Listening to Kathryn Williams and Neill McColl is like lying on your back outside on a sunny day, watching the clouds go by. The music is so tranquil that I couldn’t concentrate on the work I was trying to do – and instead, gave up and am now writing this review.

Their new album, ‘Two’ is out in March 2008, but I’m lucky to have it early and am happy to tell the world about it. The harmonies and musicianship throughout ‘Two’ is superb – it’s the most hypnotic and relaxing music that I’ve heard in a long time. Kathryn’s voice is gentle, and seems to float in amongst the chords of the acoustic guitar.

‘Two’ is a generous album, with 13 songs, most of them co-written by Kathryn and Neill. It was recorded in an intimate setting, and the album was unbelievably written, recorded and mixed in just over two weeks.

Opening track, “6am Corner” features Neill’s subtle vocal harmonies – just enough to add ‘a little color’ to Kathyrn’s lead. The instrumentation is tight – albeit at times the melody reminds me of the Beatles’ “Let It Be”, but only briefly. On the quaint “Innocent When You Dream” (Tom Waits), Neill and Kathryn harmonize throughout, and apparently, the song was recorded in just one take.

“Come With Me” is the first single release off of ‘Two’. The lyrics are enchanting, and the song as a whole draws me in with each note. Like some sort of spell is being cast. A brilliant choice for the first release.

“Frame” is one of my favorites, a clever song, and is the one song on the album that makes me think, “Joni Mitchell”. Maybe it’s Kathryn’s vocal phrasing, or the lyrics that include, “look at that painting on a hotel wall, seen by lonely eyes. Don’t go into hotels lookin’ for dreams, don’t go into them with thoughts of your life” – either way, it’s a stand out track. I love the story – very touching and unique.

The rustic feel of “Armchair” could be a number straight out of Gram Parson’s repertoire. Perfect around a campfire at night – and surprisingly includes a particular swear word. Excellent!

Kathryn Williams and Neill McColl’s album, ‘Two’ is highly recommended, to be consumed in it’s entirety. One of my favorite albums of the year.

Read more about Kathryn Williams and Neill McColl on Band Weblogs.

Kathryn Williams and Neill McColl Official Website

By: Jenny May – BandWeblogs.com

Van Morrison is set to release his latest album ‘Keep It Simple’ March 17, 2008 via Exile Productions/Polydor Records.

‘Keep It Simple’ is Van Morrison’s first album of new material since 2005, and the first in several years in which he penned all 11 songs specifically for one album. In the interim the legendary artist had a year that may be unprecedented for any living artist, having released three separate collections of his hits, with the latest, ‘Still On Top’ entering the UK charts at #2 and selling platinum, proving the ongoing appetite for his unrivalled work.

Van Morrison’s music has always incorporated the widely varied influences he heard and absorbed since his childhood days on the streets of Belfast – long before the bands of his youth and his initial breakthrough with Them. On ‘Keep It Simple’, Morrison honours all those varied influences – jazz, folk, blues, Celtic, country, soul and gospel – at times melding them all together at once in his own signature sound. “I felt I had something to say with these songs…” he explains. There is a definite theme that recurs throughout the album, especially in the title track.

In keeping with that idea, ‘Keep It Simple’ does not boast the big horns or string arrangements of some of Van Morrison’s previous work. What it does feature are gorgeous songs rich with emotion, depth and beauty. As on the poignant “Soul,” where Morrison repeats the chorus, as if to subtly remind us that, “Soul is a feeling, a feeling deep within. Soul is not the colour of your skin.” Morrison explains his approach with the track “Entrainment” – “Entrainment is when you connect with the music…Entrainment is really what I’m getting at in the music…It’s kind of when you’re in the present moment – you’re here – with no past or future.”

Whether it’s the easy country gospel of “Song of Home” or the bluesy swing of “How Can A Poor Boy,” throughout ‘Keep It Simple’ Morrison exudes a wisdom gained through five decades of making groundbreaking music. Few artists have successfully recorded in as many genres of music as Van Morrison, and even fewer have remained as relevant for as long (only Ray Charles, with whom Van collaborated, comes to mind). Morrison has done so by constantly moving forward and never sitting still. On the heels of a series of “Best Of” releases, this record starts fresh with what could well be a record full of all new classics.

