Justin Townes Earle, Joshua Hedley, The Sadies @ Factory Theatre, Sydney, Oct 17th, 2017 After the failure to get Melbourne’s Out On The Weekend Americana music festival up and running in Sydney, we should feel lucky we still get to experience all the acts playing their own sideshows here. It amounts to a week of treats … Continue reading
Old Crow Medicine Show, Valerie June @ Enmore Theatre, Oct 3rd 2017 House lights were dimmed and, apart from a white cowboy hat and some impressive beards, four unassuming band members walked on stage and kicked into the opening song before Valerie June strode onstage with dreadlocks bundled high, a shimmering gold sequinned outfit and turquoise … Continue reading
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
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
Tami Neilson & Her Rockin’ Hot Band Of Rhythm + Paddy McHugh @ The Basement, Sydney, 20th August 2017 Sunday night isn’t the usual day of the week for a country, soul and funk shakedown but Tami Neilson & Her Rockin’ Hot Band Of Rhythm unequivocally made it so. Surprisingly this was her first visit to Sydney, … Continue reading
Steve Gunn, Angie @ The Basement, Sydney 6th July, 2017 Hypnotic music can take many forms, it can be ambient and soothing, heavy and droning or purely fuelled by repetition. Steve Gunn sits right at the nexus of all of these and he took The Basement audience on a varied and dextrous musical journey. Up … Continue reading
Ryan Adams & The Unknown Band, Middle Kids @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (27.05.17) According to messages on his Instagram account, this was the last AU/NZ tour for Ryan Adams. For 15 years he’s sacrificed his mind and body and battle with Ménière’s disease to make the long flights down to this part of the world … Continue reading
An early start due to the public holiday meant a sparse room at the start of Ruby Boots’ set but by its conclusion the room had filled considerably. Back in town after a year in Nashville, she started off tentatively with a new song, from her forthcoming album and what a superb song it was, … Continue reading
Willie Watson + My Bubba + Imogen Clark @ Factory Theatre, Sydney March 16th 2017 To a smattering of punctual punters, Imogen Clark, accompanied by her father on bass, rode a wave of post-Nashville jet lag to showcase songs from her debut album and a preview of her next one. She’s a bubbly, confident performer … Continue reading
Jason Walker doesn’t play much with his full band so this was a chance to hear songs from his recently released new album All-Night Ghost Town, fleshed out with drums, bass and lead guitar – with Walker himself on electric. They sounded fantastic too, tight yet still with that alt-country looseness that gave them a … Continue reading
They sure don’t make ‘em like Kinky Friedman anymore. Singer, songwriter, author, raconteur, comedian and winner of the Male Chauvinist Pig Award from the National Organisation of Women in 1973. He’s still peddling the same material that he has for the last forty years though that was tempered somewhat by the release last year of … Continue reading
The high-quality overload of Americana music in Sydney this week continued with a triple serving at The Basement that traversed country, folk and the cosmic musical universe of Robert Ellis. Last time he played here back in July, Joshua Hedley made solid headway through a bottle of whiskey during his set, the jokes and banter … Continue reading
After last year’s cancelled Sydney leg of the Out On The Weekend festival it was always unlikely we’d get another chance in 2016 but we do still get the consolation prize of some fine headline shows by the various artists from the Melbourne event. Callum Wylie had the task of serenading the slowly arriving punters. … Continue reading
Love Police have a knack for booking repeat tours that build up a local audience for supremely talented artists. In the past they’ve worked with Justin Townes Earle and Robert Ellis. This tour showcased two musicians who have been relatively frequent visitors, though not in a solo capacity. Yet again Love Police have hosted one … Continue reading
Alt-country doesn’t generally get a look-in with the arts festivals so it was pleasing to see the inclusion of Ramblin’ Nights in this year’s Vivid Sydney line-up. This was an evening that ranged in style from laid-back country rock to soulful country-blues hollers and heartland rock n roll. Amber Rae Slade & The Mighty Big … Continue reading
