Mavis Staples Comforts and Galvanizes in Pennsylvania
Legendary soul singer Mavis Staples draws on classics, old and new, to deliver her own State of the Union address. Her message is more relevant and urgent than ever.
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William Clark Green Sings About Good Ol’ Texas
Watterson Hall offers a glimpse into the mythical Texas that many consider their rightful heritage. William Clark Green personifies a good ol’ boy without stereotypes.
Lynn Miles on the Discipline of Emotional Balance
For Canadian folk singer-songwriter Lynn Miles, yielding to songwriting is not passivity. It is discipline. Attention. Trust.
Revisiting Drive-By Truckers’ ‘Decoration Day’ Is Rewarding
Decoration Day was the album that proved Drive-By Truckers weren’t going to be a flash in the pan. It’s a triumph from start to finish.
Shakey Graves Proclaims That Love Lasts Forever
Austin homeboy recently celebrated the anniversary of Shakey Graves Day on 9 February by releasing a new single and video.
The Band’s Rick Danko Possessed a Voice for the Ages
With his old-timey, soul-inflected voice, Rick Danko could sink like an anchor, plumbing the depths of existence that most singers would have to drown themselves to reach.
Boy Golden Finds the Best Things in Life
Boy Golden has given us a soundtrack for good times, which is an achievement that, in our current world, feels nothing short of miraculous.
Lucinda Williams Tries to Right What’s Wrong with the World
The ten tracks on Lucinda Williams’ World Gone Wrong are heavy. This ain’t no party record. There’s too much pain going around in the world.
Sammy Brue Finds Inspiration in Earle’s Journals
The Journals is a testament to the lovely friendship of Justin Townes Earle and Sammy Brue, initiated and fostered by the music they both loved.
Justin Townes Earle’s Unrealized Future
Rolling Stone editor Jonathan Bernstein’s biography of Justin Townes Earle, What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome, is rooted in the quiet devastation of Saint of Lost Causes.
The Best Music of 2025/Feature Sub Head/Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/Lists/Music/Music Features/PopMatters Picks
The 25 Best Americana Albums of 2025
The Best Americana has never been better with the quality of music, diversity of styles, and the artists’ demographics in terms of race and gender.
Amy Speace Offers Stripped-Down Acoustic Intimacy
Amy Speace keeps folk traditions alive. With just her guitar and her voice, she inspires, entertains, and reminds us why heartfelt storytelling never goes out of style.