Los Lonely Boys, on the road promoting new album Resurrection, headlined the Oct. 8 WMOT concert at Riverside Revival in Nashville. Set opener “See Your Face” set the tone for the energetic acoustic set to follow. The evening’s revelation was Knoxville’s Strung Like a Horse, whose showmanship transcended the recorded work we’ve heard. There’s a Old Crow Medicine Show spirit…
Category: WMOT Roots Radio
Tonight from WMOT: Rodney Crowell, Carlene Carter and Shannon McNally
By Ken Paulson WMOT Roots Radio celebrates its 5th anniversary tonight with a fundraiser at the City Winery featuring Rodney Crowell, Carlene Carter and Shannon McNally. That’s quite the line-up, fitting for a still-young station that has emerged as one of America’s most influential Americana stations. Tickets are still available for tonight’s Nashville show. If you don’t live in Nashville,…
Interview: Aubrie Sellers on WMOT’s Americana One
Aubrie Sellers talks about her career and upcoming album on Americana One on WMOT Roots Radio.
Show #38 Mandy Barnett and her “Strange Conversation”
We recently enjoyed a not-so-strange chat with the engaging Mandy Barnett about her new album Strange Conversation. The setting was WMOT’s 895 Fest on the fields of the Hop Spring Beer Park, a distinctly different venue than her upcoming “Nashville Songbook” concert at Feinstein’s/54 Below on Broadway on August 13. But that’s no surprise. Mandy Barnett’s career has always been…
New Release: The High Divers’ “Ride With You”
The High Divers will be all over Nashville tomorrow, Friday, June 28. Promoting their new album Ride with You, the Charleston, SC, band will be featured on WMOT’s “Finally Friday” show at 3rd and Lindsley (listen with the Roots Radio app) and then will play a full show at the Basement in the evening.
Americana One #35 Gary Nicholson bridges the divide
By Ken Paulson Gary Nicholson, one of Nashville’s most respected songwriters and artists, is overachieving these days. On June 7, he’ll release not one, but two new albums, and both are pretty special. Nicholson, like so many of us, is concerned about the state of our nation these days. His The Great Divide captures that in 11 compelling songs, opening…
Americana weekend: WMOT’s first 895 Fest
WMOT, the fast-growing Americana radio station based at Middle Tennessee State University outside of Nashville, is gearing up for its first festival at Hop Springs Park on May 31 and June 1. It’s a remarkable line-up featuring legendary artists like Rodney Crowell and Delbert McClinton, as well as terrific newcomers like the War and Treaty and Liz Brasher. Overall, it’s…
Americana One #32 Michael McDermott embraces his “Orphans”
In this week’s Americana One podcast, Michael McDermott talks about his rich career, his personal struggles and his new “Orphans” album, an engaging collection of songs that didn’t quite fit elsewhere.
Yola previews new album “Walk Through Fire” on WMOT’s Wired In
Previewing her new album “Walk Through Fire” – to be released tomorrow – Yola elicited quick comparisons to the ’70s soul of Dusty Springfield, no small accomplishment.
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.
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
Show 30: Kathy Mattea and her “Pretty Bird”
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.”
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.”
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.
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…
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..
Mountain Tough concert to help Gatlinburg
Americana Music News – We’re proud that our friends and colleagues at WMOT and Music City Roots are playing major roles in this Saturday’s “Mountain Tough” fund-raising concert in the wake of the devastating fires in Gatlinburg. The official announcement: All week, artists and radio stations have been signing on to support Mountain Tough, an all-day, free musical celebration and…
First-person: Aaron Lee Tasjan’s “Silver Tears”
Americana Music News – Aaron Lee Tasjan dropped by the Family Wash in Nashville today to sing a few songs on a WMOT Roots Radio broadcast in support of his new album “Silver Tears.” Here he talks about the new recording and an unusual promotional tour.