As the novelist Thomas Wolfe famously said, “you can’t go home again.” It was in the context of returning to the physical place you grew up. But what if it’s your musical home we’re talking about? That emotional, sonic world that shaped your cultural ties? Nashvillian Kashena Sampson is exploring just that journey on her […]
Chestnut Vibes on a Saturday Night – A Boston Playlist
Promised Land, Ward Hayden and the Outliers (from the Faster Horses Recordings release Little By Little) On Little By Little, Ward Hayden and the Outliers take on Bruce Springsteen’s songs with both respect and imagination, reshaping them in their distinctive country style. Hayden’s expressive vocals and the band’s warm, rootsy sound give these classics new […]
Joshua Radin on Being a Person of Ritual and His View on Rehearsals
Singer-songwriter Joshua Radin talks about working as a children’s art teacher for inner city kids in Chicago and why he took himself so seriously early in his career.
AmericanaFest 2025, Mayer’s Picks (Part 2)
SOPHIE GAULT Sophie Gault kept busy at AmericanaFest this year. I managed to catch her three times—solo, with the SiriusXM house band, and with her own crew—each performance more electrifying than the previous. There’s something about an artist finally making music on her own terms, and the new songs she previewed suggest her 2026 album […]
AmericanaFest 2025, Mayer’s Picks (Part 1)
kirby baby Two sets from Brooklyn’s kirby baby meant double the proof that his razor-edged indie rock songs are built for live performance. Whether solo or with his full band—I saw both—the material from his new album crackled with the same intensity. JADE BIRD Bird’s magnetic presence commanded Third Man Records’ legendary Blue Room as […]
Twangville Sunday Social: October 19th in Dallas
We haven’t said much about it, but Twangville is turning 20! For two decades, we’ve been shining a light on the musical artists who inspire us – from up-and-comers to familiar favorites. Along the way, we’ve built a tradition of presenting live shows in backyards and music venues that bring that same passion to life. […]
Shawn Camp on Staying in the Moment and Touring in His Customized Mercedes Sprinter
Country and bluegrass virtuoso Shawn Camp talks about leading tours at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the type of guitar strings that he currently uses, and his approach to rehearsals (hint: he doesn’t).
Monday Morning Video – Harry Nilsson
We’re gonna travel back 50 years for this week’s Monday Morning Video. In 1975 legendary songwriter Harry Nilsson appeared on The Smothers Brothers tv show to talk about songwriting – “song construction” in his words – and play a few songs. He kicks things off with “I Guess the Lord Must Live in New York […]
Tift Merritt – Time & Patience
Some 21 years after Tift Merritt’s breakthrough album Tambourine, she returns with “Time & Patience: Tambourine Kitchen Recordings.” The original Tambourine highlighted both Tift Merritt’s voice and a classic blue-eyed soul sound. The demos have stripped back the embellishments and allowed the songs to stand on their own. It turns out that they have taken […]
Dar Williams – Hummingbird Highway
Over the years I’ve heard many singers comment about how to write good songs. Frequently it’s a variation on the theme of “live the life you want to write about.” In the case of Hudson Valley, NY, resident and folk music icon Dar Williams, that’s a life of traveling troubadour and social crusader. In addition […]