Author Archives: Baron Lane

Listen Up! Willie Nelson To Release New Album “First Rose Of Spring”

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Willie Nelson's - First Rose Of Spring,

In the wake of the hard news of Willie Nelson’s long-time drummer, Paul English, passing there is some good news.

The 86 year-old country music legend will release his 70th (!!!) studio album “First Rose Of Spring” ON April 24. The album features 11 new Willie Nelson studio performances and featuring original artwork created by Willie’s son Micah, and finds Willie working again with longtime friend and producer Buddy Cannon and will feature two new songs co-written by the pair: “Blue Star” and “Love Just Laughed.”

Among the younger songwriters featured on ‘First Rose Of Spring’ are Randy Houser, Allen Shamblin & Mark Beeson (“First Rose Of Spring”) and Marla Cannon-Goodman, Casey Beathard & Don Sampson (“Stealing Home”).

Alongside his new compositions on the album, Willie pays musical tribute to a variety of pop and country songwriters and performers, interpreting songs penned by Toby Keith (“Don’t Let The Old Man In”), Billy Joe Shaver (“We Are The Cowboys”) and Pete Graves (“Just Bummin’ Around” – a song recorded by Jimmy Dean, Dean Martin, and others).

Closing ‘First Rose Of Spring’ is Charles Aznavour’s “Hier encore,” a 1964 chanson which became an American country classic (and Roy Clark’s biggest hit) as “Yesterday When I Was Young” (English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer) in 1969 and, over the years, became a beloved standard performed by a multitude of stars including Bing Crosby, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Mel Tormé, Jack Jones, Lena Horne, Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Julio Iglesias, Johnny Mathis, Elton John and many more. A bittersweet reflection on mortality and life’s transient (and transcendent) beauty, “Yesterday When I Was Young.”

Pre-order “First Rose Of Spring” here.

Hear the elegantly poignant title song below:

Lyrics:
The first time that he saw her
He knew everything had changed
Overnight love started blooming
Like the first rose of spring

Auburn hair like a sunrise
Sweetest smile he’d ever seen
Butterflies, they danced around her
Like the first rose of spring

Summertime would’ve never started
And wintertime would never end
She colored his life, opened his eyes
To things he’d never dream
Without the first rose of spring

Gave him children like a garden
They gave ‘em all the love they’d need
To grow up strong, she made a home
And every year he’d bring her
The first rose of spring

The last time he saw her
He knew everything had changed
He said goodbye and let the tears fall like rain
On the first rose of spring

First Rose Of Spring will be available on CD, vinyl and digital formats as well as part of exclusive merch bundles on Willie’s web store. The album’s title track and the “First Rose Of Spring” music video are being released today.

Pre-order album and hear “First Rose Of Spring” here: https://WillieNelson.lnk.to/1stRose

Watch the video for “First Rose Of Spring” here: https://WillieNelson.lnk.to/1stRoseVideo

An atmospheric soulful showcase of beautifully-written songs and poignant performances, First Rose Of Spring is the artist’s first new release since winning the 2020 Best Country Solo Performance Grammy Award–Willie’s 10th overall, not including his Grammy Legend and Lifetime Achievement Awards–for “Ride Me Back Home,” the title track from his 2019 Legacy Recordings release. The previous year, My Way, Willie’s musical homage to Frank Sinatra took home the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Premiering 11 new Willie Nelson studio performances and featuring original artwork created by Willie’s son Micah, First Rose Of Spring finds Willie working again with longtime friend and producer Buddy Cannon and debuts two new songs co-written by the pair: “Blue Star” and “Love Just Laughed.”

An intimate journey through life and love as seen through Willie’s unique perspective,
First Rose Of Spring finds the artist deep in every moment, sharing profound insights and experiences through songs he’s written and songs he loves to sing.
One of the key tracks on First Rose Of Spring is Willie’s heartfelt interpretation of “Our Song,” a new composition by contemporary country music hitmaker Chris Stapleton. Willie Nelson & Family will appear as special guests on Chris Stapleton’s “All-American Roadshow” on two big dates this year: Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on March 14 and “A Concert for Kentucky” at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on April 25.

