Sun209 is headed for Santa Rose Beach, Florida to cover the 30A Songwriters Festival this weekend. Watch for updates on Twitter (sun209com) and on this site. The News Herald of Panama City previewed the festival today. You’ll find the full story by Tony Simmons here, but here’s a preview: Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles described the event as “a series…
Tag: “Americana music”
Review: Jonathan Jeter and the Revelators
By Joe Ross Texas-based Jonathan Jeter and the Revelators’ 5-song EP Late for My Own Funeral shows that they can rock hard. The catchy opener “19 Doin’ 20” is a bit frenetic, while “Come On” and “Barfly” provide some nice contrasting grooves at a slower pace. The album’s short on credits, but I assume drummer Chris Evans is propelling the…
Guy Clark tribute, Charlie Faye, Imelda May enter Americana charts
The Americana Music Association Radio Chart is back after a month-long hiatus, and Ryan Adams’ Ashes & Fire (PAX-AM/Capitol) remains at the top. Taking the holidays off is an odd call for an association promoting a genre that still needs to build its brand and visibility. And it’s not as though all those Americana stations just played Christmas music over…
Bangles, Crowell, Ray headline 30A Songwriters Festival
The Bangles, Rodney Crowell and Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls are among the headliners at next week’s 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. While some songwriters festivals feature writers who have composed for others, the 30A festival features a wide range of performers with recording careers, who also happen to write their own material. Artists scheduled to…
Glen Campbell’s return to the Ryman
We reported here about Glen Campbell’s November 30 show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, but a return performance on Dec. 5 was postponed due to illness. Campbell made up that date this week. Here’s what Dave Paulson of the Tennessean said about the show: “Little appeared to be impeding his performance Tuesday night. Teleprompters set up at the edge of…
Carole King at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe
By Ken Paulson – Carole King performed some of her biggest hits in the relatively small confines of the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville Monday night, a memorable evening even in a city known for them. King’s “Troubador” tour with James Taylor was an enormous success, but the remininiscing was largely scripted, with the same photos and anecdotes appearing night after…
Will Kimbrough’s “Lick of the Day”
Sun209 contributor Will Kimbrough plays a piece of “Piece of Work” in the first Lick of the Day of 2012.
Rounder, New West, Lost Highway top Americana labels
Among the joys of Americana music is the range of artists and labels. Indie labels often break through, leading to dark horses and pleasant surprises. Yet this year’s Americana Music Association list of the top 100 albums from November 16, 2010 through November 14, 2011, serves as a reminder that the bigger labels still play a major role. An analysis…
Reviews: Dirt Drifters, Chris Isaak,Verlon Thompson, more
By Ken Paulson – As we close out 2011, there’s still a stack of CDs we’ve been meaning to write about. Here’s a quick round-up of noteworthy 2011 Americana music releases: The Dirt Drifters – This Is My Blood: We first came across the Dirt Drifters at a free-speech benefit in Nashville in 2009; they had tremendous energy on stage…
Americana music 2011: No Depression’s 50 favorites
No Depression has released its list of the Top 50 favorite albums of 2011, as voted by its fan community. It’s an interesting mix, with Gillian Welch’s The Harrow and the Harvest at the top, followed by a remarkable range of artists, genres, styles and ages. Some have complained that it’s a surprisingingly mainstream list for an alt-country site, but…
Review: Chicago Kingsnakes’ “Blue Mosaic”
By Joe Ross – As with any album I review, it’s usually the cover that first catches my eye. The Chicago Kingsnakes chose some artwork by modernist painter Marc Chagall to grace the cover of their new CD, “Blue Mosaic.” Like Chagall’s work in which his colors attract and capture attention, The Chicago Kingsnakes blend tones and graduated perspectives into…
Review: Michael Johnathon’s “Front Porch”
By Joe Ross – Michael Johnathon’s signature “folkestral” music is a pleasing blend of nicely-arranged, mostly original songs that incorporate his guitar and banjo along with occasional orchestral strings into pretty little ditties with downhome messages. Besides a Kentucky homeplace, he now owns a cozy little log cabin deep in the woods, and Front Porch is about his “search for…
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…
Chuck Mead goes “Back to the Quonset Hut”
One of the coolest sites in Nashville is rarely seen by the public. The legendary Quonset Hut was once the most prominent studio on Music Row, the home of such recordings as “King of the Road,” “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces.” In the ‘80s, it was converted into office space, a disturbing fate for what was once a magical…
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…
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…
Damn Quails, Willie Nelson enter Americana airplay chart
There’s little change in this week’s Americana music chart, with Ryan Adams’ Ashes & Fire once again in the top position, followed by Robert Earl Keen and the Jayhawks. At long last, Will Hoge’s Number Seven settles in at #7. The only new albums on the airplay chart are Damn Quails’ Down the Hatch at #26 and Willie Nelson’s Remember…
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,”…
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…