Thank Folk It’s Friday – 21st December

December 21, 2018 at 09:50 (News, Week in Review)
Tags: cat canteri, courtney marie andrews, emma davis, fanny lumsden, first aid kit, folk music, gregory alan isakov, gus gardiner, husky, i'm with her, imogen clark, iron & wine, jack carty, jack carty & gus gardiner, john flanagan, John Flanagan Trio, johnny flynn, johnny flynn & the sussex wit, kasey chambers, kasey chambers & the fireside disciples, laura veirs, lúnasa, marlon williams, milk carton kids, missy higgins, mustered courage, nathaniel rateliff & the night sweats, old crow medicine show, paddy mchugh, Passenger, sam newton, sufjan stevens, the ahern brothers, the decemberists, the low anthem, the paper kites, tim blake nelson, tim hart, whoa mule, william fitzsimmons, willie watson

TFIF

This Week in Folk

All the News From The Week That Was

– We picked our top 25 albums and EPs of 2018 including releases from Courtney Marie Andrews, Emma Davis, First Aid Kit, Gregory Alan Isakov, I’m With Her, Imogen Clark, Iron & Wine, Jack Carty & Gus Gardiner, John Flanagan Trio, Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, Kasey Chambers, Laura Veirs, Lúnasa, Marlon Williams, The Milk Carton Kids, Mustered Courage, Old Crow Medicine Show, Passenger, Sam Newton, The Low Anthem, The Paper Kites, Tim Hart, Whoa Mule, William Fitzsimmons and more. Details here

– Our Editor In Chief Gareth Hugh Evans picked his top 25 tracks of 2018 including songs from Cat Canteri, Courtney Marie Andrews, Emma Davis, Fanny Lumsden, Gregory Alan Isakov, Husky, I’m With Her, Imogen Clark, Jack Carty & Gus Gardiner, John Flanagan Trio, Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples, Laura Veirs, Marlon Williams, Missy Higgins, Mustered Courage feat. Mark Gable , Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Paddy McHugh, Sufjan Stevens, The Ahern Brothers, The Decemberists, The Low Anthem, Tim Hart, Whoa Mule, William Fitzsimmons, Willie Watson & Tim Blake Nelson and more. Details here

Releases This Week

Traveling On – The Decemberists
iTunes

Timber and Steel Recommends – Go To This Gig

A Celtic Christmas feat. Claymore, Colin Lillie, Saoirse, Hawthorn City Pipe Band, Glenbrae Celtic Dancers

A Celtic Christmas

Saturday 22nd December – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne, VIC

Gigs Next Week

A Celtic Christmas feat. Claymore, Colin Lillie, Saoirse, Hawthorn City Pipe Band, Glenbrae Celtic Dancers
Saturday 22nd December – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne, VIC

Adam Young and Sam Shinazzi
Sunday 23rd December – The Midnight Special, Sydney, NSW

Alex the Astronaut
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Alice Skye
Friday 28th to Monday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC

Andrew Swift, Gretta Ziller & Brad Cox
Thursday 27th December – Anglesea Family Caravan Park, Anglesea, VIC
Friday 28th December – Ocean Grove Holiday Park, Ocean Grove, VIC

Angus & Julia Stone
Friday 21st December – Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD

Ben Leece
Friday 21st December – Transit Bar, Canberra, ACT

Dan Sultan
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Darren Hanlon
Friday 21st December – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 22nd December – Church in the Graveyard, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 23rd December – Princess Theatre, Brisbane, QLD

Dean Lewis
Friday 21st December – The Metro, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 23rd December – The Metro, Sydney, NSW
Friday 28th December – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD

Dermot Kennedy w/ Sam Fender
Friday 28th to Monday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC

Emily Wurramara
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Falls Festival
Friday 28th to Monday 31st December – Lorne, VIC

Festival of Small Halls feat. Old Man Luedecke, Lucy Wise
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

First Aid Kit
Friday 28th to Monday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC

Hat Fitz and Cara
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Hussy Hicks
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Irish Mythen
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

James Thomson
Sunday 23rd December – Flow Bar, Old Bar, NSW

Jen Cloher
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Jess Locke
Friday 21st December – The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 22nd December – Reverence Hotel, Melbourne, VIC

Julia Jacklin
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Kallidad
Friday 21st December – Soundlounge, Gold Coast, QLD
Saturday 22nd December – Diggers Tavern, Bellingen, NSW

Karl S Williams
Sunday 23rd December – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD

Les Poules a Colin
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Liam Gerner
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Lucy Wise
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Magpie Diaries
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Mal Webb & Kylie Morrigan
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Mark Wilkinson
Friday 21st December – Leichhardt Town Hall, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 22nd December – Leichhardt Town Hall, Sydney, NSW

Matt Joe Gow
Friday 21st December – The Gem Bar, Melbourne, VIC

Mel Parsons
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Mic Conway’s National Junk Band
Friday 21st December – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW

Mick Thomas and The Roving Commission w/ Ayleen O’Hanlon
Saturday 22nd December – The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 23rd December – The Caravan Club, Oakleigh, VIC
Monday 24th December – The Caravan Club, Oakleigh, VIC
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Mojo Juju
Friday 21st December – Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD

Monique Clare
Friday 21st December – Flow Bar, Old Bar, NSW

Nariel Creek Folk Festival
Thursday 27th December to Thursday 3rdt January – Nariel Creek Recreation Reserve, Nariel Valley, VIC

Neil Murray
Friday 28th December – The Sewing Room, Perth, WA

Old Man Luedecke
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Paddy McHugh
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Paul Kelly – Making Gravy feat. Angus & Julia Stone, Alex Lahey, Mojo Juju
Friday 21st December – Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD

Richard Lawson
Wednesday 26th December – Bermagui Beach Hotel, Bermagui, NSW

Round Mountain Girls
Saturday 22nd December – Cabarita Sports Club, Cabarita Beach, QLD

Sea Shanty Session
Wednesday 26th December – The Brothers, Melbourne, VIC

Southern Gentlemen
Sunday 23rd December – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW

Sparrow-Folk
Friday 21st December – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT

Stella Donnelly
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Stiff Gins
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

The Andy Golledge Band
Saturday 22nd December – Marrickville Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW

The Black Sorrows
Saturday 22nd December – Caravan Music Club, Bentleigh East, VIC
Friday 28th December – Bird’s Basement, Melbourne, VIC

The Bushwackers
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

The Cat Empire
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

The Little Stevies
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

The Maes
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

The Montgomery Brothers
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

The Northern Folk
Thursday 27 December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

The Spooky Men’s Chorale
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

The Teskey Brothers
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

The Waifs
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

The Water Runners
Friday 21st December – Servo Food Truck Bar, Port Kembla, NSW
Friday 28th December – The Sebel Harbourside, Kiama, NSW

Timberwolf
Friday 21st December – Fat Controller, Adelaide, SA

Top End Folk Club Sunday Sessions
Sunday 23rd December – Darwin Railway Club, Darwin, NT

Vance Joy
Friday 28th to Monday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC

Whiskey Dram
Saturday 22nd December – Bombay Rock, Melbourne, VIC

Woodford Folk Festival
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford, QLD

Xavier Rudd
Thursday 27th December to Tuesday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD

Friday Folk Flashback

“Fairytale of New York” – Jeff Tweedy, Punch Brothers, Sarah Jarosz, The Staves

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Timber and Steel’s Top Albums of 2018

December 19, 2018 at 09:03 (Opinion)
Tags: courtney marie andrews, emma davis, first aid kit, gregory alan isakov, gus gardiner, i'm with her, imogen clark, iron & wine, jack carty, jack carty & hus gardiner, john flanagan, John Flanagan Trio, johnny flynn, johnny flynn & the sussex wit, kasey chambers, laura veirs, lúnasa, marlon williams, milk carton kids, mustered courage, old crow medicine show, Passenger, sam newton, the low anthem, the paper kites, tim hart, whoa mule, william fitzsimmons

Steeleye Span

Despite a quiet year on the blogging front from Timber and Steel 2018 was still a huge year for folk, roots, singer-songwriter and acoustic music with some amazing albums and EPs dropping throughout the year.

So we couldn’t resist continuing the tradition and once again bring you our top albums of the year.

1. Emma Davis – Demons
When we picked her single “Danger in Me” as our top track of 2017, it was almost a forgone conclusion that Emma Davis’ 2018 follow up album Demons would rank highly in this list.

Davis is one of the most talented lyricists in Australia right now and Demons is testament to her talents.

The singles that Emma Davis has drip fed us throughout the last few years have always had stunning production values and this album ties those earlier songs together seamlessly with her newer material to create 38 minutes of pitch-perfect folk-pop.

Go out and listen to Demons from start to finish right now.

2. Laura Veirs – The Lookout
Laura Veirs takes a huge leap forward as a singer and a songwriter with an album that’s more complex than her earlier work without losing sight of everything we’ve always loved about her music.

3. Jack Carty & Gus Gardiner – Hospital Hill
The passion project from BFF’s Jack Carty and Gus Gardiner, Hospital Hill perfectly marries Carty’s beautiful songs with the string arrangements they’ve always deserved.

I'm With Her
4. I’m With Her – See You Around
Three of the best Americana singer-songwriters coming together for a collaborative album that manages to feel totally modern while still having its roots firmly in folk.

5. Courtney Marie Andrews – May Your Kindness Remain
Courtney Marie Andrews is easily the most buzz-worthy Americana artist coming out of the US at the moment and if you listen to May Your Kindness Remain you’ll understand why.

6. John Flanagan Trio – Honest Man
The evolution of John Flanagan continues with his trio (plus more) coming together for an album that leads with its lyrics and then knocks you over with the sheer mastery of the musicianship.

7. Passenger – Runaway
If there’s a year that Passenger releases an album then you can guarantee that’s a year he appears on this list – one of our favourite songwriters.

8. Gregory Alan Isakov – Evening Machines
The long awaited new album from Gregory Alan Isakov lives up to the expectations. Seriously can’t wait to see him when he hits these shores next year.

9. Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit – Live At The Roundhouse
While live albums are not usually our cup of tea, Johnny Flynn has delivered something very special here – a career retrospective with all the “hits”, masterfully arranged with The Sussex Wit. Plus we finally have a recording of all three verses of “Detectorists”

10. Iron & Wine – Weed Garden
A beautiful EP featuring everything you want from Iron & Wine. This one was on repeat for much of this year.

11. The Low Anthem – The Salt Doll Went To Measure The Depth Of The Sea
We feel like we’ve been waiting for a new album from The Low Anthem for far too long and when The Salt Doll Went To Measure The Depth Of The Sea we were delighted with the result. A stunning, stripped back piece of nu-folk

OCMS
12. Old Crow Medicine Show – Volunteer
OCMS have doubled down on their old time and bluegrass roots with Volunteer which may be one of their best albums to date.

Collide
13. Imogen Clark – Collide
With Collide Imogen Clark has really started to embrace her country, pop and Americana roots without losing her confessional singer-songwriter style.

14. First Aid Kit – Ruins
The Swedish sisters have done it again with an album that wears its influences like a badge of honor.

15. Sam Newton – Stare Into The Dark
Sydney’s hardest working singer-songwriter has really delivered with his latest album, leaning in on the full band sound and giving us 11 amazing songs to play over and over again.

16. The Milk Carton Kids – All The Things That I Did and All The Things That I Didn’t Do
The masters of the two part harmony release another gem of an album with All The Things That I Did and All The Things That I Didn’t Do.

17. William Fitzsimmons – Mission Bell
Our love for William Fitzsimmons continues to grow with his latest release. Less stripped back than his previous albums, Mission Bell still captures his wistful, ethereal folk sounds.

18. The Paper Kites – On The Corner Where You Live
The 80s influences have once again be ramped up on The Paper Kites 2018 album On The Corner Where You Live, but their folk roots are still there to be uncovered.

19. Marlon Williams – Make Way For Love
A big part of me hopes that half the people who saw Marlon Williams’ cameo in A Star Is Born went out and bought Make Way For Love and fell in love with the New Zealand crooner. This man deserves to be a superstar.

20. Whoa Mule – Get You House In Order
Possibly our favourite bluegrass and old time group in Australia right now. Their musicianship is outstanding and sets the bar very high for the rest of us.

21. Mustered Courage – We Played With Fire
The boys make a huge splash on their latest album with some tight bluegrass inspired tunes including a killer collaboration with Fanny Lumsden on “Best Impressions”.

Cas
22. Lúnasa – Cas
There’s a reason that Lúnasa are considered the premiere trad band in the world right now – Cas is a truly a masterpiece.

23. Kasey Chambers – Campfire
With each album Kasey Chambers is leaning more heavily on the roots and Americana parts of her sound and we love it.

24. Various – Take Me To Town: An Australian Alternative Country Compilation
Take Me To Town: An Australian Alternative Country Compilation captures an important point in the Australian Americana and alt-country story, showcasing the quality songwriters and artists who make up the local scene. A must have for anyone who considers themselves a fan of Australian country music.

25. Tim Hart – The Narrow Corner
The long awaited new solo album from Boy & Bear alumni Tim Hart is another lesson in heart-on-sleeve lyrics and understated folk song writing.

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Thank Folk It’s Friday – 22nd December

December 22, 2017 at 15:23 (News, Week in Review)
Tags: alex the astronaut, all our exes live in texas, batts, billy bragg, charlie fink, david rawlings, diamond duck, emily barker, emma davis, fanny lumsden, folk music, georgia mooney, gillian welch, gretta ziller, husky, i'm with her, johnny flynn, julia johnson, kasey chambers, lankum, laura marling, lisa mitchell, nick mulvey, offa rex, old crow medicine show, packwood, paul kelly, stu larsen, taryn la fauci, the ahern brothers, the east pointers, the morrisons, the northern folk, the young'uns, timothy james bowen, willie watson

TFIF

This Week in Folk

All the News From The Week That Was

– We picked our top 25 albums and EPs of 2017 including releases from All Our Exes Live in Texas, BATTS, Billy Bragg, Charlie Fink, David Rawlings, Emily Barker, Fanny Lumsden, Gretta Ziller, Husky, Johnny Flynn, Kasey Chambers, Lankum, Laura Marling, Lisa Mitchell, Nick Mulvey, Offa Rex, Old Crow Medicine Show, Packwood, Paul Kelly, Stu Larsen, The Ahern Brothers, The East Pointers, The Morrisons, Timothy James Bowen and Willie Watson. Details here

– We reached out to the Timber and Steel community to get them to pick their top albums of the year. The results are wonderful with well over 100 artists contributing. Details here

– Our Editor In Chief Gareth Hugh Evans picked his top 25 tracks of 2016 including songs from All Our Exes Live in Texas, BATTS, Billy Bragg, Charlie Fink, David Rawlings, Diamond Duck, Emma Davis, Fanny Lumsden, Gretta Ziller, I’m With Her, Johnny Flynn, Julia Johnson, Laura Marling, Nick Mulvey, Offa Rex, Paul Kelly, Stella Donnelly, Stu Larsen, Taryn La Fauci, The Ahern Brothers, The East Pointers, The Morrisons feat. Georgia Mooney, The Northern Folk, The Young’uns, and Willie Watson. Details here

– We review The Beautiful Girls in Sydney. Details here

Timber and Steel Recommends – Go To This Gig

Gretta Ziller and Andrew Swift

Gretta Ziller

Gretta Ziller and Andrew Swift kick off their summer holiday tour of caravan parks around the nation. Will they stumble across your holiday park?

Wednesday 27th December – Discovery Parks Lake Hume, Ebden, VIC
Thursday 28th December – Porepunkah Bridge Holiday Park, Porepunkah, VIC
Friday 29th December – Omeo Caravan Park, Omeo, VIC

Gigs Next Week

A Celtic Christmas feat. Damien Leith, Claymore
Saturday 23rd December – The Palms at Crown, Melbourne, VIC

A Country Christmas Revue feat. Raised By Eagles, Lost Ragas, The Ahern Brothers, Sarah Carroll
Friday 22nd December – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC

A Very Country Christmas feat. James Ellis, Cold Heart, Roz Girvan, Bakersfield Glee Club
Saturday 23rd December – The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC

A Xmas Happening Love In! feat. Zoùkeys, Hippy Trippy Trio, Jewels’ Blues Explosion
Friday 22nd December – The Bank, Melbourne, VIC

Alex The Astronaut
Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Lost Paradise, Glenworth Valley, NSW

Andrew Swift
Saturday 23rd December – King Island Club, Currie, TAS
Wednesday 27th December – Discovery Parks Lake Hume, Ebden, VIC
Thursday 28th December – Porepunkah Bridge Holiday Park, Porepunkah, VIC
Friday 29th December – Omeo Caravan Park, Omeo, VIC

Andy Baylor
Friday 22nd December – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW

Benjamin Roberts w/ Daniel J. Townsend
Thursday 27th December – Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide, SA

Breaking Trad
Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

Cat Canteri and Justin Bernasconi
Saturday 23rd December – The Bridge, Castlemaine, VIC

Craig Woodward
Sunday 24th December – Loretta’s, Melbourne, VIC

Dane Blacklock, Velvajayne
Saturday 23rd December – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW

Darren Hanlon
Friday 22nd December –
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 23rd December – The Old Museum
, Brisbane, QLD

Edgelarks
Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

Eleanor McEvoy
Friday 29th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

Falls Festival
Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Lorne, VIC
Friday 29th to Sunday 31st December – Marion Bay, TAS

Fleet Foxes
Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC
Friday 29th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Marion Bay, TAS

Get Folked Punk Xmas Blowout feat. Vetty Vials & The Sandpit Turtles, Whispering Jackie, Jonno Read, Billy Demos, Billy Puntton, Uke-paley, Jethro Morris, Ess-em, Sooze
Friday 22nd December – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW

Good Option
Friday 22nd December – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne, VIC

Gretta Ziller and Andrew Swift
Wednesday 27th December – Discovery Parks Lake Hume, Ebden, VIC
Thursday 28th December – Porepunkah Bridge Holiday Park, Porepunkah, VIC
Friday 29th December – Omeo Caravan Park, Omeo, VIC

Handsome Young Strangers, Steph Miller and Jim Mongrel’s Anti-Christmas Bash
Saturday 23rd December – MoshPit, Sydney, NSW

Helen Townsend
Friday 22nd December – Amble Inn, Corindi, NSW
Saturday 23rd December – The Naked Bean, South Grafton, NSW

Honey
Monday 25th December – Parklands Resort, Mudgee, NSW

James Bennett
Friday 22nd December – Avoca Beach Hotel & Resort, Avoca Beach, NSW
Saturday 23rd December – The Lounge Room, Port Macquarie, NSW
Sunday 24th December – Town Green Inn Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie, NSW
Friday 29th December – Sacred Tree Markets, Nelson Bay, NSW

Jess Locke
Saturday 23rd December – Reverence Hotel, Melbourne, VIC

John Butler
Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

Julia Jacklin
Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC
Friday 29th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Marion Bay, TAS

Justin Bernasconi
Friday 22nd December – The Guildford Family Hotel, Guildford, VIC
Saturday 23rd December – The Bridge, Castlemaine, VIC

Kallidad
Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC

Lost Paradise
Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Glenworth Valley, NSW

Mick Thomas & The Roving Commission
Friday 22nd December – Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 23rd December – Caravan Club, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 24th December – Caravan Club, Melbourne, VIC

Microwave Jenny
Sunday 24th December – Bombini, Avoca Beach, NSW

Molsky’s Mountain Drifters
Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

One Hot Night feat. Busby Marou, Amy Shark, Timberwolf, Pandamic
Friday 29th December – Rockhampton Showgrounds, Rockhampton, QLD

Pam Hata
Sunday 24th December – The Duck on Clarence, Port Macquarie, NSW
Thursday 28th December – Oasis by the River, North Haven, NSW

Pierce Brothers
Friday 29th December – Lorne Hotel, Lorne, VIC

Rita B
Saturday 23rd December – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW

Sleepy Dreamers, Arbes, Sean Watson
Friday 22nd December – The Workers Club, Melbourne, VIC

