|
|
Movie and Entertainment News >> Music >> Styles >> Folk
Folk News
Justin Townes Earle has been working in the music industry since he was just a kid, playing backup in his dad's band. As a solo artist, though, Earle asserts himself as a far cry from dad Steve Earle's hyper-political social justice anthems. The younger Earle's work is more angled toward honoring tradition and bridging the space between his influences and his own ideas. His last effort Harlem River Blues was easily his finest, most definitive album yet.
So, it's hardly surprising that the Americana and folk worlds are all abuzz waiting for that disc's follow-up. You can get a teaser from his website, via a video he made about the making of the album at Asheville, NC, studio Echo Mountain. You can also download the title track to the disc, which is set for a March 27, 2012 release, and will be aptly titled Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now.
Learn more about Justin with this introductory bio and profile, or check out my review of his last disc, Harlem River Blues.
photo courtesy Bloodshot Records
New Album Coming from Justin Townes Earle in March originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 06:00:36.
I've never been to the Old Settlers Music Festival, but it's always been on my list. This year's lineup raises the bar with even more great artists ranging from bluegrass to indie folk and beyond. In other words, there's clearly something for everyone at this festival, which takes place each April in Austin, Texas.
This year, the Old Settlers Fest will go down Apr. 19-22, with performances from Iron & Wine, Sarah Jarosz, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Marshall Crenshaw, Dale Ann Bradley, Steep Canyon Rangers, James McMurtry, Eilen Jewell, and many more. Check out the Old Settlers website for tickets and other info.
photo: Joe Corrigan/Getty Images
Iron & Wine, Sarah Jarosz, Doyle Lawson Join Old Settlers Lineup originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 06:00:38.
Perhaps you know Darrell Scott as the multi-instrumentalist playing behind Robert Plant in the Band of Joy. Or maybe you know his songs from the huge country hits he's had via the Dixie Chicks and other pop country stars. Perhaps still you've seen him perform at Telluride or any of the other myriad festivals (the Cayamo Music Cruise?) as a solo artist playing his remarkable folk-country songs. Regardless of how you know his name and music, Scott is a fantastic solo singer-songwriter whose live show is not to be missed. He'll be hitting the road this spring in support of his new album The Long Ride Home (well worth picking up, out Jan. 31).
Learn more about Darrell Scott with this biography and profile, then check out his tour dates below.
Darrell Scott's Spring Tour Dates originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 06:00:43.
Duluth, Minnesota-based power bluegrass troupe Trampled by Turtles will be hitting the road this spring in support of a new album they're releasing on April 10 via Thirty Tigers/RED. The disc, titled Stars and Satellites, will be the follow-up to their 2010 release Palomino, which was quite well-received throughout the indie, folk, Americana, and bluegrass communities.
They'll kick off their supporting with a couple of dates out west in March before beelining to Austin for the annual South by Southwest festival and conference. Check out a full list of dates after the cut, or learn more about Trampled by Turtles with this introductory bio and profile.
Trampled By Turtles Ready New Album, Hit the Road originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 06:00:24.
I first became privy to Laura Gibson the same way I've discovered a load of great artists from the Pacific Northwest: while attending the Pickathon Indie Roots Music Festival. Gibson's understated simplicity and imaginative approach to contemporary folk music was stunning to me from the first time I inadvertently wandered across her set in the woods at that festival.
With a voice as nuanced as Billie Holiday and a narrative imagination akin to that of Paul Simon, not to mention some of the spirit of that cool Northwest rain and trees, Gibson delivers exquisitely thoughtful tunes on all three of her full-length albums. She's already played some dates in Europe this year, in support of her new record La Grande, and is hitting the East Coast of the U.S. this week. Learn more about Laura Gibson with this introductory bio and profile.
Laura Gibson promo photo
Artists to Watch: Laura Gibson originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 at 10:57:56.
