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, […]

Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It: Tom Waits

August 5, 2026 2

The musical influence of Tom Waits over the last seven decades has spanned far beyond what one might define as americana. His deep, gravely voice, has been described as having been soaked in a vat of […]

Paul McClure “The Good And The Bad Of It”

August 5, 2026 0

The Rutland Troubadour returns for album number four. Paul McClure, on his fourth album, decided to go to pastures new and left the rural north and travelled south to East Sussex and the fine Bex-Pop Studios […]

Artists with Hearts of Gold contribute to two more albums of Neil Young covers