Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant’s newest band, the Sensational Space Shifters, are coming the U.S. for a summer tour from June 20 through July 27. This isn’t your rootsy, Americana-leaning Robert Plant who recorded 2010′s Band Of Joy. He’s hand-picked a talented group of international musicians (ranging from African Jazz drummer Dave Smith to Massive [...]

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, and what is a cover song if not a thank you to the music gods? Led Zeppelin’s 1969 power ballad “Thank You” has been covered by a wide variety of artists (it’s also a staple at weddings). Check out the video evidence below. If anyone can sing as high [...]

Things could have gone very differently for Amy Cook. We’re talking about the difference between glossily produced, mass appeal pop-rock and the stripped-down, under-the-radar, roots-pop singer-songwriter scene Cook finds herself in today. Hanging out and writing songs in L.A. right after college, without her heart set on any particular music trajectory, she walked into a [...]

Robert Plant and The Band Of Joy Live From the Artist’s Den DVD (Universal) Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars Former Led Zeppelin singer Plant continued the infatuation with Americana he started with 2007’s Alison Krauss collaboration by assembling an all-star group of rootsy musicians for his most recent Band of Joy. Led by [...]

On November 19, PBS will air ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival, an airing of September’s Americana Music Awards, held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The 2011 Americana Music Awards: That Old Time Rock and Roll Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Gregg Allman, Alison Krauss, The Avett Brothers and The Civil Wars are among the artists who will [...]

At this week’s Americana Music Festival and Conference, there’s been much reminiscing about the distinctively gritty, southern flavor of the R&B and rock ‘n’ roll that came out of Muscles Shoals; first by way of a multi-artist tribute show Wednesday night, then a Country Music Hall of Fame panel Thursday afternoon, followed by a Lifetime [...]

When it comes to music, Americana is a somewhat nebulous term. As a genre, it encompasses everyone from John Mellencamp and Secret Sisters (if T Bone Burnett produced your album, you’re in) to hyperactive British folk outfit Mumford & Sons. Critics and music lovers have been arguing about the correct usage of the term for [...]

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 [...]

These days, many Nashville-based artists co-write their own material with big name songwriters so they can share a piece of the royalty pie in times of declining CD sales. But the truth is, a lot of those co-writes can’t match the work of people whose calling in life is to create high-quality songs above anything [...]

Robert Plant and his band, The Band of Joy, have been added to the lineup for Merlefest 2011. The former Zeppelin frontman will take the stage on the afternoon of May 1. (Read our recent feature on Plant from the Legends issue here.) Plant’s critically acclaimed band is composed of Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Darrell [...]

The lineup for this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which runs from April 29 to May 1 and May 5 to May 8, was announced today. Among the multitude of artists set to perform are Arcade Fire, Robert Plant, The Strokes, Wilco, Lauryn Hill, Willie Nelson, and John Mellencamp. Says festival producer/director Quint [...]