Americana UK

Live Review: Maggie May Treanor + Steady Habits, Betsey Trotwood, London – 1st March 2026 A first visit to the tiny Betsey Trotwood - a charming old-school pub a short, scenic walk from King’s Cross - felt like the perfect setting for an intimate evening of americana. Somehow, they have fitted three rooms for music into this tiny space, not much bigger than my living room, but for this event, the entertainment was all in the main drinking bar on the ground floor.

Live Review: Maggie May Treanor + Steady Habits, Betsey Trotwood, London – 1st March 2026 - in one word, "stunning" @maggiemaytreanor @steadyhabitsmusic

TJ Mayes “Take The Moon” Great new album from ex-rockabilly singer who’s going places. There’s something quite unique in listening to an album when one has absolutely no idea about the artist at hand. When this CD landed, any background information on Mayes was sparse to say the least. He’s from Shawnee, Oklahoma, and he’s had a 20-year career playing rock’n’roll music, and this album is his fourth solo release, albeit one which now showcases his love and appreciation of honky-tonk, folk and alt country. 

Review: TJ Mayes "Take The Moon" - Great new album from ex-rockabilly singer who’s going places @tj_mayes

Cut Worms release their Tweedy produced album “Transmitter” this week Cut Worms, the project of Max Clarke, has announced his fourth full-length record, Transmitter, due for release on 13th March 2026 via Jagjaguwar. Produced by Jeff Tweedy at Wilco’s Loft studio. Ahead of the album release, the single Windows on the World is out now and features Tweedy on electric guitars and bass and Glenn Kotche on percussion. The song wrestles with American disillusionment, its melancholy potentially drifting somewhere between Elliott Smith and Miracle Legion, and can be heard below alongside a video shot on the streets of New York and directed by Caroline Gohlke.

Cut Worms release their Tweedy produced album Transmitter this week @cutworms

Hugo Race Fatalists “I Made it All Up For You” Hugo Race crafts moody soundscapes with sensual appeal that blend into an attractive, though sparse whole. Hugo Race has been a mainstay of the alternative scene for 40-odd years. An early player in Melbourne’s post-punk scene as well as an early collaborator of Nick Cave, the songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer has gone on to release dozens of albums under different monikers and in different capacities: a steady, ever-present output since the early 80s, spread out over places like his native Australia, Germany, the UK, and Italy.

Hugo Race Fatalists "I Made it All Up For You" - Hugo Race crafts moody soundscapes with sensual appeal that blend into an attractive, though sparse whole @hugoracemusic

Sounds from beyond the Shed 224 “Soundtracking” Being a committed musicphile (is there such a word?) I tend to approach every situation in life, hearing a soundtrack in my head for most situations, and I'd like to ask the readership if this is a common thing or if I'm even more special than I already believe? Let me give you a few examples that I've either noticed recently or that I have employed for many a year.

Sounds from beyond the Shed 224 "Soundtracking" @soundsfrombeyondtheshed

I Am Proud Collective “I AM PROUD – a tribute to Sojourner Truth” This song was released for International Women's Day (which was last Friday, if you need to be told), by a folk supergroup gathered under the I Am Proud Collective banner.  Featured on the song are Angeline Morrison, Leonie Evan, Lizi Morse, Priscilla Andersohn and Rhiannon Takel, who were brought together by Lizi Morse with the aim of producing a song to be sung all over the world. 

I Am Proud Collective sees a coming together of @angelcakepie2, @bowkerandmorsemusic, @leonie_evans, @rhiannontakel and @priscilla.andersohn

Video Premiere: Joe Wilkes “When I Was a Young Boy” Be absorbed by the video premiere of Joe Wilkes' nostalgic, timeless new single, When I was a Young Boy. Over gorgeously intricate acoustic guitar, Wilkes' voice ranges high and low, following a haunting melody. His characterful vocal, with a weary touch of grit, transports us back in time through the song's moody tone and dark narrative. Wilkes says of the song: …

Here's the video premiere of "When I Was a Young Boy" - timeless stuff from @joewilkesmusic

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Something for the weekend: Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel – “Flying Things (Feat. The Secret Sisters)” Well that’s it from us for this week. If you're an AUK supporter your new playlist will be with you at 5pm as always, but in the meantime we leave you dear reader with a beautiful new track from the new project from Band of Horses' Tyler Ramsey who has partnered with Carl Broemel (guitarist with My Morning Jacket) to release their full-length debut…

We head into the weekend with something new and sparkly from Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel @tylerramseymusic

Sam Lewis “Everything’s Fine” A gentle soul-searching album that will appeal to fans of John Prine and James Taylor. There are several artists, it seems, who go by the name of Sam Lewis. So, just to be clear, this release, Everything’s Fine, is from the Nashville musician of that name, and it’s his 7th release, following on from 2024’s Superposition. In terms of intention, Lewis, in discussion with studio engineer Joe McMahan, wanted to deliver a sparse recording, in places that might be seen as the case, but there’s still a full sound across this album.

