BONUS TRACKS: Biscuits & Banjos, Bob Dylan, and Hurricane Relief

Just a few roots music updates this week, as we all begin to wind down for a nice winter’s rest:

Biscuits & Banjos Festival Additions:

Rhiannon Giddens’ new Biscuits & Banjos Festival added to their lineup announcing: Adia Victoria, Alice Randall, Don Vappie, Toshi Reagon, Mychal Threets, Infinity Song and more.

The festival will take place in Durham, North Carolina April 25-27, 2025 and is now sold out. Highlight performances will include Rhiannon’s Old Time Revue and a Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion.

Blood on the Tracks is 50 Years Old

To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Bob Dylan’s album Blood on the Tracks, the Bob Dylan Center is hosting Shelter From The Storm a concert, on January 24, 2025. It will feature (in alphabetical order) Laura Cantrell, Elvis Costello, Martin Courtney, Adam Granduciel, Joy Harjo, Robyn Hitchcock, Lonnie Holley, Diana Krall, Paul Metsa, Kevin Morby, Amy Ray, Michael Shannon accompanied by indie-rock musician Jason Narducy, Emma Swift, Sharon Van Etten, and Lucinda Williams.

Ongoing Hurricane Relief

North Carolina-based Parkway Studios in partnership with Citizen Vinyl are releasing The Resonance Sessions, a video, vinyl, and digital project featuring 30 artists from Western North Carolina, the area hit hard by Hurricane Helene this fall. Net proceeds from the sale of the vinyl and digital tracks will go to The Madison County Arts Council to assist in rebuilding the county’s musical community, and to the nonprofit Rare Bird Cultural Arts for a grant program to help affected musicians. For more information visit Parkway Studios and check out the pre order and digital launch on Bandcamp.

Last week, folk musician Willi Carlisle also released his live album of classic folk songs, The Magnolia Sessions, the proceeds from which will go to hurricane relief.

And finally, stay tuned next week for a more in-depth update on how communities and artists are faring now, from No Depression’s own Kim Ruehl.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

Jessie —”Rise and Shine”

Windborne—To Warm a Winter’s Hearth

Zoey & Cloyd—“Linemen”

Martin Kerr — “God Rest Ye Merry Billionaires”

Hiss Golden Messenger —Haw

Esy Tadesse —Ahadu