Category Archives: Bands

Record Store Day’s Black Friday 2017 – Americana and Roots Music Picks

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Record Store Day's Black Friday

To me the start of the holiday season comes on Record Store Day Black Friday event. Putting indy record stores on the forefront of holiday shopping by special, limited edition slabs of sweet, sweet vinyl itching to be added to your collection.

2017 is sure to be a dandy, offering selections from Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, ram Parsons with Emmylou Harris and others. Sure, the Record Store Day Black Friday selections are smaller than the usual offerings on include Record Store Day, but that doesn’t make them any less enticing.

Record Store Day’s Black Friday is November 24th, 2017. Check the full list and remember to tweet a pic of your bounty tomy twitter account and I’ll share it with those foolish enough to stay home.

Steve Earle – El Corazon
Format: LP
Label: Warner Bros.
Quantity: 2500
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
This 1997 Steve Earle album is released on vinyl for the frst time, and comes with a lithograph exclusive to this Record Store Day Black Friday edition.

Christmas In Washington, Taneytown, If You Fall, I Still Carry You Around (with the Del McCoury Band), Telephone Road (with the Fairfield Four), Somewhere Out There, You Know The Rest,, N.Y.C. (with The Supersuckers), Poison Lovers (with Siobhan Kennedy), The Other Side Of Town, Here I Am, Ft. Worth Blues

Willie Nelson – Spirit
Format: LP
Label: Modern Classic Recordings
Quantity: 2200
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
Few country artists have had a bigger influence on the musical landscape than Wille Nelson. Born in 1933 in Abbott, TX, Ol’ Willie is still going strong at the young age of 84! For RSD Black Friday, Modern Classics is re-releasing Spirit, Willie Nelson’s forty-ninth studio album, originally released in 1996. The album differs from Nelson’s other work because his band used fewer instruments on the recording (two guitars, piano, fiddle) and it has a more classical/Spanish influence. Spirit reached the US Country top 20 when it was released, and David Fricke from Rolling Stone describes it as “low-key, acoustic, stripped to the rugged fundamentals of a good song and a superior voice.” Spirit is an emotional concept album illustrating the forlorn tale of a man abandoned by the great love of his life. We follow him down the path of loss as he confronts grief, gets back on his feet, and eventually finds solace in acceptance. Beloved by those familiar with Nelson’s deep catalog, Spirit remains highly revered amongst critics and fans alike. Likened to Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind or Waylon Jennings’ Right For the Time, Spirit sees Nelson maturing most gracefully. Originally released in 1996, Spirit is issued here for the first time on colored vinyl as a special Record Store Day Black Friday release. It comes newly remastered with a deluxe, gatefold, ‘tip-on’ uncoated jacket, this is a chance to own this unique album in its most beautifully presented form.

1 Matador 2 She Is Gone 3 Your Memory Won’t Die In My Grave 4 I’m Not Trying To Forget You Anymore 5 Too Sick To Pray 6 Mariachi 7 I’m Waiting Forever 8 We Don’t Run 9 I Guess I’ve Come To Live Here In Your Eyes 10 It’s A Dream Come True 11 I Thought About You, Lord 12 Spirit Of E9 13 Matador

Willie Nelson – Yesterdays Wine
Format: LP
Label: Friday Music
Quantity: 1500
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
in 1973’s Yesterday’s Wine LP, Willie Nelson crafted one of the most artistically acclaimed albums in his huge catalog of recorded music. The LP is an insightful look into the the wrtiing and musicianship of this legendary artist at a time when he and friends like Waylon Jennings were considered too hip and outlaw for the confines of Nashville radio acceptance. It contains songs like the autobiographical “Me & Paul”, the stellar title track and an incredible trove of balladry including “December Day,” “It’s Not For Me To Understand,” and the gospel hits “In God’s Eyes” and “Family Bible.” Yesterday’s Wine has been long out of print on vinyl and is coming to record stores as part of the Friday Music 180g Audiophile Vinyl Series on burgundy vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve and with a poster depicting the cover art included.

1. Medley 2. In God’s Eyes 3. Family Bible 4. It’s Not for Me to Understand 5. Medley 6. Summer of Roses 7. December Day 8. Yesterday’s Wine 9. Me and Paul 10. Goin’ Home

Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels – Live 1973 Featuring Emmylou Harris
Format: LP
Label: Sierra High Fidelity
Quantity: 2000
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
Gram Parsons, an extremely revered and influential American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist, famously passed away on September 19, 1973, in Joshua Tree, CA of a drug overdose. Live 1973 Featuring Emmylou Harris is a live album by Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels, recorded at Sonic Studios in Hempstead, New York during a live radio broadcast from WLIR-FM. The recording came between Parsons’ only two solo studio albums, GP, and Grievous Angel, but it was not released until 1982. This re-issue of Live 1973 Featuring Emmylou Harris is pressed on audiophile 180gram vinyl, utilizing Sierra Records 1982 original half-speed metal master, and was processed by the late Richard “Slim” Doss at the legendary Sheffield Lab Matrix. This beautiful deluxe edition comes with the original LP artwork, in an enhanced presentation silver foil, limited numbered jacket. It is a must have for any fan of the talented and troubled musician.