Van Morrison 2008 tour dates:

Dates could change! Go to Van Morrison’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

January

Friday 18 – London, England, Hammersmith Apollo
Friday 25 – Sheffield, England, City Hall
Saturday 26 – Blackpool, England, Opera House
Thursday 31 – Castellon, Spain, Auditorio de Castellon

February

Friday 1 – Castellon, Spain, Auditorio de Castellon
Friday 29 – Cologne, Germany, Palladium

March

Saturday 1 – Frankfurt, Germany, Jahrhunderthalle
Friday 21 – Oxford, England, New Theatre
Saturday 22 – Bristol, England, Colston Hall
Thursday 27 – Manchester, England, Bridgewater Hall
Friday 28 – Manchester, England, Bridgewater Hall

April

Thursday 10 – Milano, Italy, Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Friday 11 – Milano, Italy, Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Friday 25 – Malmo, Sweden, Baltiska Hallen
Saturday 26 – Gothenburg, Sweden, Lisebergshallen

May

Friday 9 – Berlin, Germany, Tempodrom

Van Morrison – Keep It Simple on amazon.co.uk

Keep It Simple on amazon.com

Van Morrison on Myspace
Van Morrison Official Website

David Martin was recently featured on Billboard Underground!

Check out David performing “Something in Your Eyes” on Billboard Underground and telling them about how the beautiful album he wrote for his wife paved the way for him to be signed by Astonish Records.

For more information, go to:

David Martin on Myspace
David Martin Official Website

I’ve been listening to country singer Gary Allan’s latest album, ‘Living Hard’ the last couple of days. He has a cool voice and the songwriting and musicianship on the album is superb.

The ‘Living Hard’ CD is actually my first introduction to Gary Allan and his music. For some reason, I had never known too much about him before. You would think that I would have, considering that he’s been on the country music scene since 1996, when he released his first studio album, ‘Used Heart For Sale’ through Decca Records. Since then he’s released seven studio albums – with three of them going platinum as well as #1 hit singles under his belt.

There’s obviously quite a few Gary Allan fans out there, but with all that he’s done with his career, I wonder why he wasn’t high on my country music radar like other male singers in his genre? Does he not get as much attention in the media because he’s considered an outsider, as he’s originally from California? Also, his music has more of a rock edge to it than your ‘typical’ country sound – but that’s not really a new thing in modern country music.

That rock edge to Gary Allan’s music does appeal to me and he’s a bit of a chameleon – and seems to have an open mind, musically. Like the way he’s singing on “We Touched The Sun”. Makes me think that Elvis could have done that song justice as well. Then there’s “She’s So California”, with a Tom Petty vibe.

“Watching Airplanes” was the obvious right pick for the opening track and first single release off of ‘Living Hard’. It’s a great song and is most certainly worthy of a Country Music Award.

“Like It’s a Bad Thing” is ‘in the pocket’ with a rocking groove. “Learning How To Bend” could easily be a contender for a Country Music Charts hit. “Wrecking Ball” is a fun song with heavy guitar riffs, high quality musicianship, with lyrics about a guy who can’t get enough: “she blows into town, loves me up and down just to watch me fall. She picks me up and then knocks me down again I’m a wreck y’all, she’s a wreckin’ ball”.

“Yesterday’s Rain” is an outstanding ballad, and closing track “Living Hard” captures the energy of a live band playing to a packed to the rafters bar, but with the polished Nashville sound that you would expect from Gary Allan.

‘Living Hard’ – highly recommended.

Track listing with songwriting credits:

1. Watching Airplanes (Jim Beavers, Jonathan Singleton)
2. We Touched the Sun (Gary Allan, Odie Blackmon, Jim Lauderdale)
3. She’s So California (Gary Allan, Jon Randall, Jaime Hanna)
4. Like It’s a Bad Thing (Neil Thrasher, Tony Martin, Wendell Mobley)
5. Learning How to Bend (Gary Allan, Matt Warren, James LeBlanc)
6. As Long As You’re Looking Back (Scotty Emerick, Dean Dillon, Aaron Barker)
7. Wrecking Ball (Keith Gattis, Audley Freed)
8. Yesterday’s Rain (Gary Allan, Matt Warren, James LeBlanc)
9. Trying to Matter (Gary Allan, Odie Blackmon, Casey Beathard)
10. Half of My Mistakes (Radney Foster, Bobby Houck)
11. Living Hard (Gary Allan, Odie Blackmon, Bob DiPiero)

Living Hard on amazon.com

For music, the latest news and tour dates go to:

Gary Allan on Myspace
Gary Allan Official Website

By: Jenny May – BandWeblogs.com

Recently we interviewed Ben Romans (The Click Five), Cassie Petrey and Jade Driver from The One Love. They’ve been keeping busy blogging at The One Love website, where a community of bloggers have come together in support of their chosen charities. All profits collected from traffic to each blog page, from banner ads, are donated to the bloggers’ charity of choice. Ben, Cassie and Jade have also been traveling and putting on events for The One Love, including a recent songwriters show in London.

The One Love interview with BandWeblogs.com
By: Jenny May and Dave Tommo

BandWeblogs.com: What is The One Love?

