Today we’ve posted the first episode of our brand new online music show Post To Wireless. Its current home is on Mixcloud where we’ll be publishing a new show each fortnight. Join me, Chris Familton, for a selection of alt-country, folk, blues and rock ‘n’ roll songs, information and interviews. We’ll be drawing from the … Continue reading
Fanny Lumsden continues to go from strength to strength, building her fiercely independent brand of autobiographical country and folk music. Playing country hall shows, living and traveling in a caravan and covering all corners of Australia, she’s living as boldly as she’s working hard and this album, her second full-length, finds her documenting those adventures … Continue reading
Here they are, the 40 albums that I personally felt were the most important, fascinating and listenable in 2017. It was a near impossible process to collate them on a spreadsheet and make decisions and adjustments as to the creative worth of one over another. I’d highly recommend all the albums on this list and … Continue reading
Since The Black Crowes finally closed the curtains at the start of 2015, Chris Robinson has continued to embrace his new lease of life with his band of soulful and psychedelic, country and blues-rock travellers in Chris Robinson Brotherhood. Barefoot In The Head is their fifth album and it again showcases their effortless musical synergy … Continue reading
Robert Ellis and Courtney Hartman have teamed up for Dear John (Dec 8th), an album of ten John Hartford songs, paying tribute to the songwriter known for his solo performances where he would alternate between guitar, banjo, and fiddle while he tap danced and clogged on an amplified piece of plywood, John Hartford is credited as … Continue reading
STRIPPING BACK THE LAYERS Lindi Ortega has had a year of quantum change in her personal and professional life. Ahead of her current Australian tour she talked with Chris Familton about those important events and the reasons behind them. To the casual observer, one might see Lindi Ortega’s recently released EP, Til The Goin’ Gets … Continue reading
It may seem a tad peculiar that a band from the Inner West of Sydney could breathe genuine spirit and authenticity into Mexican-infused country music but Dusty Ravens have done just that on their second album. Low Down Jimmy is the sound of desert dust, desperate souls, sin and salvation – all bathed in mood-heavy instrumentation. … Continue reading
I caught Ben Leece for the first time at this year’s Dashville Skyline Festival. It was broad daylight on the last morning, the vibe was lazy, sun-kissed and chilled out. Ben started singing and something in the air shifted. It was one of those voices that catches the air and piques one’s senses. Rich with … Continue reading
In 1976, within weeks of finishing the recording of Long May You Run, his album with Stephen Stills, Neil Young visited the studio and in a solo and weed-assisted session laid down ten songs, many of which would become staples and high-water marks of his long and illustrious career. Young has released many archival albums … Continue reading
Traveller, The Deslondes, Andy Golledge @ Marrickville Bowling Club, Sydney, Oct 20th, 2017 In previous years, gigs like this Out On The Weekend sideshow would most likely have taken place at the sadly departed Newtown Social Club, so it was nice to see a good sized venue like Marrickville Bowling Club being used for international shows, … Continue reading
Son Volt, Jason Walker, Fallon Cush @ Factory Theatre, Oct 18th, 2017 Locals Fallon Cush had a short opening slot but they made the most of it, showcasing songs from their brand new album Morning and making a strong case for them being the most in-form country-rock band in Sydney at the moment. Cascading melodies and harmonies … Continue reading
Justin Townes Earle, Joshua Hedley, The Sadies @ Factory Theatre, Sydney, Oct 17th, 2017 After the failure to get Melbourne’s Out On The Weekend Americana music festival up and running in Sydney, we should feel lucky we still get to experience all the acts playing their own sideshows here. It amounts to a week of treats … Continue reading
With two new albums out this month, Pete Cullen is laying out two sides of himself in song. One Way In is decidedly high throttle rockabilly, and while there is some overlap, here Cullen strips it back, opens his shoulders and sings a batch of decidedly more alt-country songs. The mix of acoustic and electric … Continue reading
A life-long Merle Haggard fan, Will Oldham has apparently long considered recording an album of Haggard songs and in the wake of his death last April he’s done just that. He hasn’t gone straight for the hits though, he’s hen-picked from 44 years of recorded songs, choosing personal favourites in honour of the great songwriter. … Continue reading
Bloodshot Records know their way around a good compilation album and this year they’ve put together 13 tracks to celebrate/survive/bemoan the December festive period. 13 Days of Xmas has something to fit any mood, any occasion, for this sometimes-wonderful, sometimes-trying time of year. From the garage-soul of Barrence Whitfield and the Savages’ “Papa Barrence’s Christmas,” … Continue reading
