Somehow it's been a long time since we had a female vocal on the Friday Music Spot.
Putting that to rights, here's sisters Martie and Emily Erwin with lead singer Natalie Maines, three birds/gals collectively known as the Dixie Chicks.
The group caused quite a stir in 2003*, with their remarks about the Iraq war and President Bush coming from Texas.
This song pre-dates all the furore. A 'live' concert version of 'Cowboy Take Me Away', with some wonderful steel guitar in there and fiddle solos from Martie.

*2003 Massive political firestorm >>> link

It's great when every now and then this happens:
Walking through a street market at the weekend I hear music coming from the vicinity of one of the many second hand shops nearby. I move closer and then go inside to discover a tiny box size Bose speaker picking up music from an ipad. The play panel reads: Madrugada: 'Electric' from 'Industrial Silence'.
None the wiser (other than how much I liked what I was hearing) I investigated Madrugada. (pronounced Ma-dru-gada) They are a Norwegian alternative rock band. The track is from their first album released in 1999. They split in 2008, but have just reformed for a European tour.
They've been described as a band noted for it's barebones blues-inspired alt-rock. 
And a comment posted on YouTube says "Lost Leonard Cohen - but, found Madrugada".

I've listened to little else since... therefore here's some further listening:
'Quite Emotional' Floyd like + bluesy end > www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5k8v2Cln3s
'Vocal' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVJrbJm8X_M
Plus a 'live' view of vocalist Sivert Høyem - 'Majesty' (live at Acropolis) apparently they're huge in Greece > www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P4n6wITFYo 

⥤ Can't let this go without joking that these Norwegian entries are definitely no 'European Song Contest' 'nul points'. (check link) 

This is outrageous > nearly 10 minutes worth of pure guitar wizardry...

All styles covered: Light and shade(s), the Shadows, tapping, mid section like The Who, rambling on, rhythm section interplay, it's all there.

This is Joe Satriani - 'Always with Me, Always with You' > fantastic !

According to London's 'TimeOut' magazine in May 1719 the private Royal road from Whitehall to Hampton Court was opened for use by the public. The part known today as the King's Road, Chelsea is therefore 300 years old this month.
Just the flimsy excuse needed for this:
I've worked on three separate occasions in the King's Road. Strictly speaking in roads just off to the side but the King's Road was the way to and from. 1973-75, again in the mid 80s when freelancing and finally the late 80s. Plus I was married at the Town Hall. So I've seen a lot of changes in my life time.
This picture from the 70s of 'The Great Gear Trading Company' is now the site of Marks & Spencer, surrounded by mobile phone shops. Back then this market was one of many clothing outlets while in the centre was a record store. It was here in 1974 that I wandered one lunchtime and heard this very tasty guitar solo.
It's Mick Taylor playing on 'Time Waits For No One' off the Rolling Stones "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" album... and I like it !
Pity there's no actual footage of the band performing this track, just some nice stills of them, albeit some not of this time. 
This was Mike Taylor's last record with the Stones. Great way to play out and I love the ticking clock rhythm background and Nicky Hopkins tumbling piano at the end.

Recent protests in London by 'Extinction Rebellion' demanding action on climate change has finally driven the issue up the news agenda.
One band (that recently got a mention here) from Australia, Midnight Oil were bringing these environment issues to our attention well over 30 years ago. Time for a track or two:
The band's 1987 album 'Diesel and Dust', in October 2010, was listed in the book "100 Best Australian Albums" at No. 1. This is from the follow up LP 'Blue Sky Mining', the title track called 'Blue Sky Mine'.

In 2003 lead singer Peter Garrett became a member of the Order of Australia - "For service to the community as a prominent advocate for environmental conservation and protection, and to the music industry."
Another track... this was one of the first songs by Midnight Oil I heard off their 1982 album '10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1': 'Short Memory' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgukduYJZ44

I actually had this lined up for last week and then the Silent Adventure mob took over.
May 1989 saw the release of the debut LP by The Stone Roses. 30 years have past but the album still holds up as the start of 'Brit-pop' and as Rolling Stone mag put it "a blast of magnificent arrogance, a fusion of Sixties-pop sparkle and the blown-mind drive of U.K. rave culture".
My introduction was the song 'Waterfall' heard on GLR in the early 90s. Tomorrow on Film 4 (FV 15 and Sky channel 313) the Shane Meadows season continues by showing 'The Stone Roses: Made of Stone' film (at 1.15 am. if you want to record it). And then yesterday on came the track on the radio (as if to jog my memory).
This is that track 'Made of Stone' - wonderful fazed drums

If you like here's the brooding opening track off the album, which starts quietly: 'I Wanna Be Adored' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D2qcbu26gs

It's a Flash Mob, it's a Silent Disco, It’s a roaming, rhythmic riot through the sound-soaked streets of London!

Last weekend we took part in this Silent Adventure. It was all Margaret's idea and she booked the tickets –
Disco dance moves rehearsed we were off to bop, hop, twirl, swim, spin, sway, wave and boogie our way through Trafalgar and Leicester Squares to headphones full of Brittany, Bruno Mars (to Margaret's delight), Whitney, Spice Girls, Bon Jovi, Guns 'n' Roses (air-guitar time) and ending with an Abba sing-a-long.

Now those of you thinking this is not really me (public displays of disco dad dancing) - you'd be right - and I was one of only two males in our mob. But once we got going I was caught in the moment and never looked back, oblivious to how it seemed to the outside world, my mind fixed on our leader Anthony, his instructions and cries of 'amazin'! 
Enormous fun and (gentlemen) this adventure would make a brilliant and unusual present for the love of your life.

My favourite moment was air-guitaring and singing at the top of my voice to this track. Arms in the air "I am the One and Only" >
Chesney Hawkes hit single from 1991, which spent 5 weeks at No.1 in the UK. and was featured in the film 'Buddy's Song' - then turned up in the film 'Doc Hollywood' and became a hit in the US, November of that same year. 

The song was written by Nik Kershaw.  

And if you're going to have just one big hit Chesney: 'The One and Only' will do !

Geographically Australia and New Zealand are close. Well at least in world terms. Around 1340 miles as the crow flies.
No surprise therefore to see Aussie things washed up on New Zealand shores. Holden cars, Arnott's biscuits, Bundaberg drinks and less welcome the brushtail possum (a real pest).
It was great though to hear some of the Aussie bands that I loved from the 80s: Midnight Oil, Men at Work, John Farnham and this feller Jimmy Barnes.
The video for his 1987 track 'Driving Wheels' contains these freight train trucks that thunder down the roads of New Zealand, hounding you. Pull over and get out of their way, if you can, they're another pest!  Best pull in and listen 

Kicking up some dust with some great squealing guitar is the aptly named Johnny Diesel, aka Mark Denis Lizotte.

This needs little introduction....
As promised the final 'Bardeaux' track: Eric Clapton wrote and performed this song 'Old Love' with Robert Cray. It's from his 1989 'Journeyman' album, not to be confused with a track on the same LP called 'Bad Love'.

No confusion here >>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrkdMkCKeZM

If you want to save this until later in the day, feel free, because today I'm inviting you to join us in a bar in Queenstown, on New Zealand's South Island. 

Having taken refuge from the afternoon's heavy showers, it's time for drinks (pour yourself one if you wish*) and time to enjoy the moment.

We're back in the comfortable lounge of Queenstown's 'Bardeaux': (described as)

"An iconic bar and the perfect intimate venue. This sumptuous up-market venue is all about service, the huge open fire, knowledgeable staff and great music". 

And great music there was too. With the assistance of my trusty phone app 'Soundhound' I was able to identify all the music played.

*Listening to them all may depending on the size of the drink you poured yourself ! You choose.

First up is 'Everything I Need' by Keb 'Mo' from the blues performer's 1998 album called 'Slowdown'. (click here to listen) 

This was followed by The Robert Cray Band 'Bouncin' Back' featuring the Memphis Horns

(click to listen) 

Completely in the mood now (sip of beer) the next track was also Robert Cray on a more recent recording of 'The Same Love That Made Me Laugh', an old Bill Withers composition, and single from 1974. The band on this album is Hi Rhythm and it was recorded in the legendary Royal Studios in Memphis**. This song is today's 'Star Track'. Very tasteful guitar, that fades out to just a drum beat. Unusual ! Cheers

**The 2017 album is a handful of originals and a collection of covers including two Tony Joe White songs, who actually joined him in the studio. 

I've another one from the 'Bardeaux' session… on tap/hold for next week....