No New “FairWell Fest” for 2026
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Major independent country mega festival FairWell Fest in Redmond, Oregon will not be returning in 2026. There’s also good indication that it will not be returning at all after first being held in 2023.
Eric Church Becomes Surprising Champion of Country Women
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There would be no mainstream country music career for Ashley McBryde if it weren’t for the help of Eric Church. Eric Church isn’t a guy you would expect to be a big champion of country music’s women on the surface. But quietly, Church has become a champion of many of country music’s most deserving women.
Jordan Davis and “Singles You Up” Give Kickass Beards a Bad Name
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Who the hell is Jordan Davis you say? Well he’s that pop country guy; you know, the one with the beard. Because how the hell else would you tell him apart for the reams and reams of these generic pop country bros stacked up so thick up and down Music Row you need a cattle guard to get through them?
Alison Krauss & Willie Nelson Announce Co-Headlining Tour + More Krauss Dates
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Legendary bluegrass fiddle player and singer Alison Krauss and country legend Willie Nelson have just announced a co-headlining tour for 2018 to go along with Willie’s already announced Outlaw Fest dates and annual 4th of July Picnic this summer, while a much more extensive touring schedule has been announced for Alison Krauss.
The Media Has Made a Mockery of Kacey Musgraves and “Golden Hour”
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The coverage of Kacey Musgraves’ ‘Golden Hour’ has displayed such an aberration of truths, perspective, knowledge of the country and roots realm, and in some instances even common sense, it illustrates a widespread embarrassment for the entire music media pool, and the journalism industry in general.
Album Review – Ashley McBryde’s “Girl Going Nowhere”
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We’re at war for the soul of country music ladies and gentlemen, and recruiting cute little pop stars from affluent Southern suburbs, and then attempting to refine their sugary styles to be even more pop, and more cute under the misguided notion that this is how to tap into the passion of the masses has only resulted in continuing losses.
Gothic Country’s Slim Cessna’s Auto Club Plots Busy 2018 Tour Schedule
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If you know Gothic country, then you know Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, or at least you should. The seminal Gothic country band that has been helping define Gothic country for over two decades with it’s strange mix of mad roots and wild stage shows. The Denver, CO outfit will be hitting the road hard and heavy in 2018.
Red Shahan’s “Culberson County” Introduces You To His Music, & The Muse of West Texas
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There’s a reason why so many novels and movies in the last 20 years have chosen the vast desolation of West Texas as the venue to backdrop their stories and imperil their characters. West Texas is perfect for getting lost in, or for finding yourself. The expansiveness inspires a feeling of smallness and self-reflection.
Album Review – “Golden Hour” By Kacey Musgraves
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Golden Hour is definitely a move to a more pop, and less country approach to the music by Kacey Musgraves. But it’s far from the rebuke of country some are salivating to characterize it as for their ulterior purposes. Instead, Golden Hour is a mild-mannered, mid tempo and dreamy collection of Kacey Musgraves musings.
“Behind Closed Doors” Songwriter Kenny O’Dell Passes Away
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Grammy Award winning songwriter and performer Kenny O’Dell passed away on Wednesday (3-28) at the age of 73. A prolific songwriter who was also a strong advocate for the craft, he wrote such memorable country standards as 1973’s “Behind Closed Doors” made popular by Charlie Rich, and the #1 “Mama He’s Crazy.”
Kacey Musgraves Decries Double Standards via Eric Church “Who Wears His F-cking Sunglasses All The Time”
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Kacey Musgraves says a woman would never be allowed to walk around in sunglasses as an image accessory, but Eric Church “…wears his fucking sunglasses all the time.” But what some Eric Church fans are wondering is why she had to single out Church with especially pointed language.
Dillon Carmichael Continues to Impress with New Song “It’s Simple”
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It was only a few short months ago that we were completely ignorant of the name Dillon Carmichael. Now he is quickly ascending the ladder for artists to watch who could have a big impact in the traditional country space for years to come. With a Dave Cobb-produced record in the offing and an incredible voice and style, there’s not much to hate.
Album Review – Jeff Hyde’s “Norman Rockwell World”
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Jeff Hyde is one of Eric Church’s primary songwriting collaborators, and a member of his touring band playing mostly mandolin, banjo, and acoustic guitar. Or at least that’s how he’s being presented to you since that it gives you some context of why you should pay attention to his new album.