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Our latest posts
  • [ March 27, 2026 ] Americana 25 festival comes to Liverpool in November with Chuck Prophet, Steve Wynn and more! News
  • [ March 27, 2026 ] Something for the weekend: Mary Chapin Carpenter & the Mountain Goats “Put the Message in the Box” Tracks
  • [ March 27, 2026 ] Abigail Lapell announces new album “Shadow Child” out in May News
  • [ March 27, 2026 ] Michael Weston King “Nothing Can Hurt Me Anymore” Album Reviews
  • [ March 27, 2026 ] Preview: Joe Martin to release new record and play spring and autumn UK tours News
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: Heartless Bastards’ Erika Wennerstrom explains why she isn’t

September 15, 2021 Martin Johnson 0
Despite rumours to the contrary, protest music is alive and well thanks to Erika Wennerstrom and the Heartless Bastards. Heartless Bastards founder, lead vocalist and songwriter Erika Wennerstrom proves herself to be anything but when she […]
A Night to Remember

A Night To Remember: Bluegrass heaven in a North East pub in 1983 with Peter Rowan

September 14, 2021 Martin Johnson 4
A night of North East best bitter and bluegrass with Bill Monroe and Jerry Garcia alumnus Peter Rowan. It may seem strange that a gig in the backroom of a North East pub in the early […]
Interviews

Interview: Stephen Deusner on why he wrote the first Drive-By Truckers biography

September 13, 2021 Martin Johnson 2
An exploration of the context behind Patterson Hood’s the duality of the southern thing is an interesting subtext. The Drive-By Truckers have been a cult band in the UK since the mid-2000s and they have seen […]
Album Reviews

The Bean Pickers Union “Greatest Picks”

September 13, 2021 Martin Johnson 0
An eclectic rummage through Chuck Melchin’s Bean Pickers Union oeuvre. The Bean Pickers Union are really singer-songwriter and musician Chuck Melchin, and a revolving band of musical accomplices, who have released three albums and two EPs […]
Interviews

Interview: Jerry Joseph talks about his joy at finally playing live

September 6, 2021 Martin Johnson 2
Why ‘The Beautiful Madness’  is still a valid antidote to the current world madness It is a year since Americana UK talked to Jerry Joseph about his then new album, ‘The Beautiful Madness’, which subsequently received a […]

Posts pagination

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Recent Forum Posts

  • Joe Nathan

    RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    The Salt Collective - A Brief History of Blindness

    By Joe Nathan , 3 hours ago

  • RIP Wes McGhee

    Wes McGhee died on 30th January, 2026. He had been ill ...

    By durks , 5 hours ago

  • RE: Joe Ely Has Died

    I was very sorry to hear this news when it was reported...

    By durks , 5 hours ago

  • Joe Nathan

    RE: What Are You Reading?

    Just finished reading Old No. 1 at 50: A History of Guy...

    By Joe Nathan , 21 hours ago

  • Joe Nathan

    RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Nada Surf - Let Go

    By Joe Nathan , 21 hours ago

  • Americana 25 Festival

    This looks like it should be a good day out.../p>

    By Paul Kerr , 23 hours ago

  • Joe Nathan

    RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Snail Mail - Ricochet

    By Joe Nathan , 2 days ago

  • Joe Nathan

    RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit

    By Joe Nathan , 2 days ago

  • Joe Nathan

    RE: What are you listening to at the moment?

    Justin Hinds & the Dominos - Early Recordings

    By Joe Nathan , 3 days ago

our latest posts

Americana 25 festival comes to Liverpool in November with Chuck Prophet, Steve Wynn and more!

