Three Chords and the Truth UK

  www.laurenmorrow.com Lauren Morrow sings like a free spirit on an album hot footing it on numerous grounds with the intent to reflect influence and desire rather than court scenes. The 'lead not follow' mantra is adopted on PEOPLE TALK with the cumulative effect that it doesn't take too much digging to take something positive. Although tentative steps to detach from her Whiskey Gentry past have been taken since pre-pandemic days, this new full length release is a major leap. Morrow alongside her husband and musical partner Jason curate an accomplished band of songs, largely applied with a sophisticated polish that by design only touches the edges of conforming genre traits. However the traits Lauren Morrow purveys are multi-dimensional in a wider music sense from refined vocals, accomplished musicianship and songs that make an indent.  A neatly rounded ten songs form the body of this album, duly weighing in at the optimum forty minutes. The archetype album configuration f...

  www.angelaperley.com On her second outing as a solo-billed artist Angela Perley invites all-comers to join her on a rambling roam down a song-laden highway littered with used instruments, discarded lyric notebooks and scattered dreams. TURN ME LOOSE rummages through this debris, pieces it together and transforms it into an esteemed road companion. This ten-strong collection of original tunes dresses in garments picked from rock, country and Americana thrift stores before strutting proudly down a dusty catwalk with music shining from the head, heart and soul.  From its Ohio base the music travels further than highways and interstates reaching the autobahns and motorways. From sharing stages with the likes of Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams, Perley thrives in an ambassadorial role twisting her take of homeland inspired sounds into an international entity. Seasoned listeners will take their pick of associates, easily sourced from decades of bands plugging in and turning thei...

  A line up to get bluegrass fans salivating. On the other hand if you have yet to dip your toe into the deep well of this timeless artform, then the self-titled album from this 'jam for all seasons' could just be the entry point. Mighty Poplar live up to the name, at least in the first part. Noam Pikelny and Chris Eldridge hone their craft in the Punch Brothers. while Andrew Marlin does similar in Watchhouse. Alex Hargreaves plays fiddle with Billy Strings and to complete the line up bassist Greg Garrison enforces the rhythm with Leftover Salmon. Names and associations are one thing; tuning into the magical sounds emanating from this collaboration lay the wares on the table for all to savour. Across a joyous forty-two minutes Mighty Poplar toy with, celebrate and fine tune works from well known names such as Bob Dylan, Carter Family, Leonard Cohen and Martha Scanlan, among bluegrass classics and standards. Ten songs and tunes get the utmost respect and are decorated with...

www.jarroddickenson.com The most important part of this show was Jarrod Dickenson getting the opportunity to take songs from an elongated project out on the road for folks to enjoy in a unfiltered setting. These songs surfaced as a body of work earlier this year and a consensus soon emerged of this being an album moving the dial of this exiled Texan a lot further forward.  There were many bumps in the road hindering the process of getting BIG TALK out including a major record label conflict. So a bump in the UK tour preparation was just another hurdle to cross. On the eve of setting out on this run of dates, the  drummer was beset with multiple problems, hence a re-think on the rhythm front. Cue engaging the services of local multi musician David Ford and the utilisation of electric bass and kick drum. Innovative and practical in light of losing one of the key components of taking this new batch of songs on the road.  Joining the usual pairing of husband and wife team Jar...

  www.stevedawson.ca Nashville-based Canadian Steve Dawson serves up a real heady mixture of American roots music in his latest record that caps an extremely busy period of committing his bubbling projects to commercial status. Hot on the heels of a brace of 2022 releases, Dawson steps onto a higher plateau with a new album spinning the plates of many ideas, influences and ports of call. Drawing on exceptional talent from within and probably more perceptively from a wide contact resource bank, we are served an eleven-track mix that possesses many coats without diluting standards. EYES CLOSED DREAMING is an album to ferment over time and become a valued reference point.  Co-written originals mingle with choice covers wedged in between a couple of instrumentals to keep the album in perpetual motion. There is a level of intellectual grandeur when delving into the work of Steve Dawson. Not only do the songs and tunes measure up well, but you get the extra gift of learning more abo...

  www.tapestrimusic.com Crisp and accomplished; delicate and resourceful, the hushed vocals and lush harmonies shine a bright light on Welsh duo act Tapestri who unveil their wider talents on the music community with the release of a debut album. TELL ME WORLD harnesses the attributes of experienced performers Lowri Evans and Sarah Zyborska and you have a record capable of making a significant impression in an ever competitive market. Ten tracks combining bi-lingual titles form this record and represent the proud status of the two players representing the north and south of their heritage. Outside of the Tapestri project, Sarah Zyborska recorded under the name Sera and was the architect of a very good 2016 album titled LITTLE GIRL, while Lowri Evans is a widely experienced solo singer-songwriter. For those who missed their previous work, the new record is a good starting point.  Most of the tracks are co-written with the odd two out being ' She's a Lover' , the sole creatio...

www.rachelbaiman.com We can't be far off the end of re-staged postponed shows arising from the pandemic. A major one in Birmingham is Gretchen Peters' upcoming Town Hall date. On a smaller scale, Rachel Baiman finally made it to the city with a headline show to offer folks another glimpse of her innate talent. Things have moved on rapidly since this event was first announced. Not only has there been a new album in the shape of 2021's CYCLES but these eventual run of dates are the prelude to another new release due out at the end of March. Other factors have likely contributed to the delay. Since the return of touring, Rachel has played over here with Kris Drever and recently opened for Sierra Hull. This demonstrates a commitment to the UK market, which began when her previous band 10 String Symphony had their music pitched over here. Rachel Baiman is no stranger to the West Midlands. She has twice played Thimblemill Library in neighbouring Sandwell. The first was a packed 2...

