Record Store Day Americana and Country Releases 2026: When the Vinyl Spins and the Stories Begin

Record Store Day 2026 Logo

There’s a kind of magic that happens on a cool spring morning when the sun hasn’t quite warmed the sidewalks and the smell of fresh coffee mixes with the tang of old vinyl. It’s Record Store Day — that once-a-year celebration of grooves and ghosts — and this year, the date is Saturday, April 18, 2026. On that morning, independent record stores across the country will throw open their doors, and at the stroke of opening hour, lovers of sound will line up like they’re waiting for the doors of the Ryman Auditorium circa 1975 — all hope, heart, and beat-up boots.

This year’s Record Store Day offerings are rich with history, surprise, and serious vinyl heartbeat. From deep catalog treasures to first-ever pressings and special editions, 2026’s list reads like the soundtrack to an epic road trip through sound.

See the full list.

13th Floor Elevators – We Are Not Live – reprise of the 1968 album ‘Live’ by the 13th Floor Elevators. Spurned at the time for being billed as “Live” when in fact it was a compilation of previously recorded studio masters, outtakes and alternate mixes. The “very loud” crowd noise was overdubbed and was actually taken from a boxing match and wholly inappropriate for the purpose. Now, almost 60 years on, the album masters are available, in their original sequence, without the crowd noise, to be enjoyed in their full psychedelic splendor.

The Blasters – Rare Blasts: Studio Outtakes And Movie Music 1979-1985 – Rare Blasts is a compilation of outtakes and movie music tracks from the roots-rock Americana band’s 1980s studio albums. The 14-track collection was compiled as part of the sold out 5-LP box set, An American Music Story, released for RSD 2025. The LP features highly collectible tracks from their studio recordings many never available previously on vinyl. Includes liner notes from L.A. music writer Chris Morris. Pressed on cobalt blue vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day.

Jeff Buckley – Live À L’Olympia – This live album captures Jeff Buckley and band across two nights in Paris July 6th & 7th during his 1995 European tour in support of the release of his Grace album. Captured at the legendary Olympia, it found Buckley before a rapturous French crowd performing half of the songs from his beloved debut album ( including favorites like “Lover, You Should Have Come Over” and “Hallelujah”) plus covers as varied as the MC5’s “Kick Out The Jams,” a Led Zeppelin parody and songs made famous by Nina Simone and Edith Piaf. In addition, the album features an additional live performance of Buckley and Alim Qasimov in a competitive Qawwali singing duet from a festival of sacred music also captured that year in France. Originally released in 2001, this marks the album’s first time on vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day.

Kaitlin Butts – Yeehaw Sessions – Kaitlin Butts: Yeehaw Sessions is a 12” black vinyl release combining two of Kaitlin’s Eps, never before released on vinyl.

Brandi Carlile – Live At Easy Street Records Vol II – Nearly two decades after recording her first live album at Seattle’s Easy Street Records, Brandi Carlile returned to the iconic record store for Brandi Carlile Live at Easy Street Records Vol. II. Celebrating her 8th studio album, Returning To Myself, the show marked a full-circle moment for the 11x Grammy Award winner. Joined by The Hanseroth Twins and SistaStrings, Carlile played to a full house and was met with an outpouring of love from fans who celebrated her return to the city where it all began.

Tyler Childers – Live From Dinosaur World – A 7” single featuring live renditions of “Bitin’ List” and “Dirty Ought Trill” performed during the release weekend of Tyler Childers’ critically acclaimed album Snipe Hunter, exclusive to indie record stores for Record Store Day 2026.

Crosby, Stills & Nash – The Solo Albums – The landmark debut solo albums from David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash after the overwhelming success of the Crosby, Stills & Nash and ‘Deja Vu’. This set also includes an LP of rarities from demos and sessions for all three albums.

Skeeter Davis – The End of the World: The Navy Hoedown Sessions – Skeeter Davis fans are in for a fascinating detour with The Navy Hoedown Sessions, a 50th-anniversary reissue of the 1975 double album that is as much a historical curiosity as it is a musical treat. Originally produced for the U.S. Navy as a recruitment recording, the album was pressed in very limited quantities and has remained almost unheard. Featuring Davis’s signature country-pop sound and some of her greatest hits, these recordings are a true delight. Pressed on pink vinyl for Record Store Day 2026, don’t miss this rare opportunity.

