Silver Knife/ Thirty Tigers [Release date 03.08.18]

I was impressed when Amanda Shires first featured on the GRTR! radar back in 2012 with her excellent Carrying Lightning album.  In particular, her ‘Dolly Parton’ twang and vibrato, her haunting fiddle playing, and her ability to write a decent alt country / Americana tune.

For some reason, her follow up – My Piece Of Land (2016) – passed us by, although it led to headline tours and Shires receiving the Americana Music Association’s Emerging Artist of The Year Award.

To The Sunset reprises that album’s association with Grammy award-winning producer Dave Cobb (who also plays bass) at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, and features ‘special guests’ that include husband Jason Isbell (guitar, and in whose 400 Unit band Shire also plays), Peter Levin (keys), and Jerry Pentecost (drums).

Representing a shift in both sound and attitude to previous releases, Shires has added atmospheric effects pedals to her fiddle playing for the first time, as exemplified on the broodingly ethereal opener ‘Parking Lot Pirouette’.

‘Swimme’r – the song that bookended Carrying Lightning – makes a surprising reappearance, ‘Leave It Alone’ has a U2 / Edge guitar motif and a young Stevie Nicks edge to the vocals, and ‘Eve’s Daughter’ and ‘Take On The Dark’ rock out in a manner becoming increasingly rare for Sheryl Crow.

‘Breakout The Champagne’ is a naturally infectious toe tapper, the Hammond B3-fuelled ‘White Feather’ is poignantly atmospheric, and ‘Wasn’t I Paying Attention’ epitomises the way in which Shires is blurring the boundaries as Americana fast becomes the new rock ‘n’ roll.  ***1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

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Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

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