Three Chords and the Truth UK

Before addressing the quality of Katy Rose Bennett’s new album SONGS OF THE RIVER REA, two features immediately stand out: a set of songs based on Birmingham’s often hidden river and a Dreaming Spires presence. Of course Katy is the brother of Joe and Robin from Oxfordshire’s finest band and it is indeed Joe who lends his all-round music expertise to the project by assuming the production role. However you need the key components in place first and Katy skilfully provides these in the guise of eleven exquisitely crafted songs. The River Rea has only a short existence of 14 miles, extensively buried under the city centre, yet still provides the inspiration for a savvy collection of interesting songs stretching the breadth of the roots spectrum in their unravelling. Katy is equally at home in delivering the songs in laid back mode as well as the upbeat numbers pulling away from the folk tinge and bordering Americana territory. The strength, tenacity and deep rooted appeal of the s...

A break up album – maybe, a relationship album – definitely, what is beyond doubt is that ROYAL BLUE by Lilly Hiatt is a totally absorbing record. This is the second full length release from the East Nashville based artist putting an independent spin on the family name. Lilly addresses the parental issue in ‘ Somebody’s Daughter’ with the listener left in little doubt that she is ready to make a significant mark on the agenda of many discerning Americana music followers. This intoxicating record has a strong emotive undercurrent and flourishes at the point where powerful alt-rock meets the extreme edge of country music. The twang comes in the form of stacks of ear pleasing pedal steel guitar prevalent amongst the onslaught of indie guitar anthems, mixed with synths and drums, thus leading to a record impossible to pinpoint its defining era. If a genre label is required, look no further than indie-Americana and those tempted by a touch of twang added to their rock will be hooked ...

The location evolution may have been from house to garden, but the return of Stephen Simmons to a makeshift live venue in Staffordshire was still equipped with a generous offering of highly crafted songs. This visit saw Stephen in solo mode in contrast to last year when the Nashville based singer-songwriter was accompanied by Molly Jewell on keyboards. However the underlying depth and appeal of his songs remained intact as the evening panned out to be a revealing affair on the thoughts, musings and influences of a performer steeped in the art of the original song. The inevitable arrival of late spring UK rain did nothing to dampen this outdoor gathering securely sheltered under the haven of temporary canvas. There was even a hint of rhythmic rain as Stephen meandered through pieces from his extensive back catalogue which will shortly be added to later this year. As usual with a Stephen Simmons show, there is no holding back on the engaging and affable chat which goes a long way to ...

Gloriously imperfect and once seen never forgotten are two phrases which some up the enigma, Malcolm Holcombe. Whether listening to him live or a recording, a necessary adjustment is essential to tune into the music of surely one of the most distinctive performers from North Carolina to spread their message wide and far. An imperative view of Malcolm Holcombe is to treasure his importance to the genre of American roots music and revel in the notion of one man flourishing with the utmost non-conformity. This successful promotion bringing a slice of Americana to a corner of north-west Worcestershire could once again reflect in an act of engaging diversity and leaving the folks of Bewdley with a lasting memory. For me this was a lengthy renewal after first seeing Malcolm play solo at the Kitchen Garden Café in Birmingham several years ago. The vivid memory of a stool balancing – finger picking country blues guitarist has remained intact and the phenomena of this live performer is likew...

www.jennygillespie.bandcamp.com

If Margo Price and Dori Freeman have turned heads with stunning album releases in 2016, they may have to shuffle along and make room for Carter Sampson. While the first two have a debut record as their common thread, WILDER SIDE is actually her fourth full release. However as this is the first time Carter’s music has crossed my path, it has all the freshness appeal of a debut record and thus the totally mesmerising effect of bowling you completely over. Carter’s voice is pure Oklahoma red dirt soul and refines its harshness to such an extent that being melted by the tone sends shivers down the spine. The ten songs that comprise this album are packed with memorable lines and are all accompanied by a delicate sound merging subtle twang with that of quintessential steel. This is a record designed for multiple plays and wearing it out will never dilute its endearing qualities. Two key features of Carter Sampson and her new record jumped straight out when digging a little deeper. Firs...

Is there a sharper, wittier and cooler artist treading the country music boards than Cale Tyson? Fair enough the sample pool of live musicians in the UK is hardly comparable to the excesses of Texas and Tennessee. However If one exists, they have a heck of a marker to surpass in this Nashville based Texan signed to British label Clubhouse Records. Otis Gibbs coined the phrase: ‘there are only two things that matter in art: those who make it and those who receive it; everything else is an artificial filter’. You can be rest assured that standing six feet from Cale Tyson while watching him perform in awe for ninety minutes tonight in Oxford, there was distinctly no artificial filter to be seen. It was raw, real and riveting from start to finish.  The live version of Cale Tyson is a major upgrade in 2016 thanks to a three piece band joining him on tour. This is starting from a lofty base of the impression Cale made last year when he toured as a duo with Pete Lindberg. Pete switche...

Here are a few brand new albums seeing the light of day in a purchasing capacity. Check out the artists websites for details of purchasing hard copies. Download versions are all available on UK ITunes with no doubt other digital platforms giving you an option.  www.jeremynail.com www.blairdunlop.com www.judithowen.net www.facebook.com/JoanaSerrat Purchase from Loose Records "Cross The Verge, just as its name promises, shows us another side of Joana Serrat, who so enchanted audiences on her 2014 album Dear Great Canyon. On Cross The Verge, her third album, Joana lays bare all the cracks, inconsistencies and fears that come with life, with the album revealing itself to be an especially beautiful tribute to the acknowledgment of loss and the acceptance of the uncertain."

If Mandolin Orange has been on the periphery of my horizon for a while, they parked at the front door last night with a debut show in Birmingham. This duo from North Carolina have been hoovering up praise for quite a while and reside in good company since their last albums were released on the Yep Roc record label. The latest UK tour sees the pairing of Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin pay a visit to the usual Americana and roots haunts with the addition this year of a visit to Birmingh-u-m (no errors in pronunciation from the band). It appears that this was the same team that put the Bros. Landreth show on in March and similarly this event was also impeded by a venue change. While it is laudable that such fine artists are being brought to the area, surely word needs to get out more that great music is in town. Those last few words are indisputable on the evidence of Mandolin Orange’s performance in the upstairs room of Moseley’s Dark Horse pub. Pouring their authentic vocals and har...

There was a strong message from tonight’s show that audiences can be built in venues outside an artist’s hinterland. Bedford based singer-songwriter Danni Nicholls took a chance on booking a show at Birmingham’s Kitchen Garden Café twelve months ago with this subsequent return visit yielding a substantial upgrade in attendees. Danni knows full well the value of organic growth and this turnout was a testament to the absolute quality of her music. Word must have obviously got around and importantly the new album has been bedded in since getting a formal release in October. Numbers aside, catching Danni live is a worthwhile investment of your recreation time especially if you like a little edge to elaborate well-crafted songs. Apart from the audience size upgrade, Danni’s stage show has doubled in number with the addition of Max Milligan on lead guitar, providing a twin acoustic assault on a set of tunes rich in roots pedigree. Although Max did partner Danni on a lower key visit to t...

Any artist that lists Sturgill Simpson, Diana Jones and Old Crow Medicine Show as its associates has been working in good company. Throw in the effects of these associations and you are certainly heading in the right direction. Daniel Meade is the fortunate artist to be in this position and he is set to reveal a new record to audiences at the end of May. Billing the record alongside the memorable name of his band, the Flying Mules, Daniel retains the successful formula from his debut release and unleashes eleven cracking tunes to those within its listening vicinity. LET ME OFF AT THE BOTTOM is an unapologetic rip roaring retro album, brimming with the classic combination of pacey efforts and more casual numbers. Whatever the vibes and tempo, each track adds value to the album with impeccable clarity. Daniel has been creating waves in his native Scottish music scene over the last couple of years, but a couple of recent link ups down south present the opportunity for a wider nationw...

www.corinnewest.com Album available here

Emotion, poise, voice and total immersion into the art of song writing, David Ramirez cuts the real deal figure of a guy destined to live by the means of the potent original song. Sweating out the passion of his deep rooted feelings via the medium of song took on both a literal and figurative sense at Tingewick Village Hall this evening. Maybe the heat was designed to replicate his Texas home, yet there was so much intensity in David’s performance there was little chance of a cooling impact on the audience. This was a performance hardened by the road, raucous joints and someone seemingly seeking solace in the wealth of their craft. Commercially and structurally, some will call this folk or Americana music; the reality sits with the bulging need of expressing feelings and finding out that you are rather good at this singer-songwriter game. The music of David Ramirez came to me from a multitude of directions since the turn of year. First of all seeing this unknown name supporting ...