Jeff Tweedy and WILCO are back with a new album called Cousin, produced by Cate Le Bon, and set for release on September 29th. Recorded in the band’s legendary Chicago studio—The Loft—over a period of two years, the ten new tracks are written by band leader Jeff Tweedy, and feature musical performances by the long … Continue reading
Category Archives: Americana
ALBUM REVIEW: Phil Smith – Into The Night
PHIL SMITH INTO THE NIGHT INDEPENDENT Tasmanian songwriter Phil Smith’s new album is one of those records that’s full of effortless sounding songs, where every note caresses and complements the next. There’s a specific kind of Australian Americana at play across the nine songs – part heartland rock, part jangly melodic rock. Overall though, it’s … Continue reading
SUNSET STRANGER RELEASES HYPNOTIC NEW SINGLE SHADES OF TIME
If you’re a fan of Kurt Vile, Steve Gunn, Kevin Morby and cosmic country and folk sounds in general then this new single from Melbourne artist Sunset Stranger will appeal. There’s a dreamy drift and pastoral psychedelia to this ‘Shades Of Time‘, the second single from the new album Double Dream, due out in 2023. … Continue reading
DASHVILLE SKYLINE ANNOUNCES FULL LINE-UP FOR OCTOBER LONG WEEKEND FESTIVAL
Presented by Dashville, 2SER and Post To Wire, Dashville Skyline is excited to announce the full line-up for the festival, held on Wonnarua Country/Hunter Valley NSW on the October Long Weekend, Sept 28th-Oct 1st. This is more than just your standard country music festival. Dashville Skyline is a meticulously orchestrated musical feast, which casually meanders … Continue reading
VIDEO PREMIERE: Clint Wilson – Slow To Trust
Last week Melbourne singer-songwriter Clint Wilson released ‘Slow to Trust‘, the third single from his forthcoming new album, L.A. (August 11th). Today I’m very pleased to be able to premiere the song’s clip which finds Wilson and band performing in glorious black and white, filmed and directed by Stu Art Video Productions. The song dances lightly … Continue reading
VIDEO PREMIERE: Phil Smith – Hallelujah
Tasmanian Phil Smith‘s latest album Into The Night is a real highlight of the Australian Americana albums released so far in 2023. If you’ve got a copy of the new issue (July/August) of Rhythms magazine you can read my full review of the album, or stay tuned for when it gets published here on PTW. … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Adam McGrath – Dear Companions
PTW is very pleased to have guest reviewer Heath Forsyth write this wonderful review of Adam McGrath’s Dear Companions, released late in 2022. Adam McGrath Dear Companions Independent What do you get for $10 these days? Schooner of Toohey’s New? Half a haircut? 500mb of phone data? How about a single iceberg lettuce to go with your cans of … Continue reading
LADY LYON RELEASE A NEW MELODIC GEM WITH ‘FRIENDS IN HELL’
Sydney group Lady Lyon have a new single out today on Evening Records, ‘Friends In Hell‘, and it’s another wonderful release from the band. Bursting with countrified pop melodies, guitars anchored in catchy rock, a great electric guitar solo and Hayley Lyon’s joyfully melancholic voice. MusiciansHayley Lyon – Vocals, Rhythm Guitar Helen Henry – Bass Guitar Ross … Continue reading
MATT MALONE & THE HOLY SPIRITS RELEASE HAUNTING AND EVOCATIVE NEW VIDEO
Matt Malone is a singer/songwriter born in the goldfields region of country Victoria. He has formed his musical vision out of the blues, country, folk and gospel traditions of the American, British and Australian past. Malone’s commanding baritone and masterfully crafted songs have been compared to the archetypal Johnny Cash, African-American gospel preachers such as Blind Willie Johnson, … Continue reading
ESSENTIAL AMERICANA ALBUMS: Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels On A Gravel Road (1998)
‘Sittin’ in the kitchen, a house in Macon Loretta’s singing on the radio Smell of coffee, eggs and bacon Car wheels on a gravel road’ Quarter of a century ago, at the mid point of 1998, Lucinda Williams released her fifth and best-selling album Car Wheels On A Gravel Road. It was an album that … Continue reading
LEROY MACQUEEN RELEASES VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE ‘STEPPING OUT’
Australian punk (The Gooch Palms) turned country troubadour Leroy Macqueen has released the emotive ballad ‘Stepping Out’, in honour of Pride Month. Possessing a rich baritone in the same range and with the same drama as Orville Peck and Elvis, Macqueen has been establishing himself on the local Australian alt-country scene with live shows and … Continue reading
YASMIN DE LAINE RELEASES HAUNTING NEW GOTHIC FOLK SINGLE/VIDEO
Melbourne artist Yasmin de Laine is a new name for me but listening to her new single ‘Greensick‘, and the EP that it comes from, Each Heart Devours The Other, I’m impressed by the shadowy blend of folk, country and dreamy gothic pop that pervades her music. The haunting, mystical aura of de Laine’s songs … Continue reading
DASHVILLE SKYLINE 2023 1ST LINEUP ANNOUNCED
Our favourite Australian cosmic country music festival, Dashville Skyline, is back for another year in the idyllic surrounds of Wonnarua Country, Hunter Valley, NSW, over the October long weekend, Friday 29th September, Saturday 30th and Sunday 1st October. As usual they’ve dropped a superb first batch of acts for the festival, with many more to be added: … Continue reading
INTERVIEW: The Delines
GRITTY SNAPSHOTS AND SAD BALLADS An interview with the the king of moving on, songwriter and author Willy Vlautin of The Delines. By Chris Familton In the wake of singer Amy Boone’s 2016 accident where she was hit by a car, there were a few years, during her long and painful recovery, where songwriter Willy … Continue reading
ALLISON RUSSELL ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM ‘THE RETURNER’
photo by Dana Triple Allison Russell has announced that her new album The Returner will be released on September 8th via Fantasy Records. The Returner was written and co-produced by Allison along with dim star (her partner JT Nero and Drew Lindsay) and was recorded over Solstice week in December 2022 at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, CA. It features Russell’s “Rainbow Coalition” … Continue reading