Iris DeMent – The Way I Should (30th Anniversary) – In celebration of the album’s 30th anniversary, Yep Roc Records is pressing The Way I Should on vinyl for the first time. The album is remastered by Mike Westbrook of Material Mastering and is pressed on Summer Sky color vinyl, limited to 1,000 copies worldwide.

Jerry Garcia – Reflections (50th Anniversary) – One of Garcia’s most artistically unified statements of harmony, affirmation, and joy celebrates its golden anniversary with an expanded 3xLP set. Reflections (50th Anniversary Edition) presents the remastered original studio album, recorded with the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band – plus two bonus LPs featuring studio outtakes, jams and four previously unreleased live recordings. The collection is housed in a tri-fold mirror board jacket and pressed in a limited edition of 5,000.

The Jayhawks – 2 Meter Sessions – Never-before-released recordings – Amsterdam 1997 & 2000
for the first time ever on vinyl, the jayhawks present 2 meter sessions – an exclusive record store day 2026 release featuring two amsterdam sessions from 1997 and 2000.

Waylon Jennings & The Waylors – The Balladeer meets the Dukes of Hazzard – During the process of archiving and unearthing Waylon’s lost studio recordings, his son Shooter found the original recordings of lines of the Balladeer for the first two episodes of the Dukes of Hazzard, complete with bloopers and out-takes. Shooter also found the original recordings for the soundtrack to first season of the Dukes, produced by Richie Albright, and featuring Waylon and his smoking backing band.

George Jones – Cold Hard Truth – George Jones’ 1999 return to traditional country music, his first album with Asylum Records. Produced by Keith Stegall, the album features strong, original honky-tonk ballads and raucous tunes, reminiscent of Jones’ classic recordings. Cold Hard Truth is one of Jones’ strongest albums in nearly two decades, offering a consistent, high-quality listening experience. Pressed for Record Store Day on light blue vinyl.

Freddie King – Feelin’ Alright: The Complete 1975 Nancy Pulsations Concert – For the first time ever, experience the full power of Freddie King’s explosive 1975 performance at the Jazz Pulsations Festival in Nancy, France — a never-before-released live set that captures the Texas blues legend at his fiercest. King roars through a high-energy set of blues, funk, and soul-drenched grooves, backed by a razor-sharp band and fueled by his searing guitar tone and powerhouse vocals.

Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris – All The Roadrunning – To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the collaboration album between Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris, All The Roadrunning, is reissued on 2LP smoky marble vinyl as part of Record Store Day 2026.

Little Feat – Little Feat (Deluxe Edition) – Next in the lineup of foundational Little Feat albums to get the Rhino Deluxe treatment is the band’s 1971 self-titled debut album. Releasing as a 2LP vinyl set exclusively for Record Store Day 2026, it includes the original album, AAA-cut from original master tape, alongside a bonus disc of rare previously unreleased alternate versions and outtakes from their early recording sessions.

Joni Mitchell – For The Roses – Joni’s 1972 album, For The Roses, was her first for David Geffen’s Asylum Records. Joni originally had intended the album cover to be art that she created that was illustrative of the song, “For The Roses,” and showed her cynicism to the music business at the time. Geffen vetoed her artwork because he thought it was not a good look to have a horse with roses coming out of its ass! So Joni ultimately compromised to use the Joel Bernstein photo that was ultimately the cover. This special limited edition for Record Store Day restores Joni’s original vision for the cover artwork for the first time. Pressed on rose color vinyl.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – July 16, 1978 – Paradise Theater, Boston, MA – A wild night from the You’re Gonna Get It tour was recorded on 2-track at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA, and broadcast by local rock radio station WBCN-FM.

Robert Plant – Saving Grace: All That Glitters… with Suzi Dian – Saving Grace: All that Glitters… is a continuation of Plant’s Saving Grace album and his beautiful collaboration with Suzi Dian and their band. It features four new studio recordings.

John Prine – Found Dogs – A newly curated archival release celebrating the 30th anniversary of Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings. Drawn from the original recording sessions and demos from the era, Found Dogs collects alternate versions, acoustic performances, and five previously unreleased tracks, offering a rare look into Prine’s songwriting and studio process during a pivotal period of his career.

John Prine – BBC Sessions – John Prine recorded live for BBC radio. Featuring solo performances of songs from his first two albums. First official release. 1-LP 140g black vinyl.

Son Volt – Sound Signal Serenades – Son Volt’s latest album, Sound Signal Serenades, released on Sky Blue Opaque vinyl as a special version for Record Store Day 2026. Featuring twelve originals, Son Volt’s return to the elemental strengths that have long defined their sound—restless guitars, melodic clarity, and songs rooted in the lived experience of American landscapes. Anchored by Jay Farrar’s steady, unvarnished voice, the record balances reflection and resolve, drawing lines between personal memory and the wider currents of history, change, and endurance.

Bruce Springsteen – Live From Asbury Park 2024 – Available for the first time on vinyl, hear Bruce Springsteen’s electrifying homecoming performance in Asbury Park at the 2024 Sea.Hear.Now festival. Spanning over three hours of powerhouse performances in front of 35,000 people, this 5LP set features Springsteen at his dynamic best, backed by the legendary E Street Band. Spanning Springsteen’s iconic catalog, this record includes hits such as “Thunder Road” and “Dancing in the Dark,” plus songs that Springsteen wrote just down the road from this stage, including “Blinded By The Light” and “Growin’ Up.”

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros – Global A Go-Go – Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the second album by Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros with a limited splatter color vinyl pressing. Features some of his most well-known songs from the Mescaleros era, including “Mondo Bongo,” “Johnny Appleseed,” and “Bhindi Bhagee.”

Various Artists – My Soul Is Lost: Unknown & Forgotten Rural American Musicians – Old-time music compiled by R. Crumb and John Heneghan from their own almost five thousand 78 rpm records in his collection.

Jerry Jeff Walker – Navajo Rug (35th Anniversary) – In celebration of its 35th Anniversary, Jerry Jeff Walker’s Navajo Rug is now available on vinyl for the first time, exclusively for RSD. A fan favorite, the LP features extended liner notes and tracks like “Navajo Rug,” “If I’d Loved You Then,” and Jerry Jeff’s ode to one of his favorite baseball players, “Nolan Ryan (He’s A Hero To Us All).” Pressed on exclusive deep orange vinyl.

Tompkins Square to Release ‘Live At Caffè Lena: Music From America’s Legendary Coffeehouse, 1967-2013’

Live at Caffe Lena

Since 1960 the tiny performance space of  Caffè Lena, located in Saratoga Springs, New York, has played host to some of  of the most influential artists across diverse genres of music; traditional folk, blues, singer-songwriters, jazz and bluegrass. 

Many of these decades-spanning performances were fortunately caught on tape and will be made available as ‘Live At Caffè Lena.’ The collection is  a 3-CD box set, containing 47 never-before released tracks by Dave Van Ronk, Mary Gauthier, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Kate McGarrigle, Rick Danko, Anais Mitchell, Sleepy John Estes, Arlo Guthrie, Sarah Lee Guthrie, and more. Included are unpublished photographs. Images include selections from the archive of esteemed photographer Joe Alper, who captured many iconic, intimate portraits from the folk era of the 1960s.

From the press release: “‘Live At Caffè Lena’ documents an important folk universe that was and is still happening in upstate New York, a story heretofore largely untold. The release of this collection comes at an auspicious time in light of renewed interest in the New York folk scene of the 60s as depicted in the forthcoming Coen Brothers film, ‘Inside Llewyn Davis.’ The film is loosely based on Dave Van Ronk’s 2005 memoir ‘The Mayor of Macdougal Street.’ Van Ronk, a Caffè Lena regular, served as a mentor to many artists, some who would go on to eclipse his fame. His 1974 recording of “Gaslight Rag”featured on the box set references the Gaslight Café, a famed Greenwich Village venue that along with Caffè Lena was a catalyst for the folk music revival.

Caffè Lena embodied the spirit of the folk boom, the era and its artistry, building a reputation as a hotbed of creativity and connection. It was also a safe haven and nurturing space for artists, its atmosphere cultivated personally by Lena Spencer herself. She would graciously house wayward artists, sometimes for months at a time. But she was not merely a host. She championed artists, from Bob Dylan as early as 1961 all the way through the 80s until her passing. Her passion for identifying and promoting talent is evident throughout this 3-CD set. That Caffè Lena is still open for business tonight is a testament to her legacy.”

‘Live At Caffè Lena.’ will be available Worldwide on Tompkins Square, September 24, 2013 – Pre-order here.

