On a North Texas night chilled by an early winter snap Merle Haggard and Marty Stuart brought a welcome reprieve by turning up the heat.
“I hope you didn’t come looking for some fancy show. If you did you just wasted your money!” Stuart grinned, making a reference to the lavish Ft. Worth venue typically showcasing symphonies, ballets, operas and musicals.
But not tonight. This cold night the capacity-filled Bass hall had been transformed into a rowdy roadhouse, though a tad highfalutin one.
No chairs or longnecks were thrown (and no chicken wire across the stage required) during Stuart’s set but the atmosphere created was just that. Stuart is the consummate showman – in tight leather pants and silver rooster comb of hair – as he worked the crowd into a frenzy. Well, the crowd was largely equally as sliver, so let’s say a tizzy. He and his always extraordinary band, the Fabulous Superlatives – Kenny Vaughan on guitar, Harry Stinson on drums and Paul Martin on bass, – brought a level of bluegrass-level virtuosity that Start had honed personally from his many years in country music, including his start with Lester Flatt. The majority of the brief but satisfying set was from their just-released double album, “Saturday Night/Sunday Morning.” Honky-tonk barn-burners mixed with Gospel pew-kneelers set toes-tapping and hands-clapping.
And in the case of Stuart’s astonishing mandolin solo, jaws dropping.
As Merle Haggard said later in the program “Marty likes to work in Nashville, I DON’T! But he keeps that town alive.”
Stuart introduced the 77-year-old Haggard as he strolled out on stage as nonchalantly as a living legend might.
The classics kept coming, his own hits like “Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star,†Silver Wings,†“I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink†and others including Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,†Blaze Foley’s “If I Could Only Fly,†and the Townes Van Zandt he and Willie made into a radio staple “Pancho and Lefty.”
A hush fell over the crowd during his reverent rendition of “Are the Good Times Really Over.” As the song reminiscences simpler times, and better music, without resorting to saccharin tropes of as he asks teh question most of us ask whe watching a oucntry awards program, “Are the good times really over for good?â€
Not as long as Haggard and Stuart walk this earth.
Haggard appeared to be a bit winded and he mentioned several times about “Being out of breath” and feeling like he was having an “asthma attack.” Given hsi recent history with health issue there was palpable concern and calls of encouragement as he sipped some hot tea a delivered on-stage by a background singer.
The one soap-box moment of the night came when Haggard asked the audience who was in favor for legalization of marijuana? He then asked “Who’s against it?” Following rhetorically with, “Why?” (video below)
Are the good times really over for good? Not as long as Haggard and Stuart walk this earth.
Merle Haggard’s set list: “Big City,†“Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star,†Silver Wings,†“Folsom Prison Blues,†“I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink,†“If I Could Only Fly,†“I’m a Lonesome Fugitive,†“Mama Tried,†“The Bottle Let Me Down,†“If We Make It Through December,†“Are the Good Times Really Over,†“Pancho and Lefty,†“Footlights,†“Train of Life,†“San Antonio Rose,†“Old Fashioned Love,†“Working in Tennessee†(with Marty Stuart) and “Okie From Muskogee†(with Marty Stuart) No encore.
Ryan Adams has displayed some, um, irritation at being mistaken for Canadian pop-rocker Bryan Adams. He’s also been known to get bent out of shape when Bryan Adams songs are called out at his shows.
Well they’re nothing to be done about the former confusion the latter seems to have been remedied. During a Santa Barbara gig Adams (Ryan not Bryan) covered Adams (Bryan not Ryan) hit “Run To You.â€
After some playful banter about tempo-changes, fitted jeans and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Adams launched into the cover with no mention of what was to come.
And like most of his covers he not only nails it, he improves the song.
If you’re a fan of roots music there is only one place to be in the fall, and that’s Americanafest. The Americana Music Association will be presiding over this 15th Festival – along with its Conference and Awards Ceremony – in Nashville, September 16-21.
This is the premier industry event celebrating the music we love. Thousands of artists, fans and industry folks from all over the world will gather to talk biz, eat BBQ, drink local beer and, yes, hear the best music on the planet.
then get up the next morning and do it all over again (pace yourself, drink water!)
This year the increased the number of acts has grown to 160 (!) performing across 11 venues (!!) This might have given me more awesome choices, but I’ve yet to figure oy t that whole cloning myself thing. This makes seeing many performances, many happening at the same time, an impossibility.
But the upside is no matter where you find yourself you’re in for some of the best music going.
Over the years of attending this extraordinary event I’ve tried to dig deep in the bill and look for hidden gems that might I might miss on my initial scan. Some newer or more obscure performers are the ones that can often leave an impression and have fans talking for days after.
Though I like to see the big names as much as anybody, There are a few names that fly a little lower under the radar but will be well worth making time for.
Caroline Rose – The Basement – Tuesday September 16, 2014 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Caroline Rose just came across my ADD addled mind and I’m better for it. Pop folk never sounded so fresh and vibrant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4cAnRTrKD0
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John Moreland – High Watt – Wednesday, September 17, 2014 11:00pm – 11:45pm
There’s nothing fancy about a John Moreland performance. He sits alone, mostly with an acoustic guitar spinning rich tales of the human landscape. His sparse, concise yet elegant style has him counting Lucero and Jason Isbell as fans and having his songs showcased on the biker drama, Sons of Anarchy
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Hannah Aldridge – Fanny’s House of Music “Americana Ladies Night Line-Up” – Thursday September 18, 2014 5:30pm – 8:30pm
A voice of the ages that can be heard from two blocks over (unmiced) Aldridge beings the goods and more on her sterling debut “Razorwire.”
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Banditos – The Rutledge – Thursday September 18, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm
This Nashville-by-way-of Birmingham band is a potent blend of rock, country and soul that draws on many influences and squeezes greatness from every drop. Some of the tunes might seem “jammy” but they always right themselves and head straight for solid framework.
Zoe Muth’s sweetly plantive voice sings songs of hardscrabble love and life that can tear out your heart or rock your soul, often at the same time.
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Shinyribs – High Watt – Wednesday September 17, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm
Shinyribs is the pseudonym of The Gourds mastermind of madness Kevin Russell. Tightly arranged tunes, spiked with a heavy dose of whimsy, shows Russell reflecting a stew of influences from Bob Wills to the Texas Tornadoes.
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Jonny Two Bags – The Basement – Wednesday, September 17, 2014 11:00pm – 11:45pm
Sometimes punk rockers age and cross over to Americana. Sometimes their original band has always had a foot in the dusty road. The latter is the case for Jonny Two Bags. As the guitarist for the SoCal institution Social Distortion, Jonny Two Bags didn’t have to travel far to pull out his
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Whiskey Shivers – Station Inn – Thursday September 18, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm
Newgrass? Naw, how bout thrashgrass. Whiskey Shivers heats up the already hot genre by pulling in an audience and making a performance a communal celebration that will have you to leaving your troubles at the door. They’ve even caught the ear of fellow Texas genre-hopper Robert Ellis who has produced their upcoming self-titled album.
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Otis Gibbs – Station Inn – Thursday, September 18, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm
Otis Gibbs is what a musician looks like that refuses to compromise. His songs are instantly relatable and yet poetic.The man effortlessly exudes that ever elusive quality of authenticity.
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Hello Strangers – Two Old Hippies – Friday, September 19 6:00 PM – 7:00pm
Sisters Larissa Chace Smith and Brechyn Chace hail from the foot of the Appalachian mountains, due north of the Mason-Dixon Line , in Mercersburg, PA. They ended up in Austin where they worked their craft in the rich music scene helped hone their harmony-rich folk and roots rock spirit.
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Jonah Tolchin – Third Man – Friday, September 19, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm
Jonah Tolchin’s voice belies his years on earth. His neo-soul roots style transports you and breathes life into the past.
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Marah – The Basement – Friday, September 19, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm
Marah are one of my favorite rocks bands, all ramshackle and passion fueled recklessness. Thier newest roots music production, ‘Mountain Minstrelsy of Pennsylvania’ takes all that’s great with the band and runs it through a copper wire od dark mountain folk.
Nashville by way of Texas classic country and Townes Van Zandt influenced Cale Tyson’s musical path. Tyson’s latest EP, “High On Lonesome” reflects that legacy with hints of Gram Parsons, Guy Clark and Willie Nelson.
After seeing Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance, Jamestown Revival, at an LA Americana event honoring the Everly Brothers I was hooked. They arguably stole the show that night. This was a show that included Rodney Crowell and Bonnie Raitt get there early. JR might be somewhat off the radar but their popularity is growing.
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Cory Branan – High Watt – Friday, September 19, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm
Sharp songwriting and an aversion of the lazy trope has made Chuck Ragan and Lucero into fans of Cory Branan. Come see what all the fuss is about.
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Grace and Tony – Station Inn – Saturday September 20, 2014 8:00pm – 8:45pm
Grace and Tony come from a bluegrass and punk rock background respectively. Not just joining in matrimony they fused a hybrid style they describe as Punkgrass. Colliding the worlds of Charlie Poole and The Clash might have been a disaster for some, but they make it work thanks to a love of craft many of live performances in front of adoring fans.
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Lera Lynn – High Watt – Saturday September 20, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm
Texas-born Lera Lynn has a hard one to characterize. A little Dusty , a dash of Loretta, leads to a quality to her that make her rock-roots/soul style irresistible.
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Jason Eady – Mercy Lounge – Saturday, September 20, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm
Jason Eady’s is the odd man out here. He’s not Americana, he’s country..or at least he’s what country used to be , before it became Americana. Damn it just go see him!
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David Ramirez – The Rutledge – Saturday September 20, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm
Austin’s David Ramirez is the textbook definition of a troubadour. A songwriter hammering out hard tales with a guitar and a song. His extensive touring has gained him fans from coast to coast.
With the official demise of the Civil Wars I invite you to turn your wistfully romantic ears toward husband and wife dup Carolina Story (Ben and Emily Roberts.) Though they can get a little more country (read twang) than TCW the Arkansas couple can also plumb the depths of a forlorn soul.
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Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons – The Basement – Sunday September 21, 2014 12:00am – 12:45am
Joe Fletcher’s solo debut ‘You’ve Got the Wrong Man,’ populated with soldiers, scammers, hangers-on, hellraisers, boozers and the woe-begone. Comparisons to Tom Waits would not be far off.
I was lucky to be one of 104,793 people packed AT&T Stadium for the final show of George Strait’s Cowboy Rides Away Tour.
it just blows me away how easy he makes it look no matter the size of the venue.
If you weren’t able to attend the event not to worry, this was too big a deal not to capitalize on. A 20-track live album recorded of the event will be released September 16th and a two-hour “George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away†concert special airing Aug. 29 exclusively on CMT. (check local listings).
The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium Track Listing:
1. Check Yes Or No
2. The Love Bug (with Vince Gill)
3. Fool Hearted Memory (with Jason Aldean)
4. Arkansas Dave (with Bubba Strait)
5. Cowboys Like Us (with Eric Church)
6. That’s What Breaking Hearts Do
7. Marina Del Rey
8. Here For A Good Time (with Sheryl Crow)
9. I Can Still Make Cheyenne
10. Jackson (with Martina McBride)
11. A Showman’s Life (with Faith Hill)
12. Murder On Music Row (with Alan Jackson)
13. The Chair
14. Give It All We Got Tonight
15. Run (with Miranda Lambert)
16. I’ll Always Remember You
17. Ocean Front Property (with Kenny Chesney)
18. Troubadour
19. All My Ex’s Live In Texas (with Jason Aldean, Ray Benson, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow,
Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride)
20. The Cowboy Rides Away
“The Midnight Ramble Sessions Volume 3” sessions represent last musical project with which the late drummer of The Band was involved. Helm personally hand-picked the album’s 13 songs from a five-year period of live Midnight Ramble recordings, 2006-2010 at the Barn, with his longtime band member and musical director, multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell. The album features performances from the Levon Helm Band with special guests including the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson, Jimmy Vivino, Elvis Costello and New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint, capturing the homespun spirit of those gatherings, a worthy posthumous tribute to Helm’s indomitable spirit and peerless musical abilities. Aside from listening to hours of tapes to come up with the final song selection, Helm also designed the cover art for the album.
Campbell explains that, after the Electric Dirt record, he and Levon began formulating what a third album might encompass. “He wanted it to be more representative of what this band was like at a live show, featuring all of the players,†says Campbell. “Levon was having health problems, so our plan was to go through the archives and pull out tunes that best showed what our lifestyle was like. That was his real, main motive, to showcase the band as best we could. And then he chose the tunes that he liked playing, and we edited it down to fit on a single CD. “There were probably 20 songs that he initially wanted us to include, but these were the ones we all finally decided were best.â€
“The Same Thing†from the just-released “The Midnight Ramble Sessions Volume 3″ has Helm in excellent form as his characteristic dynamic drumming drives a Dixieland /rock/soul infused gumbo in front of a lucky audience. Of “The Same Thing†(recorded Feb. 14, 2009) Campbell says : We’d been doing that song for a while and it turned out to be a great show opener. When Levon’s singing was on, it was just magical. Jimmy Vivino is playing slide guitar on this, and Mike Merritt was on bass that night. The song always just set a great mood to start the evening, so we figured we’d start the record with it.”
Jason Isbell is at the top of his career and he’s headed all over this great nation (except Dallas!) Isbell is headed to the second leg of his tour to support his acclaimed “Southeastern.”
Isbell will kick off in Auckland, New Zealand on April 12th followed by Sydney Australia and a few more dates down under before hitting the states on April 25th in New Orleans to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
And if that’s not enough (and it is) Isbell has some great openers. Tift Merritt, Holly Williams, Langhorne Slim, Amanda Shires and St. Paul & The Broken Bones.
5/27 – 5/28, 5/30 – 6/4, 6/7 Isbell supports Ray Lamontagne.
6/13 he co-headlines with James McMurtry and on 7/6 – 7/18 he supports Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss & Union Station (what?! no Willies Picnic?)
The tour ends back at the stop he played to a sold-out crowd last August, the historic Ryman Auditorium. This time for two nights, Friday, October 24, and Saturday, October 25. Smart money says both nights sell out so get ’em while you can.
A special fan pre-sale will launch at 10 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, April 9, and run until 10 p.m. CDT, Thursday, April 10.
Isbell and the 400 Unit your dates. Keep an eye on his official site for more dates and news.
Sat-Apr-12 Auckland, NZ Tuning Fork
Sun-Apr-13 Sydney, NSW The Factory
Wed-Apr-16 Melbourne, VIC Northcote Social Club *SOLD OUT*
Thu-Apr-17 Melbourne, VIC Northcote Social Club *SOLD OUT*
Fri-Apr-18 Tallarook, VIC Boogie Festival
Sat-Apr-19 Meeniyan, VIC Meeniyan Town Hall
Mon-Apr-21 Tyagarah, NSW Byron Bay Bluesfest
Fri-Apr-25 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Sat-Apr-26 Indio, CA Stagecoach Festival * SOLD OUT*
Mon-Apr-28 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy *SOLD OUT*
Tue-Apr-29 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore *SOLD OUT*
Wed-Apr-30 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Sun-May-04 Memphis, TN Beale Street Music Festival
Wed-May-07 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Live at The Lot @ The Player’s Championship
Fri-May-09 Birmingham, AL Alabama Theatre
Sat-May-10 Huntsville, AL Mark C. Smith Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center
Sun-May-11 Atlanta, GA Shaky Knees Music Festival
Tue-May-27 Portland, ME Cumberland County Civic Center
Wed-May-28 Shelburne, VT The Green at Shelburne Museum
Thu-May-29 Nelsonville, OH Nelsonville Music Festival
Fri-May-30 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavillion
Sat-May-31 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavillion
Sun-Jun-01 Canandaigua, NY Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
Tue-Jun-03 Wallingford, CT Toyota Presents Oakdale
Wed-Jun-04 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavillion
Fri-Jun-06 New York, NY The Governor’s Ball Music Festival
Sat-Jun-07 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
Fri-Jun-13 Madison, WI THE KURT Music Event at The Majestic
Fri-Jun-20 Telluride, CO Telluride Bluegrass
Sun-Jul-06 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theater
Mon-Jul-07 Rogers, AR Arkansas Music Pavilion
Wed-Jul-09 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre
Fri-Jul-11 Council Bluffs, IA Harrah’s Stir Cove
Sat-Jul-12 Chicago, IL Ravinia Festival
Sun-Jul-13 Detroit, MI Freedom Hill
Thu-Jul-17 Interlochen, MI Kresge Auditorium
Fri-Jul-18 Toledo, OH Toledo Zoo Amphitheater
Sat-Jul-19 Louisville, KY Forecastle Festival
Fri-Jul-25 White Sulphur Springs, MT Red Ants Pants Music Festival
Sat-Jul-26 Calgary, AB Calgary Folk Festival
Sun-Jul-27 Edmonton, AB Interstellar Rodeo
Thu-Jul-31 Bayfield, WI Big Top Chautauqua
Fri-Oct-24 Nashville, TN The Ryman Auditorium
Sat-Oct-25 Nashville, TN The Ryman Auditorium
4/12-4/17, 4/19 Tift Merritt Supports
4/28 – 4/30 Holly Williams supports
5/9 Langhorne Slim & The Law supports
5/27 – 5/28, 5/30 – 6/4, 6/7 supporting Ray Lamontagne, Belle Brigade opens
6/13 co-headline with James McMurtry
7/6 – 7/18 supporting Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss & Union Station
10/24 Amanda Shires supports
10/25 St. Paul & The Broken Bones support
Dave Rawlings Machine’s 2013 crackerjack lineup – Gillian Welch, John Paul Jones, Willie Watson and Paul Kowert – is back for six nights only this summer, beginning June 18 in Boulder, CO, and finishing up on June 27 at Nashville, TN’s legendary Ryman Auditorium.
The high-caliber collective is known for their shows of distinctive picking, high lonesome songs, ands some pretty great covers, like in the Live and Breathing Session below. Fan club pre-sale for the tour will begin on March 20. General on sale begins March 21. Complete tour dates are below.
June
18 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
24 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
25 – St. Louis, MO – The Sheldon
26 – Louisville, KY – Brown Theatre
27 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
Alabama Shakes has announced a headlining tour of the U.S. coming this spring. The run will kick off with a two-night stand at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC (April 25 and 26).
A ticket pre-sale begins this Friday, February 28, at 12:00 PM local time. Tickets go on sale to the public on this Saturday, March 1, for all dates except Washington, DC, where tickets will go on sale Thursday, March 6. The band will also perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Suburbia Festival, the Beale Street Music Festival and the Shaky Knees Fest. See below for itinerary or visit www.alabamashakes.com.
The Athens, AL-based band – comprising vocalist/guitarist Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, drummer Steve Johnson and bassist Zac Cockrell – has been in the studio working on a new album. Further details will be announced soon.
Alabama Shakes – Upcoming Tour Dates
4/25 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club- Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires Fsupporting
4/26 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club- Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires supporting
4/28 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel – Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires supporting
4/29 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel -Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires supporting
5/2-4 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
5/3-4 – Plano, TX @ Suburbia Festival
5/4 – Memphis, TN @ Beale Street Music Festival
5/7 – Northfield, OH @ Hard Rock Live – The Deslondes supporting
5/8 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE – The Deslondes supporting
5/9 – Richmond, VA @ The National – The Deslondes supporting
5/11 – Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Fest
In he four years that I’ve participated in the GRAMMYs (yes, that a brand thing) community of bloggers program I always have someone ask me. “Why do it?â€
I have a simple answer, exposure. Not just for me. – even if, as T Bone might suggest, I eschewed the spotlight, the blogger community program shines a brighter light on me and I in turn point that light toward great music and evets that most people aren’t aware of outside of the televised GRAMMY awards program showed for several hours in late Fall every year.
