BONUS TRACKS: World Cup Fever, New Music From Wynonna, Peggy Seeger, American Aquarium, and More Roots Music News
Happy World Cup season, everyone! The international soccer/football competition actually has a rich musical history, with global superstars like Shakira performing this year in Mexico, classical and operatic performances in Italy in 1990, and K-pop phenomenon and BTS member Jungkook in Qatar in 2022. For anyone looking to
NO DEPRESSION SESSIONS at Chelsea Studios NYC: Joe Pernice
The batch of songs that turned into Joe Pernice's new record Sunny, I Was Wrong, started out as a trickle of demos shared between Pernice and his longtime friend Warren Zanes, and before long, the trickle turned into a flood. Zanes asked if he could help organize an
ALBUM REVIEW: Samantha Fish Burns the House Down
Heading towards her second decade as a blues phenomenon, Kansas City guitarist/vocalist Samantha Fish’s Paper Doll (Live at the Bijou) asserts her veteran status with a blast of high-octane grunge.
Over her career, Fish has explored a range of styles, from the country Americana of 2017’s
ALBUM REVIEW: Duane Betts' Cinematic ‘Isle of Hope’
The warm tones on Isle of Hope, the latest album from Duane Betts (son of Dickey Betts of Allman Brothers fame), hit with an emotional resonance that transports listeners through shadows into light. On his second album, the guitarist, songwriter, and singer navigates loss and embraces hope in and songs
ALBUM REVIEW: Alex Amen is Rooted in Reverence, Alive in the Present on Debut, ‘Sun of Amen’
Sun of Amen, the debut album from Alex Amen, is what happens when a young man in 2026 has spent his formative years worshipping a lovingly worn stack of his parents’ vinyl, modeling his sound after a different generation’s heroes. The clear-throated moan of early-career Harry Nilsson,
THROUGH THE LENS: Topanga Banjo Fiddle & Albino Skunk Festivals - Throwbacks in Time
This week features two roots festivals new to the column — the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival (Calabasas, California, May 17, 2026) and the Albino Skunk Music Festival (Greer, South Carolina, May 6-9, 2026).
Begun in 1961 as a modest gathering in the Santa Monica Mountains Topanga has