News, reviews and more
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:
Read MoreBrothers 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:
Read MoreWe first introduced you to Jimmy Sweet late last year with the release of his debut single, a cover of the Buzzcocks track 'You Say You Don't Love Me'. On hearing the single I compared Jimmy to another Jim (Steinman) and I'm pleased to say he didn't take offence so we're all good. On Valentine's Day, Jimmy will return with his new single 'Burns Like A Fever' and once again I'm pleased to report Jimmy is doing things his way with a wall of shimmering tremelo guitars, sweeping strings and a more gospel take on those massed voices. It all comes together really well, so maybe the time is right to forgo the flowers and the chocolates and buy your significant other a Jimmy Sweet single on Valentine's Day. Please read on to learn more about Jimmy Sweet and you can also check out the single 'Burns Like A Fever' via Soundcloud:
Read MoreJanuary 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.
Read MoreUK 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 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:
Read MoreAfter 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:
Read MoreWith 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:
Read MoreThe soundtrack to American Folk is released today (January 26th) via Thirty Tigers. American Folk features Joe Purdy and Amanda Rubarth as two strangers, and folk singers, whose lives take an unexpected turn after the events of 9/11. The film, which has been picking up awards at various film festivals, is now on release at selected cinemas in the USA while Purdy and Rubarth are touring to promote the soundtrack. More about American Folk including the trailer for the film and 'Someone Singing With Me' a track from the soundtrack follows:
Read MoreThe 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:
Read MoreIn October of 2017 RGM bought you news of remastered reissues of Tom Waits' Anti- Records label albums here. Now the label will continue the reissue campaign with remastered reissues of his complete 1970's Elektra Asylum catalogue commencing March 9th with his debut 'Closing Time' on CD, LP and Digital. Six more albums will also be released digitally on that day. CD reissues of the remaining six albums are set for March 23rd with vinyl reissues to follow throughout 2018. The press release with a full rundown of the albums included in the campaign follows:
Read MoreNashville based Americana duo The Grahams will return to the UK in February/March for an almost month long run of dates. The dates will include two shows at the C2C / Country 2 Country festival at the O2 in London on March 9th-10th. To coincide the duo will release a strictly limited 7" single, only available during the tour, which features their versions of tracks by The Pretenders and Mazzy Star (both tracks are great but the Mazzy Star is especially good). The tracks will feature on the upcoming soundtrack to their feature length Love & Distortion documentary due later this year. More about The Grahams, the tour dates and a link to check out the single follows:
Read MoreEvery so often something appears in the RGM inbox so classy that you'd kick yourself if you didn't say something about it. Indie-folk duo Percival Elliott exhibit refinement and grace on their new single 'Forever' which is from their upcoming album 'Save Your Soul' due early in 2018. Olly Hite and Samuel Carter-Brazier are Percival Elliott and their brand of striking piano melodies, gentle harmonies and sumptuous strings has a timeless quality that you just don't hear every day. More about the duo, the family history that inspired the name and the stunning video for 'Forever' follows:
Read MoreTorgeir Waldermar came to the attention of Red Guitar Music through his terrific second 'No Offending Borders' album release back in 2017 (reviewed here). The album found the folky troubadour of his debut rockin' out in a Neil Young circa Crazy Horse vein. For 'Jamais Vu' Waldermar surprises once again as he reevaluates songs from both albums and turns them on their heads. Tracks from 'No Offending Borders' are stripped back acoustically while songs from the debut gain electric guitars and expanded arrangements. 'Jamais Vu' will be released in the UK on March 9th via Jansen Records. In the meantime please read on to check out a track from the album alongside an explanation for the reasoning behind the album and that title:
Read MoreBlues fans are in for a treat when three of the very best in the business combine under the 'Ladies of the Blues' banner at Under The Bridge in London on March 23rd, 2018. Finnish slide guitarist Erja Lyytinen will join forces with two of the UK's best blues voices Connie Lush and Kyla Brox to showcase a wide range of blues influences. More about Erja, Connie, Kyla and venue details follows:
Read MoreWashington 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:
Read MoreJoan Baez will release 'Whistle Down The Wind' her first studio album in a decade on March 2nd via Proper Records. The album was produced by Grammy winner Joe Henry in Los Angeles and features songs by some of Joan's favourite composers including Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, Josh Ritter, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Eliza Gilkyson. Joan will be undertaking an extensive world tour with UK and ROI dates set for March and May 2018. Much more about the album, the tour and the title track from 'Whistle Down The Wind' follows:
Read MoreCanadian singer-songwriter Jerry Leger will see his latest album 'Nonsense And Heartache' released in the UK on March 2nd via Latent Recordings with distribution through Proper Music. The album is a double set with an album of bluesy, dirty rock n' roll and a more acoustic-based singer-songwriter record. The album was produced by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies fame. Jerry Leger and his band The Situation will visit Europe in April for a run of shows that include UK dates. More about the album and the tour follows:
Read MoreThe 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:
Read MoreIconic UK progressive rock act YES will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a host of events set to coincide with their March 2018 UK tour. The London Palladium over the weekend of March 24-25th 2018 looks like being the essential destination for the hardcore YES / prog rock fan with Prog Magazine sponsoring the YES Fan Convention. Expect to see current band members, YES alumni and Roger Dean over the weekend and I'm pleased to report that all profits from the event are going to charity which is always great to hear. So why not come along, pick up a copy of the new Drama line-up version of 'Fly From Here' and enjoy live music from SeYes and Fragile. Full details and all the links for tickets etc follow:
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