Fraser A. Gorman was subject to the vagaries of a Sydney audience who seemed more concerned with chatting about their day than soaking up his solo opening set. Resplendent in a polka dot shirt with curly hair, harmonica and acoustic guitar, most would have commented on the visual similarities to Bob Dylan and there were … Continue reading
Josh T. Pearson used to conjure up fire and brimstone dramatics with his band Lift To Experience in the early 2000s but since then he has retreated into a solo career with one album and a reputation for intense and drawn out live performances of his songs. With the audience sprawled and seated across the … Continue reading
Caitlin Harnett recently released her long awaited debut album The River Runs North. Recorded in Canada with a great supporting cast of musicians the album is a fine collection of songs that pull from the rivers of folk and sometimes country music. Of the album we said: Even through its melancholic moments there’s a youthful … Continue reading
Aldous Harding has seen her musical reputation grown in leaps and bounds this year on the back of her superb self-titled album. It’s a bewitching and enchanting collection of songs of which we said: The first striking characteristic is Harding’s voice, perhaps one that might deter some listeners, but for those with any affection for … Continue reading
Sydney’s Sam Newton released his crowdfunded debut album a few months ago and it’s an accomplished collection of beautifully played and recorded songs that shows Newton’s wistful way with folk and sometimes country melodies. There’s an ornate quality to many of Newton’s songs with strings, piano and a number of other instruments all playing their … Continue reading
Nick Payne of Sydney folk/bluegrass combo Dear Orphans has been immersed in the writing and recording of his debut solo album and now the first track has emerged in the form of ‘Old Sydney Town’, a song that describes the hardships of a newly arrived convict in the penal colony of Sydney Australia in 1789. Riding on … Continue reading
In New Zealand over the last five years there’s been a noticeable groundswell of talented alt-country/Americana songwriters and musicians releasing albums to rival the best coming from overseas. Tiny Ruins, The Eastern, Aldous Harding, Bernie Griffen, Tami Neilsen, Marlon Williams and Delaney Davidson have all garnered hard-earned critical acclaim and many have links with Lyttelton … Continue reading
Houndmouth produced one of my favourite albums of 2013 in From the Hills Below the City. Now finally we get a taste of their next album, due in 2015, with this track ‘For No One’. It’s a Felice Bros-esque acoustic slow-burning song, heavy on imagery with a passionate delivery from singer/songwriter Matt Myers. Continue reading
Spencer Burton is a Canadian singer/songwriter who like so many others these days manages a fine blend of country and folk music. Burton was a member of the band Attack In Black (2003-2010) with Daniel Romano, another great Canadian artist in his own right and the producer of Burton’s new 2014 album Don’t Let The … Continue reading
Will Oldham hits a real sweet spot on his thirteenth full-length release under the Bonnie “Prince” Billy pseudonym. It sits comfortably between his folk and country domains and is laden with austere poetic tales that explore the search for individuality and forging one’s own destiny. Nearly all of these tracks have been released elsewhere, primarily … Continue reading
Just when you think you’ve got a handle on all the great Americana albums that have been released in 2014 another one shuffles up beside you and taps you on the shoulder. Thanks to a recommendation from Spreading The Seed and their best of the year list I’ve been made aware and fallen under the spell … Continue reading
Josh Rennie-Hynes is a Brisbane singer songwriter who released his debut album February in July. Produced by Shane Nicholson it’s an accomplished and mature set of songs that carry themselves with a nice sense of balance between earthy emotiveness and catchy hooks. There’s a carefree Australian flavour to much of Rennie-Hynes’ music as much as … Continue reading
On her long-awaited debut album Caitlin Harnett finds a lush and harmonious middle ground between folk and country music. There’s a lightness to her music and voice in the vein of the carefree sound that came out of Laurel Canyon in the 1970s, with Joni Mitchell an obvious touchstone. Strings, harmonica, organ and horns enhance … Continue reading
Marlon Williams has been crazy busy in 2014 with festival appearances, supports and his own shows. Now he has put together a band, The Yarra Benders, including Dan Parsons on guitar. The full band played the Out On The Weekend festival and associated sideshows and now Williams has announced his own headline shows for Melbourne and … Continue reading
Les Thomas is a Melbourne singer-songwriter, activist and blogger who has built a name for himself as a strong supporter of alt-country music in Australia. His songs resonate with themes of social justice and a desire to awaken social conciousness. He recently released his full length album Survivor’s Tale, a record that tells the story of those … Continue reading
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