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
Melbourne/Naarm Americana artist and ex-Gooch Palmer Leroy Macqueen has released his new country single ‘Long Way Down’ single today. Firmly on the same playing field of warm and emotive crooning country in the vein of Orville Peck, Macqueen reinforces the impressive writing and singing chops he revealed on the fine previous single ‘Stepping Out’. Great … Continue reading
Minor Gold (Tracy McNeil and Dan Parsons) have announced an Australian tour, starting mid October in NSW and running through to the Thirroul Music Festival at the start of December. The pair are currently on a 26-date tour in North America, including four US shows supporting The Teskey Brothers and performances at this year’s AMERICANAFEST. I described the … Continue reading
MARK LUCAS & THE DEAD SETTERS ONWARD INTO THE FOG INDEPENDENT Mark Lucas and his band of Dead Setters have been a fixture on the Sydney alt-country/roots music scene for the last two decades, playing the bars, clubs and bowlos, and every couple of years casting a new CD of songs out into the world. … Continue reading
Presented by Dashville, 2SER and Post To Wire, Dashville Skyline is excited to announce the full line-up for the festival, held on Wonnarua Country/Hunter Valley NSW on the October Long Weekend, Sept 28th-Oct 1st. This is more than just your standard country music festival. Dashville Skyline is a meticulously orchestrated musical feast, which casually meanders … Continue reading
Australian punk (The Gooch Palms) turned country troubadour Leroy Macqueen has released the emotive ballad ‘Stepping Out’, in honour of Pride Month. Possessing a rich baritone in the same range and with the same drama as Orville Peck and Elvis, Macqueen has been establishing himself on the local Australian alt-country scene with live shows and … Continue reading
GRITTY SNAPSHOTS AND SAD BALLADS An interview with the the king of moving on, songwriter and author Willy Vlautin of The Delines. By Chris Familton In the wake of singer Amy Boone’s 2016 accident where she was hit by a car, there were a few years, during her long and painful recovery, where songwriter Willy … Continue reading
Australian rock & roots music royalty Don Walker has today released his new single ‘You’ve Got To Move‘, taken from his forthcoming fourth solo album, Lightning in a Clear Blue Sky, out Friday, 5 May and with an accompanying East Coast Australian tour commencing in May, 2023. This will be the Cold Chisel, Catfish and Tex, Don and Charlie singer/songwriter’s first studio album in … Continue reading
Bud Rokesky stopped me in my tracks at Dashville Skyline last year. Time paused and for a brief time all that mattered was that voice and those songs. He’s already released two stellar singles in ‘Floodlight’ and ‘Love My Baby More’ and now he’s released number three – ‘Baby And I‘, another stunning track from … Continue reading
As always, it’s been another strong year for local releases in 2022, as artists find their feet again and cast their creative efforts out into the world after a couple of years of turmoil. Ahead of our main album list for the year, here are our eleven favourite Australian and Aotearoa/NZ albums for 2022. As … Continue reading
Sydney songwriter Fleur Wiber has impressed with her previous releases, both solo and with Chris Carrapetta. Her latest release is ‘Plastic Skyscrapers‘, a song that perfectly the blends classic and contemporary strains of country music, yet still with a gentle cosmic folk drift in its DNA. Drums shuffle, guitars twang & tumble along while a … Continue reading
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