Kate Vargas, the NYC-based, half-Mexican singer-songwriter, already has a few albums under her belt, including last year’s fine For The Wolfish & Wandering. Now, after a songwriting experience at the Holiday Music Motel (see below), she’s released the jazzier sounding ‘Nothing Turns My Lock’ single. Vargas’ appeal lies in her husky voice and her willingness to explore … Continue reading
UK singer-songwriter Franc Cinelli has a new single out called ‘Horses’, a wonderfully warm and lush ballad that comes from his new LP Night Songs, out in September. It blends acoustic guitar, mellotron organ and mandolin in a magical way, topped off with a finely weathered voice that reminds me of Tex Perkins and NZ … Continue reading
Here are some sweet folk sounds to kick of the new week, courtesy of songwriter Steve Marino who hails from Bloomington, IN. ‘Six Two Four’, from his new album Fluff, his first under his own name, is warm and freewheelin’ baroque folk that weaves a path through the kind of heavy lidded strumming of Evan Dando … Continue reading
Stripped back acoustic folk is the order of the day on this new track from Franklin, Tennessee-born Elaine Coles. Recorded with John Mailander (fiddle), Cory Walker (banjo), Jake Stargel (guitar) and mastered by Austin Lee in Nashville, the song has both a haunting musical backdrop and and rich and heartfelt vocal style that goes deep into both soul and … Continue reading
We’re loving the space in this new song from Canadian JUNO Award winner Catherine MacLellan. ‘Out Of Time’ matches its title and sentiment with the arrangement and exquisite playing on this slow soulful sway of a country lament. The song comes from her new LP COYOTE set to be released October 11, 2019. Continue reading
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real + William Crighton Factory Theatre, Marrickville NSW April 18th, 2019 Bluesfest is nearly upon us for another year and so are the associated sideshows that roll through Sydney. If you’re a fan of Americana and country rock then Lukas Nelson and band Promise Of The Real should have … Continue reading
Lo Carmen has released a brand new double A-side single with the tracks ‘Now You Know Nashville’ and ‘Half A Man’. Beautiful atmospheric authentic country music from the heart and soul. The first is a sweet honky tonk groove, while ‘Half A Man’ is draped in that heady and lonesome sound that bands like The … Continue reading
An old-timey voice that blends and warm concoction of folk and country music on this single ‘Any Soul’, from her recently released debut self-titled album. Teresa Duffy-Richards hails originally from the Salt bush plains of Deniliquin NSW, Australia and is now based in Melbourne’s inner north where she’s been refining her classic, atmospheric sound. A dash … Continue reading
It starts with a standard form – sleepy drums, blocks of piano chords and trailing notes, but then Eamon McGrath‘s voice rings high and lonesome, like a man with something to say, hollerin’ from the next room. It’s a great production move to offset the intimacy of the music with McGrath’s anguished declarations as he … Continue reading
THE DELINES THE IMPERIAL El Cortez Records Willy Vlautin has proven to be quite the Americana renaissance man with his time in the highly respected alt-country group Richmond Fontaine, a second career as an acclaimed novelist (Lean On Pete, Don’t Skip Out On Me) and most recently as main songwriter for The Delines. This, their … Continue reading
A DECADE OF MAKING SWEET SOUNDS After a decade of relentless touring, from street corners to bars and festivals, The California Honeydrops have forged a strong bond with their audiences. Drummer Ben Malament discusses the band’s achievements with Chris Familton, ahead of their return to Bluesfest in 2019. This will be the third year in … Continue reading
New Zealand songwriter Kendall Elise has released this new single ‘Valentine Street’ ahead of the release of her debut solo LP Red Earth. It’s a mature and classic country sound with a dash of jazz thrown into the fabric of the song. Elise has a really great vocal style, a mix of smooth honky tonk … Continue reading
We’re digging this slice of melancholic 60s country pop from San Diego native Kimmi Bitter. It comes from her recently released EP West Side Twang which drapes her country songs in weeping pedal steel, shuffling drums and some wonderful backing vocals. Despite the melancholy, the song and the EP in general have a certain sweet … Continue reading
We posted about Swedish songwriter Marlene Oak a few months ago when her song ‘Slip Away’ stopped us in our tracks. That song was an upbeat heart yet melancholic Americana track that was draped in gorgeous guitar and vocal hooks. ‘How Can I Move On’, from her new EP Silver Moon, changes the pace and details/laments … Continue reading
Six months ago we shared a song by La Dante called ‘Mexico Sunrise’ and the good news is that his latest single ‘Gambling Man (Time To Walk Away)’ hits a similarly sweet and soulful groove where Philly soul meets a kind of Laurel Canyon country folk sound on a Caribbean cruise. Max Perla has a … Continue reading
