Demons - Jacob Lee

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Demons’ - Jacob Lee

We head to the Gold Coast today to meet Australian singer-songwriter Jacob Lee. We really like this live looped version of ‘Demons’ taken from a Philosophical Session.

Jacob Lee is rapidly becoming known as the most diverse discovery in Australian Music.
Swiftly reaching over 5 million streams on Spotify, Jacob Lee has gathered international attention from the likes of Warner Music, 300 & Sony through his debut EP, 'Sine Qua Non' & 'Clarity'.

Jacob Lee is now spending his time touring uncharted territories, recording his next single & managing his successful bullying awareness cause, 'Ghost Campaign'. At 22 years of age, Jacob Lee has secured collaborations with a myriad of established artists, writing & recording for chart topping DJ duo, Social Hooliganz, Tom Enzy, Trifo, E.C.S Ferrer & Swede Dreams. Jacob is no stranger to achievement & has been regarded as Australia's answer to Ed Sheeran. With his captivating onstage aura, he is known to absorb audiences, reeling them into his stories with his clever, yet ambiguous lyrics.

Jacob is leaving his mark, with a loyal fanbase growing by the hour, his optimistic message is creating a positive impact worldwide, only strengthening his desire to motivate others & create music that makes a difference.

https://www.jacobleeofficial.com

Alessia Cara - Growing Pains

LCM Song of the Day: ‘Growing Pains’ - Alessia Cara

We travel to Toronto today to meet our next LCM featured artist Grammy award winning Canadian singer-songwriter Alessia Caracciolo, better known by her stage name Alessia Cara, We love this stripped back live acoustic version of her hit ‘Growing Pains’ filmed recently at a Vevo X session at Brooklyn's famed Grand Prospect Hall. Alessia releases her wonderful sophomore album 'The Pains of Growing' on November 30th. Alessia has four Grammy nominations including a win for ‘Best New Artist’ earlier this year.

When you generate as much fan love as Alessia has in the last few years, it's little wonder than your ever-growing audience can't wait for your new album. That's what's happening with Alessia’s latest and the first to arrive since she won the "Best New Artist" award at the Grammys earlier this year. The Canadian singer with the deep love of family and the unique way of blending pop with R&B touches, has brought the world a handful of hits, including "Wild Things," "Seventeen" and "Scars To Your Beautiful" as well as a cool collab with Zedd and other stars.

http://www.alessiacara.com

Secondhand Smoke - Sean McConnell

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Secondhand Smoke’ - Sean McConnell

With a high anticipated forthcoming 13th album set for release in early February our next LCM featured artist is the very talented Tennessee based singer-songwriter Sean McConnell. One of the highlight of the new album and the first single is the beautiful title track ‘Secondhand Smoke’. It was also recently included in a weekly top list of Rolling Stone’s Best new Country/Americana Songs.

'Secondhand Smoke' is a 13-song cohesive collection of modern folk music asking provocative questions about how we become who we are, what and whom we love, and the growth, pain, and freedom that come with accepting that some answers might elude us forever. “The older I get, the more I find that is what it’s all about––that there is no way to answer it all,” Sean comments. “Being comfortable with mystery is a positive thing in all aspects of our lives. I definitely explore that in these songs.”

Produced, recorded and written by Sean McConnell in his Nashville home studio, 'Secondhand Smoke' is a striking intimate portrait of life’s intricacies. “These are stories that people are familiar with,” adds Sean, “and they steer the ship in a certain direction, then leave you off at this ocean of possibilities that we didn’t plan on the story taking us to.”

A long renowned wordsmith, hundreds of thousands have turned to Sean McConnell for that kind of musical exploration for almost 20 years. Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Meat Loaf, David Nail, Brothers Osborne, Buddy Miller, Plain White T’s and many more have all recorded his songs––a dizzying list that spans not just styles, but generations. Recently, he earned his first #1 single on country charts with breakout artist Brett Young’s delivery of “Mercy,” which the two co-wrote. As a performer, Sean has the keen ability of drawing in his audience. His sound––a stunning warm tenor painting vivid stories over acoustic guitar often cushioned by keys or other strings––has prompted a diverse range of music scenes from the storied Boston folk community to Texas’s defiantly self-sovereign camp to warmly claim Sean as one of their own.

Photo Credit: AQPhotos

https://www.seanmcconnell.com

Just Another Reason - Arielle

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Just Another Reason’ - Arielle

We head to Nashville today to meet our next featured artist, singer-songwriter and guitarist Arielle. Originally from New Jersey and raised in California & Hawaii, Arielle is a big fan of music from the 60's and 70's and that really shines through in her own music. She has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Jeff Beck among many others. Our LCM ‘Song Of The Day’ the wonderful ‘Just Another Reason’, a co-write with Sydney Maxine and Kris Bergsnes, is taken from her latest EP ‘Mind Lion’.

Arielle is currently working on a brand new 10 song ‘Classic Folk Rock’ album called ‘Suspension/Dimension’ which she is crowdfunding. She has reached her initial target, but if you would like to take part the link is below for you. The campaign ends today.

Photo Credit: Kirsten Balani

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/suspension-dimension-a-new-album-by-arielle#/

https://www.imarielle.com

Nothing Else - Angus and Julia Stone

LCM #SongOfTheDay - ‘Nothing Else’ - Angus and Julia Stone

We are ‘down under’ today as we take a quick trip to Sydney the home of Australian brother and sister duo Angus & Julia Stone. The beautiful and reflective ‘Nothing Else’ is the new single from their latest album ‘Snow’, released in September last year. We think that It has a real Fleetwood Mac vibe.

'Snow' continues a process the siblings began at the suggestion of producer Rick Rubin on their self-titled album of 2014. "That was the first time that we actually started writing together, in the same room, and I guess we took a leaf from that chapter into this record. This time round though, every song on the record we wrote together" Angus says. The Sydney-born siblings produced and largely engineered it themselves, in Angus's cottage studio, Belafonte, in the Byron Bay hinterland. "It was quite magical because Angus and I have never spent that much time together, just the two of us," says Julia. "There's always at least an engineer or tour manager but the last phase of writing and recording was just eight weeks of him and me and the quiet of the land. It was a beautiful time."

http://angusandjuliastone.com

Photo Credit: James Adams

Gauntlet - Gilmore and Roberts

LCM #SongOfTheDay: The exciting new single 'Gauntlet' from the multi-award winning folk duo Kat Gilmore and Jamie Roberts. Kat and Jamie will releasing their excellent latest album 'A Problem Of Our Kind' on the 12th October. This new video was directed by Andy Little and filmed by Chris Little. They are also on a UK tour this autumn, with their London date at Cecil Sharp House on the 21st November.

Having already made a name for themselves on the UK acoustic circuit, Kat and Jamie are known as much for their exceptionally dynamic live show as they are for their prize-winning songs. With international tours and a formidable new album newly wedged under their belts, the duo are racing from strength to strength. 

http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/

Pre-order your copy at the link below

  Photo credit: Rob Bridge (Redwood Photography)

A Better Me - Rebecca Riedtmann

It's very exciting times ahead for our next LCM featured artist Surrey based Americana, Blues and Country singer-songwriter. Rebecca Riedtmann.  Rebecca is releasing her brand new single our LCM #SongOfTheDay 'A Better Me' and headlining an album pre-launch gig on Thursday 16th August at 229 in Great Portland Street. Special guests on the night include Peter Donegan and My Girl The River. The gig is hosted by our friends at Talentbanq. There are still a few places available, if you would like to come along. 

The beautiful 'A Better Me' ‘is taken from Rebecca's forthcoming debut album 'Not All Who Wander Have Lost Their Way’. Rebecca's heartfelt lyrics and smoky delivery are complemented by beautiful harp from Tom Moth, a key member of the world-conquering Florence and the Machine.Tom Moth has also performed with other LCM favourites like Paul Mosley. The short film animation, ‘Starless Night’ was made by Carl Luc Campbell.

Rebecca Riedtmann writes and plays enchanting Americana and soulful blues. She is currently looking forward to releasing her debut album. Surrey-based Rebecca has been steadily establishing her unique place on the UK Americana scene over the last few years. She has been seen on BBC1 TV and at the Isle of Wight Festival. Recent performances also include Black Deer Festival and venues such as the Bedford, the Brunswick and the Sound Lounge, where she was featured among artists to look out for in 2018 by journalist-broadcaster Paul Sexton.

https://www.rebeccarie.com/

Troubadour Boy - Daisy Chute

With some very exciting solo and future band projects currently in progress our next LCM featured artist is the multi-award winning London based independent singer-songwriter Daisy Chute. Edinburgh-born, half-American, hyphen-loving Daisy is a multi-instrumentalist with a particular penchant for the banjo. Formerly of Decca’s platinum-selling classical group 'All Angels', she is currently working on her début album of original songs with producer and songwriter Tim Baxter (Andy Burrows, Editors, Nick Mulvey, Jasmine Thompson). With a super pure vocal the very talented, popular and highly skilled Daisy is in great demand.

Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is Daisy's latest single and one of our favourites from her live set, the wonderful 'Troubadour Boy.  The great new video is released today with the new single released last Friday and available to purchase. Daisy is one of our LCM 'Ones To Watch' in 2018 together with her new band HEARD.

Daisy is a regular in the London music scene and an award-winning singer and songwriter having just been awarded first place in the Coffee Music Project singer-songwriter competition, Daisy has been taught and mentored by rock royalty Sir Ray Davies, featured as a vocalist on Radiohead's latest album 'A Moon Shaped Pool', and even got the thumbs up from Sir Paul McCartney after a performance at the Royal Albert Hall. One of Paul Sexton's 'top music tips' for 2018, Daisy's music has been compared to Simon and Garfunkel and Joni Mitchell (BBC Radio Kent) and her voice has been described as “Exquisitely delicious. Delicate, like a gossamer-winged creature made out of spun gold." Tony Moore (Soho Radio, The Bedford)

With special thanks to Daisy's musical partner-in-crime Tim Baxter and videographer-extraordinaire Bartek Podkowa.

Music and Lyrics by Daisy Chute and Tim Baxter
Produced and Mixed by Tim Baxter
Mastered by Mazen Murad (Metropolis Studios)

Vocals, Guitar, Drum: Daisy Chute
Double Bass: Will Collier
Cello: Tristan Horne
Rhodes and Hammond: Tim Baxter

Video: Seven Hills Films
Director: Bartek Podkowa
Crew: Emily Waldron, Leiah Yvonne Kwong

https://www.daisychute.com/

Wildfire - Mandolin Orange

We take a trip today to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to meet our next LCM featured artists Andrew Marlin & Emily Frantz better known as the excellent US duo Mandolin Orange. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a live version of one of our favourite songs from their 'Blindfaller' album, the beautiful, timely and thought-provoking 'Wildfire'. The video is taken from a Sawyer Session filmed in front of the Gyre structure in the North Carolina Museum of Art’s sculpture garden.

'Wildfire' stands as the perfect metaphor to represent the spread of ideas. An idea that acts as the spark; the conflict that ensues, that moves with the energy and the power to burn a whole forest. It starts with an idea long ago that led to the US revolution and to the birth of America. Andrew Marlin uses Joseph Warren, whose death made him a martyred symbol of the American Revolution, as an example of an unnecessary death resulting from the wildfire of conflict in the colonies. 

"It should have been different, it could have been easy. His rank could have saved him, but a country unborn needs bravery........And it spread like wildfire..... From the ashes grew sweet liberty, like the seeds of the pines when the forest burns....It should have been different, it could have been easy. But too much money rolled in to ever end slavery. The cry for war spread like wildfire.  The day that old Warren died, hate should have gone with it. But here we are, caught in the wildfire. Civil war came, civil war went. Brother fought brother, the south was spent. But its true demise was hatred, passed down through the years. I was born a southern son In a small southern town where the rebels run wild. They beat their chest and they swear: ‘We’re gonna rise again’ "But pride has a way of holding too firm to history.......And it burns like wildfire".

America now finds itself at another crossroad—the feelings of frustration and the desire to change have led to new conflicts spreading like 'wildfire'. Many headline the news today. Will the American people learn from the past and move forward.

http://www.mandolinorange.com/

Time Is Everything - Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno

They say they serendipity is a wonderful thing, especially when looking to discover great new music. A lovely recent example are our next LCM featured duo Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno. Vivian is a songwriter, singer, and guitarist from Lexington, Virginia and Riley is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Both are young interpreters of old mountain music. Vivian released her debut album in March and our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a lovely live version of the title track 'Time Is Everything'. The video was filmed at at Forest Hills Cemetary in Jamaica Plain, MA by Sean Trischka.

Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno are tapping into the deepest parts of American music, taking old songs that have seldom been heard and presenting them next to their own timeless and visceral originals. When they are not performing as duo, they’re often found sitting knee to knee, playing under the canopy of trees at fiddle festivals across the country, such as the gathering where they met in June of 2016. Across any campground, or concert venue, the echos of their vibrant and magnetic harmonies ring out.

Vivian Leva of Lexington, Virginia grew up playing and performing with her parents, Carol Elizabeth Jones and James Leva, learning traditional songs from their sources and honing her rhythmic guitar style. This past June, Vivian recorded her debut album 'Time is Everything' in close collaboration with Riley Calcagno during an inspired session at Studio 808A in the small town of Floyd, VA. She released this album of original music on March 2nd, 2018 on Free Dirt Records.

Riley, of Seattle, WA spent his earlier years playing with the widely recognized band The Onlies, described as “masterful” and “deliciously well-crafted” (Kithfolk) and developing his own distinct authenticity on the fiddle and banjo.

Together, Vivian and Riley have toured across the country, in living rooms and concert halls. As individuals, they have shared the stages with and played, both nationally and internationally, in the bands of Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, The Lost Tribe Of Country Music, and Bruce Molsky to name just a few. To this collaboration they bring both the steady hands of experience and a refined taste for American music, yet still a youthful abandon that can’t be forced. In 2018, they will be on tour internationally to support Vivian’s new release and bring their distinct brand of old-time and country to a festival, hall, bar, or fireplace gathering near you.

http://vivandriley.com/wp/

Hold My Hand - Elizabeth and Jameson

We stay with fast rising UK duos with our next LCM featured artists Elizabeth and Jameson. Bedford based Hannah and Griff formed the new duo previously as 'Supermoon', before changing the name last year. Both are multi award winning as part of other established groups (Griff in Fred's House and Hannah in Said The Maiden). This is a very interesting new combination and one we think will do very well. As a taster our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the beautiful and tender new single 'Hold My Hand' taken from their four track 'The Second Phase' EP.  

Playing all over the UK with the trio Said The Maiden, Hannah Elizabeth's influences are very much planted within traditional folk roots.  This is in stark contrast to Griff Jameson's recent musical history, having penned a string of quirky rock/pop anthems for Fred's House. Together, Elizabeth & Jameson arguably offers the best of both backgrounds; this is simplistic, classic song writing at its best: a stripped back, harmony-driven sound with guitar, violin and exquisite vocals.

Having already opened up for the likes of Scott Matthews, Jon Allen, Bob Fox, Greg Russell, Jack Rutter and Richard Digance, the duo are also receiving critical acclaim for their debut EP ‘Supermoon’, along with an NMG Award nomination for Best Folk, Roots, Country & Acoustic Act… and an ever-growing fan base.

With a new limited edition live album recently released and a new EP planned, the future is looking rosey for Hannah and Griff. 

https://www.elizabethandjameson.co.uk/

A Thousand New Moons - Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage

Our LCM featured artists today are the wonderful Cambridge based Folk duo Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage. Hannah and Ben have recently released their latest album 'Awake' in May and our LCM #SongOfTheDay is their latest single the lovely 'A Thousand New Moons'. We have a full LCM review of the new album for you shortly and it is certainly worth exploring further.

Hannah and Ben are currently on tour in sunny Canada, so please go along and see them live if they gig near you. All the details are on their website.

Huddled round a single microphone, singing intimate duets with just mountain dulcimer, dobro and guitar Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage are an acoustic duo that look & sound classically timeless, yet feel refreshingly unique. Fleetingly, they may evoke a memory of Gram & Emmylou, Shirley & Davey, or Gillian & David but their warm distilling of musical influences from both sides of the Atlantic produces a refined sound that is decidedly their own. 

Their unique unplugged presentation creates a widescreen, cinematic soundscape with open spaces and atmosphere, giving their beautifully pure vocals room to share the songs’ emotion and narrative. The material is as joyful and fun as it is intense, but the common factor is the duo’s warmth and confidence in each other; their natural ease and connection is clearly evident on the recorded music, and a genuine pleasure to witness on stage. 

https://www.hannahbenmusic.com/

Wasteland - Cerian ft Robert Taira Wilson

CERIAN ft. Robert Taira Wilson Debut single "Wasteland" out 27.07.2018 Recorded, engineered and mixed by John Merriman at Crown Lane Studios Mastered by Dave Turner at 360 Mastering INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/cerianmusic/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/cerianmusic TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CerianMusic YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/Cerian SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/cerianmusic

We have something very special for you today. Our LCM featured artist is the very talented London based singer-songwriter multi-instrumentalist Cerian  We had the absolute pleasure of having both Cerian and Daisy Chute headline our 5th anniversary gig recently. One of our favourite songs in their set was our LCM #SongOfTheDay the beautiful 'Wasteland'. Just released on Friday, it's Cerian's wonderful debut solo single. We love this version, which also features the very talented Robert Taira Wilson. Cerian is one of LCM 'Ones To Watch' in 2018.

Produced by Cerian, "Wasteland" has a dark ethereal folk pop feel; twinkling harp plucks are juxtaposed with its electronic manipulation, and intricate guitar contrasts with orchestral drums and eight-part choral backing. As the first of 5 songs to be released this year forming an EP entitled "Caught in the Dark" due for release in February 2019. 

A lifelong insomniac, Cerian is almost completely nocturnal, and these profoundly personal songs have grown out of her struggle with both the literal and internal darkness felt in the isolation of the early hours of the morning, when she would stay awake writing until dawn.

Written just as she was trying to gain the confidence to share her own music with the world for the first time, Wasteland explores those feelings of loneliness and paralysing fear. Cerian explains: “In the dead of the night, terrifying existentialism takes over: seemingly frozen in time, you feel unable to traverse the space between where you are and where you want to be. The precipice of the unknown future is calling, but you don’t know if you’re going to fly or fall, if you can find the courage to jump.”

Lyrically, it's the drama and fear of the unknown that draws you in: "The precipice calls me, singing my name, but it sounds like a warning; play it again". Featuring Robert Taira Wilson, the single showcases a soulful duet of Cerian and Robert's perfectly complemented voices dramatically building through entrancing soundscapes evocative of London Grammar and Active Child, to create a piece of beautifully crafted dark pop.

Having sung on Radiohead's latest album, and with artists such as U2, Sam Smith, Imogen Heap, Guy Sigsworth, Laura Mvula, Tom Chaplin and Amber Run, "Wasteland" represents Cerian's first offering as a solo artist in her own right.

