March 31, 2016 at 10:44 (News, Video News)
Tags: emmy the great, folk music, pop, singer songwriter
Image Courtesy of Emmy The Great
Emmy The Great released her new album Second Love last week and with that came her brand new video “Algorithm”. Now we know it’s been a long while since Emmy The Great released anything that could be called “folk music” but we love everything she does (and there’s a decent amount of acoustic guitar in this track).
Check out the video for “Algorithm” below:
March 31, 2016 at 09:07 (News, Tour News)
Tags: alt country, folk music, ryan bingham
Image Courtesy of Ryan Bingham
Award winning US singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham has announced plans to head to Australia with tour dates throughout April. Bingham will be touring off the back of his acclaimed 2015 album Fear and Saturday Night with a series of shows up and down the east coast.
Check out the full list of dates here:
Friday 22nd April – The Basement, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 23rd April – Brass Monkey, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 24th April – Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
Wednesday 27th April – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 28th April – Captital Theatre, Bendigo, VIC
Friday 29th April – Byron Theatre, Byron Bay, NSW
Saturday 30th April – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane, QLD
March 30, 2016 at 13:40 (Gig News, News, Single News)
Tags: alt country, folk music, tracy mcneil, tracy mcneil and the goodlife
Image Courtesy of Tracy McNeil & The Goodlife
Melbourne based, Canadian born Tracy McNeil is set to have a massive 2016 with the announcement of a brand new Tracy McNeil & The Goodlife album Thieves due for release in the middle of this year.
The first taster of Thieves is the track “Paradise” that will be officially released on the 1st April. Check out the song here:
To celebrate the release of “Paradise” Tracy McNeil & The Goodlife (featuring Dan Parsons on lead guitar, Luke Sinclair (Raised By Eagles) on rhythm guitar, Bree Hartley on drums and Trent McKenzie on bass) will be performing at The Retreat Hotel in Melbourne on Friday 15th April. Check out the official Tracy McNeil & The Goodlife site for more information.
March 30, 2016 at 09:22 (News, Video News)
Tags: andrew bird, folk music, singer songwriter
Image Courtesy of Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird has a new album, Are You Serious, due on the 1st April and it looks like we’re getting a sneak peek at another track, “Roma Fade”.
“”Roma Fade” is about the wordless dialogue between the watcher and the watched and the fine line between romance and creepiness,” Andrew Bird explained. “In this song, “she” is a fortress of solitude, yet the observer can still affect her with his gaze. Whether the attention is welcome or not, something between them has changed. Notice how the song shifts from third person to first person near the end and it’s actually the observer who has transformed.”
Check out “Roma Fade” below:
March 25, 2016 at 09:43 (News, Week in Review)
Tags: ariela jacobs, burrows, folk music, foy vance, jake bugg, julia jacklin, kd lang, laura veirs, matthew and the atlas, nancy kerr, neko case, punch brothers, sian evans, vance joy, william fitzsimmons
– Sydney based singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin released her new video “Pool Party”. Details here
– Matthew and the Atlas released their new video “Temple”. Details here
– Melbourne based singer-songwriter Ariela Jacobs released her new video “Lost”. Details here
– UK singer-songwriter Jake Bugg announced details of his upcoming album On My Own. Details here
– Irish singer-songwriter Foy Vance announced his upcoming album The Wild Swan. Details here
– William Fitzsimmons released his new video “Hear Your Heart”. Details here
– Seminal newgrass band Punch Brothers announced Australian tour dates. Details here
– Singers Neko Case, K.D. Lang, and Laura Veirs have announced a collaborative album case/lang/veirs. Details here
– Vance Joy released his new video “Straight Into Your Arms”. Details here
“I think what makes The National special for me is the way it homages and appreciates the raw, grass roots qualities of folk and traditional music, presenting it all with great respect on both big and small stages. The level of knowledge, friendliness and depth with which the audience throws itself into proceedings is second to none, at least as far as I’ve experienced at festivals around the world” – Nancy Kerr chats to Gareth Hugh Evans. Interview here
“I did write a pop song. I wanted it to be accessible to a wider audience. I wrote three songs last year and that was one of them – they all kind of have this pop sensibility” – Sian Evans chats to Gareth Hugh Evans. Interview here
“We’re trying to be miles away from the play-louder-than-the-pub kind of band, which I’ve definitely done in the past but it gets kind of exhausting. These days we hope to invite people in rather than try to compete with them” – Sam King from Burrows chats to Gareth Hugh Evans. Interview here
