LynnThe reining Queen of Country Music inked her fist new record deal in more than a decade.
Following Willie Nelson to Sony Legend the new agreement covers “several albums of new material,” produced by Lynn’s daughter Patsy L Russell and John Carter Cash, recorded over the past seven years at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tenn.
The first title is plannned for release in 2015 and will be the artist’s first collection of new recordings since 2004’s Grammy-winning Jack White collaberation “Van Lear Rose,”
Lynn, Russell and Cash have beenworking togather at Cash Cabin Studio sice 2007. The materian “explores Lynn’s musical history spanning Appalachian folk songs and gospel music she learned as a child, to new interpretations of her classic hits and country standards, to songs newly-written for the project.
Drawing inspiration from personal memories and connections to American music, Lynn’s new recordings “capture the essence of these songs in intimate new performances, the way they might’ve sounded growing up in the 1930’s and 40’s in Butchers Hollow, Ky.”
Lynn appeared on the Country Music Awards last night, signing “You’re Looking at Country” with diciple Kacey Musgraves.
Grammy winner Christopher King ( Charlie Patton: Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues) has produced ‘When I Reach That Heavenly Shore : Unearthly Black Gospel, 1926-1936.’ The box set will be released December 9th on Tompkins Square Records.
from the presser:
“Among the most powerful music to be captured on 78 rpm in America during the 1920s & 1930s are those recordings of black sanctified and gospel singing. Ranging from plaintive mourning to unbridled ecstasy, the sacred music from this time period represents a flowering of diverse and idiosyncratic rural songs styles. At no time was there a wider panorama of religious songs in America.
Selected exclusively from Christopher King’s private collection, the 78s included here represent the most unhinged, the most compelling survey of pre-war black gospel. Of the 42 tracks in this 3CD/3LP collection, 34 have never been reissued until now. The complete recorded output of the Primitive Baptist Choir of North Carolina is also included in this collection for the first time. Several rare & previously unissued photographs are also contained within. Lovingly and respectfully designed by Susan Archie and firmly grounded in Scripture by Christopher King.”
Stream ‘Let That Lie Alone’ – Edward W. Clayborn- from the release below.
Track Listing:
On Jordan’s Stormy Bank We Stand – Seventh Day Adventists Choir
Glory! Glory! Hallelelujeh – McCollum’s Sanctified Singers
Fight On Your Time Ain’t Long – Primitive Baptist Choir Of North Carolina
Let Jesus Lead You – Jubilee Gospel Team
Preaching With Singing – Elder Oscar Saunders & Congregation
I’ll Be Rested (When The Roll Is Called) -Roosevelt Graves & Brother
Hiding Behind The Stuff – Rev. A. W. Nix
Let That Lie Alone – Edward W. Clayborn- “The Guitar Evangelist
The Devil Is A Fisherman – Rev. T.E. Weems
Oh Lord I’m Your Child – McCollum’s Sanctified Singers
Abraham Have Mercy On Me – Rev. William Ransom
Father I Stretch My Hands Up To Thee – Primitive Baptist Choir Of North Carolina
I Wish My Mother Was On That Train – Blind Joe & Emma Taggart
Dead Cat On The Line – Rev. J.M. Gates
You Gotta Live Your Religion Every Day – Laurel (Mississippi) Fireman’s Quartette
Rejoicing On The Way – Fa Sol La Singers
Canaan’s Land – Blind Gussie Nesbit
Everybody Will Be Happy Over There – Elder Oscar Saunders & Congregation
Jesus Will Make It All Right – Edward W. Clayborn- “The Guitar Evangelist
Heaven Belongs To You – Primitive Baptist Choir of North Carolina
Lord I’m The True Vine – Eddie Head & His Family
Jonah In The Wilderness – Henry Thomas
Angels Rolled The Stone Away – Rev. D.C. Rice
Pure Religion – Blind Gussie Nesbit
I Love Thy Church O Lord- Primitive Baptist Choir of North Carolina
Stations Will Be Changed – Jubilee Gospel Team
When I Take My Vacation In Heaven – Mother McCollum
What The Men Wanted The Women Was Sitting On- Rev. Emmet Dickinson
Train Your Child – Washington Phillips
He Shall Speak For Himself – Rev. William Ransom
I Heard The Angels Singing – Edward W. Clayborn- “The Guitar Evangelist”
The Day Is Past And Gone – Primitive Baptist Choir Of North Carolina
I Know The Lord Has Laid His Hands On Me – Jubilee Gospel Team
Jesus Of Nazareth, King Of The Jews – Rev. J.C. Burnett
I Won’t Have To Cross Jordan Alone – Laurel (Mississippi) Fireman’s Quartette
I’ll Be Satisfied – Blind Joe & Emma Taggart
Blessed Be The Tie That Binds – Primitive Baptist Choir Of North Carolina
I Shall Not Be Moved – Edward W. Clayborn- “The Guitar Evangelist
Don’t Know When Old Death Will Call For Me – Jubilee Gospel Team
Great Day Of His Wrath Has Come – Rev. J.C. Burnett
I Want To See Him – Mother McCollum
Going To Hell & Who Cares – Rev. A. W. Nix
There’s just way too much to see when visiting Americanafest. That’s why God created smart phones. Here’s some great videos that fans uploaded.
