People Get Old - Lori McKenna

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘People Get Old’- Lori McKenna

If you haven’t already checked out Lori‘s new album ‘The Tree’ released back in July, it should be on your wishlist. A beautiful written album from one of the best US songwriters. The tender, heartfelt and reflective ‘People Get Old’ is a great introduction. We love Lori’s vocals and cinematic songwriting and it reminds me a lot of Gretchen Peters.

Home and the people who make it have captivated Lori McKenna for years. Over the last three decades, as she became a wife and mother of five, she has also emerged as one of the most respected, prolific singer-songwriters in popular music. Her 2016 release ‘The Bird and the Rifle’ netted three Grammy nominations, along with Americana Music Association nods, all firsts for McKenna as an artist. Then, she made history: In 2016, she became the first woman ever to win the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year two years in a row thanks to co-writing Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and penning Tim McGraw’s no. 1 “Humble and Kind” solo. Both songs also clinched back-to-back Grammy wins for Best Country Song. In 2017, she became the Academy of Country Music’s first female Songwriter of the Year. ‘The Tree’ is her much-anticipated eleventh studio album. Produced by Dave Cobb, The Tree takes one of McKenna’s signature themes family and builds a tapestry of experiences she has lived and overheard, been told and dreamed up, to create a stunning ode to life’s defining relationships.

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Present Without A Bow - Kacey Musgraves ft Leon Bridges

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Present Without A Bow’ - Kacey Musgraves ft Leon Bridges

From our favourite Hawaiian flavoured Country Christmas album ‘A Very Kacey Christmas’, comes the wonderful ‘Present Without A Bow’ a duet also featuring the very talented Leon Bridges. Tender, heartfelt and sweet in equal measure. Happy Christmas everyone :)

Lonesome Friends Of Science - John Prine

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Lonesome Friends Of Science’ - John Prine

John Prine has always been an excellent songwriter and we love the lyrics to this song from John’s latest album ‘The Tree Of Forgiveness’. They are very clever and guaranteed to make you smile. This live version was filmed at a ‘‘Live From Here’ concert back in January.

The lonesome friends of science say
"The world will end most any day"
Well, if it does, then that's okay
'Cause I don't live here anyway
I live down deep inside my head
Well, long ago I made my bed
I get my mail in Tennessee
My wife, my dog, my kids, and me

Poor ol' planet Pluto now
He never stood a chance no how
When he got uninvited to
The interplanetary dance
Once a mighty planet there
Now just an ordinary star
Hangin' out in Hollywood
In some ol' funky sushi bar

The lonesome friends of science say
"The world will end most any day"
Well, if it does, then that's okay
'Cause I don't live here anyway
I live down deep inside my head
Well, long ago I made my bed
I get my mail in Tennessee
My wife, my dog and my family

The Vulcan lives in Birmingham
Sometimes he just don't give a damn
His head is full of bumblebees
His pride hangs down below his knees
Venus left him long ago
For a guy named Mars from Idaho
The Vulcan sent a wedding gift
Three-legged stool and a wheelchair lift

The lonesome friends of science say
"This world will end most any day"
Well, if it does, then that's okay
'Cause I don't live here anyway
I live down deep inside my head
Well, long ago I made my bed
I get my mail in Tennessee
My wife, my dog and my family

Those bastards in their white lab coats
Who experiment with mountain goats
Should leave the universe alone
It's not their business, not their home
I go to sleep and it never rains
My dog predicts hurricanes
She can smell a storm a mile away
That's all the news we have today

The lonesome friends of science say
"The world will end most any day"
Well, if it does, then that's okay
'Cause I don't live here anyway
I live down deep inside my head
Well, long ago I made my bed
I get my mail in Tennessee
My wife, my dog and my family

Medicine Man - Elles Bailey

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Medicine Man’ - Elles Bailey

The excellent rocky and bluesy ‘Medicine Man’ is the first single from Elles’ highly anticipated forthcoming second album ‘Road I Call Home’ due for release in March. Highly recommended

Elles’ new material follows on from her successful and critically-acclaimed debut album, ‘Wildfire’. Maverick Magazine awarded ‘Wildfire’ top marks (5/5) and predicted that “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 (Taylor) Swift did”. With her new material, Elles proves that she can successfully continue that climb.

