Artist: Blind Boys of Alabama

Ruthie Foster's latest is a smoldering gospel kitchen of fire, rain, love, and the Almighty.

Happy 2012 live music freaks! Hope you all had a killer 2011 and finished it off with a bang and some good shows! Last week was obviously a busy week for live music fans in the New York metro area, so naturally, the concert calendar slows down a bit this week as we start the new year. But that's not to say there aren't some great shows to hit...

The Blind Boys of Alabama are nothing less than an institution, with a tradition that stretches back over 70 years. Their achievements are many over that period, in later years garnering Grammys and an NEA Lifetime Achievement Award, not to mention an unlikely crossover audience with a string of releases over the past decade or so. The legendary group brings their big voices to Mississippi Studios ' intimate space next Wednesday as part of their Go Tell It On the Mountain Christmas Tour. It promises to be a soul-stirring night and a rare opportunity to catch [...]

This is the Blind Boys of Alabama recorded live at Congress, Salzburg, Austria back on October 30th, 2009. The source was Austrian Radio OE1 who subsequently broadcast the concert on December 21st, 2009. The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel and blues group from Alabama that first formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind at Talladega, Alabama in 1939. The three main vocalists of the group and their drummer and percussionist are all blind. As of 2011 (and checking their [...]

Jazz music originating from New Orleans, Louisiana is revered the world over, and one of the city's most iconic institutions is about to celebrate 50 years of stompin' and blowin' the distinctly American style. The legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform a special 50th anniversary event at Carnegie Hall on January 7th, and they won't be doing it alone. PHJB is known for keeping the early spirit of jazz while mixing with the modern musical experience, garnering them a wide variety of performer friends. For this celebratory concert, they'll be calling [...]

Somehow I got picked to write the Top 5 that drops on the first day of ACL (who makes these schedules, anyways?). The wonderful writers here at the ATH have already provided an abundance of great recommendations , interviews and previews that are better than anything I could ever do, so I'll talk about the only thing that hasn't been covered . Music with a kick of country. If you find yourself wandering near the Austin Ventures stage with some time to kill in-between the Brontosauras Flag [...]

It's already been quite the year for the members of Deer Tick , as the band was part of a free-wheeling tour with lead singer John McCauley's side-project Middle Brother . Throw in an acoustic duo tour, a handful of shows as Deervana, as well as a number of festival appearances and headlining gigs, and most bands might consider taking the rest of the year off. Well, that would be most bands, but if you're John McCauley & Co. the remainder of 2011 will keep them just as busy. [...]

The Blind Boys of Alabama have been making music since the 30s. They continue on to this day (despite the death of founding member George Scott in 2005). Their latest album is Take the High Road and they'll be taking that high road on tour starting tonight south in Athens, GA. The full schedule is below. Blind Boys of Alabama tour dates: 8/26/2011 - The Melting Point - Athens, GA 8/27/2011 - Worship In The City - Knoxville, TN 9/4/2011 [...]

San Francisco's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival will once again provide broke festival fanatics with one last chance for a weekend full of music before the harsh reality of winter sets in. Set for September 30 - October 2 at Golden Gate Park, this year's edition offers Robert Plant & the Band of Joy, Bright Eyes, Bob Mould, Broken Social Scene, and Buckethead for the price of your attendance - aka, it's free. Other notable acts include John Prine, Bill Kirchen, Gomez, DeVotchKa, Gillian Welch, Dr. John & the [...]

Few surprises, but there's no moment of this album that doesn't sound good. Of the 75,000 albums released in 2010, roughly umpteen million were gospel tributes. Patty Griffin, Lizz Wright, Mavis Staples, and the duo of Gary Lucas and Dean Bowman all cut NPR-friendly albums that notably included old hymns and spirituals. Their gospel covers tended towards well-performed curios, though occasionally the musicians managed to do something genuinely new with their source material. (Not surprisingly, none of these albums equaled the thrilling 2009 Tompkins Square gospel compilation Fire...

Via NPR Music : Six-time Grammy-winning gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama was first formed at Alabama's Talladega Insitute for the Blind in 1939. It was there that the original five members came together under the moniker "The Happyland," which was changed to The Blind Boys of Alabama in 1948. In the group's incredible 70-year existence, it has released more than 60 albums and been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Maintaining their signature four-part harmonies, the band members have experimented with various styles within the gospel tradition. The [...]

The Blind Boys of Alabama [released] a traditional country-gospel album for the first time in their 70-year career on May 3rd, 2011. One of country music's most acclaimed and compelling artists, Jamey Johnson , co-produced the album and performs on it along with Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Lee Ann Womack , and The Oak Ridge Boys . The Oak Ridge Boys join The Blind Boys of Alabama for an intimate show at City Winery in NYC TONIGHT (5/10). It's not cheap, but tickets are amazingly [...]

This week's releases don't nearly compete in sheer numbers to last week's, but it still is a pretty damn good week. Our favorite may just be Jason Forrest 's new album, The Everything (pictured). However, that's really just the tip of the iceberg. Sade gets a greatest hits album, The Clash , The Sex Pistols , and The Damned get a collective tribute album, and even The Blind Boys of Alabama return with a new album. It's an interesting week, with The Rentals going [...]

One would think that after the shining example of the importance of audio quality and artistic choice that was the Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl XLV half-time performance, we'd probably need a break from the big cultural events and their onslaught of mostly mediocre musical acts. But alas, the chill of winter has once again affected our brains and we're at the mercy of the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. It's hard to understand the appeal of the Grammys once you reach a certain point in your life, the one where you [...]

I know more Gospel than Blues but a friend gave me an album - I was listening to it at the gym today. One of those experiences that sends tingles. Marvellous!

The Blind Boys of Alabama // New England vagabonds — don't miss your chance to witness this legendary group in all their glory this Saturday, July 24th at the Newport Yachting Center as part of the Sunset Music Series. They killed it in NYC last week (watch above). For more info and tickets: Newport Waterfront Events And check out [...]

While the name John Martyn might not be familiar to all music fans, the English guitarist was a legend. Whether he was blurring the lines of rock and blues and folk, putting out some 20 albums over 4o years, or collaborating with Eric Clapton or David Gilmour, the music world lost a true virtuoso when he passed away at the age of 60 last January. Now, via TwentyFourBit.com , the man who has been called the father of trip-hop is being honored like any true music legend should be - with a tribute album featuring the likes of Beck, [...]

We've known about a contribution by the Cure's Robert Smith to a new John Martyn tribute album since earlier this year , but now details about 21 more artists to interpret songs by the late, great British singer-songwriter, as well as their chosen tracks, have emerged. In addition to Smith's rendition of Martyn's 1977 classic "Small Hours," the as-yet-untitled release features newly recorded covers by Lisa Hannigan, Beth Orton, Devendra Banhart, Beck, Vashti Bunyan, the Swell Season, Vetiver, Blind Boys of Alabama, and many more. According to official site johnmartyn.com , more details (and possibly artists) [...]

Night one of The Blind Boys of Alabama 's series at the Lincoln Center was about its guests. Night three was about the Blind Boys. Of the three men seated center-stage, Jimmy Carter played the colorful emcee with a mischievous streak. The big friendly bulldog that is Bishop Billy Bowers growled like one too, on ferocious riffs up and down the scales. And the smooth baritone of Ben Moore was not to be overlooked; nor were his trademark dance moves, assuredly a measure or two smoother than your grandfather's. The Blind Boys [...]

• The Blind Boys Of Alabama - Way Down in the Hole

Brooklyn's Dan Zanes is keeping busy this summer with a trio of upcoming local concerts, two of which are completely free. First off, Dan will be sharing the bill with Jose Ortiz & BombaYo and Jose Conde's Baby Loves Salsa at The First Annual Bronx Family Day at St. Mary's Park on Sunday, June 27 (Today). Then, on the holiday weekend, the Dan Zanes Jam & Jubilee will be taking over the big stage at Battery Park for the Annual River To River 4th of July Concert [...]