SONGS OF STRENGTH & DEFIANCE Ruby Boots’ commitment to life as a professional musician and the sacrifice that goes with it are about to come to fruition with the release of her second album. Her home for the last year has been Nashville, TN and during a recent solo Australian tour she took time to …
When Kyle Jenkins sings ‘I fell in love with your methadone eyes, upon the ground where we lied’, it gives you an idea of the territory that Suicide Swans are operating in – warts and all human emotion and experience. It’s tempered with a sympathetic and empathetic casting of Augusta’s characters and presented in a …
Today we’ve posted the first episode of our brand new online music show Post To Wireless. Its current home is on Mixcloud where we’ll be publishing a new show each fortnight. Join me, Chris Familton, for a selection of alt-country, folk, blues and rock ‘n’ roll songs, information and interviews. We’ll be drawing from the …
Here they are, the 40 albums that I personally felt were the most important, fascinating and listenable in 2017. It was a near impossible process to collate them on a spreadsheet and make decisions and adjustments as to the creative worth of one over another. I’d highly recommend all the albums on this list and …
SELLING THE SNAKE OIL Old Crow Medicine Show are nearing their 20th year as a band and ahead of their Australian tour, Ketch Secor explains to Chris Familton how they came to celebrate a famous Dylan album, why he was recently called by Johnny Cash’s son and he reveals they have a new album due …
David Rawlings recently released his third solo LP, Poor David’s Almanack, and on the eve of it’s release he phoned in from a sunny summer’s day in Nashville to chat with Chris Familton about the creation of the new record, his name change and memories of his and Gillian Welch’s 2016 Australian tour. How quickly …
AMERICANA PODCASTS One of the great strengths of Americana music is that it celebrates and honours both the traditional and contemporary aspects of the many strands and variations of country, folk and blues music. Musicians and songwriters are always moving forward, singing about modern times while incorporating the instruments and compositional structures of those who … Continue reading
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit + Deer Tick @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney 25/03/18 Sitting right at the nexus of Americana and southern rock is Jason Isbell. Since his tour of duty in Drive By-Truckers and through his subsequent breakthrough solo career, he’s found that sweet spot between the heartbreaking balladeer and the guitar shreddin’ … Continue reading
Kasey Chambers has followed up last year’s Dragonfly double album with a new band, The Campfire Disciples, and their new album Campfire. Due out on April 27th, the album represents the connection she’s had to different lands and cultures throughout her life, and drawing from the regions that have influenced her the most – Australia, Africa, … Continue reading
NASHVILLE DREAMS AND WHISPERING TREES Lo Carmen has imagined making her Nashville album since she was a teenager and now that dream has come true with Lovers Dreamers Fighters, an album written in rural Georgia and featuring a duet with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. Lo Carmen and her family have been based in the USA for … Continue reading
From all the entries that were submitted for the 2018 Americana Music Prize of Australia, the panel have whittled down the list to the fifteen finalists who are in with a chance to win a $10,000 prize pack. The joint initiative between esteemed country musician Shane Nicholson, the Forbes Street Studios and Lost Highway Australia, … Continue reading
This is album number three for the French songwriter who, much like her music has to date, has had a slow-burning rise to prominence. She’s still relatively unknown but on this album she’s found the best balance to date between gothic rock ’n’ roll and a smoky country noir sound. Fearless Heart finds her ensconced … Continue reading
It’s been a long time coming but Sydney band Not Good With Horses are set to release their debut album Faultlines on March 29th, via Compadre Music Co. They’ve just released the video for the second single “What’s Done Is Done’, a smouldering, snaking groove, richly ornamented with some subtle and evocative guitar interplay and … Continue reading
Yesterday I posted episode number three of the Post To Wireless music show. You can check out the playlist below and stream the show plus I’ve also detailed episode #002 for those who may have missed that one. I’m really happy with how the shows are starting to sound and I’ll be adding in more … Continue reading
John Prine seems to be going through a late career purple patch of late with collaborations, plenty of live shows and the “Artist of the Year” award at the Americana Music Honors & Awards. Now he’s announced that his new album The Tree Of Forgiveness will be released on April 13th on his own independent label … Continue reading
Ryley Walker is back with another new album, this one coming out on the Dead Oceans via Inertia Music (in Australia). Cooper Crain (Bitchin’ Bajas, Cave) recorded and mixed the album, as well as adding his shimmering synths all over it. Ryley plays electric & acoustic guitars and was joined by long-time 6-string sparring partners, … Continue reading
It’s been six years since Ry Cooder released his last album, Election Special. Now, on May 11th, Cooder will release The Prodigal Son. The album’s 11 tracks, including three Cooder originals and a carefully selected collection of his most treasured blues ‘n roots spirituals of the last century (songs of the Pilgrim Travelers, The Stanley … Continue reading
Halfway are set to return in 2018 with a brand new album, their sixth, and this week they release the first single from it, ‘Crescent Lagoon’. It’s a texturally rich track that is wistful and melancholic, riding on a strong rhythm and culminating in a lush, swelling chorus. The new album is a send-off for … Continue reading
In the long history of duets and collaborations in the world of country music comes a new triple threat in the form of Robert Ellis, Cory Chisel and Jonny Fritz. Each are distinct artists in their own right but together as Traveller they’ve captured a really special musical atmosphere and creativity that highlights each of … Continue reading
Based in America for the last few years, Lo Carmen has slowly been absorbing that country’s country music, blending it with her atmospheric slowcore sound and emerging with beautiful new album that seamlessly connects both worlds. Lovers Dreamers Fighters is just what it says, a document of the highs and lows of relationships, the bruises … Continue reading
Emma Swift has joined forces with fellow Nashville songwriter Pony Boy (Marchelle Bradanini) for a split digital single release of Neil Young covers. Out on the Cosmic Thug Records label (Feb 28th), the songs were recorded to tape in Nashville and produced by Adam Landry and Justin Collins. “When Marchelle and I first became friends, we … Continue reading
