SIX STRINGS: Sean McMahon
alt.country / Americana / Cosmic Country / Country / Six Strings / Stream / Tour

SIX STRINGS: Sean McMahon

Sean McMahon released his album Shiner earlier this year and he continues to spread its rich batch of country-rock tunes far and wide with live shows with his band the MoonMen. Sean’s heading up to Sydney this week to play a triple bill at the Marrickville Bowling Club with Adam Young & The Haints and … Continue reading

NEW MUSIC: Jonny Fritz – Are You Feeling Thirsty
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NEW MUSIC: Jonny Fritz – Are You Feeling Thirsty

Jonny Fritz has announced his new LP Sweet Creep will be released by ATO on October 14th. Here’s the great first single Are You Thirsty. I first heard this when Josh Hedley covered it during his recent Australian tour. Top tune! Sweet Creep includes tracks about unchecked desire (‘Humidifier’), life on the road (‘Fifteen Passenger Van’) and … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Cash Savage & The Last Drinks – One Of Us
Album Reviews / alt.country / Americana / Blues / Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Cash Savage & The Last Drinks – One Of Us

Cash Savage trades in gothic and roots-based rock ’n’ roll that swings from funereal folk to surging widescreen workouts. There’s more range on One Of Us than previous albums. Run With The Dogs has a War On Drugs-styled pulse, Sunday Morning is a dirty, banjo-led folk song reminiscent of The Felice Brothers, Empty Page is … Continue reading

PREMIERE: Greg Cornell & The Cornell Brothers – Broken Wings
Americana / Country / New Music / Stream

PREMIERE: Greg Cornell & The Cornell Brothers – Broken Wings

Brooklyn resident Greg Cornell finished recording his second LP Come On Home earlier this year and the first taste of it is the single Broken Wings, due out next month. The song features Cornell’s soaring, resonant voice, rich with emotion and riding high on the song’s pedal-steel driven and rolling country-rock vibe. Cornell and his band The Cornell Brothers have … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Tracy McNeil & The GoodLife – Thieves
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ALBUM REVIEW: Tracy McNeil & The GoodLife – Thieves

Tracy McNeil showed flashes of brilliance on her previous album and she’s taken that one step further with a more consistent set of songs on Thieves. There’s a laid-back smooth quality to McNeil’s music that recalls US west coast FM rock of the late 70’s with warm harmonies, swaying guitar lines and a general uplifting … Continue reading

NEWS: Drive-By Truckers Announce New LP ‘American Band’
alt.country / Americana / New Music / Rock / Stream

NEWS: Drive-By Truckers Announce New LP ‘American Band’

Drive-By Truckers have survived multiple line-up changes in their twenty year existence and yet they seem to be in possibly their strongest, most harmonious and richest streak of songwriting over the last few years. That prolific run of new music means that, following  2014’s English Oceans, we are about to get a new album American Band … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Bob Dylan – Fallen Angels
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Blues / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Bob Dylan – Fallen Angels

Bob Dylan hasn’t released an original song in four years. Instead, on last years Shadows In The Night and now Fallen Angels, he’s paid tribute to American standards made famous by Frank Sinatra. Though these dozen tracks continue the lush, stately and intimate treatment of Shadows In The Night, the album feels like a lesser … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Hussy Hicks – Lucky Joe’s Wine And Other Tales From Dog River
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Blues / Soul / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Hussy Hicks – Lucky Joe’s Wine And Other Tales From Dog River

Hussy Hicks’ Julz Parker and Leesa Gentz seem to have one of those wordless, symbiotic musical relationships. Everything sounds in harmony with perfect placement and interplay between Parker’s sublime guitar playing and Gentz’s soulful and often ecstatic singing on their fourth full-length album. The album opens with the over-wrought Flying that sounds like an overcooked … Continue reading

SIX STRINGS: Skyscraper Stan
alt.country / Americana / Folk / Interviews / Six Strings / Stream / Tour

SIX STRINGS: Skyscraper Stan

Stan Woodhouse is currently out on the road playing a comprehensive series of solo acoustic dates (see below) around Australia to celebrate and promote the release of his new solo live album Live At Some Velvet Morning. The nine track album showcases Stan’s brilliant lyricism, dry humour and ability to hang a well crafted story on perfect … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Hayes Carll – Lovers And Leavers
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ALBUM REVIEW: Hayes Carll – Lovers And Leavers

On his fifth album, country troubadour Hayes Carll has stripped back his songs to a place of contemplation with slow-burning tales of heartache. It’s a languid and casual affair where the songs drift by, conjuring up late humid nights on the back porch with a bottle for company and a head full of confessional and … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Chris Altmann – Renaissance Man
Album Reviews / alt.country / Americana / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Chris Altmann – Renaissance Man

South Australian Chris Altmann, now based in Canada, continues to hone his songwriting craft and guitar playing on this, his third solo album. There are dips into traditional West Coast sounding country rock, barroom honky tonk and pastoral folk rock in this varied journey through American roots music. Altmann is entirely convincing and comfortable with … Continue reading

NEWS: Heartbreaker Sessions Easter Special
alt.country / Americana / Bluegrass / Country / News / Stream / Videos

NEWS: Heartbreaker Sessions Easter Special

Heartbreaker Sessions returns to the bricked walls and sky-high shimmering stage of Freda’s for an Easter Special. Myself and Daz will be on the decks spinning classic and deep-cut country tunes all evening while The Sweet Jelly Rolls and Whiskey Jeff help kick off the long weekend with some fine live music. From 6PM and it’s … Continue reading