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Our latest posts
  • [ April 2, 2026 ] Americana 25 festival with Chuck Prophet, Steve Wynn and more comes to Liverpool in November – here’s how you can get your tickets News
  • [ April 2, 2026 ] Something for the long weekend: Michael Stipe & Andrew Watt “I Played the Fool” Tracks
  • [ April 2, 2026 ] Our new supporters playlist comes out tomorrow – win a pair of tickets for the Folk by the Oak Festival! News
  • [ April 2, 2026 ] The Top Ten Americana Songs of All Time: 5th – Gillian Welch “Revelator” (2001) Features
  • [ April 2, 2026 ] Essentials: The Top 10 Railroad Earth Songs Essentials
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.
Features

AUK’s Top 10 Americana Albums of the 21st Century: Martin Johnson

June 30, 2022 Martin Johnson 0
Deciding the Top 10 Americana Albums of the 21st Century has proven to be surprisingly difficult, and the list has been through many drafts before crystalising into its published form. I’ve been trying to understand why […]
Album Reviews

Michael McDermott “St. Paul’s Boulevard”

June 29, 2022 Martin Johnson 0
Authentic heartland rock by a truly gifted songwriter. Michael McDermott is over thirty years into his career which started just as heartland rock was being overtaken by americana as the home for roots rockers. His music […]
Interviews

Interview: Rod Picott on his life’s mission to become the best songwriter he can

June 28, 2022 Martin Johnson 0
How a throwaway remark by Jason Isbell changed Rod Picott from a tenor to a baritone. Rod Picott grew up in South Berwick, Maine, and originally worked in the construction industry. However, he knew he wanted […]
Interviews

Interview: Hall of Fame Songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman on what makes a good song

June 21, 2022 Martin Johnson 0
Texas Born and Alabama bred but only because she was an Airforce brat. In the interminable debate about what is or isn’t americana one thing is beyond question, and that is that a defining characteristic of […]
Interviews

Interview: 49 Winchester’s Isaac Gibson on the journey to their first major-label release

June 14, 2022 Martin Johnson 0
The challenges of forming a band with your friends in a town so small there is no local music scene. Americana fans will probably have picked up that there is a bit of a buzz around […]

Posts pagination

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Recent Forum Posts

  • Joe Nathan

    RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    The Gourds - Cow, Fish, Fowl or Pig

    By Joe Nathan , 12 hours ago

  • RE: London Gigs Next Week

    Tends to be a bit quiet the week after Easter, however....

    By Richard Parkinson , 21 hours ago

  • Joe Nathan

    RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

    By Joe Nathan , 2 days ago

  • Joe Nathan

    RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    U2 - Easter Lilly EP

    By Joe Nathan , 2 days ago

  • RE: Versions!

    From the excellent Thee Holy Brothers...

    By Paul Kerr , 2 days ago

  • Paul Villers

    RE: J'accuse

    You're probably right Joe. Sensible words

    By Paul Villers , 3 days ago

  • RE: Americana 25 Festival

    Tickets sorted. Can't wait 👍

    By MarkMcCall , 3 days ago

  • London Gigs Next Week

    Posting this on the off chance anyone on here knows of ...

    By MarkMcCall , 3 days ago

  • RE: Versions!

    Quite a few traffic noises here!/p>

    By Rick Bayles , 3 days ago

our latest posts

Americana 25 festival with Chuck Prophet, Steve Wynn and more comes to Liverpool in November – here’s how you can get your tickets

News
April 2, 2026 0

Something for the long weekend: Michael Stipe & Andrew Watt “I Played the Fool”

Tracks
April 2, 2026 2

Our new supporters playlist comes out tomorrow – win a pair of tickets for the Folk by the Oak Festival!