That Red Head
Saturday 23rd December – Wayward Brewing Company, Sydney, NSW
Friday 29th December – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW

The Beautiful Girls
Thursday 28th December – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

The Bluegrass Playgirls with GlenyRae & JennyShimmin, Robbie Long & Smithy
Saturday 23rd December – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW

The Demon Drink
Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

The Drunken Poachers
Saturday 23rd December – Labour in Vain, Melbourne, VIC

The East Pointers
Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

The Heggarties and Matt J Ward
Friday 22nd December – Exeter Hotel, Adelaide, SA

The Railsplitters
Friday 29th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD

The Teskey Brothers
Friday 29th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Marion Bay, TAS

This Way North
Saturday 23rd December – Aireys Pub, Aireys Inlet, VIC
Friday 29th December – Tanswells Hotel, Beechworth, VIC

Woodford Folk Festival
Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford, QLDFriday Folk Flashback

“How to Make Gravy” – Paul Kelly

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Gareth Hugh Evans’ Top 25 Tracks of 2017

December 20, 2017 at 08:05 (Opinion)
Tags: all our exes live in texas, aoife o'donovan, batts, billy bragg, Brian Campeau, charlie fink, david rawlings, diamond duck, emma davis, fanny lumsden, folk music, georgia mooney, gillian welch, gretta ziller, i'm with her, jimmy daley, johnny flynn, julia johnson, laura marling, nick mulvey, offa rex, olivia chaney, paul kelly, sara watkins, sarah jarosz, stella donnelly, stu larsen, tanya batt, taryn la fauci, the ahern brothers, the decemberists, the east pointers, the morrisons, the northern folk, the young'uns, vika and linda bull, willie watson

2017

The final of our traditional end of year lists sees Timber and Steel Editor-in-Chief Gareth Hugh Evans sifts through all of the amazing music that was produced this year and pick his top 25 tracks. As always he’s tried to only pick one track per artist, although as you’ll see there’s some exceptions with different artists collaborating on different projects through 2017.

But enough of our jabbering – it’s time to get to the music. Without further ado we present Gareth Hugh Evans’ Top 25 Tracks of 2017.

1. Emma Davis – “Danger in Me”
Emma Davis just has a way of writing a song which draws you in and never lets go. With just a finger picked guitar, understated rhythm section, muted organ and reverbed vocals, Davis has created a piece of music that I genuinely put on repeat. The fact that there’s a very relevant social message underpinning “Danger in Me” just adds a depth to my appreciation of it. Thank you Emma Davis for producing one of the most beautiful three and a half minutes of 2017.

2. The East Pointers – “82 Fires”
For a band I almost exclusively associated with fiddle tunes, The East Pointers have delivered one of the best songs of the year with “82 Fires”. Co-written with our very own Liz Stringer about fires in Tasmania, “82 Fires” may be the most Australian song written by a trio of Canadians. There’s an epic feel to the song that shouldn’t be possible from three guys playing (mostly) acoustic instruments – but I’ve seen this song live and they get pretty close to reproducing the recording on stage. Try to listen to “82 Fires” on not have it stir something inside.

3. Willie Watson – “Gallows Pole”
No one interprets traditional American music quite like Willie Watson. Here he’s managed to take the Leadbelly classic “Gallows Pole” and turn it into a thoroughly modern, haunting piece of music which is a definite standout on his latest album, Folksinger Vol. 2.

4. The Morrisons feat. Georgia Mooney – “Long Time Travelling”
It seems odd to choose an a cappella song from a band that features some of the best bluegrass musicians in the country. But I just can’t get passed how delightful it is hear James Morrison singing over the combined voices of The Morrisons plus Georgia Mooney (All Our Exes Live In Texas). The harmonies, the dynamic variations, the passion – “Long Time Travelling” is pure joy.

5. Offa Rex – “Sheepcrook and Black Dog”
As you probably know by now we have A LOT of love for the 2017 Offa Rex album The Queen of Hearts. The collaboration between The Decemberists and Olivia Chaney is full of highlights and to be honest songs like “The Old Churchyard”, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Willie o’ Winsbury” are more likely to hit this year’s best of lists. But for me “Sheepcrook and Black Dog” captures the nostalgia of the late-60s/early-70s British folk revival better than any other track on The Queen of Hearts with its Steeleye Span style arrangement, crunchy Black Sabbath style guitars and Sandy Denny style vocal performance. “Sheepcrook and Black Dog” is vintage folk-rock for the modern era.

6. Laura Marling – “Next Time”
Laura Marling goes full Nick Drake on “Next Time”. The orchestral arrangement over the top of Marling’s inventive guitar tunings and finger-picking, along with her hushed but powerful vocal performance is so reminiscent of the late English singer-songwriter it can’t not have been inspired by his work. This is definitely the highlight of Semper Femina for me and it even comes with a video directed by Laura Marling herself.

7. The Young’uns – “Be the Man”
“Be The Man” was inspired by the story of Matthew Ogston, founder of the Naz and Matt Foundation which tackles religious and cultural homophobia, following the tragic death of his fiancé (you can read the full story here). The Young’uns have written a song which is not only powerful in its message, and deeply respectful to its subject matter, but also a wonderful compliment to the rest of their harmony-driven catalogue. Check out the video featuring Matthew Ogston himself.

8. Billy Bragg – “Why We Build the Wall”
When Anaïs Mitchell wrote “Why We Build the Wall” for her 2010 folk-opera Hadestown I doubt she knew how precient it was considering the build-the-wall platform Donald Trump ran on during his 2016 presidential campaign. Billy Bragg has been singing “Why We Build the Wall” for a few years now but it’s taken until this year for him to officially release it as a single. The political singer-songwriter has purposefully politicised the track and filled it with a jarring, electric guitar to great effect. Could this be the folk anthem for the Trump era?

9. David Rawlings – “Cumberland Gap”
The genius of David Rawlings and Gillian Welch is their ability to write songs that sound like they’ve existed forever and then produce those songs in such a way that makes it sound like they’re being “modernised”. “Cumberland Gap” is the perfect example of this – the track sounds so timeless yet so fresh at exactly the same time. That’s probably why it’s been getting so many comparisons to Neil Young.

10. Stu Larsen – “Chicago Song”
“Chicago Song” is exactly the kind of song you want from a singer-songwriter like Stu Larsen. Simple, catchy and foot-tappingly joyful, “Chicago Song” captures a little piece of magic.

11. The Ahern Brothers – “Comb That River”
Whoever decided to pair singer-songwriters Josh Rennie-Hynes and Steve Grady as The Ahern Brothers deserves all of my adulation. Their self titled debut album is an homage to the close harmony singing of The Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel, with “Comb That River” exemplifying their sound. Listen to this track and be transported back to another time.

12. Charlie Fink – “Firecracker”
I’m sure I’ve printed this elsewhere on Timber and Steel but for the reader’s benefit: Noah and The Whale’s 2009 album The First Days of Spring is one of my favourite albums of all time. So when ex-Noah and The Whale lead singer Charlie Fink releases a single like “Firecracker” that sounds like it’s been ripped directly from The First Days of Spring there’s no way this song wasn’t going to make my best of 2017 list.

13. All Our Exes Live in Texas – “Boundary Road”
“What if I want to be the one to fall apart once in a while?” has somehow become one of my favourite chorus lines of 2017. All Our Exes Live in Texas have taken on the lyrical challenge of the line, as well as the fight songwriter Katie Wighton had with her mum that inspired the line, and crafted one of the best songs from one of the best albums of the year. There is All Our Exes Live in Texas magic all over this song – with a simple “ooh” and “ahh” the quartet can elevate every song they touch. Lovely stuff.

14. Nick Mulvey – “Mountain To Move”
I’m going to make a prediction: “Mountain To Move” is the song most likely to appear on the soundtrack of sweet and quirky rom coms over the 12 months. Nick Mulvey continues to impress me with the way he crafts a song over a repeating melody line or guitar rhythm, building the simplicity into something more.

15. Julia Johnson – “Melissa”
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the new direction that Julia Johnson has taken with her songwriting in 2017. Moving beyond her work with Julia and The Deep Sea Sirens and working with producer Sarah Belkner, Johnson is producing some of the most interesting music of her career. I have a feeling “Melissa” is only the tip of the iceberg for what’s coming next from Julia Johnson and I can’t wait.

16. The Northern Folk – “Get On”
Despite the wealth of shows they’ve done this year I only managed to catch Melbourne folk 10 piece The Northern Folk live for the first time really recently. They manage to combine the indie folk sound of bands like The Middle East with the distinct groove that comes with having a saxophone heavy horn section. “Get On” epitomises The Northern Folk’s unique sound for me and was one of those songs that made me hit the repeat button again and again the first time I heard it.

17. Fanny Lumsden – “Roll On”
Want to know what it’s like to be an Australian artist on an endless tour of our country? Listen to the lyrics of “Roll On”. What I love about this track is its authenticity. This isn’t the Americanised version of the Australian outback full of dust kicking cowboys and pickup trucks. And this isn’t the romanticised nostalgic version of Australia either with its drovers and men-of-the-land. Instead “Roll On” is a song about about what its like to hit the road in 2017 complete with speeding fines, Gaytimes, roadtrains and small town bowlos. Keep writing songs like this Fanny Lumsden.

18. Paul Kelly – “Firewood and Candles”
After a few years of genre and experimental albums Paul Kelly announced his return to the classic Paul Kelly with the killer track “Firewood and Candles”. That rocking riff with Kelly’s vocals (ably supported by Vikka and Linda Bull) is just so damn catchy. If you wonder why everyone’s making such a fuss over Paul Kelly at the moment, why he’s winning awards and being praised at every turn, just listen to the songs on his 2017 album Life Is Fine, starting with “Firewood and Candles”.

19. Gretta Ziller – “Slaughterhouse Blues”
If someone asks you for the best voice in Australian Americana music then just show them Gretta Ziller. There may be some artists earlier in this list who you could squeeze into the genre, but as far as pure Americana music goes you can’t get much better than Ziller’s “Slaughterhouse Blues”. This is a modern track with its feet firmly in roots music. And that production! Perfection! More of this please Gretta Ziller.

