Author: Americana Music News

Texans come out in force at Tin Pan South

 in Americana Music

Michael Martin Murphey and friends

Some of Texas’ best-known songwriters assembled at the Hard Rock Cafe last night as part of the Tin Pan South songwriters festival. Gary Nicholson, Leroy Parnell, Bruce “Hey Baby” Channel and Michael Martin Murphey shared the stage. They’re clearly old friends and build off each other’s performances. Murphy was the biggest name, underscoring that by playing his two biggest singles right out of the box: “Carolina in the Pines” and “Wildfire.” The four performers had as good a time as the audience.

Tom T. Hall at Tin Pan South

 in Americana Music

Tom T. Hall at the Bluebird Cafe

Tin Pan South’s highlight to date had to be Tom T. Hall’s performance at the Bluebird Cafe tonight. Hall said he plays just one night a year and this was it. Lucky audience.
Tom T. played some of this best-known songs, supplemented with entertaining anecdotes and playfulness. He followed up his “How I Got to Memphis” (surprisingly, the most lucrative cut in his catalog) with his take on how Elvis Presley pronounced Memphis.
Particularly compelling was the story behind “The Year Clayton Delaney Died.” I’ve known the song for years, but didn’t learn until tonight that Clayton’s was a true story, and that he died at age 19.
Joining Hall were two fine songwriters – and two of Tom T.’s biggest fans – Eric Brace and Peter Cooper. Hall clearly thinks highly of the two younger songwriters and his ease with them fueled the evening. It was an extraordinary night.

Cayamo’s 2012 line-up

 in Americana Music

Sixthman has announced its initial 2012 Cayamo line-up, including John Hiatt, John Prine and Lyle Lovett. For the uninitiated, this is a February cruise that features some of the top Americana music artists in a weeklong music festival on the ocean. Among others booked for next year: Richard Thompson, Keb Mo, Buddy Miller, Loudon Wainwright, Iris Dement, Greg Brown, Shawn Mullin, James McMurtry, Chuck Cannon, the Works Progress Administration and Enter the Haggis. Details at www.cayamo.com.

Americana at the Bluebird 2011

 in Americana Music

One of the best musical events in February and March in Nashville in recent years has been the “Live at the Bluebird” series organized by the Americana Music Association. These have been four-show series featuring a tremendous range of talents, including Sam Bush, Rodney Crowell, Will Kimbrough and Foster and Lloyd.
This year’s series is being sold as individual shows and there are just three scheduled. They include Webb Wilder and duo Brad Jones and Hans Rotenberry on March 17, sisters Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer on March 22nd and dobro legend Jerry Douglas on March 24. Tickets will be available one week in advance for each of these shows at www.bluebirdcafe.com.

Cayamo 2011 features John Prine

 in Americana Music

One of my favorite musical events each year takes place on the water. Cayamo is a floating music festival, a cruise that features a remarkable array of performers and about 12 hours of music a day.

Cayamo 2011 will feature John Prine, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, the Indigo Girls, Buddy Miller, Brandi Carlisle and many more. The cruise includes stops in the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Bahamas.

You’ll find more details at http://www.cayamo.com.

Sam of Sun

 in Americana Music

My only aim was to stay in the business until I could prove, right or wrong, that we needed to be blazing some new trails.

Sam Phillips, 1999, at the “Elvis and the First Amendment” program