Category: country

Categories
bluegrass country folk Independent Texas Thirty Tigers UK & European Tour UK Tour

Thirty Tigers 2017 Tours (Part 2): The Mavericks, Sam Outlaw, Whitney Rose, Darlingside, Reckless Kelly, Jason Eady, Angaleena Presley

Screen Shot 2017-04-13 at 11.48.49

JUNE
22 The Sage –  Gateshead, UK
23 TBA  – Glastonbury, UK
24 Interlaken 24th International Trucker & Country Festival – SWITZ

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-13 at 11.54.32

JULY
15th         Breim Country & Western Festival
16th         Oslo, John Dee
20th         Amsterdam, Paradiso
22nd        Gateshead, SummerTyne
23rd         London, Canary Wharf,  Nashville Meets London Music Festival
24th         Bristol    The Tunnels
25th         Oxford    The Bullingdon
26th         Nottingham    The Glee
27th         Manchester    Gullivers
28th         Perth, Southern Fried – The Salutation Hotel

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-13 at 11.57.34

APRIL
1 Groningen – De Spieghel, NL
5 Valencia – Loco Club,SPA
6 Madrid – Cafe Berlin, SPA
7 Bilbao – Kafe Antzokia Kutxa Beltza, SPA
11 Bern – Hush Hush, SWI
15 Untermeitingen – Four Corners, GER
16 Schijndel – Paaspop NL
17 Oostende – De Zwerver, BEL
20 Oud-Turnhout – De Djoelen, BEL
21 Solingen –  Solingen, GER
25 Malmö – Folk å Rock, SWE
26 Kristianstad – Kulturkvarteret, SWE
27 Halmstad – Strandgatan Tjugo, SWE
30 Hultsfred – Hulingen, SWE

MAY
1 Göteborg – Pustervik, SWE
2 Karlskoga – Statt, SWE
3 Halden – Siste Reis, NOR
4 Oslo – Gamla, NOR
9 Bergen – Bergen Live Sessions, NOR
11 Trondheim – Moskus, NOR
12 Östersund – Gamla Teatern, SWE
13 Umeå – Droskan, SWE
14 Uppsala – Klubb Hijazz, SWE
15 Mariehamn – House concert, FIN
16 Örebro – Bosses Lastkaj, SWE
17 Gävle – Konserthuset, SWE
19 Lindesberg – Salute, SWE
20 Skebobruk – Skebopuben, SWE
21 Stockholm – Lilla Hotellbaren, SWE
23 Nottingham – The Maze, UK
24 Sheffield – The Greystones, UK
26 Newcastle – Cluny 2, UK
27 London – Green Note, UK

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-13 at 12.13.47

JUNE
20 Voodoo – Belfast, IRL
21 Dublin – Looking for show, IRL
23 Glastonbury TBA
25 Hare and Hounds – Birmingham, UK
26 The Musician – Leicester, UK
28 The Met – Bury , UK
29 Memorial hall – Sheffield, UK
30 Crescent – York, UK

JULY
02 Tunnels – Bristol, UK
03 Union Chapel – London, UK

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-13 at 12.16.49

APRIL
04 The Loft at Seven Bridge Street – Galway, Ireland
05 Griffin’s Bar – Clifden, Ireland
06 Griffin’s Bar – Clifden, Ireland
07 Kenny’s Bar – Lahinch, Ireland

Reckless Kelly: Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Jason Eady: Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-13 at 12.28.43

July Festival Tour  TBC

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

For more information about the Thirty Tigers roster, including Jason Eady please contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772
http://www.silverprojects.com/news/

Categories
bluegrass country folk Grace of a woman Independent music Thirty Tigers UK & European Tour UK Tour Williams

Thirty Tigers 2017 Tours (Part 1): John Prine, Rachael Yamagata, John Moreland, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Colter Wall,Dead Man Winter,Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell

TT logo-new

 

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 18.56.10

APRIL
7 Cork Opera House – Cork, IRL
8 Galway Seaport Ballroom – Galway, IRL
10 Millennium Forum – Derry, IRL
11 Belfast Ulster Hall – Belfast, IRL
13 Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre – Dublin, IRL
17 Gothenburg Concert Hall – Gothenburg, SWE
18 Cirkus – Stockholm, SWE
21 London Palladium Theatre – London, UK
23 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – Glasgow, UK
24 The Bridgewater Hall – Manchester, UK

