For five years running, East Nash Grass has been perfecting their sound as a band via a weekly engagement at Madison, Tennessee’s beloved Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge…five years of playing together, five years of writing tunes, five years of joking around, and five years of filling the room with a who’s who in Music City’s music scene standing in awe of the talent on the tiny, shiny stage.

The Backline Touring Notebook was created to support individuals who work in the touring music industry, their family members, and partners. Two versions are available: one to work through alongside a partner or loved one, and one to work through individually. The digital guide provides information on tour preparation, communication, transitions, as well as ways to work through thoughts and emotions with the goal of improving overall well-being.

New Orleans singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Shamarr Allen has released his newest album, True Orleans 2, a jubilant collection of original songs that melds the diverse styles of the Crescent City. The newest offering highlights Allen’s mastery in fusing jazz, R&B, hip-hop and soul and marks a new era for the talented musician. PRESS HERE to listen.
 

Lonesome Ace Stringband’s latest single “Praying For Rain” came to its writer in a matter of minutes. Max Malone—bassist and one-third of the Toronto-based, acoustic power trio—and his wife had packed up everything they owned into a trailer and hauled it from Toronto to a tiny town called Horsefly in British Columbia to begin building their dream homestead.

Ken Marino and David Wain met at NYU in 1988 where they co-founded the cult favorite sketch comedy group THE STATE. They stayed friends and collaborators over the years, working together on movies like Role Models, Wet Hot American Summer and Wanderlust and TV shows like Childrens Hospital, Medical Police and of course The State. Ken also has acted in a dumb amount of television series, and currently stars on The Other Two (HBO) and Party Down (Starz).

Today, Montana-based Americana up-and-comer Madeline Hawthorne is thrilled to share her new single “Neon Wasteland.” “The songs on my new record are about made-up characters,” says Madeline “I developed each story from my own experiences as well as from the different people I’ve met on the road. Take from this song whatever you want. It doesn’t necessarily have a message, but I expect that we can all relate to the character in Neon Wasteland. She gives up what many of us call a “normal life” so that she can pursue her dream.

Jean-Michel Jarre has collaborated with legendary techno artist Nina Kraviz to create “Sex in the Machine Take 2.” The track is a rework of “Sex in the Machine,” taken from Jarre’s acclaimed 2022 album OXYMORE.

GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter and musician Gregory Alan Isakov’s anticipated new album, Appaloosa Bones, is out today via Dualtone Records and Isakov’s own label, Suitcase Town Music. Stream/purchase HERE.  In conjunction with the release, a new visualizer for album track, “Watchman,” is debuting today—watch/share
HERE.

Dark Horse Records has reissued Joe Strummer’s iconic London benefit show for striking firefighters with the physical release of Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros: Live at Acton Town Hall on CD and special edition 2LP Clear vinyl. The show saw Strummer reunite on stage with Mick Jones of The Clash for the first time in almost two decades.

The second annual Earl Scruggs Music Festival is right around the corner on Labor Day weekend, and I had the opportunity to chat this week with festival producer Claire Armbruster to get a preview of what they have planned for all of us this year.