INTERVIEW | 'Bigger and Better' - Loz Campbell Talks Guitars, New EP and UK Tour

Big sound, big energy, big riffs - that's Loz Campbell.

Hailing from Yorkshire, Loz may be the namesake but Loz Campbell is very much a band effort, she the compelling fiery frontwoman. 

The first couple of months of 2023 sees the release of a self-titled EP (out February 1st) and a debut headline UK tour, setting the stage for an exciting year. We were lucky to have the opportunity to chat with Loz about it! 

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Let's kick things off by going back! What was your first guitar?

It wasn't anything majorly special. It was like a 3/4 nylon string green-y-black guitar. I've still got it sat in the corner of a room somewhere. I got it from Rock Factory in Castleford and I still, to this day, take my guitars [there] to be set up and whatnot. One of my guitars is there at the moment. I have a long relationship with the guys at Rock Factory.

That was your first, what are you currently playing?

My main one is Gibson, unfortunately that's the one that's been fixed at the minute - I'm gutted about that! Yeah, got a Gibson Les Paul from 1975, then I play a PRS SE Custom. I've just got myself a ESP SC-500...which kinda sounds a little bit like a motorbike!

What music were you into growing up? I'm guessing it was rock...

I remember getting a Nirvana CD for Christmas because I think back when I was about eleven, I don't think I had discovered Spotify - I don't think it was a thing! It was all CDs. Nirvana...Guns N' Roses, I was listening to from about the age of four...Nickelback, Soundgarden...they were the early things that I liked. It grew heavier throughout my teens, like Korn, System of a Down, that sort of stuff.

You're about to release your new EP, it drops February 1st! It's not your first release but, interestingly, you've decided to go down the self-titled route and subvert the tradition of having the debut be self-titled? Was there a reason a behind the decision to do so?

There is a reason behind it. The main reason, as a band we talked about it, is that a lot of people see Loz Campbell as [just] me. It's grown from me as as acoustic artist, and grown gradually into a band and now is a definite band. It's a band sound and a band image. 

What we've done is that the title of this [EP] is wiping the slate clean and gone 'right, this is Loz Campbell now'. People who might not know a lot about our band, might think 'oh, it's Loz and them behind her'. Actually what it is, is it's all of us. Take one of us out and it would not be the same. We all have massive respect for each other. There was talks to change the name [entirely] but we've built it up so much that it would not be beneficial to change it. So we've gone with the self-titling and see how that goes.

So you started out a solo artist? How did you eventually shift into the band life?

I've always, always wanted a band. I never wanted to be a singer, I wanted to play guitar. I always saw myself in a band. When I couldn't find a singer, people were like 'you can sing, you can do it yourself'.

When you start writing songs, you write lyrics for them and you become something. I've become a guitarist and [then] a singer naturally. It was not something I ever saw myself doing but it's what it has grown into. It was just finding the right people. It was finding people to begin with - when you're fifteen, who do you really know that wants to be out three or four times a week gigging? There was not, where I came from, a lot of younger people who are passionate enough to do that. I ended up playing with people who were older.

Now I've got guys and a girl around me and it's fab!

When you're writing a song what's your starting point? Guitars are a big part of your sound so do you think about the big riffs first? Or the lyrics? Is there a set pattern with your process?

There didn't use to be. It has become more of a thing now working with my producer. He's guided me into certain boxes which I do and don't follow. Structure wise, I follow his advice for structure and building up - we're known for the big choruses. I've always written riffs and things but it's building that finish of a riff up and up and up to a massive chorus that I have learned how to do better. With the last couple of songs, 'Bad Girl' and 'Beautiful Liar', that's really coming across as anthemic choruses, you know when that chorus hits. I do still start with a riff or a melody idea - I can't really pinpoint which one it is, as sometimes it's the other way round.

Going through your discography, I can't help but notice your music videos. They stand out and are great! I love a good music video, and i dislike how there's a little but of a shift away from them more and more these days. When it comes to your videos and making them, how hands on are you?

Thanks for recognising that, that means a lot. Especially 'Bad Girl', a lot of work went into that. It was kinda like a full script. 