Live venues and performance are important to Elles Bailey, crowned “The Blues Princess” by Blues in Britain. She’s brought her genre-crossing music to fans in her own headline tours before, and also played festivals and toured with other artists, like Jo Harman, Wille & The Bandits, and Eric Gales. She’s also, this year, been promoting the work of small, independent music venues, like Little Rabbit Barn, for whom Elles recorded a special set of downloadable tracks to support them.

Bristol-based Elles Bailey has a talent for crafting and seamlessly weaving rootsy blues, country, and soulful rock, with a contemporary edge. Her music draws on these roots and Ingredients, blending and transcending them, with each song given a unique flavour and texture by Elles’ unique, super-smoky, utterly unforgettable voice. Bluesdoodles dubbed her “The Voice of the Blues”, whilst Music News observed that “A childhood illness gave her a remarkable tool and she uses it to its very best effect. One of the best things I've heard."

Photo credit: Alex Berger Photography

https://www.ellesbailey.com

To June This Morning - Ruston Kelly And Kacey Musgraves

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘To June This Morning’ - Ruston Kelly and Kacey Musgraves

The latest official music video from ‘Johnny Cash: Forever Words’ (released in April on Legacy Recordings) finds newlyweds Ruston Kelly & Kacey Musgraves turning a love letter that Johnny Cash wrote to June Carter Cash into an all-new ballad.

It was filmed at the remains of Johnny and June’s home at Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Ruston originally started composing “To June This Morning” as a teenager, based on a love letter that Johnny had written to June as she descended the kitchen stairs one morning in 1970, eight months pregnant with their son John Carter Cash. Years later, when Ruston was asked by John Carter to contribute to this album, he asked his then-fiancée Kacey Musgraves to record the final version with him.

The video begins with Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson’s contribution to ‘Johnny Cash: Forever Words,’ called “Forever/I Still Miss Someone.” A thematic prologue to both the album and the video, “Forever/I Still Miss Someone” features two of Johnny’s old friends and collaborators: Willie plays the melody to one of Johnny’s songs ("I Still Miss Someone") while Kris recites one of the final poems Johnny ever wrote, called "Forever." Says John Carter Cash, “To me, the essences of the tracks "Forever/I Still Miss Someone" and "To June This Morning" are both of hope. My father wrote the poem "Forever" weeks before his passing. "To June This Morning" has the same hope; the words were written in February of 1970, one month before my birth. Together they represent Dad’s enduring hopes, the beauty of faith and the belief in all the good to come...even in the face of his own mortality."

A collaborative album of Johnny Cash’s unknown poetry, lyrics, and letters now set to music by an astounding array of contemporary artists, ‘Johnny Cash: Forever Words’ was released on Friday on Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. The release has been met with a number of high profile features including CBS This Morning, the NY Times, Rolling Stone, NPR Weekend Edition, Associated Press and much more.

Selfish - Stephanie Quayle

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Selfish’ - Stephanie Quayle

Nashville based Stephanie Quayle offers the genre a fresh sound, relatable storylines and an invigorating presence with her new album, 'Love The Way You See Me' featuring the excellent single, "Selfish":

Her debut single "Drinking With Dolly," and follow up "Winnebago" hit Top 50 on the Billboard Indicator radio chart with over 1 Million streams as well. Stephanie made her national television debut performing "Drinking With Dolly" on "Fox & Friends" to celebrate the music video hitting #1 on the CMT Music 12-Pack Countdown!

Growing up on a working bison farm in Montana, Stephanie spent much time listening to country AM radio in the barn. With her western upbringing, she is just as comfortable riding horseback as she is up on stage performing.

Also check out her brand new single ‘Ugly’.

