Once again, we're off to spend the weekend at the always amazing Joe Val Bluegrass Festival out at the Sheraton in Framingham, MA. This year's lineup is stellar as always, with young sensation Sierra Hull, Steve Martin touring and recording companions the Steep Canyon Rangers, new Boston-based all-girl quintet Della Mae, long-time fave the Clare Lynch Band, and special guest spots from banjo master Bill Keith and folk singer-songwriter Jonathan Edwards holding down a powerhouse three days of music. We've covered most of these artists before, so instead of fishing for some new [...]
As noted Sunday, I'm in Memphis over the holidays, staying right on Beale Street in the thick of the scene. Though I've pre-scripted these entries in the interest of truly taking some time off, by now, we're either on our way to or have already visited Graceland, so let's dive right into our usual Vacation Coverfolk celebration, wherein we feature the songs and songbooks of local musicians of influence in the regions where we travel. Ladies and Gentlemen: Elvis Presley, covered in folk. Love him or hate [...]
The past few years have seen a few changes with the bluegrass group The Grascals . Just as is the case with any band in any genre, members come and members go. While the group has added two key figures to their band, you won't hear any major stylistic changes in their latest set, The Famous Lefty Flynn's , released last week on Rounder Records. "We're pretty much staying with what we were doing when we started," says member Terry Eldredge. "The main thing is we pick music and want to play the best music we can that [...]
Hank Williams Jr. is coming to Louisville's Freedom Hall on Saturday, April 3 (7pm). Eric Church and The Grascals will open. Get your tickets HERE ($25 to $125). O.D.d in Denver Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound Family Tradition Continue reading Hank Williams Jr. @ Freedom Hall - 4/3 at Backseat Sandbar .
It's hilarious to see The Grascals tour bus. The Mobil logo is as big as life on the side. However, this is why touring makes money: sponsorship. It's also (one of) the reason(s) that concert promoters can put on free shows from time to time. A company will shell out a huge amount of money to put their name on something--just like NASCAR, Baseball, movie previews, and just about any other entertainment industry out there. It's sort of weird that music has often fought this (especially with that whole Seattle grunge thing in the 90s). Are the 90s [...]
The Grascals ( official MySpace wiki AMG ) are a bluegrass band from Nashville, who've worked with Dierks Bentley, George Jones, The Jordanaires, and Dolly Parton. I've had this perky track on my hard drive for a while now, thanks to Boy Howdy over at Cover Lay Down . Since I first heard this, I'd be willing to bet I've listened to this version at least five times as much as Elvis's original version. And when, on vacation, I played this for the family, they all liked it a [...]
As a child of the eighties, I grew up with a popcultural impression of Dolly Parton as a rhinestone MILF, the ditzy blond of 9 to 5 and Islands in the Stream , famous for being famous. When my father passed me her 2001 folk/bluegrass album Little Sparrow , which mixes her own originals with several great and surprising covers, I was startled to find myself a fan of the album, more than merely appreciative of the sweet longing in her clear, delicate performance, but I figured it [...]
:: Assholes By Nature , It is What It Is (Rap-a-Lot) :: Ace Young , Ace Young (Pazzo/Fontana) :: David Banner , The Greatest Story Ever Told (Universal Motown) :: Black Devil Disco Club , Eight Oh Eight (Lo) :: The Boy Bathing , A Fire To Make Preparations (self-released) :: Drakkar Sauna , [...]
By most popular definitions, bluegrass isn't folk music. Where modern singer-songwriter folk teeters on the edge of pop, rock, and blues, today's bluegrass bands find radioplay on the country end of the dial, if at all. And though there are certainly plenty of crossover alt-country and Americana musicians out there who are welcome at both bluegrass and folk festivals, most music festivals tend to be firmly either/or. But as I've noted previously, folk and bluegrass have much in common. Both stem from the same early American [...]
The other day some pictures of ninebullets.net stickers that made it to Vegas tickled me pink. I mailed out a bunch, but getting some pictures of them was a first. I must admit, I'm digging it. It would be cool if I could make it like a Roy Army type gimmick. I wonder if I could get a picture of one in all 50 states. Florida and Nevada down. Going to Georgia next week. If you wanna take part in the 9b.net guerrilla stickering campaign, send me an email and I'll send you a few stickers, [...]
Cover Lay Down
The Lime Wire Blog
Backseat Sandbar
The End Of Irony
She'll Grow Back
BUZZGRINDER
Nine Bullets
Bison - Quill
SABRINA JOHNSTON + TIEFSCHWARTZ
THE SINGULAR ADVENTURES OF EDWYN COLLINS (Part 9)