‘Live At Caffè Lena: Music From America’s Legendary Coffeehouse, 1967-2013′

DISC ONE 
01 Intro  – Lena Spencer / Guy Carawan Cripple Creek 1970 
02 Hedy – West Shady Grove 1968 
03 Intro by Lena Spencer / – Sleepy John Estes Holy Spirit 1974 
04 Frank Wakefield and Friends - Will The Circle Be Unbroken 1971 
05 Jean Ritchie - West Virginia Mine Disaster 1969 
06 Billy Faier - Hunt The Wren 1967 
07 Greenbriar Boys - Hit Parade of Love 1968 
08 Mike Seeger - O Death 1971 
09 Jacqui and Bridie - Hello Friend 1974 
10 Tom Paxton - Morning Again 1968 
11 David Amram - Little Mama 1974 
12 Patrick Sky - Reality Is Bad Enough 1971 
13 Rosalie Sorrels - Travelin’ Lady 1974 
14 Smoke Dawson - Devil’s Dream 1968 
15 Utah Phillips - The Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia 1974 
16 Michael Cooney - Thyme It Is A Precious Thing 1974 
17 Kate McGarrigle and Roma Baran - Caffè Lena 1972 
 
DISC TWO 
01 Intro by Lena Spencer / Dave Van Ronk - Gaslight Rag 1974 
02 Jerry Jeff Walker - Mr. Bojangles 1968 
03 Barbara Dane - Mama Yancey’s Advice / Love With a Feeling 1968 
04 Roy Book Binder  - Ain’t Nobody Home But Me 1974 
05 Intro by Lena Spencer / David Bromberg - The Holdup 1972 
06 Ramblin’ Jack Elliott - Pretty Boy Floyd 1992 
07 Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans 2010 
08 Aztec Two Step - The Persecution and Restoration of Dean Moriarty 1989 
09 Happy And Artie Traum - Trials Of Jonathan 1974 
10 Rick Danko-  It Makes No Difference 1988 
11 Paul Geremia –  Something’s Gotta Be Arranged 1989 
12 Robin and Linda Williams –  S-A-V-E-D 1987 
13 John Herald –  Ramblin’ Jack Elliott 1991 
14 Pete Seeger-  Somos El Barco (We Are the Boat) 1985
 
DISC THREE 
01 Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion - Folksong 2013 
02 Anais Mitchell - Wedding Song 2013 
03 Bill Morrissey - The Last Day Of The Furlough 1990 
04 Patty Larkin - Island Of Time 1992 
05 Greg Brown - Flat Stuff 1989
06 Mary Gauthier - I Drink 2013 
07 Sean Rowe - Old Black Dodge 2013 
08 Tom Chapin - Cats In The Cradle 1987 
09 Intro by Lena Spencer / Christine Lavin - It’s A Good Thing He Can’t Read My Mind 1987 
10 Bill Staines - Sweet Wyoming Home 1990 
11 Bucky and John Pizzarelli - I Like Jersey Best 1989 
12 Rory Block - That’s No Way To Get Along 1989 
13 Chris Smither - Killing The Blues 1989 
14 Tift Merritt - Traveling Alone 2013 
15 John Gorka - Down In The Milltown 1990 
16 Lena Spencer-  Dear Little Cafe 1972 

RIP Susanna Clark

Behind every great man there is a great woman rings none more true than in the case of Guy and Susanna Clark.

Atlanta, Texas-born Susanna Clark, a former art teacher and renowned songwriter for Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, Miranda Lambert, Rosanne Cash, Jerry Jeff Walker and others, died Wednesday, June 27 in Nashville. She was 73, and had reported to have been in poor health in recent years.

Susanna was key to Guy Clark quitting his job at a Houston television station and focusing on songwriting. Guy Clark, a contemporary of frequent house-guest Townes Van Zandt, would go on to pen great songs such as “L.A. Freeway” (which mentions Susanna ) , “Desperados Waiting for a Train” and “Hemingway’s Whiskey” (which was later covered by Kenny Chesney.)Clark would go on to become a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The Tennessean sites a Journal of Country Music interview where Susanna said “I just asked him what he wanted to do, and he said, ‘Music, I said, ‘Well, let’s do it.’ And he said, ‘That’s the first time a woman has ever asked me to quit a job.”

Her first Top 20 country hit was “I’ll Be Your San Antone Rose” for singer Dottsy in 1975. In 1978, she and Carlene Carter wrote “Easy From Now On” the lead track of Harris’ Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town. Most recently she wrote the title cut from Miranda Lambert’s 2007 “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” Clark also put her painting talents to work creating the album cover for Harris as well as Willie Nelson’s “Stardust.”