It is a thing that's dying out, isn't it? MTV isn't so supportive, like it used to be, of rock and people generally don't go to it now, I guess. YouTube is still massive though, for a lot of bands sharing that they're going on tour or whatever, they do share the music video they just released. It does reach a wider audience and it helps people to attach what they're hearing - if they're streaming or buying CDs - it attaches that noise with what you might be like live or a little insight to the real you. 

I think it's really important. I am a visual person, I learn visually and I think you need to see that. I think it only benefits live performance. The 'Beautiful Liar' music video we did, it was all live performance and I wanted that to come across as this is what we're like live, and this is the energy we bring. 

I have an amazing team of videographers, Fly Girl Films, which includes my very close mates who I became friends with them through that. It was purely a business relationship to begin with but we became really, really close friends. Katie, Amy and Amiee, they treated me like a queen. I wrote a script and said 'this is what I want' and they just came up with good ideas to put into it. We are a real team when it comes to videos. I have a lot of ideas that I throw at them and they say 'like that, but we're doing this' or 'thought about this myself'. It is a real team effort! 

You're heading out on tour in just a few weeks on The Heartbreaker Tour, your first headline tour! What can fans expect at these Loz Campbell shows?

A bigger and better sound! We've been working really hard, a headline slot is...somewhat pressure. We've thought 'how can we now make this big?'. Last year was all about the new line-up and the energy. Now it's what can we do to make it headline, to make it big? We've really honed our sound.

What can you expect? New songs from the EP and just boatloads of energy - anyone that's came to our shows know that it's a wild ride. A lot of us are wireless in the band, we come out into the audience and have a move about. The legendary pyramid at the end of the set I'm sure will still be happening!

What I think is really cool about this tour is that it starts in Edinburgh at the same venue where just a few months ago, you were the support act for Richie Ramone! How cool is it to be coming back there and being the headliner?

It's really exciting! That gig was absolutely amazing. Edinburgh and London are two of my favourite places to play and we're doing both on the tour, which is cool! It is exciting. Anybody that came to the Richie show [should] mosey on down!

A new EP and a new tour, what a way to kick off 2023! What else is in store for Loz Campbell this year?

We've got some really cool stuff. We did HRH Festival in Leicester, and September we've got the New Wave of Classic Rock at KK's Steel Mill. And we've got a tour in March that I can't say anything about yet, and it's killing me! It's big - after the headline tour we will be announcing that!

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Catch Loz Campbell on tour February 12th - 19th.

Tour dates and more information can be found here.

SINGLE OF THE WEEK | 'Looking At The Past' - Sunshine Riot

Boston's Sunshine Riot are kicking off the new year 'Looking At The Past'.

The blistering new track is the first taste of new music from the quartet, a satisfying blend of blistering and twangy. We love the band's refusal to pigeonhole themselves into just one genre, this new track part of an ever ongoing sonic evolution that continues to feel fresh but, very much, feels very Sunshine Riot.

'I think the song is a pretty good bridge between the more blues-driven alt-country stuff we often find ourselves hanging out with, and which was really at the forefront of Sparkle Baby 2000, and the louder grunge and punk stuff we seem to be doing a lot of these days,' vocalist Jonny Orton says about the release. 'I think we've always been interested in exploring as much of the rock and roll room (which is pretty darn big) as we can, but I've come to accept that Sunshine Riot is generally at its best when the band is loud and I am yelling.'

Sonically, it's rich with that infusion of genres, accompanied by a sick main riff. Lyrically, it is just as flavourful too with a tale to tell. Orton discussed the tale of the story of the track:

'The song sort of exists in two pieces. The first half, I think, is the internal narrative of a character who has taken a long time to change, I suppose for the better, and is reflecting on their past while attempting to assure themselves and others they weren't too late in putting their wilder and lesser ways down.' 

It was recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago with Steve Albini, where they recorded 2021 EP Electrical Tape.

The punchy release is the first of four from upcoming EP Loud, Bright and Violent. We'll be treated to monthly tracks in the run-up to its release in April...and we at Tour Bus Tunes cannot wait to hear each one. 

