While Dave Alvin is regarded as one of the greats of American roots music, his taste in music and his own music from the Blasters onwards has included hints of his musical eclecticism. Evidently, he always had a fascination with the music that Miles Davis recorded in the ‘70s and the freedom that was given to the musicians in the studio, and he had a shared fantasy with Victor Krummenacher, of Camper Van Beethoven, of making music in a similar vein.

Ambitious, dream-soaked pop that reaches high but rarely quite lands. There’s something immediately intriguing about Gained/Lost. On paper, the ingredients are enticing: the literate jangle of The Smiths, the wide-eyed psych-pop glow of The Flaming Lips, flashes of Grant Lee Buffalo’s windswept americana and even the glam-leaning guitar drama of Mick Ronson. It’s a heady blend, and not necessarily what is expected on seeing the album's…

Pick of the bunch from Canadian troubadour in late career full bloom. Lynn Miles may not yet be among your ‘top ten Canadian songwriters’, but A Bouquet of Black Flowers may be about to change that. With three Canadian Folk Music English Songwriter of the Year Awards and a JUNO Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo under her belt, Miles’ music, whilst not unsung, is deserving of wider recognition.

The opening track to Nashville outlaw India Ramey’s forthcoming album is Welcome to My Villain Era providing the title and mission statement for Villain Era, which is due out on 8th May 2026, via Copoco/Blue Élan Records. Following the success of her fiery 2024 LP Baptized By The Blaze, which chronicled a hard-won journey through trauma, healing, and survival and…

Big city girl with country sensibilities delivers a fine sophomore album of self-exploration. And here we have yet another female singer-songwriter with great potential in the americana field. Just 24, del Carmen has already released two albums, a couple of singles, and an EP. She hails from Los Angeles, where she returned to after gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Music (with a songwriting focus) from the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Out on Ishkōdé Records, Empty Hands is the latest single from Logan Staats, following on from last year's Medicine Wheel both of which are precursors to the next album from Staats.  All of these things make the finest sense as Logan Staats is both a proud Mohawk and a noteworthy country and folk songwriter and Ishkōdé Records is an Indigenous women-owned music company founded to ignite and amplify Indigenous voices, songs, and stories.

Here's the video for Sirens from Transatlantic duo Sons of Town Hall. There's an ethereal tunefulness and sweet, haunting poetry to the words as we lose ourselves in Sirens: "Come near sweet travelers // Drink from the stream // We’ll give, we’ll gather // All you could need // We know the road is long and hard, and there’s always more dust and thorns // Let us lay our hands upon your worried brows // No more trouble now, no more trouble now." 

He created the signature sound of Texas with a British Vox electric organ With the passing of Augie Meyers in his sleep after a short illness on 7th March, the music of South Texas and San Antonio will never be the same again. Augie Meyers, with his Vox organ, songwriting and humour, created a new sound with his friend Doug Sahm in the Sir Douglas Quintet when they merged the R&B sounds of San Antonio, with country, blues, Tejano, Cajun and good old British beat music.

It’s not often, when searching an artist on this site that the result is a big, unambiguous, Nothing Found. Safe to say then, that anyone familiar with Meg Hutchinson would have had to have gleaned their knowledge elsewhere. And, in all likelihood, they would have had to have leant towards the more folky branch of americana. With a diagnosis of Bipolar One Disorder, her work as a palliative care chaplain and the release of many works of poetry amongst a 25-year musical career, Hutchinson’s story is not a common one.

Musical tribute to his agricultural roots from Midwest storyteller. Cody Diekhoff (aka Chicago Farmer) grew up in an Illinois farming community in the tiny community of Delevan, and his grandparents were a pivotal part of his upbringing, with his grandfather being a master storyteller as well as a first-class farmer. Young Cody listened to these stories with fascination, and the effect they had on him has stayed with him all his life.

