Billy Strings Announces Pre-sale for New Album, Releases First Single Music Features by Brian Carroll - July 30, 2021July 30, 20210 Bluegrass genre bending phenom Billy Strings announced the pre-sale for he and his band's new record, Renewal (set to release September 24th), today. Even in the midst of a pandemic, the boys have seemingly been playing everywhere as things begin to open up in the US and show no sign of slowing down. The first single off of the album, 'Fire Line' , starts in with a somewhat mild and subdued feel. A walk down of chords that guides Billy's slowly communicated story. It has the feel of the string band, the chop of the mandolin and steady bass rhythms. Then culminates in a community of choral voices, descending into a whirlpool of strings circulating around. Its got a feel, its
Carving New Paths: John Reischman’s New Track “The Coyote Trail” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - July 12, 20210 For those who have their own musical histories or paths tamped down in the rich soil of bluegrass and roots music, the name John Reischman elicits responses of "perfect tone" and "flawless flow" when referencing his playing. His songs and melodies echo through our consciousness and the tone that he pulls from his instrument is unrivaled. His latest recording New Time & Old Acoustic (out August 9th) keenly focuses on the then and now, both in its sonic architecture and the ensemble that John has arranged around it. The entire record plays host to a "who's who" of the current bluegrass and roots landscape. From heavy hitting heroes to the new crop of pickers wowing folks on festival stages and post-show
Singled Out: Ava Earl “Springtime” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - May 20, 20210 A song called "Springtime" couldn't come at a more opportune time. As the maples have budded out and are spreading their leaves, rustling in the ever warming breeze. Birds are back singing their songs, and here we are graced with a beautiful song from singer-songwriter Ava Earl. Ava's voice lilting up and drifting down, like those aforementioned warm breezes, filling the gaps in the air with a soft but rich sound. The building of the track, with underpinned harmonies as she poises complete control of her voice, driving the narrative. Dancing around the instrumental adornments that decorate the edges of the track. When the break hits just after the 2 minute mark, she really shines. Her voice a golden light
Forecast: Sunny Skies Ahead – An Interview With John Mailander Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - May 19, 2021May 26, 20210 You could go an entire lifetime and never come across another artist like John Mailander. His musical voice resting on the precipice where beauty meets power. His even temperament balancing the sheer virtuosity that lays beneath his finger tips, riddled with character, grace and soul. The robust palette that he paints his sonic landscapes with is vast. Deep and pulling shades of blues and greys mingling with brilliant gold and saffron, covering the full breadth of emotion and vibe in even a single given tune or arrangement. What I've found most intriguing and enviable about John and his music over the nearly decade I have known him and his songs in some capacity is his seamless ability to allow other artists
Peep This: Bella White “Just Like Leaving” (ftr. Patrick M’Gonigle & Patrick Metzger) Music Features Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - May 5, 2021May 5, 20210 Bella White continues to wow with her signature twang, beautiful and hauntingly penned songs and absolute control of her own and each song's voice and narrative. She comes back with another collaboration on "Just Like Leaving" with fiddler Patrick M'Gonigle and bassist Patrick Metzger. Filmed in St. James Community Square in Vancouver, BC by Trent Freeman, the hall behind the trio is empty as the camera slowly paces back and forth in front of the group as they sing this solemn tune. The collective noise filling the space with a warmth cast in grey and blue. It has that down trodden traditional feel, taking you back to times of famine and untilled fields, but contextually in the modern day. There is
Big News and Updates From the Freshgrass Fam! Festivals Music Features by Brian Carroll - April 22, 20210 Freshgrass has been a pilgrimage for me personally for the last 6 or 7 years. There is something incredibly magical about the drive up and over the hill country and the descent down into North Adams. Some of the town almost frozen in time, while the seemingly never-ending brick labyrinthian halls of Mass MoCa play home to some truly beautiful and inspiring contemporary visual arts. It wasn't even until a couple years into my annual trek that I realized you could actually go into the museum halls...and then at that point there was the constant push and pull of wanting to wander about while also being able to catch everything that was happening on the stages of the fest. This week
(Secondary) First Impressions : Watchhouse (fmr. Mandolin Orange) “Better Way” Music Features by Brian Carroll - April 21, 2021April 21, 20210 The folk and roots world woke up to some surprising changes this morning when the duo of Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz announced that their collective Mandolin Orange would be moving forward under a new moniker, Watchhouse. With that announcement comes a new website, explanation for the change and a brand new tune with accompanying video. Regarding the change, "Mandolin Orange was born out of my 21-year-old mind. The name isn’t what I strive for when I write, because it doesn’t match what I picture when I invite people into my songs, new or old,” admits Marlin. “We have long been burdened by the dichotomy between our band name and the music we strive to create—if you’ve heard the songs, you
Singled Out: Old Town Crier “Moonlight Road” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - April 21, 20210 There is something very endearing about the cacophony of instruments and sounds in the warm and lo-fi delivery from multi-instrumentalist Jim Lough. Going under the moniker "Old Town Crier", Lough presents us with a bit of a punch in the tune "Moonlight Road". There is the din of accordions and keys, the constant of an electric guitar rhythm with slide tendencies and the drone of a harmonica. A palette of jubilee and perhaps late night jamboree amongst friends fueled by passion and not wanting the evening to end. That feeling is palpable. Perhaps, whats so intriguing and impressive is that the layering of soundscapes and vibrations is all orchestrated by Lough on his lonesome. Dig in. Who: Old Town Crier (Jim
Green River Festival 2021 Announces Initial Lineup… Festivals Music Features by Brian Carroll - April 21, 20210 "The Green River Festival is pleased to announce that 2021's festival will include Jon Batiste, Ani DiFranco, Drive-By Truckers, Shakey Graves, Valerie June, and Mandolin Orange. More bands will be announced in the coming weeks. Earlier, the festival announced a new site location at The Franklin County Fairgrounds and new dates- August 27, 28, and 29, in order to provide an abundance of caution for the health and safety of the festival's patrons, artists, vendors, and staff." It's still a bit unpredictably chilly here in the hills of central Vermont. Two weeks ago my wife and I were outside on a picnic blanket in the year, basking in the mid-afternoon sun and today we woke to hail and freezing rain. But, all that said, the horizon looks a lot brighter and sunnier. As
New Record Alert: Dave Richardson “Palms to Pines” Out April 1st Music Features by Brian Carroll - March 19, 2021March 19, 20210 This may sound overly cheesy and, perhaps, an opportune description given we are finally seeming to come out of the throes of winter here in Vermont, but there is something about Dave Richardson's voice and delivery that just screams (or gently sings, rather) "Spring" to me. There is a calming effect to his vocal patter over the intricately woven stories of his songs. He is, at heart, a story teller and a folk singer, delicately plucking from influences that came before him and those that venture alongside him in the present day. An observer of the world. A distiller of circumstance and experience with a pleasant and inviting vocal delivery and a sense of familiarity that invites you in for