Who wants to hear what it sounds like to combine Scottish folk with bluegrass? I do! I do! The band is called Southern Tenant Folk Union and the new record is The New Farming Scene.

South Ysthie

Mostly we (bloggers) are writing about the known. Usually we’re writing about a band or artist that we are familiar with in some way or another. Sometimes the person has been in another band that we’re familair with or the producer is a known commodity or there are guest stars we can sink our proverbial teeth into. We rarely write blind. Today is one of those days. Somehow in my travels around the web I encountered the angelic voice of Nell Robinson and her new record Loango.

“Butch” is one of the few Nell Robinson originals on the new record and it fits in so well alongside the beautiful cover renditions that it’s as if it’s a classic itself. Nell is planning a tour this summer so sign up for her emails here so you can be alerted to her upcoming performances. The new record is for sale at Nell’s website here or through CD Baby here.

Butch

A couple weeks back Canadian based blogs Herohill, Slowcoustic, and Chicago based Song:Illinois (here) went a little overboard over Canadian singer-songwriter Cam Penner. There was some good natured ribbing and recrimination over the fact that I was first to discover this excellent Canadian singer-songwriter in their own backyard. Now I hate to say it but I’m going to do it again.

Chris Coole is a Toronto based clawhammer banjo player of some renown (in fact he may be one of the best in the world). He’s played with and for some great artists over the years (Jenny Whiteley, Jim Cuddy, Sylvia Tyson, and Justin Rutledge.) But it’s with this, his first solo record, Old Dog, that Chris has really stepped out/up. The album features 5 original songs as well as some traditional numbers and covers of songs by The Band, John Hartford and Dave Dudley. The record also features friends on fiddle, pedal steel, mandola, cello and percussion. The song styles range from traditional folk to honky-tonk to contemporary bluegrass. I like that Old Dog has a nice, easy, casual feel. The record sounds organic and the songs are a natural for Chris’ laid back vocal delivery and masterful guitar/banjo playing.

It was hard to pick just one song since there’s a variety of styles on the record and since there are so many fine songs. But I forced myself to choose one and it’s the Chris Coole original “Hell To Pay” (although a close second was either the title track “Old Dog”, the duet called “The Bottle Got The Best Of Me” that reminded me of Prine/Dement, or the John Hartford cover “Wish We Had Our Time Together”).

Buy Old Dog here through Elderly Instruments.

Hell to Pay

Joy Kills Sorrow is a Boston based whose motto of “a modern American String band” encapsulates their sound pretty well. Darkness Sure Becomes This City is the followup to their debut record. It’ll be released in 2010 on Signature Sounds. From what I’ve heard of the band they don’t do that modern string band sound that is like a whirling dervish. Instead they use a lot of texture and space to create a sound that stradles bluegrass, folk and old timey.

Pretty sure this song will be on the upcoming record in some form or another. Looks like the next best time to see them perform live is Nov. 18 at The Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA. or Dec. 18 at The House of Yes in Brooklyn, NY. Enjoy and keep your eye out for this band in 2010.

Thinking Of You And Such

Probably despite his best efforts eveything Loudon Wainwright III touches of late turns to gold. Examples include his children’s success (Rufus and Martha), his soundtrack work, his solo stuff, and even his acting (he was pretty great in a short cameo as a an OBGYN in Knocked Up). Loudon Wainwright latest undertaking is tackling the Charlie Poole (Trailer) story.

This song is a Loudon original that tells the story of Charlie Poole’s trip to NYC to record his first record for Columbia Records. High, Wide And Lonesome – The Charlie Poole Project is due out at the end of summer. There will be a documentary film as well.

Way Up In NYC

Sarah Jarosz got more attention than any banjo wielding 18 year old could hope to expect from the indie rock music world a few weeks back with the release of her Decemberists cover “Shankill Butchers” (here). I hope now that her Sugar Hill debut is about to be released those same sites continue to write about this up and coming Austin based folk artist.

“Song Up In Her Head” is the title track of her debut on Sugar Hill which is due out June 16th. Sarah’s a talented musician and has a velvet voice that suits her blend of bluegrass/newgrass perfectly. I’m no expert but those in the know (Tim O’Brien and Abigail Washburn) have been singing her praises for a while now. Order the new record now here and be entered into a Sugar Hill contest.

Song Up In Her Head

Add The O’s from Dallas to your list of bands playing some kind of bluegrass/roots/pop blend. People in Dallas are excited about the band and their new record We Are The O’s. From several listens to the new tune “You’ve Got Your Heart” I can see why. This duo joins groups like the Avett Brothers, the Felice Brothers and Chatham County Line in blurring the line between bluegrass, folk, pop and something more modern like indie folk.

The band is on the road now and playing SXSW at MOther Egan’s on March 21. Get the new record here.

You’ve got Your Heart
California (via Hear Ya, via Dallas Observer)

Drew Emmitt’s Long Road should have appeared in these virtual pages sometime in early 2008. There’s no excuse for the delay given that this is a sterling, and crystal clear example of the new grass hybrid that I’m so fond of. Doubly so given that Drew is the lead singer/mandolinist of popular jamgrass band Leftover Salmon.

Buy it here.

Long Road

Charlie Haden may well be the best living bass player. But like Bill Frisell or Yo Yo Man he hasn’t ever settled to be simply the best at his instrument. Instead he’s explored different genre’s, textures and styles of music. He has used his music as both a personal and at times political platform. His new project is Charlie Haden Family & Friends’ Ramblin’ Boy.

If this note perfect rendition of the Carter Family song “Single Girl, Married Girl” is any indication Ramblin’ Boy sounds like a real gem. If you’re a fan of guests than you’ll be happy to know this one features the Haden triplets, Jack Black, Elvis Costello, Bruce Hornsby and Roseanne Cash. Amazon has a seven minute “making of” video here. And you can buy the record from Amazon here.

Single Girl, Married Girl

Petra Haden – “Single Girl, Married Girl”

I wasn’t sure what I was going to write about today. I’ve got a couple half finished posts I could have completed or I could have just taken the day off. Then I rechecked my email inbox and discovered that something in there would fit perfectly on Songs:Illinois.

The Washington, DC based roots band the Junior League Band have a new record out on September 30. Lissy Rosemont is the front woman and the driving force in the band (the press release states that it’s her banjo in the new song by Missy Elliott). Her take on life and the female perspective in these songs is a pleasant switch from the male dominated roots music scene.

The new record, Mitchell Williams Fo Govena, is out on Sept. 30 but you can pre-order it here. There’s a record release party at The Black Cat On Oct. 4.

The Station