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 [...]
L.A. Times Pop & Hiss holds court with Texas songwriting royalty Billy Joe Shaver. Shaver discusses Bob Dylan, how after all life has thrown at him he still stays optimistic and voices frustration over somewhat indifference to some of his recent releases. Beaufort County News reviews the latest Bearfoot show at Washington’s Turnage Theater. While [...]
Canada.com posts a feature on the upcoming album of classics by Willie Nelson, American Classic – Willie Nelson returns to ‘the good songs’ (release 8/25) The New York Times also features a piece on Willie Nelson’s American Classic. The Boston Herald posts a feature on honky-tonk neo-traditionalist Paul Burch- Looking for authentic country soul? Burch [...]
Willie Nelson will join TheBoot.com for a live “Twitterview” next Tuesday, Aug. 25, the same day as the release of his newest album American Classic. You can watch the live chat with Willie, starting at 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, if you follow Willie Nelson and theBoot.com on Twitter. Speaking of the Texas Yoda, The [...]
Are there any more maligned or misunderstood genres of music than hip and country? When asked what kind of music a person likes these two styles are at the top of the excluded list. Now imagine them joining forces in some unholy alliance of country-rap (or as one person I know coined it “crap.”) I [...]
The legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will release their first studio album in five years. The influential California country-rock will release Speed of Life on September 22 on their own NGDB Records. SheKnows.com features an exclusive interview with Holly Williams. Holly is the Granddaughter of Hank Williams, daughter of Bocephus and half-sister of Hank Williams [...]
On Thursday June 25th Americana/Folk singer/songwriter Joe Pug will release In The Meantime, five unreleased songs recorded during sessions for his inaugural EP Nation of Heat. The download will be available exclusively at www.joepugmusic.com. Rates for registration for the Americana Music Association Conference – AMA members $300 and Non-member $400 – will increase on June [...]
This follow up to T. Nile’s (the T is for Tamara ) ’06 debut At My Table showcases this young BC, Canadian’s maturity as a songwriter and her ability to work outside genre but still come away with something uniquely her own. It also continues my well documented infatuation with Canadian roots music. T. Nile’s [...]
Star Anna has been a favorite here at Ranch Twang for some time and I’m happy to announce that her new CD The Only Thing That Matters will be independently released online and in stores on Tuesday, Apr. 14. The album was created with her spectacular band, The Laughing Dogs, and recorded at Death Cab [...]
Craig Shelburne over at the CMT blog has posted a great video I had never see with Willie Nelson and fantastic bluegrass Melonie Cannon covering Willie’s Back to Earth. Speaking of Texas (Wille, Texas…same thing) If you’re in the San Francisco area tomorrow night head over to the historic Fillmore to catch Houston’s own Robert [...]