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Minds Will Be Blown At Interlocken Music Festival

Francie Johnson — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:32:09 +0000

The dwindling days until summer signify one thing for music fans: the approach of Festival Season. Festival veterans know that music festivals, though exciting, can sometimes feel rushed and hectic. Trying to cram as many bands as possible into one weekend proves quite the challenge, often involving difficult choices when multiple bands have sets at the same time. Imagine a music festival featuring longer sets by fewer artists to provide a more intimate experience. Each artist performs multiple sets throughout the weekend, making it easier for festival-goers to avoid scheduling conflicts. Sets flow seamlessly together with no breaks, creating one continuous music experience. Dave Frey and Peter Shapiro had exactly this type of festival in mind when they created Interlocken Music Festival, which will open its doors for the first time September 5-8 on Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virgina. “Most festivals these days are trying to be everything to everyone - very eclectic with an emphasis on a large number of artists in various genres,” Shapiro said in a press release. “With Interlocken, we want to break away from that mold and create something more identifiable and distinct.” The four day festival, which prides itself on emphasizing "world class music," will feature multiple performances by Widespread Panic, Furthur, The Black Crowes, The String Cheese Incident and Neil Young & Crazy Horse, with more acts yet to be announced. Widespread Panic will play one of their two sets with special guest John Fogerty, and one of The String Cheese Incident's two sets will feature Zac Brown for the debut of The Zac Brown Incident. Additionally, one of Furthur's three sets will include a performance of the Grateful Dead's Workingman's Dead in its entirety. Each of the headliners will perform multiple two-hour sets throughout the weekend, with no breaks in between sets. Artist pre-sale tickets will be available beginning May 22 at 10 a.m. EST and general “early bird” tickets will go on sale May 23 at 10 a.m. EST. A limited number of discounted student tickets will also be available. For more information on Interlocken Music Festival, visit the official festival website.

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Oklahoma’s John Fullbright Offers Words Of Encouragment, New Video

Andrew Leahey — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:53:13 +0000

A day before the Moore tornado ripped its way through central Oklahoma, John Fullbright was scheduled to play a gig in Norman, just 10 miles to the south. The show wound up getting canceled due to severe weather, and Fullbright -- a lifelong Oklahoma resident who sings about the state on his Grammy-nominated debut, From the Ground Up -- was able to seek shelter. It’s been 48 hours since that storm, and although the destruction is widespread, Fullbright is proud of his homeland. Feature: John Fullbright Lays Down His Roots “In the midst of all this chaos and destruction,” he tells us, “I'm watching Okies do what Okies do best: pull together, count heads and rebuild. We come from a long line of taking care of each other in turmoil. God knows we need all the help we can get right now." On that note, here’s the video for Fullbright’s new single, “Gawd Above,” a song that deals with the relationship between forces up above and the people down below.

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Full Album Stream: Nell Robinson And Jim Nunally, House & Garden

Evan Schlansky — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:43:22 +0000

House & Garden " src="http://cdn.americansongwriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/NellRobinsonJimNunally.jpg" alt="Full Album Stream: Nell Robinson And Jim Nunally, House & Garden " width="200" height="200" />

We're excited to premiere House & Garden, a stirring collection of originals and covers from sultry-voiced singer-songwriter Nell Robinson and award-winning acoustic guitarist Jim Nunally. In our review, critic Rick Moore writes, "The beauty, sorrow and complexity of life are explored in a simple and straightforward way by two people singing harmony with one guitar, hearkening back to the days when the Carter family first came out of the hills of Virginia." "Most of the songs on the album Jim and I wrote together," Robinson tells American Songwriter. "I love collaboration, and I think we have something really special, a natural muse. In some cases, like in 'House' -- I wrote a poem one day, and some time later Jim sent me a melody he'd been noodling with. As I listened to the melody I read the poem and they fit -- perfectly. So I sang the poem and recorded to Jim's melody and sent it back to him (we still hadn't been in the same room to compose!) and he liked it. So we got together and from there refined it and changed the melody a little and built on the lyrics...and we had a song! Same with 'April Fool' and 'The Gardener.' Other songs, like 'Pen in Hand' and 'I Hear a Southwind' and 'Happy to Go' - Jim started with an idea, a line or more and I took it and ran with it, came back to him with a story developed building on his concept, and then we'd refine it and finish it together. "For 'My Soul' -- which was the last minute addition to the album - I took a WWI poem from my Papa Bates -- my great-grandfather -- a poem he had written after he returned from serving as a chaplain for the YMCA at the front in France, and tried it over a melody Jim had sent me. I moved some phrases around and changed a few here and there but stayed true to Papa Bates' imagery and soul-searching. I am amazed that after all he saw in war, he came back and wrote such a hopeful and deeply beautiful poem. I feel a common thread with Papa, almost 100 years later. "The themes in House & Garden of viewing our lives, our souls and hopes and our humanity through our connection with nature and the mystery of growing things come to me through my family, back to Papa, back further than that. My southern kin are gifted story-tellers and I am a good listener, and have never considered myself a good story-teller... you can tell me the same joke 100 times and I'll laugh just as hard as the first time I heard it, but don't expect me to be able to repeat it!). But music, songs, poetry and lyrics have helped me discover a way to continue family traditions and timeless stories." "I have been, for the past 30 years or more, associated with Bluegrass music," Nunally adds. "But I initially learned guitar from my father, who was taught by my grandfather. They were from Arkansas. Moved to California during the Dust Bowl years looking for a better life. So my roots in country, folk, delta blues sounds are deep, really deep. My dad, like everyone else, loved Chet Atkins, so I started getting into finger picking and some classical music in order to learn to read music. At the same time, when I was about 15 years old, I started to play bluegrass, and almost right away heard Tony Rice and David Grisman, David whom I now work with, and headed down the road of bluegrass. The songs on House & Garden reflect these roots -- and more than half the originals feature finger picking melodies." Stream House & Garden in its entirety below. The album hits stores May 28.

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How To Start a Mumford Band

Francie Johnson — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:26:40 +0000

If you've got a large group of friends, some spoons, a washboard and an iPhone, you could be well on your way to starting your own Mumford Band - at least according to the latest addition to Barely Political's Key of Awesome series. The music video, featured on YouTube's first ever Comedy Week, parodies the popular banjo-strumming, foot-stomping, Grammy-award-winning band Mumford & Sons, in all of their "bordering on weird and Amish" glory. The lead singer urges his audience to pack their bags for a trip to Mumford Land, which apparently is located, "somewhere between Limerick and Williamsburg, Brooklyn." Lumineers Parody: The Chickeneers YouTube's Comedy Week, which runs from May 19-25, includes both video premieres and live events and features some of the nation's most celebrated stand-up comedians and comedy shows. Watch Ricky Gervais give a guitar lesson as David Brent of The Office. So grab your guitar and get ready to "party like it's 1899," and don't forget to use Instagram to capture the entire Mumford experience -- with the "toaster" filter, of course.

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Ellie Goulding Bends The Rules At Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium

Andrew Leahey — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:13:02 +0000

Ellie Goulding at the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN May 20, 2013 “I know this venue is supposed to be seated, but I like having people near me.” With that, Ellie Goulding defied the Ryman Auditorium’s ushers and stage managers -- the same people who’d been spending the first third of her set rushing from aisle to aisle, shooing people back into their seats -- and created something that’s rarely seen at the Ryman: a mosh pit. Technically, it was a PG-rated mosh pit, the kind that’s filled with excitable teenagers who’re more interested in getting close to the band than knocking each other down. No one seemed in danger, even as groups of people left their rows and headed toward the stage in a free-for-all frenzy. For a venue that prides itself on being a listening room, though, this was pretty edgy stuff. It was a relief to see Ellie back in her element, throwing winks to the boys in her band before walking back to mission control -- a clump of microphones, synth pads, and percussion at the front of the stage -- to trigger another loop or bang out a quick beat on her floor tom. That sort of interaction had been missing from her set at the Hangout Festival last weekend, where Ellie looked a bit swallowed-up by the huge stage. She hardly interacted with the band during that show, and a wide photo pit kept her at least ten feet away from the audience. That performance was still a highlight of the entire weekend... but what a difference a change of scenery can make. Taking advantage of the Ryman’s killer acoustics, Ellie went heavy on the ballads during the first half hour of her Nashville set, mixing a familiar cover of Elton John’s “Your Song” with a handful of Halcyon’s slower tracks. Then, she gave her band a breather by strapping on an acoustic guitar for a solo version of “Guns & Horses.” Synth loops and piped-in harmonies play a big role in Ellie’s show, and while they rarely overpower the real thing onstage, it’s nice to hear them stripped away. “Guns & Horses” still had plenty of firepower, thanks to the various vocal tics -- the helium high notes, the mid-range rasp, the fairy-ish flutter -- that push Ellie’s music away from mainstream pop and toward something more uncommon. She’s a dance diva with an arty bent, a singer/songwriter with an ear for club music. And last night, she was on her game.

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Festival Yearbook: Hangout Fest 2013

Andrew Leahey — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:26:36 +0000

Festival Yearbook: Hangout Music Festival 2013 Since nothing says “summer” more than a trip to the beach, we called up staff writer Andrew Leahey and asked him to head south, stopping only when he hit Gulf Shores, Alabama. The assignment? Attend the Hangout Music Festival, the world’s first major music fest held on a beach, to tell us how America is celebrating the warm weather. He returned with a “Festival Yearbook," highlighting some of the festival’s best moments. Hangout Fest 2013: View the Photo Gallery Most athletic: Ellie Goulding With vocals like an electro-pop fairy and arms like well-toned steel, Ellie Goulding tuned her 75-minute set into a workout. She ran between the far corners of the stage, did backward bends, and gyrated her hips like a British Beyonce, all while nailing the difficult runs on new tunes like “Figure 8” and “Anything Could Happen.” Most likely to succeed: Wild Feathers These Nashville newcomers opened for Bob Dylan last month, and their Hangout set -- an early-afternoon show at the festival’s smallest stage -- felt like a highlights reel of American rock & roll. Allman Brothers-inspired guitar solos gave way to Band-worthy harmonies, and the guys even blew out one of the front speakers, resulting in some crackly garage-rock vocals on the last two songs. Bonus: festival goers were able to pick up the band’s debut album, which isn’t out until August. Best couple: Tie: Michael Trent and Carry Ann Hearst (Shovels & Rope), Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) Hangout Fest is for lovers. Shovels & Rope hit the main stage on Saturday afternoon, where Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst traded everything -- singing duties, sunglasses, even instruments -- without losing their junkyard rock & roll snarl. One day later, Jason Isbell hit the BMI Stage with a new version of the 400 Unit. New addition Sadler Vaden -- recently seen playing guitar for Drivin’ N Cryin’ -- couldn’t make the gig, so fiddle player Amanda Shires stepped up to the plate instead, taking solos and adding high harmonies to the mix. An unlikely highlight arrived during “Goddamn Lonely Love,” a down-in-the-dumps drinking anthem that elicited a roar from the audience when Isbell sang, “I’m not really drowning, ‘cause I can see the beach from here.” Class clown: Grouplove At first, it was hard to take Grouplove seriously. Hannah Hooper was wearing a hooded unitard with a skeleton stenciled onto the front, after all, and drummer Ryan Rabin’s pants were probably stolen from the video shoot of Olivia Newton-John’s “Let’s Get Physical.” The band got serious when it came to their music, though, delivering a set that included a few tracks from their upcoming sophomore album. Best dressed: Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) Surprised? We weren’t. Homecoming King: Tom Petty Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ appearance at the festival wasn’t a literal homecoming, and Gulf Shores is technically 375 miles away from Petty’s hometown of Gainesville, FL. Still, the guys played the festival like they owned it, cycling through their greatest hits while also reaching into Petty’s back catalog for deep cuts like the Traveling Wilburys’ “Tweeter and the Monkey Man.” In front of the stage, an audience of 35,000 snaked its way down the beach, full of sunburnt faces and raised fists and discarded flip flops.

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R.I.P. Ray Manzarek Of The Doors

Julia Wallace — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:58:51 +0000

Keyboardist Ray Manzarek of The Doors died today in Rosenheim, Germany at age 74 after a battle with bile duct cancer. After selling more than 100 million albums worldwide with The Doors, Manzarek went on to write a bestselling memoir "Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors" and perform as a solo artist. In 2002 he reunited with Doors guitarist and songwriter Robby Krieger, forming The Doors of the 21st Century with Cult vocalist Ian Astbury. "I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today," said Krieger in a statement. "I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him." Manzarek is survived by his wife Dorothy, and brothers Rick and James Manczarek, who were all present at his death. He is also survived by his son Pablo Manzarek, Pablo's wife Sharmin, and their three children Noah, Apollo and Camille. Revisit our Doors cover story, Sex, Death and Poetry here.

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The Top Ten Bands To See At Bonnaroo

Jeff Terich — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:37:53 +0000

From June 13-16, more than 200 acts will perform at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. That’s a lot to narrow down, but here are the 10 acts we're most looking forward to seeing. Paul McCartney In case there’s any question as to how to spend the 9 to 11:30 PM block on Friday, there are no other artists playing while Sir Paul McCartney’s on the stage. As it should be — when one of the greatest songwriters and performers of all time takes the stage, you don’t compete with him. Macca will likely play a little bit of everything, from Beatles tunes to Wings hits, and the occasional standard for balance. Tom Petty One of the true great American rock ‘n’ roll bands, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers will close out Sunday night, ending the fest on a high note. And with so many classics at their disposal, there’s no reason to expect anything other than a loaded set. Wilco Wilco are playing Friday, about an hour before Paul McCartney, who is one of the only acts in the world they could actually “open” for (another being Bob Dylan, and that’s happening later this summer!). The Chicago alt-country pioneers always put on a great show, and in a festival environment, their rock epics should be all the more impressive. Björk It’s unlikely that any artist this year will be able to compete with the level of production and visual appeal that Björk brings to her live show. With elaborate effects and stage setup, not to mention the only artist likely to bring musical Tesla coils with her, the always intriguing Icelandic artist is one not to miss on Saturday night. Lee Fields & the Expressions Lee Fields has been making funk and soul records since the 1970s, but it’s only been in the last decade that sufficient accolades have radiated his way. Better late than never — Fields has the oomph and charisma to get the party started right early on Sunday afternoon.

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Dave Lamb of Brown Bird Needs Your Help

Francie Johnson — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:06:27 +0000

Dave Lamb of acclaimed indie folk band Brown Bird still awaits a diagnosis after being admitted to a hospital in Houston on Friday, May 10th. Lamb had been experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath, and an initial blood test determined that he suffers from severe anemia and a dangerously low red blood cell count. Lamb's illness has forced him and fellow bandmate MorganEve Swain to cancel their current tour dates. This loss of income, combined with Lamb's mounting medical expenses, has forced a heavy financial burden upon the duo. The band posted the following message on their YouCaring webpage, where those who want to help can make a contribution.

Dear Friends, Family and Fans- We need your help.

On Friday night, May 10th, Dave was admitted to a hospital in Houston, TX with complaints of fatigue and shortness of breath. After an initial blood test, we were told he was severely anemic, with dangerously low red blood cell levels. Dave had been fighting and been treated for flu-like symptoms for the past six weeks, but until now we were unaware of the seriousness of his condition. Since admittance into the hospital, he has had several blood transfusions, which he is responding to well, and has undergone several tests to determine what is causing his illness. As of yet we still do not have a diagnosis, but are maintaining optimism.

We will be able to fly home on Saturday to pursue treatment in RI, and will be canceling a large percentage of shows until Dave is well enough to get back on the road. For us, canceling shows means not only disappointing our fans and missing out on what we enjoy most, but also going without income. Since the 10th we’ve already accrued over $29,000 in medical expenses and losses, and will be faced with ongoing expenses once we’re home. We love being full-time musicians, but it can be a financially challenging lifestyle, and without health insurance or day jobs to fall back on, our situation is dire.

We humbly ask you to help us out in any way you can. We set up this fundraiser to help us pay for the medical expenses we've already accrued, and for the projected cost of treatments. There are unknowns ahead of us and the possibility for needing more is very real, but we promise to keep you updated and are eternally grateful to the support our friends, family and fans already give us. There's nothing we want more than to be back on the road, and with your help, we could be back out there very soon.

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Aoife O’Donovan Performs “Red & White & Blue & Gold” At The AS Office

Andrew Leahey — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:59:17 +0000

While Crooked Still takes a break from the road, bandleader Aoife O’Donovan is shifting her attention back towards her solo career. Fossils is the singer’s full-length debut, a collection of folk, bluegrass, and old-timey songs produced by the same man who brought us Tift Merritt’s Traveling Alone and the Decemberists’ The King is Dead. “I grew up singing a lot of Irish folk music -- and folk music in general,” she told us during a recent trip to the American Songwriter office. “My dad is from Ireland. My parents are kind of folkies. I grew up around that kind of music.” Watch her perform the album’s lead single, “Red & White & Blue & Gold,” in our conference room below.

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