THE ROCKY ROAD TO HARMONY A caravan snakes its way across the Nullarbor; singer-songwriter, husband, toddler and Rascal the dog ensconced within as dust billows into the late afternoon air and a burning sun casts a warm glow over their travels. That’s the scene as Catherine Britt heads out on another adventure, just one of … Continue reading
Ben Mastwyk dials into an authentic country sound that honours both the heartfelt storytelling side of the tracks and the boot scootin’, honky tonk dance-floor. It’s a talent that few possess with many guilty parties falling into either serious introspection or ending up looking like cartoon cowboys. Mastwyk wrote most of these songs in the … Continue reading
We’re only a couple of weeks out from the release (Sept 28th) of Take Me To Town, the 3CD compilation of Australian alt-country music put together by Stanley Records, Mother Hen Touring and ourselves. We’ve already posted the pre-order links so if you want to ensure you get a copy then hit the link and … Continue reading
Here’s the new single from JP Harris‘ new album Sometimes Dogs Bark at Nothing (due out October 5th on Free Dirt Records), co-produced by Old Crow Medicine Show member, Morgan Jahnig. The song rips and tumbles along, it’s a fun country-rock workout that details touring life with his band The Tough Choices. Fittingly it has a … Continue reading
Hillstomp are a due that tear up the folk blues handbook and let the torn pages scatter across the stage in a whirlwind of stomping rhythms, breakneck picking and strumming. They’ve got a new album called Monster Receiver, which is set to be released through Fluff and Gravy Records on October 19th. The LP features guest … Continue reading
LOST GEMS AND REISSUING NOSTALGIA One of the features of the last few decades has been the ever increasing proliferation of reissues. They come in all forms – remastered, remixed, re-pressed and expanded and thankfully the world of Americana music is no exception. Reissues serve two important purposes. Firstly they cater to the nostalgia crowd … Continue reading
SONGS FROM THE BROKEN RADIO “I was nominated for best new talent and I was in my 40s and everyone else was in their 20s so I was the oldest new guy in country music which was nice.” That’s singer/songwriter Michael Waugh discussing his nomination for Best New Talent at the 2017 Golden Guitar Awards. … Continue reading
BRASH OPTIMISM & SONGWRITING PROPHECY Striding the early morning Los Angeles pavement and scared about returning to his life in Melbourne, the musician had revelation. Maybe he could just disappear? Dissolve into the weird and wild world of LA. That thought was quickly tempered by reality but it did result in a song about just … 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
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
American band Firemelon released their new album King Leisure recently and ‘Before Goodbye’ is one of the standout tracks from it. They cover a lot of ground on the record with soaring distorted guitars, country rock swagger and widescreen Southern Californian twang. It amounts to a varied and intriguing listen. ‘Before Goodbye’ connects with its … Continue reading
We’re pleased to premiere ‘Molly Meldrum’s Eyes’, the latest single and first video clip from Paul Andrews & Family Fold‘s new album Ashfield Skyline (with Nashville producer Brad Jones), due out on October 5th. The song has that wonderful wistful sound where alt-country meets astute and intelligent pop songwriting. It exists in the same realm of … Continue reading
Two new tracks from the curiously named Dr. Buzzworm out of Los Angeles. These popped up online and caught my ear with their melodic hooks and nice, ragged country rock feel in the vein of The Replacements with touches of early 80s indie thrown into the mix. Continue reading
A nice, live-in-studio recording from Billy Bronsted & Feed The Dog that popped up in my feed this afternoon. No theatrics necessary, just a very good song built on a loping melancholic melody with some fine playing from all involved. Bronsted is a singer/songwriter from Wisconsin who released his first album, This Bed Of Mine, … Continue reading
Halfway, The Aerial Maps, Hoolahan @ Sly Fox, Sydney 17th August 2018 Halfway are hometown heroes in Brisbane but that success hasn’t always translated to other cities such as Sydney when it has come to live shows. Thankfully the occasion of the launch of their new album Rain Lover and the chance to see them at … Continue reading
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