​Ed Snodderly is a songwriter, singer and guitar picker,  following in the footsteps of songsters as varied as A. P. Carter to Riley Puckett to Ray Davies.  His songs beat with a strong sense of place and the heart of them is a fresh, creative twist to the listener’s ear.  Combining outstanding musicianship with storytelling, the performances feel familiar, yet enlightening;  like old ropes that pull the bells to ring.  “The charts call it Folk/Americana. I feel it as American Southern music; could be New Hillbilly.”. 
‘Chimney Smoke’ had its origins in Snodderly’s desire not only to make the best record possible but in the concept of creating a quintessential “Southern” album, a chronicle of both his Appalachian roots and his own personal upbringing. The title track “Chimney Smoke” offers a vivid depiction of Appalachian life, and is one of the prime examples of Snodderly’s gift for bringing memories and a deep sense of place to life with his intimate lyrics.

Strangers No More offers an all-encompassing view not only of the places Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors have been, but where they’re headed next, too. From ageless folk music to atmospheric Americana to soulful rock & roll, the album marks an ambitious new chapter in the band’s story and is due out June 7th via Magnolia Music. 

​Afton Wolfe’s new mini-album ‘Twenty-Three’ is the follow-up to his acclaimed 2021 debut LP, ‘Kings for Sale‘, which made waves on both sides of the Atlantic. Spending his musically formative years in and around New Orleans, where the humidity of the Mississippi combined with the Cajun seasonings, the jazz, zydeco, creole, and gospel music, his Mississippi roots coalesce to add resonance and depth to his blues, country and rock influences. 

​Nils De Caster and Sara De Smedt are not only sublime musicians, but have also left their mark in the music world. Multi-instrumentalist Nils is a crack on guitar, mandolin and lap steel. The list of musicians he has worked with is impressive. If we mention Bruno Deneckere, Roland Van Campenhout, Lieven Tavernier, Elliott Murphy, Johan Verminnen, Pascale Michiels and Kathleen Vandenhoudt, we will surely forget just as many and even more.
Sara De Smedt graduated in 2009 as a master of cabaret at the Herman Teirlinck Institute. As an actress she plays both at the KVS and Theater Antigone. For years she was also one of the front singers of The Triplettes & The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boys. Sara has been forming a duo with Nils since 2018, who released their debut album with 'It Takes A Believer' in 2020.
Album that now gets a follow-up with 'Take This Stone', which contains no less than 11 original songs. Musically the duo is supported by HT Roberts, Bart Vervaeck, David Broeders and Leander Meuris. The album starts with 'All Right', a beautiful Americana song that makes you dream from your seat. That song is followed up with the country-flowing 'We Gotta Move On', in which the voices of Nils and Sara, well supported with a wonderful lap steel, sound heavenly as one. Number that gives you a boost when the going gets tough. Contagious is certainly the dreamy 'When I Close My Eyes', which takes you to places where you would love to stay. Life, saying goodbye, but also cherishing what you have get a beautiful place in the title track. Cheerful, both in lyrics and melody, 'Sweetest Sin' confirms that things the way you do them, you do them well. And how wonderfully those voices of Nils and Sara blend, just like in the uptempo 'No Greater Love Than Mine', a powerful ode to love. Slightly jazzy, with a touch of J.J. Cale we swing through 'Endless Night', while 'Red Kite' closes with a beautiful long intro.
You can better see 'Take This Stone' as 'Take This Diamond'. The album by Nils and Sara shows an extremely close and inspiring band outside the duo. 'Take This Stone' makes it clear that great Americana can also originate with our musicians. This album exudes international class.

​With 'Tunes For A Dime', David Ronaldo & The Dice are already on their third album. They made their debut in 2019 with 'Citizen Of The World', which was followed up in 2021 with 'Shoot Them With Words' and now, two years later, 'Tunes For A Dime' is being released. In addition to The Dice, a serious number of guest musicians were also called up. They are Patrick Cuyvers on Hammond, Pieter Akkermans on the piano, Wim Degeest puts the blues harp to his lips, Luk de Graaff and Steve Ceulemans fill in on bass, while Chantal & Steve Kashala together with Idara Soetemans take care of the backing vocals. A whole bunch of musicians who, together with David and his band, deliver a beautiful album. David Ronaldo is often labeled as a roots rocker, but this is a bit too simplistic. David has much more to offer. This immediately reveals itself in a pearl of an opener. 'Wasted My Life' has everything, but also everything that a hit needs. A promising guitar intro, a steady rhythm section and vocals that immediately settle in your brain. Moreover, David knows his classics, because that guitar riff is the best a Southern rocker can come up with. An opener that immediately sets the bar very high. Fortunately, Ronaldo does not fall into the trap of opening strong and then weakening. No, the level remains high. With the title track, a formidable rock ballad, the band slows down a bit, but with 'Price On My Head' it is…..price again indeed! The song certainly wouldn't have been out of place on an album by the 'early' Bruce Springsteen. And how 'Laid-Back & Easy' rocks nicely and also note that sublime piano interpretation. Switching to acoustic guitar after this is not easy, but Ronaldo also copes with this task with verve. 'Shadows Walking' is an emotional song that live is sure to garner lit smartphones in the venue. 'What Have You Really Done' also breathes that super Southern rock atmosphere of opener 'Wasted My Life'. Roots rocking in an acoustic setting, the band takes us to 'Fix It' with an impressive banjo by Dirk Lekenne, after which 'World's End Blues' with blues harp by Wim Degeest, is the blues rocker on the album. Some funk, including P.C.'s Hammond, then mercilessly propels 'Short Fuse', after which we left for the more than 6-minute closing track 'Hunted Man (part 1 & 2)', which ends impressively quietly.
Beautiful instrumental performances, dynamic vocals, clever arrangements and above all original songs, are the tools that make this album a winner.
We are already looking forward to the album presentation on Tuesday 28 February in CC Palethe. After listening to 'Tunes For A Dime' we are firmly convinced that it will spark.

