THROUGH THE LENS: IBMA’s World of Bluegrass Bids Farewell to Raleigh, North Carolina
This week's column looks at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) 2024 World of Bluegrass that was recently held in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was a multi-headed beast of a roots music festival that’s comprised of four components:
1. Conference (September 24-26)
2. IBMA
BONUS TRACKS: How to Help the North Carolina Roots Music Community
By now, you've probably seen plenty of images of a completely inundated Western North Carolina. Water up to the roof of a Wendy's on Biltmore Avenue in Asheville. An 18-wheeler floating through floodwaters toward the U-Haul building on Swannanoa River Road. The roofs of
SPOTLIGHT: With Debut 'Tell It to the Wind,' Joy Clark Is Finally Having a Moment
Contradictions form the foundation of Joy Clark’s musical life: was bandleader at the church her family ran while still a closeted teenager. She made her mark as a singer-songwriter in New Orleans, a town best known for funk and jazz. Now she’s crafting songs in a genre
ALBUM REVIEW: Michelle Malone Remains the Life of the Party
Michelle Malone has been the life of the party for decades, and on her new album, Southern Comfort, she demonstrates why.
A good party is fun, but a great party is a much deeper experience – it’s not about barely remembering what happened the next day, but more about a
ALBUM REVIEW: With 'Acadia,' Yasmin Williams Creates a Tranquil World
In literature, Acadia is an idyllic place filled with plenty. Acadia is a fitting title, then, for the new album from Yasmin Williams.
On this, her third album – her first for Nonesuch Records – the multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer creates a tranquil world with lush instrumentation, occasionally accompanied by enchanting
FRESH TRACK: JP Harris - "Dark Thoughts"
"Dark Thoughts" appears to the listener as a 60's country strut, covering the unspoken topics of kink and taboo desires; in actuality, JP's intention behind the song is to further explore the idea that in speaking about sexuality, we as a society may further