The Blasters

Anniversary Cheers: The Blasters re-release “Over There – Live at The Venue” and celebrate their 45th birthday

February 3, 2025 Paul Russell 1

45 years after their formation, The Blasters re-release the full concert at The Venue in London, with 11 additional tracks. Back in 1979 in America, a new band formed, gloriously ignoring the current musical trends of […]

Americana Vinyl Treasures: The Blasters “American Music”

October 30, 2023 Clint West 2

The Blasters’ debut album was released on Ron Weiser’s small Californian label Rollin’ Rock Records and limited to 2000 copies only. It is very rare to find copies in the UK, so I couldn’t believe my […]

Classic Clips: The Blasters “Common Man” Farm Aid 1985

January 20, 2023 Clint West 2

This week’s Classic Clip comes from the very first Farm Aid held back in 1985 and still going strong. It was organised by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young to help poor struggling small farmers […]

Essentials: The top 10 Dave Alvin albums

August 26, 2021 Clint West 5

Dave Alvin is a multi-faceted, multi-talented cornerstone of americana. As a singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer he has consistently excelled to the point where anything bearing his name, in whatever role, is usually a cast-iron guarantee of […]

Los Lobos “Native Sons”

August 4, 2021 Martin Johnson 0

Twelve covers that shine a light on the soul of Los Lobos Los Lobos are one of the greatest American bands of the last 40 years with their signature mix of rock, blues, country, R&B, folk, […]

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Behind the Songs: Thin Lear

May 13, 2026 0

The songs on Thin Lear’s sophomore album Many Disappeared are tied to each other not in their locale or their cast of characters, but instead in strange tragedies that have taken place, some many years ago. Current […]

Artwork for Yarn album “Saturday Night Sermon”

Yarn “Saturday Night Sermon”

May 13, 2026 0

Enjoyable southern rock release with lyrics that focus on the positive. Formed in Brooklyn at the end of 2006, but now based in North Carolina, Yarn tend to lean towards the southern rock element of americana. […]

Live Review: Merry McCloud & Bruce Welch, The Bread and Roses, London – 3rd May 2026

May 13, 2026 0

The Bread and Roses is located in the heart of Clapham, London. Owned by The Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council, it consists of the ground-floor pub and a theatre space above. It’s a community-oriented establishment […]

Behind the Songs

Behind the Songs: Thin Lear

May 13, 2026 0

Interviews

Interview: Judy Collins doesn’t look back, she looks forward

May 12, 2026 0

“My home is in New York City, on the Upper West Side,” Judy Collins said, proudly holding up a painting by her sister of cats and dogs that resembles a Monet. When I mentioned travelling up […]

Interviews

Interview: The Milk Carton Kids’ Joey Ryan discusses “Lost Cause Lover Fool”

May 5, 2026 0

Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale created their own take on sparse, acoustic indie folk when they formed the Milk Carton Kids in 2011 and found their own loyal audience. A lot can happen in fifteen years, […]

Album Reviews

Manuel The Band “Things That Can’t Be Seen”

March 2, 2022 0

West coast rock with a wide range of musical flavours. Following on from their warmly received 2019 debut album ‘Room for Complication’, Manuel The Band return with “Things That Can’t Be Seen”, offering up a wide […]

Album Reviews

Seth Lakeman “Make Your Mark”

December 10, 2021 0

Modern folk rooted deep in traditional music. Seth Lakeman has that ability to create something entirely contemporary from sounds that emerge from traditional music. The instrumentation and approach is firmly rooted in folk traditions, but the […]

Album Reviews

Christy Moore “A Terrible Beauty”

November 1, 2024 0

Irish icon delivers yet another album of meaningful observation and storytelling. Songwriter, folk singer, guitarist, poet, social commentator, Irish republican, and Ireland’s greatest living musician (People of the Year Awards 2007), so, a living legend. Which […]

Anniversary Cheers: The Blasters re-release “Over There – Live at The Venue” and celebrate their 45th birthday

Americana Vinyl Treasures: The Blasters “American Music”

Classic Clips: The Blasters “Common Man” Farm Aid 1985

Essentials: The top 10 Dave Alvin albums

Los Lobos “Native Sons”

Behind the Songs: Thin Lear

Yarn “Saturday Night Sermon”

Live Review: Merry McCloud & Bruce Welch, The Bread and Roses, London – 3rd May 2026

Van Morrison to play 5 night residency at new West London venue in September

Odd Marshall “Seconds”