Tag: Mixtape

Mixtape: Randy Miles’ Songs for Time Travel

Posted on by Editor

In every season of life we have songs we come back to over and over. Songs that keep some fire going deep down for one reason or another. A lyric, a melody, a groove, a voice, or just a feeling or memory tied to the song. Like the way the smell of hot dogs on the grill transport me to summer, or the smell of old mothballs remind me of playing in my grandparents RV parked in the back lot, or the smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies takes me somewhere I don’t quite remember, but it takes me. Songs are tied to memory, feelings, and sensations in the same way. They allow us to travel in time.

When I started writing songs for Chaos & Commotion, I was in a moment of life where I was processing a lot of old baggage from childhood and trying to find the words for it all. I guess I’m still in that place. The title track of the album specifically walks through my childhood home and explores the landscape and characters within it, as well as the feeling of freedom and lack of structure I had growing up. Which at the time, felt like the coolest thing ever. Many of the songs in this album are also me trying to make sense of the world feeling like it’s on fire. Has the human race always felt like the world was on fire and doomed for implosion throughout history? Or is this moment specifically pretty fucked? Aside from contemplations around childhood, the album explores toxic masculinity, the arbitrariness of the lines and biases we draw, finding inspiration and momentum in the mundane, and the realities of blue-collar life in rural New England.

Bringing it back to this idea that music can transport us to different moments in life, often the songwriter is doing their own version of time travel as they dive into some past lived experience and start the archaeological dig on the details. A lot of my writing comes from a place of this sensory memory. This playlist could probably map out good chunks of my life. Many of these have come to me in the last year or two and I will continue to carry them with me to revisit this moment of great creative expansion I’m currently in. Many of these songs are not even necessarily my favorite songs from these artists to date, but they are just what I needed to hear in that moment and serve as little bookmarks for the different chapters in life. Here is what, where, or when these songs transport me to. — Randy Miles

“Chaos & Commotion” – Randy Miles

My childhood home in Woodbury, Connecticut. It describes the space and characters in the home I grew up in.

“Little Peace” – Lou Hazel

This song moves me deeply and reminds me a lot of the rural New England I grew up in. In general, Lou has this ability to portray rural American life in a way I didn’t know I was searching for. Riot of the Red was a go-to album for me while looking for inspiration for the album.

“Angeles” – Elliott Smith

I’m not sure how I came across the album Either/Or (maybe the library), but I have distinct memories of sitting at my mom’s chunky old ’90s computer that had a CD-ROM drive and shitty speakers while finding my love for lo-fi alt pop sadcore music at age 13. This was probably a gateway drug into my emo years.

“The Stable Song” – Gregory Alan Isakov

This song brings me back to my first year studying human ecology at the College of the Atlantic in Maine. Gregory was in constant rotation for me and I played this song often at college open mics. I really fell in love with modern folk music through his music and playing his songs helped me find my own voice as a solo performer.

“All My Days” – Alexi Murdoch

My friend, Mark Cranford, was the drummer for a hardcore band we played in back in the day called Trees to Towers. He handed me the album Time Without Consequence one day after a rehearsal and I’m not sure if I ever returned it, I was so in love with it. This song broke the trance and hyperfocus I had on the hardcore/screamo music scene at the time and brings me back to my early 20s.

“Is This Love” – Bob Marley & The Wailers

My beautiful wife Natalia and I’s wedding song. This song transports me to our wedding reception party where I think we both probably drank too much tequila and then headed out on a three-month honeymoon cross-country road trip the next morning.

“La trama y el desenlace” – Jorge Drexler

Jorge Drexler is a poet above all. He was a doctor in Uruguay for some years and then decided to move to Spain and pursue his music full time. I was introduced to his music when I first met my wife, living with her and our best friend from Bolivia, Klever, in a house on Mount Desert Island, Maine. That is the year I learned Spanish, and fell in love with Latin music.

“Sailor” – Randy Miles

This was one of the first songs I wrote for the album in 2024 and it was a real catalyst for me in my writing. It was also the first song we recorded when we got in the studio and I think it really set the tone and creative momentum for the rest of our time in the studio.

“Act Appalled” – Circa Survive

The peak of autumn in New England. Driving through Litchfield, Connecticut, area smoking Camels (gross) with the windows down and the chilly autumn air in my face. For some reason, Circa Survive generally brings me back to Autumn, my favorite season.

“Old Pine (Every Kingdom)” – Ben Howard

Summer love on an island in Maine. I learned to play this song to impress a girl. Then, Ben Howard ended up impressing me, and he is now one of my favorite artists to this day.

“Feeling” – Billie Marten

This song is beautiful and has been on repeat for me over the last year. I think often when I’m really hooked on a song, it’s usually because there’s some essence there that I wish I could capture in my own songs. It’s also right on theme here. She speaks about old memories tied to specific sensory experiences.

“Brokedown Palace” – Grateful Dead

My childhood best friend’s funeral at 26 years old. Mikey was my ride or die. He left us too soon, but that’s how it goes for special souls.

“The Wolves” – Watchouse

Watchouse was a gateway drug for me from folk into more traditional folk and bluegrass music. If you’ve never watched them live, you need to. It is a transcendent experience. Watchouse got me through a lot of my college years and inspired me to pick up a mandolin and start my first folk/trad band.

“Deep in Love” – Bonny Light Horseman

This song brings me back to right before the pandemic traveling to Northfield, Minnesota, to work on a friend’s album. JT Bates happened to be drumming on the album and I was pretty stoked at the synchronicity there. Fast forward 5 years and JT ended up playing drums on half of Chaos & Commotion.

Photo Credit: @jonieonfilm

MIXTAPE: Katie Cole’s A Walk in the Forest

Posted on by Editor

I put together this group of songs called “A Walk in the Forest” to be a companion piece to my new album, Forest. This album explores nature, growth and seasons of change. For me this means finding your voice and purpose in life, but also going through hard goodbyes, grief and finding a new road to take.

For this playlist, I wanted to share songs with you that also explore these themes from some of my favourite artists from the 1950s to today. I really believe that sometimes you have to get a little lost before you find your bearings and where you’re meant to travel. Hope you enjoy the journey! – Katie Cole

“Forest” – Katie Cole

This is the title track from my new album. I wrote a fairly dark lyric and decided to lean into a breezy ‘60s feel for the music to help tell the story about the stress and anxiety of being forced down a path you don’t honestly want to go.

“Walk on By” – Dionne Warwick

This is by far my favorite Burt Bacharach/Hal David-penned song. It effortlessly conveys heartbreak and the attempt to move on. I just adore Dionne Warwick’s voice during this era and feel like the pain she feels is so muted and real.

“Road” – Nick Drake

Nick Drake is just one of those artists that really changed the way I saw genre and expression in songwriting. Many of his songs carry elements of alt-folk and jazz. This song “Road” carries such momentum in the delivery. Nick is a wonderful guitarist and his alternative tunings are something to truly study. I love this song and it’s such an anthem to “keep going” on your journey.