A1 We’ll Sweep Out the Ashes A2 Big Mouth Blues A3 The New Soft Shoe A4 Streets Of Baltimore A5 Cry One More Time B1 California Cottonfields B2 Love Hurts B3 Country Baptizing B4 Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man B5 That’S All It Took B6 Six Days On The Road

Chet Atkins – Guitar Blues / Brown Eyes A Cryin’ In The Rain
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Modern Harmonic
Quantity: 1000
Release type: RSD Limited Run / Regional Focus Release
Originally released on 78 in 1946 on Nashville’s Bullet Records, this is the first ever vinyl reissue of Chet’s very first release! Packaged in an envelope style picture sleeve with liner notes by Chet historian Pat Kirtley. Limited edition blue vinyl!

“Guitar Blues”/”Brown Eyes A Cryin’ In The Rain

Lou Reed and Kris Kristofferson – The Bottom Line Archive Series: In Their Own Words: With Vin Scelsa
Format: LP Picture Disc
Label: The Bottom Line Record Company
Quantity: 1000
Release type: RSD Limited Run / Regional Focus Release
An exclusive, limited 1000 quantity picture disc LP of select’ tracks from Lou Reed and Kris Kristofferson’s ‘In Their Own words with Vin Scelsa’ set from 1994 at the famed Bottom Line in NYC.

Side A: 1) “Introduction” 2) Vin Scelsa Introduces Lou Reed 3) “Betrayed” 4) Vin Scelsa introduces Kris Kristofferson 5) “Shipwrecked” 6) Lou Reed talks about songwriting 7) “Legendary Hearts” 8) Kris Kristofferson talks about his chiildhood and songwriting 9) “Sunday Morning Coming Down/The Pilgrim” Side B: 1) Lou Reed talks about The Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol 2) “Sweet Jane” 3) Kris talks about “Me and Bobby McGee” 4) “Me and Bobby McGee” 5) Kris talks about “Bird on a Wire” 6) “Bird on a Wire” 7) “Tracks of My Tears”

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Sixteen Tons
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Family Owned/Thirty Tigers
Quantity: 500
Release type: RSD Limited Run / Regional Focus Release
Limited edition 7″ vinyl single featuring the Tennessee Ernie Ford classic “Sixteen Tons” b/w the Smokey Robinson & The Miracles classic “You Really Got A Hold On Me.

“Sixteen Tons”/”You Really Got A Hold On Me”

Various Artists – Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams
Format: LP
Label: Slatecreek Records
Quantity: 1000
Release type: RSD Limited Run / Regional Focus Release
Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams announced his retirement from performing last year, concluding an impressive five-decade career that includes two CMA Awards, two ACM Awards and 17 No. 1 hits. Williams unfortunately passed away in September 2017. In honor of his legendary career, Williams’ longtime producer and friend Garth Fundis have produced a tribute album, Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams, featuring an all-star lineup of artists. Some of the artists on Gentle Giant include Jason Isbell, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, John Prime and Garth Brooks. The 11-track album is being released on Slate Creek Records exclusively for RSD Black Friday 2017, and will serve as both a tribute and a memorial to a great man.

Tulsa Time – Pistol Annies, I Believe In You – Brandy Clark,We’Ve Got A Good Fire Goin’ – Lady Antebellum,Some Broken Hearts Never Mend – Dierks Bentley,Amanda – Chris Stapleton Feat. Morgane Stapleton,Till The Rivers All Run Dry – Alison Krauss,Love Is On A Roll – John Prine Feat. Roger Cook,If I Needed You – Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires,Maggie’S Dream – Trisha Yearwood,Lord I Hope This Day Is Good – Keb’ Mo,Good Ole Boys Like Me – Garth Brooks

Waylon Jennings – New Stuff
Format: LP
Label: Black Country Rock
Quantity: 1500
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
In the late 90’s, Waylon Jennings was working on a batch of new material for a potential new album to be recorded. Unfortunately, that Jennings passed away before that album could be realized. While going through some of his fathers things, Shooter Jennings ran across a cassette tape labeled “New Stuff”. What was on that tape was a collection of new songs performed by just Waylon and his guitar. Shooter restored the tape and the result was an earnest collection of songs Waylon felt passionate and proud of. Black Country Rock proudly presents “New Stuff” on beautiful limited colored 12″ vinyl, a collection of songs that are a must-have for any die-hard Waylon fan.

Lydia Loveless – LIVE from the documentary Who Is Lydia Loveless?
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Label: What Were We Thinking Films
Quantity: 1400
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
A six-song vinyl-only Black Friday release of Lydia Loveless and her band performing a hometown show at Skully’s in Columbus, Ohio. Recorded by her longtime producer Joe Viers, the show was filmed for Gorman Bechard’s documentary Who Is Lydia Loveless’ which is included as a DVD in this package.

Side One: Out on Love, More Like Them, Desire. Side Two: Really Wanna See You Again, Heaven, Boy Crazy

Son Volt – Straightaways
Format: LP
Label: Rhino/WB
Quantity: 2500
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
20th Anniversary repressing of Son Volt’s second album.

Son Volt – Ballymena EP
Format: 10″ Vinyl
Label: Transmit Sound/Thirty Tigers
Quantity: 1500
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
This wonderful 10″ vinyl 45 rpm RSD Black Friday offering from Son Volt features 3 unreleased tracks that were left off of 2017’s Notes Of Blue, and 1 re-recording of a Son Volt classic “Sultana” from American Central Dust. These amazing songs are of stripped down acoustic in nature with some percussion elements and electric guitar.

1. “Ballymena” 2. “Dressed In White” 3. “Yellow Walls” 4. “Sultana”

Neil Young – Harvest Moon
Format: 2 x LP
Label: Warner Bros.
Quantity: 5000
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
This 25th Anniversary Edition of the Neil Young classic is newly remastered and presented for the first time on vinyl in North America, in case-wrapped gatefold jacket.

Tonight we sail on a radio song – Tom Petty Tributes

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Tom Petty’s music appealed to anyone who loved thoughtful and superbly performed songs, but he held a special place in the hearts of Americana and roots artists. In the wake of his untimely death of cardiac arrest last Monday, there was an outpouring of tributes from his contemporaries and acolytes. Here are some I’ve collected and will add more as I come across them.

Know one? Let me know in the comments below.

Walk off the Earth – ‘You Don’t Know How It Feels’ – Just happened across this brilliant cover by Canada’s Walk off the Earth. Sit back and enjoy.

One person that best exemplifies a contemporary version of roots rock Petty helped establish is Jason Isbell. Here’s Isbell and the 400 Unit tearing through “Refugee” on the first night of their 6-night sold-out run at The Ryman Auditorium. Auditorium – October 9th, 2017
https://youtu.be/nei56RLiFRc

Heres Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit performing “You Wreck Me” on the second night of their The Ryman Auditorium run. October 10th, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi9CG504Twg

Here is Jason Isbell and the 400 unit ripping through “American Girl” at Mempho Fest 2017 – October 7th, 2017

Margo Price gives ‘Last Dance with Mary Jane’ a badass spin – 10/7/17

Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real – ‘American Girl’ at The Fonda Theater – Hollywood, Ca. – Willie’s son does this rocker justice.

Gov’t Mule – ‘Breakdown’ – Houston, October 2nd, 2017 – Gov’t Mule brings on the moody groove featuring searing guitar work by Warren Haynes.

Old Crow Medicine Show – ‘American Girl’ Sydney, Australia, October 6th, 2017 – A badass breakdown by Old Crow Medicine Show.

The Mavericks – ‘You don’t know how it feels’ – Humphrey’s – SD, CA – October 5, 2017 – The Mavericks put their unique spin on this classic.

Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus – “Wildflowers” – Whatever Miley Cyrus does musically she proves time and again that she has a country heart. Cyrus finishes out her Tonight Show residency with a lovely tribute to Petty with accompaniment from her father Billy Ray Cyrus.

Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives- ‘Runnin’ Down A Dream’, April – Marty Stuart has long proclaimed in concert that he’s a Petty fan. This tribute was captured a few months before Petty’s death.

The Avett Brothers – “You Don’t Know How It Feels” Council Bluffs, IA October 5th, 2017 – The Avett Brothers h=get a lot of help from the audience in this heartfelt tribute.

Chris Stapleton – “Learning to Fly” – October 5th, 2017, Moline, Illinois – Chris Stapleton offers some memories of playing a show with Petty before performing a soulful solo acoustic version of “Learning to Fly.”

John Fogerty – “I Won’t Back Down” – October 4th, 2017, Encore Theatre at Wynn hotel, Las Vegas. Fogerty honors Tom Petty at his show at The Encore Theatre at Wynn Las Vegas. This was also the first show after the tragic events at Mandalay Bay

Wilco – ‘The Waiting,’ Toyota Pavilion, Irving, Texas, October 3, 2017 – I dare you not to get chills from this tribute.

Hanson – “Wildflowers” (rehearsal) – October 3rd, 2017 at the Corona Theatre in Montreal, Canada. – Say want you want about Hanson, this is a beautiful harmonic tribute.

Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Dave Matthews, Patty Griffin – “Refugee” by Tom Petty – Moore Theatre, Seattle October, 3rd 2017 – This performance was the opening song on the opening night of the 2017 edition of Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees benefiting Jesuit Refugee Services USA.

Foo Fighters “Breakdown”- Played at a secret 2013 show in Moorpark, CA – Redballs Rock N Roll Pizza. Just badass.

Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – An all American moment with the master himself.

Turnpike Troubadours Return With ‘A Long Way From Your Heart’ This Fall

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Red Dirt music is like other hard-to-define cultural artifacts, hard to describe but I know it when I hear it.

