Albums from Norway, Italy and the Netherlands, along with live Rockabilly & Bluegrass in France.
The Summer months tend to be a little quiet for new americana releases in mainland Europe, with many artists out capitalising on the increased opportunity for live gigs that the good weather brings, but we do have a couple of interesting releases to tickle the tastebuds.
First up is news of a forthcoming new album from Norwegian singer-songwriter Silje Marsh, “Sun Will Prevail”. It’s her fourth full-length release and will be available on all streaming and download platforms on August 22. There’ll also be a limited edition CD, available exclusively from boutique record label Burning Shed, direct from their website.
Silje Marsh has one of those voices that commands a song, and this is an album of beautifully reflective tracks that show her voice off particularly well. Produced by longtime collaborator, Rhys Marsh, this is her fourth album, and it shows a maturity that indicates how much she’s grown as an artist. Unfortunately, there are no previews available for public consumption at the time of going to press, but there are indications that there will be clips available via her Facebook page eventually. We do have a track, ‘Flying Monkeys‘, from previous album, “Whispers“, just so you can hear that great voice.
We also have a new release from Italian band, Sacromud, and it’s also their fourth album. Like a lot of Italian americana bands, they draw from the more muscular end of the americana spectrum, with their music drawing on swamp blues and country soul, so, perhaps unsurprisingly, they decided to travel 8292 kilometres, from Gubbio to Memphis, Tennessee, to make this recording. When you know that the new album is called “The Sun Experience”, it all falls into place. Sacromud have become the first Italian band to record an album at the legendary Sun Studios.
This was something of a pilgrimage for the band, who wanted to take their music “back to the source” and realise their dream of recording in the same space that had seen early recordings from Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and many more. The band have also filmed the whole experience for a documentary on social issues and cultural differences in the modern world, which they’re planning for future release. The album is already out, but keep an eye on their website for details of the film.
The Euro Americana Chart (you can see the current chart here) is, like most americana charts, unsurprisingly dominated by American artists. The current number 1 is the latest album from the ever-brilliant James McMurtry (“The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy”), but carrying the torch for European Americana acts and still in the Top 10 is the Netherlands’ Sunken Lands. They released their debut, self-titled album, containing 12 original songs, in 2023 to considerable critical acclaim, and now they’re back with their new album, “Burning Desire” and it’s clearly attracting a lot of attention (including a favourable review here at AUK, in Paul Kerr’s Short Cuts column, when the album was first released). Their music draws on what could broadly be described as the Outlaw country tradition, and you can hear the influence of artists like Waylon Jennings and Steve Earle in their strong storytelling songs, so it’s not surprising that they’ve already shared the stage with such luminaries as The Long Ryders and Dale Watson, among others. The Netherlands repeatedly produces good Americana bands, but Sunken Lands may be one of the best yet and are definitely one to watch out for. They’ll be appearing at various venues throughout the Netherlands over the remaining months of the year, and all details can be found on their website.
On the subject of live appearances, we have news of some French dates for Swiss Rockabilly band, Hillbilly Moon Explosion. Founded in 1998 and based around Zurich, the band are particularly popular in France, where they supported Jeff Beck at his Paris Olympia appearances back in 2010. In more recent years, they have toured both the U.S and the UK. The band’s last album, their 11th release, was 2024’s “Back In Time”, and they are considered one of Europe’s premier rockabilly outfits. They’re making a brief sortie into France in October, from the 2nd to the 4th inclusive, along with Welsh psychobilly band, Demented Are Go, and will be appearing in Aix-en-Provence, Rodez, and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Venue details are available on their Facebook page.
Finally, we mentioned it in last month’s column, but this weekend (30th July – 3rd August), sees the 20th anniversary of Europe’s premier Bluegrass event, La Roche Bluegrass Festival. It’s the largest festival dedicated exclusively to Bluegrass Music in Europe and has taken place every year since 2006 (minus the Covid years) in the picturesque alpine village of La Roche-sur-Foron, in the middle of the triangle between Geneva, Annecy and Chamonix-Mont Blanc.
It is rightly known for its incredible line-up and affordable prices, with many free entry events and a festival ticket price of €20 to see 29 shows with 21 bands from 15 countries. I’m gigging myself this weekend, or I’d be there; hopefully, I’ll get there next year. Here’s the teaser for this year’s festival, and if you’re in the area, drop in. Good times guaranteed!
If you are an americana-influenced artist operating out of mainland Europe and have new music or a tour to promote, let me know. Contact information is on the webzine page under ‘Info’. This column goes out on the last Thursday of the month throughout the year.
