Brought to you by the music obsessed founders at soundwaves, the Guest Playlist Series was created to bring musicians closer to their fans by personally providing a setlist of their favorite music for your listening enjoyment.
GPS pulls back the curtain to share authentic content curated from the artists we love. We’re thrilled to have some of the most extraordinary musicians take part in our popular series.
Always on. Always Archived.
The Soundwaves team couldn’t be happier to partner with and present the band Spangled on the Guest Playlist Series. This playlist consists of music that both inspired and shaped who Spangled is and has become. The four-piece indie rock band from Manchester, England consists of Ben Johnson (vocals, guitar), Jamie Boyle (guitar, vocals), Nathan O'Connor (drums), and Niall Smith (bass). The band has an impressive following in the Manchester music scene built by the love of these boys, their talent and the fantastic music they’ve created.
In 2020, the band released their debut EP, "Cosmic Vibrations" followed by their second EP, "That Farm In Dunham" in 2021. Spangled is viewed as one of the most exciting new bands in the UK and the Soundwaves team couldn't agree more. The band has since toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe, and they have played at some of the biggest festivals in the country, including Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds.
We hope you enjoy this playlist as much as we do and now have a better understanding of this amazing band!
Please join us in welcoming Bill Frisell, guitarist, composer and arranger to soundwaves and the Guest Playlist Series. We’re tremendously honored to have Frisell join us on the GPS because we’re enormous fans of his work. From playing with Paul Motian and Jan Gabarek to Ron Carter, John Zorn, Jerry Douglas, Elvis Costello, Arto Lindsay and so many more world renown artists, Frisell is simply one of the best guitar players you will ever hear and he’s picked out these songs to share with us.
Frisell’s career is more than 40 years old and his catalog of music has been cited by Downbeat as "the best recorded output of the decade." He’s recorded for the top labels in jazz — ECM, Tzadik, Nonesuch, Savoy, and his last two releases are courtesy of Blue Note Records. His latest, ‘Four,’ is now available on CD, LP, and Digital. This album features Bill Frisell (guitar), Greg Tardy (tenor sax, clarinet, bass clarinet), Gerald Clayton (piano), and Johnathan Blake (drums). The album was produced by Lee Townsend and all compositions by Frisell.
We are happy to have Surprise Chef join us on the Guest Playlist Series here on Soundwaves. Check out these tracks that they have curated for you that inspired their career.
Melbourne, Australia’s five-piece band Surprise Chef released Education & Recreation back in October 2022, and we here at Soundwaves have had it on heavy rotation. All instrumental, the album is a vortex of funk, soul and jazz, evoking a 70’s film soundtrack, with a dash of surf vibe, peppered with 90’s hip hop production groove.
The arrangements are lively and keep you hooked. The kind of sound that invokes the thought “I bet this would be great live!” Well, you’re in luck. They’re on tour now, back in the US this June. We here in the Northeast are happy to welcome them to the Brighton Music Hall, in Boston, MA on June 14th. (Purchase Tickets)
Put them on at your next gathering and count how quickly someone says, “This is great, where did you find this?” Soundwaves, of course. Pick up the record here or your favorite local record store.
We are excited to have Bass Drum Of Death join us on the Guest Playlist Series, exclusively on SOUNDWAVES. Check out these tracks that they curated for you that inspired their career.
Despite the band’s name that sounds as if it was born out of Lucifer’s fiery layer, the dueling guitars and drummer that make up Bass Drum of Death are spot on. The brainchild of John Barrett, but touring as a trio, light it up on Say I Won’t, their fifth studio album out of Fat Possum Records. (make sure to read our full review.)
If you dig alt-rock/garage rock bands, check them out LIVE on tour at Brighton Music Hall in Boston, MA on Monday, April 3, 2023.
We're honored to have singer songwriter Sunny War join our Guest Playlist Series right at the time of her tour promoting her latest album release "Anarchist Gospel".
That album title conveys the essence behind Sunny War's music and history - punk roots fueling an Americana folk and blues sound. Quoting her Bandcamp bio "she may be a Robert Johnson with a shot of Bad Brains, but even this description falls short."
This playlist should prove to be quite a ride. Songs from the new album, produced by Andrija Tokic, have appeared on Soundwaves shows, and we are looking forward to seeing her perform live.
We are excited to have Perpetual Groove join us this month on the Guest Playlist Series on soundwaves. Check out these tracks that they have curated for you that have inspired their career.
Perpetual Groove (or dubbed 'PGroove' by their fans) is a jam band that hails from Georgia. Their music is a solid mix of Southern rock infused with a little funk and jazz improvisation. They have a dynamic stage presence and light show that produces a unique experience for each of their live shows.
Their breakout album, Sweet Oblivious Antidote will receive a 20th Anniversary re-release in 2023 and for the first time be available on vinyl. This 2 LP remixed and remastered album will come pressed on colored vinyl and include two bonus tracks. Pre-order your copy today.
And for fans of live music, check them out on tour by visiting their website.
We are happy to have Jimmy James of The True Loves band join us this month on the Guest Playlist Series here on soundwaves. Check out these tracks that he has curated for you that have inspired his career.
