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 MoreSteve Brockley to release 'Is Not Was' album 25/01/19
Canadian singer-songwriter Steve Brockley has released ‘A Fire, The Cold To Fight’ the first single from his new album ‘Is Not Was’ due January 25th 2019 via Afterlife Music/Membran. Sometimes a first look at the the cover of an album is all that is required to get you interested and ‘Is Not Was’ just looks right. Judging a book by its cover might not be a scientific approach but I’m pleased to report that 'A Fire, The Cold To Fight' is more than enough to build anticipation for ‘Is Not Was’. You can judge for yourself as the single and a little more about Steve Brockley follows:
Read MoreMandolin Orange reveal 'Golden Embers' video + 2019 UK/EU headline dates
North Carolina Americana/folk duo Mandolin Orange will release a new album ‘Tides Of A Teardrop’ on February 1st 2019 via Yep Roc Records. The video for ‘Golden Embers’ from the new record is out now and is sure to please fans of the band. It’s a superb, heartfelt song with an equally impressive video. A tour of Europe, including a London date, has also been announced with tickets on sale November 30th. The video for ‘Golden Embers’, more about Mandolin Orange and the tour dates follow:
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 MoreKeeva releases 'The Kindest Thing' single from upcoming EP
London based singer-songwriter Keeva has released a new single ‘The Kindest Thing’ her first new music since the excellent ‘Whiskey’ appeared late last year. ‘The Kindest Thing’ is taken from her upcoming EP the intriguingly titled ‘Four Sad Songs and a Ballad’ due October 26th. ‘The Kindest Thing’ features the kind of songwriting honesty that I’m sure will strike a chord with many listeners. A stream of the single and a little more about Keeva follows:
Read MoreLainey Wilson to make UK debut at Country Music Week
Recently signed to Broken Bow Records Lainey Wilson will visit the UK for the first time to play shows at Country Music Week in London later this month. Lainey independently released her debut EP earlier this year and as a songwriter has placed songs with Luke Combs and Kasey Tyndall. If you were lucky enough to grab tickets you can catch Lainey when she opens for Chase Rice at Bush Hall on October 23rd with a further date set for The Borderline on October 27th at the CMW Daytime Hub. More about Lainey including a track from her EP ‘Workin' Overtime’ follows:
Read MoreAmigo The Devil claims 'Everything Is Fine' October 19th 2018
The debut album by Amigo The Devil ‘Everything Is Fine’ is set for release October 19th (RGM Review) via Regime Inc/Membran. ‘Everything Is Fine’ is as striking an album as you’ll probably hear this year switching effortlessly from murderous folky troubadour to full-on metal assault in a heartbeat. Produced by Ross Robinson (Korn/Limp Bizkit) and with Audioslave/Rage Against The Machine drummer Brad Wilk involved metal credentials are assured but believe me when I say there is much more to ‘Everything Is Fine’. A track ‘Cocaine and Abel’ from the album:
Read MoreThe Gary Douglas Band 'Deep In The Water' due October 12th
The Gary Douglas Band will release their new album ‘Deep In The Water’ on October 12th. GDB deliver heartland rock n' roll and melodic reflection in equal measure with their blue-collar take on the American dream, which is sure to appeal to fans of Springsteen, Mellencamp, Seger etc. One listen to the title track or rousing opener ‘River Road’ and it’s obvious Gary Douglas has something to say about the state of his home country and the world we live in today. The video for ‘Nothing Ever Goes As Planned’ and more about The Gary Douglas Band follows:
Read MoreRGM presents The Maple Leaf Round-up #3
Our latest gathering of Canadian grooviness is, shockingly, an all-male affair. Fear not, though, because two Canadian female geniuses are going to be the focus of imminent full-length album reviews… watch this space. But for now, here is a roundup of the latest Canadian boys making (in our opinion) the bossest noise.
