Old ballads draw some singers like a siren song that cannot be denied. Part of the joy of collecting and presenting these ancient songs to a modern audience comes from finding, combining, dropping and adding words and verses, swapping melodies and hooks and finally recording an arrangement that resonates with the listener of today. This is… Continue reading Lindsay Straw: The Fairest Flower of Womankind
A handful of times in your life, you hear a band or a soloist who rocks your world. You hear the music on the radio or at a live show, or at a friend’s house, and you fall in love. Sometimes that song or that record will become a “gateway drug” to a whole new… Continue reading Väsen: Brewed
Seven tracks — does that make an EP, or full length album? A burning question for sure. In the mean time, I’m here to heartily recommend the new release from Rayna Gellert called Workin’s Too Hard. As with her previous release (reviewed here), there’s not a fiddle tune to be found, even though she is… Continue reading Rayna Gellert: Workin’s Too Hard
The Immigrant Band is John Doyle, Rafe Stefanini, Clelia Stefanini, John Herrmann, and Eamon O’Leary. Their self-titled debut album (on Yodel-Ay-Hee Records) hit the streets earlier this year to much well-deserved fanfare in both Irish and oldtime music circles. John Doyle is listed as producer and he recorded, edited, and mixed this record; it’s infused… Continue reading The Immigrant Band
Living legend Bruce Molsky recently recorded a wonderful collection of his favorite tunes and songs on fiddle, banjo, and guitar at an unlikely location for rural traditional music: the urban landscape of Los Angeles, California. Released as a single package on both CD and DVD on Tiki Parlour Recordings, the album is titled Can’t Stay… Continue reading Bruce Molsky: Can’t Stay Here This a-Way
Natives of Toulouse, France, the six members of Doolin’ (guitar, bodhrán, violin, tin whistle, accordion/vocals, bass) bring a fresh and funky approach to Irish music. July 15 will mark the release date of their self-titled debut for Compass Records in Nashville. Doolin’ worked with legendary Irish guitarist John Doyle in the producer’s chair to record their unique mix of… Continue reading Exclusive Song Premiere: Doolin’
Old-time American music and contemporary folk are all too often mutually exclusive. A rare and precious jewel is the artist who can stand in both worlds without artifice. Over the last few years, former bluegrass prodigy Sarah Jarosz rose up through the ranks of traditional folk and with her new album, proves that she can… Continue reading Sarah Jarosz: Undercurrent
