Martin Johnson

Interview: Joey and David Landreth on the importance of Bonnie Raitt and their UK fans

April 26, 2022 Martin Johnson 0

How isolation helped enhance and develop The Bros. Landreth’s rootsy sound. Roots music history is littered with bands that include two brothers, a quick sample would include such legends as the Stanley Brothers, the Everly Brothers, […]

The Wardens “Sold Out At The Ironwood”

April 22, 2022 Martin Johnson 0

A modern addition to western music in the spirit of Ian Tyson and Tom Russell How many people can remember the western in country and western music? It was the early 20th Century music business that […]

Interview: Ian Noe on how Kentucky gave him a universal view of the world

April 19, 2022 Martin Johnson 0

Why John Prine and the concept album are key influences. Kentuckian Ian Noe has just released his second album, ‘River Fools & Mountain Saints’, which builds on the success of his 2019 debut, ‘Between The Country’. […]

Interview: Ray Wylie Hubbard on being an Old Cat and that song

April 12, 2022 Martin Johnson 0

How a group of friends have helped bring Ray Wylie Hubbard’s songs to their biggest audience. Most songwriters can only dream of writing anything approaching a classic song, but some of those who do are not […]

Discovering… The Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia

April 12, 2022 Martin Johnson 6

To the uninitiated, getting a handle on what the Grateful Dead are all about can seem quite daunting, and this sense of challenge is exacerbated by the fact that their fanbase, the Deadheads, are probably the […]

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 0

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