2023 was a good year for new records. It seemed like themes and topics were no longer dominated by pandemic-induced experiences, and writers felt free to explore the entirety of their experience again. There was a good mix of new and old, both in terms of songs and artists. There’s the usual caveat that what […]
Shawn’s Favorite Albums of 2022
It was a good year for music, both live and recorded. I heard some things pushing the envelope of an already large package called Americana. I heard some new takes on old songs and some old takes on new songs. I heard a few things that even though I knew what was coming, and looking […]
Best of 2019- Chip’s Picks
This was a tough year to rank best albums. The sheer volume of good releases made it difficult. This is especially true in the Americana genre with it’s ever expanding boundaries. All the same, I gave it my best shot. 1)Yola- “Walk Through Fire” Released early in the year, from my first listen I knew […]
Readers’ Pick: Tyler Childers – Country Squire
You picked Tyler Childers – Country Squire as your favorite new release for the week of August 2, 2019. New Releases Did we miss something? If you feel a new release is missing from our current poll, please let us know in the comments. Readers’ Tops Summer & Fall 2019 Tyler Childers – Country Squire […]
Steve Poltz Wins AMERICANAFEST 2018
As a newbie to AMERICANAFEST I have to say that looking at the schedule beforehand I was a bit overwhelmed. Throw in the fact that it had been about 10 years since I’d been to Nashville and that made it even more so. But once I got there and settled into the pace and learned […]
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 […]
Monday Morning Video – Tyler Childers
Tyler Childers has been making quite a stir with a voice as lived in as the characters in his songs. His own songs aside, he is equally adept at bringing to life the songs of others. In this case he tackles legendary folk singer Utah Phillips “Rock Salt & Nails.”
Newport Folk Fest 2018: New Arrivals
At Newport Folk Fest 2018, the lineup included both established artists and up-and-coming artists. The up-and-comers were particularly compelling this year. Brand new artists, those coming together as a new band, and those with a totally new sound. This year’s committee did a great job of finding acts coming into their own and all of […]
SXSW 2018 – The Sounds, Part 3
TERRA LIGHTFOOT If there was one artist on my “do not miss” list this year it was Terra Lightfoot. I first saw her at SXSW a few years back and she just keeps getting better and better. The combination of her voice, songs and guitar playing makes for a potent rock and roll cocktail. JAIMEE […]
Waterloo Sunset – AmericanaFest UK 2018
If you’ve ever traveled to another country, you know the quiz well. Border control agent: “So, what brings you to (insert country name here)?†What you may be less familiar with is the variety of quizzical expressions you get from those border control agents when you’re traveling to England and your answer is: “an Americana […]