'All Roads East' for Eli Lev on new EP

January 12, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Folk, News, singer-songwriter, Soundcloud

Washington DC native Eli Lev recently released his debut EP 'All Roads East' with his band The Fortunes Found. Eli at first glance falls into the indie folk singer-songwriter category but give the EP a listen and you'll find a healthy disrespect for musical boundaries. The 5 track EP (now available from all official digital platforms) embraces folk, country with a dash of old-school rock n' roll to keep you on your toes. The first single from the EP 'Go Down' benefits from an unexpectedly cool funky groove while 'Long Way Back To Shonto' is bathed in bluesy slide guitar. If you're lucky enough to live in the Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia area Eli Lev is probably playing somewhere near you as I type. If not then more about Eli including the video for 'Go Down' follows:

Jerry Leger embraces 'Nonsense and Heartache' on new 2LP set

January 09, 2018 by David Vousden in News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates, Video, Americana

Canadian singer-songwriter Jerry Leger will see his latest album 'Nonsense And Heartache' released in the UK on March 2nd via Latent Recordings with distribution through Proper Music. The album is a double set with an album of bluesy, dirty rock n' roll and a more acoustic-based singer-songwriter record. The album was produced by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies fame. Jerry Leger and his band The Situation will visit Europe in April for a run of shows that include UK dates. More about the album and the tour follows:

Emily Faye hits the 'Open Road' on new single

November 28, 2017 by David Vousden in Country, New Single, News, singer-songwriter

UK singer-songwriter Emily Faye recently visited Nashville to record an EP and the first new music from those sessions 'Open Road' is available now to stream or download. The EP will follow early in 2018 and she'll be touring to support the release. If you can't wait that long Emily will be at the famed Half Moon in Putney on November 6th and The Sound Lounge in Tooting on November 14th. More about Emily Faye including a live session video of 'Open Road' follows:

The over dramatic heart...Introducing Jimmy Sweet

November 16, 2017 by David Vousden in New Single, News, Pop, Punk, singer-songwriter

Jimmy Sweet readily admits “I have a place in my heart for the over dramatic” and he's not kidding. His debut single, due December 1st, is a cover of the 1979 Buzzcocks tune 'You Say You Don't Love Me' given a melancholy twist. The result is an ultra cool reworking that features enough sweeping strings and massed voices to do Jim Steinman proud. More about Jimmy and a link to the single follows:

Katey Brooks releases new single and announces UK dates for December

November 14, 2017 by David Vousden in New Single, singer-songwriter, Soundcloud, Tour Dates

Bristol based singer-songwriter Katey Brooks will release a new single on December 1st. Produced by Darren Poole 'Will She' is the first taster from her upcoming second album 'We The People' due in 2018. The singer toured extensively in 2016 with dates in Europe, Australia and Canada before she concentrated on the recording of 'We The People' this year. To coincide with the single Katey will be embarking on a short UK tour with stops in London, Manchester, Glasgow and, no surprise, Bristol. More about Katey Brooks and a soundcloud link to 'Will She' follows:

I'm With Her announce 'See You Around' album and May 2018 UK dates

November 09, 2017 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

The debut album from I'm With Her will be released February 16th, 2018 on the Rounder Records label. I'm With Her features a trio of artists blessed with considerable vocal and musical talent namely Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan. Needless to say this makes 'See You Around' one of the most anticipated releases lined up for 2018. The title track from the album is available now so please read on to check out the track, along with more about the trio, and those May 2018 UK dates:

Major Love 'Tear It Down' on new single

October 31, 2017 by David Vousden in New Single, News, Pop, Rock, singer-songwriter, Video, Tour Dates

Regular RGM readers will need no introduction to Canadian singer-songwriter Colleen Brown who we featured on a UK tour back in 2015. Colleen has teamed up with fellow Canadians Scenic Route To Alaska for a new venture Major Love. The first new music from this partnership is the infectious 'Tear It Down' single with an album due early in 2018. More about the band and the video for 'Tear It Down' follows:

Tom Waits to release remastered Anti- albums commencing November 10th

October 26, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, Blues, Jazz, News, singer-songwriter

Tom Waits has remastered his Anti- catalogue and the reissue of the albums will commence on November 10th. Waits has referred to the process as “Necessary but cursedly laborious” but I'm sure fans will be keen to check out the new remasters which will include a completely new mix for the 'Real Gone' album. More details about the upcoming albums including release dates follows:

Glen Hansard announces 'Between Two Shores' due January 19th, 2018 via Anti-

September 28, 2017 by David Vousden in Folk, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

Glen Hansard has announced the release of his third solo album 'Between Two Shores' due January 19th, 2018 via the ANTI- label. His 2015 'Didn't He Ramble' release was superb, as were the live shows in support of the album, so the RGM team are expecting great things. That appetite has been further whetted by the first new music released from the record 'Time Will Be The Healer'. Hansard will be hard at work touring all over in the wake of the album (he never stops it seems) with European dates set for February 2018. More about Glen Hansard, the new record and the first batch of tour dates follows:

Matt Westerman 'Life Out Loud' EP due November 3rd

September 26, 2017 by David Vousden in Pop, singer-songwriter, Soundcloud, Acoustic

Singer/songwriter Matt Westerman bought a dash of Southern Californian sunshine and positivity to the RGM inbox this week. The track in question 'One Fine Day' is an impressively catchy introduction to his upcoming debut EP 'Life Out Loud' due November 3rd. RGM recently heard the EP and the likes of 'Wait and See' and 'Don't Give Up On You' are prime examples of acoustic based pop and should appeal to a wide audience. Please read on to check out 'One Fine Day' and learn a little more about Matt Westerman:

Bruno Merz returns with 'Whisper Turn' on October 4th 2017

September 14, 2017 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, New Single, News, Pop, singer-songwriter

The much travelled, New Zealand born, singer-songwriter Bruno Merz will release 'Whisper Turn' on October 4th. The single is a highly impressive teaser, and the title track, from his new album due in early 2018. When your press release includes comparisons to Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, Iron and Wine etc you need to be able to hold your own but fans of his 2014 'Highways' release will need no convincing that Bruno Merz is a talent on the rise. This view is cemented by the achingly beautiful 'Whisper Turn'. More about Bruno Merz including a stream of 'Whisper Turn' follows:

Drake White is Livin' The Dream and returns to the UK in October 2017

September 12, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Country Rock, New Single, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates, Video

Fresh from huge success at the C2C 2017 Drake White & The Big Fire will return to the UK as special guests of Kip Moore. The London show with Moore and a further headline show at The Borderline form part of Country Music Week which finds some of the biggest artists of the genre performing live in London. To coincide with the UK visit a new single 'Livin' The Dream' from the 'Spark' album is due October 13th. More about Drake and those dates follow:

Ricky Ross announces new solo album and European tour dates

August 23, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates, Pop

Ricky Ross has announced a new solo album 'Short Stories Vol.1' due September 15th via earMUSIC. Fresh from the success of the most recent Deacon Blue album 'Believers' and an extensive tour to support the album, which was immortalised on the 'Live at the Glasgow Barrowlands' DVD (The London show from the tour RGM reviewed here). Ricky will again be hitting the road for a string of European dates. More about the album and those tour dates follow:

'Life Changes' for Thomas Rhett

August 15, 2017 by David Vousden in Country, New Single, News, Pop, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates, Video

Thomas Rhett will release his new album 'Life Changes' on September 8th via Big Machine Records and the title seems a perfect fit as Thomas and his wife Lauren Akins welcomed the arrival of their second daughter Ada over the weekend. Rhett has developed a sound that perfectly embraces his country routes but adds an appreciation for pop and R & B that has seen his music embraced far beyond country music devotees. More details about the album, upcoming UK tour dates, a video or two (and maybe even a pic of the new arrival) follows:

JD McPherson 'Undivided Heart & Soul' due October 6th via New West Records

August 14, 2017 by David Vousden in Country, News, Rock, singer-songwriter, Video

JD McPherson has released a video for 'Lucky Penny' the first taste of his upcoming album 'Undivided Heart & Soul' due October 6th, 2017. The video was shot where the album was recorded, the historic RCA Studio B in Nashville. So McPherson is following in the footsteps of Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves and Elvis (pretty impressive company). The album includes collaborations with artists from a range of genres including Parker Millsap and Butch Walker. An extensive press release and the video for 'Lucky Penny' follows:

Casey Donahew announces London shows + 'kiss Me' video

August 10, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates, Video

Texas country singer-songwriter Casey Donahue will be visiting the UK for the first time in October to play at the Texas Music Takeover festival which takes place from Oct 9th-16th in London. Much more about Casey including a video for 'Kiss Me' from his acclaimed 'All Night Party' album follows:

Denny Strickland 'California Dreamin' by way of Arkansas and Nashville

August 01, 2017 by David Vousden in Country, News, singer-songwriter

Regular readers of Red Guitar Music will be no strangers to Denny Strickland. The Arkansas born, Nashville based, singer-songwriter featured in our country showcase slot earlier this year. I'm very pleased to report the promise of the single 'We Don't Sleep' hasn't proved to be a false dawn. The debut album 'California Dreamin' was recorded in Nashville with Sean Giovanni (Big & Rich, Randy Houser, Tyler Farr) at the helm. The album is now available and contains an excellent range of modern country music with definite chart potential.

Josh McGovern contemplates 'The Devil Below Me' on new single release

August 01, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, Blues, Folk, New Single, singer-songwriter, Soundcloud

Brighton based Josh McGovern has released a new single 'The Devil Below Me' which finds the singer-songwriter contemplating his life and past mistakes. The results are dark, brooding and introspective and will appeal to fans of Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen. Dig a little deeper though and the versatility of McGovern's voice matched with a darkly spiky arrangement, that utilizes some particularly effective backing vocals, is sure to win the listener over and bodes well for future releases. The stream for 'The Devil Below Me' and a little more about Josh McGovern follows:

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real share tracks from upcoming album

July 07, 2017 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Country Rock, News, Rock, singer-songwriter, Soul, Soundcloud, Tour Dates

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real will release their self-titled album on August 25th via Fantasy Records. Three tracks that capture a beguiling mix of country, rock and soul from the record are now available to share. When your dad is country legend Willie Nelson and you've been working with Neil Young in recent years then expectations are going to be set pretty high. Well, the good news is the three tracks are all excellent and showcase an album which sounds like it'll be very fine indeed. Please read on for more about Lukas, those tracks and even news of upcoming European tour dates.

Juanita Stein announces debut solo album 'America' and UK dates

June 30, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, New Single, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates, Video, Alternative Rock

Howling Bells singer Juanita Stein will release her debut solo album 'America' on July 28th via the Nude Records label. The Australian born, UK based songwriter will also be playing plenty of UK shows this year with dates booked through into October. As a taster for the new record 'I'll Cry' has been released as a single and very good it is too. The single wears its Phil Spector and Roy Orbison influences well and would be an ideal fit for a David Lynch movie. Those tour dates and the video for 'I'll Cry' follow: