Tag Archives: americana

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Michael Peter & the Company Release Single ‘Nothing Needs To Be Perfect’

Their first single is called ‘Nothing Needs To Be Perfect’ and it’s an exquisitely produced “perfect” composition. Recorded at the renown Damien Gerard Studios on the Central Coast, NSW, and produced by ExPat Producer/engineer Andrew Beck (Paul Kelly, Kate Miller-Heidke), who started out in Seattle and LA studios. The single from the forthcoming album is the “perfect” taster of what’s to come with its deceptively simple yet lush sounds referencing the golden age of quality songwriting and recording, given a modern edge. 

Michael Peter & The Company is a band growing from the underground of  
The Central Coast, NSW. 
The music is infused with a mixture of real instruments, made up instruments, years of friendship, thoughtful lyrics and a very dry sense of humour.   
All four members collaborate and explore the studio space together; however, none can remember what instruments they exactly played on each track for every song. 

The debut album JUNE, will be released at some point but probably not in June.  
Please enjoy irresponsibly. 
Your biggest fans, 
Michael, Andrew, Anthony & Jeff 

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Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds Release Single ‘Even Smaller Parts’

Following the radio success of ‘Irresistible’ — which was picked up by multiple programs on ABC Country, including Edge of Country — Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds return with ‘Even Smaller Parts’, a deeply introspective country ballad that leans into vulnerability and emotional reckoning. 

Written by Bec Taylor and Sam McNair, the song turns inward, examining what it means to love again after damage. Anchored by rich acoustic instrumentation and a restrained, spacious arrangement, it centres on a voice that is both guarded and searching — someone who knows the cost of heartbreak, yet remains quietly open to connection. 

“It’s a song about what’s left after the storm — and whether you can trust someone with the pieces.” 

Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds are a Canberra-based Australian alt-country pop collective, crafting uplifting, heartfelt songs that blend earthy folk textures with bright melodic hooks. Led by multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Bec Taylor, the band has carved out a distinctive space in the independent folk scene with a sound that feels both timeless and immediate: part wistful campfire confession, part irresistible sing-along. 

Since their formation, Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds have brought their magnetic live energy to stages across Sydney, Melbourne and the South Coast NSW, and have appeared at much-loved festivals including Major’s Creek Folk Festival, Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival and Dam Good Time Folk Festival. They’ve supported artists such as Troy Cassar-Daley, Little Quirks and Sarah McLeod, building a reputation for warm, engaging performances and finely tuned musicianship.  

Bec’s broader musical journey spans multiple projects and genres, including collaborations with the Wiggles’ adult band Unusual Commoners, national touring with Regurgitator, and support slots for The Darkness among others. She has also performed at major Australian festivals including Groovin’ The Moo, Woodford Folk Festival and the National Folk Festival. 

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

  Thursday 21 May – 7pm Smiths Alternative, ACT w/ Dan Musil

  Friday 29 May – 5-7pm The Wharf @ Ulverstone, North Tasmania w/ Sparrowgrass

  Saturday 13 June – 7pm Gasoline Pony, Marrickville, Sydney w/ Bower

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Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds Added to ABC Country

Now added to ABC Country Grass Roots and Edge of Country Shows and Podcasts

* ABC Country can be LIVE streamed wherever you get your DAB+ radio, via Channel 203 of your TV (Australia), the ABC Listen APP or the ABC Country homepage

*The episode will be available for streaming On Demand from the ABC Listen App, or online via this link once the first broadcast has wrapped!

“Gorgeous gear, my ears are swimming in joy.” (Kath Devaney-Producer ABC Country)

With their latest single Irresistible, Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds lean into joy, connection and melodic immediacy, pairing alt-country warmth with pop sensibility, and continuing to evolve a sound rooted in storytelling, community and emotional honesty. 

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Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds are a Canberra-based Australian alt-country pop collective, crafting uplifting, heartfelt songs that blend earthy folk textures with bright melodic hooks. Led by multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Bec Taylor, the band has carved out a distinctive space in the independent folk scene with a sound that feels both timeless and immediate: part wistful campfire confession, part irresistible sing-along. 

Since their formation, Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds have brought their magnetic live energy to stages across Sydney, Melbourne and the South Coast NSW, and have appeared at much-loved festivals including Major’s Creek Folk Festival, Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival and Dam Good Time Folk Festival. They’ve supported artists such as Troy Cassar-Daley, Little Quirks and Sarah McLeod, building a reputation for warm, engaging performances and finely tuned musicianship.  

