Wanted! – Notable Americana and Roots Music Releases for 2018
2017 was another great year for Americana and roots music, and 2018 so far shows no signs that the great music is waning. As our Cream of the Crop favorites from last year makes plain…
Category Archives: Bluegrass
Cream of the Crop – Twang Nation Top Americana and Roots Music Picks of 2017
Over that last 11 years of running this blog, roots and Americana has embedded itself as a fully realized and respected genre of cultural influence around the world. Bands and festivals from the UK, Australia,…
Twang Nation Americana and Roots Music Holiday List
– “At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight” – Various artists (Bear Family) $250. Germany’s Bear Family label has reputation for giving loving (obsessive) detail in creating their box sets and “At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight” continues…
Robert Ellis and Courtney Hartman To Release ‘Dear John,’ Tribute to John Hartford
Texan Robert Ellis and Coloradan Courtney Hartman bonded backstage at a music festival in 2013 over their mutual love of John Hartford songs. After a few years of friendship and collaboration led to the creation…
News Roundup – Jim Lauderdale, Sunny Sweeney, Jamie Lin Wilson, Courtney Patton, Brennen Leigh, Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn’s original handwritten lyrics to “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” – Sure it’s still Summer, but it’s not too soon to think about Christmas when you know that Sunny Sweeney, Jamie Lin Wilson, Courtney Patton and…
Americana Music Association Announces Second Round 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…
Americana Music Association Announces 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…
Watch Out! Lillie Mae “Over The Hill And Through The Woods” and “To Go Wrong” on Conan 4/13/17
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…
Sturgill Simpson’s Unlikely Road to the Grammys
My first impression of Sturgill Simpson was of a man that embodied a duality of seemingly contradictory attributes – carefree determination. It was September of 2011 and over a pitcher of beer Simpson and I…
Cream of the Crop – Twang Nation Top Americana and Roots Music Picks of 2016
The year in music for 2016 is best defined by the classic Dickensian line from “A Tale of Two Cities,” “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Mortality cut a…