Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the 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 from […]
Phoebe Hunt on Rental Car Headaches and Transforming Screen Time to String Time
Singer, songwriter, and fiddle player Phoebe Hunt talks about why she became a vegetarian, life running two businesses, and why different types of gigs each have their own place.
Arielle Silver Video Premiere – Rickie Lee
One of the pleasant surprises I had at this year’s Folk Alliance conference was lucking into a performance from LA transplant Arielle Silver. After several sets of protest and grievance-laden anthems, her mix of sophisticated, reflective songs were a welcome respite. Talking with her afterwards, it was nice to hear a musician just enjoying her […]
Crowes Pasture – Don’t Blink
I love a good origin story. In the case of Massachusetts’ duo Crowes Pasture, they met in their careers as corporate attorneys. Guitarist Andy Rogovin and banjoist Monique Byrne, by now married, didn’t really discover their vocal harmony talent until they started singing to their young kids. They describe their music as a “banjo-guitar romance”, […]
Birds of Play – Birdsongs of the American West
There are plenty of examples where a musician’s geographical home bears no resemblance to the music they’ve made their own. City boys playing outstanding country music or kids from Minnesota inhabiting the sounds of musica Norteña from Mexico, for example. In the case of western Colorado-based, string band Birds of Play, the relationship seems to […]
Photos that ROCK! Newport Folk Festival 2023!
For the 6th time, I was lucky enough to photograph the Newport Folk Festival! I always have to pinch myself when I’m standing in the pit, right in front of the stage, with all of the incredible photographers. Somehow, it is really happening! Here are some of my favorites from 2023. (From top to bottom: […]
Bonus Monday Video – The Meadowlark Festival
Our friends at The Meadowlark Festival have something special cooking. Let’s start with the setting – the Stone Ridge Orchard and Farmers Market in New York’s Hudson Valley. Pick some apples (and maybe grab some cider…) as you enjoy a wonderful and eclectic weekend of music. Among their featured performers are renowned folk/blues singer-songwriter Chris […]
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 […]
Beth Bombara – It All Goes Up
I’ve seen Beth Bombara perform a few times and always really enjoyed it. She’s not just a good singer-songwriter, but she has a stage charisma that quickly warms up the audience. I was looking forward to her new album, but in a twist on the old “don’t judge a book by its cover”, I realized […]
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. […]