  www.dannienicholls.com From one angle nothing changes; from another angle a lot changes. Danni Nicholls played her first Kitchen Garden show back in 2015. Over the next 8 years several visits have built a decent following to the point where she gets inked in for many to catch up with what she is doing. There was plenty to catch up with from tonight's show alongside many timely reminders to why she has been a firm favourite in many quarters for the last decade.  One significant development has been engaging the services of Bedford-based guitarist Sam Barrett for UK shows whose versatility extended to acoustic and electric guitars, and fiddle. Danni has played in duo and full band formats, but there was something extra special in her latest highly talented and hugely complementary accomplice.  We are now in the midst of Danni literally living the dream as her American status has shifted from tourist to extended temporary resident. Much of her music has been reco...

  www.brigidoneill.com Irish singer-songwriter Brigid O'Neill gets to the core of her craft in an album sailing the contours of melodic bliss. THE TRUTH & OTHER STORIES is a lyrical sparkler brushed up into a complete package on the back of a team that hones the art of polishing willing gems while maintaining an organic demeanour. Not a second is wasted in this supreme act of optimal music-making as eleven classy tracks merge into a prime listening experience. This Nashville-influenced Ulster-born artist is the latest songwriter to get the Neilson Hubbard makeover and fall into the laps of actively acute ears.  The sound generated by O'Neill bubbles at the tipping point between fresh and sultry. It soaks up many influences in the early stages before finding explicit homes with a slinky jazz feel in ' Midnight Magic Club' and cracking the country code in the adorable ' Messy Path '. The latter echoes the spirit of Patsy and the breathing vibes of Dolly to ma...

The art of song was splendidly celebrated in this co-headlined gig blessed with many differences and similarities. Away from the day job, Thimblemill Library challenges its community to engage with music, theatre and forays into spoken word. This evening it mixed and matched with a captivating display of unaccompanied song and a multi-facetted performer choosing to juxtapose the presentation with their solo take on musical song. The dovetailed sets of South London vocal duo Ben and Dom and Birmingham's very own champion of music diversity and inclusivity Katy Rose Bennett sparkled as entities and twice came together to share the wonder of collaborative song. It was back to the good old days of a packed library turnout. Whatever the motives, memories are laid and habits formed. From the first vocal harmony on the stroke of 7:30 to the final simple chord strummed just shy of 10, a packed show of mutual engagement illuminated the art decor environment and reminded us of the magic of l...

www.courtneymarieandrews.com A guitarist in a diamond tank top. A drummer/vocalist with a beard and mop of hefty hair. A bassist equipped with mullet and baseball cap. A front person steeped in Laurel Canyon mind and glamour. It was like a fictional episode of the Old Grey Whistle Test circa 1973. Folk rock ebbing between quaint singer-songwriter fare and more voluminous servings scaling the decibels. This was no fiction; this was real. Courtney Marie Andrews and band 2023-style portraying a beguiling awe while blending new songs with old to take a contemporary seminal artist onto a higher plane. The feel seemed different to 2021 as well as 2018 and the other times a band led by this Arizona-raised wandering artist has set sail for European shores. Our mind sometimes plays tricks and lauds the present as greater than the past. It's all conjecture though, but there is no harm in hailing this Courtney Marie Andrews band performance in the Trinity Centre in Bristol as the best yet. Mi...

  www.newearthfarmers.net The New Earth Farmers is a duo into a third name change, but for all purposes are a new act to fresh ears who can now enjoy a debut release under the current moniker. THE GOOD ONES GOT AWAY doesn't hang around long, yet leaves a strident mark that stakes a claim to resonate. 7 tracks joined by a 30-second interlude present a 25-minute album that lands as a part-cosmic - part-quirky escalating rocker.  The duo of Paul Knowles and Nicole Storto take the route of warming the listener up rather than diving head deep into the full intensity of their powerful repertoire. Three opening tracks curiously set the scene before launching the rocket that dominates the presence. 'Oh Mary' treads a slightly psychadelic path as album opener before ebbing into the curiously received and gently strummed ' My Dog God' . Things start to get twangy and a smite scratchy in ' The Universe is Hiding '. Seatbelts need securely fixing for the impending lift...

  www.karenjonasmusic.com Karen Jonas never disappoints when making music that turns heads and invites listeners to will her to greater heights. Past albums have teased and tantalised those trying to work out who Karen Jonas is as an artist aside from the all-important accolade that she writes and presents music that duly entertains. Comparisons with past work inevitably comes into play when a new release emerges. From a high bar this Virginia-native makes a giant leap forward and forcefully demonstrates that positive evolution is the only game in town. THE RESTLESS is a supremely crafted album showcasing an artist seemingly at ease with their musical calling. The big clue is the uncut spoken ending "Ok I'm happy now". A feeling concurred from repeated deep dives into an album full of fascinating allure. The trio that eventually brought their music to Europe last summer significantly moved the marker of Karen Jonas forward. Tim Bray, who particularly excelled when witness...