Stephen Babcock began as a fledgling singer-songwriter at 13-years-old. Growing up in a large family with three siblings, he had plenty of inspiration to build upon his art form early-on between his older brother, a music enthusiast, and his father,…
When Ikes Creek first came to be, Korey Simeone, Mark Sanfilippo and Gabe Davis claim that it was entirely by chance. Still, in those initial moments, a creative fire must’ve been stoked. Rounded out now by Thomas Moose and Cori…
Over the years Vetiver have been a bit of a chameleon. There was a slightly Fleetwood Mac-ish tinge to Complete Strangers. Four years down the line, Up On High is a very different beast, much more of an acoustic outing…
If, like me, you crave mince pies as soon as summer finishes, the gift of a Christmas album at the start of November is balm to the autumn soul. The fact it’s as perky and filler-free as Josh Rouse’s holiday debut is…
Dropping the needle on The Livelong Day is to enter an intense world. Their third studio album is the Irish four-piece’s most uncompromising statement yet. Few bands would dare open with an 11-minute long reworking of ‘The Wild Rover?’, its…
For his 41st (not counting those unreleased treasures constantly teased but not yet heard) studio album, Neil Young headed to the Studio In The Clouds, almost two miles above sea level in the Colorado Rockies. You know that if Young…
Sometimes it feels as if James McArthur and The Head Gardeners are being set up to take the fall if the resurgence of folk music doesn’t completely encompass the British Isles. Which would be a shame since Intergalactic Sailor is…
As he stands in the splendour of Manchester’s Albert Hall, Bill Callahan almost looks like he is enjoying himself. He cracks the odd joke and flashes an occasional smile. ‘This is the first time we’ve played Manchester since Mark E…
‘Shut Up Kiss Me’ shaped the summer soundtrack of 2016, so much so that it’s easy to forget that Angel Olsen marches to a beat only she can hear. Following a path that doesn’t stick to the straight and narrow, she…
Rob Alexander’s Long Road Coming Home instantly recalls an era of radio dominated by piano-pop pioneers. Fronted by sprightly keyboards, forward-moving percussion, and heady sax breaks, Alexander serves as the hearty frontman to deliver these hook-laden gems. Avoiding direct comparisons…