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 19.00.05

APRIL
14 Omeara London, UK
15 Omeara London, UK
18 Feierwerk / Orangehouse – Munich, GER
20 Moritzbastei – Leipzig, GER
21 Privatclub Berlin, GER
22 Uebel & Gefährlich – Hamburg, GER
23 Bands in a Barn 2017 – Diessen, NLD
24 Paradiso Noord, Tolhuistuin – Amsterdam, NLD
27 Fonderia Aperta Teatro – Verona, ITA
28 Wishlist Club – Rome, ITA

MAY
05 Antiga Fàbrica Estrella Damm – Barcelona, SPA
06 Costello Club – Madrid, SPA
07 Lost Collective –  Lisbon, POR

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 19.02.58

MAY
06 Oran Mor – Glasgow, UK
09 Union Chapel – London, UK
11 Les Etoiles – Paris, FRA
13 Kampnagel – Hamburg, GER
14 Passionkirche – Berlin, GER
16 Paradiso – Amsterdam, NLD

AUGUST (til 3rd Sept)
31 End of the Road Festival – North Dorset District, UK

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram 

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 19.06.27

MAY
11 Sala Summum – Santander, SPA
13 Hell Dorado – Vitoria, SPA
14 Kafe Antzokia – Bilbao, SPA
15 Sala Capitol – Santiago, SPA
16 Sala Boite – Madrid, SPA
17 16 Toneladas – València, SPA
18 Rock and Blues Cafe – Zaragoza, SPA
20 Blues Rules Festival – Crissier, SWI

JULY
07 Bliuzo Naktys – Vilnius, LT
09 Sjock Festival  – Gierle, BEL
10 Merleyn – Nijmegen, NLD
15 Droskan – Umea, SWE
22 Roots and Boots Fest – Loviisa, FIN
22 Juttutupa – Helsinki, FIN
29 Himmelstorm Festival – Frederiksberg, DEN

AUGUST
04 Notodden Blues – Notodden, NOR
05 Kleppan Festivalen – Stokke, NOR
08 Musikhuset Posten – Odense, DEN
09 Smukkeste Fairgrounds (SmukFest) – Skanderborg, DEN
10 Fonnefeesten – Lokeren, BEL
11 Borderline – London, UK
12 Matterley Estate (Boomtown Fair) – Alresford, UK
13 Gatten Farm (Farmer Phil’s Festival) – Ratlinghope, UK
16 The Robin 2 – Bilston, UK
18 The Cluny – Newcastle, UK
19 Open House Festival – Bangor, UK

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 19.15.12

MAY
20 The Great Escape – Brighton, UK
21 The Platform Tavern – Southampton, UK
23 Servants Jazz Quarters – London, UK
30 Maze – Kreuzberg, GER

JUNE
01 Melkweg Upstairs – Amsterdam, NLD
02 Roepean – Ottersum, NLD

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 19.15.21

JULY
02 Solhällan – Österlän, SWE
04 Hvitan – Falkenberg, SWE
05 Pustervik – Göteborg, SWE
06 John Dee – Oslo, NOR TBC
07 Kägelbanan – Stockholm, NOR
08 Katalin- Uppsala, SWE

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 19.15.28

AUGUST
24 Tonder Festival – Tonder, DEN
25 Fabrik – Hamburg, GER
26 Kantine – Köln, GER
30 Paradiso Grote Zaal – Amsterdam, NLD

SEPTEMBER
01 End Of The Road Festival – Dorset, UK
03 Shepherds Bush Empire – London, UK

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Youtube

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 19.15.35

OCTOBER
25 – Albert Hall – Manchester, UK
26 – O2 ABC – Glasgow, UK
27 – Olympia Theatre – Dublin, Ireland
29 – Brighton Dome – Brighton, UK
30 – Roundhouse – London, UK
31 – Symphony Hall – Birmingham, UK

NOVEMBER
02 – Le Café de la Danse – Paris, FRA
03 – Ancienne Belgique – Brussels, BEL
06 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, NLD
07 – Uebel & Gefährlich – Hamburg, GER
08 – Columbia Theater – Berlin, GER
10 – Sentrum Scene – Oslo, NOR
11 – Sentrum Scene – Oslo NOR
12 – Münchenbryggeriet – Stockholm, SWE
14 – DR Concert Hall – Copenhagen, DEN

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

For more information about the Thirty Tigers roster please contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772
http://www.silverprojects.com/news/

Categories
bluegrass country folk Independent music Thirty Tigers

Thirty Tigers announces new April and May releases with new music from Sam Outlaw, Angaleena Presley, Colter Wall

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 17.52.47

Release Date: 14th April 2017

am Outlaw – one of Los Angeles’s only modern country artists – was presented with the International Album of the Year Award for his acclaimed, Ry Cooder produced debut album Angeleno at the UK Americana Awards 2017.  Tenderheart,is his much anticipated sophomore LP.
The 13-track collection of originals was recorded in the San Fernando Valley and co-produced by Outlaw alongside Martin Pradler. Outlaw enlisted many of the same musicians that made his first album, harmony singer Molly Jenson, pedal steel pro Jeremy Long and guitarist Danny Garcia, along with Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) and Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket).
In addition, Tenderheart features local mariachi group Erwin Vasquez and Mariachi Teocuitatlan.  Outlaw offers an extraordinary refinement of the artistic identity laid out on Angeleno. Sonically, the album elaborates on his “SoCal Country” sound: a sun-bleached, Baja-influenced twang that deftly points to country’s neo-traditionalists and LA’s legendary singer-songwriters. Thematically, ‘Tenderheart’ is a thesis on self-discovery and the power of love –- Outlaw meditates on his own conflicted quest for peace amidst the chaos of his chosen path.

Cat Nº: SIX0106

JULY TOUR DATES  TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 17.55.53

Release Date: 21st April 2017

Angaleena Presley will follow her acclaimed 2014 American Middle Class withWrangled, her second full-length solo album, on April 21 via Mining Light Music/Thirty Tigers.  The album is co-produced by Angaleena and Oran Thornton and features 12 tracks, all of which were co-written by Presley.  One of the album’s many highlights is “Cheer Up Little Darling” written by Angaleena and her dear friend,Guy Clark.    The song — the last song completed by Guy before his death — features Shawn Camp playing Guy’s No. 10 guitar, which was used to write the song with Guy, and Guy’s mandola, which Guy had been learning to play during the last year of his life.   With Wrangled, the ebony haired songwriter from Beauty, Kentucky ups the bar, widening her range and finding metaphors and doppelgangers for feminism, the music business and the unseen underclass who’s just trying to get by. But as thrilling as that is, Wrangled also opens a portal into a new kind of country: textural, trippy, frozen in time, urgent, tranquil, but then raw punk and rural.

Angaleena Presley has been touring regularly over in the UK since 2014 and most recently toured with Brandi Carlile in November 2016 and February 2017 to participate in the UK Americana Awards.

Cat Nº: ML001

JULY TOUR DATES ABOUT TO BE ANNOUNCED

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 17.58.08

Release Date: 12th May 2017

Colter Wall is a 21 years old Saskatchewan born songwriter and performing musician.  Wall’s sound is comprised of resonate and raw baritone vocals,  Folk and Bluegrass style guitar and banjo picking, steady kick-drum stomping, and visually provoking, story telling lyrics. Wall Draws influence from legends of the past such as Hank Williams, Robert Johnson, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, and The Band, as well as more modern Americana pioneers including Shovels and Rope, Jack White, Ray Lamontagne, and Shakey Graves. Despite only recently beginning his musical career, Colter Wall has been seen in the company of Saskatchewan’s infamous gritty bluegrass trailblazers,The Dead Southreleased an EP Imaginary Appalachian in the summer of 2015 from which Sleeping On The Blacktop ended up in the movie Hell or High Water  in 2016.  From dive bars to fundraiser galas, Colter Wall has a history of leaving audiences in shock at the maturity of his voice as well as his songwriting. Currently settled in Kentucky Colter will be releasing his debut 11 track  album produced by Dave Cobb  in May 2017 – featuring all his own compositions except Snake Mountain Blues (Townes Van Zandt)

“Colter sings and writes songs in ways seemingly lost in time. There is an agelessness about him so unusual in someone so young” – RICK RUBIN

“Colter Wall is bar-none the best young singer-songwriter I’ve seen in twenty years.” – Steve Earle

MAY UK TOUR DATES:
Screen Shot 2017-04-12 at 18.00.55

21 The Platform Tavern – Southampton, UK
23 Servants Jazz Quarters – London, UK

(Brent Cobb dates as well 
30 Maze – Kreuzberg, GER

JUNE
01 Melkweg Upstairs – Amsterdam, NLD
02 Roepean – Ottersum, NLD

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram
jjjj
For more information about the Thirty Tigers roster please contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772
http://www.silverprojects.com/news/

Categories
bluegrass country folk Independent music Thirty Tigers

Jason Eady presents his self-titled album released on the 21st of April.

