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Our latest posts
  • [ May 8, 2026 ] Book Review: Tom Piazza “Living In The Present With John Prine” Book Reviews
  • [ May 8, 2026 ] Classic Clips: Billy Bragg, Hank Wangford and Brendan Croker “Sin City” – Live on the Whistle Test, Rock Around the Clock, 21st September 1986 Classic Clips
  • [ May 8, 2026 ] Trippers & Askers “Tried To Do’s” Album Reviews
  • [ May 8, 2026 ] Make Americana Great Again: Deus Ex Musica Columns
  • [ May 8, 2026 ] The Latest AUK Podcast is now available featuring UNCUT legend Allan Jones on all things Americana and beyond News
HomeAuthorsGrahamBollands

Articles by GrahamBollands

About GrahamBollands
Proud dad of Jess, Harry and Lucie. Was a headteacher for 17 years and now pleased to share my experiences working as a university tutor training the next generation of primary teachers. Now living the dream in North Devon, doing up a barn, growing vegetables, walking the coastpath, volunteering on a farm alongside young adults with learning difficulties, presenting a weekly radio show, singing in a choir, and whenever possible, listening to great music and going to gigs.
album cover artwork- Dry County Crooks- Life, Love And Death
Album Reviews

The Dry County Crooks “Life, Love And Death”

September 12, 2023 GrahamBollands 0
The return of Oregon Americana-rock band The Dry County Crooks, reformed, reflective and re-energised. The Dry County Crooks are an exciting and energetic band from Portland, Oregon and ‘Life, Love And Death’ is their new EP, […]
album artwork for Rain Down Mercy- Brewflies
Album Reviews

Brewflies “Rain Down Mercy”

August 30, 2023 GrahamBollands 0
An album of superb songs delivered through brilliant musicianship. ‘Rain Down Mercy‘ is a truly excellent listen; an album featuring a superbly well-put-together selection of songs and exceptional musicianship. With fifteen tracks and a running time […]
Dim Watts Eye Two Three album artwork
Album Reviews

Dim Watts “Eye Two Three”

July 31, 2023 GrahamBollands 0
An album that adds another fascinating layer to the musical palette of Athens GA. Athens, situated near the Blue Ridge Mountains area of North Georgia, has produced a huge number of talented musicians over the years. […]
AUK's Chain Gang

AUK’s Chain Gang: Nils Lofgren’s Influence on Neil Young’s ‘Southern Man’

July 24, 2023 GrahamBollands 0
In last week’s Chain Gang, Clint West made the connection between Shooter Jennings’ old man Waylon, who amongst other things, added his distinctive guitar sound to a number of tracks on Neil Young’s 1985 country album […]
album artwork for A Pound Of Rust- JD Graham
Album Reviews

JD Graham “A Pound Of Rust”

July 10, 2023 GrahamBollands 0
Songs telling personal stories and a performance that is stripped back and raw, providing a compelling listen. JD Graham is a singer-songwriter with quite a story to tell, and his new album, ‘A Pound Of Rust‘, […]

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our latest posts

Cover art for Tom Piazza book "Living In The Present With John Prine"

Book Review: Tom Piazza “Living In The Present With John Prine”

Book Reviews
May 8, 2026 0

Classic Clips: Billy Bragg, Hank Wangford and Brendan Croker “Sin City” – Live on the Whistle Test, Rock Around the Clock, 21st September 1986

Classic Clips
May 8, 2026 1
Artwork for Trippers & Askers album Tried To Do's

Trippers & Askers “Tried To Do’s”

Album Reviews
May 8, 2026 0

Make Americana Great Again: Deus Ex Musica

Columns
May 8, 2026 0

The Latest AUK Podcast is now available featuring UNCUT legend Allan Jones on all things Americana and beyond

News
May 8, 2026 0
Cover art for Tom Piazza book "Living In The Present With John Prine"
Book Reviews

Book Review: Tom Piazza “Living In The Present With John Prine”

May 8, 2026 0
During the opening lines of the foreword to Tom Piazza’s latest book, Living In The Present With John Prine, the widow of one of the finest songwriters of his generation, Fiona Prine, describes how her late […]
Classic Clips

