Well, It’s true that 2023 has been a year full of challenge and of difficult realities to accept in the world. War rages across our delicate planet and politics divides many nations as people find themselves cast upon the seas of change. It’s as if we have learned nothing from the Covid virus and that global threat to humans and our future. That need to look out for each other has seemingly disappeared. While most Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Ireland since early 2022, it has taken quite some time for people to return to previous activities, such as attending live concerts. There was a palpable nervousness to be in crowded situations after spending the previous two years in fear of the consequences of mixing with strangers.
Happily, as 2023 progressed, there was a return to something approaching pre-Covid times with increasing numbers taking the time to book live shows again. This situation continues to unfold and the increase in artists and bands visiting Ireland has been welcomed by communities around the country. There has always been that sense of endurance and fortitude to keep looking for things that unite us rather than what pulls us apart. Music has always been a shining light in the daily lives of so many and the sense of community fostered around the spirit that music invokes has proven a welcome refuge for us to seek comfort in.
The months have passed quickly and we find again that the time has arrived for the Lonesome Highway team to reflect on the year that is about to end. As always, the team has reviewed a large amount of music and at a conservative estimate, 350 albums have been posted on our website over the 12 months. Our ethos continues to be one of support to the music community in highlighting and promoting the work of artists who don’t receive a mass-market media appeal. We listen to a lot of suitable submissions and try to get through as much new music as possible.
At Lonesome Highway, we pay due respect to the number of like-minded artists, PR companies and labels who understand what we have set out to do and send us such great music. Here are the thoughts of our writers for the year in terms of our own personal favourites :
PAUL McGEE
CHOICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Here are the albums and gigs that have made the deepest impression on me during the year. Reviewing so much music is a great privilege and one that brings many rewards, despite the many commitments
involved in the process. Leaving some choices to the side is always the hard part and there are many great records not on my final list. I have limited my choices to albums and gigs that I have personally reviewed.
TOP 12 FAVOURITE ALBUMS
1 EDIE CAREY - THE VEIL
2 ELIZA GILKYSON - HOME
3 JEFFREY MARTIN - GLAD WE LEFT THE GARDEN
4 EQUATORIAL GROUP - SEA
5 HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER - JUMP FOR JOY
6 NORMA MACDONALD - IN WAVES
7 ROD PICOTT - STARLIGHT TOUR
8 LYNN MILES - TUMBLEWEEDYWORLD
9 BRUCE COCKBURN - O SUN O MOON
10 GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV - APPOLOOSA BONES
11 LORI MCKENNA - 1988
12 MALCOLM HOLCOMBE - BITS N’ PIECES
BEST IRISH ALBUMS
1 REMEDY CLUB - BACK TO YOU
2 HISBEN - THE STERN COST OF LIVING
3 IMELDA KEHOE - WHERE TO NOW
LIVE GIGS
1 BONNIE RAITT VICAR STREET, DUBLIN
2 NATALIE MERCHANT THE OLYMPIA THEATRE, DUBLIN
3 CALEXICO THE HELIX, DUBLIN
4 HIBSEN SMOCK ALLEY THEATRE, DUBLIN
5 THE JOHN MARTYN PROJECT WHELAN’S, DUBLIN
6 EMILY SCOTT ROBINSON / VIOLET BELL / ALISA AMADOR THE GRAND SOCIAL, DUBLIN
7 JOE HENRY WHELAN’S, DUBLIN
8 GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV THE NATIONAL STADIUM, DUBLIN
9 LUKAS NELSON THE ACADEMY, DUBLIN
10 THE INDIGO GIRLS NCH, DUBLIN
11 EDDI READER THE VENUE, RATHOATH
12 THE REMEDY CLUB THE WORKMAN’S CLUB, DUBLIN
DECLAN CULLITON
TRADITIONAL COUNTRY
1 AMANDA FIELDS - WHAT, WHEN &WITHOUT
2 MARTY STUART & HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES - ALTITUDE
3 BRENNEN LEIGH - AIN’T THROUGH HONKY TONKIN’ YET
4 VICTORIA BAILEY - A COWGIRL RIDES ON
6 BRIT TAYLOR - KENTUCKY BLUE
7 COLTER WALL - LITTLE SONGS
8 MALPASS BROTHERS - LONELY STREET
9 THE COUNTRY SIDE OF HARMONICA SAM -THE BLUE SIDE OF ME
10 AGS CONNOLLY - SIEMPRE
11 TYLER CHILDERS - RUSTIN’ IN THE RAIN
12 TANYA TUCKER - SWEET WESTERN SOUND
13 WHITEHORSE - I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING
14 ERIN ENDERLIN - BARROOM MIRRORS
15 VANESSA BOURNE - GIVE ME A BREAK
16 ERIN VIANCOURT - WON’T DIE THIS WAY
17 SCOTT SOUTHWORTH - COMIN’ ROUND TO HONKY TONKIN’ AGAIN
18 SEAN BURNS - LOST COUNTRY
19 ANDY HEDGES - ROLL ON, COWBOYS
20 CHRIS GUENTHER - AMERICAN OUTLAW VOL.2
AMERICANA AND NON-COUNTRY
1 IAN M BAILEY - WE LIVE IN STRANGE TIMES
2 DYLAN LE BLANC - COYOTE
3 CHRIS STAMEY - THE GREAT ESCAPE
4 BEN DE LA COUR - SWEET ANHEDONIA
5 SON VOLT - DAY OF THE DOUG
6 LILLIE MAE - FESTIVAL EYES
7 JAIME WYATT - FEEL GOOD
8 MARGO CILKER - VALLEY OF HEART’S DELIGHT
9 JOBI RICCIO - WHIPLASH
10 THE PINK STONES - YOU KNOW WHO
11 NORA JANE STRUTHERS - BACK TO CAST IRON
12 KASSI VALAZZA - KASSI VALAZZA KNOWS NOTHING
13 ESTHER ROSE - SAFE TO RUN
14 ROSE CITY BAND - GARDEN PARTY
15 HANNAH ALDRIDGE - DREAM OF AMERICA
16 JAIMEE HARRIS - BOOMERANG TOWN
17 H.C. MCENTIRE - EVERY ACRE
18 ANGELA PERLEY - TURN ME LOOSE
19 DEAN OWENS - EL TIRADITO
20 MILLY RACCOON - FRANKINCENSE AND MYRRH
IRISH ALBUM
CIAN NUGENT - SHE BRINGS ME BACK TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING
LIVE ALBUM
GRAM PARSONS & THE FALLEN ANGELS - THE LAST ROUND UP - LIVE FROM THE BIJOU CAFÉ PHILADELPHIA 3/16/73
COVERS ALBUM
STUFFY SHMITT - STEALIN’ STUFF
RE-ISSUE
LAURA CANTRELL - JUST LIKE A ROSE: THE ANNIVERSARY SESSIONS
TRIBUTE ALBUM
VARIOUS ARTISTS - MORE THAN A WHISPER: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF NANCI GRIFFITH
ALBUM COVER & PACKAGING
MARTY STUART & HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES - ALTITUDE
GIGS OF THE YEAR
1 ZEPHANIAH OHORA SOUND SHARP, NASHVILLE
2 JIM WHITE CLEERE’S, KILKENNY
3 CALEXICO THE HELIX, DUBLIN
4 CHARLEY CROCKETT THE BUTTON FACTORY, DUBLIN
5 BRENNEN LEIGH DEES COCKTAIL LOUNGE, NASHVILLE
6 KRISTINA MURRAY SOUND SHARP, NASHVILLE
7 SUMMER DEAN DEES COCKTAIL LOUNGE, NASHVILLE
8 MY DARLING CLEMENTINE THE WORKMAN’S CLUB, DUBLIN
9 VICTORIA BAILEY ACME & SEED, NASHVILLE
10 LILLIE MAE EAST NASH BOWL, NASHVILLE
STEPHEN RAPID
BEST TRADITIONAL COUNTRY THEMED ALBUMS
MALPASS BROTHERS - LONELY STREET
THE COUNTRY SIDE OF HARMONICA SAM - BACK TO THE BLUE SIDE
