Courtney Marie Andrews

News Updates

UPDATE: Fri 8th June 2018

Tickets go on sale this morning at 10am for a Courtney Marie Andrews UK tour in December playing solo:

02 Dec – BELFAST Black Box
03 Dec – LONDON Union Chapel
04 Dec – BIRMINGHAM Glee Club Birmingham
05 Dec – BRISTOL Colston Hall Foyer
06 Dec – OXFORD St Barnabas church
07 Dec – POCKLINGTON Pocklington Arts Centre
08 Dec – PERTH Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre – Horsecross
09 Dec – GLASGOW The Great Eastern
10 Dec – LERWICK Mareel

Ticket price £15-£17.50 (plus b/fee)

You can buy tickets via See Tickets (try also Ticketmaster, Gigantic, We Got Tickets or your usual Primary ticket seller) (affiliate links)

UPDATE: Fri 23rd March 2018

Courtney Marie Andrews’ new album “May Your Kindness Remain” is released Worldwide today!

Courtney Marie Andrews - May Your Kindness Remain

There have been some excellent reviews so far I’ve been compiling a list of them below, please let me know if you spot any I’ve missed:

The Guardian (review by Michael Hann) rating 5/5
Stereogum (review by Tom Breihan)
NPR (review by Jewly Hight)
Paste Magazine (review by Eric R. Danton) rating 8.1/10
The Irish Times (review by Joe Breen) rating 4/5
Country Magazine (review by HMJ) rating 5/5 [no URL?]
The Times (review by Will Hodgkinson) rating 4/5 [NB: paywall]
Maximum Volume Music (review by Andy Thorley) rating 9/10
MCR Live (review by Callum Mitchell-Simon)
Fatea Magazine (review by Mike Ritchie)
Folk Radio (review by Mike Davies)
There Goes The Fear (review by Carrie Clancy) rating 9/10
Bernard Zuel (review by Bernard Zuel)
Paul Kerr (review by Paul Kerr)
World Socialist Site (review by Matthew Brennan)
Belfast Telegraph (review by John Silbeck) rating 9/10
Uncut Magazine (review by Stephen Deusner) rating 5/10 [no URL?]
Dork Magazine (review by Dillon Eastoe) rating 3/5
The Independent (review by Andy Gill) rating 3/5
Buzz Magazine () rating 4 stars [no URL?]
Falmouth Packet ()
Americana UK (review by Jonathan Aird) rating 8/10
Get To The Front (review by Danny Neil)
Old Grey Cat (review by Jeff Gemmill)
Three Chord The Truth (review by David)

Also – below is a list I’ve cut n pasted from CMA’s UK label Loose Music site with some choice quotes:

“May Your Kindness Remain confirms Andrews’ rise. It’s a brilliant record, proof that old forms can still be timeless.”
★★★★★
THE GUARDIAN

“Andrews may be the finest singer-songwriter in America”
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

“astonishingly beautiful”
“There are some staggering love songs on May Your Kindness Remain, and there are also songs about needing love, about requiring that sort of empathy.”
“a head-spinning discovery, a warm and gorgeous and fully formed piece of work. The kindness isn’t just in the lyrics. It’s in the way music like this can nourish you, can make your insides glow. An album like this can be a refuge.”
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
STEREOGUM

“…the new record sees her exercising a different set of musical muscles from those that have drawn her comparisons with Joni Mitchell. ‘Kindness’ is awash in church organ, lush harmonies, and a soaring, impassioned lead vocal from Andrews, whose twang quivers and shudders as she scales the song’s climactic final refrain.”
ROLLING STONE

“Like Ronstadt once did, Andrews now places supple, expressive vocal performances front and center in handsomely melodic compositions and folk-rock arrangements with soft country, soul and pop accents.”
“The singing on Andrews’ new album is especially emotional. There’s a sob to her vibrato, and the notes she belts in her upper register are inflamed with feeling.”
“A big part of what gives these ten songs their grounded power is Andrews’ attentiveness to how external hardships can feed inner turmoil, and how difficult it is bearing deprivation in utter isolation. She doesn’t just tell us these truths; she makes us feel them poignantly, and right on time.”
NPR MUSIC

“a hell of a singer-songwriter…”
STEREOGUM

Hottest Tracks: Kindness Of Strangers
“the Seattle-based country-rocker channels Tom Petty on a real heart-tugger of a track.”
THE SUNDAY TIMES

“Cool country singer Courtney brings in a gospel groove, ending up midway between Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston” NME

