By Paul T. Mueller Not every backing band can make an album that stands on its own, but the Red Dirt Boys are not just any backing band. Emmylou Harris’ touring outfit – guitarist/mandolinist Will Kimbrough, bassist Chris Donohue, drummer Bryan Owings and keyboardist/guitarist Phil Madeira, with all but Owings contributing vocals – are excellent musicians on their own. But they…
Tag: Emmylou Harris
Cayamo 2019: An All-Star music cruise
The Cayamo music cruise, which just wrapped up its 12th sailing, returning to Tampa on the Norwegian Pearl on Feb. 17 after a week in warm Caribbean waters. Dozens of artists, mostly singer-songwriters, took part in 130-plus shows, many playing multiple sets and sitting in with other performers
Previewing 2019 Cayamo Cruise
2019 marks an even dozen for the Cayamo music cruise. The 12th edition of the festival at sea, produced by Atlanta-based Sixthman aboard the Norwegian Pearl, will head south from Tampa for a week of music.
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.
Kris and Emmylou: “The Pilgrim Chapter 33”
A classic from the new “Life and Songs of Kris Kristofferson” CD/DVD collection:
Quotable Cayamo 2017
Things musicians say between songs are sometimes funny, sometimes profound, sometimes both. Here are some notable quotes from the stages of Cayamo 2017.
Cayamo music cruise review: An astounding line-up
The 10th edition of the Cayamo music cruise enjoyed sunny skies, smooth seas and a fairly astounding musical lineup.
Americana Music Grammy award nominees announced
The Recording Academy has announced this year’s nominees for Grammy Awards and the roster of Americana artists is rich and familiar. The nominees for both Best Americana Album and Best American Roots song are almost identical, with Jason Isbell, the Mavericks, Punch Brothers and Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell appearing in both categories.
Americana Music Association’s Top 100 albums
The Americana Music Association has just released its list of the Top 100 most-played albums of the year, based on airplay from November 19, 2012 through December 2, 2013.
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…
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…
Hayes Carll tops 2011 Americana music airplay chart
The Americana Music Association has just released its list of the 100 most-played Americana music albums, with Hayes Carll’s KMAG YOYO in the top slot. Their top 20: 1) Hayes Carll, KMAG YOYO / Lost Highway 2) Lucinda Williams, Blessed / Lost Highway 3) Steve Earle, I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive / New West 4) Alison Krauss…
Review: This One’s For Him, A Tribute to Guy Clark
by Terry Roland – Released on November 8, two days after veteran Texas songwriter Guy Clark’s 70th birthday, This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark, succeeds beyond expectations as a tribute to a much- loved songwriter and a well-produced album of finely crafted country-folk music. It may be the mark of a great songwriter that a diverse group…
Nov. 19: Americana Music Festival on Austin City Limits
The national television debut of the Americana Music Festival is scheduled for Nov. 19 on Austin City Limits, which has released this show setlist, beginning with Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Buddy Miller, Jerry Douglas and Don Was singing “I’ll Fly Away.” The Avett Brothers – The Once and Future Carpenter Lucinda Williams – Blessed Amos Lee – Cup of Sorrow Elizabeth…
TV holds key to growth of Americana music
By Ken Paulson Television is a very big deal to the Americana music community. For years, the Americana Music Association has worked to establish the genre with the general public, and TV is the key. Any medium that can make Snooki a household name should do wonders for Buddy Miller. That’s why news that WNPT, Nashville’s public television station, would…
Will Kimbrough at the Rutledge
Tonight’s Americana Music Festival midnight show at the Rutledge features Will Kimbrough, voted 2004 Instrumentalist of the Year by the AMA and a repeat nominee in the same category in subsequent years. Kimbrough is also a fine singer-songwriter and this is a great opportunity to see his solo set. Kimbrough is just off the road with Emmylou Harris and earlier toured…
Mark Twain: Words and Music
It’s been a good month for Americana music fans who love history. First came the fine 1861 Project , which chronicled the Civil War. New today is “Mark Twain: Words and Music,” a fundraising project for the Mark Twain Boyhood Home in Hannibal, Missouri. We haven’t heard the two-CD package yet, but the spoken word and music set features a…
This day in Americana music: Gram Parsons died in 1973
Sept. 19: On this date in 1973, Gram Parsons died of a drug overdose at age 26. His recordings spanned just seven years, but his melding of rock and country was hugely influential, and established a foundation for what we now call Americana music. From his role in the Byrds and “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” to the founding of the…