By Ken Paulson –The Trishas’new album is called High, Wide & Handsome, but could easily have been sub-titled (And deep in talent.) That applies to the young women comprising the quarter – Savannah Welch, Liz Foster, Kelley Mickwee and Jamie Wilson – as well as a remarkable array of talented collaborators. The Trishas boast tight harmonies and a fresh sound,…
New to Americana chart: Shovels & Rope, Chris Smithers, Honeycutters
Americana Music News – Willie Nelson’s Heroes moves into the top position on this week’s Americana Music Association radio chart, edging out JD McPherson’s Signs and Signifiers and Paul Thorn’s What the Hell Is Goin’ On? New to the chart this week are O’ Be Joyful by Shovels and Rope at #29, Chris Smither’s Hundred Dollar Valentine at #34 and…
Review: J.D. McPherson’s “Signs and Signifiers”
By Ken Paulson –JD McPherson’s Signs and Signifiers has topped the Americana music airplay chart for the past two weeks, and for good reason. It’s a refreshing collection of first generation rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues that sounds like it could have been recorded at Sun studios in 1957. Like the early Blasters records, this taps into rock’s…
Review: Jack Saunders with Robbie Saunders
By Paul T. Mueller –In the beginning, at least, the atmosphere in the Old Quarter Acoustic Café in Galveston on the evening of June 15 wasn’t exactly the quiet, attentive ambience you might expect at a CD release show by a respected artist. Far from it – Jack Saunders’ show had more the feel of a rowdy Friday night in…
Sun209: The week in Tweets
New @BenTaylorHQ album "Listening" coming in August. http://t.co/B5z5COkx 'Oh Brother' single streaming at @rollingstone #americanamusic # Nashville singer, songwriter Kevin Gordon opening for Todd Snider | http://t.co/OWePEBZX http://t.co/uatk9BZc # JD McPherson, WIllie Nelson top Americana Music Assocation radio airplay chart #Americanafest #Americanamusicnews http://t.co/moALBoGk # New to Americana music chart: John Fullbright’s From the Ground Up, Brandi Carlile’s Bear Creek http://t.co/moALBoGk…
Richard Thompson, Booker T. Jones to be honored at Americana music festival
Americana Music News –Richard Thompson and Booker T. Jones will be honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Americana Music Association at its 11th Annual Honors and Awards ceremony on Sept. 12 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the organization announced. Jones and Thompson will be honored in the instrumentalist and songwriting categories, respectively, and will join Bonnie Raitt, previously…
New to chart: John Fullbright, Brandi Carlile
Americana Music News – The top two slots in this week’s Americana Music Association radio chart hold steady, with JD McPherson’s Signs and Signifiers and Willie Nelson’s Heroes running 1-2. New to the chart this week are John Fullbright’s From the Ground Up at #33 and Brandi Carlile’s Bear Creek at #40. Most added this week to Americana music radio:…
Sun209: The week in Tweets
Two generations of songwriters: Steve and Jubal Lee Young http://t.co/wga2Cy9Y @JubalLeeYoung #songwriters #Americanamusic # Great set by Sara Jaroscz at Bonnaroo. Really building a following. # Highlights of the final day of @Bonnaroo: @TheBeachBoys, @SarahJarosz,@OurnameisFun,@Bon Iver and @TheDDWs. And the rain held off! # .@TheBeachBoys magical at @Bonnaroo, plus fine sets by @SarahJarosz and Deep Dark Woods. @TheDDWs #Americanamusic #…
New Ben Taylor album “Listening” due in August
Americana Music News – We haven’t seen Ben Taylor play since he performed on a Cayamo cruise three years ago, but he’s clearly been busy. New album Listening is set for release on August 14 and you’ll find a free stream of the soulful single “Oh Brother” at the Rolling Stone site. Upcoming tour dates: July 5 – New York, NY…
JD McPherson, Willie Nelson top Americana music chart
JD McPherson’s Signs and Signifiers moves to the top spot on the Americana music radio chart, followed closely by Willie Nelson’s Heroes. Justin Townes Earle, on top of the chart for many weeks, drops to third with Nothing’s Going to Change The Way You Feel About Me. New to the chart: Kin: Songs by Mary Karr and Rodney Crowell at…
Beach Boys, Sarah Jarosz, Deep Dark Woods at Bonnaroo
By Ken Paulson The final day of the Bonnaroo festival was amazingly eclectic,and the rain held off. That’s as good as it gets. The Beach Boys are not an Americana band, but they’re arguably the American band. Their 50th anniversary appearance was astonishing. Yes, they show their age and Brian Wilson seemed a little unsettled and lost, but the harmonies…
Sun209: The week in Tweets
Review: Chris Richards' "Goldenwest" @CRfromWI http://t.co/H4cwSC78 # Doing Guthrie right: New EP from @mikeandruthy http://t.co/H4cwSC78 # Jerry Reed, the original "U.S. Male." New collection is a revelation. http://t.co/H4cwSC78 # New to Americana music chart: Grant Peeples, @Jerry Douglas, @RhettMiller http://t.co/DxyiUx4s # Congrats to @Dawestheband for being nominated as "emerging artist of the year" in Americana music http://t.co/l431WLsy @Americanafest # Young…
Review: Steve and Jubal Lee Young in concert
By Paul T. Mueller –Any family is lucky to count one fine singer-songwriter among its members. Rarer still is the family with two, and lucky is the audience that gets to see them play, separately and together, in the same show. Such was the happy fate of the fortunate few dozen in attendance at Heights Presbyterian Church in Houston when…
Film review: Troubadour Blues
By Paul T. Mueller If you’re looking for revelations, Troubadour Blues may leave you disappointed. There’s not too much in the way of new truths in Tom Weber’s independent documentary about singer-songwriters. Most of it comes down to (A) these folks do what they do because they love it, not for money or fame, and (B) what really counts is…
New to Americana chart: Grant Peeples, Jerry Douglas, Rhett Miller
Justin Townes Earle remains at the top position in Americana music radio with Nothing’s Going to Change The Way You Feel About Me, with JD McPherson’s Signs and Signifiers in the second slot. New to the Americana music chart: Grant Peeples’ Prior Convictions at #37, Jerry Douglas’ Traveler at #39 and Rhett Miller’s The Dreamer at #40. Most added on…
Reviews: Jason Heath, Jerry Reed, Mike + Ruthy, Stilson Greene
Quick hits in Americana, folk and country music: Packed for Exile – Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls: When you hear that a band named itself after a passage in the Old Testament, you don’t expect the energetic, often raucous mix of folk and American found on Packed for Exile. There’s a lot of Bruce Springsteen’s Seeger Sessions here, songs with…
Review: Chris Richards’ Goldenwest
By Ken Paulson — It’s not a surprise that a songwriter who’s logged time in Wisconsin, Nashville and now LA would travel throughout his new album Goldenwest, beginning with “Rubblefields,” a reassuring tale of a road trip gone right. Richards writes smart, compelling narratives and delivers them with a voice and cadence that may bring Gordon Lightfoot and an earlier…
Sun209: The week in Tweets
Plowboy Records Forms With Eddy Arnold\'s Grandson at Helm http://t.co/SI4t01AK via @TheBootDotCom # What is it about outdoor venues that make people think they can talk loudly throughout a concert and no one can hear them? # 3-minute interview with Kevin Gordon about his latest album "Gloryland" http://t.co/4yXnVJ8d @KevinGordonmuzk #NashvilleMusic # This Wednesday at the @FamilyWash in Nashville : Kevin…
2012 Americana Music Awards nominees announced
The 2012 Americana Honors and Awards nominees were announced today in Los Angeles. They’ll be presented at the Ryman Auditorium on September 12 during the Americana Music Festival in Nashville. The nominees: ALBUM OF THE YEAR Here We Rest – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive – Steve Earle The Harrow &…
Punch Brothers join bluegrass music cruise
The inaugural Mountain Song at Sea, a bluegrass festival on the ocean, just added the Punch Brothers to a line-up that already includes the David Grisman Sextet, Del McCoury Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Tim O’Brien and Bryan Sutton, the Kruger Brothers, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, The Travelin’ McCourys, Shannon Whitworth, Della Mae and Town Mountain. The cruise…