LargeHeartedBoy — The 2020 International Dublin Literary Award longlist has been announced. Congratulations to Largehearted Boy Book Notes contributors Anuradha Roy, Tayari Jones, Claire Fuller, Trent Dalton, Jordy Rosenberg, Willy Vlautin, Dara Horn, Ahmed Saadawi, P... more info

Guardian Music — The American musician and novelist on breaking up his acclaimed band Richmond Fontaine, and how Raymond Carver’s stories opened his eyesWilly Vlautin is an American musician and novelist based in Portland, Oregon. His alt-country band Richmond... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — Willy Vlautin once again proves himself one of our finest songwriters on Richmond Fontaine's You Can't Go Back If There Is Nothing To Go Back To. Bitchin Bajas and Bonnie Prince Billy's Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties, Boris... more info

The Telegraph — Thomas Jones on a grim slice of Americana by Willy Vlautin: Lean on Pete more info

LargeHeartedBoy — In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book. Lean on Pete is Willy Vlautin's second novel. The book follows 15 year-old Charlie Thompson as he... more info

CMT — On Sunday (July 18), I raced through an intriguing new novel, Lean on Pete by Willy Vlautin. Written in simple, straightforward language, the story is narrated by 15-year-old Charley Thompson who relocates to Portland, Ore., when his father takes a f... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — The Times Online gives Anais Mitchell's new album, Hadestown, 5 of 5 stars. On the Vermont musician’s latest album — a multi-layered, sensationally good and endlessly absorbing “folk opera” that reworks the story of Orpheus ... more info

Song, by Toad — [Click on the images to enlarge them, and go to Blueback Hotrod to view the full set.  I'd like to say a big thank you to Dylan for filming the interview and for letting me use his photos, both for this post and for the titles for the videos.] It ... more info

Lean On Pete by Willy Vlautin is published by Faber & Faber, priced £12.99. When hope is all but lost the refreshing optimism of youth can work wonders. Lean On Pete, by author and musician Willy Vlautin, plumbs the depths o... more info

Sweetheart Of The Radio — 5. Richmond Fontaine - We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River MP3: Richmond Fontaine - We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River Richmond Fontaine On Myspace Support The Artist. Buy. Buy. Buy. Previously On SOTR: Willy Vlautin ... more info