Martin Johnson

But is it Americana? – Lindisfarne

June 6, 2022 Martin Johnson 15

Martin Johnson is the latest of our writers to argue for an unlikely Americana candidate. He’s chosen a band that will always be associated with the North-East; can he convince on a connection with the wild […]

The Song Remains: Kelly Joe Phelps 1959 – 2022

June 6, 2022 Martin Johnson 5

Kelly Joe Phelps reinvented country blues for the 21St Century americana audience. Guitarist and singer-songwriter Kelly Joe Phelps “died quietly at home in Iowa” on May 31, 2022, according to his Facebook page. While this low-key […]

Interview: Andrew Davie of Bear’s Den on how the pandemic influenced their songwriting

June 1, 2022 Martin Johnson 0

How car journeys to school with his teacher father made him the songwriter he is today. Like many bands, Bear’s Den have had to endure the challenges of the pandemic and adapt to the post-pandemic world. […]

Classic Clips: Chris Hillman ups the country quotient of “Wheels” with the Desert Rose Band in 1984

May 31, 2022 Martin Johnson 0

This week’s Classic Clip is a little piece of history with Chris Hillman revisiting one of his classic tracks with his then very new band, The Desert Rose Band. Chris Hillman is now recognised as one […]

The Song Remains: Ronnie Hawkins 1935 – 2022

May 31, 2022 Martin Johnson 2

Americana would not be the genre we have today without “The Hawk”. Legendary is an oft-misused term, particularly when applied to musicians, but it fits perfectly with Ronnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, a musician who was born […]