RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #5
The good folk of Canada continue to shower the RGM inbox with their musical missives and we’re delighted to be able to share with you another selection of exciting new tunes from over the water.
Read MoreRGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #4
Our Canadian cousins are apparently incapable of producing anything other than top-quality new music and October alone has yielded yet another bumper crop of goodies. We’d love to be able to cover more of these acts in an in-depth way but, frankly, we need occasionally to sleep. Nevertheless, carefully curated just for you, we present our latest selection of must-hears from the land of the common loon.
Read MoreLuke James Shaffer 'How Sweet The Sound'
Luke James Shaffer first came to the attention of RGM earlier this year with the infectious 'Pressure' single which cracked the top 20 of the iTunes singer/songwriter chart. His latest release 'How Sweet The Sound' lives up to the title and shows a different, more reflective side of Luke James Shaffer. Based in Washington DC Shaffer has been plying his track for a decade, originally with a run of live-looping cover tunes, but now the original material is starting to flow and 'How Sweet The Sound' is a very impressive calling card. Please read on to find out a little more about Luke James Shaffer and how sweet 'How Sweet The Sound' really is:
Read MoreA duo of new singles from UK country duo Holloway Road
UK country-pop duo Holloway Road today (March 23rd) released two new singles 'No Place' and 'In The Dark'. The tracks were road-tested at the recent C2C event and give fans a real insight into where the guys are going musically in 2018 with an EP in the works and touring plans for this year to be announced very soon. The singles are available to stream/download from your preferred digital platform or check them out here at RGM:
Read MoreThe new single by Greek artist Gadless 'Falling' feat. Lou Is
In a first for RGM we're pleased to feature the fifth single from Greek singer-songwriter Gadless entitled 'Falling' out today via Ammos Music. Gadless has dubbed his music as "Melancholic Chamber Pop" and with Samuel Marlieri's impressive saxophone contribution alongside a seductive backing vocal from Lou Is (Louiza Sofianopoulou) that seems to sum things up pretty well. To these ears 'Falling' has a feel reminiscent of the underrated debut Adam Cohen album from a few years back which is a very good thing. More about Gadless and the streaming link to 'Falling' featuring Lou Is follows:
Read MoreGitta De Ridder 'For Everything A Season' due March 23rd
Anglo-Dutch singer-songwriter Gitta De Ridder makes a welcome return on March 23rd with her new album 'For Everything A Season' the highly anticipated follow up to 2016's 'Feathers' which was a favourite here at RGM towers. In more good news Gitta will be playing a run of shows in April, so if you've not seen her live you really should. The latest single taken from the album 'The Wheel' is out now and is accompanied by a quirkily cool video. Much more about the new album, the video for 'The Wheel', tour dates and previous RGM coverage of Gitta De Ridder follows:
Read MoreHolloway Road Ticketmaster Session + Live Dates inc C2C shows
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:
Read MoreThe over dramatic heart...Introducing Jimmy Sweet
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:
Read MoreBelle Adair look to redefine Muscle Shoals with 'Tuscumbia' on Jan 19th
The members of Belle Adair will need no introduction if you've been following the impressive run of releases on Single Lock Records as keyboardist Ben Tanner and drummer Reed Watson run the label. The band has effectively acted as the label house band in recent years backing label founder John Paul White and Donnie Fritts amongst others. Now Belle Adair are taking their place in the sun with the release of the Tom Schick (Wilco) produced 'Tuscumbia' which puts their personal spin on that rich Muscle Shoals musical heritage. More about Belle Adair follows including 'Get Away' the first single from the album:
Read MoreMajor Love 'Tear It Down' on new single
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:
Read MoreMatt Westerman 'Life Out Loud' EP due November 3rd
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:
Read MoreBruno Merz returns with 'Whisper Turn' on October 4th 2017
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:
Read MoreRicky Ross announces new solo album and European tour dates
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:
Read More'Life Changes' for Thomas Rhett
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:
Read MoreMike Andersen brings the devil back June 2nd 2017
Danish singer-songwriter Mike Andersen returns with his seventh album ‘Devil Is Back’ on June 2nd 2017 via Nordic Music Society. Looking to expand his blues-soul palate Andersen teamed up with producer Mads Michelsen (The Gnags) and worked with a range of songwriters. This process included a trip to Nashville where collaboration with Heather Bond resulted in the first single ‘This Time’ a duet with Joss Stone. More about Andersen, his new album, and a link to ‘This Time’ follows:
Read MoreChastity Brown to release 'Silhouette of Sirens' May 19th before UK tour
On May 19th 2017 Chastity Brown will release her new album 'Silhouette of Sirens' the highly anticipated follow-up to 'Back-Road Highways' her excellent, widely acclaimed, 2012 breakthrough release. In the UK a string of impressive reviews and a TV slot on the influential Later with Jools Holland marked Chastity Brown as a talent on the rise. To support her debut Red House Records release Chastity Brown will be playing UK shows in June including a headline London show at The Borderline. More about Chastity Brown and her new album follows:
Read MoreSound of the Sirens emerge from behind a 'Smokescreen'
Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood aka Sound of the Sirens will release their debut album 'For All Our Sins' on May 5th 2017 via DMF records. The duo have been championed by Chris Evans which gained them a prestigious spot on his TFI Friday TV show (hopefully Top Gear fans won't hold this against them). The first release from the album 'Smokescreen' is available now and the video follows:
Read MoreAnna Coogan to release 'The Lonely Cry of Space & Time' April 28th
Anna Coogan will release her new album 'The Lonely Cry of Space & Time' on April 28th. Genre defying the latest release from Anna Coogan finds her expressing herself via her three-octave soprano vocal in a range of styles that include rock, pop, country and opera and the result is a cohesive operatic rock album. The first track released from the album 'Burn For You' andmore about Anna Coogan follows:
Read MoreWorry Dolls to release 'Go Get Gone' January 27th + Tour Dates
Zoe Nicol and Rosie Jones aka Worry Dolls will release their debut album 'Go Get Gone' on January 27th via Bread & Butter Music. The duo recorded the album in Nashville with producer Neilson Hubbard and will support the release with a string of tour dates that stretch into April. More about Worry Dolls, those tour dates and the video for recent single 'Bless Your Heart' follows:
Read MoreVangelis to release deluxe remastered 13 CD box set 'Delectus'
Vangelis has announced a deluxe 13 CD box set which is due for release on February 3rd 2017. The set has been remastered under the composer's supervision and includes all of the albums he recorded on Vertigo and Polydor including a personal favourite 'Antarctica' and the seminal soundtrack to 'Chariots Of Fire' plus the albums he recorded with Yes frontman Jon Anderson all housed in a lavish box with 64 page book. The full press release follows:
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