Bartenders wear many hats--server, artisan, psychologist, bouncer, and in the case of Philadelphia-based roots man Bug Martin's new single, sweet patron saint. "Having spent what feels like immeasurable time on both sides of the alehouse counter, I have realized two truths by which one must abide; be kind to strangers, and always stay one step... Continue Reading →
Video Premiere: “Hard Time” by Jeremie Albino
Moving from the hustle and bustle of Toronto to the picturesque countryside of Prince Edward County gave singer/songwriter Jeremie Albino the much-needed space to create his unique brand of electrified folk. On August 9th, Albino will release his new album, Hard Time, via Cinematic Music Group. "I wanted to try this song stripped-down and the idea... Continue Reading →
“You Can’t Steal My Shine” – New Music from The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
It's been a while since a song has made us want to jump up from our seats, throw our hands in the air, and shout hallelujah, but that's exactly what "You Can't Steal My Shine" from The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band accomplishes. "Like a star in the sky I shine, the darker the night the brighter... Continue Reading →
Premiere: “This House” by Gin, Chocolate & Bottle Rockets
It’s been said that home is where the heart is, and that’s exactly what Wisconsin-based trio Gin, Chocolate & Bottle Rockets explore in their new single “This House,” a song from their forthcoming album Lean, out June 1st. "'This House' is a song about how a home is not made up of nails and bricks,... Continue Reading →
Premiere: “Blue Eyes Don’t Fail Me Now” by Jake Winstrom
“You’re coming to a fork in the road, how will you choose?” sings folkicana songcrafter Jake Winstrom in his new single, “Blue Eyes Don’t Fail Me Now.” With bright fiddle licks that match sweetly executed harmonies, it’s hard not to be won over by Winstrom and his jangly new tune. “I’m embarrassed to admit I... Continue Reading →
Interview: Lisa LeBlanc
At a Lisa LeBlanc show, you won’t see four white dudes in cowboy hats gathered around a lone microphone plying the crowd with high lonesome wails. Indeed, Canadian banjo shredder LeBlanc isn’t your typical bluegrass or roots ambassador, and she has been turning the stereotypical idea of what that even is on its head for... Continue Reading →
Video Premiere: “Sweet Thursday” by Janie Barnett ft. Blue Room
Virginia native Janie Barnett cut her teeth on bluegrass festivals, church coffeehouses, and the American Folklife Festival. When she met iconic Americana barnstormer and newgrass pioneer John Hartford at Folklife, so began her love affair with the alternate roots movement. Always dancing along outside-of-the-box boundaries, Barnett found her place in New York City, making a... Continue Reading →
Interview: David Rawlings
“It’s always nice to play in the southeast,” says David Rawlings as he watches the snow fall outside of his east Nashville home and prepares to go on tour in support of his latest album, Poor David’s Almanack. “There are a lot of people here who connect with the same music we connect with,” he... Continue Reading →
Off The Stage: Darrell Scott
For most casual fans of music, the forty-five minutes that a band spends on the stage is all they can see. However, when the guitar cases are closed and the venue’s floor is littered with empty beer cans and trash, most bands load their gear into the van and return back to their normal lives.... Continue Reading →
Video Premiere: “Skipping Stone” by Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards
Songs can transport you to another era, to a place that echoes with memories whose rough edges have been smoothed by the passage of time. The wistful nostalgia of “Skipping Stone,” a tune from Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards’ recent release, California Calling via Compass Records, does just that. In its reflection of a... Continue Reading →