Ben Romans: The One Love is a place to blog about your passion with music and the things that surround it, while supporting the charity of the blogger’s choice.

Who is behind The One Love?

Ben: It all started with Cassie Petrey, Jade Driver, and myself…and Cassie and Jade are the web whizzes…but really it’s the awesome bloggers who share their thoughts with us.

How did Ben, Cassie and Jade meet?

Ben: Waaaaaay back when, my band was starting to tour. Cassie and Jade were both helping promote and get things rocking.

Cassie: I was working for the Warner Music Group at the time, and The Click Five signed to Atlantic (which is part of WMG) while I was with the company. Jade and I then came across The Click Five and decided they were our new favorite band, and wanted to help promote the band in every way possible.

What gave you the inspiration to embark on The One Love mission?

Ben: I think that artists sometimes aren’t allowed to talk about why they really do music, so we figured why not start a community, even better, a charitable community.

Jade: Let’s just say I missed one show to see another, not my choice, and it was the best decision anyone else has ever made for me. I think my inspiration for The One Love began the day I first saw Ben’s band, The Click Five, in concert and realized that this music was some of the best pop music I had ever heard and I made it my mission to tell the world it existed and to make sure it got the respect it deserved. Cassie was in that boat too.

Years later Cassie, Ben and I were discussing this topic and thus the idea began. We went through over a year of throwing back and forth ideas, designs and names for the site. We put a lot of work and heart into making this site the best it could be and are still in the growing process, making changes constantly. We hope that the site can help people channel their energy to help others through the inspiration of people that they can relate with and look up to.

How did the current bloggers on The One Love website get involved and how can other people join in?

Ben: Friends, friends through friends…so forth and so on.

Cassie: Right now, the best way to join in is by visiting the site and reading what all the bloggers have to say. Just by doing that, people are raising money for the various organizations that the site supports. However, we will eventually open up the site to anyone who wants to blog for charity.

How are the bloggers helping The One Love mission?

Cassie: Just by sharing their thoughts and promoting the site to their already existing fan base, they are raising awareness and funds for an organization that they support. We wanted to create a place where people could give back without donating money out of their pocket, and that’s exactly what we’re doing!

Ben: The great thing about a community is…if a fan checks out an artist, they may discover another artist on the site who they enjoy, and it spreads like wildfire. The bloggers have the opportunity to promote what they do, and their charity if they wish. Bloggers will also have the opportunity to participate in events down the road if things keep rocking.

Other than being a blogger, how else can people get involved in The One Love?

Ben: Support the artists, and their charities. Come check out events…we have some coming up…and just keep checking out the site for info!

The One Love was recently in England. How did you spread the word about the mission while you were there?

Ben: We did a special songwriter’s show with myself and James Bourne for The One Love. Stop The Traffik is also based in London, and we met to discuss how we could help each other out.

Cassie: I think this trip was more about laying down the groundwork for The One Love in the UK, rather than trying to get the word out to everyone possible. We really wanted to expose the site to key tastemakers…if that makes any sense. Our Stop The Traffik meeting was really inspiring, and made us realize how much we could do to help. We also have some new potential bloggers, which is always good!

Do you have any good stories that you would like to share about your experiences in London?

Ben: We had an absolute blast, especially with the songwriter show…many friends in the same room…good times. When you’re in a whirlwind, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one story.

Jade: I will say that this was not my favorite trip to England. Every travel delay/problem that could have happened, did happen. But, it was well worth the journey and we came back with some memories we won’t often forget. I believe my favorite moment was when leaving a McFly concert in Bournemouth; I looked at Cassie and told her we needed to leave when the last song began since we were parked on the 12th floor of a parking deck and we had a few hours drive ahead of us. Our sleep schedule was whack and any time I could save was time for me to sleep.

So, right before the last song the lights are up on the audience and Cassie begins to leave. I grabbed her arm and told her not to because she would be called out. She shrugged me off and continued up the stairs with our friend Cathy. I began to sneak out too when I heard, “Hey you, what are you doing!?” I jumped back in my seat and looked up at Cassie. She glared at me with the “why aren’t you following me” look and I pointed to the stage and said, “They are yelling at you!” Her face quickly turned red under her white hat and Tom yells at her “Why are you leaving? Everybody can see you! Danny follows with, “Hey you! Hey, girl in the white hat. It’s okay if you have diarrhea and have to leave. We understand.” Classic.

Cassie: Yes, I enjoyed Bournemouth as well. We also had a 4am encounter with Old Greg, which was quite exciting.

So, Cassie – we read in your blog that you had some transport issues while in England. What’s your opinion of the British transport system?

