You might be surprised to learn that Birmingham, Alabama right in the heart of the country music homeland does not have an annual country music festival. Well it does now.
The sold out Boys From Oklahoma reunion shows in early April will not be your only opportunity to see the reunited legendary Red Dirt band. Cross Canadian Ragweed has just announced another stadium date.
t’s a festival. It’s a homecoming. It’s a family reunion. It’s the Braun Brothers Reunion, and it’s one of the longest-running traditions in Texas music held in Idaho each summer. 2025 will be no different.
What happens at Mile 0 Fest in Key West doesn’t stay in Key West. It resonates throughout the Texas/ Red Dirt world, into Americana, and throughout independent country for the rest of the year.
A Song of the Year is not just a “song.” It’s a form of artistic expression that can change a life, that can change someone’s perspective, or that can change the world. It’s something that must be able to give you goosebumps.
“They were good until they got sober” is often the dumb offering from social media dunces when some musician goes sober. But contrary to this common misconception, sometimes sobriety brings the best out in an artist.
Since the Grammy Awards are one of the few awards that weigh artistic merit over commercial success, it makes it a bit more important to pay attention to for fans and advocates of independent artists.
Out of the wreckage of the American experience comes the pointed, propulsive, sometimes polarizing, and at other times gentle and ruminative musings of B.J. Barham and his long-running band of alt-county misfit toys.
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats .
The 2nd half of 2024 promises to be a very big and very busy time when it comes to album releases in country and roots music. Below you can find a list of Saving Country Music’s top recommended albums.
For nearly 20 years now, American Aquarium and frontman BJ Barham have been a mostly rock band graciously accepted into Americana, Texas/Red Dirt, and independent country due to the quality of the songs.
Over the last few years, Shooter Jennings has gone from a pickup producer taking bookings in between tours and recording his own albums, to one of the busiest and most sought-after producers in the business.
While much of the media reported on Live Nation’s initiative verbatim and without scrutinizing it or digging too deep into the details, others are speaking out, saying its a lot of smoke an mirrors to take heat off the massive company.
Don’t call it a comeback. Jason Isbell has been the King of Americana ever since he released his album Southeastern 10 years ago this week. But nothing will ever be good enough when it’s measured against perfection.
Though you may not nerd out enough about country music to wonder how your favorite Texas/Red Dirt artists end up playing at your local watering hole or wind up on a festival lineup, it’s a very big part to how an artist or band either makes it breaks it in the music business.
Folks who’ve seen him perform live will attest that in the flesh is where the magic of Willi Carlisle really shines. His knack for storytelling, showmanship, and holding an audience in his hands whether it’s a silly tale or a seriously sentimental tear-jerkier is second to none.
Mile 0 Fest has established itself as one of the premier destination events in all of country and roots music, especially if you’re into the Texas/Red Dirt side of things. Now after six years, Mile 0 Fest has its own traditions, it’s own nucleus of loyal patrons and regular performers, and a heap of fond memories.
Normally when the frontman of a hard-driving alt-country band announces they’re going on a solo acoustic tour, it may be a bit deflating. But when it comes to BJ Barham of American Aquarium, story time with BJ is an opportunity that some fans of the North Carolina native salivate for.
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Saving Country Music’s most comprehensive guide to music in a given year, known as the Essential Albums List. Starting with the first 20 albums that are deemed the “Most Essential”—meaning they were right on the bubble of being Album of the Year nominees…
Let’s highlight some of the bands on the brink, that probably should be headlining festivals and big events themselves, and very well may be in the coming years. These are the artists and bands you better get out to see before like many of your favorite headliners, they end up only playing arenas.
It may not be as obvious of an example as the little shop down the street in a strip mall selling handmade scented candles and hippie soap, but your favorite independent music artists are all most certainly small businesses as well. So are many of your favorite locally-owned music venues, local festivals…
The Grammy Awards officially open the initial round of voting for nominees today, and due to the propensity for the Grammys to often overlook key contributors in the country music and roots space, here are some simple suggestions of what Grammy voters should make sure they don’t ignore for the 2023 awards.
The boys from Oklahoma who will be returning home from touring all around the United States this year after officially reuniting in April at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. Consider it a true homecoming for a band that has earned it, and may just be getting started on what they have in store for the future.
Held on the same grounds as the massive Rocklahoma gathering, Born & Raised boasted one of the best lineups all year on an incredibly crowded weekend. Just the Friday night lineup alone was worth the effort, with some of the best songwriters and performers in all of country music booked one after another.