Tag Archives: Brandi Carlile

Americana Music Association Announces Streaming ‘Thriving Roots’ Conference

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Thriving Roots

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has rolled the music industry keeping musicians from coming together together to create music and keeping musicians off the road and deriving them of a much-needed revenue source. Many have tackled the technical hurdles to stream performances to connect with fans and collect online tips and perhaps move a t-shirt or a slab of vinyl.

It follows that music festivals would follow much the same path. Americana Music Association’s AmericanaFest as a face-to-face event has been scrapped for their charitable and educational branch, the Americana Music Association Foundation, will hold a ‘Thriving Roots,’ a virtual festival complete with industry-focused panels and live-streamed performances.

Set for September 16th-18th the event will include guest speakers Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples,Brandi Carlile, Yola, Emmylou Harris, Ken Burns, Taj Mahal, Mary Gauthier, Rhiannon Giddens, T Bone Burnett, Rosanne Cash, and Black Pumas. Topics slated to be covered are representation, advocacy and staying true to your art, the healing qualities of music, and the business challenges and decisions faced by a developing artist.

The full agenda for ‘Thriving Roots’ will be announced in late August.

Early bird passes for conference registration are $99 and available now.

Brandi Carlile, Lukas Nelson, Jeff Tweedy & More Pay Tribute To John Prine

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The loss of singer/songwriter John Prine due to complications associated with COVID-19 has hit fans and members of the Americana community hard. Few artist of his stature were as generous of spirit and touched so many lives.

His death has created a vacuum in this world where an unlikely ex-mailman and towering talent once existed.

Members of the Americana and country music community aired their grief in the best way possible. They paid testament in covering Prine’s songs.

Brandi Carlile – “Hello In There”

Jeff Tweedy – “Please Don’t Bury Me”

Lukas Nelson – “Lonesome Friends of Science”

Ani DiFranco – “Angel From Montgomery”

BJ Barham – “Paradise”
https://www.facebook.com/americanaquarium/videos/2866668576702331/

Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires – “Angel From Montgomery” “Clocks And Spoons.” “Illegal Smile.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxwJ2qQs4ZE

Andrew Bird – “Souvenirs”
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-uw1SzD3g8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ryan Bingham – “Illegal Smile”
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-vNUJoBS9x/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Record Store Day 2020: Our Top Americana/Roots Picks

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UPDATE – Record Store Day’S annual collection of vinyl will be released on three separate days this year — Aug. 29, Sept. 26 and Oct. 24. While the event regularly takes place in April, organizers wanted vinyl collectors to be mindful of social-distancing regulations.

Spring is in the here, birds are out and trees and flowers begin to bloom, and the smell of limited edition vinyl is in the air!.

That’s right folks, Record Store Day 2020 is right around the corner (Saturday, April 18th June 20th, to be exact) and his year is a special one. Record Store Day has selected Americana powerhouse, Brandi Carlile, as their 2020 Ambassador. Speaking about indy record stores support of her career Carlile says:

“The Twins (Tim and Phil Hanseroth) and I have never made an album that we didn’t intend to be in an independent record store. Thank you so much for recognizing this love in me and the Twins and giving us this opportunity. We won’t let you down.”

And she couldn’t have picked a better time to be the event’s representative. Carlile pays tribute to her hometown of Seattle and one of her musical influences by covering Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” and “Searching With My Good Eye Closed.” Other scarce, unique, and regional releases of interest from Jesse Dayton, The Dead South, Drive-By Truckers, Steve Earle, John Prine and many more.

Check out the Americana and roots selections below and take a look at the full list to see what’s coming out outside of the twangasphere.

Get to your favorite indy record early on Saturday, April 18th June 20th. I’ll be at Good Records in Dallas, but you can check on indy record stores near you.And be sure to share those great finds with me on Instagram and Twitter.

Solomon Burke – Back To My Roots
Format: LP
Label: Anagram
Quantity: 1500

Solomon Burke was an American preacher and singer who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues as one of the founding fathers of soul music in the 1960s. Originally released in 1976, Back To My Roots was his debut album on the legendary Chess Records label, a well-known imprint devoted to the best Blues, R&B, Funk and Soul music. After a long stint on Atlantic and MGM Records, Solomon Burke signed for Chess to work with the wonderful producer Herman Rush who wrote and produced this sensational album.
This release for Record Store Day is its first repress since the original 1976 release.

SIDE A –
1. Burning For Your Love 2. Night And Day 3. Everybody’s Got To Cry Sometime 4. I’m Going Back To My Roots
SIDE B –
1. Precious Flower 2. The Do Right Song 3. Life Has It’s Ups And Downs 4. Over And Over (Hugging And Loving) 5. I’ll Never Stop Loving You

Johnny Cash – Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame Series – Early Mixes (1987)
Format: 2 x LP
Label: UME (Mercury)
Quantity: 5000

In 1988, two years after signing to Mercury Records, Johnny Cash released Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame Series, which featured new recordings of classic material. Including renowned tracks like “Ring Of Fire”, and “I Walk The Line”, the series captured one of country music’s greats singing songs that made him a legend. For the first time ever on vinyl, exclusively for Record Store Day 2020, UMe/Mercury is proud to present Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame Series – Early Mixes. Cash’s early mix of the 1988 album, mastered from newly discovered tapes in the Mercury vault. Limited Edition Double LP, pressed on 180g vinyl, it is a must-have for fans and collectors.

LP 1 / SIDE A – 1. Sunday Morning Coming Down, 2. Get Rhythm, 3. I Walk The Line, 4. Long Black Veil, 5. I Still Miss Someone

LP 1 / SIDE B – 1. Blue Train, 2. I Got Stripes, 3. Peace In The Valley, 4. Five Feet High And Rising, 5. Folsom Prison Blues

LP 2 / SIDE A – 1. Cry, Cry, Cry, 2. Don’t Take Your Guns To Town, 3. Tennessee Flat Top Box, 4. A Thing Called Love, 5. The Ways Of A Woman In Love

LP 2 / SIDE B – 1. Ballad Of Ira Hayes, 2. Guess Things Happen That Way, 3. Home Of The Blues, 4. Supper Time, 5. Ring Of Fire

Brandi Carlile – A Rooster Says
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Label: Elektra
Quantity: 10000

RSD 2020 Ambassador Brandi Carlile has strong ties to her hometown Seattle. Her RSD 2020 release pays tribute to one of the region’s most legendary bands, and one of her strong influences: Soundgarden.

“Black Hole Sun” / “Searching With My Good Eye Closed”

Gary Clark Jr – Pearl Cadillac (Feat. Andra Day)
Format: 45 RPM clear and white (pearl)
Label: Warner Records
Quantity: 3000

Jesse Dayton – Texas 45 RPM Showdown – Doug Saham, Townes Van Zandt
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Blue Elan Records
Quantity: 1000
Jesse Dayton recorded covers of two of his biggest Texas-based influences for this RSD 2020 single.

The Dead South
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Six Shooter Records
Quantity: 500

Canadian bluegrass folk band The Dead South come to the record stores with a 7” of cover songs, “House Of The Rising Sun” originally by The Animals and the classic “This Little Light of Mine”

Side A: House Of The Rising Sun Side B: This Little Light of Mine

Drive-By Truckers – “The Unraveling” b/w “Sarah’s Flame”
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: ATO Records
Quantity: 2000

Two brand new tracks from The Unraveling sessions, one from Patterson Hood and one from Mike Cooley – including, in Led Zeppelin-esque fashion, the albums orphaned title track “The Unraveling”.

Steve Earle – “Times Like These / It’s About Blood”
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Modern Harmonic
Quantity: 1350

This is a limited edition 7″ recorded during the Ghost Of West Virginia recording sessions (that new album comes to record stores May 22). “Times Like These “is exclusive to this 7” and “Devil Put The Coal In The Ground” will be on the new album.

“Times Like These / It’s About Blood”

Alejandro Escovedo – La Cruzada
Format: 2 x LP
Label: Yep Roc Records
Quantity: 1000

Alejandro Escovedo’s critically acclaimed album The Crossing with the vocals recorded in Spanish, pressed on red, white and green striped double vinyl.

1. Andare 2. Footsteps In the Shadows 3. Texas Is My Mother 4. Teenage Luggage 5. Something Blue 6. Outlaw For You 7. Amor 8. Puro 9. Waiting For Me 10. How Many Times 11. Cherry Blossom Rain 12. Sonica USA 13. Rio Navidad 14. Silver City 15. Fury and Fire 16. Flying 17. MC Overload 18. The Crossing

Blaze Foley – Live at the Austin Outhouse
Format: LP
Label: Art Yard / End Of An Ear
Quantity: 1000

* Rare Blaze Foley recordings from the Austin Outhouse circa 1989
* Includes bonus 45 a version of “If I Could Only Fly” and “Let Me Ride in Your Big Cadillac.”

“Live at the Austin Outhouse” captures Blaze Foley, Austin’s legendary singer-songwriter, at his final appearance at the iconic Austin Outhouse venue. Recorded over two nights in 1989 just days before his tragic murder these twelve tracks are available on vinyl for the first time. Recorded by his friend John Casner these now-classic Blaze tracks were for years only shared on hand-made cassettes among a small network of friends and fans. This vinyl LP marks the twenty-year anniversary of their initial release on CD by Lost Art Records.

While Blaze’s reputation as a singer-songwriter has exploded in recent years, access to his catalog on vinyl has not kept pace. The tracks here include many of his classics; Clay Pigeons (covered by John Prine), If I Could Only Fly (covered by Merle Haggard), Election Day (covered by Lyle Lovett) and nine others. Blaze is joined in this set by several of Austin’s most beloved musicians including Champ Hood and Sarah Elizabeth Campbell. “Live at the Austin Outhouse” reveals Blaze to be as talented and soulful as his friends and running buddies Townes Van Zandt and Lucinda Williams.

Foley is also the subject of a documentary film, Blaze Foley – Duct Tape Messiah, directed by Kevin Triplett, and the 2018 feature-film, Blaze, directed by Ethan Hawke.

The package includes a bonus reproduction copy of the Blaze’s rare 1979 Zephyr Records 45 RPM record. Recorded in Houston, Texas on a label that quickly disappeared, the Zephyr 45 never received commercial distribution. The 45 includes
a version of “If I Could Only Fly” and “Let Me Ride in Your Big Cadillac.”
THIS RELEASE IS BEING CHAMPIONED BY THE RSD PARTICIPATING STORE END OF AN EAR IN AUSTIN TX. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL STORES BUT WILL MOST LIKELY BE FOUND IN THAT REGION

Hiss Golden Messenger – Let the Light of the World Open Your Eyes (Alive at Spacebomb)
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Merge Records
Quantity: 1200

NC folk-rockers Hiss Golden Messenger re-record two of their original songs, “Cat’s Eye Blue” (from their critically acclaimed 2019 album Terms of Surrender) “Standing in the Doorway” (a 2017 digital-only single) at Spacebomb Studios in Richmond VA, with contributions from their in-house orchestra. The latest in the Alive at Spacebomb Studios series.

“Cat’s Eye Blue”/”Standing In The Doorway”

The Jones Sisters (Steven Conrad, Lillie Mae and Bobby Bare) – Perpetual Grace, LTD Soundtrack
Format: LP
Label: Fat Possum
Quantity: 500

The original songs written for the EPIX television show Perpetual Grace, LTD. The Jones Sisters is made up of the show’s creator, writer and director Steven Conrad, singer/songwriters Bobby Bare Jr, Lillie Mae and more. Released for Record Store Day 2020 on colored vinyl.

1. “Comet” 2. “Iris” 3. “You Are Hurting Me”4. “Kawasaki Kx80” 5. “Resonate” 6. “Brother Down” 7. “The Power Of Your Soft Young Heart” 8. “My Old Old Lady” 9. “I Want To Get Something Going On” 10. “In The Lowrider Capitol of The World” 11. “Drunk (Chicago)” 12. “Restless as the Former Horses (Of Jesse James and William Bonney)” 13. “Y’all Bless Me Down”

K.D. Lang & The Reclines – Angel With A Lariat
Format: Translucent red vinyl LP
Label: Sire
Quantity: 3000

Ennio Morricone – For A Few Dollars More (OST)
Format: 10″ Vinyl
Label: AMS
Quantity: 400

* Record Store Day 2020 Exclusive Release.
* 10” pressed on yellow vinyl & housed in a gatefold jacket
* Includes a poster

In 1965 the previous year’s film “A Fistful of Dollars” by Sergio Leone, thanks to its success, had already helped to codify and massively increase the popularity of the ‘spaghetti western’ genre, together with the one the two lead actors Clint Eastwood and Gian Maria Volonte. “For a Few Dollars More” is the natural prosecution of that movie, with the addition of a third protagonist – Lee Van Cleef – who joins the already mentioned two actors: a triad that made history, for another masterpiece Sergio Leone’s masterpiece.

Ennio Morricone’s music is equally important. The Maestro here chooses a ‘poor’ registry, consisting of folk instruments such as ocarina, Jew’s harp, and chimes, respectively used to accompany the entry stage of the three main actors. But there are, as usual, the contributions of Alessandro Alessandroni and his Cantori Moderni choir, for an incredibly exciting final result.

1. Per qualche dollaro in più 2. La resa dei conti 3. Osservatori osservati 4. Il colpo 5. Poker d’assi 6. Carillon 7. Addio colonnello 8. Il vizio di uccidere

Corb Lund – Cover Your Tracks EP
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Label: New West Records
Quantity: 1000

With his latest EP, Cover Your Tracks, Lund expands on his Western heritage by wearing his more popular and prominent influences on his sleeve. Covering songs from diverse artists such as Lee Hazlewood, Billy Joel, Marty Robbins and AC/DC, Lund expands on not only his favorite songs but on the range, sound and style in which those songs are delivered. Featuring the likes of Ian Tyson and Hayes Carll, Cover Your Tracks is a focused and deliberate collection of classic and unexpected songs, curated by Corb. Released and pressed on 45 RPM 12” opaque blue vinyl.

