Michaela Anne grew up bouncing around the States and abroad—from Washington to California to Italy, to name a few. A child of a military family, she learned to cope with her lack of roots and what she called “having more questions than answers” by learning to write songs. That skill set and those songs have carried Michaela Anne farther than ever imaginable, impressing the likes of NPR, who said she “works through weepers and hits the honky-tonks as every great country singer should,” and Noisey, who praised her most recent release as the antidote to commercial pop-country, calling her “our saving grace, our angel, the person who will help usher us into a new age.” And into the new age, she continues to push. On September 27th, Yep Roc Records will release Desert Dove, Michaela Anne's full-length follow up to her critically-acclaimed Bright Lights and the Fame. “By Our Design,” the album's first single and video, was premiered today at Rolling Stone. Celebrating the song as “a gorgeous meditation on picking the road not taken,” Marissa Moss, writing for Rolling Stone, notes that the track “highlights the songwriter's pristine voice.' The song, a mid-tempo burn framed with dense violins and tremolo guitar, is a sweet ode to a carved out life together; imperfect, but adaptive and free. Moss also points out Michaela Anne's intent for the song to sound like a “bit of Laurel Canyon dust into Tennessee soil.”Pre-order Desert Dove and/or stream “By Our Design” here.
Coming off an incredible sold out 12th year of Cayamo: A Journey Through Song, this floating music festival at sea continues to innovate with a diverse lineup. Music legends Tweedy of Wilco and Mavis Staples will be joined by Rodney Crowell, Soggy Bottom Boys, Anderson East, Lake Street Dive, Buddy Miller, Deer Tick, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Watkins Family Hour, Raul Malo, Hayes Carll, Shawn Mullins, Jim Lauderdale, Ashley Monroe, Steve Poltz, Molly Tuttle, Dan Tyminski, Dar Williams, Jill Andrews, The Wailin' Jennys, Over the Rhine, Wilder Woods, The Quebe Sisters, Allison Moorer, The Mastersons, Dirk Powell, Hush Kids, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Amythyst Kiah, Madison Cunningham, and Grayson Capps.
Jim Lauderdale has released a new song from his forthcoming album, FROM ANOTHER WORLD. The song, 'Some Horses Run Free,' is the latest from the 2x GRAMMY® Award-winning Americana legend's 32nd studio album that arrives everywhere on Friday, June 21.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, has officially come to a close, but not without a number of electric collaborations, spontaneous sit-ins, and world-class performances. Wynonna & The Big Noise, Amos Lee, Tyler Childers, Sam Bush Band, Brandi Carlile, and The Avett Brothers all brought extra MerleFest energy to the Watson Stage, marking another successful year for the long-running festival. Early estimates show that from its start on Thursday, April 25, to its close on Sunday, April 28, participation over the festival's four days exceeded 75,000 attendees and artists from across the world. MerleFest, held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, which funds scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.
Now that MerleFest, presented by Window World, is only one week away, annual festival-goers have surely begun planning their weekends. For those who have not, however, here are five sure-to-be epic experiences that shouldn't be missed. Make a note or two and join a welcoming legion of music fans in Wilkesboro, N.C., from April 25th to 28th at MerleFest.
The Country Music Hall of Fame said it best when they opened the Outlaws and Armadillos exhibit in May of 2018, Bobby Bare originated “Outlaw Country” when he became the first artist of the era to gain control of his productions, leading to the likes of Willie, Waylon and the boys following suit. In celebration of the Country Music Hall of Famer's 84th birthday on April 7 and over 60 years in the music business, SiriusXM's Outlaw Country will air an all-star tribute concert recorded on the 4th annual Outlaw Country Cruise. The two-hour special will air on SiriusXM Outlaw Country, Channel 60 on Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 6 at 10 p.m. ET and Sunday, April 7 at 12 p.m. ET and be available OnDemand through the SiriusXM app on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at siriusxm.com.
Organizers of Jam In The Trees, The Pisgah Brewing Outdoor Stage Series, and HoosierDevil are proud to announce Strings & Suds, a two-day music event held at Pisgah Brewing Company's legendary taproom and outdoor stage on August 23rd and 24th, 2019. The first-annual Strings & Suds, which derives its name from a former Pisgah Brewing event held in 2013, will feature Tex-Mex troubadours The Mavericks, roots music mainstays Donna the Buffalo, double-neck guitar slinger Junior Brown, the King of Americana himself, Jim Lauderdale, and mandolin-wielding songstress Sierra Hull. Additionally, Strings & Suds will featureFrank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, YARN, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Danny Burns, East of Monroe, and Ashley Heath and Her Heathens. Fans should be sure to expect special artist collaborations and sit-ins each night.
From its first incarnation in 1993, MerleFest's annual Chris Austin Songwriting Competition has seen the likes of Gillian Welch, Tift Merritt, and Martha Scanlan rise to the top of an always competitive field of up-and-coming songwriters. Legendary songwriters have presided over the competition from the start as judges, too. Darrell Scott, Hayes Carll, and the late, great Guy Clark have all taken a turn at judging the CASC. This year, the event will be judged byJoey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, better known as The Milk Carton Kids, Cruz Contreras of The Black Lillies, and Texas-troubadour Radney Foster. Mr. Americana Jim Lauderdale will host the competition and Mark Bumgarner will return as emcee for the finalist contest taking place at MerleFest's Austin Stage on Friday, April 26th at 2:00 p.m.
As the world of Bluegrass continues to evolve, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers have taken advantage of the creative environment that keeps the tenets of tradition next to those of individual expression. The result is The Choosing Road, an album of refined dynamics, themes informed by personal growth and some of the most intimate songwriting to date.
As the countdown begins for the kickoff of A2IM's Indie Week, A2IM is announcing the list of nominees for the 2019 Libera Awards presented by SoundExchange. The Awards recognize a wide range of musicians and visionaries and offer the independent music community the opportunity to honor the hard work and accomplishments of their peers.
Hot off the heels of a sold-out fourth cruise, Steven “Little Steven” Van Zandt's Renegade Circus and Sixthman, the industry leader in music festivals at sea, are proud to announce the lineup for the fifth annual Outlaw Country Cruise. The extensive lineup includes The Mavericks, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shooter Jennings, Son Volt, Elizabeth Cook, Waco Brothers, Carlene Carter, Kinky Friedman, Dale Watson And His Lone Stars, Jesse Dayton, Bottle Rockets, Robbie Fulks, Jim Lauderdale, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, NRBQ, The Long Ryders, Jason Ringenberg, Warner Hodges, The Yayhoos, Jesse Malin, Sarah Borges, Rosie Flores, Deke Dickerson, The Mastersons, Jaime Wyatt, Sarah Gayle Meech, Waylon Payne, Paula Nelson Band, Folk Uke, Heybale!, Dallas Wayne, Roger Alan Wade, and of course, Mojo Nixon with more to be announced!
Yep Roc Records is proud to announce the new LP from 2x GRAMMY® Award-winning Americana legend Jim Lauderdale. FROM ANOTHER WORLD arrives everywhere on Friday, June 21.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the 2019 lineup for their beloved Late Night Jam. Sponsored by The Bluegrass Situation and hosted by Chatham County Line, this year's Late Night Jam will feature Molly Tuttle, Jim Lauderdale, The Brother Brothers, Donna the Buffalo, Presley Barker, Ana Egge, Steve Poltz, and more. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, April 25-28.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the 2019 lineup for their beloved Late Night Jam. Sponsored by The Bluegrass Situation and hosted by Chatham County Line, this year's Late Night Jam will feature Molly Tuttle, Jim Lauderdale, The Brother Brothers, Donna the Buffalo, Presley Barker, Ana Egge, Steve Poltz, and more. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, April 25-28.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce new artist additions for MerleFest 2019: Amos Lee, The Milk Carton Kids, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Del McCoury Band, The Casey Kristofferson Band, and David Holt. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, April 25-28. MerleFest is pleased to welcome these six distinguished acts to the 2019 lineup:
Riverland is the new album from Eric Brace, Peter Cooper & Thomm Jutz on Nashville based Red Beet Records. It's a concept album, a daring thing in these days of shuffle modes and short attention. It's about Mississippi - both the big river and the troubled-but-beautiful state - though Brace is a Washington, D.C. guy, Cooper is from South Carolina, and Jutz grew up in Germany's Black Forest. On paper, it's a suspect idea. In song, it shines like a bright Natchez morning, and hurts like a lonesome Meridian motel room.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce new artist additions for MerleFest 2019: The Avett Brothers, Molly Tuttle, and Sean McConnell. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, April 25-28. MerleFest is pleased to welcome these three distinguished artists to the 2019 lineup:
GRAMMY® Award winner Patty Griffin has announced the release of her long-awaited new album. The acclaimed singer-songwriter's 10th studio recording and first-ever eponymous LP, PATTY GRIFFIN arrives Friday, March 8 on her own PGM Recordings label via Thirty Tigers. The album was recorded predominantly at Griffin's home in Austin, TX, with Griffin and longtime collaborator Craig Ross co-producing, while the band is made up of a number of friends and frequent accompanists, including Ross, guitarist David Pulkingham, drummer/percussionist Conrad Choucroun, cellist Lindsey Verrill, pianist Stephen Barber, and Robert Plant, who contributes backing vocals to the LP's 'What Now' and 'Coins.'
MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce new artist additions for MerleFest 2019: Brandi Carlile, Dailey & Vincent, and The Brother Brothers. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, April 25-28.