Sunshine Riot is Jonny Orton (vocals/guitar), Jeff Sullivan (bass), Mark Tetreault (guitar) and Steven Shephard (drums/percussion).

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For all things Sunshine Riot, visit their website.

NEWS | Kate Ellis Releases 'Other Side of the Street (Radio Edit)' Ahead of Vinyl Launch Show

'Other Side Of The Street (Radio Edit)' is the new single from Louisiana-born singer- songwriter Kate Ellis, who uses melancholy Americana/Folk to conduct fearless soul searching. 

It’s a song about the bittersweet nature of love – how it’s always there and won’t leave you even when you might want it to. As author Louis de Bernières put it, 'love is what is left over when being in love has burned away'.

The Radio Edit is taken from Kate’s critically acclaimed sophomore album Spirals which is set to be released on vinyl on 24th February 2023. The vinyl edition will also come with a previously unreleased special bonus track, recorded during the same studio sessions with producer John Reynolds (Sinead O'Connor, Indigo Girls, Damien Dempsey). 

'Other Side Of The Street' was written by Tom Hackwood, a musician friend who used to be the drummer in a rock band with Kate’s long-time collaborator Andy Hobsbawm. Kate says, 'We loved the tune and although Tom wrote it as an introspective, indie ballad, we thought it would work really well as an upbeat country pop song. I've always enjoyed the way Abba combined jubilant and catchy melodies with lyrics about heartbreak and loss, and I like how our treatment of this song tries to do the same thing.'

Kate will be playing some shows next month, including a special vinyl release show at The Green Note on Monday 27th.

February 18th - The ARC Songwriters' Tour (Hampshire)

February 22nd - Four Rivers Folk Club (Hertford)

February 27th - The Green Note (London)

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For more information about Kate Ellis and show information, visit her website.

INTERVIEW | 'We Were Kids in a Candy Store' - Jordan Harvey Talks His Journey to Nashville and Making New EP 'It Is What It Is'

From Caledonia to the home of country music. Jordan Harvey is set to embark on his next chapter by releasing his debut EP, It Is What It Is.

As part of King Calaway, Jordan performed on national TV across America and even opened for one Mr Garth Brooks. Now, it's time for the Scot to step into the spotlight as a solo artist...and that spotlight is already so bright

Jordan took some time to chat to us about his journey from Scotland to the States and the making of the EP.

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Hi Jordan! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. You're chatting with us from the UK right now but you're otherwise based over in the States, in Nashville. You made that move a few years ago now and it's a big move. What made you decide to go for it? It's a massive jump, right?

Massive jump. I'd done London for a while [but] it wasn't the scene for me. I always loved country music and had such a heart for it. I had between a thousand and two thousand pounds in my bank account and thought 'I'm doing it, I'm gonna jump on a plane and see what it's like'. That's what I did. As soon as I touched down in Nashville, I knew this was where I was meant to be and where I wanted to be. After eating a thousand tins of beans and sleeping on sofas for months and months and months, I got my first job playing drums on Broadway. After that it started to snowball. 

I was relentless. I still am relentless. I met people, I went to concerts. Network, network, network. There'd be times when I'd have forty dollars in my bank account and I'd need to get this person out for lunch. I'd take them out and the bill would be thirty-four dollars but I'd pay for it because that's how much I wanted it. I want this so bad [that] I'd put everything into this and not stop until it works for me.

You're only a little bit older than me and we're both from Scotland. I'm curious to know how you got into the genre. I know for myself, at that time, country was still on the downlow so to speak, still growing and still relatively hard to find. What was your first taste of country music?

My dad was a mechanic at my grandad's garage. On Saturday mornings, my brother and I would go along and my dad would spin Johnny Cash records on a vinyl player in the corner of that garage. I fell in love with Johnny Cash from a super young age. My mum would sing Kenny Rogers songs to put me to sleep at night. I don't think I knew what they were at the time, as I was four or five. I kept loving Cash and thought there had to be more than just Johnny Cash in country music. I'd go to a record store and [this] guy would have a cool hat and it was a George Strait record!