20. I’m With Her – “Little Lies”
Before the release of “Little Lies” the American super-goup I’m With Her were really known for interpreting traditional music or covers of contemporary songs. But then this track comes along and solidifies the (probabaly assumed) fact that I’m With Her are a band to watch. Aoife O’Donovan has one of the best voices in Americana music, and it’s all the sweeter combined with the voices of Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz. And Watkins’ fiddle playing on this track is some of my favourite instrumental work in 2017.

21. BATTS – “Little White Lies”
I’ve been a fan of Tanya Batt’s music for some time, but it’s been her transformation into BATTS and the lo-fi, shoe-gaze, lyric driven songwriting that has come with it that has really caught my attention in 2017. “Little White Lies” is the second single released under the BATTS moniker and it’s by far my favourite, with its etherial production and confessional lyrics. I have a feeling we’re going to be hearing a lot more from BATTS in the coming months and I can’t wait.

22. Taryn La Fauci – “Winter”
When her EP Cycling came out I messaged Taryn La Fauci and told her “Just wanted to tell you that I’m in love with your track “Winter”.” Above every other song on the EP “Winter” struck me, most likely because this year I lost my cat as well and the lyrics just resonated. This song was on repeat for a lot of this year – thank you for sharing it with me Taryn La Fauci.

23. Diamond Duck – “Marry Me By The Sea”
Another collaboration (this time between The Morrisons’ Jimmy Daley and Canadian-Australian singer-songwriter Brian Campeau) that evokes the close harmony singing of The Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel, Diamond Duck have made quite an impression with their first single “Marry Me By The Sea”. What makes this stand out for me is the way the Diamond Duck boys explore unusual, almost twisted chords in their accompaniment while maintaining a sweetness in their vocal delivery. Listen to the piano “solo” in the middle of the song and you’ll see what I mean – there’s something a little off kilter in the track and it’s absolutely delicious.

24. Stella Donnelly – “Boys Will Be Boys”
In the wake of the #metoo movement and everything that’s been coming out in the media over the last few months I think Australia needed a song like “Boys Will Be Boys”. Stella Donnelly has made quite a splash this year and with her amazing voice and lyrical chops I can imagine there’s big things on the horizon for the singer-songwriter.

25. Johnny Flynn – “Wandering Aengus”
The return of Johnny Flynn to music this year was heralded by this really quirky track and promised much from his new album Sillion. All the elements of what makes a classic Johnny Flynn song are here – his amazing voice, jangly guitar and subtle horn accompaniment – but there’s also something a little twisted about the structure of this track that I really really like. Definitely up there with my favourite Johnny Flynn songs.

3 Comments

Timber and Steel’s Top Albums of 2017

December 18, 2017 at 08:29 (Opinion)
Tags: all our exes live in texas, batts, billy bragg, bob dylan, charlie fink, colin meloy, dan stanley freeman, david rawlings, Elana Stone, emily barker, fanny lumsden, folk music, georgia mooney, gillian welch, gretta ziller, grizzlee train, hannah crofts, husky, johnny flynn, josh rennie-hynes, kasey chambers, katie wighton, lankum, laura marling, lisa mitchell, lynched, nash chambers, nick mulvey, noah and the whale, offa rex, old crow medicine show, olivia chaney, packwood, paul kelly, steve grady, stu larsen, the ahern brothers, the decemberists, the east pointers, the morrisons, timothy james bowen, vika & linda bull, willie watson

Merle

It’s difficult to find an overriding theme in our picks for this year’s top albums. There’s a bit of trad in there, a lot of singer-songwriter and a decent amount Americana and country music. Overall 2017 has been another amazing year for folk music and we couldn’t be happier.

As always we have more “best of” lists coming this week so please stay tuned for them. But in the meantime check out Timber and Steel’s top albums of

1. Offa Rex – The Queen of Hearts
When you get nostalgia right the result can be pure gold. As someone who was brought up on late-60s/early-70s English folk-rock (think Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Pentangle, etc) The Queen of Hearts feels like home and, as my friends and family can attest, the album has truly been on constant rotation since its release in July.

Offa Rex is the coming together of Portland nu-folk heroes The Decemberists and English folk-singer Olivia Chaney, inspired by the second-wave folk revival of the British isles. Somehow they’ve managed to capture this very distinct period of music, staying true to the instrumentation, production values and aesthetic of the time without descending into kitsch or parody (as many of the bands from the time ended up doing themselves in the 70s and 80s). Rigid rock rhythm sections over murder ballads, harpsichords and reverb-heavy electric guitars, ethereal vocals – The Queen of Hearts feels more like a rediscovered gem than an album recorded and released in 2017.

And let’s make one thing clear – it’s Olivia Chaney who makes this record. While The Decemberists are obviously the driving force behind The Queen of Hearts it is Chaney’s vocals that pull you right back into the early 70s. She somehow channels the likes of Maddy Prior, Sandy Denny, Anne Briggs, et al, while still bringing her own unique sound to the vocals. The tracks where Colin Meloy takes the lead (such as “Black Leg Minor”) or the instrumental “Constant Billy (Oddington) / I’ll Go Enlist (Sherborne)”, while still amazing in their own right, just don’t have the same impact as “The Queen of Hearts”, “Flash Company”, “The Old Churchyard” or any of the other amazing songs with Olivia Chaney front and centre.

Picking favourite songs from an album of standouts is very very hard. I love the nods to early Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath on “Sheepcrook and Black Dog”, probably the most epic of all the songs on the album. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is a beautiful tribute to Anne Briggs, with Chaney’s voice just resonating over the drone of a harmonium. And Offa Rex’s version of “Willie o’ Winsbury” may be my favourite of all time.

Even if you only have a passing interest in British folk music, in the second wave folk revival or in The Decemberists’ ongoing evolution as one of the most interesting folk bands in the world, give The Queen of Hearts a listen and see exactly why this is our album of the year for 2017.

2. The East Pointers – What We Leave Behind
Canadian trio The East Pointers up the production ante with their new album What We Leave Behind, expanding their sound with new instrumentation, increasing their song-to-tune ratio and generally producing one of the most interesting folk albums of the year. And the best part about it is there’s still a focus on ensuring that every bit of the album can be reproduced live with just the three of them – something I can confirm is the case having caught them in Melbourne recently. What We Leave Behind sees The East Pointers grow as a band, deftly straddling the worlds of traditional and modern fold music.

3. The Ahern Brothers – The Ahern Brothers
Josh Rennie-Hynes and Steve Grady are two voices that seem destined to be together. The Ahern Brothers are the latest in collection of modern artists taking inspiration from close harmony singing in the vein of The Everly Brothers and Simon & Garfunkel and the result is really something special. Their self-titled debut album is a pure delight and elevates everything we’ve heard from Rennie-Hynes and Grady individually to date. There’s a reason these guys are selling out shows and taking the country by storm.

4. Fanny Lumsden – Real Class Act
Fanny Lumsden continues her domination of Australian country music with the 2017 release of Real Class Act. The album is very strongly informed by Lumsden’s decision to live her life on the road with husband Dan Stanley Freeman rather than opting for the relative comfort of a major Australian city (where, let’s be honest, the vast majority of Australia’s country music is produced), and you can really hear the expanse of our wide brown land all over the album. With each release Fanny Lumsden’s songwriting just gets better and better, adding a modern sensibility to a genre that all to often falls into cliche or nostalgia. Real Class Act is what Australian country music should be about.

5. The Morrisons – The Morrisons
Australia’s premiere bluegrass and alt-country band The Morrisons released their long-awaited and highly anticipated debut album this year and it has fast become one of my favourite album’s of ever. No one quite takes such a quintessentially American genre like bluegrass and passes it through the Australian lens in the way The Morrisons do. And it doesn’t hurt that individually each of The Morrisons is a master of their respective instrument making the album as technically brilliant as it is artistically brilliant.

6. Willie Watson – Folksinger Vol. 2
Willie Watson’s exploration of America’s rich vein of traditional folk music continues with the second volume in his Folksinger series. Somehow he finds a way to take traditional and vintage folk and blues songs and modernise them without losing what makes them great songs to begin with. Watson treats this material with respect and reverance, almost taking a step back and letting each song speak for itself. When Willie Watson left Old Crow Medicine Show he expressed a desire to find a softer side of the folk genre, and that’s something he’s truly captured with Folksinger Vol. 2.

7. All Our Exes Live In Texas – When We Fall
Taking out this year’s ARIA for Best Blues and Roots Album was just the icing on the cake for what has been a massive year for All Our Exes Live In Texas. When We Fall is an album of fine songwriting, pitch perfect production and a true celebration of the four part harmony. Elana Stone, Katie Wighton, Hannah Crofts and Georgia Mooney each bring a unique set of influences and musical styles to All Our Exes Live In Texas which somehow all blend together into something sublime. With the momentum on When We Fall expect All Our Exes Live In Texas to continue crushing it into 2018 and beyond

8. Laura Marling – Semper Femina
Laura Marling goes deep on her exploration of the feminine and what it means to be a female artist. It’s amazing to watch Marling grow with every album she releases while never really losing track of what drew us all to her in the first place – beautifully written songs and masterful guitar work. Laura Marling truly is one of the greatest artists of our generation.

9. Charlie Fink – Cover My Tracks
My love for Cover My Tracks one hundred per cent stems from my nostalgia for Noah and The Whale’s 2009 concept album The First Days of Spring. Charlie Fink revisits the style and feeling from The First Days of Spring throughout his 2017 solo outing and it’s a welcome return to form for a songwriter that had definitely strayed a little far from his strengths towards the end of Noah and The Whale’s time, prefering a Springsteen-light pop sound to substantial, heart-on-his-sleeve songwriting. The album is raw, emotional, beautiful and heartbreaking – everything I want from a Charlie Fink record.

10. Packwood – Vertumnus
The culmination four seasonally focused EPs from the last couple of years, Vertumnus is a beautiful opus to the natural world. Packwood’s unique brand of chamber folk has reached its pinnacle with this record, filled with lush compositions and stunning musicianship. Bayden Hyne, along with his arrangers Tilman Robinson (orchestral) and Miriam Crellin (choral) have pefectly crafted each track on Vertumnus making the most of choirs, strings, pianos, finger-picked guitars and banjos and more to compliment Packwood’s trademark fragile vocal style. Taking this work out of the studio and onto the stage is an expensive undertaking but I still hold out hope that we’ll see Vertumnus live before too long.

