Book Reviews

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Book Review: Jonathan Bernstein “What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome” The Authorised Biography of Justin Townes Earle

February 25, 2026 Andy Short 0

There is no happy ending to this book. There is scarcely a happy beginning; however, along the journey, Justin Townes Earle’s personality shines through. The effect he had on the people he met and worked with […]

Paperback Riders: Henry James “Washington Square”

February 19, 2026 Tim Martin 1

Henry James’s Washington Square has been described as “one of the most psychologically acute novels in nineteenth-century American literature.” Published in 1880, during James’s middle period, it lacks the complexity of his later works but has a […]

Book Review: Jay Nachman with Graham Parker and The Rumour “Graham Parker’s Howlin’ Wind”

February 13, 2026 Paul Kerr 0

A bridge of sorts between the faded pub rock scene and the about-to-emerge punk explosion, Graham Parker’s debut album “Howlin’ Wind” was an extraordinary debut, which saw the singer/songwriter lauded at the time. Sounding like an […]

Book Review: Cary Baker “Down On The Corner”

February 5, 2026 Jonathan Aird 0

Cary Baker’s opus is subtitled “Adventures in Busking & Street Music“, and it takes a look at the busking scene by focusing in on some particular artists and lively street music locations and eras when busking […]

Paperback Riders: How many Gene Parsons bios do we need? The book bots are taking over Amazon

January 28, 2026 Tim Martin 3

For anyone interested in americana, The Byrds matter. We’ve covered biographies of Gram Parsons and Gene Clark in our Paperback Riders strand, and (spoiler alert) we’ll be looking at Johnny Rogan’s band bio ‘Timeless Flight’ soon. […]

RE: What are you listening to at the moment?
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@joe-nathan Let's hope they issue a live album from the...
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Ian Prowse announces 12th album and extensive tour dates

April 14, 2026 0

Merseyside’s Ian Prowse has announced his brand-new album, No Names, will be released on 3rd July 2026 via Learpholl Music. Featuring special guests Elvis Costello, Steve Wickham, Damien Dempsey and Prowse’s 14-year-old daughter Rosalita, No Names […]

Tenderness “True”

April 14, 2026 0

Tenderness’s debut is a sweet blend of the musical and emotional themes of love and loss. Tenderness is the nom de scene for the solo project of Katy Beth Young, formerly and maybe currently of Peggy […]

Bluegrass Briefs: Unspoken Tradition, Square Peg, Big Richard, New Valley String Band

April 14, 2026 0

It’s been a while since we had a set of Bluegrass albums to review, which is a shame, as it’s a genre with a lot to offer. There are the traditionalists who keep very much to […]

Book Review: Jonathan Bernstein “What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome” The Authorised Biography of Justin Townes Earle

Paperback Riders: Henry James “Washington Square”

Book Review: Jay Nachman with Graham Parker and The Rumour “Graham Parker’s Howlin’ Wind”

Book Review: Cary Baker “Down On The Corner”

Paperback Riders: How many Gene Parsons bios do we need? The book bots are taking over Amazon

Ian Prowse announces 12th album and extensive tour dates

Tenderness “True”

Bluegrass Briefs: Unspoken Tradition, Square Peg, Big Richard, New Valley String Band

Ruth Eliza “While The Light Shines”

Ardentjohn “Hey Boy” – doing all right in the sunshine