Artist: Lori McKenna
Hometown: Stoughton, Massachusetts
Song: “Christmas Without Crying”
Album: Christmas Is Right Here
In Their Words: “It was such a joy making this holiday music with my Nashville family of co-writers, musicians and friends. I feel like we hit on some of the emotions that come with the holidays — the easy feelings and the harder ones. It seems impossible for me to talk or sing about the holidays without going back in time and I feel so blessed to have the music to come back with me.” — Lori McKenna
Enjoy more BGS Wraps here.
Artist: Catherine MacLellan
Hometown: Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Song: “Calling You Home (For the Holidays)”
Album: Holiday (EP)
In Their Words: “I wrote this song Christmas 2020, feeling very far from family and friends that would normally gather around my kitchen table for feasts and laughter. The longing for the ones we love is such a part of Christmas culture for me. ‘White Christmas,’ ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas,’ ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ the list goes on! I was touching into that sentiment of being separated from a loved one, and hoping they could make it home.” — Catherine MacLellan
Artist: Mary Bragg
Hometown: Swainsboro, Georgia
Song: “A Long December” (Counting Crows cover)
In Their Words: “This heartbreaking classic from Counting Crows has always struck me as a brutally honest winter song, going to the places a lot of holiday songs won’t go. But even in that pause to reflect on pain, the impending new year offers some hope, that ‘maybe this year will be better than the last.’” — Mary Bragg
Enjoy more BGS Wraps here.
Artist: Billy Idol
Song: “O Christmas Tree”
Album: Happy Holidays
Release Date: November 5, 2021
Label: Dark Horse Records
In Their Words: “Before our 2006 European tour, I recorded a number of seasonal songs. A tree-trimming, fireside, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day intimate album was the result. Most probably essential at Christmas is that the music is in the spirit. Knowing that family, friends and children might be listening, I wanted a selection that would please all, while still exploring the awe and mystery that is Christmas.” — Billy Idol
Enjoy more BGS Wraps here.
Artist: The Ballroom Thieves
Hometown: New England
Song: “Borderline”
Release Date: November 19, 2021
Record Label: Nettwerk
In Their Words: “At the onset of the pandemic there was an article about how the music industry was looking for ‘happy’ songs, which we thought was ironic. We’ve always had a hard time writing those, so this is a sad song that just sounds like a happy one. Trying to write meaningful songs and keeping up with a changing industry while battling mental illness often leaves us feeling like we’re just treading water. ‘Borderline’ is about learning to float along with anxiety and depression as part of a complete mind and embracing the autopilot when it sets in.” — Martin Earley and Calin “Callie” Peters, The Ballroom Thieves
This week, we bring you the second of two exclusive performances from string band The Arcadian Wild, as part of our series of Yamaha x BGS Artist Sessions: the fluttering instrumental “Finch in the Pantry.”
The Arcadian Wild is Bailey Warren on fiddle, Erik Coveney on bass, and is led by songwriters Lincoln Mick (mandolin) and Isaac Horn, who plays a Yamaha Custom FG Guitar built by Master Luthier Andrew Enns.
Watch Part 1 of The Arcadian Wild’s session here.
You can discover more about Yamaha Guitars and the Yamaha Custom Shop here.
Artist: Tim Kelly
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Leave This Town”
Album: Ride Through the Rain
Release Date: November 5, 2021
In Their Words: “‘Leave This Town’ is a song I wrote a couple years ago. It’s about living in a way you always thought was right for you, only to find it’s the very thing that keeps you from being who you really are or want to be. I found myself in a situation like that a while back and had to decide if I could be ok with the way things were, or make a change. It’s one thing to discover that you aren’t living your truth so to speak, but to have the courage and the will to change takes a lot of conviction. I made a move and am happy now that I did. Sometimes, peace of mind can have a have a high price, but I’ve found it’s worth it.” — Tim Kelly
Artist: Avi Kaplan
Hometown: Visalia, California; now living in Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “First Place I Go” (produced by Shooter Jennings)
Label: Fantasy Records
In Their Words: “I believe every human that has had some time to walk through life has experienced internal struggle in one way or another. Whether it be anxiety or depression, anger or addiction, there are parts of ourselves that can lead us down a path that is detrimental to our being. This song is about acknowledging that part of oneself and overcoming it.” — Avi Kaplan
Photo Credit: Bree Marie Fish
For the latest in our series of Yamaha x BGS Artist Sessions we met up with Nashville-based string band The Arcadian Wild. Our exclusive video performances from the group feature two songs, including this energetic and deliciously tense number, “Hey, Runner!”
The Arcadian Wild is Bailey Warren on fiddle, Erik Coveney on bass, and is led by songwriters Lincoln Mick (mandolin) and Isaac Horn, who plays a Yamaha Custom FG Guitar built by Master Luthier Andrew Enns.
Watch for our second session featuring The Arcadian Wild coming soon!
You can discover more about Yamaha Guitars and the Yamaha Custom Shop here.
Nashville-based string band The Arcadian Wild keep getting better and better with every release. This time it’s an inventive cover of the ’80s pop classic, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” If you’re new to the group’s music, they bring a unique blend of thought-out composition and musical accessibility, a mark that eludes many artists. In this live video, the four-piece achieves clever use of their acoustic instrumentation to cover all the iconic bells and whistles that make the original recording so infectious. From the shuffling groove in the upright bass to the pad-like chord movements highlighted by the fiddle, The Arcadian Wild emerge out of a dense musical landscape with an accessible rendition of everyone’s favorite Tears for Fears song. Look for The Arcadian Wild this winter on tour in a city near you.
