There comes a point in most of our lives, definitely beyond our twenties, when something causes us to take stock of life-to-date. For some of us, past failures are the motivation to do better. For others, those failures are just an omen of things to come. For the remainder, hindsight is just an observation of […]
Colby T. Helms – One For the Losers
You’ve undoubtedly heard the axiom, “if I didn’t laugh, I’d have to cry.” For rural Virginia native Colby T. Helms that seems to be one of the basic tenets on his debut full-length album, One For the Losers. Growing up in the heart of Appalachia he’s seen firsthand the combination of poverty, addiction, and despair […]
Grey DeLisle – Don’t Turn Around
There’s almost always a good story around the creation of an album. I think it’s just the nature of the creative process. Sometimes though, the back story drives the record more than the other way around. That’s pretty much the case with Grey DeLisle’s new release, Don’t Turn Around. While working on SpongeBob SquarePants, the […]
John R. Miller on a New Year’s Eve Gig and Putting the Robots to Work
Nashville singer-songwriter John R. Miller remembers playing a New Year’s Eve gig at age 15, recalls time spent working in restaurant kitchens, and talks about one reason he started a career in music.
Prinz Grizzley Premiere – A Rose On Garbage Hill (The Daughter)
Chris Comper, like many of us in our youth, wanted to be a rock star. The Austrian native paid his dues, living in a tent for months trying to get gigs in England, moving back to Austria and then back to London before finally finding success with his band, Golden Reef. The thing is, once […]
Monday Morning Video – Our Dial Back Sound Collab Shows (NYC + Boston)
Dial Back Sound is a studio and label in Water Valley, Mississippi, owned by Drive-By Truckers bassist Matt Patton. It’s more like a community than a studio: artists from across the country have traveled there to tap some of the mojo that lives in the room. Twangville is thrilled to collaborate with Matt Patton and […]
AmericanaFest 2026, Mayer’s Picks (Part 3)
THE HEARTBREAKERS featuring CHRIS STAPLETON It was hard not to be moved, from exhilaration to overwhelming emotion, watching the founding Heartbreakers reunite for the first time in more than 20 years and then accept a lifetime achievement award. (Don’t miss Shawn’s Americana Honors awards show coverage) JOHN PRINE TRIBUTE John Prine would have been 80 […]
AmericanaFest 2026, Mayer’s Picks (Part 2)
NEELYS BAND This group’s weekly gig at Nashville institution American Legion Post 82 was required attendance even before their AmericanaFest blowout. Their performance alone was a thrill. Then came the special guests: Margo Price delivering a rip-roaring “9 to 5,” Shakey Graves joining Price for an incredible duet of “Islands in the Stream,” and Duane […]
AmericanaFest 2026, Mayer’s Picks (Part 1)
BOY GOLDEN I caught Boy Golden twice, and both sets were terrific in song and stagecraft. At the second show, I recognized a guy in a Boy Golden t-shirt from the previous set. I struck up a conversation and it turned out to be Dad Golden. Boy Golden also had to follow the reunion of […]
Americanafest 2026, Todd’s Take
Going into this year’s Americanafest there was no “one big thing” that I had to see. I was open to anything. Sure, there were a few acts that I had on my wish list, but there wasn’t anything as exciting as last year’s Daniel Lanois appearance so I decided not to make much of a […]