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 […]
Americana Music Awards – 2018 Edition
As has become tradition in the middle of September, the Americana Music Festival rolled into Nashville earlier this month.  The opening of the festival used to be the Awards show at the fabulous Ryman Auditorium, but over the past couple of years the festival has outgrown its 4 day window and this year you could start […]
The Twangville 2018 Release Preview
If the albums scheduled for release over the next few months are any indication, there’s a great year of music ahead of us. Here are just a few forthcoming long-players that we are eagerly anticipating in 2018. BETWEEN TWO SHORES by GLEN HANSARD (19 January on Anti- Records) Hansard has the unique ability to combine […]
Monday Morning Video – Brandi Carlile and Anderson East “Bring It On Home”
How about something a little soulful to start the week? Here are Brandi Carlile and Anderson East covering the Sam Cooke classic “Bring It On Home to Me.”
Tom’s Picks: Best of 2015
BRANDI CARLILE, The Firewatcher’s Daughter Every year there’s always one album that blows your mind no matter how many times you hear it. From the time The Firewatcher’s Daughter was released in March to now in December, every song on the album still stuns. At first listen you marvel at the mastery of Carlile herself. […]
Mayer’s Picks – More Favorites from 2015
Here, in no particular order, are a few more favorites from 2015. All A Man Should DoLucero Maudlin DaysOcean Carolina Adventures in Real TimeDylan Gardner The Firewatcher’s DaughterBrandi Carlile Positive Songs For Negative PeopleFrank Turner The Spirit MovesLanghorne Slim and the Law Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night SweatsNathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats High On […]
Monday Morning Video – Brandi Carlile Covers Fleetwood Mac
We can thank Brandi Carlile for turning October into a seeming Fleetwood Mac tribute month on our Monday Morning Video series. Carlile passed through Boston over the weekend and played an incredible show that moved gracefully between intimate ballads and foot-stomping rockers. Heck, she even kicked off the encore with an enchanting acoustic song sung […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2015 (So Far), the Albums
Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorite releases from the first half of 2015. COMPLICATED GAME by JAMES MCMURTRY As he celebrates the release of his first album in six years, there’s a part of me that wishes that McMurtry was more prolific. Then I remember that it takes time to craft […]
Mayer’s Playlist for March/April 2015, Part 3
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH The Firewatcher‒s Daughter, by Brandi Carlile For some, the process of getting off the major label merry-go-round can be a traumatic experience that results in musical purgatory. Not for Carlile, who shifted to ATO Records and returns with another stand-out release. Her voice is as radiant as ever, beautifully complimented by […]
Readers’ Pick: The Firewatcher’s Daughter by Brandi Carlile
BRANDI CARLILE, The Firewatcher’s Daughter beats out ANDREW COMBS, All These Dreams and ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys by 4 votes as your favorite for the week of March 3, 2015. Poll Results Readers’ Top 25 – Winter 2015 JAMES MCMURTRY, Complicated […]