Charlie Kirk, Jesse Welles, and the Freedom of Speech
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But whether your Freedom of Speech hero is Charlie Kirk or Jesse Welles, it should be for all of us to protect our neighbor’s right to “say exactly what [they] mean all the time.”
Winners Revealed at the 2025 Americana Music Awards
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Once again the wild and disparate misfit toys that get cobbled together under the designation of “Americana” did their best to make themselves presentable, hitched a ride downtown, and took over the Mother Church.
Release Radar & Most Anticipated Albums for Final Portion of 2025
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As fall breaks and the end of the year fast approaches, it’s time to look at what’s on tap for the rest of 2025 in country before Christmas music ushers the music industry into the Holidays.
2026 Buckeye Country Superfest Boasts Killer Linuep, Gives Fans Whiplash
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The love/hate relationship independent country and mainstream country fans continue to have for the massive Buckeye Country Superfest stadium show in Columbus, Ohio continues.
The Circle Remains Unbroken at Inaugural Unbroken Circle Festival
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It’s official. Independent country and roots music has a new killer festival on the calendar. It’s called the Unbroken Circle Music Festival, and it happened September 4-6 on the banks of the Ohio River.
The 2025 CMA Awards Set Up Pretty for Zach Top
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It’s a very real possibility that Zach Top doesn’t win a single trophy at the 2025 CMA Awards. But in some respects, it doesn’t matter if he does. He’s already won as a traditionalist on an independent label.
Quit With All This “Gatekeeping” Talk in Country
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Accusing someone of “gatekeeping” is just an intellectually lazy, thought and discussion-ending enterprise designed to win arguments online as opposed to addressing the very real and systemic issues.
Long-Rumored Unheard Merle Haggard Songs Could Be On The Way
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Ever since Merle Haggard’s passing on his 79th birthday on April 6th, 2016, there’s been talk of some 300 to 400 unreleased songs sitting in an archive somewhere in the bowels of the Merle Haggard estate.
Piedmont Boys, Cam Pierce Albums Pulled Amid False Streaming Fraud Claims
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It happened again, and the fear is it could continue to happen more frequently as the dystopian reality surrounding digital music continues to deepen. The latest victims are Cam Pierce and the Piedmont Boys.
Couple Gets Engaged During EPIC Silverada Show at Unbroken Circle
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Silverada’s show at the inaugural Unbroken Circle Fest in Madison, Indiana on Friday (9-5) evening was so epic and complete, it included an engagement. But even without it, it was one for the ages.
New Luke Bell Song Released Ahead of New 28-Song Album
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Wyoming native and independent country artist Luke Bell was an enigma in life, became a cult legend upon his death, and despite his scant output, has become an influential artist as his legend has only grown.
“Man of Steel” Robby Turner Has Passed Away
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He played as a primary musician in the band for The Highwaymen. He was the final steel guitar player and producer for Waylon Jennings. He played on albums from Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. He earned the nickname the “Man of Steel.”
Willie Nelson Readies a Toast to Merle Haggard
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No rest for the Willie. Along with still constantly touring at 92, he’s also good for about a two-per-year clip of new albums. This year, both of those albums will be tributes. Next up is Merle Haggard.