[cincopa AIEAi062EkEs] By Ken Paulson Like Carole King’s appearance at the Bluebird Cafe earlier this month, tonight’s in-the-round featuring Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Richard Marx and Don Schlitz at the same Nashville venue was truly something special. Among the highlights at this benefit for Alive Hospice: – A guest turn by Jenny Gill, singing the touching “I Couldn’t Have Been More Wrong,” a…
Category: Nashville music
How Emmylou Harris helped transform downtown Nashville
Tonight Emmylou Harris will be honored at the Grand Old Opry, on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. She deserves that recognition and Nashville’s gratitude. Today downtown Nashville is the home of a major arena, symphony hall, thriving restaurants and a restored and vibrant Ryman Auditorium. But that wasn’t the case in the early 1990s. In a column…
Ricky Skaggs interview: Staying true to faith and music
By Terry Roland – Ricky Skaggs has made several critical transitions in both his musical and spiritual lives. Although few can argue with his success, there have been some detours and U-turns along the way. This is one of the many things that make Ricky Skaggs such a compelling and enduring figure in American music. As a carrier of the…
Tin Pan South Festival dates in Nashville announced
Tin Pan South, the annual songwriters’ festival, wil be held in Nashville March 27-31, according to the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Festival passes will go on sale on March 7 at the festival’s site. 2011 highlights of this always entertaining festival included Tom T. Hall’s appearance at the Bluebird Cafe, an all-Texas night at the Hard Rock Cafe and the…
Kenny Vaughan on “V”
Kenny Vaughan, guitarist for Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives, had a nice run on the Americana music radio chart with V, his solo debut. He says Stuart encouraged him to record the album so he would have something to sell at shows. In this interview backstage at the very noisy Mercy Lounge in Nashville, Vaughan talks about how he put the…
Will Kimbrough’s Lick of the Day for Dec. 14th
A “wintry sound” from Will Kimbrough:
Registration opens for 2012 Americana Music Festival in Nashville
Early registration for the 13th annual Americana Music Association Festival and Conference, set for Sept. 12-15, 2012 in Nashville is now open. This is one of the best music festivals in the nation, and always attracts an intriguing mix of artists. This year, Gregg Allman, Robert Plant, the Civil Wars and a Muscle Shoals tribute were all on the bill. The…
Dobie Gray: An appreciation
Obituaries reporting the death of Dobie Gray this week focused on his big hit “Drift Away” and his ’60s breakthrough “The In Crowd.” The casual observer might be left with the impression that Gray was a one-hit wonder in two successive decades. The truth is that Dobie Gray was something of a pioneer, an African-American coming to Nashville and working…
Suzy Bogguss interview: Revisiting classic songs
Suzy Bogguss is appearing this afternoon at the Country Music Hall of Fame, performing Christmas music, songs she recorded with Chet Atkins and presumably material from her latest album, American Folk Songbook. Songbook is an ambitious collection of traditional songs that have resonated with several generations. Boggus keeps it simple, singing warmly and with obvious affection for songs like “Shenandoah,”…
Americana artists salute John Lennon
Americana artists were well-represented at last night’s John Lennon tribute at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville. The concert, designed to raise awareness about gun violence and to celebrate Lennon’s music, ran for almost four hours and showcased the talents of a number of Americana music performers, including: – Bill Lloyd on “Girl” – Kenny Vaughan on “Cry Baby Cry” and…
Christmas fingerpicking with Will Kimbrough
Today’s Lick of the Day offers up Christmas music and a remembrance of the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Will Kimbrough is a respected solo artist and a member of DADDY who has toured with Jimmy Buffett and Emmylou Harris. His “Lick of the Day” appears here each Wednesday.)
Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, John Hiatt and a new generation
One of those only-in-Nashville evenings: On Dec. 19, 3rd and Lindsley will host the Generations Against the Death Penalty benefit concert. The idea is to pair famous parents with their talented kids in support of the cause. The line-up includes: – Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell and their daughter Chelsea Crowell – John Hiatt and daughter Lilly Hiatt – Gail Davies…
Eric Brace interview: “I Love” is nominated for a Grammy
I Love: Tom T. Hall’ Songs of Fox Hollow is one of those rare kids’ albums that will enchant children and adults in equal measure. We reviewed it enthusiastically in April and it’s great to see this salute to Tom T. and the original Fox Hollow album nominated for a Grammy for best children’s album.. Eric Brace of Last Train…
Glen Campbell Ryman show cancelled, Jan. 3 date set
Glen Campbell, who delivered an inspiring set at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last Wednesday, had to cancel a return trip to the fabled hall tonight. The statement from the Ryman: “Glen Campbell has been forced to postpone his December 5 performance at the Ryman this evening due to a case of laryngitis. He will perform a make up date…
“Imagine No Gun Violence:” Nashville Lennon tribute
One of the best annual music events in Nashville each year has been the “Imagine No Handguns” concert, a celebration of the music of John Lennon and an effort to build awareness about gun violence. The show ran in Nashville from the mid-’90s through 2005, and is now back after a six-year break with the updated “Imagine No Gun Violence”…
Jim Lauderdale interview: Robert Hunter, Americana
Jim Lauderdale joined Suzy Bogguss, Will Kimbrough and Eric Brace in an in-the-round show at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville last night. It was as engaging and entertaining an evening as that line-up suggests. Lauderdale has been Americana music’s best friend, hosting the annual awards show at the Ryman auditorium, while also releasing some of the genre’s best music. His…
A Righteous Tin Pan South
Tin Pan South is a celebration of songwriting put together by the Nashville Songwriters Association International. The annual festival is remarkable for its scope and depth of talent, and occasionally you can even have a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member drop by. Righteous Brother Bill Medley performed in the round at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville with Steve Dorff, Bill LaBounty and Bobby…