Lee Ann Womack – The Definitive Collection is the latest compilation offering on the Humphead record label.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since she emerged on the country scene proper in 1997 mixing an old fashioned styling with modern contemporary traits.

Earlier years however had seen her studying the commercial side of the music business interning at the A&R department of MCA records before taking part in songwriting demos at showcase concerts. It was at one of these sessions where she was spotted by Tree Publishings who signed her to their label after listening to one of her original demo’s.

From there on it seemed the writing was on the wall for her to follow her singing career when she accepted a recording contract with Decca records in Nashville.

Her first ever single ‘Never Again Again’ reached the charts followed by ‘The Fool’ which reached the Top Five, followed by accolades from the Academy of Country Music (Top New Female Vocalist), Billboard Magazine’s ‘Top Artist Of The Year and a nomination for the Horizon Award courtesy of the Country Music Association.

This new ‘Definitive’ release offers the listener an across the board mix of cheating, drinking,losing and broken hearted songs delivered in her own inimitable styling featuring many of her chart successes over the following years.

From the haunting ‘I Hope You Dance’ which stayed at the Number One slot in the charts for five weeks through to ‘Mendocino Country Line’(with Willie Nelson) she shows her rich country roots.

Containing thirty four tracks this double CD release gives an insight into the words and music of one of the best chanters around.

Released here in Britain this weekend it’s a great addition to any modern contemporary country fans collection.

Lee Ann Womack            The Definite Collection             Humphead Records  HUMP137

‘Bombshells’ written by Joanna Murray-Smith plays The People’s Theatre from tomorrow May 21st through to Saturday 25th May with performances starting at 7.30pm.

Bombshells is a series of 5 monologues written by Australian writer Joanna Murray-Smith which premiered to great acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival and won pundits in The West End last year.

Each monologue features a female character at different stages in their lives.

From an exhausted mother of three who has ambitions of a career, to a bride jumping out of her skin with happiness on her wedding day ( photo shows Jess Hannah as Theresa) and a young wannabe with ambition and self belief we are presented with these differing women’s world views and feelings.

We also meet a lady in her Sixties determined to live it all before it is too late.

In an intriguing piece of casting noted North East Playwright Allison Carr plays a timid neglected wife whose husband shows more interest in her cacti than in her!

Favorably compared to Alan Bennett’s “Talking Heads” this is your opportunity to find out what makes women described by John Lennon as  ‘The other half of the sky “ tick.

This is sure to be an evening of humour, pathos and reflection,

Tickets are available from the box office by calling 0191 265 5020

Legendary American singer songwriter Emmylou Harris is always welcome to these shores and in particular to our very own The Sage Gateshead.

Emmylou who has worked with Bob Dylan (the Desire album) and Gram Parsons on the magnificent “Love Hurts” has in recent years become a songwriter and song interpreter of great acclaim with Daniel Lanois produced albums “Wrecking Ball” and “Red Dirt Girl” with Malcolm Burn.

Collaborations with Mark Knopfler, Peter Gabriel and Willie Nelson prove that she is not only a Country Music Eminence but also an edgy music star with cross over popular appeal.

Whatever Emmylou does it is always classy, melodic and heartfelt.

All of this was delivered in abundance with an emotional and wonderful concert last evening at The Sage Gateshead.

This concert was the closing date of her current 2013 UK Tour with long-term associate, songwriter and friend Rodney Crowell that showcases their recently released and award winning great new album ”Old Yellow Moon”.

These talents go way back to an early line up of ‘Emmylou’s “Hot Band” in the Seventies.

“Old Yellow Moon” which was enthusiastically reviewed by this magazine earlier this year marks what they have described “as a forty year friendship and beyond”.

The album has been a hit with critics, fans and music lovers alike.

Rodney and “The Lady” schooled each other with Everly Brothers harmonies and Buck Owens tunes in an early apprentiship which launched both of their long lasting careers with great musical craftsmanship, substance and style.

That pedigree and affection for one another was much in evidence during the show with a comprehensive performance of each others greatest songs which including a cornucopia of songs from the opening ‘Return Of The Grievious Angel’ through to the dying encore strain of “One Of These Days”.

With create value for money the show lasted two and a half hours with the pair duetting beautifully on various gems as their voices rang in harmony as contented bees about a melodic honey pot.

