Firesong - Carousel

LCM #SongOfTheDay: Firesong - Carousel

Our featured track today is the latest single from one of the finest young indie Americana Rock bands in UK. Based in Southend in Essex Carousel produce spellbinding live performances full of high quality songwriting, musicianship and super tight harmonies. Comparisons are now being made to another excellent fast rising group The Wandering Hearts. We love this latest classy and reflective track, which we think has the feel of Glen Hansard’s ‘Falling Slowly’.

It’s a very special day for the band as tonight it is the homecoming gig of their headline UK tour at Chinnery’s. Special guests include the LCM favourite the wonderful Lisa Wright. Don’t miss it :)

Photo credit: Jon Stone

https://www.seetickets.com/event/carousel/chinnerys/1220854

Drown - Megan Dixon Hood

LCM #SongOfTheDay: Drown - Megan Dixon Hood

We love this powerful new single and video from Cheshire based singer-songwriter Megan Dixon Hood. The song tells the mysterious story of a young maiden who disappears the night before her wedding day and is never seen again. The great new video was directed by Kai Ohio (Samsara Collective). Megan is joined on the song by Liam Morgan, Jake Greville and Jordan Cope. We loved Megan’s fantastic set when she played for us at the Green Note in May.

Also a shout out to Megan’s father Mel who painted the beautiful cover artwork for this single and to sister Ella for the wonderful main photo.

Megan Dixon Hood combines haunting melodies with ethereal lead vocals through her piano folk-infused songs, delivering atmospheric melodies that are creative yet heartfelt. With songs stepping into the darker side of her music, she is experimenting further with her band to create an enchanting and climatic sound.

http://www.megandixonhood.com/

Gauntlet - Gilmore and Roberts

LCM #SongOfTheDay: The exciting new single 'Gauntlet' from the multi-award winning folk duo Kat Gilmore and Jamie Roberts. Kat and Jamie will releasing their excellent latest album 'A Problem Of Our Kind' on the 12th October. This new video was directed by Andy Little and filmed by Chris Little. They are also on a UK tour this autumn, with their London date at Cecil Sharp House on the 21st November.

Having already made a name for themselves on the UK acoustic circuit, Kat and Jamie are known as much for their exceptionally dynamic live show as they are for their prize-winning songs. With international tours and a formidable new album newly wedged under their belts, the duo are racing from strength to strength. 

http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/

Pre-order your copy at the link below

  Photo credit: Rob Bridge (Redwood Photography)

Agape - Bears Den

Our LCM featured artists today are London based Andrew Davie & Kev Jones better know collectively as the excellent Bear's Den. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a great song from their 'Islands' album entitled 'Agape'.

Bear's Den are a British folk rock band from London who formed in 2012. The band consists of Andrew Davie (lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar) and Kevin Jones (vocals, drums, bass, guitar) Bear's Den have released two studio albums: 'Islands' (2014) and their second studio album 'Red Earth & Pouring Rain' was released on 22 July 2016. Islands peaked at number forty-nine on the UK Albums Chart. The band has also issued two EPs: 'Agape' (2015) and 'Without/Within' (2013).

The band have been nominated for several music awards throughout their career, with "Above the Clouds of Pompeii" earning the band a nomination for the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2015. The band received two nominations at the UK Americana Awards in 2016, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Agape".

https://www.bearsdenmusic.co.uk/

Walk Away - Xavier Rudd

We head to Australia today to meet our next LCM featured artist singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd. Xavier has recently release his ninth album entitled 'Storm Boy' in May and our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the first track on the new album 'Walk Way' 

Xavier will be coming to the UK on tour with his London date on the 15th September at the O2 SBE.

Looking back over Xavier Rudd's stunning career, one could easily ask what is possibly left for him to achieve. Already one of Australian music's all-time greats, he has touched people's lives worldwide. He has earned accolades of every kind, Gold and Platinum certification, and legions of fans who love him with an inextinguishable passion. Yet, with each new release, Xavier Rudd continues to surpass expectation and produce his finest work to date.

