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ALBUM REVIEW: Calexico – The Thread That Keeps Us
Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Americana / Folk / Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Calexico – The Thread That Keeps Us

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Nine albums in and Calexico are still pushing the boundaries of expectations and their own creative urges. Many of their albums have sounded produced and polished – polite even. Here they dismiss any need for a clean or cohesive sound, instead adding some grit and distortion and a gauzier texture to some the album’s 15 tracks. … Continue reading →

LIVE REVIEW: Deer Tick @ The Lansdowne, Sydney
Alt-Country / Americana / Gig Reviews / Rock

LIVE REVIEW: Deer Tick @ The Lansdowne, Sydney

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Deer Tick, The Smoking Flowers, Justin & The Cosmics @ The Lansdowne, March 27th 2018 The swagger and rock hit early with Nashville’s Justin & The Cosmics laying down some primal leather and denim-clad rock ’n’ roll. The brothers Collins led the charge on guitar and vocals, the latter showing a fine line in deadpan banter, middle … Continue reading →

ALBUM REVIEW: Dori Freeman – Letters Never Read (2017)
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Americana / Folk / Soul / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Dori Freeman – Letters Never Read (2017)

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Dori Freeman only released her self-titled debut album in 2016 but she’s already gone and followed it up with Letters Never Read, an album that takes the template of her first release and adds greater warmth, soul and depth of writing. Freeman has again employed the services of Teddy Thompson as producer, and he in … Continue reading →

ALBUM REVIEW: Lindi Ortega – Liberty (2018)
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Lindi Ortega – Liberty (2018)

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A couple of years ago, with little money in her bank account, approaching 40 and feeling burnt out, Lindi Ortega contemplated giving music up but instead she left her label, management and agent, got engaged and left Nashville and moved to Calgary. That led to the release of her EP Til The Goin’ Gets Gone … Continue reading →

ALBUM REVIEW: Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – Years
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – Years

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Reflecting on The Disarmers previous record, Sidelong, it is near impossible for this reviewer to hear train beat and tremolo without immediately conjuring the Old 97s, and if this is the jump off, think of Sarah Shook as Rhett Miller’s badass younger cousin. Sidelong, re-released on Bloodshot in 2017, was originally recorded and self released … Continue reading →

VIDEO PREMIERE: Ben Mastwyk – This Country
Cosmic Country / Country / Honky Tonk / New Music / Psychedelic / Soul / Videos

VIDEO PREMIERE: Ben Mastwyk – This Country

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Ben Mastwyk is currently a busy gent with a run of interstate shows with Luke Elliot (USA) and today he’s sent the video clip for new single ‘This Country’ out into the world. It’s a great horn-led slice of honky tonk and country groove, matched by an equally fine video complete with gold satin jackets, … Continue reading →

LIVE REVIEW: Hurray For The Riff Raff
Americana / Folk / Gig Reviews / Photos / Soul

LIVE REVIEW: Hurray For The Riff Raff

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Hurray For The Riff Raff, Slow Dancer @ Factory Theatre, March 26th 2018 Back for the first time since their Newtown Social Club show in 2014, Hurray For The Riff Raff were upsized to the much larger Factory Theatre, an overly ambitious punt by the promoter given that their profile hasn’t risen greatly in the intervening years. … Continue reading →

Waitin’ Around To Die column: Americana podcasts
Americana / Article / Features / Stream

Waitin’ Around To Die column: Americana podcasts

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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 →

LIVE REVIEW: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Alt-Country / Americana / Gig Reviews / Rock / Southern Rock / Tour

LIVE REVIEW: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney

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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 →

NEWS: Kasey Chambers Announces New Album ‘Campfire’
Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Americana / Folk / New Music / News / Videos

NEWS: Kasey Chambers Announces New Album ‘Campfire’

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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 →

NEWS: Top Fifteen Finalists Announced For The Americana Music Prize Of Australia
Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Folk / News

NEWS: Top Fifteen Finalists Announced For The Americana Music Prize Of Australia

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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 →