The folk and country scenes have really been thriving of late, so it seemed like the right time to focus on a particular area of the folk genre that I’ve always had a soft spot for – the folk-rock movement. Ever since it emerged in the early 1960s, folk-rock has been a major staple of the music industry, and as this review shows, there are plenty of fantastic bands and artists making music within this style. Let’s dive into the 2nd iteration of my Bandit Highway round-up review series!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo of Cory M. Coons
Cory M. Coons – The Morning Drive
We’ve featured independent artist Cory M. Coons before – he specialises in creating gorgeous pieces of folk music like The Morning Drive. Admittedly, the track is more folk than folk-rock, but I still felt it deserved a spot here, due to the immense songwriting talents on display. It’s more of a melodic folk-rock song than anything else, seeing Cory perform several guitar motifs across each other, keeping your attention constantly poised as the piece continues in style. The video is pretty heartfelt too – find out for yourselves below:
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The Cumberland River Project – Liquor Store
The Cumberland River Project is another act that we’ve featured before, with Liquor Store being a banging new tune from the group. The lyrics tell the tale of a troublesome relationship, seeing vocalist Frank Renfordt sing along to the lovely music with great aplomb, adding a little slice of melodic beauty to the piece. The guitar work is fantastic here too, seeing several spidery little guitar licks break off from the main rhythm section throughout the piece, channelling those classic blues musicians we’ve all come to know and love!
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Nero Simon and the Sunsetters – Reefer in the Air
It’s been almost a year since we last shared new music from Nero Simon and the Sunsetters, so Reefer in the Air is very welcome indeed! It’s a pretty simple-sounding song, but that isn’t a criticism at all – instead, the band perform a track with a classic folk-rock song structure, sure to get you singing along to the catchy lyrics in no time! This band isn’t all style and no substance though – whilst the song may have some funny lyrics about smoking marijuana, it’s clear that they’re all extremely talented, turning the track into an almost reggae-esque song towards the end.
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OH ROSA – Mary (I am here but I am gone)
Next up is OH ROSA, a duo from London who have created something really beautiful in their new track Mary (I am here but I am gone). Despite only being a duo, the song sounds really full, with a gorgeous rhythm section joining the guitars and piano, the latter of which adds a gorgeous tone to the music. The vocals sound fantastic too, accentuated perfectly by the sleek harmonica when it kicks in. It’s fantastic to hear more female voices producing this type of music too, and long may it continue – look out for more from OH ROSA in the near future!
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Jacob D. Edward – Sophie Take Me Dancing
Now we have a brand new artist for you – Jacob D. Edward, marking the start of the new year with his new single, Sophie Take Me Dancing. It’s clear from the off that the Dutch singer-songwriter has a real talent for songwriting, as he’s created a hauntingly beautiful piece of music here, displaying a great deal of emotion and anguish. In terms of the music, it comes from a selection of lovely acoustic guitar melodies, fingerpicked to perfection to follow Jacob’s conversational singing style, backed by some lush backing vocals.
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Pete Price – House of Mirrors
Last but by no means least is Pete Price, an acclaimed singer-songwriter whose career has spanned several decades. House of Mirrors shows exactly why Pete’s music has become so beloved, mixing a unique tropical steel drum sound into the track. It may sound like a strange combination of genres at first, but it really works, making for one tune that you won’t be able to stop humming. I loved the dark minor chords played on the guitar too, as they add something really special to the tune, as Pete croons over the top in style. This is a must-listen track from me!