717fd2c3-9e6f-49fc-8c57-29a608a55546

aa709ab6-cc3a-4b8b-a404-755a212fc8a9

On his last two albums, Jason Eady earned major acclaim for his ahead-of-the-curve take on classic country, a bold departure from his earlier excursions into blues-infused Americana. Now with his sixth album, the Mississippi-bred singer/guitarist merges his distinct sensibilities into a stripped-down, roots-oriented sound that starkly showcases the gritty elegance of his songwriting.

The follow-up to 2014’s critically praised Daylight/Dark—an album that “belongs on a shelf next to Dwight Yoakam’s Buenos Noches from a Lonely Room, Joe Ely’s Letter to Laredo, and yes, even Willie Nelson’s Phases and Stages,” according to AllMusic—Eady’s latest finds the Fort Worth, Texas-based artist again teaming up with producer Kevin Welch. Now longtime collaborators (with their past efforts including 2012’s AM Country Heaven, a top 40 debut on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart), Eady and Welch worked closely in crafting the album’s acoustic-driven yet lushly textured aesthetic. “At the beginning I told everyone I wanted to make a record where, if the power went out, we could still sit down and play all the songs the exact same way,” says Eady, who points out that steel guitar is the only electric instrument featured on the album.

Despite its subtle approach, the album radiates a warm vitality that’s got much to do with Eady’s gift for nuanced yet unaffected slice-of-life storytelling. “I’ve always been drawn to writing that’s got a simplicity to it, where you’re digging deep into real day-to-day life,” he notes. Here, that means touching on such matters as turning 40 (on the reflective, soul-stirring “40 Years”), his daughter’s growing up and going off to college (on the sweetly heartbreaking “Not Too Loud”), and the everyday struggle to “embrace the messy parts of life instead of trying to get the point where you’ve somehow fixed all your problems” (on “Rain,” a joyfully determined anthem featuring SteelDrivers fiddler Tammy Rogers). Throughout the album, Eady’s soulfully rugged voice blends in beautiful harmonies with his wife, singer/songwriter Courtney Patton. And on “No Genie in This Bottle,” the legendary Vince Gill lends his singular vocals to what Eady refers to as a “good old country drinking song.”

In each track, Eady reveals a sharp sense of songcraft he’s honed since childhood. “Even back in my early days of getting into music, I always cared more about the writers than the singers,” says Eady, who grew up in Jackson. “I’d look up who’d written a certain song, and then go seek out more songs from that writer.” At age 14—the same year he started writing his own material—Eady began performing in local bars and showing his natural grasp of everything from soul and R&B to blues and country. After some time in the Air Force, he moved to Fort Worth and started playing open mic nights, where he quickly built up a devoted following. By 2005, Eady had made his debut with the independently released From Underneath The Old.

For Eady—who names Merle Haggard, Guy Clark, and Willie Nelson among his main inspirations—instilling each song with so much graceful honesty proved to be his greatest achievement and thrill in creating the new album.  “When you first get started making music, your ideas are grandiose and more about the big picture. But the longer I’ve done this, the more I’ve realized that the real joy comes from the process rather than the end goal,” he says. “Now it’s about getting better and finding more of myself with every album. So instead of writing what I think people want to hear, I’m writing what I want to write and trusting that—as long as it’s coming from an honest place—it’ll hopefully mean something to the people listening too.”

9b90f2a0-f829-465e-8640-0892ec6c583dTracklisting

1. Barabbas
2. Drive
3. Black Jesus
4. No Genie in this Bottle
5. Why I Left Atlanta
6. Rain
7. Where I’ve Been
8. Waiting to Shine
9. Not to Loud
10. 40 Years

hhh

jaj

APRIL

04 The Loft at Seven Bridge Street – Galway, IRE
05 Griffin’s Bar – Clifden, IRE
07 Kenny’s Bar – Lahinch, IRE

Festival in Pontivy, France from May 12-14
Shows in Switzerland May 17-21
Then shows in northern Italy May 25-28.

