LIVE REVIEW: Kacey Musgraves, Shane Nicholson @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (16/03/15)
Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Gig Reviews / Photos / Tour

LIVE REVIEW: Kacey Musgraves, Shane Nicholson @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (16/03/15)

  Solo and acoustic, Shane Nicholson previewed songs from Hell Breaks Loose as well as various highlights from his back catalogue. With his laid-back and commanding stage presence he offered up observations on the dangers of facial hair and harmonicas between songs and coyly commending the audience for supporting real country music. A social media … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Bob Dylan & The Band – The Basement Tapes Raw: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Americana / Blues / Country / Folk / Rock / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Bob Dylan & The Band – The Basement Tapes Raw: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11

In terms of rock n roll myths and legends The Basement Tapes is one of the most fascinating. A songwriter unwillingly held up as a spokesman for a generation, and seemingly close to burning out in 1966, has a motorcycle accident and retreats to the rustic surrounds of upstate New York where he holes up … Continue reading

LIVE REVIEW: Roger Knox @ The Aurora, Sydney Festival (25/01/15)
Country / Gig Reviews / Photos

LIVE REVIEW: Roger Knox @ The Aurora, Sydney Festival (25/01/15)

Roger Knox has been a legend of the Aboriginal music scene and the wider country music community since the 1980s. In recent years Knox’s music has spread to a larger audience via Clinton Walker’s Buried Country book/soundtrack/documentary (2000) on Aboriginal country music and his 2013 collaboration with Welsh musician/producer Jon Langford on the landmark album … Continue reading

LIVE REVIEW: Kasey Chambers, Harry Hookey @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney (15/02/15)
Alt-Country / Country / Folk / Gig Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: Kasey Chambers, Harry Hookey @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney (15/02/15)

Harry Hookey has been touring his Misdiagnosed album all over the country since it’s release and tonight’s opening slot for partner Kasey Chambers was an opportunity to reach a wide demographic of music fan. The majority of the seated crowd responded warmly to Hookey’s enthusiastic performance, genial stage manner and the memorable melodies he embeds … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Shane Nicholson ~ Pitch, Roll & Yaw: Live & Solo
Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Country / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Shane Nicholson ~ Pitch, Roll & Yaw: Live & Solo

Nicholson has become something of a lighthouse on the Australian country music scene, bridging both the mainstream and alt-country scenes with his solo releases, albums with Kasey Chambers and production work. Now signed with Lost Highway as an artist and Staff Producer (incl. A&R), this solo acoustic live set is the precursor to a new … Continue reading

NEW MUSIC: Shelby Lynne ~ I Can’t Imagine
Album Artwork / Country / New Music / Stream

NEW MUSIC: Shelby Lynne ~ I Can’t Imagine

Shelby Lynne is due to release her 13th studio album I Can’t Imagine on May 5th and it marks her first for the famous Nashville Rounder Records label. The album includes two tracks co-written with Ron Sexsmith. Listen to the title track below. Tracklisting 1. “Paper Van Gogh” 2. “Back Door Front Porch” 3. “Sold the Devil … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Jerry Lee Lewis ~ Rock & Roll Time
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Country / Rock / Rockabilly / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Jerry Lee Lewis ~ Rock & Roll Time

Many would assume that Lewis is well past his best years but this new album shows he is still in rude musical health at the age of 78. He delivers a tight and rollicking selection of co-writes and classic covers like ‘Little Queenie’ and ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ and brings on board a raft of guests … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Ryan Bingham ~ Fear And Saturday Night
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Americana / Blues / Country / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Ryan Bingham ~ Fear And Saturday Night

It was Ryan Bingham’s visit to Australia last year that made me a believer. Prior to that I’d shown mild interest but I’d written him off as something of a generic journeyman troubadour. On stage he flipped that preconception and reminded me how visceral and rewarding rock ’n’ roll can be when played with real … Continue reading

REVIEW & PHOTOS: Dan Waters & The Wildflowers, Emma Swift, Bell St Delays @ Petersham Bowling Club
Alt-Country / Country / Gig Reviews / Photos / Soul

REVIEW & PHOTOS: Dan Waters & The Wildflowers, Emma Swift, Bell St Delays @ Petersham Bowling Club

Last night the wonderful Mother Hen Touring presented a great triple bill at the Petersham Bowling Club in Sydney’s inner west. Bell St Delays are the wife and husband duo of Tracy McNeil and Luke Sinclair (Raised By Eagles) and they played a beautiful set that gently dipped into country and folk styles while staying fully … Continue reading

NEW MUSIC: The Ravenna Colt ~ Absolute Contingency
Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Folk / New Music / Stream

NEW MUSIC: The Ravenna Colt ~ Absolute Contingency

The Ravenna Colt is the current project of ex-My Morning Jacket guitarist and engineer Johnny Quaid. His second album Terminal Current is due for release on February 20th. Here’s the first single, the breezy sweet country sound of ‘Absolute Contingency’. Album pre-orders available HERE Continue reading

REISSUE: Raven reissues set of four John Prine albums
Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Folk / News / Reissue / Videos

REISSUE: Raven reissues set of four John Prine albums

Australian reissue label Raven Records knows the good stuff with back catalog reissues of artists such as The Byrds, Guy Clark, Chet Atkins, David Allan Coe and Jerry Jeff Walker. Now they’ve collected four of John Prine’s finest albums, recorded for Atlantic Records in the early 1970’s. Raven press release: In combining four brilliant albums … Continue reading