1. These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ 2. The Cover of the Rolling Stone (feat. Hayes Carll) 3. They’re Hanging Me Tonight 4. Outlaw Man 5. Ride On (feat. Ian Tyson) 6. Seven Spanish Angels 7. It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me 8. I Shall Be Released

John Prine – The Atlantic Albums
Format: 4 x LP
Label: Rhino Atlantic
Quantity: 2000

A special four LP 180g boxed set containing the legendary first four John Prine albums, presented in their original packaging: John Prine, Sweet Revenge, Diamonds in the Rough, Common Sense.

The Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed (Limited Collectors Edition)
Format: LP
Label: ABKCO Music & Records
Quantity: 900

The Rolling Stones’ groundbreaking multi-platinum selling 1969 album Let It Bleed perfectly captured the ominous spirit of the times with opening track “Gimme Shelter”. Each copy of this exclusive collector’s edition is handcrafted on the press, using layers of color on top of one another to create a truly unique edition. Due to the nature of the manual process to pour each color onto the press by hand, each piece is unique in design. Hand-numbered Certificate of Authenticity included.

SIDE A – 1. Gimme Shelter 2. Love In Vain 3. Country Honk 4. Live With Me 5. Let It Bleed
SIDE B – 1. Midnight Rambler 2. You’ve Got The Silver 3. Monkey Man 4. You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Royal Horses – A Modern Man’s Way To Improve
Format: LP
Label: Okemah Roads Records
Quantity: 100

The much-anticipated, full-length debut album from Royal Horses, a South Mississippi-based Americana trio, featuring ten original songs recorded in New Orleans. Music critic Mik Davis has called the album a “stunning first chapter for the powerful trio.” Released exclusively on 180g audiophile vinyl, each purchase comes with a free digital download that is not otherwise available on traditional music streaming sites. THIS TITLE IS CHAMPIONED BY T-BONES RECORDS & CAFÉ IN HATTIESBURG MS. IT’S AVAILABLE TO ALL STORES BUT WILL MOST LIKELY BE FOUND IN THAT REGION.

1). Bottom of the Chart, 2). A Modern Man’s Way to Improve, 3). Valley of the New, 4). Who Do You Know?, 5). There She Walks, 6). Leave a Light, 7). Call it War, 8). Rattlesnake Smoking a Cigarette, 9). Ruby Do, 10). BLD

Son Volt – Live At The Orange Peel
Format: 2 x LP
Label: Transmit Sounds/Thirty Tigers
Quantity: 1500

Recorded live at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on September 23, 2005, these songs were part of the 6 String Belief DVD, but have never before been released on vinyl.

SIDE A 1 “Damn Shame” 2 “Feel Free” 3 “Who” 4 “Live Free” 5 “Back into Your World” 6 “Medicine Hat”
SIDE B 7 “Joe Citizen Blues” 8 “Atmosphere” 9 “Picking up the Signal” 10 “Straighface” 11 “Ipecac”
SIDE C 12 “Caryatid Easy” 13 “Jet Pilot” 14 “Endless War” 15 “6 String Belief” 16 “Medication”
SIDE D 17 “Barstow” 18 “Driving the View” 19 “Chaos Streams” 20 “Tear Stained Eye” 21 “Windfall“

Tony Joe White – The Beginning
Format: LP
Label: New West Records
Quantity: 900

The Beginning was released digitally and on CD in 2001 by Swamp Records in the US and Audium Records in Europe. Long out of print, this record was Tony Joe’s 29th,and the first one where he controlled all elements of the studio. Stripped down and without any bells and whistles, this is Tony Joe recording, himself playing his classic swamp blues sound, and now for the first time on vinyl. Remastered and re-sequenced for RSD 2020 with new art and pressed on clear with black splatter vinyl.

1. Who You Gonna Hoo – Doo Now 2. Ice Cream Man 3. Wonder Why I Feel So Bad 4. Going Back To Bed 5. Down By The Border 6. More To This Than That 7. Drifter 8. Rebellion 9. Rich Woman Blues 10. Raining On My Life

Hank Williams – March of Dimes
Format: 10″ Red Vinyl
Label: BMG
Quantity: 2000

Hank Williams’ complete 1951 March Of Dimes performance on 10” red vinyl. Its first release on vinyl, with a new restoration and mastering of the 16” radio transcription disc. Features five songs, including “Lovesick Blues” and his then-current hit, “Moanin’ The Blues.” The disc also includes a solo track by Audrey Williams and a dual narrative on a Luke The Drifter track, plus a rare PSA read by Hank about Infantile Paralysis.

Produced by Cheryl Pawelski with restoration and mastering by Michael Graves. Together, they earned a 2015 Best Historical Album Grammy award for their work on Hank Williams The Garden Spot Programs, 1950.
Side A
1) Lovesick Blues 1:37, 2) Moanin’ The Blues 3:21, 3) There’s A Bluebird On Your Windowsill
Side B
1) Hank Talks About Infantile Paralysis, 2) Help Me Understand 3:06

Grammy Awards Nominees : Tanya Tucker Leads The Pack

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62nd Grammy Awards

Nominations for the 62nd Grammy Awards were announced Wednesday, and Taya Tucker led the country/roots music pack with four nominations in the Song Of The Year, Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Song and Best Country Album categories. Tucker was first nominated for a Grammy for the song “Delta Dawn” in 1973.

Tucker shares her Best Country Solo Performance nomination spot with Tyler Childers, Ashley McBryde, and Willie Nelson. Best American Roots Performance nominees are Sara Bareilles, Calexico and Iron & Wine, Rhiannon Giddens With Francesco Turrisi and Yola.

Calexico And Iron & Wine, Madison Cunningham, Madison Cunningham, Keb’ Mo’, J.S. Ondara and Yola are up for Best Americana Album.

See the full list of country/Americana roots nominees below and see the complete list of nominees here.

The Grammy Awards will take place on January 26th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The broadcast will air live on CBS at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Song Of The Year
“Always Remember Us This Way” — Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
“Bad Guy” — Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“Bring My Flowers Now” — Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
“Hard Place” — Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, D. Arcelious Harris. H.E.R. & Rodney Jerkins, songwriters (H.E.R.)
“Lover” — Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
“Norman F—ing Rockwell” — Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey, songwriters (Lana Del Rey)
“Someone You Loved” — Tom Barnes, Lewis Capaldi, Pere Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn & Sam Roman, songwriters (Lewis Capaldi)
“Truth Hurts” — Steven Cheung, Eric Frederic, Melissa Jefferson & Jesse Saint John, songwriters (Lizzo)

Best Country Solo Performance:
“All Your’n” — Tyler Childers
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” — Ashley McBryde
“Ride Me Back Home” — Willie Nelson
“God’s Country” — Blake Shelton
“Bring My Flowers Now” — Tanya Tucker

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“Brand New Man” — Brooks & Dunn with Luke Combs
“I Don’t Remember Me (Before You)” — Brothers Osborne
“Speechless” — Dan & Shay
“The Daughters” — Little Big Town
“Common” — Maren Morris ft. Brandi Carlile

Best Country Song:
“Bring My Flowers Now” — Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, Songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” — Jeremy Bussey & Ashley Mcbryde, Songwriters (Ashley Mcbryde)
“It All Comes Out In The Wash” — Miranda Lambert, Hillary Lindsey, Lori Mckenna & Liz Rose, Songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
“Some Of It” — Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde & Bobby Pinson, Songwriters (Eric Church)
“Speechless” — Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers & Laura Veltz, Songwriters (Dan + Shay)

Best Country Album:
Desperate Man — Eric Church
Stronger Than The Truth — Reba McEntire
Interstate Gospel — Pistol Annies
Center Point Road — Thomas Rhett
While I’m Livin’ — Tanya Tucker

Best American Roots Performance:
“Saint Honesty” — Sara Bareilles
“Father Mountain” — Calexico With Iron & Wine
“I’m On My Way” — Rhiannon Giddens With Francesco Turrisi
“Call My Name” — I’m With Her
“Faraway Look” — Yola

Best American Roots Song:
“Black Myself” — Amythyst Kiah, songwriter (Our Native Daughters)
“Call My Name” — Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’donovan & Sara Watkins, songwriters (I’m With Her)
“Crossing To Jerusalem” — Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal, songwriters (Rosanne Cash)
“Faraway Look” — Dan Auerbach, Yola Carter & Pat Mclaughlin, songwriters (Yola)
“I Don’t Wanna Ride The Rails No More” — Vince Gill, songwriter (Vince Gill)

Best Americana Album:
Years To Burn — Calexico And Iron & Wine
Who Are You Now — Madison Cunningham
Oklahoma — Keb’ Mo’
Tales Of America — J.S. Ondara
Walk Through Fire — Yola

Best Bluegrass Album:
Tall Fiddler — Michael Cleveland
Live In Prague, Czech Republic — Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Toil, Tears & Trouble — The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
Royal Traveller — Missy Raines
If You Can’t Stand The Heat — Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen

Best Folk Album:
My Finest Work Yet — Andrew Bird
Rearrange My Heart — Che Apalache
Patty Griffin — Patty Griffin
Evening Machines — Gregory Alan Isakov
Front Porch — Joy Williams

Best Song Written For Visual Media:
“The Ballad Of The Lonesome Cowboy” — Randy Newman, songwriter (Chris Stapleton); Track from: “Toy Story 4”
“Girl In The Movies” — Dolly Parton & Linda Perry, songwriters (Dolly Parton); Track from: “Dumplin’”
“I’ll Never Love Again (Film Version)” — Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Aaron Raitiere, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper); Track from: A Star Is Born
“Spirit” — Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Timothy McKenzie & Ilya Salmanzadeh, songwriters (Beyoncé); Track from: “The Lion King”
“Suspirium” — Thom Yorke, songwriter (Thom Yorke); Track from: “Suspiria”

Best Album Notes:
The Complete Cuban Jam Sessions — Judy Cantor-Navas, album notes writer (Various Artists)
The Gospel According To Malaco — Robert Marovich, album notes writer (Various Artists)
Pedal Steel + Four Corners — Brendan Greaves, album notes writer (Terry Allen And The Panhandle Mystery Band)
Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection — Jeff Place, album notes writer (Pete Seeger)
Stax ’68: A Memphis Story — Steve Greenberg, album notes writer (Various Artists)

Best Historical Album:
The Girl From Chickasaw County – The Complete Capitol Masters — Andrew Batt & Kris Maher, compilation producers; Simon Gibson, mastering engineer (Bobbie Gentry)
The Great Comeback: Horowitz At Carnegie Hall — Robert Russ, compilation producer; Andreas K. Meyer & Jennifer Nulsen, mastering engineers (Vladimir Horowitz)
Kankyo Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990 — Spencer Doran, Yosuke Kitazawa, Douglas Macgowan & Matt Sullivan, compilation producers; John Baldwin, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection — Jeff Place & Robert Santelli, compilation producers; Pete Reiniger, mastering engineer (Pete Seeger)
Woodstock: Back To The Garden – The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive — Brian Kehew, Steve Woolard & Andy Zax, compilation producers; Dave Schultz, mastering engineer, Brian Kehew, restoration engineer (Various Artists)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:
Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
John Hill
Finneas
Ricky Reed

The Secret Sisters Announce New Brandi Carlile Produced Album ‘Saturn Return.’ Hear New Song ‘Cabin’ Now.

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Saturn Return - The Secret Sisters

The Secret Sisters (Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle) will bring their dreamy harmony to a new album entitled “Saturn Reuter.” The album is produced by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth (aka The Twins) and will be released on February 28.

From the presser: “Recorded at Carlile’s home studio in Washington state, the album includes ten songs written by Laura and Lydia Rogers and features the real-life sisters singing individually for the first time instead of relying solely on their trademark harmonies—something Carlile challenged them to do. Carlile comments, “It’s really uniquely unified and harmonious when they’re in tandem and very tumultuous and deep when they’re not in tandem and I think for a brief, beautiful moment on this album we caught The Secret Sisters not in tandem for the first time.” She continues, “To be a harbinger for their honesty in these songs and to watch them work together to see the tension was one of the greatest gifts of my career because those are two very powerful people in a very interesting point in their lives.”

“Named after the astrological occurrence that takes place approximately every 29 ½ years, the album heralds the arrival of a new era for Laura and Lydia—both of whom experienced extreme change and transformation during the making of the record. Grappling with the grief of losing both grandmothers, while also both becoming first-time mothers, the sisters reflect on their world view, relationships and own mortality through the album’s ten songs.”

‘Saturn Return.’ is a follow-up to 2017’s ‘You Don’t Own Me Anymore’

Hear the new darkly lovely song ‘Cabin’ below:

Pre-order ‘Saturn Return.’

The Secret Sisters Spring/Summer Tour

March 25 – Brooklyn, NY – Murmrr Theatre*
March 27 – Boston, MA – City Winery*
March 28 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery*
March 29 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere*
March 31 – Newport, KY – Southgate House Revival*
April 2 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk*
April 3 – Wausau, WI – The Grand Theater*
April 5 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater*
April 8 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s*
April 9 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads*
April 10 – Saint Louis, MO – Off Broadway*
April 24 – Palm Springs, CA – Alibi
April 25 – San Diego, CA – Casbah^
April 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room^
April 29 – Berkeley, CA – Freight & Salvage^
May 1 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall+
May 2 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre+
June 10 – Bury St. Edmunds, UK – The Apex
June 11 – Bury, UK – The Met
June 13 – Gateshead, UK – Sage Gateshead
June 14 – Sheffield, UK – Firth Hall
June 16 – Leeds UK – Brudenell Social Club
June 17 – Milton Keynes, UK – The Stables
June 18 – London, UK – Union Chapel
June 19 – Bristol, UK – St. George’s
June 21 – Tunbridge Wells, UK – Black Deer Festival
June 24 – Paris, FR – Les Etoiles
June 25 – Lier, BE – Ripsique/Cultuurcentrum Vredeberg
June 26 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso

*with Logan Ledger
^with Leslie Stevens
+with Anna Tivel

Watch Out! Nikki Lane Performs “Jackpot” on Conan 4/26/17

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Nikki Lane Performs "Jackpot" on Conan

Last night Nikki Lane treated the Conan O’Brien audience to a rousing rendition of her cut “Jackpot.” Bedecked in her spectacular Nudie suit finest Lane leads her crackerjack band through the jumped-up shuffle clearly leaving the audience wanting more.

