Baptized by the Blaze, the new album by outlaw country firebrand India Ramey, hits the ground at a full gallop and barely stops for a breath over 30-plus blazing, twanging minutes. It’s a rousing blend of honky-tonk brash-and-sass, by turns invigorating and healing, exploring themes of rebirth, redemption and just plain kicking ass.

The album brims with hard-won wisdom. Ramey has walked through the fire since her previous album, 2020’s excellent Shallow Graves. Just about the time that album was released, Ramey began reckoning with a long-term addiction to the tranquilizer Klonopin. She had been self-medicating for years to deal with trauma. Finally, she sought professional help to deal with the addiction and the underlying trauma.

John Schumacher

Lawd a-mighty – AmericanaFest is a giant buffet of good music. Every year, I duck under the sneeze guard and shovel great, heaping handfuls of it in my face.

Three of us from The Amp attended AmericanaFest 2023. Here are some of my favorite moments – we’ll post Melissa’s and Jolene’s soon.

3rd and Lindsley was a magical place to be Wednesday night. Just 90 minutes after Jessi Colter introduced Margo Price during the Americana Honors & Awards at the Ryman Auditorium, Price sat in on Colter’s triumphant set. (Up for three major awards, Price struck out: “I lost three times, but Bonnie Raitt told me I’m cool, so that’s all right.”)

Together they sang “Fine Wine,” a track from Colter’s new album, “Standing on the Edge of Forever,” which is coming out Oct. 27. “It’s about missing someone,” Colter said, noting husband Waylon Jennings “is 20 years gone.”

Aug 22 Review- India Ramey: Baptized by the Blaze

Oct 9 Festival Review- Highlights from AmericanaFest 2023