Their performance of “Love Hurts” rang of an emotional truth that only the hard road of loving and living engenders in artist and audience.

The audience was held spell bound in a collective moment of “WoW”!

Playing with a scratch band of seasoned players and new faces, the young Australian lead guitarist  Jedd Hughes was on such fine form that Eric “The God” Clapton” would have had a sweat on to keep up with him!

An wistfull tone was set with Emmylou’s self penned song “Kate” tribute to her friend Kate McGarrigle who she missed as a talent and “ presence” in her life.

Emmylou herself radiated confidence and charisma that without apparent effort made her the natural centre of attention all evening.

Understated she was very much in command of her craft, band and audience.

The concert was brought to an emotional and satisfying resolution with a rousing tribute to the remembrance of the late great “George Jones”.

This was an utterly spell binding evening which will live long in the memories of the audience that were lucky to catch this evening of enchantment, entertainment, reminisce and wonder

Come back soon the pair of you!

Produced by Acorn Media and starring Polly James and Nerys Hughes this is the DVD release of Series Two of the crowd-pleasing BBC serial written by Carla Lane.

Originally broadcast in 1971 on the BBC the comedy programme told the story of two single girls sharing a flat at the end of the “Swinging Sixties” and into the socially changing early “Seventies”.

Their ups and their downs in dealing with boyfriends, jobs and the influence of their parents are nicely represented in an attractive manner.

Writer Carla Lane tapped into the changing roles of women in this socially revolutionary era to provide our heroines with a social norm to push against and context for the expression of their individuality.

The “pill” revolutionized and liberated women and had a dramatic effect upon the power play between the sexes.

Mothers and Grandmothers did not always welcome the” young ones “new attitudes and behaviour.

To great comic effect these issues are served up as day-to-day events and situations in these young girls lives.

From our perspective these sometimes life-changing events are funny sad as these “dolly bird” girls with their fancy new fashions and way of talking seek their own identity and resist the expectations of the older generation’s opinions as to how they should be expected to behave.

Finely acted and tightly scripted the episodes are a master class in popular entertainment underpinned with an awareness of the changing times that was effecting every household in the land in those times

Something of a time capsule of fashion and set design there is a lot that is familiar to our contemporary world.

Furthermore good jokes never grow old!

A fun series, that is lighthearted warm and appealing.

The two lead actress’s shine like the two birds the series is named after that crown “The Liver Building” in Liverpool.

A “Scouse” treat for one and all.

The Liver Birds (DVD)                  Acorn Media

American Heartland is a triple CD release from Sony Music.

Described as ‘Songs that capture the spirit of America” it contains forty seven tracks from some of country’s more modern artists.

This new offering gives the listener a look into the changing world of country music with a flavouring of folk, soft rock, country and crossover country pop songs.

Although it seems that here in Britain X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent TV shows never generate new country artists, America is lucky enough to turn out finalists and winners, some of which are featured here with contributions from American Idol, in Kelly Clarkson, 2005 winner Carrie Underwood plus two finalists from Nashville Star and last years American X Factor winner Tate Stevens.

Modern classic tracks also feature with Lonestar’s ‘Amazed’, Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still The One’, and Leann Rimes’ ‘How Do I Live’.

Songs used in TV series and film soundtracks are also listed, with the theme from ‘True Blood’ (Jace Everetts’s Bad Things), and Gwnneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw, Chris Young and Patty Loveless featuring songs from the ‘Country Strong’ movie.

Newer names likes Lauren Alaina, The Henningsens, Scotty McCreery, Little Big Town, Love and Theft, Eric Church, Sarah McLachlan ,The Secret Sisters, The Civil Wars, and Hunter Hayes all add there styling to an across the board mix of eclectic offerings.

If you’re a non appreciator of country that considers it still to be ‘Hee Haw’ music then this release will remove the cobwebs from your ears as it channels a new appreciation of some of  the best music around.

It may not however impress the true traditionalist country fan although there are contributions from Alan Jackson, Keith Whitley and Jimmy Buffet.

All in all, in my book it’s a great release that may garner more people to appreciate ‘songs that capture the spirit of (the changing face) of America’.

I invite all musical appreciators to check it out …it could change your opinion of a music that having stood the test of time is now moving on.

