Hush Kids - Hush Kids (26/10/18)
Artist: Hush Kids
Release Date: 26th October, 2018
Genre: Americana, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic
Record Label: Hush Kids / Tone Tree Music
Tracks: 10
Website:
Filtering by Category: Acoustic Music
Snow - Angus and Julia Stone (15/09/17)
Artist: Angus & Julia Stone
Release Date: 15th September, 2017
Genre: Alt-Folk, Folk, Acoustic
Record Label: Le Label
Tracks: 12
Website: http://angusandjuliastone.com
SNOW continues a process the siblings began at the suggestion of producer Rick Rubin on their self-titled album of 2014. "That was the first time that we actually started writing together, in the same room, and I guess we took a leaf from that chapter into this record. This time round though, every song on the record we wrote together" Angus says. The Sydney-born siblings produced and largely engineered it themselves, in Angus's cottage studio, Belafonte, in the Byron Bay hinterland. "It was quite magical because Angus and I have never spent that much time together, just the two of us," says Julia. "There's always at least an engineer or tour manager but the last phase of writing and recording was just eight weeks of him and me and the quiet of the land. It was a beautiful time."
True North - Phillip Henry (05/10/18)
Artist: Phillip Henry
Release Date: 5th October, 2018
Genre: Folk, Americana
Record Label: Dragonfly Roots
Tracks: 11
Website:
In the autumn of 2018, Phillip Henry will celebrate the release of his long awaited solo album ‘True North’ with a national tour. Commemorating ten years since his journey to Kolkata to study under the great slide guitarist Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya,
‘True North’ charts a life spent travelling the globe, collecting tunes, stories, and instruments. From music written whilst kangaroo spotting in Australia, to tunes learnt from a Canadian maestro on First Nations reservation land in Canada; songs of the road; and pieces written by musician friends from Kent to Kolkata ; the album's diversity is matched only by the virtuosity of Henry's playing. One musician, one instrument, is the guiding principle; yet instruments range from mellow Weissenborn depths to spectacular Dobro flourishes, to the sounds of the rare Indian Chaturangui (a 22 string guitar from the sub-continent). Here is a fusion of global styles deeply infused with Henry's British folk roots, and brought together with a considered beauty all his own.
Phillip Henry is an in demand performer whose collaborations with fellow musicians such as Peter Knight (Steeleye Span), Steve Knightley (Show of Hands), and Hannah Martin (Edgelarks), have led to the evolution of a unique instrumental style that has wowed audiences around the world. Now he is preparing to take his solo show on the road with a very special series of concerts. As well as his collection of slide guitars, his show-stopping beatbox harmonica, a great favourite with audiences, is sure to make an appearance. Featuring old favourites, and material from True North, this will be an evening to inspire the mind and lighten the soul.
Lay It On Down - Kenny Wayne Shepherd (21/07/17)
- Artist: Kenny Wayne Shepherd
- Release Date: 21st July, 2017
- Genre: Blues-Rock, Blues, Rock, Acoustic,
- Record Label: Provogue
- Tracks: 11
- Website: https://www.kennywayneshepherd.net
Just 3 EP - Little Sparrow (13/07/18)
- Artist: Little Sparrow
- Release Date: 13th July, 2018
- Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic, Pop
- Record Label: Little Sparrow Music
- Tracks: 3
- Website: http://www.littlesparrow.org/
Having released her debut album ‘Wishing Tree’ to critical acclaim and spending the next couple of years building on this through many successful live performances, Little Sparrow then decided to take some time out to write and record towards her highly anticipated follow up album, which she plans to release in 2019.
Her inspiration for creating the ‘Just 3’ EP was taken from the opportunity she was given in 2016 to perform on the Tim Peaks Diner stage at Kendal Calling as part of an event hosted by BBC Radio 6 & Radio 2 presenter Chris Hawkins.
Also appearing at the festival was much respected composer and musician Robin Dewhurst and suggestion was made by the organisers that Little Sparrow & Robin (along with cellist Sarah Dale) should create & record their own interpretation of 1980’s Madness single ‘Baggy Trousers’ and in addition perform it at the festival.
When performed live the team at Kendal Calling & Tim Peaks FM had this to say: “Little Sparrow & Robin performed the song live to a spellbound crowd on Chris Hawkins Tim Peaks
FM Show, creating a real ‘Kendal Calling’ moment. (It is) one of the best cover versions we have heard in years!"
Having enjoyed the experience they decided to seize this special opportunity to collaborate again and so, with the addition of two Little Sparrow originals, they have created a new EP entitled ‘Just 3’.
