NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: ANDY IRVINE ~ DEVOTED ~ OUT 4th SEPTEMBER The Last Music Company is honoured to release Andy Irvine's DEVOTED, an Irish re-imagining of the songs of Woody Guthrie, out 4th September. "This album has been germinating in my mind for well over thirty years and I am very grateful to the Arts Council here in Ireland for viewing this project positively, so that I have, finally, been able to bring this dream to fruition." ~ Andy Irvine The album features eleven Guthrie compositions, each accompanied by Irvine and noted Guthrie scholar Will Kaufman’s thoughtful annotations exploring their history. It concludes fittingly with Irvine's own tribute, "Never Tire of the Road." Produced by Flood, DEVOTED features an exceptional ensemble of longtime collaborators and fellow multi-instrumentalists: Dónal Lunny, Bruce Molsky, Mike McGoldrick, John Doyle, Rens van der Zalm, and Nikola Parov. It's available for Pre-order here: lastmusiclink.com/devoted @andyk_irvine @WoodyGuthrieCtr @WoodyGuthrie

SATURDAY SINGLE: TONY KOFI ~ INNER TRUTH Today's selection is from Kofi's "Silent Truth" which is once again available in CD format next month, after having been out of print for a few years. Asked about the recording when it originally came out Tony said, "It was only a matter of time before revisiting the magic of the quartet format. It's been four years since recording the music of Thelonious Monk (The Tony Kofi Quartet plays Monk), so I thought 2008 was the right time to bring us all back together only this time performing original compositions, having solidified our group sound from the first recording". Chris May reviewed the album in All About Jazz: "...Kofi deals not so much with the past as with the eternal truths of jazz music—swing, in-the-moment lyricism, the lust for life—and he continues to find compelling ways to express them. His albums are heartfelt, unpretentious explosions of joy, and precisely what the doctor ordered." Stream or download the single here: lastmusiclink.com/innertruth Pre-order the album here: lastmusiclink.com/silent BONUS: Catch Tony in London at the 606, and Ronnie Scott's in October. He performs with The Organization as part of the London Jazz Festival in November. Visit TonyKofiMusic.com for all of his upcoming dates. #tonykofi #innertruth #silenttruth #jazz #thelastmusiccompany

WEEKEND LISTEN: DAN PENN INTERVIEW ON THE STRANGE BREW PODCAST "He wrote some of the greatest songs in American music, Dark End of the Street, Do Right Woman, I’m Your Puppet, and now, at 84, Dan Penn is back with an excellent new album, Smoke Filled Room. Penn got his first chart record while still a junior in high school, went on to produce The Box Tops, was in the room when Otis Redding recorded You Left the Water Running, and co-wrote Do Right Woman over a guitar in Chips Moman’s front room, only to watch Aretha Franklin walk out of the Muscle Shoals session, before Jerry Wexler finished it in New York. And that falsetto at the end of the James Carr recording of Dark End of the Street? That was him too. He still performs, occasionally writes, and picks up the phone to Jason Barnard..." Hear Jason Barnard's interview here: thestrangebrew.co.uk/dan-pen… Or stream it on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/episode/3sW…

SATURDAY SUBSTACK: BILL KIRCHEN Read Malcolm’s notes on the new Bill Kirchen album, Cat Out Of The Bag— and subscribe to our free Substack newsletter while you’re there…. substack.com/@lastmusicco/no…

THE CAT IS NOW WELL AND TRULY OUT OF THE BAG--BILL KIRCHEN'S NEW ALBUM LANDS TODAY! Today we're feting the release of Bill's kicker of a brand new album CAT OUT OF THE BAG, and Bill is celebrating with a slew of album release party dates all over the country. He kicks off the new album tour officially at the Hopmonk Tavern in Novato California tomorrow night. Bill is also set to appear on NPR's MOUNTAIN STAGE in Charleston, West Virginia June 7th, for an episode that will likely air later that month (we'll keep you posted). Here's an excerpt from the first review out of the box by Hal Horowitz for Rock and Blues Muse: "...For the long-awaited ‘Cat Out of the Bag,’ Bill Kirchen returns with an impressive collection that will please old fans, and might create new ones. He’s in terrific form vocally and instrumentally, expanding his reach while retaining the earthy, often retro qualities he has promoted and lived by. It’s great to have him back after too long of an absence to the roots Americana scene he helped to create." ~ Hal Horowitz, Rock and Blues Muse Read the full review here: rockandbluesmuse.com/.../rev… You can now BUY, DOWNLOAD, STREAM and/or FIND A FULL LIST OF TOURDATES HERE: lastmusiclink.com/catbag Hope to see you down the road...

