Jim Lauderdale News

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. 

In 1935, Country music's “first family recording group,” The Carter Family, released “Can the Circle Be Unbroken.” The song (a hymn reworked lyrically by the group's patriarch, A.P. Carter) would become one of the genre's early commercial hits. Later, it would become symbolic of the “family of Country music,” in recognition of its roots and the artists who would carry those traditions forward for future generations. In celebration of this idea, Gabriel Communications is pleased to announce its latest 'reunion' series and DVD collection, “Country's Family Reunion Presents: Country's Unbroken Circle,” which affirms that, even today, traditional country music is alive and well and the “circle” remains enjoyably intact. 

MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the initial lineup for MerleFest 2019, which will be held April 25-28. 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. The complete lineup for MerleFest 2019 will be announced over the next few months. Today's lineup announcement includes Wynonna & The Big Noise, Keb' Mo', The Earls of Leicester, Sam Bush, Tyler Childers, Peter Rowan and The Free Mexican Air Force, and many more. The 2019 Late Night Jam on Saturday, April 27th will start at 10:30 p.m. and run well past midnight, hosted by Chatham County Line. This very popular after-hours hootenanny in the Walker Center gathers many performers from the festival for impromptu artistic collaborations and one-of-a-kind superstar jams that have become legendary in the festival's history. Ticket sales for both the festival and Late Night Jam begin at 10 a.m. EST on Nov. 13th.

From love and affairs to deception and murder, drugs and debauchery to war and ghosts, Nashville has it all. Today, Granville Automaticreleases their fourth studio album Radio Hymns, a 13-track concept record that explores Nashville's lesser-known history, including everything from city founder Timothy Demonbreun's two wives to the Ryman's last-minute save from the wrecking ball, and features guest appearances from Jim Lauderdale, Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra, Ben Fields and Matraca Berg. The album has been praised by the Tennessean, PopMatters, American Songwriter, and Jeff Burger at No Depression, who said, “The vignettes are colorfully and imaginatively told but I was coming back for more of the melodic and well-produced Radio Hymns even before I started paying attention to the lyrics.” Granville Automatic is currently touring and will bring the tales of Nashville to The Bluebird Cafe on November 16 as well as The Old School on November 29. Radio Hymnsis available today via Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, and the band's website.

The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) has safely weathered the effects of Hurricane Michael, and thanks to the tireless around the clock efforts of one of the best staff in the business our gates are wide open for all you wonderful Suwannee Roots Revival music fans! With sunny skies projected for the rest of the weekend, we are poised to deliver an epic experience of unforgettable fun, family, and dancing well into the night! Travel safely, take care of each other, and remember there are still full weekend and single day tickets available at the gate. We can't wait to see your smiling faces once again!

Folk Alliance International (FAI) is proud to announce the 2019 Official Showcase artists* representing 23 countries (*confirmed to date and subject to change) for the 31st annual conference taking place February 13-17, 2019, at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

The 3rd Annual Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 11 - Sunday, October 14 at the magical Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. With multiple stages throughout the weekend (Amphitheater Stage, Porch Stage, Dance Tent, Music Hall, and Music Farmer's Stage) Suwannee Roots Revival is jam-packed with stellar music and dance and many bands will perform multiple sets. This family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin' sessions. Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking. We are thrilled to announce the daily schedules of music here ? www.suwanneerootsrevival.com/schedule. 

The following acts are performing at City Winery Chicago (1200 W. Randolph St) throughout the month. All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8:00 p.m., unless noted.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 312-733-WINE (9463) or by visiting www.citywinery.com/chicago.

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is pleased to announce additions to the 3rd Annual Suwannee Roots Revival which takes place Thursday, October 11 - Sunday, October 14 at the magical Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. Additions include Oteil & Friends, Leftover Salmon, Bruce Cockburn, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Shinyribs, Dustbowl Revival, Jon Stickley Trio, The Grass Is Dead, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, David Gans as Artist-at-Large, and more! These superb additions join in on an already stellar lineup that includes Keller Williams' PettyGrass Featuring The HillBenders, Donna the Buffalo, The Seldom Scene, Samantha Fish, Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, Rev. Jeff Mosier, and Joe Craven & The Sometimers.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will mark the opening of its new major exhibition, Outlaws & Armadillos: Country's Roaring '70s, with a lively concentration of programs highlighting the cultural and artistic explosion forged in the 1970s by two distinctly creative cities: Austin and Nashville.

Steven Van Zandt's Renegade Circus and Sixthman, the industry leader in music festivals at sea, are excited to announce the lineup for the 2019 sailing of The Outlaw Country Cruise 4. The deep and diverse bill of new artists and returning favorites will be anchored byDrive-By Truckers, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Margo Price, The Flatlanders (Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock), Bobby Bare, Nikki Lane, Terry Allen, Old 97's, Reckless Kelly and stars of SiriusXM's Outlaw Country channel, including Shooter Jennings, Elizabeth Cook, Mojo Nixon, Paula Nelson Band, Dallas Wayne, Jim Lauderdale and Roger Alan Wade. The cruise will sail January 27 - February 1, 2019 from Tampa, making stops at the private island of Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, and Nassau, Bahamas.

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Suwannee Roots Revival featuring some of the finest in Americana, Bluegrass, Newgrass, Zydeco, Blues, and more! The event takes place Thursday, October 11 - Sunday, October 14 at the magical Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. Featured acts include Keller Williams' PettyGrass Featuring The HillBenders, Donna the Buffalo, The Seldom Scene, Samantha Fish, Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, Rev. Jeff Mosier, The Lonely Heartstring Band, Tornado Rider, Joe Craven & The Sometimers, The Lee Boys, Sauce Boss, Belle and The Band, Whetherman, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, and Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus.

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Ellen Starski is set to release her solo debut album, The Days When Peonies Prayed for the Ants, on May 11, 2018.  On the collection, which was written over the course of 12 years, Starski explores  both her homeland and herself, traveling from the coal country of rural Pennsylvania to the roots-music hotbed of Nashville, Tennessee, and creating a soundtrack to that period of self-discovery. The album is autobiographical and rooted in a lush mix of indie-folk, orchestral Americana, and organic pop. 

Donna the Buffalo is joining forces with legendary Producer/ Engineer Rob Fraboni to record their next album February 2018 at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, TX. It is one of the world's largest residential recording studios and is built around an 80-year-old hacienda and pecan orchard right along the border. Fraboni is well known for his work with Bob Dylan, The Band, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Tim Hardin, The Beach Boys, Joe Cocker, and Bonnie Raitt, and as Vice President at Island Records where he oversaw the remastering of the entire Bob Marley catalog. He produced the soundtrack on Martin Scorsese's groundbreaking concert movie, The Last Waltz, which included an all-star cast of famous rock and roll performers. He built and designed the legendary Shangri-La studios in Malibu to the specification of Bob Dylan and the Band. Referred to as a 'genius' by Keith Richards in his bestselling autobiography Life.

Donna the Buffalo Plays City Winery NYC 3/16, Plus Recording New Album With Rob Fraboni Producing

For decades the onset of Spring meant gathering at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida for a weekend of fun, family, Bluegrass and string music.