“It’s the last arena where you go to see an act and straight away go and talk to the person who’s just played and take a bit home with you. It’s that kind of instant performance energy. That’s why these festivals are still trucking along well. As a musician it’s a privilege to play at them because people face your way and they might buy something and you get to talk to everyone” – Andrew Winton chats to Gareth Hugh Evans. Interview here
The Family Tree: Leaves – Radical Face
iTunes
Thursday 24th to Monday 27th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Friday 1st April – Mt Gambier Hotel, Mt Gambier, SA
The Austro-Scotish trad specialists play The National Folk Festival plus gigs in Canberra and Sydney
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Tuesday 29th March – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Wednesday 30th March – The Exchange Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Americana Fiesta
Sunday 27th March – Bald Faced Stag, Sydney, NSW
Ann Vriend
Friday 25th March – The Goulburn Club, Goulburn, NSW
Saturday 26th March – The Milk Factory, Brisbane, QLD
April Maze
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Black Market Tune
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Tuesday 29th March – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Wednesday 30th March – The Exchange Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Batch Sessions feat. Tenderfoot, Ed Wells
Wednesday 30th March – Batch Brewing Company, Sydney, NSW
Blind Boys of Alabama
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW
Thursday 31st March – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Friday 1st April – Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne, VIC
Bloodwood
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Bluesfest
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – Byron Bay, NSW
Burrows
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
City and Colour w/ Little May
Saturday 26th March – The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Monday 28th March – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, SA
Wednesday 30th March – Red Hill Auditorium, Perth, WA
Daniel Champagne
Thursday 31st March – Rad Bar, Wollongong, NSW
Friday 1st April – Canberra Musicians Club, Canberra, ACT
Emily Barker
Saturday 26th March – The Railway, Fremantle, WA
FolkSwagon feat. Danielle Deckard, The Delta Revue, The Run
Wednesday 30th March – Cafe Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Festival of Small Halls feat. Vishtèn, The Little Stevies, Rob Longstaff
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Thursday 31st March – Hume Club, Bonegilla Migrant Experience, Bonegilla, VIC
Friday 1st April – Balgownie Village Community Centre, Balgownie, NSW
Gordie Tentrees
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Tuesday 29th March – The Old Church, Canowindra, NSW
Wednesday 30th March – Food Angel Café, Dorrigo NSW
Thursday 31st March – Tintenbar Upfront Happ, Tintenbar, NSW
Friday 1st April – Magda Community Artz, Brisbane, QLD
Hootenanny feat. Deep South & Down
Sunday 27th March – Miss Peaches, Sydney, NSW
Hussy Hicks
Friday 25th to Sunday 27th March – Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW
Irish Mythen
Saturday 26th to Monday 28th March – Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW
Wednesday 30th March – Palais Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
Jaron Freeman-Fox & The Opposite of Everything
Friday 25th March – The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 27th March – The Who Club, Warburton, VIC
Monday 28th March – The Flying Saucer Club, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 31st March – The Homestead Tasmania, Hobart, TAS
Friday 1st April – Live at The Wharf, Ulverstone, TAS
Jason Isbell
Sunday 27th March – Boogie Festival, Bruzzy’s Farm Tallarook, VIC
Monday 28th March – Bluesfest, NSW
Tuesday 29th March – Recital Hall, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 31st March – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo, VIC
Friday 1st April – The Croxton Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Jordie Lane
Friday 25th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Thursday 31st March – Secret Show, Sydney, NSW
Friday 1st April – Music on the Hill, Red Hill, VIC
Kaurna Cronin
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Kit & Cub
Sunday 27th March – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes
Saturday 26th March – The Union, Melbourne, VIC
Little Features
Saturday 26th March – Hibernian House, Sydney, NSW
Man From Snowy River Bush Festival
Thursday 31st March to Sunday 3rd April – Corryong, VIC
Mark Lucas and The Dead Setters
Saturday 26th March – The Retreat Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 27th March – The Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford, VIC
Friday 1st April – The Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
Moxie
Friday 25th March – Fly By Night Club, Fremantle, WA
Nancy Kerr & James Fagan
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – The National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Nancy Kerr & the Sweet Visitor Band