Lane graced the same stage just over a month backing up the Old 97s on their song “Good With God.” The album cut of the song originally featured Brandi Carlile.

“Jackpot” is from Nikki Lane’s third album ‘Highway Queen.’ – order here.

Lane is staying busy as she will also make an appearance on KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” this Friday, April 28th. Additionally, this week’s CBS This Morning Saturday airing will feature Lane and her band performing two tracks from Highway Queen at Loretta Lynn’s historic home in Hurricane Mills (Check Local Listings). Loretta Lynn joins Lane for a very special duet of her 1966 hit song “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind),” of which Lynn has recorded a new version for her upcoming album ‘Wouldn’t It Be Great.

Lane will also perform at this year’s Stagecoach Festival on Saturday, April 29th.

Old 97’s New Album ‘Graveyard Whistling’ Out In February – Hear “Good With God” feat. Brandi Carlile

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OLD 97’s NEW ALBUM ‘GRAVEYARD WHISTLING’

North Texas alt.country stalwarts the Old 97’s have announced their 11th album, ‘Graveyard Whistling’ will be released February 24th with a tour to follow.

“Good With God” is the first cut from ‘Graveyard Whistling,’ a spaghetti western spiked slab of menace that has front man Rhett Miller pleading a sinner’s case of repentance (or at least resignation.)

But God is more Old Testament minded (‘You should be scared, I’m not so nice”) . With Brandi Carlile playing the divine role her distorted siren wail berates (You’re pretty thick so I’ll tell you twice.”) and threatens (‘I made you up, I’ll break you down.”) the prostrate protagonist. The story is moved forward at breakneck speed by the intact classic lineup of Philip Peeples, Murry Hammond and Ken Bethea.

‘Graveyard Whistling’ is produced by Vance Powell (Black Prairie, Buddy Guy) and features co-writers Nicole Atkins and Butch Walker.

Produced by Vance Powell, “Graveyard Whistling” also features help from co-writers like Nicole Atkins and Butch Walker, making it one of the most collaborative albums in the band’s catalog. Some habits never die, though, and the band will be supporting the album’s release as they’ve supported every record before it: with a lengthy spring tour that stretches from the Florida coastline to Southern California.

Pre-order “Graveyard Whisling” here.

Watch the animated lyric video for “Good With God” below.

Old 97’s’ tour dates:
February 25 – Ponte Vedra, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
February 26 – March 1 – Tampa, FL @ Outlaw Country Cruise
March 2 – St. Petersburg, FL @ The State Theatre
March 3 – Tallahassee, FL @ Fifth & Thomas
March 4 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
March 21 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
March 22 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
March 23 – Eugene, OR @ Wow Hall
March 24 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
March 25 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ The Fremont Theater
March 29 – Hermosa Beach, CA @ Saint Rocke
March 30 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
March 31 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
April 1 – Big Bear Lake, CA @ The Cave Big Bear
April 2 – Las Vegas, NV @ Vinyl
April 5 – Scottsdale, AZ @ Livewire
April 6 – Santa Fe, NM @ Santa Fe Brewing Company
April 7 – Lubbock, TX @ The Blue Light

Record Store Day 2016 – Americana and Roots Music Picks

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Record Store Day, the annual celebration of limited runs of the antiquated data storage device known as vinyl and once the scene of hipsters when it started in 2007, has helped fuel a surprising resurgence in sales and pushing the remaining pressing plant capacity to the hilt. As is tradition the event will be taking place on the third Saturday in April. For 2016 that means Saturday, April 16th.

At a time when music sales continue a decaded long dizzying slide vinyl sales not only rivaled CD sales, revenues have surpassed streaming services like Spotify and Pandora.

As vinyl grows in popularity there’s is pressure on the remaining vinyl manufacturers, who like us all were caught off-guard by the resurgence. The demand for vinyl is partially due to its described ‘warmer’ sound (plus cooler gatefold covers!) But the real drive behind Record Store Day is uniqueness and scarcity of offerings. Many releases come on colored vinyl or as picture discs and many of the releases are produced in very limited runs, some totaling no more than a few hundred total.

This stands in direct contrast to digital music’s hemogeny of sound and structure. an MP3 might be convenient, but it’s never scarce or unique.

Check out the Americana and roots selections below and take a look at the full list. Get to your favorite indy record early on April 16th (I’ll be at Good Records in Dallas) and share those great finds with me on Instagram and Twitter.

Blitzen Trapper – Field Rexx
Format: LP
More Info: A classic DIY release, Field Rexx was made in the sweltering summer of 2004 with no budget amidst the hiss of flies and tape. “Recorded,” according to the liner notes, “at the carny shack, fer shook n timsel on Duke’s shoot-o-matic for tisks & soda & that ol’ broke 4-track that 3-fingred mike poured Old English on and lit on fire,” Rexx’s warped eclectic pop Americana proves that great songs and performances can transcend squalor and bad album art. Features archival material of the original Trapper, James Earley, performing snippets of traditional hillbilly tunes. Field Rexx is Blitzen Trapper’s self-released sophomore album originally released in 2005. It was remastered at the tail end of 2015 and is available on Record Store Day for the first time on vinyl. A free download code including 3 previously unreleased bonus tracks is included.

Brandi Carlile – ‘Live At KCRW ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’
Format: 12″ Colored Vinyl
More Info: Brandi Carlile – Live At KCRW ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’: Brandi Carlile is a long time favorite of record store owners and she is one of the most celebrated names in modern alternative country/folk rock.This very special Record Store Day Exclusive release features six session tracks recorded live at KCRW as part of their “Morning Becomes Eclectic” sessions and includes the smash radio hits “The Eye” and “Wherever Is Your Heart” on White Colored 12 inch vinyl. Limited to 2500 copies.

Johnny Cash – ‘All Aboard the Blue Train with Johnny Cash’
Format: 12″ Colored Vinyl
More Info: All Aboard the Blue Train with Johnny Cash was originally released on Sun Records in 1962. The album features prime selections of the Man In Black’s recordings between 1955 and 1958, including classic songs “Hey Porter” and “Folsom Prison Blues”. Previously out of press, it’s coming back on appropriate blue vinyl for Record Store Day 2016.

Brandy Clark – “”Girl Next Door”/”Homecoming Queen”
Format: 7″ Colored Vinyl
More Info: Side A features Clark’s new hit single “Girl Next Door.” Side B features the track “Homecoming Queen,” plus the same song covered by Sheryl Crow. Pressed on random mixed blue, yellow and red vinyl.

Bob Dylan – “Melancholy Mood”
Format: 7″ Colored Vinyl
More Info: This limited edition 7” vinyl EP was originally created for Bob Dylan’s recent Japanese tour. We were able to secure a limited quantity for Record Store Day. The EP includes 4 songs from Bob Dylan’s upcoming album, Fallen Angels, pressed on 7” red vinyl.

Alejandro Escovedo – ‘Gravity’ and ‘Thirteen Years’
Format: 2 x LP
More Info: Austin TX’s Watermelon Records was founded in 1989 and released nearly 100 records in its short life. Its catalog lay dormant until 2010 when New West Records picked it up and chose Record Store Day 2016 to relaunch Watermelon Records with two beautiful remastered classic from Alejandro Escovedo. Gravity is a 2LP set pressed on 180g vinyl and packaed in a one of a kind die-cut linen jacket along with a foldable insert and download card.

Jay Farrar – Sebastopol/thirdshiftgrottoslack
Format: 2 x LP
More Info: For Record Store Day 2016, Jay Farrar’s (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo) Sebastopol is available for the first time on vinyl. This very limited, hand-numbered release comes on white vinyl featuring Gillian Welch and members of the Flaming Lips and Superchunk. The double LP also features the 5-track EP never before released on vinyl, thirdshiftgrottoslack.

Emmylou Harris – ‘Wrecking Ball’
Format: 3 x 12″ Vinyl
More Info: The long awaited audiophile-quality vinyl reissue of Emmylou Harris’ 1995 Grammy winning masterpiece Wrecking Ball, produced by Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Willie Nelson) and featuring appearances by Brian Blade, Neil Young, Lucinda Williams, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, among others. Includes original album sequence as well as outtakes and alternate versions from the original recording sessions. This Record Store Day release features three 180 gram LPs remastered with bonus tracks, and 4 page lyric insert. Limited to 5,000 copies.

Johnny Cash – ‘The Best of The Johnny Cash Show’
Format: 12″ LP
More Info: From the summer of 1969 to the final show in march of 1971 (58 episodes in all), The Johnny Cash TV Show not only exposed an American audience to an eclectic array of musical talent, but also helped establish Johnny Cash as a true artist, humanitarian, and a larger-than-life legend. The 16 performances contained on this new Best-Of LP, made especially for Record Store Day, and for the first time on vinyl, showcase the spectrum of incredible performers that Johnny hand-picked to be on his show, many for their first network appearance. So, “come along and ride this train” – the train that Cash envisioned for us all – every week on The Johnny Cash TV Show, and now, for generations to come. Limited to 5,000 copies.

Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear – ‘Live At Grimey’s‘
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: This Record Store Day six track EP was recorded live at Grimey’s in Nashville, Tennessee by one of our favorite new artists on the music scene, in June 2015 as part of the celebration of Americana Music Month. Limited to 1500 copies.

Jason Molina – ‘The Townes Van Zandt Covers‘
Format: 7″ Vinyl
More Info: At a Songs:Ohia show in the early ’00s, Jason Molina said to the artist William Schaff that he would love to see himself depicted as one of Schaff’s signature, skull-headed creatures. The two struck up a pen-pal friendship and Schaff sent Jason his picture. In return, he asked for a recording of the Townes Van Zandt covers Jason had performed that night. The pair of Van Zandt covers included here, recorded at Molina’s home on the north side of Chicago, symbolize not only the creative turn Molina’s songwriting had taken (seen in his forthcoming Magnolia Electric Co. release) from sparse and jagged indie rock to rootsy folk rock, but also a sonic bond between two friends who loved each other’s work very deeply. After learning of Molina’s death in 2013, Schaff spent days pouring over his lengthy correspondence with his friend, with Molina’s oeuvre on repeat. He created the painting that graces the cover of this release in the process: Apropos of everything, a skull-headed creature in flight. This special 7″ release is limited to 3500 copies worldwide.

Mumford & Sons + Baaba Maal – “There Will Be Time”
Format: 7″ Colored Vinyl
More Info: Mumford & Sons’ RSC exclusive 7″ single features a brand new song called “There Will Be Time” (previously only available in South Africa). The track features Baaba Maal, and was produced alongside Johan Hugo from The Very Best. Limited to 6000 copies.

Graham Nash – ‘This Path Tonight’
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: A special version of the new album from legendary musician Graham Nash. Includes a bonus 7″ with the classic tracks “Our House” and “Teach Your Children”

Elvis Presley – ‘I’m Leaving’: Elvis Folk- Country’
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: The very best of Elvis Folk-Country 1966-1973. This special Record Store Day release includes masters from Elvis’ sessions at RCA Victor’s Studio B in Nashville in May 1971, a period in which several folk writers’ material surfaced spontaneously amid gospel and holiday recordings, plus others with similar provenance: from Dylan¹s “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” in 1966, to then-contemporary pop-folk such as “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues” in 1973, this is Elvis in an introspective mood, masterfully creating definitive versions of iconic compositions that resonated with him for his friends in the studio – and for us. Limited to 5,000 copies.

John Renbourn – ‘The Attic Tapes’
Format: 2 x LP
More Info: Lovingly mastered from old tapes found in a friend’s attic, this is a vintage collection of previously unreleased rarities and early works by one of the guitar’s truly great innovators. The Record Store Day edition features five vinyl-only tracks and sleeve notes written by John shortly before his death in March 2015.

The Rough Guide To Unsung Heroes of Country Blues
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: This album brings to the fore classic early blues masterpieces that deserve to be heard and allows the limelight to fall on some of the lesser-known country blues masters. Essential listening for any blues connoisseur, this is an adventure into some of the more hidden recesses of country blues. The Rough Guide To Unsung Heroes of Country Blues is released on vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day 2016. Includes a download card.

Billy Joe Shaver- “Wacko From Waco”/”When Fallen Angels Fly”
Format: 7″ Vinyl
More Info: This Record Store Day 7″ features two songs – “When Fallen Angels Fly,” an unreleased version of his classic hymn, a tune from the Robert Duvall film, “Wild Horses.” “Wacko From Waco” is Shaver’s account of a 2007 shooting in a bar outside his hometown of Waco. Both tracks are pressed on vinyl for the first time. Limited to 1700 copies.

Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle – “Wake Up Little Susie” / “Baby’s In Black”
Format: 7″ Vinyl
More Info: The world-class singer- songwriters Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle make their duet debut with a delightful Record Store Day 7″ splash: spirited re-castings of the Everly Brothers’ “Wake Up Little Susie” and “Baby’s in Black” by the Beatles. They’ll be singing together again on their first duet project, a full length of co-written originals later this summer.

Son Volt – ‘Live At The Bottom Line’
Format: 2 x colored LP
More Info: This Record Store Day two LP set features the live content from the Trace deluxe CD. Pressed on 180 gram vinyl, limited to 3500 copies.

