Rhythms Magazine

Our guest in this Rhythms podcast is Boo Mitchell, the son of legendary Memphis producer Willie Mitchell, whose Royal Studios featured the incredible Hi Rhythm Section playing behind a myriad of hits from the likes of Al Green, Ann Peebles and many more. Boo has his own formidable career working with many high profile musicians at Royal and producing the acclaimed 2014 documentary Take Me to the River, celebrating the intergenerational and interracial musical influence of Memphis, in the face of pervasive discrimination and segregation. There is also a New Orleans version and in this podcast Boo reveals plans for another documentary in an overseas location. 

Boo Mitchell is bringing some of the remaining Hi Rhythm Section members to Blues on Broadbeach this weekend (May 16-19)with guest vocalists Lina Beach and Jerome Chism. Boo will also be showing Take Me To The River and taking about the documentary. 

Martha Wainwright is touring Australia this month and Rhythms Editor Brian Wise caught up with her by Zoom to talk about the tour, her return to touring, writing new songs and a tribute to singer/songwriter Connie Converse. The podcast starts with music from Martha's lates studio album Love Is Reborn. 

Songs: Hole In My Heart/Getting Older/Love Will Be Reborn - Martha Wainwright (Love Will Be Reborn), Five Years Old - Loudon Wainwright III (Fame & Wealth), One By One - Martha Wainwright, Wild Mountain Thyme (feat. Anna McGarrigle, Chaim Tannenbaum, Lily Lanken, Lucy Wainwright Roche & Martha Wainwright) - Rufus Wainwright (Folkocracy).

You can find Martha's tour dates at: https://www.marthawainwright.com/shows

Jon Cleary is currently touring Australia with his Absolute Monster Gentlemen. Rhythms Editor Brian Wise spoke to him just before he set off for the tour and just after he had played The Bitter End in New York, which is s story in itself.  Jon is also appearing at Blues On Broadbeach this weekend, May 16-19, 2024.

You can check out Jon's touring dates here: https://www.joncleary.com/tour

Wilco are touring Australia in March and Rhythms Editor Brian Wise spoke to Jeff Tweedy about the band's latest album Cousin and Jeff's new book World Within A Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music. 

This edition of the Rhythms Podcast is sponsored by Love Police Tours. You can find full details of the Wilco tour at lovepolice.com.au/tours.

Muireann Bradley, 17 year-old singer/guitarist from County Donegal in Ireland, has just released her debut album I Kept These Old Blues (interpretations of blues classics) on the American label Tompkins Square which first spotted her at the age of 13 after seeing her play on YouTube!

Brian Wise spoke to Muireann just a week or so prior to her 17th birthday and just as her debut was about to be released. Listen to her amazing story.

Awash in full-throttle fiddle, weeping steel guitar, a sprinkling of heavenly backing vocals, and anchored by her warm, expressive vocals, Leigh’s latest album is an emotion-packed revelation.

Rooted in vintage country, Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet is an unapologetically beer-and tear-soaked homage to an era when hard-country weepers burst forth from AM transistor radios.

The album’s country roots run deep, with guests like Marty Stuart and Rodney Crowell and a lineup of top-flight musicians.

Rhiannon Giddens has made a singular, iconic career out of stretching her brand of folk music, with its miles-deep historical roots and contemporary sensibilities, into just about every field imaginable. A two-time GRAMMY Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning singer and instrumentalist, MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient, and composer of opera, ballet, and film, Giddens has centered her work around the mission of lifting up people whose contributions to American musical history have previously been overlooked or erased, and advocating for a more accurate understanding of the country’s musical origins through art.

In 2023 Rhiannon has taken time from her busy life to tour her first album of all original material called You're The One, and Brian Wise asks her to guide us though this extraordinary melange of gospel, blues, rock, jazz, folk and darkly atmospheric.

One of the music documentaries at the Melbourne International Film Festival is Joan Baez: I Am A Noise which digs deep into the life of the renowned folk singer/activist as she retires from touring and reflects on her life. Co-director Karen O'Connor has been a friend of Baez for many years and has managed to gain access to a treasure trove of archival material. The film also uncovers some surprising revelations about the life of one of the most famous voices of the '60s protest movement and the singer who helped kick start Bob Dylan's career.

Lucinda Williams talks to Rhythms Editor Brian Wise about her recently published memoir Don't Tell Anybody The Secrets I Told You and her album Stories From A Rock 'n' Roll Heart. 

JODY STEPHENS is the sole surviving member of iconic early '70s power pop legends Big Star, and the only man other than Alex Chilton to play on all three of their peerless original albums. He was also a member of pioneering alt-country supergroup Golden Smog, alongside members of Wilco and the Jayhawks.

Luther has made a handful of solo records, having first come to attention as a member of The Freewheelers in the '90s, during which time his songs were described as having "the appeal and personality of those by Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson".

Check the tour dates  at: Love Police Touring