t’s been too long since a new Kathy Mattea album, but that’s been remedied with the release of “Pretty Bird,” a vibrant collection that includes outstanding versions of Mary Gauthier’s “Mercy Now” and Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe.”
Review: Ryan Culwell’s “The Last American”
If you don’t find Ryan Culwell’s The Last American especially accessible or easy to listen to, give him credit at least for originality.
The Gibson Brothers’ “Mockingbird”
The Gibson Brothers have a new album produced by tastemaker and Black Key Dan Auerbach and a video that covers R.E.M. in compelling fashion.
Donna the Buffalo’s “Dance in the Street”
The always engaging Donna the Buffalo have a new album called “Dance in the Street,” to be released this week.
Show 29 The Accidentals and Vanessa Peters
Today’s episode of the Americana Music News Podcast features the Accidentals, a talented young trio that floored us with their dynamic performances at this year’s Americana Music Festival and WMOT showcase. And just in time for election day, we offer Vanessa Peters’ “Carnival Barker,’ a pointed and powerful song from her striking new album “Foxhole Prayers.”
Annie Oakley’s “Words We Mean”
Annie Oakley is an impressive trio from Oklahoma with compelling songs and harmonies. We spent our Saturday listening with pleasure to their new “Words We Mean.”
Show #28 Will Hoge’s “My American Dream”
At a time of intense polarization, surprisingly few artists have used their music to reflect their political beliefs. Will Hoge is the laudable exception to that, as evidenced by his compelling new collection of socially conscious songs.
RIP Tony Joe White
We learned hours ago that Tony Joe White had passed away. It was just weeks ago that we had the chance to sit down with him and discuss his new album “Bad Mouthin'” We’ve admired Tony Joe for decades, and he lived up to all expectations in both the interview and a brief set later high atop the BMI headquarters in Nashville. A classy and talented man.
Review: Scott Mulvahill’s “Himalayas”
“I wanna go where I’ve never been,” singer-songwriter-bassist Scott Mulvahill declares on the title track of his new CD, Himalayas. “I gotta find out what I’m made of.” That impulse to self-discovery has produced some impressive results in the form of this collection, which embodies pop, jazz, blues and gospel, among other influences.
Gary Nicholson’s “God Help America”
We had the privilege of having Nashville songwriting great Gary Nicholson join us for the 20th anniversary of Freedom Sings, a fundraiser for First Amendment education at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. He shared this amazing new composition with us. It’s truly a song for our time.
Show 27: Webb Wilder’s “Powerful Stuff,” plus Cheryl Deserée
Webb Wilder’s new release “Powerful Stuff” is a real treat, a collection of long-lost and archived songs that capture Webb and the Beatnecks at their full-throttle best.
Show 26: Tony Joe White’s “Bad Mouthin'”
Tony Joe White’s “Bad Mouthin'” is indeed a return to his roots. It’s stripped down and simple, distilling Tony Joe’s music to its essence. The title cut is also vintage, a long lost song from the very beginning of his songwriting efforts.
Video Premiere: Hilary Scott’s “Don’t Call Me Angel”
Americana Music News is pleased to premiere Hilary Scott’s haunting new video “Don’t Call Me Angel,” from her upcoming album of the same name. That’s set for release on Oct. 12 and includes her distinctive cover of Prince’s “Kiss.”
Pilgrimage Music Festival cancelled
The show didn’t go on. The Pilgrimage Music Festival was cancelled this morning due to the unrelenting rainstorm.
Pilgrimage Festival This Weekend Sept. 22 and 23
Pilgrimage has been a welcome addition to the mid-South music scene, offering a happy medium between the massive Bonnaroo and the generally small venues of the sprawling Americana Festival.
Review: Kevin Welch’s “Dust Devil”
It’s been more than a quarter of a century since Welch’s “next big thing” days in Nashville, as the face of what the marketers dubbed “Western Beat.” Dust Devil, scheduled for release Oct. 15, needs no such label.
Americanafest 2018: A singular week of music in Nashville
We’re just 2 days away from the launch of the Americana Music Conference and Festival – Americanafest 2018 – on Tuesday in Nashville, the number one musical event in a city devoted to them.
Podcast 25 Band of Heathens’ “Message from the People Revisited”
The Band of Heathens release “A Message from the People Revisited,” a breath of fresh air at a cynical time.
Podcast 24 Stephen Kellogg and Ruby Boots
It’s a double feature today featuring two talented artists that need to be known by a lot more people. First up is Stephen Kellogg, who’s just wrapping up the recording of a new album in Nashville, and then Ruby Boots, an Australian artist set to tour Great Britain in September behind her striking 2018 album “Don’t Talk About It.”