the UK home for americana music
“I think that live music is something that the internet can never kill” – Jim James (My Morning Jacket). In an age when we can access our favourite music in so many ways and so many forms, for me the best way remains – live. I’m not talking massive stadium or arena gigs, but small … Continue reading “The best gigs of 2019: a personal reflection”
Film soundtrack albums are always interesting beasts. You need to think about how they support the film they are made for but you’ve also got to assess them as a collection of music. There are a number of soundtrack albums that have gone on to be significant hits in their own right and the better … Continue reading “Various Artists “The Peanut Butter Falcon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (Varese Sarabande Records, 2019)”
In Glasgow, as a damp and dreich winter beckons, October has at least one beacon lighting up the dark nights, the annual Glasgow Americana Festival which has been warming the hearts of music lovers for 13 years now. Spanning five days and six venues, this year’s festival offered 19 performers, an elegant balance of local … Continue reading “Glasgow Americana Festival, 2nd – 6th October 2019”
Well, with a a summer of great festivals behind us, it’s time to consider staying indoors for your music fix over the next few months. First out of the box is the annual Glasgow Americana Festival. Now in its 13th year, Glasgow Americana attracts international artists alongside a healthy bill of local acts from all … Continue reading “Glasgow Americana Festival becomes a teenager”
Now in its 12th year, Maverick Festival continues to be one of the premier festivals of the summer for lovers of Americana and roots music, the culmination of founder and director Paul Spencer’s working year. Festival goers with ages spanning, at a pinch, three generations were up for entertainment over a whole weekend but your … Continue reading “Maverick Festival – Day One, Easton Farm Park, Suffolk, 5th July 2019”
Black Deer is our americana festival of choice at the moment, boasting as it does a stellar lineup featuring americana and country artists from every bit of the genres, and today they’ve announced more names for the return to the picturesque Eridge Park this June. Billy Bragg, Yola, Ethan Johns and more will join Band … Continue reading “Black Deer adds Billy Bragg and Yola to the line-up”
The AMAUK conference is now into its fourth year and one of the highlights is the two nights of showcases which take place before the awards ceremony featuring the best of americana talent, both homegrown and from around the world. At five venues across Hackney, all within walking distance and for the price of one … Continue reading “AmericanaFest UK 2019 Conference Showcase preview – part two”
British Americana fans – that includes us dear reader – will be flocking to Hackney, East London for 3 days of their annual conference in January as AmericanaFest UK returns for its 4th year. The event consists of two days of conferences and showcases which are then topped off by a third day of events and … Continue reading “AmericanaFest UK is back in January – here are all the details”
The first names have been announced this morning for the americana and country festival Black Deer’s 2019 line up, and there are some belters on there. In a victory for equestrians, South Califonia’s Band of Horses have been confirmed as the first headliner, with other artists announced including Australian roots-rockers the John Butler Trio, Northumberland’s … Continue reading “First names for Black Deer’s 2019 line-up announced”
This was always going to be a major undertaking anyway you dice it. Old Crow Medicine Show, all fiddles and banjos, decided to perform Dylan’s iconic “Blonde on Blonde” album in its entirety to mark its 50th anniversary. The members of this band weren’t even born when the original album was recorded! But they’re on … Continue reading “Old Crow Medicine Show “50 Years of Blonde on Blonde” (Columbia, 2017)”