Magazine cover discs come and cover discs go, sometimes there’s a track or two that sparks an interest – I first encountered The Decemberists via a disc from Word magazine, that was a good find. Just a few, though, are quite literally life-changing. That may sound like terrible hyperbole but in the case of Uncut’s ‘Americana 2004‘ disc it is quite true. Mainstream popular music in the Nineties had pretty much been a washout for me and I was doing little more than keeping up with the likes of Dylan and Neil Young with the occasional other breakthrough album or artist, but mostly I was back exploring the richer world of folk which was generally finding far more imaginative paths. And this was ok, but I needed some new directions, some new bands, some new voices. And then on a long journey North I picked up at a motorway service station, almost on a whim, the latest issue of Uncut – I can’t really say why, certainly the front cover of The Cure’s Robert Smith was not a big selling point. As the journey went on and the traffic got slower I decided to switch from the radio to the ‘Americana 2004‘ cover disc. And everything changed. Continue reading “Classic Americana Compilations “UNCUT Presents: Americana 2004””
Tag: Iron & Wine
Yola nominated for GRAMMYs including best americana album
The full list of the nominations for the 62nd GRAMMY Awards have been announced and queen of country-soul Yola has received four nominations including Best New Artist and three nominations in the Roots category including Best American Roots Song, Best American Roots Performance (for ‘Faraway Look’) and Best Americana Album for her debut Dan Auerbach-produced album ‘Walk Through Fire’. Auerbach also received a nomination for Producer Of The Year. Continue reading “Yola nominated for GRAMMYs including best americana album”
Calexico + Iron and Wine announce New Album ‘Years to Burn’ and Tour
A double header that will be of great interest to readers of Americana UK is a tour later this year when Joey Burns and John Convertino of Calexico hook up with Sam Bean of Iron and Wine. The trio first made an artistic connection with the release of the 2005 EP,‘In the Reins’. While their musical careers have taken divergent paths since, they always talked of collaborating again, both in the studio and on stage, but it wasn’t until last year that their schedules sufficiently aligned for them to be able to record together. The resulting album is ‘Years to Burn’ which is due to be issued on the 14th of June via Sub Pop/City Slang. Continue reading “Calexico + Iron and Wine announce New Album ‘Years to Burn’ and Tour”
Three tunes for a Monday! Josh Ritter, Jamestown Revival and Calexico with Iron & Wine
Rolling Stone Country have published a flurry (the non-snow variety) of good tunage over the last few days which you won’t want to miss, so we’re posting them here. First up is Calexico and Iron & Wine who are reuniting for their new collaborative album ‘Years to Burn’ due out June 14th a full fourteen years after they teamed up to release the 2005 EP ‘In the Reins.’ Continue reading “Three tunes for a Monday! Josh Ritter, Jamestown Revival and Calexico with Iron & Wine”
Iron & Wine announce 15th Anniversary edition of “Our Endless Numbered Days”
Two of the best things in life are ironing and drinking wine and in celebration of that timeless fact, Sub Pop will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Iron & Wine classic ‘Our Endless Numbered Days’ with the release of a newly remastered and expanded deluxe edition on CD/2xLP/DL worldwide on March 22nd, 2019. This version will feature eight previously never before heard demos, new artwork, and a 12-page booklet including liner notes from author Amanda Petrusich. You can now hear the demo version “Passing Afternoon” below. Continue reading “Iron & Wine announce 15th Anniversary edition of “Our Endless Numbered Days””
Iron & Wine announce new EP “Weed Garden” – Listen
Two of the best things in life are ironing and wine, and in celebration of that fact Iron & Wine aka Sam Beam has announced a new EP ‘Weed Garden’ which comes out on August 31 via Sub Pop. The six-song release, almost more of a mini-album, includes songs that Beam worked on while writing last year’s ‘Beast Epic’ record which garnered some nice reviews all round. It also includes the track ‘Waves of Galveston’ which Beam has performed live but never released officially. You can hear the opening track ‘What Hurts Worse’ (being hit with an iron or a bottle of wine) below. Continue reading “Iron & Wine announce new EP “Weed Garden” – Listen”
Black Deer Festival – Eridge Park, 22nd-24th June 2018
Every festival I’ve been to for the last 5 years has ended up as kind of tsunami of varying proportions, and if you believe it’s all evidence of the Gods’ passing judgement on the headliners, then somebody up there must think quite a lot of new americana festival Black Deer which took place for the first time this year in the idyllic surroundings of Eridge Park in Kent. Every stage but one was geared up for whatever the weather held in store but as it happened it could have taken place without a single tent and canopy and it would still have been fine. Continue reading “Black Deer Festival – Eridge Park, 22nd-24th June 2018”
Black Deer Festival announces more acts including (wait for it..) Kiefer Sutherland!
After the first line-up announcement for the UK’s newest Americana & Country shindig, Black Deer Festival which takes place in Kent at the end of June, more acts have been added to the bill. Joining Iron & Wine, Passenger, Ward Thomas and AMA UK award winner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit in a UK festival exclusive, Kiefer Sutherland, Ashley Campbell, Sam Palladio, The Webb Sisters and Bob Harris’ Emerging Artist winners Wandering Hearts have now been added to the line-up. Here in the further reaches of Scouseville we’re wondering “why is Kent so far from Liverpool?” but then we’re still making plans. Fickle essentially. Head to the festival’s official website for more details and while you do that listen to the sweet strains of Iron and Wine. Both will be available on site (well maybe not an iron) Continue reading “Black Deer Festival announces more acts including (wait for it..) Kiefer Sutherland!”
Iron & Wine announces UK dates for 2018
God that beard is terrifying. Following some rather ace reviews for new album “Beast Epic”, available now on the Sub Pop label, Iron & Wine has announced a number of European shows for early 2018. Beginning in Reykjavic on 14th January, the tour reaches these shores in February for the below UK/Ireland dates, including a London Hammersmith Apollo performance. In the meantime, why not drink some wine while ironing and listen to the full album below. Continue reading “Iron & Wine announces UK dates for 2018”
Pitchfork Live series hosts Iron & Wine tonight
Get your cocktails/mocktails ready. They report: “Pitchfork is pleased to announce the latest installment in the ongoing Pitchfork Live series. On Friday, August 18, Iron & Wine will perform live from the studios at One World Trade Center in New York City. The broadcast begins at 4 p.m. Eastern, and will be available to stream on Facebook, YouTube, the Scene, and our homepage. Iron & Wine is readying the release of his next album Beast Epic, which is out August 25 via Sub Pop. He recently shared the video for the LP’s “Thomas County Law.” Check it out below.” Continue reading “Pitchfork Live series hosts Iron & Wine tonight”