Willie Nelson – First Rose Of Spring
1. First Rose Of Spring (Randy Houser, Allen Shamblin & Mark Beeson)
2. Blue Star (Willie Nelson & Buddy Cannon)
3. I’ll Break Out Again Tonight (Sanger “Whitey” Shafer & Doodle Owens)
4. Don’t Let The Old Man In (Toby Keith)
5. Just Bummin’ Around (Pete Graves)
6. Our Song (Chris Stapleton)
7. We Are The Cowboys (Billy Joe Shaver)
8. Stealing Home (Marla Cannon-Goodman, Casey Beathard & Don Sampson)
9. I’m The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raised (Wayne Kemp, Bobby Borchers & Mack Vickery)
10. Love Just Laughed (Willie Nelson & Buddy Cannon)
11. Yesterday When I Was Young (Hier Encore) (Charles Aznavour & Herbert Kretzmer)

Listen Up! Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit New Song “Be Afraid”

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On Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s new song “Be Afraid,” the group’s first from their forthcoming album (details below,) Byrds-like guitar chimes atop stuttering then steady driving beat then Isbell confesses “We’ve been testing you, and you failed / To see how long that you could sit with the truth, but you bailed.”

Like the quote, most times attributed to John Wayne “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.”

Isbell urges to “Be afraid, be very afraid’ but also as words of encouragement to himself as well as the listener to “But do it anyway / Do it anyway.”

And in the bridge, he sings We don’t take requests / We won’t shut up and sing.”

I assume (yes I know) that there’s some political statement here about how some listers asking performers that state an opinion (usually on social media or live performances) to “shut up and sing.” Though I believe the ire of the audience has more to do with the tendency of those opinions to be in dogmatic lock-step with much entertainment industry.

Though it is undoubtedly an Isbell-style rocker, two things came to mind when listening to this song. How much it reminds me in theme and tone of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” and how neatly this song would fit into his old band, The Drive-By Trucker’s current release “The Unraveling.”

“Be Afraid” is from Isbell’s upcoming Dave Cobb produced 10-song album titled ‘Reunions.’ out May 15th.

Lucinda Williams Teases New Album “Good Souls Better Angels,” To Be Released This Spring

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Lucinda Williams - Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone

2020 releases just keep getting better and better.

While discussing her history and her upcoming Fort Mayers her show at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall (tickets here) the Queen of Americana Lucinda Williams dropped some sweet news that she had decided on a title for her upcoming release as well as a date.

“Good Souls Better Angels” is the album title, a title she just settled on the week before this interview. The release date was stated to be in April.

About the album Williams says: “Once I start writing, then the songs kind of dictate: OK, this is the kind of album it’s gonna be,” she says. “So this one ended up being very grungy and edgy and bluesy and rock. Very political, you know.

“I don’t like using the word political, because people interpret that in different ways. They used to call ‘em topical songs, you know, back when Bob Dylan was writing protest songs. They called ‘em topical songs. So that’s what I’d call them.”

Read the full interview here.

!!!UPDATE!!!

We now have official news on Lucinda Williams’ new album and a new song as well!

Williams’ upcoming album, ‘Good Souls Better Angels,’ will be released April 24th via Highway 20/Thirty Tigers.

The LP is the follow-up to 2016’s ‘The Ghosts of Highway 20’ and reportedly ” finds the Americana songwriter addressing an array of cultural and political issues, from social media persecution to a nonviable leader. Williams and her husband Tom Overby produced the album with Ray Kennedy, who engineered her 1998 breakout album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

Hear the new song ‘Man Without a Soul’ below.

Caleb Caudle To Release New Album ‘Better Hurry Up’ This Spring

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It’s always welcome news around Casa Twang when our friend Caleb Caudle readies a new work.

This time around Caudle set up camp at the historic Johnny Cash’s log cabin (yes, the one of the famed ostrich attack ) on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, TN. with some friends like John Jackson of the Jayhawks (producer), and guest vocalists include Courtney Marie Andrews, Elizabeth Cook, Gary Louris, and John Paul White,
to create an “earthy, funky sound’ for his new album.

