Category Archives: Festivals

Newport Folk Festival Videos – Black Prairie, Avett Brothers, Shovels and Rope. Beck

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Newport Folk Festival

I’ve never made it to the just-passed historic Newport Folk Festival (where Dylan went electric in 1965) but I hope i do so next year. One of the oldest festivals in America it was founded in 1959 by George Wein, the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival and over it’s history has featured some of the greatest live performances by folk, blues, country, bluegrass and folk rock legends.

The Newport Folk Festival might have “folk” in it’s title but it looks to me like it was “Americana” before Americana was cool, or even a word associated to a musical genre.

I’m not a fan of the sweaty-body packed sampler-mix of festivals, but the Newport Folk Festival is a different beast. It offers consistently excellent performances played to an audience that is there for music rather than spectacle. I can endure the occasional sweaty festival-goer for this level of excellence.

I found a few videos of the 2013 festival’s performances to whet my appetite. I share some of the better ones with you below. Enjoy!

Father John Misty

Black Prairie (Decemberists) perform Jump up Jon

Avett Brothers

Sarah Jarosz

Shovels and Rope

JD McPherson

The Lone Bellow

Beck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou2zUrktBe0

Americana Music Association Announces Showcase Line-up

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ama final_480x476

Building on the already excellent initial lineup announcement the Nashville-based Americana Music Association has released has released the full roster of artists performing during the event.

Some of the additions that stand out to me are roots-rockers Shooter Jennings and Austin Lucas, alt.country stalwarts Bottle Rockets and Ashley Monroe who apparently has no problem working both the Americana and Music Row sides of the fence (good!) One performer I’m bummed to see missing from the roster is Jason Isbell (Though his talented better half, Amanda Shires, is on the list.) There might be scheduling conflicts with his current tour supporting the excellent “Southeastern.”

The vagueness of Americana’s boundaries allows a richness and diversity within a shared source and vision. it’s what legend, and scheduled performer, Darrell Scott describes positively as a “hard-to-define place.”

the selections show a broad range of diversity and excellence the of the genre. Great to see many Casa Twang favorites represented as well.

The AMA has created a Spotify playlist of the performers on the 2013 bill.

The 14th annual event will take place in Nashville, Sept. 18-22. I’ll be there. hope you are too!

Americana Music Festival & Conference Showcase Performing Artistt
Alanna Royale
Amanda Shires
American Aquarium
Amy Speace
Andrew Combs
Andrew Leahey & the Homestead
Aoife O’Donovan
Ashley Monroe
Austin Lucas
Band of Heathens
Bear’s Den
Ben Miller Band
Bhi Bhiman
Billy Bragg
Black Prairie
Bobby Rush
Bottle Rockets
Brian Wright
Chelsea Crowell
Claire Lynch
Daniel Romano
Darrell Scott & Tim O’Brien
Dash Rip Rock
David Bromberg
Delbert McClinton
Della Mae
Donna the Buffalo
Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors
DUGAS
Elephant Revival
Farewell Drifters
Field Report
Frank Fairfield
Hillbilly Killers
Holly Williams
Houndmouth
Howe Gelb
Howlin’ Brothers
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Infamous Stringdusters
JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound
JD McPherson
Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons
Joe Nolan
John Fullbright
Jonny Fritz
Josh Rouse
Joy Kills Sorrow
Judah & the Lion
Justin Townes Earle
Kim Richey
Kruger Brothers
Laura Cantrell
Lera Lynn
Levi Lowrey
Lindi Ortega
Lisa Marie Presley
Luella & the Sun
Mandolin Orange
Matt Mays
Max Gomez
McCrary Sisters
Melody Pool
Mustered Courage
My Darling Clementine
Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers
Nikki Lane
Noah Gunderson
Nora Jane Struthers
North Mississippi Allstars
NQ Arbuckle
Old Man Luedecke
Over The Rhine
Parker Millsap
Patrick Sweany
Paul Kelly
Peter Bruntnell
Phil Madeira
Pokey LaFarge
Randall Bramlett
Rayland Baxter
Richard Thompson
Rosanne Cash
Rose Cousins
Sam Doores, Riley Downing & the Tumbleweeds
Samantha Crain
Shakey Graves
Shannon McNally
Shel
Shooter Jennings
Sons of Fathers
Spirit Family Reunion
St. Paul and the Broken Bones
Steelism
Steep Canyon Rangers
Stewart Mann & the Statesboro Revue
Sturgill Simpson
Susan Cowsill
The Bushwackers
The Del-Lords
The Devil Makes Three
The Greencards
The Lone Bellow
The Lost Brothers
The Stray Birds
The Westbound Rangers
The White Buffalo
Tim Easton
Tommy Malone
Treetop Flyers
Two Man Gentleman Band
Uncle Lucius
Water Liars
Wheeler Brothers
Willie Sugarcaps
Willy Mason
Wood Brothers

Americana Music Association Announces Initial Showcase Line-up

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Americana Conference Lineup

Nashville-based Americana Music Association has released an excellent initial artist line-up for showcase portion of the conference, festival and awards show. the selections show a broad range of diversity and excellence the of the genre. Great to see many Casa Twang favorites represented as well.

Artists include: Black Prairie, Billy Bragg, Rosanne Cash, The Devil Makes Three, Frank Fairfield, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, John Fullbright, JD McPherson,
The Lone Bellow, Aoife O’ Donovan, Darrell Scott & Tim O’Brien, Richard Thompson, The White Buffalo, Holly Williams and The Wood Brothers

The 14th annual event will take place in Nashville, Sept. 18-22. I’ll be there. hope you are too!

Showcase artists confirmed to perform include:

Black Prairie
Billy Bragg
Rosanne Cash
The Del-Lords
The Devil Makes Three
Sam Doores, Riley Downing & the Tumbleweeds
Frank Fairfield
Field Report
John Fullbright
Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors
Hurray for the Riff Raff
The Infamous Stringdusters
Kruger Brothers
Pokey LaFarge
Nikki Lane
The Lone Bellow
Luella & the Sun
JD McPherson
Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale
Aoife O’Donovan
Old Man Luedecke
Lindi Ortega
Darrell Scott & Tim O’Brien
Shakey Graves
Sturgill Simpson
Sons of Fathers
Spirit Family Reunion
Steelism
The Stray Birds
Richard Thompson
Holly Williams
The White Buffalo
The Wood Brothers

Americana Music Awards Nomination Oversights – Son Volt, The Trishas, Lindi Ortega, Delta Rae

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lindi-ortega

Every autumn for the past 11 years the Americana Music Association honors Americana and roots music. Members of the association (of which I am one) get’s an email in early spring and are asked to submit up to 10 nominees for each of six categories – Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Artist of the Year Emerging Artist of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year and Instrumentalist of the Year. The eligibility period for the nominees runs from April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013.

The numbers are tallied up and the 5 nominees for each category have just been announced last Tuesday. Though some have stated that the Americana music Association is playing it safe and should do more to grow the base.

But all they did was count the votes. The good portion of their dues paying voters are members of the music industry with a stake in the game and this list reflects, with a few glaring exceptions (which I will dress at the bottom), the Americana chart for the time criteria.

As a blogger, with no direct stake in promotion of any one artist over another, I’m bound only by my own subjective opinion. i voted for artists who I believed were the best of the best and some ended up on the final nominee list. Many did not. Here are a few glaring omissions that me, and some of my community on Facebook and twitter have, noticed.

Got your own? List ’em in the comments below.

The first oversight is the most glaring. How is Lindi Ortega, one of the freshest voices in Americana, not up for Emerging Artist Of The Year? Seriously?!

Is there a better singer/songwriter in roots and Americana music than Chris knight? Little Victories was my top album of 2012 and it should be up for Album of the Year. Andd it’s high-time Knight be shown some Artist of the Year love. The man’s a damn legend!

Another fantastic new talent hitting her stride in American, root and pop is Caitlin Rose. Emerging Artist Of The Year and Album of the Year.

Jake Smith (aka The White Buffalo) is also an exciting newcomer in the Americana and roots field. Emerging Artist Of The Year and Album of the Year for How the West Was Won.

A legend, and one of the finest voices in roots music, comes out with her first of new material in sixteen-years on Sing The Delta and it doesn’t get a Album of the Year nod?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Suq8KSwrS0

alt.country legends, Son Volt, reach back to the classic country that’s always been a part of their DNA to make one of the best albums of their career and they’re passed over/ They should be up for for Album of the Year for Honky Tonk and I’d argue that Jay Farrar should be up for Artist Of The Year.

Ray Wylie Hubbard’s Grifter’s Hymnal is the legend at his gritty, greasy Texas best. Album of the Year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r92RkIKm6Wc

Carrie Rodriguez has been around for a a while and deserves some Artist of the Year and Album of the Year love for her Give Me All You Got.

The Turnpike Troubadours are one of the best young bands that I saw at last year’s Americana Conference showcases. Album of the Year for their Goodbye Normal Street and Duo/Group of the Year.

The Trishas were also a highlight of last year’s Americana Conference and have put in their time. They earned nods for High, Wide and Handsome for Album of the Year and Duo/Group of the Year.

ON EDIT: When it comes to pop-Americana the Lumineers can’t hold a candle to Durham’s Delta Rae. I would nominate Delta Rae for Duo/Group of the Year and Bottom of the River for Song of the Year.

New Americana Festival Coming to Franklin, TN

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Cross County Lines

I love the Transatlantic Sessions, a BBC produced series that follows part of the Americana music lineage back to Europe and showcases breathtaking performances. The Cross County Lines is off to a great start to meet that lofty goal with a premier featuring Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Shawn Colvin, Amos Lee, Sarah Jarosz, Angel Snow and Teddy Thompson.

(NASHVILLE, Tenn) April 22, 2013 – The Americana Music Association announced today plans to produce “Cross County Lines,” a one day festival/celebration of Roots inspired music to take place in Middle Tennessee during the early summer of 2014. A kickoff event has been planned, hosted by Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas, to raise awareness and funds to support the not for profit music association’s mission and will take place Saturday June 1, 2013 at Liberty Hall at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee.

Legendary artists Krauss and Douglas will host and perform at the premiere event and have invited special guests Shawn Colvin, Amos Lee, Sarah Jarosz, Angel Snow and Teddy Thompson to join in what will be a memorable night of music.

The format of the performance is inspired by the Transatlantic Sessions, a series based in Scotland, co-conceived and musical directed by Jerry Douglas The event brings together enormously talented musicians who collaborate under the direction of Douglas and promises to be a once in a lifetime evening. In addition to the aforementioned artists, a triple scale house band of Gabe Dixon, Shannon Forrest, Viktor Krauss, Andy Leftwich and Bryan Sutton will perform throughout the evening with all of the artists.

The event will take place in Franklin, Tennessee’s landmark Factory in Franklin building, which originally was built as a wood burning stove factory in 1929. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

All proceeds will go to the benefit the Americana Music Association. Tickets will go on sale Friday April 26 at www.americanamusic.org with seating at $65 per ticket and General Admission at $45. Guests also have a premier seating option to purchase Patron tables

Bob Dylan, Wilco, & My Morning Jacket Team Summer AmericanaramA Festival Tour

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bob-dylan-wilco-my-morning-jacket

Coming through this summer Bob Dylan, Wilco, and My Morning Jacket, Richard Thompson Electric Trio and Ryan Bingham will be featured for the AmericanaramA Festival. Pre-sale tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 24th.

Though I would squabble with some of the inclusions in an “Americana” showcase this should be a cool show.

The tour kicks off in West Palm Beach, FL on June 26th and hits over 20 U.S. different cities before concluding in Mountain View, CA on August 4th. Check out the itinerary below.

