ALBUM REVIEW: Folk Song Innovator Sam Amidon Reimagines Folk Songs on 'Salt River'
Sam Amidon has spent most of his career carefully deconstructing and reimagining (mostly) traditional folk songs. He always keeps one foot rooted to the folk scene of the 1970s, which his parents were a part of, while the other foot dances coyly with experimental, jazz fusion, and indie rock collaborators.
THROUGH THE LENS: Jenny Don't & The Spurs, X, Samantha Fish, and Other Photos of the Week
It may seem a little too soon in the year to do a photos of the week theme, but your ND photographers have been quite busy, in spite of the holidays, and through January's bizarre weather. From legends such as X (the roots punk band) to country bands
FOUNDERS KEEPERS: Ringo Starr, Cecilia Castleman, Jamey Johnson, Yola, Chris Eckman, Gold Star
The top two picks in this month’s roundup are a study in contrast, and yet there’s overlap. At 84, Ringo Starr remains one of the most recognizable recording artists on the planet, with all of the Beatles’ catalog plus dozens of solo and All-Starr Band releases to his
BONUS TRACKS: New Albums Coming from Jason Isbell, Sierra Hull, and Lucy Dacus
This week was rich in new music releases, including from three big names in roots music — country singer-songwriter and rocker Jason Isbell, bluegrass singer-songwriter, mandolinist, and guitarist Sierra Hull, and folk and rock star Lucy Dacus.
Isbell's first completely solo acoustic album, Foxes in the Snow, is due
History, Politics, and Bluegrass: "New White House Blues"
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mark Kilianski is one half of Golden Shoals, an Americana, bluegrass and old-time group. He wrote this essay about the history behind their latest single, out today (Jan. 17), "New White House Blues."
I’ve always loved the bluegrass and old-time standard "White
ALBUM REVIEW: Grace, Empathy, and Crys Matthews' 'Reclamation'
I don’t think any album could have better timing than Crys Matthews’ Reclamation. Matthews does not shy away from politics, as all too many artists have, nor does she shrink from naming specific social issues and crafting thoughtful songs about them. (We have let far too many artists get