Tag: music video

WATCH: Charm City Junction, “Roll On John”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Charm City Junction
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Song: “Roll On John”
Album: Salt Box
Release Date: January 10, 2024 (single); February 2, 2024 (album)
Label: Fenchurch Music

In Their Words:“I first heard ‘Roll On John’ on an old Mike Seeger recording called Southern Banjo Sounds. His rendition is haunting yet enchanting, like a lot of old-time music. One of the most rewarding parts of playing in Charm City Junction is how each band member brings their own unique approach to roots music. When we first started playing together nearly 10 years ago, we essentially said, ‘Heck with the genre boundaries! Let’s play music we enjoy playing and see where it goes.’ It’s not quite old-time, it’s not quite bluegrass, it’s not quite Irish music. In a sense, it’s all of those, but none of those. We like it that way.

“Fun fact, this performance was captured live in a restored grist mill barn in Baltimore County, just a few miles from where our fiddler, Patrick McAvinue, grew up.” – Brad Kolodner, banjo

Track Credits:

Alex Lacquement – bass, vocals
Brad Kolodner – banjo, lead vocals
Sean McComiskey – button accordion
Patrick McAvinue – fiddle, vocals

Photo Credit: Jordan August
Video Credit: Directed by Rick Barnwell, RFBV Films

WATCH: Josh Fortenbery, “Sewing the Same Seam”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Josh Fortenbery
Hometown: Juneau, Alaska
Song: “Sewing the Same Seam”
Album: No Such Thing as Forever
Release Date: January 12, 2024 (single); March 8, 2024 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Sewing the Same Seam’ is an uptempo existential crisis. Like many songs on No Such Thing as Forever, it indulges in a bit of fatalism while also worrying that I’m capable of more than I admit. I’m a sucker for worst-case scenarios —maybe things won’t get better and not everything turns out alright. And when I linger on those thoughts, it gets easier to convince myself I know what I’m talking about instead. This live take was filmed at a house in Juneau that often hosts songwriters, with the same band that plays on the record.” – Josh Fortenbery

Track Credits: 

James Cheng – Bass
Lindsay Clark – Fiddle
Andrew Heist – Mandolin/vocals

Photo Credit: Annie Bartholomew

WATCH: Jim Kweskin, “You’re Just In Love”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Jim Kweskin
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “You’re Just In Love” (featuring Fiona Kweskin)
Album: Never Too Late
Release Date: January 26, 2024
Label: StorySound Records

In Their Words: “‘You’re Just In Love’ was written by Irving Berlin, who wrote it for the 1950 Broadway musical Call Me Madam. It’s been recorded many times, but never like this – we do it almost as a folk song. I love the counterpoint, the two different words, and the melodies going on at the same time. Irving Berlin, of course, is a famous American popular music composer. He’s written songs that everybody knows, like ‘God Bless America’ and ‘White Christmas,’ but in fact, he wrote hundreds of hit songs for Broadway musicals, movies, and pop records. He’s one of my favorite composers. And for me, what could be better than a grandfather singing to his granddaughter about what it feels like to be in love?” – Jim Kweskin

Track Credits:

Jim Kweskin – Vocal & Guitar
Fiona Kweskin – Vocal
Cindy Cashdollar – Baritone National Tricone
Suzy Thompson – Fiddle
Sean Staples – Mandolin
Richie Guerin – Mandola
Matthew Berlin – Bass

Video Credits: Directed and edited by Lauren Balthrop
Assisted by James Paul Mitchell and Lawson White
Additional concert footage filmed and edited by Wayne Griffith

Photo Credit: Don West

WATCH: Sarah Jarosz Performs on CBS Saturday Morning

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

In December, our current Artist of the Month, Sarah Jarosz, appeared on CBS Saturday Morning with her band to perform three tracks from her upcoming album, Polaroid Lovers (out January 26). Watch all three performances right here, on BGS.

The octave mandolin in her arms is the most “traditional” touch of each of these songs. The full band sound, which is ripe with influences from Jarosz’ new home base of Nashville, Tennessee, shines under the stage lights – vibey electric guitars mingling with energetic keys and the low-end, buzzy hum of her mando.