American Heartland               Various Artists                 Sony Music

Written and directed by Andy Hamilton and starring Neil Pearson, ‘Trevors World Of Sport’ is the first time release of this BBC television sitcom that was broadcast originally in 2003 .

Set in a Sports Industry PR Company Pearson plays as duck out of water decent man in a mindboggling corrupt business.

Diva like stars from differing fields of sporting endeavour are serviced by Trevor and his morally stillborn partner Sammy Dobbs played with energetic relish by Paul Reynolds.

Each thirty-minute episode presents a morality tale of moral standards compromised by the financial bottom line.

Writer Andy Hamilton has great fun presenting a” bonkers formula one driver” on the cusp of becoming World Champion who cannot be persuaded to not race for his own safety.

He does and wins anyway!

An “established client “who is as tiresome as he is demanding causes havoc when a kiss and tell  “ex girlfriend” threatens to go to the Press not about the affair but about the “inadequacy “ of her famous estranged lover.

The lady demands payment not to kiss and tell.

Trevor’s client is horrified and wants the matter buried in broad daylight.

Unfortunately established client’s ego prompts him to give a high profile interview where he boasts about his “equipment”.

The look on Trevor’s nonplussed face when he discovers this is priceless!

Office life and their eccentricities are nicely captured in this subtle and witty series.

This is not a laugh out loud laughter feast rather a nuanced look at lives compromised between standards and the realities of showbusiness in the sports world.

An added bonus to the series is to guess which real life stars are the inspiration for the monsters portrayed.

A hoot!

Trevors World Of Sport DVD                   Acorn Media

‘Mother’ is the first solo album release from Natalie Maines former lead singer of the award winning Dixie Chicks.

“I wanted this music to be very different from The Dixie Chicks” she says.”Lots of albums by lead singers might just have been made by the band, but I think this is very different from anything the Chicks could make.That separation and distinction was important”.

She’s right ..this is nothing like the sound created by ‘the Chicks’, and it is ‘different’.

Gone are the creative country sounds that the trio honed to perfection and in comes a rocky edge styling, tantamount sometimes to bordering on ‘heavy’.

As a member of the best selling female group of all time, who sold over 30 million albums and won 13 Grammy awards, the ten songs on ‘Mother’ certainly reveal another side of one of the acclaimed voices of our time.

However, for the country fan who adored her work with her former band she has perhaps created a gap, albeit that any artist is allowed to express themselves in a different genre, this album may not reach many of her aforementioned appreciators.

The album’s title is taken from Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ album and her version of course is a cover of that song which was initially released on ‘West Of Memphis:Voices For Justice’ the soundtrack to ‘West Of Memphis’ which is a film relating to the injustice of the West Memphis Three for which she campaigns.

The song ‘Free Life’ also features on the album because of its connection to the case.

It’s not an album for the faint hearted dedicated ‘Dixie Chicks’ fan, albeit that if it’s a voice that you appreciate, then you’ll love it.

“I want to put all my efforts towards this album. I feel completely dedicated to it, and I want to give it everything I can”, she says.

She certainly does that… but for me I prefer ‘that voice’ with the sound of The Dixie Chicks.

Before you ponder, I am assured that this does not mean the end of the Dixie Chicks as Canadian dates are already booked for the Summer.

Check it out for yourself by logging on to www.nataliemainesmusic.com.

Natalie Maines          Mother               Sony/Columbia Music

Also available on Amazon by clicking the link below

Mother

Canadian Book Of Beer by Steve Cameron is one of the latest offerings to come from the Blue Bike Books publishing stables.

Beer is a universal beverage with as many variations as there are recipes that magically merge water, hops and yeast.

Charles Dickens no slouch when it came to alcohol refreshment would at the end of a hard days writing or performing,call out” Bring in the bottled lightning, a clean tumbler and a corkscrew”.

The reach of the amber nectar has spread across the world and never more so than to Canada.

How popular it is and how it now ranks as that country’s unofficial national, beverage is the story well told in this wonderfully and entertaining book by Steve Cameron.

Innovators in craft brewing Canada has a long history of producing seasonal beers to meet the multi cultured variations and appetites of that wonderful country.

Full of quirky facts about brewing pioneers such as EP Taylor who revolutionized the industry.

