A Pocket Of Wind Resistance - Karine Polwart with Pippa Murphy (17/11/17)

• Artist: Karine Polwart with Pippa Murphy
• Release Date: 17th November, 2017
• Genre: Folk, Scottish Music, Singer-Songwriter
• Record Label : hudson Records
• Tracks: 14
• Website: https://www.karinepolwart.com/

Karine Polwart is a multi-award-winning Scottish songwriter and musician, as well as a theatre maker, storyteller, spoken-word performer and published essayist. Her songs combine folk influences and myth with themes as diverse as Donald Trump’s corporate megalomania, Charles Darwin’s family life and the complexities of modern parenthood. She sings traditional songs too and writes to commission for theatre, animation and thematic collaborative projects. Karine is five-times winner at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including twice for Best Original Song.  

In association with The Royal Lyceum Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival 2016, Karine wrote, musically directed, and performed Wind Resistance, her critically acclaimed debut work for theatre. A poetic meditation on midwifery, ecology, sanctuary, and solidarity, it combines elements of memoir, essay, myth, sound art and song. Wind Resistance won the BEST MUSIC & SOUND AWARD at the CATS (Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland) 2017 and Karine was also been shortlisted for the BEST ACTOR 'Scottish Oscar' in the Sunday Herald Culture Awards.

From A Room: Volume Two - Chris Stapleton (01/12/17)

• Artist: Chris Stapleton
• Genre: Country, Americana, Singer-Songwriter
• Release Date: 1st December, 2017
• Record Label: Mercury Records Nashville
• Tracks: 9
• Website: http://www.chrisstapleton.com/

Chris Stapleton’s From A Room: Volume 2 will be released December 1 on Mercury Records Nashville and is now available to pre-order digitally and with exclusive limited-edition bundles. The multiple Grammy, CMA and ACM Award-winning musician first shared the album news from stage during the first of two sold-out shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena this past Friday. Of the special hometown concerts, CMT praises, “…cemented his status as one of music’s greatest talents to emerge from the current decade.” The forthcoming album takes its name from Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A (the capital “A” in “From A Room”) where it was recorded over the last year with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb. Along with Stapleton on vocals and guitar and Cobb on acoustic guitar, the album features Morgane Stapleton on harmony vocals as well as longtime band-members J.T. Cure on bass and Derek Mixon on drums. In addition to seven songs co-written by Stapleton, the album features versions of Kevin Welch’s “Millionaire” and the Homer Banks/Lester Snell-penned song made famous by Pops Staples, “Friendship” 

Track Listings

  1. Millionaire
  2. Hard Livin'
  3. Scarecrow in the Garden
  4. Nobody's Lonely Tonight
  5. Tryin' to Untangle My Mind
  6. A Simple Song
  7. Midnight Train to Memphis
  8. Drunkard's Prayer
  9. Friendship

She & I - Kirsty Merryn (09/11/17)

• Artist: Kirsty Merryn
• Release Date: 9th November, 2017
• Genre: Folk, Contemporary Folk and Singer-songwriter
• Record Label: Kirsty Merryn
• Tracks: 8
• Website: http://kirstymerryn.com

Kirsty Merryn is a London-based singer-songwriter whose music is heavily anchored in the folk tradition, with influence from contemporary folk artists like Cara Dillon, Seth Lakeman and Kate Rusby, as well as genre-defying musicians like Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush. Kirsty has become a regular on the UK folk scene, delighting the crowds with her delicately introspective piano based songs and sophisticated musical style, which are balanced beautifully by an intimate and finely observational lyrical content. In 2015 after being discovered by Steve Knightley she received national airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music and in 2016 opened the main stage at Sidmouth Folk Week for headliners Show of Hands. Kirsty is currently working on her debut album, a collection of stories about inspirational women, with funding from the English Folk Dance and Song Society, and produced by award-winning Gerry Diver (Sam Lee, Lisa Knapp, The Speech Project), which will be released later in 2017. In Autumn 2017 Kirsty will be touring the UK over 22 nights, supporting Show of Hands on their Cathedral Tour.

