ALBUM REVIEW: Playful Songs Explore Deep Places on Holler Choir’s ‘Songs Before They Write Themselves’
Asheville, North Carolina-based bluegrass group Holler Choir serves up a gentle irony with the title of their debut LP, Songs Before They Write Themselves, that runs throughout the entire album. In a time of growing concerns over the potential impact of artificial intelligence on musical creativity, lead vocalist and
THE READING ROOM: More Memorable Music Books You Don’t Want to Miss
Several memorable music books were published in 2023, and I highlighted several in my previous column. We’re already looking forward to some more very promising books in 2024, but first I wanted to offer a look at a few 2023 music books that stand out for their contributions to
ALBUM REVIEW: Chris O’Leary Traces His Winding Musical Journey on ‘The Hard Line’
As the title of his Alligator debut, The Hard Line, implies, vocalist/harpist Chris O’Leary's life and career have followed a hard line, but not a straight one. Blasting through a dozen blistering originals, O'Leary chronicles the meandering journey that led him in and out
New Album From Aoife O’Donovan Reflects on Women’s Experience in America
For her new album, All My Friends, singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan drew inspiration from a collaborator whose best work was 100 years ago.
In original songs inspired by speeches and letters written by suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, O’Donovan brings a modern, personal perspective to being a woman in
THROUGH THE LENS: Sierra Ferrell and Zach Bryan Hit Home Runs at Wild Horses Festival
This week's guest contributor Liza Orozco and I have at least one thing in common: an unfettered admiration of Sierra Ferrell. Ferrell is from my hometown of Charleston, West Virginia, and I've seen her many times during the past 15 years. She's been featured
Nashville Show Traces 100 Years of Earl Scruggs’ Influence
Two years ago, Jerry Douglas’ manager Brian Penix told him, “I’ve booked the Ryman Auditorium for Earl Scruggs’ 100th birthday. I want you to create a show.” No setting could have been better suited for the celebration of Scruggs’ centennial this year. The star-studded show that resulted in