Storm Boy, Xavier's ninth studio album, continues this upwards trajectory. Led by the radiating single Walk Away, Storm Boy is both classic Xavier and something a little new. Produced by Chris Bond (Ben Howard, Tom Speight) and mixed by Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, Bowie, U2) it is a record that reflects how sophisticated a songwriter Xavier is – both in his timeless, philosophical lyrics and his masterful sculpting of melody. He is undoubtedly a true virtuoso of his craft.

Beginning his career with 2002's definitive 'To Let', Xavier Rudd put his message out into the world and was answered immediately. Fans from all over the globe were drawn to the distinctly Australian-looking musician, activist and surfer. It was the start of a journey that would span well over 15 years (and counting); taking Xavier to almost every continent on the planet, where he has connected with people from all cultures and walks of life. There are no borders that apply to Xavier Rudd's music.

His earliest live format was a wonderful spectacle, placing Xavier inside a forest of yidakis (didgeridoos) from which he dexterously crafted layers of guitar, percussion, blues harp and vocals. He was distinct, unique and unforgettable. Since then he has played in a variety of solo and band formats, each with an unmistakable personality of its own. The further the ripples of his career reached, the bigger the wave got. Australia was the first to fall in love with Xavier. Then it was Europe. Then it was North America. The snowball kept rolling.

As his popularity grew worldwide, so too did Xavier's musical palette. Each new record, always accompanied by breathtaking singles, gave his fans everything they wanted and more. In return, ARIA nominations, chart placings and Gold and Platinum records honoured each release, spurring Xavier even further and producing a stellar discography: To Let(2002), Solace (2004), Food In The Belly (2005), White Moth (2007), Dark Shades Of Blue(2008), Koonyum Sun (2010), Spirit Bird (2012), and his first album with The United Nations,Nanna (2015).

This alone would be impressive enough, but in that time Xavier has also released eight live albums, recorded around the world in Canada, The Netherlands, Brussels, and different parts of Australia. Each live album is an essential snapshot of a moment in Xavier's career, documenting his path and commemorating the bond he shares with his fans.

But in spite of all his success, Xavier Rudd has never stopped working. He has continued to tour the world and make incredible records – showing absolutely no desire to rest on his considerable achievements. He truly loves his fans and feels constantly blessed to be able to perform in countries all across our beautiful planet. He has inspired thousands of people and been the catalyst for others to find their own voice. He is helping his own country to reconcile its past, and he is beloved as both an icon and a human being.

https://www.xavierrudd.com

False Light - The Willows

With an excellent third album 'Through The Wild' set for release in November, our next LCM featured artists are the wonderful multi-awarding The Willows. They will be on a UK tour very shortly with their London date at The Half Moon in Putney on the 5th September.  The album was produced by by Mark Tucker and Ben Savage. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the fantastic new single from the new album 'False Light'. The video was produced and filmed by the very talented Rob Bridge at Redwood Photography. You might remember Rob also did Kitty's video for 'Man, Friendship' that we shared earlier this week.

“False Light was written after many misty walks around Wicken Fen, near to Ely. We love the folklore around these old tales surrounding the area, where atmospheric ghost lights, know as false lights, would lure people off the path, within the marshy reeds.”

I always think that The Willows are a UK Folk/Americana supergroup with a huge wealth on talent on stage. They are well worth seeing live, if you haven't already

• Jade Rhiannon – Vocals, Shruti Box
• Cliff Ward – Banjo, Guitar, Fiddle, Vocals
• Ben Savage – Guitar, Dobro, Vocals
• Katriona Gilmore – Violin, Mandolin, Vocals
• Evan Carson – Bodhran, Percussion

The Willows are a folk band from Cambridge, UK. Their first album 'Beneath Our Humble Soil' was nominated for Best Debut in the Spiral Earth Awards 2014, and has been championed by the likes of Bob Harris and Mike Harding. The much anticipated follow-up 'Amidst Fiery Skies', co-produced with Sean Lakeman was released to critical aclaim, with The Telegraph hailing it "a triumph" in a 5-star review and a place in their folk albums of 2014. Fronted by the breathtaking vocals of Jade Rhiannon, supported by rich vocal harmonies and dynamic acoustic musicianship the band take influence from folk traditions on both sides of the Atlantic.