Allen Toussaint – ‘Live in Philadelphia 1975’
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: Record Store Day honors the passing of one of America’s greatest musicians, performers and artists with an offering of Rhino’s 2003 Handmade title. This live album features bonus material and liner notes by Billy Vera. Pressed on 180 gram vinyl, it is limited to 5000 copies.

Lucinda Williams – ‘Just A Little More Faith And Grace’
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: Lucinda celebrates Record Store Day by offering exclusive remixes from her new THE GHOSTS OF HIGHWAY 20 album, including Faith and Grace in it’s truest form, and as it was intended, a full 18 minutes long! Limited to 3000 copies.

Blaze Foley – Duct Tape Messiah (Original Soundtrack)
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: This Record Store Day release is limited to 1000 copies pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl, and includes full documentary film on DVD. This Record Store Day Elite Eecords releases Duct Tape Messiah by exceptional Texan Folk artist Blaze Foley for the first time ever on vinyl. The soundtrack to the 2011 documentary film about the turbulent life of Townes Van Zandt’s companion and close friend literally spans Blaze’s whole musical life. It includes rare archival tracks never released on vinyl before as well as tracks from posthumously released Blaze albums. The limited RSD edition comes with a DVD including the full documentary film. The film beautifully draws the picture of Blaze’s life and times and his extraordinary character. Born in Arkansas, Foley was shot to death way before his time, under circumstances still to be fully clarified. As a homeless, he traveled the streets of the Texan cities to share his music with people in nightclubs and bars. Foley always stood up for the weak, which eventually cost his life. Finally, after a life of rejections and blown opportunities, his work is now gaining recognition. In 2008 his biography Living In The Woods In A Tree was published, followed by the acclaimed documentary about Foley!s underdog life: Duct Tape Messiah. The film’s soundtrack comprises of 14 carefully selected songs from all stations in Blaze’s life and gives an insight into his straight and genuine songwriting. Blaze!s musical heritage was close to being forgotten and much material used on the record are chance discoveries from record shops and old master tapes.

Left Lane Cruiser- ‘Beck In Black’
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: Retrospective of early Left Lane Cruiser material with drummer Brenn Beck, re-mastered and with three previously unreleased tracks (“Chicken”, “Bloodhound” and “Maybe”). Limited edition of 1000 on metalic gold vinyl for Record Store Day.

Charlie Parr – ‘I Ain’t Dead Yet’
Format: 10″ Colored Vinyl
More Info: A brand new 5 song 10” EP pressed on Green Vinyl. Minnesotan Country Blues guitarist Charlie Parr has been building an audience among roots music aficionados for over a decade. I Ain’t Dead Yet features four new original tunes and Charlie’s take on the traditional tune, Old Dog Blues. All songs previously unreleased!

Heartworn Highways – 40th Anniversary Edition Box Set
Format: Vinyl Box Set
More Info: This Record Store Day Exclusive release is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide and consists of a two LP set pressed on whiskey colored wax and much more in a hand crafted custom wood box by Boles Studio, Bronx, NY including an LP-sized 80-page book with exhaustive 20,000 word essay by Sam Sweet interviewing artists, documentary creators and crew, over 100 unseen photos taken during the making of the film, a cast of characters drawn by legendary Austin illustrator Kerry Awn, a reproduction of the original film poster (24”x36”), a region free DVD of the original 1976 film with restored image and sound plus 45 mins of bonus features, including performances by Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and others, and download card for full soundtrack.

The Weepies – ‘Say I Am You’
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: To celebrate the 10th anniversary of this release, a Record Store Day exclusive edition has been put together with orange vinyl, new liner notes, exclusive new photos and a poster of album cover, autographed by the band.

Billy Don Burns- A Night in Room 8
Format: 12″ Vinyl
More Info: Billy Don Burns is considered a friend to the greats of country music and has collaborated with artists such as Harlan Howard, Willie Nelson, Wanda Jackson, Connie Smith and others. A Night in Room 8 was recorded at the Joshua Tree Inn hotel room where Gram Parsons was found dead in 1973. Recorded on a Tascam Portastudio (the same model on which Bruce Springsteen recorded Nebraska). This is an eerie yet extremely vulnerable album of new, brilliant material from such a relic of country music

Grammys 2016 – Alabama Shakes , Punch Brothers, Mavericks, Jason Isbell, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell Among Roots Nominees

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58th-Grammy-Logo

The Recording Academy® announced nominations for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards® in all 83 categories this morning. The nominees were selected from more than 21,000 submissions entered from the only peer-based music award, voted on by The Academy’s membership body of creators across all disciplines of music, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers.

Roots rock band Alabama Shakes has proven crossover appeal by a snagging a total of five GRAMMY nominations for their latest ‘Sound & Color.
Punch Brothers follow with 3 nominations. The Mavericks, Jason Isbell and Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell follow with 2 nominations apiece.

Lee Ann Womack is up for Best Country Solo Performance and Hayes Carll received a Best Country Song nomination for “Chances Are,” a great track on her album “The Way I’m Livin’.”

Roots super-producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton) is up for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and the GRAMMY voters again prove more open that genre specific award shows by nominating Ashley Monroe, Kacey Musgraves and current country / roots (deserving) darling Chris Stapleton for Best Country Album alongside mainstream favorites Sam Hunt and Little Big Town.

Gospel and soul legend and Best Americana Album recipient Mavis Staples was nominated for Best American Roots Performance for her version of ” Blind Lemon Jefferson’s ‘See That My Grave Is Kept Clean’ from her latest ‘Your Good Fortune’ EP.

Bob Dylan’s ‘Shadows in the Night’ is up for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and British pop-soul crooner James Bay is nominated for Best New Artist. Wilco and My Morning Jacket are both up for Best Alternative Music Album.

made a name for himself this year by melding his deep, melodic voice with simple, blues-inspired guitar riffs. He released his debut album Chaos and the Calm, which is also nominated for a Best Rock Album Grammy, this past March, earning comparisons to pal Ed Sheeran, whom he’s performed with before.

Final-round GRAMMY® ballots will be mailed Dec. 16 and the will be presented Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and broadcast on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Best Country Album:
Sam Hunt, Montevallo
Little Big Town, Pain Killer
Ashley Monroe, The Blade
Kacey Musgraves, Pageant Material
Chris Stapleton, Traveller

Best Americana Album:
Brandi Carlile, The Firewatcher’s Daughter
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, The Traveling Kind
Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free
The Mavericks, Mono
Punch Brothers, The Phosphorescent Blues

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Brothers Osborne, “Stay a Little Longer”
Joey + Rory, “If I Needed You”
Charles Kelley, Dierks Bentley & Eric Paslay, “The Driver”
Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”
Blake Shelton feat. Ashley Monroe, “Lonely Tonight”

Best Country Song
Lee Ann Womack, “Chances Are”
Tim McGraw, “Diamond Rings And Old Barstools”
Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”
Brandy Clark, “Hold My Hand”
Chris Stapleton, “Traveller”

Best Country Solo Performance
Cam, “Burning House”
Chris Stapleton, “Traveller”
Carrie Underwood, “Little Toy Guns”
Keith Urban, “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16”
Lee Ann Womack, “Chances Are”