“Windmills of Your Mind” – Dusty Springfield

If only we could all make a record like Dusty in Memphis, wouldn’t it be grand? I love the pictures expressed in this song with Dusty’s smoky voice. Lyrics like “And the world is like an apple / Rolling silently in space / Like the circles that you find / In the windmills of your mind.” Incredible imagery here and the whole album is a favourite of mine.

“Seasons Come, Seasons Go” – Bobbie Gentry

Such a great song. I just love Bobbie’s voice and how this song just takes you where it’s going. Like it commands your full attention. Bobbie is such an underrated guitarist and composer and I love her duets with Glen Campbell also.

“Whispering Pines” – The Band

This is definitely a song to listen to at the end of the day and remember ones you’ve let go or memories long forgotten. The Band just have a way of making so many of their songs seems like you’ve always known them.

“I Can Close My Eyes” – Katie Cole

This is a song from Forest where I wanted to explore the internal emotional struggles of relationships. What you choose to accept vs. what you long to change. I think it’s really the heart of this album as the story and melody just weave you down a path you have to finish walking on no matter where you end up.

“Who Knows Where the Time Goes?” – Fairport Convention

I’m so glad my producer Howard Willing introduced me to their music. To me, it’s like where Peter, Paul and Mary started, I think Fairport Convention took storytelling to a much more dark and human place akin to Dylan. This song is really dreamy.

“Autumn Leaves” – Nat King Cole

Nat has one of my favorite voices of all time and this orchestral arrangement is so lush and lovely. This song, like many of Nat’s, fills me with emotions I didn’t know I had. Sadness and longing during certain times of the year. I love autumn but when all the leaves drop finally, life forces you to assess time and what has passed.

“Sundown” – Gordon Lightfoot

Love this song and the breezy way he tells a story. Gordon is quite an exceptional lyricist and this song is perfect to listen to on a Sunday afternoon. Or maybe that it makes any day feel like a Sunday afternoon.

“Amoreena” – Elton John

It’s easy to jump to songs like “Tiny Dancer” when it comes to Elton, but the whole Tumbleweed Connection record is a marvel. I always circle back to this song. I don’t know if it’s the melody or the key shifts, but this song is masterful.

“Learning How to Lose” – Katie Cole

Sharing this song of mine which is another from Forest. I co-wrote this one with John Capek here in Nashville. Many times in my career I’ve been told how “you didn’t fail you learnt something” or how “it wasn’t meant to be…” and variations. I think it takes a lot to accept that you can’t win them all and there’s a power and humbling grace to that notion. Once you accept that failure is OK, then any victories seem to more meaningful.

“Wildflowers” – Trio (Dolly, Linda & Emmylou)

Had to include these three ladies. This song is a beauty and when Dolly, Linda and Emmylou sing together something magical happens. I’m sure together and individually these ladies are responsible for much of the female singer-songwriters that we have today. Dolly will forever be missed and this song is wonderful.

“September Song” – Rufus Wainwright

I have been a fan of Rufus for quite a while. He’s like a chameleon of his craft in plain sight. His folk records are spectacular but his jazz albums soar in a completely different way. This is a classic song with a soaring melody set against a live jazz orchestra. I think Bing Crosby’s version of this song is hard to top, but Rufus can literally sing anything and this version is a real standout!

“You Can Never Go Home Again” – Katie Cole

I decided to bookend the playlist on this one of mine. It’s also the last track on my new album. I wrote this about how you grow up and go out into the world, but yet somehow when you go home, it’s never the same. Rooms might be the same size, but everything is different. That’s been my experience anyway and maybe yours too.

Photo Credit: Dire Image

MIXTAPE: AJ Lee & Blue Summit’s Songs That Stick With You

Posted on by Editor

Hi, we’re AJ Lee & Blue Summit! We’ve spent our ten years as a band playing for people all across the country (and occasionally the world) and these are some songs we’ve picked up along the way. We love a cover song, it’s the start to everyone’s musical journey. From day one picking up a guitar, every song you learn teaches you something in return. Many will stick with you throughout your life, songs that become a part of you. And for us, to perform them is to share that part of ourselves with you, and give you the songs back as we see them.

Some of these songs transport us back to childhood, listening to the radio from a carseat, some to our teen years wringing every second out of the too-short nighttime at a bluegrass festival, and some are recent additions, songs that grabbed us in one way or another and inspired us. These songs are probably familiar to you, listeners, from your own musical memories. They’re not all deep cuts. What they are, though, are songs that have shaped us, and songs that have been part of our live show, some for many years. They’ve become favorites of ours and I hope soon, of yours. — Cheers, AJLBS

“Meet Me in the Morning” – Bob Dylan

I’m a huge Dylan fan and this is my favorite album of his. His songwriting is a little more serious than it was on some of his ’60s stuff and his voice hit its all time peak in my opinion. I’ve covered most of the songs on Blood on the Tracks at various different times but after playing this one with the band for a few years it felt like we’d really found our own groove. – Sully

“Matterhorn” – The Country Gentlemen

This is a song I grew up listening to. My dad would put on bluegrass in the living room in the background and I usually didn’t know the names of the bands or songs but this one stuck out to me and I’d often request it. It’s always been one of my favorite bluegrass songs and brings back a lot of childhood memories. – Sully

“Who Walks In When I Walk Out” – Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys

I heard this song for the first time a few years ago while listening to a bunch of Bob Wills. His recording, played fast and energetic, made me want to do a version with the band sort of like his but with a bit of Django Reinhardt influence thrown in as well. – Sully

“Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin” – Rhonda Vincent

“Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin” was written by Jerry Irby, who originally recorded and released the song in 1945. I was inspired by Rhonda Vincent’s bluegrass version from her 2001 album, The Storm Still Rages. Rhonda was one of my first inspirations as a female singer. – AJ

“Red Dirt Girl” – Emmylou Harris

“Red Dirt Girl” was written by Emmylou Harris and released in 2000. I first came across a version on her 2001 album, Hickory Wind, and fell in love with it. The story of a girl named Lilian who’s dreams were never achieved tug at my heartstrings every time! The weight of the lyrics and emotion in Emmylou’s voice attest to her superior songwriting and musicianship. When we recorded our version I was a little under the weather, but I believed it worked out for the better. I had to execute a more gentle approach than planned and I was actually happy to have some airy notes. – AJ

“Glendale Train” – New Riders of the Purple Sage

“Glendale Train” was written by John Dawson, lead singer and songwriter of the band New Riders of the Purple Sage. A few years ago we were practicing and a bandmate had the funny idea to stretch out the middle section into a funky psychedelic jam (which isn’t typical in traditional bluegrass music). For fun, we’ve kept that section of the song open for improvisation. – AJ

“Wish I Could Say I Was Drinking” – Cadillac Sky

“Wish I Could Say I Was Drinking” was written by Ashley Gorley and Cadillac Sky’s Bryan Simpson. Their album, Blind Man Walking, was released in 2007 – a very influential year for 10-year-old AJ. This band has been the most inspirational to me throughout my musical career. They had so many unique arrangements. I was sad when the group disbanded in 2011. – AJ