Twitter – Facebook – Website – Instagram – Soundcloud

For more information about the Thirty Tigers roster, including Jason Eady please contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772
http://www.silverprojects.com/news/

Categories
country folk Independent music New Releases Thirty Tigers

Thirty Tigers new releases: The Mavericks, Sam Outlaw, Angaleena Presley, Jason Eady.

Screen Shot 2017-04-11 at 15.10.07

Release Date: 24th March 2017

Celebrated, Grammy Award-winning band The Mavericks, release their first independent studio album Brand New Day on their own label Mono Mundo Recordings/Thirty Tigers, after years on major labels.

The 10 songs that make up Brand New Day feature The Mavericks genre-defying style. Tthe album opens with the tejano/bluegrass-inspired “Rolling Along”, which sets a tone before the wall-of-sound power of the title track. From the ‘60’s flavored “Easy As It Seems” to the accordion-fueled shuffle of “I Will Be Yours” to the heart-melting beauty of “Goodnight Waltz”, Brand New Day finds the eclectic unit as inspired, passionate and commanding as ever.  The Mavericks formed in Miami, FL in the late-1980’s, eventually moving to Nashville and launching an incredible career that featured hits, sold out tours and the creation of a large and loyal fan base.

The Mavericks created a one-of-a-kind sound that seamlessly blended elements of rock, Latino, folk, blues, country and more. Following a nine year hiatus, The Mavericks led by the mesmerizing vocals of Raul Malo, the driving swing of drummer Paul Deakin, the masterful playing of guitarist Eddie Perez and eccentric style of keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden, re- formed in 2012  to release two more highly acclaimed studio albums and toured relentlessly ever since bringing their exhilarating live shows to longtime fans.

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-11 at 15.15.08

Release Date: 14th April 2017
 
LIVE DATE
30/03/17 Oslo – London, UK

Sam Outlaw – one of Los Angeles’s only modern country artists – was presented with the International Album of the Year Award for his acclaimed, Ry and Joachim Cooder produced debut album ‘Angeleno’ at the UK Americana Awards 2017.  Tenderheart, is his much anticipated sophomore LP.
The 13-track collection of originals was recorded in the San Fernando Valley and co-produced by Outlaw alongside Martin Pradler. Outlaw enlisted many of the same musicians that made his first album, 2015’s ‘Angeleno,’ an undisputed breakthrough and one of the best-reviewed debuts of that year: harmony singer Molly Jenson, pedal steel pro Jeremy Long and guitarist Danny Garcia, along with Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) and Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket).
In addition, ‘Tenderheart’ features local mariachi group Erwin Vasquez and Mariachi Teocuitatlan.  Outlaw offers an extraordinary refinement of the artistic identity laid out on ‘Angeleno’. Sonically, the album elaborates on his “SoCal Country” sound: a sun-bleached, Baja-influenced twang that deftly points to country’s neo-traditionalists and LA’s legendary singer-songwriters. Thematically, ‘Tenderheart’ is a thesis on self-discovery and the power of love –- Outlaw meditates on his own conflicted quest for peace amidst the chaos of his chosen path.

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-11 at 15.20.14

Release Date: 21st April 2017

Angaleena Presley will follow her acclaimed 2014 American Middle Class with Wrangled, her second full-length solo album, on April 21 via Mining Light Music/Thirty Tigers.  The album is co-produced by Angaleena and Oran Thornton and features 12 tracks, all of which were co-written by Presley.  One of the album’s many highlights is “Cheer Up Little Darling” written by Angaleena and her dear friend,Guy Clark.    The song — the last song completed by Guy before his death — features Shawn Camp playing Guy’s No. 10 guitar, which was used to write the song with Guy, and Guy’s mandola, which Guy had been learning to play during the last year of his life.
Angaleena Presley has been touring regularly over in the UK since 2014 and most recently toured with Brandi Carlile in November 2016 and February to participate in the UK Americana Awards and will return to set up the record in early April 2017

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

Screen Shot 2017-04-11 at 15.55.20

Release Date: 21st April 2017

With Jason Eady’s sixth album, the Mississippi-bred singer/guitarist merges his distinct sensibilities into a stripped-down, roots-oriented sound that starkly showcases the gritty elegance of his songwriting.  The follow-up to 2014’s critically praised Daylight/Dark, Eady’s latest finds the Fort Worth, Texas-based artist again teaming up with producer Kevin Welch. Now longtime collaborators (with their past efforts including 2012’s AM Country Heaven, a top 40 debut on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart), Eady and Welch worked closely in crafting the album’s acoustic-driven yet lushly textured aesthetic, touching on such matters as turning 40 , his daughter’s growing up and going off to college  and the everyday struggle to “embrace the messy parts of life instead of trying to get the point where you’ve somehow fixed all your problems”. Throughout the album, Eady’s soulfully rugged voice blends in beautiful harmonies with his wife, singer/songwriter Courtney Patton.   Eady, who grew up in Jackson at age 14the same year he started writing his own material, he began performing in local bars.  After some time in the Air Force, he moved to Fort Worth and started playing open mic nights, where he quickly built up a devoted following. 2005, Eady had made his debut with From Underneath The Old.

