Phil Cook

Phil Cook “Appalachia Borealis” – a gentle pause

February 5, 2025 Jonathan Aird 0

Good grief – how long has it been since we last featured the Americana UK Wednesday Afternoon Chill Out Zone With No Goddamn Lyrics (or the AUKWACOZWNGL as we like to call it)? We don’t know […]

Sounds from beyond the Shed 135 “Showtime”

March 8, 2024 Keith Hargreaves 0

Everything else is on hold this week as the production I have been directing arrives to sold out Houses at the local theatre. One hundred and eighty-five seats for five nights – sold out! That’s a […]

Sounds from beyond the Shed – Week 115

October 13, 2023 Keith Hargreaves 0

Posh seats and a boring gig. Spent a brilliant couple of days in old London town this last week. Ostensibly to catch up with friends, have a few drinks, meet up with an ex-pupil for a […]

Sounds from beyond the Shed – week 16

May 5, 2021 Keith Hargreaves 1

Some great days but also some shit… literally. Working in education can be a hard slog as many parents discovered with homeschooling but in the grand scheme of things most of us have to work hard […]

Something for the weekend: Son Volt “If I Could”

July 17, 2026 1

Well that’s it from us for this week and we leave you dear reader with a new song from alt-country heroes/pioneers/stalwarts/choose your own noun Son Volt whose latest album Sound Signal Serenades was physically released on […]

Artwork for Bell White album "A sign in the weather"

Bella White “A Sign In The Weather”

July 17, 2026 0

A strong third album from the rootsy Canadian “Appalachian” artist from New Orleans showing raw emotion and a degree of post-breakup positivity. As you listen to each song on Bella White’s new studio album you feel […]

Jawdropped have a “Secret To Spare” and October dates

July 17, 2026 0

Jawdropped, a four-piece from Los Angeles, have announced their debut album, Secret To Spare, due 18th September via Transgressive Records / Canvasback. The band has also released the first single, Split Lip, along with a video […]

Interviews

Interview: What Taylor Bickett is shooting for

July 16, 2026 0

Nothing I Can’t Undo is such a deeply earnest, empathetic and personal album that captures exactly what a solo debut is supposed to be by introducing us, in full, to Taylor Bickett, a 20-something singer/songwriter from […]

Interviews

Interview: Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry celebrates The Sadies’ Dallas Good and Watchtowers

July 13, 2026 0

Canada has continued to punch above its weight musically since the days of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and the Canuck members of The Band first rose to international prominence in the ’60s, and The Sadies, with […]

Interviews

Interview: Hank Alrich and his sonic explorations

July 7, 2026 1

Like the old sailors of yore, Hank Alrich sure knows how to spin a yarn, though I doubt his are made up or heavily stretched. They keep your attention. I would contentedly sit in an armchair […]

Album Reviews

The Unthanks “Diversions Vol.5 Live & Unaccompanied” (RabbleRouser, 2020)

June 4, 2020 0

The Unthank sisters – Rachel and Becky – have become a significant presence on the English folk scene over the last fifteen years releasing albums in various band combinations; their latest release in the ‘Diversions’ series […]

News

Bennett Wilson Poole set to embark on run of UK dates

September 26, 2018 1

Bennett Wilson Poole, the songwriting ‘supergroup’ consisting of Americana-UK faves Danny Wilson, Robin Bennett and Tony Poole (Starry Eyed and Laughing), producer extraordinaire and king of the electric twelve-string Rickenbacker, embark on fall/winter run of UK […]

Album Reviews

Louien “No Tomorrow”

June 22, 2021 0

Mixing melancholy and introspection with uplifting and inspiriting songs. There seem to be good things happening musically in Norway, this being one of many Americana and folk nuanced records to come my way from the fjords. […]

Phil Cook “Appalachia Borealis” – a gentle pause

Sounds from beyond the Shed 135 “Showtime”

Sounds from beyond the Shed – Week 115

Sounds from beyond the Shed – week 16

Something for the weekend: Son Volt “If I Could”

Bella White “A Sign In The Weather”

Jawdropped have a “Secret To Spare” and October dates

Classic Clips: Anna Tivel “Rodeo Queens” – She’s Speaking

Paperback Riders: Dennis McNally “A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead”