Beth Nielsen Chapman releases new single and announces instore appearances + UK tour

May 06, 2022 by David Vousden in Americana, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

Recently signed to Cooking Vinyl, Beth Nielsen Chapman has released ‘Hey Girl’ as a taster for an upcoming album ‘CrazyTown’ set for release on September 23rd. The single is a striking, full-on bluesy stomp in reaction to the 'Me Too' movement. 'Hey Girl' is a perfect fit for the current climate, or as Beth puts it “a celebratory shout out to our sisters making their way in the world.” Beth will be supporting her first new music since ‘Hearts Of Glass’ in 2018 with a series of intimate in-store performances before embarking on an extensive UK tour later this year. More about Beth, the single and ticketing details for those live dates follow:

The RGM Inbox - April 2022

April 15, 2022 by David Vousden in Alt-Country, Americana, Blues, Soul, Jazz

Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox for another of our occasional dives into the darkest reaches of the office laptop. There’s gold in them, there files. From a legendary band with millions of road miles in the rearview, and many more to come, to a jazz/blues guitarist with four decades of playing under his belt via a pair of acts rejuvenated by circumstances beyond their control. So please join us as we delve into jazz/blues and Americana.

The RGM Inbox – Scottish Edition

April 04, 2022 by Rich Barnard in Folk, Americana

We 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.

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #27

March 07, 2022 by Rich Barnard in singer-songwriter, Alternative Rock, Indie, Folk

Hello, 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.

The RGM Inbox: January 2022 Part 2 (Singer-Songwriter Edition)

January 26, 2022 by David Vousden in singer-songwriter, Blues, Alternative Rock, New Single, News, Video, Tour Dates

Welcome back to RGM and our occasional feature where we highlight new music from the RGM Inbox. This time around we’ll focus on the art of the singer-songwriter via four artists with albums set for release in the near future that are well worth noting in your record buying diary. So please join us as we feature Summit Of The Big Low, Gareth Dunlop, Jack Broadbent and Coyle Girelli.

The RGM Inbox: January 2022

January 10, 2022 by David Vousden in Ambient, Electronica, Hard Rock, Metal, Video, Sludge, Alternative Rock, Experimental, Post-Rock

Welcome to 2022 at Red Guitar Music. Updates have been a little sketchy recently at RGM as real life and the demands of having a day job in retail and/or family stuff tend to get in the way a little during the season of goodwill to all men. Hopefully, as we ease into the new year, we’ll be able to push on, shining a light on more great music, which was the plan back in 2014 and remains the plan in 2022. Today’s selection features impressive new musical offerings from Norway (Pjusk), the USA (KYOTY and Young Mountain) and, from the UK, Gilmore Trail. Enjoy.

Free Downloadable Blues and Roots music samplers from CRS

January 06, 2022 by David Vousden in Americana, Blues, Roots

When it comes to the promotion of Americana, Blues and Roots music artists in Europe few can hold a candle to Continental Record Services in the Netherlands. They’ve had a banner year in 2021 and we’re pleased to be able to share the links to two free downloadable samplers featuring the very best in Blues and Roots music. Artists include Dean Owens, Martha Fields, Anna Elizabeth Laube, Big Daddy Wilson, Starlite Campbell Band, Robert Jon and The Wreck, Jim Keller and many more.

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #26

December 09, 2021 by Rich Barnard in Country, Pop, Soul, Singer Songwriter, Classic Rock, Americana

The leaves have been falling for weeks and weeks, and I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been rather neglectful with the broom. Still, it’s never too late for a bit of a tidy up. What follows is a selection of the most golden and honeyed Canadian musical beauties to have drifted our way in the last couple of months. Sorry it’s taken us so long.

The RGM Inbox: October 2021

October 25, 2021 by David Vousden in singer-songwriter, Ska, Country, Punk, Pop, Pop-Punk

The RGM inbox returns with a typically eclectic selection of music for you, dear reader, to explore. We’ve a country cover tune by a Ska related duo and a pop-punk band from New Orleans both of whom have great videos for you to check out and that’s just for starters. Add a NYC singer-songwriter who played with the New York Dolls and now contributes to Anime soundtracks and another singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland returning to music after a fifteen year break spent winning awards as a tattooist. I did mention the selection was eclectic? There’s much to enjoy in the October edition of the RGM Inbox.

