What do you get when Allison Russell, Rhiannon Giddens, Valerie June and others get together to sing songs by an underappreciated black songwriter on John Prine’s label? My Black Country – The Songs of Allice Randall. Alice Randall has been writing country music songs for decades. Though hers isn’t exactly a household name, she’s been […]
Monday Morning Video – Josh Ritter “Getting Ready to Get Down”
If you’ve ever seen Josh Ritter live, he’ll periodically introduce this song with a warning to other songwriters. I’ll paraphrase: always think about how you’ll perform a song live when you write one filled with rapid fire lyrics. Here’s Ritter spitting out the lyrics of “Getting Ready to Get Down”.
Anders Osborne on Early Song Titles and Setting Career Intentions
New Orleans songwriter and guitarist Anders Osborne recalls his first gig – at age 9 – and the tour vans he has owned over the course of his career.
Eric Bibb – Live at the Scala Theatre Stockholm
Taj Mahal … Keb’ Mo’ … Corey Harris … Guy Davis … Otis Taylor … Eric Bibb. These guys, along with a few others, are the vanguard of modern acoustic blues. With all of them, but especially with Bibb, listeners can be sure that every recording, every performance matters. Bibb’s new live album shows the […]
Monday Morning Video – Preview Our Upcoming Dallas House Show
Twangville invites you to join us for the next edition of our backyard concert series in Dallas, TX on 28 April. Details and RSVP here. Yeah, we’re biased – but it’s a great one. We’ve got three incredible artists converging on our stage in Dallas to swap songs and stories. It will be something special. […]
Alastair Caplin of The Langan Band on Rehearsals in the Scottish Highlands and Keeping a Journal
Fiddler Alastair Caplin of Scotland’s The Langan Band shares a tour lesson learned and talks about eating healthy while on tour and time spent teaching horse-back riding.
SXSW 2024: The Sounds, Part 3
The Lottery Winners My last official SXSW set was delivered by one of my fave new artist discoveries – England’s The Lottery Winners. The band’s energy, combined with the positivity of their songs, made for a cathartic experience. Ben Kweller Kweller treated a Friday night crowd to a set filled with rockin’ fan favorites. Power […]
SXSW 2024: The Sounds, Part 2
Alejandro Escovedo I’d like to say that Escovedo is the elder statesman of SXSW, which he undoubtedly is, but it really doesn’t do him justice. He rocked SXSW as hard, arguably harder, than musicians a fraction of his age. I caught him three times through the week, each appearance unique. The stand-out was a small […]
SXSW 2024: The Sounds, Part 1
Kathleen Edwards I don’t recall this ever happening before, but this year I kicked off SXSW with one of my favorite sets of the week. Kathleen Edwards performed solo (save a brief appearance by Lauren Morrow on harmony vocals), highlighting songs from throughout her illustrious career plus a new one. Attitude, charm, and great music. […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Early 2024
The Heartbreak Store, Lizzie No (from the Thirty Tigers / Miss Freedomland release Halfsies) Lizzie No’s remarkable Halfsies is warmly fulfilling, even as it explores the depth of heartbreak. No sets the tone with the powerful and percussive title track, declaring: Even your love is a one lane roadIt’s honor among thievesDive in head first, […]