We leave you this week dear reader with a clip of Yola (who is EVERYWHERE these days), who performed her single ‘I Don’t Wanna Lie’ on The Late Late Show With James Corden earlier in the week – incidentally you can now watch this show in the UK courtesy of the new Sky Comedy channel, comedy and James Corden of course being a subjective thing. The queen of country soul was recently announced to play legendary singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, in Baz Luhrmann’s musical drama ‘Elvis’. Baz Luhrmann, urgh… but still, it’s Yola. It’s Spring on Sunday by the meteorological calendar, although maybe don’t get out your gardening gloves just yet. Have a good one.
Lucinda Williams announces “Good Souls Better Angels”, UK dates
Thirty Tigers and Highway 20 have announced the release of a new Lucinda Williams album, ‘Good Souls Better Angels’ which is due out April 24th and which “unabashedly takes on some of the human, social and political issues of our day with her boldest and most direct album to date.” Following the release of ‘Man Without A Soul’, the first track to be taken from the forthcoming album, Williams has posted the album’s raw opener online today, ‘You Can’t Rule Me’ which you can listen to below. Continue reading “Lucinda Williams announces “Good Souls Better Angels”, UK dates”
Video: Noble Jacks “Enjoy the Ride”
Here is an upbeat finish to the week from Noble Jacks, taken from the Deluxe version of ‘Stay Awake’, which is due for release on 27th March. The song is particularly meaningful to the band, who explain: “We wrote this song to promote positive mental health awareness, particularly for men to speak openly about negative thoughts with each other, following the suicide of our lead singer’s housemate at university.” Continue reading “Video: Noble Jacks “Enjoy the Ride””
Frazey Ford “U Kin B The Sun” (Arts & Crafts, 2020)
After starting out with the retro folk band the Be Good Tanyas, for her third solo album since 2010, Vancouver-based artist Frazey Ford has all but completely eliminated the Americana influences that permeated her previous two productions. Rather, on ‘U Kin Be The Sun’ she concentrates on producing what sounds, on the face of it, like a straightforward, solid slab of mid-paced, well-polished Southern soul, leaning towards 1970s-tinged funk and gospel and with Ford’s intense yet indolent voice over-arching proceedings with astonishingly potent force.
Continue reading “Frazey Ford “U Kin B The Sun” (Arts & Crafts, 2020)”
Pick of the Political Pops: George Jones “What’s Money?”
This week down in The Bunker in Americana-UK Towers much hilarity was caused when we watched on our Radio Rentals small screen cathode ray tube TV (look it up kids) a statement from The House of Commons from bus driver’s son Say “Jid” Jay “Hawk”. In it he lambasted his former boss, TV personality’s son Boz The Turk, and took aim at the decision to put bus driver junior back in his box for daring to consider that he should have a modicum of freedom to spend (or not spend) the nation’s money as he saw fit. Continue reading “Pick of the Political Pops: George Jones “What’s Money?””
Steve Earle returns with new album “Ghosts of West Virginia”
Steve Earle & The Dukes have announced the release ‘Ghosts of West Virginia’ due out on May 22nd, 2020 via New West Records – you can hear the first track from it below. The album was produced by Steve Earle and engineered by Ray Kennedy at Jimi Hendrix’s legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The 10-song set is Earle’s 20th studio album and was mixed entirely in mono. Continue reading “Steve Earle returns with new album “Ghosts of West Virginia””
Jen Starsinic “Bad Actor” (Dangerous You Records, 2020)
The new EP from Jen Starsinic is a significant move away from the Nashville-based singer’s folk-infused debut album, ‘The Flood and the Fire’. It has taken her several years to put together this new material and in that time her sound has shifted towards dreamy pop with a touch of indie-rock. ‘Bad Actor’ is characterised by shimmering production, strong beats and Starsinic’s distinctive, laid-back vocal delivery. The evolution in her sound reflects the experiences and changes in her personal life in recent years, evident in her open-hearted, confessional lyrics. Continue reading “Jen Starsinic “Bad Actor” (Dangerous You Records, 2020)”
Beer and Bluegrass Festival returns to Poole
The Beer and Bluegrass Festival returns for its 6th successful year on 24/25th July 2020 to Branksome in Poole. This ‘down-home’ festival is set in the secluded grounds of Victoria School with the main stage set within a natural amphitheatre, surrounded by woodland with ‘Claremont’ Victorian convent in the background. The line-up includes world-famous Daoiri Farrell from Ireland, the Fierce Flowers from Paris, Todd Day Wait from Missouri, Porchlight Smokers, Jim Ghedi and Toby Hay and Pearl Fish from with many other artistes, many of which will join together on stage, singing and playing ‘Bluegrass Style’ around a single microphone to close each evening. Continue reading “Beer and Bluegrass Festival returns to Poole”
Neil Nathan “Promised Land” – Listen
Neil Nathan has spent the last three years in Studio1935 in South Philadelphia, collaborating with Producer Mike ‘Slo-Mo’ Brenner and Engineer/Co-producer Pete Rydberg, on a barrage of covers and originals, Singles, EP’s, and LP’s, set to be released through 2022. Today’s song – a re-imagining of the Chuck Berry classic – is the first fruit of this endeavour. Continue reading “Neil Nathan “Promised Land” – Listen”
Video: Chance Emerson “How Can I”
At just 19 years old, Chance Emerson has already managed more than a million plays on Spotify. That’s some achievement. For his latest single, his 11 year old brother has shot a charming video. Emerson says of the enterprise: “I just gave my brother a camera and we went on a walk through Hong Kong,” where his younger sibling just took videos of things he thought, “…looked cool.” Emerson’s debut full-length album, ‘The Raspberry Men’, is out on 6th March.