While one would not recommend playing this disc at parties (unless one wanted to clear the guests out), the latent cheeriness of the depressing material rivals the blues as good time music. Judging by the topics of the songs on Diana Jones' latest release, you would think she'd be a drag to be with. The Appalachian-style musician writes songs and sings about the death of a child, the death of a lover, the grueling effects of poverty, the job of a funeral singer, coal mine accidents, and such. The one cover song out of the dozen tracks is her [...]

Emily Bonn and the Vivants - "Riot At The Rite Spot" In a recent column I implied that the scene around Amnesia might have lost some of its vitality. I am happy to report that I was wrong. Emily Bonn and The Vivants , expert local western house rockers, brought a bill that featured support from as far off as Nashville and the Great White North here Thursday night to a packed and raucous house. Old Man Ludecke hails from around [...]

Taking it's title from an album gifted her by the recordings co-producer Ketch Secor ( Old Crow Medicine Show) , High Atmosphere is the latest release from Diana Jones on the Proper label, the album is the third notable one from Jones who's distinct voice is a real treat for the ears, it follows on from the My Remembrance of You (2006) and Better Times Will Come (2009) both of which I'd recommend too, there were a pair of albums released in the 90's but I'm not [...]

I've said my piece on Diana Jones ( here , here , and here ). So let's keep this simple; here's the title track from her new record High Atmosphere . Buy it here and catch Diana Jones on tour if you can. High Atmosphere

No time for a proper post. But very excited to hear about this new Diana Jones record High Atmosphere . Click on the links for lots more info on this one and watch the epk below about the recording and the ethos of the album. Order it here .
Diana Jones creates some music for the soul and the mind.
Diana Jones has always had an odd affinity for traditional the rural mountain songs of the South, but growing up an adopted daughter on Long Island she never understood why. In the late 90's she finally met her grandfather, a guitarist and lover of Appalachian music, who introduced her to the area that her family had laid roots and her cultural background. When he died in 2000, Jones changed her musical direction, digging deep into the musical traditions that she had come to regard as her birthright. "Once I started writing these songs...they came through in what felt like [...]
This is from 2006's My Remembrance of You. MP3 File yousendit

This week's episode of the current series of Later...with Jools Holland features a more interesting and diverse roster of artists than last week's one. Echo & the Bunnymen 's distinctive guitar and vocal sound brought them lots of critical and some commercial success in the eighties. They'll be playing songs from their latest album, The Fountain. Calvin Harris will be appearing and he's best known for his hit, Acceptable in the 80s. I've included a version from last week's guests, Editors . The Spaghetti Western Orchestra will be playing their versions of [...]
[MP3 ] Tom Brosseau: "You Don't Know My Friends" [MP3] Tim Williams - "I Hit Another Wall" Anyone who knows the writers of this little site knows that we've been going through a helluva life adjustment in our chosen career fields. All moves here have been upwards and great, but highly time consuming. For that reason, this show has been a highlight on our calendar all week. We're starting the evening off with the amazing Diana Jones at Joe's Pub before heading to [...]
This is the title song from her newest album. That would be Nanci Griffith you're hearing with Diana. MP3 File yousendit

Special tickets with VIP green room access are available through an online auction for the sold-out event, Sound & Vision , at Abbey Road studios, London on 26th February 2009 starring special guests Paul Weller and Dermot O'Leary . Now in its fourth year, Cancer Research UK 's 'Sound & Vision' celebrates music, the people who make it and the imagery it inspires. In addition to Paul Weller, Lemar , Paolo Nutini and new artist Diana Jones will be performing on the night and patron [...]

OK. Forget what I said yesterday about having two women artists in a row. Because today's post makes three. Also I was going to throw an exclusive tag up on this post but why bother since every one of the songs from this week are exclusives to Songs:Illinois. So why signal this one out. As I said back in January , Diana Jones ' new record Better Times Will Come is one of my most anticipated records of the year. I've raved about Diana's music before and I'm just in love with [...]

There have only been a handful of timers in 4 years that I have not posted an mp3 along with a post. Today's post joins that short list. And that's only because I couldn't get clearance to post the title track from Diana Jones' Better Times Will Come due out in April on Proper American . When I first wrote about Diana Jones' music back in 2007 I had no idea at the time that it would stick with me for so long and affect me so much. Her [...]
This is the opening song on her 2006 album My Remembrance of You, my introduction to Diana Jones. I was taken by her voice, a sort of country-folk blend, and by the strength of her music. MP3 File

I like to think I haven't missed much great music from 2006. Sure there's some I didn't write about (couldn't get permission, oversaturated on other blogs, and some that just didn't fit the Songs:Illinoiss' mission). But Diana Jones' record is one that I just spaced on. Not sure how it happened too since her song "Pony" was nominated for a Folk Alliance Award, her 2006 release My Remembrance of You was praised by my hometown paper of record (The Tribune called it the # 1 record of the year), and she [...]