Tribute To Emmylou

On Joni’s 75th birthday, last November 7, a star-studded roster of musicians gathered to pay tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter. The evening was recorded and this CD release features performances by Brandi Carlile, Glen Hansard, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Chaka Khan, Diana Krall, Kris Kristofferson, Los Lobos with La Marisoul, Cesar Castro & Xochi Flores, Graham Nash, James Taylor, Seal, Rufus Wainwright and more.

Described as the Swedish answer to the Pierces, sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg, aka First Aid Kit, blend autumnal folk and wistful '60s Americana, and have gathered a pretty illustrious following since their cover version of Fleet Foxes' "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" became a YouTube hit back in 2008. As well as releasing their debut single through the Knife's Rabid Records label, they have since made Patti Smith cry with their rendition of her 1979 single "Dancing Barefoot," been courted by Jack White, who invited them to appear on two tracks for his Third Man Records' Blue Series, and now find themselves under the guidance of producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) for their second album, The Lion's Roar. It's an impressive turn of events for a duo that hails from a small suburb of Stockholm, but the follow-up to 2010's The Big Black & the Blue reveals why First Aid Kit have attracted so much attention. Juxtaposing the girls' glorious ethereal harmonies with a genuine sense of melancholy, the bittersweet alt-country of "Emmylou," a tribute to the musical partnerships of Ms. Harris and Gram Parsons, and Johnny Cash and June Carter; the twinkling Mama Cass-esque "Blue"; and the lush acoustics of "I Found a Way" are all beautifully heartbreaking.

In PBS’s show of Sir Paul McCartney’s June 2nd command performance at the White House, it is difficult to tell who is more star struck - President Obama or Sir Paul…

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are a band perfectly willing to wear their enthusiasm on their collective sleeve. After all, the project that brought Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden, and Tom Wilson together and gave them their group name was a tribute to Canadian singer/songwriter Willie P. Bennett, and they've never been hesitant to cover songwriters they look up to or bring in guest artists they admire…

Paul Burch is not usually named in discussions of alternative country or, saints forbid, Americana. He is not that scene's most well-known identity, nor, should he be. He's been banging around Nash Vegas playing clubs and doing tours whenever he can for the last decade or so. Burch is a country artist in the purist sense of the word…

New CD by Bill Blue, one of the last original back porch Blues players. This is the follow up to 2013's "Mojolation" which was Bill's first new record in 25 years. Bill an original back porch Blues musician learnt his chops on the road playing guitar with Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup. Amongst the hundreds of gigs they played together, they opened for Bonnie Raitt on her first ever national tour. After Arthur died in 1974, Bill went out on his own and for a decade toured extensively sharing the stage with BB King, ZZ Top, The Allman Brothers, Albert King, Johnny WInters, Hank Williams Jr and countless others at Blues festivals across the USA…

On March 29, Steve Earle and The Dukes will release a tribute to one of Earle’s mentors the legendary singer-songwriter Guy Clark with GUY via New West Records.