The show was labeled “Classics to Current,” and “classics” was not an overstatement. This Tin Pan South show at Douglas Corner in Nashville featured Alex Harvey, who wrote “Delta Dawn” and “Reuben James”, “Buzz Cason, whose “Soldier of Love” was recorded by the Beatles in their BBC sessions, Dickey Lee of “Patches” fame and Austin Cunningham.
Best bets: 2014 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival
Tin Pan South, the world-class songwriters festival based in Nashville, begins this Tuesday in Nashville, and as usual, the line-up of talent is rich and diverse.
Concert review: Sam Baker, Chip Dolan, Tim Lorsch
For a songwriter whose material tends toward the melancholy, Sam Baker gave quite an uplifting performance in Houston on March 19.
Review: Ernest Troost’s “O Love”
Ernest Troost’s “O Love,” not surprisingly, is billed as an album of love songs, and each of its 13 tracks does in fact concern some aspect of love – some more conventionally than others.
Review: Don Williams’ warm “Reflections”
The 74-year-old Don Williams is back with Reflections, a new album on Sugar Hill. What you’ll hear is exactly what you would expect: warm, relaxed vocals, simple and inviting production from Garth Fundis and classic songs from truly great songwriters.
Tin Pan South set for March 25-29 in Nashville
Tin Pan South, a wide-ranging and always rewarding songwriters festival, has just announced its 2014 line-up. The festival, which features both songwriting legends and upcoming writers, will run from March 25 through March 29 in Nashville.
Reissues: David Ruffin’s first four albums revisited
Two new releases from Real Gone Music remind us of the richness of David Ruffin’s early solo career, when for a time it looked like he might match the success of his former group the Temptations.
2014 Cayamo cruise in review: The highs, lows
Review: Despite losing two headliners, the 2014 Cayamo cruise is a varied and vibrant musical experience.
Americana afloat: Cayamo in photos
Sun209 correspondent Paul T. Mueller was on board the floating Americana Music celebration known as the Cayamo cruise. Among the highlights: Kanene Pipkin, singer and mandolinist with The Lone Bellow, performed with the band during its set on Friday, February 7. Songs included “You Don’t Love Me Like You Used To” and “Green Eyes and a…
Reissues: Blood, Sweat and Tears: The Complete Columbia Singles
Blood, Sweat and Tears: The Complete Columbia Singles on Real Gone Records: The two-disc, 32-track set offers up both the A-sides and B-sides that document the evolution and unraveling of the band.
140 characters: Quick reviews, new releases
At Sun209, we receive many more review copies than we’re able to write about, but try to flag some of the best we don’t get to. A sampling of our recent reviews on Twitter: .@BuzzCason ‘s Troubadour Heart an engaging showcase for “Everlasting Love” writer. Plus Dan Penn and Bobby Keys! @plowboyrecords Twelve Tales by A.J. Croce : Smart, soulful songs throughout.…
Review: Irene Kelley’s “Pennsylvania Coal”
From the back cover depicting Irene Kelley’s coal-mining grandfather to “You Are Mine,” the closing track written and performed with her daughters, Pennsylvania Coal is fueled by family.
Review: Hard Working Americans
Hard Working Americans is fronted by singer-songwriter Todd Snider, sounding grittier and more subdued than he used to. His colleagues include guitarist Neal Casal of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and Ryan Adams’ Cardinals, bassist (and co-producer) Dave Schools from the Dave Matthews Band, keyboardist Chad Staehly of Great American Taxi and drummer Duane Trucks from Col. Bruce Hampton’s School of Music.
3-minute interview: Will Kimbrough on two new releases
Will Kimbrough is on a roll with his solo album Sideshow Love and band project Willie Sugarcapps both in this week’s Americana Music Association airplay chart.
Mandy Barnett celebates Don Gibson
On her new album, Mandy Barnett revisits the work of another iconic figure, songwriter and singer Don Gibson. The classic songs are all here: Gibson’s hit “Oh Lonesome Me,” “Sweet Dreams” recorded by Cline, and “I Can’t Stop loving You,” performed most memorably by Ray Charles.
Review: Jim Bianco’s ambitious “Cookie Cutter”
Jim Bianco’s “Cookie Cutter” succeeds as a songwriting exercise, but this collection is strong enough to stand on its own, even without the backstory.
Review: Will Kimbrough’s “Sideshow Love”
featuring some beautiful cello by engineer and co-producer David Henry.
Will Kimbrough is an excellent player, singer and producer, and his talents are on full display on “Sideshow Love.”
Sun209: The week in Tweets
The week in Tweets on Sun209: @Sugarlimeblue January 11, 2014 New shows announced in Murphy, NC http://t.co/vxSDN1IzQC @AmericanaFest January 11, 2014 Watch footage from Neil Young’s Carnegie Hall shows http://t.co/yqMgSkyaNM via @uncutmagazine @brandicarlile January 11, 2014 I’m singing the national anthem today at the Seahawks game! Oh my goodness what have I gotten myself… http://t.co/9edIOk5iNK @WhisperingBob January 11, 2014 …and…
Review: Willie Sugarcapps
Review: Willie Sugarcapps consists of Will Kimbrough, Sugarcane Jane (Savana Lee and Anthony Crawford), Grayson Capps and Corky Hughes, an amalgam in name and spirit.
Review: The Whiskey Gentry’s “Holly Grove”
By Ken Paulson It’s that time of the year when we rush to catch up with particularly worthy albums that we never quite got around to reviewing. Case in point is the Whiskey Gentry’s Holly Grove, the second album from the Atlanta-based band. The Whiskey Gentry melds high-energy bluegrass and traditional country with some attitude, opening the album with heartbreak and…