Elephant Eye - Hannah White (30/11/17)

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• Artist: Hannah White
• Release Date: 30th November, 2017
• Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic, Americana, Folk
• Record Label: Sound Lounge Records
• Tracks: 11
• Website: https://www.hannahwhitemusic.com

Hannah White has battled her way to gaining a loyal following of fans around the UK whilst maintaining a wholly independent approach to her career. Her music is influenced by country, blues, folk, pop and soul but remains distinctly her own.

With a voice that can switch from a sweet Nashville croon to a bluesy holler, her songs draw from a rich well of life experiences and have been heard on the national airwaves of BBC Radio 2, Amazing Radio, Chris Country Radio as well major regional UK radio shows such as; BBC London, BBC Kent, BBC Merseyside, BBC Manchester & BBC Introducing as well as being played on international TV several times on the Phil Mack Country Show.

Hannah has wowed audiences at shows with multi-Grammy Award winning Tim O’Brien, Thea Gilmore, Laurence Fox, Judie Tzuke and Ben Haenow, headlined at a sold-out Union Chapel in London, performed for Whispering Bob Harris, performed at major festivals and picked up press plaudits from R2 Magazine, Country People Magazine, Blues Matters and many more.

1000 Years - Allman Brown (10/02/17)

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• Artist: Allman Brown
• Release date: 10th February, 2017
• Genre: Contemporary Folk, Singer-Songwriter
• Record Label: Allman Brown
• Tracks: 11
• Website: http://www.allmanbrown.com

Allman Brown is a London-based singer-songwriter influenced by the likes of Bon Iver, James Vincent McMorrow and Sufjan Stevens. Since announcing himself onto the scene in 2013 with the ‘Sons And Daughters’ EP (the lead track of which recently surpassed 3.5 million streams on Spotify), he has built a solid fanbase on both sides of the Atlantic through a number of his songs being featured on notable TV dramas in both the UK and US. 1000 Years is his excellent debut album.

Tyminski - Southern Gothic (20/10/17)

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• Artist: Dan Tyminski

• Genre: Americana, Country, Singer-Songwriter

• Release Date: 27th October, 2017

• Record Label: UMG Nashville

• Tracks: 13

• Website: http://tyminskimusic.com/

• Review By: Gary Smith (LCM)

With a musical career has spanning over three decades it is always very exciting when Dan Tyminski releases new material. Now, the Vermont-born singer-songwriter is releasing his excellent solo 13-track album 'Southern Gothic' through Decca (UMC) under a solitary moniker ‘Tyminski’. Dan is very well know for being part of Alison Krauss' supergroup Union Station, the singing voice of George Clooney in 'Oh Brother' and provided the vocals on EDM artist Avicii's global smash "Hey Brother." He is also a superb singer-songwriter in his own right.

The new album sees Dan mixing his roots music pedigree with a wide range of contemporary influences on 13 songs he co-wrote with some of country's best and brightest talents. Many of the songs were inspired by what Dan describes as his perceptions of "light and dark" and originally written for other artists, though he ultimately decided to record them himself. Co-writers on Southern Gothic include Sarah Buxton, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Monroe, Josh Kear and the late Andrew Dorff.

Order your copy in the link below >>>

Endless Light - Charlotte Campbell (20/10/17)

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• Release date: 20th October, 2017
• Genre: Pop, Singer-songwriter
• Record Label: Independent
• Tracks: 11
• Website: http://www.charlottecampbell.co.uk

Ready The Horses - Jarrod Dickenson (29/09/17)

• Release date: 29th September, 2017
• Genre: Americana, Country, Folk, Blues
• Record Label: Decca
• Tracks: 10
• Website: https://www.jarroddickenson.com/

Storytelling is something of a Texas tradition. Tall hats and even taller tales are woven into the fabric of The Lone Star State, and singer-songwriter, Jarrod Dickenson can spin a yarn with the best of them. Hailing from Waco, now based in Nashville, Jarrod spends most of his time on the road bringing his own particular brand of soulful Americana to a wide variety of music loving audiences around the globe.