Of recording ‘Better Hurry Up’ at the log cabin Caudle says “It feels like you’re in the shadow of giants. None of us wore headphones,” Caudle says. “It was just like we were doing it for the love of music – it didn’t feel like we were making a record. It felt like I was playing with an incredible group of musicians and making art.”

A well as the stellar list of artists lending their vocals, musicians appearing on ‘Better Hurry Up’ includes Mickey Raphael on harmonica (Willie Nelson), Dennis Crouch on bass (Elton John, Leon Russell), Fred Eltringham on drums (Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow), Russ Pahl on pedal steel (Kacey Musgraves, Dan Auerbach), Laur Joamets on guitar (Sturgill Simpson, Drivin’ N Cryin’), and, on keyboards, Pat Sansone (Wilco) and Rhett Huffman (American Aquarium). Guest vocalists include Cook, White, Andrews and one of Jackson’s fellow Jayhawks, Gary Louris. Caudle wrote all 11 songs on the album, with the exception of “Regular Riot,” a co-write with Natalie Hemby of The Highwomen.

‘Better Hurry Up’ will be released on April 3rd. Pre-order here.

Check out the soul-drenched title track below.

Caleb Caudle – 2020 Tour Dates
2/7 Springfield, IL – Boondocks^
2/8 Indianapolis, IN – HiFi^
2/9 Huntington, WV – The V Club^
2/11 Pittsburg PA – Thunderbird Cafe^
2/21 Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley^
2/23 Pittsburg, KS – Lakewood
3/12 Little Rock, AR – Whitewater Tavern*
3/13 Oklahoma City, OK – The Blue Door*
3/14 Tulsa, OK – Woody Guthrie Center*
3/16 Ft. Worth, TX – Magnolia Motor Lounge*
3/17-3/18 – Austin, TX – SXSW
3/20 Galveston, TX – Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe*
3/21 New Orleans, LA – Carnaval Lounge*
3/22 Ocean Springs, MS – Greenhouse on Porter*
3/24 Mobile, AL – Callaghan’s*
3/25 Tampa, FL – The Attic*
3/26 Macon, GA – Creek Stage at The Rookery*
3/27 Charlotte, NC – Evening Muse*
3/28 Columbia, SC – Curiosity Coffee*
3/29 Waverly, AL – Standard Deluxe*
4/2 Nashville, TN – The 5 Spot*
4/3 Danbury, NC – Arts Place of Stokes*
4/4 Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic*
4/5 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle Back Room*
4/8 Asheville, NC – ISIS Music Hall*
4/9 Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall*
4/10 Washington D.C. – Hill Country Live*
4/11 Baltimore, MD – Club 603*
4/15 Cambridge, MA – Atwood’s Tavern*
4/16 Providence, RI – Askew*
4/17 Hiram, ME – Friendly River*
4/18 Basking Ridge, NJ – The Ross Farm*
4/19 New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall*
4/21 Woodstock, NY – Hangin’ & Sangin’*
4/22 Buffalo, NY – Sportsmens Tavern*
4/23 Oberlin, OH – Riverdogs*
^ Supporting Jason Boland & The Stragglers
* With Wild Ponies

Pokey LaFarge To Release New Album ‘Rock Bottom Rhapsody’ This Spring

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Rejoice neo-trqd fans, Pokey LaFarge will release eighth studio LP ‘Rock Bottom Rhapsody’ on April 10th of this year. The 13-song set is his New West Records debut and was produced by Chris Seefried (Fitz and the Tantrums).

The album was recorded at Reliable Recorders on Chicago’s Northwest Side during the polar vortex of 2019 and features the guitarist Joel Paterson, keyboardist Scott Ligon, upright/electric bassist Jimmy Sutton, and drummer Alex Hall. ‘Rock Bottom Rhapsody’ is LaFarge’s first album in over three years and follows 2017’s ‘Manic Revelations.’

The first cut released is the radio unfriendly “Fuck Me Up” which you can hear in the surreal video directed by Keene McRae and Brandon Bernath. (below)

The song’s rollicking saloon-house piano and Dixieland tempo contrast with the darkly amusing imagery of LaFarge participating in and around his own funeral procession.

“The writer and directors and I decided to take a surrealist, absurdist point of view to the video for ‘Fuck Me Up,’” LaFarge says. “We rented a ghost town in the Mojave desert of California — a timeless, placeless location — to present past and present forms of ‘Me,’ as well as outside forces, clashing for control.” LaFarge says.

“This song was a prophetic vision of the self-destruction yet to come, instead of what I now know that I need — peace!” LaFarge says. “I imagined the music to be what I thought it would be like to write with Willie Dixon, perhaps in the Sixties.”

Preorder ‘Rock Bottom Rhapsody’

Rock Bottom Rhapsody track list:
1. “Rock Bottom Rhapsody”
2. “End of My Rope”
3. “Fuck Me Up”
4. “Bluebird”
5. “Rock Bottom Reprise”
6. “Lucky Sometimes”
7. “Carry On”
8. “Just the Same”
9. “Fallen Angel”
10. “Storm-A-Comin’”
11. “Ain’t Comin’ Home”
12. “Lost In The Crowd”
13. “Rock Bottom Finale”

Pokey LaFarge tour dates:
April 24 — Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Maasilo
April 25 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
April 26 — Berlin, Germany @ Roadrunners Paradise
April 29 — Paris, France @ La Maroquinerie
April 30 — Antwerp, Belgium @ De Roma
May 1 — Lessines, Belgium @ Roots & Roses Festival
May 2 — London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall
May 8 — Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle
May 9 — Mt. Airy, NC @ The Earle
May 10 — Charleston, WV @ NPR’s Mountain Stage
May 13 — Lexington, KY @ The Burl
May 15 — St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
May 16 — St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
May 17 — Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley
June 2 — Maquoqueta, IA @ Codfish Hollow
June 3 — Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
June 4 —Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
June 5 — Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
June 6 — Indianapolis, IN @ HiFi
June 9 — Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
June 10 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird
June 11 — Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
June 12 — Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head Live
June 13 — Jersey City, NJ @ White Eagle Hall
June 16 — Fairfield, CT @ The Warehouse
June 17 — New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
June 18 — Boston, MA @ Sinclair
June 19 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
June 20 — Albany, NY @ The Egg
June 23 — Rockport, MA @ Shalin Liu
June 24 — Portsmouth, NH @ Prescott Park
June 26 — Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
June 27 — Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern

Listen Up : Margo Price – “Stone Me”

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On her latest ‘Stone Me,’ Margo Price’s approach is less Dolly and more Dusty Springfield. With a gently ascending piano and snare builds a smooth blue-eyed soul groove that she’s winningly experimented with in earlier works and it works beautifully here.

This is not a celebration of the 4:20 club as the title might suggest and of which she openly partakes and entrepreneurially sells her own vanity strain. No, Based on the posted lyrics (below) Price appears to be taking a more theologically punitive theme as her forthright vocals levels deadeye shots at the uniquely difficult obstacles that she’s had to endure to build her now thriving career.

I could find no information that “Stone Me” was part of a larger forthcoming album but I certainly hope it is.

What is your take on Margo Price’s new song “Stone Me?” Tell me in the comments below.

Lyrics:
Everybody wants to live in a glass house
I’m rather stay home cause when I go out
I wish I never did
Take me back home, when I was a kid

Sobriety is a hell of a drug
They say you only fight with the people you love
I won’t forget what it’s like to be poor
I could be there again baby that’s for sure

Love me, hate me
Desecrate me
Call me a bitch
then call me baby
You don’t know me
You don’t own me
Yeah that’s no way
To stone me

You can pick a side but both are wrong
You can fight the good fight but you’re on your own
I used to feel loved but now I feel used
I almost went broke just from paying dues

Through the mud and rain you can drag my name
You can say I’ve spent my life in vain
But I won’t be ashamed of what I am
For your judgement day I don’t give a damn

Love me, hate me
Desecrate me
Call me a bitch
then call me baby
You don’t know me
You don’t own me
Yeah that’s no way
To stone me
Stone me, stone me

Willie Nelson To Be Honored at Grammy Week Americana Music Association Benefit Concert

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shotgun willie

In keeping with its honoring music legends in the runup to the Grammy Awards (who in many ways prefers to forget them), the Americana Music Association will be producing a solute to none other than the red-headed stranger himself, Willie Nelson.