Living legends Terry Allen and Jo Harvey Allen, along with their children and grandchildren, have announced the self-titled debut album by their new project, Blood Sucking Maniacs, a multigenerational family band, out on April 24th via Paradise of Bachelors. The announcement is accompanied by the release of the album’s title track and theme song, Blood Sucking Maniacs, which is available now as a single.

A strong Laurel Canyon-style americana debut with words of love but also introspection. Lovebirds is Birds Flying Backwards’ debut album after a couple of EPs, The Serenity Now Variations (2023) and Surrender to The Void (2024). It is Laurel Canyon-style americana with more than a nod to the seventies. They have their own unique style but are in the same ballpark as The Eagles and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

There is a sense of civility about teatime concerts on a Sunday. They fit in perfectly with the presumed ambience and relaxed pace. Sunday papers lazily perused, Sunday lunch heartily devoured, and still time for an afternoon nap before grabbing the car keys for a leisurely drive, in the daylight, to one of your favourite venues, knowing the entertainment on offer will be of the highest calibre, and you'll still be home for…

In 1991 Austin City Council declared the city the Live Music Capital of the World. The live music and festival scene has grown over the years, including internationally recognised events like South by Southwest and Sutin City Limits. But Austin is also about the venues and artists which contribute all year round to what must be one of the most vibrant music environments in the USA.

This latest example of a bluegrass tune that we've had to hand has a very traditional feel to it - and that's no accident because Section House is something of a supergroup but together to channel a love for, you've guessed it, traditional sounding bluegrass.  Section House are Bryan McDowell on fiddle and lead vocals, Cory Walker on banjo, Gaven Largent on dobro and harmony vocals, Jake Stargel on guitar, Aaron Ramsey on mandolin and Jeff Partin on bass - all individually in demand for their solo or other band work.

New York band Bandits on the Run have just released a new feel-good video for Am I Your Mirror?, an uplifting song that explores the complex spaces between people who love one another. Lyrically, the song is sensitive and thoughtful, questioning our relationships and whether we reflect or see through one another: "Are we connecting // Or am I just talking...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We have brought you a lot of new songs this week, in a range of styles, but we have not - at least not yet - brought you a song that just, well, not to put too fine a point on it nor to take too long to get to the crux of the matter, what has been lacking is a song that just rocks. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AUK favourite and regular poll winner Peter Bruntnell has announced a series of UK dates to see in the Spring Equinox. Some dates will be full band, some a trio, and some solo. The full band will feature Bruntnell regulars Mick Clews (drums), Dave Little (electric guitar), and Peter Noone (bass), and the sets promise to be a mixture of the old and the very new as Pete road tests a new song or two.  

Nashville-based duo Paper Wings have just released a brand new album, Mountains on the Moon, a collection of exquisitely-crafted, timeless folk songs. While all the songs are gently captivating and thought-provoking, the title track is especially absorbing. Here's the video for Mountains on the Moon, the latest single and the perfect introduction to Paper Wings' music. In the video, we find Wila Frank and Emily Mann wandering a hushed, snow-filled winter landscape; those scenes are interspersed with images of the pair playing their delicate acoustic accompaniment and singing together intimately and it feels as if we're privileged to hear their personal recollections.

Nigerian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist Blessing Jolie asks a question in today's track feature that we never really expected to hear.  Yet here it is - a singer-songwriter asking themselves whether instead of being a troubadour they should instead have taken the path of the software developer.  Speaking on the inspiration behind Software Developer, Blessing has said: "I watched all my old friends graduate college while I was still chasing a dream.

Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds, along with the label High Top Mountain Records, have joined forces with Atlantic Music Group’s Atlantic Outpost for the forthcoming release of Mutiny After Midnight which will be released  on 13th March 2026. The new album follows the band's 2024 debut, Passage Du Desir, and the venture marks the latest move in a career that will continue to challenge industry stereotypes through a catalogue of songs built on poetic songwriting, constant evolution, and the…