Sounds on Sunday featuring new music from Sean McConnell, Steve Hewitt and Cris Jacobs
A selection of new musical offerings to accompany a relaxed Sunday.
Read MoreThe Americana Music Association UK announces UK Americana Music Week 2024, Monday 22 - Thursday 25 January in Hackney, London
London’s Hackney will, once again, be the place to be in January 2024 when UK Americana Music Week returns to the borough. 22 - 25 January are the all-important dates, with events and artist showcases in multiple venues culminating in the UK Americana Awards Show. London fans are well served, with many more shows throughout the capitol during January and February. The full press release follows:
Read MoreThe RGM Inbox: April 2023
Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox. For this instalment, we check out four singer/songwriters. Two are still at the start of what will be successful careers; one has an Ivor Novello award on the shelf, while our final artist has sold millions of records and earned multiple Grammy awards but is still probably best known for his skills as a guitarist. They may work in a range of genres, but the one thing they all have in common is impressive new music to share.
Read MoreThe RGM Inbox: March 2023 Country Edition
Country music comes in all shapes and sizes, from the traditional to what we used to call Alt-Country to pop country. We’ve not even mentioned Americana, which covers any musical style with roots in the USA, from Folk to Gospel to Blues etc. We hope the RGM Inbox Country Edition will shine a light on the variations available so that even the most hardened naysayer might find something to enjoy in the genre. And to those who love country music, you might find something you’ve missed, so please join us.
Read MoreKate Ellis announces Limited Edition 'Spirals' LP with bonus track due March 3rd
Kate Ellis released her second album ‘Spirals’ in early 2022 to universal acclaim. A record blessed with lyrical depth that feels deeply personal but ultimately is universally accessible. You’d think ‘Spirals’ would be all melancholy moodiness, but Kate mixes things up, even finding room for a dalliance with county rock and a dash of country pop amongst the piano balladry and pedal steel textures. On March 3rd, ‘Spirals’ will receive a Limited Edition Numbered vinyl release with a bonus track from the album sessions ‘Hurt’, the Trent Reznor song immortalized by Johnny Cash. More about Kate Ellis, the album and an upcoming vinyl launch show at London’s Green Note follows:
Read MoreDiana Jones announces 'Better Times Will Come' reimagined album due April 7th + UK/IE tour dates
Widely acclaimed US singer-songwriter Diana Jones has announced the re-issue of her critically lauded 2009 album Better Times Will Come – Reimagined & Remastered on April 7th 2023, to mark the 15th anniversary of its recording. Diana and studio engineer Steve Addabbo (Bob Dylan) reimagined the album mixes and the running order while adding a previously unreleased song ‘Call Me Daddy' from the sessions. The new version of the title track, “Better Times Will Come”, featuring harmony vocals by Diana’s friend, the late Nanci Griffith and a newly found additional chorus, is out now. Its abiding message remains so timely, given the hardships of recent years and those still being felt today. You can check out the track below. To coincide with the release on April 7th on CD, Digital and, for the first time, vinyl via Proper Records. Diana will embark on a UK/IE tour to coincide, commencing April 14th, where she will play the entire album plus selected songs from throughout her career. More about Diana Jones, the album and the tour follows:
Read MoreCanada House brings the very best Canadian music to UK Americana Music Week 2023
Canada’s official Music Export platform, ‘Canada House’, returns to the UK for two days of music by 12 carefully curated Canadian artists at the UK Americana Music Week 2023, 23-26th January, in London. CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association) in partnership with Music PEI will be putting down roots at Moth Club in Hackney on the 24/25th of January to showcase the very best in Canadian music. The impressive list of artists includes Tara McLean, William Prince, Andrew Waite and Julian Taylor, to name but four. More about the UK Americana Music Week 2023 and the Canadian contingent follows:
Read MoreThe RGM Inbox - July 2022
Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox. This time we’ve a new venture for a man best known as the drummer for a legendary classic rock act and another artist who will release his debut solo album after a thirty-year hiatus from the music business exploring philanthropic causes. We round out our quartet with an Australian singer/songwriter based in France and throw in a curveball with a trio from Luton in the UK who would probably be more at home in a New York nightclub in the late 70s.
Read MoreRGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #26
The leaves have been falling for weeks and weeks, and I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been rather neglectful with the broom. Still, it’s never too late for a bit of a tidy up. What follows is a selection of the most golden and honeyed Canadian musical beauties to have drifted our way in the last couple of months. Sorry it’s taken us so long.
Read MoreThe RGM Inbox: October 2021
The RGM inbox returns with a typically eclectic selection of music for you, dear reader, to explore. We’ve a country cover tune by a Ska related duo and a pop-punk band from New Orleans both of whom have great videos for you to check out and that’s just for starters. Add a NYC singer-songwriter who played with the New York Dolls and now contributes to Anime soundtracks and another singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland returning to music after a fifteen year break spent winning awards as a tattooist. I did mention the selection was eclectic? There’s much to enjoy in the October edition of the RGM Inbox.
