Issy Ferris and Archie Sylvester formed a duo in 2016 and, since then, have released a string of critically acclaimed singles and EPs, including 2018’s ‘Made in Streatham’, which was recorded in the kitchen of their flat in London. Through constant touring and stylish videos, they have been steadily building up a sizeable fanbase and creating a real buzz; the video for recent single ‘Flying Visit’ has been viewed 57,000 times on YouTube in the last four months. 2019 has seen Ferris & Sylvester play various festivals, including Black Deer, Isle of White, Glastonbury and AmericanaFest in Nashville. Soon, they will be returning to the USA to record new songs and 2020 looks set to be even bigger. After completing their biggest headline tour to date, the pair took the time to talk to Andrew Frolish of Americana UK about performing, song writing and preparing to record their first full-length album. Continue reading “Interview: Ferris & Sylvester”
Author: Andrew Frolish
From up north but now hiding in rural Suffolk. An insomniac music-lover. Love discovering new music to get lost in - country, singer-songwriters, Americana, rock...whatever. Currently enjoying Lukas Nelson, Midland, Jarrod Dickenson.
Jerry Leger “Time Out for Tomorrow” (Latent Recordings, 2019)
Smart lyrics: check. Characterful vocals: check. Masterful musicianship: check. Sublime songcraft: check. For many listeners, a Jerry Leger album is the very definition of Americana. Since his 2005 debut, Leger has been hugely prolific while managing a remarkably consistent quality in his output. ‘Time Out for Tomorrow’ is no exception, finding Leger and his band, The Situation, in fine form. The album is lean, focused and coherent, both musically and thematically. Continue reading “Jerry Leger “Time Out for Tomorrow” (Latent Recordings, 2019)”
Jon Patrick Walker “Welcome to the Edge Times” (Independent, 2019)
Jon Patrick Walker is an actor by trade, used to performing in television and film studios or treading the boards of Broadway; so, it is no surprise that he inhabits his songs with emotion, character and wit. In recent years, Walker has been prolific and ‘Welcome to the Edge Times’ is his third full-length album since 2013. Walker’s songs are characterised by his delicately emotive singing and strong vocal melodies. Continue reading “Jon Patrick Walker “Welcome to the Edge Times” (Independent, 2019)”
Interview: Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren, one of the world’s great guitarists, is a musician’s musician. He has shared a stage or a recording studio with the likes of Neil Young, Crazy Horse, Lou Gramm and Ringo Starr and for over 30 years he has been a key member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Lofgren’s latest solo record is a fascinating project, built around a set of songs co-written with the fabulous Lou Reed. Continue reading “Interview: Nils Lofgren”
North Mississippi Allstars “Up and Rolling” (New West Records, 2019)
After almost a quarter of a century of releasing highly-acclaimed, Grammy-nominated records, North Mississippi Allstars have released their 11th album, ‘Up and Rolling’. The Dickinson brothers, Luther and Cody, have once again demonstrated their sublime songcraft and expert musicianship on one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated releases. Continue reading “North Mississippi Allstars “Up and Rolling” (New West Records, 2019)”
Ferris & Sylvester + Roseanne Reid, The Portland Arms, Cambridge, 30th September 2019
2019 has been a breakthrough year for Ferris & Sylvester. With slots at various festivals, including Glastonbury, Black Deer, Isle of Wight and Americanafest in Nashville, the duo has been reaching out to new audiences and winning over plenty of fans. Their rich Americana sound is a blend of influences – blues, pop, country – and after well-received singles and the EP, ‘Made in Streatham’, they are steadily building up to the release of their first full length album. Judging on this performance at The Portland Arms, taking their time over things, honing their song-craft and on-stage delivery, is proving to be a successful strategy. Continue reading “Ferris & Sylvester + Roseanne Reid, The Portland Arms, Cambridge, 30th September 2019”
Studio Life – Yunger
Felix Junger is a talented multi-instrumentalist. He plays in a number of bands across a range of genres but his latest project is a solo indie-folk record, ‘Of Journeys and Other Longings’, released under the name Yunger. It’s a wistful album, with a sense of wonder and a yearning for travel, for new experiences, for something more. Junger’s folk-guitar underpins his modern, uplifting sound and the end result is a confident, cohesive album full of summer melodies. The singer-songwriter from Austria recorded most of the instruments and mixed the album himself, showcasing his skills on the mandolin, banjo and accordion and allowing him to create rich soundscapes to soundtrack his travels. Continue reading “Studio Life – Yunger”
Sturgill Simpson “Sound & Fury” (Elektra, 2019)
Grammy-winning Sturgill Simpson returns with the appropriately-named ‘Sound & Fury’, an adventurous, genre-smashing album. It’s an exhilarating ride from start to finish, reinforcing Simpson’s reputation as one of the most exciting musicians around. He is as unpredictable as he is talented, each album veering in a different direction. ‘Sound & Fury’, with it’s synths and disco-beats, swampy riffs and glam guitar, is consistently intense and is a huge leap away from the traditional country of Simpson’s debut. Continue reading “Sturgill Simpson “Sound & Fury” (Elektra, 2019)”
Studio Life – Worry Dolls
With the imminent release of a new EP and a seven-week tour coming up, Zoe Nicol and Rosie Jones of Worry Dolls will be keeping busy this autumn. The pair met in Liverpool while studying music and soon discovered that their voices, multi-instrumental talents and song writing skills were well-matched. They have been writing and performing together ever since. Worry Dolls are a lesson in following your dreams: Nicol and Jones made the difficult decision to leave their old lives behind and move to Nashville, where they recorded their well-received debut album, ‘Go Get Gone’. Their song, ‘Endless Road’, was nominated for Song of the Year at the Americana Music Association UK Awards and they have been championed by the likes of Bob Harris. So, anticipation is high for their new EP, ‘The River’. After the new song was showcased brilliantly at The Black Deer Festival, Americana-UK caught up with Worry Dolls just before the single’s release to find out more about the inspiration and song writing process. Continue reading “Studio Life – Worry Dolls”
The Mining Co. “Frontier” (Independent, 2019)
The third album from Michael Gallagher, performing as The Mining Company, is a gently, intelligently romantic record, largely focused on themes of loss and separation. As on previous releases, the quality of the songwriting and musicianship is consistently good, supported by atmospheric, dreamy production and lush arrangements. Continue reading “The Mining Co. “Frontier” (Independent, 2019)”