I'm also a huge Scottish and Irish folk music fan, too. I love The Pogues. I love Shane MacGowan and Dougie MacLean...I love music that has a rich story to it. There's no better music in the world than country and folk to tell great stories. 

I knew I wanted to live somewhere like America, I'd always dreamt of America. I knew that country music was the place for me. I remember I was sat with my dad one night on the sofa. I said 'there's a massive gap in the market for someone from Scotland in country music, there's no-one that's ever done it...I'm gonna do it'. That was twenty years ago, and we're just getting started!

Speaking of starts, what was your starting point in regards to performing? You're a multi-instrumentalist as well as a singer-songwriter - you play piano, drums and guitar! How did you get started?

Drums was my first, that was the first [instrument] I started on. It wasn't until I got a call, I had just graduated university and I wasn't sure what to do with myself. I had been playing at the Edinburgh Festival, on The Famous Grouse stage on George Street. I was doing like ten gigs a week there. Someone from the BBC saw me. My friend called me to say the BBC were holding auditions and they'd seen me in town and wanted to meet me. That was how I started on Let It Shine on BBC. I got right through to the final, which was amazing. They'd kinda branded me 'the country guy' which was great. After that, I was like 'I have the credentials in terms of exposure to build a good case to get a visa for America...now is the time to do it'.

I'm very fortunate. I grew up working class. The fee for me to get my first visa was five thousand. I didn't have any money, my parents didn't have the money to give it to me but they did. They found it, somehow, and they gave it to me which I will forever be grateful for. If it wasn't for them, and the people who took a chance on me in Nashville, there's absolutely no chance I'd be here.

You move to Nashville and you cut your teeth playing the graveyard shifts at honky-tonks. You also, of course, join King Calaway. How valuable were those times in regards to you being here now as a solo artist on the cusp of releasing your debut EP?

I love the King Calaway guys and everyone to do with that. It was such an amazing time in my life, and if it wasn't for that time then I wouldn't be here - I wholeheartedly believe that. My time on Broadway trained me to be in a band and a band setting dynamic. I'm so grateful for both those opportunities.

The stuff that I did on Broadway was some of the best nights of my life. Drinking Tequila shots at one in the morning after playing for three hours and people having an absolute riot of a time in Nashville, that was so much fun. I loved it, and I love how much more I learned about country music. 

People give you requests. They'd put twenty dollars in your bucket and request a song. One night, my friend turned around to me and goes 'let's play a bit of David Allan Coe'. I was like 'sorry, who?' My mate comes up to me and goes *imitates drumbeat*. I start playing this beat, the songs starts and it sounds absolutely class! Right after that, I went and binged David Allan Coe for a bunch of weeks! I was exposed to so many artists that I'd never heard of before because, like you said, we don't get a lot of country music in the UK, especially not a lot of the older stuff unless it's Cash or Hank Williams or Alan Jackson. We don't really get the legends of America. David Allan Coe is massive in America and I never knew that, he wasn't globally massive. I'm very grateful for the time on Broadway. It taught me about how to write and play a great country song.

Arguably your debut track 'Alabama Girl', which features on your EP, is indeed a great country song. It went viral on TikTok! What was your reaction to that?

'Why is my face all over the internet?' *laughs* The weirdest thing is that I walked into Starbucks the next day, ordered a black coffee and [the barista] gave it to me and said 'it's on me, I saw you on TikTok last night'. What the...? It was the weirdest thing! Could you not have given me that coffee when I was eating tins of beans! 

[Going viral] was very strange but I was very grateful. It opened up a lot of doors for me, and that was a very lovely experience. 

And one of those doors that's opened is, of course, your debut EP - It Is What It Is.

I know! It's crazy and I'm excited. A lot of artists try and play it cool but I had the time of my life making this record. I poured my heart and soul into it. The producers on it, they're my best friends and we're all up-and-coming together. 

My best friend is a guy called Tom Jordan who is in Seaforth. He produced one of the tracks for me, and he's one of the most talented people - he could, should and will be one of the biggest producers in Nashville one day. He's just got this thing about him that no-one else [has]. His ear is phenomenal and everyone is starting to hear that in Nashville now and I'm so excited for him. 