Cassie: I absolutely LOVE the British transport system. Getting on a train and being able to go pretty much anywhere in the country is just absolutely amazing. I wish that option existed in the US. There’s some trains that even had wireless internet…and that is AWESOME. The tube is really great too…I like it a lot better than the subway system in New York. We tried out driving while we were there this time, which wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be. A little tricky since it was on the opposite side of the road, but we managed. My only complaints are the small roads and lack of street signs. Other than that, we were good to go.

Do you plan on taking The One Love mission to other countries?

Cassie: Yes, of course. Singapore, Malaysia, and many other Asian countries are some of The One Love’s top trafficking countries, and we would love to get out there eventually.

Where has been the most welcoming place that you’ve visited so far?

Jade: Definitely Nottingham, where The One Love was born.

Cassie: Yes. I will forever be a fan of Nottingham. We met some absolutely amazing people there.

How did the songwriting showcase come about and who was involved with the one in London? What happens during a showcase?

Jade: In Nashville you find a lot of songwriters. Cassie and I currently live and run our business out of Nashville, TN. Ben lived here once also after college. We are all pretty familiar with the Nashville music scene and let me tell you, it’s not all country music. There are many, many songwriters in Nashville who constantly play small venues to showcase, or try out, their new material. These songwriters are not necessarily music artists, they mainly write songs for other artists. Songwriting is what they do. In some cases, they can be both. Many times you come across a trio of rough looking not so great singers who take turns playing a “round,” where each person plays one song at a time and it goes around as many times as the venue will allow it. They are there to play their songs, not perform them.

Many times people dismiss pop music as having no depth or meaning and think that all songs are generated by a marketing department and based on a not so real occurrence. In some cases this can be true. However, the talented songwriters who happen to be labeled as pop stars often miss out on the respect they should be given for their music. Being friends with people like Ben, his band mates, Tyler Hilton etc., we realize that their songs are true, meaningful and more complex than you may think. We wanted to show that these “pop stars” have more to offer than just a pretty face and wanted to showcase songs that they had written in a setting where they wouldn’t be judged by the way they were marketed as artists. We mimicked the Nashville model since it helped us with our ultimate goal of showcasing talent and not image.

The show was amazing. Being a huge fan of Brit pop myself, I was floored when James Bourne showed up to play along with Ben. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Bourne play a similar type of show in New York a few weeks prior and this surprise was more than enough to make me tear up a bit. James played some songs from his former band, Busted, and a song from his current band Son of Dork. He also played some McFly songs, a band that he writes with often. Ben played a few TC5 songs and a few of his own including a beautiful song called “Whiskey Street.” The highlight of the show came during The Click Five’s song “Jenny,” when James sang along and the audience joined in too. Often during rounds the musicians harmonize and play along with each other spontaneously.

You can watch video clips of the show here: The One Love on YouTube.

Do you plan on doing more? If so, where?

Jade: Yes! Our 2nd show will be held in New York City on January 21, 2008 at The Bitter End. Ben, Luke White, Eric Espiritu, Nate Campany and a few SPECIAL guests including some of these guys’ friends – if you get my drift – and others will be making special appearances. Other bloggers, of the non-performing breed, will be in attendance as well. Tickets will be $7 and all proceeds will be donated to charities supported by The One Love bloggers.

With Ben being a member of The Click Five, has the band been involved with The One Love? Do they have any plans to be involved in the future?

Jade: Several of the guys have expressed interest in being involved in different ways. Kyle recently wrote a guest blog under Ben’s blog and Joey is working with us to create an exclusive TOL tee-shirt through his new clothing line LTL, which gives a portion of its proceeds to the LTL Life Fund supported charities – http://www.ltlbackspace.com. There’s also talk of theoneburrito.org but that’s still kind of top secret.

How did The Click Five enjoy supporting Mcfly on tour and were there any memorable moments?

Jade: Ben didn’t get this far in the interview before I took over, but I was there during most of the tour and I’d like to say that my favorite moment was when Ben was wearing a braid in the back of his very stylish mullet and the camera man zoomed in, flashing that thing on the two HUGE screens above the stage! Okay, but even better than that, was that I got to spend two of the best weeks of my life seeing two extraordinarily amazing bands back to back each evening. This was what I called a little piece of heaven. I’ve never felt chill bumps like I did during those shows! I wonder if I’ll ever get that moment back?

Cassie: Braiding Ben’s hair, and then the fans ripping the braids out was definitely one of my favorite things about the tour. I also enjoyed the part of the show where giant beach balls were thrown into the audience every night. The Click Five really enjoyed supporting McFly, and we did as well.

What is the most exciting thing to do in Nashville?

Jade: The most exciting thing to do in Nashville is to hang out with Cassie and Jade of course. No, not really. We are pretty boring when we are at home. It is exciting however that there is live music to see every night! If you want to see a band you love or just some really good musicians or songwriters, there is always something going on. If you prefer to be on the other side of the mic, may I suggest Ms. Kelli’s karaoke in Printer’s Alley. They have about every song on Earth and it’s never too crowded so you can get in at least 4-5 good performances during an evening. As far as shows go, my personal fave venue is RCKTWN, but I’m sure Cassie has a different opinion. I prefer going down the road a bit to Franklin, TN for shopping in small boutiques…and if it’s food that you crave, may I suggest my fave restaurant Jackson’s. After eating the best paninis in town, please take time to indulge in the cookie egg rolls at least once in your life. Fellow blogger Nate Campany can attest to their amazingness!

Do you have more plans for The One Love website? If so, can you tell us what they are?

Jade: During the next six months the site will be changing a lot as we are working on a slow build and in it for the long haul. We will be adding the ability for people to comment on blogs, more bloggers and in the future we hope to make the site accessible for anybody to sign up to blog and support charities of their choice.

What is your message to the people of the world?

Jade: Love life. Love music. Love each other.

For more information and to read The One Love Blogs, go to:

Ben Romans’ Blog
Cassie Petrey’s Blog
Jade Driver’s Blog
The One Love Official Website

Newton Faulkner is set to release his cover of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”, off of his debut album, ‘Hand Built By Robots’ on December 10, 2007.

The first time that I heard the name Newton Faulkner, for some reason I pictured an older conservative type with short hair, playing music that wouldn’t excite.

I was way off. Newton Faulkner is a young, twenty-something with dreads, soulful vocals, catchy tunes and is a brilliant guitarist. That’s what I found out when I first watched the video for his single, “UFO”.

Newton Faulkner is indeed making a name for himself, with a steadily growing fan base, a #1 platinum album and sell-out UK tours. It’s interesting that he would choose to go for a cover of someone else’s song, after the success he’s had with his own original releases. Some might say it’s a daring move, and loyal Massive Attack fans may not be as receptive to Newton’s “Teardrop” – at first.

I’ve been listening to Newton’s version for the last few days. He’s done such a good rendition of the song, that I found it difficult remembering the original, and actually think it sounds more like a Crosby, Stills and Nash song with a modern twist, than Massive Attack’s own version from 1998.

Watch Newton Faulkner – “Teardrop” video:

It’s amazing what Newton has done with the song. He’s given it a rustic feel and great harmonies.

If you played his acoustic version from his live shows for someone who wasn’t familiar with it (there are quite a few live “Teardrop” performances on YouTube), I bet they would find it easy to believe that it could be something from the late 60’s, Woodstock era.

Newton Faulkner – Teardrop on amazon.co.uk

Newton’s live shows are highly recommended!

Shows for 2008 are already beginning to sell out, so if you want to go, book early!

Newton Faulkner 2008 tour dates:

Dates and information could change! Go to Newton Faulkner’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

7 January 2008 Paradiso – Amsterdam
8 January 2008 Doornroosje – Nijmegen
9 January 2008 Tivoli – Utrecht
14 January 2008 Uptown Bar – Minneapolis
15 January 2008 Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto
16 January 2008 Radio Radio – Indianapolis
21 January 2008 Soiled Dove – Denver, Colorado
24 January 2008 Joe’s Pub – New York
29 January 2008 Hotel Cafe – Los Angeles, California
21 February 2008 University SOLD OUT Exeter
22 February 2008 Guildhall – Portsmouth
23 February 2008 Corn Exchange SOLD OUT Cambridge
24 February 2008 Academy – Birmingham
26 February 2008 Academy – Newcastle
27 February 2008 Music Hall – Aberdeen
28 February 2008 Barrowlands – Glasgow
29 February 2008 University – Leeds
2 March 2008 Apollo – Manchester
3 March 2008 University – Liverpool
5 March 2008 Roundhouse SOLD OUT London
6 March 2008 Roundhouse – London
7 March 2008 Colston Hall – Bristol
9 March 2008 St Georges Hall – Belfast
10 March 2008 Dublin Olympia – Dublin

Newton Faulkner Official Website
Newton Faulkner on Myspace

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs

In a year when the fairer sex dominated the headlines, Stephen Fretwell has quietly been picking up stellar review after stellar review for his second album ‘Man On The Roof’.

It may not be front page news that a wry-witted, irreverent northern lad has released an exceptional album, but Fretwell has chalked up an impressive wodge of praise for his second solo outing. ‘Man On The Roof’ is a sophisticated, timeless gem; a diamond amidst the fluff.

Stephen Fretwell’s new single “Now”, a melancholic beauty with a sky-scraping melody, is set for release 14th January, 2008 on Fiction Records.

