musicreporterblog

Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


Leave a comment

Zoe & Cloyd to release second album, ‘Eyes Brand New,’ on April 7, tour dates announced for March, April

Listen up: Fans of the former Americana trio Red June will be happy to hear Zoe & Cloyd, the Appalachian roots husband and wife duo that made up two-thirds of that group, have a second full-length album, “Eyes Brand New,” coming out April 7.

I have had the opportunity to hear Zoe & Cloyd perform at MerleFest as well as at SECCA in as part of “MerleFest on the Road.” I was particularly impressed by the fiddle stylings of Weinstein and the guitar and banjo talents of Miller as well as their gorgeous harmonies. Their traditional approach to their music take you back to an earlier era. If you like Mandolin Orange, you’ll like Zoe & Cloyd.

Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Natalya Zoe Weinstein and John Cloyd Miller — who have been making music together in various arrangements since first meeting in 2005 — recorded the new album at Sound Temple Studios with fellow musician and engineer Chris Rosser.

The CD Release Show will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at The Grey Eagle in Asheville. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. A schedule of the duo’s March and April dates preceding the release show follow.

Continue reading


1 Comment

MerleFest 2017 will feature The Transatlantic Sessions Tour with Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, James Taylor and more

This just in, from the good folks over at MerleFest:

WILKESBORO, N.C. (March 7, 2017) – MerleFest, presented by Window World, is going international for its 30th celebration by hosting the The Transatlantic Sessions Tour live at this year’s festival. MerleFest 2017 is scheduled for April 27-30 at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Continue reading


Leave a comment

SECCA opens ‘SoundSeen: Remix Exhibit’ with free performance by jazz artist Anthony Braxton

From the good folks over at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts (SECCA):

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (March 6, 2017) — Legendary jazz artist and MacArthur Fellow Anthony Braxton highlights the opening night of SECCA’s SoundSeen:Remix with a live performance at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, in the McChesney Scott Dunn Auditorium.

This is one of only two scheduled performances in the U.S. this year by Braxton, who has released more than 100 albums in his  40-plus year career. Performance and exhibit admission are free.

Continue reading


1 Comment

HoustonFest 2017 set for June 9-10 in Galax, Virginia

HoustonFest celebrates the life of young banjo picker, Houston Caldwell (more info here) with two days of stellar bluegrass, oldtime and country music artists. Held annually the second weekend in June, the 2017 festival is set for June 9-10 at Felts Park, 601 South Main St., in Galax, Virginia. The gates open at 10 a.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday.

This year’s impressive lineup includes the Earls of Leicester with Jerry Douglas, John Berry, Flatt Lonesome, the Church Sisters, Emi Sunshine, Shadowgrass and the Snyder Family Band, among many others

Continue reading


Leave a comment

The Seldom Scene to make Rives Theatre debut on Friday, March 10

The Seldom Scene is bringing its unique blend of progressive bluegrass on Friday, March 10, to the historic Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville, Virginia. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door and day of show. Doors open at 8 p.m. with music starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online here.

Continue reading


Leave a comment

Town Mountain, Tift Merritt and Caleb Caudle among artists playing Yep Roc’s Benefit For The ACLU of NC on March 11 at Cat’s Cradle

Asheville, North Carolina-based Town Mountain has just announced it is joining the Yep Roc Records’ Sing Out!, a night of songs and solidarity being held in support of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of North Carolina at The Cat’s Cradle on Saturday, March 11. Tickets are only $15.
“In today’s political climate, we need now more than ever, a great source for accountability,” says Town Mountain’s banjo player Jesse Langlais in a press release. “The ACLU is that entity. Town Mountain is proud to take part in an event to help fight the good fight.”
Tift Merritt, Caleb Caudle and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig from Mountain Man will also be performing. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the show starting at 7:30.

Continue reading


1 Comment

Time Sawyer strikes all the right chords with ‘Wildest Dreams’ album release

If you are a fan of the Marshall Tucker Band and similar ’70s “Southern Fried Rock” groups, you are going to be a fan of Time Sawyer and this  Charlotte, North Carolina-based, alt-country, folk-rock band’s newest release, “Wildest Dreams.”
After a four-year hiatus, the band is introducing its sixth studio album as a follow-up to its well-received album, “Disguise the Limits.”
“Wildest Dreams” is the band’s most mature work to date, perhaps thanks to recording for the first time under the direction of Grammy-award winning producer Mike Ashworth (Steep Canyon Rangers) while recording inside the walls of the acclaimed Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, North Carolina.

Continue reading


Leave a comment

MerleFest 2017 adds Béla Fleck, The Earls of Leicester featuring Jerry Douglas to 30th anniversary lineup

As if you needed another reason to go to MerleFest this year,  Béla Fleck and The Earls of Leicester featuring Jerry Douglas, a supergroup homage to Flatt & Scruggs made up of several of bluegrass’s finest musicians, have been added to the 30th annual event honoring the late, great Doc Watson and his son, Merle, on Saturday, April 29, on the campus of Wilkes Community College. 

Continue reading


Leave a comment

Mandolin Orange announces 2017 spring tour in support of ‘Blindfaller’

Critically Acclaimed Duo To Play Merlefest, Red Rocks, Bonnaroo, Forecastle, Red Wing Roots, Pickathon

Hailed by No Depression as “one of the most talented acts making music today,” North Carolina-based duo Mandolin Orange — Emily Frantz (fiddle/vocals) and Andrew Marlin (mandolin/vocals) —  have announced spring tour dates in support of their critically acclaimed album, “Blindfaller,” according to a press release. The tour includes notable appearances at Merlefest, Red Rocks, Bonnaroo, Forecastle, Red Wing Roots and Pickathon.

Continue reading