We learn about Alexander Keith and his concept of “Nova Scotia Good Times”, the “Sleeman Family’s” history in developing beer manufacture across the Country.

We are advised of the regional variations in the types of Canadian beer, their recipes and the foods that compliment them.

Amusingly illustrated and written this is a fun book for the lighthearted reader and imbiber.

I lift a glass and so will you to this Canadian book of Beer.

Available on Amazon by clicking this link

Canadian Book of Beer

Produced and directed by Jim Brown this time Time Life DVD entitled ‘American Troubadour” is available at all good CD/DVD stores.

“American Pie”, “Vincent”, “And I Love You So” are three songs that will live forever.

Their author and singular performer Don McLean the American singer songwriter is the subject of this slow burning but rewarding profile “American Troubadour”.

He appeared in the early Seventies with these three epic songs that have been hits for him and have graced the repertoires’ of some of the world’s greatest singers and stars including Madonna and Perry Como.

Personally Elvis Presley’s late career interpretation of his “And I Love You So” reduces me to tears every time I hear it.

What is the measure of a talent who could challenge Roy Orbison to defer to his interpretation of the magnificent “Crying” ?

The answer is nicely delivered in this busy and personally involved film profile of the enigma and talent that is Don Mc Lean.

Approaching seventy with nothing to prove Don is presented as a highly intelligent poet and musician.

Brilliant in concert he is described by Brian Wilson as having one of the best voices in the business(“no echo, he doesn’t need it”)!

A storyteller by instinct he touches hearts and conjures wonderful melodies to complement magical fine words of wisdom, love and loss.

We are taken on a narrative of his personal and professional life with great archive film of committed performances of his famous and other little known but equally memorable songs.

Into this joyous harvest we are gifted with his personal insights into the ideas and events that prompted him to create and interpret these iconic songs.

Observing that “Politics and Art run on parallel lines”, JFK ‘s horrific murder in Dallas was as much a public shock as the tragic death in a plane crash of Buddy Holly is an example of ideas  that found music symmetry with his majestic and mysterious ”American Pie’.

The loneliness of Van Gogh’s artistic sensibility with his “ Vincent’s, Starry Starry Night ”expresses in words that all of us see in that great Dutchman’s sad- happy work.

Full of unexpected delights and insights this film is a long overdue homage to a singular and quite magnificent talent.

Don McLean – American Troubadour DVD            Time Life

Available through Amazon..click this link for details.

 Don Mclean: American Troubadour (Dvd) [2012]

The SummerTyne Americana Festival held each year at The Sage Gateshead takes place this year from July 19th to 21st.

Over the years it has become the prestigious event for musical appreciators with an across the board mix of musical genres with a nucleus of country flavourings.

This year the indoor events kick off with The Mavericks (pictured right) appearing on the opening night, followed by appearances from Heritage Blues Orchestra, Mud Morganfield (eldest son of Muddy Waters), Patty Griffin, Matthew E White, Shelby Lynne and Willy Mason.

Elsewhere in the programme a celebration of some of the finest women in Country Music are presented with concerts by Patty Griffin, Shelby Lynne and Larkin Poe but also an especially commissioned concert called, ‘Honky Tonk Angels,’ after the hit song by vintage country queen Kitty Wells, which features current Nashville country star Elizabeth Cook, Opry Legend Jan Howard, the huge voice of Yolanda Quartey (Phantom Limb) and a host of other special guests paying homage to the classic female stars of country music.

With an incredible FREE outdoor stage bill including among many others, The David Wax Museum, Tom Russell and Polly & The Billets Doux, cajun suppers with Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, musical boat trips up the River Tyne, a come-and- sing community gospel choir, film programme and an exclusive exhibition of art work by Jon Langford of The Mekons entitled ‘Nashville Radio’.

An extra addition this year is a SummerTyne Bluegrass supper which will feature Vera Van Heeringen, Dan Walsh and the Kentucky Cowtippers,http://thesagegateshead.org/event/bluegrass-supper/ ,and river cruises with the aforementioned, plud David Wax Museum and DanWalsh, Anth Purdy and Honey Bop Trio and King Jim and THe Rainbow Girls all it all adds up to a special music and entertainment filled weekend.

Full details can be found at www.thesagegateshead.org/summertyne and tickets are already on sale from the box office for the indoor events by calling 0191 443 4661