Favourite Australia/NZ Albums of 2024
Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Country / Folk / Folk Rock / New Zealand / Stream

Favourite Australia/NZ Albums of 2024

Claire Anne Taylor – Giving It Away There’s so much new music that comes down the information superhighway, a veritable landslide of songs and singer-songwriters opening up their hearts and baring their souls. To be honest, most of it is bland and derivative and you have to wade through an avalanche of mediocre to find … Continue reading

VIDEO PREMIERE: Rufous Whistler – I Mean It
Americana / Australia / Folk / New Music / premiere / Videos

VIDEO PREMIERE: Rufous Whistler – I Mean It

Last month I wrote about Rufous Whistler‘s single ‘Honey’ and now I’m very pleased to premiere the video clip for the new single ‘I Mean It‘, released this week. The song, detailing the complex journey of self-conviction, comes complete with a loping rhythm section and a really nice blend of mandolin, fiddle and bouzouki that … Continue reading

VIDEO PREMIERE: Luke Watt – In Plain Sight
Americana / Australia / Blues / Folk / New Music / premiere / Videos

VIDEO PREMIERE: Luke Watt – In Plain Sight

Next week (Nov 20th) sees the release of the self-titled fourth album from Victorian folk/blues singer-songwriter Luke Watt and today I’m very pleased to premiere the video for the song ‘In Plain Sight‘. Luke cites artists such as Chris Whitley, Richard Thompson and Kelly Joe Phelps as influences and you can hear them in his … Continue reading

VIDEO PREMIERE: Skyscraper Stan – Talk To Me
Americana / Australia / New Zealand / Rock / Soul / Tour / Videos

VIDEO PREMIERE: Skyscraper Stan – Talk To Me

Ahead of the release of his new single ‘Talk To Me‘, across streaming services and Bandcamp tomorrow (Oct 18th), I’m very pleased to premiere Skyscraper Stan‘s excellent new live/studio video clip for the song on PTW. Now on the exciting downhill run to the release of his third studio album, Those Were Days, out February 14th on Cheersquad Records & … Continue reading

NEW MUSIC: Twine – Sleeping Dogs
Alt-Country / Australia / Cosmic Country / New Music / Psychedelic / Rock / Stream

NEW MUSIC: Twine – Sleeping Dogs

Adelaide band Twine have released a great new single today called ‘Sleeping Dogs‘. It’s a track that sits at the nexus of ragged alt-country and noisier underground rock music. My initial thought was that their sound reminded me of the band Wednesday and then I read that their forthcoming album New Old Horse, out Friday, December … Continue reading

SINGLE PREMIERE: Peter Baxter – A Thousand Dreams
Americana / Australia / Country / Folk / New Music / premiere / Videos

SINGLE PREMIERE: Peter Baxter – A Thousand Dreams

Irish/Australian songwriter Peter Baxter recently released his new EP The Dark Familiar and tomorrow sees the release of the latest single/ video from it, ‘A Thousand Dreams‘, on Bandcamp, You Tube and streaming services. ‘A Thousand Dreams’ is a re-recording, with some new lyrics, of a song that first appeared on Peter’s 1997 album The Miracle … Continue reading

Dashville Skyline 2024 in review
Americana / Australia / Festival / Gig Reviews

Dashville Skyline 2024 in review

DASHVILLE SKYLINE October 4-6th, 2024 Hunter Valley, NSW This was the tenth year of the cosmic country celebration that is Dashville Skyline, in the exquisite surrounds of Wonnarua Country in Belford, Hunter Valley, and it was another exceptional long weekend of music and catching up with friends new and old.  A slight layout tweak meant … Continue reading

VIDEO PREMIERE: PJ Orr – Bread
Alt-Country / Americana / Cosmic Country / New Music / Psychedelic / Rock / Videos

VIDEO PREMIERE: PJ Orr – Bread

Sydney trio PJ Orr recently released ‘Guns n’ Money’, the first single from their forthcoming new album Wake Me When I’m Thirsty (Oct 25th) and now we’re very pleased to premiere the new single/video ‘Bread‘, which is out tomorrow (Sep 19th). There’s a brilliant rolling groove, filled out with jangly guitar chords as songwriter, guitarist … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Delaney Davidson – Out Of My Head
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Cosmic Country / Folk / New Music / New Zealand / Psychedelic / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Delaney Davidson – Out Of My Head

When it comes to the incorporation of ‘noir’ into country and folk music, the reigning king of capturing the essence of that sound in this part of the world is New Zealand artist Delaney Davidson. A prolific artist both in the recording studio and on stage, he recently released his album Out Of My Head … Continue reading

VIDEO PREMIERE: Fallow Fields – Lil Honey
Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Country / premiere / Videos

VIDEO PREMIERE: Fallow Fields – Lil Honey

Fallow Fields (Dandenong Ranges, Victoria) continue their run of great singles with the melodic, quick-stepping ‘Lil Honey‘, in anticipation of their debut album Rocky Head Road (Aug 26th). Out across streaming services on Monday August 26th, I’m very pleased to be able to premiere the song’s video clip here on PTW today. Creating an original … Continue reading

VIDEO PREMIERE: Caliko – Don’t Go
Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Cosmic Country / New Music / premiere / Soul / Videos

VIDEO PREMIERE: Caliko – Don’t Go

“I just wanna hear you say ‘don’t go’…” Based on the NSW South Coast, Caliko are a collaboration between singer/songwriters Vanessa Jade and Paul Greene. Jade wad first discovered by Kasey Chambers before being scouted by management team Winterman & Goldstein (Jet, The Vines, The Preatures etc). Since then she’s had a career working as a solo … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: The Smith & Western Jury – Hotel Texas
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Cosmic Country / Country / Stream / Video

ALBUM REVIEW: The Smith & Western Jury – Hotel Texas

Victorian group The Smith & Western Jury dial into authentic, gothic-tinged and dusty twang on their debut album Hotel Texas. Theirs is a distinctly American border sound, where one could picture Calexico backing Eilen Jewell in a late-night honky tonk.  Opener ‘Have Mercy’ tumbles and shimmers beautifully, with singer Samantha Lombardi making her mark instantly, … Continue reading

ALBUM REVIEW: Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields – I Remember You
Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Blues / Folk / New Zealand / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields – I Remember You

Over the last couple of years, Melbourne-based New Zealanders Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields have been writing, recording and touring together, harnessing the undeniable musical chemistry they have and channelling it into their sublime new album I Remember You. Right across the record, even when things get busier, there’s a wonderful sense of space … Continue reading

Lo Carmen releases new single & video and announces new album Transatlantic Light
Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Cosmic Country / New Music / Psychedelic / Rock / Video

Lo Carmen releases new single & video and announces new album Transatlantic Light

Sydney artist Lo Carmen has today announced that her new album Transatlantic Light, will be released on vinyl on Sept 13th and digital on Sept 20th. Self produced, recorded with her long time band The Great Beyond – Cec Condon on drums (Mess Hall), Ken Gormly on bass (Cruel Sea and Sam Worrad on guitar … Continue reading