Nashville Americana duo Megan & Shane’s new album Peaks and Valleys (out July 14) encompasses one of the great love stories of our time. Its songs chronicle their odyssey from humble punk rock beginnings in Minnesota’s frozen wastelands to their time in the mystic deserts of the Southwest to their new lives in Music City U.S.A. They connected with multi-Grammy-winning engineer Brandon Bell (Brandi Carlile, The Highwomen, Alison Krauss) and an all-star cast of players to bring Peaks and Valleys to life.
The BBC’s Ralph McLean has brand new music and a vintage session from Albuquerque duo The Handsome Family and new tracks from Tanya Tucker, Rodney Crowell and Chip Taylor plus classics from The Jayhawks and The Everly Brothers.
Guitar World features The Handsome Family in This Week’s Essential Guitar Tracks, with their new single, “Joseph.”
The lead single and track from the beloved alt-country duo’s new album, Hollow, was inspired by a dream. Indeed, Brett Sparks’ evocative solo – one of Joseph’s highlights – has a dream-like quality, with a beautiful melodic arc.
Check out the new song from Rick Hornyak, “Drift Away,” on Mostly Folk Podcast…
Check out Authority Magazine’s interview with Bonnie Ramone of Bonnie & the Mere Mortals…
Southern gothic Americana outfit Bonnie & the Mere Mortals’ new album Live & Unplugged showcases alt-country swagger and fellowship around live music. It delves into relationships, mental health, occult mysticism and folklore, putting forth the idea that you can make your own destiny. It was filmed and recorded in front of a live studio audience in Pittsburgh at Club Cafe, encapsulating the intimacy of the live experience following the Covid lockdown era.
Frontwoman Bonnie Ramone is a queer-identifying, tattoo artist, Dolly-Parton-meets-Elvira kind of character who writes literary songs about people who need to feel seen. “I write sad songs with happy lyrics and vice versa,” says Bonnie.
Roughstock debuts the new single from Shannon Clark and the Sugar, “This Old World,” noting its “sharp visions through country, soulful folk and roots with a dash of heartland rock.”
“This Old World” was written as a John Prine style song, originally, but morphed into more of a Tom Petty tune. We wrote this because we wanted to paint a heartfelt portrait of modern American life. It’s important to us that everyone has a voice. We recorded the track at Welcome to 1979 studio in Nashville on all 2″ tape and all analog, which I love.”