SOUL COUNTRY

NEW ORLEANS — The International Folk Music Awards here became an evening to honor music legends and activists, celebrate Louisiana culture, and instigate pushback on the current climate of fear rising in America.   “We are remembering why folk music matters,” said Jennifer Roe, the executive director of the Folk Alliance International (FAI), during the Jan. 21 awards ceremony, part of the roots music organization’s 38th annual conference .   The conference theme, Rise Up,

FLORENCE, Alabama — John Paul White has been around — a top-notch singer, songwriter, and producer, Grammy winner, and now college professor in this legendary but still under-appreciated American music mecca, the Shoals area in north Alabama.   Last week, White left little doubt that few endeavors are as close to his heart than the annual holiday concert to benefit the University of North Alabama Entertainment Industry degree program , in which he teaches. He leads the even

Todd Snider photo by Angelina Castillo  (from Todd’s social media channels) The brilliant, quirky troubadour singer-songwriter Todd Snider passed away on Nov. 14, and my Nashville friends who knew him — and avid fans far beyond Music City — are devastated by the loss of this untamable, incredibly special artist.   I’ll miss Todd’s steady stream of story-songs on the eccentric characters of East Nashville, his commentary on the state of music and the world,  and his adventure

One of Nashville’s best hard-country artists, Jon Byrd also seamlessly incorporates 1980s and 90s jangle rock, alternative, and even...

Something changed in roots music in the past year. If many artists hadn’t yet turned their focus to social-justice issues, the attacks on...

NEW YORK — Queen Esther’s remarkable voice and musical range was on full and splendid display at her album-release show here at Joe’s Pub...