Category: Nashville music

New Americana Music Festival artists announced

 in Americana Music, Americana Music Festival, Nashville music

John Hiatt

Americana Music News – The Americana Music Festival, set for Nashville Sept. 11-16, has just released a new roster of performers. Additions include John Prine and friends, John Hiatt, I’me With Her, the Milk Carton Kids and Niki Bluhm.
This is always one of the best events of the year, and in a town known as “Music City,” that’s saying something.
You can buy $75 wristbands here.

The new additions:

Aaron Lee Tasjan
AHI
Amy Helm
Amythyst Kiah
Andrew Combs
Ashley Monroe
Asleep at the Wheel
Austin Lucas
Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons
Blackfoot Gypsies
Bobby Long
Bones Owens
Bottle Rockets
Buffalo Gospel
Caleb Caudle
Candi Staton
Carson McHone
CORDOVAS
Courtney Marie Andrews
Daniel Donato
Darling West
Doug Seegers
Esther Rose
Fanny Lumsden
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Great Peacock
Greyhounds
Guthrie Trapp
Guy Davis
Hayes Carll
HYWAYS
I’m With Her
Ian Noe
J2B2 (John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band)
Jackie Greene
Jason Boland & The Stragglers
Jedd Hughes
Jill Andrews
Jim Lauderdale
Jim White
John Hiatt
John Paul Keith
John Prine and Friends
John Smith
Johnny Irion
Kaia Kater
Kelsey Waldon
Kirby Brown
Kristin Andreassen
Kyle Daniel
Leah Blevins
Lera Lynn
Logan Ledger
Lucie Silvas
Mando Saenz
Mandy Barnett
Mike Farris
Mindy Smith
Mipso
Molly Tuttle
My Politic
Nicki Bluhm
Ordinary Elephant
Peter Case
Phil Cook
Pony Bradshaw
River Whyless
Robbie Fulks with Linda Gail Lewis
Robby Hecht & Caroline Spence
Romantica
Ross Cooper
Ruby Boots
Ruen Brothers
Sam Morrow
Sarah Borges
Sugaray Rayford Band
SZLACHETKA
The Americans
The Andy Golledge Band
The Band of Heathens
The Josephines
The Last Revel
The Milk Carton Kids
The Nude Party
The Reckless Electric
The Suffers
THE WANDERING HEARTS
The Watson Twins
The Way Down Wanderers
Tim Bluhm
Tommy Ash
Treetop Flyers
Tyler Ramsey
Tyrone Cotton
Van William
Whitehorse
Will Hoge
William the Conqueror

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Podcast 17 “Outlaws and Armadillos” at the Country Music Hall of Fame

 in Americana Music, Nashville music, Podcast, Songwriters

Outlaws and ArmadillosThe Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville has just opened “Outlaws and Armadillos,” a fascinating exploration of the fresh new music coming out of Austin and Nashville in the 1970s, courtesy of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Steve Young, Marshall Chapman, Doug Sahm and many more.

We had the opportunity to talk with Michael Gray of the Country Music Hall of Fame, who curated “Outlaws and Armadillos” with Peter Cooper. He offers his insights into the music and the era.

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Podcast 12: Joshua Hedley and “Mr. Jukebox”

 in Americana Music, Nashville music, New releases, Podcast

Joshua HeadleyAmericana Music News

We showed up at the City Winery’s lounge in Nashville to see Margo Price at a WMOT members’ event, but opener Joshua Hedley was a pleasant surprise.

He mines a traditional sound, but all but one song on his new “Mr. Jukebox” album on Third Man Records is an original.

The impressive set sent us out to the car to get our recording gear and set up in the bar. Voila! Instant podcast.

 

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The Rolling Stones’ “Exhibitionism” opens in Nashville

 in Nashville music, Reviews


By Ken Paulson

I thought I had witnessed the final Rolling Stones appearance in the U.S. back in October 2005. The band was wrapping up the American tour in support of the “Bigger Bang” album and there was the usual conjecture that these aging icons couldn’t keep this up. Silly us.

They’ve just announced a summer tour through Europe and the band appears to want to perform as long as they’re upright. That may bode well for “Exhibitionism: The Rolling Stones’ Exhibitionism,” a multi-media presentation now on its own world tour.

The exhibit has just opened in Nashville at the Musicians Hall of Fame and will run through June 30 before being shipped overseas. It’s quite the spectacle, packed with memorabilia, stage costumes, vintage gear, posters and videos. It’s a full two-hour experience for the fan, which it needs to be to justify the adult admission fee of $39.50.

We had the chance to visit with Jay McDowell, the museum’s multimedia curator and former bass player with BR-549 about the Rolling Stones’ ties to country music. Here’s his take:

 

 

McDowell wouldn’t name his favorite part of the exhibit, so we’ll share our own. Our five favorite elements of “Exhibitionism:”

    1. The apartment: There’s a recreation of the filthy apartment the Rolling Stones shared at the beginning of their career. There are no photos and it’s based entirely on 50-year-old memories, so I’m not confident of its authenticity, but it is fun.

Rolling Stones' apartment2.The jumpsuits: There’s an astonishing array of loud and tacky outfits Mick Jagger wore on stage. Some will bring back memories; others may induce nightmares. He wore them all with confidence.

3.The sets: There are models of several of the band’s tour stages from Steel Wheels on. They’re fascinating and presumably were used in the construction of the real thing. I would have traded any of my train sets for these.

4.The Lips: At the entrance to the exhibit is a constantly looping, wildly creative image of the Rolling Stones’ lips logo. You’ll take a dozen photos before you even step into the exhibit.

5.The video: The exhibit begins with a multiple-screen history of the band, running quickly through every chapter, including Brian Jones’ death and the tragedy at Altamont. It effectively foreshadows much of what you’ll see in the rest of the exhibit.

 

 

 

Podcast #11 Tim Easton and “Paco & the Melodic Polaroids”

 in Americana Music, Nashville music, New releases, Podcast

Tim EastonTim Easton has an intriguing new album called “Paco & the Melodic Polaroids,” a celebration of his black Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar, christened “Paco” by a Deadhead in Paris. The album was recorded direct to lacquer in Bristol, Virginia, the storied birthplace of country music.

In this Americana Music News podcast, Tim Easton talks about this compelling collection of songs – due for release on April 13 – and the path that brought him to Bristol.

About  Americana Music News: We’re in our seventh year covering Americana, roots, country and folk music from our base in Nashville. We’ve just launched a new Americana Music News podcast, available free of charge through all the leading podcast providers, including iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play Music.  And  please join our 23,000 Twitter followers to continue the conversation.

 

 

 

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Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Begins April 3

 in Festivals, Nashville music, Songwriters

 

By Ken Paulson

One of our favorite musical events of the year in Nashville is the annual Tin Pan South Festival, a celebration of songwriting in the world capital of that art. It begins this year on Tuesday, April 3 and continues through Saturday, April 7.

 

We’ve been attending since 1997 and have never been disappointed in the depth and range of talent. Some songwriters are also performers, but others at the festival simply do their best to deliver their songs with passion, conduction and often humor.

 

The format at each Tin Pan South show consists or three or four songwriters alternating songs, along with a generous sampling of banter.

 

While the talent level has remained consistent over the years, Nashville’s growth means your best bet is to settle on a single venue and stay for the evening. Early on, we would make a point of hitting at least two venues per night. Life in Nashville is not that simple anymore and parking is not that cheap.

 

The festival performers at Tin Pan South –  presented by the Nashville Songwriters Association International – range from the highly accomplished to the highly promising.

This year’s Tin Pan South artists include Keb’ Mo’, Robert Earl Keen, Lori McKenna, Radney Foster, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members Paul Overstreet, Bob DePiero, Tom Douglas, Matraca Berg and Jeffrey Steele, and emerging artists Emily West, Sean McConnell, the Darlins, Sara Beck and Sarah Buxton. And that only scratches the surface.

You’ll find the full roster and more details on the Tin Pan South site.

Robbie Fulks to play the Bluebird Cafe March 22

 in Americana Music, Nashville music, Songwriters

Robbie FulksBy Ken Paulson

Robbie Fulks is coming to the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville on Thursday, March 22. It’s an unusual evening because the Bluebird typically features four songwriters sitting in the round, swapping songs and stories. But Robbie clearly doesn’t need any reinforcements.
I met him in 2000 when I was organizing a free speech benefit at the Bluebird and our mutual friend Bill Lloyd invited him to play. The premise of the evening was that every artist would play a song that was once controversial. Robbie performed a perfect gender-bending version of Loretta Lynn’s “The Pill.”
That pretty much sums Robbie Fulks up: a fine musician and songwriter with a love of country music and a bent sense of humor. His “Upland Stories” album garnered two Grammy nominations. Don’t miss him.

