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Welcome to the latest edition of Sounds on Sunday, an occasional series where we showcase new and upcoming releases perfect for a relaxing Sunday (or any other day, for that matter). For this episode, our musical choices seem to be centred in Canada, with a nod to Norway and the Middle East. So join us as we listen to, and hopefully learn more about, Justine Giles, Drea Lake, Marthe Halvorsen, and Tenise Marie.
Read MoreWhen it comes to LP Box Sets there can’t be too many acts more suited to the format than Pentangle. The Folk supergroup released six albums in a mere four-year period from 1968-1972 and these are now collected, with a host of bonus material, on a very smart-looking 14 LP deluxe box set via Svart Records on 16th April 2025. A breakdown of the release including a full tracklisting follows:
Read MoreA selection of new musical offerings to accompany a relaxed Sunday.
Read MoreGrowing up, the idea of listening to folk music would have been an almost ludicrous one. As a teen, I was, like many of you, obsessed with rock/pop and, in my case, hard rock. I’d been raised in a house where Elvis and country music ruled the airwaves, so with a typical teenage disregard for my parents, I was always on the lookout for noisier sounds, provided there was still a tune to be heard, extreme metal was out. Folk was almost a four-letter word. Naturally, my tastes evolved over the years. I could not and would not, thankfully, shake Elvis (Mum had done a fine job of ingraining the King into my psyche) while I found my way back to more traditional country music via Americana, or alt-country as it was back then. This brings me to folk music, like Americana, a melting pot of widely differing sounds and styles. You might well be listening to folk music and not know it. So, it seems like a good time to peruse the August 2024 edition of the UK Folk Music Charts in search of some great music.
Read MoreAnd we’re back! “From whence?” I hear you cry, in your florid way. Back from Canada, of course. We swam all the way, on our backs, our music-loving arms filled with a freshly picked bunch of hot new songs, gifted to us from our creative compadres ‘cross the waves. Imagine that. And we did it all for you.
Read MoreTara MacLean wrote ‘That’s Me’ in 1994, aged just 21, amidst shadowy times and falling through a succession of harrowing trap doors – all described in her acclaimed memoir ‘Song of the Sparrow’. The memoir is accompanied by ‘Sparrow’ an album of new material and reimagined versions of older songs, including ‘That’s Me’. From a career point of view, ‘That’s Me’ would play an important role, as it was the first song Tara had placed in a film, but from a personal point of view, things are a little more complicated. I’d imagine it’s like looking at your younger self in a mirror and wondering what might have been... Red Guitar Music is very pleased to offer this exclusive presentation of the striking video for ‘That’s Me’ and details of Tara's upcoming UK tour dates:
Read MoreWelcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox. For this instalment, we check out four singer/songwriters. Two are still at the start of what will be successful careers; one has an Ivor Novello award on the shelf, while our final artist has sold millions of records and earned multiple Grammy awards but is still probably best known for his skills as a guitarist. They may work in a range of genres, but the one thing they all have in common is impressive new music to share.
Read MoreWelcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox, where we delve into a selection of recent and upcoming musical delights that caught our attention. We’ve scoured the globe to discover new music from Germany, Norway, Australia and back home here in the UK.
Read MoreGareth Dunlop and Lee Rogers enjoyed a busy 2022 as the Northern Irish singer/songwriters toured heavily throughout the UK, Europe and the USA, promoting a pair of albums that will stand the test of time and are rarely very far from the RGM stereo. With a close working relationship, and long-standing friendship, it’s hardly surprising that Gareth and Lee have started off 2023 working together on a superb new song that will feature in Faulker: The Past Is Never Dead, a new documentary about the acclaimed, if controversial, American author William Faulkner (The Sound and the Fury / As I Lay Dying). More about Gareth, Lee and the documentary follows, including the new single, film trailer etc.
Read MoreWidely acclaimed US singer-songwriter Diana Jones has announced the re-issue of her critically lauded 2009 album Better Times Will Come – Reimagined & Remastered on April 7th 2023, to mark the 15th anniversary of its recording. Diana and studio engineer Steve Addabbo (Bob Dylan) reimagined the album mixes and the running order while adding a previously unreleased song ‘Call Me Daddy' from the sessions. The new version of the title track, “Better Times Will Come”, featuring harmony vocals by Diana’s friend, the late Nanci Griffith and a newly found additional chorus, is out now. Its abiding message remains so timely, given the hardships of recent years and those still being felt today. You can check out the track below. To coincide with the release on April 7th on CD, Digital and, for the first time, vinyl via Proper Records. Diana will embark on a UK/IE tour to coincide, commencing April 14th, where she will play the entire album plus selected songs from throughout her career. More about Diana Jones, the album and the tour follows:
Read MoreCanada’s official Music Export platform, ‘Canada House’, returns to the UK for two days of music by 12 carefully curated Canadian artists at the UK Americana Music Week 2023, 23-26th January, in London. CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association) in partnership with Music PEI will be putting down roots at Moth Club in Hackney on the 24/25th of January to showcase the very best in Canadian music. The impressive list of artists includes Tara McLean, William Prince, Andrew Waite and Julian Taylor, to name but four. More about the UK Americana Music Week 2023 and the Canadian contingent follows:
Read MoreWelcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox. This time we’ve a new venture for a man best known as the drummer for a legendary classic rock act and another artist who will release his debut solo album after a thirty-year hiatus from the music business exploring philanthropic causes. We round out our quartet with an Australian singer/songwriter based in France and throw in a curveball with a trio from Luton in the UK who would probably be more at home in a New York nightclub in the late 70s.
Read MoreWelcome to the latest instalment of the RGM Inbox where we showcase a quartet of recent arrivals that have found us hitting repeat play. Three of the four are singer-songwriters, while the fourth comes from the world of Ambient and New Age music. What they all have in common is they’re done the hard miles to get to where they are now, producing cool new music as a result of their experiences. So please join us as we check out Mountain Time, Space Between Clouds, Freedy Johnston and Cujo Moon.
Read MoreWe head north of the border for our latest edition of the RGM Inbox, where just lately we’ve been hearing some very fine things. Like all fine things, they are best shared. I know. We spoil you.
Read MoreHello, dearest readers, and welcome one and all to the first Maple Leaf roundup of 2022, where we bring you a smorgasbord of new music from Canada. It’s a big old place, you know, and it’s bursting with musical brilliance. Here are eight of our favourite finds. We hope you find something to enjoy in amongst the pile.
Read MoreLisa Lambe first came to the attention of RGM in April of 2020 when we featured ‘Juniper’ the second solo album from the Irish singer/songwriter/actress. The record felt intimate yet expansive, a perfect fit as we struggled through the pressures of the lockdown. I’m pleased to report that Lisa has been busy with album number three, ‘Wild Red’ set for release on November 11th 2021. Recorded with producer Wayne Sheehy at his studio in West Cork, fans are in for a treat as ‘Wild Red’ is (spoiler alert) glorious. We’ll have much more about ‘Wild Red’ upcoming here at RGM but, in the meantime, a little more about Lisa Lambe and ‘Wild Red’ follows:
Read MoreHello again, dear readers. The Canadian musical harvest has been as rich as ever this year and we’re here to share with you the best of a bumper crop. Take a seat with us at the Maple Leaf table and sample some of the lesser-known fare from over there in the Great White North. We do listen to music from all territories but, clearly, Ontario has had the best weather this year....
Read MoreAt the risk of repeating myself, I must say that there is an astonishing wealth of Canadian talent out there right now. I use the word ‘wealth’ there, in the Besos and Musk sense. Seriously though, Canada, it is a bit embarrassing. Unlike the uber-rich, here at RGM we believe that there’s more than enough gold to go round, so we make a point of sharing with you a regular selection of tunes that may not otherwise have reached your ears. I use the word ‘regular’ there, loosely of course (our Canadian office is woefully understaffed at present) but we do our best to see that these musicians do not go untrumpeted. We’re certain you’ll find something to dig here and, when you do, we hope you’ll tell your pals.
Read MoreAugust 20th will see the release of a mammoth limited edition (2500) 37 disc set from English progressive rock act Caravan. The members of Caravan were at the centre of what would become known as the Canterbury scene. Canterbury in Kent proved to be a hotbed of musical activity in the 1960s and produced a host of artists who would enjoy success in the years that followed including Steve Hillage, Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt. Despite all these well-known artists, it’s Caravan that has become synonymous with the Canterbury scene via their sound which incorporated elements of progressive rock, jazz, pop, folk and psych.
Read MoreAre you looking for new and interesting music? Well, if so, you’ve come to the right place. The latest Inbox feature from RGM has music from both sides of the Atlantic and a detour to visit our friends in Australia. The journey was most worthwhile as we unearthed some great new music and a demonstration of a cover tune done right. Check it out and we’ll be back very soon with more musical gems.
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