+++ John Doe "Freedom Is . . ." took about 2 ½ years to record, it was done @ Dave Way's house who mixed & engineered Spice Girls, TLC, Savage Garden, Christina Aguillara, Macy Gray & (go figure) The John Doe Thing a.o. It features all kinds of cool players like Mike Ward (Wallflowers), Smokey Hormel (Beck, Tom Waits), Joey Waronker (Walt Mink, Beck, REM), Stuart Johnson (Love Jones, Matthew Sweet, New Radicals), Tony Marsico (J. Doe Band, Matthew Sweet), Money Mark(Beastie Boys), Josh Freese (records w/ everybody cool) & then Dave Way & John Doe just working away at all the rest of the stuff. Most song's lyrics are poetry/romance & how incredibly tough it is to find some kind of satisfaction or beauty in that world. +++ 1999 saw John Forrester playing close to a 100 gigs, while touring solo and with his band, preparing for the recording of the second album 'All The Wrong Things'. In 2000 things were taken down a gear while Forrester recovered from the physical & financial strain of constant recording & gigging. This allowed him the time to focus on his songwriting & performance, & refresh his love of acoustic music. The resulting album is a diverse collection of 13 of his finest songs, ranging from full-on electric band to string-led acoustic bliss! Now fully recovered, 2001 looks to become "busy as always", as the Forrester live show continues to go from strength to strength. +++ The past three years has seen Michael Weston King, and The Good Sons, touring all over Europe and America, sharing the bill with many great artists (Nick Cave, Steve Earle, Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, John Cale, Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Wilco, and Ron Sexsmith amongst many others) and earning a formidable reputation as a stunning live attraction, whether it be the full-on, no holds barred country-rockin' of The Good Sons, or the stark, intensity of the solo, singer songwriter performances which have seen Michael compared to some his favourite performers....Tim Hardin and Phil Ochs . Added to this is his growing reputation as a songwriter of the highest calibre, who has seen his songs covered by a number of established artists. The highest compliment coming when one of the worlds greatest songwriters, Townes Van Zandt, cut a version of Michael's song "Riding The Range". +++ "Living in a one bar town" is not only a problem faced by smalltowners, but a global one shared by people all over the world, who consider themselves happy finding just one decent bar that they can trust, where they can meet people they love to hate, and make new friends as well. A new band, based in Germany, with whom you can share a drink or two is One Bar Town. But only if your local bar's got Tom Petty, The Jayhawks, The Hollisters and other assorted Roots Rock and Country acts stuck in the player. +++ Odgers & Simmonds is a new side project by Philip "Swill" Odgers and Paul Simmonds, the Songwriting team of The Men They Couldn't Hang. Unmistakingly the guitars and voices of Swill and Paul, this album shows the two of them from a very different side, the songs bringing new meaning and life into the much used phrase „Low-Fi"! 'Baby Fishlips' was mixed and engineered by Alon Adiri (of Dub Syndicate), and this version of the album contains two extra tracks! One of them, „The Trigger" being a duet between Swill and Mick Thomas (ex-Weddings, Parties, Anything). +++ Since filling London´s Royal Albert Hall in 1996, Show Of Hands have thrilled thousands with Steve Knightley´s haunting songs and Phil Beer´s amazing instrumental virtuosity. Performing what are already seen as classics, they have won standing ovations all over North America, Europe and Asia, refining what has become a truly unmissable experience. +++ The 7th studio album in a 20 year career, 'The Cherry Red Jukebox' is a collection of songs containing all the usual group trademarks infused with both a clear eyed romanticism and battle hardened realism. Intended to be a snapshot of a generation that is now approaching the middle of their lives, it is shot through with a love of rock n' roll, home and family whilst still offering a fierce defence of the underprivileged. This is unashamed music for the ordinary person and their extraordinary experiences, comprising personal reminiscence, observation and stories set in the here and now. Rock, folk, blues, punk, and country are the musical themes, blended in the unique TMTCH style. From the subways of Hammersmith in London, around the world and back to the same old dirty subways - this is the story of what happened to the punk generation. It's also the story of what happened to The Men They Couldn't Hang. +++ 'Dust On My Shoes' is the new album by Mick Thomas And The Sure Thing. Mick Thomas, best known as the founding member and singer/songwriter of Weddings Parties Anything, has taken a new direction. His work solo and with his new ensemble, The Sure Thing, reconfirms his outstanding talent as one of Australia's finest singer/songwriters, and someone who can enchant and enthrall an audience with his distinctive musical persona.