LISTEN: Graeme James, “The Weight of Many Winters”

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Artist: Graeme James
Hometown: Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, but living in The Hague in the Netherlands now.
Song: “The Weight of Many Winters”
Album: The Weight of Many Winters
Release Date: January 1, 2021
Label: Nettwerk

In Their Words: “Full of potent metaphors for the darker aspects of our human experience, the season of winter lends itself to thematic explorations of death, desperation, and weakness. The Weight of Many Winters is the second in my series of four seasonal EPs, and of all the tracks on the Winter EP, I especially wanted the title track to sound like winter. There is a beautiful stillness that settles on the world after a heavy snowfall that is unique in our noisy modern times. I wanted this song to embody a silent moment of honest and sober reflection. In essence; doing business with your soul in the middle of one’s ‘Winter of Discontent.'” — Graeme James

Photo courtesy of Nettwerk

Artist of the Month: ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’

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Twenty years ago, in 2001, the music of O Brother, Where Art Thou? captivated America and, suddenly, bluegrass appealed to pretty much everybody. We could all sing at least a few words of “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” though admittedly not sound as good as Dan Tyminski or the Soggy Bottom Boys. Roots music heroes Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch added more positive press to their résumés, and before it was all over, the generation-spanning collection won multiple industry accolades, inspired a national tour, and even led to the first-ever Grammy Award for Dr. Ralph Stanley.

The song choices were largely well-known to dedicated bluegrass listeners, but even so, chestnuts like “I’ll Fly Away” don’t routinely end up on albums that sell eight million copies. Legends like Norman Blake and The Fairfield Four shared the spotlight with rising talent such as Chris Thomas King and The Peasall Sisters. Two decades later, The Whites still perform their version of “Keep on the Sunny Side” on the Grand Ole Opry at nearly every appearance, and to be sure, the audience smiles and applauds to hear it again.

This month, we’ll look at the legacy of that landmark album as an inspiration to a new generation of acoustic musicians, along with an interview with family members of John Hartford, whose name is back on the Grammy ballot this year for the collaborative album, The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol 1. We’ll also have a special edition of our Roots On Screen feature about the film. Plus, check out a special IBMA Awards show performance of “Down In the River To Pray” and an archive edition of The Breakdown. And to finish out the month, we asked a crew of young bluegrass and Americana stars what the film means to them. While you’re at it, put down the Dapper Dan and turn up the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack below.

 

WATCH: Yola Takes Her Tiny Desk (Home) Concert Outside

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Taking NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert series to the socially distanced outdoors, much-loved artist Yola offers outstanding acoustic versions of three songs from her breakout album, Walk Through Fire, as well as a song from her debut EP. The Bristol-born (that’s Bristol, England) singer-songwriter is as vivacious as ever, yet the outdoor setting of her home concert channels a different, more personal presentation. Yola accompanies herself on guitar, joined by gifted guitarist Jordan Tice (also a member of the band Hawktail). There’s not much one can do to strip down the power and energy of Yola’s songs, but the two paint the them in a somewhat gentler light.

The second song on the docket is from Yola’s 2016 EP, and in the song’s introduction, she describes the newfound relevance of the song in light of the ever-growing Black Lives Matter movement and our nation’s struggles with the global pandemic. The song, titled “Dead and Gone,” speaks on the impossible struggle that she has felt as a Black woman in a world wrought with racism and sexism. Yola’s delivery is a powerful statement on pretense, one that needs to be heard now more than ever. Watch the full Tiny Desk Home Concert here.

 

LISTEN: Sturgill Simpson, “Hobo Cartoon”

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Artist: Sturgill Simpson
Song: “Hobo Cartoon”
Album: Cuttin’ Grass, Vol. 2
Release Date: December 11, 2020

In Their Words: “’Hobo Cartoon’ is one that I’ve been sitting on for about four years. Merle Haggard wrote the lyrics to that when he was in the hospital, on his deathbed. And he was writing a lot at that time. I think he was optimistic he was going to come out of there and everything’s going to be ok. We’d talk on the phone when he was sick, and one day I just get this text message with a note memo with those lyrics, and a text that just said, ‘From one railroad man to another,’ but it was just the lyrics. Then he passed away shortly after that, so we never got to… finish the song together, I guess. And I almost put it on another project.

