Wynntown Marshals’ album coming soon.

Scotland’s premier Americana band The Wynntown Marshals are gearing up for the release of their debut album, Westerner. What I’ve heard of it bodes well with some cracking songs and plenty of Iain Barbour’s guitar flavouring them.  “Thunder in the Valley” is an epic and there is a chance to hear The Marshals’ take on LA Guns’ song “Ballad of Jayne” which they have transformed from a big hair heavy metal song into a very catchy country lament.

There’s no release date as yet but you should be able to get it at any gigs coming up.

Hear the Marshals on their Mypace page

The Lost Brothers/Doghouse Roses

Popped into the Universal Bar last night for a great pair of sets from this great pair of duos. A meagre yet eager bunch of folk turned up and one wonders why there aren’t bigger audiences for these bijoux type gigs that happen all over Glasgow and its environs. Sure, It’s great to see a name band at the O2 or The Barrowlands but to sit in a room with 40 -50 folk and meet the artist after can’t be beat.
Anyway, This was a fine night. Doghouse Roses are much more earthy than their album suggests, lots more of the Bert Jansch/Pentangle influence evident. Paul Tasker’s guitar is a joy, close your eyes and you’re in Les Cousins in the mid sixties.
The Lost Brothers are today’s Simon and Garfunkel. Great harmonies and brilliant songs. I was able to get a vinyl copy of their album at the merch desk and listening to it right now, especially City of the Rose, would recommend it heartily.

Pokey LaFarge

This diminutive chap with a big voice created a bit of a stir when he rambled around Scotland earlier in the year culminating in a sensational gig I caught on the Edinburgh fringe programme. His album, “Beat, Move and Shake” is an excellent mix of old time Americana music, folk and hillbilly tunes (all written by Pokey) and sung with verve and at times a wistfulness that reminded one of the likes of Michael Hurley.

He’s got a new album ready for release (Riverboat Soul) and is returning to these shores in the New Year taking in Celtic Connections. There’s a preview of three songs from the album at his website but here’s one to whet your whistle

la-la-blues