“One of Britain’s finest new singer-songwriters” **** Q

**** Sunday Times Culture

**** Mojo

**** The Express

**** Evening Standard

**** The Times (live review)

“Perfect song-writing” – The Word

Stephen Fretwell tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Stephen Fretwell’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

16 January 2008 – Manchester, Night and Day
21 January 2008 – London, The Luminaire
25 January 2008 – Belfast, The Limelight
26 January 2008 – Dublin, The Sugar Club
28 January 2008 – London, The Troubadour
30 January 2008 – Manchester, Night and Day

Stephen Fretwell Official Website
Stephen Fretwell on Myspace

“I’m Alright Now”, the new single from David Ford, sees the songwriter at his confessional best.

Whether he is ruminating on love, politics, life or departures, David Ford invests each word with a frank, often-brutal honesty. On “I’m Alright Now” he celebrates in the face of his own folly, the loved one who stuck it out. The single is set for release on 14th January, 2008 on Independiente Records.

Amid the lyrics of ’sublime retribution’ and direction lost, Ford pens a lyric of unbridled optimism, “A lot of stories will end happy ever after, but I swear nothing quite like you and me.”

As a realisation of great song writing talent, David Ford’s sophomore album ‘Songs For The Road’ has been a tour de force. Released in October it sparked the same critical acclaim as Ford’s visceral, homespun debut ‘I Sincerely Apologise For The Trouble I Have Caused’, but with a noted confidence in tone, expansion and ambition of sound, and ceaseless commitment to melody.

Building on a fan base drawn to Fords uniquely caustic songwriting, ‘Songs For The Road’ had already reached the Number One spot on the iTunes Folk Chart, and Number Four in the 7Digital album chart with all of the album’s 9 tracks in their Top Ten download, before going on general release.

Watch David Ford – “I’m Alright Now” video:

Having recently returned from his own headlining UK tour – culminating at Shepherds Bush Empire – Ford hits the road again for three shows supporting Rodrigo Y Gabriela.

December 2007 tour dates as follows:

Rodrigo Y Gabriela support dates:

December 9th – London, Hammersmith Apollo
December 11th – Glasgow, Barrowlands
December 13th – Manchester, Academy.

Meanwhile David Ford makes a solo appearance at Gloucester Guildhall on December 7th.

“He is becoming unmissible” ***** GUARDIAN

“Ford confirms his position as one of the country’s most gifted, committed and idiosyncratic songwriters….a moving, thrilling album” – THE SUNDAY TIMES

“Here is a great British talent” – WORD

“Ford sings with a drunken mans swagger, full of defiance and denial…a compelling journey to the heart of hopeful wretchedness” – THE FLY

“A stunning mix of gritty vocals, gripping lyrics and pretty tunes….fame will soon come calling” – THE TIMES

“A great album…easily a classic within weeks.” – CLASH

“I’m Alright Now” YouTube video link

David Ford Official Website
David Ford on Myspace

Independiente Records

Fans and critics got a sneak peek of new songs from the forthcoming ‘Don’t Let It Fall’ on November 9th when Dan Ferrari performed a live, in-studio session for JamNow.com. Now that entire set is available for streaming at www.jamnow.com/danferrari. As a bonus to fans, Ferrari has made the track “Heard From You” available as a free download on his website: www.myspace.com/danferrari. Along with the exclusive live performance, fans can hear an interview wherein Dan discusses the stories behind his songs, the therapeutic power of live performance and his penchant for Breedlove Guitars.

“Heard From You”, a recent finalist in the New York Songwriter’s Circle Songwriting Contest, is a song about absenteeism. Ferrari explains: “The song means a lot to me because it’s about a friend whose father left him when he was 10. Growing up, I was always very inspired by this friend and his perseverance in spite of his negative situation. He didn’t know I was writing this song, but when it was all done he told me it really hit the nail on the head and said everything he had wanted to say.”

Dan Ferrari loved performing live on the Internet on JamNow, “Live performance is my favorite part of making music and I’m very grateful at having been given the chance to expose my songs to so many new listeners.”

The New Jersey troubadour will perform an intimate, acoustic set on Thursday night, November 29th 2007 in support of his first full length album. The 9PM show, at Manhattan’s unWINEd will feature songs from ‘Don’t Let It Fall’, Ferrari’s debut on AtoZ Records.

‘Don’t Let It Fall’ is set for release January 15, 2008.

Dan Ferrari on Myspace

Armed with thriving stateside success, her acoustic guitar and an arsenal of songs, emerging singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile plays her first ever London show, which has now sold out, at the Borderline, November 30th, 2007. Joined by her impressive band, she’ll preview tracks from her forthcoming digital live EP (Released November 26th, 2007) and debut LP ‘The Story’, out in 2008 in the UK.