Bec’s broader musical journey spans multiple projects and genres, including collaborations with the Wiggles’ adult band Unusual Commoners, national touring with Regurgitator, and support slots for The Darkness among others. She has also performed at major Australian festivals including Groovin’ The Moo, Woodford Folk Festival and the National Folk Festival. 

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Big Merino Releases Single ‘Ain’t No Shame’

Alex: ‘I’ve always been fascinated by people who are able to move through life and experience unguarded joy, it’s something that I’ve learned but it doesn’t come naturally to me and I like that idea of learning to let go of something that you love’.

During the recording process the band tried to recapture the spirit of the legendary Sun Studio recordings. Working with Phil Punch provided the perfect opportunity to try that approach especially as he had built equipment for the iconic recording space.

Formed in 2017, Big Merino play original music that blurs the lines between country, blues, roots, rock and pop. Despite an obvious passion for what’s often called ‘Americana’, their songs somehow manage to be very personal and quintessentially Australian – the words and sound shaped by the landscape and their own stories.

Their live sound is a classic combination of acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, bass and drums. Their recordings are fleshed out with multiple guitar layers, gospel style harmonies, Hammond organ, piano, horns and percussion.

In 2018 the band released their debut album ‘Suburban Wildlife’, made two cinematic film clips with director Alan Harca, and performed all around Sydney. The band has done numerous Interviews & live-to-air performances including ABC 702 & RN, 2SER Dirt Music, Radio Skid Row, Eastside Radio, Aussie Music Weekly and 2BBB. The single ‘Black Cockatoos’ was top 10 on AMRAP Metro and Regional playlists.

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BEC TAYLOR & THE LYREBIRDS “LIMBS & ALL” OUT NOW ON VINYL

Limbs & All, the second album by Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds is now available on vinyl through Foghorn Records,  direct from the band at live shows, and Bandcamp – https://bectaylorandthelyrebirds.bandcamp.com/album/limbs-all

“A masterpiece of the folk-pop genre” – Sonic Realms Germany – https://sonicrealms.de/musik/alternative-indie/bec-taylor-and-the-lyrebirds-begeistern-mit-vielfaeltiger-und-tiefgruendiger-musik-auf-zweitem-album-limbs-all-audio-alternative-folk-pop-folk/

“Limbs & All” is chock full of moody alt-country and folk-pop gems that touch on loss, grief and joy. ‘Limbs & All’ is a collaborative album which features all five of the Lyrebirds on every song, weaving together a gentle americana-folk sound palette with acoustic and pedal-steel guitars, drums, bass, mandolin, keyboards, banjo and the Lyrebirds’ signature vocal harmonies.

Bec wrote the lion’s share of the songs while pregnant and nursing her first baby, and her sense of inner turmoil throughout the album is palpable. Whether it’s the darkly rhythmic and poetic ‘Wormhole’ or the elated but hesitant ‘Whisky’, this album is subtler and broodier than The Lyrebirds’ previous album, featuring connecting themes across songs. One example is the musical connection weaved into tracks ‘Photograph’ and ‘Goner’, referencing their sister-song origins, beginning as one song but evolving as two separate songs.

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All recording and mixing was done by Louis Montgomery with some additional mixing on ‘Photograph’ by Marshall Cullen at Damien Gerard Studios, NSW. The album was mastered by Andrew Edgson at Studios 301.

Hidden treasures of the Canberra music scene, Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds are a five-piece alt-folk-pop band. Described as Canberra’s Seeker-Lover-Keeper, their unique harmony-laden sound combines with “charming melodies and lyrics brimming with heart” (Scenstr).

REVIEWS OF Vinyl LP “LIMBS & ALL”

“Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds have firmly established themselves as torchbearers of the alt-folk-pop genre, crafting a sound that is as timeless as it is timely.”