Bob Dylan 2013 Tour Dates:
04/21 – Bowling Green, OH @ Bowling Green State University – Stroh Center *
04/23 – St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House *
04/24 – Springfield, MO @ Missouri State University – JQH Arena *
04/25 – Champaign, IL @ University of Illinois – Assembly Hall *
04/27 – Murray, KY @ Murray State University – CFSB Center #
04/28 – Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace #
04/30 – Asheville, NC @ U.S. Cellular Center*
05/01 – Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre *
05/02 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater *
05/04 – Charleston, SC @ Family Circle Magazine Stadium *
05/05 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre *
06/26 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre &
06/27 – Tampa, FL @ Live Nation Amphitheatre &
06/29 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood &
06/30 – Nashville, TN @ The Lawn at Riverfront Park &
07/02 – Memphis, TN @ AutoZone Park & ^
07/05 – Noblesville, IN @ Klipsch Music Center & ^
07/06 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center & ^
07/07 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena & ^
07/10 – St. Paul, MN @ Midway Stadium & ^
07/11 – Peoria, IL @ Chiefs Stadium & ^
07/12 – Chicago, IL @ Toyota Park & ^
07/14 – Clarkstown, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
07/15 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre & ^
07/18 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center & %
07/19 – Bridgeport, CT @ The Ballpark at Harbor Yard & %
07/20 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center & %
07/23 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion & %
07/24 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach & %
07/26 – Hoboken, NJ @ Pier A Park & %
07/27 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater & %
07/28 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center & %
07/31 – Denver, CO, @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre & %
08/01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre & %
08/03 – Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre & %
08/04 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre & %
* = w/ Dawes
# = w/ The Wild Feathers
& = w/ Wilco and My Morning Jacket
^ = w/ Richard Thompson Electric Trio
% = w/ Ryan Bingham

Watch Out! Sarah Jarosz Live at the Troubadour EP – Special Record Store Day Exclusive [VIDEO]

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Sarah Jarosz

in honor of Record Store Day 2013 Austin native and folk singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz is offering a new live release, Live at the Troubadour. The five song EP was was recorded the famed Los Angeles venue and features longtime collaborators Nathanial Smith (cello) and Alex Hargreaves (violin.)

Four live performance videos, shot by videographer Alex Chaloff, beautifully capturing the grace Jarosz of her live shows were created especially for the release. These were originally featured on The Bluegrass Situation, CMT Edge, Bluegrass Nation and RecordStoreDay.com.

Currently wrapping up her senior year at the New England Conservatory of Music, Jarosz will spend her summer making appearances at major festivals including Del Fest, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, High Sierra, Forecastle, Ossipee Valley and Newport Folk Festival.

LIVE AT THE TROUBADOUR track listing
1. Tell Me True
2. Kathy’s Song
3. Mansinneedof
4. Shankill Butchers
5. Broussard’s Lament

Look for Sarah Jarosz new Sugar Hill release is coming this fall.

Sarah Jarosz Tour Dates
2013-4-19 Burlington, VT – Flynn PAC – with John Prine
2013-4-20 Portsmouth, NH – The Music Hall – with John Prine
2013-5-03 Austin, TX – AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center
2013-5-23 New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall
2013-5-25 Cumberland, MD – Del Fest
2013-6-12 The Woodlands, TX – Dosey Doe Coffee Shop
2013-6-13 Wimberley, TX – Blue Rock Artist Ranch – Blue Rock Studio
2013-6-14 Dallas, TX – Poor David’s Pub
2013-6-15 Santa Fe, NM – The Downs of Santa Fe – with Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris
2013-6-16 Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum
2013-6-18 Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
2013-6-21 Telluride, CO – Telluride Bluegrass Festival
2013-6-22 Telluride, CO – Michael D. Palm Theatre
2013-7-06 Quincy, CA – High Sierra Music Festival
2013-7-07 Quincy, CA – High Sierra Music Festival
2013-7-13 Louisville, KY – Forecastle Festival
2013-7-25 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
2013-7-26 Hiram, ME – Ossipee Valley Music Festival
2013-7-27 Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival
2013-7-28 Ogunquit, ME – Jonathan’s Restaurant
2013-8-10 Portland, ON – Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre
2013-8-11 Seattle, WA – Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheatre

Outside Lands Announces Lineup – Willie Nelson, Dawes, Camper Van Beethoven, The Lone Bellow To Perform

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outside-lands-2013Outside Lands has revealed the lineup for this year’s festival, taking place place August 9th-11th in my back yard at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA.

Notable country and roots artists performing are Willie Nelson & Family, Band of Horses, Camper Van Beethoven, The Head and The Heart, The Mother Hips, Dawes, Gary Clark Jr., Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Easy Leaves and The Lone Bellow.

Also topping the bill is Paul McCartney, Nine Inch Nails and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Advanced three-day and VIP tickets will go on sale Thursday, April 18th at Noon PDT through the festival’s website.

Listen up! Amanda Shires Single Premier – “Bulletproof”

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amanda shires

With her newly released single, Bulletproof, Amanda Shires continues to explore a variety of musical influences – folk, blues and jazz -she began in her last release “Carrying Lightening.”

The song sets Shires warm-honey vibrato and fine fiddling against a Tom Waits-like junkyard orchestral accompaniment. The song details potential supernatural impenetrability against a litany of physical and emotional armaments. Like a whimsical protective talisman set to a cha-cha beat

No word on an upcoming album title or release date came with the press release. but when I know , you’ll know

Bulletproof was released to coincide with Shires showcases at South-By-Southwest. Catch her at one of the performances below:

THURS MARCH 14 @ 11 PM
St. David’s Episcopal Church
Historic Sanctuary
hosted by Utne and Thirty Tigers
official SXSW showcase!

FRI MARCH 15 @ 7 PM
Wyndam Garden Hotel
on the patio @ the bar area!
3401 IH 35 Austin, TX 78741
free! open to the public!!

SAT MARCH 16th 6 PM
Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
700 San Jacinto & 8th Street
lobby lounge located @ the atrium!
free! open to the public!!

Alabama Shakes Announce Spring/Summer dates – Debut Album Boys & Girls Is RIAA Certified Gold

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alabama shakes SNLAlabama Shakes is riding a wave of buzz from their GRAMMY Awards nominations, the band’s appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and “Austin City Limits,” and their debut album, Boys & Girls (ATO Records) and selling 100,000 copies and being certified RIAA Gold (just proves people are still willing to buy good music.)

Alabama Shakes has just announced Spring/Summer tour dates that include South America, Canada and Europe. The roots/rock band will kick off a North American headline tour on June 18 at LC Pavilion Outdoors in Columbus, OH. The outing will include two nights at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium (July 17 & 18).

For further details, visit www.alabamashakes.com.

Upcoming Tour Dates

March
12 – Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom – SOLD OUT – with Michael Kiwanuka, Sam Doores and Riley Downing supporting
13 – Austin, TX @ Rodeo Austin – with Michael Kiwanuka, Sam Doores and Riley Downing supporting
15 – New Orleans, LA @ The Sugar Mill – SOLD OUT – with Michael Kiwanuka, Sam Doores and Riley Downing supporting
16 – Jackson, MS @ Hal + Mal’s Street Dance – with Michael Kiwanuka, Sam Doores and Riley Downing supporting
27 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Jose Cuervo Salon
30 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Lollapalooza Brazil
31 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Cine Joia

April
1 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ Circo Voador
3 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Quilmes Rock 2013
6 – Santiago, Chile @ Lollapalooza Chile

May
10 – Napa, CA @ Bottle Rocket Music Festival

June
1 – Houston, TX @ Free Press Festival
2 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros SOLD OUT
7 – Birmingham, AL @ Sloss Furnace – SOLD OUT
8 – Birmingham, AL @ Sloss Furnace – SOLD OUT
18 – Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion – Outdoors
19 – Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
20 – Toronto, ON @ Echo Beach
22 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival
23 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre
30 – London, UK @ Olympic Park/Hard Rock Calling w/Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

July
13 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
14 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom-w/Fly Golden Eagle & Hurray For The Riff Raff supporting
15 – Albuquerque, NM @ Popejoy Hall-w/Fly Golden Eagle & Hurray For The Riff Raff supporting
17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium-w/Fly Golden Eagle & Hurray For The Riff Raff supporting
18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium-w/Fly Golden Eagle & Hurray For The Riff Raff supporting
19 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl Theater-w/Fly Golden Eagle & Hurray For The Riff Raff supporting
21 – Alta, WY @ Targhee Festival
23 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
25 – Calgary, AB @ Calgary Folk Music Festival
26 – Edmonton, AB @ Interstellar Rodeo
28 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cabooze Outdoor Plaza

August
7 – Oslo, Norway @ OYA Festival
8 – Gothenburg, Sweden @ Way Out West
9 – Skanderborg, Denmark @ Skanderborg Festival
10 – Haldern, Germany @ Haldern Festival
13 – Barcelona, Spain @ Apollo
14 – Porto, Portugal @ Paredes Da Coura
18 – Hallendoorn, Holland @ Lowlands Festival

September
7 – Guthrie, OK @ Gentlemen of the Road w/Mumford & Sons – SOLD OUT