ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘The American Dream’ Amy Speace Creates Landscapes of the Human Heart
Amy Speace creates landscapes of the human heart in her songs through her exquisite use of words and images. On her ninth album, The American Dream, Speace shines a light into the corners of our lives where we hide hopes and dreams to reveal their flaws, as well as their
THROUGH THE LENS: The Ohana and Sing Out Loud Fests Highlight Roots Music & Social Awareness
This week the column features two fests at opposite ends of the country, Sing Out Loud (St. Augustine, Florida, September 21 and 22) and the Ohana Festival (Doheny Beach State Park, Dana Point, California, September 27-29, 2024). Fortunately, Sing Out Loud was held before hurricanes Helene and Milton hit
BONUS TRACKS: Nathaniel Rateliff Named to Newport Folk's Stewardship Program
On the heels of his June 2024 release, South of Here, Nathaniel Rateliff dropped a little news this week: Newport Folk has created a Stewardship Program and named Rateliff as the first artist to hold such an appointment since Pete Seeger.
Of course, Newport Folk Festival is one of the
ALBUM REVIEW: Flamy Grant Wants to Take You to 'CHURCH'
It seems Flamy Grant has been defined more by her media controversy than her music. This is unjust but understandable – these days, a country music-slinging Christian drag queen is bound to draw ire from all the wrong people. But, if there were any doubts about her artistic prowess, her
ALBUM REVIEW: Ronnie Baker Brooks' Alligator Records Debut Taps His Blues DNA
When Ronnie Baker Brooks says that blues is in his DNA, it's not an idle claim or a marketing ploy. His Grammy-nominated and Blues Hall of Famer dad Lonnie schooled him in the Chicago blues tradition. Lonnie took him on the road when Ronnie was 18, teaching
ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Oh Brother,’ Dawes Offer a Front Row Seat to Life as We Know It
With the shattering strike of a snare, Oh Brother comes to life and so, too, does the latest iteration of Dawes.
For the first time in nearly a decade, it’s just brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith leading the charge. The 2023 departure of bandmates Wylie Gelber and Lee Pardini