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:
Jeff Bhasker
Dave Cobb
Diplo
Larry Klein
Blake Mills

Best American Roots Performance:

And Am I Born To Die
Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, And Am I Born To Die
Track from: Béla Fleck And Abigail Washburn

Buddy Guy, Born To Play Guitar
Track from: Born To Play Guitar

The Milk Carton Kids, City Of Our Lady
Track from: Monterey

Punch Brothers, Julep
Track from: The Phosphorescent Blues

Mavis Staples, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
Track from: Your Good Fortune

Best American Roots Song

All Night Long
Raul Malo, songwriter (The Mavericks)
Track from: Mono
Label: The Valory Music Co.; Publisher(s): Big Machine Music/Raul Malo Music

The Cost Of Living
Don Henley & Stan Lynch, songwriters (Don Henley & Merle Haggard)
Track from: Cass County
Label: Capitol Records; Publisher(s): Wisteria Music (GMR) admin. by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Matanzas Music

Julep
Chris Eldridge, Paul Kowert, Noam Pikelny, Chris Thile & Gabe Witcher, songwriters (Punch Brothers)
Track from: The Phosphorescent Blues
Label: Nonesuch; Publisher(s): Chris Thile Music, Money Baby Music, Noam Tunes, Silver Hammer Music, Paul Kowert

The Traveling Kind
Cory Chisel, Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris, songwriters (Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell)
Track from: The Traveling Kind
Label: Nonesuch; Publisher(s): Criterion Music o/b/o Coolwell Music/Almo Music Corp. o/b/o Poodlebone Music/Chisel Publishing

24 Frames
Jason Isbell, songwriter (Jason Isbell)
Track from: Something More Than Free
Label: Southeastern Records; Publisher(s): Songs Of Emchant

Best Bluegrass Album

Pocket Full Of Keys
Dale Ann Bradley
Label: Pinecastle Records

Before The Sun Goes Down
Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
Label: Compass Records Group

In Session
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

Man Of Constant Sorrow
Ralph Stanley & Friends
Label: Red River Entertainment

The Muscle Shoals Recordings
The Steeldrivers
Label: Rounder

Best Blues Album
Descendants Of Hill Country
Cedric Burnside Project
Label: Cedric Burnside Project

Outskirts Of Love
Shemekia Copeland
Label: Alligator Records

Born To Play Guitar
Buddy Guy
Label: RCA Records/Silvertone Records

Worthy
Bettye LaVette
Label: Cherry Red

Muddy Waters 100
John Primer & Various Artists
Label: Raisin Music Records

Best Folk Album

Wood, Wire & Words
Norman Blake
Label: Plectrafone Records

Béla Fleck And Abigail Washburn
Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn
Label: Rounder

Tomorrow Is My Turn
Rhiannon Giddens
Label: Nonesuch

Servant Of Love
Patty Griffin
Label: PGM

Didn’t He Ramble
Glen Hansard
Label: Anti

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Go Go Juice
Jon Cleary
Label: FHQ Records

La La La La
Natalie Ai Kamauu
Label: KEKO Records

Kawaiokalena
Keali’i Reichel
Label: Punahele Productions

Get Ready
The Revelers
Label: The Revelers

Generations
Windwalker And The MCW
Label: MCW Productions / PK Productions LLC

Buddy Miller & Friends’ “Cayamo Sessions At Sea” Sets Sail January 29

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Buddy Miller & Friends' "Cayamo Sessions At Sea"

I was lucky enough to sit in on a couple of these intimate Cayamo sessions. The onboard Bliss Lounge was set up like a cozy living room that just happens to have top-notch headlining and supporting musicians from the cruise’s extraordinary roster doing their favorite classic covers like Lucinda Williams covering Gram Parson’s “Hickory Wind” and Kacey Musgrave covering fellow Texan Buck Owens’ ‘Love’s Gonna Live Here.’

Buddy loosely conducts the sessions in his genial way, as the event takes on more of a open jam than a staid studio session. You’re left with the impression that the live and loose sound will make it’s way to the finished mix. As it did in Nikki Lane and Buddy’s cover of Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton’s classic “Just Someone I Used to Know.”

The album will be released on on New West Records a couple of days before the fan and artist friendly 9th Cayamo, A Journey Through Song sets sail January 31, 2016 from Miami to St. Maarten and Tortola. As you might imagine it’s already sold out.

from the release: “For one week each year, some of the best songwriters in country, Americana, folk and roots music set sail on a musical adventure called Cayamo. Over the last few years, award-winning guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer Buddy Miller set up a recording studio on the ship and recorded and played with everyone from veteran songwriters to emerging artists. Buddy Miller & Friends’ Cayamo Sessions At Sea, due January 29, 2016 on New West Records, collects 11 of the best of these once-in-a-lifetime musical moments recorded on the 2014 and 2015 voyages with Kris Kristofferson, Lucinda Williams, Kacey Musgraves, Richard Thompson, Lee Ann Womack, Shawn Colvin, Nikki Lane, Brandi Carlile, The Lone Bellow, Doug Seegers and more.”

“From bow to stern, port to starboard, on top deck and down below, artists – some old friends, some just acquainted ­- come together in fits of spontaneity and create unique musical collaborations all around the ship. It’s for this reason that Cayamo has become one of the most sought after cruises for artists and music lovers alike, selling out year after year. In 2012, Miller decided to try to capture a few of these special maritime moments and brought along some recording gear and set up a studio in the ship’s library where he and co-host and lifelong friend Jim Lauderdale recorded episodes for their SiriusXM Outlaw Country Buddy & Jim Radio Show. They ended up recording their debut episode with Lucinda Williams. Miller thought the radio show recordings sounded great so, in 2014, he brought more gear, an engineer and some stellar musicians and set up a temporary recording studio between the lanes of a bowling alley. For two days and nights, a who’s who of artists came to record while lucky fans watched on. He had so much fun that he did it all again on the 2015 cruise.”

Of the collaboration Nikki Lane tells rolling Stone Country: “I’m in it for the long game. This is great, and the past year has been wonderful. But what am I going to do when I am 50? You don’t want to be the person sitting in the corner of the coffee shop who wrote that song. You want to be someone like Buddy Miller, who has found a way to position himself in a really creative industry. Because long game is the only way you can really call yourself an artist.”

Track list for Buddy Miller & Friends’ ‘Cayamo Sessions at Sea’:
1. After the Fire Is Gone – with Lee Ann Womack
2. Love’s Gonna Live Here – with Kacey Musgraves
3. Sunday Morning Coming Down – Kris Kristofferson
4. Just Someone I Used to Know – with Nikki Lane
5. Hickory Wind – with Lucinda Williams
6. Wedding Bells – with Richard Thompson
7. If Teardrops Were Pennies – with Elizabeth Cook
8. Wild Horses – with Shawn Colvin
9. Come Early Mornin’ – with Jill Andrews
10. Take the Hand of Jesus – with Doug Seegers
11. Angel from Montgomery – with Brandi Carlile and the Lone Bellow