The following story was also posted on The Huffington Post blog here.
Jim Lauderdale broke out in 2016. An overnight success? Hardly. It’s taken nearly three decades and about as many albums to receive the recognition that the Americana icon cleary deserves. Continue reading →
MerleFest fans who make the annual trek to Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to hear their favorite bluegrass and Americana artists every April are in luck because they don’t have to wait until next spring to hear some great music thanks to the Kruger Brothers, hosts of Carolina in the Fall.
For the second year in a row, Heart of Folk LLC brings “New Carolina Music” and a new (but not so new) music and food festival to the old Courthouse Square in historic downtown Wilkesboro featuring some of North Carolina’s best folk/ roots musicians. They will be joined by bands from other areas that tip their hats to the rich musical history of Wilkes, the heart of American Folk Music.
The “King of Telluride” has been taking the East Coast by storm in recent years. Sam Bush has been a staple at Merlefest since its inception, but the mandolin virtuoso is no stranger to FloydFest and this spring played Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival for the first time.
Now, on the heels of his newest album release, “Storyman,” he’s headed to The Festy Experience, The Infamous Stringdusters music festival that benefits the Can’d Aid Foundation, set for Oct. 7-9 at the Lockn Festival property in Nelson County, Virginia, located between Charlottesville and Lynchburg.
In addition to Bush, Charlottesville resident Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lee Ann Womack, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Steep Canyon Rangers, the North Mississippi All Stars and Anders Osborne (aka North Mississippi Osborne), are among the acts at the top of the bill for The Festy.
You may recognize Winston-Salem native and singer-songwriter Sarah Siskind from the ABC hit “Nashville” and her equally talented husband Travis Book of The Infamous Stringdusters. The duo are working on an album to be released later this year as Sunliner, which has performed at Rooster Walk and Red Wing Roots festivals, among others. Sunliner debuted with a new drummer, the venerable Jeff Sipe, at White Squirrel Festival in Brevard in May.
Book and Siskind, who performed at The Rives Theatre on Valentine’s Day 2015 (did I mentioned they are married?) , are opening for the incomparable Mary Chapin Carpenter at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, at the historic Carolina Theatre in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. Carpenter is touring in support of her new full-length album, “The Things That We Are Made Of,” which was released in May to critical acclaim.
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — The historic Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville, Va., will kick off its annual “Live at the Rives Theatre Concert Series” season on Saturday, Jan. 31, with Asheville Country Music Revue and Junto, featuring members of Sanctum Sully, as well as Kristin Diable. Continue reading →
Here’s a link to my preview story that is running in today’s Danville (Va.) Register and Bee. Happy reading!