Review: Sam Lewis "Everything's Fine" - A gentle soul-searching album that will appeal to fans of John Prine and James Taylor @samlewistunes

Suzanne Vega returns with more dates around festival appearances Singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega continues her successful Flying with Angels Tour, bringing the career-spanning set to new stops in Salisbury, Folkestone, Halifax, and Aylesbury, where she will be joined on stage by her longtime guitarist, Gerry Leonard (of David Bowie fame), and cellist Stephanie Winters. AUK has heaped praise upon the album Flying With Angels, with our own Tim Martin noting: …

Suzanne Vega returns with more dates around festival appearances @therealsuzannevega

Our new supporters playlist comes out today – win a pair of weekend tickets to see Katherine Priddy live If you're not subscribing to our monthly supporters newsletter you'll be missing out on our exclusive supporters playlist of the best new Americana we’ve heard over the last month which this month includes new tracks by Bill Callahan, Eric Bibb, Iron&Wine, Valerie Smith and Brown Horse among others – as always we trawl through the best Americana we’ve heard recently so you don’t have to.

Our new supporters playlist comes out today - win a pair of weekend tickets to see Katherine Priddy live

Florence Dore “Sunset Road” – Get back to where you once belonged We have brought you a lot of new songs this week, in a range of styles, but we have not - at least not yet - brought you a song that just, well, not to put too fine a point on it nor to take too long to get to the crux of the matter, what has been lacking is a song that just rocks. 

I gotta get outta this place, if it's the last thing I ever do informs @florencedoremusic

Brooks Williams and Aaron Catlow “Working In Wood” An album that reminds you of a perfect night in your favourite pub. Recorded “live” at Josh Clark’s Get Real Audio in Bath, “Working In Wood” is another offering full of quality songs from Brooks Williams and Aaron Catlow. With Jon Short on double bass, the pair produce a rich, unique sound which sets them apart from other artists on the acoustic scene.

Review: Brooks Williams and Aaron Catlow "Working In Wood" - An album that reminds you of a perfect night in your favourite pub @aaroncatlow

Latest AUK Podcast now available featuring Dean Owens in conversation This week, Keith chats to prolific AUK Award winner Dean Owens about touring, writing and life in general as well as featuring tracks from his Spirit Ridge album. There is also new music from John Andrews and the Yawns, Bill Callahan and The Delines, and classics from Jerry Joseph and The Jackmormons, The Felice Brothers, and Peter Bruntnell. Spring is in the air!

Latest Podcast now available featuring Dean Owens in conversation @deanowens1

Video Premiere: The Bretheren “Meet Me in the Back Room” Check out Meet Me in the Back Room, the latest single from Nashville-based The Bretheren. Pounding drums and atmospheric keys provide the backdrop for guitarist and singer Joey McClellan, who is also a member of Midlake and has played with the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Israel Nash. McClellan's jangling, treble-toned guitar is brilliantly engaging alongside his laid back, melodic vocal performance.

Here's the video premiere of "Meet Me in the Back Room" - great energy and songwriting from @thebretheren

The Top 10 Americana Songs of All Time: Mark Whitfield For all the years I've been Editor of AUK, I've been itching for us to do a best song of all time feature. We've had so many "best of" series in recent years covering artists, albums, particular periods of time, but never one which has covered specific songs. The main pushback has understandably been "how can you choose 10 songs out of the millions which have been recorded?" And it's a good point - for some of those americana albums which are widely considered to be part of the essential canon of the genre, how can you even settle on one song from 12?

The Top 10 Americana Songs of All Time: Mark Whitfield @samoutlaw @thejayhawksofficial @joshritter @darwilliamstour
@jasonmcniff @grandaddymusic @laurarcantrell

Jesper Lindell “3614 Jackson Highway” Stunning homage to historical Muscle Shoals Studios recordings by budding Swedish superstar soul roots singer. A couple of years ago, your humble writer had the great pleasure to review the third album of a budding soul singer from Sweden named Jesper Lindell. Once a very good football player in his early teens, a terrible accident on the pitch ruined his footballing dream.

Album review: Jesper Lindell "3614 Jackson Highway" - Stunning homage to historical Muscle Shoals Studios recordings by budding Swedish superstar soul roots singer @jesperlindellmusic @yeproc

Bonnie Prince Billy “We Are Together Again” How community might just save you from yourself (and the world). “However dimly we perceive it, we are living through a change of worlds. The one we were born into is slipping away, reshaped and denuded by human action. What remains is the question of what we will carry forward, and how we will refuse to surrender ourselves.” Such are the promotional words that accompany…

Album review: Bonnie Prince Billy “We Are Together Again” - How community might just save you from yourself (and the world) @wignifier
@dominorecordco

On World Book Day 2026, our call for short fiction: Americana stories… AUK would like to invite fiction writers to submit short stories inspired by the world of Americana music for publication on Americana UK. Whether it's a tale sparked by a particular song, a character shaped by the spirit of americana music, or a narrative that captures the essence of what draws us to this genre, we want to read your work.

