June 2012 Blog Posts (43)

www.shipcote.com 

Shipcote, the man from the foggy Tyne with the sunshine soul, is back with a new album from “Shipcote and friends”. The friends are Jon Codd on double bass, Cath Reding on fiddle, accordion and piano,…

FTB podcast #170 features the new album by RACHEL HARRINGTON called Makin' Our House a Honkytonk. Also new music from CHRIS SMITHER, BODEANS and HARDIN BURNS. Here's the…

I couldn't be happier to be headed to England and Scotland again. Hope to see all y'all, especially those who I met on the Ian Hunter Tour a few years back.  Remember that Thirty Tigers/Essential is releasing "Land Like A Bird" on July 3rd! LIsten in on the BBC for tracks....

If you…

http://www.reverbnation.com/redhookrapids

Red Hook Rapids (Ally MacLeod and Donald Forbes) have come a long way in two years.

The summer of 2010 saw them…

www.randomcanyongrowlers.com

Emerging from the ski town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Random Canyon Growlers are the latest bunch of players to be bringing a blast of fresh air to the bluegrass scene. The band has been built around the partnership of childhood friends Jamie Drysdale and David McMeekin (New…

On episode 93 of the Americana Music Show, Cornell Hurd talks about the elements of western swing and being inducted into the Cow Town Society of Western Music’s Hall of Fame. He tells the story of his first bands in high school, how Leroy…

This album comes from last year but seemed to have slipped under my radar till now. She sounds pure Nashville but Katy Boyd is a native Californian who has spent a good part of her adult life in the UK. A stop-start musical career has revived in recent years with her return/debut album (Ain’t No Fairy Tale) getting quite a warm reception. This most recent album came about from Katy meeting guitarist/producer Thomm…

www.jasmine-records.co.uk

Here we have another country star that tragically died before his time. Like Patsy Cline and Hank Williams and you can also add Buddy Holly, Gram Parsons to the list) he was just hitting his stride when his life was taken in a fatal car crash in 1960.

As a budding performer Horton was actually taken under the wing of Hank when they were both playing on Shreveport's…

www.jasmine-records.co.uk 

Two cds and 56 tracks no less come in this package of material by the late, never to be forgotten Patsy Cline. Made up of two albums featured in their entirety (Patsy Cline – 1957 and Showcase – 1962) plus a feast of singles that include such classics as ‘Crazy Dreams’, ‘Stop The World’, her stunning take of ‘Lovesick Blues’ and the song that swept me away (and still does) the first time I heard it. I am talking…

www.timobrien.net/obrienpartyof7 

www.mollieobrien.com 

Here is a tribute record of a difference. One thing, it is a family affair as the families of Tim O’Brien and his sister, Mollie who are no strangers of sharing a recording studio. Since they have made three duet albums together and long…

www.tupelo.ie 

Dublin-based, Tupelo is an exciting new combo who apply the energy of the Old Crow Medicine Show to their music. As a rich head swirling mix of guitars, 5-string banjo, double bass, mandolin, bodhran, piano, percussion, sax and fiddle aid the lead vocals of James Cramer (who writes all the tunes) in splendid fashion. Since I am a huge fan of the Old Crows, Tupelo is a…

FTB podcast #169 features the new album by RHETT MILLER called The Dreamer. Also new music from MARLEY'S GHOST, PHOEBE HUNT and WILLIE NELSON. Here's the  …

I just want to take a minute to thank everyone for all their help with our tour (Sally Spring and the Folk Country Blue Boys) in The Netherlands, Scotland and England during May and June 2012!! We had a great time and filled all the dates we needed thanks to this organization. 

I've just donated money to The Euro House Concert Hub by joining as a lifetime member. I encourage other musicians to donate something to this organization if you haven't already, noting there are several other…

www.alanjackson.com

www.capitolnashville.com

www.humpheadcountry.com 

After a long successful run on Arista records American country superstar makes his debut on EMI Nashville (a partnership with his own ACR label) and released in the UK on Humphead. Jackson has…

www.ravenrecords.com.au

Two 1970s albums plus five additional cuts, two of which are duets with Sherry Bryce make up another bumper package released by the Australian reissue label Raven.

Tillis was one of country music’s biggest sellers during the 1970s and though he never made much of an impression outside the States the Florida-born act who is also the father of Pam Tillis was a top performer. A big name…

Hearing the voice of Lera Lynn on the album was both a first and a delightful experience. All too many new fledgling acts are built up as being the best since sliced bread but in reality they are at best, average. Sadly more often than not I would go a step further and offer forgettable. Yet as already mentioned that wasn’t the case with Lera Lynn. Not only did one or two songs catch my attention…

I’m used to seeing the stage for a Low Anthem show strewn with all manner of instruments but a couple of tins of paint? No, me neither! 

The indie-folk group, a quintet in its current incarnation, was making a welcome return to Brighton and it was somewhat of a surprise to learn that the choice of venue was the 200 capacity Proud Brighton Ballroom. Literally filled to the rafters, this intimate setting nevertheless augured well for their particular brand of melodious harmonies and…

www.nashville-west.com

Boy, what a treat this is. Two traditional country performers who just happen to be man and wife sharing one record. Who rekindle the art of duet performances better than most of the originals. Fans of older country music will feel they have died and passed through St. Peter’s Gates once they hear the opening bars of this album and be like Oliver when it is finished hunger for…

On episode 92 of the Americana Music Show, Chelle Rose talks about growing up in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, writing a song to pacify the ghost of her boyfriend, hearing Malcolm Holcombe play live, why she’s drawn to…

www.wildflowerrecords.com

Folk legend, novelist, painter Judy Collins (‘Send In The Clowns’, ‘Both Sides Now’, ‘Amazing Grace’ etc…) has been making records for 50 years has through her latter-day releases on her own label, Wildflower Records kept her name in the frame.

Bohemian has Larry Campbell (guitar) and the group, Ollabelle (vocals) guest on her own ‘Morocco’ to aid her work…