Fans of Okkervil River may not have realistically been expecting a new album from Will Sheff – his stock seemed in decline and it felt like either a sea-change was needed or the band would drift away. The reset of the regular band did dissolve into the real world but Sheff eventually hit a purple patch … Continue reading
Category Archives: Indie Folk
VIDEO: Father John Misty ~ I Love You Honeybear
Father John Misty has released his new single, the title track to his recently release album I Love You Honeybear, along with a clip chronicling a night on the job for two ambulance officers. Continue reading
EP REVIEW: Packwood ~ Autumnal
Bayden Packwood Hine’s earlier releases were more rooted in traditional folk forms which makes this expansion into a beautifully ornate and intimate sound palette even more rewarding. He conjures up pastoral qualities via the instrumentation (woodwind, strings, banjo and many more) and wordless vocal harmonies that bring to mind wind, birdsong and other elements of … Continue reading
ON TOUR: Caitlin Harnett, Josh Rennie-Hynes & Liam Gerner announce tour
Fresh from their current house concert tour Caitlin Harnett and Josh Rennie-Hynes will be joined by Liam Gerner for a tour that will touch down in QLD, NSW, VIC and SA through the month of March. This will be a great chance to see three acclaimed singer songwriters on tour together. 11th MARCH 2015 | … Continue reading
NEW MUSIC: Houndmouth ~ Sedona
Houndmouth have released a second track from their upcoming LP Little Neon Limelight which is due for release on March 16th via Rough Trade Records. Recorded in Nashville with producer Dave Cobb (Jamey Johnson, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Lindi Ortega) the album features eleven songs and is available for preorder at the usual digital stores and … Continue reading
PTW Favourite Releases of 2014
2014, what another great year for Americana music, especially here in Australia where the scene seems to be growing in leaps and bounds. An example of that was Love Police launching the inaugural Out On The Weekend festival in Melbourne with a smaller version in Brisbane and a ton of sideshows in Sydney. All reports … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Sam Newton ~ Set In Stone
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
NEW MUSIC: Houndmouth ~ For No One
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
ALBUM REVIEW: Caitlin Harnett ~ The River Runs North
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
NEW MUSIC: Sarah Humphreys ~ Take Your Time
Sarah Humphreys has a new album called New Moon coming out on November 14th (produced by Kasey Chambers) and today she has released the video for track ‘Take Your Time’. The song is a war cry, a statement of intent/contentment, the reality of a gigging musician and the importance of the simple joys in life. Continue reading
NEW MUSIC: Shotgun Betty ~ Grab Your Gun
Shotgun Betty are an indie folk/bluegrass quartet of out of Lake Worth, Florida – not a place where we hear a lot of this stuff coming from, though that doesn’t mean there isn’t a great local scene there. Shotgun Betty are currently working on a five track EP but in the meantime you can check out … Continue reading
LIVE REVIEW: First Aid Kit, Marlon Williams @ Metro Theatre, Sydney (29.07.14)
Marlon Williams graced the stage with just his shabby-chic hat and tie, acoustic guitar and a voice that left many spellbound for the majority of his opening set. The New Zealander, (now based in Melbourne) held long, wavering country notes, caressed lullaby-like tones and bullied out a gravelly blues delivery across originals and covers of … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: First Aid Kit ~ Stay Gold
There was a whiff of novelty act when these Swedish sisters singing country-tinged folk music with a You Tube hits-heavy cover of a Fleet Foxes song first appeared in 2008 but any cynicism quickly evaporated when people heard their songs and fell in love with those voices and harmonies. Three albums down the track they … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Little Bastard ~ Little Bastard
The last few years has seen Little Bastard gain a reputation as one hell of a live band, the septet causing raucous, drunken partying with their punk-spirited folk and bluegrass. Now they’ve finally stepped off the road to try and bottle some of that stage magic on their debut album. The good news is … Continue reading
NEW MUSIC: First Aid Kit – Cedar Corner
The Swedish Söderberg sisters are back with a new album called Stay Gold on June 10th. This is the second single to come from it, ‘Cedar Lane’. Below that you can also check out a stream of the first single ‘My Silver Lining’. http://youtu.be/S2Fu4lGLUsk Continue reading