Americana Highways Review: Dan Penn ~ Smoke Filled Room# share.google/iw4TWjao6bPJE4p…

LAST MUSIC COMPANY SUBSTACK: DIRK POWELL "...It’s indeed a charmed life that I lead which has now been enriched by the addition of Dirk Powell’s fabulous new album - WAKE...." ~ Malcolm Mills Read the rest and subscribe to our free Substack here: open.substack.com/pub/thelas… #DirkPowell #wake #lastmusiccompany #bluegrass #Americana

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: DIRK POWELL ~ WAKE ~ OUT NOW! "...On Wake, his first solo album since 2020, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and singer Dirk Powell paints a masterpiece. With support from Rhiannon Giddens, Darrell Scott, and Powell's daughter and musical collaborator, Amelia, Powell draws from a colorful palette of sound, to capture in broad flourishes the many scenes of joy, sadness, celebration, and love evoked in the wake of a full life...." ~ Henry Carrigan, No Depression Read the full review: nodepression.org/album-revie… Order/Stream here: lastmusiclink.com/wake #dirkpowell #wake #newmusic #americana #bluegrass

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: DAN PENN ~ SMOKE FILLED ROOM Rooted in the red clay of Alabama and shaped by the studios of Memphis and Muscle Shoals, Penn’s work has long been central to the beating heart of Southern soul. Dubbed the “secret hero” of author Peter Guralnick’s landmark book Sweet Soul Music, Penn’s credits include co-writing Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, The Dark End of the Street, I’m Your Puppet, A Woman Left Lonely and Cry Like A Baby. When Penn sings his own material, these songs take on an added depth: intimate, lived-in, and unmistakably his. An understated, yet powerful late-career offering, Smoke Filled Room adds to his legacy. The album gathers rare and previously unreleased material from across Penn’s catalog, which he has reworked and refined from the perspective of a lifetime in music. Available in CD, Digital and Vinyl formats, you can find it here: lastmusiclink.com/smokefille… See Dan and Spooner at Chickie Wah Wah in New Orleans May 1st! Tickets: ticketweb.com/event/dan-penn… via @TicketWeb

LAST MUSIC SUBSTACK: Another Trailer from The Dan Penn Epic Read and subscribe here: open.substack.com/pub/thelas…

NEW MUSIC: DIRK POWELL “WAKE” OUT APRIL 17th We’re excited to bring you Dirk’s magnificent new album this Spring. Many thanks to The Bluegrass Situation for premiering his lyric video for the first taster track “Down The Line.” Stream or download the single DOWN THE LINE, out today, click here: lastmusiclink.com/downthelin… To pre-order the album, out April 17th click here: lastmusiclink.com/wake Watch the video at The Bluegrass Situation below….and happy Friday!!

TIME TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG! BILL KIRCHEN'S NEW ALBUM OUT 22nd MAY We so excited to share this news. Bill's new album--his first new studio recording in about a decade, will be out 22nd May. Bill says, "This album has the broadest scope yet of any of the dozen or so I’ve done in my own name....A bigger palette of genres, songwriting, guitar work." And we can't wait for you to hear the title track which is the first single--out TODAY. Download or Stream the "Cat Out of The Bag" Single HERE: lastmusiclink.com/singlecat Pre-order the album and special merchandise bundles HERE. lastmusiclink.com/catbag Visit us at lastmusic.co.uk or at billkirchen.com for further details.

INTERVIEW FEATURE: The Mighty Resumés of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham Dan and Spooner sat down with Ron Wynn ahead of their City Winery appearance in Nashville this Sunday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR: ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW ~ JOOLS HOLLAND’S NEW YEAR’s EVE ANNUAL HOOTENANNY 2023 Here’s Andy ringing the new year in a few years back. WATCH: youtu.be/21wFXl7w7qQ?feature… Best wishes for a healhy, happy and prosperous 2026!

REMEMBERING RON KAVANA ON HIS BIRTHDAY Ron was born on Christmas day in 1952. We lost him just last year. These are the lyrics to his lesser-known but equally beautiful song of reconciliation. Peace on earth, goodwill to men. Truth and Understanding, (lyrics). ~ Ron Kavana "You Irishmen so true and brave who would auld Ireland save For those of cruel persuasion out to destroy this nation Let us all united stand, stop the bold oppressor’s band Not with bomb or gun in hand, but by truth and understanding Who fears to speak of ’98 on the road to Stormont’s gate From Vinegar Hill a lesson learned, all good men joined together Seize the chance before it’s gone, sing aloud this joyous song This land is ours all and one by truth and understanding Let reconciliation be our watchword for the future Let’s build a bridge of peace to stand for coming generations Don’t go back to how it was, to killing men for freedoms cause Observe our common Christian laws of the truth and understanding So Irishmen be true and brave, if you would auld Ireland save From those of cruel persuasion out to destroy this nation Let us all united stand, stop the bold oppressor’s band Not with bomb or gun in hand but by truth and understanding." LISTEN: zurl.co/Eoku READ more about Ron here: zurl.co/zs3U

PAUL BRADY: ARTHUR MCBRIDE Another annual favorite here at Last Music. For it Being a Christmas Morning .... "Oh, me and my cousin one Arthur McBride As we went a-walking down by the seaside Now mark what followed and what did betide For it being on Christmas morning ..." From "Arthur McBride," a traditional song later arranged and adapted by Paul Brady, Here's Paul performing it in 1977... WATCH: zurl.co/ekNiU #Christmas2025

HAPPY CHRISTMAS: GERAINT WATKINS ~ CHRISTMAS DAY ALL OVER THE WORLD Another beautiful song from Geraint for the season. As for the snow machine? Don't try this at home, folks. Happy merry. WATCH: zurl.co/4ljsH