Justin Townes Earle, Joshua Hedley, The Sadies @ Factory Theatre, Sydney, Oct 17th, 2017 After the failure to get Melbourne’s Out On The Weekend Americana music festival up and running in Sydney, we should feel lucky we still get to experience all the acts playing their own sideshows here. It amounts to a week of treats … Continue reading
Category Archives: Alt-Country
ALBUM REVIEW: Pete Cullen – No Way Out
With two new albums out this month, Pete Cullen is laying out two sides of himself in song. One Way In is decidedly high throttle rockabilly, and while there is some overlap, here Cullen strips it back, opens his shoulders and sings a batch of decidedly more alt-country songs. The mix of acoustic and electric … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: P.C. & The Biffs – One Way In
Pete Cullen has doubled down on releases in 2017 with the more alt-country album No Way Out also being released at the same time as One Way In. The difference is that this one is firmly in the rockabilly camp. Electric guitars bristle and distort, drums stomp and hit a heavy shuffle while the bass … Continue reading
NEWS: Bloodshot Records Announces 2017 Xmas Compilation
Bloodshot Records know their way around a good compilation album and this year they’ve put together 13 tracks to celebrate/survive/bemoan the December festive period. 13 Days of Xmas has something to fit any mood, any occasion, for this sometimes-wonderful, sometimes-trying time of year. From the garage-soul of Barrence Whitfield and the Savages’ “Papa Barrence’s Christmas,” … Continue reading
PTW PRESENTS: Red-Eyed and Blue – That Red Head + Ben Leece
FACEBOOK EVENT That Red Head is an extension of Lozz Benson and her love for Rockabilly and Blues music. She drives the band from behind her drum kit with groove and attitude, and has a soulful voice that evokes Patsy Cline and Etta James, yet flies freely in its own unique style. Throw in a … Continue reading
LIVE REVIEW: Dashville Skyline Festival 2017
Now in its third year, Belford’s Dashville Skyline is fast becoming a fixture on the alt-country, psych and rock’n’roll calendar, this year showcasing artists from Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Ireland. Only 2.5 hours north of Sydney, it all comes together on the Johnston family farm, with the festival (plus Gum Ball and Thrashville) managed … Continue reading
VIDEO PREMIERE: Suicide Swans – Horses
Suicide Swans are a five-piece alt-country/rock band from Toowoomba QLD who have been strumming their way through South East Queensland since 2012. ‘Horses’ is the first single to come from their LP Augusta, due of November 17th. This will be their second full length album following Ghosts We Forget in 2015. ‘Horses’ has a great sound … Continue reading
PTW Presents: Red-Eyed & Blue – Tim Easton + Jason Walker
Post To Wire Presents: Red-Eyed & Blue JASON WALKER + TIM EASTON (USA) Sunday October 8th 2017 @ The Bearded Tit, Redfern Jason Walker little introduction to Sydney audiences, with a pedigree of decades in the indie and alt-country scenes he’s built up a well earned respect from the industry built on strong songwriting, in-demand pedal … Continue reading
LIVE REVIEW: Ruby Boots @ Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
Ruby Boots + James Thomson @ Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst NSW, Sept 27th 2017 Back in Australia to play Out On The Weekend, the Australian Americana Music Honours event and some solo shows to showcase her forthcoming new album, Ruby Boots is on the cusp of another exciting chapter in her musical career. This was … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Daniel Romano – Modern Pressure
Shapeshifting songwriter Daniel Romano has covered wide stylistic ground, from his post-hardcore band Attack in Black through to his run of top-notch solo albums that take in classic country, folk and psychedelic variations of the aforementioned. Now with Modern Pressure he’s consolidated his sound, corralling all those Americana variations into his consistently best album to … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: John Moreland – Big Bad Luv
John Moreland has been one of those best-kept secrets for a while now, slowly emerging as a highly respected songwriter on the alt-country/Americana scene. He’s never had a breakout single or any landmark moment, rather he’s slowly refined and improved his craft, garnering increasing critical acclaim and a growing fanbase. Big Bad Luv finds him … Continue reading
INTERVIEW: David Rawlings
David Rawlings recently released his third solo LP, Poor David’s Almanack, and on the eve of it’s release he phoned in from a sunny summer’s day in Nashville to chat with Chris Familton about the creation of the new record, his name change and memories of his and Gillian Welch’s 2016 Australian tour. How quickly … Continue reading
NEWS: Margo Price Announces New 2017 LP
Margo Price only just released her new EP Weakness and now she’s gone and announced that a new full-length album will be released on October 20th via Third Man Records. All American Made was recorded at Memphis’ Sam Phillips Recording during the same sessions as Weakness and was again co-produced by Matt Ross-Spang, Alex Munoz, Price, and Jeremy Ivey, the latter … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound
In the space of his last two albums Jason Isbell’s status has rocketed from ex-Drive-By Trucker and respected songwriter to Grammy and Americana Association awards winner and one of the most acclaimed of this generation’s Americana/country artists, alongside Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. The Nashville Sound is a re-framing of Isbell, with his long-serving band … Continue reading
VIDEO PREMIERE: Pete Cullen – Black Mountain
Pete Cullen has gone and recorded two new albums for release at the same time. One Way In is Cullen in full rockabilly, rock n roll and rhythm & blues mode with his trio P.C. & The Biffs while No Way Out takes the foot off the accelerator and gathers together more of Cullens’ alt-country … Continue reading