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
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
The genre I like to call stomp-folk has blown up in recent years. At the same time, folkies and singer-songwriters have slowly come to realize that there’s good money to be made in sync licensing, or selling permission to use your tracks in films and television. Every so often–more and more often, I should say–a… Continue reading Video Premiere: DARIUSTX V. The Angels of Goliad
Rita Hosking has been a force of nature in the acoustic Cali-Americana music scene these past few years. With her husband and daughter as her foundation and band mates, Rita has gradually solidified her standing in the sweet middle ground between oldtime bluegrass, classic country, and modern singer-songwriter. Her 6th album, released on Tuesday 9/22/15,… Continue reading Rita Hosking: Frankie and the No-Go Road
Annalisa Tornfelt first came to my attention as the singer for Black Prairie (Portland, Oregon), a folk-rock group that began in 2007 as a side project for members of The Decemberists and has since evolved into an influential force in Portland’s exploding indie music scene. Her new solo album The Number 8 is set for release… Continue reading Annalisa Tornfelt: The Number 8
Singer and flutist Nuala Kennedy has released a lovely holiday song just in time for Christmas. When John McCutcheon wrote “Christmas in the Trenches” many years ago, he captured the poignant joy and generous warmth that are so often associated with this season. It commemorates the Christmas truce held during World War 1 in 1914 — the 100th year anniversary of which is this… Continue reading Nuala Kennedy: Christmas in the Trenches
The new record from moira smiley and VOCO hits the streets today. Laughter Out of Tears (Whim Records) is a beautifully transcendant creation that boldly spans Appalachian, Eastern European, and choral traditions with a tasty dash of Moira’s original material and covers from folk stalwarts Woodie Guthrie and Gillan Welch. Having followed and enjoyed Moira’s… Continue reading moira smiley and VOCO: Laughter Out of Tears