Jarrod's critically acclaimed album 'The Lonesome Traveler' and his subsequent EP 'Songs From Willow St' paved the way for him to tour the UK, Ireland and Europe extensively over the last several years. Breakout performances at Glastonbury and Larmer Tree Festival, along with recent tours supporting legendary artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Don McLean, The Waterboys and Jools Holland have earned Jarrod a formidable and loyal fan base across the globe, including BBC radio hosts Dermot O'Leary, Cerys Matthews, Huey Morgan, Janice Long, Robert Elms and Alex Lester.

All tracks on the album were recorded with the core band live onto 2” tape, with Jarrod recalling, “I've found that getting a group of musicians all together in the same room, and playing the songs live allows you to capture the energy and feel of a live performance, because it's just that; a performance. You feed off each other, and create a much more honest and meaningful thing in my opinion. Recording to tape produces that warm sound we all love, but also affords you less room for error. I think it forces you to give each take your all. "

What's That Sound? - Hayley Reinhart (22/09/17)

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• Artist: Hayley Reinhart
• Genre: Singer-songwriter, Blues, Jazz, Pop
• Release Date: 22nd September, 2017
• Record Label:
• Tracks:
• Website: https://www.haleyreinhart.com

The Doctrine Of Song - Tracey Browne (31/10/17)

• Artist: Tracey Browne
• Genre: Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Pop
• Release Date: 31st October, 2017
• Record Label: Tracey Browne
• Tracks: 10
• Website: http://www.traceybrowne.co.uk/

Tracey Browne is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and session singer; her credits include recording projects by Thea Gilmore, Nigel Stonier and a host of independent artists.

From producing and recording other artists, to singing and playing live with bands and songwriters of many different genres, Tracey has become one of the most versatile musicians to work with in the UK. Playing guitar, piano, tenor guitar, bass guitar, Q-chord and providing outstanding vocals, both on her own songs and harmonising with others, she is in demand on the professional circuit.

Tracey trained as a sound engineer at Manchester’s ‘Airtight Studios’, where she recorded and mixed her 2 EP’s, ‘Tooth and Nail’, (2007) and ‘The Cat and the Moon’, (2009), her album ‘Everyone Is Ordinary’, (2012) and her duo album with Raevennan Husbandes ‘East by North West’ (2015).

Wanderer - Cara Dillon (13/10/17)

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• Artist: Cara Dillon
• Genre: Folk
• Release Date: 13th October, 2017
• Record Label: Charcoal Records
• Tracks: 10
• Website: www.caradillon.co.uk

Cara Dillon, one of the most celebrated singers in Irish Folk music, announces the release of her brand new album 'Wanderer'.

For this, her seventh album, the award-winning singer once again collaborates with longtime musical partner, producer and husband Sam Lakeman to offer a collection of songs featuring intimate performances that capture some of her most moving vocal performances to date.

Building upon a career based on folk songs rooted in time and place, Wanderer sees Cara delve deeper into the tradition, not finding reasons to circumvent it. The underlying theme being the movement of people, of emigration and the pursuit of love. It's a collection that speaks to Cara's fascination with songs of departure and the powerful desire to belong.

Each of the album's ten tracks feature beautifully sparse piano and acoustic guitar arrangements by Sam Lakeman, who also produces. His experience and expertise were both key in making this album stand apart from Cara's previous. It's warm and intimate; the mood is stripped back and relaxed; the songs are beautiful and full of space with every moment thoroughly self-assured. Guest performances by Kris Drever, John Smith, Justin Adams, Niall Murphy and Ben Nicholls provide modest and expressive backing, helping to make this a sincere and understated work of art.

