A decade ago, Devendra Banhart was the poster child for the American acid-folk movement that rose out of a close-knit community. As with all scenes, the different members went on to pursue their muses into contrasting and varied territory with Banhart continuing to explore eccentric song form. At first he took it into a more … Continue reading
Here’s the latest single from William Crighton’s excellent self-titled album that came out earlier this year. It’s one of the highlights of his live set too with its emotive Tim Buckley LA vibe and humid, rolling rhythm section. Continue reading
Jason Walker doesn’t play much with his full band so this was a chance to hear songs from his recently released new album All-Night Ghost Town, fleshed out with drums, bass and lead guitar – with Walker himself on electric. They sounded fantastic too, tight yet still with that alt-country looseness that gave them a … Continue reading
Warnings & Wisdom may only be her second album but American songwriter Jen Mize has already lived a colourful musical life that has taken her from Las Vegas casinos to the Boston Conservatory, from the Duke Ellington Orchestra to a home on the Sunshine Coast. Jen Mize’s debut Fear, Pride And A Few Stubborn Angels … Continue reading
There’s a saying “you only get one shot”, yet over time rock ’n’ roll has proven that’s not necessarily the case. One such example is Glad Reed and David Claringbold. Collaborators in life and music since the mid 80s, they demonstrate on their new album The Road, that they’re still driven by a shared passion … Continue reading
In the pantheon of modern songwriters only a few explore the dark corners of the heart and soul with such poetry, precision and weight as Leonard Cohen. He’s in that revered group alongside Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and increasingly, Nick Cave. Now 82, Cohen sees the end in sight, the curtains closing on a storied … Continue reading
Americana music, when it hits the mark, sounds modern and topical while honouring the country and folk ghosts of the past and James Kenyon has managed to corral his songs into an intriguing amalgam of just that. Kenyon’s style is comparable to the quieter side of Ryan Adams mixed with a hint of Bon Iver … Continue reading
STAYING IN THE SONGWRITING SADDLE Lindi Ortega returned to Australia last month for the Out On The Weekend festival and her own headline shows. She fills Chris Familton in on what she’s been up to in the year since her album Faded Gloryville was released. Canadian (and Nashville resident) country singer/songwriter Lindi Ortega will make her third visit … Continue reading
They sure don’t make ‘em like Kinky Friedman anymore. Singer, songwriter, author, raconteur, comedian and winner of the Male Chauvinist Pig Award from the National Organisation of Women in 1973. He’s still peddling the same material that he has for the last forty years though that was tempered somewhat by the release last year of … Continue reading
Between them, Glad Reed and David Claringbold have woven a path through the Australian music industry for the last thirty years. Glad has worked as a musician with Midnight Oil, The Cruel Sea, Laughing Clowns and many more while Dave has forged a successful career in production with acts including The Lighthouse Keepers and The … Continue reading
Liam Gerner has settled back into Melbourne after ten years based overseas and amid near-constant touring he’s recorded a new album with his band (The Sunset Pushers) that includes Shane Reilly from Lost Ragas. The self-titled LP (due out in Feb 2016) was recorded in three days in both Melbourne by Roger Bergodaz and in the USA at … Continue reading
Neil Young has surprised yet again with another 2016 album release. First there was the EARTH live LP, then came the news that Official Release Series Discs 8.5-12 reissue vinyl box set (American Stars & Bars, Comes A Time, Rust Never Sleeps, Live Rust and Long May You Run) will be out next month and now he’s just … Continue reading
The high-quality overload of Americana music in Sydney this week continued with a triple serving at The Basement that traversed country, folk and the cosmic musical universe of Robert Ellis. Last time he played here back in July, Joshua Hedley made solid headway through a bottle of whiskey during his set, the jokes and banter … Continue reading
After last year’s cancelled Sydney leg of the Out On The Weekend festival it was always unlikely we’d get another chance in 2016 but we do still get the consolation prize of some fine headline shows by the various artists from the Melbourne event. Callum Wylie had the task of serenading the slowly arriving punters. … Continue reading
Residing in Ballarat, VIC, Freya Josephine Hollick is about to release her new LP The Unceremonious Junking Of Me next month on Heart of the Rat Records. We’ve heard it and it’s a beautiful album, overflowing with cascading old-timey melodies and the lilting refrains of Hollick’s plaintiff voice. It sits somewhere between folk, blues and … Continue reading
POST TO WIRE 