Facebook – Twitter – Website – Instagram

For more information about the Thirty Tigers roster please contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772
http://www.silverprojects.com/news/

Categories
country music Texas Thirty Tigers

Clint Black releases On Purpose his first new album in 10 years

 

Clint Black On Purpose

Clint Black On Purpose

Released October 2015 …The first new album in 10 years from this legendry Texas country star.

There are some artists that instantly open your eyes to the enduring appeal of country music, it doesn’t need to be cool, it just needs to be true. One such is Clint Black. On the cover of On Purpose, his first album for 10 years he wears the Stetson Hat to match his name, but it’s not a dress code or outfit, just something that feels right for a true Maverick from the Lone Star State, as he summons the spirits of Waylon, Willie, Hank, Merle and Buck Owens and corrals his inspirations into a unique and original song-style that is pure Clint Black.

It’s no Doc Holiday card-trick, but the ace up his sleeve is a songwriter’s gift for telling a story and making you believe every word. That gift is based on a clear understanding that to tell those stories, you have to listen first. There are lessons to be learned in the everyday details of people’s lives. Clint’s ability to find and link the things that really matter into compelling narratives is the heartfelt part of his success story.

Clint Black Soundcloud

Listen to Time For That, with Clint feeling the pressures of a life where the cell phone keeps chirping and realising, “I’m on track for a heart attack, if I don’t do some kicking back.” Better Or Worse finds him, “Singing the chorus when I need more verse,” over the kind of slinky guitar line that would make Tony Joe White sit up and take notice. Doing It Now For Love is another up-tempo number that rightly suggests money won’t but you everything.

There are more rockers and songs that line up to make their point like the political Still Calling It News, with its baritone guitar twang and same-old-same-old politics. There’s the crunching guitar of Making You Smile, with the suspicions that it’s someone else who’s putting the skip into a lover’s stride. Beer is another hot riffing boogaloo that delves into the pleasure and pain of the amber nectar and was conceived in Dublin. The Trouble is a brooding affair with the reckless abandon of, “Too high in the saddle and too much spur.”

There are big ballads and softer rockers too. Of the latter, Summer, which finds Clint getting some of the peace of mind so desperately sought in the opener, with a soaring chorus to match the lyric, is outstanding. Stay Gone, meanwhile, is a string laden ballad with a surprising bite. There’s also the soulful duet with Lisa Hartman Black, Clint’s wife, on Still Get To Me. More reflective ballads come in the shape of One Way To Live, the acoustic paean to undying love, inspired by his daughter, of Breathing Air. Then there’s the love still to be found in Right On Time and the looking back on love reminiscences of The Last Day.

It’s a typically high quality and mixed set, but if you want to talk about gifts, then Clint’s is the one that keeps giving. He has a track record that puts most to shame and an unbelievable string of country hits to his name. His first album alone delivered five Country Chart topping singles and from the 100 odd songs he’s written, a quarter of them have followed suite. Crucially they are all his own compositions as he’s bucked the Nashville trend and only recorded one song that wasn’t his own, or co-written with Hayden Nicholas.

He’s also a fine musician, producer and a pioneer. While he generally plays guitar live, he’s also a drummer, bassist and fine harmonica player, the instrument that he first learnt as a child. Clint has produced himself and others, bucking another Nashville norm to go fully independent, setting up his own record company and signing other artists to his Equity music Group. Clint has also taken to acting making his first silver screen appearance in the film version of Maverick back in 1994.If the hat fits…

But the hat that really fits is the one tailor made for the titan of Texan country music, who with over 20 million album sales under his belt and a trophy cabinets worth of awards, who is one of the most successful American singer-songwriters of any genre. This latest album is a statement. On Purpose and with purpose, Clint doesn’t do anything any other way. How cool is that?