The Biggest Takeaways from SXSW 2025
You don’t enjoy SXSW—the annual musical gathering in Austin, Texas every mid March. You endure it. You survive it. Here are Saving Country Music’s biggest takeaways from SXSW 2025.
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Zach Top Surges on Charts, Sets Rodeo Record, Promises New Album
Neotraditionalist Zach Top is the biggest new thing in country music. And he’s only getting bigger. This album is surging in the charts while he set the 2025 Rodeo Houston attendance record so far.
Iron Hills Music Festival Announces Impressive Inaugural Lineup
You might be surprised to learn that Birmingham, Alabama right in the heart of the country music homeland does not have an annual country music festival. Well it does now.
Assessing Chappell Roan’s “Country” Song “The Giver”
“The Giver” is fundamentally a pop song, though with a very strong and prominent fiddle part, which is so pronounced in the song, it truly does pull it into the realm of country, or at least, country pop.
‘Landman’ Releases Season 1 Soundtrack, Renews for 2nd Season
“Landman” Season 1 was an excellent forum for showcasing independent country and roots artists, picking up where Sheridan’s series Yellowstone left off. Season 2 is on the way.
Newest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#154)
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music.
Album Review – Charley Crockett’s “Lonesome Drifter”
“Lonesome Drifter” gives you another good haul of original Charley Crockett songs that are immediately entertaining, and that endear you ever further to the man and the mythos.
What “Authenticity” Is in Country Music, and Why It Matters
What is “authenticity” in country music, and why is it so important? And should it be? This is a question many love to ask, but the answer isn’t simple. The authenticity question is intertwined with the history of country music.
Willie Nelson Wants You To Know About This Revered Songwriter
We’re used to younger and up-and-coming artists paying tribute to Willie Nelson, or perhaps Willie toasting the legends who came before him like Frank Sinatra and Gershwin.
50 Years Ago: Mr. and Mrs. Country Music Officially Divorce
George Jones and Tammy Wynette were two of the best to ever do it—divorce songs, and country music in general. So it should be of no surprise that Mr. and Mrs. Country Music would themselves get married, and eventually, divorce.
Disgraced Texas DJ Justin Frazell Violates Probation, Could Face Prison
Disgraced former Texas music DJ Justin Frazell is in legal hot water once again after violating the terms of his probation, which could mean he could face time in prison.
Born & Raised Festival Unveils Big Lineup for 2025
Headliners Cody Jinks, Parker McCollum, and Treaty Oak Revival will makes sure there’s a rock edge to this country/Red Dirt festival, with Jamey Johnson, Blackberry Smoke, Randy Rogers Band, 49 Winchester…
Musicians Are Now “Content Creators” in the Attention Economy
Except in rare cases, labels aren’t looking to take a chance on a promising artist who doesn’t already have some social media uplift occurring. They want proof of concept.
Album Review – Jason Isbell’s “Foxes in the Snow”
Writing and recording divorce records in the era of non-disclosure agreements has to make for a difficult task. But if there’s any wordsmith out there in the world capable of navigating those hurdles, it’s probably Jason Isbell.
20 Years Ago: Country Music Loses Its Rodeo Hero
We want our country and Western artists to be the real deal. Even if it doesn’t make any bit of difference in the quality of the music, we want to know that they sing what they live, and live what they sing.
Clay Walker to Star in Biopic Film on the Life of Randy Travis
Announced this week, a biopic film on the life of Randy Travis is being developed, with Clay Walker on board as an Executive Producer and as the guy cast to play Randy Travis later in life.
I’m with Torres. Let’s Try to Move On From the Term “Queer Country”
By labeling a performer “Queer Country,” you’re not breaking down barriers, you’re erecting them with country music’s more conventional and conservative fans.
Album Review – Justin Wells – “Cynthiana”
By mining his deepest emotions of love, devotion, and thankfulness, Justin Wells composes songs that resonate deeply with anyone who finds themselves in similar circumstances, and those who aspire to.
Tyler Childers Ghosted Ernest, Post Malone Over Morgan Wallen Affiliation
Tyler Childers apparently wanted to have nothing to do with Ernest and Post Malone while they were hanging with Morgan Wallen, according to recent revelations by Ernest.
It’s Official: There Are Now FOUR Generations of Scruggs Musicians
It’s been proven time and time again in country music that pedigree can be a real thing. That’s most certainly the case when it comes to the House of Scruggs.
Marty Stuart’s Surf Guitar Album is Finally On The Way
For years now the indomitable Marty Stuart has been teasing us mercilessly about a surf guitar album or some sort of instrumental work that he’s had in the can, but divulging only scant details.
Album Review – The Devil Makes Three’s “Spirits”
The Devil Makes Three is blue collar music for a bleak world bifurcated between the have’s and have not’s. It’s never pretty. It’s a feral, tattooed, and pierced. But it’s nonetheless inspiring from its dogged persistence.
Old Salt Festival Announces 2025 Lineup, Unique Experience
It’s about food. It’s about land stewardship. It’s about sustainable ranching practices. And it’s also about music. It’s the Old Salt Music Festival. It’s a small festival, but one with a very big music lineup.
Sam Williams Completely Loses The Plot on “Countrystar”
It very well could be that the son of Hank Williams Jr., and the grandson of Hank Williams will be responsible for releasing the worst song in the entire pantheon of what anyone could ever construe as “country music” in 2025.