SMART CARS, COSMIC FOLK AND BIRDS Iron & Wine are returning to Australia where they’ll play the Opera House for the second time. The band’s sole proprietor, Sam Beam, talks with Chris Familton about writing and performing his new album Beast Epic. “I’m still in the past,” says Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam, down the … Continue reading
SOBRIETY & SINCERITY So often artists are touted as the best new thing or re-inventors of a genre or style. There is of course a time and a place for all those things but there’s equally much to be said about an artist who captures the purity and authenticity of a style. An artist like … Continue reading
THE SONIC DIARY OF SUICIDE SWANS Over the last six years the QLD town of Toowoomba has been been echoing to the strains of Suicide Swans and their fascinating blend of folk, cosmic country and psychedelic rock. On their latest album La Jungla they’ve expanded their sound into new musical terrain. Kyle Jenkins is the … Continue reading
BOMBS AND BURIED OPTIMISM Davey Craddock’s first album was an impressive collection of Australian Americana music from the west coast of the continent, but on his second album he felt the need to mix things up and explore the pervasive sense of anxiety in these changing, uncertain times. When Craddock sat down to start writing … Continue reading
His debut album heralded the arrival of a timeless and exciting new country and folk voice, yet for Marlon Williams he’s only just starting to realise his songwriting ambitions with the baroque pop sound of his new album Make Way For Love. Down the phone line from New Zealand, Marlon Williams has just landed at … Continue reading
RESHAPING ROCK ’N’ ROLL REPUTATION From his home in Nashville, TN, Deer Tick head honcho John McCauley rasps down the line and fills in Chris Familton on the evolution of their live shows and why they’ve released two new albums. Living on the cusp of bar-band rock ’n’ roll and ragged alt-country, with a carefree punk spirit, Deer … Continue reading
IN THE WAKE OF THE NASHVILLE SOUND Ahead of his recent return to Australia with his band The 400 Unit, Jason Isbell took Chris Familton through what he’s been up to in the wake of last year’s The Nashville Sound. “I still don’t think of myself as a country musician,” says Jason Isbell, talking about the … Continue reading
EMOTIONAL RESCUE Ahead of Blair Dunlop’s second visit to Australia, he took the time to chat with Chris Familton about his new album – it’s blend of English folk and American country music and the role that anxiety played in its genesis. With his brand new fourth album, Notes From An Island, in his back … Continue reading
NASHVILLE DREAMS AND WHISPERING TREES Lo Carmen has imagined making her Nashville album since she was a teenager and now that dream has come true with Lovers Dreamers Fighters, an album written in rural Georgia and featuring a duet with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. Lo Carmen and her family have been based in the USA for … Continue reading
SONGS OF STRENGTH & DEFIANCE Ruby Boots’ commitment to life as a professional musician and the sacrifice that goes with it are about to come to fruition with the release of her second album. Her home for the last year has been Nashville, TN and during a recent solo Australian tour she took time to … Continue reading
Jed Rowe started his recording career with two albums under the name The Jed Rowe Band before shortening the moniker to just his own name for The Last Day Of Winter in 2015. Now he’s decided to further spotlight his personal talent as a songwriter and guitarist on the intimate and restrained A Foreign Country. … Continue reading
STRIPPING BACK THE LAYERS Lindi Ortega has had a year of quantum change in her personal and professional life. Ahead of her current Australian tour she talked with Chris Familton about those important events and the reasons behind them. To the casual observer, one might see Lindi Ortega’s recently released EP, Til The Goin’ Gets … Continue reading
THE IMPORTANCE OF LETTING GO Frazey Ford made her name as a member of folk group The Be Good Tanyas but now she’s approaching her third album as a solo artist. Ahead of her November Australian tour she talked with Chris Familton about songwriting, life outside music and her new single covering D’Angelo. On her … Continue reading
I caught Ben Leece for the first time at this year’s Dashville Skyline Festival. It was broad daylight on the last morning, the vibe was lazy, sun-kissed and chilled out. Ben started singing and something in the air shifted. It was one of those voices that catches the air and piques one’s senses. Rich with … Continue reading
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