And if there’s one band that has ‘it’ it’s Oklahoma’s Turnpike Troubadours. This fall fans of the roots-rock band will have more of ‘it’ to enjoy. On October 2oth their highly-anticipated new album ‘A Long Way From Your Heart’ will be released on the band’s label, Bossier City in partnership with Nashville powerhouse label Thirty Tigers. Produced/engineered by Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers) ‘A Long Way From Your Heart’ is officially being called as their fourth album, due to their 2007 debut ‘Bossier City’ being out of print

From the press release – The theme running through ‘A Long Way From Your Heart’ is resilience during difficult circumstances, as in album opener, “The Housefire”. The subjects in Felker’s songs are composite characters based on real people. Some tracks feel deeply personal, such as the poignant but upbeat “Pay No Rent” or country/folk ditty “Oklahoma Stars”. Other observational songs like “Unrung” and the raucous rocker “The Winding Stair Mountain Blues” are proof that (songwriter Evan) Felker’s penchant for great storytelling in the tradition of his musical forbearers has become masterful.

Pre-orders start August 25th. See the tracklist from ”A Long Way From Your Heart’ below and be sure to catch the Turnpike Troubadours on the road in support of the album in one of their raucous live shows, as you can witness yourself in the video below taken at Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic in Austin last month.

Here’s the track list for A Long Way From Your Heart:
1. “The Housefire”
2. “Something to Hold on To”
3. “The Winding Stair Mountain Blues”
4. “Unrung”
5. “A Tornado Warning”
6. “Pay No Rent”
7. “The Hard Way”
8. “Old Time Feeling (Like Before)”
9. “Pipe Bomb Dream”
10. “Oklahoma Stars”
11. “Sunday Morning Paper”

The Texas Gentlemen Sign To New West Records, To Release Debut ‘TX Jelly’ This Fall

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The Texas Gentlemen

One of the highlights of Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion was witnessing the manic genius of The Texas Gentlemen. The Lone Star quintet of Beau Bedford, Nik Lee, Daniel Creamer, Matt McDonald, and Ryan Ake played a fantastic set then went on to prove even greater dexterity by backing Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ray Benson and Billy Joe Shaver during the Texas Review portion of the show.

Now the TG are set to share thier gloriousness with the world.

The Texas Gentlemen have signed to New West Records and are set to share thier gloriousness with the world by releasing their debut album ‘TX Jelly’ on September 15th, 2017.

The 11-song set was cut live in four days at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. This was paired down from 28 songs recorded in the 96-hour time span spent at FAME and moves between contemplative and raucous, encompassing the full breadth of the American music experience. The album was produced by band leader and organist Beau Bedford.

The 96-hour time span spent at FAME and moves between contemplative and raucous, encompassing the full breadth of the American music experience. Touching on blues, soul, folk, country, rock, and gospel, TX Jelly is real, raw, and righteous.

From the presser ‘The low-slung piece of vintage country-funk slams out of the speakers and announces The Texas Gentleman as a force to be reckoned with. Paste stated, “If its first track is any indication, Bedford and company’s TX Jelly is going to spread far beyond the boundaries of Texas itself. These Gentlemen are the real McCoy.” This September, The Texas Gentlemen will appear at Americanafest, Pilgrimage Music Festival along with Justin Timberlake, Eddie Vedder, Ryan Adams and more, and have also been tapped to support Eric Church’s Texas dates (see all dates below).

They take their cues from some of the most iconic acts of the past — the quicksilver brilliance of The Wrecking Crew, The Muscle Shoals Swampers (who backed everyone from Aretha to Wilson Pickett), Booker T. and The M.G.’s, and Bob Dylan’s one-time backers The Band are the most obvious examples. Bedford originally assembled The Texas Gentlemen as an all-purpose backing band for an eclectic array of singer-songwriters including Leon Bridges and Nikki Lane, among others. Last year, the Gentlemen were lured out of the studio to the Newport Folk Festival, where they were joined by iconic troubadour Kris Kristofferson, making his first Newport appearance in more than 45 years. Rolling Stone Magazine called it one of the festival’s “most exciting sets” and Kristofferson so enjoyed collaborating with the band that he enlisted them to reprise their roles in a series of critically acclaimed Texas concerts. Of Kristofferson and The Texas Gentlemen’s appearance at Bass Performance Hall, The Fort Worth Star Telegram stated “The piano, organ, guitar, drums and saxophone would slowly coalesce around Kristofferson’s gnarled but still potent voice, creating an electric sensation of the past fusing with the present. Time and again, the room would seem to bloom – a feeling of dawn breaking, just barely visible but discernible, behind some of the best songs ever written.”

TX Jelly will be available digitally, on compact disc and vinyl LP, and is available for pre-order now via PledgeMusic.

See the video for the album opener “Habbie Doobie” depicting the band jamming in their Modern Electric Sound Recorders studio in their hometown of Dallas, TX.

The Texas Gentlemen - Tx Jelly

TX Jelly Track Listing:
1. Habbie Doobie
2. Pain
3. Bondurant Women
4. Dream Along
5. Gone
6. My Way
7. Superstition
8. TX Jelly
9. Pretty Flowers
10. Shakin All Over
11. Trading Paint

The Texas Gentlemen On Tour:
September 7 – Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater*
September 8 – Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion*
September 12-17 – Nashville, TN @ Americanafest
September 23 & 24 – Franklin, TN @ Pilgrimage Music Festival

*appearing with Eric Church

Americana Music Association Announces Second Round of 2017 Americanafest Showcases

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AmericanaFest Announces Second Round of of 2017 Americanafest Showcases
Photo: (L-R) Top Row: Yola Carter, Drive-By Truckers, Iron & Wine
Bottom Row: Lukas Nelson, The Secret Sisters, Amanda Shires

Following the already stellar first round line-up announcement the Americana Music Association turned the yearly roots music showcase greatness meter firmly to 11.

The second round list of almost 300 artists slated to perform at the 18th Annual Americanafest roots music festival & conference plumbs deeper into the depths of Americana’s excellence than any other shocase of it’s type. Aside from stalwarts like Buddy Miller you get the new tradiitionalist like Elizabeth Cook and Hayes Carll as well as exciting young guns like Jade Jackson and Sammy Brue. Then there are my personal favorites Boo Ray, Angaleena Presley, Doug Seegers, Quaker City Night Hawks, The Secret Sisters, The Texas Gentlemen and don’t miss live performance by Whiskey Shivers. It’s also cool to see legendary folkers Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam on the list for the first time.

Conspicuously missing from the full list isthe most popular representatives of the genre – Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell, though Amanda Shires is on the list and Jason’s been known to show up as a guest.

With the list of the 84 performers announced can be found below, bringing the current line-up to 187 artists, which can be viewed here.

Resister for the full six-day festival here, or get festival showcase wristbands here.

AMERICANAFESTâ„  Conference Registrations (currently $299 for members/$399 for non-members) offer priority admission into all showcase venues, sanctioned parties and events, daytime educational panels, and can be purchased here. At this time, only Conference Registrants may purchase Honors & Awards show tickets. If you’re just interested in the nightly showcases, a festival wristband will be your most suitable option at the wallet-friendly price of $75. Available on their website, a festival wristband grants admission into all showcase venues as well as select sanctioned parties and special events.

Second Round of Artists Confirmed to Play AMERICANAFESTâ„ :
The Accidentals
Amanda Shires
Angaleena Presley
Becky Warren
Ben Smith & Jimmy Brewer
Birdtalker
Bonnie Whitmore and Her Band
Boo Ray
Boy Named Banjo
Buddy Miller
The Cactus Blossoms
Cary Morin
Charly Markwart
Cody Canada & The Departed
Colin Hay
Cory Branan
Cris Jacobs
Dalton Domino
Darling West
Darrin Bradbury
David Ramirez
The Dead South
Dean Owens
Doug Seegers
Drive-by Truckers
Dustbowl Revival
Elijah Ocean
Elizabeth Cook
Emily Barker
Flatland Cavalry
Great American Canyon Band
Hayes Carll
Humming House
Iron & Wine
J.P. Harris
Jade Jackson
Joan Osborne
John Hiatt & the Goners
Joshua Hedley
Kaitlin Butts
The Kernal
Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams
The Last Bandoleros
Lee Roy Parnell
Lilly Hiatt
Lori McKenna
LUCETTE
Lukas Nelson
Marc Broussard
Mark O’Connor featuring the O’Connor Band
Matthew Ryan
The Mavericks & Friends
Michigan Rattlers
Nicole Atkins
Noam Pikelny
Nora Jane Struthers
North Mississippi Allstars
Phoebe Hunt
Quaker City Night Hawks
Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm
Rogue + Jaye
Romantica
Sammy Brue
The Secret Sisters
Shannon McNally
Steelism
The Steel Wheels
Suzanne Santo
SZLACHETKA
The Texas Gentlemen
The Tillers
Timmy The Teeth
Tom Brosseau
Tommy Womack
Travis Linville
Twisted Pine
Whiskey Shivers
Whitney Rose
The Wild Reeds
Willie Nile
The Wood Brothers
Wood & Wire
Woody Pines
Yola Carter