“The tune couples soulful crooning with elements of gospel and rock, which suggests a new step for the acoustic folk artist. But her classic and timeless sound still remains, recalling the likes of Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, and Lucinda Williams.”
AMERICAN SONGWRITER

“Kindness of Strangers” rules….incredible cut…And what a voice she has — it always lifts me up”
THE FADER

“Gorgeous”
★★★★★
COUNTRY MUSIC MAGAZINE

“There’s something exceptional about her delivery. Something timeless and measured and true.”
LAURA BARTON, MUSIC WEEK

“by now Courtney Marie Andrews has developed a cult status in the UK and with the new longplayer she will definitely extend her following” 8/10
CLASSIC ROCK DEUTSCHLAND

“The comparisons to Emmylou Harris this 27-year-old Phoenix native has received are only reinforced by her understated heartache… loneliness and melancholy rarely sound this positive.” ★★★★
Q

“10 new tunes that are lusher and more expansive while leaving plenty of room to showcase her astonishing voice.”
“a rare blend of power and feeling that can bring you to your knees.” 8.1/10
PASTE MAGAZINE

★★★★
THE TIMES

“Courtney Marie Andrew’s soft echoing voice is taken to newer, soulful heights…
Admiring the great soul singers of our time, Andrews’ proves she can hang with any of them.”
OLD ROOKIE

“In the last few years multiple voices have emerged that could bring the promise of greater balance to fruition, and possibly none as strong and compelling as Courtney Marie Andrews.”
“The title track of the new record gives hope to the downtrodden, reaffirming that regardless of the adversity and outcomes in life, never sacrifice your greater parts, because they could still have a purpose in the future.”
SAVING COUNTRY MUSIC

“[Kindness Of Strangers is] another magical offering, the antiquated glow of Andrews’ craft matched by that striking lead voice which has already cleared such a pathway for her, each release seemingly carrying her further and further towards 2018’s illustrious peak.”
GOLD FLAKE PAINT

“[I’ve Hurt Worse is] a rich folk ballad that showcases the full range of Andrews’ dynamic, remastered- vinyl vocals, “I’ve Hurt Worse” waltzes through a whole slew of lovers’ excuses, centered on a gentle crescendo of piano. Produced by Mark Howard (Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan) it’s one of many moments on May Your Kindness Remain, that show a sophisticated understanding of what humans are able to sacrifice just to love and be loved – or even to simply make it through the day.”
ROLLING STONE COUNTRY

“Her emotive voice and illustrative lyricism make her a necessary minister in these modern times.”
THE BLUEGRASS SITUATION

“An album of sustained emotional connection that leaves you all the better for hearing it”
★★★★
THE IRISH TIMES

“In a world gone mad, her gospel-tinged Americana can get you through a shitty day or two.”
HEAR YA

“It’s a belter, quietly striking in its suggestion that kindness and compassion are what really make people wealthy.”
AMERICANA UK

“A real emotional slower burner, May Your Kindness Remain is an ode to seeing the good in people – there’s a real purity and tenderness to it.”
CRACK IN THE ROAD

““May Your Kindness Remain” is the gorgeous new track from country babe Courtney Marie Andrews.”
WONDERLAND MAGAZINE

“the new tracks impress with a unique and timeless sound, that connects Indie-Folk-Rock and Country outstandingly”
PLATTENLADENTIPPS

“The title track/lead single off her upcoming album May Your Kindness Remain combines Joni Mitchell-esque folk with gospel harmonies, and it’s really a next-level song for this kind of stuff.”
33 ARTISTS WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE AT SXSW 2018
BROOKLYN VEGAN

“Courtney Marie Andrews is an exceptional talent.”
RADIO EINS

“there’s no doubt that expectations have been met and surpassed”
FOLK RADIO

“outstanding , down-to-earth songwriting and singing putting a lump in your throat and an ache in your belly”
★★★★
BUZZ MAGAZINE

“‘May Your Kindness Remain’ displays remarkable pathos and masterful musicianship that makes these brand new songs feel like old friends. ‘I’ve Hurt Worse’ is straight from the Bob Dylan songwriting wheelhouse, while ‘Two Cold Nights in Buffalo’ hits all the Americana sweet spots, culminating in one of the most soulful songs you’ll hear this year.”
“classic country with a modern message.”
DORK MAGAZINE

“There is a sort of in-built confidence and class here to lift this above the norm”
“a record that deserves any accolade that comes its way. Awards and acclaim will surely follow too, because make no mistake, “May Your Kindness Remain” is one of the Americana albums of the year.” 9/10
MAXIMUM VOLUME MUSIC

