Emmylou Harris - Portraits
Poor Emmylou Harris. Not that she cares, probably, but a generation of music writers, including me, have at one time or another written about Harris as if she were a footnote -- albeit a major one -- to the career of Gram Parsons.
Acknowledging the relationship is one thing, but
Freedy Johnston - Never Home
With his focus on guitar primacy, engaging storytelling and lasting melodies, Freedy Johnston is a first-class American singer/songwriter. He's also an indefatigable craftsman who shows a perfectionist's attention to detail, but Johnston's magic is seldom clinical, and Never Home is a dynamic successor
Green On Red - What Were We Thinking?
If it weren't for some enthusiastic foreigners, Green On Red might be little more than a footnote in the history of '80s American roots-rockers. But thanks to foreign record labels such as China in London and Normal in Germany, latter-day Green On Red releases and solo records
Woody Guthrie Tribute - (Cleveland, OH)
One of the stated missions of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is education, and it certainly fulfilled that goal with a week-long celebration of Woody Guthrie in late September. A series of seminars, films and other activities was capped by two tribute concerts September 28-29 at different venues
Strawberry Music Festival - Camp Mather (Yosemite, CA)
Held just outside of Yosemite National Park, the twice-annual Strawberry Music Festival offers great music amidst warm, sunny days and cool, clear evenings in a pastoral green field surrounded by tall pines. The festival is usually held every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, but this year's fall
Bill Monroe: 1911-1996 - Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)
Peter Rowan tells a story about touring Europe as one of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys. As they were going through customs, an agent stopped Monroe and, looking at his passport, asked his name. "Bill Monroe," he said. Then the agent inquired about his occupation. "Father