Show #7: Mary Gauthier on “Rifles and Rosary Beads”

 in Americana Music, Nashville music, New releases, Podcast

Mary Gauthier on Rifles and Rosary BeadsMary Gauthier has just released a truly special album of her performing songs she wrote with veterans and their families. “Rifles and Rosary Beads” is a moving collection, drawn from “Songwriting:withSoldiers” sessions. We had the pleasure of hearing more about this important project in a conversation with Mary at the Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas City.

Please subscribe to the Americana Music News Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or Google Play Music. 

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Lisa LeBlanc in Nashville March 10

 in Americana Music, Nashville music

We happened upon Lisa LeBlanc at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City last weekend. For those who haven’t attended, it’s four days of great music and you end up stumbling from one showcase to another, like cruising the honky tonks on Lower Broad in Nashville. That’s the last time we’ll be so nonchalant about seeing her.
She’s an excellent banjo player who defies expectations about the instrument by playing full-throttle and with a rock sensibility.
She’ll be in Nashville at the City Winery on March 10. It’s in the lounge, so that means very reasonable ticket prices and a welcome intimacy.
A sample of her talents:

Show #5 Ashley Cleveland’s “One More Song”

 in Americana Music, Interviews, Nashville music, New releases

Ashley Cleveland, a 3-time Grammy winner for rock gospel, has just released ‘One More Song,” a powerful and personal album that mirrors the honesty of her memoir “Little Black Sheep.”  She talks about her once-tumultuous life and music in this episode of the Americana Music Podcast.

About  Americana News: We’re in our seventh year covering Americana, roots, country and folk music from our base in Nashville. We’ve just launched a new Americana Music News podcast, available free of charge through all the leading podcast providers, including iTunes. And  please join our 23,000 Twitter followers to continue the conversation.

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Show #4 Doyle and Debbie and the “Opry on acid”

 in Americana Music, Music Cruise News, Nashville music

The Doyle and Debbie Show

And now for something completely different:  We’ve spent hundreds of nights in clubs over the years, and though the musicianship can be phenomenal, it”s rare for us to say we’re seeing something we’ve never seen before. And then there’s Doyle and Debbie.

Bruce Arntson and Jenny Littleton embody this unusual country duo with a singular back story. It seems that Doyle, a regional country star with enormous personal baggage, is mounting his comeback with his “third Debbie.” Yes, it’s drawn from Shakespeare.

This parody and simultaneous celebration of country music makes for one of the most entertaining evenings you’ll spend in a club or theater.  In this edition of Americana Music News, Bruce and Jenny recount the duo’s origins and the sometimes unexpected audience reactions.

About  Americana News: We’re in our seventh year covering Americana, roots, country and folk music from our base in Nashville. We’ve just launched a new Americana Music News podcast, available free of charge through all the leading podcast providers, including iTunes. And  please join our 23,000 Twitter followers to continue the conversation.

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Remembering Lari White

 in Music Cruise News, Nashville music

By Ken Paulson

Lari White, a dear friend and extraordinarily talented artist, passed this away this morning at age 52 after a sudden and relentless illness.

She was an amazing woman, joyous, caring and creative in all things.

Some would know Lari from her ’90s country hits. Others will recall her memorable appearance with Tom Hanks in “Castaway.” Still others will know her from her R&B excursions or projects as a producer and songwriter. I still remember walking into “Ring of Fire,” the Johnny Cash musical on Broadway and seeing my friend front and center in the cast. She was phenomenal.

Last year, Lari released a pair of EPs titled “Old Friends” and “New Loves.” We had the chance last year to catch up with her on board Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruise. Here’s Lari talking about the music she loved:

Willie Nile at Nashville’s City Winery

 in Americana Music, Nashville music

By Ken Paulson — Willie Nile was clearly battling a respiratory bug, but he soldiered on in his show at the City Winery tonight, delivering an energetic and sometimes inspirational set.
Joined by bassist and vocalist Johnny Pisano and world-class harmonica player Mickey Rafael, Nile drew heavily from his new Positively Bob collection of Bob Dylan covers, including “Subterranean Homesick Blues, “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall,” the latter delivered in part by a three-year-old grandaughter via a phone video.
One of the joys of hearing Willie Nile play is that he has a story for every song he plays, a disappearing art. “Dylan was just 21 whe he wrote this,” he would exclaim.
Some of the most powerful songs of the evening were his anthems “This Is Our Time” (dedicated to Malala, see the video below) and “House of 1,000 Guitars,” with “One Guitar ” closing out the set with a bang.