– Jamsphere – https://jamsphere.com/newreleases/discovering-emotional-landscapes-inside-bec-taylor-and-the-lyrebirds-limbs-all#google_vignette

“”Limbs & All” is a must-listen-to for fans of alt-folk-pop and anyone who appreciates music that touches the heart.” – Planet Singer – https://www.planetsinger.net/discovering-the-enchanting-sounds-of-bec-taylor-and-the-lyrebirds-with-their-brilliant-new-album-limbs-and-all/

“Bec’s voice is so special..it soothes like aloe on a cut.” – Indie Band Guru (NYC) – https://indiebandguru.com/bec-taylor-and-the-lyrebirds-limbs-and-all/

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 UPCOMING LIVE DATES

SATURDAY JUNE 29th TOMAKIN, NSW – Smokey Dan’s, 12pm with Jason Recliner

BEC TAYLOR & THE LYREBIRDS are…

Bec Taylor – vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, Hammond organ, felt-muted piano, percussion
Sam McNair – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo
Sophie Chapman – vocals, bass guitar
Grahame Thompson – drums, cello
Hannah Beasley – vocals, wurlitzer piano
Matt Dixon – pedal steel guitar
Jacqui Bradley and Donal Baylor – violins

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Bec Taylor & The Lyrebirds Release Album ‘Limbs & All’ plus East Coast Tour

After two successful singles and the entire album out today (both digital and CD), Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds head out on an East Coast tour in support of the release.

Upcoming Tour Dates

FRIDAY MAY 17th MELBOURNE
Bar Open, 8pm with Happy Axe & James Fahy Happy Axe James Fahy Music
SATURDAY JUNE 1st SYDNEY
Gasoline Pony, 3pm with Julia Johnson & Tate Sheridan
SUNDAY JUNE 9th CANBERRA
4pm, The Street Theatre with Owen Campbell @owencampbellmusic=
 SATURDAY JUNE 29th TOMAKIN, NSW
Smokey Dan’s, 12pm with Jason Recliner
 SUNDAY 30th JUNE
South Durras Garden Studio, 1pm

Limbs & All, the second album by Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds is chock full of moody, folk-pop gems that touch on loss, grief and joy. ‘Limbs & All’ is a collaborative album which features all five of the Lyrebirds on every song, weaving together a gentle americana-folk sound palette with acoustic and pedal-steel guitars, drums, bass, mandolin, keyboards, banjo and the Lyrebirds’ signature vocal harmonies.

Bec wrote the lion’s share of the songs while pregnant and nursing her first baby, and you can sense her inner turmoil throughout the songs. Whether it’s the darkly rhythmic and poetic ‘Wormhole’ or the elated but hesitant ‘Whisky’, the album is subtler and broodier than the last album, featuring connecting themes and ideas across songs. A musical connection is weaved into tracks ‘Photograph’ and ‘Goner’, referencing their sister-song origins: they begun as one song but evolved into two separate songs.

All recording and mixing was done by Louis Montgomery with some additional mixing on ‘Photograph’ was done by Marshall Cullen at Damien Gerard Studios NSW. The album was mastered by Andrew Edgson at Studios 301.

About

Hidden treasures of the Canberra music scene, Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds are a five-piece alt-folk-pop band. Described as Canberra’s Seeker-Lover-Keeper, their unique harmony-laden sound combines with “charming melodies and lyrics brimming with heart” (Scenstr).

Bec Taylor is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who has recorded over a dozen studio records. She has also performed on some of the biggest stages and festivals around the country, including BIGSOUND, Groovin’ The Moo, and the Woodford Folk Festival. She has played alongside the likes of Gotye, The Darkness, and been on tour as main support for Regurgitator and Shonen Knife in her previous projects Fun Machine and Glitoris.

The Lyrebirds is her most recent project, showcasing her song-making through a new alt-folk-country repertoire. Bec started the Lyrebirds in 2020 after writing and producing her first full-length solo record “Adrift” with producer Louis Montgomery (SAFIA, Peking Duk. Consisting of versatile musicians with rich experience in different genres: Hannah Beasley (PaintonPaint), Sam McNair (JD McNair, The Burley Griffin), Sophie Chapman (Brass Knuckle Brass Band, Andy and George Band) and Grahame Thompson (Cracked Actor, BabyFreeze, Mr Fibby).

Bec and the band have built an incredible musical chemistry, with soaring harmonies and rich instrumentation of guitars, piano, drums, bass, banjo, mandolin, and occasional cello parts which complement Bec’s heartfelt songwriting.

