The Baker's Dozen #46 The Last Hurrah (!!)

December 12, 2023 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Interview, Pop, Singer-Songwriter, The Bakers Dozen

These days, with a seemingly inexhaustible amount of music available at the click of a mouse, it is easy to miss things in our search for instant gratification. The art of getting to know an album over repeated listens, allowing it to slowly reveal itself, is in danger of being lost. A case in point is the aptly titled ‘Modern Nostalgia’, the latest release from The Last Hurrah (!!), a project helmed by Norwegian musician/producer HP Gundersen. ‘Modern Nostalgia’ blends a distinctly European (Serge Gainsbourg/Marianne Faithfull) approach with the California sound of Gram Parsons and The Byrds, utilising a variety of singers and instrumentation along the way to reveal its charms. With this in mind, we caught up with HP Gundersen to learn more about HP and his collaborators in The Last Hurrah (!!).

The Baker's Dozen #45 Joby Fox

November 28, 2023 by David Vousden in Singer-Songwriter, Interview

Northern Irish singer, songwriter and humanitarian Joby Fox was in London recently for two shows in support of his excellent album ‘I Once Was A Hawk…Now I’m A Dove’. RGM was lucky enough to be at the second of these, and you can read a review here. While Joby was performing his promotional duties, he took the time to complete a Baker’s Dozen for RGM. Topics included his favourite records and artists that inspire him while we were reminded that one invention is particularly vital.

The Baker's Dozen #44 Jennifer Crook

June 01, 2023 by David Vousden in Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Interview

With the release of 'The Broken Road Back Home' in late 2022, Jennifer Crook received some of the best reviews of her career, with Folking claiming it as "One of the year's best albums". Jennifer is no stranger to good reviews, and a high bar had been set with The Telegraph, Mark Radcliffe and Fatea Magazine praising her previous work. ’The Broken Road Back Home’ is a lovely record with a timeless quality that should appeal to anyone who appreciates good songs and a finely crafted album with excellent musicianship. The album recently received a limited edition vinyl pressing, so it seemed like the ideal time to catch up with Jennifer to learn a little more, and, unsurprisingly, we found her in the recording studio.

The Baker's Dozen #43 Dave Foster

May 18, 2023 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Interview, Pop, Prog Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Rock, The Bakers Dozen

Fans of Big Big Train and the Steve Rothery Band will need no introduction to Dave Foster. The guitarist and songwriter has been heavily involved with both in the last few years but dig a little deeper, and you’ll discover Dave’s solo career and his work with vocalist Dinet Poortman. ‘Glimmer’ is the second album from the duo and does a wonderful job of utilizing progressive instrumentation, including plenty of fluid, yet punchy, guitar playing from Dave, on a bunch of songs with striking pop sensibilities. Fans of the aforementioned acts, and a band we recently championed here at Red Guitar Music, League Of Lights will surely enjoy ‘Glimmer’ immensely. The album was released on CD/LP in April, with a digital release on May 19th, so go check it out. We caught up with Dave for a wide-ranging chat (anyone who starts out by mentioning Bob Seger’s Nine Tonight is alright in my book) about his musical tastes, career and choice in film (Wes Anderson is another big tick here at RGMHQ). Now if we can get him to elaborate on that Steve Vai story…

The Baker's Dozen #41 Jerry Leger

March 24, 2023 by David Vousden in Interview, Singer-Songwriter, The Bakers Dozen, Tour Dates

In 2005, nineteen-year-old Jerry Leger cut his first independently released album. Since then, the prolific singer-songwriter has recorded 10 additional albums under his own name, with the last 4 released via Cowboy Junkies' label, Latent Recordings. His latest release is a four-track EP 'Latent Uncovers' that features his take on songs by Lou Reed, Jeff Tweedy, Leonard Cohen and David Bowie. Red Guitar Music caught up with Jerry for a brief chat about his influences, and he reminds us it doesn’t get much better than Gordon Lightfoot.

The Baker's Dozen #40 Adam Masterson

March 23, 2023 by David Vousden in The Bakers Dozen, Singer-Songwriter, Interview

London-born but New York-based Adam Masterson recently released his second album ‘Time Bomb’ digitally with CD/LP to follow on July 21st. It’s been two decades since his debut ‘One Tale Too Many’ but Adam has kept busy releasing various EPs, shared stages with the likes of Tori Amos, Amy Winehouse and Stereophonics and guested with Patti Smith and Mick Jones (The Clash). We caught up with Adam for an enlightening chat about the music business in 2023 and how buying a Tom Petty record from a beach vendor in Turkey proved inspirational.

