With the addition of two renowned roots music groups - Los Lobos , considered by critics and fans as one of America's most distinctive and original bands, and Assembly of Dust , known for their stellar live performances from Bonnaroo to Carnegie Hall - MerleFest 25 , presented by Lowe's, firms up another diverse, crowd-pleasing collection of performers for the festival's 2012 lineup. Los Lobos will perform on Friday, April 27, 2012, delivering the closing performance of the evening, and Assembly of Dust [...]
This is from the Smithsonian Folkways album Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley, 1960-1962
This is from a 2006 Smithsonian Folkways release called Classic Railroad Songs .
In the slipstream of Johnny Cash came what would become known as the Outlaw Movement, an informal response to Nashville's easy listening, corporate and safe style, often recorded in Texas, reviving the honky tonk sounds of Hank Williams with strong lyrical content. Starting in the mid-'60s with singers like Bobby Bare, Tompall Glaser and Johnny Darrell, the sub-genre's standard bearers would include Waylon Jennings and his wife Jessi Colter, Willie Nelson (after he grew his hair), Kris Kristofferson, Leon Russell, Billy Joe Shaver, Hank Williams Jr, Jerry Jeff Walker and Gram Parsons. More traditionally-minded country stars, many mentored [...]
In the late 1950s and early '60s country was in a good shape. The likes of Johnny Cash, George Jones, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline (who like Reeves would die in a plane crash), Don Gibson, Kitty Wells, Marty Robbins, Skeeter Davis, Ray Price, Faron Young, Ernest Tubb, ex-boxer Lefty Frizzell and Wanda Jackson were recording prodigious success, even in rivalry with its progeny, rock & roll.These were the comfort years before the social upheaval of the 1960s put into question old certainties, even in the world of country music. By now, country was no longer confined to the [...]
The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT) -- PHILADELPHIA - The esteem in which Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson is held in the folk-music community is best expressed by Texas troubadour Guy Clark in his song "Dublin Blues." "I have seen the David," Clark sings. "And the Mona Lisa, too / And I have heard Doc Watson play 'Columbus Stockade Blues.'" These days, the 88-year-old musician - a masterful acoustic guitarist and singer who has been blind since infancy - doesn't play much outside...
Discover the real Florida music!
Return of the folk singers
As Yo La Tengo gears up for the start of their semi-annual eight-night Hannukah run at Maxwell's , which gets underway on December 1, the Hoboken-based band has announced a unique twist for their winter tour. The iconic indie-rock trio will split their nights into two sets, with the first 45 minutes of music to be determined by a spin on a Wheel Of Fortune. The wheel will feature eight distinct themes, which include The Freewheeling Yo La Tengo, Condo Fucks, Sitcom Theater and Songs Starting With S - full descriptions of each can be [...]
As you can probably imagine, I like acoustic guitar music. Almost 99.9 of the albums I have in this genre, are solo albums, sometimes with additional arrangments, but it's always a work of one composer and writer. I was always fascinated by the ability of two acoustic guitar to collaborate and the big possibilities opened [...]
The bloody World Cup is here again so I am in need of (much) distraction, although not having a television helps to a certain extent... But, despite the fact that football bores the bejasus out of me, it would be churlish not to wish for the best in South Africa – a big moment for them. And I am off to Devon tomorrow for a few days r and r and some biz. So: The curse of the blogger of course, is to make rash statements: 'Apologies for being away but now I'm back etc' [...]
*** MP3: Doc Watson - Black Mountain Rag
Trout season opens tomorrow around where I live, and it's a good thing too. This last winter may not have been as severe as some, but it seems like it was just as long, and I've got the Deep River Blues. Here's Doc Watson:
:: Exile on Main Street has a lot of killer stuff on it already, but UMG has decided to ratchet up the classic Rolling Stones album (or more likely, ruin it) with a reissue that will include 10 extra tracks. :: Thom Yorke keeps finding ways to underwhelm me . Thanks, Thom. :: New Cynic ? Yes, please. :: How in the world are subscription-based music sites still getting millions in VC funding ? :: Head over to MetalSucks, write [...]
It's here! It's here! It's here! Folk Festival weekend is finally here! The Ann Arbor Folk Festival is one of my favorite times of the year. For those who aren't familiar, The A2 Folk Fest is basically a giant fundraiser for The Ark which is this awesome super small and cozy music venue that showcases folk and roots music. The Ark is one of my absolute favorite places to see live music. Not a bad seat in the house, the hallways are lined with photos of artists (both legendary and up and coming) who've played there, and the [...]
Any Bluegrass fans out there? Merlefest has announced its 2010 line-up , featuring classic Bluegrass and "Traditional-plus" music from the likes of Doc Watson, Jerry Douglas, the recently 'Bluegrassified' Elvis Costello, and a number of other heavy-hitters in the broader Bluegrass realm. The Wilkesboro, North Carolina festival will take place April 29 - May 2, 2010, and will celebrate its 23rd year in existence. From the press release: MERLEFEST 2010 ANNOUNCES TALENT LINE UP TICKETS ON SALE NOVEMBER 10 WILKESBORO, N.C.- MerleFest 2010, presented [...]
I'm here only tentatively . Peeking shyly from around the corner. Trying to build up the courage to join the crowd in the center of the dance floor doing the Soulja Boy or whatever the kids are doing in the center of the dance floor these days. Reminds me of Junior High School dances. I'm not being coy. I'm not being melodramatic. Or at least I don't think so. I've never been very sensitive to my own melodramatics, which is why I've been tagged as a 'drama queen' more than once in my days. I am [...]
Suicide : Frankie Teardrop [ purchase ] Doc & Merle Watson : The Lawson Family Murder [ purchase ] Two songs which are worlds apart musically, but which deal with the same subject : how men suddenly go amok and kill their whole family before comiting suicide. The first song by Suicide is probably one of the most frightening pieces of music ever made with its cold synthetizers and Alan Vega's inhuman screams. [...]
Band Weblogs
Keep the Coffee Coming
Any Major Dude With Half A Heart
PopMatters
Music @ Blogcritics.org
Hidden Track
Small Town Romance
wordsandmusic
Cold Splinters
SqueezeMyLemon
BUZZGRINDER
Candy For Your Ears
Live Music Blog
A Free Man
Star Maker Machine
The Stranger Dance
![Niki & The Dove - The Fox [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/youtube/l2f6UbMnlq4_130.jpg)
Skrillex Uses Satanic and Homosexual Influence to Win Grammys
Deadmau5 wears Skrillex's cell phone number on Grammy red carpet. Did u send him a txt mssg?
Music Singles Chart #95
First Listen: Grimes - Visions (album stream)
