21 Performances To Catch at AmericanaFest 2014

The Hello Strangers perfrom at the Patterson Theatre in Baltimore

If you’re a fan of roots music there is only one place to be in the fall, and that’s Americanafest. The Americana Music Association will be presiding over this 15th Festival – along with its Conference and Awards Ceremony – in Nashville, September 16-21.

This is the premier industry event celebrating the music we love. Thousands of artists, fans and industry folks from all over the world will gather to talk biz, eat BBQ, drink local beer and, yes, hear the best music on the planet.

then get up the next morning and do it all over again (pace yourself, drink water!)

This year the increased the number of acts has grown to 160 (!) performing across 11 venues (!!) This might have given me more awesome choices, but I’ve yet to figure oy t that whole cloning myself thing. This makes seeing many performances, many happening at the same time, an impossibility.

But the upside is no matter where you find yourself you’re in for some of the best music going.

Over the years of attending this extraordinary event I’ve tried to dig deep in the bill and look for hidden gems that might I might miss on my initial scan. Some newer or more obscure performers are the ones that can often leave an impression and have fans talking for days after.

Though I like to see the big names as much as anybody, There are a few names that fly a little lower under the radar but will be well worth making time for.

See the full lineup here.

Caroline Rose – The Basement – Tuesday September 16, 2014 7:00pm – 7:45pm

Caroline Rose just came across my ADD addled mind and I’m better for it. Pop folk never sounded so fresh and vibrant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4cAnRTrKD0

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John Moreland – High Watt – Wednesday, September 17, 2014 11:00pm – 11:45pm

There’s nothing fancy about a John Moreland performance. He sits alone, mostly with an acoustic guitar spinning rich tales of the human landscape. His sparse, concise yet elegant style has him counting Lucero and Jason Isbell as fans and having his songs showcased on the biker drama, Sons of Anarchy

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Hannah Aldridge – Fanny’s House of Music “Americana Ladies Night Line-Up” – Thursday September 18, 2014 5:30pm – 8:30pm

A voice of the ages that can be heard from two blocks over (unmiced) Aldridge beings the goods and more on her sterling debut “Razorwire.”

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Banditos – The Rutledge – Thursday September 18, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm

This Nashville-by-way-of Birmingham band is a potent blend of rock, country and soul that draws on many influences and squeezes greatness from every drop. Some of the tunes might seem “jammy” but they always right themselves and head straight for solid framework.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKzxzvyc35M

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Zoe Muth РListening Room Caf̩ РThursday September 18, 2014 10:00pm Р10:45pm

Zoe Muth’s sweetly plantive voice sings songs of hardscrabble love and life that can tear out your heart or rock your soul, often at the same time.

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Shinyribs – High Watt – Wednesday September 17, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm

Shinyribs is the pseudonym of The Gourds mastermind of madness Kevin Russell. Tightly arranged tunes, spiked with a heavy dose of whimsy, shows Russell reflecting a stew of influences from Bob Wills to the Texas Tornadoes.

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Jonny Two Bags – The Basement – Wednesday, September 17, 2014 11:00pm – 11:45pm

Sometimes punk rockers age and cross over to Americana. Sometimes their original band has always had a foot in the dusty road. The latter is the case for Jonny Two Bags. As the guitarist for the SoCal institution Social Distortion, Jonny Two Bags didn’t have to travel far to pull out his

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Whiskey Shivers – Station Inn – Thursday September 18, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm

Newgrass? Naw, how bout thrashgrass. Whiskey Shivers heats up the already hot genre by pulling in an audience and making a performance a communal celebration that will have you to leaving your troubles at the door. They’ve even caught the ear of fellow Texas genre-hopper Robert Ellis who has produced their upcoming self-titled album.

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Otis Gibbs – Station Inn – Thursday, September 18, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm

Otis Gibbs is what a musician looks like that refuses to compromise. His songs are instantly relatable and yet poetic.The man effortlessly exudes that ever elusive quality of authenticity.

