NEWS: Bob Dylan & The Band ‘Basement Tapes’ box set due in November
Americana / News / Reissue

NEWS: Bob Dylan & The Band ‘Basement Tapes’ box set due in November

In November Dylan fans will be licking their lips waiting to get their hands and ears on the next edition of the The Bootleg Series (11). The Basement Tapes Complete one features 138 tracks from the sessions Dylan recorded with The Band at Big Pink in 1967 and is compiled from the original, recently rediscovered tapes. … Continue reading

GIVEAWAY: Emma Swift CD
Alt-Country / Americana / Giveaway / Soul

GIVEAWAY: Emma Swift CD

  Emma Swift has been receiving widespread acclaim from both mainstream press and the Americana community for her debut solo release, a self-titled mini-album. We absolutely love it and described it in our review as: Swift has created a dreamy intoxicated world where the heavy-lidded noir crawl of bands like Mazzy Star and Spain co-exist with … Continue reading

NEWS: Justin Townes Earle announces 2014 Australian tour
Alt-Country / Americana / Country / News / Tour

NEWS: Justin Townes Earle announces 2014 Australian tour

For those of us unable to make it to the inaugural Out on the Weekend Americana Festival (JTE, Robert Ellis, Nikki Lane, Henry Wagons, The Delines, Emma Swift, Raised By Eagles etc) in Melbourne, this is the start of the news we’ve been waiting for. The sideshow announcements have started rolling with Justin Townes Earle … Continue reading

NEW MUSIC: Mia Dyson announces Australian tour and releases new video
Alt-Country / Americana / Rock / Videos

NEW MUSIC: Mia Dyson announces Australian tour and releases new video

Los Angeles-based Mia Dyson recently released the excellent LP Idyllwild featuring the first single and candidate for song of the year ‘When We’re Older‘. Now she’s released a video for the title track and announced she’ll be heading back to Australia for a run of dates this October. Wednesday, October 1: Live at Lizottes (solo), … Continue reading

LIVE REVIEW: Tracy McNeil, Jep and Dep @ Coogee Diggers, Sydney (10.07.14)
Alt-Country / Americana / Gig Reviews / Photos / Tour

LIVE REVIEW: Tracy McNeil, Jep and Dep @ Coogee Diggers, Sydney (10.07.14)

  Coogee Diggers have been doing great things for original music for a couple of years, in an area well outside the normal locales for live music. Tonight’s small audience was both symptomatic of the reluctance of punters to venture out east and a still growing Sydney alt-country scene. Regardless both acts performed exceptionally well, … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Corb Lund ~ Counterfeit Blues
Album Reviews / Americana / Blues / Country / Rockabilly / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Corb Lund ~ Counterfeit Blues

The story behind Corb Lund’s eight album involves a trip with his band the Hurtin’ Albertans down from Canada to Memphis’ legendary Sun Studio for a completely live recording session over two nights. That approach has certainly reaped rewards with the album sounding raw and alive. There is a real sense of the players bouncing … Continue reading

NEW MUSIC: HT Heartache ~ Sundowner
Alt-Country / Americana / New Music / Soul / Stream / Videos

NEW MUSIC: HT Heartache ~ Sundowner

My new discovery of the day is Mary Roth aka HT Heartache who has just released her new album Sundowner. This is what I terms country soul, laden with melancholic waltzes, hazy shimmering guitars and reverb-laden shuffling drums as the backdrop for Roth’s late night sultry voice. Check out the clip for the single ‘Cowboy Poetry’ … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Jo Meares ~ King of the Crystal Mountain
Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Soul / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Jo Meares ~ King of the Crystal Mountain

Mood and atmosphere are key factors in the creation of immersive and transportive music and Jo Meares’ new album is richly imbued with them. Eerie forlorn harmonica, delicate and heart-wrenching piano notes, slow shuffling drums and exquisite guitar courtesy of Jeff Lang are the backdrop to Meares’ tales of love, pain and emotional turbulence, rendered … Continue reading

TOUR NEWS: John Murry announces two Australian shows
Americana / News / Tour / Videos

TOUR NEWS: John Murry announces two Australian shows

After his appearances at the Sydney Festival and elsewhere earlier this year, John Murry is heading back to Australia to record his next album in the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria with Australian producer Mark Stanley and Irish producer Karl Odlum (Kila, Glen Hansard & The Frames, Lisa O’Neill). While he is here he will also … Continue reading

NEW MUSIC: Liam Gerner ~ Hank and Tammy
Americana / Folk / New Music / Tour / Videos

NEW MUSIC: Liam Gerner ~ Hank and Tammy

Liam Gerner has just released a new single from his 2013 album Land Of No Roads.  ‘Hank and Tammy’, the true story of two struggling retirees who transported methamphetamine in their mobile home for Mexican cartels before being arrested in Texas and sentenced to twenty years behind bars for their troubles. Gerner is hitting the road to promote the single from … Continue reading

SIX STRINGS: Tracy McNeil
Alt-Country / Home / Interviews / Six Strings

SIX STRINGS: Tracy McNeil

Tracy McNeil released her new solo album Nobody Ever Leaves last week to strong reviews (including ours) and now she has started a comprehensive tour (dates below) to celebrate its release and spread the magic with her great band The Good Life that includes guitarist Luke Sinclair of Raised By Eagles. McNeil was kind enough to take some … Continue reading

LIVE: Darren Cross announces No Damage EP release shows
News / Tour / Videos

LIVE: Darren Cross announces No Damage EP release shows

  Darren Cross released one of our favourite singles in ‘Slings and Arrows’ recently and now a new six-track EP called No Damage is due out next month. To celebrate Cross is playing launch shows, proudly presented by Post To Wire, in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. No Damage will be released on Wednesday August 6th in … Continue reading