THROUGH THE LENS: A Harvest of Songs at Farm Aid 2022
The first Farm Aid concert in 1985 was the brainchild of Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp. It had two purposes: 1) To raise funds to keep farm families on the land; and 2) to increase awareness about the loss of those farms. To date, the nonprofit Farm Aid
Stories and Songs Shine at ‘You Got Gold’ Celebration of John Prine
Tribute concerts are all too common an occurrence in Nashville. In recent years, fans have packed Bridgestone Arena or Nissan Stadium to say farewell to Kenny Rogers or to mark the first anniversary of Merle Haggard’s death with a parade of celebrities on the Jumbotron.
But Nashville also knows
ALBUM REVIEW: Enthusiasm and Creativity Make Leonard Cohen Tribute a Triumph
Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen, produced by Cohen’s longtime friend Larry Klein, features a who’s who of popular music paying homage to the Hall-of-Fame-inducted and baritone-voiced troubadour. Ten distinct singers are joined by a stellar group of jazz-minded musicians who provide accompaniment on each track:
THE READING ROOM: Willie Nelson Celebrates ‘Fabled Friendship’ With Paul English
In the song “Me and Paul,” Willie Nelson immortalized his beloved friend and long-time drummer Paul English in lines such as “we received our education / In the cities of the nation, me and Paul.” Now, Nelson lets readers in on their lifelong friendship in his humorous, poignant new book Me
ALBUM REVIEW: Miko Marks Paves a Path to Peace With ‘Feel Like Going Home’
It has been an exciting and busy two years for Miko Marks. In early 2021, Marks released her third LP, Our Country, and followed it up later that year with a covers EP, Race Records (ND review). She was selected for CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2022,
ALBUM REVIEW: As Plains, Jess Williamson and Waxahatchee Find a Fruitful Pairing
Two records arrived in early pandemic days of spring 2020 that proved timeless but also timely — salves for a terrifying time: Jess Williamson’s hauntingly ethereal Sorceress and Waxahatchee’s grounded, gut-wrenching Saint Cloud. Both were the kind of songwriter albums perfect for privately smiling through tears, solitary walks, and