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Hello Strangers – Two Old Hippies – Friday, September 19 6:00 PM – 7:00pm

Sisters Larissa Chace Smith and Brechyn Chace hail from the foot of the Appalachian mountains, due north of the Mason-Dixon Line , in Mercersburg, PA. They ended up in Austin where they worked their craft in the rich music scene helped hone their harmony-rich folk and roots rock spirit.

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Jonah Tolchin – Third Man – Friday, September 19, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm

Jonah Tolchin’s voice belies his years on earth. His neo-soul roots style transports you and breathes life into the past.

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Marah – The Basement – Friday, September 19, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm

Marah are one of my favorite rocks bands, all ramshackle and passion fueled recklessness. Thier newest roots music production, ‘Mountain Minstrelsy of Pennsylvania’ takes all that’s great with the band and runs it through a copper wire od dark mountain folk.

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Cale Tyson РListening Room Caf̩ РFriday, September 19 Р10:00pm Р10:45pm

Nashville by way of Texas classic country and Townes Van Zandt influenced Cale Tyson’s musical path. Tyson’s latest EP, “High On Lonesome” reflects that legacy with hints of Gram Parsons, Guy Clark and Willie Nelson.

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Jamestown Revival – Mercy Lounge – Friday, September 19, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm

After seeing Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance, Jamestown Revival, at an LA Americana event honoring the Everly Brothers I was hooked. They arguably stole the show that night. This was a show that included Rodney Crowell and Bonnie Raitt get there early. JR might be somewhat off the radar but their popularity is growing.

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Cory Branan – High Watt – Friday, September 19, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm
Sharp songwriting and an aversion of the lazy trope has made Chuck Ragan and Lucero into fans of Cory Branan. Come see what all the fuss is about.


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Grace and Tony – Station Inn – Saturday September 20, 2014 8:00pm – 8:45pm

Grace and Tony come from a bluegrass and punk rock background respectively. Not just joining in matrimony they fused a hybrid style they describe as Punkgrass. Colliding the worlds of Charlie Poole and The Clash might have been a disaster for some, but they make it work thanks to a love of craft many of live performances in front of adoring fans.

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Lera Lynn – High Watt – Saturday September 20, 2014 9:00pm – 9:45pm

Texas-born Lera Lynn has a hard one to characterize. A little Dusty , a dash of Loretta, leads to a quality to her that make her rock-roots/soul style irresistible.

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Jason Eady – Mercy Lounge – Saturday, September 20, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm

Jason Eady’s is the odd man out here. He’s not Americana, he’s country..or at least he’s what country used to be , before it became Americana. Damn it just go see him!

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David Ramirez – The Rutledge – Saturday September 20, 2014 10:00pm – 10:45pm

Austin’s David Ramirez is the textbook definition of a troubadour. A songwriter hammering out hard tales with a guitar and a song. His extensive touring has gained him fans from coast to coast.

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Carolina Story РListening Room Caf̩ РSaturday September 20, 2014 12:00am Р12:45am

With the official demise of the Civil Wars I invite you to turn your wistfully romantic ears toward husband and wife dup Carolina Story (Ben and Emily Roberts.) Though they can get a little more country (read twang) than TCW the Arkansas couple can also plumb the depths of a forlorn soul.

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Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons – The Basement – Sunday September 21, 2014 12:00am – 12:45am

Joe Fletcher’s solo debut ‘You’ve Got the Wrong Man,’ populated with soldiers, scammers, hangers-on, hellraisers, boozers and the woe-begone. Comparisons to Tom Waits would not be far off.

http://vimeo.com/98921881

Twang Nation Podcast Episode 14 – Della Mae, David Ramirez, Nora Jane Struthers, John Moreland

TNPodcast

This may be the best Twang Nation podcast yet (yeah, I know I always say that. But this time it’s true!)

We have fantasticly spirited bluegrass of newcomers Della Mae. Heartfelt folk with singer/ songwriters David Ramirez, Ashleigh Flynn,Andrew Duhon and John Moreland.

Hurray for the Riff Raff offers a beautiful rendition of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” and Mother Merey and the Black Dirt and Defibulators bring new meaning to hillbilly bliss

We conclude with Bill Monroe and Steve Earl doing Monroe and Peter Rowan’s “Walls of Time” from his upcoming Warner Brothers box set.

