Like something sweet left outside for any extended period of time in the summer, the voice of Bella White attracts a multitude of living things with its siren-like quality calling out for yearning hearts to come be filled from its bounty.
June 5th, 2026 is one of those super massive album release days where both the volume, and the gravity of the releases is so significant, it deserves its own guide. There’s a bunch of great albums from great artists.
Look alive country music fans! The world might be coming apart and the economy crashing, but country music is here to help get you through it. It happens to be that the second half of 2026 is packed with top releases.
There are now over 11,000 people following this playlist on Spotify alone. Nobody pays to get on this playlist. You have to earn it by releasing a great country song. And with limited spots, you know each song is tops.
Netflix released all eight episodes of a new crime drama series called The Waterfront on June 19th, and along with the show itself, folks are raving about the names and the songs that appear in the show’s soundtrack.
For the nonprofit and mostly volunteer-driven SFF Presents, the encroachment and dominance of musical juggernaut Live Nation is not just a hypothetical. The organization is on the front lines of supporting music on a local level.
As the name implies, the new movie has a major musical component, pairing it perfectly with a soundtrack that could have implications well beyond the film, and expose an audience to important music and performers.
Here comes the newest installment of the Hunger Games movie franchise that not only has a bunch of deserving artists on the soundtrack, but has a significant musical element throughout the script.
Despite lackluster support from radio, Ashley McBryde continues to increase her fan base, and keep her foot on the pedal when it comes to touring. That’s why she’s just announced a new slew of dates.
The quality of talent was never the concern about FairWell Fest, and the weekend was one killer set after another. The concern was always about a big out-of-town promoter coming into local-oriented Central Oregon and taking over.
The appeal for independent country has become so robust, we now have megafestivals sprouting up all across the country to cater to the fans of this music. But the first, and still the biggest of these events is Under The Big Sky Festival.
You don’t make it 50 years unless you’re doing something right. 30 years ago the Telluride Bluegrass Festival was already considered legendary from the careers launched, the friendships forged.
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist isn’t turning into the “Bluegrass” Top 25 Playlist. It just happens to be with all the bluegrass musicians kicking ass these days, it’s beginning to feel that way.
Every discussion about the music of Bella White invariably begins and ends with her highly affected, and highly affecting voice. All great music finds that balance between the familiar and the unexpected, and Bella’s unique phrasing brought to a yodel-like projection makes for a novel listening experience.
Now Central Oregon will have their own country and roots festival, and it may have one of the best lineups of any independent country event all year. Called the FairWell Festival, they have just announced their inaugural lineup for their July 21-23 festival at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond.
There are bigger festivals, and maybe in someone’s opinion, better festivals. But few festivals in the roots space are as prestigious as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in beautiful Telluride, Colorado. Celebrating its 50th year in 2023 of hosting bluegrass and bluegrass-adjacent music in the beautiful mountains…
Once again, Under The Big Sky Festival outside of Whitefish, Montana has wowed us all with their lineup announcement, and it underscores once again why this is arguably the premier event in independent country and Americana. With two stages, some 20,000 fans, and a curiously excellent curation of headliners…
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, or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations.
One of the very first festivals that saw the value and rising swell in independent country and roots was Pickathon just outside of Portland, Oregon. This was the place where the very careers of landmark artists such as Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, Lake Street Dive, and many more were launched.
A couple of the most promising up-and-coming performers and songwriters in independent country music have recently signed to Rounder Records, and its cause for celebration for these two artists who will now hopefully receive a higher level of interest in their craft moving forward.