Boston Music Awards Announces 2019 Nominees… Awards Music Features by Brian Carroll - September 20, 2019September 20, 20190 It's that time of the year again. The inevitable onslaught of "vote for me" posts that will overflow your feed if you have even a toe in the water of New England based music pool. But we welcome it. It means that the beautiful folks at the Boston Music Awards have again announced their list of nominees for 2019. Thats really about all there is to say. Its out there, go vote...and if you do vote, we would especially like you to cast a ballot for our dear pals, well honestly anyone in the Americana category (Honeysuckle, Julie Rhodes, Sarah Borges, Session Americana, Susan Cattaneo, These Wild Plains, Twisted Pine...you can't go wrong), Ali McGuirk, Ward Hayden & The Outliers, The
Boston Music Awards Winners 2018 Awards Music Features by Brian Carroll - December 13, 2018December 13, 20180 Another year is coming to a close and another blow out bash to celebrate Boston music and community unfolded last evening. While we regretfully were not in attendance, we could feel the warmth and vibe flowing out from your social feeds and the announcements of winners today. So, congratulations to ALL of the winners this year, as well as all of those nominated and recognized for their efforts...but an especially HUGE congrats to our dear friends Twisted Pine, Honeysuckle and Ali McGuirk for taking home one of those little black rectangular sculptures last night.
Show You Should Know: The BMAs are on Thursday (12/7) Awards Featured Concert Music Features by Brian Carroll - December 5, 20170 You probably already know this. The Boston Music Awards are on Thursday and if you don't and you are now reading this...now you do. While we are of course very honored to be nominated as Best Blog, thats far besides the point of this post. Over the course of the past few years the BMAs have undergone a transformation of sorts and we are all a bit better for it as members of the New England music community. The shift sees a keen focus on support for local artists and the realization that Aerosmith does not need a Lifetime Achievement Award. While unable to attend last year, the 2015 show at the Sinclair just felt like a giant family reunion (even consisting
Boston Music Awards: One Big, Rockin’ Family Awards by Brian Carroll - December 10, 2015January 20, 20160 I'll admit, I was skeptical. For years I had avoided the BMAs for whatever reason you want to put in your own head. "It's not MY scene", "My genre is under represented", "There's a conspiracy!"...whatever the reason, it had been years since I have been and after last evening I am kicking my own ass for that. (Julia Mark, Colleen McNamara, and Mally Smith all smiles before Ruby Rose Fox's set) One thing that is extremely clear about what the Boston Music Awards are is that it is not about the actual awards at all. The awards part is a very, very small part of this wonderful event. It is a party. A celebration of the many different types of music and
Boston Music Awards: Performances Announced Awards by Brian Carroll - December 1, 2015January 20, 20160 I must admit I have remained slightly removed from the BMAs in years past. I haven't actually attended since 2008...holy sh*t, 7 years, that makes me feel old. But last year, with our good pal Dan Blakeslee up for Folk Artist of the Year (a repeat alongside some of our favorites) I took notice as it seemed the folks cranking the wheel at the BMAs were paying attention to what was going on in our little community. With the expansion into Folk and Americana and seeing some names on that list that truly are working their fingers to the bone within the folk/roots realm of things, it seems as though the well deserved attention of these artists has been shone the
THE BIG REDS: Red’s Choices for 2015… Awards by Brian Carroll - November 17, 2015January 20, 20160 I am a big advocate for the use of a community to elevate members within that community and let their voices be heard to say “hey, these folks are great, they should be recognized”. Yesterday, we announced the folks who had an overwhelming amount of support from all of you reading this. The Songwriter, Band/Act, Album, and Musician that, in 2015, you said deserved some form of recognition. Well, I don’t suppose that I would be too far off in hypothesizing that I likely listen to a far more diverse amount of music contained within the genres of roots/folk/rock than the vast majority of people who listen to music. My inbox is constantly filled with new stuff from people I have
BIG RED Recognitions 2015: And the Winners Are… Awards by Brian Carroll - November 16, 2015January 21, 20160 Last year was the first year running the Big Red Recognitions. The point being that people "of the community" let Red Line Roots know who a) they think should be nominated and then b) think should win from those nominees. The process, albeit simple and imperfect, is the best way I could see to pay tribute and homage to the folks in the New England music community who are doing amazing things and really busting their asses off that year. Whether its touring relentlessly, snagging up those big, career making gigs, releasing an incredible record, or hoisting up those around them by being one hell of a support system and musician. Maybe next year we will have a fancy awards
BIG REDS 2015: Meet the Nominees – Album of the Year Awards by Brian Carroll - November 10, 2015January 20, 20160 Being that I have already reviewed most of the nominees for Album of the Year in depth, I thought it best to highlight my favorite tune from each record, a brief reason why and embed it here for you to enjoy (and of course link to those reviews for your reading pleasure here in this article). Many of these are already on my personal favorites list from this year, so it’s certainly a tough decision to make blind…or deaf. So listen to these tracks, listen to the full records, buy the music of these incredibly gifted and wonderful artists. Your favorite mainstream artist was once a local, independent musician…so why not get behind one or all of these folks. The Suitcase Junket
BIG REDS 2015: Meet the Nominees – Musician of the Year Awards by Brian Carroll - November 9, 2015January 20, 20160 Musician of the Year, that is saying a lot. Not only could you have been a part of an album that make a splash, or write songs that are great, you command the ever living sh*t out of your instrument (or in most of these cases instrumentS...plural) and entertain, smile, and infect audiences with a feelings of warmth and happiness while doing so. To you, my friends, I salute you. Now, lets meet the nominees for Musician of the Year in this year's BIG REDS!... Eric Lichter – One man, one hundred instruments. That statement isn’t too far off when describing this songwriter-producer-engineer-studio musician-multi-instrumentalist-and all around great human being. Lichter has produced and played an impossible to count number of instruments
BIG REDS 2015 Meet the Nominees: Band of the Year Awards by Brian Carroll - November 9, 2015January 20, 20160 Time to meet your nominees for the Big Red's: Band of the Year... Lula Wiles – This trio of songstresses with the chops to match their gorgeous voices came to me pretty recently. I ended up late for a gig I had to get to because I had my ears glued to the speakers and my ass glued to my seat the first time I heard their 3 voices together. Swapping lead duties and instruments is typical for them during a live show and each of them leads with a strength and passion that is unmatched. Want killer, bootstomping fiddle and guitar runs fused in with heartfelt harmonies and songwriting…well, here you go folks. Haunt the House – “Spooky, powerful, and affecting”…three