The sixth album of Iron & Wine, the pseudonym of all American Samuel Beam, opens with the industrial sounds of a construction works, only then to jump into a gorgeous guitar intro reminiscent of previous albums. Ghost on Ghost, though feels distinctly different to the soft acoustic whisperings of Creek Drank the Cradle and...
Hello dear readers, It will come as no surprise to you that I am of the opinion that birds are the finest class of creature to inhabit this planet. Our singing voices are remarkable (some better than others, though I for one can stretch from bass to contralto parts, if necessary). Our wit is...
Well, dear friends. Once again I am far from punctual. As you will be aware, April has been a month of relentless rain. While I was good humoured enough at the start, burying myself away and providing you with a wonderful soundtrack with which to help it pass, I have to admit that even...
Our pompous old playlist-making owl Brian is back. With some bombastic pose, dubious claims about his whereabouts in the past year and a playlist of 2011's gems. How we've missed the silly thing.
“‘Time isn’t kind or unkind,’ you like to say, but I wonder to whom, and what it is, you’re saying today” sings Sam Beam in ‘Tree By The River’, another gleaming example of his storytelling prowess to add to his growing collection. Time seems to be increasingly kind to Beam, who has progressed, under...
Portraits of Emmy the Great, Dan Mangan, Iron & Wine and Anna Calvi feature in London-based figurative painter Joe Simpson’s exhibition ‘Musician Portraits’ opening next month. The paintings will be on display from 14th – 30th October at a temporary gallery in the converted library at 16/17 Greek Street, Soho, London W1D 4DR. Entrance is...
As if it wasn’t looking exciting enough already, Belfast’s Open House Festival has announced a dream team of additions to its line up: Modest Mouse, Wilco and Iron & Wine. They join the already brilliant line up which includes Field Music, The Low Anthem, Peggy Sue and The Old Crow Medicine Show. The festival...
We’ve gone through the folkier end of the festival calender, and hereby bring you our picks. You won’t find any news on Glastonbury or Reading and Leeds, mind. We’re here to tell you about the things you might not have heard about yet. And what a selection there is this year. You can see...
The super-duper folks who run End of the Road have added some more stunners to their already rather exciting 2010 line-up. Joining Wilco, Diane Cluck, The Mountain Goats, AA Bondy, The Low Anthem and The Wilderness of Manitoba are Iron & Wine, The New Pornographers, Phosphorescent, Emily Loizeau, Cymbals Eat Guitars, The Fresh &...
#76 The Wood Brothers - Midnight Rider May 18th, 2013
#75 Hero & Leander - Kiss Me By The Water Cooler May 17th, 2013
#74 Penniless Cove - Monsoon Rain May 16th, 2013