Kevin Bard, who is a dear, dear friend of mine, has never produced a record with anyone, outside of demos. He's got three on this with me. It was just me and my best mates making this record. There's just so much love put into it.

What was the creative process for the EP like? Working with friends must've made the project, and the end result, all that more special...

There's a bunch of producers in Nashville that are very well-known. I said to myself, I'm a very young upcoming artist, brand new. Producers work on a lot of records - they might be working on my record and also [say] Thomas Rhett's record and Sam Hunt's record...realistically, who is going to get the most time put on their record? Most likely Thomas Rhett and Sam Hunt. That's not to say this person won't do a great job, but I wanted someone who would be living and breathing this record.

When you make music with your mates, they don't give you everything that you want - it's almost the opposite. When you work with someone that you don't really know that well and say 'can you put bagpipes on this track' they're probably going to be like 'that's amazing, let's get a set of bagpipes!' When you say it to your best mate and he goes 'absolutely no chance', you're like...maybe you're right. It was great to do it with my mates because they kept me on the straight and narrow. They wanted [each] song to be the best it could be as much as I wanted it. 

I had my mate from LA, Kev, who produced a few songs, call me at three in the morning [about the songs]. That's what I wanted. I wanted [people] who are ready to go with me to the end on this record, and care as much as I did. When we got the mixes back, we'd be jumping about the room like 'it's amazing'. We were like kids in a candy store making this record.

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It Is What It Is is out 20th January.

For more on Jordan Harvey, visit his website.

INTERVIEW | 'I'm Excited For The Journey' - The UK's Caitlin Mae Talks New Single 'Fiona', Nashville and Performing With Carrie

There's no maybes about it - Caitlin Mae is set for a big year.

Caitlin released new track 'Fiona' last week, a beautiful number born out of tough personal experiences, country satisfyingly infused with synth. The release kicks off another exciting year for her - previous years have seen multiple trips to Nashville, winning awards in Atlanta, and performing with a little known megastar called Carrie Underwood in Cardiff.

We had some time to chat to Caitlin about her country roots, that Carrie duet and what 2023 holds in store!

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I want to start by asking how you first got into country music as it’s always interesting to hear how someone from these shores got introduced to the genre. Everyone has their own story of sorts, what’s yours?

It’s a very warm memory for me. My parents decided to buy a holiday home in Florida when I was two years old [so] I grew up travelling between the UK and Florida and spending a lot of time there. meeting and being surrounded by people from a different culture and lifestyle. It inspired me to delve into the world of country music as I got older and realized that music was definitely my path. 

From a young age, I knew that this was what I wanted to do. My parents, even though they were supportive, they kinda thought I would grow out of it because a lot of children have these dreams of being singers or actresses. They probably thought ‘one day she’ll wake up and want to be a doctor or scientist’ *laughs* That never happened for me. It was definitely not a phase. My parents realized that eventually and have been so, so supportive. We’re all a huge country music loving family.

Was country the first genre you dabbled in when you decided you wanted to sing?

It wasn’t. I started off in musical theater because, being in the UK, that definitely has more appeal to a lot of people - people kinda understand it more. When I was young, I thought that was the only way forward if I wanted to pursue music in the UK. I knew that I wanted to move to America but I thought, being young and probably a bit naive, that I couldn’t pursue country music until I made the leap and moved. I realized eventually that’s not the case, and you can do it even if it’s not the biggest genre in your area. It turns out that it was a growing genre and the UK scene is so much bigger than it used to be. It’s a beautiful community to be a part of.

It’s not just country your music embraces, as you infuse various other genres too such as pop and rock. Is this a conscious decision? Or one that just comes naturally?

It’s been on my mind to try and make the songs appeal to a more broader audience. I would love, one day, for my music to be played worldwide and I don’t want country music to be a barrier. Sometimes people make up their mind about your music as soon as they hear what genre you are. It’s so important to defy those boundaries, push past them and show that there is something for everybody in country music. There’s so many subgenres and more and more by the day as people have unique perspectives and ideas and bring it to their songs. That’s really special about the evolution of country music. I definitely did that on purpose but it does come naturally to cross the borders into other genres like pop and rock. I went with a synth sound for ‘Fiona’.