Willie will be saluted by peers and admirers that include John Prine, Tanya Tucker, Shooter Jennings, Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi, Calexico, Andrew Bird, I’m With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan) and Yola. The War and Treaty, Iron & Wine, Madison Cunningham, Gregory Alan Isakov, Ida Mae, Sierra Ferrell and others still to be announced also are slated to take part in the tribute.

The evening celebrates the Recording Academy’s recognition of Americana musicians and typically uses the work of an Americana luminary as a focal point. Prine was the honoree last year and will be making his second appearance at the event to pay homage to the 86-year-old Texas singer and songwriter, who is not expected to attend.

Previous honorees include Everly Brothers singer and songwriter Phil Everly (which I was fortunate enough to attend), Eagles founding member Glenn Frey and country queen Loretta Lynn.

The benefit will take place at the storied West Hollywood venue Troubadour. Tickets are $75 and proceeds benefit the AMA. General sales begin at 10 a.m. Friday.

Lilly Hiatt To Release “Walking Proof” March 27th , Hear The New Cut ‘“Brightest Star”

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Lilly Hiatt

Lilly Hiatt will release her fourth studio album ‘Walking Proof’ on March 27th via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by former Cage The Elephant member Lincoln Parish (Lucinda Williams, Lissie) and features guest appearances by Amanda Shires, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Luke Schneider, and Lilly’s father, the legendary singer-songwriter John Hiatt. John’s appearance on “Some Kind Of Drug,” marks the first time the pair have appeared together on one of her records.

Lilly Hiatt has also announced her initial tour dates in support of Walking Proof, launching April 2nd in Atlanta, GA. Prior to the tour, Lilly will embark on a run of solo acoustic dates supporting Hiss Golden Messenger beginning tonight in Wilmington, NC. See all dates below.

‘Walking Proof’ will be available on CD, across streaming platforms, and standard black vinyl. A Limited Edition Translucent Turquoise Vinyl Pressing featuring a Black & White 12×12 insert of the cover artwork will be available at Independent Retailers. A limited to 500 copies edition autographed by Lilly Hiatt will feature One-Of-A-Kind Random Colored Vinyl, a Black & White 12×12 cover artwork insert, and a box of colored pencils is available for pre-order now.

Hear the new cut jangle-slink ‘“Brightest Star” below.

‘Walking Proof’ Track List:

1. Rae
2. P-Town
3. Little Believer
4. Some Kind of Drug
5. Candy Lunch
6. Walking Proof
7. Drawl
8. Brightest Star
9. Never Play Guitar
10. Move
11. Scream

Lilly Hiatt On Tour:
January 9th – Wilmington, NC Brooklyn Arts Center * solo w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
January 10th – Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle * solo w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
January 11th – Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle * solo w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
January 14th – Harrisonburg, VA Court Square Theater * solo w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
January 15th – Washington, DC 9:30 Club * solo w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
January 16th – Richmond, VA The Broadberry * solo w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
January 17th – Asheville, NC The Orange Peel * solo w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
January 18th – Charlotte, NC Neighborhood Theatre * solo w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
January 25th – Abingdon, VA Barter Theatre
April 2nd – Atlanta, GA Vinyl
April 7th – Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle
April 8th – Brooklyn, NY Rough Trade
April 10th – Hamden, CT Space Ballroom
April 11th – Boston, MA Great Scott
April 14th – Cleveland, OH Beachland Tavern
April 15th – Chicago, IL Schubas
April 16th – Columbus, OH Rumba Cafe
April 17th – Bowling Green, KY Tidball’s
April 18th – Nashville, TN Basement East
April 23rd – Little Rock, AR White Water Tavern
April 24th – Houston, TX Mucky Duck
April 25th – Dallas, TX Three Links
April 26th – Austin, TX Mohawk
April 30th – Denver, CO Globe Hall
May 1st – Fort Collins, CO The Armory
May 2nd – Manitou Springs, CO Lulu’s Downstairs
May 4th – Phoenix, AZ Valley Bar
May 5th – San Diego, CA Soda Bar
May 7th – Los Angeles, CA Moroccan Lounge
May 8th – San Francisco, CA Cafe Du Nord
May 9th – Redding, CA The Dip
May 12th – Portland, OR Doug Fir
May 13th – Seattle, WA Sunset Tavern
May 14th – Prosser, WA Brewminatti
May 15th – Boise, ID Olympic
May 16th – Hailey, ID The Mint
May 20th – Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
May 21st – Madison, WI High Noon
May 22nd – Iowa City, IA The Mill
July 18th – Whitefish, MT Under The Big Sky Festival