“Fishin’ in the Dark” – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

“Fishin’ in the Dark” was written by Jim Photoglo and Wendy Waldman. The song was first recorded by Ed Bruce in 1986, but was made famous by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1987. We decided to “bluegrassify” this country-rock classic by replacing the halftime feel with a more driving feel. Wherever you are, this song will make you feel like you’re out in the country laying where the “cool grass grows”. – AJ

“Tear My Stillhouse Down” – Gillian Welch

“Tear My Stillhouse Down” was written by Gillian Welch and first released by The Nashville Bluegrass band in 1995. Gillian followed up with her own version in 1996. Gillian is another of my most inspirational female singers/songwriters. – AJ

“It Takes One to Know One” – Jimmy Martin

“It Takes One to Know One” is a classic country song written by Harlan Howard and Freddie Hart. It’s one that I’ve heard sung in bluegrass jam circles all my life. To me, the theme of this song is giving trauma bonding. – AJ

“Soak Up the Sun” – Sheryl Crow

“Soak Up the Sun” was written in 2002 by Sheryl Crow and Jeff Trott. This song has been a longtime favorite of mine. It’s almost impossible to not sing along when the chorus comes around. I’ve listened through many rotations of the album C’mon C’mon, which features Sheryl’s iconic rock sound. – AJ

Photo Credit: Natia Cinco

MIXTAPE: Pieta Brown Keeps It Dreamy

Posted on by Editor

This playlist is an ode to the musicians and engineers who helped me make my new album Dreamin’ Of. I tried to keep it Dreamy!

For me music is a kind of lifeline. I still get really excited about songs. Songs with words. Songs without words. And after weaving all these songs together into a playlist I am more excited than ever by the convergence of expansive musicianship on this new album. I love the collectiveness of it all. Everyone gave so much of themselves.

I hope y’all have fun listening to these songs and learning more about all of these artists. And thank you to The Bluegrass Situation for the invite to make this playlist. I might not have done it otherwise! It was harder to do than I thought it would be – but mostly because I just wanted to keep adding more songs!

Offered now with love.

“Dreamin’ Of” – Pieta Brown (Dreamin’ Of)

“The war is never over… neither is my love…” For me, these two lines are at the heart of my new Dreamin’ Of album — some kind of endless searching for resilience in all its forms. This song definitely sparked the making of what has come to be a whole new album. This track feels like a real reflection of working with S. Carey and Mike Lewis as co-producers, and of working with engineer Brett Bullion who played a big part in how this album sounds and feels.

“There’s a Rhythm” – Bon Iver (Sable, fAble)

This song! I can’t seem to stop listening to it!!!!!! Half of my new Dreamin’ Of album was recorded in Mike Lewis’ basement with Mike and Sean (aka S. Carey). But we finished it out at April Base in Wisconsin — where I’ve made my last two albums, too, thanks to Justin Vernon’s beautiful and generous nature. I love April Base as a studio, but the land it sits on is also VERY powerful.

“Hypernuit” – Bertrand Belin (Hypernuit Deluxe Edition)

I met Paris-based songwriter/actor/composer Bertrand Belin through a film project based in Switzerland and France. We worked together in various ways on the project, including writing some songs for the film. As I started to get familiar with his music, I fell in love with it, and especially the Hypernuit album. Bertrand writes beautiful songs and sings them so beautifully, very much in his own way. He is also a great arranger and composer. Bertrand composed, arranged, and played the strings on the first song (called “Time of the Night”) on my new album. I couldn’t love it more. I listen to Bertrand’s music often!

“Have You Stopped to Notice” – S. Carey (Hundred Acres)

I first met Sean through the music scene in Minneapolis. I remember being very moved the first time I heard Sean singing some of his own songs in a room. I’m amazed somehow now to have worked with Sean on quite a few recordings. I’ve learned a lot from Sean about harmony and ways of trying things in the studio. He has such a gift for creating layers within a recording — layers that elevate the music without getting in the way of the song. His Hundred Acres album found me just before we started recording together for the first time, and it’s an album I still love listening to from start to finish. Musician and engineer Zach Hanson, who helped record some of the tracks for my new album, is a big part of Sean’s Hundred Acres album, too. “Have You Stopped to Notice” gets me every time!

“Prayer For Mim in the Color Marigold” – Liz Draper (Meno)

Though Liz doesn’t play on this new album of mine, Liz and I have worked on many music projects together in recent years—including quite a few duo shows. Playing live is an essential part of writing and recording songs for me. Working with Liz in recent years has helped me tap further into my love of the experimental side of making music; this “inward opening” definitely affected how I approached making my new album. I love this piece of Liz’s — “Prayer For Mim in the Color Marigold.”

“In the Age of the Pixel Phone” – Alpha Consumer (In the Age of the Pixel Phone EP)

When I was touring in Australia with one of my all-time favorite drummers, JT Bates, he told me one night about his band Alpha Consumer. I’ve been a fan ever since! Alpha Consumer is JT Bates, Mike Lewis, and Jeremy Ylvisaker. I don’t know if I would have even met Mike and Jeremy if not for JT. I do know music has led me to so many of my favorite people. Jeremy, JT, and Mike have played with too many musicians to name! I love hearing Jeremy fronting this band that I love, and I am honored that he brought some of his magic to my new album.

“Blue Earth” – Bo Ramsey (How Many Miles EP)

It is impossible to sum up the musical worlds I have shared with Bo. But one thing is for sure: Bo is one of my favorite musicians ever. His instrumental “Blue Earth” has influenced me in a myriad of ways many times over. The sounds and tones in his playing so often feel connected to something much bigger than all of us. I feel/hear that in the sounds and tones he offered on this new album of mine, too.

“Broke Down” – Dusty Heart (Dusty Heart)

I love hearing Barbara Jean play her banjo and fiddle/violin…and she has that beautiful blending gift when she’s singing harmonies — which you can really hear in her work with Molly Dean in their band Dusty Heart. On a fun side note, Mike Lewis was a part of producing this Dusty Heart album. Having Barbara Jean’s inside touch and harmonies on various songs on the new album means so much to me.

“Vermillion Nocturne” – Happy Apple (New York CD)

I wanted to share some Happy Apple to give a flash of this part of Mike Lewis’ musicianship and artistry. Mike continues to inspire me as a musician.

“Out of the Cold” – Amos Lee (Mission Bell)

The first time I recorded with Amos Lee was on this song, “Out of the Cold.” His song touched me then, and it still touches me now. My friendship with Amos through the music has taught me a lot. The second song Amos and I recorded several years later was a duet called “Do You Know” that I wrote, but that Amos ended up adding a verse to, too. Our musical, artistic, and personal paths have been very different in many ways, but the music and songs have kept us connected in such a comforting way. And somehow, we landed another duet (called “Drinkin’ Side”!) on this new album of mine. But in Amos’ words, it really does “take a lot of lovin’ coming out of the cold”…

“Fake Plastic Trees” – Romain Collin (Dust)

I discovered Romain Collin’s work through S. Carey. After lots of listening, I even reached out to Romain once to tell him that when I hear his playing, it makes me feel like singing! So I was delighted when Sean had the vision to invite Romain to try playing on some of the songs/tracks as we were working on fully realizing my new album. His playing added such beautiful inside layers to some of the tracks. He has made incredible soundtracks!