ON EDIT: One correction to the podcast, I say that Mother Merey and the Black Dirt’s album is titled “A Million Stars.” That’s the title of the Ashleigh Flynn release. The correct title for Mother Merey and the Black Dirt’s album is “Down to the River.”

Also, I mistakenly refer to the new Donna the Buffalo as “My Dearest Darkest Neighbor.” The name of the album is actually “Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday/” “My Dearest Darkest Neighbor.” is thr name of the upcoming Hurray for the Riff Raff album.

Sorry for the mix up folks.

As always support local music and thanks for listening.

This podcast is dedicated to the great Chet Flippo.

1. Della Mae – “Empire”
2 David Ramirez – “The Bad Days”
3 Mother Merey and the Black Dirt – “Down to the River”
4 Ashleigh Flynn – “New Angel in Heaven”
5 Nora Jane Struthers and The Party Line – “Barn Dance”
6 Andrew Duhon – “Sidestep Your Grave”
7 Laura Cortese – “I Am The House”
8 Donna the Buffalo – “Don’t Know What We’ve Got”
9 Hurray for the Riff Raff – “Jealous Guy”
10 Defibulators – “Cackalacky”
11 John Moreland – “God’s Medicine”
12 Steve Earle With Bill Monroe – “Walls Of Time”

Watch Out! David Ramirez: “The Bad Days” [VIDEO]

David Ramirez: The Bad Days

Truth be told I tend to steer clear of the current popular variety of folk music. More a type of acoustic Emo, de-fanged and navel-gazing, rather than the cunning and adroit poetry of the social (Guthrie) and the emotional (Towens Van Zandt.) There is a recent new wave of folk musicians that has changed my mind and gives me hope for the genre. Stephen Kellogg, Dillon Hodges, Joe Pug and now add to that list David Ramirez.

When I heard Austin-based singer-songwriter David Ramirez’s new song, The Bad Days,” I was immediately taken by the palpable ache of hope against the hopeless. The immediate yearn of the vocals. This man bleeds truth and doesn’t cower from the dark corners of human frailty.

The moody black and white video is directed Rob Montague allows us a view of the hard road and nightly magic a singer/songwriter must endure to share tier craft with few, sometimes indifferent people. Then get up and do it again.

The Bad Days is from Ramirez’s EP, The Rooster which is out now on Sweet World records. it was produced in 6 days by Ramirez and Danny Reisch (Shearwater, Okkervill River, White Denim)

Ramirez will hit the road with Jay Nash and Gregory Alan Isakov, all dates below.

Tour Dates
5/09 – Houston, TX @ Walter’s
5/10 – Austin, TX @ Cactus Cafe (Album Release Show)
5/11 – Dallas, TX @ Prophet Bar
5/22 – Phoenix @ The Rhythm Room #
5/23 – San Diego @ Soda Bar #
5/24 – Los Angeles @ McCabe’s #
5/25 – Ventura @ Zooey’s #
5/26 – Santa Cruz @ Catalyst Club Atrium #
5/28 – San Francisco @ Cafe Du Nord #
5/30 – Portland @ White Eagle Saloon #
5/31 – Seattle @ Q Cafe #
6/1 – Wenatchee @ Caffe Mela #
6/2 – Spokane @ Carr’s Corner #
6/4 – Salt Lake City @ Urban Lounge #
6/5 – Denver @ The Soiled Dove #
6/6 – Omaha @ The Slowdown #
6/7 – Chicago @ SPACE #
6/8 – St. Louis @ Off Broadway #
6/9 – Gravette, AR @ Hard Luck Cafe
6/11 – Kansas City @ Czar Bar #
6/12 – Tulsa @ The Vanguard #
6/13 – Oklahoma City @ The Blue Door #
7/16 – Washington DC @ The Hamilton *
7/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
7/18 – New York City @ Bowery Ballroom *
7/20 – Cambridge, MA @ Club Passim *
7/21 – Portland, ME @ One Longfellow Square *

# co-headline with Jay Nash
* supporting Gregory Alan Isakov