“He loved bluegrass a lot, and when we got into cutting this thing [Cuttin’ Grass, Vol. 2] and I had it, I just said, ‘Screw this, man. I’m going to cowboy up. I got to cut this.’ So I went and put a melody and some chords to it, and finished the song. Sent it to Ben [Haggard], his son, and Theresa [Haggard], his wife, and just said, ‘You know, I just want to get this out into the world and I need your all’s approval.’ Which they thankfully gave and loved it. And I just decided this is the only way I could possibly end the record. There is nowhere else this could go.” – Sturgill Simpson, via SiriusXM’s Elizabeth Cook’s Apron Strings

LISTEN: Antonio Lopez, “Roots & Wings”

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Artist: Antonio Lopez
Hometown: Longmont, Colorado
Song: “Roots & Wings”
Album: Roots & Wings
Release Date: January 1, 2021
Label: Tune of Tones Music

In Their Words: “A musician friend of mine gave me a guitar as a wedding gift. Within 30 minutes of owning the guitar, this song bloomed into existence. ‘Roots and Wings’ is an homage to my parents and all the sacrifices they made in order for me to have a better life than they had. My mother is a retired second-grade school teacher who dedicated her life to educating generations of youth. My father is an activist and attorney who is committed to amplifying the voices of oppressed people. The title of the song is inspired by the Goethe quote: ‘There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.'” — Antonio Lopez

Photo credit: Cassidy Wayant

Behind the Scenes of Two Tyler Childers Videos That Surprised Us in 2020

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Tyler Childers is, as we all know, an outstanding singer and songwriter. His particular brand of country has been demanding attention for years, as people can’t get enough of the down-to-earth Kentuckian’s sound. After the release of two very different videos in 2020, however, it may be argued that music isn’t Childers’ only strong suit. In July 2020, he put out a sweet music video for the title track of his Grammy-nominated record, Country Squire, proving yet again he has a way when it comes to the art of storytelling, both on stage and on screen.

In “House Fire,” we saw that Childers can pull off the more traditional videos that are, let’s say, more serious in nature. In “All Your’n,” his creative streak rose to the top as he plays nearly every role in a video about an interesting hallucination. But in “Country Squire,” he joins his wife and his band, the Food Stamps, in glorious Wallace and Gromit-style animation. The unexpectedly charming animated video was directed by renowned comic book artist Tony Moore and depicts the feel-good story told in the song. See the behind-the-scenes clip below.

Then in September, Childers dropped a stunning surprise album called Long Violent History, using his platform to play Appalachian music while taking on tough topics brought to the fore in 2020. Of the title track, NPR’s Ann Powers wrote, “It’s a lament grounded in bluegrass fiddle and that fundamental African import, the banjo. Presenting himself as a confused ‘white boy from Hickman’ who once understood how the protests might feel like unnecessary trouble, Childers artfully bends perspective at the ballad’s center, realizing that for all the times he’d belligerently questioned authority, he’d never felt like he might lose his life.”

A description on a behind-the-scenes clip on his YouTube channel reads, “Long Violent History is a collection of instrumental pieces intended to create a sonic soundscape for the listener to set the tone to reflect on the last track. 100% of net proceeds from Long Violent History go to support the Hickman Holler Appalachian Relief Fund.” The accomplished singer-songwriter provided an equally potent testimonial video, explaining his reasoning for the record. Because Childers rarely grants interviews, the video provided his fans a firsthand account of his artistic integrity. It also positions him as a compelling public speaker, should he decide to pursue that path in 2021. Take a look below.

Photo credit: David McClister

WATCH: The Chicks on Their Comeback, Controversy, and Country Music

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With what many have called a comeback album, the Chicks sported new experiences, new stories, and a new name to top it all off. Their 2020 album Gaslighter is a unique one in the decorated discography of the group formerly known as the Dixie Chicks. In an interview for Today, The Chicks described how they deviated from their normal process of writing all the music prior to arriving at the studio to record the album, and insist they have no regrets about the past controversy that prompted their perceived exit from mainstream country.

