Ollella Makes the Political Personal on ‘Antifragile’
Ollella’s Antifragile has enough beauty to remind us of how liberating having respect and an open mind can be in these troubled times.
bluegrass
Alison Krauss’ ‘Arcadia’ Is Dazzling and Worth the Long Wait
Alison Krauss and Union Station show a meeting of minds, wildly creative professionals reunited to log yet another sterling work in their estimable discography.
Sierra Hull Performs a Comfortable High Wire Act
Sierra Hull sees this LP as a balancing act. With one foot in old-time acoustic music and another in contemporary Americana, she doesn’t want to take a wrong step.
The Devil Makes Three Offer a Spell-binding LP of Loss and Resilience
The Devil Makes Three let listeners lose themselves in song, but not without missing sight of the deeper truths. It’s a compelling and cathartic musical experience.
30 Years of Alison Krauss’ Country Music Breakthrough
Even if the world only knew Alison Krauss from ‘Now That I’ve Found You: A Collection’, her place in country music history would be assured.
Greensky Bluegrass and Holly Bowling Crush the Fillmore
Greensky Bluegrass’ magical jam factor is elevated to the next dimension when Holly Bowling is on board with her unique sonic alchemy.
Billy Strings Takes Over Berkeley’s Greek Theater
Guitar virtuoso Billy Strings has been on quite a roll over the past few years, winning widespread acclaim for his energetic live performances.
Caleb Caudle Tells Stories of the South on ‘Sweet Critters’
Caleb Caudle has a soft spot for the natural beauty of the South, its woodlands and memories of the people who live there, and that’s just part of the story.
The Best Artists of the Newport Folk Festival 2024
The esteemed Newport Folk Festival has consistently challenged the notion of folk music. The 2024 edition continued to defy traditions.
AJ Lee & Blue Summit Take Bluegrass to the ‘City of Glass’
AJ Lee & Blue Summit’s City of Glass consistently showcases the distinctive gifts of each performer and the magic that happens when they all play together.
Rising Appalachia Offer a Tantalizing Collection of Covers
Rising Appalachia’s harmonies on “I Need a Forest Fire” are downright mesmerizing, as they deliver a zeitgeisty performance for one of 2024’s top tracks.
Laurie Lewis Knows We Are Just a Blink Compared to ‘Trees’
Folk singer-songwriter Laurie Lewis reminds us to be kind to each other and appreciate the good things in life, like trees and the natural world—and John Prine.