Tim Martin

Bluegrass Briefs – Hildaland, The Joy River’s Special Band, Mighty Poplar, Cory Walker

December 7, 2023 Tim Martin 0

It sometimes takes a while to build up a few suitable releases to feature in Bluegrass Briefs, but when the good stuff comes along, it’s worth waiting for. Hildaland’s debut album ‘Sule Skerry’ could easily have […]

Classic Clips: Emmylou Harris “(You Never Can Tell) C’est La Vie”, Old Grey Whistle Test 1977

December 1, 2023 Tim Martin 3

In 1977 Emmylou Harris was at the first of many high points in her career. ‘Luxury Liner’ had come out the previous year and work had started on ‘Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town’. While […]

Paperback Riders: Kim Ghattas “The Secretary: A Journey with Hillary Clinton from Beirut to the Heart of American Power”

November 29, 2023 Tim Martin 0

There’s one key aspect of American life that we haven’t looked at yet in Paperback Riders. Politics in the US is characterised by their sense of individualism, and belief in limited government. The influence of special […]

Mean Mary “I’d Rather Be Merry”

November 29, 2023 Tim Martin 0

If you want festive tunes to go with the presents and mulled wine this is the album to play. Non-cliché Christmas music. “Mean” Mary James is 18 albums into her career and clearly the time seemed […]

Hannah White “Sweet Revolution”

November 6, 2023 Tim Martin 1

UK Americana at its best, sincerity in songwriting and singing, backed by a great band. Hannah White is one of a group of Americana artists who have been growing in stature over the last few years […]

Stamping on the passion: Why AI written PR is a bad thing for music

September 21, 2026 4

If a music writer opens ten press releases this month, they’ll spot something odd. They all sound like the same person wrote them. Not because the artists share a publicist, or because there’s a house style […]

Carla Gover and Friends “Williams Branch is Hard to Find”

September 21, 2026 0

A cycle of Appalachian folk songs from writer and activist Si Kahn, subtitled Songs for Strong Kentucky Women The subtitle for this album is “Si Kahn’s Songs for Strong Kentucky Women”. Si Kahn is one of […]

Ad for American Beauty album 5th December 1970

For the Sake of the Song: Grateful Dead “High Time”