Kate Vargas, the NYC-based, half-Mexican singer-songwriter, already has a few albums under her belt, including last year’s fine For The Wolfish & Wandering. Now, after a songwriting experience at the Holiday Music Motel (see below), she’s released the jazzier sounding ‘Nothing Turns My Lock’ single. Vargas’ appeal lies in her husky voice and her willingness to explore … Continue reading
Hailing from Nashville, TN, here’s a song about NYC from singer-songwriter John Burnette. It has the beautiful lines “New York City are you doing alright, do you taking your pills?” and “He lost her in a lucid spell he was trying to preserve. Now they’re standing on the salt flats, babe, disappearing at the edge … Continue reading
TOWNES VAN ZANDT SKY BLUE Fat Possum Records/Inertia Early in 1973, Townes Van Zandt visited his journalist and musician friend Bill Hedgepeth in Atlanta, Georgia, as he often would through his life, and recorded these stripped down acoustic songs in Hedgepeth’s home studio. Some are instantly recognisable TVZ classics while two are unreleased tracks, others … Continue reading
It’s the late-night vibe on this song and the contrasting darkly humorous lyrics on this track from San Luis Obispo, CA singer-songwriter Derek Senn that caught our ear. He dials into a sweet rhythm that forms the backdrop for some great lyrics. The song comes from Senn’s recently released album of the same name How … Continue reading
Here are some sweet folk sounds to kick of the new week, courtesy of songwriter Steve Marino who hails from Bloomington, IN. ‘Six Two Four’, from his new album Fluff, his first under his own name, is warm and freewheelin’ baroque folk that weaves a path through the kind of heavy lidded strumming of Evan Dando … Continue reading
Stripped back acoustic folk is the order of the day on this new track from Franklin, Tennessee-born Elaine Coles. Recorded with John Mailander (fiddle), Cory Walker (banjo), Jake Stargel (guitar) and mastered by Austin Lee in Nashville, the song has both a haunting musical backdrop and and rich and heartfelt vocal style that goes deep into both soul and … Continue reading
We’re loving the space in this new song from Canadian JUNO Award winner Catherine MacLellan. ‘Out Of Time’ matches its title and sentiment with the arrangement and exquisite playing on this slow soulful sway of a country lament. The song comes from her new LP COYOTE set to be released October 11, 2019. Continue reading
Jeff Tweedy with Jen Cloher Metro Theatre, Sydney May 20th, 2019 By Chris Familton In 20 years of attending gigs at the Metro, this was the first time I’d seen seats in the venue. There were mixed comments from the audience but it worked well, creating a more intimate atmosphere in the room, which in … Continue reading
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real + William Crighton Factory Theatre, Marrickville NSW April 18th, 2019 Bluesfest is nearly upon us for another year and so are the associated sideshows that roll through Sydney. If you’re a fan of Americana and country rock then Lukas Nelson and band Promise Of The Real should have … Continue reading
Alejandro Escovedo Camelot Lounge, Marrickville NSW March 4th 2019 When a songwriter performs, you hear their stories through song and all its associated elements of poetry, melody, cadence, tone and tempo. Often the essence of the song is shrouded in imagery and lyrical abstraction and some digging is required on behalf of the listener. Alejandro … Continue reading
Lo Carmen has released a brand new double A-side single with the tracks ‘Now You Know Nashville’ and ‘Half A Man’. Beautiful atmospheric authentic country music from the heart and soul. The first is a sweet honky tonk groove, while ‘Half A Man’ is draped in that heady and lonesome sound that bands like The … Continue reading
Freya Josephine Hollick is back from recording her next album at the famed studio Rancho de la Luna (Kyuss, QOTSA, Kurt Vile, Daniel Lanois, PJ Harvey, Iggy Pop, Mark Lanegan) in Joshua Tree, California, with Lucinda Williams’ band Buick 6 and renowned guitarist Greg Leisz. She’s celebrating by announcing her first full band headline shows of … Continue reading
SONGS OF TRIBUTE For my Waitin’ Around to Die column in Rhythms I recently took a look at some of the outstanding releases in the field of tribute albums. Specifically those that fall under the umbrella of Americana and alt-country, whether it’s in recognition of an artist’s body of work or a fundraiser to assist them … Continue reading
An old-timey voice that blends and warm concoction of folk and country music on this single ‘Any Soul’, from her recently released debut self-titled album. Teresa Duffy-Richards hails originally from the Salt bush plains of Deniliquin NSW, Australia and is now based in Melbourne’s inner north where she’s been refining her classic, atmospheric sound. A dash … Continue reading
Chesterfield, UK native Holly Redford Jones has a brand new single out that finds her deftly navigating a sweet spot between country/blues rock and and a lowdown indie feel. It works wonderfully with her voice the real deal breaker here with its smoky, sultry, almost sneered delivery. ‘Bonjour Madame’ (recorded in Nashville, TN) came about when … Continue reading
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