Back in the late 60’s and early 70’s, many of the top country artists were female/male duos. You know them all; Dolly and Porter, Tammy and George, Loretta and Conway, June and Johnny. The typical recording process at the time was the producer would assemble a team of crack instrumentalists in the studio, and then […]
Newport Folk 2023 – Sunday
Every year I am lucky enough to attend Newport Folk Festival, and I have attended six, there’s a moment where the music takes on a full sensory experience. Time stops. When Gregory Alan Isakov took the Quad Stage, that moment occurred. Gregory Alan Isakov and his band including banjo, fiddle, keys, and percussion. Isakov’s new […]
Dale Watson – Starvation Box
On his new album “Starvation Box” Dale Watson has gone in a new direction. Not to worry though, he hasn’t sold out and gone mainstream. He is not going Bro-Country or releasing a Luke Bryan covers album. In actuality, he has gone the other direction. Watson has descended deeper into his roots than ever before. […]
Monday Morning Video – Ronnie Fauss and Friends
A few weeks back, Dallas musician and friend of Twangville Ronnie Fauss reached out to see if we wanted to collaborate on a birthday show. “But it’s not our birthday,” we replied. He sat us down and carefully explained that it was HIS birthday and he had an idea. We were sold. Join us this […]
Taken For a Ride – a Premiere from Nathan Mongol Wells
Our introduction to Dallas musician Nathan Mongol Wells came via his rock band Ottoman Turks. Their 2019 debut delivered some fun cowpunk and their 2021 follow-up rocked with a harder edge. His forthcoming solo debut, however, showcases his gentler side. Among the better examples is the ballad “Taken for a Ride”. A pedal steel gives […]
Ryan Curtis – Ain’t Ever Easy
Even if you’re not an NPR fan, you’ve no doubt heard of Lake Wobegon, where all the kids are above average. I used to snicker at the mathematical inference of that statement. Then I listened to the new album from Idahoan Ryan Curtis, Ain’t Never Easy, and realized that’s where the other half went. It’s […]
Cody Canada on His Favorite Day Job and Breaking His Amp
Texas singer-songwriter Cody Canada talks about his usual tour meal fare and covering George Strait as a kid.
William Lee Ellis – Ghost Hymns
William Lee Ellis plays roots music in its purest form. An acoustic master named after his godfather, legendary bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe, Ellis plays bluegrass, folk and blues in a straightforward, intimate way. His music is a throwback to the days before computers, before television, even before radio, when music was always live and personal. […]
Brennen Leigh – Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet
“What kind of music do you usually have here? Oh, we have both kinds, country and western.” That line set the stage for arguably the best scene Hollywood ever did about honky tonk bars. Like all good parodies, there were some underlying truths that rang true even when injected with comedy. Brennen Leigh has taken […]
Brennen Leigh on Leaning Vegan and the Mandatory Part of Learning to Write Songs
Country musician Brennan Leigh talks about noshing like a trash panda and saying yes to one’s self.