Growing up in a musically-inclined family in south Texas, Austin Gilliam was probably exposed to every genre and sub-genre of music that falls under the Americana umbrella. It wasn’t until he moved to New Braunfels and fell in with a singer-songwriter crowd that he found his voice and style. That voice is perfect for heartfelt […]
Larry & Joe – Nuevo South Train
One of the most amazing things I heard at this year’s Folk Alliance was a performance from Larry & Joe. Comprised of Larry Bellorin, a legendary Llanera musician from Venezuela, and Joe Troop, of Che Apalache fame, they created a new mashup of bluegrass and South American traditional folk music. Both currently residents of North […]
Mighty Poplar – Mighty Poplar
One of the great characteristics of bluegrass and Americana music festivals is the impromptu jam sessions. Backstage, in the campground, at the hotel, on the tour bus, there’s a lot more great music that gets played than ever hits the stage. Not for the first time, those informal sessions have been the impetus for new […]
New Earth Farmers – The Good Ones Got Away
When I first became aware of musical duo Paul Knowles and Nicole Sarto, they were fronting a band, Mars Arizona, centered on a mythical place in the Southwest. They soon expanded their horizons and became New American Farmers, likewise expanding their musical style. They’ve broadened further, leaning more to rock than anything twangy, and have […]
Melissa Ruth – Bones
There’s no doubt writing songs can be cathartic for most musicians. Sometimes they take the form of a comment on current events, while other times they encapsulate a lifetime of emotional attachment. You can hear some of both in the latest album, Bones, from Oregonian Melissa Ruth. It features her husband (and partner in the […]
Say ZuZu – No Time To Lose
Thirty years ago a group of young New Hampshire musicians bonded over the burgeoning alt-country music scene. They formed a band, Say ZuZu, and met with success, putting out half a dozen albums over the next decade. But, as they say, life happens, and in 2003 the members went their own separate ways. Fast forward […]
The Brothers Comatose – Ear Snacks
If YouTube is a major contributor to your music consumption habits, you’ve probably run across The Brothers Comatose by now. As an antidote to cabin-fever during the days of Covid lock-down, the band started monthly sessions of getting together to jam. They captured some of the better results on video and started posting. They did […]
Afton Wolfe – Twenty-Three
You certainly don’t have to be born in the south to sing the Delta blues, or raised in Appalachia to master bluegrass. If you are though, and can bring that personal touch to the genre, it’s icing on the cake. Such is the case with current Nashville resident Afton Wolfe, who can call an arc […]
The Shootouts – Stampede
I’d venture a guess there aren’t many people walking around thinking of Akron, Ohio, as a hotbed of country music. Chrissie Hynde, Devo, The Black Keys: none of those really scream TWANG. Sometimes, though, you need to step outside the guts of the machine to see the big picture. It seems like Ryan Humbert and […]
Matt Hillyer Premiere – You Gotta Keep Moving
In the summer of 2021, Matt Hillyer and long-time bandmate Steven Berg decide to bring an end to their beloved band Eleven Hundred Springs. The group was a Dallas institution and credited with playing a big role in putting some edge back in the north Texas country scene. But certain things in life run their […]