GREY DELISLE - SHE’S AN ANGEL
SEAN BURNS - LOST COUNTRY
TEDDY THOMPSON - MY LOVE OF COUNTRY
BRENNEN LEIGH - AIN’T THROUGH HONKY TONKIN’ YET
MARTY STUART AND THE FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES - ALTITUDE
BILLY DON BURNS - I’VE SEEN A LOT OF HIGHWAY
SUNNY SWEENEY - MARRIED ALONE
CASEY PRESTWOOD - WHERE I’M GOING IS WHERE I’VE ALWAYS BEEN
SAM MUNSICK - JOHNNY FARAWAY
THE SHOOTOUTS - STAMPEDE
SCOTT SOUTHWORTH - COMIN’ ROUND TO THE HONKY TONK AGAIN
SUMMER DEAN - THE BIGGEST LIFE
AGS CONNOLLY - SIEMPRE
WYLIE & THE WILD WEST - BUNCHGRASS
JENNI MULDAR & TEDDY THOMPSON - ONCE MORE
JON BYRD - ALL YOUR MISTAKES
CAMERON WRINKLE - IN MY HEAVEN
MATT CASTILLO - HOW THE RIVER FLOWS
CODY GRINDER AND THE PLAYBOY SCOUTS - SNACKS
BEST AMERICANA/SINGER-SONGWRITER ALBUMS
BEN DE LA COUR - SWEET ANHEDONIA
THE HANDSOME FAMILY - HOLLOW
HELENE CRONIN - LANDMARKS
ED SNODDERLY - CHIMNEY SMOKE
DIRTY COUNTRY - BROKEN RADIO
DYLAN LE BLANC - COYOTE
BEN BOSTICK - THE RASCAL IS BACK
TEAGUE BROTHERS BAND - LOVE & WAR
CS NIELSEN - BETTER TIMES
SLAID CLEEVES - TOGETHER THROUGH THE DARK
ROD PICOTT - STARLIGHT TOUR
WHITE ROSE MOTOR OIL - THE GIFT OF POISON
TREMOLOCO - CURANDERA (VOLUME 1)
PHILLIP BOWEN - OLD KANAWHA
TOMMY STINSON COWBOYS IN THE CAMPFIRE - WRONGER
FAVOURITE GIGS
CALEXICO THE HELIX, DUBLIN
CHARLEY CROCKETT THE BUTTON FACTORY, DUBLIN
AGS CONNOLLY THE BUTTON FACTORY, DUBLIN
CHUCK PROPHET - KILKENNY ROOTS
ALBUM COVER & PACKAGING
MARTY STUART & HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES - ALTITUDE
(noting that we mainly recieve downloads to review and are not always aware of the full graphic design)
EILÍS BOLAND
FAVOURITE ALBUMS
NIALL MCCABE - RITUALS
MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES - ALTITUDE
JON BYRD - ALL YOUR MISTAKES
WILLIAM PRINCE - STAND IN THE JOY
THE KODY NORRIS SHOW - RHINESTONE REVIVAL
SPECIAL CONSENSUS - GREAT BLUE NORTH
TAPESTRI - TELL ME WORLD
JASON CARTER - LOWDOWN HOEDOWN
HENHOUSE PROWLERS - LEAD AND IRON
LARRY SPARKS - IT’S JUST ME
THE PLEASURES - THE BEGINNING OF THE END
FAVOURITE GIGS
THE SADIES AMA-UK FESTIVAL, LONDON
SIMEON HAMMOND DALLAS AMA-UK FESTIVAL, LONDON
WILLIAM PRINCE AMA-UK FESTIVAL, LONDON
SPECIAL CONSENSUS THE RED ROOM, CO. TYRONE
CHUCK PROPHET KILKENNY ROOTS
GRETCHEN PETERS THE MAC, BELFAST
ARBORIST THE BRAID REAL MUSIC CLUB, BALLYMENA
JERRY LEGER THE COURTHOUSE, BANGOR, CO DOWN
THE KODY NORRIS SHOW WESTPORT FOLK & BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, CO MAYO
VALERIE JUNE THE BLACK BOX, BELFAST
THE PLEASURES THE FIVE SPOT, NASHVILLE
LILLIE MAE EAST SIDE BOWL, NASHVILLE AMERICANAFEST
JESSI COULTER (& MARGO PRICE) THIRD & LINDSLEY, NASHVILLE AMERICANAFEST
DALLAS BURROW THE STATION INN, NASHVILLE AMERICANAFEST
AJ LEE & BLUE SUMMIT THE MARRIOTT, RALEIGH NC IBMA WORLD OF BLUEGRASS
JASON CARTER BANDSTREET STAGES, RALEIGH IBMA WORLD OF BLUEGRASS
JAKE BLOUNT STREET STAGES, RALEIGH IBMA WORLD OF BLUEGRASS
DEL MCCOURY BAND RED HAT AMPHITHEATRE, RALEIGH IBMA WORLD OF BLUEGRASS
WILLIE CARLISLE VOODOO, BELFAST
FAVOURITE MOVIES
ASTEROID CITY
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
BALLYWALTER
ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET
OPPENHEIMER
BARBIE