http://www.bloodshotrecords.com 

Ever on the move creatively, and in terms of playing far and wide across the world, Justin Townes Earle’s music this time takes him to Memphis (although it was recorded at Echo Mountain studios, Ashville, North Carolina) in terms of style. But in many ways, lyrically it is as before more of his diary-like…

FTB podcast #158 features the new album from LUCERO called Women & Work. Also new music from MADISON VIOLET, DAVID OLNEY and a new baseball song from PETER COOPER. Here's the…

On Episode 81 of the Taproot Music Show, Alex Culbreth and Karen Jonas are the Parlor Soldiers and they talk about the origin of their band name, how they manage to combine folk and alt.country into something that works, how they are able to write such gritty,…

http://www.deanowens.com/     

Released this week, the new album from Scottish Americana luminary Dean Owens is forty minutes or so of sweet, shimmering pop music for grown ups.  Recorded in New York, the city provides a springboard for fresh inspiration as Dean contemplates life and love, and maybe casts a backward glance at his home across the water. His…

Earl Eugene Scruggs (January 6, 1924 – March 28, 2012)

Before Earl Banjo was an instrument that accompanied a song, that maybe added flavour and texture but was always homespun, downhome and played mainly for home entertainment and community sessions, then Earle Scruggs  perfected the three finger style technique, which at a stroke made the banjo a lead instrument and loud enough to be heard beyond rhythm and fit for  dances, his old…

www.madstaringeyes.co.uk

There is a theory (held by hardcore country fans) that, sooner or later, everybody discovers they love country music – it’s just that some people remain particularly stubborn in their state of denial. London’s Mad Staring Eyes seem to have moved seamlessly from the glorious post punk sound they had in 2006 (check out the…

Red Hook Rapids are Ally MacLeod & Donald Forbes they will be supporting Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart Glasgow Rio Cafe April 4, Kirkcaldy Acoustic Music Club April 5 and Inverness Bogbain Farm May 19. Red Hook Rapids will release their first official album in May of…

http://www.motherbanjo.com

Mother Banjo is the guise used by innovative Minneapolis singer-songwriter, banjoist Ellen Stanley it is a clever one too. Like fellow boundary crossing banjo act, Danny Barnes Stanley likewise, bends the rules as she embraces traditional, alt-country and Americana.

An accomplished vocalist who learnt classical…

http://www.ninemilerecords.com/band_marvin.php   

When I first got this album I gave it one listen and quickly decided it was too weird and too disjointed to be at all listenable. The vocals seemed to be the clincher – there seemed to be quite a few cracked, frail performances that were too difficult to put up with. But then…I’d never…

FTB podcast #157  features the new album by MOOT DAVIS called Man About Town. Also new music from TOMMY WOMACK, SHURMAN and AUDREY AULD. Here's the…

http://www.charlieparr.com 

http://www.tinangelrecords.co.uk 

If you like traditional, rustic as an old fence post blues sung by a rough-edged, old timey voice then Duluth, Minnesota bluesman Charlie Parr is just what the doctor ordered. His sympathetic handling of the music is enough for past legends of…

On episode 80 of the Taproot Music Show, Joe Maynard talks about his many-faceted art career in New York City; explains the name of his first band,…

BluesFest BluesFest is held in London and Manchester. It comes to these two cities for a week-long celebration of blues, jazz and soul from some of the greatest names in the business.



The festival will take place in various venues.

Leo Green from the Festival says

"We are truly honoured that a member of…

http://www.facebook.com/TheWhisperingPines

Here’s a rarity: a UK Americana record that sounds as strikingly original and, erm, American as the very best acts to have emerged over the last few years. There is, admittedly, a decidedly post-Fleet Foxes sound going on here with some beautiful high harmonies that lend the music a deceptive…

 http://www.tracygrammer.com

http://www.redhouserecords.com

Recorded in the home studios of folk singer-songwriters Dave Carter (1952-2002) and Tracy Grammer between 1997-2002 the tapes at the time were deemed surplus by the duo, for inclusion on albums they were currently on. Till…

www.humpheadcountry.com 

For his final album on Curb Records (America) Texas country music exponent Lyle Lovett has come through with as you would expect yet another intriguing recording. Lovett’s affinity with western swing and jazz is never far away as he covers a bunch of interesting selections. As he has versions of not only the title track (a country hit for…

www.maverickfestival.co.uk

Artists confirmed for Maverick 2012

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO AND HIS BAND…

     http://www.staceyandmark.com

Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart have been living and musicking together for nigh on twenty years, with an appetite for taking their songs out into the world that is pretty staggering. They reckon they average about 170 dates a year, and the current tour of the UK and The Netherlands (something like 50 dates inside two months) is testament to…

www.thebandperry.com

www.republicNashville.com 

Fresh from becoming recipients of three CMA Awards last fall and two Grammy nominations this year the Perry sibling act of Kimberly, Reid and Neil (The Band perry) now have their self-titled debut album on general release in the UK. Sure, it has a lot of the…