“Mrs. Collins weep, Mrs. Collins moan …” Aficionados might argue the point, but it’s reasonable to claim that “Louis Collins” is one of Mississippi John Hurt’s best original songs. It is easier still to call it the best of all the murder … Continue reading →
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/225613428″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] It’s been a while since we visited any fingerstyle guitarists, so today we introduce William Csorba of Houston. Will is a prolific young Texan of the resurgent American Primitive guitar school, already … Continue reading →
Last week we examined New Grass music in the late 60s and early 70s. This week we move to the new generation of New Acoustic players who take their inspiration from jazz, classical and rock music. The style features interesting … Continue reading →
The Early Years I played Bruce Springsteen’s album Nebraska over and over when I was in high school. It’s a dark, meditative album full of rage and sadness, which soothed me. I was sixteen, and had just moved to a … Continue reading →
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/94986618″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] One of the things that’s fascinated us about the folk community on Soundcloud is the appeal traditional styles hold for many experimental musicians. Jason and Leo of Toledo indie band Vs the … Continue reading →
Back in the 1960s and ’70s young Bluegrass players began to stretch out and a distinctly new style called New Grass was created. It met with lots of disagreements about maintaining the purity of the musical form. This had little … Continue reading →
New Orleans legend, Allen Toussaint, composer, pianist, producer and performer, passed away after suffering a heart attack while on tour in Spain earlier today, Tuesday November 10th. Composing hits, such as Al Hirt’s “Java” and Benny Spellman’s “Lipstick Traces (On … Continue reading →
From the time we started Murder Ballad Monday in 2012, one of our neighbors in the curious portion of the web focused on murder balladry has been Paul Slade, journalist and owner of PlanetSlade.com. While not exactly a blog, Slade’s web site … Continue reading →
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/228231032″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] With a Sanskrit name meaning ‘the space between’ while also recalling one of Ireland’s most ancient spots, it’s no surprise that AnTara seeks to apply multiple layers of significance to their music. … Continue reading →
Israel Young founded the Folklore Center on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village in 1957. The timing was perfect for an establishment that was as much a clubhouse as a store. Izzy Young: Talking Folklore Center is a documentary from Sweden … Continue reading →
