Judy Blank signs with Rounder Records Dinosaur single out now

February 03, 2025 by David Vousden in Americana, Indie, Roots

Netherlands-born but now Nashville-based Judy Blank has signed with the influential Rounder Records label. A new digital multi-track single 'Lil’ Mood' will be released on March 14th to coincide with an appearance at SXSW. In the meantime, check out the environmentally conscious ‘Dinosaurs’ for a taste of Blank’s eclectic sound, which, on this occasion, mixes a dreamy 1960s cool vibe with a 1980s synth soundscape. Blank will also be hitting the road in the USA, her native country, and even has a couple of shows pencilled in for the UK. Full details and the video for ‘Dinosaurs’ follow:

Sounds on Sunday featuring new music from Sean McConnell, Steve Hewitt and Cris Jacobs

October 20, 2024 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Country, Folk, singer-songwriter

A selection of new musical offerings to accompany a relaxed Sunday.

Silver Patron Saints - The Songs Of Jesse Malin due 20.09.24 3xLP | digital

June 11, 2024 by David Vousden in Alternative Rock, Americana, Compilation, New Single, News, singer-songwriter, Vinyl

Silver Patron Saints, a star-studded tribute and benefit album for musician and songwriter Jesse Malin, is set for release 20.09.24 on 3xLP | digital via Glassnote Records. As a taster for the set Bleachers aka Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Ray, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde etc) recently released a cover of Jesse’s ‘Prisoners of Paradise’. Jesse suffered a rare spinal stroke in May 2023 that left him paralysed from the waist down. All proceeds for Silver Patron Saints will go to Malin’s Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. More about Jesse Malin, Silver Patron Saints and the impressive range of musicians involved in the record follows:

The Americana Music Association UK announces UK Americana Music Week 2024, Monday 22 - Thursday 25 January in Hackney, London

November 27, 2023 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Country Rock, Roots, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

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:

Jesse Malin Injury update and donation links

July 05, 2023 by David Vousden in Alternative Rock, Americana, singer-songwriter

I was lucky enough to see Jesse Malin earlier this year on the London date of the tour promoting the 20th anniversary reimagining of his impressive debut album ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’. Jesse and his band delivered a blistering rock n’ roll show. My overriding memory of the show was the love Jesse has for the UK and the fans for him. After the show, Jesse made sure that if you wanted a picture, your album signed, or you just wanted to say hello, he would make that happen. A genuinely nice guy. Needless to say, it was devastating to hear of Jesse’s recent paralysing spinal stroke. More about Jesse and donation links to help with his ongoing medical care follow:

RGM presents The Maple Leaf #29

May 26, 2023 by Rich Barnard in singer-songwriter, Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Pop

And we’re back! “From whence?” I hear you cry, in your florid way. Back from Canada, of course. We swam all the way, on our backs, our music-loving arms filled with a freshly picked bunch of hot new songs, gifted to us from our creative compadres ‘cross the waves. Imagine that. And we did it all for you.

Red Guitar Music presents Tara MacLean 'That's Me' Video Exclusive

May 23, 2023 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, New Single, Premiere, singer-songwriter, Video, Exclusive, Americana

Tara MacLean wrote ‘That’s Me’ in 1994, aged just 21, amidst shadowy times and falling through a succession of harrowing trap doors – all described in her acclaimed memoir ‘Song of the Sparrow’. The memoir is accompanied by ‘Sparrow’ an album of new material and reimagined versions of older songs, including ‘That’s Me’. From a career point of view, ‘That’s Me’ would play an important role, as it was the first song Tara had placed in a film, but from a personal point of view, things are a little more complicated. I’d imagine it’s like looking at your younger self in a mirror and wondering what might have been... Red Guitar Music is very pleased to offer this exclusive presentation of the striking video for ‘That’s Me’ and details of Tara's upcoming UK tour dates:

The RGM Inbox: April 2023

April 14, 2023 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Country, singer-songwriter, Folk, AOR, Classic Rock, Melodic Rock

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.

The RGM Inbox: March 2023 Country Edition

March 03, 2023 by David Vousden in Americana, Country

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.

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #28

February 27, 2023 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Alternative Rock, Americana, Singer Songwriter, Video

My dear, dear, neglected reader. It’s been an entire year since I last brought you news of the finest Canadian sounds around; a lapse for which I can offer no worthy excuse. There will no doubt have been truckloads of tunes that have passed us by as a result, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about the musicians of Canada, it is that their riches flow ever in abundance. Just for you, I’ve scooped a few prize catches from 2023’s already quickening stream. These are songs I believe deserve to be held awhile in the light; to be marvelled at; to not go unsung into that digital ocean. So, boil the kettle, read on and get ready to make some new Canadian acquaintances.