As well as that synth-country sound, ‘Fiona’ embraces an important topic, dealing with the idea of loneliness. It’s a song that is ‘personal’ to you. Was releasing such a song a daunting prospect? Or does the idea of it helping others ease any fears of sharing something that close to your heart?

I do hope it will connect with others, and make people feel the way I felt when I was able to write it and release those demons. 

It was daunting as it is personal and very raw. I try to be as authentic as possible, especially when it comes to how we feel in the past, not being able to share those experiences and those emotions with other people. It feels like this big scary thing, [but] the minute we talk about it and share it, the mountain becomes so much easier to climb [because] you’re not doing it alone. 

‘Fiona’ was all about feeling lonely. I wrote it during the pandemic, although those feelings weren’t so much there for me at that time but were in the past with experiences I’ve had - with my older sister, who I didn’t have the best relationship with; and [with] going through school and being bullied. It’s not about one experience in particular but all of them combined and how, sometimes, they make you feel that even when you’re in a room with people, you’re actually very alone.

Was it a song you always had in you and it was the enforced isolation of lockdown that ultimately helped to bring it out?

Yes. I know the pandemic and lockdown had a lot of negatives and we couldn’t really change the position we were in, I also think it had positives. We got a lot out of it as individuals - we learned new skills, we opened up to ourselves, we were able to focus more on our mental health. Even though mental health issues came to the forefront because we were lonely, we were able to give ourselves the self-care and nurture that we usually don’t feel we have the time for when the world is moving at full speed.

Certainly something that you did have time for then was learning to play the guitar. Did you always want to play and it was a case of finally having the time to sit down and learn?

I always wanted to learn the guitar - it lends itself to country music and I didn’t play any instrument. I thought it would be cool to be able to rely on yourself to play and sing, and do it anywhere and anytime whenever you felt the inspiration. 

Lockdown gave me that extra time and pushed me. My excuse previously had been that I didn’t have time. I thought, if I don’t do it now then I will never do it and will continue to make excuses. I pushed myself. I wasn’t exactly sure how it was going to go, especially doing a lot of the learning through YouTube videos! I was lucky enough to have virtual lessons with a guitar teacher but it was a little uncertain at the beginning. It changed my perspective with songwriting.

When it comes to songwriting, what is your process? Where do you start with a song?

Sometimes I might start with the hook of the song, and have this really cool idea for a chorus and write that then the rest of the song will develop around it. Usually, I will write a song start to finish, from the very beginning with a middle and an end - I know in songwriting that doesn’t happen a whole lot, because [some] people will come up with a title first or they’ll have an idea. 

For me, it is storytelling. You tell the story from the very beginning and you go on that journey as you’re writing - it’s almost like the ending is a surprise as you don’t know how it is going to progress and inspire you as the lyrics are written. You’re entering this whole new world when you’re writing a song. 

A few years ago, back in 2019, you performed with Carrie Underwood at the Motorpoint Arena. That must’ve felt like stepping into a whole new world in itself! I can imagine how surreal a moment that must've been for you to have that sort of opportunity.

Oh my gosh…it was the best night of my life. I’m keeping everything crossed that, in the future, it’ll be something that I get to do all the time. 

It was an incredible experience and feeling. There was so much energy and electricity in the room, I was on cloud nine. Carrie was so kind and down to earth. I saw her before I went on stage. I’d been told by the team not to say anything to her about performing with her. As I walked in, and the camera crew were filming, she said ‘I’m singing with you later!’. She was the one that was surprising me! It shocked me to my core. 

We got to have photos together and got to talk. She said ‘make the stage your own, I’ve seen your YouTube videos and I know you like to perform and move around so go for it’. That made me a hundred times more comfortable. What comes naturally to me is being able to perform, not just the vocals but everything, the visual and sharing with everyone in the crowd. I didn’t know if that was something she’d want me to do or if she’d want me to stand on an X - I knew that wouldn’t be a possibility anyway, that I’d be on every inch of the stage! I’m so glad she said that, so it wouldn’t be at the back of my mind. It was an incredible moment that I’ll remember forever. Being on stage, in front of a sold out arena was, like you said, surreal. To hear the crowd, they were singing the words back and the applause, the screaming…it was a dream come true!