Throughout an enviable career which has seen her explore opportunities to tread many different paths – from releasing folk crossover albums on indie label Rough Trade; working on Disney soundtracks to collaborations with leading UK dance DJ/producers – Cara has continuously chosen to firmly plant herself within the landscape of her cultural heritage and that's something to celebrate. With a more mature and reflective tone, Wanderer will no doubt transcend genres just as effortlessly as her highly successful albums Hill Of Thieves (2009) and A Thousand Hearts (2014) and increase her already impressive list of fans. "What may well be the world's most beautiful female voice" - MOJO "Loved every single album you've put out...sublime, heavily recommend to anyone." - Ed Sheeran "This woman's voice holds so many beautiful memories in my heart." - Sam Smith "Dillon's crystalline, angelic voice, an instrument of rare beauty capable of melting the sternest of hearts" - BBC

Elles Bailey - Wildfire (01/09/17)

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• Artist: Elles Bailey
• Genre: Blues, Country
• Release Date: 1st September, 2017
• Record Label: Outlaw Music
• Tracks: 12
• Website: https://www.ellesbailey.com/

Bristol based Elles Bailey (28) seamlessly weaves rootsy blues, country and soulful rock with a contemporary edge and her trademark ‘smoky vocals’ taking the lead. Her husky toned, lived-in voice sounds like she has a 60-a-day habit, but was actually caused by a serious illness when she was three. Her two EP's, both produced by Brian Banks, (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie) 'Who I Am To Me' (Feb 2015) and 'The Elberton Sessions' (Oct 2016) were released to critical acclaim, and her debut album is set to drop Spring 2017.

No stranger to the scene, over the last three years, this captivating, hardworking songstress and her talented band have built up a loyal all-age fan base through relentless touring, through both the UK and Europe. She’s opened for acts like Wille & The Bandits and shared festival line-ups with Lisa Simone, The Mystery Jets & Wilko Johnson. Elles has just finished recording her debut record, at Blackbird studios in Nashville which has played hosts to artists such as Taylor Swift, Kings of Leon and Chris Stapleton to name but a few. Produced by Brad Nowell, the album features world-renowned country and blues musicians, including Grammy Award winner and a two-time winner of the CMA ‘Musician of the Year’ Brent Mason on guitar, pianist Bobby Wood ‘Musician Hall Of Famer’ 3 Times Over and more. One of the tracks on the record has been co-written with Ivor Novello Award writer Roger Cook. ‘Wildfire’ penned by Elles & Joe Wilkins (Elles touring band) will be the first single from the record. In fact, 2017 looks set to be a very busy year for Elles with over 30 dates scheduled in the run up to her debut album release in April. Her festival diary is also filling up very quickly. Elles will feature at The Great British Rock and Blues Festival in Skegness and will be opening for soul singer Jo Harman on her February tour before heading back into Europe in Spring 2017. Like many artists today, Elles is breaking down the barriers of traditional genres, taking inspiration from many and fusing them together to bring you her own unique sound, which is earning her a legion of devoted fans, young and old, from across the UK and further afield. 

'Gritty, southern, smoky vocals that have a real bluesy/country feel to them' (Maverick Magazine)

'One to watch for 2017' (Country Music Magazine)

'A Great Voice' (BBC 6 Music)

'Elles voice just keeps getting better" (Richard Pitt - BBC Introducing in the West)

'Elles Bailey gave it all, the complete package, energy, swagger and soul, whilst her band matched her passion and drive laying down hook after hook. Blues Princess, maybe, but with performances like this Elles will soon be taking the throne by storm' (Blues in Britain) 

Under Blues Skies - CALICO the band (15/09/17)

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• Artist: CALICO the band
• Genre: Country, Americana
• Release Date: 15th September, 2017
• Record Label: California Country Records
• Tracks: 13
• Website: https://www.calicotheband.com/

Calico are a Californian Americana Country group led by the female duo of Manda Mosher and Kirsten Proffit, who are known for their signature intimate and tight harmonies. They are a California band in the deepest, most natural sense of the term, their name is shorthand for California country. Their music echoes what Gram Parsons famously dubbed 'Cosmic American Music'. The sound and feel of 'Under Blue Skies' is inspired by the duo’s shared love of Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Eagles, the Everly Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and of course the Beatles. Their songwriting touchstones also includes Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, The Band and Tom Petty. Manda and Kirsten feel so connected to this classic and timeless music, that they’re able to bring it into the present tense and make it their own.

