Peter Tomkins

Walter Parks & The Unlawful Assembly “The Unlawful Assembly”

October 13, 2021 Peter Tomkins 0

Superb versions of spirituals and work songs performed with a voice mined from the bedrock. Walter Parks has a superb grizzled, soulful voice; full of rumbling authority, shot through with and sagacity. The perfect voice to […]

Katy Rose Bennett “Alone On a Hill”

September 21, 2021 Peter Tomkins 0

Scope and emotional depth from a one-woman choir. Where do you find a community choir to lead when you are holed up by yourself in a house on a hill during a lockdown? Well, you have […]

Essentials: The top 10 Jon Langford related albums

September 9, 2021 Peter Tomkins 4

Jon Langford has lived in Chicago for the last thirty or so years, but is originally from Newport in South Wales. When I interviewed Jon over the phone – that’s a bit like Zoom but without […]

The Burner Band “Signs and Wonders”

August 6, 2021 Peter Tomkins 0

Incipient, snarling rock and roll melding bluegrass and punk as if this were Memphis in 1954. Did rock and roll originate in Sun Records Recording Studio, Memphis in 1954? Some might argue that others were treading […]

Tobacco City “Tobacco City, USA”

August 5, 2021 Peter Tomkins 0

Laidback, cool, West Coast country from a new Gram and Emmylou. It’s strange how a pedal steel can evoke thoughts of either a deep south dive bar full of rednecks or a trippy night at San […]

Sounds from beyond the Shed 245 “Stop….thief…”

September 21, 2026 0

I went to Brighton this week to see The Jayhawks. They were playing at the newly restored Corn Exchange. The gig was being promoted by the excellent Brighthelmstone Promotions, and a good time was promised and […]

Brown Wimpenny “Shady Grove” – chugs like a fast train

September 21, 2026 0

This latest single from Brown Wimpenny heralds the Autumn into Winter tour by the band alongside an ever-changing roster of artists from the same Broadside Hacks record label. The song came into their repertoire in an […]

Video: Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground “Ships at Sea” – wonderfully-warm and woozy

September 21, 2026 0

Check out the absorbing Ships at Sea from Boston-based bluegrass quintet Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground. Written by Toronto-based band Basset, this is a gorgeously-tuneful song that showcases Setiawan’s clear, pure voice. The words are full […]

Articles by Peter Tomkins

Walter Parks & The Unlawful Assembly “The Unlawful Assembly”

Katy Rose Bennett “Alone On a Hill”

Essentials: The top 10 Jon Langford related albums

The Burner Band “Signs and Wonders”

Tobacco City “Tobacco City, USA”

Sounds from beyond the Shed 245 “Stop….thief…”

Brown Wimpenny “Shady Grove” – chugs like a fast train

Video: Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground “Ships at Sea” – wonderfully-warm and woozy

Something for the weekend: Teenage Fanclub “Be With You Tonight”

Benjamin Tod “Country is Dead”