Sandy Pinkard, Country Music’s Weird Al, Has Passed Away
14 Comments
Nobody coined him the “Weird Al of Country Music” in his time, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve it. He was Sandy Pinkard, and his legacy was making country music fans laugh.
New ‘Cocaine Bear’ Film Is More Bear, Less Bluegrass Conspiracy
16 Comments
This movie is not what a lot of people were expecting when they heard that author Sally Denton’s book The Bluegrass Conspiracy: An Inside Story of Power, Greed, Drugs & Murder was being referenced to make a movie, at least judging from the trailer for the movie, and the description that accompanies it.
Review – Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country – “People Are Beautiful”
19 Comments
And now for something a bit off the beaten path, San Antonio’s resident throwback country weirdo freak, Garrett T. Capps, has tapped into country music’s underutilized cosmic influences in a collaboration with NASA Country, and created an immersive experience titled under the name ‘People are Beautiful.’
Billy Strings Turns in Career Chart Numbers for “Me / And / Dad”
25 Comments
How much does the listening public care about a batch of ol’ stuffy bluegrass cover songs? Apparently quite a bit when they’re coming from Billy Strings. His recent collaboration with his dad Terry Barber has brought in career-record numbers for the bluegrass phenom, and put him at or near the top of charts.
Steel Guitar Arts Council Forms, Holds Kickoff Party
28 Comments
If there is one instrument that is immediately identifiable with country music, it’s the pedal steel guitar. And just like an endangered species ripe for protection, preserving the pedal steel should be an imperative of society with the way its dialect of wails and moans mimic the tug and pull of human emotion.
“Larry’s Country Diner” Ceases Production of New Episodes
54 Comments
Beloved RFD-TV country music television show Larry’s Country Diner is not going off the air. But it will not longer be producing new episodes, or at least that appears to be the case for the moment. After 14 seasons and 363 episodes, the latest season ended by airing two special tributes to the show.
Under The Big Sky Fest Reveals STACKED 2023 Lineup
26 Comments
Once again, Under The Big Sky Festival outside of Whitefish, Montana has wowed us all with their lineup announcement, and it underscores once again why this is arguably the premier event in independent country and Americana. With two stages, some 20,000 fans, and a curiously excellent curation of headliners…
What’s Different About Turnpike Troubadours 2.0
55 Comments
Just like Billy Strings, the Turnpike Troubadours have weaseled their way into becoming an arena artist, at least in select markets. This week they announced they’ll be playing the immense American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX on February 25th, 2023, along with The Avett Brothers and The Wood Brothers.
Red Dirt Artist Jake Flint Dies on His Wedding Day
What was supposed to be the most joyous day of his life ended up being his final one, as tears of happiness turned to tears of sorrow for his friends and loved ones. 37-year-old Oklahoma-based Red Dirt artist and songwriter Jake Flint passed away on Saturday, November 26th, only hours after getting married.
50 Years Ago: Charlie Rich Records Iconic “Behind Closed Doors”
35 Comments
There are many iconic songs in the history of country music. But there are only a small handful that have gone on to define what it means when someone says “country music” to millions of people. The song “Behind Closed Doors” written by Kenny O’Dell, and performed by Charlie Rich is one of those songs.
Album Review – Nikki Lane’s “Denim & Diamonds”
15 Comments
Entrepreneur and small business owner, fashionista and self-made woman, singer and songwriter, Nikki Lane has staked her claim on being a woman in a man’s world, and on her latest album Denim & Diamonds, she doubles down. Full of affirmations on the importance of autonomy, self-reliance…
The Continuing Mystery of Cory Barron’s Death at a Country Concert
30 Comments
As the concert ended, the friends of Cory Barron couldn’t find him. They searched the entire ballpark, hung around to see if he would show up, called friends to confirm he didn’t leave with someone else, with no clue of where he’d disappeared to. By Saturday morning, a missing persons report was filed.
Handwritten Lyrics to House Concerts: Supporting Your Favorite Small Business Musician
7 Comments
It may not be as obvious of an example as the little shop down the street in a strip mall selling handmade scented candles and hippie soap, but your favorite independent music artists are all most certainly small businesses as well. So are many of your favorite locally-owned music venues, local festivals…