KOKEFEST Unveils Killer 2022 Lineup

No, not all country radio stations suck. Some are downright badass. KOKE-FM out of Austin, TX is one of them. They’ve also put on a kickass festival now for five years where devotees to the KOKE world congregate.
No, not all country radio stations suck. Some are downright badass. KOKE-FM out of Austin, TX is one of them. They’ve also put on a kickass festival now for five years where devotees to the KOKE world congregate.
Aaron Watson, American Aquarium, Clint Black, Jamie Lin Wilson, KOKE, KOKEFEST, Larry Fleet, Randall King, Tanner Usrey, The Steel Woods, Triston Marez, Turnpike Troubadours
While you were putting on 40 pounds and watching Tiger King twice during the pandemic, Jamey Johnson was out there working towards earning his commercial pilot license. Apparently the songwriter has been flying to gigs fairly regularly while on tour.
Cowboy Eddie Long, Jamey Johnson, Rachel Bradshaw, Randy Houser, Raul Malo, The Steel Woods, Townes Van Zandt
Listen ladies and gentlemen, it’s not just a hypothetical that when a song gets featured on Paramount’s Yellowstone series it’s a big deal. What’s going on at the moment is a musical phenomenon helping to support independent country music.
Colter Wall, John Prine, Ross Shifflett, Shane Smith and the Saints, The Steel Woods
Trigger Random Notes 55 Comments
Country music traditionalist Jamey Johnson has become known over the last few years more and more for filling the majority of his concerts with classic country songs written by others, along with pulling from his catalog of originals. For some this approach to his concerts feels strange.
Blackberry Smoke, George Jones, George Strait, Jamey Johnson, Jessi Colter, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, The Steel Woods, Townes Van Zandt, Vern Gosdin, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson
The places a song can take you, the realizations a song can impart, this is the reason we cherish music so much, and we cherish songs specifically as the kernel root of all musical experiences that we remember forever. These are the best country and roots songs of 2021 so far.
Alan Jackson, Alice Gerrard, Blackberry Smoke, Charlie Starr, Cole Chaney, Drew Kennedy, Francesco Turrisi, George Jones, Hope Dunbar, Jamey Johnson, Jason Cope, Jason Eady, Katie Jo, Mac Leaphart, Morgan Wade, Pony Bradshaw, Red Shahan, Rhiannon Giddens, The Steel Woods, Vincent Neil Emerson, Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno
As we near the halfway pole in the musical year, it’s time to suss out the best albums that have been released in 2021 so far. There’s already some very strong contenders for Album of the Year, and the first albums highlighted should be considered early candidates for Album of the Year.
Alan Jackson, Blackberry Smoke, Bo DePeña, Bobby Dove, Bock Gonyea, Charlie Marie, Cole Chaney, Mac Leaphart, Melissa Carper, Pony Bradshaw, The Steel Woods
Trigger Random Notes 12 Comments
That’s right, Saving Country Music is brushing off this old feature, and featuring another name from the modern era of country music badasses in Cody Jinks after his recent run over the last few years has made him one of the most formidable names in independent country.
Adobe Sessions, Casper McWade, Cody Jinks, Jordan Foster, Larry Hooper, Paul Cauthen, Randy Travis, Sam Hunt, Sunny Sweeney, Tennessee Jet, The Steel Woods, Tyler Childers, Ward Davis, Whitey Morgan
Trigger Random Notes 12 Comments
What some studious fans of their music may have picked up on, and others may have missed, is a continuing story line across the band’s now three albums, with a recurring cast of characters and events, similar to the character “Lorrie” in Turnpike Troubadours songs.
Anna Lee, Della Jane, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, Jimmy Sutherland, The Steel Woods, Turnpike Troubadours, Wes Bayliss
In February, Jamey Johnson’s long-time legendary steel guitar player “Cowboy” Eddie Long spoke with the Small Batch Network in an hour-long interview, and during the discussion, the topic of new music coming from Jamey Johnson came up. Well it turns out Eddie Long was speaking out of turn.
It’s been a while since we loaded up the playlist with new selections, and there have been a ton of superb new songs released over the last few weeks. This results in a massive update of some excellent new tracks that deserve to be on your radar, so look alive.
American Aquarium, Charlie Marie, Colter Wall, Cory Keefe, Dag Erik Oksvold, Jack Ingram, John R. Miller, Jon Randall, Lauren Mascitti, Michael Monroe Goodman, Miranda Lambert, Shelby Lee Lowe, Summer Dean, The Shootouts, The Steel Woods
“All of Your Stones” symbolizes a triumph of spirit, and a realization of a dream. Whether Jason “Rowdy” Cope knew in some cosmic way that his time was limited, or the words and real-life circumstances intersected solely due to coincidence, he made this record like it could be his last.
All Of Your Stones, Ashley Monroe, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, Review, The Steel Woods, Wes Bayliss
We’re about to get absolutely barraged with top notch releases in country and roots music in the coming months. So to help you navitagte your way through the upcoming onslaught, here is a detailed list of the albums you should be looking out for.
Alan Jackson, Blackberry Smoke, Chance McCoy, Charlie Marie, Cody Jinks, J.P. Harris, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Miranda Lambert, The Steel Woods, Travis Tritt, Tylor and the Train Robbers, Vincent Neil Emerson, Willie Nelson
It could have been a disaster, or it could have not happened at all. When Mile 0 Fest rescheduled their 2021 festival from late January to late April, a lot of dominoes had to fall their way for them to pull it off. It was a risk. But they pulled it off with flying colors.
