Jonathan Aird

Dervish “The Rocky Road To Dublin” – Listen

April 26, 2019 Jonathan Aird 0

For their 30th anniversary year Dervish have released the album ‘The Great Irish Songbook‘, which features songs you’ll know sung by a range of guests such as Rhiannon Giddens, Steve Earle, Kate Rusby and, on this […]

Chloe Foy “Oh You Are Not Well” – Listen

April 25, 2019 Jonathan Aird 0

On this folk-flecked song, distinguished with a particularity percussive vocal by Chloe Foy, there’s a good deal of scathing criticism. It’s introspective though, and captures a mood of self-recrimination and internalised anger at perceived feelings of […]

Rich Layton & Tough Town “Salvation Road” – Listen

April 24, 2019 Jonathan Aird 1

The swampiest of rock is embodied on this title track single taken from Rich Layton’s latest album release (due May 31st). Houston-raised Gulf Coast musicians Rich Layton and co-producer Terry Wilson grew up steeped in multiple […]

Michael McDermott “Orphans” (Pauper Sky Records, 2019)

April 24, 2019 Jonathan Aird 0

As well as having what may be the worst cover of any album this year ‘Orphans‘ also isn’t really Michael McDermott’s latest album – that’s actually already in the works – it’s more of a constant […]

Great American Trainwreck “Hell On The Rise” – Listen

April 23, 2019 Jonathan Aird 0

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. […]

Something for the weekend: Keyside “Cocodamol”

July 10, 2026 0

Well that’s it from us for this week. Don’t forget about our 25 year anniversary event in November which takes place across 2 stages in Liverpool at the end of November and features Chuck Prophet and […]

Book review: Willy Vlautin “The Left and the Lucky”

July 10, 2026 0

Willy Vlautin is well known as the chief songwriter of Richmond Fontaine and The Delines, trading in beautifully written vignettes of the people who have generally fallen between the cracks of the American dream. These dark […]

Emmylou Harris, Mumford and Sons and Jerry Douglas

Classic Clips: Mumford & Sons & Emmylou Harris ft. Jerry Douglas “The Road” – CMT Crossroads, The Factory, Franklin, Tennessee, 20th September 2012

July 10, 2026 0

The evening before San Francisco’s 2025 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival the Masonic Auditorium hosted a tribute concert to Emmylou Harris, the only artist to have graced the festival stages for each of its 25 years. During […]

Articles by Jonathan Aird

Dervish “The Rocky Road To Dublin” – Listen

Chloe Foy “Oh You Are Not Well” – Listen

Rich Layton & Tough Town “Salvation Road” – Listen

Michael McDermott “Orphans” (Pauper Sky Records, 2019)

Great American Trainwreck “Hell On The Rise” – Listen

Something for the weekend: Keyside “Cocodamol”

Book review: Willy Vlautin “The Left and the Lucky”

Classic Clips: Mumford & Sons & Emmylou Harris ft. Jerry Douglas “The Road” – CMT Crossroads, The Factory, Franklin, Tennessee, 20th September 2012

Les Thomas “I Remember Everything”

Latest AUK Podcast now available featuring author and journalist Liz Thomson