Lineup for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival Jul 4, 2009
A curious contingent of British acts that includes Marianne Faithfull, Billy Bragg, Nick Lowe, Robyn Hitchcock and World Party will help the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 9 festival once again live up to its forward-thinking moniker. They will be among more than 80 musicians appearing at the free annual event, bankrolled by billionaire financier and semipro bluegrass banjo player Warren Hellman. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Bonnaroo & Augusta, too Jun 18, 2009
AT JESSYE NORMAN AMPHITHEATER: The Jessye is criminally under-used and, by coincidence, so is Robyn Hitchcock. One of the great British pop artists, Mr. Hitchcock is also the reigning champion of between-tune banter. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Springsteen hard times set wows Bonnaroo Jun 16, 2009
"Lewis was joined on stage for one number ("Carpetbaggers") by Elvis Costello, who also performed solo Saturday.Other acts Saturday included the Decemberists, Nine Inch Nails, the Mars Volta, Of Montreal, Raphael Saadiq, Booker T, Bon Iver, Robyn Hitchcock and Allen Toussaint. One stage dubbed "Tennessee Shines" hosted bluegrass all day with acts such as the David Grisman Quintet and the Del McCoury Band.After torrential lightning storms Thursday and humidity Friday, Saturday was the... (MSNBC -- Music)
Springsteen lifts spirits at Bonnaroo festival Jun 16, 2009
Other acts Saturday included the Decemberists, Nine Inch Nails, the Mars Volta, Of Montreal, Raphael Saadiq, Booker T, Bon Iver, Robyn Hitchcock and Allen Toussaint. One stage - dubbed "Tennessee Shines" - hosted bluegrass all day with acts such as the David Grisman Quintet and the Del McCoury Band. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Infante out — it could’ve been worse May 22, 2009
There s been a ton of great stuff released lately, topped, for me, by that record, along withSteve Earle s Townes tribute album, Bob Dylan s Together Through Life, and new CDs by Manchester Orchestra, Bloodkin,Mastodon, Buddy & Julie Miller, Robyn Hitchcock, and Peter, Bjorn & John. THE GOLDEN STATE by John Doe You are the hole in my head I am the pain in your neck You are the lump in my throat I am the aching in your heart We are tangled We are stolen We are living where things are hidden. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
The Queen's new Apr 2, 2009
The Veins of the Queen - Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians. A New England - Billy Bragg. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Ambitious concept album from the Decemberists Mar 22, 2009
Lavender Diamond's winsome Becky Stark sings the part of ravaged young Margaret, My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden rides bluesy sludge with quivering hauteur as the Queen, while Robyn Hitchcock, My Morning Jacket's Jim James, and the Spinanes' Rebecca Gates appear in supporting roles. But the bottom line is Meloy is a really good songwriter, whether aiming for (and nailing, for better or worse) grandiose pomposity on "The Queen's Rebuke," tender balladry ("Isn't It a Lovely Night?"), or the... (Boston Globe)
MORE GIG PREVIEWS Mar 13, 2009
Gig Reviews - Music - Entertainment - smh (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Carroll Rogers Mar 7, 2009
Recently purchased three CDs that will make the year-end best-of list: Van Morrisons live Astral Weeks (already discussed that here) and just-released albums by Robyn Hitchcock & Venus 3 (Goodnight Oslo, with Peter Buck, et al) and Neko Case (Middle Cyclone), every bit as fine as the cover with her in a dress, crouched atop a muscle car, sword in hand. Justin Townes Earle s new CD is also great, better than his debut CD, which was solid. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
Musicians twitter mundane thoughts Mar 6, 2009
Even though this nonsensically artful missive didn't really come from the mind of Robyn Hitchcock, I still dig it: "The rain on this rather hopeful umbrella makes the most glorious noise - it sounds like the future.". Check out today's Sound Effects blog at for our "Match the Tweet to the Artist" game. (Boston Globe)
Essential tracks Feb 24, 2009
What You Is, Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3, from Goodnight Oslo (YepRoc). Hitchcock's dark dress-up number offers a whole heap of masks, only to strip them away and demand that you just fess to what you really are. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Fathoming the fault lines of family drama Feb 12, 2009
Demme has always used music creatively in his films, and has made performance documentaries with the likes of Neil Young, David Byrne and Robyn Hitchcock. Here he happily punctuates the movie with footage of the musical preparations for the wedding; the music comes from guests who are lending their talents to the ceremony in a kind of classical-world music jamboree. (The Age)
