for Melbourne’s Raised By Eagles and a further refinement of their lush, wistful and yearning country rock. Ironing out some of the creases of their earlier releases has resulted in a unified sound across the songs which are mostly only a few shades either side of mid-tempo. So much of it floats … Continue reading
Sydney sextet Dusty Ravens have a new album on the way called Low Down Jimmy. It follows their 2014 album Stories of Love and Death and continues their fascination with, and foray into, Mexican and American roots music. On the title track, and first taste of the album, there’s twang and strum, shuffling country drums … Continue reading
Brad Butcher has announced his new album, From The Bottom Of A Well, will be released on August 4th. Butcher’s third album was produced, engineered and mixed by Matt Fell at Love HZ Studios, Sydney and features musicians such as Glen Hannah, Josh Schubeth, Fell and others. TRACKLISTING 1. From The Bottom Of The … Continue reading
The Canadian songwriter takes the quieter route on this new four track EP. She’s parked the feisty and swinging rockabilly sound she’s built much of her sound around and instead embraced a minimalist, meditative and reflective approach. Opener ‘Til The Goin’ Gets Gone’ is tale of self-encouragement, a sweet, lilting resolute commitment to optimism over … Continue reading