Read MoreBenjamin Folke Thomas 'Modern Man' due November 9th via Aveline Records
Benjamin Folke Thomas will release his new album ‘Modern Man’ via Aveline Records on November 9th. Regular readers of RGM will remember Benjamin as we reviewed his last studio album ‘Copenhagen’ back in 2017 (review link) with Rich Barnard claiming it featured “A diverse and very thoughtfully arranged set of songs”. If ‘Tasteless and Complacent’ the first single from the album is anything to go by then ‘Modern Man’ should be well worth seeking out. Benjamin Folke Thomas is currently on tour playing solo shows with John Murry and will embark on a run of headline shows with his full band on November 21st. More about Benjamin Folke Thomas, the video for the new single and those tour dates follows:
Read MoreLiam Russell pleads 'No Contest' on upcoming EP
On October 5th (Update: release date pushed back a week from September 28th) Liam Russell will release the EP 'No Contest' via Hidden Pony/Slaight Music. The 30-year-old Russell is hardly a newcomer to the scene as he signed a major label deal at fifteen and has toured extensively (his dad is Canadian musician Brent Titcomb so music was obviously in his blood) but 'No Contest' is a new beginning for the singer-songwriter. The first music released from the EP is the excellent 'Half Chance' which should whet your appetite nicely. More about Liam Russell and the new EP follows including a stream of 'Half Chance':
Read MoreTyler Childers announces September 4th London show
To mark the UK physical release of 'Live on Red Barn Radio I & II' via Thirty Tigers on August 31st Tyler Childers will return to the UK for a show at London's Dingwalls on September 4th. The date is Childers' only UK show as part of a run of European dates. The Red Barn recordings are from 2013 and were previously only available on digital platforms so this physical release will be welcomed by fans of his Sturgill Simpson produced 'Purgatory' release. More about Tyler Childers follows:
Read MoreLongbranch/Pennywhistle to receive welcome standalone CD and Vinyl release September 28th via Geffen/UMe
Longbranch/Pennywhistle the only album by Glenn Frey and JD Souther will see a welcome release on CD and 180-gram vinyl on September 28th. The album was released earlier this year as part of the Glenn Frey - Above The Clouds box set and sounded great (RGM Review here). So if you missed the box, or never managed to find an original copy of this rare album on vinyl, this is a must. Longbranch/Pennywhistle finds two artists at the start of their careers and really is pretty much essential for all Eagles fans. More about the release and details of upcoming JD Souther North American tour dates follows:
Read MoreCMA Songwriters Series returns to UK for October tour
The CMA Songwriters Series will return to the UK in October 2018 for a run of shows with the London date part of Country Music Week. The tour, which will also include dates in Gateshead, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow will be hosted by Chris DeStefano with two other artists also making their UK debuts in Kassi Ashton and Tenille Townes alongside a name very familiar to UK audiences Ashley Campbell. The two hour seated show will find the artists performing and telling the stories behind their songs. Tickets are on sale from Friday, August 3rd. Ticket details, the full tour dates and more about the artists and the CMA follows:
Read MoreRGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #2
The great, good, weird and wonderful music of our Canadian cousins keeps popping up in the RGM lunchbox, erm, I mean inbox, so we are pleased to present our latest roundup of the artists from across the water that you ought to include in your daily diet.
Read MoreChris Stills 'Don't Be Afraid' due Sept 7th + UK dates
Chris Stills has announced the UK release of his first album in over a decade 'Don't Be Afraid' on September 7th. To support the album Chris will be visiting the UK for a run of shows in November. A digital deluxe release of the album will feature two additional songs one of which 'Hard To Please' you can check out here at RGM alongside more about the album and what Chris has been up to recently in the worlds of music, TV and film:
Read MoreRGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #1
Arts funding for music in Canada means that there is a very healthy scene for up-and-coming acts. Lots of these artists reach out across the water and we’re always pleased to find their little musical messages-in-bottles washing up on the beaches of RGM Island. There’s something new and exciting there almost every day, little gems glinting on the sand as we walk the dogs along the shore. Sadly, we’re so busy writing daft metaphors we don’t have time to cover everything we’d like to in depth, so we’ve assembled a little roundup of the very best Canadian things that have come to our attention in the last couple of weeks. Keep your eyes and ears on the names and remember you (probably) heard about them first at Red Guitar.
Read MoreTom Baxter returns with 'The Other Side of Blue' on August 17th
Tom Baxter will return to the spotlight with his first official release in a decade on August 17th, 2018. The singer-songwriter is probably best known for the Ivor Novello nominated 'Better' single from his 2008 'Skybound' release. 'The Other Side of Blue' finds Baxter as a true solo artist with just guitar or piano for company on a set of songs that were shaped by changes in his personal circumstances over the last few years. In a recent Scott matthews review here at RGM Rich Barnard included Tom in his songwriters that "help to restore my ailing faith in humanity" which is high praise indeed. More about Tom Baxter and the new album follows:
Read MoreSights and Sounds of Tennessee continues at London's Waterloo until June 17th
After a successful launch on June 4th with Yola Carter and Gill Landry performing shows the Sights and Sounds of Tennessee exhibit will continue at London's Waterloo station until June 17th. Over the next ten days or so some great artists will be performing 2-4pm on weekdays with a Jack Daniel's Happy Hour from 4-6pm to follow. Bennett Wilson Poole and Worry Dolls are among the top acts playing sets. More about the exhibit, including the chance to win a holiday to Tennessee, who's performing and the idea behind the exhibit follows:
Read MoreJohnathan Rice is playing 'The Long Game' on new single
Johnathan Rice has had a pretty busy career. You might not know the name but you've seen Johnathan the actor as Roy Orbison in the Johnny Cash biopic 'Walk The Line' and he contributed songs to 'Ricki And The Flash' starring Meryl Streep and Rick Springfield. Away from Hollywood, Johnathan has released three solo albums and frequently collaborates with Jenny Lewis, sometimes in the duo Jenny and Johnny. Or I could mention his session work which includes contributions to Elvis Costello's 'Momofuku' release...and I've not even got around to his poetry which went from Instagram to a book deal. As I've said, Johnathan Rice is a very busy guy with, you won't be surprised to find, a new album on the way from which the terrific 'The Long Game' is taken. The single is a near perfectly formed, and frankly quite gorgeous, 2.32 which Johnathan describes as a simple love song (the harmony vocal by Courtney Marie Andrews is stunning). The song was inspired by a comment Johnathan's friend Marc Silverstein (the director of the Amy Schumer film 'I Feel Pretty' and co-writer of 'The Vow') made one evening which stuck in Johnathan's head. More about Johnathan Rice and a stream of 'The Long Game' follows:
Read More