They sure don’t make ‘em like Kinky Friedman anymore. Singer, songwriter, author, raconteur, comedian and winner of the Male Chauvinist Pig Award from the National Organisation of Women in 1973. He’s still peddling the same material that he has for the last forty years though that was tempered somewhat by the release last year of … Continue reading
For a number of years the Americana Music Association in the USA has gone from strength to strength, building on the increasing popularity of the polymorphic genre as an authentic alternative to the pop schlock served up as country music in modern times. A UK offshoot was created and now Australia has launched its own … Continue reading
ALL STRUNG OUT Californian bluegrass exponents The Brothers Comatose are constantly on the road, visiting interesting places and mixing lifestyle with their job as working musicians. On the back of their appearance at this year’s Dashville Skyline festival, Chris Familton caught up with singer/guitarist Ben Morrison to find out more. They might have a name that … Continue reading
Between them, Glad Reed and David Claringbold have woven a path through the Australian music industry for the last thirty years. Glad has worked as a musician with Midnight Oil, The Cruel Sea, Laughing Clowns and many more while Dave has forged a successful career in production with acts including The Lighthouse Keepers and The … Continue reading
Liam Gerner has settled back into Melbourne after ten years based overseas and amid near-constant touring he’s recorded a new album with his band (The Sunset Pushers) that includes Shane Reilly from Lost Ragas. The self-titled LP (due out in Feb 2016) was recorded in three days in both Melbourne by Roger Bergodaz and in the USA at … Continue reading
Neil Young has surprised yet again with another 2016 album release. First there was the EARTH live LP, then came the news that Official Release Series Discs 8.5-12 reissue vinyl box set (American Stars & Bars, Comes A Time, Rust Never Sleeps, Live Rust and Long May You Run) will be out next month and now he’s just … Continue reading
The high-quality overload of Americana music in Sydney this week continued with a triple serving at The Basement that traversed country, folk and the cosmic musical universe of Robert Ellis. Last time he played here back in July, Joshua Hedley made solid headway through a bottle of whiskey during his set, the jokes and banter … Continue reading
After last year’s cancelled Sydney leg of the Out On The Weekend festival it was always unlikely we’d get another chance in 2016 but we do still get the consolation prize of some fine headline shows by the various artists from the Melbourne event. Callum Wylie had the task of serenading the slowly arriving punters. … Continue reading
Residing in Ballarat, VIC, Freya Josephine Hollick is about to release her new LP The Unceremonious Junking Of Me next month on Heart of the Rat Records. We’ve heard it and it’s a beautiful album, overflowing with cascading old-timey melodies and the lilting refrains of Hollick’s plaintiff voice. It sits somewhere between folk, blues and … Continue reading
This is album number three for Sydney quintet The Ramalamas and it finds them successfully capturing their live sound in the studio. There’s a relaxed atmosphere and looseness of playing – in the best possible sense – that defines the spirit the band has, making this a freewheeling and fun album to listen, dance and … Continue reading
Losing a founding member can often throw a band wildly off course but in The Ramalamas’ case it opened up their sound and allowed them to draw on a wider set of influences for their third album East Coast Low. “The first two albums were very much in a country-rock vein and on this one … Continue reading
With The Audreys on a short hiatus, Taasha Coates took the opportunity to record her debut solo album. Ahead of USA shows and an Australian tour she spoke with Chris Familton about the musical journey – from songwriting to the studio. “I just want to be the dirty old granny of Australian country music – Lucinda … Continue reading
Here’s a fantastic looking project out of Melbourne that is set for release on November 22nd. Warm Evenings, Pale Mornings is masterminded by Fraser Montgomery at The Aviary Recording Studio and Creative Hub. He’s brought together a bunch of fine musicians and songwriters to record the album straight to 2″ tape, with each artist covering another … Continue reading
Eagle & The Wolf have released their second single from their self-titled album. ‘Hips’ is the duo (Sarah Humphreys and Kris Morris) hitting a rockabilly groove, soaking it in hot-blooded blues, desire and the optimism of love. Fun clip too! You can catch the pair touring with Kasey Chambers through NSW this Nov/Dec. Continue reading
Over their career The Felice Brothers have applied broad brushstrokes to the Americana genre. They embody the rich meeting point of country, folk and bluegrass music – where the song comes first and the style is the framework upon which it sits. The latest album feels their most relaxed and natural in years. It rolls … Continue reading
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