New Desert Blues - Adam

If you're in search of bands that encapsulate Americana, a group of five souls from Hampshire might not be your first port of call. But New Desert Blues aren't a group who let something as pesky as geographical location get in the way of their Transatlantic tunes. Their latest single "Adam", is a dark yet enjoyable slice of roots rock, inspired not only by classic Americana sounds, but also from more contemporary bands like Arcade Fire and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.

"Adam" is released 8th July.

Emperors Club - Sham Sham

Within hours of Emperors Club making my list of bands to watch out for in 2012, the Iowa quintet released a new song that justifies my support for them.

"Sham Sham", which is available to download for free, continues the band's penchant for mixing American rock with British influences. A more laidback affair, the song mixes soulful Americana with influences from Arctic Monkeys' and soaring harmony vocals that Teenage Fanclub would kill for. Although the song doesn't have the immediacy, nor punch that "Our Time" had, it is a good song that opens the door to a varying sound for Emperors Club.

Sham Sham by Emperors Club

Maybe Canada - Hometown

Of all the countries that I would expect to find Americana-indebted rock, then Sweden would probably be the last place I'd think of.* But then again, it's not often you come across an artist like Magnus Hansson, aka Maybe Canada.

"Hometown", which is available as a free download, is a gorgeous piece of well produced folksy-rock, with powerful world-weary vocals that seem to have been shaped by years on the road.




*Okay, perhaps Eritrea or the Central Africal Republic, although that's largely because I didn't realise they were countries until yesterday

The Lonely Cool - Hit or Miss

Having listened to their debut single "Hit or Miss", you would be surprised to learn that The Lonely Cool hail from Belfast, given that it so effortlessly sounds like the work of American alt-rock artists from the late 90s, such as Counting Crows or the Goo Goo Dolls. Their heartfelt lyrical style and their knack for writing an anthemic chorus makes the group one worth watching out for in the future.