George St Clair – ‘Ballads Of Captivity And Freedom’

George St Clair grew up on the high plains of Texas, where he formed a strong bond with the vastness of the great American West. His songs conjure up images of dry deserts and rolling grasslands, and the mountains of West Texas. Although he has lived in the UK for the past few years, George’s heart still lays in the land of his birth, and reflections on this are evident in his new album, ‘Ballads Of Captivity And Freedom’.

Higher Education – ‘Gift Called Life’

Higher Education are a fun-loving trio comprising brothers Petey and Danny Devaney on guitars, bass, and vocals, with Bradley Wilson on drums. The three has independently released three studio albums since 2010 – ‘Chasing Highs’, ‘Would You Like Fries With That’, and ‘The Ballad Of Alexander Henry’. Their feel-good single, ‘Gift Called Life’, is from their forthcoming fourth album, and serves as the perfect introduction to Higher Education’s fusion of classic reggae and psych rock.

Dwight & Nicole – ‘Hi-Lo’

Roots artists Dwight Ritcher and Nicole Nelson are now based in Burlington, Vermont, but they had a lifetime of music apart before finding each other a few years back. Originally from New Jersey, Dwight had played in a variety of bands throughout the past decade, and found himself in New York and Boston; Nicole was originally from Brooklyn, New York, writing and performing for many years, before also gravitating to Boston. The pair met and the rest, as they say, is history. Dwight & Nicole joined forces and with the help of crowdfunding released two albums, in a fresh mix of blues, garage rock, and American soul. They’ve recently brought in drummer Ezra Oklan, who brings with him a stabilising element, and allows the music to flow at a steady pace.