For Gaslighter, which is their first new album since 2006, the Chicks collaborated with producer Jack Antonoff to craft the songs in the studio. The result is a fresh sound that retains the characteristic directness for which The Chicks are well-known. The album doesn’t shy away from dealing with heavy themes like family, social justice, and divorce. For example, its title track was written about lead singer Natalie Maines’ bitter divorce, an experience that no doubt was also a primary inspiration for “Sleep at Night.” Take a look at their Today interview with Carson Daly below.

Photo credit: Robin Harper

WATCH: Billy Strings and Band Perform “Taking Water” at Station Inn

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Billy Strings completed a nine-day virtual tour of Nashville venues this year that let fans all around the world get up close and personal for full-production live shows. The Streaming Strings 2020 Tour saw the band in five Music City stages alongside guests such as Marcus King, Anders Beck, and Bryan Sutton, through venues like Brooklyn Bowl, Station Inn, City Winery, Exit/In, and 3rd & Lindsley, with all but the latter hosting two consecutive nights. Strings’ calling card is the electrifying live show that he and his band put on, and the Streaming Strings tour was no exception. The tour also offered authentic poster prints, adding a welcome touch of normalcy to a concert series made for a socially-distanced life.

Not only did the event bring live music to fans, the tour donated resources to select charities with a portion of proceeds from the nine shows. The ACLU, Backline, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Funds were beneficiaries of the award-winning guitarist’s uncompromising dedication to live performance. (Learn more: read our BGS interview with Billy Strings.) To raise awareness for another entity, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Billy Strings featured “Taking Water” from one night of the tour at the World Famous Station Inn on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, hosted on this night by Joel McHale. Get your helping of live bluegrass, watch the clip below.

Photo credit: Jesse Faatz

WATCH: Scott Mulvahill Shows His ‘Creative Potential’ in the Studio

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Some instruments tend to have a pretty specific role in the world of roots music. It takes a great deal of ingenuity and skill to challenge these roles, create something truly unique, and expand the capabilities of an instrument. That is exactly what singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill has done with his growing catalog of solo material. Not only is he a talented both singing and songwriting, but he is also a world-renowned bass player, previously fulfilling low-end duties for Ricky Skaggs’ legendary bluegrass band Kentucky Thunder.

Mulvahill’s creativity and uniqueness shine in his 2020 release, Creative Potential, a project filled with songs that put a smile on your face. Love, happiness, and joy are each subjects of several of the tracks, making this EP a bright spot in a dull year. Smooth singing and skillful playing abound, but an extra treat in this release is the wonderfully thought-out arrangement and presentation of the music. If you haven’t had the pleasure of listening to Scott Mulvahill yet, we highly recommend you get on the train and hear just what is so special about Creative Potential.

Photo credit: Lindsey Patkos

WATCH: Sierra Hull Draws on Animation in “Beautifully Out of Place”

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Sierra Hull, an accomplished instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter who also co-hosted the IBMA Awards this year, notched another career highlight this fall. In her first fully animated music video for “Beautifully Out of Place” she offers a refreshed meaning to the song, now set to the story of a girl walking through her day and noticing beauty in many modest places. Be it a flower growing through the sidewalk or silhouettes forming in the clouds, the main character finds herself more open to the lyrical message of “Beautifully Out of Place.”

Hull’s latest album, 25 Trips, features several heavy-hitting songs such as this, featuring positive themes, skillful singing, and weightless picking. In an interview with American Songwriter, Hull echoes this song’s sentiment, saying that the message holds true in the world even now; during an unprecedented time of uncertainty and unrest, there is still abundant beauty to behold. By the way, her song “Ceiling to the Floor” (also from 25 Trips) is up for a Grammy Award in the category of Best American Roots Song. Watch “Beautifully Out of Place” below.

Photo credit: Gina Binkley