2014, what another great year for Americana music, especially here in Australia where the scene seems to be growing in leaps and bounds. An example of that was Love Police launching the inaugural Out On The Weekend festival in Melbourne with a smaller version in Brisbane and a ton of sideshows in Sydney. All reports have been positive from the events so hopefully we’ll see that be expanded out in the festival format to other states in 2015.
On a personal note PTW proudly presented Sixteen Strings at the Petersham Bowling Club in Sydney with three of our finest local songwriters in Mark Moldre, Darren Cross and James Thomson as well as An Americana Afternoon featuring the hugely talented The Weeping Willows, Katie Brianna and Caitlin Harnett. We also proudly put our name behind Darren Cross’ national EP release shows and Josh Rennie-Hynes’ current New Zealand tour. I was also lucky enough to be invited on a handful of occasions to guest program some of my favourite Americana tunes on The Outpost on 2ser 107.3FM with Vinny Ramone, one of the great supporters of the local scene. Another highlight was setting up the Waitin’ Around To Die Facebook group, a fertile place for musicians and fans to share and discover new music, promote shows and network. Stay tuned for more exciting shows in 2015.
Our best-of list was fine-tuned from a long list of 60 albums we enjoyed this year, another sign that alt-country and folk music is flourishing. From late-night ‘tears in your whiskey glass’ country soul to ragged country rock, spooky and ethereal folk to blues dirges and romantic noir ballads, there was a bit of everything to sink your ears into this year. These were our favourites and recordings we wholeheartedly recommend you have a listen to.
- Sun Kil Moon – Benji
- Lucinda Williams – Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone
- The Delines – Colfax
- Hurray For The Riff Raff – Small Town Heroes
- The Felice Brothers – Favorite Waitress
- Tiny Ruins – Brightly Painted One
- Little Bastard – Little Bastard
- Dan Michaelson and The Coastguards – Distance
- Nikki Lane – All Or Nothin’
- Rosanne Cash – The River and the Thread
- Bernie Griffen & The Thin Men – Salvation
- Tami Neilson – Dynamite!
- Aldous Harding – Aldous Harding
- Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
- Drive-By Truckers – English Oceans
- Frazey Ford – Indian Ocean
- Doug Paisley – Strange Feelings
- Justin Townes Earle – Single Mothers
- Robert Ellis – The Lights From The Chemical Plant
- Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams
- Jep and Dep – Word Got Out
- Delaney Davidson & Marlon Williams – Sad But True Volume 3: Juke Box B-Sides
- Emma Swift – Emma Swift
- Malcolm Holcombe – Pitiful Blues
- Darren Cross – No Damage EP
- Halfway – Any Old Love
- Eaten By Dogs – Eaten By Dogs
- Corb Lund – Counterfeit Blues
- Ryley Walker – All Kinds of You
- Steve Gunn – Way Out Weather
- Willie Watson – Folk Singer Vol. 1
- Sylvie Simmons – Sylvie
- Beck – Morning Phase
- Bonnie Prince Billy – Singer’s Grave A Sea Of Tongues
- Jo Meares – King of the Crystal Mountain
- John Fullbright – Songs
- Joe Purdy – Eagle Rock Fire
- Simone Felice – Strangers
- Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer – Bass & Mandolin
- Jolie Holland – Wine Dark Sea
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