Time Will Be the Healer, Glen Hansard (from the Anti- Records release Between Two Shores) Songwriting is arguably a numbers game. For many artists, the quantity of songs released is a fraction of those that are written. It’s a shame, really, as some quality songs can get left on the shelf gathering dust. For his […]
Folk Alliance 2018 – Shawn’s Picks
With over 3000 showcases in 4 nights, and perhaps an average of 5 gigs/musician, it was of course impossible to see the roughly 600 acts that works out from that math. Â So when I say these were my favorites, it’s from a relatively small sampling. Â Nonetheless, I saw some great music. Â What’s Old Is New […]
Folk Alliance International – The Best Music Festival You’ve Never Heard About
With slightly less than 4000 attendees, the annual gathering of Folk Alliance International is still small enough to be held in a hotel. Â It doesn’t have a stadium-draw headliner, but other than that and lack of a campground, there’s everything else you’d want in a music festival. Â And most of it is done better than […]
Waterloo Sunset – AmericanaFest UK 2018
If you’ve ever traveled to another country, you know the quiz well. Border control agent: “So, what brings you to (insert country name here)?†What you may be less familiar with is the variety of quizzical expressions you get from those border control agents when you’re traveling to England and your answer is: “an Americana […]
Jason Isbell – Divine Providence
“How did we not know about this show?” my wife said to me. “I have no idea.” Even though we have two little ones under four and rarely make it out to shows (when we used to attend three or four regularly per week), a Jason Isbell show is an event. His songwriting, particularly since […]
Steep Canyon Rangers – Out In the Open
One of the more anticipated albums recently around the Twangville offices is the new one from Steep Canyon Rangers.  Out In the Open finally hit our hard drives a couple of weeks ago andI got a chance to ask banjo player and lead vocalist Graham Sharp a few questions about the record.  What really came through […]
Bill’s Blues-Based Best of 2017
For me, and perhaps for all of us, 2017 was a year of challenges and changes. But through the challenges we’re facing, it’s reassuring to fall back on great music that expresses our frustrations and hopes. The following are my inexpert highlights of the best of blues-based (not strictly blues) music of 2017.  North Mississippi Allstars – Prayer […]
Todd’s Tops of 2017
I simultaneously love and loathe the end of the year lists. On one hand I get to share with folks the music that I enjoyed this past year, but on the other I always leave out something that will become my favorite of 2018. But a few times the way I’ve found my new favorite […]
Shawn’s 2017 Favorites
Putting together my annual list of favorite albums seems to get harder every year.  Much of what I hear comes across my desk in the form of discs or downloads from publicists, labels, and musicians themselves. I also got a few “you’ve got to hear so-and-so” missives from friends and colleagues whose musical tastes I […]
Benyaro – “Pimp Wife” Video Premiere
Back in September, Benyaro released their latest album, One Step Ahead Of Your Past. Â As the musical vehicle for Jackson Hole’s Ben Musser and Leif Routman, Benyaro excels in the rougher, funkier edges of Americana. Â One Step Ahead Of Your Past exemplifies that with some cowpunk, some post-Seattle grunge, and even what I’d call “front […]