Runaway June - Trouble With This Town

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Trouble With This Town’ - Runaway June

Runaway June are one of the US Country music breakout acts of 2019. We love this track from their debut album ‘Blue Roses’ released at the end of June.

If you would like to see these very talented ladies live they will be performing at this year’s C2C at the O2 in London.

It’s that sound. You know it - the unmistakable sound of three voices in harmony, a harmony that rings back to the early days of Country music, of singing on a porch on a summer’s day, of singing just for the joy of it. That’s the sound of Naomi Cooke, Hannah Mulholland, and Jennifer Wayne – a.k.a. critically-acclaimed Country trio, Runaway June.

Four years ago, the three women were solo singer-songwriters, connected via the small-town network of Nashville’s Music Row. “Labels were not signing solo female artists at the time, and it was really daunting and discouraging,” remembers Naomi. Fate soon found the trio in a writing room together, and the songs just flowed. When BBR Music Group heard their music, they were quickly added to its newest imprint, Wheelhouse Records, and Runaway June was born.

Their persistence paid off, and change was on the horizon. “Buy My Own Drinks,” from their 2018 self-titled EP, cracked the Top 20 – a monumental accomplishment on multiple levels breaking a 14-year drought in that space for female groups– and they received back to back ACM nomination for 2018 and 2019 New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year as well as a CMT Award nomination. Most importantly, says Jennifer, they never forgot where the dream started.

https://www.runawayjune.com/

Kendell Marvel - Let It Go

LCM Song Of The Day - ‘Let It Go’ - Kendell Marvel

We have been a fan of our next LCM featured artist for a while now. Kendell Marvel's reflective track "Let It Go" is taken from the new album ‘Solid Gold Sounds’ released via Easy Eye Sound.

Kendell Marvel wrote and recorded his new album, Solid Gold Sounds, in a matter of days, but it took a lifetime in country music to get there. Marvel and The Black Keys’ Auerbach co-wrote nine of the album’s 10 songs, drawing on the country sounds of the ‘70s as well as Marvel’s own experiences. Their songwriting collaborators include country legend John Anderson on the album’s first track, “Hard Time With the Truth.” A native of Southern Illinois, Marvel moved to Nashville at 28, shifting his goal of being an artist to raising his family while working as a songwriter. Marvel’s writing credits include Gary Allan’s “Right Where I Need to Be” and Chris Stapleton’s Grammy-winning single, “Either Way.” Brothers Osborne, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, Blake Shelton, George Strait, and Lee Ann Womack have also cut his songs.

http://www.kendellmarvel.com/

Robert Vincent - My Neighbour's Ghost

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘My Neighbour’s Ghost’ - Robert Vincent

We love Rob’s second single release taken from his forthcoming third studio album ‘In This Town You’re Owned’ set for release on Feb 14th. With Travelling Willbury’s and rockabilly vibes this track is sure to be a live favourite. The excellent video was filmed by the multi-talented Katie Nicholas, who many of you know.

Rob will be on his UK Spring tour in March and early April, with his London date at The Lexington on March 23rd

Of the new track, Rob comments, “There is so much we can all learn from life. ‘Life will take you, if you like it or if you don’t, so live it’. Do we sometimes take our lives for granted? Do we always live life to the full? Should we take in what is going on around us more?”

‘In This Town You’re Owned’ is produced by Ethan Johns and the central theme asks the difficult questions about everyday emotions.

“I’m just really interested in the human condition and how people react to things.” adds Rob.

Yola - Yellow Brick Road

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Yellow Brick Road’ - Yola

Our LCM featured track today is a beautiful new cover version of the Elton John classic ‘Yellow Brick Road’ by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Yola Carter. Yola has just released an extended deluxe version of her debut album ‘Walk Through Fire’ and this new song is included along with a new song 'I Don't Wanna Lie'.