American Aquarium, Blackberry Smoke, Cody Canada, Courtney Patton, Drew Kennedy, Hayes Carll, Jamie Lin Wilson, Jason Boland, Kyle Nix, Lucinda Williams, MIke and the Moonpies, Mile 0 Fest, Randy Rogers Band, Ray Wylie Hubbard, RC and the Ambers, RC Edwards, Reckless Kelly, Roger Ray, Shane Smith and the Saints, The Steel Woods, Turnpike Troubadours, Wade Bowen, Whight Lighters
Tis’ the season, and the opportunity as the COVID-19 pandemic era comes to a close to start thinking about music festivals once again, and one of the biggest in the roots community has just announced its full 2021 lineup, and it’s a doozy.
49 Winchester, Blackberry Smoke, Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Charley Crockett, Hayes Carl, Ian Noe, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Kelsey Waldon, Morgan Wade, Rhonda Vincent, Tanya Tucker, The Steedrivers, The Steel Woods, The Wooks, Yola
Country and Southern rock band The Steel Woods just made their first live appearance back after the tragic death of their guitarist and founding father Jason “Rowdy” Cope on January 16th, and one of the band’s closest friends was there to offer his support.
Cody Jinks, Jamey Johnson, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, Merle Haggard, The Steel Woods, Tyler Powers, Wes Bayliss
At the time of Rowdy’s death, The Steel Woods were in the midst of preparing to release what they believe to be their magnum opus, written and recorded with Rowdy called ‘All Of Your Stones.’ To honor Jason “Rowdy” Cope and to bring his final work to life, they are soldering forward.
All Of Your Stones, Ashley Monroe, Brent Cobb, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Steel Woods, Tyler Powers, Wes Bayliss
The death of guitar player and songwriter Jason “Rowdy” Cope for the country and Southern rock band The Steel Woods sent shockwaves throughout the independent country community when it was announced on Saturday evening, January 16th.
Brent Cobb, Jamey Johnson, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, Jason Cope, The Steel Woods
Founding guitarist for fast-rising and critically-acclaimed Southern rock band The Steel Woods, and long time session guitarist and touring member of Jamey Johnson’s backing band, Jason “Rowdy” Cope, has died according to the band. The Steel Woods shared the news Saturday evening.
Brent Cobb, Dave Cobb, Jamey Johnson, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, Jason Cope, Lindi Ortega, Nikki Lane, Ted Russell Kamp, The Secret Sisters, The Steel Woods, Wes Bayliss
Texas-based Southern rock band Whiskey Myers is set to launch their own personally-curated festival and annual gathering for their fans called the Firewater Festival, and they have just announced the inaugural lineup. The event has been cleared by state and local officials to move forward.
Bones Owens, Chris Knight, Drive By Truckers, Firewater Festival, Jaime Wyatt, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Rob Leines, Shane Smith and the Saints, Tennessee Jet, The Steel Woods, Whiskey Myers, Whitey Morgan
Christmas came early for ticket holders of the Texas Music/Red Dirt/Americana-oriented Mile 0 Fest set to transpire in Key West, Florida on January 28th-February 1st, 2020, as well as for those still sitting on the fence about if they want to go, or those who might have a ticket waiting for them under the Christmas tree.
Bri Bagwell, Charley Crockett, Courtney Patton, Drew Kennedy, Elizabeth Cook, Jamie Lin Wilson, Jason Boland, Josh Grider, Kaitlin Butts, Kelley Mickwee, MIke and the Moonpies, Mile 0 Fest, Outlaw Country Cruise, Shinyribs, The Steel Woods, Tina Wilkins, Walt Wilkins
When it comes to top-tier releases in the country and roots realm, 2019 was a year like we’ve never seen before. Though it feels like we say that every year, 2019 truly was exceptional. The albums selected to be considered for Saving Country Music’s Album of the Year are so elite, all of them should be considered the winners.
Aaron Watson, Caroline Spence, Chane Smith and the Saints, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charlie Marie, Chris Knight, Cody Jinks, Croy and the Boys, Emily Scott Robinson, Erin Enderlin, Ian Noe, Jason Hawk Harris, Michaela Anne, MIke and the Moonpies, The Steel Woods, Tyler Childers
An album is something you listen to. A song is something that can change a life. The places a song can take you, the realizations and perspectives it can impart, the way it can touch something inside of you to make you feel something you never have before, or haven’t felt for a long time is the reason we cherish music so much.
Charles Wesley Godwin, Charlie Marie, Emily Scott Robinson, Gabe Lee, Hailey Whitters, Ian Noe, Logan Ledger, Steel Blossoms, Sturgill Simpson, The Steel Woods
As we get to the halfway pole in the musical year, it’s time to look back and asses the best albums that have been released in 2019 so far. At the moment, 2019 feels very top loaded with stellar releases. It has also been a very busy year for releases in regards to volume, though much more hit and miss when it comes to quality.
Ben Jarrell, Caroline Spence, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charlie Marie, Emily Scott Robinson, Ian Noe, Matt Carson, Taylor Alexander, The Steel Blossoms, The Steel Woods
An older name, a younger name, and a name you need to know make the latest additions to the Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist. Let’s start off with venerable songwriter Tom Russell, who surprised us all with the release of his latest record ‘October in the Railroad Earth,’ and just how full of quality songs it is