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Our latest posts
  • [ June 12, 2026 ] The Joel Affair “Honest Opinion” – thank you Jeff Tweedy Tracks
  • [ June 12, 2026 ] Video: The Hanging Stars “Let It Slide” – you sold all my clothes for a cheap night out Videos
  • [ June 11, 2026 ] Essentials: The Top 10 Americana Tribute Albums Essentials
  • [ June 11, 2026 ] Book Review: Paul Slade “Blood On The Leaves” Book Reviews
  • [ June 11, 2026 ] Ben Chapman “Feet On Fire” 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: Tom Paxton, Cathy Fink, and Marcy Marxer on new songbooks and ongoing activism

September 27, 2022 Martin Johnson 0
Keeping Burl Ives, Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger’s inspiration alive. Tom Paxton has helped to define what is generally understood to be meant by the term folksinger via a career that started in Greenwich Village with […]
Album Reviews

Anthony D’Amato “At First There Was Nothing”

September 22, 2022 Martin Johnson 0
New Jersey may be a fundamental influence, but Utah has added a fine refresh. Anthony D’Amato has finally released his first full-time album in 6 years, ‘At First There Was Nothing’, though in the intervening period […]
Interviews

Interview: Derek Hoke on keeping americana fresh with ‘70s and ‘80s keyboard sounds

September 15, 2022 Martin Johnson 0
Learning stagecraft from Ricky Skaggs and channeling Muddy Waters, Tony Rice, Buddy Holly, and the early Beatles. Derek Hoke has released a steady stream of well-crafted albums that while receiving critical recognition, haven’t managed to do […]
Interviews

Interview: Simeon Hammond Dallas on developing an independent roots music career

September 13, 2022 Martin Johnson 2
Jeff Beck’s open guitar sound has influenced the eclectic approach of this Camden Town based singer-songwriter. Camden Town originally was a transport and industrial centre of Greater London but it has subsequently transitioned to an arts […]
Interviews

Interview: Freedy Johnston on his basic urge to write songs

September 7, 2022 Martin Johnson 0
Don’t tweet and get your music from the radio. It can be hard sometimes to explain exactly what a singer-songwriter does and what the dynamics are around the creative process.  Freedy Johnston has been called a […]

Posts pagination

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Recent Forum Posts

  • RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch (vinyl)

    By Peter Thompson , 2 days ago

  • RE: There's no future in nostalgia

    Stonehenge was a fucking mess every time but it was a b...

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  • RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Great shout John I’m new here -Gil Scott Heron wh...

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  • RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Neil Young - Citizen Kane Jr

    By John , 3 days ago

  • RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Clarence White would have been 82 today. A little remin...

    By Martin Johnson , 5 days ago

  • RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen - The Call Us The ...

    By Peter Thompson , 1 week ago

  • RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    The Highwomen - Live at The Gorge 2023 (streaming - Qob...

    By Peter Thompson , 1 week ago

  • RE: There's no future in nostalgia

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  • RE: There's no future in nostalgia

    There is very little new under the sun.   &...

    By Martin Johnson , 2 weeks ago

our latest posts

The Joel Affair “Honest Opinion” – thank you Jeff Tweedy

Tracks
June 12, 2026 0

Video: The Hanging Stars “Let It Slide” – you sold all my clothes for a cheap night out

Videos
June 12, 2026 0
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer at Cadogan Hall - 30th January2018

Essentials: The Top 10 Americana Tribute Albums

Essentials
June 11, 2026 6
Cover art Paul Slade Book "Blood On The Leaves"

Book Review: Paul Slade “Blood On The Leaves”

Book Reviews
June 11, 2026 0

Ben Chapman “Feet On Fire”

Album Reviews
June 11, 2026 0
Tracks

The Joel Affair “Honest Opinion” – thank you Jeff Tweedy

June 12, 2026 0
The new EP Lo & Behold provides Toronto’s The Joel Affair with their new single, Honest Opinion. Like the rest of this third EP from Joel Phair, the man behind the band name, it’s a song […]
Videos

Video: The Hanging Stars “Let It Slide” – you sold all my clothes for a cheap night out

June 12, 2026 0
Check out the infectious melodies and jangling guitar of the new single from the always-excellent The Hanging Stars. Let It Slide shimmers with light, bright twelve-string guitars and swirling, summery sounds. As ever, the band’s four-part […]
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer at Cadogan Hall - 30th January2018
Essentials

Essentials: The Top 10 Americana Tribute Albums

June 11, 2026 6
The tribute album seems to have leapt in popularity in recent times. The tribute element can take numerous forms: celebrating, honouring an influential artist, raising the profile of an artist, raising money for good causes (including […]

  • The Joel Affair “Honest Opinion” – thank you Jeff Tweedy
  • Video: The Hanging Stars “Let It Slide” – you sold all my clothes for a cheap night out
  • Essentials: The Top 10 Americana Tribute Albums
  • Book Review: Paul Slade “Blood On The Leaves”
  • Ben Chapman “Feet On Fire”
  • Interview: Dirk Powell on “Wake” and bridging modern and age-old roots music
  • Alex Amen “Sun Of Amen”
  • Daniel Isaiah “Old Ram’s Horn” – mix of ginseng, deer horn, and other secret herbs
  • Video: Marc Ridge “I’m So Tired” – comparison is the thief of joy
  • Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It: Jackson Browne
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
  • Jeremy Courtnadge: I've always thought Dirk Powell is an American music treasure. I've not yet had the chance to see him 'solo'…
  • Ramcey: I go all the way back with Jackson and own all his albums. For me, while Hold Out is not…
  • Mike Ritchie: Very good idea for a list. Enjoyed reading the thinking behind the choices. Numbers 10, 6, 5 and 4 certainly…

Latest interviews

Interviews

Interview: Dirk Powell on “Wake” and bridging modern and age-old roots music

June 11, 2026 1
Dirk Powell is a special kind of musician, someone who, through family connections, knows and understands both Appalachia and Cajun music, and is at the same time comfortable with modern music technology. He has won four […]
Interviews

Interview: Ma Polaine’s Great Decline is thriving

June 10, 2026 0
With influences in blues, jazz and country, Ma Polaine’s Great Decline is actually thriving on their fifth album, Monster Swan (2025). Based in Somerset, England, Beth Packer’s distinctive, emotive vocals, coupled with her evocative lyrics, create […]
Interviews

Interview: Greg Loftus – As both musician and carpenter, he would like to knock on wood

June 5, 2026 1
Greg Loftus comes from the town of Bourne, not far from the bridge that connects Massachusetts to Cape Cod. It is there that he practices woodworking, operates a club in nearby Falmouth and makes rock music […]

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Album Reviews

The Doomed Bird of Providence “Burrowed into the Soft Sky” (Front & Follow, 2017)

October 19, 2017 1
TDBoP are the most evocative of the bands working in the post-rock landscape; their music always conjures up images even before you have any idea of the concepts behind them. That’s due to the purpose behind […]
Videos

Video: Cua “The Other Man”

March 15, 2018 0
A powerful acapella track from Irish trio Cua, taken from their latest album Songs Of The Hollow out now.
Tracks

Aoife O’Donovan “Drover” – into a wild wild country

January 11, 2023 1
The wonderful Aoife O’Donovan, of whom we cannot stop saying nice things, has a deluxe version of the  ‘Apathy Sessions‘ coming out which has been renamed ‘The Apathy Sessions’ and features, amongst other things, this cover […]

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