11. Kasey Chambers – Dragonfly
Kasey Chambers mixes things up on her latest double album working with two different producers – Paul Kelly and Nash Chambers – and collaborating with a diverse range of artists from multiple genres, resulting in one of her most interesting releases in recent years.

12. David Rawlings – Poor David’s Almanack
David Rawlings and Gillian Welch find a way to write original Americana songs that sound like traditional songs that have been re-discovered and updated for a modern audience – and why can’t I get “Money is the Meat in the Coconut” out of my head?

13. Billy Bragg – Bridges Not Walls
Billy Bragg returns to his activist roots on this EP with his electric guitar turned up and his wit as sharp as ever.

14. Lisa Mitchell – When They Play That Song
Out of no where Australia’s queen of indie-folk delivers the sweetest covers EP of the year, with quirky takes on 90s favourites from Phantom Planet, Spice Girls, Placebo, Letters To Cleo and The Cardigans

15. Timothy James Bowen – Bloom
Bloom bookends a couple of years of massive upheaval in Timothy James Bowen’s life, while capturing an artist at the peak of his powers as a singer and songwriter.

Husky
16. Husky – Punchbuzz
Husky continue to push the boundaries of their indie-folk sound with an album that borrows as much from eighties pop as it does from lyric-driven singer-songwriter music.

BATTS
17. BATTS – 62 Moons
Moving away from her electro-folk roots toward a stripped back sound has proven a success for BATTS who’s delivered an EP of really stunning songs.

18. Gretta Ziller – Queen of Boomtown
Gretta Ziller has delivered one of the best Americana albums of the year that deserves all the nominations, awards and accolades it will no doubt continue to receive over the coming months

19. Paul Kelly – Life Is Fine
After a couple of genre projects Paul Kelly returns with his most Paul Kelly album in recent memory, further cementing him as Australia’s greatest living songwriter.

20. Nick Mulvey – Wake Up Now
The English singer-songwriter continues to produce interesting, acoustic driven indie music full of weird guitar tunings, multi-tracked vocals and songs just waiting to hit a Hollywood soundtrack.

21. Emily Barker – Sweet Kind of Blue
Emily Barker deftly combines country, blues and folk styles, harkening back to a tradition while still producing a sound that is fresh and engaging.

22. Stu Larsen – Resolute
Australia’s favourite troubadour produces another album of straight up singer-songwriter gems documenting his travels around the world.

Lankum
23. Lankum – Between The Earth & Sky
Lankum, the band formally known as Lynched, are producing some of the most raw traditional Irish music going around, complete with the thickest Dublin accent you’re likely to hear this year.

24. Old Crow Medicine Show – 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde
Old Crow Medicine Show pay homage to Dylan with this live stringband version of the classic Blonde On Blonde

25. Johnny Flynn – Sillion
An absolute gem of an album that sees Johnny Flynn’s distinctive voice and resonator front and centre, but a willingness to play with production a bit more than previous releases, adding more texture and nuance to each of the tracks.

5 Comments

Ten Albums and EPs From the First Half of 2017 You Should Own

July 28, 2017 at 10:38 (Opinion)
Tags: all our exes live in texas, charlie fink, emily barker, fleet foxes, folk music, johnny flynn, kasey chambers, laura marling, the ahern brothers, the morrisons, timothy james bowen

Records

Can you believe we’re more than halfway through 2017? What a crazy year it’s been so far – and what a year of music we’ve had!

For us at here at Timber and Steel 2017 has been a lot about reconnecting with new music from the amazing folk artists who first inspired us to start writing about this music, as well as the debut albums from a bunch of artists that we’ve been patiently waiting to release music for what feels like years.

So we thought we’d continue our tradition of the last couple of years to highlight ten albums and EPs we think should be part of your collection – as well as tell you exactly what it is about these records that we love.

So without further ado here’s our Ten Albums and EPs From the First Half of 2017 You Should Own:

When We Fall – All Our Exes Live In Texas

AOELIT
Watching All Our Exes Live In Texas transform from a one-off coming together of Sydney singer-songwriters a few years ago to the musical powerhouse they are today has been just a joy. When their debut album When We Fall dropped this year fans were rewarded with some fine fine songwriting, pitch perfect production and a true celebration of the four part harmony. Despite the disparate styles of each member’s solo work, When We Fall is a beautiful, cohesive album that demands to be listened to over and over again.

Cover My Tracks – Charlie Fink

Noah and The Whale’s 2009 concept album The First Days of Spring is easily one of my favourite releases of the last 10 years. Its sprawling dissection of frontman Charlie Fink’s break up with Laura Marling is a true masterpiece. So when Fink’s promo around his new solo album Cover My Tracks likened it as an unofficial sequel to The First Days of Spring I was more than a little skeptical, especially given the Springsteen-light pop direction Noah and The Whale took in its final years. But the truth is that Cover My Tracks delivers. It still doesn’t hold a candle to The First Days of Spring but Charlie Fink has captured some of his early magic with his solo album. The release is another concept album (which also comes accompanied by a play written by David Greig) and it deserves to be listened to from start to finish. It’s great to have Charlie Fink back doing what he does best.

Sweet Kind of Blue – Emily Barker

I was lucky enough to see Emily Barker at a super intimate show in Melbourne back in April, just as she was about to release Sweet Kind of Blue. Watching Barker on stage with just herself, her guitar and an accompanying double bass just solidified how good she is as a songwriter – when you strip back the production of Sweet Kind of Blue there’s still something amazing at the core. She deftly combines country, blues and folk styles, harkening back to a tradition while still producing a sound that is fresh and engaging. It’s about time Australia started paying more attention to Emily Barker, esepcially if she keeps producing music like Sweet Kind of Blue.

Crack-Up – Fleet Foxes

Following a six-year break Fleet Foxes return with their very special brand of 70’s folk nostalgia on Crack-Up. Robin Pecknold and co’s harmonic, sweet vocals over Fleet Foxes’ epic, rhythmic melodies have been sorely missed and it’s great to see them balancing the nostalgia of their earlier work with their need to grow artistically. Despite the off-putting opening track “I Am All That I Need/Arroyo Seco/Thumbprint Scar” Crack-Up is a solid album that can stand proudly next to Helplessness Blues and their self titled debut. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another six years for album number four.

Sillion – Johnny Flynn

The return of Johnny Flynn to folk-singing this year came as a bit of surprise given his recent focus on his screen and stage acting career (if you haven’t seen Lovesick on Netflix we can recommend giving it a crack). But we’re so glad Flynn’s picked up the resonator again because Sillion is an absolute gem of an album. Johnny Flynn’s distinctive voice is once again front and centre on the album but he seems to be playing with the production a bit more, adding more texture and nuance to each of the tracks. I don’t know if this is the start of a new direction for Johnny Flynn – if it is I’m interested to see where he goes next.

Dragonfly – Kasey Chambers

There are two big things that excited me about Kasey Chambers’ new album Dragonfly. Firstly the fact that the double album had two different producers – Paul Kelly and Nash Chambers respectively – giving each disc a distinct sound. And secondly the raft of collaborations with really interesting artists such as Vika & Linda Bull, Keith Urban, Paul Kelly, Foy Vance, Harry Hookey, Ed Sheeran and Grizzlee Train – many of those, you’d agree, wouldn’t normally be associated with Kasey Chambers’ music. The result is one of Kasey Chambers’ most interesting and dare we say best albums to date.

Semper Femina – Laura Marling

Laura Marling has gone deep on her exploration of the feminine in her brand new album Semper Femina and I love it. It was really interesting watching Marling explore feminine creativity in her podcast series Reversal of the Muse earlier this year and Semper Femina seems to be the artistic extension of the conversations she was having with the likes of Marika Hackman, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. The album is yet another example of Laura Marling’s skills as a songwriter, guitarist and singer – each song is perfectly crafted. Laura Marling truly is one of the greatest artists of our generation.

The Ahern Brothers – The Ahern Brothers

The Ahern Brothers is the perfect coupling of singer-songwriters Josh Rennie-Hynes and Steve Grady, bringing two-part male harmony singing in the vein of The Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel and more recently The Milk Carton Kids to an Australian audience. Their self-titled debut album is a pure delight and elevates everything we’ve heard from Rennie-Hynes and Grady individually to date. I have a sneaking suspicion this album is going to make it onto a lot of people’s best of end of year lists. Beautiful.

The Morrisons – The Morrisons

We’ve already said plenty about The Morrisons’ long awaited self-titled debut album but there was no way it was going to get left off this list. The Morrisons are easily one of Australia’s best bluegrass and alt-country bands, it’s just a pity it takes them so long to get a record in stores. The Morrisons is an album of quintessentially Australian songs set to the familiar chop of a quintessentially American musical style. And it doesn’t hurt that individually each of The Morrisons is a master of their respective instrument making the album as technically brilliant as it is artistically brilliant. Now what do we have to do to get The Morrisons back in the studio for a followup?

Bloom – Timothy James Bowen

If you’ve been following Timothy James Bowen’s story over the last couple of years you’ll know it’s not been an easy journey for the singer songwriter. Diagnosed with Primary Mediastinal B Cell Lymphoma (a type of blood cancer), Bowen spent much of 2016 in treatment before going into remission. Bloom bookends this massive upheaval in his life, but it also shows how a songwriter of Timothy James Bowen’s talent is able to channel his experience into his art. Even without the personal context Bloom is an amazing EP – here are five incredible songs from a master songwriter.

