Laurel Canyon Music

24 Blackbush Avenue Chadwell Heath, Romford, England, RM6 5TU United Kingdom

For fans and musicians of Folk, Americana, Country, Blues, Singer-Songwriter, Rock, Roots & Acoustic and music from the Laurel Canyon late 60’s/early 70’s era.

LCM is a new co-operative music community, promoter, event organiser and on-line magazine to promote & support the music that we love. All the latest news, reviews and interviews

LCM is your indispensable insider guide to the wonderful world of independent music and beyond

We aim to help music fans connect and discover great new music and help indie musicians promote their music and help them build relationships with supporters and industry professionals.

Please join us now and explore our website.

We also have some special and exclusive items in our LCM store that you might like.

Fire - Midnight Skyracer (02/02/18)

May 06, 2018  /  Gary Smith

Midnight Skyracer - Fire.jpg
  • Artists: Midnight Skyracer
  • Release Date: 2nd February, 2018
  • Genre: Bluegrass, Americana
  • Record Label: Midnight Skyracer
  • Tracks: 10
  • Website: http://midnightskyracer.com

Midnight Skyracer are a new, Anglo-Irish all-female 5 piece playing hard driving traditional and modern classics, lesser known songs and a few originals. Featuring an all-star lineup of some of the UK’s top instrumentalists and singers (Tabitha Agnew (Banjo); Charlotte Carrivick (Guitar), Laura Carrivick (Fiddle & Dobro); Leanne Thorose (Mandolin) and Eleanor Wilkie (Bass)) , the band takes inspiration from the likes of other great female artists such as Rhonda Vincent and Alison Krauss. We think that they are a real young supergroup of talent and have a very bright future ahead of them.

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categories / Bluegrass Music, Americana Music
tags / Midnight Skyracer, Fire, LCM New Releases 2018, February 2018

Awake - Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage (11/05/18)

May 04, 2018  /  Gary Smith

Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage - Awake.jpg

  • Artist: Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage

  • Release Date: 11th May, 2018

  • Genre: Folk, Americana

  • Record Label: Sungrazing Records

  • Tracks: 11

  • Website: https://www.hannahbenmusic.com

  • Review By: Gary Smith (LCM)

Spellbinding UK folk duo release the follow up to acclaimed debut Before The Sun, included in numerous 2016 Albums of The Year lists including the fRoots Critics Poll. Joining back up with Toronto producer David Travers-Smith (Wailin Jennys, Madison Violet, Ruth Moody) the pair create exquisite transatlantic soundscapes on which to base their beguiling, intimate indie-folk duets. A duo who delve into the mysterious and often like to release music in line with the lunar calendar, their live show sees them huddled around a single microphone, drawing the audience in. And so it is with this magnetic album, where their own intensely moving songs flow seamlessly among reinvigorated traditional gems and the Guthrie/Bragg americana classic Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key. Alongside their own guitars, mountain dulcimer and dobro they are joined by an all-star cast from both sides of the big pond including double bass from Jon Thorne (Lamb, Scott Matthews), vocals from Oh Susanna, Jess Morgan and Gilmore & Roberts, percussion from Evan Carson (The Willows, Sam Kelly), pedal steel from Burke Carroll (Kathleen Edwards, Justin Rutledge) and Chris Coole on banjo.

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categories / Folk Music, Contemporary Folk, Americana Music
tags / Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Awake, LCM New Releases 2018, May 2018

Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves (30/03/18)

April 22, 2018  /  Gary Smith

  • Artist: Kacey Musgraves
  • Release Date: 30th March, 2018
  • Genre: Country, Cosmic Country
  • Record Label: MCA / UMG Nashville
  • Tracks: 13
  • Website: http://www.kaceymusgraves.com/

 

Known for her very clever and often 'tongue in cheek' songwriting the multi-award winning Kacey Musgraves returns for her excellent third album 'Golden Hour'. It contains a range of styles from cosmic-pop country and folk through to disco-pop. It's a little bit of a departure from her previous albums, but I think it really works. The album continues to grow the more times you play it, which is always a very good sign. It is one of my favourite albums this summer and one that I keep going back to.

'Golden Hour' is an album created for crossover success. The lyrics tone down her trademark sardonic vignettes of small-town life in favour of larger and more universal themes. It's a album-length ode to not having the right words, to being overcome by the moment and of surrendering to it.

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categories / Country Music, Country-Pop
tags / Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour, LCM New Releases 2018, March 2018

Edgeland - Kim Richey (30/03/18)

April 21, 2018  /  Gary Smith

  • Artist: Kim Richie
  • Release Date: 30th March, 2018
  • Genre: Folk, Americana
  • Record Label: Yep Roc
  • Tracks: 12
  • Website:

Brand new Kim Richey studio album "Edgeland" Produced by Brad Jones. Since appearing on the Nashville music scene in the mid-90s, Kim Richey has been nominated for two Grammy awards, recorded seven studio albums, and collaborated with everyone from Trisha Yearwood to Jason Isbell. After a nearly five year hiatus, Richey returns with her eighth studio album Edgeland The term, "Edgeland," is defined as the lost zone between urban and rural environments, a concept which mimics Richey's constant fluctuation between the rigid genre definitions of country and Americana music. Richey naturally settles between the two, ignoring convention and instead allowing her own intuitive musical progression to shape her sound. On her latest record, Richey teamed up with producer Brad Jones at his studio Alex the Great Recording in Nashville during the summer of 2017. Following in the collaborative footsteps of her 2013 album, Thorn In My Heart, Richey brought in a few of her most talented friends to record Edgeland, filling the tracks with accompanying vocals and instrumental contributions that make for a pleasant surprise at every turn. The result is a 12-track collection of work showcasing both Richey's musical adaptability and knack for collaborative songwriting. Edgeland is Richey's second Yep Roc Records release. "Richey's doe-eyed, bittersweet approach perfectly captures the hurt and regret in her material…" - American Songwriter

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categories / Folk Music, Americana Music
tags / Kim Richey, Edgeland, LCM New Releases 2018, March 2018

Accidentally On Purpose - The Shires (20/04/18)

April 21, 2018  /  Gary Smith

  • Artists: The Shires
  • Release Date: 20th April, 2018
  • Genre: Country, Pop
  • Record Label: Decca (UMO)
  • Tracks: 12
  • Website:

The biggest selling UK country act of all time, The Shires, announce their highly anticipated third album ‘Accidentally on Purpose’, due for release on 20th April 2018 through Decca Records. The trailblazing duo will also be hitting the road this summer, performing their new music across the UK, including London’s Royal Albert Hall on 18th May. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, The Shires’ new album combines massive country-pop choruses and emotive words about their whirlwind journey, relationships and their time in the States. Increasingly, US country music is taking music influence from the mainstream with pop-inspired hooks, a sound that The Shires’ new album reflects. “Accidentally on Purpose is full of personal songs that really sums up the whirlwind journey we’ve been on together. From the first day we met, we’ve been crazy dreamers with big plans, who really believed that Country could break into the UK mainstream. For all those dreams, we never imagined it would all happen so quickly and we’re so proud and excited to be releasing our third album.” – Ben and Crissie, The Shires

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categories / Country Music, Country-Pop, Pop Music
tags / The Shires, Accidentally On Purpose, LCM New Releases 2018, April 2018

No. 79 - Gareth Dunlop (11/08/17)

April 18, 2018  /  Gary Smith

  • Artist: Gareth Dunlop
  • Release Date: 11th August, 2017
  • Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Folk
  • Record Label: Priory Records
  • Tracks: 10
  • Website: https://www.garethdunlop.com/

Gareth Dunlop's new album 'No.79' was recorded at his home in East Belfast, Northern Ireland.

“We moved into our house in Belfast about 3 years ago. Spending months at a time away from the house, it just felt right to make this record in my own home. As well as it being somewhere I’m most comfortable, it just has a cool vibe and sound to it, and I wanted to capture that. Something different happens when the studio comes to the musicians… it forces you to approach things differently and think outside of the box. The songs we recorded were all written in the months leading up to the session and I think the emotions of the songs were very much still on the forefront of my mind.”

There are limitations to recording in a house and I wanted to use those restraints as an opportunity to be more creative. It made us all use our instruments in a different way… because we didn’t have a string quartet, we taped up the strings on my old piano to emulate a string part on ‘What It Wants’. That was the story for most days... If we didn’t have it, we had to make it. I spent a couple of weeks driving my family crazy getting the house ready and sound treating the rooms. It wasn’t until we recorded the first take of the first song that I knew it would work. Having great musicians and great friends in my home made the process of recording these songs so much more enjoyable.”          

No. 79
Priory Records
Buy on Amazon
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categories / Singer-Songwriter, Contemporary Folk
tags / Gareth Dunlop, No.79, LCM New Releases 2017, August 2017

Mind Of Mine EP - Lisa Wright (25/05/18)

April 17, 2018  /  Gary Smith

  • Artist: Lisa Wright
  • Release Date: 25th May, 2018
  • Genre: Country, Singer-Songwriter
  • Record Label: Lisa Wright (Independent)
  • Tracks: 4
  • Website: 

One of the most exciting voices in the UK’s homegrown country/Americana scene, Lisa Wright, has announced the May 25th 2018 release of her brand new EP ‘Mind of Mine’. Produced by Matt Greaves (Ward Thomas, The Girls Musical), ‘Mind of Mine’ contains four brand new songs, and is Lisa’s most personal work to date. Lead single, ‘Tennessee’, co-written by Lisa with Kaity Rae and currently gaining airplay on country shows & stations across the UK, was inspired by her trip to the US in late 2017, reflecting the notorious ups and downs of the music industry and the search for purpose in life.

Two of the tracks were solely written by Lisa, with ‘Giving Up The Ghost’ penned in collaboration with Jake Etheridge, known for his starring role as Sean McPherson on CMT’s Nashville TV show, and having also lent his songwriting talents to the show’s soundtrack.

Combining Lisa's staple of honest and emotive lyrics with a new exploration of sound and style, it’s obvious that ‘Mind of Mine’ will showcase this young artist’s ability to continually re-create herself, while staying true to her roots. Having opened for US country star Cam earlier this month and with support dates with the likes of Ward Thomas & Phil Vassar under her belt, it’s easy to see why the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) have declared Lisa Wright “one to watch”.

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categories / Country Music, Americana Music, Singer-Songwriter
tags / Lisa Wright, Mind Of Mine EP, LCM New Releases 2018, May 2018

Utopia & Wasteland - Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar (13/04/18)

April 13, 2018  /  Gary Smith

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

Utopia And Wasteland
By Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar
Buy on Amazon
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categories / Folk Music, Contemporary Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic Music
tags / Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar, Utopia & Wasterland, LCM New Releases 2018, April 2018

Freedom Singer - Khari Wendall McClelland (27/04/18)

March 23, 2018  /  Gary Smith

  • Artist: Khari Wendall McClelland
  • Release Date:27th April, 2018
  • Genre: Folk, Americana, Gospel, Roots Music
  • Record Label: Afterlife Music
  • Tracks: 7
  • Website: http://www.khariwendellmcclelland.com/

A modern-day interpretation of songs that have accompanied Khari´s great-great-great grandmother, who escaped US slavery through The Underground Railroad into Canada in the mid 1800s.

Khari Wendell McClelland is set to release the "Freedom Singer" album on April 27th. A true celebration of black history, the album is a collection of rare and forgotten songs that McClelland interprets through the many styles and genres that helped to shape him. Using folk, gospel, country, hip hop and soul to reinvigorate these songs and build a bridge from the 1800's to the present. Khari Wendell McClelland is a diversely talented and everevolving artist. Originally from Detroit, Khari has become a darling on the Canadian music scene with reviewers lauding his performances as a clever mix of soul and gospel. Khari’s songwriting crosses genres and generations, joyfully invoking the spirit of his ancestors who straddled the US-Canadian border in efforts to escape slavery and discrimination. His music draws from this rich history, integrating the rhythms and folklore of early African-Americans with contemporary sounds and stories of struggle. Recently, Khari received critical acclaim for his "Freedom Singer" project, recreating the music fugitive slaves carried on their journey north into Canada.

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categories / Folk Music, Americana Music, Gospel, Roots Music
tags / Khari Wendall McCelland, Freedom Singer, LCM New Releases 2018, April 2018

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