The turn of century proved to be a fertile time for the Americana music scene. The early 2000s saw the likes of Drive By Truckers and Ryan Adams stamping their name on the scene internationally with their early, widely acclaimed albums and Lucinda Williams was starting to capitalise on the success of Car Wheels on … Continue reading
‘The Great Unknown’ is the latest single from New Zealand songwriter HaydenGoSeek (also the front person of Cheap Fakes) and it details his travels from smalltown New Zealand to living in Australia. The song is a bristling piece of melodic country-tinged folk that wins on account of Hayden’s vocal and the counterpoint fiddle that shadows … Continue reading
Hot off the press and released today is the brand new single from band The Redlands, on the still fairly new label Cheatin’ Heart Records (Fenn Wilson) ‘Falling Down’ finds the North West Victorian trio achieving a symbiotic blend of country, folk and bluegrass with its sonic pot pourri of banjo, pedal steel and acoustic … Continue reading
There’s some exceptional playing on this new track from Nashville, TN artist Shane Scarazzini and his band EightFingers. Check out the guitars that spark and fly amid fiddle and pedal steel on ‘West Virginia Girl‘. The fluidity and energy in the playing is what nails this as a superb track but without the strength of … Continue reading
Sarah Jarosz World On The Ground Rounder Records Conservatorium-trained musicians should always be approached with caution. Sure they have an A-grade level of music theory and playing expertise but sometimes that can come at the expense of heart and soul and the requisite rawness that so often makes folk and country music so compelling. On … Continue reading
Melbourne folk, country, Americana (they can do anything!) duo The Weeping Willows recently released their brand new 7″ single Wheels Won’t Roll, which received a premiere over at The Bluegrass Situation. They’ve also created this beautiful clip for the instrumental b-side and new single ‘Prelude’, featuring stunning drone footage filmed in Ireland by Uwe Müller … Continue reading
“We are just a simple devil-lovin family that play bluegrass and folk tunes about the hills and rivers we’ve roamed, the things we’ve seen and the stories we’ve been told.” Sydney folk and bluegrass trio Shelley’s Murder Boys have recently released their brand new album Above Is A Roar and one of its standout tracks is … Continue reading
Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Albi & The Wolves hit a sweet melodic strain of folk music on their new single ‘This Is War’. It bristles and keens like dancing firefly, circling a relationship in dissolution and emerging with resolve and optimism. The acoustic trio will be over here in Australia in a couple of … Continue reading
I like the plaintive, spacious sound on this new track and clip from old time/bluegrass Same Francisco-based band Late For The Train. They draw this song out into a beautiful meditation on emotion and the colour blue. It’s bound together with the wonderful vocal interplay and fine fiddle playing from Laura Benson, especially at the … Continue reading
A Different Thread are a British/American duo – Robert Jackson from Staffordshire, UK and Alicia Best from North Carolina, USA. who conjure up a whole range of Americana (country, folk, bluegrass) influences on their new album On A Whim which was released last week on September 13th. This song flies along courtesy of the violin … Continue reading
The harmony vocal and acoustic stringed instrument quintet return with their fifth album of ornate chamber folk and bluegrass. There’s no denying the exquisite playing and arrangements on All Ashore but for all its sensitivity and detail there’s a lack of emotional connectivity. Punch Brothers are a band that have reached that point where their … Continue reading
Old Crow Medicine Show, Valerie June @ Enmore Theatre, Oct 3rd 2017 House lights were dimmed and, apart from a white cowboy hat and some impressive beards, four unassuming band members walked on stage and kicked into the opening song before Valerie June strode onstage with dreadlocks bundled high, a shimmering gold sequinned outfit and turquoise … Continue reading
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
SELLING THE SNAKE OIL Old Crow Medicine Show are nearing their 20th year as a band and ahead of their Australian tour, Ketch Secor explains to Chris Familton how they came to celebrate a famous Dylan album, why he was recently called by Johnny Cash’s son and he reveals they have a new album due … Continue reading
The brothers are back with another album of bluegrass, folk and country music in their laconic, easy-going style. At times the songs themselves dip into bland and cliched lyrical territory but if you can get past that, take a long drive or kick back on a sunny afternoon and relish the exceptional musicianship on display. … Continue reading
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