Album Review – Alison Krauss & Union Station’s “Arcadia”
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“Arcadia” might not be the best album to introduce your friends to the power of bluegrass, but it might be the ideal specimen to introduce them to the beauty of it.
Veteran Country Music Journalist Chuck Dauphin Has Passed Away
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Veteran country music writer, well-respected journalist, and radio broadcaster Chuck Dauphin has passed away. Well known for his work at Billboard as a ‘615’ columnist where he began writing in 2011, Chuck Dauphin also wrote for Rolling Stone, At Home Nashville, Roughstock, and most recently Sounds Like Nashville, along with other periodicals.
Review – Hank Williams Takes Center Stage in Ep. 3 of ‘Country Music’
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Even though names like Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Acuff, and The Carter Family loom large for many of country music’s devoted fans, they don’t necessarily rise to the level of household names like Ernest Tubb, and of course the great Hank Williams, who was the centerpiece of the third installment of the Ken Burns ‘Country Music’ documentary.
Review – Vincent Neil Emerson’s “Fried Chicken and Evil Women”
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Good ol’ vintage Texas country music bliss is what greets your happy ears when you pipe up Vincent Neil Emerson’s “Fried Chicken and Evil Women.” It’s a little bit of Western Swing flavor added to Texas Troubadour Ernest Tubb styling that nestles right in your sensibilities as an old soul, filling you with fuzzy feelings.
Emily Scott Robinson & Charles Wesley Godwin at AmericanaFest
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The 2019 installment of AmericanaFest seemed especially packed with top-level talent, and both Emily Scott Robinson and Charles Wesley Godwin made the trek to Nashville hoping to put renewed interest behind their 2019 efforts. And like their albums, they both stood out in the crowded field of country and roots music performers and hopefuls.
Quaker City Night Hawks Drummer Apologizes for AmericanaFest Incident
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Drummer Aaron Haynes of the Ft. Worth-based Quaker City Night Hawks offered a lengthy apology early Tuesday (9-17) afternoon for his conduct at AmericanaFest last week where he berated the sound man working one of the band’s shows, and eventually punched and shoved employees of the venue, and threw parts of his drum set across the stage.
Review – Episode 2 Of Ken Burns Country Music Film, “Hard Times”
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The first episode of the Ken Burns Country Music documentary tasked itself to define what country music is by delving deep into its origins and original purveyors. The second episode called “Hard Times” began the work of explaining why the music means so much to so many people.
Sierra Ferrell Makes Stunning Debut at AmericanaFest
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To a packed audience, Sierra Ferrell absolutely dazzled with her incredible songwriting and singing, backed by a simple band of fiddle, upright bass, and vintage drums. Sierra has a spunk and power to her, yet it’s all encapsulated in a flawless delivery. There are such amazing layers and textures in her voice and style.
Review – Ken Burns Country Music Documentary, Ep. 1 “The Rub”
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Over seven years of full-time labor on the part of numerous people, over 101 interviews conducted, countless hours of archival work digging up old photographs, audio, video, and other vintage material, and an elongated year-long promotional effort finally culminated in the broadcast of the debut episode for the Ken Burns Country Music epic.
Ken Burns Country Music Film Comes at the Best & Worst Time
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The broadcast of the Ken Burns-produced 8-part, 16-hour documentary on country music could very well be the most significant event to happen in country music in 2019, if not in the next few years. For country music to receive the expansive documentary treatment for America’s preeminent filmmaking archivist could have significant implications.
Chris Stapleton’s Creative Juices Appear to be Flowing Again
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Though Chris Stapleton started on the mainstream side of music as a songwriter specifically, his output has significantly slowed over the last few years. However this might be changing. Over this summer during his All-American Roadshow Tour, Stapleton has been featuring a couple of new songs.
What’s Been Bothering Me About This New Tanya Tucker Album
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As Tanya’s first original record in 17 years, ‘While I’m Livin” has undeniably helped put Tanya back on the map. Producers Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings deserve all the credit in the world for taking the initiative to make this record happen. However, there were a couple of curious and concerning things about the project.
Quaker City Nighthawks Drummer Melts Down at AmericanaFest
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After the Americana Music Awards Wednesday night (9-12), Paul Cauthen hosted his “Big Velvet Revue” showcase at the Basement East in Nashville. After an extended delay in the show, the drummer for the band, Aaron Haynes, decided to come out from behind the drum set, and accost the sound man from the mic.