One novel way to spend the August Bank Holiday Monday is to head to the inaugural ‘Over the Hill’ festival at Cogges Manor farm. With a very strong focus on UK Americana and roots music, Over the Hill will host two stages in tithe barns on the day. Acts booked to appear at the festival are Danny & The Champions of the World, William the Conqueror, Ags Connolly, Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou, The Niall Kelly Band, Paul McClure and Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmonds (The Men They Couldn’t Hang) with The Ramshackle Band. Continue reading “Head Over the Hill this August Bank Holiday”
Category: News
Erin Rae releases new EP ahead of forthcoming tour
Nashville based singer songwriter, Erin Rae, and AUK favourite has released a new EP, ‘Putting On Airs Demos’, to celebrate the one year anniversary of her breakthrough record ‘Putting On Airs’. Along with the title track, the EP features 4 songs from the album, including ‘The Grand Scheme,’ ‘The Real Thing,’ and ‘Can’t Cut Loose’. Continue reading “Erin Rae releases new EP ahead of forthcoming tour”
Heartworn Highways live tribute planned for August
An evening that’s sure to be of huge interest to London-based lovers of music documentaries and Americana music is a live recreation of the cult film, Heartworn Highways. Set in the unique and intimate surrounds of Wilton’s, the oldest grand music hall in the world, the evening on the 2nd of August will feature performances from 13 artists, including The Magic Numbers, Ren Harvieu (Bella Union), and Zak Hobbs (grandson of Fairport Convention’s Richard Thompson). Continue reading “Heartworn Highways live tribute planned for August”
Massy Ferguson set to divide the UK next month
Seattle based americana quartet Massy Ferguson have announced a series of UK dates including festival appearances at Maverick and Summer Tyne. For more than a dozen years, the band have planted their boots on both sides of the country-rock divide, carving out their own brand of amplified Americana along the way. Continue reading “Massy Ferguson set to divide the UK next month”
Rhiannon Giddens set for autumn tour with Francesco Turrisi
Rhiannon Giddens has had a busy time of late. In February, she led the ‘Our Native Daughters’ project, collaborating with US musicians Allison Russell (Birds of Chicago), Amythyst Kiah, and Leyla McCalla to recover and highlight some of the African American histories buried in folk music. Their album, ‘Songs of Our Native Daughters’, was inspired by Giddens reading slave accounts in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. Such has been the positive response to the record that the group has been nominated for Duo/Group of the Year at the 2019 Americana Honors & Awards. Continue reading “Rhiannon Giddens set for autumn tour with Francesco Turrisi”
Jesse Malin records album with Lucinda Williams – Listen
This is quite exciting for last thing on a Monday afternoon. Jesse Malin has announced ‘Sunset Kids’, his first studio album in four years, to be released August 30th and produced by Lucinda Williams. Engineered by David Bianco and Geoff Sanoff, it was recorded on both coasts between the two artists’ touring schedules and features two songs co-written by Lucinda Williams including the first single, ‘Room 13’ which you can listen to below. Continue reading “Jesse Malin records album with Lucinda Williams – Listen”
Al Festo returns for 2019 – free americana in Colchester!
Free americana is always a good thing (well, maybe not if you’re a musician) and in that spirit the Al Festo festival which takes place at the Sun Inn, Dedham, Colchester is returning for a fifth year on 13th and 14th July. It’s described as “a mini-Maverick and without the camping that mixes the best of Americana and Folk music with craft beer and great food in beautiful surroundings with wonderful people.” Continue reading “Al Festo returns for 2019 – free americana in Colchester!”
Sam Morrow announces UK dates
We enjoyed Sam Morrow’s latest album quite a lot here at AUK Towers – we called it “a full-fat slab of seventies-era, funky bar room country stomp, gutsy balladry and Southern Rock “ – and so it’s good news that following on from his successful January tour and showcase at this years Americana Fest UK, Morrow is back in the UK for his second run of 2019 – including festival shows at Red Rooster this weekend and Black Deer. Continue reading “Sam Morrow announces UK dates”
Gimme Country Radio launches
Gimme Radio has launched a new service called Gimme Country which is a new platform designed to play music ignored by mainstream country radio and digital streaming services. It’s DJ-ed by not only some well-known names in country music such as Brandy Clark and Lee Ann Womack, but by some of the names we know and love in our little world of americana including Chuck Prophet, Jesse Dayton and the absolutely lovely Laura Cantrell (who lest we forget was beloved by the late John Peel). Continue reading “Gimme Country Radio launches”
Video premiere: Peter James Millson “It’s a Trap”
Terrific video for a new song by Millson whose new album ‘Low-Key’ is out now, the follow up to the Boo Hewerdine produced ‘Mobile’ and his Danny George Wilson produced debut. This new record has echoes of Lloyd Cole but with some accordion, cello and harp thrown in for good measure.