Billy Bragg News

Inspired by teaching songwriting in two southern California area women's prisons, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Eleni Mandell will release Wake Up Again June 7, on Yep Roc Records. 

From William Herschel (discoverer of Uranus and professional musician) to Sun-Ra (jazz composer and wannabe astronaut) via Patrick Moore and his xylophone, staring up at the cosmos' mysteries has always had a close connection with music.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed the catalogues of British music greats Billy Ocean and Slade among a series of new deals with legacy songwriters and artists.

Today, A2IM (The American Association of Independent Music) has announced their first ever showcase at this year's SXSW festival, taking place on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at Palm Door in Austin, TX (401 Sabine St). Doors open at 7:00pm, show starts at 8:00pm. Expanding its ever-growing reach within the independent music community, the lineup for the evening will feature some of today's most talented indie artists including: Y La Bamba (Tender Loving Empire), Oh Pep! (ATO Records), Madge (22Twenty), Sneaks (Merge Records), Ric Wilson (Innovative Leisure) and The Nude Party (New West Records).

Rolling away the rock once again, Julia Zemiro, Brian Nankervis, Dugald McAndrew (The Roadie) and the legendary RocKwiz Orkestra will kick-start your Easter weekend in rockin' style.

Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko have joined forces to write and perform a new show for children, aged 5+, and families. Mole & Gecko: THE SHOW tells the story rather aptly of a mole and a gecko, with the help of the audience. There are live songs, rap stories, instant poems and a weasel with a serious biscuit problem. Join our heroes as they discover that what they thought they were searching for might be less important than what they find along the way.

London's ethereal alt-rock outfitt Evi Vine presents her new single 'My Only Son', a touching track that was inspired by a close friend's suicide. Writing this song helped her work through her pain. The video for this track was shot by Phillip Clemo, Colin Gary & Tim Shepherd, and directed by Phillip Clemo.

 Lovers Leap, a brand new partnership of musicians Shelby Means (Sally & George, formerly of Della Mae), Mary Lucey (formerly of Biscuit Burners), Joel Timmons (Sally & George, Sol Driven Train), and Billy Cardine (Acoustic Syndicate, formerly of Biscuit Burners), have announced their debut EP, Lovers Leap. Set to be released April 19, 2019,the eponymous collection of songs is a healthy mix of all four member's backgrounds; beautiful, tight three-part harmony, dobro acrobatics, easy groove, and galloping bluegrass. Over the course of a year, Lovers Leap was recorded one or two days at a time, dancing around band members' hectic schedules, in both touring and everyday life. When possible, the group would retreat to Cardine and Lucey's home studio in Pisgah National Forest, outside of Asheville, NC. At the end of a steep gravel road, the group had no choice but to let their surroundings seep into the project. Long walks, tending to beehives, and digging holes for fruit trees broke up routine and refreshed spirits in between song takes, and the songs shine in the laid-back, tranquil nature of the recordings. The record's first single and opening song, “Walnut Tree”, was debuted yesterday by Folk Alley. Lucey told Folk Alley, “I wrote this song, sitting on the deck, gazing out at a beautiful giant walnut tree on our mountainside. It's about the subtle power of nature that can help us along when we are in need of clarity or rejuvenation.” Hear the song and more about “Walnut Tree” here. 

As a tribute to Canadian songwriter activist Bruce Cockburn and a reminder that these issues are just as relevant now as they were in 1984, when he released his 'Stealing Fire' album, Twilight Fields presents his own rendition of 'Lovers in a Dangerous Time'.

As a powerful teaser for their new album 'Black Light White Dark', due out in early 2019, London's ethereal alt-rock outfit Evi Vine presents 'Sabbath' featuring The Cure's Simon Gallup on bass and Peter Yates of Fields of the Nephilim on guitar.

Acoustic punk songstress Louise Distras has released her brand new EP Street Revolution. A collection of four straight-to-the-point, socially-aware anthems that speak out for the new generation and prepare for an exciting year ahead.

Multi-instrumentalist Dan Zanes and Haitian-American jazz vocalist Claudia Eliaza bring their educational and interactive children's show to Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Sunday, January 27 at 2 p.m.  

Canada's Twilight Fields, the solo moniker of singer-songwriter Allister Thompson, has announced his new album 'Songs from the Age of Ruin', slated for release in early 2019. Ahead of this, he presents the first rather politically-charged single 'Demagogue', an expression of anti-populist sentiment.

Firebrand singer Louise Distras has released her new single, 'Poor Man', the second track to be taken from her upcoming EP, Street Revolution, out January 11th.

Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko have joined forces to collaboratively write and perform a new show for children and families, Mole & Gecko: THE SHOW, which will tour theatres in, and around, London in Spring 2019.

Louise Distras has returned, announcing the forthcoming release of her Street RevolutionEP and sharing the video for the brand-new rabble rousing title track, which is out now.

Ethereal alt-rock outfit Evi Vine presents 'Sabbath', a sweet and heavy preview of their long-awaited long-play 'Black Light White Dark', due out in early 2019 on vinyl and CD, as well as digitally. This powerhouse track features Evi Vine's gossamer vocals and precise orchestration, cleverly woven together with bass guitar by Simon Gallup of The Cureand guitar by Peter Yates of Fields of the Nephilim.

Melbourne, Australia's Oh Pep! will release their sophomore album I Wasn't Only Thinking About You... on October 26th via ATO Records. Today, Stereogum has premiered the third single from the album, 'Your Nail And Your Hammer.' They wrote, 'The insidiously catchy chorus — “Cold little heart breaks apart/ With your nail and your hammer” — sounds like gears grinding up against each other, the machinations of the mind when a brief moment leaves you inexplicably wondering for weeks afterwards.'

Live from Here with Chris Thile confirms the guest lineup for the next five shows, which feature special performances from Jeff Tweedy, Cat Power, Jon Batiste, Dirty Projectors,Vulfpeck, Gabriel Kahane, War & Treaty, Anna & Elizabeth, Negin Farsad, Todd Barry and The Sklar Brothers.

 Folk Alliance International (FAI) is proud to announce the 2019 Official Showcase artists* representing 23 countries (*confirmed to date and subject to change) for the 31st annual conference taking place February 13-17, 2019, at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montréal, Québec, Canada.