ALBUM REVIEW: West Texas Exiles Come to Town on ‘8000 Days’
Out of the remains of the Dirty River Boys, co-founded in 2009 by guitarist Marco Gutierrez, comes the West Texas Exiles. Joining Gutierrez are bassist Eric Harrison, keyboardist Daniel Davis, guitarist Colin Gilmore, and former Dirty River Boys drummer Trinidad Leal. On 8000 Days, the group’s debut album, the
ALBUM REVIEW: Carson McHone’s Dazzling ‘Pentimento’ Pursues Higher Truths in the Real World
Ambitious and proud of it, Carson McHone reveals where she’s coming from in the opening moments of her dazzling new album. Pentimento begins with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, standard-bearer of the 19th-century Transcendalist movement, which believed divine truths could be drawn from everyday experience. “Heaven walks among
FRESH TRACK: Brandon Whyde - "Self-Medicated"
THROUGH THE LENS: The Insiders Guide to AMERICANAFEST 2025
The fine folks at the Americana Music Association have curated another stellar lineup of roots artists for the 25th annual AMERICANAFEST extravaganza in Nashville, September 9-13, 2025. As with previous years' previews, most of the more recognizable performers are not highlighted (save for a couple of notable exceptions), the
NO DEPRESSION SESSIONS at MerleFest: Presley Barker
No Depression set up the "studio" at the 37th annual MerleFest for a dozen sessions with legends and legends-in-the-making. The festival was founded in 1988 in memory of Doc Watson’s son Merle, and features “traditional plus” music, meaning a broad range of styles from the sweet falsetto
BONUS TRACKS: Another New One from Willie Nelson, Banjo Lessons from Kaïa Kater, and More Roots Music News
For his his 155th album (according to Texas Monthly) and 78th solo record, Willie Nelson has announced an 11-track tribute to fellow Texas icon Merle Haggard. Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, which follows a series of covers albums honoring Harlan Howard, Ray Price, George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, and Rodney Crowell,