The Southern Companion have taken various musical strands – country, rock, pop, blues, and Americana – and plaited them together to form a set of songs that make up their latest album, Shine a Little Light. Every song seems to have two or three layers to it, The Southern Companion seamlessly switching between slightly differentContinue reading “The Southern Companion – Shine a Little Light”
Tag Archives: country
Katy Hurt – Unfinished Business EP
It beggars belief how Katy Hurt remains unsigned. You would think that record companies would be queuing out the door for her signature. But if her second EP doesn’t turn the heads of music executives, their loss is our gain. Funded by the generous financial pledges of fans, Unfinished Business is a quality record, hittingContinue reading “Katy Hurt – Unfinished Business EP”
Stuart Landon – Outmanned, Never Outgunned EP
Released in amongst the sparkle and glitter of the Christmas season, Stuart Landon’s EP ‘Outmanned, Never Outgunned’ may have been missed by some. It is too good to let it pass by unnoticed however. If you’re preparing to pack away that festive playlist for another year, might I suggest replacing it with this fine recordContinue reading “Stuart Landon – Outmanned, Never Outgunned EP”
Midland – On the Rocks Tour
They were one of the highlights at Country 2 Country 2018. And now Midland are ending the year on a high here in the UK with their first headline tour a complete sell out. Last night, they stopped off at Gorilla in Manchester to perform to a packed and raucous crowd. They delivered a stunningContinue reading “Midland – On the Rocks Tour”
Lucy Grubb – Dear Walter EP
On listening to ‘Dear Walter’, the second EP from Lucy Grubb, one cannot help but be transported to the rivers and grasslands of the Norfolk Broads. She may be influenced by a traditional country and western sound but it is clear that her East Anglian roots have wrapped around her music to create a distinctContinue reading “Lucy Grubb – Dear Walter EP”
Frankie Davies – Wherever I Go
Wherever I Go by Frankie Davies is a picture-perfect snapshot of country music in the UK right now. It represents a wonderful and intriguing confluence of genres: rock, pop and folk all feeding into the mainstream of country to create a truly convergent sound. The girl from Jersey has done well with this debut album.Continue reading “Frankie Davies – Wherever I Go”
Liv Austen – A Moment of Your Time
I suspect that Liv Austen isn’t just a wonderful artist but a wonderful person too. Her debut album A Moment of Your Time is, in some respects, a revelation. The Norwegian-born singer has fused country, pop and rock together to produce an appealing sound. But it is in the lyrics that we find this albumContinue reading “Liv Austen – A Moment of Your Time”
CMA Songwriters Series – St George’s Hall, Liverpool
I hope that the doorman who greeted me at St George’s Hall for the CMA Songwriters Series got to sit in on the show. When I asked him if I was in the right place, he responded hesitantly with “for the Country & Western thing? Yeah, just through here”. The way he said it madeContinue reading “CMA Songwriters Series – St George’s Hall, Liverpool”
O&O – Truth Comes Out EP
Country-Americana duo O&O have been making waves this year. And the release of their debut EP Truth Comes Out is the biggest wave of theirs to crash onto the UK country scene so far. Comprising of four songs that showcase a range of musical styles, the EP is a mixture of shadow and light, mainstreamContinue reading “O&O – Truth Comes Out EP”
Reflections – Hannah’s Yard
After their delightful debut album Beginnings, Hannah’s Yard are back with a beautiful follow-up in the shape of four-track EP Reflections. Comprising of three covers plus an acoustic version of one of their original songs, Reflections is the perfect showcase for lead singer Hannah Layton Turner’s angelic vocals. Having demonstrated her ability to write fantastic lyricsContinue reading “Reflections – Hannah’s Yard”