Save Yourself - Ferris & Sylvester

Our LCM featured artists today Ferris & Sylvester are a London based Country/Americana/Folk duo made up of Issy Ferris and Archie Sylvester. The two first met as solo musicians in London’s vibrant music scene and started writing together. In early 2016, Issy and Archie's thoughtfully crafted song writing caught the ear of legendary producer Youth (Paul McCartney/The Verve/ Crowded House). The pair recorded their first record ‘The Yellow Line EP’ with Youth in his Space Mountain Studios, Spain. With clear references in their catchy folk setup to the mid-60s sounds of New York's Greenwich Village such as Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel, the duo also sit firmly among contemporaries like Laura Marling and Ray Lamontagne. Their clever combination of Archie’s blues influence and Issy’s soft folk tone has created a distinctive sound of their own. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is one of the beautiful lead singles 'Save Yourself' from their 'The Yellow Line' EP released in June.

‘We were both part of the same music scene in Camden until eventually we met and started doing some writing together. Since then, we’ve spent most of our days locked away in Archie’s bedroom, writing and recording. Early last year, we took our scruffy demos and unpolished material over to see legendary producer Martin ‘Youth’ Glover and stumbled through a few new songs in his front room. A few months later, we were recording our debut EP with Youth and his amazing team in his studio in Sierra Nevada. It’s been a great year – touring Ireland, releasing our EP, and working with some incredible people.’

Holy Water - The Black Feathers

Our LCM featured artist today are Gloucestershire-based Americana husband and wife duo The Black Feathers. Known for their thoughtful & crafted songwriting and trademark close harmonies, they are the UK's answer to Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings or The Civil Wars.  Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay 'Holy Water' is the first video and single from their eagerly awaited second album due for release in the spring of 2018. It's one of the duo’s most personal and revealing song to date, written following a deeply powerful performance in the chapel of a rehab facility for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts in Nashville during their recent US tour. The extraordinary experience being made all the more poignant, as it fell on the same day as Ray celebrated six years of sobriety.

The music industry has a very long and difficult history with addiction. What starts out as an exciting experience can all too easily become fueled obsession, leading to a downward spiral of self-destructive behaviour and isolation. And whilst some, like Ray, are lucky enough to realise that they’re falling, others simply don’t see the ground coming and then struggle to come to terms with what has happened.

“Many turn to God or religion at such times, but not everyone has that choice,” Ray explains. “Holy Water tries to highlight the fact that you don’t need to be religious to be ‘saved’”.

Recorded at Driftwood Studio, Mersea Island.

Produced and Mixed by Jay Stapley.

Mastered by Simon Allen.

The Black Feathers 'Holy Water' UK Tour

September

• Wed 6th – Clarks on Lindsay Street, Dundee, UK
• Thu 7th – Kirkcaldy Acoustic Music Club, Kirkcaldy, UK
• Fri 8th – House Concert, Edinburgh, UK
• Sat 9th – House Concert, Glasgow, UK
• Sun 10th – Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham, UK
• Tue 12th – Oporto, Leeds, UK
• Wed 13th – The Running Horse, Nottingham, UK
• Thu 14th – Stroud Subscription Rooms, Stroud, UK
• Fri 15th – Cafe #9, Sheffield, UK
• Sat 16th – Town Hall Live, Kirton In Lindsey, UK
• Sun 17th – The Castle Hotel, Manchester, UK
• Fri 22nd – Wingfield Barns, Eye, UK
• Sat 23rd – The Sound Lounge, London, UK
• Thu 28th – Acoustic Couch, Bracknell, UK
• Sat 30th – The Bear Club, Luton, UK

October

• Fri 13th – Friends Meeting House, Oxford, UK
• Sat 21st – The Railway, Winchester, UK

What If I - Elles Bailey

It's a very exciting time for our next LCM featured artist Elles Bailey, who releases her excellent debut album 'Wildfire' today. Bristol based Elles seamlessly weaves rootsy blues, country and soulful rock with a contemporary edge and her trademark  ‘smoky vocals’ taking the lead.  Her husky toned, lived-in voice sounds like she has a 60-a-day habit, but was actually caused by a serious illness when she was three. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is the wonderful 'What If I'. LCM album review coming very shortly...

.Her two EP's, both produced by Brian Banks, (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie) 'Who I Am To Me' (Feb 2015) and 'The Elberton Sessions' (Oct 2016) were released to critical acclaim. No stranger to the scene, over the last three years, this captivating, hard-working songstress and her talented band have built up a loyal all-age fan base through relentless touring, through both the UK and Europe. She’s opened for acts like Wille & The Bandits and shared festival line-ups with Lisa Simone, The Mystery Jets & Wilko Johnson.

In fact, 2017 looks set to be a very busy year for Elles with over 30 dates scheduled in the run up to her debut album release in September. Her festival diary is also filling up very quickly. Elles will feature at The Great British Rock and Blues Festival in Skegness and will be opening for soul singer Jo Harman on her February tour before heading back into Europe in Spring 2017.
 
Like many artists today, Elles is breaking down the barriers of traditional genres, taking inspiration from many and fusing them together to bring you her own unique sound, which is earning her a legion of devoted fans, young and old, from across the UK and further afield.

Elles had The opportunity to record ‘Wildfire’ at Blackbird Studio in Nashville Tennessee  where she drew together an amazing pool of musical and production talent and expertise.

“It was always my plan to release my debut album in 2017,” says Elles, “It had been a long time coming, but I could never have imagined getting the opportunity to make it in Nashville, at a studio like Blackbird Studios, where so many iconic albums have been made! I'm very excited about sharing this record with the world!”
 
Produced by Brad Nowell ‘Wildfire’ assembled a host of Nashville’s finest, including Grammy Award winner and two-time CMA ‘Musician of the Year’ Brent Mason on guitar, three-time ‘Musician Hall Of Famer’ Bobby Wood on piano, joined by Chris Leuzinger (Garth Brooks) on guitar, Mike Brignardello (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Amy Grant) on bass, Wes Little (Stevie Wonder, Melissa Etheridge) on drums, and even legendary Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter Roger Cook came on board to help add some extra sparkle. Blended together back in the UK with the likes of Jonny Henderson (Robyn Ford, Matt Schofield) on Hammond organ and Joe Wilkins on blistering guitar, the result is a unique trans-Atlantic coming together of styles.
 
As well as being supported by Radio 2, her single ‘Wildfire’ finally came off the Planet Rock playlist after a whopping 10 weeks and she’s back on their play list again, with her most recent single ‘Same Flame’. She has remained on the Country Rocks Spotify playlist for over a month now and cracked the magic 150k marker. Wildfire recently landed radio 1 playlist in Holland and has been voted the number 1 album in the IBBA blues radio charts. What’s more, Bailey’s most recent single ‘Same Flame’ and its accompanying video went on in June to make Song of the Day at Songwriting Magazine.

Reviewers have been wowed by Elles and her debut album, Wildfire due to be released on 1st September 2017. Maverick Magazine gave ‘Wildfire’ top marks (5/5) and went on to predict a glowing career for this talented artiste: “If Bailey can follow this album up with something equally as good as ‘Wildfire’, there’s no reason why she can’t hit the heights Swift did in country- and perhaps move even further up the country mountain than Swift did.”

"It’s a fact that very few make it to the big stage,” Blues In Britain reminds us, but “Elles Bailey has the necessary talent, the drive, and no) the product."

Not only will Elles be doing her own headline tour of the UK through out October and November she has also been asked to open for guitar legend Eric Gales on his UK & Ireland tour.

Watch this space as Elles and her band take UK Blues music by storm...................... 

Cold Cold Love - CALICO the band

LCM UK VIDEO EXCLUSIVE

We are thrilled to announce a UK video exclusive for Calico's latest single 'Cold Cold Love' which was directed by Jen Derwingson. The single was released on the 15th August, with the new video premiered yesterday in the US. It's a murder ballad in modern dress about the dark consequences of obsessive love. The song is taken from their wonderful forthcoming second album 'Under Blue Skies' (on California Country Records) which is due to be released on the 15th September. The video for 'Cold Cold Heart' has a strong western theme and was filmed just outside the famous 'Joshua Tree' in Southern California, which the band say has a “mystical cosmic country connection, that is inspiration for us”. 

Calico are a Californian Americana Country group led by the female duo of Manda Mosher and Kirsten Proffit, who are known for their signature intimate and tight harmonies. They are a California band in the deepest, most natural sense of the term, their name is shorthand for California country. Their music echoes what Gram Parsons famously dubbed 'Cosmic American Music'. The sound and feel of 'Under Blue Skies' is inspired by the duo’s shared love of Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Eagles, the Everly Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and of course the Beatles. It is both infused and inspired by the spirit of the original Laurel Canyon. Their songwriting touchstones also includes Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, The Band and Tom Petty. Manda and Kirsten feel so connected to this classic and timeless music, that they’re able to make it fresh and vibrant, bring it up to date and make it their own.

“Because we’ve spent so much time together, we feel more comfortable expressing vulnerability in the lyrics; there are definitely more love songs. There’s certainly meaning to our debut album 'Rancho California', but it’s more broad strokes; on Under Blue Skies, we were able to dig in and get more personal.” comments Manda.

During release week, the band will be performing two official AmericanaFest Showcases in Nashville, TN. On Thursday, September 14, CALICO THE BAND will perform The California Country Social–presented by California Country Records & The Alternate Root–at Fond Object Records (5pm to 8pm) and Saturday, September 16 for another Official AmericanaFest Showcase at The 5 Spot (midnight).

