Music Reviews - starting with the cliche before branching out to where the music matters. Live and Recorded with an emphasis on country, folk, Americana, singer-songwriter and roots for starters. EST. 2012
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Michael McDermott has never sounded more determined to leave a literary imprint on the frenzied world of rock and roll. Through ire, empathy and forensic storytelling, he shines a light on dark corners and packs a powerful punch where it needs to be landed. Words scatter across the page machine gun style then beautifully reassemble into sincere lyrical poetic prose. Characters emerge, are…
Sophie Moore’s music illuminates a space, maximising the pieces at its disposal, while delicately creating a piece of tranquility. TROUBLE IN MIND sees this Sussex-based artist return to the recording fold after a lengthy hiatus. Moore was active in the 1980s with London indie band Foggy City and continued to have minor involvement in music after life pulled her in other directions. However a…
Through eleven carefully curated songs, Lance Cowan continues to emerge from the shadows as a songwriter of substance. THE AIR THAT YOU BREATHE is a gifted collection threaded by a desire to make sense of some of life’s basics. Creating a reassured and relatable aura is the basis for these songs to transcend a writer’s mind into the wandering instincts of an active listener. A time honoured…
On their new album A NEW ALCHEMY, the chemistry of East Nashville-based duo Brand New Heartache shines through. The husband and wife team of Eleese and Matthew Meschery guide the listener through a relationship timeline never veering away from al facets of a shared journey. A dozen tracks blend infectious pop with the folky charm of collaborative country shaping Americana through the lens of the…
Danni Nicholls ascends onto a new plateau reflecting movement in many forms. A key constant to capture the moment is still intact after many years seeking the sweet spot where artist curation and audience reception meet. MAKING MOVES represents change where polished building blocks raise the stature without removing the trusty foundation formed over time. The wait between defining studio releases…
Friday Maverick fizzed into life on the stroke of five o'clock. A brace of options lay in front of early Easton Farm Park arrivals, both resident festival favourites. Violin-playing Chris Murphy got the nod over hard rocking Jon Langford on the basis of a couple of interesting releases this year. Murphy was once again appointed Artist-at-Large, meaning he could literally pop up playing on anyone’s…
Momentous art comes from the pause as much as the piece. The moment when creativity breathes. An act of frozen time letting words, beats and notes settle. A gift curated in private, polished in the studio, then exhibited in a shared performance space. From the texture of glass to the emotive lure of love in all its guises, a joyous evening of collaborative care unfolded. Meticulous playing,…
Duo music never stands still, and while we often celebrate iconic names from the past where two voices melt into one, there is nothing more refreshing than hailing a new act to carry the artform forward. The Glass Hours are more newish than new but the latest album CHAPEL GLASS is getting a lift to find fresh ears. Within a few bars and an opening verse, you sense a winning ticket is in your…
The curtain of cloud opened on solstice morning and the walled garden was bathed in beautiful sunshine. Intermittent rays and prevalent gloom gave way to how every summer festival should be. The weather is always in the back of your mind when winding through the Shropshire lanes in mid-June. A south-west facing hill location has played tricks in the past. No drama in 2026 as Beardy Folk danced,…
June releases awash with jangly guitars and multiple harmonies will always evoke a summery feel. The source may be southern England rather than West Coast USA but The Hanging Stars have become an established band of conjuring such a sound. JUST A DAY is their 6th release and a sufficient starting point if you want to discover a group hovering around the fringes poised for a significant…
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