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 […]
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 […]
Monday Morning Video – Runnin’ Solo with Ken Stringfellow
Ken Stringfellow has quite a musical resume. After firmly establishing his power pop credentials as co-founder of The Posies, he has gone on to perform with everyone from R.E.M. to the re-formed Big Star. In between these and several other collaborations, he’s released a couple of stellar solo albums. Stringfellow is about to launch a […]
Jody Stephens and Luther Russell Talk Those Pretty Wrongs, Big Star and Life in a “Grassroots” Enterprise
Luther Russell and Jody Stephens of Those Pretty Wrongs share stories about their tour strategies, varied rehearsal studio experiences and songs written together and alone.
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2019, Part 2
Have You Seen My Girl, Todd May (from the self-released Let’s Go Get Lost) There are certain albums that were meant to be heard on vinyl. While the latest from Todd May isn’t available in that format, one can hear both its inherent warmth and insistent crackle in every song – even when streamed or […]
Marc Cohn & Blind Boys Of Alabama – Work To Do
Several years later I still remember seeing them do it. The Blind Boys Of Alabama, that night accompanied by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, doing Amazing Grace, set to the tune of House Of the Rising Sun. It was the first 20 years of gospel influence in rock boiled down to its essence in a […]
Rob Laufer on Fritos, Slim Jims and an Artist’s Secret Superpower
LA-based singer-songwriter Rob Laufer talks about the melancholy of the first song that he ever composed, never breaking guitar strings and time spent writing music for advertising.
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2019, Part 1
Love Is Dangerous, Dalton Domino (from the Lightning Rod Records release Songs from the Exile) Dalton Domino does more than wear his heart on his sleeve; he lays it bare. Much of his latest release finds him cycling through the various stages and emotions of heartbreak, from bitterness to self-reflection. He opens with the brooding […]
Newport Folk Festival 2019 – Looking Back at the Big Names
Surprise guests are really nothing new at Newport Folk Festival but the 2019 edition highlighted a particularly timely legendary performer in Dolly Parton. The emcee of the Saturday night performance was Newport Folk Festival stalwart Brandi Carlile (introduced by Executive Produced of the Newport Folk Festival Jay Sweet) who introduced the country legend. Parton regaled […]
Monday Morning Video – Butch Walker “#1 Summer Jam”
It’s hard to argue with the man – this is indeed a summer jam.