Longtime readers of this column might remember that in 2017 we covered the 20th anniversary of Yep Roc Records, a three-day party held at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, with afternoon sets at a local park in nearby Hillsborough (Yep […]
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The first Farm Aid concert in 1985 was the brainchild of Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp. It had two purposes: 1) To raise funds to keep farm families on the land; and 2) to increase awareness about […]
As the calendar turns to October, the roots music festival season begins to wind down, so what better way to celebrate what the year 2022 has brought than to head west and visit the largest, most encompassing free festival […]
This week bluegrass takes over the column, just days after the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual takeover of Raleigh, North Carolina, with its World of Bluegrass festival. The fest demonstrated two things to me: 1) bluegrass just keeps becoming […]
This week the Through the Lens column explores the vitality of roots music festivals regardless of their locales, as well as two different approaches to their presentation, via two such festivals held earlier this month. BeachLife Ranch bills itself […]
As this year’s AmericanaFest was being held across so many far-flung venues in and around a Nashville that old-timers would not recognize, I decided early on to be happy in my adventure. I’d select showcases and events off the […]
It’s going to be an explosive five days in Nashville as the Americana Music Association presents its annual AmericanaFest, starting today. This year’s edition reflects the vibrancy of roots music while presenting new challenges to festgoers. First, the lineup, […]
The Nelsonville Music Festival has had a lot to deal with the past couple of years. First, like everybody else, it put up a temporarily closed sign due to COVID. Second, just as the epidemic was subsiding (somewhat), the […]
If it’s late August, it means it’s time for one of the oldest folk festivals going, the Philadelphia Folk Festival. It has a special place in my heart as it was the first festival I ever attended. My most […]
While West Virginia may be best known for it its traditional music, it also has spawned some significant roots-based singer-songwriters. Last year Sierra Ferrell, John R. Miller, and Mary Hott all gained national attention (and were among my top […]
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