Feature: GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Singer Songwriter – Primer

October 31st, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Singer-songwriter editor Pete Whalley gives his considered view on 20 years of the genre with the emphasis on female performers …

Long considered a ‘folk’ rooted domain, the boundaries of the singer songwriter genre have blurred over the GRTR! decades, not least with the emergence of Americana, and a resurgence of country influences, which saw an ever increasing number of such releases landing for review at GRTR! HQ each year.

In reflecting on those decades, I’ve focused on artists that have regularly featured in GRTR! despatches – both on record and ‘live’ – and selected a recommended handful of ‘choice cuts’.

So let’s start with Danish artist Tina Dico. Her breakthrough album In The Red (2006) came relatively early in the GRTR! era and she quickly became a firm favourite as she regularly toured the UK.

While it was a great album, it was her follow up – Count To Ten (2007) – which really ticked all the boxes. And, if you can find it, the 10th anniversary edition with a bonus disc of acoustic versions is the one to go for. Marriage and motherhood may have taken some of the edge off her more recent creativity, but she’s always well worth a listen.

Next up we have the Nashville-based sisters Megan and Rebecca Lovell – better known as Larkin Poe. Starting out with a series of folk EPs in 2010, they shifted briefly into pop with Kin (2014), before finding a natural groove in radio friendly blues-based Americana. Perhaps, ironically it’s their deployment of that style to songs from other genres that really stands out with Kindred Spirits (2020) a collection of, at times, quite brilliant interpretations.

Also worthy of mention are Aussie songstress Missy Higgins and Alabama-raised Hannah Aldridge (pictured) .

Rarely seen on these shores, Missy Higgins has never really bettered her ‘singer/ songwriter’ debut The Sound Of White (2004), although the follow up On A Clear Night (2007) and her home grown artist covers album Oz (2014) offer plenty of highlights.

In contrast, Hannah Aldridge – daughter of esteemed Muscle Shoals / Nashville songwriter and producer Walt Aldridge – has toured regularly in the UK playing her lustful and addictive brew of southern county blues. She may have only released two studio albums to date- Razor Wire (2014) and Goldrush (2017), but they’re a dark brand of Americana that is gritty, uncompromising and utterly compelling.

But vying for runner up spot we have two what might be regarded as more ‘traditional’ singer songwriters – Eleanor McEvoy (pictured) and Thea Gilmore – both having been firm favourites over GRTR!’s 20 years.

Fiercely independent, major success has eluded both – not least because they refuse to be pigeonholed and shift from style to style encompassing folk, blues, country, traditional, acoustic and even light jazz (and, of course, rock). But what all their releases have in common are consistently great songs, sublime vocals, and excellent production.

Frankly they’re impossible to separate in terms of artistic merit albeit their styles are quite contrasting. Both major on matters of the heart, but whereas McEvoy focuses on longing, lust and heartbreak, Gilmore equally values the bitter sweet taste of revenge (no better demonstrated than on her latest self-titled release under the pseudonym Afterlight – a cathartic ‘break up’ album dripping in acerbic vitriol).

Thea came top in our end of year Popular Poll in 2017 for the album The Counterweight.

McEvoy too has recently split from her long term partner but takes a more philosophical view on her latest album Gimme Some Wine (2021).

The ‘best of’ their GRTR! decades are difficult to single out – for the uninitiated I’d probably recommend Eleanor McEvoy’s melancholy and sombre Early Hours (2004), the more upbeat follow up Out There (2006), and her ‘alone in the studio’ revisiting of earlier recordings Alone (2011). And for Thea Gilmore, the aforementioned Afterlight (2021), her ‘breakthough’ album Avalanche (2003), and her ‘Christmas’ album Strange Communion (2009) are all essential listening.

But the GRTR! singer songwriter ‘gong’ must go to Judie Tzuke (pictured). Not just for her longevity – GRTR! Editor Dave Randall and I have been following her career since 1979 – but for her fortitude, her willingness to work with emerging artists and explore new musical avenues, and for her creativity in producing some of her best works in the latter half of her career.

It may seem strange to point to a compilation album, but her 30 year retrospective Moon On A Mirrorball (2010) is an obvious starting place for those unfamiliar with her work since ‘Stay With Me Till Dawn’.

That retrospective apart – she’s released 8 studio albums over the GRTR! years – a lot more than most ‘veteran’ acts. Add in the consistently high quality of songwriting and it’s a decidedly impressive output. She releases her next album – ‘Jude The Unsinkable’ – in 2023.

Since Mirrorball we’ve had the excellent One Tree Less (2011), two first-rate ‘work in progress’ sets – Song Club, and Song Club Too – both of which are well worth seeking out and, having encountered hell and waters high in her personal life, her most recent release Peace Has Broken Out (2017). It’s a very beautiful album of contrasting styles that comes from the heart, reflective of her own personal ups and downs. And you can’t ask for more than that.

Mon-Fri 14:00-16:00 GMT on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio there is a dedicated sequence for Singer Songwriter music. From January 2023 the regular Featured Album section will include the “Best Of” reviewer selections in this genre 2003-2023.

More to explore:

GRTR!@20 Podcast Series: LARKIN POE (Interview, 2011)
GRTR!@20 Podcast Series: ELEANOR McEVOY (Interview, 2008)
Featured Artist (Get Ready To ROCK! Radio): JUDIE TZUKE (Interview, 2016)

The Primer:

Still Rocking by David Randall

Melodic Rock by Andy Nathan

Eclectic by Jason Ritchie

Metal by Brian McGowan

Progressive Rock by Alan Jones

Blues/Blues Rock by Pete Feenstra

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

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 1 December 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 3 December 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)