News
March 27, 2026 7

Something for the weekend: Mary Chapin Carpenter & the Mountain Goats “Put the Message in the Box”

Tracks
March 27, 2026 0

Abigail Lapell announces new album “Shadow Child” out in May

News
March 27, 2026 0

Michael Weston King “Nothing Can Hurt Me Anymore”

Album Reviews
March 27, 2026 2
Joe Martin

Preview: Joe Martin to release new record and play spring and autumn UK tours

News
March 27, 2026 0
News

Americana 25 festival comes to Liverpool in November with Chuck Prophet, Steve Wynn and more!

March 27, 2026 7
We are mightily delighted to announce today full details for 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 on Saturday […]
Tracks

Something for the weekend: Mary Chapin Carpenter & the Mountain Goats “Put the Message in the Box”

March 27, 2026 0
Well that’s it from us for this week, an exciting day for us as we announce full details for our 25 year event which takes place in Liverpool later this year – you can find more […]
News

Abigail Lapell announces new album “Shadow Child” out in May

March 27, 2026 0
Award-winning Toronto singer-songwriter Abigail Lapell has announced her upcoming new album Shadow Child, an album about motherhood whose nine songs each represent a month of gestation, will be released May 8th via Outside Music. Lapell has […]

  • Americana 25 festival comes to Liverpool in November with Chuck Prophet, Steve Wynn and more!
  • Something for the weekend: Mary Chapin Carpenter & the Mountain Goats “Put the Message in the Box”
  • Abigail Lapell announces new album “Shadow Child” out in May
  • Michael Weston King “Nothing Can Hurt Me Anymore”
  • Preview: Joe Martin to release new record and play spring and autumn UK tours
  • Classic Clips: Ryan Adams, The Infamous Stringdusters & Nicki Bluhm “Oh My Sweet Carolina” – Stephen Colbert Show, 2017
  • Paperback Riders: Dana Spiotta “Stone Arabia”
  • The latest AUK podcast is now available featuring Spencer Cullum
  • The Talbot Trail Boys “The Talbot Trail Boys”
  • Susto Stringband “Hard Drug” – visions of death
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
  • Paula Cooke: Accommodation booked and can't wait!
  • Rick Bayles: Accomodation reserved!
  • Mike Ritchie: Looks terrific. Accommodation booked.

Latest interviews

Interviews

Interview: Michael Timmins on “More Acoustic Junk”, Cowboy Junkies and, well… other Mike stuff

March 25, 2026 1
A few months ago, we got an album of more (acoustic) junk from the Junkies. Okay, that is a horrible image. Better start over. Michael Timmins, along with siblings Margo and Peter, and Alan Anton, the […]
Interviews

Interview: Bob Lind on “It Oughta Be Easy”

March 12, 2026 0
Folk icon talks life, hope, and his 2026 record. Bob Lind recently released his fourth studio album of new material in the past fourteen years, “It Oughta Be Easy,” a characteristically literate, introspective, and often humorous […]
Interviews

Video Interview: Dave Alvin on The Third Mind’s “Spellbinder”

March 11, 2026 2
While Dave Alvin is regarded as one of the greats of American roots music, his taste in music and his own music from the Blasters onwards has included hints of his musical eclecticism. Evidently, he always […]

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Album Reviews

400 Bears “400 Bears” (2020)

November 24, 2020 1
‘400 Bears’ is the self-titled solo project of Paul Wilkinson from the band Mason Porter.  Wilkinson describes the album as being guided by the spirits of music his parents introduced him to when he was younger.  He […]
Lee Bains at Puzzle Hall
Classic Clips

Classic Clips: Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires “Nail My Feet Down” – Spectra Sonic Sound Sessions, 2017

November 14, 2025 0
Strap yourselves in for this one- it’s a fabulous clip of high-octane left-wing southern rockers Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires on absolutely top form. Frontman Lee Bains begins with a “rap” about the song, […]
Videos

Video: Elles Bailey & The Midnight Band “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You”

July 10, 2020 0
Sit back and enjoy the soothing tones of Elles Bailey on this cover of the Wilson Picket song ‘Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You’.   After winning the AMAUK 2020 UK Song of the Year Award […]

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