Jonathan Smith

Sidewalk Diamonds 'Dream of Dance Floors'

Sidewalk Diamonds “Dreams of Dance Floors”

February 17, 2025 Jonathan Smith 1

Raucous, heartfelt garage Americana. In 2020, Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter Tony Thomas invited Beth Pyper-Holz to sing on his solo ‘Dog and Tony Show’ release. With Thomas having returned the favour for Pyper-Holz’s EP ‘The Heartbreaker’ soon after, […]

Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without it – Nanci Griffith

February 12, 2025 Jonathan Smith 1

Writing about music generally forces you to adopt a critical stance; it’s not enough to say ‘I like this’ or ‘I don’t like that’, you have to drill a little deeper to try to find a […]

Ar Lewi “Two Minds”

January 28, 2025 Jonathan Smith 0

Campfire musings and quiet words. A new name to the Americana UK universe, Ar Lewi describes kickstarting his musical journey by living out of the back of his car at state campgrounds, and inviting fellow campers […]

Martin Devaney “Blueprint For A Ghost”

January 7, 2025 Jonathan Smith 0

Likeable Americana ride from veteran Minnesota songwriter. ‘Blueprint for a Ghost’ is the 8th solo album for St Paul based Martin Devaney, and its Americana credentials are established immediately by the cover art, calling to mind […]

Furlined “Kill Devil Hills”

November 11, 2024 Jonathan Smith 0

Impressive re-emergence of quality UK Americana Band. Furlined were formed back in 2013 by Bristol singer-songwriter Neil Crossley (that’s Bristol in the UK, not any of its American variants). After two well-received albums, Crossley sidelined the […]

For The Sake Of The Song: Dean Owens “Sally’s Song (I Dreamed Of Michael Marra)”

July 27, 2026 0

Dean Owens is, of course, no stranger to these pages. With twelve albums and numerous AUK awards behind him, a search on this site will provide pages of reviews, interviews and videos. Typing the name Michael […]

Mick Flannery “The House Must Win”

July 27, 2026 0

A labour of love, twenty years in the making from renowned Irish singer-songwriter. It is more than twenty years since Mick Flannery released his debut album Evening Train, but the tale it told of (as he puts […]

Robert Plant to receive Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award

July 27, 2026 0

The Americana Music Association has announced that singer, songwriter and musical trailblazer Robert Plant will receive the Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the 25th Annual Americana Honours & Awards, taking place on 16th September 2026, at […]

Articles by Jonathan Smith

Sidewalk Diamonds “Dreams of Dance Floors”

Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without it – Nanci Griffith

Ar Lewi “Two Minds”

Martin Devaney “Blueprint For A Ghost”

Furlined “Kill Devil Hills”

For The Sake Of The Song: Dean Owens “Sally’s Song (I Dreamed Of Michael Marra)”

Mick Flannery “The House Must Win”

Robert Plant to receive Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Tucker Zimmerman “Dream Me A Dream”

Sounds from beyond the Shed 241 “Back in the swim”