Americana Archive
01 Aug 2020
30 Days Out, August 2020 #1: Robin Bullock, Cliff Eberhardt, Eleanor Underhill, Christy Lynn
Two steps forward, one (and sometimes two) back. The United States’ continued failure to contain the spread of COVID-19 is having more and more lasting effects. Beyond death and permanent […]
07 Jul 2020
Sarah Louise’s Atmospheric Americana
Describing herself as a musical omnivore, Sarah Louise makes music that draws inspiration from seemingly unrelated styles. The prolific Asheville musician has released five albums since her 2015 debut; three […]
05 Jul 2020
Just Like Home: John Doyle
Irish musician bridges the gap between Ireland and Appalachia He’s an acclaimed and globetrotting figure in Irish music, guitarist, singer, folklorist and songwriter. But when he’s off the road, John […]
04 Jul 2020
Heart, Head, Hands and Feet: The Paper Crowns
It’s the age-old chicken-or-egg question. Which came first: the marriage of Spiro and Nicole Nicolopoulos, or their musical collaboration, the Paper Crowns? “Technically,” Nicole responds with a laugh, “the musical […]
21 Jun 2020
Album Review: The Harmed Brothers — Across the Waves
Though it’s billed as rock/Americana, The Harmed Brothers’ fifth album Across the Waves is better described as heartland rock. There’s twang in the music to be sure, but the earnest […]
08 Jun 2020
Brushfire Stankgrass: Making Up for Lost Time
“We’re not a bluegrass band,” insists Will Saylor, co-leader with brother Ben in Brushfire Stankgrass. Instead, the popular Asheville quartet uses bluegrass as the launching point for its musical excursions, […]
01 Jun 2020
30 Days Out, June 2020 #1: TAUK, Ben Folds, Vancouver Electronic Ensemble, John Prine Tribute
In recent weeks I’ve conducted interviews with a number of professions whose businesses involve servicing the music community in various ways. A consensus seems to be forming – and this […]
31 May 2020
Busker Abby ‘The Spoon Lady’ Roach Brings Out the Fine Silverware
Train-hopping hobos are part of America’s cultural fabric. From the late 19th century through the 1940s, hundreds of thousands of itinerant people in America made their lives on the fringe […]
10 May 2020
Zoe & Cloyd: Looking Out for the Future of Appalachian Music
This story appeared previously (in 2019) in Bold Life Magazine. The duo has since released another album. Zoe & Cloyd are wife-and-husband musical team Natalya Zoe Weinstein and John Cloyd […]
15 Apr 2020
30 Days Out, April 2020 #2: Taylor Martin, Three Cool Cats, Kathryn O’Shea, Posey Royale
As we all begin to settle into what one might call the new normal, performing musicians are increasingly turning to livestreaming. I suspect their reasons are twofold: (1) to stay […]