Read MoreKeb' Mo' announces new album 'Good To Be' for January 21st 2022 via Rounder Records
Guaranteed to brighten your day is ‘Good Strong Woman’ from Keb’ Mo’. The single featuring Darius Rucker is from his upcoming album ‘Good To Be’ and is one of three tracks from the album co-produced by Vince Gill. The album was written between Nashville and Compton merging country, blues, soul and geographical influences. Other guests on the album include Old Crow Medicine Show and Kristin Chenoweth. The video for ‘Good Strong Woman’ was released today (October 14th) and it’s full of positivity and good vibes. More about Keb’ Mo’ and the upcoming album follows:
Read MoreThe RGM Inbox: July 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox, an occasional feature where we shine a light on a quartet of artists worthy of your time. Some names you might know, some you might not, but either way, it’ll all be good.
Read MoreThe RGM Inbox: Country Edition #3
Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox with an emphasis on all things country. This feature is designed to show there’s much more to country music than big hats, and to highlight the range of good music that resides in the country section of your local record store (if you’re lucky enough to have a local record store). In this issue, we’ve got a couple of Canadian artists ready to rub shoulders with those Nashville folks while one of the biggest new names in country music is looking back on his alt-rock roots and a nice slice of country-pop from a Nashville based artist rounds out this latest edition of the Country Inbox.
Read MoreThe RGM Inbox: May 2021
Are you looking for new and interesting music? Well, if so, you’ve come to the right place. The latest Inbox feature from RGM has music from both sides of the Atlantic and a detour to visit our friends in Australia. The journey was most worthwhile as we unearthed some great new music and a demonstration of a cover tune done right. Check it out and we’ll be back very soon with more musical gems.
Read MoreRGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #23
Welcome back to The Maple Leaf, RGM’s roundup of the freshest and finest tunage from Canada. By way of atoning for a longer absence than usual, we’re offering you a special double-helping of new music across the genres. Everyone is welcome here at RGM and we like to think we can spot a keeper, however it’s dressed. We hope you enjoy what you hear and that you’re inspired to take a deeper dive into some of this edition’s featured artists.
Read MoreThe RGM Inbox: Country Edition #2
The first country edition of the RGM Inbox was really well received so we’re back with another collection of country artists to check out. This edition features a range of music from acts that are more than happy to embrace the past and keep things old school to artists firmly in the modern Nashville mainstream. Which style do you prefer?
Read MoreThe RGM Inbox: Country Edition
Do you like country music? It’s a simple question but very hard to answer as, probably more than any other genre, country music absorbs whatever is happening musically on the pop charts. With this in mind, pop-country has ruled the roost in recent times with mixed results. Thankfully those annoying finger snaps and hip-hop influenced beats are slowly disappearing and a grittier more traditional approach to storytelling can always be found. My taste is more geared towards songs delivered via Southern/Country Rock/Americana acts, while I’ll always have a soft spot for the records my parents played when I was growing up by Johnny Cash, Don Williams, Crystal Gayle etc. I guess I’m lucky as my tastes are quite wide. What about you? It’s possible as RGM covers a host of musical genres that you don’t listen to country and stumbled upon this post accidentally in which case here are four recent/upcoming releases that might be of interest to get you started.
Read MoreL.A. collective The Wild West are looking for a 'Better Way'
There are very few positives that can be gleaned from the Covid-19 pandemic but one small ray of light has been how artists have embraced technology and worked together to spread a little positivity. A case in point is The Wild West and their ‘Better Way’ single which is out now via the Blackbird Record Label The Wild West features a host of Los Angeles based singer-songwriters who will be familiar to many via their solo work namely Manda Mosher, Tawny Ellis, Heather Anne Lomax, Amilia K. Spicer, Pi Jacobs and Deb Morrison. A pretty impressive collective I’m sure you’ll agree and needless to say the harmonies are suitably glorious. Please read on to check out the video for ‘Better Way’ and learn much more about how The Wild West came to be:
Read MoreMorgan Wade gets 'Reckless' March 19th, 2021
Virginia native Morgan Wade has been making waves recently via a string of excellent sessions on youtube with OurVinyl and SomerSessions that highlight a fantastic voice singing hard-hitting songs of failed relationships, addiction, mental health and just all-around finding your way in the world. Wade has hooked up with Sadler Vaden, long-time guitarist for Jason Isbell as well as an acclaimed solo artist, to produce and Paul Ebersold to engineer ‘Reckless’ her debut album set for release via Thirty Tigers on March 19th. Capturing the essence of an artist like Wade, who works so well in an acoustic setting belting out tunes with emotion and conviction, can be a difficult job but the initial signs are good as evidenced by ‘Wilder Days’ and Don’t Cry’. Please read on to learn a little more about Morgan Wade and hear tracks from the album.
Read MoreRGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #19
As it’s the season for giving, we’ve put together a special bumper edition of The Maple Leaf Roundup, bringing you not five but ten - yes, ten! - new tracks from our copaines Canadiens. Think of it as an early Christmas gift - a mellifluous mixtape of must-hears you might not have otherwise met.
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