Album Review – Cody Jinks – “In My Blood”
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While other top level names in independent country continue to present you with polarizing twists and confounding turns, the consistency of Cody Jinks is incredibly comforting.
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.
After Big Americana Wins, Jason Isbell Slays Robert’s with Merle Haggard Covers
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After the awards, Jason Isbell did like so many artists of country music’s storied past once did after playing at the Country Music Mother Church. He ambled out of the backstage exit into the famous alley that separates the Ryman and the bars of Lower Broadway, and took the stage with his wife Amanda Shires at Robert’s Western World.
2016 Americana Music Awards LIVE Blog
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Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Saving Country Music’s 2016 Americana Music Awards LIVE blog! As the festivities stream live from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, we’ll tag along to leave our observations, keep up with the winners, discuss the performances, and share what happened for those folks who missed it.
Scenes from Americana Music Awards Rehearsals
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AmericanaFest is one of the biggest annual gathering of the tribes on the roots music calendar, and the crown jewel is the Americana Awards on the Wednesday of the festival week. This year Saving Country Music showed up early to take in the rehearsal for the festivities taking place at the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium.
Blake Shelton’s Run of Consecutive #1’s on Radio is Over
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Though there are still many bad songs on country radio and in country music in general, the snapping of Blake Shelton’s #1 streak is just another sign things are beginning to turn around in the mainstream, and artists of more substance are beginning to find more success at the expense of the Bro-Country era’s old guard.
Courtney Marie Andrews Earns High Praise for “Honest Life”
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Life has a way of selling us on lies that seem so promising and resolute when we embrace them, but ultimately reveal themselves as the antithesis of discovering our true selves. Music in some cases stokes these fanciful ideas and pursuits, nudging us into parts unknown in search of something that in many cases is […]
Devarati Ghosh, A.K.A. “Windmills Country,” Has Died
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Devarati Ghosh, also known to many as Windmills Country, who among many other much more important contributions to the cultural and educational community was a Saving Country Music contributor, regular commenter, and behind-the-scenes counselor and compass for years, died on September 2nd, 2016.
Amanda Shires Has Van Burglarized in Chicago
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Riding high after the release of her recent album My Piece of Land and getting ready to participate in this week’s AmericanaFest festivities in Nashville, Amanda Shires and her band had their van broken into while on the stage at the City Winery in Chicago on Monday (9-19) evening.