Funky soul from 1973, with two bonus tracks

After his innovative 1970 debut, Total Destruction to Your Mind, Swamp Dogg (born Jerry Williams, Jr.) continued to cut fine soul albums, despite a lack of big label distribution, chart action or major sales. His deep…

We're back again with our annual guide to the hugely humongous Northwest Folklife Festival, this Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-27, 2013. This is the largest community music festival in the nation, with (last I checked) 800+ bands, 25+ stages, and so much music and dance that it's physically impossible to see even a small fraction of the things you'd like to see. Now, some people like to wander around the festival, a…

There is a subtle difference in the nominating categories for the Americana Honors & Award Nominations from the rest of the awards in the music industry. Most give a ranking, which usually begins with ‘best.’  No where in the nominations…

SHININ’ LIVE is the DVD and the ass-kickin', hip-grinding and smile making soundtrack CD of the concert at Bootleggers Bar in Kendal, England is included as a free Extra.

I can remember the night, as if it was yesterday, when I was standing in front of a packed crowd who had come from all over the UK to see this special gig in a Bar that appeared to have been tele-ported direct from Nashville.

The album opens with Bar Owner Jonty…

In the spring of 2012, two years since his move to Nashville from Detroit, Kurt Marschke connected with another Motor City transplant, JD Mack (formerly of Whitey Morgan & the 78s). After searching for new musical blood to make a new record with, Kurt and JD partnered up with Brad Pemberton (Ryan Adams & The Cardinals), Mike Webb (Poco), Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Hank Jr.), Kim Collins (Smoking…

As you can imagine, I am getting very excited for Wakarusa. I would like to say thank you again to No Depression for making this adventure possible. I cannot wait to share my experiences with all of you.

As the final countdown begins, I am hard at work researching and preparing so I can bring you the best coverage of the event. Through this process, I have stumbled upon several bands and musicians that have impressed…

We/Or/Me is Bahhaj Taherzadeh, a Chicago-based, Irish-born artist whose music has quietly and gradually been attracting the attention of critics over recent years. Jon Martin calls it “the soundtrack to your most quiet moments”, Sean Michaels says, it's a salve and a peace, and Robin Hilton at NPR has been a consistent advocate of the “wise and slightly weary voice, strolling through delicate melodies and heartbreaking narratives.”…

Cinematic and atmospheric Alt-Country

After nearly 50 years as a music fan and 15 as a reviewer I still get excited about discovering new bands and having my breath taken away by songs and tunes that I’ve not heard before.

I was aware of I See Hawks in L.A. but only owned 3 tracks on VA compilations when this album arrived, so was only mildly interested at the prospect of listening to it.

Well; it only took 15 seconds of a…

As a west coast Canadian, bluegrass has always seemed like an exotic musical form.  When I hear it, I think of mountains, forests, rivers, and a rural lifestyle that has long past and gone.  Artists like Ralph Stanley and the Monroe Brothers loom like Biblical characters in my imagination, leathery, rugged and indisputably American. In the same way that I always think that reggae bands from Jamaica are better than ones from England or Canada, I’ve…

Good new for those awaiting the release of more old Leonard Cohen from the days when he was still depressed and very much on the edge. In 2009, a CD/DVD package was released on Columbia of a concert that took place on The Isle Of Wight for the English version of Woodstock in 1970.

Both the CD & DVD are complete with many charming Leonard songs from his storied & timeless past like: "So Long Marianne" right after "Bird On A Wire." But this is not just another greatest hits…