Mark Whitfield

RS lists best country and americana album so far for 2018

Have a good weekend dear readers. We’ll be at Black Deer trying to not get drunk too early in the day so do come up and say hello if you recognise any of our faces (I look like a more haggard version of the face pic next to each article). Leaving you with a link to this piece from RS Country who have listed their favourite americana and country albums of 2018 so far, which has some firm AUK favourites in there including Old Crow Medicine Show, Mary Gauthier and Joshua Hedley (just to spoil three surprises for you). Continue reading “RS lists best country and americana album so far for 2018”

Treetop Flyers announce new album, single

London soulful country-rock outfit Treetop Flyers are back with their eponymous third album which is due out on 24 August via Loose. Weaving 60s tinged West Coast Americana with a British rock’n’roll swagger, whereas previous albums had been recorded either at their own Soup studios in London or further afield in studios in Malibu and New York, this time round they headed to The Cube in Stoke Newington. A DIY studio and rehearsal space, it backs on to the sanding workshop of the London picture framers and fellow musicians Brider & Bull. Continue reading “Treetop Flyers announce new album, single”

New Ryan Adams stuff on the way, possibly lots of it

An interesting story up on Consequence of Sound this morning where they mull over the various Ryan Adams going on at the moment. As they note, “Ryan Adams dropped two new songs over the last few weeks, both related to Colorado media outlets. The first was a tribute to radio station 105.5 The Colorado Sound, while the second was penned in exchange for a weather forecasting gig for news channel Denver 7. Adams is apparently still very much in the giving spirit, as today he took to Twitter to tease the release of more than four different projects, including 17 all-new songs as well as his long-lost Blackhole album. Continue reading “New Ryan Adams stuff on the way, possibly lots of it”

The Americans (nice ones) arrive in UK for dates next week

We leave you this weekend dear reader with news that Los Angeles quartet The Americans are returning to Europe for a series of shows this summer including some high profile support slots in the UK with Eric Clapton at BST Hyde Park and The Gipsy Kings at Kew The Music in Kew Gardens and Cambridge Corn Exchange. They’ll also be playing a slot at Black Deer Festival and regional dates in Winchester, Leeds and Oxford. Continue reading “The Americans (nice ones) arrive in UK for dates next week”

Willie Nelson on border separations: “Christians everywhere should be up in arms”

If you forget the glimmer of hope from earlier in the week (which was not without its humour), it’s been another depressing week for the US and Willie Nelson has something to say about it. RS Country report that Nelson “has issued a statement on the separation of immigrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. The country-music icon and Texas native ripped the Department of Justice’s policy under President Trump, calling it “outrageous.” Continue reading “Willie Nelson on border separations: “Christians everywhere should be up in arms””

Devil Makes Three return with “Chains Are Broken” – August

The Devil Makes Three is set to return with their new album ‘Chains Are Broken’ which is out on August 24th via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by Ted Hutt (Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly) and recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso, TX. It’s the band’s first album of original material since 2013’s ‘I’m A Stranger Here’ and follows their 2016 collection of covers ‘Redemption & Ruin’ which heralded the groups second #1 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums Chart. Continue reading “Devil Makes Three return with “Chains Are Broken” – August”

Album premiere: Sam Llanas “Return of the Goya — Part 1”

Americana mainstay Sam Llanas (formerly of the BoDeans) releases his new album ‘Return of the Goya — Part 1’ this Friday (June 15th). The release, which showcases Llanas’ lifelong love of classic country music while maintaining his singular songwriting flourishes, will mark his 13th overall studio album and fourth major solo effort. Produced by lap steel and electric guitarist Sean Williamson and mastered by long-time collaborator Gary Tanin, the recording features many prominent Milwaukee musicians Llanas has worked with over recent years along with new faces, including bassist Matt Turner, drummer Kevin Dunphy, drummer Ryan Schiedermayer, and trombonist John Simons. With timeless pop-tinged harmonies and hooks along with jangly guitars, lap steel, and a vibrant horn section, this is your sounds of the summer while it still lasts.

Planet Rock to launch new weekly Americana show

Planet Rock, if you didn’t know already, is “where rock lives” – and unlike Mars, it’s fairly easy to get to from any DAB radio in the UK. Today the station has announced a brand new show focusing on the americana genre. Called ‘Stateside’, the show will look at a range of Americana music ranging from heritage acts such as the Allman Brothers, Ry Cooder, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and taking in contemporary Americana artists with a home on the Planet Rock playlist, such as Blackberry Smoke and Cadillac Three. The show will also look to introduce listeners to new acts each week. Continue reading “Planet Rock to launch new weekly Americana show”

New Isbell live album on the way

Jason Isbell hits the UK next week for an appearance at the Black Deer Festival down in Kent and if you can’t make it there in person, the next best thing is listening from the comfort of your own armchair/kitchen stool/car. RS Country report: “For Americana fans, one of the live music highlights of 2017 was Jason Isbell’s historic six-night, sold out run at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Now, Isbell has two exciting new Ryman-related announcements. Continue reading “New Isbell live album on the way”

Ryan Adams gives shout out to Colarado media (again)

This is rather endearing. Paste report this morning: “Rather than crafting new heartbreak ballads or covering hit Taylor Swift albums, Ryan Adams has lately turned his musical genius towards the muse that is the independent media of Colorado. Last week, Adams shared a new song dedicated to regional radio station “105.5 The Colorado Sound,” and on Tuesday he highlighted Colorado media yet again, this time penning a song for Westword, an alternative newspaper based in Denver. You can listen to the track, which is encrypted only in Westword’s published love letter to the song, right here. The newspaper’s write-up also breaks down almost every lyric in the song, unpacking the local and regional nuggets left behind by Adams. Continue reading “Ryan Adams gives shout out to Colarado media (again)”