folk music - Austin Town Hall

SXSW Interview: The National Parks

March 2, 2017 RayRay Leave a comment

I wasn’t kidding when I said multiple interviews would be coming soon highlighting some of the bands coming to SXSW in a couple weeks. This year I sent out questions to any band interested, even if the band was totally unfamiliar to me prior to the interview or their style wasnt necessarily my favorite. I figure this will allow for more exposure and interesting responses from a wider variety of artists. Today we continue our ongoing effort to provide you interesting SXSW interviews with indie folk band The National Parks. Hit the jump to see whats what.

Austin Spotlight: Sleepy Holler

February 21, 2014 RayRay Leave a comment

I am continually amazed by the amount of quality bands growing out of the Austin scene right now. It seems like everyday we’re finding a new band to provide some sweet music to our ears. Today I bring you a project from local songwriter Matthew Evans and his pal J.T. Wilcox who call themselves Sleepy Holler. This duo have combined to create this breathtaking, sort of hushed folk music that’s both beautiful and mesmerizing while still capable of being called pop music. To me, the band meshes the greatest parts of groups like JBM, Local Natives, and Austinites Balmorhea. If you can’t picture that sort of thing happening, check out the track below and see what I mean.

You can check out a brand new 6 song EP by Sleepy Holler over on their bandcamp page.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/06-Call-Me-Home.mp3]

Download: Sleepy Holler – Call Me Home [MP3]

Tunes

Austin Spotlight: The River Has Many Voices

June 28, 2013 RayRay Leave a comment

Our recent post calling out Austin’s live music scene has resulted in a major influx of emails coming our way from tons of local musicians looking for some help with exposure on our site. To be blatantly honest, most of what we are sent isn’t worth your time, but then we find some gems like Matthew Payne and his project known as The River Has Many Voices. Payne is an Austin native and has been writing music inspired by the Texas Hill Country for the last several years with an impressive list of recordings under his belt. Upon first listen to the music, I hear sounds similar to Masson Jennings, Elvis Perkins, or really any other of the great up and coming singer songwriters in the game. Below you can find a taste of this material with latest single “If You Gotta Go (Go With Me)” which I’ve found myself drawn to since the very first time I hit play. I’m betting most of you will feel the same way.

While you’re at it, check out new album Division over on bandcamp and make a purchase if you see fit. Stay tuned for more from Matt and co.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/The-River-Has-Many-Voices-If-You-Gotta-Go-Go-With-Me-01-If-You-Gotta-Go-Go-With-Me.mp3]

Download: The River Has Many Voices – If You Gotta Go (Go With Me) [MP3]

Tunes

Beautiful Folk Pop From Gold Lake

May 28, 2013 RayRay Leave a comment

This is a very beautifully done song called “We Already Exist” by Brooklyn via Madrid group Gold Lake. I find myself immediately drawn to the similarities the band has with folky groups like Fleet Foxes intertwined with more indie pop bands like Matt Pond PA. It’s super duper.

Stay tuned as we get more information on the upcoming debut album Years which has a TBA release date.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/90479391″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tunes

New Beautiful Songwriter Tune From Solvents

February 18, 2013 RayRay Leave a comment

On this slow Monday morning, this new singer songwriter tune “Careless Step” from husband and wife duo Solvents is beautiful music to my ears. I really like the way the voices of Jarrod & Emily Bramson play off of each others throughout the song to create some truly great vocal harmonies. The song has some incredible moments throughout.

A new album entitled Ghetto Moon is coming out on March 19th via Bee Resin Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/09-Carless-Step.mp3]

Download: Solvents – Carless Step [MP3]

Tunes

Introducing: Tim Guy

January 9, 2013 RayRay One comment

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we get a lot of cold music submissions on ATH and many of them are fairly mediocre. So it’s nice when we get some great music from relatively unknown musicians like singer/songwriter Tim Guy from Australia. Now Tim has been doing his thing for over a decade having written music in New Zealand, Spain, and the aforementioned Australia. He’s also done quite a bit of touring in his native land as well as some stints throughout Europe. His music brings forth images of fellow folk songwriter Bonnie Prince Billy with the down home country style feel to the songs. It’s a very real and heartfelt type of sound that makes me dream of what it might be like in the countryside of the land down under to inspire such beautiful music.

Tim is currently working on putting out a new album entitled Dreaming of a Night Mango which he plans to get to his fans sometime in early 2013.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/04-Armour-Weight.mp3]

Download: Tim Guy – Armour Weight [MP3]

Tunes