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Just over two weeks ago it was John Prine’s birthday (October the 10th). It’s a measure of the extreme affection in which he’s still held – and the impact his untimely passing had on so many people back in April this year this year – that what would have been his birthday was greeted by such an outpouring of love and support. Continue reading “Two intimate and socially distanced tributes to John Prine at the Jazz Cafe”
You’ll recall Rumer for, if nothing else, a wonderful cover of Jimmy Webb’s ‘P.F. Sloan‘. And here she returns with another cover song from the mid-seventies. ‘Hard Times for Lovers‘ was first recorded by Judy Collins on her 1979 album of the same name. Rumer’s version is taken from the upcoming album ‘Nashville Tears – The Songs of Hugh Prestwood‘ which is out on April 24th on Cooking Vinyl. Continue reading “Rumer “Hard Times For Lovers” – Listen”
Dean Owens is set to tour the UK throughout March, after which he’ll follow up with festival appearances, including the Orkney Folk Festival in May and the Maverick Festival in July. He’ll be performing songs from his latest compilation album, ‘The Man From Leith (The Best of Dean Owens)’ a collection of songs from his 7 official solo albums. A natural storyteller, Dean draws inspiration from his life, his family and travels. Some are from his personal history including the title track, about his father’s life from the shipyards in Leith to working the roads across Scotland and ‘Dora’ – about his circus born grandmother and his lion tamer ancestor (Ambrose Salvona) – who originally came from northern Italy and ended up in a graveyard in Inverness, with a Salvation Army band salute at his funeral. Continue reading “Dean Owens & The Southerners hit the road”
New Zealand’s Nadia Reid has a new album called ‘Out Of My Province‘, which emerged on Spacebomb Records last Friday. It features musings on travel and, on ‘Oh Canada‘ also embraces Reid’s love of Canadian artists such as Joni and the younger Wainwrights – there are even some Joni-isms in the song which conveys a dual desire – for a person and to actually go to Canada – one place Nadia Reid has yet to visit. Continue reading “Nadia Reid “Oh Canada” – Listen”
New England-based Americana troubadour Jeffrey Foucault has announced a UK tour for next month, in support of the European release of his new album ‘Blood Brothers’. Foucault will be touring with Eric Heywood (Pretenders, Ray LaMontagne) on pedal steel and electric guitar, with support from special guest Ry Cavanaugh (Session Americana), whose own new album ‘Time For This’ will also be released to coincide. Continue reading “Jeffrey Foucault returns with “Blood Brothers”, UK dates”
There’s a lot of good news attached to this Premiere of a new song from Great Lake Swimmers. Not only is ‘Getting to the Heart of It‘ a great song from Tony Dekker, reverberating beautifully as he contemplates the world and all it contains, but it’s his contribution to a split single with Picastro (Liz Hysen) who contributes the songs ‘Where Are You‘ and ‘Thursday‘. Continue reading “Track Premiere: Great Lake Swimmers “Getting To The Heart Of It””
One of the hottest, but still most satisfying, days spent by Americana UK last summer was at the inaugural Over the Hill festival in Witney, Oxfordshire, so it’s gratifying to see the festival mark II return for the August Bank Holiday this year. And the first three acts announced for the festival are likely to be of particular interest to readers of AUK. Continue reading “Three acts announced for Over the Hill festival this August Bank Holiday”
Gritty Mississippi Delta songbird Bronwynne Brent is returning to the UK next month to perform material from past releases as well as a brand new album ‘Undercover’ over the course of an extensive three-week long tour. Brent has twice carried off the Best Female Performer title in our annual Reader’s Poll here at AUK and various BBC radio presenters continue to champion her where the singer, who has been compared to Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee and Amy Winehouse, previously recorded a studio session with Whispering Bob Harris who described her as “really special” (in the nice sense of that word). Continue reading “Bronwynne Brent heads to UK for dates next month”
Red Rooster Festival in Euston Hall, Suffolk has announced its second wave of acts, including a UK festival exclusive from Asleep At The Wheel who celebrate their 50th Anniversary. The festival is also set to include special performances by Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, Jim Lauderdale – who is a 2-time Grammy winning Americana icon – Reverend John Wilkins, CC Adcock & The Lafayette Marquis, Tommy McLain, Jontavious Willis, Izo Fitzroy w/ Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, and The Vagaband Youth Orchestra. Continue reading “Red Rooster Festival announces second wave of acts”
Genre-crossing, Madrid-based Irish-English-American quartet, Track Dogs, have announced tour dates starting this Friday through to February 29th, in support of their acclaimed new album, ‘Fire On The Rails’.
Continue reading “Track Dogs kick off tour in support of new album ‘Fire on the Rails’”