CJ Hooper. That just sounds like the name of a country musician. Or maybe a high school football star being recruited by every school in the SEC. I don’t know if Hooper played football in high school, but he was Texas-raised before moving to his now-home in Washington state. More to the point, he just […]
The Band of Heathens – Country Sides
Country Sides the new release by The Band of Heathens marks their 20th anniversary as a band. The band was basically formed from a local collaboration that grew organically the old school viral way, by word of mouth. (There was no TikTok viral push available back then.) Over the last 20 years, The Band of […]
“American Healthcare Blues” – a Premiere from Chris J. Norwood & The Knockout Dragout
Everyone faces challenges in their lives, but few are as fundamental as healthcare—for ourselves, our families, and the people we care about. And healthcare in America has become a double hit: first, the health crisis itself; second, navigating a system that can throw haymakers when you’re already down. Chris J. Norwood & the Knockout Dragout […]
Now & Then: Melissa Carper & Theo Lawrence’s Havin’ A Talk and the reach of Time (The Revelator)
Duets are relationship counseling with better suits. Two people, one microphone, and a shared agreement to tell the truth in public as long as it rhymes. Melissa Carper and Theo Lawrence understand the assignment. Their debut duo album Havin’ A Talk leans into the oldest trick in country music: make the song a conversation, then let the conversation become the plot.
The Sky Chiefs – The Sky Chiefs
You’ve no doubt heard about artists, or their families, who’ve found a trove of lost recordings buried in the back of a closet in some nearly forgotten studio. Springsteen and Jennings come immediately to mind. Typically these are extra tunes that get cut from a record or demos that never really found a home and […]
Clay Street Unit – Sin & Squalor
I have no doubt the first secular song ever written was a love ballad. I’m equally certain the second tune was about being away from home and longing to return. Denver’s Clay Street Unit just released their debut full length album, and while they don’t call that out as any kind of unifying theme, a […]
Now & Then: Natalie Del Carmen’s Pastures and the reach of Our Endless Numbered Days
Los Angeles is not exactly famous for quiet. It’s famous for traffic that hums in B-flat and palm trees that look like they’re always posing for a headshot. So when a 24-year-old songwriter from L.A. drops an Americana record called Pastures, the first surprise is the title. The second surprise is that it actually sounds like one: open air, creaky wood, and time moving at a human speed.
John Francis O’Mara Video Premiere – Jesus Walked On Water
One of my favorite albums of last year was John Francis O’Mara’s Forbidden Hymns. It’s a plea for humanity to dig deep into their soul and find the empathy and kindness that’s been mocked as a weakness by many in power today. Set to a soundtrack of outlaw country hymns and Southern rock R&B ballads, […]
Folk Alliance Int’l 2026 – Shawn’s Favorites
Folk Alliance International isn’t your typical music conference. Held this year in New Orleans, days include industry panels, seminars, and public showcases in hotel ballrooms, but the real magic happens late at night when up to 100 hotel rooms transform into intimate “private showcases”—artists who normally fill 500-seat theaters performing for 20 people at a […]
2026 Folk Alliance International Conference
From gold-plated toilets in the White House to $5000 burgers, society’s pendulum is clearly swinging well into the conspicuous consumption range. For a respite from all that money can buy, I heartily recommend the annual Folk Alliance International conference. Held a couple of weeks ago in the downtown Sheraton in New Orleans, it’s a haven […]