Billy Strings Joins Willie Nelson on BIG 4th of July Picnic Lineup
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Billy String can pack out arenas all by himself, but he’ll be sharing headliner duties with Willie Nelson on the 4th at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin, TX at the Circuit of the Americas.
On Sturgill Simpson Collaborating with Diplo
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I would be lying if I said that Sturgill Simpson’s first emergence out of supposed retirement wasn’t a little disappointing, since in comes in the form of a dance track with the pretty scuzzy country music carpetbagger Diplo. That’s not a commentary on the track itself called “Use Me (Brutal Hearts)”…
Album Review – Shania Twain’s “Queen of Me”
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The worst part about “Queen of Me” is not just that it’s a big miss for whatever Shania Twain was going for. It’s that it’s also a missed opportunity for her to ride the wave of resurgent interest in 90s country to do something that could actually represent legacy women in country music well.
Charley Pride Statue Unveiled at the Ryman Auditorium
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A life-sized likeness of Charley Pride now adorns the grounds of the Country Music Mother Church in Nashville, a.k.a. The Ryman Auditorium where the Grand Ole Opry was held for many years. A Grand Ole Opry member, Pride’s bronze statue now joins other iconic Opry stars Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn…
Gabe Lee Announces New Album “Drink The River”
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If put on the spot by someone and asked to rattle off one artist that they probably have never heard of but will immediately love, “Gabe Lee” might be the best answer. The soul in this guy’s voice, the songwriting, the purpose and intention in his delivery, it is all exquisite. Gabe Lee is as rare as he is real.
The Broken Spoke Officially Becomes a Historical Landmark
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Much of old Austin and the music scene remains under threat. But one Austin institution has officially been set aside, and Lord willing, will be around for many years to come. It was a much-needed win for preservationists deep in the heart of Texas, and it came on Wednesday, April 12th.
Perilous Future for Twitter & Tik-Tok Presents Challenges for Music
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Platforms like Twitter and Tik-Tok have been instrumental to the rise of artists outside of the musical industrial complex by connection them directly with fans, and circumventing the need for major labels or mass media to help performers find a sustainable audience in many instances.
Album Review – Robbie Fulks – “Bluegrass Vacation”
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Despite his punk country popularity, Fulks actually started out as a folk and bluegrass musician who was raised in the Blue Ridge of Virginia and the Piedmont of North Carolina. And after performing in the club scene in Greenwich Village and attending Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk, joined Special Consensus.
Granger Smith Is Quitting Country Music to Pursue Ministry
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Country artist Granger Smith and his alter ego Earl Dibbles Jr. will be calling it quits after an upcoming summer tour so that Smith can pursue a life in ministry. Smith made the announcement in a video to his fans published on Tuesday (4-11) afternoon. “This summer is my last ever tour.”
Gimme Radio & Gimme Country are Coming to an End
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Tyler Lenane started Gimmie Radio with co-founders Jon Maples, Andy Gilliland, and David Rosenberg, who all previously worked for companies like Beats, Apple, and Google. The company was based in San Francisco. The format attracted hundreds of thousands of fans in total.
Finally Some News on the William Michael Morgan Front
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You can almost forget with the rise of so many neotraditional country artists lately about ol’ William Michael Morgan. In many ways, he was personally responsible for helping to set off the neotraditionalist movement in the mainstream when his super traditional debut single “I Met A Girl” hit #2.
The CMT Awards were NOT the CMA Awards, or Indicative of Country
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The 2023 CMT Awards could very well go down in country music history as a significant moment, but it won’t be for the reasons the producers of the presentation or their proponents in the media hoped for, or will purport it to be. And no, we’re not just talking about the polarizing political moments…
Album Review – Josie Toney’s “Extra”
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Extra is everything you were hoping Josie Toney’s debut album would be. When she sings, Toney evokes the ghosts of the classic country era by mixing old-school country with old-school blues indicative at times of Hank One. You may think of her as an instrumentalist first, but the album showcases…