Bon Iver Covers Bonnie Raitt On Fallon

Just about everybody we know is a fan of Bonnie Raitt’s plaintive 1991 radio hit, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (co-written by former Cincinatti Bengal and country music artist Mike Reid.) It’s epic sadness and weary resignation are enough to give anyone pause, including Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, who released the track as a [...]

Listen: Canadian Electro-Trio Austra Covers “Woodstock”

This electronic re-imagining of the classic Joni Mitchell ’60s burner hit the Internet last week, courtesy of covers blog, Cover Me. The Canadian band just released their debut album, Feel It Break, on Domino, and put out a nice video for the synthy lead single, “Lose It.” At South By Southwest, Austra shook the room [...]

David Bazan: Strange Negotiations

David Bazan’s range is limited; his voice is raw and rough.

Anti-Beach Music: A Q&A With Dead Confederate

photo by Jamie Younger Dead Confederate singer Hardy Morris sat down with American Songwriter amid the sound and fury of the Hangout Festival on Saturday. The interview was conducted from the back of a golf cart, in homage to Hardy’s hometown of Augusta, Georgia, home of The Masters. We talked about the unique nature of [...]

The Top 30 Bob Dylan Songs, Revisited

It seems like only yesterday that we launched our inaugural Top Songs List, featuring the greatest work of one of our all-time heroes, his Bobness. But that was several Dylan albums ago. Oh, these modern times. Here now, for your reading pleasure, and in honor of Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday, is a little piece of [...]

Listen: The Wealthy West, “Not A Pretty Pair”

Austin, Texas-based Americana band The Wealthy West recently won over hungry music fans at SXSW and put out a killer debut EP, Volume 1. We’re proud to offer this exclusive, harmony-laden track from the EP, “Not A Pretty Pair,” which has its origins in a “super secret songwriting club” deep in the heart of Texas. [...]

Taylor Swift, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, 5/21/2011

Robert Plant, Mumford & Sons, Elizabeth Cook Up For Americana Awards

Last year, Robert Plant and Band Of Joy were the special musical guests at the Americana Music Association Honors and Awards, turning in a spectacular mini-set at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. This year, they’ll return as nominees, as they’re up for Album Of The Year, Group Of The Year, and more. Other big nominees include Elizabeth [...]

Hear Cults’ Debut Album On NPR

Cults came quickly, but they seem to be sticking around. Just another mysterious, ’60s girl-group channeling Brooklyn band? They surprised a lot of people when they signed to the venerable Columbia Records label after having been on the scene for barely a minute. But, Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion have a lot of musical mojo [...]

Taylor Swift Delights In Special Tornado Benefit Show

Music City got a special sneak preview of Taylor Swift’s intricate Speak Now tour, during the tour’s final rehearsal show at the Bridgestone Arena on Saturday. The special gig was opened to the public in order to raise money for tornado victims in the Southern states. Mission accomplished –- Swift’s fans paid upwards of 750,000 [...]