Matt Walker has been quietly going about his business for three decades now, from his early collaborations with Ashley Davies, through his ongoing tenure as singer/guitarist for the brilliant Lost Ragas, his solo work, and as sideman for Tex Perkins— in his many guises. What typifies his playing is a kind of austere, unhurried precision, … Continue reading
Currently wowing audiences across Australia, Sierra Ferrell has released a new single, ‘The Garden‘, taken from the forthcoming expanded version of her acclaimed album Trail Of Flowers, due out on January 31st. JAN 18 – A DAY ON THE GREEN, BIMBADGEN, POKOLBIN, HUNTER VALLEY, NSW JAN 19 – A DAY ON THE GREEN, SIRROMOT WINES, … Continue reading
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
Named after the bird found throughout mainland Australia, Rufous Whistler (Vinny Russell) has released ‘Honey‘, his second single of 2024, and he and his band will be celebrating with a powerhouse, six-piece headline show at the Wesley Anne in Melbourne on October 31st – TICKETS Rufous Whistler’s sound bears a strong similarity to his namesake, … Continue reading
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
Castlemaine VIC songwriter Jesse Lawrance continues impressive with the latest in a run of singles he’s been releasing through 2024. I’m very pleased to bring you the exclusive premiere of the video for ‘For Better Or For Worse‘ featuring Jesse’s partner Honeytree on vocals. “‘For Better or for Worse’ is a real-deal duet between two … Continue reading
Fallow Fields continue their run of impressive singles with the sweet and catchy sound of ‘When Your Love is Over‘, out on streaming services on July 29th and taken from their forthcoming debut album Rocky Head Road. Rachel Simmons’ voice has a touch of Dolly in this delightful classic country track, with a melodic pop … Continue reading
Australian singer-songwriter Michael Waugh takes an honest and unflinching look at a past relationship on ‘Beauty & Truth‘, the latest single (out tomorrow) and title track from his new album which will be released on June 21st on vinyl/CD/streaming via Compass Bros Records. Tracked with a live band in the studio of his long-time producer … Continue reading
Andy Golledge took his sweet time getting to the release of his debut album Strength Of A Queen in 2022 but he’s seized that momentum and his popularity as a live performer and swiftly delivered the follow-up LP, Young, Dumb & Wild. Mixing up soulful ballads (‘Siren’), baroque pop (‘White Rabbit’), heartfelt country rock, melodic … Continue reading
William Alexander already has three albums up on streaming services, from back in 2018, but his latest, The Singing Stockman, sounds like an artist truly coming of age. The 27 year old is a working stockman in the Central West region of NSW and he sings with real conviction and classic country authority. Alexander is … Continue reading
NSW songwriter, singer and guitarist CJ Stranger has worked as a musician in musical theatre and played live with William Crighton and others but it’s his particular brand of cosmic Americana at the junction of psych rock, folk and country where he most impresses. CJ shares that rarefied air with the likes of The War … Continue reading
As per usual, this is the time of year I crunch the numbers, analyse the statistics and cast my eyes and ears over the year’s albums, to get an overview of my favourite releases. Below you’ll find the Australian (and two NZ) albums that resonated with me the most over the last 12 months. This … Continue reading
It doesn’t seem that long ago that Sydney’s Caitlin Harnett released her first band album with The Pony Boys, but in fact three years have passed. In the meantime, through a pandemic, Harnett’s career has gone from strength to strength, becoming an in demand live act across the country and scoring some impressive international supports … Continue reading
Ballarat VIC singer-songwriter Jeremy Beggs has a new single coming out tomorrow, his second songwriting and recording collaboration with Matt Joe Gow. ‘Signal Me In‘, a heartfelt song about seeking guidance and strength in life, expresses “a longing for a supportive partner to be a beacon of hope, even in challenging times,” explains Beggs. “Ultimately, … Continue reading
Lo Carmen‘s creative CV runs deep – from author to actress, songwriter to singer and musician. She’s been a constant on the Sydney arts scene for decades now, constantly producing great work that always seems to possess a timeless quality. Carmen’s last album, Lovers Dreamers Fighters (2017), found her exploring more of a country influenced palette … Continue reading
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