This new cover was produced by Dan Auerbach at his Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville, TN. Yola is one of Elton's favourite rising stars

Yola Carter is an English musician and singer-songwriter from Bristol, England. She became the lead singer of the band Phantom Limb, who released their first album in 2010. She has sung backing vocals for numerous artists including Massive Attack, The Chemical Brothers and Iggy Azalea. Yola received four nominations at the 62nd Grammy Awards, including the all-genre Best New Artist category. la released her first solo EP, Orphan Offering, in 2016. In February 2019, she released her debut album ‘Walk Through Fire’ on Dan Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound label, to much acclaim. The album title references both a fire which damaged Yola's home and an abusive relationship from which she escaped.

https://www.iamyola.com/

Two Ways Home - Out On The Road

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Out On The Road’ - Two Ways Home

With an exciting debut album ’Break The Silence’ coming soon our next LCM featured artists are our friends Lewis and Isi. They will be headlining a full band show tomorrow with Clancy and Chris (27/11) at the Half Moon in Putney. ‘Out On The Road’ is the second single taken from their forthcoming debut album. Also check out their excellent monthly Country songwriter round night the ‘Round Up’ at the Colonel Fawcett in Camden.

Anglo – Austrian duo Two Ways Home are the songwriters Isabella Mariee (Vienna) and Lewis Fowler (Gloucestershire). After their inception in 2014, presenting 3 well-received Eps and several standalone singles they have crafted a sound, which pairs well with artists like Lady Antebellum, The Civil Wars and Mumford and Sons. Two Ways Home have been featured extensively in print press as well as online and the band have enjoyed radio play across the UK & Europe, toured internationally and have recently finished their first full-length album, which is set to be released on the 28th of February 2020.

2019 has been a busy year for Two Ways Home, after returning from their longest tour to date, which entailed 33 in-store shows at Caffe Neros around the UK, they have been crowned “Artist of the Month”, accumulating more than 120,000 plays. They also finished the soundtrack to an Austrian documentary, which is set to be shown on national TV early next year. 2020 looks like an exciting year for the duo and they are hoping to build on their success from past years, which saw them perform at the top of the Shard, headline shows at the prestigious Under the Bridge venue in Chelsea, support several artists in the Country/Americana scene and play some great festivals The Long Road and The British Country Music Festival to name a few. The first two singles ‘Speed Of Anything’ and ‘Out on the Road’ from their debut album already surpassed 25,000 streams on Spotify within the first month, growing excitement for their upcoming releases.

Photo credit: Andy Heathcote

http://www.twowayshome.com/

Elles Bailey - When I Go Away

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘When I Go Away’ - Elles Bailey

We have loved this excellent Levon Helm cover from Elles since the first time we heard it performed live. It’s a real earworm and it’s the song that was the inspiration for Elle’s wonderful new companion album ‘Blacktop Companion’ released on November 8th. Elles is currently on tour, please catch her and the band if you can.

‘Blacktop Companion’ is a special 9-track companion disc for Elles’s successful second album ‘Road I Call Home’. It’s available for pre-order on her website and features 3 fully-produced, previously-unheard tracks from Elles’’ Road I Call Home’ recording sessions in Nashville; 3 live-in-the-studio alt band versions of songs from ‘Road I Call Home’; acoustic versions of ‘Miss Me When I’m Gone’ and ‘Medicine Man’ and today’s featured track a cover of Levon Helm’s ‘When I Go Away’.

“For me,” Elles reflects, “Blacktop Companion marks the continuation of this epic Road I Call Home adventure that I have travelled for the last year or so and it tells a lot more of the story! It also highlights my incredible live band who have toured this record with me, and I am so grateful for their talents, humour and for just being wonderful human beings!’

If you would like a signed copy of ‘Blacktop Companion’ for £10 + P&P, you can order it from the link below >>>

https://www.ellesbailey.com/product-page/blacktop-companion

Randy Houser - No Stone Unturned

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘No Stone Unturned’ - Randy Houser

‘No Stone Unturned’ is a great track from Mississippi born Randy’s latest highly anticipated fifth studio album ‘Magnolia’, which was released back in January. We met Randy a couple of years ago in London at Bush Hall. Please out his album. Highly recommended.

Randy comments, 'When writing for this new project, I knew the production had to lean on songs and melodies, not a bunch of tricks and loops. That was the catalyst for the album. So, for the past two years we've been focused on trying to find a unique sound and trying to best serve the songs.'

https://www.randyhouser.com

Please order your copy below >>>>

Worry Dolls - The River

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘The River’ - Worry Dolls

‘The River’ is the brand new Country Rock single from London based Worry Dolls. The video features Zoe and Rosie having a lot of fun with smoke bombs and it was produced by Ekaterina Staneva. The song also features CJ Hillman on electric guitar, Pete Thomas on bass and Tim Prottey-Jones on drums. The track was produced by Aidan Laverty, one-half of Hoxton-based production duo Huntsmen (Foals, Scott Matthews) and offers a change sonically, led by electric guitars, re-amplified banjo, and a driving beat, as well as those signature Worry Doll harmonies.

Zoe and Rosie will be on their UK and European tour shortly with their London date and EP launch at The Lexington on November 8th, with guests include Robbie Cavanagh.

For Rosie and Zoe, there seems to be an almost irresistible pull to the river; a ‘safe space’ which signifies a sense of both home, and life on the road. ‘The River’ is also the title of their upcoming single and much-anticipated EP. Having met as music students near the River Mersey in Liverpool, before graduating and moving to London’s Greenwich. They found a spiritual home in Nashville, where they lived, wrote & recorded their 2017 debut ‘Go Get Gone’ with Grammy-nominated producer Neilson Hubbard. Rosie & Zoe reflect on seeking solace by the waterside, from the Tennessee Cumberland River, right back to their earliest childhood memories. A River seems to be an apt symbol – it is solid and permanent in many ways, but the water is constantly in flux, constantly evolving. The enduring location of a river reflects the solidity of their musical unity, but the motion of the water reflects recent changes in both of their respective personal lives.

The songs on The River EP deal with grittier and more urgent themes. From dealing with the loss of loved ones; coming to terms with sexuality and mental health struggles, to the many ways a heart can break and be rebuilt. Life’s permanence is constantly in motion. Whatever it throws at you, you know the river is always in motion, but it’s still permanent. Like home.

http://www.worrydollsmusic.com

Miranda Lambert - Bluebird

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Bluebird’ - Miranda Lambert

We love this new track from Miranda’s forthcoming album ‘Wildcard’ set for release on November 1st. It is a co-write with Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby. The song finds Miranda Lambert taking a positive attitude toward life's tough times. One of the inspirations was the Charles Bukowski poem Bluebird, a favorite of Luke Dick. The concept of resilience when things are going bad is a common theme throughout ‘Wildcard’, with the album title coming from this song.

We think this track will be a big hit for Miranda.

Miranda is currently in the US on her ‘Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars’ tour

Please pre-order the album below >>>

Ashley McBryde - Southern Babylon

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Southern Babylon’ - Ashley McBryde

We love this live version of Ashley’s ‘Southern Babylon’ recorded recently in Nashville. It’s taken from her debut studio album. Her new second album is due shortly, which we think will be very special.

Playing For Change - The Weight

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘The Weight’ - Playing For Change

With musicians playing across five continents our LCM featured track today is the classic ‘The Weight’ originally recorded by The Band. We love this worldwide collaboration and concept. The wonderful joy of music bringing people together.

See if you can spot some familiar faces……

Great songs can travel everywhere bridging what divides us and inspiring us to see how easily we all get along when the music plays. Special thanks to Cambria® and to Robbie Robertson, Ringo Starr and all the musicians for joining in celebrating 50 years of this classic song. Take a load off and turn it up!!

Dedicated To "The Band" Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

Playing For Change is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music, born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. Their primary focus is to record and film musicians performing in their natural environments and combine their talents and cultural power in innovative videos we call ‘Songs Around the World’. Creating these videos motivated them to form the Playing For Change Band—a tangible, traveling representation of our mission, featuring musicians met along our journey; and establish the Playing For Change Foundation—a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building music and art schools for children around the world. Through these efforts, we aim to create hope and inspiration for the future of our planet.

Learn more: http://playingforchange.com

Miranda Lambert - Fooled Around and Fell In Love

LCM Song Of Day: ‘Fooled Around And Fell In Love - Miranda Lambert

We love this powerhouse new track featured a very special collaboration of Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes and Caylee Hammack.. It features all of Miranda’s guest artists on her current Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour. Miranda will be released her latest album ‘Wildcard’ on November 1st.

Kendell Marvel - Hard Time With The Truth

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Hard Time With The Truth’ - Kendell Marvel

He head to Nashville today to meet the excellent singer-songwriter Kendall Marvell. "Hard Time With The Truth" is the brand new single from his forthcoming a new album "Solid Gold Sounds" released on October 11th via Easy Eye Sound.