“Glitter Town” – Pieta Brown (Dreamin’ Of)

I’d like to just keep adding songs! But for now for this playlist closer, I decided to share the Dreamin’ Of album closer because of its collectiveness! Many of the musicians on this playlist are playing on this song. Musician and engineer Bryan Vanderpool joined us on this one, too. Bryan has a studio called Golden Bear in Des Moines, Iowa, and he REALLY helped us bring this track in for a full landing. This was a truly multi-dimensional recording. And very fun to chase and make!

Photo Credit: Mei Ling

Vandoliers’ “10 Years of Peers” Playlist

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

If you ever wondered if your fav alternative country/folk-punk/Americana bands were allies, don’t worry, I’ve played with a ton of them and this list is nothing but top-notch punks, sweethearts, and buddies.

These are the songs I’m listening to as we ride around in a little red van across Europe. All of these artists have supported me and the boys through the grind of being a working band and my transition.

You have to give credit where credit is due – influential bands like Old 97’s, Flogging Molly, Mariachi El Bronx, and Lucero are all amazing groups who took us out on big tours and taught us everything we know. I’m also excited to show off some of our comrades the Bridget City Sinners, Skinny Lister, Katacombs, Mya Byrne, Nate Bergman, and old pals Summer Dean and Silverada. I even snuck some rock bands like Toadies, Bowling for Soup, and Frank Turner in there too, because genre is a construct and all of these artists deserve more airtime! – Jenni Rose, Vandoliers

“Big Brown Eyes” – Old 97’s

Old 97’s took Vandoliers under their wing right when we started. They were our main influence, being from Dallas and all. They gave us our first big festival show, our first tours, introduced us to Bloodshot Records, and helped me through my first sober tour. Thank goodness for the Old 97’s, forever grateful.

“What Are You Willing to Lose” – Lucero

So many doors opened for us after Lucero took us on a West Coast tour in 2019. This band consistently shows up, every song is exactly right, the show is organic and cathartic. Thanks to Lucero, we picked up a traveling fan base that sings every word every night.

“The Ol’ Beggars Bush” – Flogging Molly

On the cover of the first “album” I made in 8th grade is a picture of me in a Flogging Molly shirt. We owe so much to the band. After the pandemic, Flogging Molly took us to another level on two nationwide tours and a cruise. Flogging Molly taught all of us what it looks like to be a forever band who stay true to their roots. Can’t wait for the Salty Dog Cruise in October!!

“7 & 7” – Turnpike Troubadours

Another great band who gave us some big breaks. We opened both nights at Cain’s Ballroom when Turnpike reunited. They even had us open at the Ryman. It’s been awesome to see them sell out stadiums lately.

“I Come From the Water” – Toadies

Toadies have been supporting the band for years. Trey and I have personally been playing with them in the DFW music scene for most of our career. Super tight band, supportive in every way, and some of our oldest friends. They just took us on a five-week tour across the US and it was a blast!

“Ohio (Come Back to Texas)” – Bowling For Soup

As I write this we are driving into the UK; in 2023 Bowling for Soup introduced us to their fans across the pond. It was crazy to play the Hammersmith Apollo in London with them. Thanks BFS, we loved playing “Ohio” every night!

“I Still Believe” – Frank Turner

We met Frank on the Flogging Molly cruise and became fast friends while hanging out singing to all our favorite punk bands. Since then, he has always been a text away when I need advice. We are so excited he invited us to play Lost Evenings in Dallas this September.

“Tragedy in a Minor” – Skinny Lister

Skinny Lister are our folky family out of the UK. We met through the Flogging Molly community. Sitting in that sweet spot between folk and punk, we had such a wonderful tour with them across Europe last year! This song will get stuck in your head!

“Wish I Was” – Nate Bergman

Absolute monster singer-songwriter and a great guy to run around the country with. He is engaging, emotional, tough-yet-vulnerable. Total package. If you don’t know Nate yet, you should.

“Break the Chain” – Bridge City Sinners

My new favorite band and people after this European tour (that I am currently on). Libby and the boys instantly gravitated to us, and vice versa, in Spain at the Azkena Rock Festival. Their show is absolutely insane! Folk/punk/metal, I’m in.

“Old Fashioned” – Katacombs

Kat is opening for us in the UK and she is such a powerhouse, even if she doesn’t know it yet. I love her voice, her lyrical choices are perfect, and her musical talent is other worldly. Also a bonus is that she is one of the kindest people I have ever met.

“Revolution Girls” – Mariachi El Bronx

We travelled with the Bronx and Mariachi El Bronx in 2023 and 2024. Incredible humans and undeniably talented and the shows were always wild.

“Dance With Barbara” – Silverada

Our favorite road dogs, Silverada! We have been playing clubs, theaters, and festivals with these boys for a decade. They are some of our best friends and we can’t wait for our run in December! This song makes me dance every time.

“You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead to Me)” – Kaitlin Butts

She saw right through me from day one! She has always been one of my favorite gals in the Texas scene. Fun fact: I’m wearing Kaitlin’s jacket in the “You Can’t Party With the Lights On” video.

“Neon Cross” – Jaime Wyatt

What an absolute icon. It’s been amazing to watch her grow and glow around this scene over the years. I am constantly in awe of her. She has been such a great person in my corner since coming out, too. This song hit me right between her eyes when it came out. Love ya, Jaime!

“Yes Ma’am, He Found Me in a Honky Tonk” – Summer Dean

Summer Dean shared our van for a couple of dates on an acoustic run. She is a real deal cowgirl and one of my all-time favorite people in this industry. She can do it all. Merch, marketing, socials, drive the van, write a hit, and put on an amazing show. I admire her so much. We had fun playing with her again on the outlaw cruise this past spring.

“Devil In My Ear” – Mya Byrne

She opened for us right before I came out to my band. I loved the Rhinestone Tomboy record so much and I didn’t know how badly I needed to be around a trans person before I came out. Mya has been an amazing friend to me over the last two years and “Devil in My Ear” is a banger.

Photo Credit: Andree Brown

Old Crow Medicine Show’s Americana Commonwealth Canon

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

More than any of the world’s music, the songs of America are a reflection of a national identity and character. We are our songs.

Distilled into a few memorable minutes go the nation’s hopes and aspirations, the glories and tragedies of her past, and the promises of her future. This American canon is as diverse and vast as the country itself – our blues, breakdowns, or corridos are as different as prairies are from coastlines, as the Appalachians are from the Rockies. And yet, somehow, still our sound is a commonwealth, a singular voice rising from the chorus of many just like our national motto purports: “E Pluribus Unum.”

250 years is not a long time in the global scheme, and neither is 28 years of Old Crow Medicine Show‘s reign as an Americana string band. But somehow it is the vigorous and youthful American voice/song/songwriter/band (and not our transoceanic elders) that can best capture the world’s heart and soul in just a few minutes.