You’ve already done so many incredible things besides performing with Carrie. You’ve toured Nashville multiple times, playing iconic places like The Bluebird and the Listening Room, as well as attending the International Singer Songwriter Association Awards where you won awards. For anyone those are big things but especially as someone from the UK. What’s that experience been like for you?

It’s been a whirlwind and incredible to be a part of. It’s such a welcoming community in Nashville. Everyone wants you to do well, there’s so much opportunity that if a friend gets an opportunity then there’s another one around the corner. There’s enough to go around, there’s a mark to be made for everybody - one person is never going to be able to steal your spotlight. We’re all so different and unique and we all have something to share with the world. There’s never this clash where you can’t connect with somebody because they have something that you don’t. We all have something that is special and different about us. That’s what we should be sharing with our music and that’s what Nashville is all about. I’m really excited to be playing new stages this year, and making the permanent move in July.

I was actually going to ask if moving over there was on the cards for you. And it is!

Yes! I got into university. I found out during my last trip to Nashville, which was October through November. I was excited to receive the email but I actually didn’t realize I had been emailed and been accepted…I saw it a week late! I can’t believe I missed such an important email! I was ecstatic to not only hear the news but to share it with my parents who were in Nashville with me. It was a dream come true and I’m excited to make it a reality. I will be moving in July and starting classes in August.

That’s so exciting, congratulations! What else does 2023 have in store for you? What can we look forward to?

I have a lot of things in the pipeline that I’m hoping will run smoothly. I have the release of ‘Fiona’ now and two [more] single releases coming soon in the lead up to the release of my sophomore EP which is called Seasons Change. I will be back in Nashville touring in March - I just booked my flights! I have some different shows and events lined up for the time I am in town, and my tour schedule will be shared very soon. I also have an induction day at my university so I will get to meet some of my future peers. 

I’m excited to get back into the studio this year too, probably looking more likely when I’m there in person permanently in July. I’m excited for the journey that 2023 will take me on.

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'Fiona' is out now.

To keep up to date on Caitlin Mae, visit her website.

NEWS | Canaan Cox Announces UK 'Coming Home' Tour

Bonafide triple-threat Canaan Cox is ready to bring his unique pop-country style to UK shores for his forthcoming Coming Home tour that will see him playing shows in London, Norwich, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh this summer. 

The run of dates has this name because his wife and young son are actually British but they have not been back home for quite some time owing to mitigating factors including the intermittent lockdowns between 2020-2021.  

But that all changes this June thanks to Canaan touring across the country with the North Carolina native making a welcome return to UK cities following previous tours across the country which were extremely successful for the singer/songwriter/actor and fans are in for a treat this time around too.

The dates are as follow:

June 2 - London

June 3 - Norwich

June 5 - Manchester

June 7 - Glasgow

June 8 - Edinburgh

Along with announcing this string of dates, (tickets are on sale now) Canaan Cox has also confirmed that his hotly anticipated new single 'Hate Me More' will be released Friday, January 27 and is available to pre-save/pre-add now.

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More information about Canaan and full tour details can be found on his website.

NEWS | Loz Campbell Announces 'The Heartbreaker Tour' February UK Tour

Singer and guitarist Loz Campbell is delighted to announce that she will be taking her stellar band out on The Heartbreaker Tour, a 7-date Headline UK jaunt in February 2023 in support of her forthcoming self-titled EP. 

The EP is available for pre-order from 25 January and will feature 3 studio tracks and 2 live favourites and is due to be released early next year. 

Campbell is known for her no holds barred live performances, and compelling modern take on alternative rock. Bringing the fire from Yorkshire, she has drawn comparisons with PJ Harvey and Shirley Manson but her style and sound is all her own.