One of my favorite scenes from the classic film “Heartworn Highways” is the scene with Texas singer/songwriters gathered at Guy and Susanna Clark’s home for a picking session on Christmas Eve 1975. Here you see Guy and Susanna in the opening scene followed by Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell and Richard Dobson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJrVwJonlrA

Here’s a great video of Guy Clark telling a great story about Susanna and performing a song he wrote for her.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass – Saturday Picks

Sat Oct 2 (11:00am – 7:00pm)
Here’s where it gets tough….
11:45am – Towers Of Gold Stage: Jon Langford & Skull Orchard – Mekons front man’s current alt.country manifestation.
11:00am – Arrow Stage: Kelly Willis – Austin-based singer/songwriter with a voice as clear as a spring creek.
12:00pm – Porch Stage: David Olney with Sergio Webb – Olney is one of the best songwriters of our time and hos recent release Dutchman’s Curve is one of his best.
12:05pm – Rooster Stage: Jonathan Richman Feat. Tommy Larkins – Imagine Lou Reed if he did funny songs.
12:55pm – Banjo Stage: Carolina Chocolate Drops – This African American string band current big deal in Americana music, and for a damn good reason.
1:15pm – Rooster Stage: Guy Clark & Verlon Thompson – Guy Clark is a Texas treasure, and he makes his own guitars!
2:30pm – Rooster Stage: Songwriter Circle with Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, John Doe & David Olney – wow.
2:35pm – Arrow Stage: Kinky Friedman – He didn’t get to be Governor of Texas so we get to see him perform a selection of wry and hilarious songs!
3:30pm – Towers Of Gold Stage: Richard Thompson – If you’ve never seen him, SEE HIM!
3:55pm – Arrow Stage: Jerry Jeff Walker – Another Texas-based treasure.
4:15pm – Rooster Stage:  Buddy Miller – A member of Robert Plant’s Band of Joy and the man who appeared on the final printed issue of no Depression magazine. He’s sort of the Keven Bacon of Americana..no telling who will show up.
4:20pm – Banjo Stage: Gillian Welch – An O Brother, Where Art Thou? alum (associate producer, performer and film cameo) and her partner, guitarist David Rawlings perform beautifully somber tunes from the farthest Appalachia.
5:20pm – Arrow Stage: The Flatlanders feat. Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock – in Texas this is what is known as an embarrassment of riches. A real Texas suprergroup.
5:45pm -Banjo Stage: Steve Earle & The Dukes & Rooster Stage: Robert Earl Keen – Flip a coin, friend-O

News Round Up: New Roky Erickson/Okkervil River in April

  • The Rick Rubin produced American recording done by Johnny Cash near the end of his life featured some inspired covers (most famous being the cover of Trent Reznor’s Hurt on 2002’s album, American IV: The Man Comes Around) Paste.com lists 10 songs they wished  Cash had lived to cover featuring works by Joe Strummer, The Silver Jews and  Ryan Adams. Though I’m sure a list like this could go on and on I have to take exception to a couple of the entries on the Paste list; Bob by the Drive By Truckers could be their worst song and I doubt that the mighty Cash could make it better (and there are tons of better DBT songs for him to cover; Cottonseed perhaps?)  and Death Cab For Cutie?! Really?! (via the 9513.com)
  • Aquarium Drunkard posts a fine ode to the greatness that is Jerry Jeff  Walker.
  • Legendary Austin musician Roky Erickson returns on April 20th with his Anti Record’s release True Love Cast Out All Evil, his first new album in fourteen years. Producing the release is Will Sheff and his band, Okkervil River, backs Erickson.