In this Mixtape, I’m proud to share some examples of this powerful artistry. You might already know every word to some of these songs while others you may have never heard, yet each is stitched together with a cloth of commonwealth that can only be found of uncommon ancestry. Though the singers may be perfect strangers, the songs that bubble up from our national cauldron are enough to nourish each and all. – Ketch Secor, Old Crow Medicine Show

“Howdy Do America” – Old Crow Medicine Show, Jesse Welles

Jesse Welles came whirling into the studio the other day and helped put a spit shine on this love song about the 50 states. I wondered if he was gonna get excited when he sang “Arkansas” and brother, he did not disappoint. Love this cat. He’s a brother, and I expect we’ll all be singing his tunes for years to come.

“Golden Rocket” – Jim & Jesse

I had the privilege of knowing Jesse McReynolds, even traveling and performing with him, and buddy there’s no wonder why Jerry Garcia thought he was the best of the bluegrassers.

“Field of Opportunity” – Neil Young

I was raised on Neil Young’s unique brand of tall prairie country rock. This track features the great Cajun fiddler Rufus Thibodeaux.

“Heaven Help Us All” – Joan Baez

Joan’s a real hero of mine. She’s like that tree planted by the water we all sing about, unmovable. Of all the singers on this playlist, I can say without a doubt if more people could be like Joan Baez, then this world would be a better place.

“I Wanna Go Country” – Otis Williams & the Midnight Cowboys

I love this Motown singer turned country crooner, and the world would have too, if Nashville hadn’t been so narrow-minded.

“Beautiful Land” – Old Crow Medicine Show, Maggie Rose, Lee Oskar

I wrote this one with a Baháʼí faith elder named Eric Dozier just down the street from the Tennessee State Capitol building. Sometimes politics feel like a fortress. But music has a way of wandering through the keyhole of even the most impenetrable door.

“There’s a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere” – Elton Britt

I played this one for my kids on Memorial Day. They sat through it start to finish, and you should, too. It’s easy to get complacent about the sacrifice our grandparents and great-grandparents made in the 1940’s for each of us. Don’t do it.

“Oasis” – Molly Tuttle

Molly’s my favorite American singer. Here’s one of our travelogue-style songs. I had it stuck in my head all last week at the Tico Time Bluegrass Festival in Aztec, New Mexico.

“The Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia” – Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard

These girls rip. Back at MerleFest in the year 2000, I filled out Old Crow’s first ever W-2 form and gave it, with a shaky hand, to the great Alice Gerrard.

“How’s About You” – Dave Rawlings Machine

The Great Depression gave the world some of its most powerful songs. And even generations later, the events of the 1930s remained powerful enough to inspire music like this.

“Rock of Chickamauga” – Jimmie Driftwood

Songs about the Civil War are some of my favorites in the national cannon. Jimmie Driftwood is one of my favorite songsmiths. He’s an absolute master of the historical ballad.

“Across The Great Divide” – Kate Wolf

I am awestruck by the landscape of the West, and few songwriters can take you there better than the amazing Kate Wolf.

“What Did You Learn in School Today?” – Tom Paxton

I’ve been singing this one since I was a youngin. When I was 12, I discovered my uncle’s weathered copy of Vanguard’s album Newport Broadside: Topical Songs at the Newport Folk Festival 1963, and that was my introduction to Tom.

“The Tramp on the Street” – Molly O’Day

Born in Pike County, Kentucky, she’s one of my favorite bluegrass singers. She first heard this song from Hank Williams on a Birmingham radio station, and it became her signature song. American music has a way of championing the underdog better than most.

“Shenandoah” – Bob Dylan

I think I was 15 when I first heard Bob singing this gem, hidden in the ruffles of one of his more questionable ’80s albums. I thought, “Damn, Bob knows where I’m from.”

“Corrido de John F. Kennedy” – Los Reyes del Corrido

My band has been dabbling in conjunto for two decades now. We got to learn this one for next time we play the big D (Dallas).

“Which Side Are You On” – The Weavers

No collection of American songs is complete without a protest piece from the labor movement, the first dark corner where the full power of American music was unleashed.

“The City of New Orleans” – Arlo Guthrie

When we play Chicago, I always talk about Steve Goodman, who wrote this song. I sure would have liked to have known the guy. Thankfully his music will last forever.

“Cowboy National Anthem” – O.B. McClinton

O.B. left this world before he was fully known by the country music fanbase that would soon send black country singers consistently to the top of the charts. He was a man before his time, but the music he made reminds us that, just like Ray Charles said, “Country music is black music.”

“Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” – Old Crow Medicine Show

We love Woody Guthrie, and this is one of the numerous songs of his we’ve recorded through the years. In a nation of immigrants (I’m a French Huguenot), it’s hard to imagine how we could exist without a steady flow of new members to our American family.

“Big Backyard” – Molly Tuttle

When Molly and I wrote this, it was on account of having a massive vacant lot behind the house we were composing in. Now that same lot is full of little yellow flags and “coming soon” signs. Yet still we sing, louder this time.

“For What It’s Worth” – Buffalo Springfield

A few years back, I had the distinct pleasure of sharing an elevator with Stephen Stills, author of this earthquaking song which Buffalo Springfield recorded in 1966 – and we covered this year on our new album, Union Made. I wanted to tell him thanks, gush, and get my picture made. Instead, I stood quietly until he rasped, “I heard your soundcheck. Great band you got there. Keep ‘em together if ya can.” Thanks, I will Stephen.

“Louder Than Guns” – Old Crow Medicine Show

This summer, PBS stations across the country are broadcasting the film we spent three years making in a half-dozen tour stops along our travels. It’s a movie about bringing together the disparate ends of the 2nd Amendment debate during an era in which guns kill innocent Americans at shocking rates. It’s a tall order, coming together to flatten the curve, seeing past our silos and personal politics, but in town after town I watched people listening across the divide. As easy as it is to be hopeless, the film has made me hopeful we’ll get beyond this impasse and prioritize the safety of our communities. This song is the theme of this film.

“American Tune” – Allen Toussaint

I’m glad you made it through to the end. Old Crow opened up for the great Allen Toussaint in the Berkshires back around 2011. The record featuring this song had just come out and when he launched into it, I was nearly knocked off my feet. So powerful. So simple. Says it all.

Photo Credit: Ed Rode

Gina Leslie’s “Making Music with My Friends” Playlist

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

This Mixtape brings a spotlight to the vibrant community that I call home in New Orleans. This is a list of some recordings I’ve been part of as a side musician. There are so many bands that I have played and recorded with through the years, I feel honored to be at their sides. Here are a few memories of moments from the making of these records – and I’ve noted what I contributed to each song.

Thank you for trusting me with your tunes! The life I love is making music with my friends…

I should make a disclaimer – my memories run together and I can’t always remember complete credits for every person on every song… forgive me, for I know these are incomplete! There are so many people who work behind the scenes. One thing I realized while writing this list and wanted to note: Ross Farbe (Video Age) is either a recording engineer, mixing engineer, producer or performer on almost half of these songs. He mixed my whole record. It’s often those working just out of view who make the magic happen. – Gina Leslie

“The World Is Changing” – Gina Leslie 

I’ll start off this listening session with the opening track of my new album, I Love You Always No Matter What Happens. I wrote this song sitting around a campfire on a long haul drive from Louisiana to Colorado while going through it. I went to therapy and all I got was this self-love and ability to cope?!? I’m obsessed with the guitar riff that my co-producer Nat Smith added after the hook.