New: Eric Brace’s “Cartes Postales”

 in Americana Music, Nashville music, New releases

We’ve long admired Eric Brace’s work, from Last Train Home to his solo work and collaborations with Peter Cooper, and his new “Cartes Postales” shows us a new side of his art. The album honors his father’s life and love of music and nine of the ten tracks are sung in French, his father’s home country. The music is beautiful, thanks in part to the many contributions of Rory Hoffman. A sample, taken from Eric’s appearance on Music City Roots:

Preview: Grant-Lee Phillips’ “Widdershins”

 in Americana Music, Nashville music, New releases

By Ken Paulson

One of my projects each year is to put together concerts that celebrate free speech. This year we had a new recruit.

Grant-Lee Phillips turned in great performances in Nashville at the Family Wash on the 4th of July and at the Bluebird Café in September, closing the latter concert with a roaring take on “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

So it makes perfect sense that Phillips’ new album “Widdershins,” set for release on Feb. 23 on Yep Roc Records, reflects his perspective on today’s free world.

“I made a commitment to myself not to sink into despair,” Phillips said in a release. “I’m tracing a longer narrative here. We’ve been through some of this before – not just our country, but the civilization as a whole.”

Here’s a preview track from the new album:



Bill Lloyd interview: “It’s Happening Now”

 in Americana Music, Nashville music, New releases, Reviews

By Ken Paulson
Bill Lloyd of power pop and Foster and Lloyd fame has a new album out this week and it’s a musical departure. Rather than the Beatles/Byrds-infused sounds of “Set to Pop” and “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” “It’s Happening Now” is a refreshing collection of quieter, well-crafted compositions, long on melody and wry observations. We had the chance to catch up with Bill right before a performance in Nashville on Saturday to talk about his career, musical heroes and his new songs, including the only-in-Nashville “Pedal Tavern Girl.” As he notes in the interview, if you’ve liked Bill’s past work, you’ll enjoy “It’s Happening Now” as well. Highly recommended.

Kris Kristofferson’s “Life and Songs”

 in Americana Music, Nashville music, New releases, Songwriters

By Ken Paulson – Just released is “The Life and Songs of Kris Kristofferson,” a three-disc set with guest spots from Buddy Miller, Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Rodney Crowell, Alison Krauss and many more. Recorded in Nashville on March 16, 2016, the collection contains two CDs and a DVD of the concert.
Kristofferson’s voice is singular, but his songs work for just about everybody and there’s a surprisingly consistent level of quality, despite more than 20 artists coming to the stage.
There are deeply touching moments here, with Reba McEntire beckoning Kristofferson onstage to wrap up “Me and Bobby McGee” and Highwaymen family members Jessi Colter and Rosanne Cash delivering their own memorable performances. Jennifer Nettles nails “Worth Fighting For,” as do Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss on “For the Good Times.”
It’s a must-have for Kris Kristofferson fans.
On the topic of Kris’ life and career, we had the opportunity a while back to interview him for our “Speaking Freely TV show:







			    

			    
						

			

		

			
	
	

				

			

				

						
	
New: Lee Ann Womack’s “The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone”

	

		 in Americana Music, Nashville music, New releases	

			    

				    
By Ken Paulson

Lee Ann Womack has been enthusiastically embraced by the Americana music community and with good reason. 2014’s “The Way I’m Livin'” and her new album “The Lonely, Lonesome & The Gone” were of a kind with her debut hit “Never Again Again.” She really just came home to the genre.

As suggested by the title and the weary cover image, the new collection has its share of sadness and struggles. “Old songs make it sound so cool/to be a half-drunk heartbroke fool/But when the fool is you, it’s not,” she sings on the title track co-written with Adam Wright.



That collaboration is a rich one, with Womack and/or Wright and sometimes others) penning six of the album’s cuts, including the comparatively upbeat “End of the End of the World.”

The album also features a chlling take on the timeless “Long Black Veil” and a cover of George Jones’ “Take the Devil Out of Me.”

“The Lonely, Lonesome & The Gone” has two elements that run throughout the album: Womack’s compelling delivery and powerful songwriting. It’s among her best.