The band were formed in 2010 by husband and wife, Cliff and Jade, sister, Prue, and chance meeting via Gumtree, Ben. Following numerous gigs in folk clubs all over the the UK supporting the likes of LAU, Seth Lakeman, & Peatbog Faeries and an eponymous EP, the band released debut album 'Beneath Our Humble Soil' in 2013. Produced by Stu Hanna (Megson, Faustus, Show of Hands), the album caught the attention of BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris who invited the band in for a live session midway through their UK tour. Maverick Magazine gave the record 4½  stars, and it was subsequently nominated for Best Debut in the Spiral Earth Awards. 

https://www.thewillowsband.com

Man, Friendship - Kitty Macfarlane

Our next LCM featured artist is the wonderful young Somerset based folk singer-songwriter Kitty Macfarlane. Kitty will shortly be releasing her highly anticipated debut album 'Namer Of Clouds' via Navigator Records on the 21st September. We have been hearing very good reports and are really looking forward to hearing it in full and sharing a LCM review with you. Her lyrics combine honest snapshots of everyday humanity with the bigger questions that have connected minds and voices for centuries, driven by her own fingerpicked guitar.Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the lovely, timely and thoughtful 'Man, Friendship' taken from the new album. The song has been one of our personal favourites at Kitty's live shows.

'Man, Friendship' is a song of impermanence. “The Somerset Levels are prone to widespread flooding, and I wrote this song after the destructive deluge of early 2014. It’s about the ruthless power of nature, and the changes we see in our climate that are beginning to affect the creatures and landscapes that we love. Above all, it’s about what we as humans can cling to when all else is washed away.” Kitty comments

The excellent video is by our friend Rob Bridge at Redwood Photography.

Kitty is one of our LCM 'Ones To Watch' in 2018.

Kitty will be launching the new album with her band at The Water Rats in London on the 13th November. She is also on a UK tour (all dates on Kitty's website) and you can additionally catch her at a number of summer festivals. 

As well as the release of her debut EP 'Tide & Time' featuring Sam Kelly (co-producer), Jamie Francis, Lukas Drinkwater, Maya McCourt and Ciaran Algar, and gaining her first national airplay on the BBC Radio 2 folk show with Mark Radcliffe, and Tom Robinson's show on BBC 6Music - 2016 has seen Kitty complete an extensive national support tour with award-winning duo Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman. Other highlights range from support sets for Seth Lakeman, Alasdair Roberts, Rachel Sermanni, Blair Dunlop, and Feast of Fiddles, to appearing as a theme-tune on Radio 4, being a featured artist for a BBC Introducing documentary, and making the semi-final of the BBC Young Folk Award in 2015. Kitty has also recently been awarded a creative bursary from the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) for a songwriting project of her own devising.

http://www.kittymacfarlane.com/

Pre-order the new album here

Troubadour Boy - Daisy Chute

With some very exciting solo and future band projects currently in progress our next LCM featured artist is the multi-award winning London based independent singer-songwriter Daisy Chute. Edinburgh-born, half-American, hyphen-loving Daisy is a multi-instrumentalist with a particular penchant for the banjo. Formerly of Decca’s platinum-selling classical group 'All Angels', she is currently working on her début album of original songs with producer and songwriter Tim Baxter (Andy Burrows, Editors, Nick Mulvey, Jasmine Thompson). With a super pure vocal the very talented, popular and highly skilled Daisy is in great demand.

Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is Daisy's latest single and one of our favourites from her live set, the wonderful 'Troubadour Boy.  The great new video is released today with the new single released last Friday and available to purchase. Daisy is one of our LCM 'Ones To Watch' in 2018 together with her new band HEARD.

Daisy is a regular in the London music scene and an award-winning singer and songwriter having just been awarded first place in the Coffee Music Project singer-songwriter competition, Daisy has been taught and mentored by rock royalty Sir Ray Davies, featured as a vocalist on Radiohead's latest album 'A Moon Shaped Pool', and even got the thumbs up from Sir Paul McCartney after a performance at the Royal Albert Hall. One of Paul Sexton's 'top music tips' for 2018, Daisy's music has been compared to Simon and Garfunkel and Joni Mitchell (BBC Radio Kent) and her voice has been described as “Exquisitely delicious. Delicate, like a gossamer-winged creature made out of spun gold." Tony Moore (Soho Radio, The Bedford)

With special thanks to Daisy's musical partner-in-crime Tim Baxter and videographer-extraordinaire Bartek Podkowa.

Music and Lyrics by Daisy Chute and Tim Baxter
Produced and Mixed by Tim Baxter
Mastered by Mazen Murad (Metropolis Studios)

Vocals, Guitar, Drum: Daisy Chute
Double Bass: Will Collier
Cello: Tristan Horne
Rhodes and Hammond: Tim Baxter

Video: Seven Hills Films
Director: Bartek Podkowa
Crew: Emily Waldron, Leiah Yvonne Kwong

https://www.daisychute.com/

Wildfire - Mandolin Orange

We take a trip today to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to meet our next LCM featured artists Andrew Marlin & Emily Frantz better known as the excellent US duo Mandolin Orange. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a live version of one of our favourite songs from their 'Blindfaller' album, the beautiful, timely and thought-provoking 'Wildfire'. The video is taken from a Sawyer Session filmed in front of the Gyre structure in the North Carolina Museum of Art’s sculpture garden.

'Wildfire' stands as the perfect metaphor to represent the spread of ideas. An idea that acts as the spark; the conflict that ensues, that moves with the energy and the power to burn a whole forest. It starts with an idea long ago that led to the US revolution and to the birth of America. Andrew Marlin uses Joseph Warren, whose death made him a martyred symbol of the American Revolution, as an example of an unnecessary death resulting from the wildfire of conflict in the colonies. 

"It should have been different, it could have been easy. His rank could have saved him, but a country unborn needs bravery........And it spread like wildfire..... From the ashes grew sweet liberty, like the seeds of the pines when the forest burns....It should have been different, it could have been easy. But too much money rolled in to ever end slavery. The cry for war spread like wildfire.  The day that old Warren died, hate should have gone with it. But here we are, caught in the wildfire. Civil war came, civil war went. Brother fought brother, the south was spent. But its true demise was hatred, passed down through the years. I was born a southern son In a small southern town where the rebels run wild. They beat their chest and they swear: ‘We’re gonna rise again’ "But pride has a way of holding too firm to history.......And it burns like wildfire".

America now finds itself at another crossroad—the feelings of frustration and the desire to change have led to new conflicts spreading like 'wildfire'. Many headline the news today. Will the American people learn from the past and move forward.

http://www.mandolinorange.com/

Time Is Everything - Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno

They say they serendipity is a wonderful thing, especially when looking to discover great new music. A lovely recent example are our next LCM featured duo Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno. Vivian is a songwriter, singer, and guitarist from Lexington, Virginia and Riley is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Both are young interpreters of old mountain music. Vivian released her debut album in March and our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a lovely live version of the title track 'Time Is Everything'. The video was filmed at at Forest Hills Cemetary in Jamaica Plain, MA by Sean Trischka.

Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno are tapping into the deepest parts of American music, taking old songs that have seldom been heard and presenting them next to their own timeless and visceral originals. When they are not performing as duo, they’re often found sitting knee to knee, playing under the canopy of trees at fiddle festivals across the country, such as the gathering where they met in June of 2016. Across any campground, or concert venue, the echos of their vibrant and magnetic harmonies ring out.

Vivian Leva of Lexington, Virginia grew up playing and performing with her parents, Carol Elizabeth Jones and James Leva, learning traditional songs from their sources and honing her rhythmic guitar style. This past June, Vivian recorded her debut album 'Time is Everything' in close collaboration with Riley Calcagno during an inspired session at Studio 808A in the small town of Floyd, VA. She released this album of original music on March 2nd, 2018 on Free Dirt Records.