“Little Things” – Bella White

(Bass, harmony vocals.) It’s been a treat to record on Bella’s new album and play in her live band for the past few years. When we met, we immediately clicked about our similar bluegrass childhoods and endless love of singing three-part harmony, and we never looked back. We recorded this album at our friend’s house by the levee in New Orleans.

“Had To” – Esther Rose

(Bass, harmony vocals.) After playing with Esther here and there through the years, we finally got together for a full record together. I loved playing bass and singing harms on her album Want, recorded live to tape at the Bomb Shelter in Nashville. Esther is a well of songs and I’m constantly inspired by her commitment to writing.

“New Believers” – Sam Gelband

(Bass, harmony vocals.) I’ve been playing in different versions of Sam’s band for a long time and we recorded his new album at his house in New Orleans. There’s something about his songs that makes me perfectly happy and sad at the same time. Sam and I are also a rhythm section team, playing with a lot of the bands on this list.

 “Jay’n Bee Club” – Max Bien Kahn

(Acoustic guitar, harmony vocals.) Max and I have both been playing bass in each other’s live bands for years. This song is from his upcoming unreleased album where everyone switched instruments constantly; sometimes we would do a take of a song and then everyone swap and do another take. I love how alive it feels.

 “Louisiana Hound Dog” – Sabine McCalla

(Bass, harmony vocals.) I’ve got a Louisiana hound dog of my own and she goes wild for Sabine, much like most anyone who hears her. The recording session for this album was the beginning of me playing in Sabine’s band and we’ve been all over the place since then. I love how this album covers so much sonic ground and is layered with harmonies and little ear candies everywhere.

“I Really Do” – Leonie Evans

(Bass, harmony vocals.) Nearly 10 years ago, I got a bootleg copy of a home recording of Leonie singing and nearly crashed my car when I put it on for the first time. I couldn’t believe she was real. Then a few months later, I manifested her into my life and she came to my house straight from the airport to work up harmonies for a gig that night. We’ve been harmony sisters ever since.

 “Long Gone” – Chris Lyons

(Bass, harmony vocals.) I was standing outside when Chris put on the rough mixes at closing time at beloved neighborhood dive bar BJ’s, and through the walls I thought it was an old record from the ’70s. Then I came inside and realized it was the Chris Lyons record we had been working on that week. Chris has that classic folk rock sound.

“No Mama Blues” – The Lostines

(Bass, harmony vocals.) The Lostines – songwriting & singing team Casey Jane Reece-Kaigler and Camille Weatherford – were one of the early bands I started playing with when I moved to New Orleans. We recorded this record at the Tigermen Den in early 2022 with a revolving door of friends to ice the sonic cake.

“Chicken Pocket” – Chicken Milk

(Harmony vocals.) I met Dave Hammer, the mastermind behind local cult icon Chicken Milk, on the very first night I came to New Orleans in 2016. We started a band together a few days later. I’d guess we’ve played thousands of hours of music together at this point. Chicken Milk create some of the most unique, joyful, hilarious songwriting and playing I’ve ever heard. I often can’t get through a song without bursting into laughter. This is a tame one.

“Left Side” – Stelth Ulvang

(Bass, harmony vocals.) The day that I met Stelth, we went straight into the studio minutes later and started setting up mics and jamming his songs, capturing some of the first times we ever got through the songs. I love how Stelth is so playful and not precious about the creative process, with everything fully live and breathing. The backing band includes a few of my beloved and most frequent collaborators – Howe Pearson on drums and Max Bien Kahn on guitar.

“Misty Mama” – Rainy Eyes

(Harmony vocals.) The session for this album began in a little cabin in Bolinas, California, before Irena Eide (AKA Rainy Eyes) took a meandering journey to Lafayette, Louisiana, several years later to finish the album. I was so happy to be a part of bringing it to the finish line. Irena writes classic and confessional songs that speak truth to my wandering spirit.

“Oaxaca” – Maggie Koerner

(Bass.) Absolute powerhouse Maggie slid into my DMs a few years ago and asked if I wanted to hang out and try making some music together, wanting more women in the room on her next record. I was so glad to play bass on her album UPSTATE, recorded at Lil Squeeze studio by Ajai Combelic. Maggie’s voice stops me in my tracks.

“Anna Rose” – Ric Robertson

(Harmony vocals.) When I quit my job in 2016, packed my car, and started driving, it was Ric Robertson who told me to come down to New Orleans, where I could sublet a room, have a band of my own, and play every night of the week. It changed the course of my life. He co-produced my EP, No, You’re Crying, and it’s been so special to be a part of each other’s music. I loved singing harmonies here with Appalachian songbird Dori Freeman.

“Yellow Motorcycle” – Gina Leslie, Elise Leavy 

(Guitar, vocals.) I couldn’t possibly talk about loving music with my friends without a mention of Elise Leavy. We’ve been dancing with the mysterious art of writing songs together for years, and have never yet run out of songs to sing together. My new album features her on a lot of the harmony singing, as well as two stripped down acoustic duets that we co-wrote.

Photo Credit: Rett Rogers

Keyland’s Friends in Low Places Playlist All About Tulsa

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

The music scene in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is alive and well. If I’d thought otherwise at any point in time, it wouldn’t take long for a stranger in an Austin dive or a songwriter in Nashville to remind me – and they have. I’ve called Tulsa home for 10 years and gladly claim and evangelize her as often as I can. This little-big town’s reputation of producing quality singer-songwriters and musicians is justified, however biased I am.

Come with me, Keyland, on a little walk through a Tulsa-Mixtape journey. Before we begin, I’d like to offer a few important listening notes:

1) I regret that I will inevitably leave some folks out, merely due to the limitation of brevity. My sincerest apologies. But I’d like to point out that this list is composed of my personal friends in the Tulsa music scene. Beers on me at the Mercury Lounge to any friends I leave out here…

2) This is a list of current artists. The Tulsa music scene is often associated with only a handful of eclectic deceased writers and musicians. God bless them – but Tulsa has changed a lot in the last 50 years or so. My friends included here do an amazing job of looking ahead at what the future holds.

Let’s jump in! – Kyle Ross, Keyland

“Dripping Coffee” – Ramsey Thornton

Ramsey is one of my best friends and most likely the very best musician I know. He plays drums and sings harmonies in my band, Keyland, and he is an incredible guitar and banjo player. In the best way, this album is more a composition than anything else.

“Stranger” – Wilderado

This is my favorite band. I so respect the way these guys approach rock and roll with a blue-collar “dad” mentality. It’s truly inspiring, and the way I want to approach music as a career.

“Coyote” – Ken Pomeroy, John Moreland

This is a two-for-one selection: Ken and John are both powerhouse songwriters and singers. Both these artists are gifted in very special ways and I’m glad they make music.