“Because we’ve spent so much time together, we feel more comfortable expressing vulnerability in the lyrics; there are definitely more love songs. There’s certainly meaning to our debut album 'Rancho California', but it’s more broad strokes; on Under Blue Skies, we were able to dig in and get more personal.” comments Manda.

Hannah Johnson - Shaken (10/07/17)

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• Artist: Hannah Johnson
• Genre: Country, Blues
• Release Date: 10th July, 2017
• Record Label: Wood Ville Music
• Tracks: 11
• Website: http://hjbrokenhearts.com/

The album was recorded at The Ameripolitan Studios in Austin, Texas. It features some of Hannah's favourite musicians including Stewart Johnson, Bryce Clarke, Chris Shirley, Beth Chrisman, Joshua Hoag, Emily Gimble, Tom Lewis, Sophia Johnson, Brian Kremer and Devin Jake. 

Hannah delves deep into her influences of old country, the blues and honky tonk music. The choice of material is imperative to Hannah, who has spent a long time studying the vocal styles of country greats such as Faron Young, George Jones & Ray Price.

At a time when it is fashionably cool to be “Americana” and dressing “vintage” is de rigueur, it is easy to feel tired of the cliches around the modern country scene. Much of the music coming out of Nashville today seems to be either watered down country pop, or stylistically affected Americana with chanted choruses and stomping bass drums.

However, there is also reaction against these extreme ends of the industry machine and artists like Hannah Johnson are approaching their music with a refreshing honesty and commitment to the core principles of ‘old’ country music, celebrating the heritage and history rather than diluting it. Undoubtedly spending so much time in Austin, Texas has influenced her immensely, as the music she is making falls much more under the bracket of what Dale Watson is doing with his “Ameripolitan” genre than the new country from Nashville. Hannah sings classic country songs about drinking and heart ache straight from a Honky Tonk, her sultry and smokey voice taking on the likes of Patsy Cline, Skeets McDonald and Willie Nelson. But what also cannot be ignored in her voice is the strong influence from the blues, as exemplified on her cover of an old Charlie Patton number and her powerful rendition of ‘Trouble In Mind’.

The stand out tracks however, are her own compositions, ‘Your Girlfriend Hates Me’ could perhaps be seen as a modern, less aggressive take on Loretta’s “fist city”, clearly placing relationships between women at the centre of her experience, and proving not always easy being the only girl in the band. ‘Morning Cocktail’ then takes her in a more soulful and reflective direction, lamenting a highly destructive lost love, the dangerous numbing qualities of alcohol, while demonstrating her vocal prowess. ‘Nowhere Train’ immediately hits an infectious country groove, delivering classic twangy telecaster and providing a strong catchy chorus as the album’s opener.

Hannah's fans include Imelda May, Robert Plant and Ronnie Wood, indeed Hannah and her band provided the entertainment for Ronnie’s recent 70th Birthday party. She is set to spend the summer 2017 gigging and promoting her record in Austin, TX.

Jamie Lawson - Happy Accidents (29/09/17)

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• Artist: Jamie Lawson
• Genre: Acoustic, Singer-Songwriter
• Release Date: 29th September, 2017
• Record Label: Gingerbread Man Records
• Tracks: 13
• Website: http://www.jamielawsonmusic.com/

Ivor Novello award winning singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson is set to release his highly anticipated new album 'Happy Accident' through Ed Sheeran's 'Gingerbread Man Records'

Exclusive signed copy

Chloe Chadwick - Dustbowl Jukebox (30/06/17)

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• Artist: Chloe Chadwick
• Genre: Country, Country-Pop, Americana
• Release Date: 30th June, 2017.
• Record Label: Independent
• Tracks: 10
• Website: https://www.chloechadwick.com/

Boo Hewerdine - Swimming In Mercury (28/04/17)

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• Artist: Boo Hewerdine
• Genre: Singer-Songwriter
• Release Date: 28th April, 2017
• Record Label: Reveal Records
• Tracks: 12
• Website: http://www.boohewerdine.net/

