We're back this week after taking off to travel to, and report from, the FreshGrass Festival in Bentonville, Arkansas. As a result, we've got a double-dose of new roots music news.
Contemporary politics and technology intersect again in a way that impacts the roots music world. Earlier in May, Mashable reported that Soundcloud updated its terms of service to note that all users must agree to let the platform use their uploaded content "inform, train, develop or serve as input" AI and machine-learning tools. The backlash, however, came swiftly, as Pitchfork reported. Read Soundcloud CEO Eliah Seton's open letter here, which claims that the company will make "a formal commitment that any use of AI on SoundCloud...based on consent, transparency, and artist control.” Around the same time, the Trump administration abruptly fired Shira Perlmutter, the most senior public servant involved in copyright in the US. Music Business Worldwide breaks down how that decision could impact individual musicians, AI-generated music, and the wider music industry.
The Atlantic recently published a thought-provoking longread also in line with discussions around technology, pop culture, and politics. Spencer Kornhaber's piece asks, "Is This the Worst-Ever Era of American Pop Culture?" and consults with jazz critic and author Ted Gioia and others in the music industry and visual art world about how much these socio-political factors are impacting creativity and consumption.
Ketch Secor has announced that his debut solo album, Story The Crow Told Me, will be released on July 11 on Equal Housing Records via Firebird Music after 28 years of fronting Old Crow Medicine Show. Watch the video for lead single “Dickerson Road” below.
Jukebox musicals are one of the most popular styles on Broadway these days — using songs from an existing band's catalogue as the basis for a new story or a revue. Last week, author Taylor Jenkins Reid (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo) announced that she has completed a new musical titled Goodbye, Earl, inspired by, and using the music of The Chicks. Read more at Broadway World here.
In more theater news, Abner and Amanda Ramirez of the duo JOHNNYSWIM (whose latest album When The War Is Over came out in February) have been confirmed to write the original music and lyrics to the musical adaptation of David Nicholls' novel, One Day. The stage production will run from February 27 to April 5, 2026 at The Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh, Scotland — the same city in which the story takes place.
Minnesota bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles announced the Palomino Grant for musicians within 20 miles of Duluth, Minnesota or Superior, Wisconsin. The grand prize winner will receive $5,000 (for what they call, "to be used in your battle against artistic mediocrity"), dental care from local businesses, recording time at Pachyderm Studios, and an opening slot at the band's upcoming gig with S.G. Goodman. Although the application window closed on Wednesday, it's worth noting their commitment to fostering their local music scene. Stay tuned for the winner!
Charley Crockett is auctioning off his 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz in order to raise money for his friend Nat Myers, who is currently undergoing treatment for Stage IV cancer. The content closes tonight at 11:59 pm PT and the winner will be announced Monday, May 26. Enter here.
Ruby Ibarra won this year's 11th annual Tiny Desk Contest, presented by NPR. The Filipina-American rapper and musician, who is based in the Bay Area, told NPR that her winning track, "Bakunawa," is "a direct reference of a mythological creature based in Philippine mythology. It's about a dragon who swallows the moon." She continues, "I interpreted it as a metaphor for resistance and a battle cry against erasure." Read more (or listen to the interview) at NPR here and watch her video entry — performed entirely by women and in three different languages — below.
The Blues Foundation — which "preserves blues heritage, celebrates blues recording and performance, expands worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensures the future of the uniquely American art form" — announced the winners of its 46th Annual Blues Music Awards earlier in May. Check out the full list of winners here and read more about some select winners here at No Depression:
Instrumentalist (Horn) - Vanessa Collier (ND essay)
Instrumentalist (Vocals) - Ruthie Foster (ND story)
Album of the Year - Blame It On Eve by Shemekia Copeland (ND review)
RIP to Barry Poss, the founder of Sugar Hill Records. The bluegrass label was founded in Durham, North Carolina in 1978 and was home to records by Nickel Creek, Jerry Douglas, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Del McCoury Band, Doc Watson, and many more. Read more about Poss' life and career in this obituary from Music Row.
Mental health is literally in No Depression's name (even though the founders named the publication after a Carter Family song and an Uncle Tupelo LP), so check out the premiere of Season 5 of the "CHECK YOUR HEAD" podcast by Mari Fong. The first episode, which features singer-songwriter Jewel (ND story) and Ryan Dusick, the former touring drummer for Maroon 5 turned LMFT, debuted on May 15 — Mental Health Action Day. Listen here.
Oh Boy Records, the independent record label founded by John Prine, released a short EP last Friday called The Belonging EP Vol. 1, featuring five covers that the beloved singer-songwriter recorded. As the label writes:
Oh Boy Records is proud to call Nashville home, and we’re also proud to be a record label that’s run by immigrants. We wanted to do something to help support the immigrant community here, and to also hopefully spread some joy to fans of John.
The EP is available exclusively via Bandcamp and proceeds will be donated to The Belonging Fund, which, "provides financial support to nonprofit organizations offering emergency assistance to immigrants in our region during times of crisis." Suggested price is $10. Listen and buy at Bandcamp.
The next Bandcamp Friday will be Friday, August 1, 2025. Additionally, the independent, direct-to-consumer music platform has soft-launched a new tool called Bandcamp Playlists. The Beta version allows users to create digital mixtapes that emphasize discovery and artist support. Get more details here.
NEW ROOTS MUSIC RELEASES
Amble - Reverie (ND column)
Florry - Sounds Like...
Andy Frasco & The UN - Growing Pains
Jess Kerber - From Way Down Here
Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' - Room on The Porch (ND review)
Ken Pomeroy - Cruel Joke
Marc Ribot - Map of a Blue City
SteelDrivers - Outrun (ND review)
WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO
Mariel Buckley - "Vending Machines"
Tidiane Thiam - "Neene Africa" (from his album Africa Yontii, out now via Sahel Sounds)
Kathleen Edwards - “Human Touch” (f/ Bahamas)
Bruce Springsteen - Land of Hope and Dreams - Live EP
Esther Rose - "Scars" (f/ Dean Johnson)
Dylan Earl - "Outlaw Country"
Tami Neilson, Ashley McBryde, Grace Bowers, and Shelly Fairchild - "Borrow My Boots" (live at the Grand Ole Opry)
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