Category: News

It can hardly have passed by anyone’s attention that the Nobel committee have announced that this year they will be awarding the sumptuous gold medal and even more sumptuous cheque – payable to cash – to Bob Dylan for his services to literature. Here at Americana-UK we like to think of ourselves as impartial observers of and commentators on the world of music. However, this announcement prompts, nay demands, a more fulsome response. And that response is – “About Damn Time”. Continue reading “Bob Dylan – Nobel Laureate for Literature”

A reminder for the weekend about our giveaway we’ve got running at the moment – it could be you! Country-infused southern rock band Uncle Lucius return to the UK later this month for a 7 date tour and to celebrate the shows here at AUK Towers we’ve got an assortment of rather fantastic prizes to giveaway which include two tickets to any of their UK shows (you choose the show, you can’t go to all seven, greedy), signed copies of their new album and t-shirts/stickers.   We’ve also got a kindly donated signed 12″ vinyl from support band Curse of Lono. Continue reading “Win Uncle Lucius Tickets, Albums, T-Shirts with Americana UK!”

News from Pitchfork, although be warned – if you click through you get that picture of the man himself bare-chested riding a horse (Putin, not Randy Newman). They report: “Randy Newman has shared a new song, “Putin,” inspired by a photograph he saw of the eponymous Russian leader with his shirt off. Listen below. In an interview with the Washington Post, Newman said, “A person with that much extraordinary amount of power, doing things like that is disturbing but also kind of amusing.” Continue reading “Randy Newman Writes New “Putin” Song – Listen”

We’ve got a live version of their song “Night in the City” at the end of this story, recorded in Dublin this year, so click on!  All good things come to an end and in their final final farewell tour, Willy Vlautin and his cult Portland outfit arrive in Ireland on Saturday before heading out around England, Scotland and Wales.   Though the band will disband following the final dates this month, Vlautin will be kept busy between his other band The Delines (whose 2014 debut was also a Rough Trade Album of the Year) and a successful parallel career as a novelist. Published by Faber & Faber and feted by fellow writers Donna Tartt and Roddy Doyle, Willy’s novel Lean On Pete is currently shooting as a film adaptation directed by Stephen Haigh (45 Years), starring Steve Buscemi and the always rather amazin Chloe Sevigny.  Continue reading “Richmond Fontaine Hit UK and Ireland for Final Dates”

JUDAS!  Rolling Stone Country reports: “For those needing more proof of Sturgill Simpson’s growing crossover appeal, they merely had to witness his revved-up performance at Brooklyn’s palatial Kings Theatre – one of several stops along the country singer’s current tour in support of his latest album, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. The critically-acclaimed artist, who made his first return to Brooklyn on Saturday, October 8th, since his surprise appearance last April at the Rough Trade NYC record store and performance venue, played to a large audience in a borough that is still mostly known as a destination for indie rock than country music.  Continue reading “Sturgill Simpson Crosses Over into Rock and Soul Set”

“Dark Stream” is the new single from Northern Ireland’s Arborist which we’ve got an exclusive stream for you to listen to here at UK. Beginning with a stark, quasi-funeral horn it launches in to a haunting and affecting song, awash with gorgeous melodies and arrangements that showcase Mark McCambridge’s rich vocals and thoughtful songwriting. The track is taken from Home Burial, Arborist’s debut (due out on 11 November via Kirkinrola Records), with songs dealing with death, ageing and family. Continue reading “Exclusive Listen: Arborist “Dark Stream””

The “silver” version if you will.  2017 will be 25 years since Ian Prowse’s first ever album with his Liverpool based band Pele, one of the pioneers of the “folk rock” genre of the time, a well received debut album which gained Prowse’s songwriting its first ever set of fans when the band toured the UK constantly in the early 90’s. Fireworks was released on Polydor/M&G and produced four singles, three of which were playlisted on BBC Radio.  To celebrate the anniversary the album will be re-issued & re-mastered with a souvenir booklet and free extras CD.  Continue reading “Pele to Release 25th Anniversary Edition of “Fireworks””

Austin, TX honky-tonker Dale Watson is coming to the UK for select November dates on the heels of his new live album, Live at the Big T Roadhouse, Chicken S#!+ Bingo Sunday. The album is out now is the followup to his Lloyd Maines-produced studio album, Call Me Insane. Live at the Big T … is a perfect snapshot of Watson and his ace band, His Lonestars, live in concert at the peak of their performing prowess, all while hosting a Chicken S#!+ Bingo show at Dale’s own bar, the Big T Roadhouse in St. Hedwig, Texas. The ‘bingo” game involves a caged hen strutting across a plywood board divided into numbered squares while betting customers gather ’round the cage, hoping the bird will drop its mark on their chosen numeral. Continue reading “Trucking All Over the UK – Dale Watson Rolls in to Town”

A reminder of that rather fine festival from a few years back comes by way of some nice news from Uncut who report: “A special edition of Bob Dylan’s No Direction Home is being released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the documentary.  The Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition contains over two hours of never before seen footage and interviews; it is also the first time the film has been made available on Blu-ray and digitally. The new set includes extended interviews with Dave van Ronk and Liam Clancy, plus an interview with Martin Scorsese about the making of the film.” Continue reading “New Dylan “No Direction Home” Box Set Features Unseen Footage”