Shine a light : summary of radioperformances and interviews

Last week Joe and Billy ended their US tour and next week they'll bring their songs to the UK. (Check out their itinerary) In the meantime they have done some radioshows and interviews. Feel free to add extra input in the comment section below.
Greetings,
Stefan








Some Radio performances :

The Current with Mike Pengra

Recorded in September, but now released : NPR's tinydesk
- Rock island Line
- Hobo's Lullaby
- Midnight Special

The Current with Mike Pengra
- In the Pines
- Railroad Bill
- Gentle on my mind

Joe and Billy played a live radioconcert for KEXP Seattle .
- John Henry
- In the Pines
- Gentle on my mind
- Rock Island Line

Selection of interviews :

• No Depression : 'Can't get enough of train songs'
• step on magazine : 'There is power in a Union'
• the guardian : 'Laying down tracks'
• Boston Globe : Deliver train songs, Political commentary
• Salon : Ride the Rails
• The New Yorker : Billy Bragg's railroad songs
• Mix online  : For those interested in technics. (Small diary approach, great info on Ryan Freeland's work ! )

If you are interested in some earlier and original versions of these songs, I have made an entry about it. Feel free to listen and add your favorites at the entry ...Music that echoes long since...

Shine a light : Australian shows announced

Good news for Australia : Today, the Australian leg of the 'shine a light' tour  was announced.

4 shows :
April 19, 2017 : Sydney Opera House
April 20, 2017 : The playhouse, Canberra
April 22, 2017 : Melbourne Recital Centre
April 23, 2017 : Melbourne Recital Centre

According to the websites :
Sydney and Canberra on sale on october 31.
Melbourne on sale on October 27.

Shine a light.... Music that echoes long since...

A Blog entry to listen to..... and share your memories.

Joe and Billy are traveling around bringing us their version of all these classic songs from the railroad.

I assembled a playlist with earlier and original versions of the songs on the 'Shine a light' album. I enjoyed doing that, and I hope you'll equally enjoy listening to them. You'll find them in the same order as Joe and Billy's album.



But I'll not leave you only with this list, but als some other versions I like to share with you.

First off all, in their linernotes, Joe and Billy spoke of Riley Puckett who recorded for the first time 'Railroad Bill'. I guess I stumbled on the borders of Spotify's possibilities, because I couldn't find it there. But you need to hear it :

Riley Puckett : Railroad Bill


I listened to Harry Belafonte's 'Midnight Special' and to be honest, it became my favorite version. Can't stop moving !

Harry Belafonte : Midnight Special


When you are from my generation, there is no way around Nirvana's In the Pines. The anger that's in that one....

Nirvana : Where did you sleep tonight



Now, I'm sure there are other one's that belong to your memory. Feel free to share it in a comment or email : Beautiful versions, rare stuff, songs with a personal story... It's an open invitation to your story. (Smilingly I add : That includes you to, Joe and Billy. )

Greetings,
Stefan.

first Luísa Sobral track

Luísa sobral has released a first single of her upcoming album.

I don't know if it is available worldwide, so I hope you can hear it.

I love it ! A nice jazzy track that (I think) make her 1 of the current great female jazz singers.  The first influences I hear (for this song)  come from Melody Gardot's fabulous album 'My one and only thrill'. Combined with some wonderful instrumentation I link to Joe Henry's 'Blood From Stars'.

Editorial note : A live long of reading the news as I get it, made it natural for me to type : '1 of the great female jazz singers'. Thinking about this now : Would I also say '....great male jazz singers' ? I guess it should be 1 of the great jazz singers. 

Edit 19 October, 2016
If I translated correctly from glam magazine, Joe Henry said about this song :

"When I began producing this album, I heard not only raw blues, but also the warm folk, and that was one of the reasons that made me wanted so much to do this one. This song clearly shows the ambiance of this disc. A disc where the piano gives its role to the guitar. A disc that can not wait to be played live. "

 

Releasedate Luísa Sobral's new record

Joe Henry produced Luísa Sobral's upcoming album.

Releasedate is set for November the 18th, but only in Portugal if I understand it correctly. Elsewhere it will be released in 2017.
We also know, what it will look like.

Son Of The Velvet Rat album.....Coming soon

A month ago, record label Mint 400 Records made the announcement, on twiter, that the Joe Henry produced album of Son of the Velvet Rat was signed to them.

For the moment, no specific date, but it seems that it is .... Coming soon.
A wonderful picture from, I assume, the recordingsessions was released. 

The Joe Henry & Billy Bragg Christmas song coming up...

Had a great time performing at Levon Helms' Barn in Woodstock last night. After the sound check, Joe and I took the opportunity of being on hallow'd ground to record our Christmas song.