Events like the the Grammy Foundation’s “A Song is Born” program that took place at the classically elagant Wilshire Ebell Theater celebrating the alchemy of sound, emotion and words that is songwriting. Seventeen artists, most of them writers rather than the original interpreters, provided the audience with a live glimpse behind the creative curtain.
Singer/songwriter and actor and country-rock pioneer JD Souther, brought Dan Wilson (Grammy winner for his songs for Dixie Chicks and Adele), Joy Williams (Grammy winner for Civil Wars) for a wonderfully sweet rendition of his co-written hit with the Eagles, “New Kid in Town.”
Kris Kristofferson, who alluded to his recent disclosure of memory loss when he mentioned that “77 is a tough age.†He the enraptured the crowd with a rousing version of “Me and Bobby McGee†and a gut-wrenching rendition of “For the Good Times.”
Legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb took to piano to tell stories of his career. Like when the record company shows wariness of his song by the Fifth Dimension “Up, Up, and Away,” partly because they “they thought it was about drugs. It was just an ironic moment because of all the songs that year , 1967, were on radio that week, “Up Up and Away” was the only song that was not about drugs.”
perform a passionate “Wichita Lineman” in honor of “my friend” Glenn Campbell.
The GRAMMY pre-telecast is where the majority of the awards are given. The MC for the event was 80’s singing star, and current Broadway composer, Cyndi Lauper was charmingly bumbling iin her Queens kind of way.
Winners for the night (and if you followed my Twitter account you already know this) were:
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell for “Old Yellow Moon,†Crowell accepted the award as he mentioned that Harris was “being a good sister†and tending to her ill brother.
Edie Brickell & Steve Martin were awards the GRAMMY for Best American Roots Song for their collaboration “Love Has Come For You.†“ Edie if the finest lyricist I’ve ever worked with.†Martin quipped.
Guy Clark was awarded a long overdue first GRAMMY for “My Favorite Picture Of You,†which took home Best Folk Album. Best Bluegrass Album went to that genre’s stalwart Del McCoury and his band.
The two biggest Americana and roots surprises came in the mainstream country categories.
The 25-year-old pop-folk upstart Kacey Musgraves took the gold, along with co-writers Shane McNally And Josh Osborne, for Country Song of the Year for “Merry Go ‘Round.†The surprise came when Musgraves won the big prize, Country Album of the Year for “Same Trailer Different Park.†against the old guard of Taylor Swift, Lee Brice, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton.
When The Civil Wars were announced for their fourth Grammy for best country duo/group performance for “From This Valley” all eyes were searching to see if they currently at odds duo would appear. John Paul White ambled to the stage in typical formal attire alone and proceeded to jokingly apologize to fellow nominee Dolly Parton. “I’d like to apologize to Dolly Parton for depriving her of anything at all,” White joked. “She’s one of my biggest heroes.
He then went on to thank his wife, his four children and plumber who was currently fixing the water system.
There was no mention of producer Charlie Peacock or band’s other half, Joy Williams, who had been in attendance during of other events during Grammy Week.
The Civil Wars Facebook page was flooded with long-suffering fan’s outrage and disappointment and White later broke his more than year-long Twitter silence to apologize and thank Peacock and Williams.
On the main telecast I was delighted to see original Highwaymen, Willie Nelson and recipient of the 2014 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award Kris Kristofferson shared the stage with Bakersfield legend Merle Haggard and newcomer (and contrite trad-country basher) Blake Shelton do a medley of classic country hits like “The Highwayman,” “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” and “Okie From Muskogee.”
A great year of surprises, long-deserved recognition and lifted boats.
One event I’m most looking forward to while covering the GRAMMYs this year is one that is not an official GRAMMY event.
The Franklin TN -based Americana Music Association is presenting “a tribute to the Everly Brothers during a celebration of American Roots Music.”
Now who will be performing and how a Everly Brothers tribute will be worked into a larger salute to roots music at the sold-out event is not detailed, but I’m excited to find out!
The event will take place at the legendary Los Angeles venue, the Troubadour, Saturday, January 25.
Phil Everly was a friend of the AMA. In 20019 he wrote down the lyrics of “When Will I Be Loved†on parchment paper and donated the work for auction which raised money for the non-profit organization.
