THE READING ROOM: Six New Music Books Bursting Forth This Spring
As the snow melts and temperatures begin to climb, the fresh tendrils of a new crop of music books break the sodden ground of winter’s desolation. Like those perennial flowers that bloom in April and May, this spring’s music books bring vibrant color to a dull landscape, invigorating
Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings, and Iris DeMent Honored at International Folk Music Awards
This year’s International Folk Music Awards, presented on the opening night of Folk Alliance International’s annual conference Wednesday, smiled on bluegrass-leaning roots musicians even as it celebrated all things folk.
In a ceremony in Kansas City, awards were given for album, artist, and song of the year for
ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Olustee’ Is JJ Grey & Mofro’s Latest Postcard From the Florida Swampland
JJ Grey is a shape-shifter, a marauding swamp thing big-footin’ it through his ancestral Florida homeland, splashing muddy funk in all directions. Trying to nail those big feet down is like wrasslin’ gators: He's pretty much gonna do what he wants, so just grab hold and hang on
ALBUM REVIEW: Hurray for the Riff Raff Processes Loss and Other Heavy Weights on ‘The Past Is Still Alive’
On their past few albums under the Hurray for the Riff Raff moniker, Alynda Segarra has focused their gaze on the outside world and the sociopolitical forces that move us. It’s an approach that’s worked, as their 2017 record The Navigator and 2022’s Life on Earth are
ALBUM REVIEW: Amigo the Devil Braces for Battle on ‘Yours Until the War Is Over’
If you take a look at the tour dates for Amigo the Devil, you'll find a lot more shows at rock festivals or supporting rockers than roots-related performances. It might seem a strange fit for a guy whose primary weapons are banjo and acoustic guitar to rub elbows
Old 97’s Announce 13th Album, ‘American Primitive’
After 30 years as a band, the Old 97’s have learned to rely on what comes naturally to them.
For their new album, American Primitive, they gathered in a Portland, Oregon, studio and just let ’er rip.
“This was the first record we’ve ever done with zero pre-production,