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Our latest posts
  • [ September 28, 2026 ] For the Sake of the Song: Lucinda Williams “Metal Firecracker” Features
  • [ September 28, 2026 ] Ian Noe “Canyon Falls Trailer Band” Album Reviews
  • [ September 28, 2026 ] Live Review: The Jayhawks, Electric Ballroom, Camden – 16th September 2026 Live Reviews
  • [ September 28, 2026 ] Bluegrass Briefs: Sociograss, Triple Fiddle, The Runaway Strings, Lindsay Lou Album Reviews
  • [ September 28, 2026 ] Jack Browning “Painted Skies” Album Reviews
HomeAuthorsMartin Johnson

Articles by Martin Johnson

About Martin Johnson
I've been a music obsessive for more years than I care to admit to. Part of my enjoyment from music comes from discovering new sounds and artists while continuing to explore the roots of American 20th century music that has impacted the whole of world culture.
Interviews

Interview: Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams on channelling Levon Helm’s spirit

February 14, 2023 Martin Johnson 0
The importance of emotional and musical honesty and the story of The Royal Potato Family. Americana last chatted with Larry and Teresa two years ago about their role in the ‘It Was The Music’ documentary which […]
Book Reviews

Book Review: “Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions”

February 10, 2023 Martin Johnson 0
Anybody with a passing interest in country music over the last few years cannot have failed to notice the number of apparently new and successful Black country artists such as Breland, Valerie June, Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst […]
Interviews

Interview: Ron Sexsmith on nearing 60 and leaving Toronto

February 7, 2023 Martin Johnson 2
Take a pinch of Ray Davies, a slice of R&B, and the essence of Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot. Ron Sexsmith is a singer and a songwriter who excels at both functions. He didn’t release his […]
Interviews

Interview: Joe Henry on everything from Ornette Coleman to Bob Dylan and Randy Newman

February 1, 2023 Martin Johnson 2
Concentrate on what is right and let others know it not on what is wrong à la Bob Johnston. Joe Henry is a bit of an artistic polymath being a successful singer-songwriter and a three-time Grammy […]
Interviews

Interview: Michael Cleveland on spreading his musical wings beyond traditional bluegrass

January 24, 2023 Martin Johnson 4
If you want to be one of the best bluegrass fiddle players you need to start playing at age four. Michael Cleveland is a 12-time IBMA Fiddle Player Of The Year and a Grammy Award-winner who […]

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our latest posts

Lucinda Williams St Paul Theatre 14 April 2019

For the Sake of the Song: Lucinda Williams “Metal Firecracker”

Features
September 28, 2026 0
Artwork for Ian Noe album"Canyon Falls Trailer Band"

Ian Noe “Canyon Falls Trailer Band”

Album Reviews
September 28, 2026 0
The Jayhawks live at the Electric Ballroom, Camden - 16th September 2026

Live Review: The Jayhawks, Electric Ballroom, Camden – 16th September 2026

Live Reviews
September 28, 2026 1

Bluegrass Briefs: Sociograss, Triple Fiddle, The Runaway Strings, Lindsay Lou

Album Reviews
September 28, 2026 0
artwork for Jack Browning album "Painted Skies"

Jack Browning “Painted Skies”

Album Reviews
September 28, 2026 0
Lucinda Williams St Paul Theatre 14 April 2019
Features

For the Sake of the Song: Lucinda Williams “Metal Firecracker”

September 28, 2026 0
There are songs that you love for the lyrics, songs that you love for the music; sometimes you get a song where both are so perfect you have a masterpiece. Lucinda Williams’ Metal Firecracker is the […]
Artwork for Ian Noe album"Canyon Falls Trailer Band"
Album Reviews

Ian Noe “Canyon Falls Trailer Band”

September 28, 2026 0
Impressive collection of character-driven songwriting and classic country sounds. Kentuckian Ian Noe presents a diverse selection of sixteen original songs on his excellent new album, Canyon Falls Trailer Band. It’s Noe’s third release and the second […]
The Jayhawks live at the Electric Ballroom, Camden - 16th September 2026
Live Reviews

Live Review: The Jayhawks, Electric Ballroom, Camden – 16th September 2026

September 28, 2026 1
About a decade ago, I formulated a new genre based on a particular guitar sound that would for several years be heard on Radio 2 after midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Bob Harris Country is […]

  • For the Sake of the Song: Lucinda Williams “Metal Firecracker”
  • Ian Noe “Canyon Falls Trailer Band”
  • Live Review: The Jayhawks, Electric Ballroom, Camden – 16th September 2026
  • Bluegrass Briefs: Sociograss, Triple Fiddle, The Runaway Strings, Lindsay Lou
  • Jack Browning “Painted Skies”
  • Preview: Glasgow Americana Festival 2026, 30th September – 4th October
  • Richard Thompson “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” – it’s a kind of magic
  • Video: Orange Oak “wilder life” – a declaration of nervousness
  • Something for the weekend: Listen to the unreleased Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers track from 1978 “Parade Of Loons”
  • Bob Dylan to unleash a 39 CD set of The Rolling Thunder Revue in November – start saving!
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
  • Jim Finnie: Really nicely written. A lot of effort went into that I would think.
  • Leslie Cohen: Loved Hal Ketchum’s music. Saw him perform 3 times in the Washington DC area. I thought of him as somewhat…
  • Jed Cairns: A career high point I reckon. Fabulous album.

Latest interviews

Behind the Songs

Behind the Songs: Maya de Vitry – “All My Faith”

September 15, 2026 0
Behind the Songs: Maya de Vitry – “All My Faith”If you arrive at All My Faith looking for something that sounds like Gillian Welch, you might find your thirst briefly satiated by No Time to Rush, the final […]
Interviews

Interview: Adam Chaffins on what is great about flea markets, dive bars and trailer trash

August 28, 2026 1
As one of the most resourceful songwriters in americana, Adam Chaffins welcomes you to the latest from his wacky, witty world in Trailer Trash: Doublewide (Spirit Nashville Recordings, 2026), a collection of narratives about schemers, dive […]
Interviews

Video Interview: Richard Olson of the Hanging Stars and Tim Prottey-Johns of the First Time Flyers on the Long Road Festival

August 26, 2026 0
Why musicians love the Long Road Festival. In preparation for Americana UK’s David Jarman‘s preview of the Long Road Festival, he interviewed Richard Olson of the Hanging Stars and Tim Prottey-Jones of the First Time Flyers. […]

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News

There are only 50 tickets left for Americana 25 – join us in Liverpool in November!

September 25, 2026 0
If you’ve been mulling it over for a while, then mull no more! We are now down to our last 50 odd tickets for Americana 25, our celebration of 25 years of Americana UK, which comes […]
Videos

Video: The Disappointment Choir “A Pretty Good Christmas”

December 20, 2019 1
And so to the last video of 2019.  If it has to be a Christmas song (and it does) then this hits the spot.  Here at AUK Towers we hope that everyone has a pretty good […]
Amanda Rheaume live at the Newbald Village Hall, North Newbald, Yorkshire, - 19th October 2024
Live Reviews

Live Review: Amanda Rheaume + Sharon Maher, Newbald Village Hall, North Newbald, Yorkshire – 19th October 2024

October 28, 2024 0
The ‘Super-Moon’ hovered majestically above the Village Hall in North Newbald, shining its light like a beacon for tonight’s congregation made up of both locals and travellers, all full of anticipation and excitement for the pending […]

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