I’ve been hooked on the music of Bud Rokesky since seeing him play at Dashville Skyline last October and over the last couple of months I’ve been lucky enough to listen to an advance copy of his exceptional debut album Outsider, which will be released on February 17th via Rainbow Valley Records. I’ve got a … Continue reading
Dan Brodie has been a mainstay of Australian alt-country and heartfelt rock ‘n’ roll for nigh on three decades now and he keeps on delivering, whether it’s dark, hot blooded rock or brooding, atmospheric country ballads. His latest single ‘(I Can Feel) Love Closing In’ falls into the latter camp. It’s draped in melancholic romanticism … Continue reading
Bud Rokesky stopped me in my tracks at Dashville Skyline last year. Time paused and for a brief time all that mattered was that voice and those songs. He’s already released two stellar singles in ‘Floodlight’ and ‘Love My Baby More’ and now he’s released number three – ‘Baby And I‘, another stunning track from … Continue reading
As always, it’s been another strong year for local releases in 2022, as artists find their feet again and cast their creative efforts out into the world after a couple of years of turmoil. Ahead of our main album list for the year, here are our eleven favourite Australian and Aotearoa/NZ albums for 2022. As … Continue reading
Melbourne songwriter Sunset Stranger (Stephen E. Stanisic) has released the results of his latest trip to Rolling Stock Recording Rooms, under the guidance of producer Myles Mumford. ‘Prometheus Blues‘, out today via Bandcamp and streaming services, is an upbeat slice of kaleidoscopic folk, country and blues that dances lightly from the speakers. Guitars and dobro … Continue reading
LYLE LOVETT 12TH OF JUNE VERVE RECORDS It’s been a while between drinks for the iconic Lyle Lovett but he’s finally back with a new album, a decade on from his last record, Release Me. In true Lovett fashion, he’s brought together all of his influences – jazz, Western swing, Texas country and heavily rhythm-based … Continue reading
Brisbane-based country singer/songwriter and truck driving troubadour Bud Rokesky first caught my ear with his debut single ‘Love My Baby More’. A couple of weeks later I was standing in front of the stage at Dashville Skyline in the Hunter Valley with the early afternoon sun casting a warm glow across the assembled audience. A … Continue reading
Hobart-based songwriter Phil Smith has released, ‘That’s Love For You‘ the first single from his forthcoming new album Into The Night (early 2023) and we’re super happy to be able to premiere the video clip, directed by Bones, on PTW today. The single has that perfect melancholic alt-country sway, built on harmonica, perfectly placed and … Continue reading
Introducing Skinny Dyck, straight out of Lethbridge, Alberta. He’s just put out his third release with the EP Palace Waiting, featuring this dusty dance-floor gem ‘Ripe There On The Vine‘. As he explains, the song is “a modern sounding, traditional rooted country song with a cheeky, optimistic message capturing the waiting game that ensures before … Continue reading
The Queensland band Hillsborough, based around Phil Usher and Beata Maglai, released their debut album Comin’ Back For You this week and to mark the occasion they’ve also released the video clip for their latest single ‘Magnetic Lives‘ – an alt-country song built around a dusty acoustic strum, an electric twang and sublime vocal harmonies … Continue reading
Another incredible long weekend of cosmic country music in the idyllic surrounds of the Hunter Valley. A ton of highlights at the festival this year (as always) but my PTW gold star picks for this year go to Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats, Grace Cummings, Watty Thompson, Bud Rokesky, The Tall Stories, Sweet Talk, … Continue reading
We covered an earlier single of Rachel Angel‘s, ‘Strapped’, in 2020 and it’s a pleasure to again be invited into the swirling and evocative pop-laced country folk sound she does so effortlessly. Taken from the new album Midnite Heart Attack, released earlier this month, ‘Closer To Myself‘, is a tour de force of how to … Continue reading
Melbourne singer-songwriter Watty Thompson has today released single number three from his forthcoming debut solo album on Cheatin’ Hearts Records. ‘City To Run‘ is an epic six minutes of folk spirited country music that runs the gamut of rollicking and rousing sing-along to ruminative musings on the challenges and hardships of city living and the … Continue reading
WILCO CRUEL COUNTRY DPBM RECORDS ‘Country’ as in the USA or ‘Country’ as in the genre? Cleverly it’s a subtle blend of both on this new 21 track double album from the band that long ago took an experimental and ‘anything goes’ diversion, from alt-county to post-country. More than that it’s a wide-ranging, intimate and … Continue reading
Henry Wagons has today released his brand new single ‘(Don’t Be) Down And Out‘, the first taste of his new solo album, his first for Cheatin’ Hearts Records, which will be out in 2023. The song hits an irresistible and strutting, country funk groove with nimbly spiralling guitar and Henry playing the role of hoedown … Continue reading
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