Few if any songwriters exhibit the fearlessness towards the art form that country music’s Caitlin Cannon does. Unfiltered, and in certain cases, uninhibited, she’s willing to go to the places that all of our minds do.
If you want a perfect example of why some of these gross inequities pervade the music industry, one great example is the way the return of Jessica Simpson to music has been so slavishly lauded by the press.
You don’t enjoy SXSW—the annual musical gathering in Austin, Texas every mid March. You endure it. You survive it. Here are Saving Country Music’s biggest takeaways from SXSW 2025.
Where the Rock and Roll Hall dominated conversation throughout the English-speaking world, the Country Music Hall of Fame induction was a gross afterthought that slid scandalously under-the-radar.
Malcolm Holcombe was one of these elemental songwriters. Too raw, authentic, and unpolished for the spotlight, but a spellbinding influence on many who gladly step into it, he was the origin of multiple sounds.
The 2022 Americana Music Awards transpired at the Ryman Auditorium Wednesday Night, September 14th, with Billy Strings, Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Sierra Ferrell, and The War and Treaty all walking away with big awards. There were also a few surprises.
‘Rolling Stone’ published a list of the The 100 Greatest Country Albums of All Time this week, and as per usual, it has many arguing its merits, omissions, and inclusions. There was a time when whatever Rolling Stone said was taken as the definitive word in music. These days it’s more polarizing.
Never has the story of a deceased independent country artist been so compelling to the point where it is covered so overwhelmingly across the entirety of American media, and beyond. And yes, the results of all this attention is translating into people listening to Luke Bell’s music.
August 16th, 2022 would have been Billy Joe Shaver’s 83rd birthday, but unfortunately, he passed away on October 28th, 2020 at the age of 81, leaving a legacy of songwriting that set the very foundation for Outlaw country music that is still just as influential and resonant today.
Country music is country music, and the best definition of what country music is, is that you know it when you hear it. It’s self-evident. But the genre has birthed many subgenres, many stylistic movements over the years, and at times has seen a splintering and Balkanization.
Just like so many of the characters in today’s popular music space, Jason Isbell has transformed from one of the most universally-revered independent artists of our time, to being reviled by large swaths of the listening population for his active and often ostentatious displays.
Second generation country performer Justin Townes Earle passed away tragically on August 20th, 2020, but strong efforts are underway to make sure his legacy doesn’t go forgotten, especially after the ownership of the label that released his first five albums was sent in flux.
The two originally met and collaborated at a 2004 Lead Belly tribute concert at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singing the Lead Belly song “Black Girl.” They struck up a friendship over their mutual love for Ralph Stanley, and the rest was history.
“I just got out of rehab,” she told the crowd. “But not THAT kind of rehab.” Apologizing for not playing guitar or dancing around, Lucinda alternated time standing and sitting on a stool as she started off with the song “Are You Alright?” and ran through some of her most recognizable songs.
With ZZ Top and Cody Jinks at the top of the card, Blackberry Smoke, Randy Rogers Band, Parker McCollum, and Robert Earl Keen filling out the top slots, and an impressive undercard that includes hard-to-get names like Zach Bryan, Born & Raised Fest will hit the bullseye of appeal for many.
It could have been a disaster, or it could have not happened at all. When Mile 0 Fest rescheduled their 2021 festival from late January to late April, a lot of dominoes had to fall their way for them to pull it off. It was a risk. But they pulled it off with flying colors.
At last week’s Mile 0 Fest in Key West, Florida, Lucinda Williams was scheduled to be the headliner, and was supposed to take the stage Thursday night, April 29th. Her name even graces the top of the T-shirts and posters for 2021. But Williams cancelled on April 21st. Now we know why.
The majority of the high-profile bellyaching about the Grammys is coming from self-absorbed millionaire entertainers whose livelihoods and legacies are secured. It’s selfish and shortsighted of them to criticize an organization that gives the majority of its awards to deserving artists.
Promoting a festival on a small tropical island at the tip of Florida is tough enough. Trying to do it these trying times makes it even tougher. Co-owner Kyle Carter talks below about some of the challenges they’ve faced to pull off Mile 0 Fest 2021, and the precautions they’re taking.
At 84-years-old and having suffered health issues recently, it’s hard to blame Kris Kristofferson for wanting to hang it up. His service to art, film, music, and America as an Army Ranger and helicopter pilot is unparalleled and unprecedented, and it’s about time he decided to take it easy.
The 2021 Grammy Award nominees were announced on Tuesday (11/24), and as can be expected, there is some good, some bad, many worthy nominations, a few probably born of virtue signaling as you can expect. But overall, it’s about par for the course.
Unless you were there in person, you missed it. But now we’ll all get the opportunity to see the tribute concert that transpired on April 6th, 2017, when a hefty list of musical talent all assembled at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to pay tribute to the legendary Merle Haggard.
To help in the COVID-19 recovery effort, the Hall of Fame is planning a special live streaming event that will match up many of the iconic instruments in the “Precious Jewels” collection and other displays with many of the best artists and players of today.
The Texas, Red Dirt, and Americana-oriented Mile 0 Fest in Key West, Florida will be moving forward in 2021, and they have just announced the festival’s preliminary lineup. Usually occurring in late January/early February, they have moved the date later in the year due to COVID-19 concerns.