The Claudettes (Photo by Donna Drapeau)
The Claudettes released Dance Scandal at the Gymnasium!, the band’s third full-length for Yellow Dog Records and first to feature their touring lineup of piano, drums, bass guitar, and three singers, on March 23. The Claudettes visit Hill Country Live for a *free* record release show on Thursday, May 17!
Trampled by Turtles (Photo by David McClister)
Tramped by Turtles released Life Is Good on the Open Road, their eighth studio album, on May 4 via BanjoDad. The Minnesota-based bluegrass group perform at 9:30 Club on Sunday, May 13.
Black Masala lead a parade at Sleepy Creek SpringDig 2018. (Photo by Chester Simpson)
Sleepy Creek SpringDig returned May 4-6, 2018 for its fifth year to the region’s favorite family-friendly venue, Sleepy Creek on the Potomac in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. The annual camp-out offers a stellar line-up of local roots music and national superstars, with added attractions such as playgrounds and parades. Chester Simpson took some photos of this year’s Sleepy Creek SpringDig, and folk musician Sally Mae Foster wrote some words to accompany them!
Gracie and Rachel captivate at the 9:30 Club on May 5, 2018. (Photo by David LaMason)
Gracie Coates (piano/keyboards, vocals) and Rachel Ruggles (violin, vocals) create a what they’ve called “orchestral pop.” Their music ebbed and flowed in dark swirls while at the same time seemed to move forward in performance at 9:30 Club on Saturday, opening Ani DiFranco.
Hop Along (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Philadelphia indie rockers Hop Along recently released Bark Your Head Off, Dog, their new album, on Saddle Creek, drawing inspiration from ELO to Elvis Costello to ’70s girl group vocal arrangements. Hop Along perform at 9:30 Club on Tuesday, June 5, and you can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.
Eli Paperboy Reed (Photo courtesy Yep Roc Records)
Eli “Paperboy” Reed teams up with the High & Might Brass Band for an album, Eli “Paperboy” Reed Meets High & Mighty Brass Band, due June 8 via Yep Roc Records. The man and the brass band meet for a tour beforehand, and they perform at Rock and Roll Hotel on Saturday, May 12.
Luke Winslow-King (Photo by Victor Alonso)
New Orleans singer-songwriter Luke Winslow-King mixes Mississippi delta blues, folk, jazz, and roots rock on his new album, Blue Mesa, due this Friday, May 11, via Bloodshot Records. On the previous night, Luke performs at Pearl Street Warehouse on Thursday, May 10.
Matt Heafy fronts Trivium at The Fillmore Silver Spring on May 6, 2018. (Photo by Chris R. Smyth)
Sunday was a night of fast and ferocious music at The Fillmore Sliver Spring. As the opening act ahead of Bullet For My Valentine, heavy metal band Trivium brought their combination of guttural screaming and clean singing to a frenzied audience.
Ani DiFranco performs at 9:30 Club on May 5, 2018. (Photo by David LaMason)
An Ani DiFranco concert is more than just a show, more than just music. It’s the spirit of community, progressive consciousness, and inclusion. That spirit was alive at 9:30 Club on Saturday.
Patty Smyth and Keith Mack perform in Scandal at City Winery on May 5, 2018. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Guitarist Zack Smith was looking to form a band in New York City in 1981, and he was persistent enough to track down vocalist Patty Smyth, who was working in a steakhouse at the time.
And so the band Scandal came together to record a self-titled EP and eventually a full album, Warrior, producing memorable ’80s hits like “Goodbye to You” and “The Warrior.” Patty sang those songs and more with a new configuration of Scandal, which still also includes original member Keith Mack on guitar, at City Winery on Saturday.