by Chris Familton The Lumineers are a trio from Denver, Colorado who deal in folk-leaning americana and on this, their debut album, they’ve managed to capture the essence of their sound pretty effectively. They work in a similar realm to the Avett Brothers with various 60s pop influences infusing the songs with heady melodic pop … Continue reading
Category Archives: Country
NEW MUSIC: Country Funk 1969-1975
I’ve been listening to a lot of Jim Ford lately so I got pretty excited to see the excellent Light In The Attic label are releasing this comp on CD and vinyl. I’ve placed my order already. Light In The Attic presents Country Funk 1969-1975, a melting pot concoction of the music of Dale Hawkins, John … Continue reading
Americana / Country / Folk / Soul / Southern Rock
NEW MUSIC: The Felice Brothers release God Bless You Amigo
The Felice Brothers have had a few set backs lately with destructive weather and the death of their trusty touring van. To raise some funds they have digitally released a new collection of songs called God Bless You Amigo which they stress isn’t the official follow-up to the brilliantly underrated Celebration, Florida. Read the press … Continue reading
NEW MUSIC: Two Gallants – The Bloom and the Blight – album trailer
Two Gallants have been releasing consistently great albums of visceral country, folk and blues for eight years and after a five year break they finally return with their new LP The Bloom and the Blight. On the evidence from this album trailer they are channeling an even bigger and bolder sound with the duo taking … Continue reading
Album Reviews / Americana / Country / Folk / Videos
ALBUM REVIEW: Neil Young & Crazy Horse | Americana
by C. Familton When news first broke that Neil Young & Crazy Horse were reconvening there was a palpable sense of excitement in the virtual air online yet for many that initial burst of joy quickly turned to apprehension when word seeped out that their first new release was going to be a collection of … Continue reading
Americana / Country / Folk / Indie Folk / Videos
INTRODUCING: The Unfaithful Ways
New Zealand isn’t generally known for its exponents of americana yet there are a bunch of great bands doing justice to the genre if you dig deep enough. One of them is Christchurch’s The Unfaithful Ways who are about to head out on some national dates in June. They released their debut album Free Rein to great acclaim last … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Chimes of Freedom | The Songs of Bob Dylan
by Chris Familton Bob Dylan must surely be the most covered artist of the last forty years so when another compilation of versions of his songs comes along it is easy to dismiss it as another batch of standards reinterpreted. The hook with this one though is twofold. Firstly it is a fantastic cause with … Continue reading
NEW RELEASE: The Flying Burrito Bros | Close Up The Honky Tonks (remastered reissue)
Following Gram Parsons’ death in 1973 A&M Records issued a double-LP, 23-song compilation, Close Up the Honky Tonks. It contained one LP of tracks from The Flying Burrito Bros first two records, adding the non-LP single The Train Song. The second LP introduced 11 previously unreleased tracks including covers of The Bee Gees’ To Love Somebody, Chuck Berry’s Roll Over, … Continue reading
Album Reviews / Americana / Country / Folk
ALBUM REVIEW: Lambchop | Mr. M
by Chris Familton Kurt Wagner is a unique musician in that he has managed to build a career out of musical understatement. His work carries with it a slight of hand, bursting with subtleties, be it of the lyrical or instrumental kind. He is also quite the unassuming frontman with his white shirt, jeans and … Continue reading
Americana / Blues / Country / Folk / Gig Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Justin Townes Earle @ Factory Theatre, Marrickville (04/04/12)
by Chris Familton Pat Capocci had the task of getting the still sparse crowd in the mood for the return to Sydney of Justin Townes Earle. With a wide gulf across the dance-floor between band and audience Capocci and his combo didn’t seem to mind one bit as they fired off song after song of … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW : Justin Townes Earle | Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now
written by Chris Familton Justin Townes Earle has made a habit of changing it up on each of his three albums. The Good Life found him very much in the traditional country and folk songwriter mould while Harlem River Blues saw him using New York as a source of inspiration. Now Earle has shifted geographically … Continue reading
NEWS: Billy Bragg & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions
On Record Store Day, April 21, Nonesuch will release Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions, which includes the original two volumes of Mermaid Avenue (the second re-mastered); a third volume with 17 previously unreleased recordings from those sessions; the 1999 documentary on the sessions, Man in the Sand; and a 48-page booklet with new liner notes by Nora … Continue reading
LIVE REVIEW: KORT @ City Recital Hall, Sydney, 20/01/12
written by Chris Familton Kurt Wagner is the closest thing to an artist in residence at this year’s Sydney Festival with his band Lambchop also playing and Wagner doing a solo show at The Famous Spiegeltent. Tonight we were treated to KORT, the collaborative project of Wagner and Nashville country singer Cortney Tidwell who pay … Continue reading
Americana / Country / Folk / Gig Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Kurt Wagner @ The Famous Spiegeltent, Sydney, 22/01/12
written by Chris Familton Those lucky enough to see all three of Kurt Wagner’s manifestations at this year’s Sydney Festival experienced a wonderful insight into his influences, the way he creates his music and how deeply he believes in country music as an art form. As KORT (with singer Cortney Tidwell) he dug into her … Continue reading
WATCH: First Aid Kit | Emmylou
From the band’s forthcoming album The Lion’s Roar out January 27th. First Aid Kit – March 2012 Australian Tour Monday 12 March – The Famous Spiegeltent, Melbourne – SELLING FAST Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne. More info and tickets: http://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/ Wednesday 14 March – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – SOLD OUT – Support by The Harpoons Thursday 15 March – The … Continue reading
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