live music Archives - The Bluegrass Situation

Artist: Caitlin Canty
Hometown: Danby, Vermont
Song: “Bird Dog” Featuring Matt Lorenz
Album: Night Owl Envies the Mourning Dove
Release Date: June 26, 2025 (single); October 2, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Bird Dog’ is the most recent single from my new record, Night Owl Envies the Mourning Dove, and features the intrepid Matt Lorenz as my duet partner. It is pure joy to sing with Matt (you likely know him best as The Suitcase Junket). Matt and I first met at Club Passim’s Campfire open mic years ago, and he sang backing vocals on my Reckless Skyline way back in 2015. We were long past due making music again, and his fiery vocals are an essential thread in my new record coming this October.

“Brian Carroll, who filmed and edited this video, has been such a steadfast creative partner behind the lens and microphone. I first got to know his work when he shot some gorgeous live videos in lightning fast sessions at Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots and I’m thrilled to be working with him on some live video versions of songs from Night Owl Envies the Mourning Dove.

“I wrote the chorus of ‘Bird Dog’ a few years back when I lived in Nashville and then finished it at our new home in the mountains in Southern Vermont. Our dog Bell sparked the song with her barking and carried on through much of the writing process. I suppose that makes her my muse?” – Caitlin Canty

Video Credits:
Caitlin Canty – Vocals, guitar
Matt Lorenz – Vocals, guitar
Filmed and edited by Brian Carroll.
Mixed by Dave Sinko.

Photo Credit: Lead image by Brian Carroll; alternate image by Laura Partain.

GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win Tickets to John Fogerty @ Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles) on 7/6

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Shelby Williamson

PHOTOS: Rhiannon Giddens’ American Tunes at the Hollywood Bowl

Posted on June 20, 2025June 20, 2025 by Justin Hiltner

Earlier this week, on Wednesday, June 18, GRAMMY winner and MacArthur “Genius” Rhiannon Giddens brought American Tunes – a star-studded edition of her Old-Time Revue – to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. The evening featured a vast array of American roots music spanning eras and genres, from old-time and cajun to bluegrass and blues, Americana and folk, all brilliantly interconnected by Giddens’ masterful curation.

Taking the stage in front of the 18,000 capacity venue, Rhiannon welcomed the audience to her front porch – probably the biggest front porch ever – before kicking off the evening with Dirk Powell, her powerful vocals echoing the Bowl. After welcoming the audience, BGS’ own Ed Helms has on hand to introduce Our Native Daughters, Giddens’ female quartet supergroup featuring Amythyst Kiah, Allison Russell, and Leyla McCalla (instrumental backing by Russell’s Rainbow Coalition band filled out the songs, making them feel lush and all the more powerful).

After a brief intermission, it was time for another roots supergroup: this time with Steve Martin and Alison Brown. Both were in fine form: Alison as expert as ever on the five string banjo, and Steve doing as close to a solo comedy set as we’ve seen in years. It was a portion of the show who’s only fault was that it felt much too short. But there was still plenty of music to come…

Helms returned to the stage with Rhiannon for an a capella duet before picking up the banjo and joining her Old-Time Revue. Finally, we were back on that massive front porch. For the final portion of the evening, Rhiannon, Dirk, and the rest of the band (Dirk Powell, Amelia Powell, Jason Sypher, Demeanor) made a very large group of strangers feel like we were home. And in the immortal words of Paul Simon with which Giddens closed the show “We [came] in the age’s most uncertain hours // To sing an American Tune.”

Below, enjoy our BGS exclusive photos from American Tunes.