We first saw Brian Dunne on the Sandy Beaches Cruise and came away impressed. His new album is called “Bug Fixes & Performance Improvements.” Among the highlights:
Category: Americana Music
New: Christian Lopez’s “Red Arrow”
Christian Lopez’s excellent new album “Red Arrow” continues to climb the Americana Music radio chart, moving to 32 this week. Our favorite tracks: “1972” and “Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight.”
Willie Nile on “Positively Bob”
We’re written here about the terrific Dylan tribute “Positively Bob.” Here he tells how the album came about and reveals his granddaughter’s favorite Dylan song:
New: Lee Ann Womack’s “The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone”
Lee Ann Womack’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.
Kris and Emmylou: “The Pilgrim Chapter 33”
A classic from the new “Life and Songs of Kris Kristofferson” CD/DVD collection:
Margo Price’s “All American Made”
The first single from the new Margo Price album:
Lucinda Williams revisits “This Sweet Old World”
Why would an artist remake a widely praised and much-loved album from early in her career? In the case of This Sweet Old World, Lucinda Williams’ fresh take on her Sweet Old World from 1992, only Williams really knows.
2017 Pilgrimage Music Festival deep in talent
With the third annual Pilgrimage Festival in the books, it’s a good time to acknowledge that this is a premier concert event, smaller than Bonnaroo, but just as rewarding.
Aaron Lee Tasjan to play Pilgrimage Festival
By Ken Paulson – There’s a great undercard to the Pilgrimage Music Festival in Franklin, Tennessee this weekend. There are headliners like Justin Timberlake and Eddie Vedder, but also up-and-comers like Nikki Lane, Shovels and Rope, Blackfoot Gypsies and a particular favorite Aaron Lee Tasjan. We caught up with Aaron last fall when he released his new album “Silver Tears.”…
WMOT Birthday Bash at Americana Festival
The station celebrated its first birthday as an Americana station with performances by Paul Thorn, Reckless Kelly, Whitney Rose, the Secret Sisters,the Deep Dark Woods, the O’Connor Band, Lilly Hiatt, the Texas Gentlemen, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Katie Pruitt, the Vandoliers and Mike Farris.
2017 Americana Music Awards and Honors show
By Ken Paulson – The Americana Music Association’s Annual Awards and Honors event is always a special evening, but there was a special sweetness about it this year, much of it involving John Prine. First there was Prine’s presentation of the Trailblazer Award to Iris Dement with an obvious fondness. Deeply touched, an emotional DeMent thanked John for being her…
Americana Music Festival’s gala night
By Ken Paulson Tonight is the annual Americana Honors and Awards Show hosted by Jim Lauderdale at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, a remarkable event deep in talent. Awardees include Van Morrison, Graham Nash and Iris DeMent, and that just scratches the surface. Of course, tickets are tough, but WMOT Roots Radio (full disclosure: I have conflicts galore) is hosting…
Concert review: Mystery Loves Company
There are a lot of bands with a pretty familiar configuration – a couple of guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, maybe a fiddle or a steel guitar. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes it’s refreshing to see a band exploring the possibilities of a different instrumental mix. One such is Mystery Loves Company.
Musicians step up to help Houston
The music community in Texas and elsewhere is stepping up to provide assistance to those affected by Hurricane and later Tropical Storm) Harvey.
Americana Music Festival’s talent-packed awards show
The Americana Music Festival’s annual Honors and Awards show is always special, but the 2017 line-up raises the bar.
WMOT at Americana Music Festival
WMOT is hosting a remarkable series of free shows in conjunction with the Americana Music Festival from Sept. 14 through 16..
John Prine’s “September 78” due at sane prices
Rare John Prine concert from September 1978 due soon at bargain prices.
Review: Peter Himmelman’s “There is No Calamity”
Peter Himmelman’s “There Is No Calamity” is another fine album from a veteran artist who has plenty to say. But what floored us is the opening track “245th Peace Song,” arguably the most timely and perceptive song of the year.
Review: The Mastersons’ “Transient Lullaby”
Transient Lullaby, the most recent album by The Mastersons – singer/guitarist Chris Masterson and singer/multi-instrumentalist Eleanor Whitmore – reads as an account of the couple’s musical and personal lives.
Review: Willie Nile does Dylan – and very well
Willie Nile may carried those Dylan comparisons for the longest time, in part because of a vocal resemblance. It’s not something he shies away from, as evidenced by “Positively Bob – Willie Nile Sings Bob Dylan,” his new covers collection.