LIVE REVIEW: Dashville Skyline Festival 2017

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Now in its third year, Belford’s Dashville Skyline is fast becoming a fixture on the alt-country, psych and rock’n’roll calendar, this year showcasing artists from Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Ireland. Only 2.5 hours north of Sydney, it all comes together on the Johnston family farm, with the festival (plus Gum Ball and Thrashville) managed … Continue reading →

Alt-Country / Americana / Rock / Videos

VIDEO PREMIERE: Suicide Swans – Horses

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • 1 Comment

Suicide Swans are a five-piece alt-country/rock band from Toowoomba QLD who have been strumming their way through South East Queensland since 2012. ‘Horses’ is the first single to come from their LP Augusta, due of November 17th. This will be their second full length album following Ghosts We Forget in 2015. ‘Horses’ has a great sound … Continue reading →

Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Gig Reviews / Photos / Rock

LIVE REVIEW: Ruby Boots @ Brighton Up Bar, Sydney

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Ruby Boots + James Thomson @ Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst NSW, Sept 27th 2017 Back in Australia to play Out On The Weekend, the Australian Americana Music Honours event and some solo shows to showcase her forthcoming new album, Ruby Boots is on the cusp of another exciting chapter in her musical career. This was … Continue reading →

Americana / Bluegrass / Country / Folk / Interviews / News

INTERVIEW: Old Crow Medicine Show

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading →

Americana / Blues / Country / Folk / Interviews / Soul

INTERVIEW: Valerie June

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

A REFLECTION OF LIFE Ahead of a return visit to Australia, Valerie June reflects on her musical journey so far and talks with Chris Familton about the importance of being true to her muse and her personal beliefs. Down the line from New York, Valerie June lets out a yelp of excitement as she steps … Continue reading →

Americana / News / Reissue / Rock / Soul

NEWS: Dylan announces massive Bootleg Series release of the ‘gospel years’

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

This has always been one of the more fascinating periods of Dylan’s career, when he started exploring gospel music and religious-leaning song subject matter. Due from Columbia and Legacy on November 3rd, Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981 focuses on Dylan’s so-called “gospel years”. The Deluxe Edition features nine discs – 8 … Continue reading →

Giveaway / News

GIVEAWAY: Win a double pass to Ruby Boots’ Sydney show

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Next Wednesday (Sept 27th) Ruby Boots returns from Nashville to play a headline Sydney show at Brighton Up Bar in Darlinghurst, previewing her forthcoming new LP. This comes hot on the heels of her signing to Bloodshot Records and an acclaimed appearance at the 2017 AmericanaFest where Rolling Stone named her as one of the … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Americana / Cosmic Country / Country / Psychedelic / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Daniel Romano – Modern Pressure

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Shapeshifting songwriter Daniel Romano has covered wide stylistic ground, from his post-hardcore band Attack in Black through to his run of top-notch solo albums that take in classic country, folk and psychedelic variations of the aforementioned. Now with Modern Pressure he’s consolidated his sound, corralling all those Americana variations into his consistently best album to … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: John Moreland – Big Bad Luv

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

John Moreland has been one of those best-kept secrets for a while now, slowly emerging as a highly respected songwriter on the alt-country/Americana scene. He’s never had a breakout single or any landmark moment, rather he’s slowly refined and improved his craft, garnering increasing critical acclaim and a growing fanbase. Big Bad Luv finds him … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Bluegrass / Country / Folk / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Davidson Brothers – All You Need Is Music

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

The brothers are back with another album of bluegrass, folk and country music in their laconic, easy-going style. At times the songs themselves dip into bland and cliched lyrical territory but if you can get past that, take a long drive or kick back on a sunny afternoon and relish the exceptional musicianship on display. … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / New Music / News / Stream

NEWS: Margo Price Announces New 2017 LP

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Margo Price only just released her new EP Weakness and now she’s gone and announced that a new full-length album will be released on October 20th via Third Man Records. All American Made was recorded at Memphis’ Sam Phillips Recording during the same sessions as Weakness and was again co-produced by Matt Ross-Spang, Alex Munoz, Price, and Jeremy Ivey, the latter … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Rock / Southern Rock / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

In the space of his last two albums Jason Isbell’s status has rocketed from ex-Drive-By Trucker and respected songwriter to Grammy and Americana Association awards winner and one of the most acclaimed of this generation’s Americana/country artists, alongside Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. The Nashville Sound is a re-framing of Isbell, with his long-serving band … Continue reading →

alt.country / Americana / Blues / Country / Folk / Interviews / Tour / Videos

INTERVIEW: Justin Townes Earle (2017)

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Now seven albums deep into his career, Justin Townes Earle has worked different variations of his country/folk/blues template to a consistently high quality over the last decade. Kids In The Street is different for a number of reasons but primarily in the way it was written and recorded. “I love this record,” says Earle, speaking … Continue reading →

Americana / Folk / Interviews

INTERVIEW: The Lumineers

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

THE SONG THAT GAVE THEM THE KEYS TO THE WORLD The Lumineers’ Jeremiah Fraites takes Chris Familton through the experience of recording a new album, its sound and influences and taking the band back out on tour. Initially, on the back of their breakthrough 2012 single Ho Hey, The Lumineers went from a new indie-folk … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / alt.country / Americana / Country / Rock / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: John Mellencamp ft. Carlene Carter – Sad Clowns & Hillbillies

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Since those heady early days when Mellencamp was touted by record labels as the heartland rock, pinup boy Johnny Cougar, through to his eventual reshaping into his true self, the strength of his songwriting has always been consistent. Now, with his 23rd studio album, Mellencamp again shows his range and canny ability to draw on … Continue reading →