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – The National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – Bluesfest, NSW
Wednesday 30th March – 170 Russell, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 31st March – Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Paddy McHugh & Andy Golledge
Friday 1st April – The Midnight Special, Sydney, NSW
Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin w/ Liz Frencham and Lime & Steel
Thursday 31st March – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Pocket Fox
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Rhiannon Giddens
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW
Riley Pearce
Wednesday 30th March – The Bearded Lady, Brisbane, QLD
Friday 1st April – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW
Sahara Beck
Sunday 27th to Monday 28th March – Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW
Shakey Graves
Tuesday 29th March – Hamer Hall, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 31st March – The Basement, Sydney, NSW
Sian Evans
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Steve Earle & The Dukes w/ The Mastersons
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW
The Decemberists
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW
Tuesday 29th March – Hamer Hall, Melbourne, VIC
Wednesday 30th March – Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW
The East Pointers
Thursday 24th to Monday 27th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Wednesday 30th March – Kendall Community Centre, Kendall, NSW
Thursday 31st March – No 5 Church Street, Bellingen, NSW
Friday 1st April – Yamba Community Centre, Yamba, NSW
The Fagans
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – The National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
The Little Stevies
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Thursday 31st March – Hume Club, Bonegilla Migrant Experience, Bonegilla, VIC
Friday 1st April – Balgownie Village Community Centre, Balgownie, NSW
The National Anti-Folk Festival
Thursday 24th to Monday 27th March – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
The National Folk Festival
Thursday 24th to Monday 27th March – Canberra, ACT
The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
Friday 25th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Sunday 27th March – The Quarterdeck, Narooma, NSW
Wednesday 30th March – Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday 31st March – The Stone House, Tomerong, NSW
Friday 1st April – Railway Institute Hall, Thirroul, NSW
The Rambling Boys
Thursday 24th to Monday 27th March – National Folk Festival, ACT
The Timbers
Thursday 24th to Monday 27th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Friday 1st April – Mt Gambier Hotel, Mt Gambier, SA
The Weeping Willows
Friday 25th March – Billyroy’s Blues Bar, Bendigo, VIC
Sunday 27th March – T’Gallant Winery, Main Ridge, VIC
Friday 1st April – Harmonie German Club’s Friday Night Live, Canberra, ACT
The Young’uns
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Tim Guy
Thursday 31st March – The Junkyard, Maitland, NSW
Friday 1st April – Vic on the Park, Sydney, NSW
Tweedy
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – Bluesfest, NSW
Vishtèn
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Wednesday 30th March – Django Bar, Sydney, NSW
Thursday 31st March – Hume Club, Bonegilla, VIC
Friday 1st April – Wooloongong Hall, Wooloongong, NSW
March 23, 2016 at 15:49 (Interviews)
Tags: andrew winton, blues, folk music, liz frencham, national folk festival, roots
Image Courtesy of Andrew Winton
It’s been ten years since I first walked into a random tent at The National Folk Festival and became mesmerised by WA based singer and lap guitarist Andrew Winton so it’s amazing to see him returning again this year. We sat down with Winton to chat about The National, his unique guitar and his brand new album Glorybox Mechanics.
Gareth Hugh Evans: I first saw you at The National about ten years ago. I was wandering into one of your shows knowing nothing about you and was blown away by this amazing performance. It was all slide guitars and knee slapping – just amazing. Is The National a special festival for you?
Andrew Winton: It has been. The first time might have been 2006. We were on one of my first national tours and it was just an experience. We had a caravan and an 18 month old – it was a real whirlwind. It was one of the first bigger festivals where we thought “oh, this is very interesting”. We were put in a bit last minute but we had such a response and we’ve been back a few times.
GHE: I remember you in 2006 well.
AW: Yeah, I had dreadlocks and the whole thing. That was at that point where to play that music you had to have a uniform.
GHE: You were the “other” dude from WA with the dreadlocks and the lap guitar.
AW: Yes! Mr Butler, is that the man?
GHE: And I distinctly remember your 18 month old son with Karen Winton holding him. In fact she may have gotten up on stage to sing with you while still holding him.
