Three Chords and the Truth UK

  www.kipmoore.net The danger of releasing a 23-track album when seeking a reset is a perceived lack of tightness required to appeal to a fresh listener base. Of course in this digital age a personal playlist in listenable chunks is one route though that requires initial intent. SOLITARY TRACKS frequently leans in a roots/heartland rock direction differentiating from what a lot of contemporaries churn out. You can comfortably lift an average album length number of tracks to successfully lure those not previously touched by the music of Kip Moore. An option that would work if chosen thus rewarding the endeavour. 

Prowling, peering, posing. Stand a few feet from Chuck Prophet in full charismatic flow and you feel his kinetic aura. Silver boots and band matching Nudie suit add to an effect driven by blistering rock ‘n’ roll and insightful songwriting. We are in the midst of a new identity. Likely borrowed but fitting for an artist where style nestles alongside substance. From Green on Red to Mission Express, the flavour is now an immersion into Cumbia influences. We bring you Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes. First a 2024 album and now a 2025 UK tour.  Chuck commented on the demise of The Musician in Leicester while acknowledging that it’s been a few years since visiting the city. To amend that omission, The International stepped up to play host and form a Midlands triangle with Nottingham and Birmingham. Whatever the overall impact in terms of attendance, a beguiled assembly of devotees and curious onlookers were locked into an hour and three quarter riveting set.  Cumbia music is sta...

www.alexhart.com Sometimes schedule alignment and a return visit can reap rewards. Alex Hart is the beneficiary and carving a mark in Stourbridge's limited live music scene is the result. Last May the Plymouth-based singer-songwriter made a surprise appearance at the day-long One Heart One Way Festival, an event held in multiple venues revolving around local favourites Neds Atomic Dustbin's Town Hall gig. Hart headlined a well attended evening in the now mothballed Talbot hotel alongside a few local acts and created sufficient impression to attract some returnees. In the wake of a full band booking on the Friday evening of Southport's popular Love Folk Festival, it was a smart move to seek an opportunity in Stourbridge on the way back to the south-west. This time the solo format was upgraded to a four-piece band and an availability in an upstairs room at the Town Hall proved an ideal location to play a show. Like most entertainment in Stourbridge Town Hall, whether in the m...

  www.danraza.com   One of the UK's 'best kept secrets' was quoted in the press blurb. Never has an assertion been so accurate for an artist. On the evidence of Dan Raza's third album, it's quite amazing that vast swathes of a relevant music landscape won't have come across him despite a couple of releases and being active for over a decade. I will partially join the list as being faintly aware but nothing to prepare me for the stunning array of songs on WAYFARER. Check this album out and a dozen tracks of immense quality will spring forth. This is seriously good songwriting wrapped in a classy musical package. What more could you ask for from a British artist intent on raising his profile. The title is another apt component of the record as it reflects Raza's nomadic experiences that proved the driver for this fine collection of songs. Good art often comes from its creator seeking different surroundings. Some take it to extremes and completely uproot their ...

www.deanowens.com   Dean Owens is one the most innovative and explorative musicians around. Championed by the UK Americana scene merely scratches the surface. His previous eleven albums have flirted with many musical facets from straight up country infused folk to sweeping brass-led cinematic sounds capturing the spirit of south-west USA and its border influences. A constant underpin is perceptive songwriting spun from personal and observational themes. SPIRIT RIDGE adds another dimension with a strong Italian input through working alongside acclaimed producer Don Antonio and recording it in the hills of Emilia Romagna. The result is a tantalising album that courts the listener with creative clarity while diving deep into sonic alliances and decorating personal messages with fetching tunes. The precursor for this album was a trio of EP releases in 2024 incorporating demos, floor cuttings and preview pieces. Whatever the merits of this commercial activity, there is no substitute for...

  www.campbelljensenmusic.com Fifteen months after Ashley Campbell and Thor Jensen made their Kings Heath debut, the couple popped back to the Kitchen Garden to establish their duo act as a serious proposition on the UK live circuit. A healthy attendance pushing towards capacity passed through Fletcher's to take root in a venue not known for its Friday evening gigs. Music tends to be a Sunday to Thursday operation at the Kitchen so it was interesting to see whether an incursion into the weekend changed the dynamics. Plenty of familiar faces gave one answer but a straw poll conducted from the stage revealed plenty seeing the duo for the first time. Therefore a general turnover in crowd from an equally well-attended event in November 2023. Whether you went to one or both of the shows, the impact, delivery and composition were similar. Two sets, two guitars, plenty of added banjo and a raft of songs spawning from multiple sources. The previous show was around the time of the first Cam...

www.colbyhelms.com It is not unusual for an American old time-traditional bluegrass influenced country artist to gain traction overseas and attract a decent following, often transcending genre devotees. Over the last 20 years, Old Crow Medicine show come to mind and just before lockdown Tyler Childers came to the fore. The latest hit is Billy Strings who attracts a huge audience for a frenetic old time roots style sound. It is early days to predict a trajectory for Colby T. Helms and so much is down to luck, influential backers plus an innate ability to reach out and connect. It would be a coup to think that humble beginnings among twenty-or so astute observers in a hidden city centre Birmingham studio was the start of something big. Yet there was so much assuredness, a composed style and flat out exported authenticity that just maybe, the trajectory will follow a similar path to the aforementioned peers. The Muthers Studio is not one of Birmingham’s most well-known  venues. Few as...

  www.massyfergusonband.com The number seven can have connotations of change and Massy Ferguson have fully embraced the notion. Across six albums, many shows and numerous overseas trips, this Seattle band cut a familiar and straight up sound flowing right to the core of fans smitten by good quality country rock. Maybe they have earned the right for an experimental delve that certainly provokes a reaction from established ears. Eleven tracks entering the world as the entity of YOU CAN’T TELL ME I’M NOT WHAT I USED TO BE rarely settle on a defining pivot and immediately rip up the Massy playbook. Preconception does play a part in forming an early evaluation and thus time may be required to fully align with the rhythm and mood of the record. By pure numbers, January is not the meatiest month for album releases and the record benefited from a clearer listening path. Previous Massy albums can thrive in light touch situations when a suitable backdrop is sought such as driving. Early list...