The extraordinary Elizabeth Cook talks to the Utne Reader about her irreverent career, influences and her upcoming Don Was produced album Welder.
Jim Lauderdale takes time from his South-By-Southwest appearance talk to Spinner.com about, well, his career, influences and her upcoming album Patchwork River, which was produced by longtime production partner Tim Coates and Doug Lancio,. [...]
The Hangover & Daily Show star (and amateur banjo player) Ed Helms is launching the LA Bluegrass Situation festival (March 18th – 22nd) featuring Steve Martin, Emmylou Harris, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Nickel Creek. See the somewhat silly video introduction of the festival from Helms.
Canadian roots/surf rockers The Sadies will release their new album, Darker [...]
Elton John might return to his Tumbleweed Connection era as he records with Leon Russell. With T. Bone Burnnett heading production John and Russell have been laying down “more than a dozen songs” according to a post on John’s longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin’s website. “It’s varied in scope and drenched in a rich tapestry of [...]
The Independent’s Simmy Richman writes an excellent article (Another Country: Why everything you thought you knew about cowboy music is wrong) on Britain’s relationship with Country Music and his own conversion to the genre by a common gateway, Gram Parsons.
After the loss of Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender, the future of the Texas Tornados was [...]
On this day in 1932 Johnny Cash was born J. R. Cash in Kingsland, Arkansas, to Ray (1897–1985) and Carrie Cash (1904–1991)
Johnny Cash scholars are lobbying Sony records to release Cash’s 1964 album Bitter Tears, a protest album with songs written by Cash, Peter La Farge and Johnny Horton,. The album takes up the cause [...]
Pickathon has announced an impressive lineup for for 12th year. Bonnie Prince Billy, Heartless Bastards, Billy Joe Shaver. Langhorne Slim, Frazey Ford, The Cave Singers, T-Model Ford, Roadside Graves, Chatham County Line and many many more. Pickathon will take place on August 6-8 at Pendarvis Farm near Portland, Oregan.
The New York Times follows the long [...]
The will of the late singer/songwriter Stephen Bruton, is being contested by his possibly estranged widow. Bruton provided the inspiration for the Crazy Heart character Bad Blake played by Jeff Bridges and worked with T. Bone Burnett on the movie’s soundtrack in his days of fighting cancer.
And for more in Crazy Heart news, the good [...]
Merle Haggard has penned a deal with independent label Vanguard Records- home pf Levon Helm – ans will release hos label debut I Am What I Am, his first album on April 20. The project, featuring 12 new songs he has written, was co-produced by Haggard and Lou Bradley.
Six members of Willie Nelson’s band and [...]
One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in Haiti’s history has caused catastrophic destruction in the hemisphere’s poorest country. The leading humanitarian group, AmeriCares is rushing emergency aid to the survivors across the country. Please help if you can.
As previously reported, two-thirds of the Dixie Chicks – guitarist-banjoist Emily Robison and her sister, fiddler [...]
Jack Riley at London’s The Independent interviews Indy-Honky-Tonk sweet heart Caitlin Rose about her recent tour of Britain, her influences and her upcoming full release.
Sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison (born Erwin) will record an album together without their Dixie Chick partner Natalie Maines. Manine’s father reports that the split is “temporary.”
the as Angeles Times [...]