Americana UK

  • News
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Live Reviews
    • Book Reviews
  • Features
    • Archive
      • Americana Bedrock
      • Americana Roots
      • AmericanA to Z
      • A Night to Remember
      • Dirty Dozens
      • Home Life
      • I Write the Songs
      • Lost Albums
      • Political Pops
      • Shuffle
      • Small Venue Heroes
      • Studio Life
      • The Other Side of Me
      • The Twang Factor
      • Top 10 Americana Albums Ever
      • Top 10 Americana Albums of the 21st Century
      • Top 10 Greatest Ever Americana Artists
      • Unsung Heroes
      • Van Life
      • Whatever Happened To…
      • What Should I Do…
      • WITATA
    • Anniversary Cheers
    • AUK Mini-Gigs
    • Can’t Live with it, Can’t Live without it
    • Classic Americana Albums
    • Classic Clips
    • Essentials
    • Fiction
    • For The Sake Of The Song
    • More People Really Should Know About
    • Obituaries
    • Top 10 Americana Songs of All Time
    • VERSIONS
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Tracks
  • Columns
    • Sounds from the Shed
    • Vox Continental
  • Podcast
  • Info
    • Contact Us!
    • Review submission FAQ
    • Support Americana UK
    • Want to write for Americana UK?
    • Daily Digest Sign-Up
    • Advertise on Americana UK
    • Privacy Policy
Our latest posts
  • [ August 6, 2026 ] Essentials: The Top 10 Samantha Crain Songs Essentials
  • [ August 6, 2026 ] Bird “Held Here Together” Album Reviews
  • [ August 6, 2026 ] Live Review: Joshua Ray Walker + Malin Pettersen, The Lower Third, London – 28th July 2026 Live Reviews
  • [ August 6, 2026 ] Phil Odgers & John Kettle “The War is Over – The Songs of Phil Ochs Vol 2” Album Reviews
  • [ August 6, 2026 ] Freddy Trujillo takes flight with his fifth solo album 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 artwork for Joost Dijkema After Thunder Sun
Album Reviews

Joost Dijkema “After Thunder Sun”

February 7, 2023 GrahamBollands 0
The third album from a Dutch multi-instrumentalist who writes, sings and plays all of the instruments. ‘After Thunder Sun’ is the third album from Joost Dijkema, a Dutch multi-instrumentalist who not only writes, sings and plays […]
No Oil Painting Rainy Season
Album Reviews

No Oil Paintings “Rain Season”

January 31, 2023 GrahamBollands 0
An excellent debut showcasing No Oil Painting’s folk, country, blues and rock influences. ‘Rain Season‘ is the debut album by No Oil Paintings, a highly regarded four-piece ‘alt-folk’ band from Belfast; Chris Kelly on lead vocals […]
artwork for Trampled By Turtles album 'Alpenglow'
Album Reviews

Trampled by Turtles “Alpenglow”

November 29, 2022 GrahamBollands 0
Memorable hooks, bright melodies and a wonderful blend of guitar, banjo, mandolin and fiddle set against reflective lyrics. ‘Alpenglow’ is the tenth studio album by Minnesota-based Trampled by Turtles, and what a great record it is. […]
Lara Taubman Ol Kentucky Light album artwork
Album Reviews

Lara Taubmann “Ol’ Kentucky Light”

October 4, 2022 GrahamBollands 0
Thoughtful, heartfelt lyrics sung with real passion and arrangements that reflect the music that has inspired her. Lara Taubman’s sophomore album, ‘Ol Kentucky Light‘, is smooth, stylish and soulful; a collection of ten new songs covering […]
artwork for Cahalen Morrison album "Wealth Of Sorrow"
Album Reviews

Cahalen Morrison “Wealth Of Sorrow”

September 12, 2022 GrahamBollands 0
Raw, emotional and haunting songs to match the high desert landscape and the abandoned chapel in which they were recorded. Opening with the stunning acapella ‘This Whole Broken World’, Cahalen Morrison immediately grabs your attention with […]

Posts pagination

« 1 … 3 4 5 6 »

our latest posts

Essentials: The Top 10 Samantha Crain Songs

Essentials
August 6, 2026 0

Bird “Held Here Together”