Keb' Mo' announces new album 'Good To Be' for January 21st 2022 via Rounder Records

October 14, 2021 by David Vousden in Americana, Blues, Country, New Single, singer-songwriter, Soul

Guaranteed to brighten your day is ‘Good Strong Woman’ from Keb’ Mo’. The single featuring Darius Rucker is from his upcoming album ‘Good To Be’ and is one of three tracks from the album co-produced by Vince Gill. The album was written between Nashville and Compton merging country, blues, soul and geographical influences. Other guests on the album include Old Crow Medicine Show and Kristin Chenoweth. The video for ‘Good Strong Woman’ was released today (October 14th) and it’s full of positivity and good vibes. More about Keb’ Mo’ and the upcoming album follows:

Lisa Lambe announces third solo album 'Wild Red' for November 11th 2021

October 14, 2021 by David Vousden in Folk, singer-songwriter

Lisa 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:

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #25

September 08, 2021 by Rich Barnard in Folk, Acoustic, Alternative Rock, Indie, singer-songwriter, Americana, Soul

Hello 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....

The RGM Inbox: July 2021

July 28, 2021 by David Vousden in singer-songwriter, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Alternative Rock

Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox, an occasional feature where we shine a light on a quartet of artists worthy of your time. Some names you might know, some you might not, but either way, it’ll all be good.

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #24

July 22, 2021 by Rich Barnard in Pop, singer-songwriter, Folk, Alternative Rock, Roots

At 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.

The Vinyl Inbox: Re-Skinned .38 Special coloured vinyl reissues from Snakefarm Records

July 08, 2021 by David Vousden in AOR, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, News, Reissue, Southern Rock, Vinyl

RGM’s occasional look at the world of collectable vinyl returns with Re-Skinned from Snakefarm Records an ongoing series that looks to re-visit classic Country, Blues, Americana and Southern Rock albums. The Re-Skinned titles will feature brand new sleeve-notes, vibrantly coloured vinyl (hot pink and orange are the colours this time out) and “audio specially prepared for vinyl”, Today’s recipients of this enhanced reissue treatment are Southern Rockers .38 Special, a terrific band who added a dash of AOR to their Southern Rock influences and enjoyed considerable chart success with their ‘Wild-Eyed Southern Boys’ and ‘Special Forces’ albums now set for reissue on July 30th 2021. More details about Snakefarm Re-Skinned and .38 Special follow:

The Hard Place #8

June 17, 2021 by Rich Barnard in AOR, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, News, Video

You have reached The Hard Place. A place where the hair is just a shade more voluminous. A place where the trousers are, on average, two belt holes tighter. A place wherein it is perfectly normal for guitars to begin spontaneously spewing fireworks. Or lightning. Or both. We bring you the choicest, freshest cuts of retro-metal on offer. And, in a scene where wrongness so often prevails, The Hard Place offers a distillation of all that is currently right with the world of melodic hard rock. Quite a lot of it is, as you might expect, from Sweden.

Caravan announce 37 Disc Deluxe Box Set for August 20th 2021 Release

May 27, 2021 by David Vousden in Box Set, Prog Rock, Jazz Rock, Psych, Folk

August 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.

The RGM Inbox: Country Edition #3

May 27, 2021 by David Vousden in Alt-Country, Americana, Country, Country Rock

Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox with an emphasis on all things country. This feature is designed to show there’s much more to country music than big hats, and to highlight the range of good music that resides in the country section of your local record store (if you’re lucky enough to have a local record store). In this issue, we’ve got a couple of Canadian artists ready to rub shoulders with those Nashville folks while one of the biggest new names in country music is looking back on his alt-rock roots and a nice slice of country-pop from a Nashville based artist rounds out this latest edition of the Country Inbox.

The RGM Inbox: May 2021

May 20, 2021 by David Vousden in Alternative Rock, singer-songwriter, Americana, Country, Folk, News

Are 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.

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #23

May 14, 2021 by Rich Barnard in Americana, Country, singer-songwriter, Soul, Pop, Acoustic, Alternative Rock, Folk

Welcome back to The Maple Leaf, RGM’s roundup of the freshest and finest tunage from Canada. By way of atoning for a longer absence than usual, we’re offering you a special double-helping of new music across the genres. Everyone is welcome here at RGM and we like to think we can spot a keeper, however it’s dressed. We hope you enjoy what you hear and that you’re inspired to take a deeper dive into some of this edition’s featured artists.