Riley, of Seattle, WA spent his earlier years playing with the widely recognized band The Onlies, described as “masterful” and “deliciously well-crafted” (Kithfolk) and developing his own distinct authenticity on the fiddle and banjo.

Together, Vivian and Riley have toured across the country, in living rooms and concert halls. As individuals, they have shared the stages with and played, both nationally and internationally, in the bands of Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, The Lost Tribe Of Country Music, and Bruce Molsky to name just a few. To this collaboration they bring both the steady hands of experience and a refined taste for American music, yet still a youthful abandon that can’t be forced. In 2018, they will be on tour internationally to support Vivian’s new release and bring their distinct brand of old-time and country to a festival, hall, bar, or fireplace gathering near you.

http://vivandriley.com/wp/

Heart To Love - Passenger

Our LCM #SongOfDay is the great new single 'Heart To Love' from Brighton based singer-songwriter Mike Rosenberg aka Passenger. It's taken from Mike's brand new album 'Runaway' due for release on the 31st August. Pre-orders are available from the link below. 

We really like this heartfelt and catchy new song from Mike. The video was filmed in Las Vegas and the location perfectly fits the themes of the song. If you have been 'searching for a heart to love or.....diamonds in a pile of coal' .........this could be for you.

Mike is currently on a world tour with the very talented Lucy Rose supporting but unfortunately the London date in September has now sold out. But watch his website carefully as you might get a tip on a secret London busking performance.

https://passengermusic.com/

Don't Let It Die - Carousel

Released July 27, 2018 T. Eatherton: Vocals, Electric Guitar, Bass C. Hobart: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion S. Holburn: Vocals T. Shaer: Cittern, Harmonium, Fiddle T. Strike: Drums -- Recorded, engineered and produced by Peter Waterman of Longcroft Recording at SS2 Recording. Mixed by Rees Broomfield at SS2 Recording. Mastered by Doug Van Sloun at Focus Mastering. Artwork by C. Asher.

One of the fast rising young bands in UK Americana and our LCM 'Favourite New Artist 2017' are the great Southend based band Carousel. We are thrilled that they are headlining our next LCM gig at the Green Note in Camden on the 26th September as part of their UK tour. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is their latest single the very catchy and rockin' 'Don't Let It Die' recently released on the 27th July via Longcroft Recording. Catch them if you can.

Carousel are a 4-piece Indie Americana music collective, based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Fusing influences from the worlds of americana, country, folk, rock’n’roll and roots music, their influences range from Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Johnny Cash to the modern day Americana stylings of Nathaniel Rateliff, Phoebe Bridgers and The Lone Bellow.

Talking about the new single, the band explain "‘Don’t Let It Die’ was written as an open letter to creative minds. Within the lyrics, we wanted to encapsulate the feeling of being inspired but misunderstood, as many of us artists are. Equally, we felt the need to reiterate how important art is to society. It is so crucial that art plays its part in people’s lives in times of political and social struggle, that they welcome it in and find some respite within.”

Following appearances this summer at Cambridge Folk Festival, Beautiful Days Festival and Black Deer Festival, Carousel will be playing their heartfelt, engaging music on an 8 date headline UK tour in September / October:

facebook.com/carouseluk
instagram.com/carousel_band_uk
twitter.com/carouselbanduk

Half Way - The Sisterhood Band

Our LCM featured artists today are a very talented US duo with a rich musical heritage, who played a storming set at yesterday's 'Nashville To London' festival. Both very good singer-songwriters in their own right, Ruby Stewart and Alyssa Bonagura combined to form The Sisterhood Band. Their music is an organic blend of the open melodies of classic West Coast folk and the magnetic swagger of timeless rock n' roll, powered by Alyssa and Ruby's soaring richly textured harmonies and effortless chemistry. Both ladies have strong musical DNA. Alyssa is the daughter of Kathie Baillie & Michael Bonagura (the core of country band Baillie & The Boys) and Ruby's father is rock icon Rod Stewart. As a lovely flavour of their music our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a great live version of 'Walk Away' taken from their recently released debut EP 'Summer Setlist'.

If you would like to see Alyssa and Ruby live in London they will be supporting Steven Tyler at the O2 Kentish Forum on the 7th August.

The pair met through a group of musical friends while both working on their solo careers. Immediately bonding over growing up in the music business and sharing a mutual love and idolization of folk goddess Joni Mitchell, it wasn't obvious to them that their friendship should turn professional until they were jamming on some Joni songs backstage after seeing a Rod Stewart gig together. He listened to their glistening harmonies of a song or two and told them "you two should start a band." 

After only a year of knowing each other, the duo are capturing attention immediately all over the globe, and recently signed their first record deal with Sony Music Nashville on stage at their 3rd & Lindsley show.  They've written and recorded their first EP which features the theme song “Tenderize My Heart” for the Stewarts & Hamilton's show on E!, performed at Fashion Weeks in Milan and Miami, landed a slot on the main stage at CMC music festival in Australia, opened for Gary Clark Jr. & Steven Tyler, made guest appearances at Rod Stewart's Vegas show at Caesar's palace and were the opening act on Sir Rod's summer and winter stadium tour, while headlining their first club tour in the U.K. After making their Grand Ole Opry debut on the eve of the historic solar eclipse, the girls are currently recording and producing their debut album in Nashville, TN.

Their meeting was happenstance, but the music they create together can only mean that nothing is ever truly coincidence. Voices of sirens, lyrics of poets; these two musical heirs are soul sisters are messengers of the music in their hearts. Two very different worlds colliding with one common thread makes the music they create one of a kind. Fresh sounds, haunting melodies, and signature voices and harmonies are what set The Sisterhood apart from any other female group in today's popular music.  

Photo credit: Matthew Berinato

http://www.thesisterhoodband.com

Wasteland - Cerian ft Robert Taira Wilson

CERIAN ft. Robert Taira Wilson Debut single "Wasteland" out 27.07.2018 Recorded, engineered and mixed by John Merriman at Crown Lane Studios Mastered by Dave Turner at 360 Mastering INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/cerianmusic/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/cerianmusic TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CerianMusic YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/Cerian SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/cerianmusic

We have something very special for you today. Our LCM featured artist is the very talented London based singer-songwriter multi-instrumentalist Cerian  We had the absolute pleasure of having both Cerian and Daisy Chute headline our 5th anniversary gig recently. One of our favourite songs in their set was our LCM #SongOfTheDay the beautiful 'Wasteland'. Just released on Friday, it's Cerian's wonderful debut solo single. We love this version, which also features the very talented Robert Taira Wilson. Cerian is one of LCM 'Ones To Watch' in 2018.

Produced by Cerian, "Wasteland" has a dark ethereal folk pop feel; twinkling harp plucks are juxtaposed with its electronic manipulation, and intricate guitar contrasts with orchestral drums and eight-part choral backing. As the first of 5 songs to be released this year forming an EP entitled "Caught in the Dark" due for release in February 2019. 

A lifelong insomniac, Cerian is almost completely nocturnal, and these profoundly personal songs have grown out of her struggle with both the literal and internal darkness felt in the isolation of the early hours of the morning, when she would stay awake writing until dawn.

Written just as she was trying to gain the confidence to share her own music with the world for the first time, Wasteland explores those feelings of loneliness and paralysing fear. Cerian explains: “In the dead of the night, terrifying existentialism takes over: seemingly frozen in time, you feel unable to traverse the space between where you are and where you want to be. The precipice of the unknown future is calling, but you don’t know if you’re going to fly or fall, if you can find the courage to jump.”

Lyrically, it's the drama and fear of the unknown that draws you in: "The precipice calls me, singing my name, but it sounds like a warning; play it again". Featuring Robert Taira Wilson, the single showcases a soulful duet of Cerian and Robert's perfectly complemented voices dramatically building through entrancing soundscapes evocative of London Grammar and Active Child, to create a piece of beautifully crafted dark pop.

