Jonathan Aird

Shirley Collins, The Barbican, London, 18th February 2017

February 22, 2017 Jonathan Aird 0

Shirley Collins holds a unique place in the pantheon of English folk music – her 1959 song collecting journey in the USA, assisting Alan Lomax, is legendary enough but she also shook up the folk scene […]

Loudon Wainwright III – ‘Survivng Twin’

February 21, 2017 Jonathan Aird 0

It’s fair to say that growing up Loudon Wainwright III had some mixed feelings about his father, a columnist for LIFE magazine which he has summed up himself in a typically forthright and candid manner: “When […]

Elouise “Deep Water” (Independent, 2016)

February 20, 2017 Jonathan Aird 0

Well, here’s a thing we’ve been waiting for: another subdivision of the Americana genre, with Elouise Walker and her band declaring their sound to be Blackgrass. It’s distinctive from the already familiar Southern Gothic by (for […]

Mary Chapin Carpenter, Cambridge Corn Exchange, Cambridge, 5th February 2017

February 16, 2017 Jonathan Aird 0

This gig was the last of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s UK tour, and was also a first weekend highlight for the inaugural City Roots festival running across many venues in Cambridge as a week-long winter spin-off from […]

Wolf People “Ruins” (Jagjaguwar, 2016)

February 13, 2017 Jonathan Aird 0

Wolf People hold a special place in the spectrum of what we called for a while “psychfolk”. Their albums, and Ruins is no different in this, have a strong folk edge – Jack Sharp’s vocals have […]

Something for the weekend: Son Volt “If I Could”

July 17, 2026 0

Well that’s it from us for this week and we leave you dear reader with a new song from alt-country heroes/pioneers/stalwarts/choose your own noun Son Volt whose latest album Sound Signal Serenades was physically released on […]

Artwork for Bell White album "A sign in the weather"

Bella White “A Sign In The Weather”

July 17, 2026 0

A strong third album from the rootsy Canadian “Appalachian” artist from New Orleans showing raw emotion and a degree of post-breakup positivity. As you listen to each song on Bella White’s new studio album you feel […]

Jawdropped have a “Secret To Spare” and October dates

July 17, 2026 0

Jawdropped, a four-piece from Los Angeles, have announced their debut album, Secret To Spare, due 18th September via Transgressive Records / Canvasback. The band has also released the first single, Split Lip, along with a video […]

Articles by Jonathan Aird

Shirley Collins, The Barbican, London, 18th February 2017

Loudon Wainwright III – ‘Survivng Twin’

Elouise “Deep Water” (Independent, 2016)

Mary Chapin Carpenter, Cambridge Corn Exchange, Cambridge, 5th February 2017

Wolf People “Ruins” (Jagjaguwar, 2016)

Something for the weekend: Son Volt “If I Could”

Bella White “A Sign In The Weather”

Jawdropped have a “Secret To Spare” and October dates

Classic Clips: Anna Tivel “Rodeo Queens” – She’s Speaking

Paperback Riders: Dennis McNally “A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead”