Jason Isbell Delivers Landmark Performance in Return to Telluride
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As he proved headlining the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Thursday, anyone recusing themselves from Jason Isbell’s music—either in album form, but especially in the live arena—are doing a dramatic disservice to their life’s musical experience.
Winners of the 2016 IBMA Bluegrass Awards
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The Earls of Leicester and Flatt Lonesome were the big winners at the 2016 installment of the International Bluegrass Music Association or IBMA Awards held during the World of Bluegrass conference in Raleigh, North Carolina Thursday (9-29) evening.
Brother Osborne Says Artists Use Country to Release Their “$hitty Pop Music.”
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You’ve gotta love it when major label country artists get off their guard and actually say what they want to say. Even many of the artists responsible for the worst atrocities against country music know that many of the songs are garbage. They also happen to know who butters their bread and when to lock lips and say the right things.
“Vinyl” Proves William Michael Morgan Is The Traditionalist The Mainstream Needs
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This is it folks. Without qualifiers, caveats, or commercial dalliances outside of his tightly-knit traditional-leaning comfort zone, William Michael Morgan has released a country record that is quality cover to cover, true country at every turn, and most importantly, one that might actually pique the interest of the masses as its lead single eyes a top spot in the charts.
BREAKING: Country Artist Decides to NOT Make a Christmas Album This Year
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The Nashville country music community is reeling after the news that one of its own is refusing to make a Christmas album this year despite the blatantly obvious and universally-recognized obligation for anyone and everyone with a record deal and a decently-sized audience to record one this season.
Now With #1 Album, Aaron Lewis Continues to Backpedal From Country Comments
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Celebrating the #1 record in country this week with his Big Machine Records debut Sinner responsible for 39,000 copies sold, Aaron Lewis continues to try and walk a difficult line between being a major label country artist, a traditionalist who wants to talk smack on the industry, all while wearing the baggage of being the successful frontman of the rock band Staind.
SCM’s Biggest Takeaways from AmericanaFest 2016
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List making either before or after events has become a dubious enterprise of mainstream outlets just looking to troll the fan bases of independent performers to get these performers to dutifully post the coverage to their social network feeds and drive unique views to the outlets while little if any true discovery for said artists by new fans actually occurs.
That Ariana Grande Singer Says “Hell Yeah” She’d Go Country
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Pop star Ariana Grande is saying “hell yeah” she would do something in the country realm, and her timing couldn’t be better. As pointed out by periodicals as diverse as Saving Country Music and The New York Times, country collaborations with pop stars are all the rage as vapid stars look to gain chart traction for terrible singles.
Song / Video Review – “Forever Country”
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Screw me, but I just don’t have a strong opinion about this thing one way or the other. Sometimes that happens. If you think this song and video is amazing, then awesome. If you think it’s stupid, I can see that perspective too. In the end it’s kind of a wash for me.
The Church Sisters Officially Sign to Big Machine Records
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Fraternal twins The Church Sisters—one of the most promising young acts in the traditional country, bluegrass, and Gospel realms—have officially signed with the Valory Music imprint of Big Machine Records. This is after the duo signed a development deal with Big Machine back in August of 2015.
Jean Shepard: A Staunch Defender of True Country Music (RIP)
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One of the first women in country music to break down the gender barrier, and a six decade member of the Grand Ole Opry, has died. Jean Shepard, famous for recording such iconic songs as “A Satisfied Mind,” “Beautiful Lies,” and her duet with Ferlin Husky on the iconic “A Dear John Letter” passed away Sunday, September 24th. She was 82-years-old.
Thoughts & Prayers Requested After Jean Shepard Enters Hospice
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Country music legend, female trailblazer, and the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry Jean Shepard has entered hospice care after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit earlier this week. This is the news from her son, Hawkshaw Hawkins Jr.
Album Review- Dwight Yoakam’s “Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars”
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Just the idea of Dwight Yoakam making a bluegrass album is like some sort of gift from the country music Gods. Before a lick of music was heard, the news of Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars was its own viral event. The primary issue with this album is that none of these songs were written to be bluegrass songs.