Album Reviews
August 6, 2026 0

Live Review: Joshua Ray Walker + Malin Pettersen, The Lower Third, London – 28th July 2026

Live Reviews
August 6, 2026 0

Phil Odgers & John Kettle “The War is Over – The Songs of Phil Ochs Vol 2”

Album Reviews
August 6, 2026 0

Freddy Trujillo takes flight with his fifth solo album

News
August 6, 2026 0
Essentials

Essentials: The Top 10 Samantha Crain Songs

August 6, 2026 0
March, 2026, walking down Islington High Street in the rain, heading for the hallowed Union Chapel, the anticipation of seeing Samantha Crain live was palpable. Too many years had gone by since a summer night at […]
Album Reviews

Bird “Held Here Together”

August 6, 2026 0
Atmospheric strings build a soundscape from folk and psych to support excellent songs. Singer-Songwriter Bird, otherwise known as Janie Price, has released a new full-length album. Held Here Together is made up of her two recent […]
Live Reviews

Live Review: Joshua Ray Walker + Malin Pettersen, The Lower Third, London – 28th July 2026

August 6, 2026 0
It was a hot night in the West End, but thankfully the air conditioning was cool at Denmark Street’s Lower Third. This was Joshua Ray Walker’s first show in London since recovering from stage 3 bowel […]

  • Essentials: The Top 10 Samantha Crain Songs
  • Bird “Held Here Together”
  • Live Review: Joshua Ray Walker + Malin Pettersen, The Lower Third, London – 28th July 2026
  • Phil Odgers & John Kettle “The War is Over – The Songs of Phil Ochs Vol 2”
  • Freddy Trujillo takes flight with his fifth solo album
  • Railcard “Unstable Neighbour” – let’s get on, ok?
  • Video: Karl Bray “Marianne”
  • Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It: Tom Waits
  • Paul McClure “The Good And The Bad Of It”
  • Artists with Hearts of Gold contribute to two more albums of Neil Young covers
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
  • Graeme Tait: Lol. Sorry, Alan, I knew as soon as I'd chosen to cover Tom Waits for this feature you'd be a…
  • Alan Peatfield: OK, Graeme - just one observation ... the obvious one. "As a songwriter he is right up there; on the…
  • Graeme Tait: Hi Alan. Glad you approve. It was an excellent gig.

Latest interviews

Interviews

Video Interview: Aaron Lee Tasjan on “Get Over It, Underdog” and Todd Snider

August 4, 2026 0
Nashville East resident Aaron Lee Tasjan has long been a favourite of Americana UK, and with 12 albums to his name, including his latest Get Over It, Underdog, and approaching 40, he is no longer the […]
Interviews

Video Interview: American Aquarium’s BJ Barham finds “New Ways To Lose”

July 29, 2026 0
American Aquarium appear to be on a creative roll with their latest album, New Ways To Lose, getting great reviews even though it is their twentieth album in as many years. Added to this is the […]
Interviews

Interview: David Keenan on inspiration, optimism and telling stories

July 28, 2026 0
“Radiate a smile if we’re only here for a short while / no we don’t want to miss a day / cus there’s so much we must do,” sings David Keenan on Radiate a Smile, four […]

You may have missed…

News

Thomas Dollbaum enlists MJ Lendeman and friends for his latest album

March 20, 2026 0
Tampa-born, New Orleans-based singer/songwriter Thomas Dollbaum has announced his new album Birds of Paradise, “a goodbye letter to lost loved ones and former selves,” which will come out on May 22 via Dear Life Records, and […]
Live Reviews

Live Review: Lloyd Cole, The Barbican, London – 25th January 2025

February 3, 2025 0
Upon opening the Barbican Centre on  3 March 1982, the Queen remarked that it is “one of the wonders of the modern world”. That remains a moot point, however, it can’t be denied that the centre […]
Tracks

Son Volt “Sometimes You’ve Got To Stop Chasing Rainbows” – grasp the nettle of reality, man

May 22, 2023 0
Son Volt (the band that Wilco could have been) have a new album ‘Day Of The Doug’, coming out June 16th via Transmit Sound/Thirty Tigers.  It’s a themed album of carefully chosen covers celebrating the musical […]

© Americana UK 2026, a website based in the People's Republic of Liverpool