Bec Taylor – vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, Hammond organ, felt-muted piano, percussion
Sam McNair – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo
Sophie Chapman – vocals, bass guitar
Grahame Thompson – drums, cello
Hannah Beasley – vocals, wurlitzer piano
Matt Dixon – pedal steel guitar
Jacqui Bradley and Donal Baylor – violins
VIDEO PREMIERE FOR ‘Go On Without Me’

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Big Merino Release Single ‘Second Hand Smoke’

The first 2024 release for Sydney’s Big Merino

The song ‘Second Hand Smoke’ came about after the 2019 bushfires in NSW and Covid. It’s a bit of a lateral take on a story that a lot of people can relate to and it suggests why, in spite of everything, we get up the next day and give things another crack.

Recorded and mixed by Studio Legend Phil Punch, this is a great beginning for a range of singles the guys will be following with this year.

Big Merino arts n crafts

The band will  be performing the new single Second Hand Smoke and a whole bunch of new songs on

Sat April 13 @ The Gasoline Pony

It’s Big Merino‘s first gig for quite some time … come and join us to celebrate the release!

@ The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville
Saturday 13th April, from 7pm.
Book : trybooking.com/CQCRM

Formed in 2017, Big Merino play original music that blurs the lines between country, blues, roots, rock and pop. Despite an obvious passion for what’s often called ‘Americana’, their songs somehow manage to be very personal and quintessentially Australian – the words and sound shaped by the landscape and their own stories.

Song Description

Acoustic southern vibes abound in this new single from Big Merino.  Bass, drums, guitars and a driving snare beat keeps this bluesy track afloat with plenty of sing-a-long moments, even handclaps. Up-tempo, happy and feel good, a great first of the year for these Sydney locals.

Out March 22 Foghorn/MGM

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Daxton Releases New Album ‘Fahrenheit’

The new album from NSW Central Coast troubadour already garnering airplay and reviews around the world following from the Single ‘Kiss The Girls’ earlier this year.

Daxton’s new album ‘Fahrenheit’ features tracks inspired by personal experiences, relationships, and journeys, encapsulating a wide range of emotions from love and heartbreak to resilience and empowerment. The title track was inspired by a studio groove that embodied the intense emotional heat and passion that defined the production and recording of the songs. The album brings a fresh twist to the classic blues genre, infusing it with psychedelic elements and experimental sounds, creating a sonic landscape that is Daxton’s Psychedelic Blues Sound.

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Song Descriptions for 2 Key Tracks

Fahrenheit

The title track to Daxton’s new album features bass, drums, dobro, slide guitar, Hammond organ and his signature vocals. A chilled out blues rock with a mid-tempo feel, this would be a great song to sit back on the porch with a beer and admire the grass.

 Ocean Size

Great surf blues ‘a la’ Jack Johnson here. Slides and dobros, acoustics and electrics, sweet guitar and vocal tones throughout underpinned by drums and bass.

Out March 22 on Foghorn/MGM

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Bec Taylor and The Lyrebirds Release New Single ‘Photograph’

The second single from the forthcoming album following the success of ‘Anchor’ last year.

‘Photograph’ is a delicate and broody alt-folk song full of melodic hooks and echo harmonies, featuring introspective verses, and soaring choruses. The Lyrebirds’ ethereal harmonies combine with Bec’s lead vocal to create a haunting effect, meditating on how hard it can be to forgive and forget in a relationship.

The Video for single was just premiered on Scenestr

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Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds are a five-piece alt-country pop band from Canberra. Described as Seeker-Lover-Keeper-meets-Nashville-the-TV-show, their “twangy, Australiana” sound combines with “charming melodies and lyrics brimming with heart” (Scenstr). They are a band with incredible musical chemistry, with soaring harmonies and a rich instrumentation of guitars, piano, drums, bass, banjo, mandolin, and occasional cello parts, which complement Bec’s heartfelt songwriting.

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Consisting of versatile musicians with rich experience in different genres, the Lyrebirds are Hannah Beasley (PaintonPaint), Sam McNair (JD McNair, The Burley Griffin), Sophie Chapman (Brass Knuckle Brass Band, Andy and George Band) and Grahame Thompson (Cracked Actor, BabyFreeze, Mr Fibby).

There’s two shows in March to launch the single and plenty more coming later in the year

– Saturday 9th March 7pm – Cancophany at UC Refectory hosted by Enlighten Canberra – Tickets 

– Thursday 14th March – Photograph Launch House Gig at Hannah’s in Canberra (tickets below)

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