the UK home for americana music
Great American Trainwreck are a five piece band operating out of Seattle who have been playing for a couple of years, time enough to get their eponymous debut album together – it’s out on May 23rd. The band formed when Stephanie Ward and Chuck Dunklin decided to take a new approach to the music they … Continue reading “Great American Trainwreck “Hell On The Rise” – Listen”
Frank Zappa asked the question in 1986, “Does Humour Belong In Music?” I don’t know if that was a rhetorical question or not, but to head uncertainty off at the pass, the answer is yes. Flight of the Conchords and the national treasure (TM John Peel) that is Half Man Half Biscuit, are just two … Continue reading “The Burning Hell “Baby” (BB*Island, 2018)”
Michelle Lewis makes folk music. This is a broad and unhelpful description. You’re welcome! It’s true though that at the root of this record is a solo performer with acoustic guitar and a rich, sweet voice. However, Lewis infuses this simple, time-tested formula with subtle yet lush electronic and organic musical arrangements.
Joan Shelley is no stranger to Glasgow’s Glad Cafe. Returning to the venue for a fourth time, the Kentucky-born artist has built up a loyal following. Whether a long term fan or a relative newbie attracted by Shelley’s 2017 self-titled album, a sell-out crowd filled the intimate south side room anticipating a night of fine … Continue reading “Joan Shelley + Maiden Radio, The Glad Cafe, Glasgow, 10th October 2018”
Described in the press release as the “Godmother of Americana”, the sometimes excellent Michelle Shocked returns to our shores next month, hopefully in a less biblical mood than 2013, for a series of dates. The tour promises “small, intimate venues and combining tracks from her sizeable back catalogue with stories from the road, and a … Continue reading “Michelle Shocked returns to UK for dates”
Talitha Rise are Jo Beth Young and Martyn Barker. Their songs are a combination of Art Pop and Progressive Folk inviting the listener into a world of ethereal landscapes and bohemia. Accomplished live performers, their chemistry together offers any audience an opportunity to step outside of their heads and witness a psychedelic, raw and tribal … Continue reading “Dirty Dozen: Talitha Rise”
Here we are again with another feature in the FORGOTTEN ARTISTS series, where we take a look at some of the Americana musicians who may just have dropped out of people’s memories or who, perhaps, never received the appreciation their contribution to the genre deserved. This time frequent contributor to the series, Clint West, turns … Continue reading “Forgotten Artists – Katy Moffatt”
At AUK we are on a quest to find the ‘top 10 americana albums ever’. Over the last few weeks our writers have been going through the mental anguish of trying to narrow the whole history of americana down to just ten albums. When every writer has had their say, a shortlist of the most … Continue reading “AUK’s top 10 americana albums ever: Alan Fitter”
If you remember the 1980s – and I can think of several reasons why you wouldn’t, not the least of which is the ever-expanding possibility that you weren’t even alive yet – then you probably remember The Replacements. As a fan of Americana music, you might be wondering why I bother to bring up a … Continue reading “Classic Americana Compilations: Various Artists “Songs for Slim: Rockin’ Here Tonight – A Benefit Compilation for Slim Dunlap” (New West Records, 2013)”
Cars have always featured in American music right from the very first widespread recordings made in the ‘20s. The reason for this is fairly mundane, America is a big country and over the decades economic forces have required ordinary people to move and the car played an obvious part in this. Due to the size … Continue reading “10 Americana songs about cars”