Swimming Bell

Swimming Bell “Charlie”

February 7, 2024 Peter Churchill 0

Gorgeous vocals raise the stakes on impressive album. ‘Charlie’ is the second album from LA-based songwriter Katie Schottland’s Swimming Bell project. The album’s beginnings date back to 2019 and before a relocation from Brooklyn to the […]

Video: Swimming Bell “For Al and Lee”

January 31, 2024 Ed Donnelly 0

Swimming Bell’s new single ‘For Al and Lee’ is accompanied by a muted, black and white video that uses line-drawn animation and stop motion to bring the song to life. This is the first single from […]

Sounds from beyond the Shed 129 “She’s leaving home… bye bye”

January 26, 2024 Keith Hargreaves 0

This week for the second time in her life my daughter left home… properly. This time she’s 28! Now I know that this is not exceptional these days but it bloody well should be. I’m fairly […]

Swimming Bell “Take It Easy” – Easy on me, easy on you

October 13, 2023 Jonathan Aird 0

The latest track from LA-based songwriter Katie Schottland’s Swimming Bell project, ‘Take It Easy’ is a gentle ode to shaking off the serious aspects of life and trying to be kind to yourself and others in […]

Promo photo for Jack Barksdale EP "Battleground"

AUK’s Monthly EP Round-Up – September 2026

September 23, 2026 1

It’s September already, and with it the first signs of Autumn’s “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, inviting us to bid a fond farewell to another year of outdoor festivals culminating in last weekend’s ‘Long Road’ at […]

Artwork for Lisa Bouchelle album "Vandals Thieves and Lovers"

Lisa Bouchelle “Vandals, Thieves and Lovers”

September 23, 2026 0

Classy vocals from Lisa Bouchelle are front and centre of a fine country soul collection, featuring Amanda Shires, with some unexpected twists. It’s always a pleasure as a reviewer to discover a new top vocalist – […]

Album art for Mac Cornish album "Wayfaring Woman"

Mac Cornish “Wayfaring Woman”

September 23, 2026 0

Californian singer reminds you of the days when country music was country music, and that’s no bad thing. Mac Cornish grew up on the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz mountains in northern California, where she […]

Behind the Songs

Behind the Songs: Maya de Vitry – “All My Faith”

September 15, 2026 0

Behind the Songs: Maya de Vitry – “All My Faith”If you arrive at All My Faith looking for something that sounds like Gillian Welch, you might find your thirst briefly satiated by No Time to Rush, the final […]

Interviews

Interview: Adam Chaffins on what is great about flea markets, dive bars and trailer trash

August 28, 2026 1

As one of the most resourceful songwriters in americana, Adam Chaffins welcomes you to the latest from his wacky, witty world in Trailer Trash: Doublewide (Spirit Nashville Recordings, 2026), a collection of narratives about schemers, dive […]

Interviews

Video Interview: Richard Olson of the Hanging Stars and Tim Prottey-Johns of the First Time Flyers on the Long Road Festival

August 26, 2026 0

Why musicians love the Long Road Festival. In preparation for Americana UK’s David Jarman‘s preview of the Long Road Festival, he interviewed Richard Olson of the Hanging Stars and Tim Prottey-Jones of the First Time Flyers. […]

Tracks

Fruit Bats “Let You People Down” – wrestling with my angst

August 13, 2025 0

I think we can just waffle along a bit and then let you, favoured reader, hit the play button. Look – Eric D. Johnson is just one of our favourite Americana artists – an endless collaborator, […]

Previews

Preview: Static Roots Festival, Oberhausen, Germany 10th -12th July 2025

June 12, 2025 1

Germany’s premier americana gathering is entering its 9th year with an expanded venue and extended programming. With its signature “living room atmosphere”, Static Roots made the decision to expand into a larger room within Oberhausen’s Zentrum […]

Album Reviews

Vandoliers “Forever” (Bloodshot, 2019)

February 27, 2019 0

All six band members of this Dallas-Fort Worth troupe have a VFFV tattoo (Vandoliers Forever, Forever Vandoliers). Now that’s a sign of commitment, which is evidenced immediately on this album by raucous enthusiasm.Vandoliers’ third album is […]