Classic Clips: Billy Bragg, Hank Wangford and Brendan Croker “Sin City” – Live on the Whistle Test, Rock Around the Clock, 21st September 1986

May 8, 2026 1
The Old Grey Whistle Test (which in its final years was abbreviated to the Whistle Test) was commissioned by David Attenborough and ran from 1971 to 1988. Broadcast annually on BBC Two between 1984 and 1986, […]
Artwork for Trippers & Askers album Tried To Do's
Album Reviews

Trippers & Askers “Tried To Do’s”

May 8, 2026 0
Invest time and listen carefully, and you may find reward with this deep, introspective record. Trippers & Askers is the recording and songwriting project of Jay Hammond, musician, sound artist, educator and researcher. He is currently […]

  • Book Review: Tom Piazza “Living In The Present With John Prine”
  • Classic Clips: Billy Bragg, Hank Wangford and Brendan Croker “Sin City” – Live on the Whistle Test, Rock Around the Clock, 21st September 1986
  • Trippers & Askers “Tried To Do’s”
  • Make Americana Great Again: Deus Ex Musica
  • The Latest AUK Podcast is now available featuring UNCUT legend Allan Jones on all things Americana and beyond
  • Live Review: Brown Horse + Elanor Moss, St Stephen’s Church, Ipswich – 18th April 2026
  • Bob Wagner “Richest Man On Earth” – doesn’t turn out so well
  • Video: Ringo Starr “Long Long Road”
  • Alela Diane “Who’s Keeping Time?”
  • Essentials: The Top 10 David Lowery Songs
Billy Bragg Bob Dylan Bruce Springsteen Chuck Prophet Courtney Marie Andrews Dean Owens Drive By Truckers Emmylou Harris Jason Isbell Johnny Cash John Prine Lucinda Williams Margo Price Neil Young Peter Bruntnell Robert Vincent Ryan Adams Steve Earle Sturgill Simpson The Band The Byrds The Delines Tom Petty Wilco Willie Nelson
  • Martin Johnson: Great days, Darren. I can’t believe it was forty years ago.
  • Alison Jennings: When Trump was elected, we consoled ourselves by stating that the music will get better, as it tends to do…
  • Jonathan Aird: Great - really enjoying the podcasts, and that should be a classic (no pressure there Keith!)

Latest interviews

Interviews

Interview: The Milk Carton Kids’ Joey Ryan discusses “Lost Cause Lover Fool”

May 5, 2026 0
Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale created their own take on sparse, acoustic indie folk when they formed the Milk Carton Kids in 2011 and found their own loyal audience. A lot can happen in fifteen years, […]
Interviews

Video Interview: Jim Lauderdale on releasing two new albums and supporting Emmylou Harris

April 28, 2026 0
Jim Lauderdale must be doing something right because he keeps doing it. He has recently released two albums, Country Super Hits Volume 2 and The Birds Know with The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, which maintain his phenomenal […]
Interviews

Interview: David Wilcox on the way he tells the stories

April 27, 2026 0
David Wilcox makes records that are masterful in the way they prompt people to feel things deeply and heal themselves. To put it another way, his songs act as chicken soup for the soul. His music […]

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News

Rosanne Cash will receive Americana award for free speech

July 25, 2018 0
Lovely to hear about this award whenever it crops up, and nice to see at least one Rosanne talking sense this year! RS report: “Four-time Grammy winner Rosanne Cash, who has actively advocated against gun violence […]
Album Reviews

The Birds of Ontario “The Birds of Ontario” (Independent, 2019)

February 11, 2020 0
For their self-released album of the same name The Birds of Ontario shamelessly dial the clock back to the 1970s, and a worthwhile trip back in time it is too. Opening track ‘She’s Got Time‘ references […]
Album Reviews

Snowgoose “The Making Of You” (Glass Modern, 2020)

July 8, 2020 0
Back in 2012, Snowgoose created some significant ripples in the Scottish music scene when they released their debut album. Based around the crystal clear vocals of Anna Sheard and the song writing skills of Jim McCulloch […]

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