With his days in the blues-rock duo White Stripes now comfortably behind him, Jack White has become a bit of a generational connector. He’s paid homage to country, blues and rock legends, yet he keeps winning new fans. When he stepped on to the stage at Newport Folk Fest, the standing area at the front […]
Newport Folk Festival – Friday
Ryan Adams really summed up the 2014 Newport Folk Fest experience well when he said, “”Like ten years ago I was depressed and now I’m playing music with *&$%ing sailboats in the background.” The setting at the legendary festival is literally one of the most beautiful spots as it juts far out into Narragansett Bay. […]
Down by the Green River
It’s the best little festival you’ve never heard of. At least I hadn’t until this year. Who knew that over the span of 28 years the little known festival in central Massachusetts would host the likes of Gillian Wellch, Mavis Staples, Alison Kraus & Union Station, Buddy Guy, and Lucinda Williams to name a few. […]
Newport Folk Festival Preview
After 55 years, the Newport Folk Festival is still relevant. Not only is it relevant, it is still bringing together disparate influences and challenging the notions of “folk” music in the same way that Bob Dylan did back in 1965 (though now the public expects it). Case in point, Son House admirer, producer, blues, folk […]
The Stray Birds – Pass Me the Guitar Â
I’ll be darned if you can get any closer to the band as you feel at a Stray Birds show. And I wish you would pass the guitar right over to the Stray Birds. That intimacy certainly has been something that is cultivated with the band members and discussed in our conversation. Suzanne, twangville’s photographer, […]
Chatham County Line – North of the Mason Dixon
It’s not often that you get dyed in the wool bluegrass way up in Boston, let alone at the intimate Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. Some people may call that into question, but to me the sonic text of banjo, mandolin/fiddle, upright bass, and guitar is the unmistakable trademark. And of course, three finger picking of banjo […]
Nickel Creek – New Day in Boston
Although my recent interest in bluegrass has certainly been controlling lots of airtime on my  stereo, Nickel Creek bridge the gap of old and new. Somehow, they managed to sneak into the Americana/Indie Rock section of the record store in my college days and I’ve been a fan for the near decade of their existence. When I […]
Chatham County Line – Tightrope
With blurred lines connecting all different subgenres of country music, it”s often hard to know where to start. But fans of americana/roots rock/singer-songwriter genres have an entry point for bluegrass with Chatham County Line. The band”s lead singer Dave Wilson has put together another stellar set of songs that include, but are not limited to, […]
Robert Francis – Heaven
I still can’t believe that Robert Francis has managed to steer clear of the spotlight. He’s young, talented, and has an amazing voice. His songs are both accessible and devastating. He sings about lost love, drug addiction, and the road in an authentic voice. But why wasn’t he touring? Apparently, Francis left music altogether, shaved […]
Long Time . . . Seldom Scene
Isn’t it funny how a set of covers can sound so revolutionary. The Seldom Scene certainly began their career in the early 70s looking at bluegrass a bit differently. Way back when, their style was one of the first of the “progressive” style of bluegrass. Yet now, the band is on Smithsonian records and is […]