THE JOURNAL

No Depression is a quarterly, ad-free, long-form journal on roots music published by the 501(c)(3) FreshGrass Foundation. Each issue features original in-depth articles and artist profiles, original illustrations, and stunning photography. The original music magazine began in 1995 and ran through 2008. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, No Depression returned to the page in 2015.

THE WEBSITE

Since 2009, nodepression.com has been a lively stomping ground for dedicated fans of roots music. What started as a community forum has since morphed into a specialized media outlet showcasing the best in roots music and music journalism.

THE HISTORY

No Depression saw its first print incarnation in 1995, when founding co-editors Peter Blackstock and Grant Alden launched a quarterly magazine named for an online message board that served the then burgeoning alt-country movement. That message board was named for a Carter Family song that pioneering alt-country band Uncle Tupelo covered as the title track for its 1990 debut album. Blackstock and Alden thought the phrase “No Depression” lent itself nicely to the way roots music grows its branches. They wanted to ensure their magazine didn’t just capitalize on a trend, but set out instead to dig deeply into the links between old and new, tradition and innovation, and shed light on the connections that hold the music – and, in turn, this music community – together.

Fueled by their passion for both the music and high-quality long-form journalism, Blackstock and Alden as well as publisher Kyla Fairchild drove ND through a successful 13-year print run, evolving with the times as the magazine became a definitive force that helped solidify the importance of Americana and roots music on the national stage.

In 2008, with record stores closing and ad sales dropping, the editors and publisher decided it was time to move on. Blackstock and Alden published three bookazines through the University of Texas Press, and Fairchild steered No Depression into new territory with a community website.

For the first five years as an online-only entity (2009-2014), the ND community had no writers or editors on staff; all content came from a vibrant group of dedicated users, managed by Fairchild and Community Manager Kim Ruehl. Then, in early 2014, Fairchild moved on to other things, and the FreshGrass Foundation took over, steering No Depression back to print in 2015.

THE TEAM

Founder of the FreshGrass Foundation and No Depression Publisher: Chris Wadsworth
FreshGrass Foundation COO: Adam Kirr

No Depression Managing Editor: Hilary Saunders
No Depression Web Editor: Meredith Lawrence
No Depression Advertising: Sonja Nelson

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