Photo credit: Tom Leishman

http://www.cerianmusic.com/

Lay It On Down - Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Our next LCM featured artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd is one of the world's best young blues rock guitar players. Nominated for five Grammy's and a host of other awards, Kenny's music is well worth exploring. Still barely in his 30s, the Louisiana born but now LA based axeman and singer-songwriter has been selling millions of albums. With a host of top ten singles shining a light on the rich blues of the past and moving ahead with his own modern twist on a classic sound he has championed since his teens. He met Stevie Ray Vaughan at 7 and shared the stage with New Orleans legend Bryan Lee at 13. As an adult, he continues to create genre-defining blues-infused rock n' roll. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a great acoustic version of the title track of his excellent #1 album 'Lay It Down'.

Photo credit: KWS On Tour Inc.

https://www.kennywayneshepherd.net/

House On A Hill - Olivia Chaney

Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the beautiful and atmospheric new single from the very talented Olivia Chaney. We are big fans of Olivia's music here at LCM HQ and think she has a wonderful and pure vocal. The song is taken from her super second solo album 'Shelter' released in June. The album was produced by Thomas Bartlett and released through one of our favourite labels, Nonesuch Records.

If you would like to see Olivia live in London she is headlining at Kings Place on the 29th September after her US tour.

Classically-trained singer / pianist Olivia Chaney graduated from England’s Royal Academy of Music, before teaching herself guitar and Indian harmonium, delving back to the inspiration behind the British folk revivalists. She has since built a loyal and growing following as a songwriter and interpreter, both in the UK and internationally, through her acclaimed and eclectic live performances and much lauded recorded works.

Over the past few years, Olivia has collaborated and shared the stage with a diverse range of artists including Robert Plant, Eliza and Martin Carthy, The Decemberists, Shirley Collins, Alasdair Roberts, Kronos Quartet, Zero 7 and The Labèque Sisters.

Photo Credit: Phil Sharp

https://www.oliviachaney.com/

Baggy Trousers - Little Sparrow

Always a firm favourite here at LCM is our next LCM featured artist Manchester based Little Sparrow. With a brand new EP 'Just 3' released today our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a great re-imagined cover of the Madness classic 'Baggy Trousers'. Katie is joined on the song by Robin Dewhurst on piano and Sarah Dale on cello and backing vocals. The new EP also includes the excellent 'Dry Your Eyes' and 'Tender'

Having released her debut album ‘Wishing Tree’ to critical acclaim and spending the next couple of years building on this through many successful live performances, Little Sparrow then decided to take some time out to write and record towards her highly anticipated follow up album, which she plans to release in 2019.

Her inspiration for creating the ‘Just 3’ EP was taken from the opportunity she was given in 2016 to perform on the Tim Peaks Diner stage at Kendal Calling as part of an event hosted by BBC Radio 6 & Radio 2 presenter Chris Hawkins.

Also appearing at the festival was much respected composer and musician Robin Dewhurst and suggestion was made by the organisers that Little Sparrow & Robin (along with cellist Sarah Dale) should create & record their own interpretation of 1980’s Madness single ‘Baggy Trousers’ and in addition perform it at the festival.

When performed live the team at Kendal Calling & Tim Peaks FM had this to say: “Little Sparrow & Robin performed the song live to a spellbound crowd on Chris Hawkins Tim Peaks
FM Show, creating a real ‘Kendal Calling’ moment. (It is) one of the best cover versions we have heard in years!"

Having enjoyed the experience they decided to seize this special opportunity to collaborate again and so, with the addition of two Little Sparrow originals, they have created a new EP entitled ‘Just 3’.

Recently, Katie made her debut as co-presenter on ‘The Sound Check’ - a pilot edition TV
showcase programme for new musical talent - alongside BBC Radio 6 Music & BBC Radio
2 presenter Chris Hawkins, recorded at Dock 10 Studios at Media City, Salford.

In December 2016 Little Sparrow was voted Laurel Canyon Music ‘Favourite New Artist of
The Year’ and also began 2017 with an appearance on BBC Breakfast.

She is currently busy writing & recording towards her second album which will be released
in 2019.

http://www.littlesparrow.org/

We Were Young Once Too - Carolina Story

We head to East Nashville today to meet our next LCM featured married Folk and Americana duo Emily Olson Roberts & Ben Roberts better known as Carolina Story. It's a very exciting time for the duo are they are about to release their debut album ' Lay Your Head Down' on the 13th July. As a taster of LCM #SongOfTheDay is an acoustic version of one of the first tracks 'We Were Young Once'. Let us know what you think? 

It’s rare you find a married music duo that adheres to none of the married-duo-cliches. Carolina Story writes and performs songs, knowing that there are enough love songs on earth. They evoke the blue collar man and woman, because that’s exactly who they are. From their genesis, they have crafted their sound to be a perfect mix of the lyrical grit and wit of Hank Williams Sr. and the tender atmosphere of Heartbreaker-era Ryan Adams. Carolina Story (Ben and Emily Roberts) are from Arkansas and South Dakota respectively, Ben being raised alongside the songs of Neil Young, George Jones, The Band and Bob Dylan; Emily on the sounds of Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Hank Sr. and Johnny Cash, giving their songs a seamless, organic blending influence of gritty, folky Americana and nostalgic traditional Country. 

It was music that drew them together at Visible Music College, a progressive arts college – on a fateful, summer day in late-August of 2007, they met outside of the dorms under the hot Memphis sun as Ben helped Emily move a couch into her room. While drawn to each other’s talent, they came to realize the overlapping nature of their hearts. It was in Western North Carolina, on a week-long, Fall camping trip, where the band's story really begins. They were both preoccupied by separate projects at the time with Emily focusing on her budding career as a solo singer/songwriter and Ben being in another band. It was on that trip camping along the Davidson and French Broad Rivers that the light bulb went off. They decided to ditch their current endeavors upon returning to Memphis and focus on writing and performing together. Carolina Story was born beside the afterglow of a campfire along the banks of those rivers with the name embodying the inception of their journey together. 

They were married in June of 2009 and embarked on their first tour right after their honeymoon with Ben finishing his last semester of school online from the road. Since then, they have been hard at work playing nearly 700 shows in 43 states, writing and putting out music they believe in; each release astonishingly better than the last. Starting as starry-eyed newly-weds ready for the road ahead with their debut album evolving into wise road-worn troubadours on their second album, Home, with the ability to turn an insightful phrase at a moment’s notice.

You can hear the euphoria in the way their voices rise and merge. Ben, dusky, dusty and earthy; Emily, sunny, velvety, lush. Traveling America in a Prius named Minnie Pearl, with one guitar, harmonicas, tambourines, an American Tourister suitcase for a drum and dreams that outfuel their hybrid ride, Carolina Story is the rapture of being young, gifted and willing.

Chapter One marks the emergence of a sound that is acoustic, but bold. Produced by Grammy-winner Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks, David Allen Coe, Waylon Jennings, Mary Chapin Carpenter), these six lyrically minimalist songs demonstrate the sustaining power of love, the depths of yearning and the legacy our lives beget -- delivered with the kind of swirling, seamless harmonies that make two seem as one.

As Chapter One climbs both the Americana and Singer/Songwriter charts on iTunes, Ben and Emily look forward to the upcoming release titled Chapter Two, as well as their Grand Ole Opry debut on June 28th.

The future for Carolina Story is limitless. They’re a small fish in a big sea of similar Americana duos but the sincerity and humanity of their music makes them stand out among even the best.

http://www.carolinastory.com/

Tidal Waves - Worry Dolls

Our next LCM featured duo the London based Worry Dolls are making great progress in UK Americana. Zoe and Rosie were also nominated at the recent AMA UK awards for UK Song Of The Year 2017 for 'Endless Road'. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is their brand new single 'Tidal Waves'. The video was filmed by Finlay O'Hara of Tiny Light. 

Worry Dolls are a compelling duo born out of the joint talents of multi-instrumentalists Zoe Nicol and Rosie Jones. Serendipity brought them together at an open mic night when they were 18, both studying music in Liverpool. Both redheads with guitars, on their chosen path of becoming solo singer songwriters, and both falling under the spell of ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’. Paired by their teachers for an opportunity to have their songwriting critiqued by Paul McCartney, they were inspired to start co-writing, and could now be described as an almost telepathically linked songwriting force.

ey set of from Universit togethe, making music as Worry Dolls. It was a new sound, blending the tender urgency of Zoe’s Irish-influenced voice with the fiery integrity of Rosie’s vocals and rhythmic guitar. Zoe transferred her finger-picking skills to ukulele, followed by Earl Scruggs-style banjo, motivated by players like Emily Robison (Dixie Chicks). These days playing piano has been added to the live performances and Worry Dolls frequently perform with a band. They have also started touring in Europe spreading the special blend of UK Americana folk rock.

The duo signed to Bread & Butter, who released their debut album, 'Go Get Gone', 017. A ‘Song of the Year’ nomination lead to them performing at London’s historic Hackney Empire with Ethan Johns at the UK Americana Awards earlier this year, alongside Robert Plant and Mumford and Sons. The duo will flying back to Nashville to showcase at AmericanaFest this Septembe in support of their album release Stateside this summer 2018.

http://www.worrydollsmusic.com/

In This Time - Charlie Limm

Our LCM featured artist today is Charlie Limm is a singer, actress, guitarist and flautist originally from Somerset but is now based in London. She writes and performs original music, interjected by the occasional cover, influenced by the folk and country music. Our LCM #SongOfTheday is Charlie's wonderful latest single 'In This Time'.

Charlie is also part of the folk duo Patchwork Skies along with Emma Minihan, which are also well worth checking out. They have performed at various venues and festivals throughout the country, most notably Bromsgrove Folk Festival last year and had their song 'Through the Dark' featured on BBC Radio Introducing.

Photo credit: Dan Keeble

http://patchworkskiesband.wixsite.com/music

Far Beyond - Good Harvest

We head back to Sweden today to meet our next LCM featured duo Hanna Enlöf and Ylva Eriksson better known as the wonderful Good Harvest. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is a beautiful live version of 'Far Beyond' taken from their excellent debut album 'In a Life and Place Like This'. 

Extraordinary beautiful, emotional and well crafted. That's how the music of Hanna and Ylva is described. They call themselves musical twins, which shines through the inter weaved harmonies and phenomenal interaction on stage.

Their journey together has had an impressive start and along the way they’ve garnered a vast and devoted fanbase. It seems almost unlikely that it hasn’t been more than two years since they randomly ended up on a stage together and found their musical home in Good Harvest. In 2014 they released their EP 'Bottom Dollar'.

To best describe their music, imagine a mix of how Simon & Garfunkel play together, add the harmonies of Nick Drake and finish of with the strong approach and narrative style of Gillian Welch - and you get a great amount of musical warmth and a big craving for more.

Not only have they held concerts for the King of Sweden, they’ve also appeared live on Sweden’s main national radio station several times and toured all over Sweden. Among the many great things that has happened since this astonishing duo started out, they’ve been awarded with the title ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at Dalecarlia Music Awards, given a songwriting scholarship at Live at Heart and played at huge venues such as the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, TX and Stockholm Music & Arts 2015.

Safe to say, a lot of people are looking forward to their debut album with great expectations - and it’ll leave no one disappointed when it comes out in a near future.

http://goodharvestmusic.com/