Maverick Festival announces first names for 2018

February 14, 2018 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Festivals, Folk, News, Tour Dates

The Maverick Festival has announced the first names for the 2018 event set for Friday 6th - 8th July. Now in its eleventh year, the Maverick Festival has become an integral part of the Americana scene in the UK and always hosts an impressive range of artists. This year will be no different with a mix of returning favourites and many performers new to Maverick including Jonathan Byrd, Terra Lightfoot, The Danberrys, Leeroy Stagger and Arkansas Dave. More details about the event and the acts scheduled to appear follows:

Mary Chapin Carpenter announces new album and UK tour dates

February 12, 2018 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Country, Festivals, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

Mary Chapin Carpenter will release her new album via Thirty Tigers on March 30th. Produced by Ethan Johns the record finds the acclaimed singer-songwriter reinterpreting a track from each of her previous twelve albums. The album 'Sometimes Just The Sky' is titled after the one newly written song on the record. To support the release Carpenter will embark on a UK tour in May with special guest Emily Barker on the majority of the dates. Full details about the album and those tour dates follow:

Lindsay Ell's The Project to get UK Physical Release 9th March

February 09, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News, Tour Dates, Video

Lindsay Ell will be returning to the UK in March at the C2C Festival at London's O2 and as a part of the C2C Roadshow. To coincide with the dates her critically acclaimed debut album 'The Project' will receive a very welcome UK physical release on March 9th via BMG/BBR. If you were lucky enough to see Lindsay on her UK visit back in October (review) then you won't need me to tell you she's pretty great live. If you're new to Lindsay Ell then more about the lady, the project and those dates follow:

Johnny Cash: Forever Words due April 6th on CD, 2LP and Digital.

February 08, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News

One of my earliest musical memories is of my dad playing 'Live At San Quentin' when I was a child. Johnny Cash and his music would play an important part in my musical education and eventually the launch of Red Guitar Music, so anything Johnny Cash related always makes me sit up and take notice. Johnny Cash: Forever Words is a collection of songs, performed by artists of the stature of Elvis Costello, Alison Krauss, John Mellencamp, Brad Paisley and the late Chris Cornell, constructed from the poems, lyrics and letters of Johnny Cash. One look at the video trailer for the album and you feel this project is in very safe hands. I can't wait to hear these songs when the album is released on April 6th via Legacy Recordings. More about the album including the track listing and the preview trailer follows:

Megan O'Neill releases video for 'Ghost Of You' single + London show

February 03, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, New Single, News, singer-songwriter, Video

London based singer-songwriter Megan O'Neill has released a video for her recent single 'Ghost Of You' which does a great job of capturing the essence of the song. Megan and her band will be appearing at the regular Nashville Nights event at Under The Bridge in London on March 10th. In the meantime more about Megan, the video for 'Ghost Of You' and her thoughts on the song/video follows:

Brothers Osborne to release 'Port Saint Joe' April 20th before UK dates

February 02, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News, Tour Dates, Video

Brothers Osborne will release their eagerly anticipated new album 'Port Saint Joe' on April 20th via Snakefarm Records. The record is expected to build on the success of their 'Pawn Shop' debut album which has now been certified as a Gold record in the USA. The new album is again produced by Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Little Big Town) and includes their latest 'Shoot Me Straight' single. Following the album release the duo will return to the UK / ROI for a run of dates including an already Sold Out London show at KOKO. Those tour dates, more about Brothers Osborne and the video for 'Shoot Me Straight' follows:

Missed some great music in January? Check out the RGM Spotify playlist.

January 31, 2018 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Country, Folk, News, Showcase, singer-songwriter, Playlist

January was a busy month at RGM with loads of news, new albums and tours announced. If you've missed anything, or just have a hunger to check out some new music, why not take a listen to our first Spotify Playlist that showcases artists featured during the month.

Holloway Road Ticketmaster Session + Live Dates inc C2C shows

January 31, 2018 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Country, Festivals, News, Pop, Tour Dates, Video

UK country duo Holloway Road continue to go from strength to strength on the back of successful UK touring and recent singles 'If She Falls' and 'Under Cover.' The guys will continue their touring schedule with a run of stripped back acoustic dates to showcase another side of their music including shows at the C2C festival for the fourth year running. To give fans an idea of what to expect on the dates the boys recently visited Ticketmaster HQ to play a live acoustic session. Those all important dates and the Ticketmaster session follow:

Corey Nolen will release 'Not All Roses' on February 3rd 2018

January 30, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News, singer-songwriter

The latest release from Birmingham, Alabama singer-songwriter Corey Nolen 'Not All Roses' is his fifth in five years. The prolific Nolen has enlisted the help of vocalist Ashley Spurling this time around, and the result is an album of harmony-driven country music with just a dash of pop. One listen to 'My Love' from the record and you'd have to have a heart of stone to not enjoy the smooth harmonies or appreciate the honesty on display here. We caught up with Corey Nolen for a quick chat about 'Doing Alright' the first track released from the album:

Ramblin' Roots Revue returns to High Wycombe April 6th-8th

January 29, 2018 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Festivals, Folk, News, Roots, Tour Dates, Alt-Country

After a successful first event last year, the Ramblin' Roots Revue will return to Bucks Student Union in High Wycombe for three days of Americana, folk, country and roots music in 2018. The event is produced in association with respected UK Americana label Clubhouse Records and they're put together an impressive range of acts including The Magic Numbers, The Rails, Danny and the Champions of the World, Jess Klein, Robert Vincent and Bennett Wilson Poole (whose upcoming album has gone down well in the RGM office). All the info you'll need about the festival follows:

What to expect at C2C 2018

January 29, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Festivals, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

With the annual C2C festival just a few days away this seems like a good time to take a look at all things Country 2 Country at O2 from March 9th - 11th 2018. The press release follows with all the info on the various stages and the many performers appearing over the weekend including the CMA Songwriters Series (On the 8th March) and the BBC Radio 2 Stage:

O&O return with new 'Some Days' single January 26th

January 26, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, New Single, News, singer-songwriter

The multi-national duo of Obadiah Jones and Orian Peled are looking to build on the success of their debut single 'Traveling' from last year with an new single 'Some Days' set for release January 26th. Now based in London, 2018 is looking like a big year for the duo and their harmony-driven sound, which is sure to appeal to fans of The Black Feathers, Lewis & Leigh and The Wandering Hearts, More about the long road O&O have taken to get to 'Some Days' follows:

'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:

The famed Bluebird Cafe returns to C2C in 2018 + After Show Party News

December 12, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Festivals, News, Tour Dates

The famed Bluebird Cafe will return to the C2C event at the O2 in 2018. The Nashville institution has experienced an increase in visibility and popularity in recent years as an integral part of the Nashville TV show so expect tickets to be in high demand. Nashville is all about the songwriter so these seated songwriters round shows really get to the roots of the music. The O2 / C2C have also released details of the official Aftershow Parties for 2018 with Walker Hayes, Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real, Brett Young with Morgan Evans set to please the late night music lovers (Glasgow will also have aftershow parties for our friends north of the border). More details follow:

Lanco to release 'Hallelujah Nights' album worldwide January 19th

December 07, 2017 by David Vousden in Country, News, Video

With a Gold certified US #1 Billboard Country Airplay single 'Greatest Love Story' and extensive touring under their belts in 2017 with Dustin Lynch and Brothers Osborne. January 19th is the date for Lanco to release 'Hallelujah Nights' their debut Jay Joyce (Little Big Town, Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, Brothers Osborne) produced album. The numbers the band have amassed are pretty staggering with nearly 100 Million streams and 19 million video views. Much more about Lanco follows including a cool video trailer for the upcoming album:

Mary Gauthier, Seamus Fogarty & The Blasters latest names added to Kilkenny Roots 2018

December 05, 2017 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Blues, Country, Festivals, News, Roots

The Kilkenny Roots Festival is celebrating 21 years in 2018 and the latest additions to the line-up include Mary Gauthier, who has an excellent new album 'Rifles & Rosary Beads' due in January, Irish songwriter Seamus Fogarty and, from the USA, The Blasters. With RGM fave Whitney Rose already announced alongside a host of impressive names that include Deep Dark Woods, Michael Nau and Nikki Lane this looks like an excellent weekend of great music. More about the festival and the artists set to appear follows:

Nearly New Year with Nashville Nights and The Southern Companion

November 28, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News, Club Nights

Nashville Nights will return to West London to give fans an opportunity to see in 2018 with a Nearly New Year Party devoted to country music. The event takes place at Under The Bridge on December 29th and will feature live music from The Southern Companion. Full details about Nashville Nights and the evening follow:

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:

C2C announces new additions and day splits for 2018

October 16, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Festivals, News, Tour Dates

The Country to Country festival today (October 16th) announced additional acts and day splits so you'll know who's playing when on the weekend of March 9 - 11th, 2018 at The O2 in London. The additional names include Old Dominion, Morgan Evans and Ashley Campbell who will present a tribute to her late father Glen Campbell, a true country legend. The C2C festival is now the essential weekend for country fans in the UK and beyond. More about C2C including ticket details follow:

Nashville in the UK this October

September 21, 2017 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Country Rock, News, Tour Dates

October 2017 is looking like an amazing month for fans of country music as some of the biggest names in the genre will be playing shows in the UK. Little Big Town and Lady Antebellum have announced headline tours and the Little Big Town show at the Royal Albert Hall is part of Country Music Week which sees a host of established acts and newcomers performing around London including Drake White, Kip Moore, Jace Everett and Sarah Darling. Please read on for more about the acts and those tour dates: