Queensland songwriter JB Paterson released his third album Springtime Is Coming (Holiday Maker Records) at the tail end of 2022 but this one is such a great record I felt compelled to post a belated review of the 13-track folk suite which traces the seasonal shift from winter to spring. The album was written, performed … Continue reading
Category Archives: Americana
VIDEO PREMIERE: Dave Wells – Ella (live)
Last month NSW singer-songwriter Dave Wells released his new album If We Had Our Time Again and here at PTW I’m very pleased to be able to premiere the video clip for the song ‘Ella‘, recorded live at the 2023 Newcastle Writers Festival, at The Conservatorium of Music, Newcastle – performed by Dave & Loretta … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Concrete Sea – Australian Dream
On Australian Dream, Concrete Sea take a swing at navigating and chronicling the suburban experience of living on this great continent in the 21st century and they do so impressively, via a baroque rock feel with a vivid poetic quality. Channeling the evocative storytelling of some of our masters – Paul Kelly, David McComb, Steve … Continue reading
DAVE FAVOURS & THE ROADSIDE ASHES RELEASE NEW EP ‘BACK ON THE DRINK’
Sydney alt-country group Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes are back with a brand new EP called Back on the Drink, which explores their love for Australian indie rock – a standalone musical tribute to some of the bands that influenced them. With a bunch of songs at the ready, Favours and co. decided … Continue reading
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF ARE BACK WITH NEW SINGLE ‘ALIBI’
Hurray For The Riff‘s Alynda Segarra has announced that the new album The Past Is Still Alive will be released on February 23rd on the Nonesuch Records label. The first song to come from the album is the warmly strummed and melodic country strains of ‘Alibi’, suggesting more of an Americana feel than recent releases. It’s … Continue reading
MFV RELEASE DREAMY PSYCH TWANG SINGLE DELACROIX
Wollongong NSW band MFV have been releasing a run of singles of late and the latest to drop is the activating sound of ‘Delacroix‘. The song starts on a rough and ready acoustic strum, the rest of the band gently entering the fray before the song truly swings into view, melodies pealing off onto each … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Ryan Martin John – Goodness Gracious Graceless
Ryan Martin John’s Goodness Gracious Graceless (Independent) emerged blinking into the world in April and right from the opening track ‘Bourbon St’ it caught my ear and drew me in via the lush and spacious palette of sounds with shimmering guitars and John’s exquisite soulful folk voice. His falsetto and pure, wavering tone constantly thrills … Continue reading
VIDEO PREMIERE: Jeremy Beggs – Signal Me In
Ballarat singer-songwriter Jeremy Beggs recently released his new single ‘Signal Me In‘ and now he reveals its emotive and picturesque video. Filmed by Leigh Searle, the clip finds Beggs exploring the beautiful surrounds of the Victorian bush, symbolically searching for the beacon of hope that’s expressed in the song. A heartfelt song about seeking guidance and strength in … Continue reading
SIX STRINGS Q&A: Dan Brodie
Dan Brodie has an excellent new album out called The Ballad of Cowboy Dan, a review of which is coming soon to PTW. In the review I write “If you can imagine Dylan and Nilsson recording an eclectic cosmic Americana record it might sound something like this impressive album,” and that description is emblematic of … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Babitha – Brighter Side Of Blue
Babitha’s debut album Brighter Side of Blue (Spunk), released earlier this year, is a superb album that weaves an intoxicating spell. Songwriter/singer/guitarist Imogen Grist stretches the form of folk music, taking it deeper into a full band, folk-rock cul-de-sac that feels decidedly metropolitan – a pastoral trip through suburban streets. Seemingly arriving fully formed, Babitha weaves … Continue reading
SINGLE PREMIERE: Jeremy Beggs – Signal Me In
Ballarat VIC singer-songwriter Jeremy Beggs has a new single coming out tomorrow, his second songwriting and recording collaboration with Matt Joe Gow. ‘Signal Me In‘, a heartfelt song about seeking guidance and strength in life, expresses “a longing for a supportive partner to be a beacon of hope, even in challenging times,” explains Beggs. “Ultimately, … Continue reading
NEWS: Minor Gold release new video clip ahead of Australian Album Tour
Minor Gold (Tracy McNeil and Dan Parsons) have been touring up a storm in the US over the last couple of months, performing songs from their self-titled debut album. Now they bring their harmony-rich folk and country sounds back to Australia for a comprehensive run of dates, running from this weekend in Newcastle, through to … Continue reading
ESSENTIAL AMERICANA ALBUMS: Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
Last month I took a look at Gillian Welch’s seminal 2001 album Time (The Revelator), a record steeped in folk authenticity and traditional form. That same year a band from Chicago took their suburban country rock and alt-country and blew it apart into a thousand musical fragments before reconstructing their songs into glorious and inventive … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: David Garnham & The Reasons To Live – The Stuart Highway Part One
The Stuart Highway runs from Darwin, in the Northern Territory, via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, to Port Augusta in South Australia and its northern starting point is the home of songwriter David Garnham, who has penned this concept album of sorts. The songs take in the geography, lifestyle and characters that populate and travel … Continue reading
AL CARR RELEASES VIDEO CLIP FOR NEW SINGLE ‘THE ROSE OF JERICHO’
MELBOURNE, VIC alt-country and Australian Americana artist Al Carr released his new single ‘The Rose of Jericho‘ a couple of weeks ago and now he reveals the video clip for the song, ahead of the release of his forthcoming third album The Right Dereliction, (October 25th). Al Carr started playing in Sydney bands in the late 90s before a move to … Continue reading