AW: Yeah – she’s very strong. I think we’ve been at most of the festivals either pregnant or with a young child. We’ve stopped breeding now but there was a period when we were ready to have a kid it was mid festival. It was a real lifestyle for a while.
GHE: Has having a young family informed your playing folk festivals as opposed to the big blues or rock festivals? They’re a bit more family friendly.
AW: Yeah. It’s interesting, that year or the year after we did that circuit and then got invited to SXSW which is the big rock and roll festival in Austin, Texas. And that’s when we felt like “wow this is a bit different”. At [folk] festivals people will actually listen, it’s not all about drinking. And you don’t have to go to number ten on the energy – people will listen to quieter songs, a range of material. People are actually interested in the instrument, in the playing. On the whole the folk festivals have a diverse audience interested in different things., not just stomping and drinking and hollering.
GHE: Speaking of being interested in the instrument – your guitar is called The Beast right?
AW: Now when you saw me I had a thing called the Winton Beast which was made by a Victorian luthier. Then several years after a small American company saw me and said “we want to endorse you and make weird instruments for you” and that’s still happening these days. What they make is these instruments out of the roots of cyprus trees in Alabama. So the Winton Beast morphed into this instrument that is two in one. The Winton Beast was a seven string and I introduced a six string so it’s a 13 string tree root that I play.
GHE: Do you go to the luthiers and say “this is what I want? Or do they come to you and say “what do you think of this crazy idea”?
AW: In both instances they’ve said they’ll make me anything I want. And I’ve gone a) I don’t know what I want and I don’t know much and b) I just used my limited strange creativeness to invent something and they made it happen. And with the guys in Alabama it was all over Skype. I’m a non-practical person, I can’t hammer and nail – I just said “can we try having this many strings with this type of tuning”. I didn’t know if it was going to work and it’s all very experimental. And it’s mostly paid off and I guess in my own little world I’m known as this person that plays weird instruments.
GHE: I think I saw you play at a guitarist showcase at The National and everybody was just fascinated by your instrument.
AW: That’s right! People are more intrigued by that than me. On stage everyone was looking at my groin! Some could consider that a gimmick but in a landscape where everyone plays the same instrument with the same sort of tunings it’s just something different. And as a soloist it allows you to occupy the bass area, the chordal area and the melody at the same time.
GHE: You’ve been pretty prolific over the years and you’ve just recently released your album Glorybox Mechanics. Did you self produce that album?
AW: I have a friend here who has done a lot of recording for me. I chose to go down the path of not wanting any of the gear in my house – I didn’t want to go down the rabbit hole of recording. But very close to me is a very good engineer and basically I just did it on my iPhone and then went and replicated with him. In some ways it’s self produced but with someone who knows the buttons and the screens and the boring bits.
GHE: It’s always tempting as a musician to become a gear junkie.
AW: I’m anti that [laughs]. Because those guys end up becoming computer engineers and their musical skills fade into the distance.
GHE: You’ve been Glorybox Mechanics quite a bit recently – how’s the reception been so far?
AW: Quite nice actually. It’s tricky because the last album Happy won a bunch of awards and was a whole different level, so there was a little bit of pressure with this one. So it’s nice that ABC Radio National and a lot of community stations, and even one or two of the bigger ones, are playing a couple of songs. It doesn’t change the universe but I was just worried if these were going to work – it’s just my nature. And I’ve been pretty pleased. Especially in a landscape where people don’t buy CDs.
GHE: Except at festivals!
AW: Exactly! It’s the last arena where you go to see an act and straight away go and talk to the person who’s just played and take a bit home with you. It’s that kind of instant performance energy. That’s why these festivals are still trucking along well. As a musician it’s a privilege to play at them because people face your way and they might buy something and you get to talk to everyone.
GHE: At The National Folk Festival this year is it just you solo? Is Karen coming?
AW: Because I’m coming over for a couple of festivals it’s just me – we’ve got too many children now. And I think we’ve got some nice spots there – we’re going to be doing a filming in The Buddawang.
GHE: The National always ends up being quite a collaborative festival anyway so I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up spotting you playing with someone like Liz Frencham.
AW: That’s already been arranged! Liz and I live a long way from each other but whenever we get to the same suburb we do something.
GHE: It wouldn’t be a National Folk Festival if Liz Frencham didn’t play with every single act at some point.
AW: Exactly. I stir her about that [laughs].