(EDIT) –FINAL ROUND ADDITION–

A.J. Croce
Amelia White and The Blue Souvenirs
Amy Black
Belle Plaine
Big Star’s Third Live
Billy Strings
Blackfoot Gypsies
Blair Crimmins and The Hookers
Bonnie Bishop
Brigitte DeMeyer
Caitlyn Smith
Cale Tyson
Carson McHone
Carter Sampson
Cat Clyde
Cereus Bright
Charlie Mars
Christian Lopez
Colin Hay
Colter Wall
Danni Nicholls
Danny Burns
Darling West
Dave Alvin
David Mayfield Parade
David Myles
Don Gallardo
Early James & the Latest
Eddie Berman
Escondido
Falls
Faustina Masigat
Front Country
Gill Landry
Grant-Lee Phillips
Harrow Fair
High Plains Jamboree
India Ramey
Jack Ingram
Jamie Kent
Jamtown
Jason Wilber
Jesse Dayton
Jimmy Lumpkin and the Revival
Joana Serrat
Joey Kneiser
Jon Langford
Joseph Huber
K Phillips
Kaia Kater
Kamara Thomas
Korby Lenker
Kristina Murray
Lee Ann Womack & Friends
Leyla McCalla
Liz Cooper & The Stampede
Lucie Silvas
Mark Erelli
Mary Bragg
Max Gomez
Me And My Brother
Motel Radio
Muddy Ruckus
Natalie Hemby
Old Sea Brigade
Otis Gibbs
Parsonsfield
Rachel Baiman
Rayna Gellert with Kieran Kane
Reckless Kelly
Reuben Bidez
Robby Hecht
Robyn Hitchcock
Ryan Tanner
Sam Outlaw
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers
Shane Nicholson
Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer
Shelly Fairchild
Skyway Man
Taasha Coates
Tattletale Saints
Ted Russell Kamp
The Americans
The Lowest Pair
The Mulligan Brothers
The Steel Woods
The Stray Birds
Tony Joe White
Trout Steak Revival
Vikesh Kapoor
Webb Wilder
Wild Ponies
Will Hoge
Will Kimbrough
Zach Schmidt
Zephaniah O’Hora

Watch Out! Jason Isbell on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

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Jason Isbell showed The Late Show With Stephen Colbert audience that he had brought the rock back out for a spin. Fresh off the release of his more electric new album, ‘The Nashville Sound,’ the Alabama native and his band the 400 Unit unleashed a tight and spirited rendition of their lead single, “Hope the High Road” at Ed Sullivan Theater last Tuesday night.

Look for this level of greatness as Isbell and the 400 Unit will be on the road for theater, amphitheater, and festival dates until their sold-out residency at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in October.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GC3MpIxl8g

Americana Music Association Announces First Round of 2017 Americanafest Showcases

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First Round of 2017 Americanafest Showcases

(L-R) Top: Brandy Clark, Hiss Golden Messenger, Turnpike Troubadours
(L-R) Bottom: Charley Crockett, Deer Tick, Bettye LaVette

Continuing the stellar tradition of being the preeminent roots music event of the year, the Nashville-based Americana Music Association has released its first round of artists slated to perform at this year’s 18th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, presented by Nissan, September 12 – 17, 2017.

The first 103 of more than 230 artists are made up of pioneers, icons, and upstarts like Brandy Clark, Hiss Golden Messenger, Turnpike Troubadours, Lillie Mae, Alice Wallace, Mike and The Moonpies, Rodney Crowell, Paul Cauthen, John Paul White, The White Buffalo, Jason Eady, Bruce Robison, and much more.

With more acts still to be announced, the event promises to live up to its reputation as a must attend for roots music fans and industry alike.

Resister for the full conference here, or get festival showcase wristbands here.

AJ Hobbs
Allison Pierce
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Alice Wallace
All Our Exes Live in Texas
Ana Egge
Andrew Combs
Andy Golledge
Austin Plaine
Balkun Brothers
The Band of Heathens
The Barefoot Movement
Beaver Nelson
Becca Mancari
Bettye LaVette
Birds of Chicago
Blank Range
The Blind Boys of Alabama
Boomswagglers
Brandy Clark
Brent Cobb
Brent Cowles
Brian Wright
The Brother Brothers
Brothers Comatose
Bruce Robison
CALICO the band
Caamp
Caitlin Canty
Carl Anderson
Caroline Spence
Carsie Blanton
Casey James
Charley Crockett
Charlie Parr
Chastity Brown
Ciaran Lavery
Cordovas
Courtney Marie Andrews
Darlingside
David Childers
David Luning
David Starr
Deep Dark Woods
The Deer
Deer Tick
The Deslondes
Dirty River Boys
Don Bryant
Dori Freeman
Elise Davis
Eric Ambel
Erin Rae
Forlorn Strangers
Futurebirds
Haas Kowert Tice
Hiss Golden Messenger
The Honey Ants
Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
The Howlin Brothers
Hugh Masterson
Jason Eady
Jaime Wyatt
Jesse Terry
Jim Lauderdale
John Paul White
Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge
Kacy & Clayton
Kasey Chambers
Leeroy Stagger
Leslie Stevens
Lillie Mae
The Lil Smokies
Lindi Ortega
Little Bandit
Low Cut Connie
Luke Bulla
The McCrary Sisters
Micky and the Motorcars
Mike and The Moonpies
Mipso
Molly Tuttle
My Bubba
Patrick Sweany
Paul Cauthen
Paul Thorn
Pony Bradshaw
Quiet Life
Renn
Rev Sekou
Rodney Crowell
SUSTO
Shane Smith & The Saints
Them Rubies
Turnpike Troubadours
Tyler Childers
Wade Bowen
Walter Salas-Humara
We Banjo 3
The White Buffalo
Wildwood Kin
William Wild
Willie Watson

Watch Out! Lillie Mae “Over The Hill And Through The Woods” and “To Go Wrong” on Conan 4/13/17

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Lillie Mae “Over The Hill And Through The Woods" and “To Go Wrong” on Conan

Lillie Mae made her solo national television debut last night on the Conan O’Brien show. She and her band, featuring her brother on guitar and sister on backup vocals, tear through a spirited version of “Over The Hill And Through The Woods.”

Mae also took the time to record a separate a stripped down performance of “To Go Wrong.”

See both below.

Both tracks can be found on Lillie Mae’s solo debut, ‘Forever and Then Some.’ (out today)

Jason Isbell Announces new album, ‘The Nashville Sound’ – Out June 16th

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Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist Jason Isbell and his mighty band, the 400 Unit, have announced the June 16th release of their highly anticipated new album, The Nashville Sound (Southeastern Records/Thirty Tigers). The Nashville Sound is the follow up to 2015’s critically acclaimed Something More Than Free, which won two Grammy Awards (Best Americana Album & Best American Roots Song, “24 Frames”) and two Americana Music Association Awards (Album of the Year & Song of The Year, “24 Frames”). See Highlights.

Over his career, Jason Isbell has become one the most respected and celebrated songwriters of his generation. He possesses an incredible penchant for identifying and articulating some of the deepest, yet simplest, human emotions, and turning them into beautiful poetry through song.

‘The Nashville Sound’ features 10 new songs that address a range of real life subject matters that include politics and cultural privilege (“White Man’s World”), longing nostalgia (“The Last Of My Kind”), love and mortality (“If We Were Vampires”), the toxic effect of today’s pressures (“Anxiety”), the remnants of a break up (“Chaos and Clothes”) and finding hope (“Something To Love”). Songs such as “Cumberland Gap” and “Hope The Highroad” find Isbell and his bandmates going back to their rock roots full force.

The Nashville Sound was recorded at Nashville’s legendary RCA Studio A and produced by Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb, who produced Something More Than Free and Isbell’s celebrated 2013 breakthrough album Southeastern. The Nashville Sound is the first official Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit album since 2011’s Here We Rest. The 400 Unit features Derry deBorja (keyboards), Chad Gamble (drums), Jimbo Hart (bass), Amanda Shires (fiddle) and Sadler Vaden (guitar). The group just announced a five-night stand at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium October 10,11,13-15 to add to their extensive tour. See the list of tour dates below.

Jason Isbell - 'The Nashville Sound'

June 17 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium #

June 18 – Raleigh, NC – North Carolina Museum of Art #
June 19 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia #
June 22 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre #

June 23 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre +

June 24 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre +

June 26 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall +
June 27 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion +

June 29 – Canandaigua, NY – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center >
June 30 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion +

July 1 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music +
July 2 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at the Heights +
July 5 – Papillion, NE – Sumtur Amphitheatre +
July 7 – St. Paul, MN – The Palace Theatre +
(Sold Out)
July 11 – Sioux Falls, SD – The Washington Pavilion +

July 12 – St. Louis, MO – Peabody Opera House +

July 14 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater +

July 15 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater #

July 16 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater #

July 18 – Houston, TX – Revention Music Center #

July 19 – Jackson, MS – Thalia Mara Hall #

July 21 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore *

July 22 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre *
July 23 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center*
September 7 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
October 10 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 11 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 13 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 14 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 15 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

Support: # Amanda Shires / + Mountain Goats / > Iron & Wine / * Strand of Oaks

2017 European Dates

October 25 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall
October 26 – Glasgow, UK – O2 ABC
October 27 – Dublin, Ireland – Olympia Theatre
October 29 – Brighton, UK – Brighton Dome
October 30 – London, UK – Roundhouse
October 31 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall
November 2 – Paris, France – Le Café de la Danse
November 3 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
November 6 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
November 7 – Hamburg, Germany – Uebel & Gefährlich
November 8 – Berlin, Germany – Columbia Theater
November 10 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene
November 11 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene
November 12 – Stockholm, Sweden – Münchenbryggeriet
November 14 – Copenhagen, Denmark – DR Concert Hall

Tift Merritt supports all European dates

 Wanted! – Notable Americana and Roots Music Releases for 2017

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Wanted! - Notable Americana and Roots Music Releases for 2017

2016 was another great year for Americana and roots music, and 2017 shows signs that the great music will continue to come our way. As our Cream of the Crop favorites from last year makes plain we might be experiencing a new golden age of roots music/ Both as a growing influence on our contemporary culture and also as a viable, business for young and old artists to sustain themselves and thrive.

That last part is crucial as it provides economic and influential seed corn for the future ‘Cream of the Crop’ year-end best of collections.

The list below is a collection of known 2017 notable Americana / roots releases. Some anticipated releases from artists like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell and The Secret Sisters have no release dates yet, but when I become aware of them and others I will be updating the list throughout the year and will send word through my twitter account when I do.

If you know of a release not listed yet please leave it in the comments.

One thing is for sure, it’s going to be a great year folks.

January 13th –
The Band of Heathens – ‘Duende’
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – ‘Kings and Kings’
Otis Gibbs – ‘Mount Renraw’

January 20th –
Kasey Chambers – ‘Dragonfly’
The Show Ponies – How It All Goes Down’
Rayna Gellert – ‘Workin’s Too Hard’

January 27th –
Delbert McClinton – ‘Prick Of The Litter’
Tift Merritt – ‘Stitch of the World’
Valerie June – ‘The Order of Time’
Bankesters – ‘Nightbird’
Dead Man Winter – ‘Furnace’

February 3rd –
Ags Connolly – ‘Nothin’ Unexpected’
Gurf Morlix – ‘The Soul & The Heal’
Mitch Dean –‘Suburban Speakeasy’
Rose Cousins – ‘Natural Conclusion’
Caroline Spence – ‘Spades & Roses’

February 10th –
Kris Kristofferson – The Austin Sessions (Expanded Edition)

February 17th –
Alison Krauss – ‘Windy City’
Nikki Lane – ‘Highway Queen’
Pegi Young & The Survivors – ‘Raw’
Son Volt – ‘Notes Of Blue’
Son of the Velvet Rat – ‘Dorado’
Blair Crimmins – ‘You Gotta Sell Something’
The Gibson Brothers – “In The Ground”

February 24th –
Curtis McMurtry – ‘The Hornet’s Nest’
Rhiannon Giddens – ‘Freedom Highway’
Old 97s – ‘Graveyard Whistling’
Scott H. Biram – “The Bad Testament”
Shinyribs – “I Got Your Medicine”
Aaron Watson – “Vaquero”

March 3rd –
Grandaddy – ‘Last Place’
Beth Bombara – ‘Map With No Direction ‘

March 10th –
Sunny Sweeney – “Trophy’
Pieta Brown – “Postcards”

March 24th –
Jessi Colter – ‘The Psalms’
Samantha Crain – ‘You Had Me At Goodbye’

March 31st –
Rodney Crowell – ‘Close Ties”
David Olney – “Don’t Try To Fight It”
Dead Soldiers – “The Great Emptiness”
Shoddy Blacktooth — “Don’t Forget To Die”

April 7th
Malcolm Holcombe – ‘Pretty Little Troubles’
Andrew Combs – “Canyons Of My Mind”

April 14th
Evening Darling – “Evening Darling’

April 21st –
Angaleena Presley – ‘Wrangled’

May 5th
Chris Stapleton – ‘From a Room: Volume 1’

May 19th
Builders and the Butchers – ‘The Spark’
Pokey LaFarge – ‘Manic Revelations’
Tom Russell – ‘Play One More: The Songs Of Ian And Sylvia’

May 26th
Justin Townes Earle – ‘Kids in the Street’

June 2nd –
Bobby Osborne – ‘Original’

June 9th –
The Secret Sisters – ‘You Don’t Own Me Anymore’
Shannon McNally – ‘Black Irish’

June 16th –
Sammy Brue – ‘I Am Nice’

June 23rd –
The Deslondes – ‘Hurry Home’
Slaid Cleaves – ‘Ghost on the Car Radio’

July 7th –
Randall Bramblett – ‘Juke Joint At The Edge Of The World’

July 14th –
Cale Tyson – ‘Careless Soul’

July 21st –
Whiskey Shivers – ‘Some Part of Something”

August 4th
Tyler Childers – ‘Purgatory’

August 18th
Loretta Lynn – ‘Wouldn’t It Be Great’ POSTPONED
Ray Wylie Hubbard – ‘Tell the Devil I’m Getting There as Fast as I Can’

September 8th
Caroline Reese – ‘Two Horses’ EP

September 15th
Willie Watson – ‘Folksinger Vol. 2’
The Lone Bellow – ‘Walk Into A Storm’

September 22nd
Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers – “The Long-Awaited Album”
Billy Strings – ‘Turmoil & Tinfoil’

September 29th
Anna Tivel – “Small Believer”

October 6th
Whitney Rose – ‘Rule 62’
JD McPherson – ‘Undivided Heart and Soul’
Becca Mancari – ‘Good Woman’

October 13th
Hellbound Glory – ‘Pinball’
Caleb Cladry – ‘Invincible Things’

October 16th
Gill Landry – ‘Love Rides A Dark Horse’

October 20th
Turnpike Troubadours – ‘A Long Way From Your Heart’
Dori Freeman – ‘Letters Never Read’

October 27th
Lee Ann Womack – ‘The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone’
Ronnie Fauss – ‘Last of the True’
The Wailin’ Jennys – ‘Fifteen’
The Deep Dark Woods – ‘Yarrow’

October 31st
Year of October – ‘Trouble Comes’

November 3rd
Samantha Fish – ‘Belle of the West’
Anna St. Louis – “First Songs’
Scott Miller – ‘Ladies Auxiliary’

November 17th
Mavis Staples – ‘If All I Was Was Black’

December
Chris Stapleton – ‘From a Room: Volume 2’

December 8th
Robert Ellis and Courtney Hartman – ‘Dear John’