The Baker's Dozen #39 Craig Gould

March 20, 2023 by David Vousden in Singer-Songwriter, The Bakers Dozen, Folk, Interview, Americana

Craig Gould is an artist looking to make a difference. Following a run of singles, Craig will release his debut album ‘Songs From The Campfire’ on April 14th. The album is the centrepiece of Craig’s personal campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues, with ALL profits from the album and singles benefitting the CALM charity https://www.thecalmzone.net/. Please read on to learn more about Craig’s back story, the album ‘Songs From The Campfire’ and why he feels so passionate about this project. Singer. Songwriter. Storyteller. Campaigner. Craig is all these things, so it seemed an ideal time to get to know Craig a little better via The Baker’s Dozen here at Red Guitar Music.

The Baker's Dozen #38 Nigel Wearne

February 20, 2023 by David Vousden in Americana, Singer-Songwriter, Interview

Welcome to the first Baker’s Dozen of 2023. We’ve revamped things a little and Australian singer/songwriter/guitarist and luthier Nigel Wearne kindly stepped up to the plate for the first at bat. Nigel recently showcased at the Americana UK Music Festival in London and completed an extensive UK tour alongside sometime duet partner Lauren Housley. Nigel talked guitars, songwriting, Aussie legends Cold Chisel, Tom waits and also gave us an insight into the making of his upcoming album ‘The Reckoning’.

The Baker's Dozen #37 Kaya Stewart

September 21, 2022 by David Vousden in Alternative Rock, Interview, Pop, Singer-Songwriter, The Bakers Dozen

Kaya Stewart will release her second album ‘If Things Go South’ on September 30th via Bay Street Records. Kaya released her first album via Warners while still in her mid-teens back in 2016 and is now an industry veteran at just 22. Co-written and produced with her father, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics, Daryl Hall, Tom Petty), it is Kaya at her most authentic, expressive self.“This record is one-hundred per cent who I am now,” she declares. “This is the Kaya I was working towards all along.” RGM caught up with Kaya to learn a little more about her and the influences that helped to shape the new record.

The Baker's Dozen #36 Gareth Dunlop

July 15, 2022 by David Vousden in Interview, Singer-Songwriter, Pop

As the world seemingly came to a grinding halt due to a global pandemic, there was still plenty happening in Gareth Dunlop's own Sycamore Studios in Northern Ireland as he produced impressive releases from Foy Vance and Lee Rogers. He also found the time to complete a very fine album of his own in ‘Animal’. Gareth is now busy on the road as a solo performer and as a member of Foy Vance’s band, but we were able to catch up with the singer/songwriter to get a few thoughts on the lockdown, an early love of Lynyrd Skynyrd and his fledgeling attempts at being in a band - which will sound very familiar to some of us. So, over to Gareth Dunlop for the latest edition of the Baker’s Dozen here at Red Guitar Music.

The Baker's Dozen #35 Lee Rogers

October 29, 2021 by David Vousden in Singer-Songwriter, The Bakers Dozen, Interview

Northern Irish singer-songwriter Lee Rogers might have seemingly taken a break from producing new music in recent years but today (October 29th 2021) marks the digital release of his ‘Dark Notions’ EP (those who prefer their music in a physical format will be able to snag a 10” vinyl in the near future) and Lee has a new album and touring plans in place for 2022. Needless to say this seemed like an ideal time to catch up with Lee and RGM found a man passionate about life, family and his music. From The Police via Cosmic Village to ‘Dark Notions’ RGM gets to know a little more about Lee Rogers.

The Baker's Dozen #33 Jamie Telford (My Glass World)

September 23, 2021 by David Vousden in The Bakers Dozen, Singer-Songwriter, Rock, Jazz, Interview

The latest from My Glass World ‘Still Life With Machine Gun’ finds Scottish singer/songwriter Jamie Telford expanding on his piano playing roots in search of a more wide-ranging sound. Jamie has plenty to say on environmental and social issues, while the sound is warm and jazzy due to the sax and trumpet contributions of Sean Read. The result is an album (complete with an unexpected Bowie cover) that rewards repeated plays. RGM caught up with Jamie for a chat about his influences and the state of the world in general.

The Baker's Dozen #29 Emily Wolfe

June 25, 2021 by David Vousden in Americana, Blues, Interview, Singer-Songwriter, The Bakers Dozen, Pop

With a brand new album ‘Outlier’ out today (June 25th, 2021) Emily Wolfe has plenty going on. The Crows Feet Records release marks a departure for the Austin, Texas singer-songwriter and guitarist whose fretboard talents recently netted her a signature model Epiphone guitar deal. For the new record, those blues-rock roots are given a genre-defying makeover with a host of other musical influences rising to the surface. RGM caught up with Emily for a quick chat about those influences, how a fiddle-playing uncle planted a musical seed and that buying a LeAnn Rimes tape really can lead to Queens Of The Stone Age.

