BONUS TRACKS: Roots Music in the Thanksgiving Parade, Billy Strings’ Night of WrestleMania, and More

With Halloween in our rearview (except, perhaps, for the candy left in the bowl after trick-or-treating, or the stash you may or may not have stolen from your kids’ haul), Thanksgiving is on deck, and you can almost taste the turkey and fixin’s. In my house, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is on TV while we’re cooking, and I always take a moment out from measuring and mixing to check out the musical numbers. Cher is the biggest musical name in this year’s parade, but it’ll also feature performances from Jon Batiste and, proudly representing the roots music corner of the sonic landscape, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. Look for them on Solo Stove’s “Igniting Memories” float, one of four new floats in this year’s parade. The parade appearance comes during a short break from Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors’ tour to support their new album, Strangers No More, released last summer (ND review). Learn more about the parade, which will air on Thanksgiving Day from 8:30 a.m. to noon on NBC, here.

Musicians seldom disappoint when they go all out for a Halloween night concert, but Billy Strings went above and beyond, turning his Oct. 31 show in Grand Rapids, Michigan, into a musical WrestleMania. Dressed as Hulk Hogan, Strings roped off the end of his stage at Van Andel Arena for a wrestling ring, which he put to good use along with his band as well as musical guests Sierra Hull (dressed as WWE’s Rhea Ripley), Molly Tuttle (Becky “The Man” Lynch), Infamous Stringdusters’ Chris Pandolfi (Jerry Lawler), String Cheese Incident’s Bill Nershi (Hillbilly Jim), and Duane Trucks (Kane). The show, dubbed the Van Andel Scramble, was introduced by none other than Ric Flair (the REAL Ric Flair!) via video. Check out a photo gallery of the epic show (even by Billy Strings standards) at Rolling Stone.

 

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If you or someone you love is an emerging musician with a creative project in mind, a grant from the Salt Lick Incubator can help get it over the finish line. Previous grants have helped roots artists like The Arcadian Wild, Elizabeth Moen, Alisa Amador, and Tiny Habits as well as artists in other “song-driven” genres produce songs, albums, and videos and funded support work like developing social media and marketing assets. Check out the eligibility requirements and access the application here. The application window for the next round of grants is open through Nov. 23.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

Here’s a sampling of the songs, albums, bands, and sounds No Depression staffers have been into this week:

The Beatles – “Now and Then”
Chatham County Line – “Right on Time,” from their new album, Hiyo, coming in January
Nora Jane Struthers – “I Can Hear the Birds”
Matt Pond PA feat. Alexa Rose – “Halloween Two”
Gwen Levey and the Breakdown – “Barefoot & Pregnant”
Erin Rae (feat. She Returns From War) – “Bad Mind”
Lizzie No – “The Heartbreak Store,” from her new album, Halfsies, coming in January

Cary Morin – “Big Sky Sun Goes Down,” from his new album, Innocent Allies, coming in January
Danielle Ponder – Some of Us Are Brave
The Teskey Brothers – The Winding Way
Shane Smith & The Saints – “Adeline,” from their new album, Norther, coming in March
William Prince – Stand in the Joy
The Menzingers – Some of It Was True
The Smokey Mountain Sirens – Solid 8
Allison Russell – “Demons”