Kathryn Williams - Nicki Bluhm - Adam and The Hellcats - Ally Row - Regina Brury & ask Robin

Kathryn Williams - Goodbye to Summer. 

Kathryn Williams, the folk singer-songwriter long celebrated for her emotional depth and lyrical precision, releases her 15th studio album ‘Mystery Park’ via One Little Independent Records on September 26th. A deeply personal, intimate collection, ‘Mystery Park’ marks 27 years of making music. It’s a reflective, textured work shaped by time’s shifting tides.

Known for her delicate, moving voice and poetic songwriting, Williams rose to prominence in 2000 with ‘Little Black Numbers’, the self-released album that earned her a Mercury Prize nomination and became a touchstone for a new generation of British folk. Over the decades since, her output has been both prolific and shapeshifting. She’s written a novel (The Ormering Tide), hosted a podcast (Before the Light Goes Out), worked as a visual artist, collaborated with a wide array of musicians from John Martyn and Paul Weller to Ed Harcourt and Withered Hand, and released celebrated projects across genres, including her Christmas album, ‘Midnight Chorus’, with Dame Carol Ann Duffy. Her most recent release, ‘Willson Williams’ was SAY and Americana Award-nominated as well as receiving critical praise.

New single ‘Goodbye to Summer’, co-written with Polly Paulusma during an Arvon retreat, is breezy and bittersweet, a song suffused with colour. Kathryn tells us they were “outside on two wooden chairs watching the dying sunlight tip off the wings of the swallows and the swifts. The last hurrah of summer before they fly away. The seasons begin to mark more and more. How many summers do we have in one life? Will the birds fly back home? Polly writes in open tunings so the new paths to melodies felt giddying and fresh.”

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Photo - Lauren Massie

Nicki Bluhm - Tumbleweed.

Nicki Bluhm has shared her new single “Tumbleweed,” the next preview of her forthcoming album Rancho Deluxe, out October 3. Featuring infectious guitar riffs courtesy of American Aquarium’s Shane Boeker, the new song is about embracing life's unpredictable twists and turns and was inspired by the memories of Bluhm’s rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. Atwood Magazine praised the track, calling it “a song of sweet surrender, celebrating the beauty and wonder of being fully present.”

About the new song, Bluhm says: “The guitar riff and tone by absolute shredder Shane Boeker (American Aquarium) kicks this song off and just puts a huge smile on my face, makes me wanna turn it up. Lyrically, ‘Tumbleweed’ is about letting go and trusting in what you cannot see. When I was writing, I had strong images of my time floating down the Grand Canyon. The overhanging cliffs are so imposing and the blind bends in the river are so vast, all you can do is wait and see what is revealed around each turn. You are at the mercy of nature’s pace; the wind, the current, the weather. There is no use in worrying or trying to control the situation, you surrender and appreciate the ride.”

“Tumbleweed” follows the stomping “Cumberland Banks" and the feel-good “Simple Side of Me”, which had Magnet Magazine raving that it “embodies all that’s refreshing about the new Nashville.” A musical patchwork quilt that captures Nashville’s collaborative spirit, Rancho Deluxe finds her reflecting on well-earned lessons from nearly two decades in the music business. Joined by her co-writer, producer and partner Jesse Noah Wilson and other first-rate musicians like Kai Welch (Kacey Musgraves), Jess Nolan (Jenny Lewis) and Cameron Neal (Elle King, Shakey Graves), they pulled from a swirl of influences, including folk-rock, western psychedelia and ‘60s West Coast soul. The end result features songs that are rooted in resilience, relaxation and the relationships she's built with like-minded collaborators.

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Adam and The Hellcats - Go Easy.

Adam and The Hellcats are an unstoppable six-piece rock ‘n’ roll band from Bristol. The powerhouse act will release their eagerly awaited third album, 9 Lives, on Friday 3rd October. Prior to the release, the band have just unveiled their emotional new single and video, Go Easy'.

The Hellcats have carved out a fierce reputation on the UK rock circuit, earning their stripes by touring and supporting a host of established acts. They hit the road as special guests of Jackie Chambers (Girlschool) with her band, Syteria, and opened the first night of The Wildhearts’ UK Tour. Since then, they’ve toured with U.S. rock heavyweights, Hearts & Hand Grenades, and rising UK favourites White Raven Down.