Boo Hewerdine's first new studio album in eight years. 'Swimming In Mercury' will be released by Reveal Records on April 28th 2017, 12 new songs including the radio single "Satellite Town". "One of the country's most consistently admired songwriters' Folk Radio UK "Simple, poetic reflections on life and love" The Guardian Boo Hewerdine is well known as one of the greatest songwriter performers in the business, but incredibly, it's been 8 years since Boo released his last studio album of original material God Bless The Pretty Things (Reveal Records 2009). Not that Hewerdine has been inactive, far from it, the period has been the most productive of his career. Boo wrote Radio Ballads for the BBC's Olympic and recent Child Migration series. There has been a huge array of writing and producing with both established and upcoming artists and 'passing something on' to budding writers via his much loved song-writing workshops. Boo spent three years writing a daily blog which lead to podcast fun with that staff of The WORD (RIP) and invitations to join Radio broadcasts such as The Verb (BBC Radio 3) and a moment of personal satisfaction when his work was included in the radio round up Pick Of The Week on BBC Radio 4. Boo formed the duo State Of The Union with American guitarist Brooks Williams and recorded and released two albums and an EP, live in the studio with engineer Mark Freegard, the duo appeared on BBC1 TV Andrew Marr show performing their cover of Pet Shop Boys Rent. Hewerdine has written lyrics and played on over 30 new recordings by and with other artists during the period including the acclaimed 2014 album (Vagabond) and 2015 EP (Back The Dogs) with Scottish singer Eddi Reader, Last Man Standing Ep (2015) with Kris Drever of Lau and Duke Special. Reveal Records compiled the first document of his career to date with a fine Best of compilation "My Name In Brackets" and swiftly followed that with an album of lost recordings found in a box!  This album was Open which received five star reviews and was number 5 in the Telegraph Albums of The Year 2015 . There wasn't a moment when Boo Hewerdine has not been working on something creative. His every day continues to be full of music and he waited patiently to tell some older personal stories that feature on his new album Swimming In Mercury. Mid-way through 2016, the first of his new material emerged via the limited edition Born EP, then in Autumn 2016 Boo played songs from Swimming in Mercury live on BBC TV's Quay Sessions (re-broadcast in January 2017).

Glen Campbell - Adios (09/06/17)

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• Artist: Glen Campbell
• Genre: Country, Singer-Songwriter
• Release Date: 9th June, 2017
• Record Label: UMC
• Tracks: 28 (Double album)
• Website: http://www.glencampbell.com/

ADIÓS is Glen’s farewell album. It was recorded in 2011-12 at the end of his final world tour. Friends and family recently revisited the recordings last year and decided it was time to finish the record. The album was a true family affair as Glen’s daughter Ashley and sons Cal and Shannon, all play on the record. It is a collection of songs he always sang but never had a chance to record including four Jimmy Webb penned songs, a duet with Willie Nelson on “Funny How Time Slips Away” and a version of “Everybody’s Talkin’” best known for Harry Nilsson’s version used in the film Midnight Cowboy. ADIÓS is a fitting swan song to a career that has spanned six decades, touching tens of millions of lives along way. Includes a second disc featuring a compilation Glen's greatest hits.

Blue Rose Code - The Waters Of Leith (27/10/12)

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• Artist: Blue Rose Code
• Genre: Celticana, Folk Singer-Songwriter
• Release Date: 27th October, 2017
• Record Label: Navigator Records
• Tracks: 12
• Website: http://www.bluerosecode.com/

A nomad both geographically and musically, Ross Wilson, aka Blue Rose Code, writes from the heart eschewing any specific genre and the twelve new songs on his new album 'The Water Of Leith', addressing themes of love, loss, travel, home, accepting the past and embracing the future, are painted with colours of folk, jazz, soul and pop; an eclecticism that has become a hallmark of Blue Rose Code and has seen him compared to John Martyn, Van Morrison and Tom Waits.

