Sept. 17: On this date in Americana music, Hank Williams was born in 1923. His impact on country, rock and Americana has been enormous, particularly in terms of songwriting. It’s appropriate then, that some of today’s top songwriters are paying tribute to Williams by taking lyrics found in a notebook on the day he died, and completing the songs. Billy…
Americana chart: Ry Cooder, John Doe among new entries
Today the new Americana Music Association Chart showed Matraca Berg still in the Top 20 with her “The Dreaming Fields” album. Tonight she sang her “You and Tequila” (number four in this week’s Billboard country charts) on stage at the Ryman Auditorium along with Grace Potter and Kenny Chesney. That’s a pretty good Monday. The chart remained largely unchanged this…
Americana Music Lifetime Achievement winners named
The Americana Music Association has named Lucinda Williams, Gregg Allman, Jerry Douglas and executive Rick Hall as this year’s lifetime achievement award winners, and will recognize them on Oct. 13 at its annual awards ahow at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Also to be honored: radio host and journalist Bob Harris, who will receive the AMA’s trailblazer award.
Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Ryman Auditorium
The biggest surprise for most attending tonight’s Grace Potter show at the Ryman was opening act the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Give a mini-skirted rocker credit for counter-programming. You don’t expect to hear string tunes from the 19th century or an Ethel Waters cover at most rock shows. The audience seemed pleasantly surprised – and mesmerized. The show was outstanding. During…
Review: Slaid Cleaves’ “Sorrow and Smoke”
I first saw Slaid Cleaves on stage at the Barns of Wolf Trap outside Washington, D.C. He was the opening act, but he quickly won over a tough audience with his compelling story-songs and confident presence. “Sorrow And Smoke: Live at the Horseshoe Lounge, a new two CD set (#26 on the Americana music chart), captures a similar performance at…
“The Old Magic:” Free streaming of new Nick Lowe album
Nick Lowe’s new album “The Old Magic” is due out on Sept. 13, which means heightened visibility and promotion. Lowe appeared at both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grammy Museum, and has done quite a few media appearances, including a guest DJ role on “All Songs Considered.” Now Yep Roc is offering the chance to stream the…
Sept. 8: Jimmie Rodgers’ birthday
Sept. 8 in Americana music: Jimmie Rodgers, known as the “father of country music,” was born on this date in 1897. He’s also arguably the father of roots and Americana music and his work has had a profound impact on generations of artists. He was one of the first three inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and later was inducted…
Glen Campbell’s powerful “Ghost on the Canvas”
Tickets for Glen Campbell’s final show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Nov. 30 go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9. It’s part of the “Goodbye Tour,” Campbell’s farewell concert series in the wake of his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. I respect Campbell and his family, and their decision to face his illness in a public and forthright…
Guy Clark’s 70th birthday: A concert and album
Some of the biggest names in roots, folk and Americana music will be on hand to celebrate Guy Clark’s musical legacy on Nov. 2 in Austin. “Wish I Was In Austin: A 70th Birthday Tribute to Guy Clark,” which benefits the Center for Texas Music History, will feature performances by Shawn Colvin, Rodney Crowell, Joe Ely, Rosie Flores, Radney Foster,…
Buddy Holly at 75
This day in Americana music: Buddy Holly would have been 75 years old today, and it’s a measure of his impact that there are two new star-filled tribute CDs celebrating his work. “Rave On Buddy Holly,” currently number 23 on the Americana Music Association chart, veers younger with bands like the Black Keys and Florence and the Machine, though Paul…
Ollabelle and Guy Clark move into Americana music top ten
Ollabelle and Guy Clark are new to this week’s Americana Music Association chart, with their new albums ranked seventh and eighth respectively. The marketing and merchandising around the Guy Clark live CD “Songs and Stories” has been fascinating. It was available as an MP3 for one day on Amazon for $3.99, but you can also buy the CD, an autographed…
Revisiting “O Brother” with deluxe edition
“O Brother Where Art Thou?,” the soundtrack to the 2000 George Clooney film that drove a surge in interest in roots and Americana music, has been re-issued in a deluxe 10th anniversary edition, with a disc of bonus songs, most of which were produced in the original T Bone Burnett sessions: “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” (Colin Linden), “You Are My…
Uncut: The records that shaped John Hiatt
The October 2011 issue of Uncut features John Hiatt on its “My Life In Music” page, inviting Hiatt to list the records that helped shape his life and musical tastes. The first pick, “Elvis Presley’s take on Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky” particularly intrigued us. (Yes, that’s the B-side of Sun 209.) “I love the way it straddles two…
New acts added to 2012 Cayamo line-up
The bookers for Cayamo have been busy. Newly-added acts for the floating Americana music festival set for February 2012 include Joe Purdy, Bobby Long and Deep River. They join an impressive line-up that includes Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Keb’ Mo’, John Hiatt, Buddy Miller, Richard Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III, Greg Brown, the Civil Wars, Sara Watkins, James McMurtry,…
Update: 2011 Americana Music Festival performers
The Americana Music Association just released an updated list of performers who will perform at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville Oct. 12-15. The biggest new name is Lucinda Williams, who will be part of the Honors and Award show at the Ryman Auditorium. Other additions to the festival line-up include: Amanda Shires, Ben Sollee, Blind Boys of Alabama, Rolling…
Tommy Womack previews upcoming album “Now What!”
Tommy Womack and the Rush to Judgment closed out its “residency” at the Family Wash in Nashville last night, previewing songs from his upcoming album, set for release in January 2012. It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since “THERE I SAID IT,” a funny, melodic and disarmingly honest album. The new album “NOW WHAT” looks to…
In the Media: The 1861 Project
We reported earlier this week on “The 1861 Project,” an Americana music take on the Civil War.Peter Cooper of the Tennessean profiled Thomm Jutz , a songwriter and performer on the f the project, in an article today: “If you want to know anything about the American Civil War, you should probably listen to the German guy. “War swaths over people…
Paul Kelly’s “Greatest Hits”
Talk about your continental divide. I knew Paul Kelly’s name because some of my favorite artists, including Last Train Home, Kelly Willis and Kasey Chambers had recorded his work. But I’ll have to admit that I was totally unprepared for the scope and quality of the music on “Songs of the South: Paul Kelly’s Greatest Hits,” a 40-song reissue about…
Review: Robert Earl Keen’s “Ready for Confetti”
Robert Earl Keen’s 16th album “Ready for Confetti” is a musically adventurous, almost joyous-sounding album that lives up to its playful title. Keen has said he approached this album differently, writing on the road for a change and encouraging lots of feedback. It worked. “Ready for Confetti” is a diverse, yet focused collection, packed with memorable songs. Fron the upbeat…
New this week: Brigitte DeMeyer’s “Rose of Jericho”
Out this week is Brigitte DeMeyer’s first album since moving to Nashville and “Rose of Jericho” shows that she’s fallen in with good company. Brady Blade is back to produce the new album, with Nashville neighbors Will Kimbrough, Mike Farris, Sam Bush, Mike Henderson, Al Perkins, John Deaderick and others lending their talents. The first two songs on DeMeyer’s fourth album illustrate…