Having toured America as special guest to Ray Lamontagne, The Fray, Chris Isaak and Tori Amos, Brandi Carlile is a talented artist in her own right. Produced by legendary Grammy Award winner T Bone Burnett (Counting Crows, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss), Brandi’s forthcoming LP ‘The Story’ is already making waves in the US and looks set to be one of the ultimate discoveries of 2008.

Her headline band includes: Philip Hanseroth (Bass/vocals), Timothy Hanseroth (Guitar/vocals), Matt Chamberlain (Drums) and Joshua Neumann (Cello).

Captured mainly on tape, ‘The Story’ smoulders with a stark and soulful authenticity, rarely heard today. This is most notable on the rousing title track, which Brandi herself describes as “A pure moment. Technically wrong, but emotionally right”.

Other highlights include “Turpentine”, “Tragedy”, “What Can I Say?” and “Throw It All Away” – which all featured in the smash-hit US show ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ – plus, “Cannonball”, which was recorded in Atlanta with The Indigo Girls.

For more information, go to:

Brandi Carlile Official Website
Brandi Carlile on Myspace

The UK’s most successful new singer-songwriter, Newton Faulkner, releases his brand new single “Teardrop” on December 10th, 2007 through Ugly Truth Records. A classic winter-warmer, “Teardrop” is a starkly beautiful, and utterly unique, take on the Massive Attack song and shows both Newton’s magnificent voice and guitar versatility at their mesmerizing best.

The release of “Teardrop” follows the spectacular success of Newton’s Number One & Platinum debut album, ‘Hand Built By Robots’, which has so far spent two weeks at Number One on the UK album chart, as well as being a permanent fixture in the iTunes Top Ten since release (including five weeks at No1).

“Teardrop” comes hot on the heels of Newton’s last two singles, “Dream Catch Me” and “All I Got” which is currently riding high inside the UK Airplay Chart Top Ten.

A true DIY phenomenon (Myspace plays now well over 1 million) Newton has become a genuine grass roots success story as his sell-out EP’s, headline dates and support slots have gathered new fans and rave reviews alike. Newton has sold out all dates on his November nationwide tour and has just announced his biggest UK Tour to date through February and March 2008.

Newton Faulkner “Teardrop” review, watch video + more tour dates

Newton Faulkner 2008 UK tour dates:

Dates could change! Go to Newton Faulkner’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

21st February Exeter University 01392 263 518
22nd February Portsmouth Guildhall 02392 824 355
23rd February Cambridge Corn Exchange 01223 357 851
24th February Birmingham Academy 0844 477 2000
26th February Newcastle Academy 0844 477 2000
27th February Aberdeen Music Hall 0870 169 0100
28th February Glasgow Barrowlands 0870 169 0100
29th February Leeds University 0113 244 5600
2nd March Manchester Apollo 0844 477 7677
3rd March Liverpool University 0870 320 7000
5th March London Roundhouse 0870 389 1846
7th March Bristol Colston Hall 0117 922 3686

24 Hour Credit Card Hotline 0871 2200 260. Tickets are also available from GigsandTours.com priced at £16 for London, £13.50 for other dates.

‘Newton’s cover of “Teardrop” is absolutely spellbinding’ – The Sun

Newton Faulkner on Myspace
Newton Faulkner Official Website

Sheryl Crow never ceases to amaze me. I was just listening to MVY Radio online out of Martha’s Vineyard, and her latest single, “Shine Over Babylon” came on. The song is from her album ‘Detours’, which doesn’t come out until February 2008.

“Shine Over Babylon” is a brilliant song. Sheryl Crow is reunited with producer Bill Bottrell (‘Tuesday Night Music Club’) and the mix and the instrumentation on the track is great and it’s very well produced. The chorus is infectious, the verses are welcoming and the song as a whole gives me that feeling of wanting to “do something exciting” when I hear it. I like the way Sheryl is singing on the track – her slightly delayed or syncopated style phrasing along with the vocal effects are cool.

In a short video clip of Sheryl in the studio recording “Shine Over Babylon”, she says that the song was “inspired by what’s going on politically and what’s going on socially around all of us…an end of the world song, but with hope”.

Watch behind the scenes footage in the studio, Sheryl Crow – “Shine Over Babylon” video clip:

Video includes Sheryl, producer Bill Bottrell and her songwriting partner Jeff Trott.

Shine Over Babylon MP3 on amazon.com

In The Studio – Shine Over Babylon video link

Related: Sheryl Crow Hits and Rarities album review

Sheryl Crow Official Website

By: Jenny May

As a fan of multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow, I can tell you that the new ‘Sheryl Crow Hits and Rarities’ double disc set is a welcome addition to my CD collection.

