Colter Wall Bass Player, Revered Musician Jason Simpson Has Died
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He was the heartbeat of Colter Wall’s backing band The Scary Prairie Boys for over a decade. But beyond all of this, Jason Simpson was a valued member of the music community in Kentucky.
Most Anticipated Country & Roots Albums for Last of 2020
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2020 is not done just yet offering up country and roots music worthy of listening to, and perhaps some of the projects we’ll regard as the best all year once late December rolls around. So just to make sure you don’t miss anything, here are some of Saving Country Music’s top recommendations for the final portion of 2020.
Will Oldham Premiers New Song Ahead of “Once Upon A River” Film
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Once named by Saving Country Music as One of the Seven Songwriters Who Will Change Your Life, the output of 50-year-old Kentucky native Will Oldham is usually a bit more folk-oriented in nature. But “Dirty Halo” has a country heart.
Garth Brooks Unfairly Criticized for (NOT) Appearing in Trump Ad
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Many are calling for the head of Garth Brooks and demanding his cancellation after the misconception that he is endorsing Donald Trump for re-election went viral on social media, along with the idea that he will be appearing in ads for Trump in the coming weeks.
Grand Ole Opry to Celebrate 95th Anniversary, Invite Audience Back
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When the COVID-19 shutdowns began in mid March, the Grand Ole Opry was one of the only live music institutions that endured, with the first non-audience show transpiring on March 14th with the evening’s regular scheduled slate of performers.
Album Review – Tennessee Jet’s “The Country”
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Don’t think of Tennessee Jet as your typical country music performer. Consider him more like a character from a Beat-era novel, hitchhiking from California and back, hanging out with a motorcycle gang for a week in the desert, camping out under the stars on the side of the road, all with a guitar slung on his back.
Mile 0 Fest in Key West Announces 2021 Dates & Lineup
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The Texas, Red Dirt, and Americana-oriented Mile 0 Fest in Key West, Florida will be moving forward in 2021, and they have just announced the festival’s preliminary lineup. Usually occurring in late January/early February, they have moved the date later in the year due to COVID-19 concerns.
Song Review – Travis Tritt’s “Ghost Town Nation”
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Of all the implausibles of 2020, who would have thunk that Travis Tritt would be the one to release one of the most topically-relevant songs of the time? In his first new taste of original music in 13 years, he puts some “drive” in his country as he once famously compelled us all to do in 1990.
Classic Country Diminished in New Rolling Stone 500 Best Albums
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It’s worth noting that Rolling Stone’s new updated version of their “500 Best Albums of All Time” significantly diminishes iconic titles from the classic country canon. Not only were some titles downgraded, some were eliminated entirely.
Lost Album from Earl Thomas Conley On The Way
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Earl Thomas Conley passed away in April of 2019 at the age of 77, but we haven’t heard the last of him just yet. Consisting of twelve songs all written or co-written by Conley, the tracks were originally recorded as demos in the early and mid 90’s.
Legend & Johnny Cash Drummer W. S. “Fluke” Holland Has Died
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Legendary American music drummer W.S. “Fluke” Holland has died. A titan and founder of drumming in popular music, W.S. Holland was Johnny Cash’s drummer for 40 years, and is considered by many as the “Father of the Drums.”
Album Review – Jake Blocker’s “I Keep Forgetting”
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When you find a performer this young and talented, it’s not just the entertainment value they posses at that moment, but the possibility of what they could develop into as time goes on that compels you. But Jake Blocker is already writing his own songs in his debut album.
Revolutionary: Whiskey Myers Goes Gold / Cody Jinks Goes Platinum
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Ladies and gentlemen, the country music independent revolution is here. No longer is it a hypothetical, or a “what if ?” or something to look forward to in the future when artists that receive virtually no mainstream radio play or opportunities can compete or even best their mainstream competition. We’re now living in that era.