Ani DiFranco has dropped a whopping 21 albums in as many years (some of those years included two releases in the same year), not to mention bootlegs, EPs, lending her voice to various compilations and benefit albums, her collaborations with Utah Phillips, and on and on. And, with the release of her latest album, Which Side Are You On?, she seems to be striking some kind of balance - whether it's between the personal and political (a fine line she's always walked) or otherwise.
With an election year upon us, a people's movement going strong around the world, and an economy struggling, it only makes sense to revisit some of the themes Florence Reece wrote about when she originally penned the tune "Which Side Are You On?" Though DiFranco's version is all her own lyrics, the sentiment and intention remain intact. Check out my full review of Ani DiFranco's Which Side Are You On?
image © Righteous Babe
Review: Ani DiFranco - 'Which Side Are You On?' originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 19:05:39.
Ralph Stanley has been making a living in the music industry for somewhere around 60 years - a feat by any standards. But, especially in the modern music industry, where it's difficult for an artist to stick around past one or two albums, Stanley's remarkable ability to not only remain creative but also relevant and influential for that long, is impressive in itself.
This year, Stanley is nominated for another Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for his 2011 release A Mother's Prayer . . . which makes now as good a time as any to learn a little more about his long and storied career. It began in his hometown of Virginia with his brother Carter Stanley. Learn more with this introductory bio and profile, including recommneded CDs and MP3s.
photo: Robert Alexander/Getty Images
Grammy Profile: Ralph Stanley originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 10:49:12.
Ever since I heard her album The Brightness, I've been a big fan of Anais Mitchell's unassumingly beautiful songwriting. In 2010, I named her folk opera Hadestown (based on the Orpheus myth) one of the best folk albums of that year, and have been eagerly awaiting its follow-up. I've also been consistently surprised at how few people are still unaware of Mitchell's remarkable gift.
So, if you get the chance to catch her on the road this winter and spring, I'd highly recommend heading straight out to see her. She'll also be releasing that follow-up - an album titled Young Man in America (Wilderland Records/Thirty Tigers) on Feb. 28. A full list of tour dates is below the cut, or you can learn more about Anais Mitchell with this introductory bio and profile, or check out my reviews of The Brightness and Hadestown.
And now for the full tour dates: ...
New Album and Tour on the Way from Anais Mitchell originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at 18:51:54.
For five decades, Ry Cooder has been delivering fierce guitar licks across the musical spectrum - from jazz to calypso to film soundtracks, the blues, country, and beyond. With four Grammy awards already under his belt, Cooder is nominated yet again in 2012 for Best Americana Album for his 2011 release Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down - a disc charged with social commentary and plenty of his signature slide guitar.
Even if you're unfamiliar with Cooder's name, you're likely to have come across his work at some point. After all, he's collaborated with everyone from John Hiatt to Judy Collins, Captain Beefheart, and the Rolling Stones. As you get ready to tune into the Grammy Awards next month, take some time to get to know Ry Cooder's work a little more.
photo courtesy Nonesuch Records
Grammy Profile: Ry Cooder originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at 17:33:21.
Carolina Chocolate Drops have slowly and steadily been climbing to the top of the figurative folk music food chain since their debut on Music Maker back in 2006. Since then, they've toured with Taj Mahal, released five more albums, played high-profile gigs at places like Bonnaroo, South by Southwest, and Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album for their 2010 release Genuine Negro Jig.
Come Feb. 28, 2012, the quartet (beatboxer Justin Robinson left the group last year and it took two new multi-talented folks to replace him) is ready to release their seventh album, Leaving Eden. The disc will be their second effort for New England-based label Nonesuch, and was produced by Americana darling Buddy Miller (of Buddy & Julie Miller, Band of Joy, Emmylou Harris). Fans can pre-order the disc already at the Carolina Chocolate Drops website (and check their 2012 tour dates). If you're unfamiliar with their music, I'd highly recommend checking them out. Here's an introductory bio and profile. And here's a look at Buddy Miller's most recent album, in case his name is new to you too.
Photo: CCDs promotional photo
Carolina Chocolate Drops Ready Seventh Studio Album, Due Feb. 28, 2012 originally appeared on About.com Folk Music on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 14:48:03.