Amos Perrine
THROUGH THE LENS: Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday Is Also a Celebration of Roots Music
THROUGH THE LENS: Rooster Walk & Railbird Festivals Offered Contrasting Takes On Appalachian Music Festivals
This week’s column highlights two Appalachian roots music festivals: Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival, held in Martinsville, Virginia, and Railbird Festival, held in Lexington, Kentucky.
Rooster Walk returned for a 16th year (May 21-24, 2026) just months after being selected as the best music fest in Southeast
THROUGH THE LENS: Topanga Banjo Fiddle & Albino Skunk Festivals - Throwbacks in Time
This week features two roots festivals new to the column — the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival (Calabasas, California, May 17, 2026) and the Albino Skunk Music Festival (Greer, South Carolina, May 6-9, 2026).
Begun in 1961 as a modest gathering in the Santa Monica Mountains Topanga has
THROUGH THE LENS: Vinyl Update - Uncle Tupelo, Robert Johnson, Tony Rice & Other Legends
Of all the vinyl updates this column has done, this is the one I am most excited about. The reissues featured below come from legends in virtually every music genre that ND covers: Uncle Tupelo (alt country); Tony Rice (bluegrass); Robert Johnson and BB King (blues); Jimmy Scott (jazz); The
THROUGH THE LENS: Southern California Roots Music at the 2026 Stagecoach & BeachLife Festivals
THROUGH THE LENS: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2026 Was a Feast For the Eyes, Ears, and Taste Buds
New Orleans, Louisiana, is not just a city. Its name alone conjures up a scintillating and singular representation of the confluence of French, African, and American cultures. The city is the embodiment of a round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live music scene, and spicy cuisine that reflects its melting pot