(from The True Loves website)
Listening to the abundant sounds of the Seattle-based funk & soul group, True Loves, is like walking down a favorite neighborhood street, slapping five with friends, checking up with clerks in their stores, admiring your dark sun-glassed face in their windows, ducking under flowerpots and smelling the familiar smells of your most cherished locale. The band is its own block party.
We are excited to have Ward Hayden & The Outliers join us this month on the Guest Playlist Series on soundwaves. Check out these tracks that Ward has curated for you that has inspired his career.
Ward Hayden and the Outliers, formerly known as Girls, Guns and Glory hail from Boston, Massachusetts. Their music is a mix of old school country, early rock 'n' roll, blues, and country rock. Inspired by the likes of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Johnny Horton classics, Ward Hayden and the Outliers has garnered numerous Boston Music Awards and tours frequently throughout the U.S. and Europe. Their most recent album, Free Country was released in 2021.
The Darts (US) join us this month on the Guest Playlist Series on SOUNDWAVES. Check out these tracks that Nicole has curated for you that have inspired their career.
After releasing a number of EP’s, the all-girl garage rock band The Darts were signed to Jello Biafra’s label, Alternative Tentacles in 2018 and then embarked on a U.S. tour right before the pandemic hit.
Cut to 2022 when they had a killer year touring the U.S. again, gaining new fans, and also making an appearance on KEXP Sessions.
Their new album Snake Oil is coming out in March 2023.
Pre-order it today!
Spafford joins us this month on the Guest Playlist Series. Check out these tracks that they have curated for you that have inspired their career.
Spafford is a contemporary jam band made up of Brian, Jordan, Nick and Cory. The band has brought their blend of extended jams to countless venues and festivals. Their musical influences cover numerous genres, making their improvisational arrangements so unique.
Check them out on tour when they visit the Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, MA on Jan. 25, 2023. (Buy Tickets)
Their newest album, Simple Mysteries is out now.
And check them out as they kicked off this recent Ben Jammin' show.
Kendra Morris joins us this month on the Guest Playlist Series. Check out these tracks that she has curated for you that have inspired her career.
Kendra Morris is known for her soulful voice and unique blend of blues, rock, and R&B. Morris gained recognition as a solo artist with the release of her debut album "Banshee" in 2012 and has since released several more albums and has toured internationally, performing at festivals and venues across the world.
Her recent album, Nine Lives is her best yet. Read the review here on soundwaves.
G. Love joins us this month on our Guest Playlist Series, exclusively on soundwaves. Check out these tracks that have inspired his career. He's personally curated this playlist for you!
Garrett Dutton, a.k.a. G. Love has been hustlin' his unique blend of hip-hop inspired blues for thirty years with his band G. Love and Special Sauce.
His 2022 release Philadelphia Mississippi featured a number a collabs including tracks with Schoolly D & Chuck Treece, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Cam Kimbrough & Luther Dickson just to name a few.
Make sure to flip back through his archive for other great gems including the albums Sugar, Lemonade, and Fixin’ To Die.
We are proud to have Kate Redgate as part of our Guest Playlist Series here on soundwaves. Check out these tracks she has curated for your listening enjoyment.
As we approach the dawn of a new year there’s some great local music news to share. A brand new album from Kate Redgate will arrive in late winter / early spring and it’s titled “Light Under The Door.” The album is produced by Jon Nolan and the first single will be available in February 2023.
We asked Kate about her new album and what makes this release her best effort to date.
“My new record was recorded old school—live in the studio with no headphones - all of us creating music together, in real time: this record has a heartbeat musically that matches authenticity of the songs,” Redgate said.
She continues, “I would put this vibe somewhere in the camp of Drag the River meets early Kathleen Edwards. As much as I loathe comparison statements they’re helpful sometimes for people.”
Redgate says the album is less twang, more rock - but ultimately its all about the songs. The album features Jon Nolan on guitar, Mark Paquin on bass, and Rick Habib on drums with a special appearance by Jim Gambino (Swinging Steaks) on organ.
Redgate told us the new album feels like a debut that’s been 25 years in the making. After some life changing events, including the COVID pandemic, she’s never been more excited to share her new songs and she can’t wait to play them live. Plans are in the works for a special Seacoast New Hampshire release show at The Music Hall Lounge. No dates are available just yet, but look for an announcement around the new year. In addition, Redgate will be be touring various locations around the US with a handful of regional and local shows added as well. Dates to be announced soon.
We're proud to have GA-20 as part of our Guest Playlist Series. Check out these blues tracks they've curated for your listening enjoyment.
Boston based blues trio GA-20 is back with a new album Crackdown (Karma Chief Records). The bands name stems from a vintage guitar amplifier made by Gibson back in the 1950’s. Dueling guitars and drums that slap—they’ve been compared to other indie/blues rock acts such as The Black Keys and The White Stripes. To us, their music is reminiscent of early Chess studio recordings of Buddy Guy then anything else. If you are looking for some raw, distorted contemporary blues with grit—you’ve come to the right place.
Stream these great tracks that Quinn Sullivan has personally selected for your listening pleasure, as part of our Guest Playlist Series.
Guitarist and singer-songwriter Quinn Sullivan has been touring the world for a number of years. His resume includes shows at such venues as Madison Square Garden, the Hollywood Bowl, RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., the Mahindra Blues Festival in India, Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, and stints at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Check back each week for more playlists.
