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Jimmy Sweet readily admits “I have a place in my heart for the over dramatic” and he's not kidding. His debut single, due December 1st, is a cover of the 1979 Buzzcocks tune 'You Say You Don't Love Me' given a melancholy twist. The result is an ultra cool reworking that features enough sweeping strings and massed voices to do Jim Steinman proud. More about Jimmy and a link to the single follows:
Read MoreBristol based singer-songwriter Katey Brooks will release a new single on December 1st. Produced by Darren Poole 'Will She' is the first taster from her upcoming second album 'We The People' due in 2018. The singer toured extensively in 2016 with dates in Europe, Australia and Canada before she concentrated on the recording of 'We The People' this year. To coincide with the single Katey will be embarking on a short UK tour with stops in London, Manchester, Glasgow and, no surprise, Bristol. More about Katey Brooks and a soundcloud link to 'Will She' follows:
Read MoreThe debut album from I'm With Her will be released February 16th, 2018 on the Rounder Records label. I'm With Her features a trio of artists blessed with considerable vocal and musical talent namely Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan. Needless to say this makes 'See You Around' one of the most anticipated releases lined up for 2018. The title track from the album is available now so please read on to check out the track, along with more about the trio, and those May 2018 UK dates:
Read MoreRegular RGM readers will need no introduction to Canadian singer-songwriter Colleen Brown who we featured on a UK tour back in 2015. Colleen has teamed up with fellow Canadians Scenic Route To Alaska for a new venture Major Love. The first new music from this partnership is the infectious 'Tear It Down' single with an album due early in 2018. More about the band and the video for 'Tear It Down' follows:
Read MoreTom Waits has remastered his Anti- catalogue and the reissue of the albums will commence on November 10th. Waits has referred to the process as “Necessary but cursedly laborious” but I'm sure fans will be keen to check out the new remasters which will include a completely new mix for the 'Real Gone' album. More details about the upcoming albums including release dates follows:
Read MoreGlen Hansard has announced the release of his third solo album 'Between Two Shores' due January 19th, 2018 via the ANTI- label. His 2015 'Didn't He Ramble' release was superb, as were the live shows in support of the album, so the RGM team are expecting great things. That appetite has been further whetted by the first new music released from the record 'Time Will Be The Healer'. Hansard will be hard at work touring all over in the wake of the album (he never stops it seems) with European dates set for February 2018. More about Glen Hansard, the new record and the first batch of tour dates follows:
Read MoreSinger/songwriter Matt Westerman bought a dash of Southern Californian sunshine and positivity to the RGM inbox this week. The track in question 'One Fine Day' is an impressively catchy introduction to his upcoming debut EP 'Life Out Loud' due November 3rd. RGM recently heard the EP and the likes of 'Wait and See' and 'Don't Give Up On You' are prime examples of acoustic based pop and should appeal to a wide audience. Please read on to check out 'One Fine Day' and learn a little more about Matt Westerman:
Read MoreThe much travelled, New Zealand born, singer-songwriter Bruno Merz will release 'Whisper Turn' on October 4th. The single is a highly impressive teaser, and the title track, from his new album due in early 2018. When your press release includes comparisons to Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, Iron and Wine etc you need to be able to hold your own but fans of his 2014 'Highways' release will need no convincing that Bruno Merz is a talent on the rise. This view is cemented by the achingly beautiful 'Whisper Turn'. More about Bruno Merz including a stream of 'Whisper Turn' follows:
Read MoreFresh from huge success at the C2C 2017 Drake White & The Big Fire will return to the UK as special guests of Kip Moore. The London show with Moore and a further headline show at The Borderline form part of Country Music Week which finds some of the biggest artists of the genre performing live in London. To coincide with the UK visit a new single 'Livin' The Dream' from the 'Spark' album is due October 13th. More about Drake and those dates follow:
Read MoreRicky Ross has announced a new solo album 'Short Stories Vol.1' due September 15th via earMUSIC. Fresh from the success of the most recent Deacon Blue album 'Believers' and an extensive tour to support the album, which was immortalised on the 'Live at the Glasgow Barrowlands' DVD (The London show from the tour RGM reviewed here). Ricky will again be hitting the road for a string of European dates. More about the album and those tour dates follow:
Read MoreThomas Rhett will release his new album 'Life Changes' on September 8th via Big Machine Records and the title seems a perfect fit as Thomas and his wife Lauren Akins welcomed the arrival of their second daughter Ada over the weekend. Rhett has developed a sound that perfectly embraces his country routes but adds an appreciation for pop and R & B that has seen his music embraced far beyond country music devotees. More details about the album, upcoming UK tour dates, a video or two (and maybe even a pic of the new arrival) follows:
Read MoreJD McPherson has released a video for 'Lucky Penny' the first taste of his upcoming album 'Undivided Heart & Soul' due October 6th, 2017. The video was shot where the album was recorded, the historic RCA Studio B in Nashville. So McPherson is following in the footsteps of Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves and Elvis (pretty impressive company). The album includes collaborations with artists from a range of genres including Parker Millsap and Butch Walker. An extensive press release and the video for 'Lucky Penny' follows:
Read MoreTexas country singer-songwriter Casey Donahue will be visiting the UK for the first time in October to play at the Texas Music Takeover festival which takes place from Oct 9th-16th in London. Much more about Casey including a video for 'Kiss Me' from his acclaimed 'All Night Party' album follows:
Read MoreRegular readers of Red Guitar Music will be no strangers to Denny Strickland. The Arkansas born, Nashville based, singer-songwriter featured in our country showcase slot earlier this year. I'm very pleased to report the promise of the single 'We Don't Sleep' hasn't proved to be a false dawn. The debut album 'California Dreamin' was recorded in Nashville with Sean Giovanni (Big & Rich, Randy Houser, Tyler Farr) at the helm. The album is now available and contains an excellent range of modern country music with definite chart potential.
Read MoreBrighton based Josh McGovern has released a new single 'The Devil Below Me' which finds the singer-songwriter contemplating his life and past mistakes. The results are dark, brooding and introspective and will appeal to fans of Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen. Dig a little deeper though and the versatility of McGovern's voice matched with a darkly spiky arrangement, that utilizes some particularly effective backing vocals, is sure to win the listener over and bodes well for future releases. The stream for 'The Devil Below Me' and a little more about Josh McGovern follows:
Read MoreLukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real will release their self-titled album on August 25th via Fantasy Records. Three tracks that capture a beguiling mix of country, rock and soul from the record are now available to share. When your dad is country legend Willie Nelson and you've been working with Neil Young in recent years then expectations are going to be set pretty high. Well, the good news is the three tracks are all excellent and showcase an album which sounds like it'll be very fine indeed. Please read on for more about Lukas, those tracks and even news of upcoming European tour dates.
Read MoreHowling Bells singer Juanita Stein will release her debut solo album 'America' on July 28th via the Nude Records label. The Australian born, UK based songwriter will also be playing plenty of UK shows this year with dates booked through into October. As a taster for the new record 'I'll Cry' has been released as a single and very good it is too. The single wears its Phil Spector and Roy Orbison influences well and would be an ideal fit for a David Lynch movie. Those tour dates and the video for 'I'll Cry' follow:
Read MoreWill Hoge will release his new album 'Anchors' August 17th, 2017 via Thirty Tigers. The album includes the single 'Little Bit Of Rust' featuring Sheryl Crow. Will Hoge will introduce the album with a run of solo UK shows in July prior to the album release. More about Will Hoge and those tour dates follow:
Read MoreA welcome new arrival in the RGM inbox this week introduced us to Russell Joslin and a track taken from his upcoming album 'Hey Mathematician' due August 21st 2017. The press release refers to the track entitled 'Shackles' as a "dark love song" and the video, which features Russell and girlfriend Sarah McCaig, is well worth your time. More about Russell Joslin, Sarah McCaig and the video for 'Shackles' follows:
Read MoreDanish singer-songwriter Mike Andersen returns with his seventh album ‘Devil Is Back’ on June 2nd 2017 via Nordic Music Society. Looking to expand his blues-soul palate Andersen teamed up with producer Mads Michelsen (The Gnags) and worked with a range of songwriters. This process included a trip to Nashville where collaboration with Heather Bond resulted in the first single ‘This Time’ a duet with Joss Stone. More about Andersen, his new album, and a link to ‘This Time’ follows:
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