As it’s December I am beginning my end of year posts with a little round up of the most read new articles of the year.
Continue reading “Most Read Posts of the Year”Most Read Posts of the Year
Women in Music to Follow on Substack!
This week I started using Substack for the first time. I know I’m seriously behind the times but after looking at the abysmal current state of social media, I thought an app focused on writing would be worth investigating.
Continue reading “Women in Music to Follow on Substack! “Why I Finally Started a Substack Newsletter
Since starting Blogmas earlier this week, I’ve been thinking about my blogging strategy going forward into 2026. The last few years I’ve only been reviewing sporadically but now I’m looking for new writing motivation and different ways of sharing my posts.
Continue reading “Why I Finally Started a Substack Newsletter “AI and the future of Music Blogging
Earlier this year I noticed a new pattern under my blog referral statistics. Social media referrals had plummeted due to well noted algorithm changes, search engines were thankfully staying strong and I always had a collection of random scattershot ways people found the blog. One of these was a new ‘referrer’: ChatGPT.
Continue reading “AI and the future of Music Blogging”Favourite Opry Performances!
Since the Grand Ole Opry is 100 years old this week, I thought I’d dip into the archives (well what is currently on YouTube anyway) to find five stand out performances from women who have stepped into the iconic golden circle.
In no particular order here are my choices – share any classics you’ve found in the comments!:
Continue reading “Favourite Opry Performances! “Why the Grand Ole Opry Still Matters
Back in 2019 I visited Nashville for the first time and secured a ticket for the legendary Grand Ole Opry, which turns 100 this week. As a quite recent convert to country music at the time I was still learning about the institution. As a music fan, however, I knew the idea that there was a venue where every week you could see a varied line up of different quality artists playing live was something to treasure.
Continue reading “Why the Grand Ole Opry Still Matters”Album Review: Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman
After two albums where she strayed somewhat from her country music roots, Margo Price is back in the genre she started in with the release of this new album ‘Hard Headed Woman’. This week she played the Opry, wearing clothes loaned from Loretta Lynn’s archive, suggesting Margo has come home, all guns blazing, ready to take back the genre once again.
Continue reading “Album Review: Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman”Album Review – Kathleen Edwards: Billionaire
Twelve ago Kathleen Edwards was done with music. She even opened a cafe called Quitters. Then she quit that too. Now she has returned to music with a renewed appreciation of just playing with other people, for other people.
When Jason Isbell offered to produce and have his band the 400 Unit play on her new record, Kathleen wept. During the recording process she says she learned how to trust herself, and just get it done. ‘Billionaire’ is an enjoyable listen (apart from one notable song, more of which in a moment) and overall it’s one of the strongest Americana albums released so far this year.
Continue reading “Album Review – Kathleen Edwards: Billionaire “Album Review: Lola Kirke – Trailblazer
After releasing a fantastic EP called ‘Country Curious’ last year, Lola Kirke followed that up with a book of personal essays called ‘Wild West Village’ which explored her upbringing and life in a bohemian family. By moving to Nashville and leaning towards country music she’s been walking a different path than might be expected from your typical artsy New Yorker.
Continue reading “Album Review: Lola Kirke – Trailblazer”
Highway Queens 