Scotland’s Dean Owens has been producing great albums and making his mark on the Americana scene – both here and in the US – for a number of years now. Following on from the critically acclaimed Into The Sea, released n 2015 on Drumfire Records, Owens is set to return with a new album, Southern Wind, a new label, At The Helm, and a new sense of vigour. Americana-UK’s Rudie Hayes speaks to the Leith-born troubadour about what promises to be a big year. Continue reading “Interview: Dean Owens”
Author: Rudie Hayes
Rudie is the weekly host of the syndicated radio show - The Horseshoe Lounge Music Session - playing the best American Roots and hosting terrific live guests.
Interview: Buford Pope
He’s the dude they call Buford Pope. The King of Scandicana, cooler than a dip in a fjord, he’s everything you’d want in roots rock. Earle, Dylan, Springsteen, Cash, this ain’t no hipster chic or wannabe genre come lately – he’s butch, tough and rough. Pope makes ‘chopping logs’ country and is more a V8 stick shift kinda guy. Praise be to that! Continue reading “Interview: Buford Pope”
Interview: Chloe Chadwick
Chloe Chadwick may be a new name to many but her debut album is a powerful slice of UK pop meets East Nashville Americana. Recently appearing as part of the AMA UK showcase at Summertyne at the Sage, Gateshead, she was said to be the highlight of the weekend by many. Continue reading “Interview: Chloe Chadwick”
Dirty Dozen: Rodney Branigan
Rodney Branigan has become known worldwide for his unique ability to play two guitars at once. While quite a spectacle in itself, the meat and potatoes of Rodney’s music is his ability to pen emotive lyrics and deliver them with a voice that is honest and passionate. One Seed is the first song of the upcoming album, The Clever Kid Cartel, and is a fair representation of his passionate, sincere and emotive style. Continue reading “Dirty Dozen: Rodney Branigan”
Interview: Ed Dupas
I love Ed Dupas’ 2015 record, ‘A Good American Life’. I must have played tracks off it on my radio show 50 times, so you know it’s a good day when something new from Ed drops through your mailbox. The latest ‘Tennessee Night’, banged out in 3 days and tracked live is an arse kicker of a record, “garage country” at its finest, owning it is a measure of how cool you are, just saying. Continue reading “Interview: Ed Dupas”
Interview: My Darling Clementine
Known for their sartorial elegance alongside their old school country ballads and barroom heartbreakers My Darling Clementine are one of the best bands the UK has offered the world in a good while. Witty, charming and utterly engaging their stage show, and one hopes it is a show, as the two protagonists, Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish are married in real life – owing as much to the traditions of Carry On as it does Tammy and George. Their latest album ‘Still Testifying’ is out now on Continental Song City, and it’s doubtful you’ll hear finer. Continue reading “Interview: My Darling Clementine”
Dirty Dozen: Jillette Johnson
Nashville-based singer/songwriter/pianist Jillette Johnson has just released her sophomore album “All I Ever See In You Is Me” on Rounder Records. Produced by Dave Cobb (the Grammy Award winner known for his work with Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and Chris Stapleton), All I Ever See in You Is Me offers up sparsely orchestrated songs centring on Johnson’s spirited piano work and vocal command. Continue reading “Dirty Dozen: Jillette Johnson”
Interview: Emily Barker
Emily Barker is one of those names that has been around the UK Americana scene, since it was both identified as a ‘scene’ and as a distinct musical genre. A pathfinder, a trailblazer, and first with her Red Clay Halo, then as part of Applewood Road a consistent purveyor of great music. She stretches the musical parameters, and possibly herself with a wonderfully soul soaked new record, Sweet Kind of Blue, recorded in Memphis. Continue reading “Interview: Emily Barker”
Interview: Yola Carter
Just about the coolest thing in UK Americana right now, Yola Carter, is taking it to the Yanks, Carter is electric live and her sonic boom voice is a force of nature. You want it real, can you handle it really real? Yola is it the real deal, the fuse is lit, stand well back.
You’re on a great run, you’ve had a moment to look back? you must be pretty chuffed? Highlights? Normally I’m the kind of person to look forward, so I don’t get really overexcited about things, but last year was my first year. I went from not existing as an artist, taking three years out, looking like a loser to my peers, some vocalising their lack of faith that I could work solo- just me and a hack guitar, to winning my category at the Americana music Association awards and getting rave reviews and press in NPR, The Guardian and American Songwriter. Continue reading “Interview: Yola Carter”
Dirty Dozen: Noah Kahan
The 20 year old American songwriter from the small town of Strafford, Vermont (population 1,000), Noah Kahan has just released the new single “Young Blood” which was produced by Joel Little (Khalid, Lorde). “Young Blood” debuted at #5 on Spotify’s US Viral Chart and racked up over 9M Streams on Spotify in less than 5 Months. Noah recently sold-out his US tour supporting Milky Chance and show with Ben Folds. Continue reading “Dirty Dozen: Noah Kahan”