Martin Johnson

Interview: Shearwater main man Jonathan Meiburg on a 6-year awakening

July 5, 2022 Martin Johnson 0

Songs are like places that you can visit and inhabit for a few minutes. Regular visitors to Americana UK know that the music featured ranges across the widest spectrum of what can be considered americana, and […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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