THROUGH THE LENS: Newport Folk Festival 2024
The 65th edition of the Newport Folk Festival was a humdinger. This year's installment of the venerable fest that keeps renewing itself year after year featured poetry reading, impromptu dancing by fest grande dame Joan Baez and Rhiannon Giddens, Gillian Welch duetting with Sierra Ferrell, two separate performances
FRESH TRACK: Frank Viele – 'Necessary Evil'
Earlier this year, Connecticut musician Frank Viele — the reigning New England Music Awards’ “Artist of The Year” — announced the official launch of Bigger Beast Records, his first record label devoted to artistic collaboration and nurturing the next wave of groundbreaking songwriters. The announcement of the venture coincided with the announcement
Billy Strings Blazes Full Speed Ahead With New Studio Album ‘Highway Prayers’
Billy Strings is clearly in the fast lane when it comes to releasing new music this year.
At midnight he announced a new album, Highway Prayers, via social media. Coming Sept. 27, the album appears to have a car theme, from the Instagram post’s vintage magazine car ad vibe
SPOTLIGHT: On ‘Dreamers,’ Wild Ponies Let Love Take the Reins
EDITOR’S NOTE: Wild Ponies are No Depression’s Spotlight band for August 2024. Look for more about them and their new album, Dreamers (out Aug. 23 on No Evil Records), all month long.
Love has a way of expanding in the Wild Ponies’ universe.
It’s been all over
BONUS TRACKS: Johnny Cash Statue Headed to U.S. Capitol
Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol is lined with bronze and marble likenesses of founding fathers, renowned orators, war heroes, and do-gooders, two from each state. But soon the first musician will join its ranks, and it’s a good one: Johnny Cash. Arkansas has designated the famed singer
ALBUM REVIEW: With ‘Smoke & Fiction,’ X Takes a Bow
X has never dabbled in fantasy. The Los Angeles punk icons have always been firmly planted in reality, singing about the highs and lows of life. Now, in a profoundly real decision, X is calling it a career after nearly 50 years together.
Smoke & Fiction is being billed as