From “Jealous Moon” to her subtle, love-laden paean to New York, “Columbus & 89th,” to the slow burning and erotic “When the Lights Go Out,” Jarosz demonstrates an ease at this point in her career, a sly smile that says she knows exactly what she’s doing, even when she’s out on a limb. It’s a confidence born of living her entire adult life in the spotlight – after all, she won her first Grammy Award when she was merely eighteen.

As NYC did on past albums, Nashville certainly oozes from the songs on Polaroid Lovers, but never in pedestrian or predictable ways, as evidenced by these gorgeous performances from CBS’ Saturday Sessions. Jarosz uses Music Row sounds, textures, and professionals – Daniel Tashian produced the album and quite a few in-demand Music Row songwriters have co-write credits on the project – not as molds in which she fits her music, but each as springboards launching her into new sonic territory, which still hearkens back to songs and tracks we now view as classic Jarosz.

Enjoy these three performances while you look forward to Polaroid Lovers’ release on January 26th – and to our upcoming Artist of the Month feature, coming later in the month. Read more about our AOTM and explore our Essential Sarah Jarosz Playlist here.

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

WATCH: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley with Molly Tuttle, “John Deere Tractor” (A Tribute to the Judds)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley and Molly Tuttle
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee; Jonesborough, Tennessee; Palo Alto, California
Song: “John Deere Tractor”
Album: A Tribute To The Judds
Release Date: October 27, 2023

In Their Words: “It is an incredible honor to be included in this amazing tribute to The Judds. I grew up listening to these songs. I’ve always been a huge fan of The Judds and of that sound that they created with their producer Brent Maher. And ‘John Deere Tractor’ is one of my all-time favorite songs, so when we were asked to perform this song with the great Molly Tuttle, we of course jumped at the opportunity. I’m so proud to be a part of this album, and I’m so excited for everyone to hear it. Thank you to The Judds for creating such wonderful music that we’ll all be listening to forever.” – Trey Hensley

“I remember hearing The Judds on the radio for the first time — it blew my mind! It was a musical oasis on the radio, that’s for sure. As a kid growing up playing bluegrass, I loved their sound with the ACOUSTIC guitars(!), and the Dobros that were front and center in the mix (great production by Brent Maher!), and of course, their harmonies and song choices were impeccable. And Wynonna, what a voice! So strong, an amazing tone… ‘John Deere Tractor’ was a big song for me because my bluegrass hero, Larry Sparks, did a great version of it. I was really impressed when I saw that The Judds recorded it and loved their version also. It was such a thrill to record this awesome song, and I love the vocal performances by Trey Hensley and Molly Tuttle on this track. They hit it out of the park.” – Rob Ickes

Photo Credit: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley by Jeff Fasano; Molly Tuttle by Bobbi Rich.

WATCH: The Steel Wheels, “Yes I Know”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The Steel Wheels
Hometown: Harrisonburg, Virginia
Song: “Yes I Know”
Album: Sideways
Release Date: February 9, 2024
Label: Big Ring Records

In Their Words: “‘Yes I Know’ dips into that feeling when you can see the moment you’re in with someone else as a beautiful moment, while simultaneously seeing the future – that no relationship is static. Is ‘forever’ a useful idea to comfort our fears? Maybe, or maybe it can be inspiring to remember all relationships will eventually end. For me, there are times of year when forever feels more real than others: the heat of the summer, when the days last 16 hours and feel full of forever energy, while the month or so of leaves changing in the fall always confronts me with change and the passage of time.

“The video for the song started as more of a 2 week autumnal leaf study. I live in Harrisonburg, Virginia, down the block from a beautiful city park. I wanted to try to film the changing of the leaves, so I started recording the same video every day for a couple of weeks in October/November. The video logs my small daily nature walks and the transformative show of the seasonal shifts.” – Trent Wagler

Photo Credit: Mike Lee

WATCH: Sully Bright, “Dark” (Live in Appalachia Video Series)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Sully Bright
Hometown: Forest City, North Carolina; currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Dark”
Album: Darling, Wake Up
Release Date: October 13, 2023

In Their Words: “‘Dark’ is a special song for me. It’s about my struggles with mental health, specifically Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The song tells my journey of learning how to see the light shine through the window; how to push past and break through the darkness of your own bedroom.

