Tonight Don Henry celebrates his birthday with an in-the-round at the Bluebird with @therealjanis Ian. A Nashville tradition. 7 mins ago There’s a great double-bill in Nashville @3rdandLindsley tonight: Paul Thorn @pimpspreachers and @SteveForbert. 11 mins ago RT @Grimeys: Happy Birthday to Mike “Grimey” Grimes! Come hang tonight @TheBasementNash for his birthday celebration. 8pm 21+. We @grime … 16 hours…
A very Wooten Christmas in Nashville
Joseph Wooten, keyboard player for the Steve Miller band and a solo artist, invited his brothers for a reunion and Christmas party in Nashville on Dec. 21. Soul classics prevailed, plus the funkiest version of Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song” ever performed. Follow Sun209: Americana Music News on Twitter at @Sun209com.
Review: The Steeldrivers’ “Hammer Down”
By Ken Paulson –The Steeldrivers are back with a new line-up, but remarkably consistent sound on Hammer Down, to be released on Feb. 5. Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson are no longer with the band, though some of their songs show up on the new album. Mandolinist Brent Truitt and guitarist Gary Nichols join core members Tammy Rogers, Mike Fleming…
Sun209 contributors
Will Kimbrough: Spending most of 2011 touring with Emmylou Harris as one of her Red Dirt Boys, Will Kimbrough often performs with Rodney Crowell, Jimmy Buffett and others when not performing his own shows, writing hit songs, working as a session performer or producing others notable artists across various genres. Will’s songs have been recorded by Jimmy Buffett, Little Feat,…
Review: Cow Bop’s “Cowlifornia Swing”
By Joe Ross The Cowbopsters are back with their fourth album called Cowlifornia Swing, and there are plenty of both western and jazz influences apparent. Much like their last album (“Too Hick for the Room”) we hear guitarist Bruce Forman, vocalist Pinto Pammy (Forman’s wife), bassist Alex King and drummer Jake Reed. The quintet has also added David Wise on…
Ten most-played Americana music albums of the year
Americana Music News — The Americana Music Association has just released its list of most-played Americana music albums of 2012, based on airplay reports from Nov. 15, 2011 through Nov. 17, 2012. The top 10: 1) JD McPherson, Signs And Signifiers / Rounder 2) Darrell Scott, Long Ride Home / Full Light 3) Rodney Crowell, KIN: Songs By Mary Karr…
Review: Junior Brown’s Vol. 10
By Joe Ross — When Junior Brown’s twangy “Hang Up and Drive” opens his new EP album, Volume Ten, you hear an element of Dave Dudley’s “Six Days on the Road.” However, if you think this six-song project is all retro truck-driving country music, think again. While the opener is a variation of honky tonkin’ country that lyrically captures a…
Review: Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis Christmas Show
By Paul T. Mueller – Houston — When a show opens with “Please, Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas),” it’s a pretty good sign that everyone in the room is in for a good time. Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis made good on that promise December 7 at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck in Houston. The lively 17-song show, part of the…
Dwight Yoakam still #1 on Americana music chart
Americana Music News — Dwight Yoakam remains in the number one slot in this week’s Americana Music Association airplay chart with 3 Pears, followed by Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson’s Wreck & Ruin and Mumford and Sons’ Babel. The only new entry in the chart is Michael Kiwanuka’s Home Again. Most added this week: The Sweetback Sisters’ Country Christmas Sing-Along…
Review: Artists’ Tribute to Nanci Griffith
By Ken Paulson — Pete and Maura Kennedy have successfully delivered the rarest of artist tribute albums – one that works as a celebration of Nanci Griffith’s songwriting while delivering subtle and skillful reinterpretations of some of her best work. Tribute albums have fallen out of favor over the years, in part because of their sheer volume, and in part…
Intriguing mix among Americana music nominees
Americana Music News– The Grammy nominees for Best Americana album included some surprises and a couple of locks. The Avett Brothers’ The Carpenter and Mumford & Sons’ Babel were heavy favorites, with both critical and commercial success over the past year. The Lumineers came on very strong in the past six months and were even nominated in the overall Best…
Americana music looms large at Grammy nominations show
By Ken Paulson Nashville – For a genre that sometimes struggles to establish itself, Americana Music was very visible at tonight’s Grammy Nominations Concert at Bridgestone Arena. Guest presenters the Lumineers were nominated along with the Alabama Shakes for the Grammy award as best new artist. Mumford & Sons’ Babel was nominated as best album of the year. Throw in…
Dolly Varden’s “For a While”
By Paul T. Mueller– Here’s an interesting collection of intelligent adult pop from Chicago-based Dolly Varden, which is not a person but a five-piece band, anchored by husband and wife singer-songwriters Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen. The two started Dolly Varden (a variety of trout, and also the name of a Dickens character) in 1994, so it’s not surprising that its…
Jeff Blaney’s “Labor of Love” release party
Americana Music News –– Out today: Jeff Blaney’s Labor of Love on Very Entertaining Records. The CD release party for the engaging Americana/country EP is set for Dec. 5 at the Family Wash in East Nashville. You’ll find more details at www.jeffblaneymusic.com.
Ted Russell Kamp to appear in Blackwing Sessions Nov. 29
Americana Music News — We like what we’ve heard on Ted Russell Kamp’s new Night Owl album and wanted to pass along details on Kamp’s appearance in the Blackwing Sessions Singer/Songwriter Series at 9 p.m. EST on Thursday, Nov. 29. You’ll be able to stream Kamp’s performance at this site: http://www.pencils.com/studio602/ Here’s an example of his work:
Review: Donna Ulisse’s “All the Way to Bethlehem”
By Paul T. Mueller — The story of Jesus’ birth is not new, and neither, of course, is the idea of putting together an album of Christmas songs. But on All the Way to Bethlehem, bluegrass singer-songwriter Donna Ulisse takes a fairly novel and very successful approach – using original songs, she describes the events surrounding the first Christmas from…
Americana music airplay chart: Dwight Yoakam still at #1
Americana Music News–Dwight Yoakam’s 3 Pears remains in the top slot in this week’s American Music Association airplay chart, followed by Wreck & Ruin from Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson and Mystic Pinball by John Hiatt. Aside from a leap from number 21 to 6 for Buddy and Jim, the new Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale collaboration, the chart was…
Review: Brittany Spriggs’ “Brand New”
By Paul T. Mueller–Brand New is billed as the debut album of Nashville singer Brittany Spriggs. At five tracks some would call it an EP, but maybe that’s just semantics. Either way it’s fair to call it a radio-friendly first outing for an up-and-coming country artist. Country by the current Nashville definition, that is – glossy pop with a bit…
Charting: Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale’s “Buddy and Jim”
Americana Music News — The hottest album in Americana music this week is Buddy and Jim, the New West release from Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale, due Dec. 11. These guys are among the most fervent supporters and popular performers in Americana Music, and both have been highly visible and oft-honored at the annual Americana Music Festival. Little wonder, then,…
Review: Darrell Scott live in Conroe, Texas
By Paul T. Mueller — It’s always a joy to get to see a great artist perform. It’s even better to witness such a performance in a quiet, intimate setting, surrounded by an audience of real fans who are there to listen. The 75 or so who came to see Darrell Scott in the Houston suburb of Conroe, Texas, on…