“The lead single and title track of the album May Your Kindness Remain surfaced earlier in the week and it sounds absolutely brilliant. She is phenomenal and her songs always move me deeply. I can hardly wait to hear the full album.”
ONE CHORD TO ANOTHER

“one of those longing, homely bops you can’t help but love” (on ‘Kindness of Strangers’)
PRESS PLAY OK

“A gorgeous dose of Courtney’s Joni Mitchell-esque folk that brings in some unexpected distorted guitar, gospel-inspired harmonies, and more. It’s more proof that Courtney is a force to be reckoned with”
BROOKLYN VEGAN

“Overall, this is a stunning record with the essence of an artist pushing their sound & reaching their peak at the same time. There is an effortless flow to the whole record, which crucially never outstays it’s welcome at a lean ten tracks. Undoubtably one of the years musical highlights so far.”
MCR LIVE

“this is stunning. Here Andrews steps out beyond just simple country music to something bigger, bolder, warmer and more soulful… In a world that seems harsher and ever more judgemental than before, Andrews takes a step back with this piece of powerful beauty and offers a simple antidote to the subject of her song: “If your money runs out and your good looks fade, may your kindness remain.”
BREAKING MORE WAVES

“Courtney Marie Andrews is BACK and sounding better than EVER… this really is one of the coolest tunes that could happen to me at the beginning of this year (any year, really… a freaking awesome song”
QUEEN BEETCH

“Highly recommended – ALBUM OF THE WEEK”
★★★★
FALMOUTH PACKET

“a musically upbeat album and the proud songs radiate intimacy, compassion, warmth, astute scrutiny while Courtney’s full-on, superb vocals keenly reflect her liking for Motown and the soul singers who have long inspired and moved her such as Aretha Franklin.”
FATEA

“her commitment to the traditional country aesthetic pays off in spades on ‘May Your Kindness Remain’. The album’s beauty lies in its simplicity, which highlights Andrews’ delicate balance of grit and grace.” 9/10
THERE GOES THE FEAR

“Delicately sung and immaculately presented, Courtney Marie Andrews is the architect of a record that should act as a country/folk blueprint in 2018. A journey, a journal, a lesson, this album is a classic.”
THREE CHORDS AND THE TRUTH

“Courtney Marie Andrews cements her position as a break-out Americana artist of note.” 8/10
AMERICANA UK

“This latest release is surely going to be the album that cements her reputation. ‘May Your Kindness Remain’ displays the kind of maturity you’d expect from a Lucinda Williams or Emmylou Harris.”
GET TO THE FRONT

UPDATE: Wed 14th March 2018

Courtney Marie Andrews plays 7 shows at SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas this week:

Wednesday 14th March 2018
13:00 – WMOT Party at El Mercado
20:45 – Paradigm Nashville Party (Official Showcase) at Palm Door on Sixth

Thursday 15th March 2018
11:00 – Luck Reunion – In The Round at Luck, Texas
14:00 – KCSN Radio Daystage at Convention Centre
23:50 – Secretly Label Group Party (Official Showcase) at Barracuda

Friday 16th March 2018
14:15 – Fader Fort at 1501 East 7th Street

Saturday 17th March 2018
16:45 – Brookyln Vegan at Cheer Up Charlie’s

If you get any photo or videos then please Tweet them over to @CMAfansite or email CMAfansite [at] gmail [dot] com

UPDATE: Tue 6th Feb 2018

Courtney played six UK shows over the past week – we’ve created pages with reviews/photos etc for all of them:

– Glasgow CCA (Tue 30th Jan)
– Glasgow O2 ABC (Wed 31st Jan)
– London Hackney Empire (Thu 1st Feb)
– Oxford St. Barnabas Church (Sat 3rd Feb)
– Guildford The Keep (Sun 4th Feb) x2 shows

Please get in touch if you have any photos etc that you can contribute to the site:
@CMAfansite on Twitter
CMAfansite [at] gmail [dot]com on email

Courtney is recording a session for Onder Invloed today, and appeared on thecloseencounterclub yesterday (Mon 5th Feb)

UPDATE: Sun 4th Feb 2018

CMA played Oxford St Barnabas Church last night – click through for photos, Tweets etc

Today Courtney plays two shows at Guildford The Keep (matinee & evening) – her final scheduled appearances on this UK mini-tour. The rest of her time on this brief visit will be doing press for the new album.

UPDATE: Sat 3rd Feb 2018

Congratulations to CMA for winning International Artist Of The Year at the UK Americana Awards show on Thursday night at the Hackney Empire in London. We’ll have some video of her acceptance speech on the site shortly. Check back soon – we’ll add them on this page :)

Courtney plays Oxford and Guildford this weekend – please get in touch if you take any video/photos/setlists etc.

Yesterday (Fri 2nd Feb) Courtney took over the rockfeedback Instagram account. If you’re quick you might still be able to see her Instastory from her day around London (stays up for 24-hours)

UPDATE: Thu 1st Feb 2018

Last night Courtney played a solo headline show at the O2 ABC in Glasgow for the Celtic Connections Festival.

Thanks to Brian Clarke for sending me a photo of the setlist – although he noted that Courtney changed up the order. According to Highway Queens on Twitter the setlist was:

Rookie Dreaming
Not The End
Border Song
Put The Fire Out
Kindness Of Strangers
New Song
Table For One
Honest Life
This House
Paintings From Michael
Blue Woman
How Quickly Your Heart Mends
Near You
Rough Around The Edges
Let Your Kindness Remain
====
Irene
New Song

Courtney was supported by Adam Holmes & The Embers (19:30-20:20pm) with CMA’s set being 20:40-22:00pm (according to the runtimes). The venue normally holds 1362, but unusually for the O2 ABC this was a seated show.

Here’s a Twitter Moment collecting various Tweets about the evening.

Rob Munn shared this photo from the Glasgow ABC show to the FB Group:

See also:
Instagram from BlabbernSmoke

Green Man Festival announcement

I didn’t mention it here on the front page (although I did on Twitter + the FB Group) but last Thursday (25th Jan) Courtney Marie Andrews was confirmed as one of the first acts to be appearing at Green Man Festival in Wales (16th-19th Aug). You can view CMA’s artist page or buy a ticket on the official GM site!

UPDATE: Wed 31st Jan 2018

Courtney played live on BBC Radio 2 last night on Mark Radcliffe’s show (7-8pm).
She was appearing as part of the Celtic Connections festival at the Glasgow CCA.
As well as being interviewed by Mark, CMA played 3 songs:

– May Your Kindness Remain
– Kindness Of Strangers
– Table For One

If you missed it, use the listen again feature on the BBC site.

Here’s a video clip from Morgan Spence on Twitter:

Be sure to check out the BBC photo gallery

edit: here’s a short video clip by mrplumberglasgow of CMA playing MYKR at the event:

UPDATE: Tue 30th Jan 2018

Courtney is in the UK for the next couple of weeks to play a few shows and do some press/interviews.

Wed 31st Jan – GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall, UK
Thu 1st Feb – LONDON UK Americana Awards, Hackney
Sat 3rd Feb – OXFORD St Barnabas Church
Sun 4th Feb – GUILDFORD The Keep (matinee)
Sun 4th Feb – GUILDFORD The Keep (evening)

Tickets via WeGotTickets & SeeTickets

Meanwhile, NME have featured Courtney in their “Best New Tracks” feature for the single May Your Kindness Remain:

“Best For Getting Spiritual: Cool country singer Courtney brings in a gospel groove, ending up midway between Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston”

UPDATE: Wed 10th Jan 2018

NEW ALBUM ANNOUNCED!

May Your Kindness Remain

Courtney Marie Andrews has today announced details of her new album “May Your Kindness Remain” out on 23rd March 2018. The 10-track album will be released in Europe via Loose Music and in the States via Fat Possum/Mama Bird.

Here’s the tracklist:

01. May Your Kindness Remain
02. Lift The Lonely From My Heart
03. Two Cold Nights In Buffalo
04. Rough Around The Edges
05. Border
06. Took You Up
07. This House
08. Kindness Of Strangers
09. I’ve Hurt Worse
10. Long Road Back To You

If you scroll down this news page to the 14th Sept 2017 update, we were speculating on track names based on the songs she toured on the Aug/Sep UK shows (a few days before Courtney and the band recorded the album).

There are some surprises here – maybe 4 of the 10 tracks are new to me (going off the titles) – May Your Kindness Remain, Lift The Lonely From My Heart, This House and I’ve Hurt Worse.

I had hoped ‘Near You‘ would make the cut as it’s probably my favourite track by CMA – although it did get a release as a split single with Sea Town back in September. Other songs played in the set on that Autumn tour were: Heart And Mind, They Say, Two Halves and Warning Sign. Maybe one or two of these are on the album under a different name(?)

Here’s the beautiful cover artwork (photo by Laura E. Partain, design by Vincent Bancheri):

Courtney Marie Andrews - May Your Kindness Remain

The record was produced by Mark Howard (Mark has previously worked with Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris and many other greats – check out his credits here).

The album is available to pre-order today: be quick if you want to grab a limited edition Desert Rose pink 12″ vinyl from Mama Bird – there are only 300 copies according to their Bandcamp page. Here in the UK, Loose Music are doing a limited edition gold vinyl (see Rough Trade). If you’d prefer you can purchase a standard black vinyl, CD or grab a digital download.

Where To Buy:
Amazon.co.uk: CD | vinyl | mp3
Amazon.com: CD | vinyl | mp3
CMA Bandcamp
Mama Bird Bandcamp (USA)
Rough Trade Records (UK)
Loose Music shop (album not up there yet)
TMstore.es
Resident (Brighton)

UK Catalogue numbers:
vjcd240 (CD)
vjlp240 (LP)
vjlp240ltd (LP gold limited edition)

Over at NPR they have an exclusive first listen to the title track (which appears to be the first single off the album) and a nice write-up.

The official Courtney Marie Andrews website has had a makeover with the new album artwork branding/fonts etc. Be sure to head to the about page too as there’s a good new biography which talks about the new album.

Album credits:

All songs written by Courtney Marie Andrews (BMI), except “Kindness of Strangers”, written by Courtney Marie Andrews (BMI), Peter Harper (ASCAP) & Jason Blynn (ASCAP).
Produced by Mark Howard and Courtney Marie Andrews.
Engineered by Mark Howard.
Mixed by Jason Kingsland.
Additional engineering by Floyd Reitsma at Litho.
Mastered by Ed Brooks at Resonant Mastering.
Photography by Laura E. Partain.
Design by Vincent Bancheri.

We’ve created an album page on the fansite, where we’ll add reviews etc as they come in.

AMERICANA AWARDS

Courtney is nominated for two UK Americana Awards – International Album of the Year and International Artist of the Year. The ceremony takes place on 1st Feb 2018, so fingers crossed for CMA :)

TOUR NEWS

Courtney is playing a few shows in the UK towards the end of this month (Jan 2018). She has sold out for the evening show at The Keep in Guildford, so they are putting on a matinee show to meet demand!

Wed 31st Jan 2018
GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall, UK

Sat 3rd Feb 2018, 7:00pm
OXFORD St Barnabas Church
£15.00 + £1.50 Booking fee = £16.50
WeGotTickets

Sun 4th Feb 2018, 3:30pm (Matinee show)
GUILDFORD The Keep
£15.00 + £1.50 Booking fee = £16.50
WeGotTickets

Sun 4th Feb, 2018, 7:00pm
GUILDFORD The Keep
£15.00 + £1.50 Booking fee = £16.50
WeGotTickets (sold out)

(NB: ticket links are affiliate link)

CMA will be back for a full UK/Europe tour in April (see below)

Courtney has also added a bunch of US/Canada tour dates between March/April 2018 – including a show on the day of the new album release (23rd March) at the Black Cat in Washington DC.
These dates go onsale Friday 12th Jan 2018:
Check her tour page on the official site for up to date info

Mar 19 Nashville, TN – The High Watt
Mar 20 Asheville, NC – The Mothlight
Mar 21 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
Mar 23 Washington, DC – Black Cat
Mar 24 Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
Mar 26 Allston, MA – Great Scott
Mar 27 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Mar 29 Toronto, Canada – The Drake
Mar 30 Pontiac, MI – Vernors Room @ The Crofoot
Mar 31 Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern
Apr 02 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
Apr 05 San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord
Apr 06 Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge
Apr 07 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar

UK/Europe tour dates:

Apr 12 Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
Apr 13 Berlin, Germany – Privatclub
Apr 14 Amsterdam, Netherlands – BITTERZOET
Apr 15 Cologne, Germany – Studio 672
Apr 16 Brussels, Belgium – AB Club
Apr 18 Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
Apr 19 Edinburgh, UK – Summer Hall
Apr 20 Dublin, Ireland – Whelan’s
Apr 21 Liverpool, UK – Arts Club (WeGotTickets)
Apr 22 Manchester, UK – Gorilla
Apr 23 Brighton, UK – Komedia (WeGotTickets)
Apr 24 London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall (WeGotTickets)
Apr 26 Paris, France – Petit Bain

Tickets are onsale now for UK shows via WeGotTickets & SeeTickets (affiliate links)

Please note, I do not normally keep this front page up to date. If you are looking for more regular CMA news/updates then please follow my Twitter account and join the Facebook fan group.

Below is an embed of my latest Twitter posts:

If you are looking for older news that was previously on the front page click here