musicreporterblog

Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


by Leave a comment

Delfest 2017 final lineup announced

The good folks over at Delfest have announced the final lineup for the 10th-annual event set for Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28, 2017, just outside Cumberland, Maryland

The lineup includes Railroad Earth, Tim O’Brien, The Gibson Brothers (special trio set: Leigh & Eric Gibson and Mike Barber), Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers, River Whyless, Dead Man Winter feat. Dave Simonett from (Trampled By Turtles), Cris Jacobs, The Broomestix, Dead Winter Carpenters, The Ballroom Thieves, Head For the Hills, Ghost of Paul Revere, Kitchen Dwellers and Grand Ole’ Ditch have all been added to the DelFest lineup. Sierra Hull, Billy Strings and Bryan Sutton will be Artists-at-Large and Pete Wernick, Nick Forster and Joe Craven will all lead workshops. See the full lineup here.

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Scythian to wrap up St. Patrick’s Day 2017 ‘Border Scramble’ tour on storied Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

MerleFest fan-favorite Scythian is launching its “Board Scramble Tour” this week just in time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2017. When you’re a Celtic rock band, St. Patrick’s Day is your Super Bowl and this year is no exception for the Washington, D.C.-based group.

Continue reading →


by 1 Comment

Ninth annual Rooster Walk Music and Arts festival announces full lineup with addition of 25 acts

From the good folks over at Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival, this just in:

Martinsville, VA – Rooster Walk 9 announces final lineup today. Mandolin Orange, Pimps of Joytime, Mountain Heart and more than 20 other bands have been added, completing the Memorial Day weekend festival’s band lineup. Progressive stringband Greensky Bluegrass and legendary reunited reggae band The Wailers were announced in early January as overall headliners of the festival.

Rooster Walk, scheduled for May 25-28, 2017 at the idyllic Pop’s Farm festival venue just outside of Martinsville, Va., was named one of the Top 5 festivals in Virginia by the Richmond-Times Dispatch last year.

With more than 40 bands performing on five different stages, an eclectic roster of great music guides the Rooster Walk experience. In addition to four days of amazing music, the family-friendly festival offers a wide variety of kids’ activities, craft beer, great food, arts and numerous opportunities to enjoy Virginia’s great outdoors with a 5k trail race, yoga, a disc golf course and beautiful on-site camping.

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Must-see fresh faces at MerleFest 2017, band competition returns

From the good folks at MerleFest:

WILKESBORO, N.C. (March 14, 2017) – For 30 years, MerleFest, presented by Window World, has been known for discovering new talent in American roots music. From Old Crow Medicine Show to Gillian Welch, the Avett Brothers to Tift Merritt, many artists’ careers blossom after their breakout performances at MerleFest, where outstanding talent enthralls the festival’s many music enthusiasts. This year’s celebration, slated for April 27-30, will introduce what Steve Johnson, MerleFest artist relations manager, calls “must-see talent discoveries” made during his travels around the globe this past year. Johnson has identified 10 of these artists who will perform at MerleFest 2017.

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Stonefield Cellars offers Songwriter Sunday in Barrel Room on March 12

North Carolina singer-songwriters David Cecil, Abigail Dowd,  Benjy Johnson and Bobbie Needham will perform on Songwriter Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. March 12 at Stonefield Cellars Winery. There is a $5 cover charge. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance online or by calling 336-644-9908.

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Front Porch Fest 2017 announces initial lineup for Labor Day Weekend

Once again, Spirithaven Farm in Stuart, Virginia, will be filled with sweet sounds of music Labor Day weekend. The ninth Front Porch Fest will take place Aug. 31 – Sept. 3, 2017. This family-friendly weekend celebrates music and art on the front porch to the Blue Ridge mountains, thus the name.

Continue reading →


by 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 →


by Leave a comment

Mighty Joshua, Will Overman Band and Galaxy Dynamite among Top 12 Rockn’ to LOCKN’ bands move on to live competition

From the good folks over at LOCKN’:

“Dreams are getting closer to reality! We’re super excited to announce the 12 semi-finalists from the Rockn’ to LOCKN’ fan vote!

“Congrats to Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos, The Atkinsons, Big Mama Shakes, Mighty Joshua, Sun Dried Opossum, Kendall Street Company, Adar, Will Overman Band, Galaxy Dynamite, Devil’s Workshop Big Band, FeelFree, and Virginia Man.

Continue reading →


by 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 →


by 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 →