“Get to You” – Micah Felts

Micah Felts is hilarious, a fantastic songwriter, and an all-around great dude and friend. He is also a stellar acoustic guitar player.

“Better If Worse” – HAFFWAY

Sam Westhoff is slipping in this Tulsa music list, because I sure as hell wasn’t going to leave him out. He is one of my best friends and has produced all of my music. He lives in Nashville now and is famous (rightfully so).

“Comanche Moon” – John Ferrell

John Ferrell is one of the most rawly talented players and singers I know. I met John while we were both in college and he learned to play guitar better than me and all my other friends in like three months.

“Marigold” – Chris Bo Jones

Also sneaking in this Tulsa list is OKC rockstar Chris Bo Jones. Lineman by day, rock star by night, Chris is one of my favorite singers.

“Outside” – MORE&MORE, Beachfriends

Brady Ballew (the happiest person I know) used to play professional soccer. Now his band MORE&MORE and Keyland like to sell out shows in our favorite Tulsa dive, the Mercury Lounge. I’ve listened to this song 10,000 times.

 “Call Me Anytime” – Sports

Christian introduced me to nicotine toothpicks and Australian beer one time after a HAFFWAY show. These guys produce a lot of cool stuff in Tulsa. And Sports is like a huge band.

“Bullfighter” – Joleen Brown

Joleen Brown is Tulsa’s sweetheart. Her voice is crazy good and she is the sweetest, coolest person you will meet.

“Wishes” – Travis Linville

I’m new to Travis’s music and I’m so glad I found it. This is like a Tom Petty song in the best way. I don’t know Travis super well, but it seems like he has a really grounded view on the reality of what it means to be a musician in 2026, and for all the right reasons.

“More” – Kalyn Fay

Kayln Fay just put out a really cool record that highlights and honors her Cherokee culture and roots.

“This Damn Funky” – Johnny Mullenax

Johnny plays guitar 1000 miles per hour. Johnny’s band plays their music at 1000 miles per hour also. The live show is insane.

 “South and Pine” – Zach Bryan, King Cabbage Brass Band

I have not met Zach yet, but I have drank one million beers at 5 or 6 of his concerts. The horn section in this new record of his is a Tulsa band called the King Cabbage Brass Band and it is physically impossible to not have fun at a show of theirs. And they also do really cool work in our community by teaching band camps for kids – they recently held a concert at Cain’s Ballroom and their band camp kids absolutely crushed a song on the main stage.

“Cowboy Song” – BC & the Big Rig, Jacob Tovar

This is another two-for-one selection: Brandon Clark was one of the first people to ever believe in my band, Keyland, and let us play our first real gig with them. Jacob Tovar has a buttery voice and one of the funniest people you could give a microphone to. You can catch both of these gentleman holding down separate residencies at local dives – Tonkin’ Tuesdays with Tovar and BC’s Sunday Service – you guessed it, at the Mercury Lounge.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Phillip Phillips’ Songs for Curing (or Wallowing in) Homesickness

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

This Mixtape sits in that space between where you came from and where life has taken you, full of memories, change, and longing for home. Songs like “Old Friends” by Ben Rector and “Rivers and Roads” by The Head And The Heart reflect on growing up and holding onto the people who shaped you, while “Fast Car” and “Clocks” capture that pull between escape and comfort.

At the center is my song, “Homesick,” written from the tension of chasing a dream while missing the people I love most. It’s about time passing, love deepening, and the quiet ache of being away from home. I’m excited to be touring later this year and releasing more music, and this playlist feels like a piece of that journey I get to share. – Phillip Phillips

“Old Friends” – Ben Rector

I love how this song connects the dots of those friends you grew up with and where you are as you’re older with them. Things change. Life goes on. But the memories and things you shared growing up with someone you’ll always remember. I love the lyric, “But I’ve never seen their parents’ back porch…” Such a real thing.

“Clocks” – Coldplay

Timeless song. You feel as though you need to be somewhere that gives you comfort if things start to feel uneasy or too much.

“Home” – Phillip Phillips

It’s me. Take it as you will and have your own meaning!

“Fast Car” – Tracy Chapman

Such an emotional song about needing to get out of the place that feels like it’s suffocating you. Sometimes the places we come from can feel that way.

“Rivers and Roads” – The Head And The Heart

For me it’s feels like time passing. Longing for the little moments that made life feel slow. I have kids now and it hits that much harder. To go the distance to see the ones you love just one more time.

“To Build a Home” – The Cinematic Orchestra, Patrick Wilson

I cry every time I listen to this song. So pure and raw. “Emotional” is an understatement for this one. It’s hard to listen to sometimes for me.

“Homesick” – Phillip Phillips

This is my newest song. I love it so much. I travel a lot and I get to do something I love, but I also have to sacrifice, spending time away from the people I love more than anything. I wrote this while my son was napping. Knowing that I was going to leave for another trip soon. I love playing music, but I love to be home to change the dirty diapers and take the trash out. Playing in the mud. I hope you love it as much as I do.

“Danny’s Song” – Loggins & Messina

Love over money. Always the goal. I love this classic song. Makes me think about being with my wife before getting married and having kids. How special those times are when you’re building a foundation in a relationship.

“The Book of Love” – The Magnetic Fields

I didn’t hear this song until later in life and it hit me like a train. Gets me emotional every time. Saying that love is boring and long. Which it really can be at times, and that’s okay. Loving someone is difficult. And for me, this song speaks to all relationships. Not just a husband or wife. I have flashbacks of my life when listening to this song.

“Livers and Onions” – Aaron Espe

My good friend wrote this song and when I first heard it, it made me think of growing up and being with my uncle Joey and my dad and thinking about my relationships as a kid with my cousins and family. Such a great song.

“Father and Son” – Yusuf / Cat Stevens

This song is just everything. I can only dream to write a song half as good as this. Makes me cry. Makes me think of being a father to my son and my relationship with my father.

Photo Credit: Sean O’Halloran

Old Spot’s Transatlantic Old-Time Playlist

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

(Editor’s Note: Below, United Kingdom-based old-time duo Old Spot – Rowan Piggott and Joe Danks – curate a Mixtape for BGS celebrating old-time music of the UK and Ireland. In order to include as many tracks as possible representing the vibrant string band scene in the UK, some selections are shared via Spotify and others via Bandcamp, depending on availability. We hope you enjoy listening and learning about transatlantic old-time – and that you support all roots musicians directly whenever possible.)

This is a Mixtape designed to highlight some of the amazing old-time string band music coming out of the UK and Ireland at the moment. Old Spot is a product of a vibrant scene, with the fiddlers and bands around us just as influential to us as their American counterparts.

This playlist looks to reflect some of the musicians performing string band music today, whilst shining a light on lesser-known gems. In compiling it, we’ve realized how much of the music we love on the old-time scene here isn’t on Spotify – if you love any of this music, buy it from the artists who made it! Anyway… less jawin’ more sawin’… – Old Spot

“Elzick’s Farewell” – Rattle On The Stovepipe

Rattle On The Stovepipe formed in 2003 and have played up and down the UK spreading old-time with band stalwarts Pete Cooper and Dave Arthur joined later by Dan Stewart – probably our favorite banjo player in the UK. This groovy version of “Elzick’s Farewell” is from their first album with Dan, No Use In Cryin’.

