Twang! A round up of 2022 and preview of the year ahead

By Denise Hylands

Charley Crockett. Coming our way in March 2023.

Photo by Lyza Renee.

Here’s to another year of great music. Live music seems to be back and happening and there’s so much to look forward to in this new year. So much great music was released in 2022, and fortunately for us many of those artists are heading our way early this year. Charley Crockett released two albums during the past year. Under his nickname Lil G.L., Lil G.L Presents: Jukebox Charley, in the vein of previous releases under this name, another album of covers some known and many obscure. A look into the music that has founded him and his sound. And, then The Man From Waco, there really isn’t anything Crockett can do wrong. The great news is that Crockett will be touring Australia in March 2023 with his band The Blue Drifters, playing Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane as well as Tent Poles Festival at Mt Duneed. Get your tickets before you miss this awesome show. Kentucky native Ian Noe released one of my favourite albums of last year Rivers Fools & Mountain Saints. He’s definitely one of the new generation of singer songwriter storytellers getting some deserved attention and that album will not disappoint. Noe will be touring in March with Early James. Hailing from Alabama, James is another young artists who is proving to be an outstanding talent, with his own old style singing, musicianship and songwriting. His first album was produced by Dan Auerbach who discovered this Alabama lad, produced his first album and signed him up to his label, Easy Eye Sounds. Last year he released the much praised Strange Time To Be Alive. Catch Noe and James playing at Port Fairy Folk Festival, Blue Mountains Blues Festival as well as their own shows. Double bills don’t get much better than Lucinda Williams & Steve Earle. Heading out here for Bluesfest, catch the opportunity to see them playing their owns shows in Sydney & Melbourne too. And to add to the list of tours to look forward to, Greensky Bluegrass, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Angel Olsen, Tim Easton, Bonnie Raitt & Mavis Staples, and i’m sure there’ll be more to come. Buckle in for some great live shows. The last to mention of tours, however but not least, Redd Volkaert is heading our way. Known for his guitar playing greatness and one of the best Telecaster guitar slingers, particularly in the genres of Western swing and honky tonk. He’s played with Merle Haggard, Johnny Paycheck and George Jones to name a few. Often playing with his buddy Bill Kirchen, when they are referred to as the Titans of Telecaster”. Volkaert is touring Australia in early February, NSW, ACT and VIC. Make sure you catch this amazing guitar player touring with Ray Beadle. Here’s a list of some of my favourite releases from 2022. If you’re looking for some good twang over summer, this is a good start. I highly recommend them all. In no particular order.

Lil G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley & The Man From Waco - Charley Crockett The Real World - Freya Josephine Hollick Neon Blue - Joshua Hedley River Fools & Mountain Saints - Ian Noe On The Ranch - Emily Nenni - Kingmaker - Tami Neilson Teddy & The Rough Riders- Teddy & The Rough Riders Doggabone - Texas String Assembly Welcome To Sin City - Sin City I’d Rather Be Listening To Sweet Talk - Sweet Talk This Mess We’re In - Arlo McKinnley - Obsessed With The West - Brennen Leigh w/ Asleep At The Wheel