News Round Up: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Begins

  • The winners of the 20th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards went to: Dailey & Vincent : Entertainer of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper : Instrumental Group of the Year, Dan Tyminski – Male Vocalist of the Year, Dale Ann Bradley – Female Vocalist of the Year, Wheels : Dan Tyminski, (artist/producer) Album of the Year, Don’t Throw Mama’s Flowers Away : Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass (artist) – Song of the Year (via BlueGrassJournal.com) See photos from the award show, held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn (The Bluegrass Blog)
  • London-based Americana (Euro-Americana?) band The Dog Roses have a new EP, Just Another Saturday, scheduled for release next month. It is discribed as “foot tapping country-bluegrass mix with hints of celtic thrown in for good measure.” Download Let the Bottle Take the Heartache from the forthcoming EP: Let The Bottle Take The Heartache Away.mp3
  • Go pick up the new podcast from NineBullets.net featuring tracks from upcoming cds by Lucero,  Strawfoot and Micah Schnabel (Two Cow Garage) as well as new material from Drivin’ & Cryin’ and Chuck Ragan.
  • Sounds Country takes a look back at Jerry Jeff Walker’s 1975 release Ridin’ High
  • Hardly Strictly Bluegrass begins today and goea on until Sunday in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Speedway Meadow. The 9th year of this free annual Americana and roots festival features 5 stages featuring John Prine, Lyle Lovett, Ricky Skaggs, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle, Billy Joe Shaver, Elizabeth Cook, Buddy Miller and many, many more. You can follow HSB on twitter. And you can follow Twang Nation tweets from the festival all weekend.

Stagecoach Announces Festival Lineup

The lineup for Stagecoach, California’s Country Music Festival has been announced. Along with the garden variety Nashville pop faire – Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire and Brad Paisley – the festival will feature more harder edged and rootsier artists – Miranda Lambert, Earl Scruggs,  Jerry Jeff Walker, Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley, Dale Watson, The Duhks, some pleasant surprises, Dallas’ own Reverend Horton Heat, and a few wanna-bes – Kid Rock, Darius Rucker.

Stagecoach will take place on April 26, 2009 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA. Tickets for go on sale Friday, November 14 at 10:00 AM (PT) at all Ticketmaster locations.

8th Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Day 1.5

Yeah day 1.5, I missed Friday’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass featuring Mr. Plant and Ms. Krauss show so on with this one.

Beautiful weather (despite some early afternoon mist), the crowd grew throughout the day into huge throngs of passionate fans.  You want crazy hippy dancers still bummed about the Dead’s….er death, yeah they were there too.

The day started for me with Tift Merritt. Tift put on a spirited show with a crack band. Moving to Paris (and losing her record deal) has certainly agreed with her. Guy Clark & Verlon Thompson were next. I’ve never see a full set my Clark (and at one hour sets I still haven’t) but he and Thompson did a great job of covering a lot of Clark ground as well as a couple of  Thompson originals.

Austin’s Bad Livers came back from the dead to play a their first show after an 8 year hiatus.  They sounded great and glade to be in the thick of all their punk-bluegrass Texas sized gully-washer.  The Gourds followed with their Texas brand of hillbilly world music mash-up stew that satisfied just fine. Texas legend Jerry Jeff Walker followed with a raucous show that belied the man’s age.  Thankfully Redneck Mother was on he menu and Mr. Bojangles was not.

The blissful gospel sounds of Odetta was next and wooed the crowd with her majestic voice and presence. Steve Earle & The Bluegrass Dukes eneded the night with a great rendition of the 10-year old Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band collaboration The Mountain as well as blugrassed up verions of Earle originals “An American Boy” and the show closer “Cottonhead Road.”

i need to thank my partner in crime (and daughter) Isobel for accompanying me from stage to stage while I covered this.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 8

Head up Northern Californians, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival is on for this weekend (Fri, Oct 3rd – 10:30am – Noon & 2:30pm – 6:45pm & Sat Oct 4th 10:45am – 7:15pm – Sun Oct 5th, 2008 – 11am – 7pm) at the Speedway, Lindley & Marx meadows in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.

The three day event has 5 stages featuring artists like Jimmie Dale Gilmore,  the Waco Brothers, Richard Thompson, Three Girls & Their Buddy (Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin & Buddy Miller), The Del McCoury Band, Steve Earle & The Bluegrass Dukes, Guy Clark & Verlon Thompson, Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Elvis Costello’s High Whines & Spirits, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, The Infamous Stringdusters, Alison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven, Justin Townes Earle and so much more!

If you see mw at the show make sure t say “Hi” and save me a spot near the stage!

Ray Wylie Hubbard on Redneck Mother

Ray Wylie Hubbard is one of my country music heroes and he’s one funny son of a bitch! Here Hubbard tells about the inspiration behind his classic song “Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother”. This was filmed at Jerry Jeff Walker’s Birthday Bash at the Paramount Theater in Downtown Austin Texas. You can see Jerry Jeff laughing behind him. Classic!

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=E24C4NY0ga8[/youtube]