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These are not normal times, that much is for sure. And in these days of self-isolation Ralph Mctell has asked his listeners to consider the plight of those who can’t self-isolate: how do you stay at home when you have no home? It’s prompted the folk singer-songwriter to do what he has always refused to do before – add a new verse to ‘Streets of London.‘ Continue reading “Ralph McTell extends Streets of London”
Ahead of the release of his anticipated (and we don’t use that word lightly) new album ‘Reunions’ which is due out 15th May on Thirty Tigers, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit have released another new track called ‘Only Children’. RS Country have described it as “is the most sparse, nostalgic offering from Isbell’s Reunions to date, weaving an intimate tale of two up-and-coming bohemians. “Will you read me what you wrote?/The one I said you stole from Dylan,” Isbell sings on the four-minute, largely acoustic track.”
Very worrying news today that country musician John Prine has been taken into hospital “in a critical condition” after experiencing symptoms of coronavirus which was announced yesterday by his family via Twitter. Their statement read: “This is hard news for us to share. But so many of you have loved and supported John over the years, we wanted to let you know, and give you the chance to send on more of that love and support now. And know that we love you, and John loves you.” His wife Fiona Whelan Prine, said earlier in the month that she had the coronavirus but that the couple were separately quarantining. Continue reading “John Prine “critically ill” with Covid-19″
It’s been almost eight years since Bob Dylan released brand new music – the albums that followed ‘Tempest‘ were, in general terms, the Sinatra Covers Years. In these strange times though the Nobel prize winning poet has chosen to release a new song that has been years in the making. Continue reading “Bob Dylan’s new unheard song: “a song that rolls slow””
The organisers of this year’s Cambridge Folk Festival have announced that this year’s festival is cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. The organisers have released a statement on their website which goes on to say: “Although this is a great disappointment, the safety and welfare of festival-goers, artists, staff, contractors and crew who collectively make this very special event possible is the top priority. Those that have already booked tickets will be offered the choice of a refund or the chance to hold onto the tickets for the 2021 edition. The organisers would like to take this opportunity to thank customers for their support and loyalty and look forward to welcoming festival-goers once again in 2021.” Continue reading “Cambridge Folk Festival 2020 cancelled”
Well it’s been a funny old week of course and there may be many more funny old weeks to come but we do intend to keep our content overflowing with things for you to read, watch or listen to. We leave you this week with an hour-long recording by Josh Ritter – as one of many artists self-isolating, he’s recorded one of those increasingly common “gig in my house” things, and creatively called it the Silo Sessions which we wish we’d thought of first. You can tip him for the performance here – all proceeds go to Win NYC to help support and shelter women and children in need. Here’s the full Instagram post on the session: Continue reading “Something for the weekend: Josh Ritter records the Silo Sessions – Watch”
Jackson Browne told Rolling Stone a couple of days ago that he’d tested positive for coronavirus: “As soon as I had a small cough and a temperature, I tested [for COVID-19]. My symptoms are really pretty mild, so I don’t require any kind of medication and certainly not hospitalization or anything like that.” Continue reading “Jackson Browne tests positive for Corona, releases new song – Listen”
Jason Isbell has posted a homemade recording of ‘Heathens’ the fan favourite from his former band Drive-By Truckers’ 2003 album ‘Decoration Day.’ The song has always been a favourite of Isbell’s, describing it as a “monster of a song” in his Instagram post and naming it as one of his all-time favourite DBT’s tracks earlier this year. Here it is.
Hello dear readers. We are in unprecedented times which are worrying for everyone, but particularly for those who make a living from their music who are facing specific challenges at the moment. With essentially the whole world in lockdown for the foreseeable future, musicians who often survive on the basis of their live earnings face a perilously uncertain time ahead, both in terms of finances and more broadly their health and wellbeing. Continue reading “Become an AUK supporter and help UK musicians during the current crisis”
Now normally we’d be the first leaping to Chuck Prophet’s defence from this terrible accusation that he is in some way pretentious. Trouble is we’re in a quandary since the accusation comes from well known Chuck Prophet expert Chuck Prophet. Yes – this is a self accusation. What days we live in. Continue reading “Chuck Prophet in pretentiousness accusation”