Concert Reviews

Chambers returns: concerts do not get much better than this

July 3, 2025 - It was unclear if Kasey Chambers' concert would last more than one song. The backing quartet set a moody tone with Chambers hitting the stage belting out "Ain't No Little Girl" with a ultra heavy, thick dose of intensity, angst and emotion. Swirls of sound enveloped the song with her ...

Pecos & the Rooftops cover the bases, but that's not enough

June 26, 2025 - Pecos & the Rooftops are not easily definable, like a lot of music these days. They rock some, but not enough to call them a rock band. Americana definitely plays into the mix as well with a touch of country interspersed. Not to mention Texas blues. So, like a lot of other acts out there pounding the ...

The Head and the Heart bright the light

June 5, 2025 - The Head and the Heart entitled their just-released record, "Aperture." When it comes to a camera lens, that is about the amount of light let in. Regarding the introspective record, the band has said the title stems from the light and dark of life. It may sound dreary, but not when it comes ...

"Long, long way to go" for Trousdale? Not so sure.

May 13, 2025 - Good things come in threes – at least when considering the LA-based band Trousdale. The indie act - Quinn D'Andrea, Georgia Greene and Lauren Jones – met in college at USC and with their sophomore disc, "Growing Pains," out on the appropriately titled The Independent Co. ...

Nenni joins the traditional country renaissance

May 12, 2025 - For those who have for years lamented the perceived decline of country music away from its traditional roots, stay hopeful. It's not hard when you have an artist like Zach Top breaking big and an even more traditional singer, Emily Nenni, showing that she should be part of the conversation. ...

Parker still has something to say

May 11, 2025 - Graham Parker lamented, in his sort of joking , definitely finger pointing style, that he used to have a crowd of 18 year olds at his concerts. That was a generation ago, but give Parker credit – those 18 year olds of decades ago have stuck with the singer filling the 275-seat club as Parker ...

Old Crow keeps itself and crowd on their toes

May 8, 2025 - To say that Old Crow Medicine Show keeps it fresh and musically interesting would be an understatement because you never know what OCMS is going to do live. Well, a few things are certain – these cats can play and play a multitude of instruments. They have a sense of humor, and they also deeply ...

Diversity rules for The Steel Wheels, and they're good on all

May 5, 2025 - Chugging along for two-plus decades, The Steel Wheels appearances in this area have been infrequent. With a bunch of good recordings over the years, at least this night proved to be a most welcome opportunity to hear the band in the flesh. The crowd may not have been big – maybe about 60 people ...

With Top leading the way, traditional music is alive and well

May 4, 2025 - For traditional country music fans waiting seemingly in vain for the ghosts of The Hag, Keith Whitley and others to come around again, the wait is over. Zach Top is not the future of country music. He is country music. Less than a year ago, the Washington native headlined a sold-out show at The ...

With Raines, bluegrass royalty is in the house

April 30, 2025 - Missy Raines is modern bluegrass royalty. After all, she has scored an amazing 10 awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association for her bass playing, the first female to win the honor. So, it was a treat to hear Missy Raines & Allegheny, her backing band, on a rare trip to New England. ...

From start to finish, The Wild Feathers satisfy

April 28, 2025 - The Wild Feathers have been going at it for a good 15 years After all these years, the quintet may not be easily pigeon-holed. If you look them up online, a lot of references characterize them as a rock band. That would be off base because at their heart, The Wild Feathers are a roots rock band with ...

MerleFest day 4: Watchhouse gently closes

April 27, 2025 - Peter Rowan is a name synonymous with MerleFest, and his early Sunday afternoon set on the Watson Stage set the tone for an afternoon of what Doc Watson used to call "traditional plus." Through his association with the Grateful Dead and New Riders of the Purple Sage, Rowan has endeared ...

MerleFest day 3: Avetts close out memorable day

April 26, 2025 - Saturday at MerleFest is about an abundance of choice, as in there are so many choices one person can't possibly see it all. But it's MerleFest, so they're all good choices, from the headliners down to the early daytime sets. Variety is another hallmark of Saturday with diverse offerings ...

MerleFest day 2: Neilson, Raitt lead the way

April 25, 2025 - Friday is the first of two days out of MerleFest that include a 12-hour schedule, which means there is plenty of room to not only see the artists you want, but also to discover new ones. Chief among those on Friday was an amazing set from Tami Neilson, a retro leaning female country singer from New ...

Antone goes traditional focusing on bad men, weed

April 24, 2025 - If you enjoy your brand of country music on the traditional side with song after song decrying bad relationships and bad men with tons of references to weed, then Maggie Antone ought to be your bag. Even if you don't, there's a lot to like about the Virginia singer. As for the subject matter, ...

MerleFest gets underway with The Dead South, Flores

April 24, 2025 - MerleFest Thursday By Kevin Oliver April 24, 2025 The 37th year of MerleFest kicked off Thursday afternoon like it does most years - with an emphasis on the bluegrass, roots and country music that it has celebrated from the start. Presley Barker was up first on the Watson Stage. A local from Wilkes County, N. ...