Deer Tick announce 'Mayonnaise ' compilation and November 2018 UK dates

October 10, 2018 by David Vousden in Alternative Rock, Americana, Compilation, News, Tour Dates

Deer Tick are fast becoming a bit of a favourite here at RGM towers. Thanks to a terrific live show earlier this year in London and the two albums they released late last year entitled ‘Vol 1’ and ‘Vol 2’. Most bands would now be putting their feet up but Deer Tick are back with a 13 track collection ‘Mayonnaise’ due Feb 1st 2019 via Partisan which contains alternative versions of tracks from the albums, cover tunes of songs they played on the tour and new material. The guys are also back in the UK for a run of shows in November which is pretty cool. More about the band and ‘Mayonnaise’ follows:

The Gary Douglas Band 'Deep In The Water' due October 12th

October 03, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Classic Rock, News, singer-songwriter, Video

The Gary Douglas Band will release their new album ‘Deep In The Water’ on October 12th. GDB deliver heartland rock n' roll and melodic reflection in equal measure with their blue-collar take on the American dream, which is sure to appeal to fans of Springsteen, Mellencamp, Seger etc. One listen to the title track or rousing opener ‘River Road’ and it’s obvious Gary Douglas has something to say about the state of his home country and the world we live in today. The video for ‘Nothing Ever Goes As Planned’ and more about The Gary Douglas Band follows:

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Round-up #3

September 28, 2018 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Alternative Rock, Americana, News, singer-songwriter, Soundcloud, Video

Our latest gathering of Canadian grooviness is, shockingly, an all-male affair. Fear not, though, because two Canadian female geniuses are going to be the focus of imminent full-length album reviews… watch this space. But for now, here is a roundup of the latest Canadian boys making (in our opinion) the bossest noise.

Tenille Townes 'Somebody's Daughter' video + October 2018 UK tour dates

September 26, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, New Single, News, Tour Dates, Video

Tenille Townes will be in the UK in October 2018 for Country Music Week playing the CMA Songwriters Series and opening for Drake White (More CMA info). To coincide ‘Somebody’s Daughter’ the first video from her upcoming Jay Joyce produced album is available now. The album is set for release in 2019 via Columbia Nashville / Sony Music UK and you can check out the video for 'Somebody's Daughter' here @RGM along with more about Tenille Townes and those all-important tour dates.

The Moody Blues celebrate the 50th anniversary of 'In Search of the Lost Chord' November 2nd

September 21, 2018 by David Vousden in Box Set, Classic Rock, Deluxe Reissue, DVD / Blu-ray, News, Prog, Psych

The Moody Blues will release a 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of their classic third album ‘In Search of the Lost Chord’ on November 2nd via UMC. The 3CD/2DVD set includes a wealth of material with three versions of the album on the DVD Audio disc including a 96kHz/24-bit 5.1 Surround mix + a new stereo mix and the original stereo mix. The new and original mixes are also to be found on the CDs with a host of alternative versions and BBC session tracks. The Deluxe box set also includes a 76-page book. Other CD and vinyl variations will be available. A breakdown of the various releases, track listings and more about The Moody Blues follows:

Benjamin Folke Thomas 'Modern Man' due November 9th via Aveline Records

September 13, 2018 by David Vousden in New Single, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates, Video

Benjamin Folke Thomas will release his new album ‘Modern Man’ via Aveline Records on November 9th. Regular readers of RGM will remember Benjamin as we reviewed his last studio album ‘Copenhagen’ back in 2017 (review link) with Rich Barnard claiming it featured “A diverse and very thoughtfully arranged set of songs”. If ‘Tasteless and Complacent’ the first single from the album is anything to go by then ‘Modern Man’ should be well worth seeking out. Benjamin Folke Thomas is currently on tour playing solo shows with John Murry and will embark on a run of headline shows with his full band on November 21st. More about Benjamin Folke Thomas, the video for the new single and those tour dates follows:

The Marcus King Band 'Carolina Confessions' due October 5th + UK Dates

August 22, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Blues, Classic Rock, News, Tour Dates