Songs For The Lost & Found - Hatful Of Rain (13/07/18)
- Artist: Hatful Of Rain
- Release Date: 13th July, 2018
- Genre: Americana, Folk
- Record Label: Long Way Home Music
- Tracks:
- Website: http://www.hatfulofrain.co.uk/
For their excellent third album and the second release on their own label, the Brighton-based quartet of Chloë Overton, Phil Jones, Fred Gregory and James Shenton again meld together the Celtic, American and English folk influences.
Hatful of Rain are a British contemporary folk group that combine powerful songwriting with musical flare, inspired by English, Celtic and American Roots styles. They use a single microphone approach to performing. This creates an intimate and engaging atmosphere characteristic of every Hatful show. They have released two albums 'Way Up On the Hill' in 2012 and 'The Morning Key' in 2014. EP 'Climb the Air' was released last year on their own 'Long Way Home Music label' and their third album Songs of the Lost and Found is due out on 13th July.
Free Rein - Rebelution (15/06/18)
- Artists: Rebelution
- Release Date: 15th June, 2018
- Genre: Rock, Reggae, Acoustic
- Record Label: Easy Star Records
- Tracks: 12
- Website: http://rebelutionmusic.com/site/
Rebelution follows up their Grammy-nominated 2016 album Falling Into Place with another amazing studio album full of their signature take on modern reggae. Free Rein features a band at the top of its game, delivering anthems that will rock their core audience at their sold-out live shows, while also exploring new sounds, like the acoustic "Healing," the moody "Constellation," and collaborations with two of the hottest young Jamaican producers around, Phillip "Winta" James and Don Corleon.
Utopia & Wasteland - Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar (13/04/18)
- Artist: Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar
- Release Date: 13th April, 2018
- Genre: Folk
- Record Label: Rootbeat
- Tracks: 11
- Website: http://www.russellalgar.co.uk/
It could be their pull-no-punches songwriting. It could be Russell's remarkable voice and Algar's distinctive, fluid fiddle. It could be their inventive takes on traditional songs, their unseen empathy, infectious tune sets or the way they tackle topical issues. Whatever it is, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar have got it, making a huge impact from the first moment they emerged on the UK folk scene.
Still only 24 and 22, Greg and Ciaran released their first album The Queen's Lover in 2012 and enjoyed a remarkable rise, landing the Young Folk Award at the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In 2014, they found themselves at the Royal Albert Hall clinching the Horizon Award and in 2015 they were nominated for Best Duo.
Drawing on a range of influences, Russell and Algar released their second album The Call in 2014 and, in 2016, the acclaimed The Silent Majority. Now with solo albums under their belts and performances in other line-ups (Algar with Sam Kelly's The Lost Boys and Russell in The Transports and his own multi-artist protest song project Shake the Chains) they are back. Utopia and Wasteland marks another milestone in their short but exceptional career. Recorded at The Green Room Studio, Devon, producer Mark Tucker adds percussion, bass and backing vocals to Greg's unmistakable voice and acoustic guitar and Ciaran's fiddle, tenor banjo, electric tenor guitar, bodhran and vocals. 9 of the 11 tracks are originals, marking a bold departure from their largely traditional back catalog
Far Beyond The Stars - The Henry Girls (03/03/17)
- Artist: The Henry Girls
- Release Date: 3rd March, 2017
- Genre: Folk
- Record Label: Independent
- Tracks: 13
- Website:
Accomplice One - Tommy Emmanuel (19/01/18)
- Artist: Tommy Emmanuel
- Release date: 19th January, 2018
- Genre: Acoustic, Blues, Americana
- Record Label: Mascot Records
- Tracks: 16
- Website: http://tommyemmanuel.com
A wonderful duet album two years in the making from Tommy Emmanuel, one of the best guitar players in the world. Accomplice One sees Tommy join a host of special guests for one of the most innovative and interesting albums so far in 2018.
- 1. Deep River Blues (feat. Jason Isbell)
- 2. Song And Dance Man (feat. Ricky Skaggs)
- 3. Saturday Night Shuffle (feat. Jorma Kaukonen & Pat Bergeson)
- 4. Wheelin' & Dealin (feat. J.D. Simo & Charlie Cushman)
- 5. C-Jam Blues (feat. David Grisman & Bryan Sutton)
- 6. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay (feat. J.D. Simo)
- 7. Borderline (feat. Amanda Shires)
- 8. You Don't Want To Get You One Of Those (feat. Mark Knopfler)
- 9. Keepin' It Reel (feat. Clive Carroll)
- 10. Looking Forward To The Past (feat. Rodney Crowell)
- 11. Purple Haze (feat. Jerry Douglas)
- 12. Rachel's Lullaby (feat. Jake Shimabukuro)
- 13. Djangology (feat. Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo)
- 14. Watson Blues (feat. David Grisman & Bryan Sutton)
- 15. Tittle Tattle (feat. Jack Pearson)
- 16. The Duke's Message (feat. Suzy Bogguss)
Headlong - John Smith (29/06/17)
- Artist: John Smith
- Release date: 29th June, 2017
- Genre: Folk, Americana, Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic
- Record Label: Barp Ltd
- Tracks: 11
- Website: http://www.johnsmithjohnsmith.com
It’s all for the love of the guitar. John plays a rumbling fingerstyle and sometimes uses a slide, sometimes plays the guitar on his lap, sometimes he detunes mid-song. His guitar work and honey-on-gravel vocals have brought crowds to pin-drop silence and rapturous applause.
Not by chance is it that John’s new record 'Headlong' comes bearing a title implying impulsive, breakneck motion - written as it was, during various touring stints in North America - with a view ahead, to new horizons and new songs, to new opportunities and new audiences. The album also bears the indelible loss of John’s friend and guitar hero John Renbourn, who called John “the future of folk music” and to whose memory 'Headlong' is dedicated.
John currently has five self-released records out; 'The Fox and the Monk' (2006), 'Map Or Direction' (2009), 'Eavesdropping' (2011) 'Great Lakes' (2013), and 'Headlong' (2017).
Cold Rooms EP - Ben Morgan Brown (04/12/17)
- Release Date: 4th December, 2017
- Artist: Ben Morgan-Brown
- Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic, Contemporary Folk
- Record Label: Ben Morgan-Brown
- Tracks: 5
- Website:
Exeter based singer-songwriter & guitarist Ben Morgan-Brown writes intimate & reflective songs heavily informed by the folk-baroque guitarists & singer-songwriters of the late ‘60s & early ‘70s. As a taster of Ben's music we have chosen as our LCM #SongOfTheDay 'No More Fooling' taken from his recently released 'Cold Rooms EP'.
Inspired to pick up the acoustic guitar ten years ago when he first heard Bert Jansch’s seminal debut album, his open-tuned guitar, ethereal vocals & highly personal lyrics tip the hat to Nick Drake, John Martyn, Michael Chapman et al whilst still maintaining a unique musical style & identity.
Having self-recorded his previous two releases (both of which received airplay on BBC Introducing) his new E.P. ‘Cold Rooms’ was recorded by Josh Clark (Kate Rusby, Mike Dawes, Miranda Sykes) and features five songs (with a bonus sixth track only available through Bandcamp) written in the last 18 months, a time during which Ben has reflected upon the past few years of his life, turbulent years that have seen him lose both his grandparents, get married & divorced within two years, spend a month in hospital after catching salmonella in Morocco & which culminated with the death of his father in November 2016.
These events led Ben to reevaluate many aspects of his life & in October 2017 he left his job managing a guitar shop deciding it was time to dedicate himself to music. After five years of life-changing events beyond his control, the release of ‘Cold Rooms’ marks yet another significant moment in his life - the moment at which he begins to give his music & talent the attention it deserves.
Every Soul's A Sailor - Stephen Fearing (05/01/17)
- Artist: Stephen Fearing
- Release Date: 5th January, 2017
- Genre: Singer-songwriter, folk, acoustic
- Record Label: Lowdenproud
- Tracks:
- Website: http://www.stephenfearing.com
Burning Bridges EP - The Wandering Hearts (17/11/17)
- Artist: The Wandering Hearts
- Genre: Americana, Country, Acoustic
- Release Date: 17th November, 2017
- Record Label: Decca
- Tracks: 4
- Website: http://www.thewanderinghearts.com/music/
The Wandering Hearts are a group from London that came together almost in defiance of the current zeitgest of rhinestone hats and Fender guitar UK country-rock that has jumped onto the proverbial bandwagon in the last two years. The Wandering Hearts demeanour, work ethic and lyrics echo the struggle of a group of musicians who’ve lived the hard pavements of North London.
They have all jobbed it as musicians and the standard is there to be seen, earned through nights of sweat on string, scraping by but smiling alongside the communal friendship that the life brings. They drink at lunchtime, talk of ex partners and the odd Chris Stapleton lyric, and rather than ring contrived it reflects a sense of authenticity to their beautiful harmony laden Alt-Country infused Folk-Americana.
