Twangville

A music blog featuring Alt-Country, Americana, Indie, Rock, Folk & Blues. Est. 2005.

Malcolm Holcombe – Pretty Little Troubles

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Many people would argue that Gillian Welch captures all the beauty of Appalachia in her songs and performance.  You can hear the clear mountain streams and the fog draped valleys in the simple, haunting melodies she’s known for creating.  If that’s the case, then Malcolm Holcombe is the stark reality of last century’s natural resource […]

Heather Horton – “Boomerang” Song Premiere

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I was fortunate enough to have lived in Chicago in the early 90’s, when acts like Smashing Pumpkins and Liz Phair were putting sonic variety and higher production values on the grunge assault coming out of Seattle.  When I first listened to the latest album from Chicago native Heather Horton, Don’t Mess With Mrs. Murphy, […]

Old Settler’s Music Festival – 2017

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Once again I made it out to the campground across the highway from the Salt Lick BBQ near the small town of Driftwood, TX, for the Old Settler’s Music Festival.  Here are the highlights from what I saw this year. Never A Disappointing Performance Award - Old Settler’s started out as a bluegrass festival, and it […]

30 Years Of Old Settler’s Music Festival

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Thirty years ago, in a park in a suburb north of Austin, a group of music lovers who gathered to play fiddle every Sunday, put on a small bluegrass festival.  It was named after the park and sponsored by the town.  Attendance that first year was about 600 people.  Now, 30 years later, it’s held […]

The Waifs – Ironbark

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Soul is the incorporeal essence of a living being, by one definition. In the case of Ironbark, the latest from Australian music stars The Waifs, it’s the incorporeal essence of 3 living beings; sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson, plus long time musical partner Josh Cunningham. The Waifs have been together 25 years now, and […]

Future Twangville Residents

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Later this week I’m headed to Austin for the 30th edition of Old Settler’s Music Festival.  In addition to the normal, stellar list of established and up-and-coming acts, there will be a hidden gem late morning on Saturday, the Youth Talent Competition.  Most major Americana festivals these days have a talent competition, so why do […]

Bill & Joel Plaskett – Solidarity

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Joel Plaskett is well known to Canadian music fans; his father probably less so, but a defining character of the eastern Canada folk scene nonetheless.  So when they decided to do an album together, the odds were stacked in their favor.  What was targeted as a musical project they could unite on, hence the title, […]

Front Country – Other Love Songs

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Joe Strummer once said, “Rock and roll ain’t about playing all the right notes.”  I’m pretty sure he was referring to the passion that elevates something good to be something great.  I happen to think you can be both passionate and really good at what you do.  Because I’m also pretty sure the Edge never […]

Beth Bombara – Map & No Direction

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What is it about electricity that so irritates the traditional folk music crowd?  Dylan practically caused a riot back in 1965 when he plugged in at Newport.  The acoustic crowd wanted nothing to do with Fairport Convention or It’s A Beautiful Day when they displayed some rock and roll showmanship and musical direction.  As late […]

John Craigie – No Rain, No Rose

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There will never be another John Prine.  But like the jam bands that came after the Grateful Dead, if you’re open to the sprouts that come up in the field they plowed, you can experience some delicious flavors that may not be the original, but they’re tasty nonetheless.  John Craigie is one such Prine varietal. […]