A life-long Merle Haggard fan, Will Oldham has apparently long considered recording an album of Haggard songs and in the wake of his death last April he’s done just that. He hasn’t gone straight for the hits though, he’s hen-picked from 44 years of recorded songs, choosing personal favourites in honour of the great songwriter. … Continue reading
A year on from the death of friend and collaborator, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson pays tribute with ‘He Won’t Ever Be Gone’, the closing track on God’s Problem Child. The passing of time and mortality rears its inevitable head on a number of the album’s songs. ‘Old Timer’ and the black humour of ‘Still Not … Continue reading
Suicide Swans are a five-piece alt-country/rock band from Toowoomba QLD who have been strumming their way through South East Queensland since 2012. ‘Horses’ is the first single to come from their LP Augusta, due of November 17th. This will be their second full length album following Ghosts We Forget in 2015. ‘Horses’ has a great sound … Continue reading
Post To Wire Presents: Red-Eyed & Blue JASON WALKER + TIM EASTON (USA) Sunday October 8th 2017 @ The Bearded Tit, Redfern Jason Walker little introduction to Sydney audiences, with a pedigree of decades in the indie and alt-country scenes he’s built up a well earned respect from the industry built on strong songwriting, in-demand pedal … Continue reading
John Moreland has been one of those best-kept secrets for a while now, slowly emerging as a highly respected songwriter on the alt-country/Americana scene. He’s never had a breakout single or any landmark moment, rather he’s slowly refined and improved his craft, garnering increasing critical acclaim and a growing fanbase. Big Bad Luv finds him … Continue reading
The brothers are back with another album of bluegrass, folk and country music in their laconic, easy-going style. At times the songs themselves dip into bland and cliched lyrical territory but if you can get past that, take a long drive or kick back on a sunny afternoon and relish the exceptional musicianship on display. … Continue reading
In the space of his last two albums Jason Isbell’s status has rocketed from ex-Drive-By Trucker and respected songwriter to Grammy and Americana Association awards winner and one of the most acclaimed of this generation’s Americana/country artists, alongside Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. The Nashville Sound is a re-framing of Isbell, with his long-serving band … Continue reading
Now seven albums deep into his career, Justin Townes Earle has worked different variations of his country/folk/blues template to a consistently high quality over the last decade. Kids In The Street is different for a number of reasons but primarily in the way it was written and recorded. “I love this record,” says Earle, speaking … Continue reading
Since those heady early days when Mellencamp was touted by record labels as the heartland rock, pinup boy Johnny Cougar, through to his eventual reshaping into his true self, the strength of his songwriting has always been consistent. Now, with his 23rd studio album, Mellencamp again shows his range and canny ability to draw on … Continue reading
Pete Cullen has gone and recorded two new albums for release at the same time. One Way In is Cullen in full rockabilly, rock n roll and rhythm & blues mode with his trio P.C. & The Biffs while No Way Out takes the foot off the accelerator and gathers together more of Cullens’ alt-country … Continue reading
Though Shane Nicholson is now firmly entrenched in Australian country music, with awards aplenty, he’s shown over his strong run of solo albums that he can still maintain a foot in the indie scene in which he forged his songwriting abilities. That positioning has enabled him to straddle alt-country and commercial country with equal aplomb. … Continue reading
Two years after the release of his bestselling, award winning solo debut, Traveller, Stapleton returns with an album that in some ways feels like a retreat from the large stages and mainstream acclaim he received. Shacking up in Nashville’s RCA Studio A with producer and guitarist Brent Cobb, Stapleton recorded two album’s worth of songs. … Continue reading
Marlon Williams is back with his first new release since his self-titled LP was released in 2015. Since then he’s been touring endlessly, supporting Springsteen and playing festivals all over the world. He returned to Lyttleton, NZ to record ‘Vampire Again’ with producer Ben Edwards before directing the quirky clip in cahoots with UK cinematographer Steve … Continue reading
Melbourne’s Ben Mastwyk has gathered a new band around him and recorded a new album (his 2nd) called Winning Streak. His band The Millions feature Ben Franz (The Waifs), Josh Duiker (Clifton Hillbillies), Michael Hubbard (The Bluebottles), Craig Kelly (Rich Davies). Also on vocals and honky-tonk piano is kiwi songstress Lisa Crawley. Here’s a live in-studio … Continue reading
Pokey LaFarge has always been tagged as an authentic revivalist, from his music to the way he dresses. He’s still cutting a fine sartorial look but on Manic Revelations he’s sounding more contemporary than ever. LaFarge skill is seamlessly melding the cornerstones of roots music – from country and blues to soul, New Orleans jazz … Continue reading