GHE: Where else are you playing while you’re on the east coast.
AW: I’ve got gigs at the Django Bar in Sydney and the Union Bar in Melbourne.
GHE: Oh lovely – I’ll have to try and get down to one of those shows.
AW: Great! I haven’t been over there for a while.
GHE: Thank you so much for chatting with me. Looking forward to seeing you play again.
AW: Fantastic – thank you!
All of Andrew Winton’s upcoming dates, including his shows at The National Folk Festival, are below:
Wednesday 23rd March – House Concert, Temora, NSW.
Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
– Friday 4:30pm – Budawang
– Saturday 3:15pm – Marquee (Infinite Song Contest)
– Saturday 7pm – Flute ‘n’ Fiddle
– Saturday 9:30pm – Flute ‘n’ Fiddle (Liz Frencham Album Launch)
– Sunday 10am – The Terrace (Lap Slide Guitar Workshop)
– Sunday 9pm – Marquee
Thursday 31st March – Django Bar, Sydney, NSW
Friday 1st April – Selby Folk Club, Selby, VIC
Saturday 2nd April – Union Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 3rd April – House Concert, Mount Franklin, VIC
Friday 8th April – The Herdsman Lake Tavern, Wembley, WA
Saturday 9th April – Caves House Hotel, Yallingup, WA
Sunday 10th April – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River, WA
Friday 15th to Sunday 17th April – Fairbridge Folk Festival, Pinjarra, WA
Sunday 24th April – The Vic Hotel, Perth, WA
March 23, 2016 at 15:05 (News, Tour News, Video News)
Tags: ainslie wills, folk music, singer songwriter, vance joy
Image Courtesy of Vance Joy
Singer-songwriter Vance Joy has just released the stunning new animated video for his track “Straight Into Your Arms”. The video is directed by Toby Ashenheim with much of the animation done in the traditional stop motion style.
Check out “Straight Into Your Arms” here:
Vance Joy has a bunch of Australian tour dates this April and has just announced Ainslie Wills to open the Melbourne and Brisbane shows. Check out full list of dates below:
Saturday 23rd April – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, VIC **SOLD OUT**
Sunday 24th April – Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW **SOLD OUT**
Monday 25th April – Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW **SOLD OUT**
Saturday 30th April – Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD
March 23, 2016 at 10:20 (Album News, News, Single News)
Tags: folk music, kd lang, laura veirs, neko case, singer songwriter
Three of the world’s most interesting singer-songwriters – Neko Case, K.D. Lang, and Laura Veirs – have announced that they’ll be coming together for a very special album project. Titled case/lang/veirs, the album is due on the 17th June and originated from an idea floated by K.D. Lang.
The full track listing for case/lang/veirs plus the first single “Atomic Number” is below:
1. Atomic Number
2. Honey and Smoke
3. Song for Judee
4. Blue Fires
5. Delirium
6. Greens of June
7. Behind the Armory
8. Best Kept Secret
9. 1,000 Miles Away
10. Supermoon
11. I Want to Be Here
12. Down I-5
13. Why Do We Fight
14. Georgia Stars
March 23, 2016 at 08:50 (News, Tour News)
Tags: bluegrass, folk music, newgrass, punch brothers
Image Courtesy of Punch Brothers
It seems like the tour announcements are coming thick and fast at the moment. If you’ve been paying attention to social media you would have seen that seminal newgrass band Punch Brothers will be returning to Australia this August for their first tour since 2012.
In the intervening years Punch Brothers have released an album (The Phosphorescent Blues) and two EPs (Ahoy! and The Wireless) so there’s going to be lots of new music to enjoy.
Check out the full list of Australian dates below:
Tuesday 9th August – Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Thursday 11th August – Adelaide International Guitar Festival, Adelaide, SA
Friday 12th August – City Recital Hall, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 13th August – Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne, VIC
March 22, 2016 at 14:13 (News, Video News)
Tags: folk music, singer songwriter, william fitzsimmons
Photo by Gareth Hugh Evans
After announcing the release of his upcoming EP Charleroi: Pittsburgh, Volume 2 (due on the 1st April), William Fitzsimmons has just released his brand new video “Hear Your Heart”.
You know we’re huge fans of William Fitzsimmons and this is another amazing song – check out “Hear Your Heart” below:
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