Their festival presence has been just as commanding, with high-energy sets at Station 18, Dementia Aware Fest, Crazy Cowboy Festival, Rockin’ by the River, and many more. In November 2024, they headlined the second stage at the prestigious HRH Festival in Great Yarmouth to a packed crowd. That buzz secured them a slot at HRH Road Trip Ibiza 2025, where they opened the festival for none other than Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons.

Founded by frontman and guitarist Adam Feasey, the band features two lead vocalists — Adam and the formidable Cirwen Costa — bringing power, versatility, and emotional depth to their sound, which is made even more distinctive by the inclusion of a keytar, adding flair and rich texture to their explosive live performances.

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Ally Row - Something More.

Hot on the heels of the hits ‘Hold Me Now and ‘Middle of The Road’, comes the stunning new single from Gippsland duo, Ally Row, ‘Something More’, the title track from their forthcoming debut album.

This high energy track blends distorted electric banjo, punchy drums, strong smoky lead vocals and rebellious spirit into a thunderous rallying cry for anyone who’s ever felt invisible, unsupported or just sick and tired of playing nice. It’s where folk meets punk to channel their frustration, burnout and existential angst into this fierce cry for recognition.

Known for their introspective alt-country storytelling, Ally Row take a sharp turn towards punk sensibilities on ‘Something More’, taking inspiration from as far field as The White Stripes and Florence and The Machine and even Aussie icons The Bushwackers.

Recorded, mixed and produced by Spud Thompson at Elusive Creative Studios, it also features Alex Keser on drums and was mastered by Nick Franklin (Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys/ Ocean Alley/ Custard). The duo announces their ‘Something More’ debut album for Friday 19th September and will support Irish duo, DUG, at Meeniyan Town Hall VIC during their first Australian tour.

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Regina Brury & ask Robin - My Callback.

With airplay on Swiss indie radio stations, such as Radio Munot, as well as on more than 50 stations worldwide and with their previously released singles, Regina Brury & ask Robin from Zurich and Brazil have built up a rapidly growing fanbase both at home and abroad. Now it’s time to release their debut “My Callback EP.” Anyone who recognizes echoes of the big pop-rock melodies of Avril Lavigne and Pink is right on target. If you like the single you will love the EP, unfortunately we don't have the release date yet.

To celebrate this cultural connection and to honor her Brazilian roots, Zurich-based Regina Brury will travel to her homeland of Salvador, Brazil, in October. There she will give an exclusive concert—a symbolic act of respect and gratitude toward the culture that has shaped her art.

In short: Regina Brury & ask Robin once again demonstrate that musically and thematically, they masterfully bridge global indie rock, pop melodies, and cultural heritage. Their early successes have not gone unnoticed: in October the band will perform, among other places, at X-TRA Zurich—a milestone for a project that only went public with its first single this spring.

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Rodney Crowell - St Catherine's Child - Soft Bait - Ally Row

Photo - Neilson Hubbard

Rodney Crowell - Taking Flight (Feat. Ashley McBryde).

Rodney Crowell will release Airline Highway on August 29, 2025 via New West Records. The 10-song set was produced by Tyler Bryant and recorded & mixed by Trina Shoemaker in New Orleans, Louisiana. Crackling with live-wire energy, the album follows his 2023 Grammy Award-nominated The Chicago Sessions. The wise and vibrant Airline Highway features contributions from some of the most exciting young blues and country artists working today, all of whom count Crowell as a foundational influence. 

Ashley McBryde co-wrote and sings on “Taking Flight,” Lukas Nelson co-wrote and sings the opener “Rainy Days in California,” Blackberry Smoke guitarist Charlie Starr sings on “Heaven Can You Help,” while Rebecca & Megan Lovell from Larkin Poe add harmonies and slide guitar throughout. With a career spanning more than fifty years, Crowell is still questioning how and why he makes music, still setting new rules and quickly breaking them. “This record is a document of me falling in love with these musicians,” says Crowell. “That’s one of the great perks of this job—falling in love with the people you’re playing with. And we caught that on tape.” 

The album’s first single “Taking Flight,” is a devastating duet with Ashley McBryde about the distance between old lovers. Crowell says, “Ashley came over to the house to take a swing at writing a song together. ‘Flight’ is a fictional account of a discussion we had about stardom and driving at night in the south. With the exception of the Allman Brothers, I can’t say I was ever a fan of ‘Southern Rock.’ Tyler Bryant’s off the cuff solo at the end of the song made me reconsider.” Ashley McBryde says, “Simply sitting across from Rodney is magical. Writing a song with an icon is such an honor and being able to call him my friend is one of the great joys of my life. ‘Taking Flight’ explored heartache on a plane I hadn’t been on before. For Rodney to choose me as a co-writer and a singer is something that only existed in dreams. This record speaks for itself and I am so happy I get to be a part of its journey.” 

