a music blog
Yes it’s that time of year again when we all look back across a year in music to think about what songs we played to death, what songs stood out from the many heard and what songs really defined the moments of your life.
Find mine below. I have not had as much time to write this year so I have included some tracks which come from albums I have not had the chance to review. Let me know your favourites!
Continue reading “Songs of the Year 2022”
If you’re looking for some Christmas gifts this year then one glance through the Celtic Connections schedule will leave you overwhelmed by choice. Last year Omicron decimated the usually strong Americana programme, leaving only a few overseas artists playing the funded Transatlantic Sessions. Thankfully this year they have been able to return to a more normal looking schedule, with the festival celebrating its 30th year and offering a diverse array of artists across genres for every kind of roots music fan.
Continue reading “Celtic Connections 2023 Preview”
The holidays are fast approaching and I’m trying my best to get festive so I thought I’d round up some of the Christmas releases from this year and beyond in my weekly playlist. Read on to find out more about my three favourite new/old ones for this year.
Continue reading “Three Christmas Songs for 2022”
Original Christmas songs and albums are becoming harder to find, with so many artists finding the opportunity to sing classics too hard to resist. Who can blame them, after all, since these holiday songs are etched on our collective memories. Last year Pistol Annies released an album of mainly originals but that is rare.
Norah Jones’s ‘I Dream of Christmas’ was actually released last year, although I didn’t have a chance to listen to it then, so I was glad to see this deluxe re-release came just in time when I was looking for a new Christmas album to review. The edition includes six original songs written by Norah, alongside seasonal favourites sung in her classic jazz inspired sound.
Continue reading “Album Review: Norah Jones – I Dream of Christmas”
On the afternoon of June 29th 2014 I was stood in a field in Somerset, ankle deep in mud surrounded by 200,000 tired and unwashed people all waiting on a glimpse of the queen of rainbows and rhinestones herself, Dolly Parton.
Continue reading “Dolly & Me at Glastonbury”
Since starting my Dolly Parton project a few years ago, I have been an avid reader of all things related to the Queen of Country herself. Many of these books are worth recommending so I thought I would write a post grouping these into categories to help the average reader choose what might be best suited to their reading taste!
Continue reading “Dolly Parton Book Guide”
‘Better Day’ was Dolly’s 43rd solo album and came three years after the fantastic return to form that was ‘Backwoods Barbie’. Some of the songs on ‘Better Day’ were written for the musical version of ‘9 to 5’ which Dolly had been working on around this time. The intention of the album was to be an uplifting collection of songs, all written by Dolly, that would help people escape from their troubles.
Continue reading “Dolly Parton’s Discography – Better Day (2011)”
Miko Marks’s last release ‘Our Country’ was a welcome return for an artist who had suffered setbacks in her country music career, never finding the opportunities or success her talent deserved. That album was a classic mix of country, soul and gospel influences showcasing an artist who had renewed hope for a late career resurrection.
Continue reading “Album Review: Miko Marks & the Resurrectors – Feel Like Going Home”
The end of the year is fast approaching, list season is here and we are already hearing some new songs from albums ready to be released in early 2023. Read on for some new songs and thoughts from this week in my music listening…
Continue reading “Three Songs and the Truth About List Season”
Highway Queens 