Martin Johnson

Laura Zucker “Lifeline”

January 23, 2023 Martin Johnson 0

Classic songwriting helped by a 20-year career hiatus. Laura Zucker is an award-winning singer-songwriter, a 3 time Kerrville Newfolk finalist, and a 5 time West Coast Songwriters Association Best Song Of The Year winner, and she […]

Classic Americana Albums: Richard Betts “Highway Call”

January 11, 2023 Martin Johnson 4

The early ‘70s were a very exciting time as The Allman Brothers Band developed and ultimately defined the southern rock genre. What was remarkable was that this development continued despite the untimely deaths of legendary founding […]

Interview: Jeb Loy Nichols pays homage to Woody Guthrie and his dad’s love of bluegrass

January 10, 2023 Martin Johnson 0

Why Wales is similar to Missouri and the joy of first hearing Tony Joe White. It is difficult to think of an artist who is a better embodiment of Americana UK than Jeb Loy Nichols, who […]

Interview: Andy Leftwich on what it takes to be the American fiddler

January 3, 2023 Martin Johnson 0

Auditioning for Ricky Skaggs’ Rolling Thunder in front of a live audience of a thousand people. According to some accounts, Andy Leftwich is one of the most recorded musicians of the 21St Century as a member […]

The Song Remains: Ian Tyson (1933 – 2022)

January 3, 2023 Martin Johnson 8

A real Canadian cowboy who was also a folk, country rock, and country pioneer. Canadian cowboy, rancher, and musical icon Ian Tyson died on 29th December 2022, at his Longview, Alberta, ranch following recent ongoing heart-related […]

Lucinda Williams St Paul Theatre 14 April 2019

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"

Ian Noe “Canyon Falls Trailer Band”

September 28, 2026 1

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 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 […]

Articles by Martin Johnson