Frazey Ford Announces New Album , Tour. Hear The New Single ‘Azad’

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Vancouver-based neo-folk-soul singer-songwriter-actress Frazey Ford has some good news to share. She will be releasing her third studio album ‘U kin B the Sun’ on February 7th via Arts & Crafts records.

From the presser “At turns ecstatic and heavy-hearted, gloriously shambolic and deeply purifying, the new album is the outcome of a certain personal transformation that Ford has experienced in recent years. With its graceful collision of soul and psychedelia and sometimes ’70s funk, it’s a body of work that invites both self-reflection and wildly joyful movement, and ultimately sparks a quiet transcendence.”

“To expand that sense of presence, Ford made a point of preserving many of the lightning-in-a-bottle moments captured during those first sessions for ‘U kin B the Sun.’ As a result, the album embodies the same untamed and ineffable energy that guided its creation. “There’s certain songs that just appear and there’s no art to it,” says Ford. “To me those songs have some kind of spiritual quality—sometimes I feel like they’re these different voices that you’re able to channel. There really was something magical about the improvisational aspect and how that shaped the album and such a joy in the experience of really reveling in what we were all creating together.”

Casa Twang has been a fan of Frazey Ford from the beginning and is looking forward to hearing ‘U kin B the Sun’ in its entirety. Until then have a listen to the soulfully simmering new cut from ‘U kin B the Sun’ below.

Of the single Ford says “There’s something to that song that’s about survival, and about the love that my siblings and I have for each other in coming through an intense situation together.”

Pre-order ‘U kin B the Sun.’

2020 North American Headline Tour

2/29: Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus
3/2: Toronto, ON @ Mod Club Theatre
3/4: Nanaimo, BC @ The Port Theatre
3/5: Victoria, BC @ Capital Ballroom
3/18: Seattle @ The Crocodile Café
3/19: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
3/21: San Francisco, CA @ Independent
3/24: Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite
3/25: New York, NY @ Baby’s All Right
3/26: Washington, DC @ Pearl Street Warehouse
3/27: Philadelphia, PA @ World Café

Cream of the Crop – Twang Nation Top Americana and Roots Music Picks of 2019

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2019 continued to be a stellar year for Americana and roots music, but with the genre’s growing popularity it’s getting harder to find off the beaten path talent. Since starting this blog finding great music has moved from rutting through a forest of the mundane to dig up occasional tasty sonic truffles to having mounds of music arrive in my inbox.

This is a good problem to have but it’s a growing concern that I’ve probably missed something great out on the fringes. I hope to continue to look for those artists in the upcoming new year.

Below are the albums that have stuck with me for a variety of reasons. Winnowing down to only 10 is getting harder each year for reasons outlined above and I’m sure my list will not reflect the subjective preferences of all.

Criteria – Calendar year 2019. No EPs, live, covers or re-release albums no matter how awesome.

Don’t see your favorite represented? Leave it in the comments and here’s to a new year of twang.

Mike and the Moonpies – Cheap Silver & Solid Country Gold [artist site | buy]
Kendell Marvel – Solid Gold Sounds [artist site | buy]
John Paul White – The Hurting Kind [artist site | buy]
Kelsey Waldon – White Noise/White Lines [artist site | buy]
Vandoliers – Forever [artist site | buy]
Molly Tuttle – When You’re Ready [artist site | buy]
Hayes Carll – What It Is [artist site | buy]
Cody Jinx – After the Fire and The Wanting [artist site | buy]
Boo Ray – Tennessee Alabama Fireworks [artist site | buy]
Chris Knight – Almost Daylight [artist site | buy]