The Baker's Dozen #28 Tim Bowness

June 23, 2021 by David Vousden in Alternative Rock, Electronic, Interview, Pop, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, The Bakers Dozen

Tim Bowness is probably best known for No-Man, the duo he formed in 1987 with multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson, but this is only a small part of Tim’s expansive musical CV that includes a solo career (six albums and counting) plus work with David Torn, Nosound, White Willow and The Opium Cartel etc. One of these many and varied projects is Plenty a band originally formed in the mid-80s as a trio with Brian Hulse and David K Jones. It would be thirty years before Plenty would actually release their debut album ‘It Could Be Home’ in 2018, but their brand of melancholy indie-pop/art-rock in the vein of The Blue Nile and Talk Talk has a timeless quality and the trio are back with a new 2CD set due for release on June 25th 2021 the press release refers to as “Something old, something borrowed, but all blue” which sums things up rather nicely. RGM was pleased to catch up with Tim for a chat about his songwriting approach and their emotional impact, his early career plus recommendations for good TV shows and a fair bit more.

The Baker's Dozen #27 Justin Rutledge

March 26, 2021 by David Vousden in Folk, Interview, Singer-Songwriter

Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge has released a string of excellent, and very well received, albums over the years and his latest ‘Islands’ is no exception. RGM caught up with Justin recently for a brief chat and he was very open about how the music business has changed over recent years and the impact of streaming and the pandemic on many artists, himself included. He also delved a little into his influences and the artists he admires - highlighting another side of David Bowie - and that he might not have caught the reality TV bug.

The Baker's Dozen #23 A.J. Croce

February 02, 2021 by David Vousden in Americana, Blues, Folk, Interview, Singer-Songwriter, Soul, The Bakers Dozen

Welcome to the first Baker’s Dozen of 2021 here at RGM. We’re very pleased to welcome A.J. Croce who checked in with RGM from his East Nashville home to chat about his influences (which ties in nicely with his new album ‘By Request’ due February 5th), a love of spy thrillers and how, by taking a look back at how musicians have adapted to change in the past, we might all be able to move forward post-pandemic. It’s a really good read and thanks again to A.J. for his time.

The Baker's Dozen #22 The Marriage

October 05, 2020 by David Vousden in Americana, The Bakers Dozen, Singer-Songwriter, Country

The Marriage (Kirsten Adamson and Dave Burn) released their debut album ‘Imagining Sunsets’ on October 2nd, 2020. Kirsten and Dave both come from musical backgrounds with Dave first picking up a guitar at the age of 7 and being signed by a major label at 15 while Kirsten spent her summers in Nashville with her father Stuart Adamson, the late Skids and Big Country singer and guitarist. Both have been playing in touring bands since their teens. ‘Imagining Sunsets’ is a generally sparse and gentle affair built on the duo’s lovely harmonies but they are more than capable of kicking up a storm as evidenced by album closer and latest single ‘Box and Burn It’. ‘Imagining Sunsets’ is well worth fans of all things Americana and country tracking down. One listen to ‘Floating In Space’ and first single ‘Dreamers’ should have you hooked. We caught up with Kirsten and Dave for a chat about their earliest musical memories, a really varied list of influences and their thoughts on the music industry in a pandemic.

The Baker's Dozen #21 Nick D'Virgilio

June 17, 2020 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Prog Rock

It’s hard to believe that the Baker’s Dozen here at RGM has turned 21. It seems like only yesterday we were trying to stop it from peeing on the rug but those pesky kids sure do grow up fast. The artist who kindly agreed to be our twenty-first entry in the series is Nick D’Virgilio. The vocalist, drummer and multi-instrumentalist, probably best known for his time with progressive rock act Spock’s Beard, has enjoyed a varied career that has included long associations with Tears For Fears, the Cirque Du Soleil organisation and Big Big Train. Nick will release his second solo album ‘Invisible’ on June 26th and he kindly found time for a chat about his earliest musical memories, the current health situation, the joys of playing live and Lawrence Welk.

The Baker's Dozen #18 Jack Broadbent

January 01, 2020 by David Vousden in Blues, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, The Bakers Dozen

For the latest in the Baker’s Dozen series RGM caught up with blues singer/guitarist Jack Broadbent. Jack has been opening for the legendary Ronnie Wood on his recent dates. A plumb support slot for sure, but luckily Jack still found the time for a quick chat where he opened up about which Bob Dylan track moves him every time and an unexpected love for Trailer Park Boys.

The Baker's Dozen #17 Murray A. Lightburn

September 25, 2019 by David Vousden in Pop, Singer-Songwriter, Soul

Canadian singer-songwriter Murray A Lightburn is about to embark on a run of UK dates starting September 26th in Manchester (full details here). The dates are in support of his recent ‘Hear Me Out’ album release. ‘Hear Me Out’ is a terrific album that showcases Lightburn’s soulful croon to great effect on a string of carefully crafted, tastefully produced, string laded tracks. If you only know Murray from his work in The Dears then I urge you to check out the record, you’ll be glad you did. We caught up with Murray as he became the latest, willing victim to partake in the RGM Baker’s Dozen feature. So please read on as Murray shares some of his many influences, a dread of school talent shows and a love of British crime drama.