Paul Cauthen returns with 'Room 41' album due September 6th 2019

June 14, 2019 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Country Rock, News, singer-songwriter, Soul

Paul Cauthen returns with a new album ‘Room 41’ via Lightning Rod Records on Sept 6th. A single/video from the album ‘Cocaine Country Dancing’ is out today (June 14th). Cauthen is blessed with a fantastic baritone voice and his music is an eclectic mix of country, southern soul and gospel influences. ‘Room 41’ is his third solo release following ‘My Gospel’ from 2016 and the more recent ‘Have Mercy’ EP. In advance of the album release Cauthen is in Europe with a run of dates that include The Slaughtered Lamb in London and the Black Deer Festival. More about Paul Cauthen including the tour dates and the video for ‘Cocaine Country Dancing’ follow:

Guitars, guitars and more guitars on The Blue Highways new single

May 31, 2019 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Country Rock, New Single, News, Video

The Blue Highways were looking to try something a little different for their second single release. The band wanted to celebrate guitar music and bring back the days when the guitar ruled the airwaves. The band had met plenty of great players on their travels so calls were placed and the result is ‘Play Johnny, Play’ a track that features seven of the best guitar players on the UK Americana scene. Jack Lury of The Blue Highways is joined by CJ Hillman, Henry Senior, Joe Hazell (Curse Of Lono), Lewis Fowler (Two Ways Home), Paul Lush and 12-string wiz Tony Poole. The single is out today (May 31st 2019) and streaming/purchase links follow along with a cool video and loads more about The Blue Highways:

An RGM Song Premiere: The Iveys present 'King and Marie'.

May 29, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Roots

The Iveys from El Paso in Texas are gearing up for the release of ‘Colors of Honey’ on June 7th. The band initially featured Arlen Ivey and his sister Jessica Ivey Carr and has evolved over the years with the addition of sister Jenna Ivey, brother Galen Ivey and Jessica’s husband Sammy Carr. The quintet call on a range of influences but all agree on a love of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Lumineers and First Aid Kit. For me, the real strength of The Iveys is in their songwriting and those sublime harmonies, the sort of harmonies that seem to come so naturally to family acts. We are very pleased to be able to premiere ‘King and Marie’ a track from their upcoming record. Please read on as Arlen Ivey explains the significance of the track and just how important it is to The Ivey family.

The Shires, Alabama 3 and The Magic Numbers among additions to Black Deer Festival 2019

May 09, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Country Rock, Festivals, News, Roots, Tour Dates

The latest list of additions to the 2019 Black Deer Festival include UK country duo The Shires returning to the UK for a Sunday night show at the festival. Other names added today (May 9th) include Alabama 3 performing an acoustic set, The Magic Numbers, Stephen Spender and The Breretons. They will join an already impressive list that includes The Mavericks, John Butler Trio, Band of Horses and Billy Bragg. The festival will also host a panel celebrating the history of AMA-UK with Stevie Freeman, Bob Harris OBE and Emily Barker among those set to participate. Much more about the festival, which takes place at Eridge Park, Kent on 21st-23rd June 2019, follows:

The RGM week in review #1 03/05/2019

May 03, 2019 by David Vousden in Americana, Classic Rock, Alt-Country, Country, News, singer-songwriter, Folk

The RGM inbox has been very busy of late so we thought we’d corral a selection of recent news items all in one place. We listen to a wide range of stuff here at RGM from the biggest names to newer artists just starting out so you never know what you might find. Discovering new music is always exciting so we urge you to take a moment and check out the selection of recent news. Your next favourite artist might be just one click away.

