Album Review – Willie Nelson’s “Bluegrass”

In 90 years of life, some 75 years in music, and around a hundred original albums of one version or another, Willie Nelson has just about done it all. But he hadn’t done a bluegrass record until now.
In 90 years of life, some 75 years in music, and around a hundred original albums of one version or another, Willie Nelson has just about done it all. But he hadn’t done a bluegrass record until now.
Billy Strings, bluegrass, Buddy Cannon, Molly Tuttle, Review, Willie Nelson
Old Crow Medicine Show is at its best when they embrace the wild assed hillbilly street performer persona. Crow has always put the “show” into their version of throwback country.
Cory Younts, Dante Pope, Jerry Pentacost, Ketch Secor, Mike Harris, Molly Tuttle, Old Crow Medicine Show, Review, Sierra Ferrell, Willie Watson
The quality of talent was never the concern about FairWell Fest, and the weekend was one killer set after another. The concern was always about a big out-of-town promoter coming into local-oriented Central Oregon and taking over.
49 Winchester, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, Bella White, Caitlin Rose, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Drayton Farley, FairWell Fest, Gary Clark Jr., Kenzie Sue Miracle, Lucius, Luke Grimes, Micah Nelson, Molly Tuttle, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Morgan Wade, Nathaniel Rateliff, Shane Smith and the Saints, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sullivan Tuttle, Turnpike Troubadours, Under The Big Sky Fest, Willie Nelson, Wyatt Flores, Yola, Zach Bryan
“City of Gold is a Western bluegrass album that is unafraid of broaching the subjects that are actually relevant to many bluegrass fans of today while stretching the sonic limits of the genre ever so slightly in spots.
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, City of Gold, Dominick Leslie, Jerry Douglas, Ketch Secor, Kyle Tuttle, Molly Tuttle, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Review, Shelby Means
Trigger Random Notes 20 Comments
If you’re heading to Whitefish, Montana or are already there, congratulations, you’re about to experience one of the greatest assemblages of talent in independent country and roots music that happens all year.
49 Winchester, Archertown, Charley Crockett, Christina Vane, Colby Acuff, Drayton Farley, Helnore Highwater Band, Hogslop String Band, Jamie Wyman, Kat Hasty, Molly Tuttle, Shane Smith and the Saints, The Local Honeys, The Red Clay Strays, Under The Big Sky Fest, Whiskey Myers
Dierks Bentley took the stage at the 50th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival with his new bluegrass band Long Jon.
Ben Helson, Charlie Worsham, Dierks Bentley, Jason Carter, Jimmie Martin, Long Jon, Molly Tuttle, Ronnie McCoury, Telluride Bluegrass Festival
We have reached the point of insanity these days with the amount of albums coming out each week in the greater country and roots realm. It’s like a full-time job just keeping track of it all, let alone navigate through the sea of releases to try and find what may be appeal to you.
Brandy Clark, Brennen Leigh, Chapel Hart, Colter Wall, Dallas Moore, Gabe Lee, Jason Isbell, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Logan Halstead, Marty Stuart, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Melonie Cannon, Miles Miller, Molly Tuttle, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Nicholas Jamerson, Slackeye Slim, Summer Dean, Tanya Tucker, The Malpass Brothers, Tommy Prine
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist isn’t turning into the “Bluegrass” Top 25 Playlist. It just happens to be with all the bluegrass musicians kicking ass these days, it’s beginning to feel that way.
Bella White, Billy Strings, Bo Hazard, Brennen Leigh, Gabe Lee, Golden Highway, Molly Tuttle, Silas Lowe, Tommy Emmanuel, Victoria Bailey, Willie Nelson
Looking to capitalize on the attention and momentum she’s captured in her Golden Highway era, Molly Tuttle recently ventured back in the studio, and recorded “City of Gold.”
City of Gold, Dave Matthews, Dominick Leslie, Golden Highway, Jerry Douglas, Ketch Secor, Kyle Tuttle, Mason Via, Melody Walker, Molly Tuttle, Old Crow Medicine Show, Shelby Means
Dierks plays both sides of the country music cultural divide, and in the past he’s put out albums that very much appeal to folks who wouldn’t be caught dead listening to corporate radio. But that’s not exactly what “Gravel & Gold” is. It’s definitely not like his 2016 album “Black” either.
Billy Strings, Bryan Sutton, Charlie Worsham, Dierks Bentley, Gravel & Gold, Jerry Douglas, Molly Tuttle, Review, Ross Copperman, Sam Bush
Before all the pomp, pop, and circumstance of the televised portions of the 2023 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Premier Ceremony transpired Sunday (2-5) afternoon in Los Angeles. This is where many of the country awards are given out, as well as awards for bluegrass, folk, Americana.
Aaron Neville, Ashley McBryde, Ben Stennis, Billy Joe Shaver, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Cody Johnson, Dave Cobb, Edgar Winter, Madison Cunningham, Molly Tuttle, Shane McAnally, Shooter Jennings, Wilco, Willie Nelson, Zach Bryan
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats, or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations.
Billy Strings, El Dorado, Elijah Ocean, Jonathan Peyton, Michael Cleveland, Molly Tuttle, Myron Elkins, Pony Bradshaw, The Grateful Dead
20 years in the business now, Dierks Bentley should be at the point where he can call his own shots. And seeing him paling around with Charlie Worsham lately, and hanging out in the rain to watch Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway play their set at Telluride last summer are all good signs.
Ashley McBryde, Billy Strings, Bryan Sutton, Charlie Worsham, Dierks Bentley, Gravel & Gold, Jerry Douglas, Molly Tuttle, Sam Bush
The Saving Country Music Artist of the Year is not about who sold the most tickets or left the biggest footprint, or who shattered the expectations and possibilities of independent artists that are not played on mainstream country radio. It’s about the artist who most embodied the spirit of of the idea…
Billy Strings, Charley Crockett, Molly Tuttle, Turnpike Troubadours, Zach Bryan
Let’s highlight some of the bands on the brink, that probably should be headlining festivals and big events themselves, and very well may be in the coming years. These are the artists and bands you better get out to see before like many of your favorite headliners, they end up only playing arenas.
American Aquarium, Big Richard, Billy Strings, BJ Barham, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Cody Jinks, Hogslp String Band, MIke and the Moonpies, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Ferrell, Sierra Hull, The Vandoliers, Them Dirty Roses, Turnpike Troubadours, Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan
Alright, so we’ve already run down the most sad, sappy, and poetic songs of 2022 in the Song of the Year nominees. Now it’s time to crank it up a notch and to showcase the songs that are just so damn enjoyable to listen to, we can’t stop. These are the songs that burrow deep in your ears and won’t come out.
49 Winchester, Charley Crockett, Isaac Gibson, Kimmi Bitter, Matt Daniel, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Ferrell, The Broken Spokes, Tony Logue, Zach Bryan
The Railbird Festival has been around for a few years now, mixing Kentucky horse racing culture and the state’s favorite spirit of bourbon with a diverse musical experience. But in 2023, Railbird is leaning more into the independent country side of music and their Kentucky roots.
49 Winchester, Brit Taylor, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Cole Chaney, Molly Tuttle, Railbird Festival, Sierra Ferrell, The Local Honeys, Town Mountain, Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan
2022 is a very unique year when it comes to albums to consider, since there are no clear front runners as we’re used to. No specific album or albums feel like undeniable masterpieces, but the albums at or near the top of the heap are so numerous, it’s painstakingly hard to delineate them from each other.
Arlo McKinley, Ashley McBryde, Drake Milligan, Gabe Lee, Ian Noe, Joshua Hedley, Kaitlin Butts, Molly Tuttle, The Broken Spokes, Zach Bryan
Once again, Under The Big Sky Festival outside of Whitefish, Montana has wowed us all with their lineup announcement, and it underscores once again why this is arguably the premier event in independent country and Americana. With two stages, some 20,000 fans, and a curiously excellent curation of headliners…
49 Winchester, Bella White, Charley Crockett, Christina Vane, Colter Wall, Drayton Farley, Hank Williams Jr., Kat Hasty, Molly Tuttle, Ryan Bingham, The Red Clay Strays, Under The Big Sky Fest, Vincent Neil Emerson, Whiskey Myers, Zach Bryan
The 2023 Grammy Award nominees were announced on Tuesday (11-15), with some big surprises, some worthy nominees, and a some disappointment in some categories as it seems the Recording Academy continues to be obsessed with nominating familiar names.
Allison Russell, Brandi Carlile, Charley Crockett, Grammy Awards, Miranda Lambert, Molly Tuttle, Willie Nelson, Zach Bryan
Trigger Random Notes 29 Comments
The Grammy Awards officially open the initial round of voting for nominees today, and due to the propensity for the Grammys to often overlook key contributors in the country music and roots space, here are some simple suggestions of what Grammy voters should make sure they don’t ignore for the 2023 awards.
49 Winchester, American Aquarium, Arlo McKinley, Ashley McBryde, Brennen Leigh, Brent Cobb, Caroline Spence, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Grammy Awards, Ian Noe, John Prine, Jon Pardi, Kaitlin Butts, Lyle Lovett, Molly Tuttle, Sturgill Simpson, Tommy Prine, Vince Gill, Wade Bowen, Willi Carlisle, Willie Nelson, Zach Bryan
With the re-formed Hurricane Ian bearing down on the Carolinas Thursday evening, forcing all of the festivities for the biggest gathering in bluegrass each year indoors, the International Bluegrass Music Association, or IBMA held their 33rd annual awards at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.
Bela Fleck, Billy Strings, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Dan Tyminski, Del McCoury, Dolly Parton, Doyle Lawson, IBMA, IBMA Awards, Molly Tuttle, Rick Faris, Ronnie Bowman, Sierra Hull
Trigger Random Notes 31 Comments
The International Bluegrass Music Awards, or IBMA’s announced the nominees earlier this week, and it felt anything but perfunctory. In previous years you had the usual suspects up for all the major awards. It feels completely different here in 2022, and for good reason. Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and more.
Bela Fleck, Billy Strings, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Doyle Lawson, IBMA Awards, Michael Cleveland, Molly Tuttle, Old Crow Medicine Show, Po' Ramblin' Boys, Sierra Hull
Songs are the most important unit of measurement in music, and the specific moment a life can change, a perspective can shift, a deep emotion that has gone dormant is re-awakened, and life is enhanced positively henceforth. When we talk about potential “Song of the Year” nominees, were not looking for the toe tappers.
49 Winchester, American Aquarium, Arlo McKinley, Caroline Spence, David Quinn, Ellis Bullard, Ian Noe, Joshua Hedley, Kaitlin Butts, Logan Halstead, Lyle Lovett, Molly Tuttle, Ryan Culwell, Tami Neilson, Willie Nelson, Zach Bryan