In the wake of the untimely and much mourned passing of Tom Petty there have no doubt been countless concerts in honour of the great man. Sydney songwriter, musician and producer Michael Carpenter has organised some fine tribute shows and now he’s taken it a step further with a full album of Petty covers, in … Continue reading
“Iggy, oh Iggy, I wanna be your sweet sixteen, even though I’m almost 29” sings Mary-Elaine Jenkins on this excellent crunchy blues and struttin’ country rock track, taken from her debut album Hold Still, due out on September 28th via Good Child Music. She’s got one of those lived-in smokey voices, perfectly suited to the blues … Continue reading
The harmony vocal and acoustic stringed instrument quintet return with their fifth album of ornate chamber folk and bluegrass. There’s no denying the exquisite playing and arrangements on All Ashore but for all its sensitivity and detail there’s a lack of emotional connectivity. Punch Brothers are a band that have reached that point where their … Continue reading
As you should be well aware by now, Take Me To Town: An Australian Alternative Country Compilation, is being released on September 28th. There are already pre-order links available so please hit up one of the following or head down to a physical store at the end of the month to pickup a copy of … Continue reading
Ry Cooder is the great circler, a musician who seems to have a hand in all manner of scenes and genres and the ability to drift between all of them seamlessly. He played on Captain Beefheart’s Safe As Milk, produced Buena Vista Social Club, scored film soundtracks and played guitar on The Rolling Stones’ Let … Continue reading
Here’s a really nice slice of hard country from Californian Jesse Daniel. It comes from his self-titled album that came out on Die True Records a few months back. The whole album is great. Shades of Waylon throughout but with an added rock ‘n’ roll streak, a wild spirit and a snarl in Daniel and the … Continue reading
The brothers Crannitch were the core of the band Leader Cheetah who achieved a modicum of success and critical acclaim across two albums close to a decade ago. Now, after years spent living in different countries, the pair have reconvened as The San Sebastian. Fans of the former will find to still plenty to love … Continue reading
In this day and age, country music is a different and multifaceted beast to what it was 80 years ago. Back then, in simpler times, the music reflected tales both true and imagined about day-to-day life, heroes and adventures. The likes of Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers ruled the wireless and … Continue reading
It’s been three years since The Bottle Rockets released their last album but now they’re back with Bit Logic which is set for release on October 12th via Bloodshot Records. Here’s the title track and first taste of the new album. ALBUM BIO: Formed nearly 30 years ago, the Bottle Rockets helped forge a now-popular … Continue reading
Halfway have always seemed to operate in their own space within the Australian music industry. They tick both the Americana/alt-country box as accurately as they slot into the world of indie rock. On Rain Lover they’ve combined those sonic qualities and more, blending them seamlessly into their own brand of heartwarming and heartbreaking melancholic rock. … Continue reading
Newcastle singer/songwriter Ben Leece has had a big year with a nomination for the inaugural Australian Americana Music Prize and winning Alt-Country Song of the Year award at the 16th annual Independent Music Awards with his song ‘Trace’. Now he’s adding a brand new album to those achievements, with the announcement that the Shane Nicholson-produced No … Continue reading
Stanley Records, Mother Hen Touring and Post To Wire are extremely pleased to announce that their 3CD/47 track compilation Take Me To Town: An Australian Alternative Country Compilation will be released on September 28th. Full details coming soon! Here are the first three album launch shows in Sydney, Cronulla and Newcastle. Take Me To Town … Continue reading
Reinterpreting the song of another artist is a strong tradition in country music, perhaps more than any other genre. The catalogue of classic and iconic songs stretches back nearly a century. From The Carter Family to Hank Williams, George Jones to Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton to Emmylou Harris – the collection of timeless songs to cover … Continue reading
Darren Watson is a stalwart of the New Zealand blues scene with a lineage in the bands Chicago Smoke Shop and Midge Marsden Band. Primarily he’s cut his teeth as an electric guitarist and singer so this acoustic record is a departure from the template and as a result it feels like a special project. … Continue reading
In less than two years since writing her first song, Tori Forsyth signed to Universal Music here in Australia and has more than lived up to expectations on her Shane Nicholson-produced debut album. Forsyth inhabits the corner of Americana music where pop pacing and high-rise melodies nuzzle up to shuffling country rhythms and darker gothic-tinged … Continue reading
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