I was lucky enough to catch Anna Weatherup live at Dashville Skyline recently and she played an impressive set of soulful multi-genre songs, all sharing a rich vein of emotive, world class songwriting. Last week she released her new single ‘The River’ and last night the excellent video clip for the song premiere on YouTube. … Continue reading
Brisbane-based country singer/songwriter and truck driving troubadour Bud Rokesky first caught my ear with his debut single ‘Love My Baby More’. A couple of weeks later I was standing in front of the stage at Dashville Skyline in the Hunter Valley with the early afternoon sun casting a warm glow across the assembled audience. A … Continue reading
Hobart-based songwriter Phil Smith has released, ‘That’s Love For You‘ the first single from his forthcoming new album Into The Night (early 2023) and we’re super happy to be able to premiere the video clip, directed by Bones, on PTW today. The single has that perfect melancholic alt-country sway, built on harmonica, perfectly placed and … Continue reading
In the mid 1960s, Woodstock, New York was increasingly becoming a haven for musicians who wanted to escape the grind of New York City (or elsewhere) and draw inspiration from the wooded surrounds and the burgeoning creative community that was thriving there. The town of Woodstock had long been a focal point for artists, since … Continue reading
The Queensland band Hillsborough, based around Phil Usher and Beata Maglai, released their debut album Comin’ Back For You this week and to mark the occasion they’ve also released the video clip for their latest single ‘Magnetic Lives‘ – an alt-country song built around a dusty acoustic strum, an electric twang and sublime vocal harmonies … Continue reading
Another incredible long weekend of cosmic country music in the idyllic surrounds of the Hunter Valley. A ton of highlights at the festival this year (as always) but my PTW gold star picks for this year go to Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats, Grace Cummings, Watty Thompson, Bud Rokesky, The Tall Stories, Sweet Talk, … Continue reading
Sometimes the simplest songs are the most affecting. The bare and poetic conveyance of heartfelt thoughts and emotions always ring the truest and Austin, TX songwriter JD Casper has done just that. The song came to him in an inspired moment over a morning coffee and JD says “I hope he listens to this throughout … Continue reading
AMERICAN AQUARIUM CHICAMACOMICO LOSING SIDE RECORDS / THIRTY TIGERS On their ninth studio album, American Aquarium and frontman BJ Barham take a deep dive into loss and ultimately seek to provide solace and hope to the listener. Their brand of emotive Americana is perfectly suited to this kind of subject matter as they tread the … Continue reading
We covered an earlier single of Rachel Angel‘s, ‘Strapped’, in 2020 and it’s a pleasure to again be invited into the swirling and evocative pop-laced country folk sound she does so effortlessly. Taken from the new album Midnite Heart Attack, released earlier this month, ‘Closer To Myself‘, is a tour de force of how to … Continue reading
RYAN ADAMS ROMEO & JULIET PAXAM RECORDING COMPANY Three years since the NY Times article that revealed his totally inappropriate behaviour with past partners, fellow musicians and fans and cast him into the musical wilderness, Ryan Adams has been slowly rebuilding his career on his own label. Wednesdays (2020), Big Colors (2021) and Chris (2022) … Continue reading
Melbourne singer-songwriter Watty Thompson has today released single number three from his forthcoming debut solo album on Cheatin’ Hearts Records. ‘City To Run‘ is an epic six minutes of folk spirited country music that runs the gamut of rollicking and rousing sing-along to ruminative musings on the challenges and hardships of city living and the … Continue reading
WILCO CRUEL COUNTRY DPBM RECORDS ‘Country’ as in the USA or ‘Country’ as in the genre? Cleverly it’s a subtle blend of both on this new 21 track double album from the band that long ago took an experimental and ‘anything goes’ diversion, from alt-county to post-country. More than that it’s a wide-ranging, intimate and … Continue reading
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS WELCOME 2 CLUB XIII ATO RECORDS After a run of albums that painted a perceptive picture of modern America and the ramifications of its recent political history, Drive-By Truckers switch the focus to their own formative years as young men seeking adventure and taking tentative steps towards rock ‘n’ roll dreams. Club XIII … Continue reading
KURT VILE (watch my moves) VERVE RECORDS / VIRGIN MUSIC AUSTRALIA Kurt Vile, the one man slacker psych jam band from Philly is back with a new collection of songs that wander, hypnotise, amuse and sometimes meander on album number nine. Vile has long figured out his optimal recipe and here he doesn’t stray from … Continue reading
ARLO MCKINLEY THIS MESS WE’RE IN OH BOY RECORDS This is Arlo McKinley’s third album but it was his last one, Die Midwestern that really elevated him into the pantheon of great contemporary country and folk songwriters. The good news is that he’s followed that superb album with another absolute gem. This Mess We’re In … Continue reading
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