News
April 2, 2026 0
Gillian Welch with Dave Rawlings Marymoore Park July 2009

The Top Ten Americana Songs of All Time: 5th – Gillian Welch “Revelator” (2001)

Features
April 2, 2026 1
Railroad Earth in Richmond Virginia, 21st May 2010

Essentials: The Top 10 Railroad Earth Songs

Essentials
April 2, 2026 0
News

Americana 25 festival with Chuck Prophet, Steve Wynn and more comes to Liverpool in November – here’s how you can get your tickets

April 2, 2026 0
Last week we announced details of Americana 25, our celebration of 25 years of Americana UK, which comes to two stages across Liverpool’s Rough Trade venue and Quaker Meeting House later this year on Saturday November […]
Tracks

Something for the long weekend: Michael Stipe & Andrew Watt “I Played the Fool”

April 2, 2026 2
Well that’s it from us for this week as we head into the long weekend. If you’re an AUK supporter your playlist will still be with you for 5pm tomorrow and don’t forget tickets for our […]
News

Our new supporters playlist comes out tomorrow – win a pair of tickets for the Folk by the Oak Festival!

April 2, 2026 0
If you’re not subscribing to our monthly supporters newsletter you’ll be missing out on our exclusive supporters playlist of the best new Americana we’ve heard over the last month which this month includes new tracks by […]

  • Americana 25 festival with Chuck Prophet, Steve Wynn and more comes to Liverpool in November – here’s how you can get your tickets
  • Something for the long weekend: Michael Stipe & Andrew Watt “I Played the Fool”
  • Our new supporters playlist comes out tomorrow – win a pair of tickets for the Folk by the Oak Festival!
  • The Top Ten Americana Songs of All Time: 5th – Gillian Welch “Revelator” (2001)
  • Essentials: The Top 10 Railroad Earth Songs
  • The New Pornographers “The Former Site of”
  • Joshua Ray Walker makes a welcome return with new album and tour dates
  • Live review: The Delines + Chris Eckman, Union Chapel, London – 26th March 2026
  • Classic Clips: Kris Kristofferson “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down” – Live at The Nobel Peace Center 3rd March, 2008
  • The Top Ten Americana Songs of All Time: 6th – Whiskeytown “Houses on the Hill” (1997)
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
  • PHIL IN SHREWSBURY: What's it all about, Ralphie? If you don't think fascists are spreading their poison around the world - from the…
  • James MILLER: As a Texan hardcore punk of the 80s I was pretty involved in the cowpunk scene. I saw most of…
  • Andrew Taylor: Thanks for reminding me what a feat band Whiskeytown was.

Latest interviews

Interviews

Interview: Michael Weston King on why “Nothing Can Hurt Me Anymore”

April 2, 2026 0
How the worst kind of family tragedy can lead to a career high British americana stalwart and music award winner Michael Weston King is releasing a new solo album, Nothing Can Hurt Me Anymore. On the […]
Interviews

Interview: Foy Vance on his seven-album project culminating in “The Wake”

April 1, 2026 0
Few artists write with the kind of raw honesty and emotional depth that Foy Vance brings to his music. Across a career that has steadily unfolded over the last two decades, Vance has crafted songs that […]
Behind the Songs

Behind the Songs: Natalie Del Carmen “Pastures”

March 30, 2026 0
When it comes right down to it, the heart of americana music has always been about connecting listeners to real experiences and emotions, and Natalie Del Carmen is currently one of the best examples of what […]

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Classic Clips

Classic Clip: Jim Croce “New York’s Not My Home” – Live performance, 1973

February 24, 2023 2
Jim Croce deserves his own piece, but for now, this classic clip is both a perfect introduction to anyone unfamiliar with his work and a welcome reminder to fans. Croce began his career in 1966 with […]
Live Reviews

Live review: The Delines + Chris Eckman, Union Chapel, London – 26th March 2026

April 2, 2026 0
It is hard to believe that The Delines have now been making music for more than 12 years. Was it really that long ago that Richmond Fontaine was gently laid to rest, and Willy Vlautin, surely […]
News

Ahoy there! Richard Thompson’s new album “Ship to Shore” and tour announced

March 11, 2024 0
The legendary Richard Thompson will return with “Ship To Shore” on May 31, 2024 via New West Records. The 12-song set was produced by Thompson and recorded in Woodstock, NY. It follows his 2018 studio album […]

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