Opening track “All I Wanna Do” is a reminder of Sheryl’s first big hit, from her 1993 debut album ‘Tuesday Night Music Club’. She’s come a long way since then, releasing numerous hits and she continues to be one of the most active and hard working performers in music today.

The first CD is jam packed with 18 tracks that includes some of my Sheryl Crow favorites like “My Favorite Mistake” (The Globe Sessions), “The First Cut Is The Deepest” (The Very Best of Sheryl Crow), “Strong Enough” (Tuesday Night Music Club), “Run Baby Run” (Tuesday Night Music Club), Sheryl’s cover of the Guns N Roses hit “Sweet Child O’Mine” (C’mon C’mon) and the rare addition of her James Bond theme song “Tomorrow Never Dies”.

The bonus CD includes “The Difficult Kind” and “Riverwide” live from Budokan, a great acoustic version of her Aimee Mann-esque “Where Has All The Love Gone” (Wildflower), “Everyday is a Winding Road” acoustic version from AOL Live and “Keep On Growing”.

The one song missing that I would have liked included would have been “Home” from the ‘Sheryl Crow’ album, but it’s just a matter of reaching for my CD case for that one.

The bonus disc also features live tracks from the Japanese venue Budokan, non-album tracks, radio sessions including Sheryl performing an acoustic version of “Steve McQueen” on live radio Portugal and an excellent live performance of “Run Baby Run” with Eric Clapton & Orchestra.

Two thumbs up!

Sheryl Crow Hits and Rarities album on Play.com

Sheryl Crow Official Website

Related: Sheryl Crow Shine Over Babylon review + watch video clip

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs

The Songwriters Circle is modeled after the famous “Writers in the Round” nights at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. The concept is songwriters in the spotlight sharing their songs in an intimate, unplugged format. The illustrious list of past performers includes Norah Jones, Vanessa Carlton, Lisa Loeb, and Richard Julian.

Dan Ferrari explains, “‘Heard From You’ started as a song about a friend whose father walked out on him at age 10. I’ve been amazed that so many people with different situations and experiences have been able to relate to the song and draw meaning from it. Tina Schafer (founder of NYSC) told me the song moved the judges to cry night after night as they narrowed down the finalists. That really touched me. I’m proud to have been part of a song that affects people the way ‘Heard From You’ does.”

Ferrari was selected out of thousands of applicants worldwide for this songwriting honor. After earning an honorable mention in the 2006 finals, Ferrari is ecstatic to have made the final cut this year. “It’s such an honor to be acknowledged. I’ve used last year’s experience to improve my writing in order to progress further in the competition. It’s gratifying to know that my music is considered one of the top contenders this year.”

Last year’s first place winner, Kate Voegele, was the first artist to sign to MySpace Records. Ferrari is already the 2007 Abe Olman Songwriting Scholarship award winner, an honor presented to him by the Songwriters Hall of Fame and previously won by Joan Osbourne and John Legend.

The event, which spans two nights, November 7th and 8th, will be judged by Andy Karp – Vice President and Head of A&R, Atlantic Records, Beka Callaway – Razor and Tie Records, Steve Greenberg – S-Curve Records, Jonathan Clarke – Radio personality Q104 in New York, Rolling Stone writer John Colapinto and representatives from BMI, ASCAP and SESAC.

Dan Ferrari’s ‘Don’t Let It Fall’ is slated for release January 15th, 2008 on AtoZ Records.

Visit Dan Ferrari on Myspace for more information and for song samples.

At his recent Electric Ballroom gig in London, newcomer Paul Steel was enthusiastically closing the set with a storming version of live favourite “Raygun” when he landed awkwardly on his foot. After two fractures of the 5th metatarsal on his left foot were confirmed, the young singer cancelled his autumn tour to much disappointment.

Now he’s back on stage supporting fellow Brightonians Electric Soft Parade. A natural born performer – this multi instrumentalist throws himself into all his epic sounding pop songs, backed by his loyal hyper coloured band mates.

Paul Steel 2007 tour dates:

24 November – Glasgow, King Tuts (Box office: 0870 169 0100)
25 November – Leeds, The Faversham (Box office: 08700 600 100)
29 November – Norwich, Arts Centre (Box office: 01603 660 352)
02 December – London, ULU (www.seetickets.com)
03 December – Brighton, Duke Of York’s (www.ticketweb.co.uk)

Paul Steel’s debut album ‘Moon Rock’ is due for release early next year on Fascination.

Sunday Times Culture – “An exciting find.”
London Paper – “verging on complete perfection.”
Loud & Quiet – “Undeniable musical brilliance.”

Paul Steel Official Website
Paul Steel on Myspace