And of course special mention also has to go to so many other albums and EPs that were released in the first six months of 2017 including (but not limited to):

Vacancy – Broads
Postcards From The Shell House – Busby Marou
All You Need Is Music – Davidson Brothers
÷ – Ed Sheeran
Punchbuzz – Husky
The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Uncharted – Joel Barker & The Low Company
Jordan Ireland With Purple Orchestra – Jordan Ireland With Purple Orchestra
Barefoot Wonderland – Justin Bernasconi
Universal Favorite – Noam Pikelny
50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde – Old Crow Medicine Show
Good Days, These Days – Quinton Trembath
Freedom Highway – Rhiannon Giddens
The Water – Sam Buckingham
Planetarium – Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, James McAlister
Cycling – Taryn La Fauci
Take Care Take Cover – The Mae Trio
Ironbark – The Waifs
A Fair Wind – Trioc

2 Comments

Thank Folk It’s Friday – 23rd June

June 23, 2017 at 13:44 (News, Week in Review)
Tags: aine tyrrell, angus and julia stone, dashville skyline, davidson brothers, fleet foxes, folk music, iron & wine, johnny flynn, julia jacklin, martin simpson, mullum music festival, stu larsen, timothy james bowen

TFIF

This Week in Folk

All the News From The Week That Was

– Angus & Julia Stone returned with their new single “Snow”. Details here

– Folk music legend Martin Simpson announced his new album Trails & Tribulations. Details here

– Dashville Skyline announced their first round of artists for 2017 including Mark Olson & Ingunn Ringvold, Tim Easton, Songs From Dan, Mel Parsons, The Roamin’ Jasmine, Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, William Crighton, Immigrant Union, Claire Anne Taylor, Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, Pony Face, Emma Russack and Roadhouses. Details here

– Fleet Foxes released their new single “If You Need To, Keep Time On Me”. Details here

– Brisbane based alt-country singer-songwriter Brad Butcher has announced plans to release his new album From The Bottom Of A Well. Details here

– Iron & Wine has just released his first single in four years titled “Call It Dreaming”. Details here

– Singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin released her new video “Eastwick”. Details here

– Irish-born, Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Áine Tyrrell released her confronting new video “Don’t Be Left Crying”. Details here

– The Mullum Music Festival announced 10 artists for their 2017 event including Jon Cleary & The Monster Gentlemen, Frazey Ford, Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders, Lindi Ortega, Too Many Zooz, Z-Star Delta, Gabriel Garzón-Montano, The East Pointers, The Teskey Brothers and Jazz Party. Details here

– English singer-songwriter Johnny Flynn released his new video “In The Deepest”. Details here

– Bluegrass favourites Davidson Brothers kick off their east coast tour tonight in Canberra. Details here

– Troubadour Stu Larsen released his new single “Chicago Song”. Details here

Reviews

Track by Track

“A couple of weeks ago Sydney based singer-songwriter Timothy James Bowen highly anticipated new EP Bloom. Bowen describes the EP as bookending everything that’s happened to him in the last year – much of which he spent fighting a type of blood cancer” – Timothy James Bowen takes us his EP Bloom. Track by Track here

Releases This Week

Together At Last – Jeff Tweedy
iTunes

QPS
Follow The River – Queen Porter Stomp
Bandcamp

Ahern
The Ahern Brothers – The Ahern Brothers
iTunes

Tulalah
The Question – Tulalah
Bandcamp

Timber and Steel Recommends – Go To This Gig

Queen Porter Stomp w/ Giffen, Whoa Mule

Queen Porter Stomp

Dirty swamp masters Queen Porter Stomp launch their new album Follow The River in Sydney this weekend supported by Giffen and Whoa Mule

Saturday 24th June – Django Bar, Sydney, NSW

Gigs Next Week

All Our Exes Live In Texas
Friday 23rd June – Jive, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 24th June – Babushka, Perth, WA
Sunday 25th June – Fly By Night, Fremantle, WA
Friday 30th June – Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW

Amber Lawrence & Catherine Britt w/ Fanny Lumsden
Friday 23rd June – Rainforest Ranch, Rockhampton, QLD
Saturday 24th June – Carrier’s Arms Hotel Motel, Maryborough, QLD
Thursday 29th June – Club Barham, Barham, VIC
Friday 30th June – Commercial Club, Albury, NSW

Andy Golledge Band, Caitlin Harnett, Ruben Neeson
Friday 30th June – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW

Anna Cordell w/ Hollie Joyce
Saturday 24th June – Longplay, Melbourne, VIC

Anne of the Wolves
Friday 23rd June – The Thornbury Local, Melbourne, VIC

Argyle Sun-Sets at Fred’s feat. Larissa Tandy, Sam Newton, Nick Payne
Sunday 25th June – Upstairs at Fred’s, Camden, VIC

Ben Ottewell
Tuesday 27th June – Mojo’s Bar, Fremantle, WA
Wednesday 28th June – Four5Nine, Perth, WA
Thursday 29th June – Crown and Anchor, Adelaide, SA
Friday 30th June – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC

Ben Salter
Friday 23rd June – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC

Blue Mountains Winter Magic Festival
Saturday 24th June – Katoomba, NSW

Brad Butcher w/ The Weeping Willows
Friday 23rd June – House Concert, Geelong, VIC
Saturday 24th June – House Concert, Carrum, VIC
Sunday 25th June – House Concert, Bittern, VIC
Friday 30th June – The Singing Gallery, McLaren Vale, SA

Broads
Friday 23rd June – The Junk Bar, Brisbane, QLD
Sunday 25th June – Bellingen Brewery, Bellingen, NSW

Busby Marou
Friday 23rd June – The Northshore Tavern, Perth, WA
Saturday 24th June – Mundaring Weir Hotel, Mundaring, WA
Sunday 25th June – The Boston, Perth, WA
Friday 30th June – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin, NT

Carus Thompson
Friday 23rd June – Wesley Anne, Melbourne, VIC

Catherine Traicos
Sunday 25th June – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 29th June – Fly By Night, Fremantle, WA

Daniel Champagne
Friday 23rd June – The Tea Club Nowra, Nowra, NSW
Saturday 24th June – Polish White Eagle Club, Canberra, ACT
Sunday 25th June – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
Thursday 29th June – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Friday 30th June – NightQuarter, Gold Coast, QLD

Davidson Brothers
Friday 23rd June – Harmonie German Club, Canberra, ACT
Saturday 24th June – Nethercote Hall, Nethercote, NSW

Devil Goat Family String Band
Saturday 24th June – Bar Open, Melbourne, VIC

Dusty Ravens w/ Low Down Riders
Friday 30th June – Django Bar, Sydney, NSW

Emma Davis
Friday 23rd June – Frank’s Wild Years, Thirroul, NSW

Folk Fun Fiesta feat. Den Hanrahan and the Rum Runners, Fred Smith, Zumpa
Saturday 24th June – Centro CBD, Wollongong, NSW

FolkSwagon feat. Pilot Hergé, Ethan Conway, Hannah Robinson
Wednesday 28th June – Cafe Lounge, Sydney, NSW

Hanny J w/ Emmy Hour, Squid Fishing, Quinton Trembath
Sunday 25th June – Reverence Hotel, Melbourne, VIC

Hayden Calnin
Friday 30th June – Hudson Ballroom, Sydney, NSW

Honey & Knives
Friday 23rd June – 5 Church St, Bellingen, NSW
Friday 30th June – 63 First Ave, Sawtell, NSW

Instrumental (adj.), Hinterlandt, Brian Campeau
Friday 23rd June – 107 Projects, Sydney, NSW

Jacob Diamond
Friday 23rd June – Odd Fellow, Fremantle, WA
Friday 30th June – The Milk Factory, Brisbane, QLD

James Ellis and the Jealous Guys w/ Georgia Mulligan, Ainsley Farrell
Friday 23rd June – Botany View Hotel, Sydney, NSW

Jasmine Beth, Melanie Horsnell, Tidal Moon
Saturday 24th June – Lovett Chapel, Yass, NSW
Sunday 25th June – Bundanoon Memorial Hall, Bundanoon, NSW

Jen Mize
Friday 23rd June – Bohemian Bungalow, Eumundi, QLD
Saturday 24th June – The Basement, Nambour, QLD

Kuranda Roots Festival
Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th June – Kuranda, QLD

Larissa Tandy w/ Brooke Russell and The Mean Reds
Friday 23rd June – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 25th June – House Concert, Camden, NSW
Friday 30th June – Baha, Rye, VIC

Leah Senior
Saturday 24th June – Golden Age, Sydney, NSW
Thursday 29th June – The End, Brisbane, QLD

Les Thomas
Friday 23rd June – Kingsbury Bowls Club, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 30th June – Kingsbury Bowls Club, Melbourne, VIC

Liam Gerner
Saturday 24th June – The Wesley Anne, Melbourne, VIC

Lisa Crawley
Thursday 29th June – Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne, VIC

Lisa Mitchell and Dustin Tebbutt w/ Alex The Astronaut
Friday 23rd June – Newport Hotel, Fremantle, WA
Saturday 24th June – Badlands, Perth, WA
Thursday 29th June – Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 30th June – Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC

Liz Stringer’s Big Tuesday String-a-long feat. Mick Thomas
Tuesday 27th June – The Gasometer, Melbourne, VIC

Lloyd Spiegel
Friday 23rd June – The Piping Hot Chicken Shop, Ocean Grove, VIC
Friday 30th June – The Skylark Room, Upwey, VIC

Lowdown Hokum Orchestra
Friday 23rd June – Burrinja, Upwey, VIC

Lucy & Rowena Wise, John Flanagan
Saturday 24th June – House Concert, Melbourne, VIC

Mr Alford Country
Saturday 24th June – Union Hotel, Melbourne, VIC

Music on a Mission feat. Hussy Hicks, Leopold’s Treat
Wednesday 28th June – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast, QLD

Newport Folk Festival
Friday 30th to Sunday 2nd July – Newport, VIC

Nigel Wearne
Sunday 25th June – Blarney Books & Art, Port Fairy, VIC

Queen Porter Stomp w/ Giffen, Whoa Mule
Saturday 24th June – Django Bar, Sydney, NSW

Ramblin’ Nights feat. Katie Brianna, De’May, Jemma Nicole
Wednesday 28th June – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW

Slava & Sharon Grigoryan
Friday 23rd June – St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Shepparton, VIC

Sofar Sounds Melbourne
Saturday 24th June – Melbourne, VIC

Sofar Sounds Sydney
Thursday 29th June – Martin Place, Sydney, NSW

Song Seshes feat. Gentle Leader, Jess Keating Music, Pyjama Sam Productions, Rita B
Saturday 24th June – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW

Songs of the Land and Sea feat. The Cutting, Andy Alberts
Saturday 24th June – Port Fairy Lecture Hall, Port Fairy, VIC

Sunday Sessions feat. Mitch Power
Sunday 25th June – The Public Brewery, Melbourne, VIC

Taryn La Fauci
Thursday 29th June – Townsville, QLD

The Ahern Brothers
Thursday 29th June – Treehouse, Byron Bay, NSW
Friday 30th June – 5 Church Street, Bellingen, NSW

The Bean Project
Friday 23rd June – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Saturday 24th June – That Little Brewery, Melbourne, VIC

The Grigoryan Brothers
Sunday 25th June – Wesley of Warragul, Warragul, VIC
Friday 30th June – Kyneton Town Hall, Kyneton, VIC

The Heggarties w/ The Cherry Pickers
Saturday 24th June – The Retreat Hotel, Melbourne, VIC

The Spooky Men’s Chorale
Friday 23rd June – Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle, NSW
Saturday 24th June – Wollongong Town Hall, Wollongong, NSW
Wednesday 28th June – The Old Museum, Brisbane, QLD

The Wayward Henrys
Friday 23rd June – Flow Bar, Old Bar, NSW

Tom Stephens w/ eush, Bonniesongs, Sam Hughes
Saturday 24th June – RAD, Wollongong, NSW

Toni Swain
Sunday 25th June – Union Hotel, Melbourne, VIC

Vardos Trio
Saturday 24th June – Bocskai Centre, Melbourne, VIC

Friday Folk Flashback

“All The Pretty Little Horses” – Odetta

Putting the creepy back into lullabies.

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Watch the New Johnny Flynn Video “In The Deepest”

June 22, 2017 at 15:14 (News, Video News)
Tags: folk music, johnny flynn, singer songwriter

Image Courtesy of Johnny Flynn

The new Johnny Flynn album Sillion was released at the end of March and has been garnering a bunch of positive reviews. The lastest single from Sillion is “In The Deepest” which has a video directed by long-term collaborator Simon Ryninks.

“Johnny has imbued “In The Deepest” with a sense of ominous dread which I’ve tried to visualise,” Ryninks explained. “The video’s concept grew out of that and a general feeling of anxiety. The video is about finding hope in other people who share your world view and see things the way you do. The videos for Sillion are part of a wider collaboration between myself, Johnny, and my partner performer/photographer Hanna-Katrina Jedrosz. Each has explored a different theme.”

Check out the video of “In The Deepest” below:

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Thank Folk It’s Friday – 17th March

March 17, 2017 at 14:35 (News, Week in Review)
Tags: folk music, irish mythen, jason isbell, joel barker & the low company, johnny flynn, katie brianna, radical face, the button collective, vivid sydney

This Week in Folk

All the News From The Week That Was

– We premiered the new EP from Joel Barker & The Low Company, Uncharted. Details here

– VIVID announced its full music lineup including Fleet Foxes, Laura Marling, Lisa Hannigan, Bill Callahan, Beth Orton, Taasha Coates, Crooked Fiddle Band, Mick Thomas, Brian Campeau, Nic Cassey, Swamp Fat Jangles, Sarah Belkner and more. Details here

– Indie-folk singer Radical Face has announced his first ever Australian tour. Details here

– Canadian folk singer Irish Mythen hits Australia this weekend for the start of her latest tour. Details here

– The Button Collective announced a bunch of east coast dates to launch their new album. Details here

– English singer-songwriter Johnny Flynn released his new video “Wandering Aengus”. Details here

– Sydney alt-country singer Katie Brianna released her new video “King”. Details here

– Award winning Americana artist Jason Isbell has announced details of his upcoming album The Nashville Sound. Details here

Releases This Week

Salutations – Conor Oberst
iTunes

Live North America 2016 – Gary Clark Jr
iTunes

Uncharted – Joel Barker & The Low Company
iTunes

Til The Goin’ Gets Gone – Lindi Ortega
iTunes

Timber and Steel Recommends – Go To This Gig

St Patrick’s Day Weekend

Today is St Patrick’s Day and that means this weekend is going to be full of trad and folk music goodness around the country. Rather than suggesting a single show we recommend you head out and seek out folk music wherever you can find it. Below is a list of shows and events celebrating St Patricks Day, Ireland and everything that’s good about live music

Friday 17th March
Handsome Young Strangers, Operation Ibis, Mournwillow – The Union Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Mandy Connell and Kim Wheeler – Star Hotel, Yackandandah, VIC
Mighty Irish Session – The Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW
Mundy – The Basement, Sydney, NSW
Sarah Calderwood Duo – Brunswick Hotel, Brisbane, QLD
St Patricks Day at Adelaide Oval feat. Adelaide Irish Pipe Band, Celtic & Comhaltas Traditional Musicians, Inesheer, Dogpatch Appalachian, Scoil Rince Ní Murchú, Ceol Maith, The Timbers, Folk n Spicy, Celtic Reflections, Shambolics, Blackthorn and more – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA
St Patrick’s Day at The Last Jar feat. Ewen Baker, John Hudson, Áine Tyrrell, Pat McKernan, Chris Fitz, Jim Green, The Corkman traditional Irish – The Last Jar, Melbourne, VIC
St Patrick’s Day MOTH feat. Áine Tyrrell and The Midnight Tide, Aoife Scott Band – Music on the Hill, Red Hill, VIC
St Patrick’s Day Festival at The Irish Club of WA feat. CraicN On, The Healy’s, Tommy O’ Brien & Co – Irish Club, Perth, WA
St Patricks Day Party: A Celebration of the Music of Ireland feat. Flangipanis, Paddy McHugh Trio, Fox n Firkin, Andy McDonell Band, Alan Boyle Band – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
The Bitter Sweethearts w/ The Bottlers, Nils Sundermann – The Townie, Sydney, NSW
The Button Collective – Finnian’s Irish Tavern, Port Macquarie, NSW
The Ramshackle Army – Loch & Key, Melbourne, VIC
The Ramshackle Army – Dan O’Connell Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
The Sweet Jelly Rolls – The Wild Rover, Sydney, NSW

Saturday 18th March
Aoife Scott – Tea Gardens Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Joe & Harmony’s Magic Carpet Ride BE-IN feat. Paul Hayward & The Sidekicks, Sue Gee – The Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW
The Buffalo Grass Boys – The Wild Rover, Sydney, NSW
The Ramshackle Army, Handsome Young Strangers, Operation Ibis, Mournwillow – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW

Sunday 19th March
Aoife Scott, Gallie, Áine Tyrrell – The Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW
Brisbane Irish Festival Family Day – Gaelic Park, Brisbane, QLD
Echo Deer – The Wild Rover, Sydney, NSW
Melbourne St Patrick’s Family Festival feat. Zeon, Paddy Fitz and friends, Comhaltas, Borderline Kaylee – Edinburgh Gardens, Melbourne, VIC
Mighty Tunes Session – The Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW
***CANCELLED***Sydney St. Patrick’s Day Green Gathering feat. feat. Áine Tyrell, The Bottlers, Chaika, Gallie, Ecopella, UTS Ukulele Orchestra, Mark Oats & Cara Kavanagh feat. Ciaran Gribbin, Cross Rhythm Dancers, Knievel, Sydney Session Players, Aoife Scott – Prince Alfred Park, Sydney, NSW***CANCELLED***
The Ramshackle Army, Handsome Young Strangers, Operation Ibis, Mournwillow – Lazybones Lounge, Sydney, NSW

Gigs Next Week

Aireys Inlet Open Mic Music Festival
Friday 17th to Sunday 18th March – Aireys Inlet, VIC

Aoife Scott
Friday 17th March – Music on the Hill, Red Hill, VIC
Saturday 18th March – Tea Gardens Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 19th March – The Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW
Tuesday 21st March – Queen Street Mall, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday 22nd March – Queen Street Mall, Brisbane, QLD
Thursday 23rd March – The Yacht Club, Mooloolaba, QLD
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March – Yackandandah Folk Festival, Yackandandah, VIC

Belle Harvey
Friday 17th March – Hardys Bay Club, Hardys Bay, NSW
Saturday 18th March – Peppertown Cafe, Newcastle, NSW
Sunday 19th March – Flow Bar, Old Bar, NSW

Boy & Bear
Saturday 18th March – Party in the Park, Narrabeen, NSW

Blue Mountains Music Festival
Friday 17th to Sunday 19th March – Katoomba, NSW

Brisbane Irish Festival Family Day
Sunday 19th March – Gaelic Park, Brisbane, QLD

Brunswick Music Festival
Sunday 5th to Sunday 19th March – Melbourne, VIC

Courtyard Sessions Presents Goldheist
Friday 17th March – Seymour Centre, Sydney, NSW

Courtyard Sessions presents Skyscraper Stan
Saturday 18th March – Seymour Centre, Sydney, NSW

Darby
Friday 17th March – Hibernian House, Sydney, NSW

Devil on the Rooftop, Belle Jar
Monday 20th March – Lazybones Lounge, Sydney, NSW

Domini Forster
Thursday 23rd March – Toff in Town, Melbourne, VIC

Don Henley w/ Jewel
Saturday 18th March – A Day On The Green, Mt Duneed Estate, Surf Coast, VIC

Echo Deer
Sunday 19th March – The Wild Rover, Sydney, NSW

Eddi Reader
Friday 17th to Sunday 19th March – Blue Mountains Music Festival, NSW
Tuesday 21st March – Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Wednesday 22nd March – Trinity Sessions, Adelaide, SA
Friday 24th March – Fly By Night, Fremantle, WA

Elwood Myre
Friday 17th March – Flow Bar, Old Bar, NSW
Saturday 18th March – Federal Hotel, Bellingen, NSW
Sunday 19th March – The Fox Den, Gloucester, NSW

Folk Uke
Friday 17th to Sunday 19th March – Blue Mountains Music Festival, NSW

FolkSwagon feat. Colin Jones and The Delta Revue, MoSoul
Wednesday 22nd March – Cafe Lounge, Sydney, NSW

