Describing Elizabeth Cook and Carlene Carter as kindred spirits doesn’t begin to cover it. We were about 10 minutes into our conversation with Elizabeth when Carlene dropped by. What followed was a highly entertaining, engaging and candid conversation about both women’s lives and careers – and how the two first connected.
Category: Songwriters TV
The Strategic Songwriting of Justin Townes Earle
Justin Townes Earle knows how to pace himself. In a wide-ranging conversation at the 30A Songwriters Festival, Justin told us how he writes a new album: 12 songs written over the span of a year and astonishingly, in the exact order they show up on the finished collection. In this excerpt, he talks about how it all comes together. The…
Michael McDermott on writing the truth
We visited with Michael McDermott about his new collection “Orphans” at the 30A Songwriters Festival, but also spoke about his truthful songwriting and his penchant for performing the National Anthem. Here’s an excerpt: The full interview will be available soon on the Americana Music News Podcast (find it on iTunes) and broadcast on WMOT Roots Radio.
Steve Poltz at the 30A Songwriters Festival
Steve Poltz has something that most of the artists at the 30A Songwriters Festival can only dream of – an honest to goodness hit song. But his “You Were Meant For Me,” co-written and recorded by Jewel in the mid-’90s, was actually a bit of an impediment as Poltz tried to develop his own solo career. In this interview excerpt…
Aaron Lee Tasjan, New York Doll
We all know of Aaron Lee Tasjan’s success as an Americana music artist fresh off his success with “Karma for Cheap” and “Silver Tears,” but few know that he played guitar with the legendary New York Dolls. We caught up with Aaron Lee at the 30A Songwriters Festival to talk about his music and career, but couldn’t resist asking about…
Livingston Taylor at 30A Songwriters Festival
The 30A Songwriters Festival is heading into its big weekend with shows featuring Jason Isbell, Rosanne Cash and dozens of other Americana, country and folk artists. Yesterday’s shows didn’t disappoint, and it was a special treat to catch up with Livingston Taylor, who is celebrating 50 years as an artist. In his set last night at Bud and Alley’s, he…
Clare Dunn’s surprising path to success
Clare Dunn is a country artist and songwriter with a bright future and we spent some time with her at the 30A Songwriters Festival. We
Tenth Annual 30A Songwriters Festival remains deep in talent
For us, the year’s music festivals kick off with the always diverse and engaging line-up at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Walton County Florida Jan. 18-21.
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.
Podcast 20 James Maddock, Allison Pierce
The Folk Alliance International conference is always special, with non-stop shows in ballrooms and hotel rooms. Inevitably you come across truly talented artists who deserve a much wider audience. That’s the case with today’s podcast guests James Maddock and Allison Pearce.
Podcast 19 Beth Nielsen Chapman’s “Hearts of Glass”
Beth Nielsen Chapman is a special songwriter and artist, evidenced in part by her recent election to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. But that honor would have come as no surprise to those who have heard her remarkable run of recordings. She’s the rare writer who can share deeply personal experiences through music, yet also write universally embraced songs like “This Kiss” and “Happy Girl.”
Podcast 17 “Outlaws and Armadillos” at the Country Music Hall of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville has just opened “Outlaws and Armadillos,” a fascinating exploration of the fresh new music coming out of Austin and Nashville in the 1970s, courtesy of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Steve Young, Marshall Chapman, Doug Sahm and many more.
Podcast 16: Kim Richey in “Edgeland”
We first spotted Kim Richey in 1997 at the Exit/Inn in Nashville playing songs from her then-new album “Bitter Sweet.” 21 years on, we still marvel at the depth of her songwriting talent. We sat down with Kim recently to talk about her striking new release “Edgeland.”
Kim Richey’s “Pin A Rose”
Kim Richey, featured in an upcoming Americana Music News Podcast, has a new video from her fine album “Edgeland.”
Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Begins April 3
One of our favorite musical events of the year in Nashville is the annual Tin Pan South Festival, a celebration of songwriting in the world capital of that art. It begins this year on Tuesday, April 3 and continues through Saturday, April 7.
Robbie Fulks to play the Bluebird Cafe March 22
Robbie Fulks is coming to the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville this Thursday, March 22. It’s an unusual evening because the Bluebird typically features four songwriters sitting in the round, swapping songs and stories. But Robbie clearly doesn’t need any reinforcements.
Joe Ely and Terry Allen, with Jo Harvey Allen at the Heights Theater
Fans who bought tickets to the Jan. 26 show by Joe Ely and Terry Allen at Houston’s Heights Theater might have expected an entertaining song swap. They got that, and so much more
Kris Kristofferson’s “Life and Songs”
Just released is “The Life and Songs of Kris Kristofferson,” a three-disc set with guest spots from Buddy Miller, Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Rodney Crowell, Alison Krauss and many more.
Jon Latham: “My first word was ‘Bruce'”
Jon Latham delivered a great set for WMOT in Murfreesboro, Tennessee to encourage residents to support downtown businesses after a planned white supremacist rally wiped out business the previous weekend. In this interview with Americana Music News, he talks about the influence of Bruce Springsteen.
25th Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival
By Ken Paulson Tin Pan South, an extraordinary songwriters festival set in Nashville, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with a full slate events scheduled from March 28 through April 1. The Tin Pan South festival features small groups of successful songwriters, typically playing in the the round (or in a row.) Some songwriters are more polished performers than others,…