Music, Country

The John Henrys - Sweet as the Grain

COUNTRY In popular folklore, John Henry spent his days erecting railroads and digging tunnels, taking on a steam powered drill to discover whether a man could beat a machine. Henry did his side proud but died from exhaustion. Whether the Canadian…

Exposure: Aberfeldy

Although they’ve suffered unexpected personnel changes, the end of their record deal with Rough Trade and various other unfortunate happenings in the last couple of years, Edinburgh’s Aberfeldy are still moving onwards, having released a new single…

Exposure - Ten Kens

Proving that there’s so much more to Toronto’s new music scene than two hip-ly-hooded synth terrorists, here comes the brilliant Ten Kens; and with this lot, you really couldn’t get further from Crystal Castles if you tried. The beardy and speccy…

Musicians' guide: Open mic nights

Mondays Glasgow Nice 'n' Sleazy 421 Sauchiehall St, 333 0900. 8pm. The Monday Acoustic Jam, 8pm–midnight. Free to all performers. Bring your instrument and join in the fun. Open Mic NIght - Pivo Pivo 15 Waterloo Street, 564 8100. 6pm.

Chatham County Line

CCL have been earning themselves some excellent word-of-mouth for their fun-loving live gigs, and we reckon this Scottish appearance could have the makings of a relaxed rock and bluegrass hoedown. The Arches, Glasgow, Thu 20 Nov.

Todd Rundgren interview: Full transcript

What follows is a transcript of an interview I did with the great American musician and record producer Todd Rundgren on Tuesday 21 October. He spoke to me down the line from his Hawaii home, it was 8.30pm UK time and 12.30pm Pacific Mean Time when we…

Alan Tyler & the Lost Sons of Littlefield - Lonesome Cowboys

Sometimes all it takes is a good tune and a kick-ass attitude. Alan Tyler and his Lost Sons of Littlefield have both to spare and while there is little here that will shake up the country rock canon, Lonesome Cowboys is a tremendously likeable record.

Exposure: Southern Tenant Folk Union

Roots collective Southern Tenant Folk Union’s music – a by turns gloriously upbeat and stirringly melancholic mix of bluegrass, gospel, country, folk and pop, with nods to The Carter Family, Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt – is as American as pumpkin…

O’Death

GOTHIC COUNTRY A little bit barnyard hoedown, a little bit like being at a Bat Mitzvah on speed (or so I’ve heard at least) and a whole lot of fiddle, O’Death have made it abundantly clear that they are not like anyone else currently peddling their…

Doug Hoekstra - Blooming Roses

ALT-FOLK COUNTRY Now several solo albums and 14 years into his career (not counting his pre-solo time with Chicago outfit Bucket No.6), Nashville-based Hoekstra returns with another set of whispering, easy-on-the-ear songs. While Dylan, Cohen and…

Calexico

‘It’s not what some people have called a return to form, because there are new elements on the record,’ says Joey Burns, singer, songwriter and co-founding member (with percussionist John Convertino) of the idiosyncratic alt.country outfit Calexico.

Saddle up

As a posse of spoof country and western acts rides towards the Fringe, Allan Radcliffe asks why songs about rednecks, guns and erections make for sublime comedy

A show of force - Edinburgh Military Tattoo

A festival spectacle global in design is this year’s The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which prepares once again to set its stall on the esplanade under the impressive backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, as it showcases the best military musicians from around…

25 things you might not know about Tom Waits

The chance to see Tom Waits, one of the planet’s true music raconteurs, is worth £100 of anyone’s money. But did you know he once worked for the coastguard? If not, Jonny Ensall suggests you read on…

Tom Waits - Live Review

Orpheum Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, Wed 18 Jun The seldom touring ‘love or hate him’ artist transported his trademark whisky-soaked growl to the desert to kick off only his third tour of the decade. And, judging by his polished performance, one can…

Exposure - Ross Clark

Looking like the bastard rockabilly son of a Proclaimer and with a singing voice like a shot of raw Glasgow bluegrass, 20-year-old Ross Clark’s exuberant, sweat-drenched live sets have been getting him a reputation. He sings brainy songs about girls and…

Chris Bradley - Voices

COUNTRY ROCK (Splashing Duck) Edinburgh-based Chris Bradley’s biography is an impressive read, all tales of musical scholarships, first class honours studying Music at Newcastle University and – most memorably – forming Ukrainian folk groups in Kiev.

Marissa Nadler - live music review

COUNTRY-FOLK Stereo, Glasgow, Tue 13 May Waif-like guitar-picking girls are ten a penny these days, what with your Cat Powers and your Bat for Lashes already well established. And like the sphere of male singer-songwriters, it’s a field which could…

Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head

COUNTRY POP (ATCO) To consider the pedigree of actors turned musicians is to consider a whole bunch of people walking the line between self-indulgence and inpsiration: David Soul, Richard Harris, Billy Bob Thornton, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Robert Downey…

Alabama 3 - Hits And Exit Wounds

COUNTRY ACID HOUSE (One Little Indian) Most people when thinking of Alabama 3 will come up with one song: ‘Woke Up This Morning’, the theme tune to The Sopranos. This thorough retrospective of their ensemble’s six-album career will hopefully put the…

Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea

COUNTRY (Drag City) During a recent encounter with David Berman, the frontman of this legendary, cult Nashville-based outfit let slip that this could be his last musical offering. If the notoriously mischievous interviewee is to be believed, then this…

The Felice Brothers

The dual influences of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen may weigh heavy on this New York quartet’s self-titled debut album, but that’s not to say they’re without their own ideas. They tap into a similar vein of vivid, florid storytelling that the Boss…

Willard Grant Conspiracy

Willard Grant Conspiracy, the disparate alt.country band led by the gravel-voiced Robert Fisher numbers in excess of 40 musicians from all over the world. Since Fisher started it all off in 1996, the group’s output has been prolific: seven full albums…