I heard that Robert Ellis held an epic classic country rich performance at the legendary Robert’s Western Wear. Of course I heard about it the day after it happened. Good thing somebody tipped off Hayes Carll, J.P. Harris, Shelly Colvin, Josh Hedley, Johnny Fritz and Jim Lauderdale.
Sam Outlaw proved that classic country can still thrive in L.A.
The Avett Brothers show you never can get so big that you can’t bring it back to the basics.
Sturgill Simpson’s performance at the not quite opened City Winery was a hard get with a capacity RSVP list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUvE-GTiKiY
Plant and Griffin reunite (well, musically) for the Americana Awards.
It was Loretta Lynn’s night (rightly so) as he swept his categories.
The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix recently unveiled an exhibit honoring the Carter Family and Johnny Cash. Located in MIM’s Artist Gallery, the exhibit provides guests with an overview of the musical careers of the artists and their historical impact.
Items on display in the Carter Family and Johnny Cash exhibits have never before been displayed for the public and come to MIM on loan from John Carter Cash, son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, and Dale Jett, grandson of A.P. Carter. The items will be on display through April 2016.
“When I first visited MIM, I was excited by its inimitable beauty and scale. It has been a wondrous blessing to work with the staff there and help bring about the Carter Family / Johnny Cash display,†said John Carter Cash. “I feel it is inspired and shows a unique view into the history of country music that cannot be seen anywhere else.â€
The music of the Carters (A.P., Sara and Maybelle Carter) has been celebrated for nearly a century. The trio, which recorded more than 250 songs, is widely recognized for helping launch country music’s commercial beginnings and for inspiring many artists in later genres including bluegrass and rock.
Items on display in the Carter Family and Johnny Cash exhibits include:
· A.P. Carter’s 1929 Martin 00-28 guitar, played by the original Carter Family
· June Carter Cash’s custom Orthey autoharp and fingerpicks
· Johnny Cash’s black Manuel Cuevas stage suit which was worn in concert and features embroidered acorns and oak leaves
· Johnny Cash’s black Martin D-42JC signature guitar which was played in concert and on several of his “American†albums
· Johnny Cash’s 1936 Martin 5-18 guitar which was played by Cash, family and friends in Cash’s home and inlaid in the early 1970s with acorns and oak leaves
· Johnny Cash’s 2002 Grammy award for “Give My Love to Rose,†Best Male Country Vocal Performance
The exhibits also feature photographs from the Grand Ole Opry Archives and performance footage from several sources.
“It would be difficult to overstate the significance of these artists in American music,†said MIM curator for North America, Dr. Cullen Strawn. “It’s an honor to share their objects, songs and stories with our guests.â€
The Carter Family and Johnny Cash exhibits join the ranks of other country music-focused exhibits at MIM. MIM’s Artist Galley features instruments played by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. In MIM’s United States/Canada Gallery, the Country exhibit displays items belonging to Marty Robbins, Buck Owens, Kix Brooks and others.
Entrance to MIM’s Artist Gallery is included with general museum admission.
The Musical Instrument Museum is located at 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard in Phoenix (corner of Tatum and Mayo Boulevards, just south of Loop 101). For general museum information and a full schedule of events, visit MIM.org or call 480.478.6000.
