We leave you on this exciting week for us here at AUK (my poor head…) with a new song from Passenger aka Mike Rosenberg who is back following his lovely 2017 americana album ‘Runaway’ which culminated in his headlining the inaugural Black Deer festival, and what a set that was. He’s posted the video for a new song ‘Sandstorm’ this week which is as Passenger-y as ever and a sign that a new album is on the way. Hurray. Tickets have gone on sale today for the UK leg of his world tour which takes place later this year, and he has also been announced as one of the headliners for this year’s Cambridge. All good. Have a good one.
Month: January 2020
Pete Gow “The Fragile Line” (Clubhouse Records, 2020)
When, almost a year ago, a colleague on this esteemed website reviewed Pete Gow’s debut solo album ‘Here There’s No Sirens’ the only possible criticism to emerge from what was, in the main, a glowing review, was the fact that the album was “a little one note in terms of pace….with no rocky number to break the tension.”
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Video Premiere: Ian Roland & the Subtown Set “Butterfly”
Beautifully sung and beautifully played, this is the new video from Ian Roland & the Subtown Set, taken from forthcoming album ‘Double Rainbow’, which will drop on 28th February. Roland says the song is about the walks he took with his children and about his own childhood experiences. The lovely video sees the modern-folk trio performing on a hillside in the South Downs. Enjoy.
The Felice Brothers +The Rails+ Carson McHone @Celtic Connections, St Luke’s, Glasgow, 24th January 2020
On a recent Friday night in Glasgow’s East End, at St Luke’s, around the corner from Barrowlands, Ian and James Felice glance up at the room that they could have sold-out many times and smile to themselves. It’s their first visit since 2016 to one of their cities. They built their tour around this Celtic Connections date and with bassist Jesske Hume and drummer Will Lawrence adding to the vocal make-up, the band appear to have discarded their chaotic label but still combine musicality with spontaneity and wry wit. Continue reading “The Felice Brothers +The Rails+ Carson McHone @Celtic Connections, St Luke’s, Glasgow, 24th January 2020”
Pick of the Political Pops: Ralph McTell “England”
Well that, in a sense, is that. As you read this piece you will either be preparing for the party of your lives or hiding in your metaphorical beds hoping it will all just be a bad dream and you will be free of the torment when you wake up. Continue reading “Pick of the Political Pops: Ralph McTell “England””
David Dondero “Filter Bubble Blues” (Fluff & Gravy Records, 2020)
What does it say about me that I hadn’t heard of David Dondero before this LP? Especially given that in 2006, NPR’s All Songs Considered named him one of the best living songwriters alongside similarly underrated names like Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Tom Waits. Who knew? Well, lots of people, it seems. So here I am, a Johnny-Come-Lately telling you all what I think of this veteran singer songwriter’s new album – his. I know. The neck.
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Bonny Light Horseman “Bright Morning Stars” – Listen
Bonny Light Horseman may have come together as a “folk supergroup” almost by accident but the combined talents of Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson and Josh Kaufman’s, here augmented by Justin Vernon do not produce haunting new takes on traditional songs by chance. Continue reading “Bonny Light Horseman “Bright Morning Stars” – Listen”
AMAUK Awards Night- the Winners Revealed
Capping off what had been a spectacular couple of days of the Americana Fest Showcase nights came the Americana Music Association UK’s annual awards evening, this year held at the spectacular Troxy. An all-star event, with the musicians who’d been playing over the last couple of days preparing their acceptance speeches or just having a wind-down. It’s the kind of evening where you can find yourself jostling at the bar with Dylan Earl, or be sitting just behind Amy LaVere. There was music, there were, not surprisingly, awards. There was the infamous after-party – but we don’t dare reveal too much about that. We’ll have a proper account soon but for now just the headlines. Who won what, in other words. Continue reading “AMAUK Awards Night- the Winners Revealed”
Video: Christopher Paul Stelling “Lucky stars”
Christopher Paul Stelling has a new album, ‘Best of Luck’, coming out on 7th February. Producer, Ben Harper, says of the record: “I really believe this record is the intersection where folk and soul meet.” This single is a simple, melodic love song enhanced by effective lap steel. Stelling says: “It’s about gratitude and the mysteries of the universe. Even to just be here and marvel at it all is enough for me most times. Even if it’s meaningless, it’s beautiful.”
Classic Album Review: Rosanne Cash “Seven Year Ache” (Columbia,1981)
Rosanne Cash’s second album for Columbia Records was a turning point in her career. Although Grammy Awards came later, it was with ‘Seven Year Ache’ that Cash announced herself to the world as a major songwriting and singing talent. It was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Country Chart and number 26 on the mainstream Billboard Chart. Two of the album’s three Country Chart-topping singles were written by Cash herself, ‘Blue Moon with Heartache’ and the title track, ‘Seven Year Ache’, which also reached number 22 on the pop charts. Continue reading “Classic Album Review: Rosanne Cash “Seven Year Ache” (Columbia,1981)”