Don’t Miss: Goodnight Moonshine @ Pearl Street Warehouse, 5/31/18

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged Americana, Connecticut, Eben Pariser, folk, Goodnight Moonshine, Molly Venter, New Haven, Pearl Street Warehouse, Red Molly, Roosevelt Dime.

Goodnight Moonshine (Photo courtesy the band)

Editor’s Note: Due to Ticketfly being down, Pearl Street Warehouse made this show free.

Songwriters Molly Venter of Americana group Red Molly and Eben Pariser of Brooklyn quintet Roosevelt Dime together are husband and wife. Together, they also are folk duo Goodnight Moonshine. Goodnight Moonshine takes its Keep the Spark Tour to Pearl Street Warehouse on Thursday, May 31, and the band releases a new record, I’m The Only One Who Will Tell You, You’re Bad, on Friday, June 1.

Music Park: Fleet Foxes @ The Anthem — 5/18/18

Posted on May 21, 2018 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Americana, chamber pop, Fleet Foxes, folk, Nonesuch Records, Robin Pecknold, Seattle, Sub Pop, The Anthem.

Fleet Foxes captivates at The Anthem on May 18, 2018. (Photo by David LaMason)

Fleet Foxes made its return last year with the release and subsequent tour for Crack-Up (Nonesuch Records). The record is filled with the same self-reflective lyrics, swelling music, and gorgeous harmonies as the band’s previous two records, but it seems like a more focused record. After six years between Helplessness Blues and the new LP, it’s a refreshed welcome home for this band whose debut album turns 10 years old as of this writing.

Music Park: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats @ The Anthem — 5/16/18

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged Americana, Colorado, Denver, folk, Nathaniel Rateliff, R&B, The Anthem, The Night Sweats.

Nathaniel Rateliff performs at The Anthem on May 16, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

When Nathaniel Rateliff took the stage at The Anthem, his eyes widened as he surveyed the vastness of DC’s newest and largest music venue at The Wharf.

“I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t know we were playing here when we got to DC; I never heard of The Anthem,” Nathaniel confided to the audience. “This place is huge, and I can’t believe ya’ll filled it up!” The 6,000-plus sell-out crowd responded with a roar of appreciation last week.

Don’t Miss: Joachim Cooder @ The Birchmere, 6/11/18

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged Americana, Buena Vista Social Club, folk, Joachim Cooder, roots, Ry Cooder, The Birchmere, worldbeat.

Joachim Cooder (Photo by Amanda Charchian)

Legendary roots musician Ry Cooder has a son who also is a very talented musician. Joachim Cooder, who released his first proper EP, Fuchsia Machu Picchu, on March 30, will open for his legendary father, and then he play drums in his dad’s band, at The Birchmere on Monday, June 4, and Monday, June 11. The first date has sold out, but tix remain for June 11.

Snapshots: Sleepy Creek SpringDig @ Sleepy Creek on the Potomac (Berkeley Springs, WV) — 5/4-5/6/18

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Chester Simpson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Black Masala, bluegrass, blues, brass band, Brokedown Hustlers, Chester Simpson, Dead Winter Carpenters, folk, funk, gypsy, jazz, Jeff Austin, Jeff Austin Band, Keller Williams, music festival, rockabilly, Sally Mae Foster, Sleepy Creek, Sleepy Creek on the Potomac, SpringDig, swing, The Judy Chops.

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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!

Don’t Miss: Luke Winslow-King @ Pearl Street Warehouse, 5/10/18

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged Americana, Bloodshot Records, blues, folk, jazz, Luke Winslow-King, New Orleans, Pearl Street Warehouse, roots, singer-songwriter.

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.

Music Park: Dead Horses @ Songbyrd Music House — 4/14/18

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged Americana, Dead Horses, folk, Milwaukee, Songbyrd Music House.

Dead Horses perform at Songbyrd Music House on April 14, 2018. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Americana is one of those musical labels that can apply to a wide variety of styles (folk, country, rock blues, or gospel) and thus become practically meaningless. However, as a descriptor for Dead Horses’ music, and paired with the band’s origin story, the term takes on a specificity and uniqueness all its own.

Dead Horses — Sarah Vos (vocals/guitar), Daniel Wolff (double bass/vocals), Jamie Gallagher (drums), and Ryan Ogburn (mandolin) — stopped at Songbyrd Music House on Saturday. Touring in support of its third album, My Mother the Moon (released on April 6), a modest but enthusiastic crowd was treated to a lively performance of songs drawing on a wide range of influences that includes folk, bluegrass, gospel, rock, and blues.

Don’t Miss: Calexico @ Lincoln Theatre, 4/27/18

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged Americana, Arizona, Calexico, Lincoln Theatre.

Calexico (Photo by Jairo Zavala Ruiz)

Calexico, the seven-man Arizona-based Americana band, released The Thread That Keeps Us, their ninth studio album in January via Epitaph Records. Led by founders Joey Burns and John Convertino, Calexico are touring their new material with a stop at the Lincoln Theatre on Friday, April 27.

Snapshots: The 9 Songwriter Series @ Union Stage — 4/5/18

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged Americana, Casey Cavanagh, Chris Cassaday, Elena Lacayo, Eli Lev, Greg Vickers, JP Jenks, Justin Trawick, Sol Roots, The 9 Songwriter Series, Union Stage.

Greg Vickers performs during The 9 Songwriter Series at Union Stage on April 5, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

The 9 Songwriter Series came to Union Stage last week and delivered a great show with performances by artists Chris Cassaday, Eli Lev, JP Jenks, Elena Lacayo, Sol Roots, Greg Vickers, Casey Cavanagh, Siobhán O’Brien, and event promoter/emcee Justin Trawick. Ari Strauss shot the performances of all nine artists.

Don’t Miss: Brian Fallon @ 9:30 Club, 4/28/18

Posted on April 6, 2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Americana, Brian Fallon, folk, heartland rock, New Jersey, soul, The Gaslight Anthem.

Brian Fallon (Photo by Drew Gurian)

Brian Fallon, singer and guitarist of The Gaslight Anthem, released his second solo album, Sleepwalking, via Island Records in February. Brian is bringing his backing band, The Howling Weather, around to 9:30 Club for a sold-out show on Saturday, April 28.