“Maggie Mead” – Follywren

Follywren is the brainchild of Bristol musician Kai Carter. We love lots of stuff that Kai does – his old-time trio is great and his original music (Kai & Hollis) is also a tour car staple. We have a real soft spot though for this amazing Follywren album, described as a kind of New Orleans-inspired electric string band. The tuba and electric banjo actually end up landing you somewhere between Clyde Davenport, Ghanaian Highlife, and Captain Beefheart’s Shiny Beast era… a good place to be.

“Rainbow” – Cath & Phil Tyler

Cath & Phil Tyler straddle the traditional and experimental music scenes in the UK and run the Newcastle sacred harp singers. Their albums are a treasure trove of ballads, with Phil’s mesmeric guitar and banjo playing supporting Cath’s one-of-a-kind, transportive voice. In some ways though, they are at their best a cappella where their background in shape note style really shines.

“Shanghai Skyline” – Jeri Foreman & Ruth Eliza

Jeri Foreman & Ruth Eliza are a powerhouse fiddle and banjo duo and you always want to see them on a festival lineup. Where these guys go, good tunes follow and their debut album shows off their musical connection beautifully. Recorded live, we’ve chosen one of Jeri’s tunes to highlight here.

“Chicken & Dumplings” – Ben McManus

Welsh musician Ben McManus is a multi-instrumentalist and promoter of old-time music in the UK. He’s schooled in the history of old-time and has done a number of interesting projects exploring the connections between Wales and Appalachia. He’s also interned at the Smithsonian – absolute dude. This is a laid-back clawhammer guitar and cello version of “Chicken & Dumplings,” a favorite of UK sessions. This record makes us miss Ben, and not just because he makes a mean Negroni.

“Dormae” – Hannah Read

Hannah Read’s first Fungi Sessions album is one of our favorite ever records as a band. We loved the sonics of it so much that we travelled to the studio in Scotland where it was recorded to make our new album. Hannah is now based in the US, but hails from Scotland and comes over frequently to collaborate with the incredible Michael Starkey. Hannah has collaborated with indie royalty Big Thief, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus, and you can hear this broader sonic palette across her output. But the real star of these Fungi Sessions albums is her incredible composition and the subtle magic of her bow arm.

“Wolves A’ Howlin'” – Kieran Towers & Charlotte Carrivick

Kieran Towers & Charlotte Carrivick can most often be found in the bluegrass scene in the UK, but came together for this one-off old-time album of absolute rippers. Charlotte, one of the best flatpickers in the UK, reveals herself to be one of the finest clawhammer players, and Kieran, best known for shredding bluegrass solos, turns into prime Bruce Molsky. Being able to just casually drop this album as a side project is outrageous. A frustratingly brilliant album from two undeniable musical geniuses.

“Glory In The Meeting House” – Ben Paley & Tab Hunter

In our opinion, Ben Paley is the jewel in the crown of British old-time music. He’s performed in loads of different lineups with musicians from the South of England – probably most notably The Long Hill Ramblers and with his dad Tom Paley of The New Lost City Ramblers. His fiddling is just as good as it gets, full of character, groove, and skill. On this record from 1999, he’s backed by Tab Hunter who is an old-time backer with taste, power, and pocket.

“Pterodactyl” – One Night Stringband (Old Spot, Jeri Foreman, Ruth Eliza)

We recorded this collaborative album with Jeri Foreman and Ruth Eliza over the course of one night and a bottle of whisky. We put it out the following day after some hungover mixing and now we perform sporadically as The One Night Stringband for square dances and concerts. We’ve got our seventh and eighth gigs together this summer!

There’s a kind of exploratory madness in these recordings and we all chose tunes we couldn’t get to hang quite right in our duos. There’s a raging version of Rhys Jones’ “I’ll Reap What I’ve Sown,” a version of “Josie-O,” and this, Ruth’s prog-y old-time wig-out “Pterodactyl.”

“Benton’s Dream” – High Strung Trio

From Cork, Ireland, this is one of our favorite old-time records of the last few years. From ex-members of the Grits & Gravy Stringband comes a new trio record of uncompromising ragers. Fiddle player (and luthier) Ian is an absolute machine on this record, laying down danceable bangers like it’s nothing. A great record to pick up new tunes or to power a long car journey, we can’t stop listening.

 “Two Little Sisters” – Sugarwell Hill

Sugarwell Hill is a trio from Leeds in Yorkshire. This is a new record from them that the scene has been anticipating for a while. Recorded confidently and simply, it’s a great snapshot of what is so magical about this laid-back band. “Two Little Sisters” features Simon’s relaxed vocal delivery and groovy banjo playing set against Mick’s gritty fiddle playing. We’re so lucky to have these three in the scene over here, and can’t think of a bad time to stick this beautiful new record on.

“Walk Me Round” – Rhona Dalling

Rhona is another Bristol-based fiddler, singer, and banjo player. This record is, so far, her only recorded output, but like so many of the best trad musicians, her best music happens in sessions and muddy fields. She has an incredible fiddle style, full of poise and effortless technique, and a beautiful voice. This quietly beloved record features a great waltz and her tune “Balfour Road,” which is played in trad sessions up and down the country and has really transcended the old-time scene, thanks to a recording by bal folk band Topette!. Perfect for a rainy day.

“Bear Creek” – Lankum

Whilst most of their repertoire is drawn from Irish folk, experimental trad behemoths Lankum often close their sets with this old-time tune. We couldn’t not include it after watching 20,000 people bouncing up and down to it at Glastonbury!

“Bowling Green” – Joe Mansfield & The Temperance Two

Bristol-based Joe Mansfield is another person you love to see walk through the door at a jam. He’s got an amazing repertoire and is a great hang. He’s got a new duo called The Low Line (watch that space), but he gigs out all the time with the Temperance Two. This is a great version of “Bowling Green.”

“The Roustabout Song” – Old Spot

We heard “The Roustabout Song” sung at a Morris Dance festival singing session. The song sounded distinctly American – a bit of digging led us to English folklorist Sandy Paton and, in turn, the songwriter Dillon Bustin. The song was written at Pinewoods Camp and according to Paton presented both a cappella and with a “lazy river” banjo accompaniment. We’ve done a new joyful fiddle-singing version, bringing out the song’s subtle political undertones. Unfortunately the parasols are twirling faster than ever.

“June Apple” – The Firecrackers

The Firecrackers are five of the UK old-time scene’s stalwarts, and they whip up a frenzy wherever they go. This album of field recordings is a good snapshot of them doing their thing and Benton Flippen’s “June Apple” is their signature tune.

One of the band’s fiddle players, Dave Proctor, edits Old Time News, the quarterly old-time magazine published by FOAOTMAD (Friends of American Old Time Music and Dance), a grassroots organization that has supported the growth of old-time in the UK so much over many years.

Photo courtesy of the artist.