One For The Ages: Sierra Ferrell Stuns 50th Telluride Bluegrass Fest
27 CommentsThe Telluride Bluegrass Festival has been around for 50 years, and turned in some legendary moments over that time. Sierra Ferrell’s set June 17th feels like one that will be entered into those annals of legendary festival moments.
The Muddy Roots Festival Announces 2015 Lineup
16 CommentsThe Muddy Roots Music Festival has just announced their 2015 lineup, and it is chock full of legendary roots artist who helped forge what we consider roots music today, and the new generation of artists who are doing their best to carry on those traditions into the future. the Muddy Roots Music Festival has forged one of the most loyal followings on the festival circuit, and hosted many legendary names over its now five year run.
The 2015 Ameripolitan Awards LIVE Blog
49 CommentsWelcome ladies and gentlemen to the 2nd Annual Saving Country Music Ameripolitan Awards LIVE blog. The festivities being held at Austin’s historic Paramount Theatre will NOT be televised, streamed, broadcast, or otherwise disseminated, so it will be the effort of Saving Country Music to offer you the most complete window into the experience as possible.
Album Review – Aaron Watson’s “The Underdog”
48 CommentsWho would have thought a few years ago that in 2015, Aaron Watson, Aaron Watson, would be releasing one of the most-anticipated, and potentially most impactful albums in all of 2015 in country music? Oh it’s not that Watson hasn’t been setting country music fans in Texas, Oklahoma, and on the rodeo circuit ablaze for many years.
The Road to Recovery Leads through Austin for Chelle Rose
14 CommentsFor the first time since her recovery, Chelle Rose opened up to Saving Country Music about her trials and tribulations over the last two years and what her plans are now that she’s back on a healthy path. After taking more than a decade between her debut ‘Nanahally River’ album (2000) and her critically acclaimed and Ray Wylie Hubbard-produced ‘Ghost of Browder Holler’ album (2012)…
Metro-Politan: Country Music’s New Cancer
119 CommentsThe next menace was country rap, symbolized by Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” becoming the biggest country single in all of 2011. Then country rap gave way to Bro-Country—the most dominant torment to country music arguably in the genre’s entire history. Now what looks to depose Bro-Country as the next malevolent hyper-trend? Let’s just call it “Metro-Politan.”
Steve Earle & Brandy Clark Talk Saving Country Music
34 CommentsSteve Earle says it wasn’t his politics that held him back from greater mainstream country success. It was more the oligarchy who was afraid of artists who call their own shots. Steve Earle is not the only one talking about saving country music lately. Brandy Clark amidst her Grammy Awards success said recently, “My name is said in the same breath as people like Kacey [Musgraves] and Sturgill Simpson, Ashley Monroe…
New Willie Nelson Biography “It’s A Long Story, My Life” Coming
7 CommentsThe 400-page biography is said to be the “unvarnished, complete story of Willie Nelson’s life” that touches on his time in Texas and Nashville to Hawaii, to his legendary bus, his drive to write music, the women in his life, his collaborations, and his biggest lows and highs-from his bankruptcy to the founding of Farm Aid. It is also said to include stories from many of Willie Nelson’s friends.
Bob Dylan: “I Wasn’t Dissing Merle, Not the Merle I Know.”
42 CommentsBob Dylan is pretty notorious for not speaking publicly very often, either in speeches or to the press. But after being honored at a Grammy Awards’ MusiCares event a week ago, and the impending melee that resulted from the 30-minute speech in which he specifically criticized Merle Haggard and Tom T. Hall among others, Dylan was forced into another public disposition with Rolling Stone on Friday.
Song Review – Jamey Johnson’s “You Can”
30 CommentsWritten by Johnson and Dan Couch somewhere around 2004 or 2005, “You Can” was kept on the sidelines as Jamey’s major releases The Dollar, That Lonesome Song, and The Guitar Song came out, never making the final cut. But now that Johnson is out from under the thumb of the industry, if he wants to randomly release a single on a cold day in February, he can. Whether it suits his best interests or not.
Sturgill Simpson’s “Metamodern Sounds” Reaches 100,000 in Sales
44 CommentsTired of seeing Sturgill Simpson news? Well then tell it to stop happening. If you can fathom this, the Kentucky-born singer is currently experiencing a renewed increase in interest, even while in the more long-term perspective he continues a meteoric rise which could have big implications on the country music community at large.
Review – Blackberry Smoke’s “Holding All The Roses”
49 CommentsBlackberry Smoke comes rip rearing out of Atlanta, GA with their asses on fire, delivering this power packed, rockin’, country-fried brand new offering called ‘Holding All The Roses’ that doesn’t let up, doesn’t give in, and keeps spitting out flavorful hooks, delicious riffs, and infectious grooves one after another, all adding up to one hell of a good time worthy of immediate repeat.
Brandy Clark Sees Biggest Sales Spike of All Grammy Performers
21 CommentsWhy do the Grammy Awards matter? Well even if you don’t win anything, the exposure as a performer is just about priceless for those that get the opportunity. Brandy Clark was up for Best Country Album for her ’12 Stories’ release, and Best New Artist, and walked away with neither. But her performance with Dwight Yoakam on her song “Hold My Hand” landed Brandy the largest single percentage gain in song sales.