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 four days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. LUCINDA WILLIAMS The Americana Conference instituted a new tradition this year: […]
Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman – We Made It Home
“Heaven is right here, if you’re doing it right.” Â Those words lead the chorus of Black Grace, a song that won Melody Walker the songwriting contest last year at Merlefest. Â She and partner Jacob Groopman have just released We Made It Home that includes Black Grace and number of other treasures. Â Produced by bluegrass virtuoso […]
Monday Morning Video: An Encore from John Hiatt
We’re going to stick with John Hiatt again this week. This humorous ditty is taken from a 1989 songwriters showcase that also featured John Prine, Guy Clark and Joe Ely. Hiatt’s introduction about the pressures of writing a hit song is classic. It is almost as memorable as the song that follows.
Wicked Saints – Don’t Kill the Blackbird
One of my favorite recent discoveries from the random music that finds it’s way to me is an EP from earlier this year of the Wicked Saints, Don’t Kill the Blackbird. Â So I was happy when Paul McCarty, leader and bedrock of the band, sent me a note the full length version was due out […]
Music with a Purpose: Songs for the World’s Bravest Kids
This post continues our series of posts about music that serves a higher purpose. This music reaches beyond pure listening enjoyment, raising awareness about important issues that affects countless people in their day-to-day lives. Alastair Moock had built a successful career as a folk musician when cancer struck. It didn’t strike him, but rather his […]
The Band Of Heathens – Sunday Morning Record
Sunday Morning Record. Â The title of the latest from The Band Of Heathens does as good a job of describing the recording as just about anything anyone writes. Â Those early morning hours when the night before is still ringing in your ears and the warm morning sun commands something a little less energetic and little […]
The Muscle Shoals Music Guide, Part 2
Twangville has teamed up with Muscle Shoals musician Jimbo Hart, known to many for his work with Jason Isbell and others, to highlight the many great artists that call Muscle Shoals home. THE POLLIESTwangville Says: With fuzzed out guitars, a touch of twang, and an unmistakable R&B swing, The Pollies sound like this generation’s great […]
The Muscle Shoals Music Guide, Part 1
Twangville has teamed up with Muscle Shoals musician Jimbo Hart, known to many for his work with Jason Isbell and others, to highlight the many great artists that call Muscle Shoals home. DOC DAILEY AND MAGNOLIA DEVILTwangville Says: If you haven’t heard Doc Dailey and Magnolia Devil, you might think they were recording in the […]
The What Happened Podcast with Richard Julian
Ever wanted to know what life is like as a musician? Curious about how they got their start and where they find inspiration? Interviewer Teddy Goldstein gets the in-depth story from singer-songwriters on his What Happened podcast. Teddy’s guest for this edition is New York City-based singer-songwriter Richard Julian. A classically trained pianist, Julian writes […]
Monday Morning Video: Amy Black and Ward Hayden
If one considers this video alongside this video that I posted a few weeks back, one might get the impression that Amy Black and Ward Hayden (of Girls Guns and Glory) like to sit around their houses playing songs. Â Come to think of it, that doesn’t sound so bad. Well, apparently they don’t just sit […]