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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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Kelsey Waldon brings her unique sound to the Old North State Nov. 6-8

Country music fans, listen up: If you missed singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon’s performance at Hopscotch 10, you’re in luck. You can catch her playing at Chapel Hill’s Local 506 on Wednesday, Nov. 6; The Grey Eagle in Asheville, Nov. 7; and The Evening Muse in Charlotte, Nov. 8.
Waldon was recently handpicked by Americana legend John Prine to join his label Oh Boy Records, which released her new album “White Noise/White Lines,” produced with Dan Knobler.
What makes this significant is Waldon is the first new artist to sign with the label in 15 years.
“It’s hard for me to put into words what it truly means to me to be signed to Oh Boy Records,” Waldon said in a release. “To have someone like John, who I have looked up to my whole life, who I have set my songwriting standards after and my general music-making standards after, to have someone like him endorse my music and care enough about it to make sure it reaches a wider audience…that means everything.”

Prine echoes the excitement by stating in a release, “Kelsey’s voice is one of the more authentic country voices I’ve heard in a long time. Her music continues an important arc of traditional folk and country music.”

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Town Mountain releases New Freedom Blues to high praise

From the good folks at The Press House:

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Today, Town Mountain releases their critically-acclaimed sixth studio album, “New Freedom Blues.” Originally announced by The Bluegrass Situation in June, producer Caleb Klauder joined the Asheville, North Carolina-based band at the legendary Echo Mountain Studios late last year to record the 11-track masterpiece, which features drummer and Sturgill Simpson collaborator Miles Miller, as well as a duet and co-write with Tyler Childers. Praised by outlets like Rolling Stone, No Depression, American Songwriter, Glide, and SiriusXM among others. The band recently played AmericanaFest and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry for the third time; they are currently touring throughout the Southeast and will join Tyler Childers for a handful of dates throughout Texas and Oklahoma in December (full dates below). New Freedom Blues is available today via Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and the band’s website.

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Second annual Jam In The Trees raises $2,500 for forest protection; announces third annual festival for Aug. 24-25, 2018

From the good folks at The Press House and Jam in the Trees:
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The second annual Jam In The Trees, held Friday, Aug. 25-26, 2017, donated $2,500 to the non-profit Wild Forests and Fauna. The two-day Americana music festival took place at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and featured 14 bands on both an outdoor and indoor stage. This is the second year that Jam In The Trees has donated a portion of proceeds to Wild Forests and Fauna (WildFF), who work with local communities in different forests around the world, striving to protect nature for future generations. The festival was also nominated this year for IBMA’s prestigious Momentum AwardJam In The Trees will return to Pisgah Brewing Company for its third year, on Aug. 24 and 25, 2018.

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Second annual Jam in the Trees set for Aug. 25-26, 2017, at Pisgah Brewing

Americana fans, listen up: The second Annual Jam In The Trees will feature some of my favorite acts including Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Jeffrey Foucault, Front Country, Eilen Jewell, Cicada Rhythm, Zoe & Cloyd, The Infamous Stringsuters, Acoustic Syndicate, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel, Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius, Jim Lauderdale, Underhill Rose and Ken Tizzard.

Jam in the Trees is a two-day, Americana music-themed event that takes place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25 and 26, 2017, on two stages — the Outdoor Stage and the Taproom Stage — at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Continue reading


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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.

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Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival 2017 features impressive lineup including Blue Highway, Don Flemons

The organizers of the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival held just west of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, each September has announced its 2017 lineup and it is impressive. Among the acts scheduled to perform are IBMA winners Blue Highway, Carolina Chocolate Drops co-founder Don Flemons and Asheville’s Fireside Collective. At $15 for a full day pass (children 12 and younger are free with a paying adult), you’re not going to find a better musical bargain.

If you want to catch a preview of one of these acts, Fireside Collective is playing at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Foothills Brewing in Winston-Salem. You can find details here.

From the good folks at the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival:

MOCKSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA –Ticket sales for the sixth Annual Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival opened today as festival organizers announced a full roster of exciting artists. Continue reading