What’s the attraction of attending a bluegrass festival, or any other kind of music festival? During the now nearly 20 years that my wife and I have participated in the world of bluegrass, we’ve attended house concerts, indoor events, small […]
This week finds the Through the Lens column with a couple of recent shows at the Ryman, Kirk Stauffer’s photos from SXSW, and more outstanding photos from C. Elliott and Peter Dervin. We have been quite busy of late. I […]
After reading my fellow No Depression columnist Isa Burke’s recent column, The Absolute Truth About Post-Show Conversations, I thought it was a great topic that I might expand on with a slightly different perspective. If you aren’t aware, Isa performs […]
“Blues is like a witness,” Ruthie Foster said with a delicate voice while warming her throat with a cup of tea in a conference room of the Freedom Hall in Park Forest, Illinois. Beyond the way that a masterful blues […]
When Wanda Jackson announced her retirement from performing last week, the First Lady of Rock and Roll and the Queen of Rockabilly left us all a bit sad. Her energetic performances, her fiery songwriting, and her dynamic stage shows turned […]
Every artist has a favorite standard, a touchstone they come back to when they’re warming up, playing with new friends, or just having fun. Sometimes that song is what inspired them to start down a musical path in the first […]
When you think of Idaho, the first thought in your mind will not likely be a mix of eclectic festivals. But think again: The Treefort Music Fest is the centerpiece of eight festivals, celebrating many branches of arts and entertainment, that […]
It’s comfortable in a family band. You’re onstage with people you’ve known all your life, who support you without question and look after you off stage as well. The music is ingrained in your head, in your heart, in your […]
Crowdfunding has become big enough that even Grammy-nominated artists are getting in on the action, chasing the ever-shrinking market for physical media to one of the last places it is still a viable commodity. But while artists like John Prine […]