Lettuce set to 'Elevate' on new album due 14th June 2019

April 29, 2019 by David Vousden in Jazz, News, Soul, Funk, Ambient

Fresh from an extended Easter break we’ve returned to find the RGM inbox groaning under the weight of cool music. With literally hundreds of emails to consider where do we start? Lettuce are an acclaimed US act originally formed at the Berklee College of Music in Boston back in 1992. ‘Elevate’ is their sixth studio album set for release 14th June 2019 via Regime Inc / Membran. The first taster from the record ‘Krewe’ is very cool and a great funky way to start the week. This looks like the tip of the iceberg for Lettuce as the guys aren’t bound by genre classifications so we can expect some cool grooves when the record drops. More about Lettuce and a link to ‘Krewe’ follows:

Wild Rose star Jessie Buckley added to Black Deer Festival

April 12, 2019 by David Vousden in Country, Film, News, Tour Dates

Country fans will be aware of the release today of ‘Wild Rose’ at the UK cinema. The film is getting great reviews and actress Jessie Buckley is obviously taking this singing thing seriously as she will appear at the Black Deer Festival in June performing songs from the film. The film looks to have a nicely homespun and quite British take on country music which is sure to add to the buzz that continues to build around the genre in the UK. More about Jessie Buckley and Black Deer Festival follows:

An RGM Song Premiere: Chain Station present 'Midwest Girl'.

April 12, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Bluegrass, News, Premiere

Chain Station hail from Denver, Colorado and the string band will release their third album ‘Backroads’ on May 3rd. Denver sits on the western edge of the High Plains, just east of the Rocky Mountains, so it's hardly surprising that living in such a stunning part of the world has heavily influenced the band and their music. ‘Backroads’ will please traditional bluegrass devotees but the guys are ready and able to add a few modern twists to the genre. Today RGM is very pleased to premiere ‘Midwest Girl’ a track from the upcoming record that displays a lovely relaxed vibe, cool harmonies and terrific playing. So please read on for much more about Chain Station, the inspiration for ‘Midwest Girl’ and even more importantly the song:

Black Deer Festival 21st - 23rd June 2019

April 09, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Country, Country Rock, Festivals, Folk, News, Roots, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

The Black Deer Festival will return to the leafy confines of Eridge Park in Kent on June 21st - 23rd 2019. The festival recently won Best New UK Festival at the AIF Independent Festival Awards 2018 and is looking to build on that momentum in 2019. The lineup looks strong with Band of Horses, John Butler Trio, The Staves, The Mavericks and legendary singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson already announced. Recent additions to the bill include Billy Bragg, Ethan Johns (solo), Yola, Treetop Flyers and Sam Morrow while a few of RGM’s personal favourites are also set to appear including The Sheepdogs, Ferris & Sylvester and Worry Dolls. Much more about the festival including ticket details follows:

Maverick Festival 5th - 7th July 2019

April 05, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Alt-Folk, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Country Rock, Festivals, News, Roots, Tour Dates

The Maverick Festival is celebrating its 12th anniversary by once again bringing the very best of the Americana scene to picturesque Easton Farm Park in Suffolk over the first weekend of July 2019. This year the festival will be throwing a little Cajun into the mix and shining a spotlight on the Bluegrass scene on Friday night. As usual, a wide variety of acts are set to appear including Ags Connolly, Chance McCoy, Amy Lott, Broken Bones Matilda, The Black Feathers, Dana Immanuel & The Stolen Band (terrific at the recent press launch for the festival) and many, many more. Loads more about the festival including ticket details follows:

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #7

March 28, 2019 by Rich Barnard in Soul, Pop, News, Folk, Indie, singer-songwriter, Soundcloud, Video

Oh, Canada! How we are overwhelmed by all your musical offerings! Yes, our cousins over yonder have been working harder than ever since our last Maple Leaf column and here at RGM we have been hand-selecting the very best of the bunch so that you, dear reader, can sample (probably) the very finest in new Canadian music.

Josh Turner and Kip Moore to headline The Long Road Festival 2019

March 13, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Country Rock, Festivals, News, singer-songwriter, Southern Rock, Tour Dates

The Long Road festival in Stanford Hall, Leicestershire launched in 2018 and will return to the venue in 2019 on September 6th - 8th for three days of the very best in country, Americana and roots music. The first wave of acts for 2019 include headliners Josh Turner (making his UK debut) and Kip Moore. The Steel Woods, John Paul White, Asleep At The Wheel. Rhiannon Giddens, Eric Paslay, Charley Crockett, Morgan Evans, LANCO and Lainey Wilson are among the impressive names confirmed for the festival. Tickets are on sale from 9am on Friday March 15th. A full list of the acts announced today and loads more about The Long Road festival follows:

Morganway are 'Frozen In Our Time' on first single from upcoming album

February 19, 2019 by David Vousden in Americana, Classic Rock, New Single, News, Video

UK newcomers Morganway are set to release their debut album in the summer of 2019. The first taste of what to expect from the band is available now via their excellent single ‘Frozen In Our Time’. Inspired by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles the band bring a dash of classic 70s rock to their take on Americana. Morganway are going to be busy this year touring in the UK with many dates already on the books and additional shows will be added along the way. More about Morganway, those tour dates and the video for ‘Frozen In Our Time’ follows:

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #6

February 18, 2019 by Rich Barnard in singer-songwriter, Folk, Americana, Alternative Rock, Electronica

After a brief period of winter hibernation our Canadian friends have re-emerged, bright-eyed as ever and begun sending their musical magic across the water to us once again. 2019 looks like it will hold riches aplenty and we feel it our duty to share with you some of the very best new Canadian releases in this, our first Maple Leaf roundup of the year.

Melissa Etheridge announces 'The Medicine Show' album + UK dates

February 13, 2019 by David Vousden in News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

On April 12th, 2019 Melissa Etheridge will release her latest album ‘The Medicine Show’ via Concord Records and Snakefarm Records in the UK. Etheridge has reunited with producer John Shanks (Bon Jovi) for ‘The Medicine Show’ her 15th studio recording. Always a superb live performer you can catch Melissa Etheridge in the UK starting February 18th in Manchester. Full tour dates and much more about ‘The Medicine Show’ follows:

Amigo The Devil presents 'Hell And You' from the Grotto Sessions

February 12, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Folk, News, singer-songwriter, Video

Amigo The Devil’s Everything Is Fine was one of my highlights of 2018. Macabre and gothic but not without humour ‘Everything Is Fine’ is a terrific album (RGM review) and I urge you to track it down and give it a listen. With just a banjo for company Amigo has stripped down ‘Hell And You’ from the album for his Grotto Sessions project and you can check out the video for the track and learn more about Amigo The Devil here at RGM.

Thin Lizzy to perform 'Black Rose' album at Steelhouse Festival

February 07, 2019 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Festivals, Hard Rock, News

To mark the 40th anniversary of the classic ‘Black Rose’ album Scott Gorham will be bringing Thin Lizzy to the Steelhouse festival for an exclusive show on July 28th 2019 where they will perform the album in its entirety. Thin Lizzy will be joined at the festival by Uriah Heep, Living Colour, The Temperance Movement and a host of other acts. The festival runs from the 26th - 28th July and much more about the festival and the acts performing follows:

New JJ Cale album of previously unreleased songs due April 26th 2019

February 01, 2019 by David Vousden in News, singer-songwriter, Blues, Country

On the 26th April Because Music will release ‘Stay Around’ an album of previously unreleased songs by the late JJ Cale. The album has been compiled by his widow Christine Lakeland Cale and longtime friend and manager Mike Kappas. The first single from the album ‘Chasing You’ is released today and the video for the track and more about the compilation of the album by an artist universally respected by his peers follows:

Josh Ritter to release 'Fever Breaks' album April 26th 2019

January 31, 2019 by David Vousden in Americana, Alt-Country, New Single, News, singer-songwriter, Video

Josh Ritter will release his tenth album ‘Fever Breaks’ on April 26th 2019 via Pytheas Recordings/Thirty Tigers. The new album was produced by Jason Isbell and features Isbell’s band the 400 Unit. If lead single ‘Old Black Magic’ is anything to go by then April 26th should be added to your diary right now. The press release for the album including more about Josh Ritter and the single ‘Old Black Magic’ follows:

Ashley Monroe 'Sparrow Acoustic Sessions' EP due February 15th 2019

January 25, 2019 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News, singer-songwriter, Video

On February 15th 2019 Ashley Monroe will release a five track EP featuring acoustic versions of tracks from her acclaimed ‘Sparrow’ album. Monroe is currently touring in Europe and has two Sold-Out shows booked for Bush Hall in London on January 29/30 so the version of ‘Wild Love’ that is now available will surely just add to the anticipation. More about Ashley Monroe, the video for ‘Wild Love’ and those tour dates follow: