Lachlan Bryan, one of this country’s more established Americana acts is teaming up with Ben Leece, a relative newcomer on the national scene, for a run of dates across NSW, QLD and VIC, from April to June. Bryan will have his band The Wildes along for the ride and Leece will be backed by his … Continue reading
Motel Mirrors are the Memphis Tennessee-based trio of John Paul Keith, Amy LaVere and Will Sexton. Originally based around Keith and LaVere, they added Sexton to the mix, giving them three guitarists and singers which accounts for the wonderfully lush and harmony-laden sound of this song, ‘Meet Me On The Corner’. This track has a … Continue reading
Copperline Rusty Fords And Weatherboards Independent The members of Sydney band Copperline have been playing in various bands dating back to the 90s and after ten years they’ve finally recorded their debut album together, one that certainly feels like a collective gathering of likeminded musicians and accomplished players. Led by songwriter Brad Christmas, the band … Continue reading
Jeff Tweedy Warm dBpm Records Inc. Surprisingly this is the debut solo album of new material for Jeff Tweedy (Wilco/Uncle Tupelo). He’s previously released a live-in-studio album of songs from his back catalogue and then there was the Sukierae album under the name Tweedy, with son Spencer. This though feels wholly Jeff – relaxed and effortlessly … Continue reading
Lady Dan originally hails from Birmingham Alabama and is now based in Austin, Texas. She’s got a great sound too. That blend of melancholy, shuffling drums and weeping pedal steel. It’s authentic yet wholly contemporary and she’s got one hell of a good voice to convey this song about navigating this minefield we call life. … Continue reading
Watling & Bates are Kym Watling and Geoffrey Bates, songwriters from Unumgar, on the western edge of the Northern Rivers of NSW. This new song of theirs grabbed our attention with its blend of bush ballad and gothic country – all shimmering notes, a slow noir crawl and story of a mysterious disappearance of a … Continue reading
The Brookses are a father and daughter duo from Atlanta who have recorded their debut album Lucky Charm (April 26th) together. ‘Over Again’ showcases the obvious musical simpatico the pair have, blending their voices on a song that Jim wrote 30 years ago. It’s lovely stuff, unassuming and rewarding in its sparse arrangement and gently … Continue reading
Soul music is an integral part of what we call Americana music. Just one of the many elements that make up that sound. Boo Ray incorporates it wonderfully on this new single that has one hell of a catchy chorus, complete with horns and soul-dripping harmonies. It’s country music but it rocks and swings like … Continue reading
BOOKMARKS IN TIME Mark Lucas charts the last two decades of his solo career on a new retrospective, Prisoners Of The Heart. In June of 1981, Mark Lucas stepped off a plane at Sydney Airport and before they’d got home, the girl that he’d followed across the world dumped him, which he half-jokingly says “got … Continue reading
David Quinn (Chicago) has released two tracks this year and both of them hit our sweet spot with their authentic and in-the-pocket country sound. Not over-produced, simply great playing, a cool production sound (Andrija Tokic, known for his work with Alabama Shakes, Langhorne Slim, Hurray for the Riff Raff and Margo Price) and Quinn’s voice … Continue reading
Neil Young Songs For Judy Shakey Pictures Records/Warner Music In 1976 Neil Young embarked on a North American tour with Crazy Horse. His opening act was himself, raw and acoustic in large auditoriums across the country. Joel Bernstein and Cameron Crowe were along for the ride and when Bernstein was roped in as a guitar … Continue reading
Callum Wylie caught our ear the first time we heard him sing, that forlorn ache of a voice that folds country and folk music into each other, with a touch of weary soul. It perfectly suits his minimal and lyrical guitar playing and songs that have a way of painting evocative characters in often difficult … Continue reading
As well as working tirelessly putting together festivals such as The Gum Ball and Dashville Skyline on his family property in the Hunter Valley of NSW, Matt ‘Magpie’ Johnson also finds time to write music with Magpie Diaries. Sanctuary is their debut album and finds them inhabiting a sweet spot right at the nexus of … Continue reading
Charles Wesley Godwin has an interesting back story. Born and raised in Morgantown in the Appalachian hills, to a coal miner father and schoolteacher mother, he ditched college football and picked up the guitar before discovering he had a knack for playing and songwriting during overseas study in Estonia. Since then he’s shared stages with … Continue reading
Take Me To Town, the 3CD, 47 track compilation of contemporary Australian alt-country music is heading to Tamworth 2019, with a very special showcase gig featuring an all-star line-up of Ben Leece & Left Of The Dial, Katie Brianna, The Weeping Willows, Hana & Jessie-Lee, Lachlan Bryan, Jen Mize and Mitch Power. If you are … Continue reading