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St Catherine's Child - The Other Side of Twenty-Five.

A tender yet powerful conclusion to the album's pre-release offerings, this country-tinged indie ballad serves as a heartfelt letter to her younger self, exploring the shift in perspective that accompanies confronting mortality. The track weaves seamlessly into the album's emotional narrative, which thoughtfully chronicles St Catherine’s Child’s journey through her father's passing. Her distinctively ethereal vocals float effortlessly above vibrant folk instrumentation, creating a captivating juxtaposition between the song's introspective lyrics and its spirited melody. The result is both a reflection on innocence lost and wisdom gained—a musical time capsule that resonates with anyone navigating life's inevitable transitions. 

“This song is a letter to my younger self, wrapped up in the things that are important to someone before they’re faced with life and death” she adds “Everything at that moment felt so important, when all that really mattered was my Dad and how he showed up for me, and the people who had my back.”

‘The Other Side Of Twenty Five’ will be the final offering ahead of the release of St. Catherine’s Child’s debut album This Might Affect You, set for release June 2025. A chronological journey through her experience with her father's illness and subsequent passing, the album's A-side documents the period leading to his death, while the B-side explores the aftermath and her healing process. In a departure from her previous solo writing approach, St. Catherine's Child orchestrated a collective catharsis, collaborating with ten different songwriters who had also experienced recent loss. "I just didn't think I could manage it by myself," she reflects. "It was just too heavy. I feel so much deeper in my community now because we've all made this thing together."

Recorded live with Mercury Nominated Producer David Glover, and mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios the album embraces beautiful imperfection with unflinching honesty. "It's designed to be raw and organic and what it is—not polished," she insists. Shattering genre constraints, This Might Affect You sweeps across musical landscapes, featuring everything from a six-minute gun ballad to a sea shanty, a punk song, and a Springsteen-esque track.

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Photo - Gabrielle Devereux

Soft Bait - New Leaf.

This week Soft Bait, the band share their first single, 'New Leaf' a track that picks apart gossip, group dynamics, and the mess left behind.

As vocalist Josh Hunter puts it: “New Leaf is a song about gossiping, seeking social acceptance and connection among groups. People projecting their own sense of arrogance or insecurity onto others. The lack of self-awareness to understand — or care to understand — the effect of their actions as they move onto the next drama and hysteria. Leaving the subject to pick up the pieces.” 

That tension runs through the whole track. Driven by a locked-in, repetitive bass line, the new single possesses an anxious and relentless energy. Hooky and sharp like it's pacing the room, 'New Leaf' is innately loud, unfiltered and fun. It holds a mirror up to some of the messier sides of social interaction; the messiness, posturing, gossip, and the chaos we leave in our wake.

The video, created by Patrick Hickley and Jolin Lee, takes those ideas and drops them into a dusty VHS wedding from the early-90s. Stitching themselves into the celebration as the unofficial wedding band — filmed lo-fi, green screen, digi-cam style. It’s part nostalgia trip, part fever dream. A weird, funny snapshot of connection, disconnection, and everything in between.

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Ally Row - Middle of The Road.

Fresh off the back of their ABC Country high rotation and Double J/Triple J success, Gippsland based alt-country duo, Ally Row, release their new single, “Middle of The Road”.

This moody, gritty number captures the feeling of being emotionally marooned “between a rock and a hard place”, knowing where you want to be, but seeing others pass you by without asking if you need a helping hand. The upbeat airy arrangement and light-hearted, spirited vocals of “Middle of the Road” provide hopeful contrast as if to say, “if you’re going through tough times, you’ll get through it with or without help”.

Stylistically reminiscent of KT Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See”, it has the moodiness of “Nothing Matters” by The Last Dinner Party with a modern flare along the lines of Chappell Roan’s “The Giver”. The single features chugging acoustic banjo and guitar, warm and silky electric banjo plucking, and sweet, shy harmonies to support a lead vocal that is both emotional and powerful (think Missy Higgins texture and storytelling meeting Avril Lavigne’s intensity).

For the first time ever, Ally Row has featured the drumming talent of Alex Keser. His rocky rhythm gives “Middle of The Road” the beat of a runaway engine. This song will make you want to get in the car, crank up the radio and drive.

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