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.
Performers like Konrad Wert (Possessed By Paul James) , Scott H. Biram and Hillstomp have been spectacularly creating Depression era country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, and blues music for years by jolting the dusty form with a furious intensity and emotional directness that would make Marcus Mumford sob into his vintage hanky.
We can now add to that the Joplin, Mo. trio of Ben Miller, Doug Dicharry and Scott Leeper, collectively known as The Ben Miller Band.
Producer Vance Powell ( Wanda Jackson,Buddy Guy, Jack White) is just the right man to steward ‘Any Way, Shape or Form,’ TBMB’s debut for New West records, though the many influences that make up what the band calls “Ozark Stomp” and bring out the band’s best effort to date.
Opener “The Outsider” evokes Dock Boggs and split Lip Rayfield as Miller’s clawhammer banjo, Dicharry’s percussion and Leeper’s washtub bass kick up a foggy mountian moshpit accenting by a hot guest slide guitar break by Chad “Gravy” Graves. The spirit of John Lee Hooker is raised in the jump boogie of “You Don’t Know” with a nasty little guitar break in the middle, and in the greasy/sleazy ‘Hurry Up And Wait” which features Dicharry’s blazing washboard work. Things gear down on the melancholy “I Feel for You” which is given a a dreamy quality from the inclusion of Graves pedal steel and Dicharry’s mandoline. The inclusion of the vaudeville-jazz ditty “23 Skidoo”, a 1920’s slang phrase for getting while the getting’s good is an odd twist especially when it grows into a dramatic swell. “Burning Building” is an Appalachian-meets-garage rocker that would make Jack White give a pasty smile.
the treatment given to the traditional folk ballad “The Cuckoo.” The internal dialogue of the piece occurs in a fever dream of roots-psychedelic, stabbing guitar, musical spoons and furious percussion. “Twinkle Toes,” is a jaunty lock-down break-down sing-along featuring blistering dobro. “Life on Wheels” kicks off like a “Whiskey River” remake but quickly breaks another direction as harmonica brings to mind a whining train whistle. “No War,” is a lofty Phil Ochs-style topical folk song calling out corruption and ponders the metaphysical.
“Any Way, Shape or Form” is work of considerable scope executed into a whole of rambunctious cohesion. It leaves you wondering what else Ben Miller Band might have up their sleeves.
And in the no surprise to anyone category today The Civil Wars’ Joy Williams and John Paul White made their “indefinite hiatus‘ into a musical conscious uncoupling.
the folk-pop duo took to thecivilwars.com to announce the news. As a farewell and thank you to fans, the two are offering a download of their 2010 rendition of the classic “You Are My Sunshine.†The track was originally a b-side to the band’s limited edition Barton Hollow 7″ vinyl. This is the first time the song is available digitally in the U.S.
Joy Williams comments, “I am saddened and disappointed by the ending of this duo, to say the very least. JP is a tremendous musician, and I will always be grateful for the music we were able to create together.I sincerely hope that ‘You Are My Sunshine’ will be accepted as a token of my gratitude for every single person that has supported our duo throughout the years. I’m so thankful and my heart is full. Looking ahead, I’m excited to share the music that I am writing and recording in the midst of this difficult transition. I’ve loved being back in the studio, and have missed performing live. I look forward to seeing you soon.â€
John Paul adds, “I would like to express sincere thanks to all who were a part of the arc of The Civil Wars—from the beginning, to the end, and all points in between. My deep appreciation goes out to all who supported, disseminated, and enjoyed the music. Whatever shape or form the next chapter takes, thanks for being a large part of this one.â€
Williams and White were already music industry veterans in 2008 when a chance pairing at a Nashville group writing camp shows potential chemistry. In their brief career The Civil Wars helped bring Americana to the mainstream with their best-selling, Grammy-winning, releases and intimate but rousing live performances.