Over the past two decades, Kendell Marvel has become one of the great storied songwriters in Nashville. For years, he’s quietly written massive hits for Country royalty from George Strait to Jake Owen, Gary Allan to Chris Stapleton but now has stepped from behind the pen and paper into the studio and spotlight. The result is ‘Solid Gold Sounds’, a stellar album that weaves a rich tapestry of deep southern songwriting with the unique gravity and talent Marvel brings as a one-of-a-kind performer.

Pre-order your copy below >>>>

Midland - Put The Hurt On Me

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Put The Hurt On Me’ - Midland

Our LCM featured track today is the atmospheric latest single from Austin based trio Midland. They are set to release their great second album ‘Let It Roll’ on August 23rd. via Big Machine Records.

In the video Mark Wystrach and guitarist Jess Carson gather around a single microphone, as bass player Cameron Duddy adds his harmonies. Lead guitarist Luke Cutchen, picking out the riff while seated on his amp and drummer Robbie Crowell, both integral to the sound of Midland’s upcoming album..

Jess, Cameron and Mark will be heading to Europe on tour in December with their London date at The Roundhouse on December 8th Don’t miss them

https://www.midlandofficial.com

Pre-order the new album below >>>

The Blue Highways - Play Johnny Play

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Play Johnny Play’ - The Blue Highways

The rocking ‘Play Johnny Play’ is the brand new single from London based Americana band The Blue Highways. On the single they are joined by some of the UK Americana scene's best guitarists CJ Hillman, Henry Senior, Joe Hazell, Lewis Fowler, Paul Lush and Tony Poole. It was recorded and mixed at Reservoir Studios by Chris Clarke and the video was filmed by Simon Wyrzykowski (with additional filming by Anna Chand). It was edited by Matt George Lovett

If you would like to see the guys live in London, they will be playing at Country In The Afternoon at The Half Moon, Putney tomorrow.

Named for the forgotten highways and roads that linked American towns and cities, The Blue Highways take inspiration from American roots music and infuse it with their British sound and background. Formed in early 2018, four piece Americana band The Blue Highways have quickly cemented themselves as a fixture on the Americana scene in the UK. Having built a reputation as a commanding live act driven by big vocals, close harmonies, and narrative led songs, they’ve already supported some of the biggest acts in the genre including Iris Dement at the Sage Gateshead, and Bennett Wilson Poole on their first UK tour.

The band also appeared at numerous festivals over the past 12 months including AmericanaFestUK, Summertyne Americana festival, Millport Country Music Festival, Noshville and Wild Tweed and are regulars on the London gigging circuit having recently played with The Fargo Railroad Co, Speedbuggy USA and Matt Woods and the Natural Disasters.

They recently performed a showcase set at the Americana Music Association music festival, and recorded a session with ‘Under the Apple Tree’, which was played live on Chris Country Radio by both Baylen Leonard and Miles Myerscough-Harris on UTAT’s weekly show, curated by Bob Harris. Further to these shows, in March they will be appearing at Country2Country at the O2 in London, followed by a slot as part of Under The Apple Tree’s first ever tour in London at the O2 Academy Islington supporting Wildwood Kin.

https://thebluehighwaysband.com

Zervas and Pepper - There Is Only Love

LCM Song Of The Day ‘There Is Only Love’ - Zervas & Pepper

Our featured track today is the latest single from Cardiff based folk rock duo Paul Zervas and Kathryn Pepper. We are big fans of their West Coast ‘Laurel Canyon’ sound. The single comes from their exciting forthcoming new album ‘Endless Road Restless Nomad' set for release in July 2019.

Zervas and Pepper are singer/songwriters that have been crafting songs and capturing imaginations with their previous critically acclaimed albums 'Lifebringer' and 'Abstract Heart', and 2017 brought a fresh offering in ‘Wilderland'. Touring with their six-piece band presenting the albums in clubs and theatres with a reputation for transporting the audience with wild tales, soaring harmonies, open tunings and psychedelic leanings. Zervas & Pepper have their roots firmly planted in the rich and fertile soil of the legendary sound of Laurel Canyon.

https://zervasandpepper.com

Morganaway - Hurricane

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Hurricane’ - Morganway

Our featured band today are the fantastic young East Anglian Rock & Americana collective Morganway Their latest single ‘Hurricane’ is the second single from their upcoming self-titled debut album due this summer.

‘Hurricane’ was one of the first tracks written by the band, and has become the staple show closer, “It’s been with us pretty much since the beginning. We tend to end every show with it, and each time it’s a little different” Callum Morgan comments. The version presented on record captures that raw spontaneity, and has the signature crunchy guitars, roaring vocals and marriage of melody, harmony and pulse-pounding rhythm that has charmed live audiences around the UK, “The bulk of it was recorded live, with minimal overdubs. We also changed its key at the last minute, and suddenly there was a newfound urgency to the song that I think was always missing when we’d attempted to record it before. SJ did her lead vocals late at night, with all the main studio lights dimmed to create an almost eerie atmosphere, and she gave the most ferocious vocal take we’d heard from her.” adds Callum.

Mirroring the song’s music video, its lyrics account a tale of conflicts of intimacy. Left up to the listener to interoperate what that means, or what kind of relationship the song is talking about, Callum remarks that, “I don’t like to reveal too much about our lyrics, because I think it’s important that the listener makes up their own mind. Maybe it’s a relationship that’s falling apart. Or maybe it’s coming together. What I would say is that the conflict is vital and I think there’s an honesty in what the song is saying about intimacy. To be intimate with another human being is irrevocably intense. You let go of any control and you take the good with the ugly, and by coming together, you’re heading for a hurricane.”

Morganway was founded by twin brothers Callum (vocals/guitar) and Kieran Morgan (lead guitar). Inspired by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and other classic guitar bands such as The Eagles,

They have quickly built a name for themselves on the UK live circuit. With accolades from Whispering Bob Harris, two nominations from the BCMA awards, support slots with The Shires and an Under The Apple Tree session already under their belt, there is no doubt Morganway are heading on a skyward trajectory.

Photo credit: Richard Ecclestone Photogrpahy

https://www.morganway.co.uk

Catch Morganway live at the following venues and festivals in 2019. More dates yet to be announced:

Friday 26th April – Country On The Coast - Gaiety Bar, Portsmouth

Tuesday 07th May - Morganway with Wildwood Kin - Waterfront, Norwich, UK

Friday 17th May– Sunday 19 May - Wood Festival 2019 Braziers Park, Wallingford

Saturday 26th May – Leestock - Melford Hall, Suffolk

Sunday 2nd June – Country In the Afternoon - The Half Moon, Putney

Saturday 8th June - Alresford Music Festival – Hampshire

Saturday 15th June– Sunday 16 June - Foxton Locks 2019

Friday 21st June– Sunday 23 June - Black Deer Festival 2019

Sunday June 23rd - Deopham Music Festival - Norfolk

Friday 5th July– Sunday 07 July - Folk In A Field Festival 2019

Sunday 4th August - The Waterfront Sessions Americana Takeover - The Waterfront, Norwich

Saturday 10th August – Lakefest - Eastnor Castle Deer Park

Tyler Childers - Feathered Indians

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Feathered Indians’ - Tyler Childers

This great live version of ‘Feathered Indians’ is taken from a session filmed at the LR Baggs Soundcheck Office in Nashville, TN during the 2017 Americana Festival. The song is taken from Tyler’s second album ‘Purgatory’ released in January last year in the UK. Tyler is one of the fast rising stars of Americana in the US, please check him out if you haven’t already. The album was produced by Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson and was recorded at The Butcher Shoppe in Nashville.

Photo credit: David McClister

https://tylerchildersmusic.com

Jenny Tolman - Rock and Roll To My Country Soul

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Rock & Roll To My Country Soul’ - Jenny Tolman

A very happy New Year! We start 2019 with a trip to Nashville to meet the very talented and multi-award winning Jenny Tolman. Her new single, "Rock & Roll to My Country Soul," captures the classic country vibe with a side of modern life that makes Jenny somebody you should listen to.

Jenny also worked with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Brainard on the song. Listen out for new music from Jenny this year.

LCM ‘One To Watch’ in 2019.

Jenny Tolman emerged onto the country music scene in Nashville at the age of 18, bringing an attention-grabbing classic sound and style, and poignant, honest and straight talking lyrics that aren't afraid to explore difficult and thought provoking subjects..

Jenny premiered her song "Something to Complain About" on The Boot in 2017, and since then, she's been busy honing her honky-tonk sound for the follow-up to her first album, ‘There Goes the Neighborhood’.

https://www.jennytolman.com