How PBS, NPR Funding Cuts Could Affect Country & Roots Music
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Where you’d never hear many of the artists you read about on Saving Country Music on your local country radio station, you very well might on the local NPR affiliate.
No Keith Urban, Synth and Drums Tracks Are Not Like Strings and Chorus
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Even though large orchestrations or highly-choreographed choir sections are undoubtedly elements of overproduction, they are still by definition organic. There is still a human element to them, in both the performance and the arrangement. But comparing them to the electronic accoutrements of the day is poppycock.
Album Review – “Rockingham” by American Aquarium’s BJ Barham
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Rockingham—the first solo album from American Aquarium’s frontman and songwriter B.J. Barham—was an album that made me come to a pretty keen realization, yet it probably was not the one Barnham set out to impart. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what a song or album leaves you with as long as it leaves you with something.
Cover Art, Track List Revealed for Dwight Yoakam’s Bluegrass Album
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Country fans who know what’s up lost their minds on August 2nd when it was revealed that Dwight Yoakam would be releasing a bluegrass album called Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars via well-known bluegrass label Sugar Hill September 23rd. Now we have more details on the record, including the track list and cover art.
Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price Being Officially Considered for CMA Award Nominations
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Sturgill Simpson is currently in the running and being voted on by members of the Country Music Association for three of the 50th Anniversary presentation’s biggest prizes. Also surprising since she’s not on a major label, Margo Price has made the top 20 females being considered for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Song Review- Dan + Shay’s “From The Ground Up”
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Dan + Shay seems to be about the most superfluous band in country music at the moment. What function are they fulfilling in the country music space? Do we really need another male singing duo? Aren’t there already too many mouths to feed at the top of country music, while incredible talent remains crowded out?
“Hell or High Water” Soundtrack Could Be Big Boon for Cool Roots Artists
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‘Hell or High Water’ selected some really worthy roots artists to feature in the movie soundtrack, including country legends Waylon Jennings and Townes Van Zandt, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Chris Stapleton, Scott H. Biram, and even up-and-comer Colter Wall.
Country Music’s Royal Court and Founding Family
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If you’re into country music and the history of it, you’re probably used to hearing about the “King” of this, or the “Father” of that. Since the history of country music is so important to keeping the lineage of the music alive, country pays special homage to the people who helped form or popularize the genre.
NASCAR Driver Chooses Whitey Morgan & The 78’s For Intro Song
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According to NASCAR, “A big part of every Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is driver intros, where each driver gets to pick a song of his or her choice to walk out to. It gives drivers a chance to show off their musical tastes, flex their comedic muscle and, yes, sometimes even send a message.”
Mamma Coal Re-Imagines “Red Headed Stranger” in “Raven Haired Vixen”
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Once comprising one half of the ravishing country singing duo Copper and Coal, Mamma Coal, a.k.a. singer and songwriter Carra Stasney, has re-imagined Willie Nelson’s country music epic ‘Red Headed Stranger’ into an epic of her own. This may be a story about a mother and her child, but just like Willie’s original, ‘Raven Haired Vixen’ is a Western.
Recap – The 2016 West Coast Country Music Festival
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The West Coast Country Music Festival, like many small festivals all across the country, shows that family over fame creates the greatest environment to share and enjoy music, and the funds and awareness raised through the event will help ensure the next generation will be able to share in those joys as well.
Album Review – “Real” by Lydia Loveless
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Normally, an artist either declaring or just plain evidencing their abandonment of country music, especially one who has contributed worthy music to the genre in the past, would be grounds for disappointment, or even anger. But in the case of Lydia Loveless, it’s a different story. I’m glad she said she wants to shed the alt-country label.
Nothing Sacred: What is the Benchmark for Playing the Grand Ole Opry?
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When The Byrds played the Opry in 1968, they were heckled from the gallery of the Ryman Auditorium. Today it is a much different story. Pharrell Williams, Kiefer Sutherland, and even Chewbacca Mom have made appearances with not just the approval of the Opry management, but to ovations from the Opry crowd.