Here are a few of my favorite Civil Wars performances:
Barton Hollow (Later with Jools Holland)
Poison & Wine (on David Letterman)
“From This Valley” (Live at the Grand Ole Opry)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBygKZqc3ls
“Between the Bars” (Elliott Smith cover)
“Sour Times” (Portishead cover)
“Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson Cover)
“You Are My Sunshine” (Live)
And the time I won a bottle of bourbon and they won some Grammys.
http://www.grammy.com/news/and-the-grammy-went-to-the-civil-wars#ooid=05bXZoMzq2-pDksz0DznPVSCPspq72pZ
Clawhammer banjo fuses with guitar-fuzz bombast spectacularly in “Wheelbarrow” the first release from Aussie country music vet Kasey Chambers’ upcoming 7th solo release “Bittersweet (August 29)
Chambers lends her unmistable pipes, which has a wonderful feel to the upper register, to this tale of trade-offs and empathy.
The stark stark black-and-white video, directed by Renny Wijeyamohan and shot in Southern Highlands of New South Wales, has a Bonnie & Clyde motif of bank heist and love. But love runs shallow and the Clyde in this case is left holding a sizable kiss-off in the end.
The Americana Music Association has released the whole enchilada, the full list for their conference and festival. And all I can say is WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!
I’m only one man, how can I make it to so many great performances, many of them happening AT THE SAME TIME!
I know, I know, roots-music blogger problems.
With more artists and more venues this year’s AmericanaFest is really stacking up to be the best yet.
AMA Executive Director Jed Hilly tells the Nashville Scene. “We couldn’t be more excited with this year’s lineup. We anticipate over 160 official showcases by the time September rolls around. … We’ve added 40 more artists than we had last year, and we are thrilled to add on five more venues to the festival.â€
In addition to the already daunting list of performers I’m happy to see roots-duos Carolina Story and Grace and Tony, Austin’s David Ramirez and Shinyribs and, the excellent Zoe Muth, and Sturgill Simpson who’s come a long way since his AmericanaFest debut last year.
Pick up the Aug/Sept issue of Cowboys and Indians magazine (above) to read by article on AmericanaFest and the history of the movement.
The 15th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference occurs September 17-21, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn. The 13th annual Americana Honors & Awards Show on Sept. 17 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.
I’ll see you at the hootenanny!
List of artists newly added to AmericanaFest 2014
Andrew Combs
Anthony D’Amato
The Audreys
Banditos
Baskery
The Black Lillies
Black and the Rodeo Kings
Bobby Bare Jr.
Bradford Lee Folk
Brooke Russell & the Mean Reds
The Bros. Landreth
The Brothers Comatose
Cale Tyson
Caleb Klauder Country Band
Carolina Story
Cory Branan
Cory Chisel’s “Soul Obscura”
The Danberrys
David Ramirez
The Devil Makes Three
Elizabeth Cook
Ernie Hendrickson
Falls
Feufollett
Frank Fairfield
Grace and Tony
Griffin House
The Haden Triplets
Harlan Pepper
Howard Fishman
Humming House
Humming People
Ian McLagan
Imelda May
James Maddock
Jim Lauderdale
Laura Cantrell
Lauren Shera
Leftover Salmon feat. Bill Payne of Little Feat
Liz Longley
Los Colognes
The Mastersons
Matt Anderson
Matt the Electrician
Matthew Perryman Jones
Matthew Mayfield
Mathew Ryan
Mike Farris
Mipso
Moot Davis
NQ Arbuckle
Over the Rhine
Peter Bradley Adams
Phil Madeira
Police Dog Hogan
Parsonsfield (formerly Poor Old Shine)
Promised Land Sound
Robby Hecht
Robert Ellis
Ryan Tanner
Shinyribs
Sleepy Banjo Boys
Sons of Bill
Steelism
Steep Canyon Rangers
The Stray Birds
Sturgill Simpson
The Hot Nut Riveters
The Mae Trio
The Silks
Tim Carroll
Truth & Salvage Co.