Frank Sultana and The Sinister Kids
Friday 24th March – Southern Comfort Carnival, Surly’s American BBQ, Burgers & Beer, Sydney, NSW

Fromseier-Hockings w/ Dan & Paddy
Monday 20th March – Open Studio, Melbourne, VIC

Girl Friday & Mandy Connell
Sunday 19th March – House Concert, Melbourne, VIC

Handsome Young Strangers
Friday 17th March – The Union Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 18th March – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
Sunday 19th March – Lazybones Lounge, Sydney, NSW

Heartbreaker Sessions present Amber Rae Slade and Chris Porter
Sunday 19th March – The Bearded Tit, Sydney, NSW

Hinterlandt
Thursday 23rd March – Django Bar, Sydney, NSW
Friday 24th March – Jane’s, Wollongong, NSW

Holly Throsby
Saturday 18th March – Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
Sunday 19th March – Newtown Social Club, Sydney, NSW

Illawarra Folk Club Concert feat. The East Pointers, Meridian
Wednesday 22nd March – Diggers Club, Wollongong, NSW

Irish Mythen
Friday 17th to Sunday 19th March – Blue Mountains Folk Festival, Katoomba, NSW
Thursday 23rd March – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
Friday 24th March – Lizotte’s, Newcastle, NSW

Jack Carty
Friday 17th March – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Saturday 18th March – Canvas Coffee & Providore, Barham, NSW

Joe & Harmony’s Magic Carpet Ride BE-IN feat. Paul Hayward & The Sidekicks, Sue Gee
Saturday 18th March – The Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW

Joel Barker & The Low Company
Friday 17th March – The Odd Fellow, Fremantle, WA
Saturday 18th March – Green Door Wines, Ferguson Valley, WA
Sunday 19th March – Bridgetown Pottery Restuarant, Bridgetown, WA

Jordie Lane w/ Sam Buckingham, Benjamin James Caldwell
Saturday 18th March – Django Bar, Sydney, NSW

Josh Rennie-Hynes
Saturday 18th March – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne, VIC
Wednesday 22nd March – Ararat Live, Ararat, VIC

Jeff Lang
Friday, 17th March – Geelong Workers Club, Geelong VIC
Saturday 18th March – Brunswick Music Festival, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 24th March – Golden Vine, Bendigo, VIC

Jemma Nicole w/ Tom Dockray
Saturday 18th March – The B.East, Melbourne, VIC

Kate Miller-Heidke
Friday 24th March – Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW

Les Poules à Colin
Friday 17th to Sunday 19th March – Blue Mountains Folk Festival, Katoomba, NSW
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March – Yackandandah Folk Festival, Yackandandah, VIC

Mandy Connell and Kim Wheeler
Friday 17th March – Star Hotel, Yackandandah, VIC

Martha Tilston
Friday 17th March – Saints & Sailors, Port Arlington, VIC
Saturday 18th March – Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 19th March – Caravan Club, Oakleigh, VIC
Friday 24th March – Newham Hall, Newham, VIC

Martha Wainwright
Saturday 18th March – Lismore City Hall, Lismore, NSW
Sunday 19th March – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday 22nd March – Theatre Royal, Hobart, TAS
Thursday 23rd March – Devonport Entertainment Centre, Devonport, TAS
Friday 24th March – Capital Theatre, Bendigo, VIC

Melbourne St Patrick’s Family Festival feat. Zeon, Paddy Fitz and friends, Comhaltas, Borderline Kaylee
Sunday 19th March – Edinburgh Gardens, Melbourne, VIC

Mighty Irish Session
Friday 17th March – The Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW

Mighty Tunes Session w/ Aoife Scott, Gallie, Áine Tyrrell
Sunday 19th March – The Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW

Monsieur Camembert
Saturday 18th March – Camelot Lounge, Sydney, NSW

Mundy
Friday 17th March – The Basement, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th March – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba, NSW

Mustered Courage
Friday 17th March – The Wesley Anne, Melbourne, VIC

My Bubba
Friday 17th March – Mullumbimby Civic Memorial Hall, Mullumbimby, NSW
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th March – Blue Mountains Folk Festival, NSW
Tuesday 21st March – Newtown Social Club, Newtown, NSW
Wednesday 22nd March – Northcote Social Club, Northcote, VIC
Thursday 23rd March – Castlemaine State Festival, Castlemaine, VIC

Ramblin’ Nights Presents Chris Pickering & Jason Walker
Friday 17th March – Django Bar, Sydney, NSW

Roo Panes
Saturday 18th March – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD

Sarah Calderwood Duo
Friday 17th March – Brunswick Hotel, Brisbane, QLD

Sean McMahon and the MoonMen
Friday 17th March – The Junkyard, Maitland, NSW
Saturday 18th March – Marickville Bowlo, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 19th March – Union Hotel, Sydney, NSW

Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats
Friday 17th March – Southern Comfort Carnival, Surly’s American BBQ, Burgers & Beer, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 18th March – Seymour Centre, Sydney, NSW

Southern Comfort Carnival
Wednesday 15th to Saturday 25th March – Surly’s American BBQ, Burgers & Beer, Sydney, NSW

St Patricks Day at Adelaide Oval feat. Adelaide Irish Pipe Band, Celtic & Comhaltas Traditional Musicians, Inesheer, Dogpatch Appalachian, Scoil Rince Ní Murchú, Ceol Maith, The Timbers, Folk n Spicy, Celtic Reflections, Shambolics, Blackthorn and more
Friday 17th March – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA

St Patrick’s Day at The Last Jar feat. Ewen Baker, John Hudson, Áine Tyrrell, Pat McKernan, Chris Fitz, Jim Green, The Corkman traditional Irish
Friday 17th March – The Last Jar, Melbourne, VIC

St Patrick’s Day MOTH feat. Áine Tyrrell and The Midnight Tide, Aoife Scott Band
Friday 17th March – Music on the Hill, Red Hill, VIC

St Patrick’s Day Festival at The Irish Club of WA feat. CraicN On, The Healy’s, Tommy O’ Brien & Co
Friday 17th March – Irish Club, Perth, WA

St Patricks Day Party: A Celebration of the Music of Ireland feat. Flangipanis, Paddy McHugh Trio, Fox n Firkin, Andy McDonell Band, Alan Boyle Band
Friday 17th March – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD

Steampacket Sessions Irish Music Weekend
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March – Steampacket Hotel, Nelligan, NSW

***CANCELLED***Sydney St. Patrick’s Day Green Gathering feat. feat. Áine Tyrell, The Bottlers, Chaika, Gallie, Ecopella, UTS Ukulele Orchestra, Mark Oats & Cara Kavanagh feat. Ciaran Gribbin, Cross Rhythm Dancers, Knievel, Sydney Session Players, Aoife Scott
Sunday 19th March – Prince Alfred Park, Sydney, NSW***CANCELLED***

The Basin Music Festival
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March – The Basin Triangle Park, The Basin, VIC

The Bitter Sweethearts w/ The Bottlers, Nils Sundermann
Friday 17th March – The Townie, Sydney, NSW

The Bottlers, Bourgeois Robbery, Operation Ibis
Wednesday 22nd March – Hideaway Bar, Sydney, NSW

The Buffalo Grass Boys
Saturday 18th March – The Wild Rover, Sydney, NSW

The Button Collective
Friday 17th March – Finnian’s Irish Tavern, Port Macquarie, NSW
Saturday 18th March – The Rappville Pub, Rappville, NSW
Friday 24th March – Howlin’ Wolf, Wollongong, NSW

The East Pointers
Wednesday 22nd March – Thirroul Railway Heritage Centre, Thirroul, NSW
Thursday 23rd March – Camelot Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Friday 24th March – Unorthodox Church of Groove, Newcastle, NSW

The Green Gathering Offical After Party
Sunday 19th March – Jacksons on George, Sydney, NSW

The McClymonts
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March – CMC Rocks 2017, Ipswich, QLD

The Morrisons
Saturday 18th March – Wesley Anne, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 24th March – 5 Church Street, Bellingen, NSW

The Ramshackle Army
Friday 17th March – Loch & Key, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 17th March – Dan O’Connell Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 18th March – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
Sunday 19th March – Lazybones Lounge, Sydney, NSW

The Séamus Begley Trio
Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th March – The Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba, NSW

The Spooky Men’s Chorale
Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th March – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba, NSW
Friday 24th March – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin, NT

The Sweet Jelly Rolls
Friday 17th March – The Wild Rover, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 18th March – Southern Comfort Carnival, Surly’s American BBQ, Burgers & Beer, Sydney, NSW

The Waifs
Saturday 18th March – Blue Mountains Folk Festival, Katoomba, NSW
Sunday 19th March – Anitas Theatre, Thirroul, NSW

The Young Folk
Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th March – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba, NSW

Timberwolf
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March – The Hills Are Alive, South Gippsland, VIC

TinPan Orange
Friday 24th and Saturday 25th March – Yackandandah Folk Festival, VIC

Violent Femmes
Friday 17th March – Costa Hall Deakin University, Geelong, VIC
Saturday 18th March – All Saints Winery, Rutherglen, VIC
Monday 20th March – Factory, Sydney, NSW
Wednesday 22nd March – NEX at Wests City, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday 23rd March – Panthers, Penrith, NSW
Friday 24th March – Waves, Wollongong, NSW

Warrandyte Festival
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March – Warrandyte, VIC

Willie Watson
Friday 17th March – Mullumbimby Civic Memorial Hall, Mullumbimby, NSW
Tuesday 21st March – Mojo’s, Fremantle, WA
Wednesday 22nd March – Rosemount Hotel, Perth, WA

Yackandandah Folk Festival
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March – Yackandandah, VIC

Friday Folk Flashback

“Bucks of Oranmore” – Matt Molloy & Dónal Lunny

Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone!

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Watch the New Johnny Flynn Video “Wandering Aengus”

March 16, 2017 at 13:28 (News, Video News)
Tags: folk music, indie folk, johnny flynn, singer songwriter

Image Courtesy of Johnny Flynn

Another week, another new track from Johnny Flynn. With his new album Sillion due for release next Friday we’ve been gifted with another new single, this time the quirky ballad “Wandering Aengus”.

The track has a brand new video directed by Simon Ryninks – check it out below: