A studious musician spends a good chunk of time living in the fictitious universes, lost in the stanzas of poetry, and decides to write an album that is made of pieces of stories collected, compiled and flushed out over time. Throw that into a soundtrack-style haunting group of melodies and deep hooks with an impactful emotive voice and you have Pony Bradshaw’s latest effort on North Georgia Rounder.
Without pomp, circumstance, glitz or glamor. Just honest, raw, heartfelt country music from a troubadour livin’ the dream. JD Clayton will be releasing his first full album, Long Way From Home, on January 27th.
His musical journey began in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a town known for its true grit, resting on the banks of the Arkansas river and peering over into the farmlands of eastern Oklahoma. A place where the new south meets the old west. Clayton’s father worked in real estate before becoming a pastor when the oldest of his three children, JD, was starting high school. Clayton was already well-indoctrinated into music by then. His grandfather played banjo in a bluegrass band and taught Clayton some rudimentary chords; his father could pick a few chords too. “He would sit there trying to learn Jack Johnson songs from a guitar tab book while “In Between Dreams” played from a junky CD/Cassette player.” Clayton’s dad gave him a guitar when he was eight years old, though it would be a few years before it took.
Sometimes inspiration comes to you when you least expect it. That’s what happened with Mike Frazier for his new single, “Tulsa.” A trip to Oklahoma to open for Jason Hawk Harris at Mercury Lounge, way back in January 2020. The “before times;” before we knew the world would shut down for months and our whole way of living would be disrupted. This is where Mike found his inspiration, in the “bluest skies he’s ever seen, Tulsa will always be near and dear to my heart.” Today we are premiering his single, “Tulsa.” It will be available everywhere on January 27th, which is the same day that Mike will announce pre-orders for his new album.
Inhaling deep into those shadows that sway in the candlelight of a cold, dim room, Jeremy Squires has crafted a lullaby for the bruised soul. Hymnal, now the 13th album of his collection, proves Squires’ prowess as a haunting songwriter, cloaked in eloquent wording and a warmth that is soft, yet unrefined. There’s a beauty found within the pain of his sound, and it’s quite easy to lose one’s self in each phrase that Squires allows to softly slip from his lips. An album grounded in loss and shrouded by the pain that life can conjure, Squires' Hymnal faces the dark head-on, tackling his own personal obstacles of overcoming a failing marriage and the mental shambles the body endures.
Today we’re debuting the video of “Somebody,” a single from Brittany Collins’ album, Things I Tell My Therapist. In case you missed it, the album was released in September of this year. “Somebody” is the final single off the album and it’s one that speaks to childhood trauma, and processing that as an adult, while learning that where you came from and what you have experienced doesn’t have to define you. You can become the person you want to be, in spite of everything that you’ve experienced.
Nashville based roots duo, Golden Shoals, made up of Amy Alvey and Mark Kiliansk, have been making music together for a decade. During that time, they’ve weathered a pandemic, made the choice to change their name to Golden Shoals, and continue to write songs that address the issues that those of us are facing every day, whether it be inflation, climate change, the current political climate in America, or trying to keep your head above water in this crazy world we live in. In November they released two singles, “Ain’t No New Orleans” and “Treading Water”. Although a new album has yet to be announced, these two singles are a step in that direction. Please enjoy the interview we did with Golden Shoals about their current singles and what they have coming up in the new year.
The first few lines of any song are make or break. You either get the audience’s attention of you don’t. It's hard to ignore any song that starts with
“He’s been on this farm alone for 13 years Since the angels took his wife
Just turned 82, heading through The sunset years of life
We tried to convince him that he needs to sell it all and move to town But every time we bring it up
He grabs his cane and reaches for the ground
This is another great open from the South Carolina, Red Clay, duet power couple of Andrew Crawford and Brandi Colt. Their new single “In this Dirt” will be the first salvo, fired for effect, for their upcoming duet album aptly titled CrawfordColt.
I’ve found that when Kadie Meadows sings, the world isn’t such a damn cold place.
The self-dubbed “Sad Song Sally” has a way with words - A real-life Appalachian siren, breathing her poetry into the dusty hollows of the Tri-State Region and beyond.
Inspired by her buckeye roots - Zanesville, Ohio for those of us keeping track - Meadows has been gaining hefty steam following her 2021 inaugural album, Memory Lane, pulling words and creativity from the experiences that life has thrown before her.
Directly on the heels of her critically acclaimed 2021 LP, Daddy's Country Gold, Melissa Carper barrels into the homestretch of 2022 with a jumping and jovially jazzy new release, Ramblin' Soul. Sure to further intoxicate an already captivated and ever expanding following, the 13 track LP boasts lyrics that read as a romantic vagabond autobiography melded deftly with that distinctive Carper sound born of the blues, the earliest of rock-'n'-roll, classic country, western swing, and steeped in steadfast soul.
Built on Bones has a mystical vibe and although “spooky season” may have come and gone, the latest project from Emily Scott Robinson is a twist on a familiar tragic tale that has stood the test of time – dating back to the Elizabethan era of the 1600s. Robinson’s Built on Bones delves into the story of The Three Witches of Macbeth. The collection of songs came to be when friend and theatre director, Colin Sullivan, requested Emily compose music for a production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth at th
Imagine yourself, after a hard day, reclining by a bonfire with the one you love, wrapped in a blanket. The night is crisp and the sky is filled with stars. Taking in all of God’s natural beauty… This is the best way that I can describe Flatland Cavalry’s new EP Songs To Keep You Warm. It is all that, in sonic form. The overall effect of the album is low key, but not to be confused with lacking in depth or content.
Unlike their previous releases the band went with a slower paced, acoustic sound. One that carries this theme well. Cleto says of the new EP that
Memphis Kee has partnered with Adam Odor and yellow DOG Studios in the Texas Hill Country for his October 28th album release Wimberley, titled after the location of its conception. A rollicking mix of Hill Country Rockabilly, Americana, and Roots, Wimberley leans heavily on Kee's personal experiences while adhering to no genre in particular, resulting in a unique collection of songs reminiscent of the sound of early pioneers in Red Dirt and amped up with a healthy helping of 90's rock.
We’ve got another new single to premiere for you this week. Today’s tune is from the Americana group, The Stubborn Lovers. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, the band is made up of Jenny Taylor-, bassist and the primary songwriter of the group, Mandy Allen-, singer/guitarist and Michael “Pearl” Nelson on drums. Their upcoming album, Come a Reckoning is out on November 18th, but today we’ve got their latest single, “Gramercy” to share with you.
oday we are excited to share a sneak peek of a new video from Kimmi Bitter, a self-described “Americana throwback” by the way of California, her video for the single, “I Dream of You” is out everywhere on November 3rd. Although Kimmi has released a few singles since her EP in 2019, this single will be one featured on her upcoming full-length album, due out in 2023.
For nearly 20 years, the perfect-storm sextet that is Trampled By Turtles has continued to toe the line with creative sounds and unforgettable lyrics, establishing the band as one of the most voracious touring acts in the country. With their tenth studio album, Alpenglow, TBT shows no signs of faltering behind the new release. A testament to the edges that the band harmoniously blurs between the stomping realm of Bluegrass and the driving rhythms of solid Rock-n-Roll, Trampled By Turtles have always stirred the music genre cauldron with their poetic verse and spot-on sound: Always flawless, always original.
So… Who is ready for another Gabe Lee album? Yeah… me too!
It's been a LONG two years since Gabe’s epic 2020 release Honky Tonk Hell. While 2020 was a dumpster fire of a year for most of us, for new music it was a killer year and a year of stiff competition with the likes of Sturgill Simpson’s Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1, American Aquarium’s Lamentations and Lori McKenna’s The Balladeer. So, for a relatively newer artist like Gabe Lee to have a sophomore album Honky Tonk Hell get listed by numerous sources, Rolling Stone, Whiskey Riff and vlogger, Grady Smith, just to name a few, as one of, if not, the best albums of the year was no small feat! This set a HIGH bar for this, his next work.
Were it possible to feel history, to taste inspiration, to breath in awe and amazement, all in one simultaneous instant, the place to experience those sensations would be in Nashville’s historic Grand Ole Opry. After 97 years of bringing the best that Country music has to offer to the masses, this well-oiled machine is something to behold. The inviting, warm shimmer of the polished oak and mahogany; the soft gleam of gold and brass; twinkling lights and WSM radio over-head, all welcoming you into the most lasting of memories. These are the marvels and wonders for guests and audiences entering the celebrated building. And while debut artists participate in all this same spectacle, their experience is that much more internal, as they enjoy the opportunity to join Opry history on their first visit to the stage.
Deep in the hills of Appalachia lies a little town on the Kentucky/Tennessee border that bears the name Pineville. At first look you might wonder what’s so special about Pineville? Or what is special about Bell County in general? Well, let me be the one to tell you. Laurel Cove Music Festival, that’s what. This is one of the greatest venues in the great state of Kentucky. Nobody sets the stage more beautifully and no other venue I have yet visited has had the incredible seating arrangements that the cove offers. Just before the main stage is a beautiful little pond that stretches across the entirety of the stage separating fans from pickers and creating some great photo opportunities of musicians and announcers' reflections in the water. While there, I heard someone refer to this spot as “the Red Rocks of Appalachia” and that has been how I mostly describe it when speaking in person. Among the many great venues and festivals in the Bluegrass state, this one stands out for its incredible display of staging and the lineup. Driving to Pineville was quite a treat as well. My wife and I were lucky enough to stay with some friends at a cabin up the hill from the festival grounds and if you are able to drive over the mountain at Pine Mountain State Park, you absolutely should. There are breath-taking views that will nicely accompany the sounds that you may find at Laurel Cove Music Festival.
Off the beaten path in Monticello, Kentucky is where this story begins at a little place called Hidden Ridge. What transpired were two incredible nights filled with music, love, and all around good vibes. I was lucky enough to be camped out just a short stretch away from the stage alongside my good friends. A few of them were Austin Shuck, from WhatTheShuck Podcast, the wonderful band members from one of my favorite bands, Brother Smith and of course, nearly every band’s drummer Zach Martin. Martin definitely deserves an honorable mention for how many songs he knows and absolutely murders. It was a beautiful weekend on the hill, camped in a wonderful, shady spot listening to some of the greatest acts the region has to offer.
It’s no secret that one of the best festivals to feature Americana and country music happens every September in the great state of Oklahoma. If you thought last year’s inaugural Born & Raised was good, then year two has set the bar even higher. This year’s lineup featured an even wider range of amazing artists, with the perfect blend of well-established artists and those that are still considered up and coming. A main wish of mine last year was more females to be added to the bill, so one of the best parts of the lineup announcement was seeing so many talented females included for the second year. Equal representation on the bill is always the goal, but compared to other festivals in the region that feature artists in the same genres, Born and Raised definitely did a better job with adding more female representation on this year’s lineup.