Loz said, 'So excited to be hitting the road this February for my first headline tour we are eager to play these new tracks live. Proud to have such an amazing bill supporting us as well, Novustory recorded some tracks on the EP so it will be awesome to have them follow us into the live shows, for maybe some live collaborations as well!'

The dates are as follow:

Saturday 12th February - Edinburgh, Bannerman's

Tuesday 14th February - Newcastle, Trillian's

Wednesday 15th February - Sheffield, Corporation

Thursday 16th February - Manchester, Retro

Friday 17th February - London, The Waiting Room

Saturday 18th February - Birmingham, The Asylum 2

Sunday 19th February - Nottingham, Tap & Tumbler

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For more information about Loz and the tour, visit her website.

NEWS | Alan Fletcher Announces New Album 'The Point' and UK Tour Dates

Having taken the first steps in his career as an Americana artist last year with the release of debut EP Dispatches and a string of live dates throughout the UK and Australia, actor and singer-songwriter Alan Fletcher appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain to exclusively announce the long-awaited release of his full-length solo album The Point, out February 10th 2023.

Available to pre-order/pre-save now, the undeniably authentic collection features Fletcher’s tribute to one of his favourite artists, John Prine, on his version of the late songwriter’s song ‘Fish And Whistle’, along with Alan’s latest original single ‘Hey You’, available to stream/download worldwide.

Penned by Fletcher and produced by frequent collaborators Lachlan Bryan and Damien Cafarella, the poignant song began its life entitled ‘Hey Mum’, before transitioning into a more encompassing, and universally relatable tale, dedicated to three important women in his life; his mother, great aunt, and grandmother.

Having recently wrapped a 14-date The Doctor Will See You Now tour of the UK, sharing stories from his acting career, along with a one-off headline gig in London playing songs from his solo project, Alan is due to take to the road again throughout March and April 2023.

Following his appearance this March in Neighbours - The Celebration Tour alongside fellow cast members Jackie Woodburne, Stefan Dennis, Ryan Moloney, Annie Jones and April Rose Pengilly, including three sold-out nights at the London Palladium, he will join Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes on the road for two weeks of headline shows across the UK, performing music from the new album. Full dates below - limited tickets available now:

Sunday 26th March: Hassocks, West Sussex – Mid Sussex Music Hall 

Monday 27th March: Oxted, Surrey – The Barn Theatre

Tuesday 28th March: London  – The Bedford

Wednesday 29th March: Selby, North Yorkshire – Selby Town Hall

Thursday 30th March: Settle, North Yorkshire – Settle Victoria Hall

Friday 31st March: Newcastle – Cluny 2

Saturday 1st April: Worcester – The Marrs Bar

Sunday 2nd April: Leamington Spa – Temperance

Monday 3rd April: Bury, Greater Manchester – The Met 

Tuesday 4th April: Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland – Radio Rooms

Wednesday 5th April: Edinburgh – Bannerman’s

Thursday 6th April: Glasgow – Òran Mór 

Sunday 9th April: Leicester – The Musician (solo/acoustic)

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For more information about Alan, including tour information, visit his website.

NEWS | The Lemon Twigs Return With New Single 'Corner of My Eye'

Credit: Eva Chambers

The Lemon Twigs have released 'Corner Of My Eye' a poignant, 60s-tinged rock song and their first single for the esteemed Brooklyn based independent label Captured Tracks.

The release marks their first new music in two years, following the 2020 album Songs For The General Public. 'Corner Of My Eye' is a warm, guitar-led ode to a new love interest, written and produced entirely by The Lemon Twigs. 

On the release, The Lemon Twigs say, 'We recorded this track winter of 2021 in our old rehearsal studio in Midtown, NYC. Apart from the vibraphone, the instrumental track was recorded live with Andres Valbuena on drums and Daryl Johns on upright bass. We laid down the vocals late that night once the traffic outside had died down. We’ve had the song for a while now, so we’re excited to share it with fans who may have heard it live over the years!'

'Corner Of My Eye' is accompanied by a wistful video set in a cemetery, directed by Hilla Eden and Brian D’Addario.

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For more on The Lemon Twigs, visit their website.