Every once and a while, we get a band that’s making music they have no business making and just absolutely killing it. Think Mumford and Sons. Marcus and the boys have no business being as good at traditional American folk music as they …
Quick Hits: Brian Payne and Andrew Wilkinson – Acoustic singer songwriters with two must-hear EPs
Brian Payne – Self Titled EP Brian Payne’s sound is just excellent and his folksy songwriting feels like the cool, refreshing Rockies. He’s got that “everyman” vocal quality. I almost guarantee he’ll make you think of “that guy” you know from high school …
Fathom Lane – Self Titled – Vintage-yet-refreshing Sound
Lately there have been a spate of artists knocking the easy “three chord song” folk music that’s so prevalent in the current music landscape, but Fathom Lane is not one of those simpler acts. Their sound is complicated in the best way possible. …
‘Holler’ Crosses Oceans and Time
Holler: An Appalachian Tragedy (original workshop recording). Maineland Productions/Bandcamp, 2014. I’m fairly certain that this is a first for Ear to the Ground- a review of a soundtrack, written for a play inspired by Shakespeare. Oh, good, you didn’t run away screaming. Once …
House of Hats-listen to me, listen to this!
Today I have the great privilege of covering a band which I was mildly obsessed with in college and never got over. I would spend Thursday evenings trawling through YouTube videos taken in Brighton music venues and wishing that they would just make …
Brooke Annibale – Under Streetlights
Local Pittsburgher, Brooke Annibale, is making quite a name for herself in this area. Part of that comes from her being a prolific performer, but more and more that’s because, when she gets the chance to perform, she’s been blowing people away. I …
Artist Interview: Maggie Rogers
Maggie Rogers is a student, an artist, a writer, and a very hard working young woman. She has stars in her eyes for the adventurous college years of her life. She’s learning all she can about the music industry at NYU but she’s …
Artist Interview: Michael Stovall
Michael Stovall entered our Second Annual YouTube Battle of the Bands and won the FOLK category. His reward was… well… questions from us! Oh and some guaranteed coverage of his album. Check out these awesome interview questions provided by our own Kate Bee …
Moon Walks- Rusty Rube and A Bitter Barb
Moon Walks. Rusty Rube and A Bitter Barb, 2-part EP. Moon Walks/Bandcamp, 2014. https://www.facebook.com/moonwalks (you can hear samples or buy the album here) The Moon Walks are a brand new band coming out of Detroit, Michigan, and as much I love to hear …
Stacey Randol
One of my favorite things about Ear to the Ground is the diversity of music I am given the access to immerse myself in. I used to settle comfortably into a niche for a while until my next niche came along. I don’t …
