Eleanor Nelly – The Best is Yet to Come

The new EP from Eleanor Nelly is nothing short of superb. The Liverpool-based singer-songwriter has produced a record that is full of catchy tunes. They exude a new-found self-confidence that has emerged from the ashes of a previous relationship. No wonder the title declares that ‘The Best is Yet to Come’. On opening track ‘Colour-Blind’,Continue reading “Eleanor Nelly – The Best is Yet to Come”

Katy Hurt – Sounds Good in a Bar

‘Sounds Good in a Bar’ is already a fan favourite. But we at Belles & Gals think it might just win over a few more converts to the music of Katy Hurt. This, her new single, and the first to be released from her upcoming debut album, ticks all the right boxes. It offers theContinue reading “Katy Hurt – Sounds Good in a Bar”

Dan Jordan and The Warbirds – Road to Ruin

Dan Jordan and The Warbirds evade categorisation. They are poetry. They are music. They are outlaw country. They are moody blues. They are folk storytelling. They are heavy metal vocals. The only seminal thread that runs through their latest album, Road to Ruin, is main man Dan’s clear connection to the music of Bob Dylan.Continue reading “Dan Jordan and The Warbirds – Road to Ruin”

The Rising – No Hope Without Love

One of the privileges in discovering new artists is witnessing their progression from early single releases to a later, more refined sound. Over the course of time, the raw material with which they start out matures into something that comes to represent their core identity. And it is this identity, once found, that allows themContinue reading “The Rising – No Hope Without Love”

Jess Setterfield – Burned and Bruised

Jess Setterfield has gone straight for the honesty button with ‘Bruised and Burned’. She hits one of country music’s hallmarks with this, her debut single, about a failed relationship that was her own. It is full of sadness in the genre’s own inimitable way, expressed touchingly through such poetic lyrics as “I’m holding onto brokenContinue reading “Jess Setterfield – Burned and Bruised”

British Country Music Festival 2021 Review

If there was any doubting the strength of the UK’s country music talent then this year’s British Country Music Festival set the record straight. Back in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens after a two-year hiatus (for obvious reasons), the three-day event was a brilliant showcase for both established and emerging talent. There was plenty to enjoy acrossContinue reading “British Country Music Festival 2021 Review”

An Interview with Eleri Angharad

In this latest interview, I chat to Welsh singer-songwriter Eleri Angharad. It takes place in the form of a podcast, the third in a trial series in conversation with Welsh creatives. Eleri talks about her new EP, Nightclub Floor, as well as Swansea’s music scene, songwriting, her creative journey as a musician, and Welsh identity.Continue reading “An Interview with Eleri Angharad”

Katy Hurt – Face to Face

Katy Hurt is back with new music, and it expresses much of what we’ve been through over the last 18 months. ‘Face to Face’ is an ode to that universal feeling of separation and need for connection that we’ve all experienced, in different ways, throughout the pandemic. The line “We’re supposed to be closer thanContinue reading “Katy Hurt – Face to Face”

Daisy Chute – Secondhand Heart

The new single from Daisy Chute is terribly beautiful. ‘Secondhand Heart’ could be described as a tragic love story, told in the most delicate way. The strings of the guitar are plucked so gently, Daisy’s vocals meandering alongside them so naturally, as to give the track a dream-like quality. Snippets of jazz and touches ofContinue reading “Daisy Chute – Secondhand Heart”

Caitlin Mae – Perspective

Caitlin Mae is like a phoenix rising from the ashes on her debut EP ‘Perspective’. The Welsh artist has laid bare her pain and anguish over four tracks but has also introduced hope and healing into them too. Therein is contained a heady mixture of raw feeling and mature reflection as Caitlin looks to exorciseContinue reading “Caitlin Mae – Perspective”