Seeing them live, and how naturally their voices just ‘fit’ together, one would scarcely believe they met almost by chance through mutual friends in a bar one night less than a year ago, and a love of country music lyric put them together one afternoon in the kitsch empty bar room of the Earl Haig Hall in Crouch End for their first rehearsal.
Fifteen - The Walin' Jennys (27/10/17)
- Band: The Walin' Jennys
- Release Date: 27th October, 2017
- Genre: Indie Folk, Roots, Acoustic
- Record Label:True North Records
- Tracks: 9
- Website:
Now celebrating their fifteenth year together with an album appropriately call 'Fifteen'. The Wailin' Jennys again bring their own arrangements and harmonies to some of their favorite covers.
"We think the album has a live, real, moment-in-time kind of feel to it, and are so happy to be putting it out there for our fans. Some of the covers are songs we've had arranged for a while but haven't had the chance to record. The others were brought to the mix for this record. They are all songs that are close to our heart for one reason or another or that feel appropriate for the times." - The Wailin' Jennys
Elephant Eye - Hannah White (30/11/17)
- Artist: Hannah White
- Release Date: 30th November, 2017
- Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic, Americana, Folk
- Record Label: Sound Lounge Records
- Tracks: 11
- Website: https://www.hannahwhitemusic.com
Hannah White has battled her way to gaining a loyal following of fans around the UK whilst maintaining a wholly independent approach to her career. Her music is influenced by country, blues, folk, pop and soul but remains distinctly her own.
With a voice that can switch from a sweet Nashville croon to a bluesy holler, her songs draw from a rich well of life experiences and have been heard on the national airwaves of BBC Radio 2, Amazing Radio, Chris Country Radio as well major regional UK radio shows such as; BBC London, BBC Kent, BBC Merseyside, BBC Manchester & BBC Introducing as well as being played on international TV several times on the Phil Mack Country Show.
Hannah has wowed audiences at shows with multi-Grammy Award winning Tim O’Brien, Thea Gilmore, Laurence Fox, Judie Tzuke and Ben Haenow, headlined at a sold-out Union Chapel in London, performed for Whispering Bob Harris, performed at major festivals and picked up press plaudits from R2 Magazine, Country People Magazine, Blues Matters and many more.
1000 Years - Allman Brown (10/02/17)
- Artist: Allman Brown
- Release date: 10th February, 2017
- Genre: Contemporary Folk, Singer-Songwriter
- Record Label: Allman Brown
- Tracks: 11
- Website: http://www.allmanbrown.com
Allman Brown is a London-based singer-songwriter influenced by the likes of Bon Iver, James Vincent McMorrow and Sufjan Stevens. Since announcing himself onto the scene in 2013 with the ‘Sons And Daughters’ EP (the lead track of which recently surpassed 3.5 million streams on Spotify), he has built a solid fanbase on both sides of the Atlantic through a number of his songs being featured on notable TV dramas in both the UK and US. 1000 Years is his excellent debut album.
Hannah Johnson - Shaken (10/07/17)
- Artist: Hannah Johnson
- Genre: Country, Blues
- Release Date: 10th July, 2017
- Record Label: Wood Ville Music
- Tracks: 11
- Website: http://hjbrokenhearts.com/
The album was recorded at The Ameripolitan Studios in Austin, Texas. It features some of Hannah's favourite musicians including Stewart Johnson, Bryce Clarke, Chris Shirley, Beth Chrisman, Joshua Hoag, Emily Gimble, Tom Lewis, Sophia Johnson, Brian Kremer and Devin Jake.
Hannah delves deep into her influences of old country, the blues and honky tonk music. The choice of material is imperative to Hannah, who has spent a long time studying the vocal styles of country greats such as Faron Young, George Jones & Ray Price.
At a time when it is fashionably cool to be “Americana” and dressing “vintage” is de rigueur, it is easy to feel tired of the cliches around the modern country scene. Much of the music coming out of Nashville today seems to be either watered down country pop, or stylistically affected Americana with chanted choruses and stomping bass drums.
However, there is also reaction against these extreme ends of the industry machine and artists like Hannah Johnson are approaching their music with a refreshing honesty and commitment to the core principles of ‘old’ country music, celebrating the heritage and history rather than diluting it. Undoubtedly spending so much time in Austin, Texas has influenced her immensely, as the music she is making falls much more under the bracket of what Dale Watson is doing with his “Ameripolitan” genre than the new country from Nashville. Hannah sings classic country songs about drinking and heart ache straight from a Honky Tonk, her sultry and smokey voice taking on the likes of Patsy Cline, Skeets McDonald and Willie Nelson. But what also cannot be ignored in her voice is the strong influence from the blues, as exemplified on her cover of an old Charlie Patton number and her powerful rendition of ‘Trouble In Mind’.
The stand out tracks however, are her own compositions, ‘Your Girlfriend Hates Me’ could perhaps be seen as a modern, less aggressive take on Loretta’s “fist city”, clearly placing relationships between women at the centre of her experience, and proving not always easy being the only girl in the band. ‘Morning Cocktail’ then takes her in a more soulful and reflective direction, lamenting a highly destructive lost love, the dangerous numbing qualities of alcohol, while demonstrating her vocal prowess. ‘Nowhere Train’ immediately hits an infectious country groove, delivering classic twangy telecaster and providing a strong catchy chorus as the album’s opener.
Hannah's fans include Imelda May, Robert Plant and Ronnie Wood, indeed Hannah and her band provided the entertainment for Ronnie’s recent 70th Birthday party. She is set to spend the summer 2017 gigging and promoting her record in Austin, TX.
Jamie Lawson - Happy Accidents (29/09/17)
- Artist: Jamie Lawson
- Genre: Acoustic, Singer-Songwriter
- Release Date: 29th September, 2017
- Record Label: Gingerbread Man Records
- Tracks: 13
- Website: http://www.jamielawsonmusic.com/
Ivor Novello award winning singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson is set to release his highly anticipated new album 'Happy Accident' through Ed Sheeran's 'Gingerbread Man Records'
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Findlay Napier - Glasgow (13/10/17)
- Artist: Findlay Napier
- Genre: Folk, Singer-Songwriter
- Release Date: 13th October, 2017
- Record Label: Cheerygroove Records
- Tracks: 11
- Website: http://www.findlaynapier.com/
In 1997 I moved from the banks of the River Spey to the fourteenth floor of the Red Road Flats in Springburn. I was born in Glasgow and had visited the city periodically over the years, the Garden Festival in ‘89 and City of Culture in ‘90 being particular highlights. I remember the buildings being black. I remember being jostled by the people on Buchanan Street. I remember the sound and the shoogle of the Clockwork Orange. I remember the people and their patter. I remember it like the first time I watched Blade Runner. I remember it like the first time I saw Billy Connolly.
Mostly I witnessed Glasgow from afar. On the telly it was a place full of humour: Francie & Josie, Naked Video and Rab C. Nesbitt. Taggart, bookended with Maggie Bell’s ‘No Mean City, was Glasgow’s darker side.
I heard the music, I even sang some of the songs; street songs, folk songs, mimicking Frankie Miller’s Tennent’s selling growl or howling along to City to City on long car journeys north. Yet I was so out of touch with the city’s music I didn’t know that Del Amitri bloke with the leather trousers off the telly was from Glasgow. Rab Noakes’ Standing Up introduced me to The Blue Nile and Michael Marra. I came round to The Bard of Dundee very quickly but I confess it was years before I understood the wonder of those four immaculate albums by The Blue Nile.
By ‘97 Glasgow was undergoing a kind of spring cleaning for the forthcoming City of Architecture. It was the gleaming champagne and red sandstone promised land. I was seventeen and about to enroll on the first ever BA in Scottish Music at the RSAMD. ‘Jock Hawk’s Adventures in Glasgow’ would be a good soundtrack for the next few years of my life in Glasgow, that or ‘Erin Go Bragh,’ a clueless country bumpkin falling in every pitfall the big smoke had to offer.
After graduation it never occurred to me to leave Glasgow. It became my home. I’ve been here for almost exactly twenty-one years to the release date of this album. I’ve lived all over the place, mostly in Dennistoun and Haghill, a year on North Street (above The Bon Accord), a year in Bridgeton, some time in Cathcart and I am now settled in Pollokshields. First I was staying here, then I was living here, now this is my home.
This album is for Glasgow and for the fantastic people I’ve met; unique formidable characters like Big Jim McKenna who told me before walking on stage one night that, “No-one wants to hear you singing your own fuckin* songs. Your sad fuckin songs about your boring fuckin life. They want to hear something they know. Maybe something about their home. Mix them up a bit.” He liked my songs though. He told me when I came off stage. He said I should learn that Hamish Imlach song. I fuckin did.
*In Glasgow swearing is considered a form of audible punctuation"