Alt-country doesn’t generally get a look-in with the arts festivals so it was pleasing to see the inclusion of Ramblin’ Nights in this year’s Vivid Sydney line-up. This was an evening that ranged in style from laid-back country rock to soulful country-blues hollers and heartland rock n roll. Amber Rae Slade & The Mighty Big … Continue reading
Drive-By Truckers have survived multiple line-up changes in their twenty year existence and yet they seem to be in possibly their strongest, most harmonious and richest streak of songwriting over the last few years. That prolific run of new music means that, following 2014’s English Oceans, we are about to get a new album American Band … Continue reading
William Crighton’s debut album has been receiving plenty of glowing reviews since its release and this was a night to celebrate the new record – for both fans and Crighton and his band. Partners in life and partners in music – Amber Rae Slade and producer Matt Fell kicked up a fine and impressive storm … Continue reading
This felt like an under-promoted show, certainly in the local Americana community, so it was a pleasant surprise to find large crowd in attendance at The Basement. Opening honours went to Little Georgia who certainly won the crowd over with their blend of soul, indie-folk and a dash of country. They’re a marketers dream with … Continue reading
Melbourne singer-songwriting, guitar-picking powerhouses Tom Dockray and Mitch Power come together for another co-headline tour, bringing their exciting brands of Country, Blues and Americana through NSW, QLD, ACT and VIC this June. Continue reading
Like a slow mist rolling down a valley or long evenings on the back porch, Carpenter’s 14th album is a slow-moving and introspective country affair. Confessional stories of heartache and emotional turbulence are presented and dissected on the Dave Cobb produced album yet across nearly an hour of restrained mood the effect is one of … Continue reading
Sydney’s Nick Payne continues to work on his nearly completed debut solo album and ahead of its release he’s shared the track Rising River, a song firmly in the murder ballad tradition of torment, attrition and struggle in an unforgiving environment. You can read more about the track over at his website with some fine … Continue reading
Cash Savage has been relatively quiet since her excellent 2013 album The Hypnotizer. The good news is she’s back with her band The Last Drinks and a new full length LP One Of Us which is due for release late June, 2016. Trading in country and blues fuelled rock ‘n’ roll, Savage’s way with words … Continue reading
Australia has always excelled at producing dark and gothic-influenced music. Nick Cave is the obvious progenitor but many others have explored the darker corners of sin and salvation and Melbournian Jemma Nicole has done just that with her debut collection of folk and country noir songs. There’s a stately waltz and sway to many of … Continue reading
Stan Woodhouse is currently out on the road playing a comprehensive series of solo acoustic dates (see below) around Australia to celebrate and promote the release of his new solo live album Live At Some Velvet Morning. The nine track album showcases Stan’s brilliant lyricism, dry humour and ability to hang a well crafted story on perfect … Continue reading
On his fifth album, country troubadour Hayes Carll has stripped back his songs to a place of contemplation with slow-burning tales of heartache. It’s a languid and casual affair where the songs drift by, conjuring up late humid nights on the back porch with a bottle for company and a head full of confessional and … Continue reading
The Felice Brothers are one of our favourite alt-country bands with their fusion of all manner of styles–from country to folk, blues to ragtime. The good news is they’re also a prolific group and they’ve just announced that their new LP Life In The Dark is coming out on Yep Roc Records on June 24th. … Continue reading
This was a public holiday with reduced trading hours which meant an early start time for the local support act Le Pie. Backed by a five-piece band, she was one part Kim Gordon, one part 60s girl group. Over a bed of indie rock they showed a fine stylistic range, especially on their set-closer which … Continue reading
South Australian Chris Altmann, now based in Canada, continues to hone his songwriting craft and guitar playing on this, his third solo album. There are dips into traditional West Coast sounding country rock, barroom honky tonk and pastoral folk rock in this varied journey through American roots music. Altmann is entirely convincing and comfortable with … Continue reading
Melbourne alt-country and folk duo The Weeping Willows recorded their sophomore album in Los Angeles and as such it has a lived-in, warm and lush sound. Their authenticity and craft as singers, as songwriters and in Andrew Wriggleworth’s sublime guitar playing makes this a hypnotic and alluring album. They’ve taken a detour down some darker and … Continue reading
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