Review: Kate Rusby LIFE IN A PAPER BOAT
Kate Rusby LIFE IN A PAPER BOAT Pure records 4.5 stars Another gem from the award winning Yorkshire folkie Soon to be celebrating 25 years in the folk business, Kate Rusby albums never fail to impress and LIFE IN A PAPER BOAT is up there with the best. Kate’s fragile but hauntingly beautiful vocals are perfectly suited to the mix of self-penned and traditional numbers. Producer husband Damien O’Kane has done a sterling job and there is nothing approaching a sub-standard track on the album. Rusby has surrounded herself with some of the best supporting musicians from the folk world with Dan Tyminski and Ron Block from Alison Krauss’ Union Station guesting on a couple of tracks. Her song writing is as innovative as ever and I really loved the imaginative lyrics on ‘Hunter Moon’ and the two songs with a seafaring theme, ‘The Mermaid’ and of course, the title track. Just one cover, Archie Fisher’s The Witch of Westmorland; a great tale of a witch with amazing healing powers. One bonus track is included; the catchy Big Brave Bill, a ‘Superman’ like character from Barnsley who comes to the rescue on numerous occasions and derives his strength from drinking
Review: Emily Maguire A BIT OF BLUE
Emily Maguire A BIT OF BLUE Shaktu Records **** Haunting landscapes and imagery rich songs Emily Maguire, the British born
Review: The Western Flyers WILD BLUE YONDER
The Western Flyers WILD BLUE YONDER Versa Tone Records 4.5 stars Fresh take on a classic American art form Sounding
REVIEW: Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage BEFORE THE SUN
Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage BEFORE THE SUN Sungrazing Records 4 stars Magical folk harmonies For the follow up to
Interviews
BST Hyde Park returns in style!
BST Hyde Park has returned in style with Sir Elton John curating the line-up on day one and finishing off with a two and a half hour hit-filled set. With
Cam: Coming out ‘The Otherside’
Dashing off after University lectures in 2015, with a spring in my step, I was keen to see Carrie Underwood performing as part of Apple Music Festival alongside British support
New Single from The County Affair Ahead of Festival Dates
‘Beach’ is the new single from Americana duo The County Affair, released on 17th June 2022 on X & Y Records The single follows The County Affair’s 2021 debut album
Joshua Hedley: To a 90s Honky Tonk
Joshua Hedley has always prided himself on crafting songs that lyrically speak to todays society, all set to a classic country backing track. His latest album ‘Neon Blue’ born out
Shy Carter: Taking Centre Stage
Shy Carter instantly built a rapport with the audience when he played at CMA Songwriters the night before Country 2 Country. He knew how to work the stage and his
Thomas Rhett: Where We Started
Thomas Rhett grins as he prepares to tell me about his latest record, just months after becoming a father for the fourth time. “I feel like every time we talk
Kristian Bush: Musings of a Music Genius
The first country album I owned myself was Sugarland’s ‘Love On The Inside’. That record had everything but at it’s heart was great storytelling lyrics, and fun loving, summery arrangements
Callie Twisselman: In Her Idols Footsteps
Callie Twisselman was one of the standout performers on the smaller festival stages at Country 2 Country. The California native in her cow-print jacket strutted up and down the Indigo
Live Reviews
BST Hyde Park returns in style!
BST Hyde Park has returned in style with Sir Elton John curating the line-up on day one and finishing off with a two and a half hour hit-filled set. With
Cam: Coming out ‘The Otherside’
Dashing off after University lectures in 2015, with a spring in my step, I was keen to see Carrie Underwood performing as part of Apple Music Festival alongside British support
New Single from The County Affair Ahead of Festival Dates
‘Beach’ is the new single from Americana duo The County Affair, released on 17th June 2022 on X & Y Records The single follows The County Affair’s 2021 debut album
Joshua Hedley: To a 90s Honky Tonk
Joshua Hedley has always prided himself on crafting songs that lyrically speak to todays society, all set to a classic country backing track. His latest album ‘Neon Blue’ born out
Shy Carter: Taking Centre Stage
Shy Carter instantly built a rapport with the audience when he played at CMA Songwriters the night before Country 2 Country. He knew how to work the stage and his
Thomas Rhett: Where We Started
Thomas Rhett grins as he prepares to tell me about his latest record, just months after becoming a father for the fourth time. “I feel like every time we talk