Photo credit: Michael Angelo Photography

https://www.stephaniequayle.com

Straw In The Wind - The Steel Woods

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Straw In The Wind’ - The Steel Woods

We love this title track taken from their 2017 debut album. Nashville based Country and Southern rock band The Steel Woods reminds us of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Balancing heavy blues-rock with Southern poetry and a dash of plain spoken outlaw country.

The Steel Woods were co-founded by Wes Bayliss and Jason "Rowdy" Cope. The two Southern musicians met while performing the same bill in Nashville, and after a variety of fishing trips in Tennessee together, they began writing music. Their debut album ‘Straw in the Wind’ was released on May 19, 2017, with a guest vocal appearance by Lindi Ortega. It also has drummer Jay Tooke and bassist Johnny Stanton. Influences on the album range from Led Zeppelin and Metallica to Darrell Scott and Jason Isbell. Brent Cobb also contributed as a songwriter.

The band are releasing their forthcoming sophomore album ‘Old News’ in January, which we think is well worth exploring further.

https://thesteelwoods.com

Natchez - Katy Hurt

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Natchez’ - Katy Hurt

Just released the tender and reflective ‘Natchez’ is the brand new single by London based Country singer-songwriter Katy Hurt. We like this one a lot here at LCM HQ. It also features the very talented Gab Zsapka from Katy’s band The Healers on acoustic guitar. The video was directed by Ryan Say, with Dillon Osborne the Assistant Director & Cameraman.

‘Natchez’ is taken from Katy’s brand new upcoming EP ‘Unfinished Business’ out tomorrow.

Wildfire - Emily Mae Winters

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Wildfire’ - Emily Mae Winters

Our next featured artist Emily Mae Winters is one of the fast rising stars of UK Folk and Americana. Her highly anticipated forthcoming second album ‘High Romance’ is set for release next year and Emily is currently running a pre-sale through Pledge Music. We love this live version of one of the first tracks ‘Wildfire’, which was recently recorded at The Urchin Studios in London. Emily is joined on the song by Ben Walker (Electric Guitar), John Parker (Double Bass) and CJ Jones (Drums).

Photo credit: Elly Lucas

https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/high-romance

Sturgill Simpson - Brace For Impact (Live A Little)

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Brace For Impact (Live A Little)’ - Sturgill Simpson

There is a note on the back of Sturgill Simpson’s album ‘A Sailor’s Guide To Earth’ which states very clearly ‘To be played at maximum volume’….and who are we to argue. The excellent ‘Brace For Impact’, where Country Rock meets Pink Floyd. This one will blow the cobwebs away.

Haunted Heart - Tyminski

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Haunted Heart’ - Tyminski

Our featured track today is a dark and mysterious track by the great Dan Tyminski, taken from his excellent latest album ‘Southern Gothic’. A founding member of Union Station a solo performer and in demand as a guest vocalist (including the singing voice of George Clooney is the film ‘Oh Brother’), Dan is one of our favourite singer-songwriters.

Please check out his album ‘Southern Gothic’ if you haven’t already. It’s wonderful from start to finish.

Don't Waste Your Heart on Me - Worry Dolls

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Don’t Waste Your Heart On Me’ - Worry Dolls

Taken from their wonderful latest album ‘Go Get Gone’ our featured track today is the beautiful and reflective ‘Don’t Waste Your Heart On Me’ by the lovely London based duo the Worry Dolls. The song is written by Zoe, Rosie and Doak Turner and produced by Neilson Hubbard in Nashville .

With new music promised in the new year the future is looking very bright for these two very talented ladies. They are currently on a UK tour catch them if you can.

“Don’t Waste Your Heart On Me was one of the few songs we wrote to the banjo instead of guitar, giving it a different feel to the others on the record. It’s got a darkness to it because it’s about leaving someone you love, knowing you can’t ever be what they need. Knowing that continuing any longer would only result in more pain down the line.

“We got to perform the song at the U.K. Americana Awards back in February at Hackney Empire with Ethan Johns and his incredible band. Ethan specifically chose this song as his favourite on our record, and it gave it a new lease of life for us.

“The video purely focuses on the reaction of the partner in this song. We wanted long shots that didn’t cut, to really connect with the emotions he’s going through. It stars Sid Phoenix, who’s an award winning actor from the USA. We fell in love with a video he sent us which was a performance of Julia Stiles’ emotional monologue from 10 Things I Hate About You. Not only was he capable of making us feel raw, authentic emotion but we loved that it was a gender flipped performance. That echoed what we wanted to achieve with this video. You rarely see men cry on screen and we really wanted to make space for that. We want guys to watch this and know that it’s ok to cry, it isn’t a sign of weakness. Sometimes life is too much. Sometimes you get dumped.”

Real Life - The Deep Hollow

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Real Life’ - The Deep Hollow

Described as ‘stripped down harmony-laden classic Folk and Americana’ our next LCM featured artists are the great Illinois based acoustic trio of Micah Walk, Elizabeth Eckert and Dave Littrell better known collectively as The Deep Hollow. ‘Real Life’ is new single taken from their recently released album ‘Weary Traveler’.

Beginning with a win in the American Songwriter magazine songwriting contest in 2014 to a well-produced Kickstarter-launched album in 2015 that reached number three on the Folk DJ charts in early 2016, the terrific threesome continues to move forward. September saw the release of their second album ‘Weary Traveler’.

http://thedeephollow.com

Half Hearted - Post Monroe

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Half Hearted’ - Post Monroe

Nashville based ‘Post Monroe’ are a country duo that blends two authentic female voices and personalities. Comprised of Whitney Duncan and Ashlee Hewitt, the duo is influenced by a vast array of sounds from classic country and rock ‘n roll to bluegrass. Our LCM featured track today is ‘Half Hearted’ taken from their 2016 self titled debut EP.

Post Monroe was named Rolling Stone Country’s “10 Artists You Need To Know” and made their Grand Ole Opry debut on June 18th. They are also part of CMT’s ‘Next Women of Country’ for 2017.

Post Monroe originally started as a trio but Shelby McLeod (seen above) left the band in October last year to pursue a solo career.

https://postmonroe.com

Secondhand Smoke - Sean McConnell

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Secondhand Smoke’ - Sean McConnell

With a high anticipated forthcoming 13th album set for release in early February our next LCM featured artist is the very talented Tennessee based singer-songwriter Sean McConnell. One of the highlight of the new album and the first single is the beautiful title track ‘Secondhand Smoke’. It was also recently included in a weekly top list of Rolling Stone’s Best new Country/Americana Songs.

'Secondhand Smoke' is a 13-song cohesive collection of modern folk music asking provocative questions about how we become who we are, what and whom we love, and the growth, pain, and freedom that come with accepting that some answers might elude us forever. “The older I get, the more I find that is what it’s all about––that there is no way to answer it all,” Sean comments. “Being comfortable with mystery is a positive thing in all aspects of our lives. I definitely explore that in these songs.”

Produced, recorded and written by Sean McConnell in his Nashville home studio, 'Secondhand Smoke' is a striking intimate portrait of life’s intricacies. “These are stories that people are familiar with,” adds Sean, “and they steer the ship in a certain direction, then leave you off at this ocean of possibilities that we didn’t plan on the story taking us to.”

A long renowned wordsmith, hundreds of thousands have turned to Sean McConnell for that kind of musical exploration for almost 20 years. Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Meat Loaf, David Nail, Brothers Osborne, Buddy Miller, Plain White T’s and many more have all recorded his songs––a dizzying list that spans not just styles, but generations. Recently, he earned his first #1 single on country charts with breakout artist Brett Young’s delivery of “Mercy,” which the two co-wrote. As a performer, Sean has the keen ability of drawing in his audience. His sound––a stunning warm tenor painting vivid stories over acoustic guitar often cushioned by keys or other strings––has prompted a diverse range of music scenes from the storied Boston folk community to Texas’s defiantly self-sovereign camp to warmly claim Sean as one of their own.

Photo Credit: AQPhotos

https://www.seanmcconnell.com

Be Good To Her - Bexar

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Be Good To Her’ - Bexar

We are in East Nashville today to meet our next featured duo Chris Ryan and Logan Turner, better known as Bexar (Bear). The excellent ‘Be Good To Her’ is taken from their self titled debut EP released in September. Chris is originally from Bexar County in Texas and Logan really likes bears…..so that's how their decided on their name.

In Common - Lucy Grubb

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘In Common’ - Lucy Grubb

The very impressive Lucy is a young Country singer-songwriter from Norwich, who will be launching her new EP ‘Dear Walter’ with a headline band show at The Norwich Art Centre on October 31st. We really like this live stripped version of ‘In Common’ filmed by James Hubbard which is taken from the new EP. The song is Lucy’s tribute to the great Johnny Cash.

With heartfelt lyrics and Country undertones, Lucy focuses on telling you the unadulterated truth about a girl who was born and raised in a town not built for Country music. Inspired by the likes of Johnny Cash, Lucy's understated guitar rhythms and trilled vocal melodies hark back to tried and tested traditional Country song writing, expressing grief, sorrow and heartbreak. Although lacking life experience, Lucy takes her own emotional turmoil and communicates it through gripping lyrical content and storytelling. "One cannot help but wonder where some of those lyrics are coming from, she's obviously another 'old soul' with a huge talent for expressive song writing."

After a great start to 2017 supporting her fellow peers Morganway & Sam Coe & The Long Shadows, Lucy went on to play a host of UK Festivals including Glastonbury, Red Rooster and Latitude. Accompanied by a sold out show in Norwich, Lucy released her debut EP '18 Miles' in November 2017, winning 'Best UK EP of the Year' and being named 'one to watch' by Belles and Gals. "Listening to Lucy, you really get the feeling that this is an artist who is doing it her way - its Country, with a touch of Folk, without ever feeling the need to conform 100% to either." (Nick Cantwell)

In April 2018 Lucy won 'The Bury Songwriter's Competition 2018' for her track '18 Miles' and released a Music Video. Lucy spent the summer playing shows across the UK, including performing at Countryfile Live for BBC Introducing, a stage line up curated by Bob Harris and featured headline British Country duo The Shires.

Photo Credit: HG Smith Photography

Girl In Pieces - Drake White

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Girl In Pieces’ - Drake White

Currently in the UK for Country Music Week, Alabama born Drake White is certainly making waves on the US Country scene. His latest single ‘Girl In Pieces’ is an infectious slice of Country Rock from this very talented singer-songwriter. One of the stand-out artists from C2C in 2017, Nashville based Drake is heading back with his band to the O2 Greenwich in March 2019 in a super Sunday line-up, which includes Chris Stapleton and Ashley McBryde.

‘Girl in Pieces’ is the title track of Drake’s latest EP ‘Pieces’ released in May.

https://drakewhite.com

High On Love - Frankie Davies

LCM #SongOfTheDay: High On Love - Frankie Davies

With her debut album ‘Wherever I Go’ released on the 26th October, it’s a very exciting time for Jersey born singer-songwriter Frankie Davies. This highly anticipated album encapsulates Frankie’s journey and experiences over the last four years.

With performances at C2C, CMA Fest and BBC Introducing in Nashville and tours with Maddie & Tae, Chris Young, Charlie Worsham, Mo Pitney, The Shires and Ward Thomas, the future is looking very bright for Frankie and her music.

Frankie will be on a UK tour in November with her band, catch her if you can.

https://www.frankiedavies.co.uk

Photo credit: Max Burnett (Studio M)

Party Of One - Brandi Carlile (ft Sam Smith)

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Party Of One’ - Brandi Carlile (ft. Sam Smith)

The excellent “Party Of One” was recorded live at Capitol studios and produced by Dave Cobb. This great duet by Brandi and Sam sees them combining their considerable talents to support a cause very close to their hearts, ‘Children In Conflict’. A portion of the profits of the new single will go to the charity.

Photo Credit: Matt Hayslett (Warner Music South Africa)