Whatever Micah Hinson did in the past, in ‘I Lie To You’ he makes a few healing confessions. 

Blues-based tunes with original twists, intensive playing and evocative vocals makes this debut worth listening….recommended!

​Shovelin Stove offers us a musical coloring book and we color with it. The band Shovelin Stone is now promoting a second full-length with 'Summer Honey'. The eleven songs were recorded in the Appalachian Mountains with Grammy Award winning producer Chance McCoy of The Old Crow Medicine Show. The polyphonic title track describes the naivety of a summer flirt. But especially musically they impress in the song. The release 'Summer Honey' is an accurate mix of Americana and gorgeous roots songs. Briljant album! 

​One of the most original singer-songwriters of the century, look out for a live performance!

​The rebirth of the roadhouse groove, stories about love and life.  Nothing much has changed for The North Star Band, except age.

​Guitar driven songs with narrative lyrics.  Some groovy and catchy sounds make it all worth discovering.

Strong first ‘solo’-album from the Swedish singer-songwriter Tobias Bäckstrand, impossible without the contribution of the other skilled musicians.

​What a great singer Alice DeMicele is, and with producer Bret Levick she forms a golden duo.  Strong arrangements, powerful and inventive vocals convince every skeptic.  Very recommended!

​Dana Fuchs is one of the most admired blues-rock stars in the world today. Her latest effort ‘Borrowed Time’, finds her revisiting her southern rock roots with a deliciously dangerous collection of her incredible songs and lyrics. The record 'Borrowed Time', which is again released on the Ruf Records label, is the successor to the successful 'Love Lives On' from 2018. Dana's producer Bobby Harlow (Detroit Cobras, Samantha Fish) managed to capture the intensity, necessity, power, reticence and passion of Dana's live show on this studio album in its rawest form. That is also Fuch's most rocking and musical offering in her career. Great! 

​The release 'Cow Country', a quirky mixture of blues, country, bluegrass and Americana. Jack is supported by guitarist Herman “Bluesman” Frank and seasoned musicians Johannes Blanksma on drums and Rob Taekema on bass. Opening with a song like 'Ain't Waitin' is like kicking in an open door for Jack. His rough voice nails itself like an ideality to his intended sound. Jack Bottleneck has achieved his next highlight with the album 'Cow Country'. Great!

​With the help of some of his favorite musical soulmates, Scott Smith sets the tone and groove on the right track. Folk, rock and country met in his songs. The third album 'Leave To Come Home' was produced by Erik Nielsen and continues the contemporary Americana vibe of the first two records, but adds some new elements to the sound of the band. In addition to Smith's lead vocals and songwriter, slide guitar, harmonica, acoustic fingerpicking, banjo and pedal steel are all important elements in the intended sound for the band Just A Season.  

Soulful second album from singer-songwriter Peter Rogan, backed up with great Nashville names.   ​

One of the best singer-songwriters of the US, miscellaneous and poetic, powerful in every bone. Recommended!

You wouldn’t expect a Dutch singer-songwriter with the talents of a real american country musician.  In Belgium and in France they would say ‘chapeau’. Respect!

What a sound, what a voice and how compelling, time after time!  Strongly  recommended.

Paul Kaplan is a real troubadour: amusing and entertaining.  Try to discover his back catalogue. You will be pleasantly surprised.

​A Murder In Mississippi, a six-piece crazy musical gang from Ghent. With a shared passion and many different musical influences, they present a wide range of contemporary timbres. Country, folk, Americana and Irish tinged tunes wrap A Murder In Mississippi with a lick of blues. The flawless vocals and dynamic instrumentation let us float away in that retro-symphonic folk sound palette. 'Hurricana' is a wonderful album..!

Ericson Holt is an ordinary man, just like you and me, but a hell of a singer-songwriter.  His clear voice, his natural feeling for soul…and his bright piano playing. Recommended!

​Average americana songs but performed with soulful warmth and sweet melodicism.  I especially love her solo as a singer-songwriter on ukelele.

​Glad to hear Jakob Dylan in his comfort zone The Wallflowers.  ‘Exit Wounds’ picks up the thread and grows each time as you listen. Father Bob can be proud and the fans of yesteryear will taste it!