Underlining the sense of movement and place in Ross's work, The Water Of Leith is rooted in his return to his Scottish homeland. There, he reconnected with the stellar musicians who were to become an integral part of the new album's sound: multi award-winning singer Julie Fowlis, celebrated Gaelic singer Kathleen MacInnes, BBC Folk Award Winner, Ross Ainslie, 2017's Scottish Jazz Awards' instrumentalist of the year Konrad Wiszniewski, leading violinist Seonaid Aitken and three of Scotland's finest jazz musicians; John Lowrie, Colin Steele and James Lindsay, to name just some of the contributors. Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman features on the opening track. Ross co-produced the album with Angus Lyon.

In the space of a few short years and the release of well-received albums North Ten, The Ballads Of Peckham Rye, and And Lo The Bird Is On The Wing, Blue Rose Code has built a growing reputation as a powerful writer and performer, gaining extensive radio play and the praise of key broadcasters including Edith Bowman, Mary Ann Kennedy, Bob Harris and also actor Ewan McGregor who made a cameo appearance on And Lo The Bird Is On The Wing after commenting: "My uncle Denis Lawson (star of Local Hero) gave me a copy of The Ballads Of Peckham Rye, it's beautiful and I can't stop listening to it."

Findlay Napier - Glasgow (13/10/17)

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• Artist: Findlay Napier
• Genre: Folk, Singer-Songwriter
• Release Date: 13th October, 2017
• Record Label: Cheerygroove Records
• Tracks: 11
• Website: http://www.findlaynapier.com/

In 1997 I moved from the banks of the River Spey to the fourteenth floor of the Red Road Flats in Springburn. I was born in Glasgow and had visited the city periodically over the years, the Garden Festival in ‘89 and City of Culture in ‘90 being particular highlights. I remember the buildings being black. I remember being jostled by the people on Buchanan Street. I remember the sound and the shoogle of the Clockwork Orange. I remember the people and their patter. I remember it like the first time I watched Blade Runner. I remember it like the first time I saw Billy Connolly. 

Mostly I witnessed Glasgow from afar. On the telly it was a place full of humour: Francie & Josie, Naked Video and Rab C. Nesbitt. Taggart, bookended with Maggie Bell’s ‘No Mean City, was Glasgow’s darker side. 

I heard the music, I even sang some of the songs; street songs, folk songs, mimicking Frankie Miller’s Tennent’s selling growl or howling along to City to City on long car journeys north. Yet I was so out of touch with the city’s music I didn’t know that Del Amitri bloke with the leather trousers off the telly was from Glasgow. Rab Noakes’ Standing Up introduced me to The Blue Nile and Michael Marra. I came round to The Bard of Dundee very quickly but I confess it was years before I understood the wonder of those four immaculate albums by The Blue Nile. 

By ‘97 Glasgow was undergoing a kind of spring cleaning for the forthcoming City of Architecture. It was the gleaming champagne and red sandstone promised land. I was seventeen and about to enroll on the first ever BA in Scottish Music at the RSAMD. ‘Jock Hawk’s Adventures in Glasgow’ would be a good soundtrack for the next few years of my life in Glasgow, that or ‘Erin Go Bragh,’ a clueless country bumpkin falling in every pitfall the big smoke had to offer. 

After graduation it never occurred to me to leave Glasgow. It became my home. I’ve been here for almost exactly twenty-one years to the release date of this album. I’ve lived all over the place, mostly in Dennistoun and Haghill, a year on North Street (above The Bon Accord), a year in Bridgeton, some time in Cathcart and I am now settled in Pollokshields. First I was staying here, then I was living here, now this is my home. 

This album is for Glasgow and for the fantastic people I’ve met; unique formidable characters like Big Jim McKenna who told me before walking on stage one night that, “No-one wants to hear you singing your own fuckin* songs. Your sad fuckin songs about your boring fuckin life. They want to hear something they know. Maybe something about their home. Mix them up a bit.” He liked my songs though. He told me when I came off stage. He said I should learn that Hamish Imlach song. I fuckin did. 

*In Glasgow swearing is considered a form of audible punctuation"