Having sung on Radiohead's latest album, and with artists such as U2, Sam Smith, Imogen Heap, Guy Sigsworth, Laura Mvula, Tom Chaplin and Amber Run, "Wasteland" represents Cerian's first offering as a solo artist in her own right.

Photo credit: Tom Leishman

http://www.cerianmusic.com/

Be A Man - Lauren Ray

It's a very exciting time ahead for our next LCM featured artist, London based singer-songwriter Lauren Ray. She is just about to release a brand new EP entitled 'Inside The Silence' complete with a launch gig at The Troubadour in London on the 2nd August. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the smooth and wonderful lead single 'Be A Man'. 

With a South African/Polish father and English/Irish mother, Lauren and her siblings grew up living in South Africa, Poland, Austria and the UK. After studying Anthropology at Sussex University, Lauren has since been performing and song writing in London, LA and Nashville, slowly building up a loyal fan base and writing with hit songwriters such as Martin Sutton (LeAnn Rimes) and Ian Dench (Beyoncé). As an independent artist, Lauren took things into her own hands to record and self-release her critically acclaimed debut album ‘We Will Need Courage’. With Lauren’s velvety smooth and effortlessly sultry tones, highlights on the album include singles ‘Come To Me’ and ‘Drive’ which received big UK regional radio support as well as support from BBC introducing.

Lauren's unique vocals soon caught the attention of US DJ/Producer Jason Ross who invited her to collaborate on his releases 'Me Tonight' and ‘I Will Be There’ which together have over 1 million streams on Spotify alone and reached #1 and #2 in the Beatport Trance charts.

Fresh from supporting Lucy Spraggan on her sold out UK tour, Lauren was then invited to be the official support for Rebecca Ferguson’s UK tour which included dates at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire, Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall and Manchester Academy 2.

With her first European tour just announced supporting Anastacia, a new single and EP on the way (and more recording time scheduled in for the year) Lauren shows no sign of slowing down and has been flagged as an artist to watch in 2018.

http://www.laurenraymusic.com/

Photo credit: whatchristophersaw

House On A Hill - Olivia Chaney

Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the beautiful and atmospheric new single from the very talented Olivia Chaney. We are big fans of Olivia's music here at LCM HQ and think she has a wonderful and pure vocal. The song is taken from her super second solo album 'Shelter' released in June. The album was produced by Thomas Bartlett and released through one of our favourite labels, Nonesuch Records.

If you would like to see Olivia live in London she is headlining at Kings Place on the 29th September after her US tour.

Classically-trained singer / pianist Olivia Chaney graduated from England’s Royal Academy of Music, before teaching herself guitar and Indian harmonium, delving back to the inspiration behind the British folk revivalists. She has since built a loyal and growing following as a songwriter and interpreter, both in the UK and internationally, through her acclaimed and eclectic live performances and much lauded recorded works.

Over the past few years, Olivia has collaborated and shared the stage with a diverse range of artists including Robert Plant, Eliza and Martin Carthy, The Decemberists, Shirley Collins, Alasdair Roberts, Kronos Quartet, Zero 7 and The Labèque Sisters.

Photo Credit: Phil Sharp

https://www.oliviachaney.com/

Heart Of A Man - Andrew Duhon

We head to New Orleans to meet our next LCM featured artist singer-songwriter Andrew Duhon. Andrew is a teller of stories with an undeniable voice, weighted and soulful. With a wonderful blend of contemporary folk and blues our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the great 'Heart Of A Man' taken from his excellent recently released album 'False River'. Thank you to Laurel Canyon Radio for the introduction.

Andrew has released 3 recordings, the latest of which, ‘The Moorings’, was nominated for a Grammy in 2014 for ‘Best Engineered Album’.  He has toured solo for much of his career, and that troubadour element is certainly present, an usher of modern day folklore. 

