Country

Troubador Ben Brookes Belcher Talks About Songwriting, Producing and Performing as a Solo Artist

Troubador Ben Brookes Belcher Talks About Songwriting, Producing and Performing as a Solo Artist

Posted July 19, 2022 at 11:37 am | No comments

You’ve got to hand it to Ben Brookes Belcher, the man works hard rolling out some of the coolest country songs we’ve heard in a long time. Belcher nails down some fancy guitar licks while singing a mix of gritty hard tack down home spins to some of the sweetest heart wrenching ballads.

Posted in: Country, Country Interviews, Fingerstyle, Fingerstyle Interviews, Folk, Interviews, Singer Songwriter Interviews

Singer-Songwriter Jeffrey Pine Talks About His Music, Guitars and His Love of the Desert

Singer-Songwriter Jeffrey Pine Talks About His Music, Guitars and His Love of the Desert

Posted October 2, 2021 at 6:35 pm | No comments

Singer-songwriter, Jeffrey Pine, hails from the Santa Barbara, California, environs, although he’s toured the country performing solo and with others. Pine also periodically finds himself recharging his creative spirit, by seeking refuge and maybe silence in the beauty and solitude of the desert.

Posted in: Blues Interviews, Country, Country Interviews, Fingerstyle, Fingerstyle Interviews, Folk, Instrumental Interviews, Interviews, Singer Songwriter Interviews, Uncategorized

Mysterious Boundaries the Hauntingly Beautiful New Album by Tony McManus

Mysterious Boundaries the Hauntingly Beautiful New Album by Tony McManus

Posted July 19, 2013 at 12:23 pm | No comments

On Mysterious Boundaries, Celtic guitarist, Tony McManus, collects a gathering of melodic impressions that quietly move us, sometimes hauntingly. At once technically masterful, emotionally nuanced and evocative, the Scottish-born guitarist’s new album will please his fans and attract a wider audience to his fine playing. And with a surname that’s rooted in the word “great”, Tony lives up to his Irish heritage.

Posted in: Country, Instrumental Reviews, Reviews, Uncategorized

Loudon Wainwright III and Mary Chapin Carpenter Live at Wolf Trap

Loudon Wainwright III and Mary Chapin Carpenter Live at Wolf Trap

Posted August 19, 2012 at 12:11 pm | No comments

An evening of homespun humor and country ballads and rock rolled into Wolf Trap starting with an expressive set by Loudon Wainwright III, followed by Mary Chapin Carpenter, both Grammy winning artists.

Posted in: Concert Reviews, Country, Folk, Reviews, Singer Songwriter, Uncategorized

Jake Shimabukuro Interview: Ukulele Hero

Jake Shimabukuro Interview: Ukulele Hero

Posted April 28, 2011 at 8:20 pm | No comments

Not only does Hawaiian-born ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro make his little four-string axe gently weep, he also makes it sweep, soar, and sing. In his hands, the ukulele roams the halls of folk, jazz, flamenco, rock, funk, the blues, bluegrass and classical music. Along with his astonishing talent, Jake’s winning smile and generous personality have been recognized by the State of Hawaii that has named him a Goodwill Ambassador for the island paradise.

Posted in: Country, Country Interviews, Interviews

Ricky Skaggs Interview: Blending His Life’s Passions on Mosaic

Ricky Skaggs Interview: Blending His Life’s Passions on Mosaic

Posted January 19, 2011 at 11:28 am | One comment

The wholeness of the life of Grammy award winning multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs, cannot be summed up in individual passions, but is a blending of influences of music, spirituality, family life, and friends that are reflected, much like his latest CD, into a patchwork of armament, a personal “mosaic”.

Posted in: Country, Country Interviews, Interviews

Albert Lee Interview: A Real Country Gentleman

Albert Lee Interview: A Real Country Gentleman

Posted January 5, 2011 at 2:22 pm | 20 comments

It’s amazing what can happen on a whim. Just a few days ago I was surfing the web, checking out some guitar videos on YouTube and I came across a great performance by country legend Albert Lee. Seeing the video reminded me of what a stellar player Lee really is and so I decided to head over to his site to see if he was touring in my area this year, hoping to get a chance to see him live. A bit dismayed after finding out that he’ll be spending most of his time in Europe in the near future, and later learning that I had just missed him in Chicago recently, I noticed that there was a contact button on his site, and that’s when things get interesting.

Posted in: Country, Country Interviews, Guitar Hero Interviews, Interviews

Steve Trovato Interview: Jazz Country Guitar

Steve Trovato Interview: Jazz Country Guitar

Posted December 17, 2010 at 2:00 pm | 4 comments

Making a living in today’s music business is tough on the best of days. It seems that the sun has set on the days when one could be just a studio musician, only play gigs or simply teach a few lessons a day and make a living as a guitarist, at least enough to pay the bills and get by.

Posted in: Country, Country Interviews, Interviews

Music Saves Mountains – An All Star Line-Up at the Ryman

Music Saves Mountains – An All Star Line-Up at the Ryman

Posted June 3, 2010 at 7:15 am | No comments

All 2,362 seats at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium were sold out in minutes after tickets had gone on sale for Music Saves Mountains.

Posted in: Concert Reviews, Country

Music from the Crooked Road

Music from the Crooked Road

Posted April 26, 2010 at 6:48 pm | No comments

The mountain music of Virginia was featured in the ensemble show, Music from the Crooked Road that recently toured the U.S.

Posted in: Concert Reviews, Country, Reviews