Webb Wilder
Willie Sugarcapps
Zachary Lucky
Zoe Muth
List of artists oreviously confirmed for AmericanaFest 2014
Allison Moorer
Amy Ray
Angaleena Presley
The Avett Brothers
The Barefoot Movement
Ben Miller Band
Billy Joe Shaver
Black Prairie
Brennen Leigh and Noel McKay
Buddy Miller
The Cactus Blossoms
Carlene Carter
Caroline Rose
Chatham County Line
Chuck Mead
Danny & The Champions of the World
The Deadly Gentleman
Del Barber
The Deslondes
Doug Seegers
The Duhks
The Dustbowl Revival
Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo
Ethan Johns
The Fairfield Four
The Grahams
Grant-Lee Phillips
Green River Ordinance
Greensky Bluegrass
Gregory Alan Isakov
Greyhounds
The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer
Hayes Carll
Howlin’ Brothers
Immigrant Union
Israel Nash
Jamestown Revival
Jason Eady
JD Wilkes & the Dirt Daubers
Joe Henry
Joe Pug
Joe Purdy
John Moreland
Jonah Tolchin
Jonny Two Bags
Josh Ritter
Joshua James
Lake Street Dive
Lee Ann Womack
Leo Welch
Lera Lynn
Marah Presents: Mountain Minstrelsy
Marty Stuart
Matthew Ryan
McCrary Sisters
Nathaniel Rateliff
New Country Rehab
Oh Susanna
Otis Gibbs
Parker Millsap
Paul Thorn
Pete Molinari
Quebe Sisters Band
Rhett Miller
Robbie Fulks
Robyn Hitchcock
Rodney Crowell
Ruthie Foster
Ryan Montbleau
Sam Outlaw
Sarah Jarosz
Sean Rowe
Shakey Graves
Suzy Bogguss
Todd Snider & Friends
Tom Freund
Tony Joe White
Trigger Hippy (feat. Jackie Greene, Joan Osbourne, Steve Gorman, Tom Bukovac & Nick Govrik)
Whiskey Shivers
Willie Watson
I know, I know. I don’t look a day over six. But it’s true! Your generally humble roots music blog, Twang Nation, turns 8 this month.
Where does the time go?
I started this on a lark. Cultural, geographical and psychological displacement of this Texan in New York City led me here. I gravitated toward the most stable ground that had always been there for me, music.
The great roots music I began to discover I wanted to share with a wider audience. And I wanted them share their findings with me. 8 years and three timezones later I’d say it’s going pretty well. I’m still chugging along, looking under rocks and atop branches to find and share great music.
And that’s saying something. In the midst of one of the worst times to become a musician there’s so music of it around, and more every coming across my desk(top) every day. I’m sure things were worse during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and yet much of the music that I treasure was produced in those troubled times.
Maybe that’s the things about music. Even at it’s thematic darkest musics very presence is a sign of human optimism. Why else bother?
And these days optimism, and music, abounds. There’s more music than ever being produced in human history. Technology has allowed access to performance and strategy tools as a musician, and access and discovery for fans, than ever before. I hope I have contributed in some small way to your musical discovery. And with roots music awareness, Grammy categories and regularly appearances in TV shows and movies, the movement is showing to signs of slowing down.
And Twang Nation will be right in the middle of it. Bringing you the best in new and classic performers and live performances that remind us all that live music, made by fallible humans, can be intoxicating.
And believe me, the best is yet to come.
Keep up with us here on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and tumblr and come along for the journey. As we all know the road goes on forever….
As a thank you, Twang Nation is giving away a prize pack of three great slabs of vinyl for your listening pleasure.
First up is the recent release of Johnny Cash lost and previously unreleased material, “Out Among The Stars,” on Vinyl. This is a far cry from the Columbia Records produced Cash and producer Billy Sherrill. The results are classic cash with a contemporary roost twist with help from John Carter Cash, Marty Stuart and Buddy Miller.
Nest up is the Lone Justice reissue from Omnivore Recordings, “This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes, 1983.” This album captures the raw talent of this alt.country pioneering band at their peak, touring L.A. punk clubs and taking no prisoners. Did I mention that this great album is on translucent red vinyl?!
And the best for last the Record Store Day Rhino records exclusive release of Gram Parsons’ Alternate Takes from GP and Grievous Angel. tHIS 2LP vinyl release IS audio sourced from “The Complete Reprise Sessions” released in 2005. Contains a postcard insert at the request of Gram’s daughter, Polly Parsons, for the Hickory Wind Ranch Recovery Community. Foil numbering.
Just leave a comment below to be entered for all three albums. Birthday salutations or a band you might have found out about from me would be cool.
Now the boring stuff: The winner needs to be located in the United States and will be picked at random, Sunday, July 27th, 12PM CST.
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