His latest group, The Andrew Duhon Trio brings a new musicality to the tunes with upright bassist, Myles Weeks and drummer ,Maxwell Zemanovic. Since recording ‘The Moorings’ together as their first project, the Trio has been crossing the American landscape, touring and creating together, the thoughtful colors of the trio breathing a new musicality and direction into Duhon’s songwriting traditions.

https://www.andrewduhon.com/

Can We Just Pretend - Fred's House

With a new third album set for release later this year. our LCM featured band are the multi-award winning Cambridge based Fred's House. We have been huge fans and supporters of the band since we first met at Folkstock in 2013 and we are priviledged that they have headlined two LCM London gigs for us. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is their brand new single and the second one from the new album, the personal and reflective 'Can We Just Pretend'. It ones of our favourite songs from their new live set. The video picks up the story from their first single 'Never Gonna Love You'. It was written by Griff Jameson and Alan Clarke and produced by Neil ‘Bugs’ Rodgers at Half Ton Studios. The video written, directed and edited by the very talented Reeta Varpama

If you would like to see the band live and we would highly recommend that you do, they will be performing at a number of festivals around the UK during the summer. Please check their website for all details.

http://fredshousemusic.co.uk/

Always - Gavin James

For our LCM #SongOfTheDay we have something very special for you. We are massive fans of Gavin James here at LCM HQ and today we are featuring his live track 'Always' recorded at Abbey Road Studios. It's Gavin latest single and showcases his trademark super songwriting and vocals.  

Gavin James released his eagerly-anticipated debut album, ‘Bitter Pill’ on March 11th 2016 - having already gone Top 5, been certified Platinum and winner of Choice Music Prize’s ‘Song of the Year’ in his native Ireland in 2013 and 2016. Following a sold-out London show at Koko, support across Spotify (Spotlight Artists for 2016), Radio 1, Beats 1 and Radio X, Gavin has also confirmed details of an extensive UK, European tour, US tour and Australian dates, featuring Shepherd's Bush Empire on October 7th 2016. With over 90 million total streams on Spotify already, Gavin James is building a strong following.

Life is always a bit of a blur for Gavin James. He's lost count of how many gigs he played, couldn’t say how many countries he visited and hasn’t a clue how few days off he got. The highlights, however, he will never forget. Seeing the live album he’d recorded at his local pub Whelan’s for next to nothing take off across the world was one. Supporting friend and fan Ed Sheeran for two nights at his hometown’s huge Croke Park (75,000), spending the summer supporting Sam Smith in the States and opening for Taylor Swift in Hyde Park were others. There was, too, the extraordinary success of ‘The Book of Love’, James’ haunting version of the Magnetic Fields classic which saw him invited on Dancing With The Stars, The Late Show…with James Corden (twice) and most recently Jimmy Kimmel Live, BBC One Show, The National Lottery and C'est A Vous.

http://www.gavinjamesmusic.com/

Whitby - Jess Morgan

It's always exciting to listen to new music from our next LCM featured artist and firm favourite Norwich based Jess Morgan. Her latest single and our LCM #'SongOfTheDay is the personal and reflective 'Whitby'. The video features Jess' recent support performance for A-ha! at the O2 in Greenwich.

Jess Morgan is a songwriter’s songwriter. Her latest album is a tumbler of unfancied, gutsy song. Her melodies will ring in your ears for days and her stories will play on your heart long after that. The album comes out with Drabant Music and Jess is currently the Norwegian label’s only British artist. April 2017 saw the release of album Edison Gloriette, a record about love and lonliness – made for anyone who’s ever been a bit of a nighthawk at any one time or another. BBC Wales linchpin Adam Walton said on first play – “it’s a blinder.” Glasgow’s The Skinny called her, “a songwriter who lives her craft truer than many of her contemporaries.”

Jess will release new material in 2018 and will support A-ha! on their MTV Unplugged tour including dates at Spektrum in Oslo and the O2 Arena in London – the biggest shows to date for this meticulously hands-on artist artist, who makes her own playable 7″ records at home in her kitchen. The 405 called her “a true DIY artist in her element. Seriously, she does it all.”

http://www.jessmorgan.co.uk/