Master folkie (well, ex-folkie turned rocker turned country-folkie again) Bob Dylan is all good to go for a release of a live album containing a number of classic performances from television. The compilation is dubbed Re-Transmissions and is due for release on March 3 and only available on the fair shores of Britain. One in the eye for US fans, eh? The package includes Dylan’s sets from Saturday Night Live in 1979, 1985’s Farm Aid and the Grammy Awards in 1991. You may have wanted more sixties action, but any Dylan release is always well worth a look.
The comp comes with a bumper 72-page book and features the historic 1990 jam-down with The Byrds on a version of ‘Mr Tambourine Man’. The tracklisting for Re-Transmission is: Gotta Serve Somebody, I Believe In You, When You Gonna Wake Up (all taken from Saturday Night Live, 1979), I’ll Remember You, Maggie’s Farm (taken from Farm Aid, 1985), Mr Tambourine Man (with The Byrds, 1990), Masters Of War (Grammy Awards, 1991), It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding), My Back Pages (taken from 30th Anniversary Concert, 1992), All Along The Watchtower, Seeing The Real You At Last, Highway 61 Revisited (taken from Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, 1995)
[via Uncut]

Posted by Stuart Waterman on Tuesday January 15th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

You’re gonna love this fans of All Tomorrows Parties! Battles and hip-hop behemoths De La Soul have been confirmed for the Explosions in the Sky-curated weekend of May 16-18. That’s right, you can git git git down to some downright seedy wonk-rock, or get hip with the Daisy Aged styles. Better still, you can do both! Also featuring are the brilliant Iron and Wine and Adem.

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Monday January 14th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Some say that John Martyn invented trip-hop (check his Stormbringer LP for that) while others say he created the greatest folk LP ever (check Solid Air)… Still others are content to say he’s a drunken oaf with a missing leg. There’s probably a fair bit of truth in all of those statements, which is why John Martyn is so highly revered. With that, John Martyn will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award and perform at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 on Monday 4 February.
The ninth annual Radio 2 Folk Awards will be presented by Mike Harding who says: “With his superb innovative guitar playing and acutely observed song-writing, John Martyn helped define British folk music in the late Sixties and Seventies and in May You Never wrote what is arguably one of the Best-loved folk songs to come from these islands. He has experienced a welcome renaissance in recent years and it’s fitting that we reflect his stature as a hugely influential and talented artist.” You can hear the show on Radio 2 on Wednesday 6 February from 7pm and reports and pictures will be available online at bbc.co.uk/radio2/folk.
[via ElectricRoulette]

Posted by Stuart Waterman on Thursday January 10th, 2008 at 1:55 pm

Eels frontman Mark ‘E’ Everett is going to perform in London at a tiny little gig at London’s St James’ Church on January 17. The folk rocker will be playing the show to mark the release of his new book, Things The Grandchildren Should Know. I haven’t read it, but I’m betting it’s smart and dry of wit. The first 200 in at the St James’ gig get a free signed copy. So if the performance is a bit boring you can have a nice read.
The gig comes amid a flurry of Eels activity. The band will release two new compilations, Meet The Eels: Essential Eels Vol 1, 1996-2006 and Eels Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006 which are both out on January 21. Tickets for the London show are available if you click here. As a full band, The Eels will be playing in the UK at… London, Royal Festival Hall (February 25), Birmingham, Town Hall (26), Manchester, Bridgewater Hall (27), Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall (28), Gateshead, Sage (March 1), Brighton, Dome (2)
[via Electric Roulette]

Posted by Stuart Waterman on Tuesday January 8th, 2008 at 12:41 pm

Queen of modern folk/country Alison Krauss is to hit the road with recently revived Led Zepper, Robert Plant. Quashing any immediate plans for a Led Zeppelin world tour, Plant announced that he and Krauss are to tour ‘Raising Sand’. The UK dates start at Birmingham Arena on May 5 and go through to London’s Wembley Arena on May 22, before they bugger off ’round Europe to play in Paris, Amsterdam and Norway. After that, it’s off for US tour in June.
Tickets to see Plant and Krauss start from £29.50 and are on sale now. Where can you see ‘em? Birmingham, NIA (May 5), Manchester, Apollo (7), Cardiff, International Arena (8), London, Wembley Arena (22), Dusseldorf, Philipshalle (10), Brussells, Forest National Club (11), Paris, Le Grand Rex Theatre (13), Amsterdam, Heineken Music Hall (14), Stockholm, Hovet (Ice Hall) (16), Oslo, Spektrum (18), Bergen, Bergenshalle (19)
For more information go to: www.robertplantalisonkrauss.com

Posted by Stuart Waterman on Wednesday December 19th, 2007 at 10:33 am

Forget everything Mojo has told you about country music. There’s a new star setting ears alight by the name of David Loss. A voice filled with regret and eyes that tell of too many late nights, David Loss is here and ready to take the crown of alt.country. If Will Oldham is the God, then Loss is the Jesus (far-fetched maybe, but country loves a bit of religious imagery). Forget shams like Ryan Adams… he’s just a black toothed Bruce Springsteen with a drink problem. What you need is some good-time misery.
Primer, David Loss’ new LP, released on the ludicrously brilliant AA Records, is a lesson in pathos and pain. The album, glued together with tears, stumbles along just managing to keep it together. It’s loose like The Band. It’s melancholic like Lambchop. It has the slow burning groove of anyone who truly understands what country-folk should be. Its DIY production is homely and understated, letting the brilliant songs do the hard work.

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Tuesday December 11th, 2007 at 1:49 pm

Van ‘The Man’ Morrison, no relation to Mark ‘Return of the Mack’ Morrison… or Jim Morrison, has flitted between styles throughout his industrious career. He’s gone from snarling R’n'B, to Jazz to Country and Folk… and it’s for the last two that he’s most fondly remembered (let’s just forget about that Cliff Richard duet eh?). With the recent success of his Best Of… ‘Still On Top’, the Irish lung beater is to reissue his entire back catalogue, starting next year.
Morrison’s 29 remastered albums, from 1971’s Tupelo Honey to 2002’s Down The Road, will be released in stages from January 28 2008. All of the reissues will come with original artwork and lyrics, as well previously unreleased bonus tracks. Not bad for a notoriously prickly old sod. Highlights of the new stuff include an alternative version of Tupelo Honey’s ‘Wild Night’ and Into The Music’s ‘Troubadours’. Better news still is that his first seven albums are all going to be released mid-price. Perfect for those buying back-ups for their old vinyl. [via Uncut]

Posted by Stuart Waterman on Tuesday December 4th, 2007 at 12:45 pm

To his fans, Bonnie Prince Billy (or Will Oldham if you prefer) can do no wrong. As I’m one of them, expect some fawning in this article (although not too much, y’understand). You see, with a typical shrug, Oldham has sneaked out a new long player called ‘Ask Forgiveness’ with critics’ faves, The Espers. So what’s the beef?
Well, ‘Ask Forgiveness’ is a collection of cover versions as performed by Mr Oldham and co. The eight songs that make the tracklisting feature songs by Bjork, Merle Haggard, The Mekons and - get this - R Kelly. Yep, the grumbling country gent tackles the soul warblers’ ‘The World’s Greatest’… but don’t expect coyness and knowing winks, for with Bill it’s all rustic charm and deadpan delivery. As with all of his million-odd releases, this is an exercise in excellence and able to draw in new listens… as well as keeping the rabid fanbase foaming. Go. Buy. Now.
Click here to buy the album from Amazon

Posted by Stuart Waterman on Tuesday November 27th, 2007 at 1:08 pm

Isn’t it annoying when you hear about a good band who are new to you, and then you realise you’ve just missed them playing your town? So it is with Blitzen Trapper, who haven’t entered my radar before but whose new song, “Wild Mountain Nation”, is currently delighting my ears. They played London’s Koko last week, apparently. Drat.
Blitzen Trapper appear to have stumbled on a new genre, too - country glam, anyone? The video for “Wild Mountain Nation” does a pretty good job of recalling Oasis’ ridiculous clip for “All Around The World”. The Portland, Oregan band’s attempt at ripping off “Yellow Submarine” is somewhat more classy, however. The album from which the single is taken - and which goes by the same name - is getting some of that valuable Pitchfork love, as well.
If you’re having a crappy day, this tune should put at least a flicker of a smile on your face - check it out over the page.

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Posted by mofgimmers on Wednesday November 21st, 2007 at 12:10 pm

The late Townes Van Zandt bagged a gong at this month’s Americana Music Association 6th annual Honours and Awards event held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in, where else, Nashville, TN. Townes Van Zandt, who passed away on New Year’s day 1997, was a country-folk legend and THE choice for those in the know. It’s great to see a man often overlooked in music finally given his dues.
Another winner was legendary slide man Ry Cooder, who won a Lifetime Achievement Award. Most know Cooder from his work with the Buena Vista Social Club, but before that Cooder jammed with The Rolling Stones, Captain Beefheart and soundtracked the movie Paris, Texas. Read over for the full list of winners.

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Tuesday November 20th, 2007 at 12:10 pm