On World Book Day 2026, our call for short fiction: Americana stories…

AUK would like to invite fiction writers to submit short stories inspired by the world of Americana music for publication on Americana UK. Whether it's a tale sparked by a particular song, a character shaped by the spirit of…

Paul Foglino “Monday Street” An album of simplicity, sincerity and songs of reflection. For this album, Foglino has produced twelve songs which seem to provide a reflective look back at life, the power of music and the need to protest. Musically, the songs are constructed on just a combination of guitar and voice. This music simplicity works for some songs, such as the ode to American folk…

Review: Paul Foglino “Monday Street” - An album of simplicity, sincerity and songs of reflection @paulfoglino

Track Premiere: Turn Turn Turn “Antietam” Turn Turn Turn are an Americana trio of singer-songwriters based in Minneapolis, MN, and Eau Claire, WI, featuring Savannah Smith (vocals, guitar), Barb Brynstad (vocals, bass), and Adam Levy (vocals, guitar), and are known particularly for their close harmonies and inventive interpretations of American roots traditions.  They've been performing since 2019 and are just about to release their third album…

Third release from @turnturnturnmpls takes the band in a more organic feeling direction, as demonstrated on today's premiere

Video: Brown Horse “Sorrow Reigns” The new single from Brown Horse begins with searing guitar and chunky riffs that are immediate and drive the song in typical Brown Horse style. At the heart of Sorrow Reigns are the twin powers of electric guitar from Nyle Holihan and fuzzy lap steel from Emma Tovell. In particular, Tovell's lap steel adds great texture and depth while sustained, haunting notes from Rowan Braham's organ lie beneath. 

Here's the video for "Sorrow Reigns" - raw power, fuzzy lap steel and intense lyrics from @brownhorse_band

Interview: Toad the Wet Sprocket – forty years of awkward grace At 55, Glen Phillips sounds both reflective and lightly amused when he talks about the band he co-founded as a teenager in Santa Barbara, California. Four decades later, Toad the Wet Sprocket is still touring, still recording, and still—by Phillips’ own admission—slightly awkward. “We were nerds before nerds ran the world,” he said. “We weren’t doing what every other band was doing.” That difference, once a liability, became their longevity.

Our interview with the reliably excellent Toad the Wet Sprocket - forty years (eek!) of awkward grace @toadthewetsprocket

Kye Alfred Hillig “The All-Night Costume Company” Life, love and relationships are all wrapped up in one wonderful collection. Kye Alfred Hillig is based in Tacoma, Washington. A singer-songwriter, he has produced an exceptional, heartfelt album. His first recording since the release of the excellent twenty-four track In All Colors Singing Back, which came out in 2022. If you need a reference point for this work, look no further than the second single from the collection, …

Album review: Kye Alfred Hillig "The All-Night Costume Company" - Life, love and relationships are all wrapped up in one wonderful collection @kyealfredhillig

Andy Cohen, Eleanor Ellis and William Lee Ellis “Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard” Classy trio come together to pay homage to traditional American roots, blues and country. Andy Cohen, Eleanor Ellis and William Lee Ellis are all well-established roots, blues and folk artists in their own right who first came together in 1993 with their album, Preachin’ In The Wilderness. Now, 30+ years later, the trio have collaborated again with a 21-track album of old-time blues, gospel, ragtime and country songs.

Album review: Andy Cohen, Eleanor Ellis and William Lee Ellis "Whistlin' Past The Graveyard" - Classy trio come together to pay homage to traditional American roots, blues and country

AUK Shortcuts: Sam Bergquist, Lightning Stills, James Deely, Dana Robinson, CJ Land, Joe Harvey-Whyte & Geir Sundstøl, Suzanne Jarvie, Celina Siva, Jody Peck and Dash Rip Rock

Our latest round-up of short form album reviews. AUK Shortcuts: @sambergquist @lightningstills @cusdestor @danarobinsonmusic @cjlandmusic @joeharveywhyte @suzannejarvie @celinasiva @jodypeckmusic @dashriprockofficial

Live Review: The Paper Kites + Bess Atwell, Electric Bristol – 23rd February 2026 Queues around the block prior to the doors opening at, if the signage was to be believed, Bristol’s premier independent music venue, suggested that the small UK tour of an established Aussie band, had not gone unnoticed. Enhanced with the not insignificant appearance of the highly rated Brit, Bess Atwell as support, the gig was clearly highly anticipated, and the floor was packed well in advance of Atwell’s appearance.

Live Review: The Paper Kites + Bess Atwell, Electric Bristol, 23rd February 2026 "The Paper Kites had made a big impression but, on this evening in Bristol, that clearly was a two-way street" @thepaperkites @bessatwell

Tim Easton “fiREHORSE” Almost thirty years into his solo career, Easton's 14th studio album finds him burning as bright as ever. This Chinese year, 2026, brings forth the year of the Fire Horse, for the first time in sixty years. The fire element is believed to greatly accelerate the horse's typical traits, leading to extreme energy, passion and change, including impulsivity. Akron, Ohio-raised Tim Easton was born under the sign of the Fire Horse, and the cover art to this, his 14th studio album, depicts a striking red horse painted by his sister, visual artist Susan Easton Burns, all of which helps to explain why…

Review: Tim Easton "fiREHORSE" - Almost thirty years into his solo career, Easton's 14th studio album finds him burning as bright as ever @timeastonsongwriter