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Why Would I Know - Hannah's Yard

We head to Buckinghamshire for our next excellent young LCM featured artist. At the beating heart of the musical collective known as 'Hannah’s Yard' lies the beautifully understated voice of 21 year old singer Hannah Layton Turner. Think Nora Jones with touches of Katie Melua. The band's music is on the acoustic pop side with a heady fusion of Jazz, Folk and Country. Their debut album ‘Beginnings’ was released on 12 May 2017 and features 14 songs recorded in Hannah’s home town of Olney (not far from Milton Keynes)…the small English town where ‘Amazing Grace’ was written in the 1770s. This wonderful collection of meaningful songs about life and love includes a recording of Hannah at just 15 years of age, when she first met fellow musicians Barnaby Pinny and James Reader.

An upload of the collective’s song and our LCM #TrackOfTheDay 'Why Would I Know' to the BBC Introducing website in September 2015, resulted in a first national radio play on Mark Forrest’s BBC Introducing show the following November. Local station BBC Three Counties Radio immediately awarded the song ‘Introducing Track of the Week’ resulting in cross-station airplay and invitations to perform live on the station.  

An official launch of the song was expedited and by February 2016, following a live performance on his BBC Radio Oxford show, Alex Lester played ‘Why Would I Know’ on his Radio Two programme. Hannah’s Yard went on to appear on Robert Elms’ BBC Radio London show at the end of February marking a remarkable six months of progress for Hannah and her musicians.

Excitingly the band supported Gordon Haskell on his UK tour earlier this year.

Stand - Kenny Foster

Our LCM featured artist today US singer-songwriter Kenny Foster was named one of Rolling Stone's '10 New Country Artists You Need to Know'.  Coming from the Ozark hills of Missouri and hailing from a long family-line that settled in the area just after the Civil War, he was the one that took up those deep roots and planted them in Nashville, TN to see what he could grow. After a childhood of singing in church and falling in love with his dad's record collection, Kenny started toying with a store-bought guitar and mashing up all of his favorite sounds and songs. His wide range of influences (including James Taylor, Garth Brooks, Counting Crows, and The Ozark Mountain Daredevils) all played their part in creating Kenny's authentic, soulful, rootsy sound. Kenny has just released his new album 'Deep Cuts' in April and our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is the great first single 'Stand'. If you enjoyed his music, Kenny is performing at The Bedford in Balham on the 4th September. 

While Kenny Foster isn’t exactly ‘new’ to country music, the momentum behind the unmistakable balladeer’s 2017 release ‘Deep Cuts’ has a host of new fans flocking to the raw grit and brutal honesty of Foster’s remarkably mature, thoughtful and unapologetic songwriting. Lush with real instruments, astute observations and the deconstruction of one man’s head and heart, Foster has built a monument to the American experience that seeks to universalize the specific, and embody the very specific ways that we are all very much the same. While the pop-laden sounds of country radio have been trending away from the genre’s organic roots in recent times, Foster makes a case for preserving the foundations of country music while still allowing it the chance to comment on and even pine over the ever-evolving landscape.

Authentic. Accessible. This timeless collection of songs will echo through the annuls of the story that birthed a great American tradition, and gave words to a nation seeking to reflect its own identity. A welcomed ‘new’ voice may just have us longing for our past, and at the same time, looking ahead at how we will preserve what has always been good, and right, and true.

Foster has shared the stage with artists including Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Brothers Osborne, Old Dominion, Lady Antebellum, Marc Broussard, Butch Walker, Buddy Miller and countless others, along with multiple appearances at the ACM and CMA music festivals. He has received press in Rolling Stone, the New York Times, Washington Post and Forbes - who referred to him as a 'country music superstar.' He has been featured in two Super Bowl commercials with Sheryl Crow and Danica Patrick, respectively, and has appeared in numerous episodes of ABC's ‘Nashville’ and had songs placed in ‘Extreme Home Makeover’ and ‘Boston Med’, along with videos featured on national US music channels CMT and GAC.

‘Deep Cuts’ is out now worldwide, and Kenny Foster is on tour in the UK/Ireland later this month.

Not In Birmingham - Hannah Johnson

It's a very exciting time for Country artists at the moment, as the genre is finally getting the recognition in the UK that it richly deserves. Today's LCM featured artist Hannah Johnson is one person we would love to see with a much higher profile. She has just released her debut solo album 'Shaken', which was successfully crowd-funded through Indiegogo. You may recognise Hannah originally from 'The Toy Hearts' and then when her sister Sophia took a hiatus from the band to go to the US, 'Hannah & The Broken Hearts'. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is a great live cover of a Roger Miller song called 'Not In Nottingham'.  The song is originally from the Walt Disney's animated classic 'Robin Hood'.  Hannah changed the town name to Birmingham where she grew up and still lives. The video also features her very talented father Stewart 'Daddy Cool' Johnson on pedal steel.  The song is about being conflicted about how you feel about your home town.

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.

Check Cashin' Country - Midland

Our next LCM featured trio Texas based 'Midland', are one of our current favourite US Country bands. After the release of an excellent self titled EP released last autumn, they will be releasing in September, their highly anticipated debut album 'On The Rocks'. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is an live acoustic version of 'Check Cashin' Country' which is dedicated to all our friends who are touring independent artists. I'm sure you would agree with some of the sentiments in the song.  

Originally formed in Dripping Springs, Texas, Lead vocalist Mark Wystrach fronts Midland’s rich sound, rounded out by lead guitarist Jess Carson and bass player Cameron Duddy. Rooted in tradition both in sound and style, the band initially garnered attention playing clubs in the Texas region. Their self-titled debut EP features five tracks, boasting songwriting credits from each member. Midland intentionally nods to the wild west with Country music that is reminiscent of the 1970s and 80s with a modern day twist. They’ve opened for idols Dwight Yoakam and Willie Nelson and are currently in the studio with Shane McAnally (Sam Hunt, Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves) working on their full length release 'On the Rocks' for Big Machine Records.

The band who takes their name from the Dwight Yoakam song “Fair To Midland”, actually came together in a different state. Duddy was about to tie the knot in Jackson Hole, WY, and Wystrach and Carson rolled into town a week early. The guys began playing around musically on the front porch of Carson’s cabin, and things stuck.

"All of us playing together happened only because Mark and I both showed up in Jackson Hole a week before the wedding with time to kill," says Jess, originally from the Pacific Northwest. Wystrach said that something was definitely in the air that just seemed to feel right. "By the end, we knew the three of us had amazing chemistry," says Mark. After Duddy returned from his honeymoon, they paid a visit to the Sonic Ranch in El Paso, TX, to see if what they did live translated to the studio.

"When we went to the Sonic Ranch, we became a band. We walked away believing in what had happened," says Wystrach. "All of our souls, our imaginations, were wrapped up in these 15 songs. We went all-in."

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Goodnight California - Orphan Colours

We continue our look at some of our favourites at The Cambridge Folk Festival with our next LCM Featured band, the London based Orphan Colours.  This UK Americana group was formed by members of Ahab, Noah And The Whale and Danny And The Champions Of The World. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is a live version of 'Goodnight California' taken from an always excellent UTAT session at the home of Bob Harris.

After the indefinite hiatus in 2013 of UK alt country outfit Ahab, song writer Steven Llewellyn went on to form his own band with the help of Ahab originator Dave Burn. Being firmly a part of the London country scene made it easy to get involved in collaborations with members of bands like Danny & The Champions of The World, who’s drummer Steve Brookes, already having toured heavily with Ahab, became a permanent member of Orphan Colours in 2014.

guitar tech contact of Brookes later lead to a meeting between Llewellyn and Noah & The Whale guitarist Fred Abbott. The lead guitarist was in the midst of auditioning lead singers for his solo project and the two found common ground in their appreciation of Tom Petty and Jason Isbell. When Abbott heard Llewellyn’s demo’s for the new Orphan Colours project he immediately signed up. Graham Knight was quickly drafted in on bass and vocals, having already played shows with Ahab throughout 2012, he was an obvious fit.

The band have some impressive credentials with Llewellyn and Burn having already honed their songwriting craft during their tenure with Ahab, who swiftly built a reputation as an unmissable live act after their performance at the Cropredy Festival 2010. That performance paved the way for a collaboration with legendary producer John Leckie and being championed by BBC 2 DJ ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris. The band went on to play many successful tours in UK, Denmark, Germany and Australia as well as notable festivals; Bestival, Green Man, Wilderness and Board Masters amongst others.

Not to mention Abbott’s Noah & The Whale world tours and having played a number of notable shows, including The Royal Albert Hall, Coachella, Lollapoloza, Green Man and Glastonbury as well as appearing on shows such as the Late Show with David Letterman, Later… with Jools Holland and The Graham Norton Show

With gleaming commercial success, critical acclaim and rock solid underground credibility so firmly ensconced in their DNA, Orphan Colours have nothing to prove. Their debut EP 'High Hopes' was released Feb 26th 2016 with 'Won't Let You Down' as the lead single

Their follow up 'Acoustic EP' shows a more stripped back approach showcasing their songwriting skills and was released in December 2016.

The band are currently in the studio recording their debut album.

All On Me - Devin Dawson

We head back to Nashville for our next LCM featured artist Country Rock & Soul singer songwriter Devin Dawson. Warner Music Nashville / Atlantic Records artist Devin is not your typical country artist. His look is dark and bold. His sound is sleek and raw. He has a knack for writing razor sharp stories that cut straight to the heart, full of detail and clever turns of phrase. And his songs speak the language of a new generation. Dawson is an edgy study in contrast, poised as the next bolt of lightning to hit country’s family tree. Dawson released a handful of songs on Spotify earlier in March from his debut full-length, due to be released later this year. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is Devin's recently released debut single 'All On Me' with received almost two million plays in its first two weeks. We like this one at lot at LCM HQ and can't wait to hear some more of Devin's music. 

His approach to music is not different on purpose, it’s different with purpose. The twenty-eight years old from Orangevale, California, grew up just outside the gates of Folsom Prison. He heard the sirens at night and sang along to Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Arriving in Nashville in 2012, he put his unique skills to use authoring songs for other artists. When it came time to put together his own debut album, he teamed with equally daring producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Little Big Town, Brothers Osborne). Having co-written every track, the result is a mix of organic roots and high-voltage country, full of romance and delivered with a distinctive saw-toothed vocal. As he gets ready to join Maren Morris’ Hero Tour this year, Dawson is already establishing a reputation in Nashville as an exciting modern singer-songwriter.

"I learned how to write songs just by listening to country music and how to set up words. The weight of the words we have in this genre is unlike anything. We have the ability to let people in on certain things. Just the culture of songwriting in country music is what I grew up analyzing without even realizing it. [My music] might have more of a soul sonic identity with a little bit of rock, but with more of the honesty and vulnerability of a country lyric. I couldn't do what I do with any other genre because I'm such a stickler for words."

Remembering - Ashley Campbell

We complete our review of the stars of the recent Nashville To London festival with our next LCM featured artist the very talented singer-songwriter Ashley Campbell. Ashley is the daughter of Country music legend Glen Campbell. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is a very personal, powerful and poignant tribute entitled 'Remembering' about her fathers ongoing battle with Alzheimer's. This wonderful live version is taken from a recent Country Road TV session (Country's Family Reunion Kickin Back" series).

Songwriter. Singer. Banjo player. Ashley Campbell juggles all three roles, armed with the ability not only to dream up a modern country song, but to deliver it, too. 

Already known for her work alongside her father, country legend Glen Campbell, who, during his final years as a touring musician, leaned heavily on his youngest daughter as a banjo player, keyboardist and harmony vocalist. Ashley is now stepping out on her own. Her music is a mix of her wide-ranging influences, combining the old-school country sound popularized by her fa-ther during the '60s and '70s with contemporary Americana, rootsy folk and country-pop. Glen Campbell's longtime fans may hear something familiar in Ashley's melodies as she embraces these similarities while distinguishing herself as a talented frontwoman. 

Growing up, Ashley's parents encouraged her to sing and play the piano. She did both, adding the acoustic guitar to the mix once she hit high school. A theater kid with comedic chops, she also landed roles in local musicals and improv groups, eventually heading to college as a theater major during her late teens. When a director cast Ashley in a role that required her to learn the banjo, though, she fell in love with the instrument. Inspired, and with the help of her godfather, legendary banjo player Carl Jackson, she began mastering her banjo technique, then started writing her own songs. No wonder Glen asked her to join him on his farewell tour not long after she graduated college, a tour that would eventually take his band, Ashley included, on a three-year ride around the world. The banjo sounded timeless, reminding her of the music she'd heard as a child. 

Ashley kept writing new material during her days on the road. By the time her father retired from touring in 2012, she was ready to make her introduction not only as a sideman, but as a solo artist in her own right. Dot Records, an imprint of the Big Machine Label Group, was ready, too, signing Ashley to a roster that also includes Maddie & Tae, Steven Tyler and Drake White. She is currently working on her debut record. All of the tracks, including "Remembering," a poignant tribute to her Dad that doubled as the first single of her career, were either written or co-written by Ashley, who also played multiple instruments throughout the recording process. The goal wasn't to create a perfect-sounding album featuring the best session musicians from Nashville. The goal was to be authentic and real, shining a light on a do-it-yourself artist who's carved out her own sound. 

Ashley Campbell is a multi-talented entertainer. A singer and songwriter who plays her own instruments. A newcomer with years of heavy touring under her belt. There's no denying her iconic country pedigree, but Ashley is attracting the spotlight these days with her style, talent and a unique sound all her own.

Hello, World!

Trouble - Sam Outlaw

We continue our look at some of the stars of this year's Nashville Meets London Festival with our next LCM featured artist, LA Country Rock singer-songwriter Sam Outlaw and his band. Sam released his excellent second album 'Tenderheart' back in April and our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is one of the singles, the toe-tapping 'Trouble'. The song is one of the album's standouts and  makes being bad sound pretty damn good with a determined ‘Side A' swagger. It kicks off a song cycle that chronicles a heart's bend, break and mend.

Sam and the band are currently on a UK & European tour, please check them out if you can. (See Sam's website for details and ticket links.......link below)

"There's a tender heart beating for you..."

Cynicism comes easy, but having a soft heart takes real guts. Sam Outlaw's new album 'Tenderheart' dares to tread gently and look inward, with unapologetic sentiment and  nods to country music's greatest neon rainbow chasers.

Since the release of his 2015 debut 'Angeleno', Sam Outlaw remains one of LA's only modern country singers to earn international acclaim. And with his follow-up 'Tenderheart' he shows an impressive refinement of his artistic identity. Sonically, the album further elaborates Outlaw's "SoCal Country" sound: a sun-bleached, Baja-influenced twang that deftly points to country's neo-traditionalists and LA's legendary singer-songwriters. Thematically 'Tenderheart' is a thesis on self-discovery and the power of love - a course set with the opening chords of "Everyone's Looking For Home." The opening track is a cinematic, mariachi-laced meditation on Outlaw's own conflicted quest for peace among the chaos of his chosen path.

Over the course of these thirteen songs it becomes increasingly apparent why his clever intertwining of country tropes and crisp modernism has so impressed country music fans, critics and songwriters alike. (Alt-country pioneer Ryan Adams just recently praised Outlaw, calling his work "beyond great songwriting".)

Not one to mess with a winning combination, Sam called on many of the same musicians that made 'Angeleno' such a success: harmony singer Molly Jenson, pedal steel pro Jeremy Long and guitarist Danny Garcia, along with Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) and Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket). Produced by Martin Pradler and Outlaw and recorded in the San Fernando Valley, 'Tenderheart' also features Erwin Vasquez and Mariachi Teocuitatlan, a local mariachi group who appeared in the video for 'Angeleno's' title track.

Now two years into his new life, Outlaw has learned that great dreams can only be achieved at great cost. And at its core, 'Tenderheart; is the outcome of another lesson learned: if your heart stays true, the sacrifice is worth it.

Old School Groove - Jo Smith

Our next LCM featured artist Country Soul & Pop singer-songwriter Jo Smith is in London today. She is playing a set later this evening (6:45PM) in Canary Wharf for the excellent two-day festival 'Nashville Meets London'. It's a free event if you fancy going along. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is the very catchy 'Old School Grove' taken from her 2016 EP 'Introducing Jo Smith'. It's a laid-back toe-tapper with plenty of soul and Wall of Sound-style harmonies, that pay homage to the days of the Ronettes and the Shangri-Las.

Jo is originally from Arlington in Georgia, but is now based in Nashville. Her music is soulful country soul and pop with retro production, layered harmonies and a touch of playfulness. Formerly a major label country artist as Joanna Smith, she released charting singles "Gettin' Married" and "Georgia Mud". Jo Smith has returned with a new EP and some of country's biggest names in her corner. Shane McAnally co-produced her EP  with Jesse Frasure, and the four-song set shows Jo following the soul-music footsteps of artists like Maren Morris. While her EP has been out since 2016, feel-good lead single "Old School Groove" was recently released to radio, just in time for the windows-down summer listening season.

Jo comes by her brand of country honestly, coming of age to the music that would eventually inform her solo output. "I grew up in South Georgia listening to my dad’s country and Motown records, and it was so important to me to blend those influences on my new EP," she says. "My single 'Old School Groove' sets the tone perfectly of who I am as an artist, and I'm so proud the world is getting to hear it."

He's Fine - The Secret Sisters

We head to Muscle Shoals, Alabama for our next LCM featured sister duo Lydia and Laura Rogers better known as The Secret Sisters. The duo's music has been compared to artists like The Everly Brothers and the Milk Carton Kids. Lydia and Laura have recently released their latest crowd-funded third album 'You Don't Own My Anymore' on June 9th. It was produced by the very talented Brandi Carlile and the Hanseroth twins  Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is a great taster of the new album entitled 'He's Fine'. 

With a love for music coming from both sides of their family (their grandfather and his brothers forged a group called 'The Happy Valley Boys'), they grew up with a zeal for country music and sang songs with their family by country music artists such as Don Williams. The girls first learned to harmonize through singing a cappella at their hometown church.  Laura and Lydia never considered a singing career as a duo. Laura went to Middle Tennessee State University to pursue a career in business.

Laura traveled to Nashville, Tennessee for an impromptu audition at Hotel Indigo where music business record executive Andrew Brightman and producer Dave Cobb were present, looking to create a new singing group. Lydia could not attend the audition, so Laura traveled by herself, where she auditioned with "Same Old You" by Miranda Lambert. Representatives from the audition soon asked her to come back to Nashville, to which she asked if she could bring her sister Lydia along. Lydia showed up later and they were asked to sing together, resulting in the formation of The Secret Sisters. The girls were soon flown to Los Angeles for their first time in the studio to record a couple of demos. For Laura, it was her first time in an airplane. The demos were produced and record companies began responding accordingly. Within weeks, they were assigned to Universal Republic Records and the song selection process for their debut album began. Their self-titled debut album consists of cover songs such as "Why Don't Ya Love Me?", "Why Baby Why", the Frank Sinatra song "Somethin' Stupid", and Nancy Baron's, "I've Got a Feeling". The album also includes two originals written by Laura Rogers: "Tennessee Me" and "Waste the Day". It was recorded in two weeks at Blackbird Studios and produced by Dave Cobb, who had worked with artists such as Waylon Jennings and Jamey Johnson. T Bone Burnett was the executive producer

The duo recorded their second album in December 2012 and January 2013 at the Village Recording Studios, Los Angeles, with T Bone Burnett as producer.

Their second album, 'Put Your Needle Down', was released on April 15, 2014. It debuted at No. 110 on the Billboard 200, and at No. 18 on the Top Country Albums chart with 3,700 copies sold in its debut week..

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Giving Back The Best Of Me - Jaime Wyatt

We head to LA to meet our next LCM featured artist, Country singer-songwriter Jaime Wyatt. Jaime is a striking figure with an old soul and a voice like a force of nature. Regardless of genre, she is a dynamic performer, who sails naturally between vintage ‘60s and ‘70s country/rock ’n’ soul anthems and heartfelt country ballads of love & corruption. Country radio station 95.3 The Bear recently named her, alongside Sturgill Simpson and Margo Price, as “one of the country artists you may not have heard of, but need to hear. Jaime released her latest album 'Felony Blues' at the end of last month and our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is one of lead singles, the heartfelt 'Giving Back The Best of Me'.

Jaime Wyatt’s newest release 'Felony Blues', whose title is a nod to records like David Allan Coe’s Penitentiary Blue, is largely an autobiographical collection of convict love stories, prison songs, and honky-tonk laments. After completing the record and looking for a label, Jaime met Forty Below Records head, producer Eric Corne (John Mayall, Walter Trout). Corne fell in love with the songs and agreed to remix the record and release via Forty Below Records. Most songs on 'Felony Blues' are inspired by reckless life choices.

The musicians on the record include top notch Americana and country pickers John Schreffler Jr and Ted Russell Kamp from Shooter Jennings band; Gabe Witcher of the Punch Brothers on fiddle; fellow Angelino country songwriter Sam Outlaw (who features on the duet “Your Loving Saves Me”); and long time friend and drummer Freddy Bokkenheuser, now the touring drummer for Ryan Adams.

Jaime grew up on a tiny rural island in the northwest with horses and animals. “I was heavily influenced by my southern hillbilly grandparents Papa Brown and Nana Lo” says Wyatt. “My first job was a at horse breeding farm, where I listened to 90s country music on the radio. Both of my parents were also singers and songwriters in the 80s” 

Jaime spent much of last year on the road, playing clubs and festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest, Southwest and South, such as Wildwood Revival, Bandit Town, Chinook Fest and Long Beach Folk Revival Festival. She can frequently be found at the iconic Grand Ole Echo in her hometown of Los Angeles or playing spontaneous gigs at her favorite vintage clothing stores. An extensive tour in support of Felony Blues is in the works.

Little Lies - I'm With Her

We have something a little special today from our next LCM featured artists 'I'm With Her'. This 'super group' trio of Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins and Aoife O'Donovan have just released their first original song yesterday. Written in  the hills of Echo Park in California on May 5th, it was recorded at an historic studio on Sunset Blvd. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is the beautiful 'Little Lies'. We hope you enjoy it.

All three musicians had crossed paths many times in their careers, yet it was an impromptu performance at the 2014 Telluride Bluegrass Festival that sparked the formation of 'I'm With Her'. The trio spent the Spring and Summer of 2015 touring the world garnering acclaim for their unique blend of instrumental interplay combined with their indelible harmonies “… that could be sweetly ethereal, or as tightly in tandem as country sibling teams like the Everly Brothers, or as hearty as mountain gospel.” The New York Times

If We Were Vampires - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

We have been a big fan of our next LCM featured artist Grammy award winning Jason Isbell for quite a while now. He is one of leading lights of modern Americana and Alt Country Rock. Recorded at the legendary RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb at the helm, Jason's new album 'The Nashville Sound' is a masterpiece. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay a stand out track on the album, an inspiring and wistful ode to the beauty and inevitability of love and death entitled 'If We Were Vampires'.

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, is primarily made up of musicians from the Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

• Sadler Vaden, guitar, backup vocals (also of Drivin' N Cryin')
• Jimbo Hart, bass, backup vocals
• Derry DeBorja, keyboard, accordion, backup vocals - (formerly of Son Volt)
• Chad Gamble, drums, backup vocals - (brother of Al Gamble)
• Amanda Shires, fiddle, backup vocals

The band's name comes from the 400 Unit, a colloquial name for the psychiatric ward of Florence, Alabama's Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital, which is now named the Behavioral Health Center, or 1st North, and is located on the hospital's first floor. It was originally called the 400 unit because it was in a separate building from the main building's 3-story hospital. After renovation in the 1980s, the name was changed.

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit's eponymous album was released on February 17, 2009, on Lightning Rod Records. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit was Isbell's second solo release and his first release with The 400 Unit. Matt Pence of Centro-Matic co-produced and engineered the record, as well as playing drums on the record.

Isbell and the 400 Unit released their second album, 'Here We Rest', on April 12, 2011, on Lightning Rod Records. The album was produced and recorded by the band. The song "Alabama Pines" was named Song of the Year at the 2012 Americana Music Awards.

On March 13, 2017, Isbell announced a new album with the 400 Unit, The Nashville Sound. The album was released on June 16, 2017.

Jason Isbell has stated on the importance of his northern Alabama roots: "I definitely don’t feel like I would be the musician that I am, or the type of songwriter, had I not come from that particular place," he says now. "The soul music that came out of there, and a lot of the soul-influenced rock and roll and country music that came out of the studios in north Alabama in the '60s and '70s had a big influence on me." Jason said that working at FAME Studios was everything to him, that it was a gateway towards the music that he wanted to play. In addition to citing Neil Young as a big influence, Jason is a fan of singer-songwriter Ben Howard and guitarist Blake Mills.

Cut Your Groove - Charlie Worsham

We head for Nashville for our next LCM featured artist Country singer-songwriter Charlie Worsham. Charlie has recently released his second album 'Beginning Of Things' and is currently on a US tour. We hope Charlie will be visiting Europe later in the year. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is the very catchy lead single 'Cut Your Groove'.

Charlie was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and grew up in Grenada, Mississippi. The Mississippi Senate recognized Worsham in 1999 for his outstanding musical accomplishments, as well as being "a model student who makes straight A's". Charlie attended Grenada High School, and then Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Charlie joined the band KingBilly, singing harmonies and playing mandolin until 2010. He is prominently featured on the band's only extended play recording "Waiting On You". Though the band received some local fame in Nashville and a featured spot on Great American Country’s GAC Minute, they never broke through to mainstream radio, and disbanded in 2012 with all members pursuing solo careers.

Charlie toured with Taylor Swift in 2011 and has opened for performers such as Miranda Lambert and Wade Bowen. In 2016 it was announced he would be opening some shows during the final world tour of Kenny Rogers.

He released his debut single, "Could It Be", for Warner Bros. Records in 2013. The song appears on his debut album 'Rubberband', released on August 20, 2013. The album features Vince Gill and Marty Stuart on one of the tracks, "Tools of the Trade". The album's second single, "Want Me Too", was released in late 2013.

Charlie's second album, 'Beginning of Things', was released on April 21, 2017. 

My Father's Son - Carousel

It's always thrilling to be introduced to great new indie bands by friends and our next LCM featured group 'Carousel' is the latest one. Based in Southend-On-Sea this very good four piece Americana group of Thomas Eatherton, Chris Hobart, Sarah Holburn and Toby Shaer (Toby is also one of Sam Kelly's Lost Boys) are planning to release their self-titled debut studio EP on the 15th September. As an early taster our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is a version of 'My Father's Son' taken from brand new 'live session' EP released today. It's available on a limited edition CD directly from Bandcamp on the link below.

The EP is produced by friend of LCM, Peter Waterman at Longcroft Recordings, who you may remember also produced Hattie Briggs albums. 

Get Up - Caitlin Canty

Our next LCM featured artist was a huge hit at her first London gig on Monday. With pure vocals and a super songwriter, Nashville based Caitlin Canty has music that is well worth exploring. Originally from Vermont Caitlin Canty delivers her songs with a dusky alto and a 1930’s Recording King guitar. Her breakout record 'Reckless Skyline' features an all-star band on twelve songs that veer nimbly between country ballads and straight-up rockers, dark blues and sparsely arranged folk. Produced by Jeffrey Foucault, 'Reckless Skyline' garnered glowing praise from NPR, among others. The San Francisco Chronicle lauded Caitlin’s, “casually devastating voice and unshakable poise,” and her “easy way with folk, blues and country motifs.” Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is the very catchy 'Get Up' one of the lead singles from the new album

Both on the road and on her records, Caitlin creates a sound that harnesses the grit and spark at the very heart of American music, tempered with a voice both haunting and distinct.