Australia has always excelled at producing dark and gothic-influenced music. Nick Cave is the obvious progenitor but many others have explored the darker corners of sin and salvation and Melbournian Jemma Nicole has done just that with her debut collection of folk and country noir songs. There’s a stately waltz and sway to many of … Continue reading
In the absence of active duty from Sydney band Little Bastard, the various members have pursued solo projects (they kind of already did anyway) and relatively new group The Daphne Rawling Band, led by Ross Tipper features a few members of the rag-tag LB collective, as well as a couple of Cruisin’ Deuces. The punk-ish … Continue reading
Stan Woodhouse is currently out on the road playing a comprehensive series of solo acoustic dates (see below) around Australia to celebrate and promote the release of his new solo live album Live At Some Velvet Morning. The nine track album showcases Stan’s brilliant lyricism, dry humour and ability to hang a well crafted story on perfect … Continue reading
Despite being critically well-received, M.E. Baird’s very fine and emotionally raw album [Fall] deserves more attention. The record hits some deep, honest and personal places and was written during a period of great loss. Before, during and after recording [Fall] Baird endured the deaths of his Mother, Father, Sister and Nephew. He has a run of live shows coming … Continue reading
THROUGH THE LENS OF WILLIAM CRIGHTON With his debut album drawing widespread accolades, William Crighton takes Chris Familton inside the themes and physical locations that inspired the self-titled collection of songs. 30 kilometres past Yass, in the South West Slopes region of NSW, there’s a sign to Burrinjuck and a road that snakes down the … Continue reading
On his fifth album, country troubadour Hayes Carll has stripped back his songs to a place of contemplation with slow-burning tales of heartache. It’s a languid and casual affair where the songs drift by, conjuring up late humid nights on the back porch with a bottle for company and a head full of confessional and … Continue reading
Daniel Champagne is a true troubadour, racking up countless live solo shows each year — both in Australia and internationally. Here he’s attempted to bottle the lightening that happens on stage yet, devoid of a live audience, there is often a sense of emptiness to the album making it something of a one-way musical street. Champagne’s virtuosity, … Continue reading
For the last few years William Crighton has been building a strong buzz around his songs and live performances – both solo and with his band. Finally we see the fruition of his songwriting and recording with this mesmerising debut album. There’s a dark weight to Crighton’s music, both in subject matter and delivery, with … Continue reading
The Felice Brothers are one of our favourite alt-country bands with their fusion of all manner of styles–from country to folk, blues to ragtime. The good news is they’re also a prolific group and they’ve just announced that their new LP Life In The Dark is coming out on Yep Roc Records on June 24th. … Continue reading
Skyscraper Stan has turned his hand to songwriting for the screen with this new track that appears in the animated feature film 25 April which revolves around New Zealand’s involvement in the Gallipoli campaign of WWI. Skyscraper Stan and the Commission Flats play Cherry Bar tonight (April 8th) and tomorrow at The Workers Club in … Continue reading
This was a public holiday with reduced trading hours which meant an early start time for the local support act Le Pie. Backed by a five-piece band, she was one part Kim Gordon, one part 60s girl group. Over a bed of indie rock they showed a fine stylistic range, especially on their set-closer which … Continue reading
This is the first album in over a decade for the legendary country music singer and it finds her surveying a life in music with new versions of classics such as Fist City and Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven, covers and new duets with Elvis Costello and Willie Nelson. Lynn sounds in surprisingly strong … Continue reading
South Australian Chris Altmann, now based in Canada, continues to hone his songwriting craft and guitar playing on this, his third solo album. There are dips into traditional West Coast sounding country rock, barroom honky tonk and pastoral folk rock in this varied journey through American roots music. Altmann is entirely convincing and comfortable with … Continue reading
THE REINVENTION OF NATHANIEL RATELIFF Ahead of his debut Australian shows, Nathaniel Rateliff chats with Chris Familton about the transition from solo artist to leader of the Night Sweats and the ups and downs of being a working musician. A few years ago at the SXSW Festival, Nathaniel Rateliff was recently separated from him wife … Continue reading
Houndmouth’s second LP Little Neon Limelight was released last year and since then they’ve been on the tour circuit playing headline shows, festivals and TV appearances. The success of that album, on the back of their well-received debut From The Hills Below The City, has led them to book the long-haul flights down to Australia and … Continue reading
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