As Allison Krauss tours with Robert Plant in Spring of 2008 members of Union Station are going to be working on various projects. One of these projects is currently under way. Ron Block is working on production of an album by 15 year old Bluegrass Mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull. The album will be released in […]
Deadstring Brothers – Live @ Zydeco Birmingham, AL
I always thought how inspiring it must be for a musician to walk on stage in fromt of 12,000 screaming fans. But what about when it is 12 fans? How inspiring is that? Pretty damn inspiring if the Deadstring Brothers are any example. In reality there were more than 12 people at Zydeco two nights […]
North By Northwest
Recently I have run across some music by a few artists from the Northwest and Canada. Canadian artists are often ignored in this country, but there is a healthy music scene in Canada. Canada’s music roster includes a wide ranging group of songwriters, from the obscure country of Corb Lund to musical Icons like Bruce […]
Merle Haggard – The Bluegrass Sessions
It seems a lot of artists are jumping on the acoustic bandwagon and putting out Bluegrass albums these days. So it would be real easy for such an album to get lost in the shuffle. Not so when the artist is Merle Haggard. In fact, you have no choice but to listen. Recorded at Ricky […]
Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time – Took Down and Put Up
Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time have recently released an excellent Bluegrass album Took Down and Put Up on Lonesome Day records. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts and will certainly move toward the top before it is through. Most widely known as a songwriter, rural Kentucky native Larry Cordle […]
John Fogerty – Revival
John Fogerty releases his new album Revival this week. Fogerty’s career comes full circle on this release. He connects the present to his past, and in doing so kicks off a party at the roadhouse. In fact, he seems to be having as much fun as ever on Revival. Even his political songs sound more […]
Mary Gauthier – Between Daylight and Dark
When you think of the great storyteller songwriters certain names come to mind. Names like, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker and Chris Knight just to name a few. These people have one thing in common. They are all men. I have news for these gentlemen. […]
Oakley Hall & Alberta Cross
There are a couple of recent releases by Indie rock bands that have a significant Americana Alt-country influence. I am referring to Oakley Hall’s I’ll Follow You on Merge records and Alberta Cross’ The Thief and the Heartbreaker a seven song EP on Geffen records. Oakley Hall was formed in 2002 by Pat Sullivan, who […]
Teddy Thompson – Up Front & Down Low
Teddy Thompson’s new album Up Front & Down Low is a self-produced collection of classic country covers released by Verve Records. Thompson is a folk singer by trade and birthright. He is the son of legends Richard and Linda Thompson. Teddy says his parents raised him on country music. He says, “it’s the music that […]
Jason Isbell Live – Sloss Furnace Birmingham, AL (With Video)
Jason Isbell put on a great show at the Stokin’ the Fire Barbecue Festival in Birmingham this weekend. The festival was held at Sloss Furnace, which can be a challenge for a sound tech. For those unfamiliar with the venue it is a big metal roofed and walled structure with a stage in front of […]