“In the video, I got the chance to sing it in a dark room with a window.” – Sully Bright

Photo Credit: Wonderfilmco
Video Credit: Seth and Jenna Herlich, Wonderfilmco

WATCH: Sully Bright, “November” (Live in Appalachia Video Series)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Sully Bright
Hometown: Forest City, North Carolina; currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “November”
Album: Darling, Wake Up
Release Date: October 13, 2023

In Their Words: “‘November’ is a song I wrote about being away from something you love. It’s about wishing for ‘November’ to come soon, whether that be the actual season of fall or someone. ‘Please come around this year, don’t make me wait any longer. I hope to see you soon, I hope to see you soon.’

“In the video we captured, I got the chance to sing the song on an old cabin porch in Roan Mountain, North Carolina. If you listen closely enough, you can hear a woodpecker. Be sure to check back in two weeks for the last video!” – Sully Bright

Photo Credit: Wonderfilmco
Video Credit: Seth and Jenna Herlich, Wonderfilmco

WATCH: Autumn Nicholas Performs “Baggage” for From One to Tenn

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Autumn Nicholas
Hometown: Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, living in Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Baggage”

In Their Words: “To be able to share our music in such an incredible, intimate way, in such a breathtaking setting was pure joy for us and we hope that comes through with the recordings. We are grateful to From One to Tenn. for including us in this series and are excited to share our music as part of the program.

“We’ve had the pleasure of working with Pilot Moon on a few other projects and it’s always an amazing experience, they are uniquely able to capture emotion in a raw, unfiltered, and honest way.

“Opportunities to help lift and amplify our music, such as the One to Tenn. series, are invaluable to us as artists and humans, as it allows us to connect more broadly with new people in a very compelling way.” – Autumn Nicholas

“John, Dave, and I have been coming to AmericanaFest for a few years to sit back, relax and enjoy the music.  Last year, we decided that, in 2023, we would set something up that’s fun, helps musicians, and benefits the AMA. It was important to us that we dream up something big that would inspire the musicians and offer them an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often. Once the Schermerhorn [Symphony Center] agreed to rent us the venue, we knew this series was going to be special.” – Joel Malizia, Pilot Moon Films

Video Credits: Filmed by David Allison, John DeMaio, and Joel Malizia, Pilot Moon Films / Islander Entertainment
Audio captured – Brett Blandon
Mixed/Mastered – John Kelly
Special thanks to Helene Cronin & Victoria O’Campo

Photo Credit: Video stills courtesy of Pilot Moon Films

WATCH: Youth in a Roman Field, “Might As Well Have Gone to the Movies”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Youth in a Roman Field
Hometown: Queens, New York City, New York
Song: “Might As Well Have Gone To The Movies”
Album: Get Caught Trying (Extended Edition)
Release Date: November 10, 2023
Label: Better Company Records

In Their Words: “This song – and the phrase – illustrate my takeaway after what felt like another let-down of a relationship; a ‘wise-mind,’ more poetic interpretation of ‘well, damn, that didn’t work out either.’ The lyrics center the conflict between fantasy and reality, confronting the parts of my romantic nature that lend themselves to delusion and magical thinking. ‘Going to the movies’ represents the alternative life and relationship I had envisioned for myself, and has come to represent the alternative world many of us find ourselves in, looking for answers or easier narratives than actually exist. I also meant it literally, as in: ‘I could’ve seen this coming, shoulda just gone to the movies and saved myself all this heartache.’ It ultimately accepts the disappointments of unrequited romantic love, which paves the way to accept ourselves despite mistakes we’ve made or cycles we’ve repeated.” – Claire Wellin, Youth in a Roman Field

Track Credits:

Performed by Youth in a Roman Field:
Claire Wellin – vocals
Tiffany Topol – vocals
Cassidy Stirtz – vocals
Scott Stangland – guitar
Jamie Mohamdein – upright bass

Photo Credit: Saw Photography
Video Credit: Directed by Claire Wellin, Tiffany Topol, Cassidy Stirtz, Scott Stangland, and Jamie Mohamdein. Edited by Scott Stangland and Tiffany Topol.