Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances […]
Americana 2019: Mayer’s Picks (Part 1)
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances […]
Dori Freeman on Why She Doesn’t Set Many Concrete Goals and How She Writes Songs
Singer-songwriter Dori Freeman talks about early gigs playing with her father and why he gives her a hard time.
Cory Younts of Old Crow Medicine Show On Tour Bus Mileage and Dragging a Piano to His First Gig
Cory Younts of Old Crow Medicine Show talks about the time that a band rehearsal at his house turned into a neighborhood block party and his early years working at a Boy Scout camp.
Monday Morning Video – the Dreaming Spires
I’ve been continuing to dig into some of my favorites from years gone by. I stumbled across Oxford, UK’s The Dreaming Spires at the Americana Music Association festival in Nashville back in 2015. “Searching for the Supertruth”, the title track from their 2015 release, captures the beauty of their music. As the song demonstrates, the […]
Natalie Padilla – Fireweed
I’m convinced the hardest thing to do as a producer is to extract the maximum essence of a musician in a recording session and not allow production sparkle to gloss over the natural talent. Ben Winship produced (he just released a recording of his own, Toolshed, that I recommend) the new album from Natalie Padilla, […]
Monday Morning Video – Lula Wiles
Folk trio Lula Wiles put out an exceptional album earlier this year. What Will We Do, their sophomore release, showcases for the breadth of their songwriting. In true folk fashion they shift effortlessly from pointed social commentary to candid personal reflection, surrounding catchy melodies with stellar musicianship and harmonies. Here are three favorites from the […]
Ana Egge on Fresh Guitar Strings and Cashing a Million Dollar Check
Singer-songwriter Ana Egge talks about the first song that she wrote and sage advice from Lucinda Williams and Iris DeMent.
Matt the Electrician on Drama-Free Touring, Breakfast Foods and Jet Packs
Matt the Electrician talks about “Jesse’s Girl”, “Rocky Raccoon” and writing his first song as an assignment for Mr. Loomis’s high school English class.
Bonus Monday Video – Remembering Neal Casal and Donnie Fritts
Last week was another tough one in the music world with the passing of both Donnie Fritts and Neal Casal. Fritts Fritz was the longtime keyboardist for Kris Kristofferson and a renowned Alabama songwriter while Casal was the guitarist in groups ranging from the Chris Robinson Brotherhood to Ryan Adams & the Cardinals to the […]