After I finish writing this morning, I am going to go outside and enjoy the beautiful seventy degree spring day. I am going to the market to buy vegetables, then I will go to the park and lie in the grass and …
Tag Archives: spotlight
Honeybucket – Honeybucket – Cleveland-based newgrass band brings high energy bluegrass sound
Honeybucket is based in Cleveland, Ohio and their sound is aggressive. It’s not your grandpa’s bluegrass music, singing about the Kentucky fields or North Carolina hills. No, this is a sound that transcends the traditional and sharp-cutting style. Spearheading the efforts to define …
The Roys–honest-to-goodness bluegrass
I bonded with The Roys pretty immediately. My family on my mother’s side is a bunch of proud, true Scottish Roys. I’m right with them. I have the tattoo of my family crest, tartan, thistles. We’ve traced our lineage all the way …
Lewis Watson – Some Songs with Some Friends – Pop singer songwriter’s upbeat new EP
Lewis Watson‘s music seems to be all over the place these days. His style is infectiously pop, infinitely relatable, and the kind of music that keeps a lot of people happy. It works in commercials and TV shows. It’s streaming on multiple online …
Featured Artist–Ashley Raines and the New West Review
Ashley Raines–I’ve spent the last week being charmed by this rugged gentleman’s voice. I wish I was a musician instead of a writer so that I could sing all about what makes his work magical, but I am no musician so I will …
Guest Review: Randy Texter on The Belle Brigade – Just Because – Great harmonies and blending from LA-based new folk band
Just Because might catch you off guard if you aren’t ready for it. The Belle Brigade’s sophomore effort is strong, if different. They still have their amazing harmonies. They still have some songs with a hard, driving beat, and some that slow down …
Pandas & People – Pandas & People EP
As a rule of thumb, I try to avoid EPs. I’m not sure why, because we’ve had some really good ones recently, but something about the brevity of the music makes me wary. It takes a lot for an EP to stand out …
Pharis and Jason Romero – Long Gone Out West Blues – Perfect traditional roots country music
With a female lead and high tenor harmonies, Pharis and Jason Romero are the embodiment of all that is wonderful about timeless country music. Although this album is a year old, it’s well worth covering on this site. This is the kind of …
Cape Canyon – Bluebonnet EP – Classic, beautiful sound with sophisticated folk, rock, and country songwriting elements
Cape Canyon are one of my favorite finds of 2014. They have absolutely stunning harmonies and a truly unique overall sound. There’s a certain raw authenticity in their writing. It’s not to say that they are inexperienced so much as to say that …
Simon and the Bande A Part: Blinking and Breathing
Simon and the Bande À Part. Blinking and Breathing. Released on Bandcamp, 2013. http://www.simonvangend.com Simon and the Bande À Part hails from Cape Town, South Africa, a country that (if it isn’t yet) really, really needs to be on your radar for hot …



