Folk
EP: The delicately beautiful ‘Creatures of Habit’ from Brisbane artist Aren’t is an exquisite triumph. Plus news of launch date.
On aesthetics alone, the artwork for Aren’t‘s new EP ‘Creatures Of Habit’ (illustrated by Grace Taylor) is extraordinarily beautiful. Fittingly, the illustrations have a joyous emotional warmth and fragility that is a palimpsest for the shimmering songs within, reflecting the stunning music within. Aren’t is Fionn Richards – last seen in Brisbane band Requin which burned brightly …
Live Review: The Levellers / Peat & Diesel / Maelor Hughes, Manchester Academy 26.11.2021
Unfortunately, the perils of the M62 and the dreaded Pennines scuppered my chances of making it to the Academy in time to catch the opener, Maelor Hughes, on the bill tonight. When I did arrive, I was met with a sea of Leveller’s shirts, ranging from the early nineties right through to the present day, …
Live Review: Skinny Lister / The Longest Johns – Glasgow, King Tuts 27.11.2021 plus Gallery
One of the surprise joys of lockdown was the emergence of sea shanties which, with the help of the TikTok generation, went viral. Skinny Lister invited The Longest Johns on their current UK tour and the gig in Glasgow at King Tuts was as raucous as you would expect. The added ingredient was the fact …
Track: Swoon for the Mediterranean cafe romance of Violetta Zironi & Ed Prosek’s ‘Come What May’
VIOLETTA ZIRONI is a delicate and lovely cantate from Correggio, in northern Italy’s Po Valley; she’s been releasing digital singles and EPs for nine years or so. More recently she’s been working with guitarist Ed Prosek to produce airy and sunshine-filled lovers’ cafe jazz; music to fall head over heels to on the Adriatic coast. …
Live Review: Junior Brother / The Bonk – Whelans, Dublin 26.11.2021
At a packed, sold out Whelans, Junior Brother thrilled the crowd alongside support band The Bonk. The project is led by Waterford musician Phil Christie (O Emperor), who’s first recordings were undertaken and captured live a Big Skin Studios in Cork City The Bonk (click on thumbnail for full view) Borrowing a term used to …
Track: Newton Faulkner Releases ‘Christmas Light’ EP And Shares Lead Single ‘Winter Wonderland’
Folk-rock troubadour Newton Faulkner has taken on a new challenge of recording a bunch of familiar Christmas songs. After collaborating with Chris Rea’s Niece on Driving Home For Christmas, Faulkner has joined up with Scottish TikTok star, Nati Dredd on a version of Winter Wonderland. Newton wanted to collaborate with other artists he has recently …
Live Review: The Charlatans / Aoife Nessa Frances – Dublin, 3Olympia 23.11.2021 plus galleries
As the irrepressible Charlatans roll into Dublin, those of us at the 3Olympia early enough are the as Dublin singer-songwriter Aoife Nessa Frances takes to the stage. Taking tunes from her debut album ‘Land of No Junction’, released back in January 2020, her sounds flits inbetween experimental, psychedelic and folk music. Sadly, its hard to …
Track: Billie Flynn shares ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’: brandy warmth from the Cornish coast on a seasonal classic
THE SEASON, ’tis almost upon us, friends; and in celebration and expectation of that, chanteuse Billie Flynn, who’s based on Cornwall’s rugged granite coast, has revisited that holiday season classic “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” in her breathy, lovely style accompanied by a guitar of brandy warmth and, dare I say it? An almost …
Premiere: Bristol avant-folk troupe Dead Space Chamber Music release the serene beauty of Byrd One Brere
Bristol avant-folk troupe Dead Space Chamber Music are gearing up for the release of their forthcoming album The Black Hours, out on December 3rd on various beautiful physical releases, and from it we are delighted to be able to premiere the track Byrd One Brere right here on Backseat Mafia today. Of the track the …
Track: Melanie MacLaren Is Doing Much More than “Pushing Daisies”
“Pushing Daisies” is a new single from Nashville-based indie folk musician Melanie MacLaren. Leading up to her debut EP in January 2022, the initial singles have brought a chilly atmosphere, reminiscent of a sunny day in late autumn. Unlike the previous tracks, however, “Pushing Daisies” breaks the traditional folk boundaries she has established for her …