Americana Archive
07 Apr 2017
Album Mini-review: Valerie June — The Order of Time
File next to: Rhiannon Giddens, Ali Farka Touré, Shovels & Rope If with The Order of Time, Valerie June Hockett sought to create a resolutely unclassifiable record, she’s succeeded beyond […]
05 Apr 2017
Album Mini-review: Willodean — Awesome Life Decisions Volume One
File next to: David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Ben Folds Way back in 2005, Los Angeles-based Randy & the Bloody Lovelies released their second album, Lift. The album straddled Americana and […]
04 Apr 2017
Hilary Scott Gets the Balance Right
Though she’s formally trained in classical and opera – she studied voice and piano in Italy – Washington state-based Hilary Scott chose the musical path of singer-songwriter more than a […]
31 Mar 2017
Gaelynn Lea: Accessible Looping
The career of violinist and singer Gaelynn Lea got a big boost when she won 2016’s second annual Tiny Desk Contest; that allowed her to perform on the popular NPR […]
27 Mar 2017
Del McCoury and Steep Canyon Rangers: Mutual Admiration Society
Bluegrass legend Del McCoury remembers vividly the first time he saw and heard the Steep Canyon Rangers. It was at a street festival in Raleigh or Charlotte, not long after […]
31 Jan 2017
Trampled By Turtles’ Two Daves Take it Slow and Steady
Trampled By Turtles is a darling of the Americana scene and the festival circuit. And while the Minneapolis-based group played a number of shows this summer – including sold-out performances […]
27 Jan 2017
Rising Appalachia: Relationships and Resiliency
There is a wide consensus that the United States is entering a challenging era, especially for those fighting for civil rights, environmental protection and sustainability. For creative artists who seek […]
12 Jan 2017
Devils in Dust: The Hazards of Hi-Fi
After years of local and regional success with groups of their own, Corey Bullman and Leigh Glass have now combined their musical projects into a single one, Devils in Dust. […]
29 Dec 2016
Best Music of 2016: Concerts
There’s a bit of overlap where my best albums and best concerts of 2016 are concerned. And there are some old favorites, too. John Mayall Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte NC March […]
22 Dec 2016
Album Mini-review: The Mavericks — All Night Live: Volume 1
File next to: Los Lobos, Neil Young Fans who heard “All Night Long,” the standout track from the Mavericks’ latest studio album (2015’s Mono) could be forgiven for wondering if […]