Well that’s it for us for another year dear reader. It almost feels trite now to comment on the bizarre/awfulness of 2020 but hopefully we’ll look back on this in another 12 months time and think “Crikey that was bad but at least we overthrew capitalism!” Thanks for all your support over the past year – from reading our content to signing up as a supporter in aid of Help Musicians UK to sending us your material as an artist – most of us still struggle on with dayjobs and do this in our spare time so your support has been so important in the absence of human contact. We do very much feel like a community and if you’re reading this now, you’re a part of that. We’ll be back after our break on January 4th all being well. But in the meantime, from all of the team here, wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful Christmas and all the best for 2021 – there’s reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last. Mark Whitfield, Editor, Americana UK.
Jingle Bells Thursday aka Friday – Here it is, Merry Christmas
Well, this is it. We’re putting this feature to bed for another year. Maybe, just maybe, if you’ll be good then we’ll have another go in 2021. Quality Christmas songs being available being the real requisite for a repeat. The astute amongst the readership will have noticed that today is actually Thursday – well, like polar bears the staff of Americana UK will be taking a long winter nap from today. True, ours may be due to copious consumption of fermented or brewed beverages, but anyway we’ll be back in the New Year! Continue reading “Jingle Bells Thursday aka Friday – Here it is, Merry Christmas”
South For Winter “Luxumbra” (Independent, 2020)
The long, awaited, full-length debut from Nashville Gypsy-Folk-Rockers South For Winter delivers on all the promise that has built up around the band the past few years. ‘Luxumbra’ is a powerful statement from the trio of Nick Stone (vocals, guitar), Dani Cichon (vocals, mandolin), and Alex Stradal (cello). The simplicity of the band’s lineup is belied by the strength with which they play and the deeply complex music they create that exists somewhere in the nebulous area between blues, acoustic-folk, and jazz explorations, all delivered with thoughtful lyrics and lilting harmonies. Continue reading “South For Winter “Luxumbra” (Independent, 2020)”
Celebrating Gravy, Christmas and Long Distance Longing
The big day has finally arrived and it’s time to pay brief but certain homage to the creator. Hold on a minute though, stand down from those keyboards and rest easy; we’re not 72 hours early and neither are we celebrating the sun standing still, the Feast of Juul or Yalda. This is something of a much more recent vintage and to a substantial number of the denizens of A.UK Towers, of greater significance. The object of the celebration in question is, of course, gravy. To be more accurate, the detailed consideration of ‘How to Make Gravy’ that is the central concern of Australia’s gravy day – the 21st of December. Continue reading “Celebrating Gravy, Christmas and Long Distance Longing”
Nathaniel Bellows “Three” (Independent, 2020)
Of course this is Nathaniel Bellows’ third album, but there is not such a lack of an imagination in the title. Three also represents the number of years of illness suffered by Bellows’ father before he died in March 2019. And there’s further numeristic symbolism there with March being the third month of the year. The album as a whole can be regarded as a coming to terms with this dramatic change. Starting with ‘In the Wool‘ there’s a questioning of who we are and who we become as strong bonds are broken and new roles have to be assumed. Continue reading “Nathaniel Bellows “Three” (Independent, 2020)”
Steve Earle “Christmas In Washington” – Listen
Well, the end of another year and time to look forward to Christmas and a New Year. It can, after all, hardly be worse than 2020. We hope. So, let’s embrace unbridled optimism with Steve Earle’s big Christmas Hit… see you all on the other side. Continue reading “Steve Earle “Christmas In Washington” – Listen”
Video Review of the Year 2020
Well, what a year it’s been: a bitterly contested US Presidential election, the Black Lives Matter movement and a global pandemic that brought the world to a standstill. The word ‘unprecedented’ must be the most well-used of 2020. The impact on the music industry has been profound. Live music venues and artists who rely on income from touring have been severely affected while the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the House of Commons has been examining the economics of streaming services and the long-term impact on artists and record labels. Continue reading “Video Review of the Year 2020”
Anton O’Donnell wins ‘The Twang Factor’ 2020
When we first came up with the idea for ‘The Twang Factor’ we were unsure what kind of response we would get. As it happens we need not have worried as we had very many entrants and we hope that you have enjoyed the ten which we chose to feature in the first series. The standard was amazingly high, but in the end our very first featured entrant Anton O’Donnell from Glasgow came out on top. Congratulations to Anton, a worthy winner and a true vindication of our decision to stage this thing in the first place. Continue reading “Anton O’Donnell wins ‘The Twang Factor’ 2020”
Classic Americana Albums: “Thanks I’ll Eat It Here” Lowell George (Warner Records, 1979)
Lowell George made this album, a melting pot of so many musical influences, because apparently, he was not happy with the way that Little Feat was heading, as he saw it, into jazz-rock territory. I can’t say that I noticed but certainly, the sparse gritty sounds of the eponymous début were being lost as the band continued to record in the late ’70s. Continue reading “Classic Americana Albums: “Thanks I’ll Eat It Here” Lowell George (Warner Records, 1979)”
Book Review: Eric Wolfson “From Elvis in Memphis” (Bloomsbury Academic, 2020)
Rather like the proverbial buses, another of Bloomsbury’s 331/3 books arrives soon after the recent, ‘Murder Ballads’, volume. Whereas, ‘Murder Ballads’, was a universal tale of musical history and folklore focussing on a particular album and artist, ‘From Elvis In Memphis’, is almost wholly focussed on the artist and addresses wider issues only in passing. Ultimately it is likely to be much more specifically for Elvis fans, whereas ‘Murder Ballads’, was relevant for more than just Cave aficionados. Continue reading “Book Review: Eric Wolfson “From Elvis in Memphis” (Bloomsbury Academic, 2020)”