From Unhoused Busker to Headliner: The Rise of Sierra Ferrell
From performing on street corners for spare change to one of the fastest-rising artists in all of country and roots music, Sierra Ferrell has arrived.
Sierra Ferrell
The Telluride Bluegrass Festival Turns 50 (Report & Photos)
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.
One For The Ages: Sierra Ferrell Stuns 50th Telluride Bluegrass Fest
The Telluride Bluegrass Festival has been around for 50 years, and turned in some legendary moments over that time. Sierra Ferrell’s set June 17th feels like one that will be entered into those annals of legendary festival moments.
Wild Horses Fest Books Zach Bryan, CAAMP, Sierra Ferrell
In the last year we’ve witnessed Zach Bryan go from having to earn respect at country festivals in opening slots, to headlining some of the biggest festivals around.
Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam Has Become a Rite of Passage
For 20 years now (with a short hiatus during the pandemic) Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam at the Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday during CMA Fest has been the crown jewel of the event for those who can secure a ticket to the Country Music Mother Church. What started as a more healthy alternative.
Album Review – Josie Toney’s “Extra”
Extra is everything you were hoping Josie Toney’s debut album would be. When she sings, Toney evokes the ghosts of the classic country era by mixing old-school country with old-school blues indicative at times of Hank One. You may think of her as an instrumentalist first, but the album showcases…
Watch JP Harris Pay Tribute to Luke Bell at the Mother Church
JP Harris was currently on tour at the time, and flew into Nashville last minute to perform the tribute. Early on in Luke Bell’s career, not only did JP Harris give Luke a place to stay and a job (JP Harris is also a full-time contractor), he also was a mentor to Luke, referring to him as “little brother.”
Ed Sheeran Couldn’t Be More Wrong About Music Critics
With every single piece of recorded music now right at your fingertips, spending time reading professional reviews may seem silly. But the problem is that you have every single piece of recorded music right at your fingertips, which means we’ve gone from not enough options, to way too many.
2023 Luck Reunion Features Legendary Performances, Logistical Issues
Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion remains one of the most premier and exclusive events in the country and roots space every year, and a much healthier option to braving a day at SXSW in Austin, TX, which Luck acts as an alternative to. But even though the 2023 installment will be remembered for plenty of fond reasons…
Josie Toney Is Poised To Break Out with New Album “Extra”
If you’ve been swept up by the Sierra Ferrell phenomenon over the last few years, then you probably don’t need an introduction to Josie Toney. With her fiddle playing, harmonies, and million-watt smiles, she added breadth, skill, and beauty to Sierra Ferrell’s sound. Now she’s going solo.
Telluride Bluegrass Fest Bestows Big Opportunities in 50th Annual Lineup
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…
Lineup for Willie Nelson’s 2023 Luck Reunion Revealed
Over the last eleven years, one of the major events worth seeking out as a refuge from the madness is Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion held at his ranch just west of town … if you’re lucky enough to be able to get in. Held on the Thursday of SXSW every year (which puts it on March 16th in 2023).
Scenes from Ameripolitan 2023 (& Yes, the Waffle House Dress)
For two days before the awards show transpired, performances took place at the stately Guesthouse at Graceland in Memphis showcasing some of the greatest up-and-coming and independent talent from country, roots, and rockabilly—or “Ameripolitan” as we call it in this instance.
Sierra Ferrell Adds To Sold Out 2023 Tour Dates, Reveals Openers
When Sierra Ferrell announced her 2023 Spring tour last fall, you were warned then that most or all of these dates would sell out, and immediately. Lo and behold, that prediction came true, and so to meet demand, Sierra has released a slew of more dates stretching into the summer
Willi Carlisle Announces Triumphant Headlining Tour
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.
Country Music Legends as a Deck of Cards
For years I’ve been thinking that a cool way to present the legends of country music would be to illustrate the genre’s top artists through a deck of cards. Where to place what artist, what suit would be suited best for certain performers all seems like it would create great discussion points.
Country Music’s Best Live Performers of 2022
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.
Saving Country Music’s 2022 Single of the Year Nominees
Alright, so we’ve already run down the most sad, sappy, and poetic songs of 2022 in the Song of the Year nominees. Now it’s time to crank it up a notch and to showcase the songs that are just so damn enjoyable to listen to, we can’t stop. These are the songs that burrow deep in your ears and won’t come out.
Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers to Headline Loaded Railbird Festival
The Railbird Festival has been around for a few years now, mixing Kentucky horse racing culture and the state’s favorite spirit of bourbon with a diverse musical experience. But in 2023, Railbird is leaning more into the independent country side of music and their Kentucky roots.
Tyler Childers Should’ve Booked Arenas. He’s An Arena-Level Artist
This is 2022, and artists like Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Zach Bryan, and the Turnpike Troubadours are exploding in popularity. Add on top of that then pent up demand due to the pandemic, and we’re living in an era when you’re favorite independent artists are arena stars.
Sierra Ferrell Announces Spring 2023 Tour
Ain’t no trick. Sierra Ferrell has just announced her next national tour in the Spring of 2023, and you better reach for tickets like the one full-sized Snickers bar in a bowl of Smarties. This might be one of your final opportunities to see her in a more intimate venue, which you should take full advantage of.
Melissa Carper Readies New Album “Ramblin’ Soul”
An important subset of the country/roots revolution we’re currently enjoying is women who are fearlessly hearkening back to the very earliest times of American music before it was all corrupted by fads and financial incentives. This is where Sierra Ferrell has found fertile ground, and so has Melissa Carper.
Billy Strings Wins Big, Luke Bell Paid Tribute at Americana Music Awards
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.
Review – John Anderson “Something Borrowed” Tribute
The fact that this tribute starts off with an unheard recording of John Prine who’s been gone now for two years now speaks to just how long it takes to put something like this together. It’s also one of the multiple reasons this is not just ‘another’ tribute record. A lot of love went into this one.