Gareth Dunlop / Lee Rogers - The Past Is Never Dead new single from William Faulkner documentary

February 24, 2023 by David Vousden in Americana, Folk, Soundtrack

Gareth Dunlop and Lee Rogers enjoyed a busy 2022 as the Northern Irish singer/songwriters toured heavily throughout the UK, Europe and the USA, promoting a pair of albums that will stand the test of time and are rarely very far from the RGM stereo. With a close working relationship, and long-standing friendship, it’s hardly surprising that Gareth and Lee have started off 2023 working together on a superb new song that will feature in Faulker: The Past Is Never Dead, a new documentary about the acclaimed, if controversial, American author William Faulkner (The Sound and the Fury / As I Lay Dying). More about Gareth, Lee and the documentary follows, including the new single, film trailer etc.

Kate Ellis announces Limited Edition 'Spirals' LP with bonus track due March 3rd

February 23, 2023 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Country, New Single, News, Singer Songwriter, Tour Dates, Vinyl

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:

What's new on vinyl - February 2023

February 16, 2023 by David Vousden in singer-songwriter, Jazz, World Music, Americana, Free Download, News, Punk, Reissue, New Wave

In this occasional feature, RGM looks a look at a quartet of recent/upcoming releases on the good old LP. The vinyl resurgence continues to gather pace with artists and labels embracing technology that had been thought dead and buried nearly forty years ago. Personally, I own plenty of CDs and LPs and enjoy both, but I’ll readily admit there’s still something special about holding a record in your hands. The experience of sitting, listening and then getting up to flip over to side two feels right and, dare I say, comforting. I also seem to concentrate on the music more intently. Is it just me? With all this in mind, let’s check out an LP or four.

Canada House brings the very best Canadian music to UK Americana Music Week 2023

January 10, 2023 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Country Rock, Festivals, News, Roots, singer-songwriter, Blues, Folk

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:

The RGM Inbox - July 2022

July 15, 2022 by David Vousden in Americana, Classic Rock, Funk, New Wave, Country, Folk

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.

The RGM Inbox - May 2022

May 09, 2022 by David Vousden in Americana, Folk, singer-songwriter, Ambient

Welcome to the latest instalment of the RGM Inbox where we showcase a quartet of recent arrivals that have found us hitting repeat play. Three of the four are singer-songwriters, while the fourth comes from the world of Ambient and New Age music. What they all have in common is they’re done the hard miles to get to where they are now, producing cool new music as a result of their experiences. So please join us as we check out Mountain Time, Space Between Clouds, Freedy Johnston and Cujo Moon.

Beth Nielsen Chapman releases new single and announces instore appearances + UK tour

May 06, 2022 by David Vousden in Americana, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

Recently signed to Cooking Vinyl, Beth Nielsen Chapman has released ‘Hey Girl’ as a taster for an upcoming album ‘CrazyTown’ set for release on September 23rd. The single is a striking, full-on bluesy stomp in reaction to the 'Me Too' movement. 'Hey Girl' is a perfect fit for the current climate, or as Beth puts it “a celebratory shout out to our sisters making their way in the world.” Beth will be supporting her first new music since ‘Hearts Of Glass’ in 2018 with a series of intimate in-store performances before embarking on an extensive UK tour later this year. More about Beth, the single and ticketing details for those live dates follow:

The RGM Inbox - April 2022

April 15, 2022 by David Vousden in Alt-Country, Americana, Blues, Soul, Jazz

Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox for another of our occasional dives into the darkest reaches of the office laptop. There’s gold in them, there files. From a legendary band with millions of road miles in the rearview, and many more to come, to a jazz/blues guitarist with four decades of playing under his belt via a pair of acts rejuvenated by circumstances beyond their control. So please join us as we delve into jazz/blues and Americana.

The RGM Inbox – Scottish Edition

April 04, 2022 by Rich Barnard in Folk, Americana

We head north of the border for our latest edition of the RGM Inbox, where just lately we’ve been hearing some very fine things. Like all fine things, they are best shared. I know. We spoil you.

Free Downloadable Blues and Roots music samplers from CRS

January 06, 2022 by David Vousden in Americana, Blues, Roots

When it comes to the promotion of Americana, Blues and Roots music artists in Europe few can hold a candle to Continental Record Services in the Netherlands. They’ve had a banner year in 2021 and we’re pleased to be able to share the links to two free downloadable samplers featuring the very best in Blues and Roots music. Artists include Dean Owens, Martha Fields, Anna Elizabeth Laube, Big Daddy Wilson, Starlite Campbell Band, Robert Jon and The Wreck, Jim Keller and many more.