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…

On episode 140 of the Americana Music Show, Beth Lee talks about Lucinda Williams' and Wanda Jackson's influence on Beth Lee and the Breakups and the pros and cons of working in Austin.

Plus roots rock from The Del Lords, rockabilly from Wayne Hancock, stringband music from Steel Wheels, folk-rap from Alex Culbreth and the Dead Country Stars, southern rock from Deadstring Brothers, soul music from the…

Jason Isbell is quickly becoming the next prolific singer/songwriter of this generation with the upcoming release Southeastern which will be hitting the record racks on June 11^th. Although this is considered his first solo release since 2007′s Sirens of the Ditch, Isbell has been cranking out work with his band The 400 Unit since 2009.  Isbell received my coveted “Album of The Year” award for the first Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit self-titled album and…

On episode 139 of the Americana Music Show, Maya Lerman from Maya and the Ruins talks about recording in Lafayette, working as a music archivist, and tying songs together with her voice.

Plus rock and roll from Javi Garcia, Willie Nelson and Family covering Carl Perkins, string band music from Woody Pines, blues from Marshall Chapman, Texas twang from Shinyribs, old school guitar…

On this week Medicine Show Health & Happiness Hour its mainly a live music show, we have North East author and singer Celia Bryce and partner Colin Bradshaw and 3 parts of the Federals Calum MacRae Michele Garner and Cigar Box Don Jack, we'll have recorded music from Eric Brace and Peter Cooper and Chuck Berry, and a wee happy Birthday tribute to Pete Seeger on his 92nd birthday + looking forward to Charlie Roth on tour and next week’s guest Emma Mitchell.

The Medicine…

Southend on Sea's Matthew (M.G.) Boulter talks about 'Americana', Essex, cabin fever, Bob Brozman and the perils of playing lap steel guitar for Simone Felice.

He looks a little like Ray LaMontagne, dapper in a smart waistcoat, bright white shirt and heavily bearded, just prior to a gig at the Shakespeare in Sheffield. Smiling, gentle and polite, he's an engaging figure, as he talks enthusiastically about a musical journey that has taken him from Essex to the Catskill…

Maria Muldaur is probably best known for her 1974 hitMidnight at the Oasis, but she has had a long and outstanding career over 40 years. During that time, she’s released around 40 albums covering almost every kind of American roots music. But primarily Maria is…

This is a two-pronged review of two new records: Amy Speace's How to Sleep in a Stormy Boat and Jeffrey Foucault's Cold Satellite release #2 Cavalcade.

I had the good fortune to see Cold Satellite in Pittsburgh last Saturday night (4/13). Their six-piece gang narrowly fit the confines of Club Cafe's modest stage.  The crowd eventually swelled to perhaps three score, and those in attendance were charmed by Lisa…

The blues has had an uneasy tension with the church. For many God-fearing people in the deep South, blues music was difficult to reconcile with a church-going lifestyle, because of its association with the juke…

Deftly walking the tightrope between crafting classic soul and serving up something contemporary, Nakia‘s EP Drown in the Crimson Tide has it both ways. Remaining true to the style and spirit of southern-fried soul of the Memphis variety, Nakia still sounds current; there’s no artifice nor hamfisted retro pandering in his six self-penned…

Not long ago I wrote of my quest to find a new sound, to get outside the now-overcrowded genre of “Americana” – acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle. While I still love the music played by some of the bands in the genre, it is so oversaturated that it is getting impossible to…

My dear friend, legendary writer about music and pop philosopher Paul Williams, passed away March 27.

Paul was the founder, writer and publisher of the first serious rock and roll magazine in the United States, called Crawdaddy!, which was named after the club in England where the Rolling Stones got their start.

While attending Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, Paul made 500 copies of the first issue on a mimeograph machine. With that first issue in hand, he went to…

BOOK REVIEW:: The latest detailed look at Rock 'n' Roll & Country Rock Pioneer legend Rick Nelson...from his early teen idol/Imperial/Decca years to his country rock period and his return to rockabilly in the 80’s.

“Rick Nelson,  Rock ‘N’ Roll Pioneer”

By Sheree Homer

Publisher: …

I heard the late great Utah Phillips say "Folk Music is boring" during one of his own performances.

I hate to admit it, but as a folkie myself I've thought the same thing.  I've been hard pressed to find anything within contemporary folk music that's caught my attention in the past ten years save a few gems scattered here and there.  Oh sure, there's your Darrel Scotts, your John Prines, some Wailing Jennys and others that have earned serious spins on the iPod but it takes…

Robert Johnson is an almost mythical figure in the history of the blues. The chronology of his life is somewhat hazy – we are unsure even of when he was born but it was probably around 1911 in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. The circumstances of his death have been much discussed, along with the question of where he was buried, but it is likely he was murdered in 1938  – poisoned – by the jealous husband of a woman Johnson had taken up with. We know the date of some of the recordings he…

Leon Chase - Vocals and Rhythm Guitar.

Neil Magnuson - Bass and Backup Vocals.

Charlie "Chedda" Aceto - Lead Guitar.

David Varriale - Drums.

Brooklyn's Uncle Leon and the Alibis album Wild Ways is like a late night stumble and tumble into the last neon sign…

It's happened! The new Rockingbirds album is out - a mere 17 year wait for fans of the band. Truth be told, most fans probably never thought there would be another Rockingbirds album.  It is impossible for me to overstate what an influence this band has had on me. Since first hearing them in 1992, when they were on the cusp of releasing their seminal debut, I’ve probably played their music more than any other artist. Aside from the…

Matt Costa

self-titled

(Brushfire Records)

Matt Costa’s been kicking around for a few years now and he keeps getting better and better. It’s almost ironic that his new album is self-titled, because it will hopefully mark a new beginning in terms of awareness and acceptance. Costa has one of those burnished vocals that makes him sound like he’s singing for the ages -- a hint of Nick Drake on songs like “Eyes For You” and “Golden Cathedrals,” some…

I was but a wee lad back when Canned Heat came on the scene and freaked me out with their jug blues/boogie and I continue to go back to the orignal line up with Alan "Blind Owl" Christie Wilson, Bob "The Bear" Hite, Henry "Sunflower" Vestine releases for my fix of gritty rootsy, bluesy folk.

Austin's Mother Merey and the Black Dirt just changed that, they've got the missing…

Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet joined creatively to form Whitehorse, after many years of successful, separate music careers in Canada.   Their first release together sounded like alternating their individual sounds,…