Album Review – Joshua Ray Walker’s “Tropicana”
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In ‘Tropicana,’ the cunning use of subgenre dialects and instrumental modes, and the fearlessness he brings to writing silly melodies and singing his guts out to them is a version of genius you just can’t help but appreciate.
Inaugural Outlaw Music Festival Announced
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Scranton, Pennsylvania will be the host of the inaugural Outlaw Music Festival to be held at the Pavilion on Montage Mountain on Sunday, September 18th, with headliners Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and Willie’s son Lukas Nelson’s band Promise of the Real backing up Neil Young on stage.
Willie Nelson to Pay Tribute to Ray Price In “For The Good Times”
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If you’re looking for more Willie Nelson and Ray Price in your life, you can knock out two birds with one stone, and get a heaping helping of The Time Jumpers at the same time on a new tribute album on the way. For The Good Times: A Tribute To Ray Price is set for release via Legacy Recordings on September 16th.
Brantley Gilbert’s “The Weekend” Can’t Give Up on Bro-Country
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Can someone start up a Go Fund Me campaign to help Brantley Gilbert surgically remove the marbles out of his damn mouth? By golly I can’t understand a word this dude says. Brantley’s about the best case I’ve ever seen for someone’s self-absorbed, too-cool-for-school attitude translating into a debilitating speech impediment.
Florida Georgia Line Criticized For Disrespecting Police After Multiple Incidents
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Florida Georgia Line reportedly refused to allow uniformed police officers backstage, including at one point threatening to cancel their performance if their demands were not met. This sparked an outcry from both law enforcement professionals and other individuals working the events, and eventually led to a public outcry.
The Closing of Hastings Will Affect Country Music’s Rural Fans
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From the beginning, the Hastings model was set up to focus on rural communities. The first Hastings opened in 1968 in Amarillo, TX, and along with Tower Records, Hastings became one of the very first chains to sell books right beside music.
Album Review – Kree Harrison’s “This Old Thing”
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If nothing else, ‘This Old Thing’ fleshed out that Kree Harrison is not a mainstream reject, she is an Americana hopeful. Instead of starring at a future of slogging it out with mainstream execs to record the music she wants, she can build grassroots support behind quality songs and recordings on the path to a sustainable career.
Album Review – Dolly Shine’s “Walkabout”
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Dolly Shine is a young, hungry, and adept Texas country band in the truest sense, shifting between bluesy rock and traditional country, and calling regularly on the fiddle to carry songs with the strong influences of Texas music right out front for listeners to latch onto.
Blackberry Smoke Readies New Album “Like An Arrow”
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Blackberry Smoke isn’t just helping to save country music, they’re helping to save Southern rock music, rock music, American music, and music made by real humans sweating on a stage, holding real damn instruments, and testifying. In a time when we can’t agree on anything, music fans from a major swath of the population can agree on Blackberry Smoke.
Turnpike Troubadours Release Surprise Single “Come As You Are”
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No, it’s not a Nirvana cover, but it is quite a surprise from the Turnpike Troubadours, who usually tend to leave their fans salivating for new music between album releases with agonizing impatience. Without pretense or explanation, the Oklahoma natives dropped a new single called “Come As You Are” on Friday, and it has folks all abuzz and for good reason.
Conway Twitty’s Former “Twitty City” No Longer Giving Tours
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Conway opened the multi-structure tourist attraction and family compound in 1982 at a price tag of $3.5 million, and lived there until his death in 1993. The centerpiece was Conway’s 24-room mansion surrounded by memorial gardens that became a destination for tourists and famous for the elaborate Christmas light displays every December.
Lineup for 10th Annual Cayamo Cruise Announced
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For 10 years now, the Cayamo Cruise organized by Sixthman Productions has been one of the most defining annual events in the Americana music realm. Quarantining so much Americana talent in one place has resulted in many memorable and legendary collaborations, and intimate performances from some of the best songwriters to ever suck air on land or sea.
Why Not Use These Collaborations to Help Develop Some COUNTRY Talent?
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The next trend in country may not be defined by a style or a sound, but who is involved in it. But if collaborations will be the next big trend, how about putting out just a little bit of effort to make sure that the great talent that is going unrecognized in country music itself gets some love?