The Marcus King Band will release their latest album 'Carolina Confessions' on October 5th via Snakefarm Records. The album was produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson) at RCA Studio A in Nashville. To coincide the band will visit the UK for a short run of dates with shows in Bristol, London, Manchester and Glasgow. Two tracks from the album 'Homesick' and 'Welcome 'Round Here' are available to stream today. Both tracks and more about The Marcus King Band follows:

Liam Russell pleads 'No Contest' on upcoming EP

August 17, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, New Single, News, singer-songwriter

On October 5th (Update: release date pushed back a week from September 28th) Liam Russell will release the EP 'No Contest' via Hidden Pony/Slaight Music. The 30-year-old Russell is hardly a newcomer to the scene as he signed a major label deal at fifteen and has toured extensively (his dad is Canadian musician Brent Titcomb so music was obviously in his blood) but 'No Contest' is a new beginning for the singer-songwriter. The first music released from the EP is the excellent 'Half Chance' which should whet your appetite nicely. More about Liam Russell and the new EP follows including a stream of 'Half Chance':

Tyler Childers announces September 4th London show

August 07, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

To mark the UK physical release of 'Live on Red Barn Radio I & II' via Thirty Tigers on August 31st Tyler Childers will return to the UK for a show at London's Dingwalls on September 4th. The date is Childers' only UK show as part of a run of European dates. The Red Barn recordings are from 2013 and were previously only available on digital platforms so this physical release will be welcomed by fans of his Sturgill Simpson produced 'Purgatory' release. More about Tyler Childers follows:

Longbranch/Pennywhistle to receive welcome standalone CD and Vinyl release September 28th via Geffen/UMe

August 06, 2018 by David Vousden in Country, Country Rock, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

Longbranch/Pennywhistle the only album by Glenn Frey and JD Souther will see a welcome release on CD and 180-gram vinyl on September 28th. The album was released earlier this year as part of the Glenn Frey - Above The Clouds box set and sounded great (RGM Review here). So if you missed the box, or never managed to find an original copy of this rare album on vinyl, this is a must. Longbranch/Pennywhistle finds two artists at the start of their careers and really is pretty much essential for all Eagles fans. More about the release and details of upcoming JD Souther North American tour dates follows:

JP Harris to release 'Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing' October 5th

August 02, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News

After a four year hiatus, JP Harris returns with his third album 'Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing' on October 5th via Free Dirt Records. Produced by Old Crow Medicine Show member Morgan Jahnig 'Sometimes Dogs' has that honesty and sincerity that you only seem to get with old-school country. The first single from the album 'When I Quite Drinking' gets me thinking that 'Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing' will be essential listening come October. More about JP Harris, the album and a stream of the single follows:

CMA Songwriters Series returns to UK for October tour

July 31, 2018 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Americana, Country, Festivals, News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

The CMA Songwriters Series will return to the UK in October 2018 for a run of shows with the London date part of Country Music Week. The tour, which will also include dates in Gateshead, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow will be hosted by Chris DeStefano with two other artists also making their UK debuts in Kassi Ashton and Tenille Townes alongside a name very familiar to UK audiences Ashley Campbell. The two hour seated show will find the artists performing and telling the stories behind their songs. Tickets are on sale from Friday, August 3rd. Ticket details, the full tour dates and more about the artists and the CMA follows:

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #2

July 30, 2018 by Rich Barnard in Alternative Rock, Showcase, singer-songwriter

The great, good, weird and wonderful music of our Canadian cousins keeps popping up in the RGM lunchbox, erm, I mean inbox, so we are pleased to present our latest roundup of the artists from across the water that you ought to include in your daily diet.

New Michael Kratz featuring Mindfeels single out today July 23rd

July 23, 2018 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, AOR, New Single, News, Tour Dates

Michael Kratz might be a new name to many readers of RGM but the Danish singer-songwriter is well known in AOR circles. His recent 'Live Your Life' album featured contributions from David Garfield, Michael Landau and Steve Lukather (Toto), which should give you an idea of the quality of the release. Michael needed a band to perform at the launch party for the album and Italian label mates Mindfeels stepped up for the evening (Mindfeels released their debut album 'XXenty' last year to acclaim from the AOR / Melodic Rock community as it lived up to the Toto influences their name implies). The combination of the two acts proved a great success and Michael has again partnered with Mindfeels for his new single 'Dragging Me Outside' which is a superb example of westcoast AOR complete with a rousing chorus, plenty of keys and a perfectly placed guitar break. A streaming link to 'Dragging Me Outside' and more about Michael Kratz follows:

Chris Stills 'Don't Be Afraid' due Sept 7th + UK dates

July 10, 2018 by David Vousden in News, singer-songwriter, Tour Dates

Chris Stills has announced the UK release of his first album in over a decade 'Don't Be Afraid' on September 7th. To support the album Chris will be visiting the UK for a run of shows in November. A digital deluxe release of the album will feature two additional songs one of which 'Hard To Please' you can check out here at RGM alongside more about the album and what Chris has been up to recently in the worlds of music, TV and film:

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #1

June 21, 2018 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Alternative Rock, Americana, New Single, News, singer-songwriter, Showcase, Folk, Ambient

Arts funding for music in Canada means that there is a very healthy scene for up-and-coming acts. Lots of these artists reach out across the water and we’re always pleased to find their little musical messages-in-bottles washing up on the beaches of RGM Island. There’s something new and exciting there almost every day, little gems glinting on the sand as we walk the dogs along the shore. Sadly, we’re so busy writing daft metaphors we don’t have time to cover everything we’d like to in depth, so we’ve assembled a little roundup of the very best Canadian things that have come to our attention in the last couple of weeks. Keep your eyes and ears on the names and remember you (probably) heard about them first at Red Guitar.

No Coward Soul announce July 14th album launch show for 'The Almanac'

June 19, 2018 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News, Tour Dates

London based Americana act No Coward Soul will celebrate the physical release, on CD and limited edition vinyl, of their debut album 'The Almanac' on Saturday, July 14th at London's Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen. The album was produced by Jamie Evans (Wildwood Kin) and features a soulful take on classic country with very impressive harmonies, so a great show is on the cards. More about No Coward Soul including a taster from the album 'Death N' Texas' follows:

Counting Crows and Alison Krauss confirmed for BluesFest 2018

June 18, 2018 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alternative Rock, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Classic Rock, Country, News, Tour Dates

BluesFest 2018 at London's O2 was already looking like a pretty special few days and now looks even better. Counting Crows are to headline the Sunday night of the festival and they will be joined by Alison Krauss who will also play a full set with The White Buffalo in support. I think you'd have to agree that this is a very impressive line-up for the closing night of BluesFest 2018. Previous coverage of BluesFest can be found here. More about the artists and the festival follows including ticket details:

Tom Baxter returns with 'The Other Side of Blue' on August 17th

June 15, 2018 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, News, singer-songwriter

Tom Baxter will return to the spotlight with his first official release in a decade on August 17th, 2018. The singer-songwriter is probably best known for the Ivor Novello nominated 'Better' single from his 2008 'Skybound' release. 'The Other Side of Blue' finds Baxter as a true solo artist with just guitar or piano for company on a set of songs that were shaped by changes in his personal circumstances over the last few years. In a recent Scott matthews review here at RGM Rich Barnard included Tom in his songwriters that "help to restore my ailing faith in humanity" which is high praise indeed. More about Tom Baxter and the new album follows:

Saxon reissues continue with three more albums on July 27th

June 14, 2018 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Deluxe Reissue, Hard Rock, Metal, News, Video, Vinyl

August 10th (please note new release date due to manufacturing issues) will see the release of the third wave of Saxon reissues with three more albums getting the deluxe media book/swirl vinyl treatment. The late 80's found Saxon in transition as the band line-up evolved and the 'Innocence Is No Excuse', 'Rock The Nations' and 'Destiny' albums are now ripe for re-evaluation. Once again these releases benefit from deluxe media book packaging for the CDs and impressively colourful vinyl (check out 'Rock The Nations'). The CDs will feature a host of bonus tracks including B-sides, demo and live tracks. A little more about Saxon, pre order links and track listings follow: