NEW REVIEW: World’s Gone Wrong isn’t just timely — it’s formidable. It stands among the strongest albums of Williams’ career, and one of the most uncompromising protest records of recent years. @lucindawilliams.bsky.social

Records like I Was Born, But… matter because they push back against the idea that everything has to announce itself as new. In a musical culture that often rewards novelty for its own sake, Huckfelt reminds us that some songs endure simply because they keep meeting us where we are.

pleased to share by review of an outstanding new bio of Justin Townes Earle. Curious what you think... @jonbern.bsky.social

Great Joe Pug show in Easton, MD last week. Pleased to share my review from our local paper. @joepugliese.bsky.social

AVT/PTTN is about all the ways we vanish—into depression, into performance, into the roles others need us to play. The collaboration itself mirrors this theme: Patton disappears into the Avetts’ world while they disappear into his. What emerges isn’t a compromise but a genuine third thing.

Stuff imagines the inner lives of the things we discard and reveals how those objects carry traces of who we were. What sounds like a cloying conceit deepens into something tender and profound, as Walker, fresh from chemotherapy, considers and asserts his own place among the leftovers.

You can hear the pain in Rhett Miller’s voice here. That’s not a metaphor. Recording with a cyst on his vocal cords just before surgery, these are performances that are physically compromised—strained, imperfect, cracking at the edges—and capture his emotional fragility. @rhettmiller.bsky.social

From the Hellhole may not break new ground in Crenshaw’s career, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a thoughtful, well-sequenced anthology of recent work and rare treasures that reaffirms his standing as one of the finest practitioners of classicist, hook-driven pop.

After a career built on equal parts humor and heartbreak, Todd Snider has delivered a record that sounds both weary and rejuvenated, expressing his juke-joint sensibility: loose, soulful, funny, and unmistakably his own.

The real blessing of this 30th anniversary deluxe edition is getting to watch a master do what he did best – finding the extraordinary hiding inside the ordinary and making it sound like the most natural thing in the world. @johnprine.bsky.social

These songs flow together like one long meditation. They’re anchored by Reid’s warm, weathered baritone and built on piano ballads, upright bass and touches of pedal steel or light orchestration. Henry’s production keeps everything spare and uncluttered; nothing obscures a single syllable.

CONCERT REVIEW: A songwriter’s festival is, first and foremost, about songs. Great songs, songs that stay with you long after the show has ended, are rare and precious. This year’s gathering delivered more than a few standouts.

This is Fulks at his most essential—reflective, amused, occasionally pissed off and completely honest about getting older. In an industry that often discards its veterans, Now Then reminds us what is lost hen we stop listening to voices with something substantial to say. #americanamusic #robbiefulks

#Emma Swift’s Resurrection Game succeeds as both personal statement and artistic milestone. Swift’s willingness to address difficult subject matter directly demonstrates real courage, and her voice remains compelling throughout. open.substack.com/pub/markpela...

Josh Ritter shows that questioning, imagining, and believing don’t have to be solemn endeavors. The album sparkles with clever turns, rollicking stories, and irresistible hooks—proof that even the weightiest ideas can be entertaining when delivered by a master storyteller

Airline Highway stands as proof that artistic vitality isn’t about age—it’s about remaining open to new experiences, new collaborators, and new ways of seeing old truths. After three-quarters of a century, Rodney Crowell is still finding fresh roads to travel.

We’re Only Human marks a distinct turn inward: a record less concerned with characters and more with the person behind the pen. This is Carll at his most vulnerable, most emotionally open and perhaps most generous. open.substack.com/pub/markpela...

Two very different songwriters—one a battle-scarred Gulf Coast poet and artist, the other a precociously wise Texan barely out of his teens—reminded me that powerful music isn’t bound to an era. open.substack.com/pub/markpela...

Key West has Jimmy Buffett, New Jersey boasts Bruce Springsteen, and now, the Eastern Shore has Steve Lowe.

Writers write what they know, and Richard Shindell knows the road, trucks, driving, and, perhaps most of all, how the ebb and flow of daily life shapes us. A regular visitor to the Avalon, Shindell returned last week, bringing his poignant observations and sharp wit to an appreciative audience.

McMurtry has said, “A song can come from anywhere, but the main inspiration is fear. Specifically fear of irrelevance.” The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy is proof that he has nothing to fear.

Touring in support of his new album Visitor, Moreland delivered a set that was equal parts hushed and harrowing. These aren’t songs designed to uplift in the conventional sense. But make no mistake—they offer comfort, too.

David Ramirez has long occupied a distinctive corner of the Americana world. On All the Not So Gentle Reminders, his sixth studio album, Ramirez steps further into that lineage, delivering a rich, emotionally resonant collection that cements his place among the genre’s most compelling voices.

Some artists step onto the stage. Josh Ritter bursts onto it. He radiates an infectious energy that never wavers throughout the night. Ritter smiles more than should be legal while singing, but it never feels performative. It’s real—just like the stories he tells. #joshritter

These aren’t new songs. Some stretch back decades. But that’s the thing—McMurtry’s music isn’t stuck in time; it keeps meeting the moment. A James McMurtry concert isn’t an exercise in nostalgia. The songs remain just as urgent, and, they’re needed now more than ever. #jamesmcmurtry #americana

Hood said, "I decided if I ever was going to do another solo record, I wanted it to be pretty different than the band, as different as it can be.” Mission accomplished. While Hood’s gravelly, lived-in voice is unmistakable, these songs feel deeply personal and intentionally different

Jordan Tice bridges the gap between tradition and modern storytelling. Whether he discovered bluegrass icons before finding his way to Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, and Paul Simon —or the other way around—his music reflects a rare ability to meld past and present seamlessly #Jordantice #americanamusic

The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You is an unforgettable portrait of an artist; a powerful, compelling, memoir, helping us understand the life of one of our most interesting, insightful, and important songwriters. #americana #bookreview #nekocase

Musically Plus One is all over the place, in the best possible way. Think the Staples Singers crossed with Miranda Lambert (who cowrites one song here), with some Talking Heads and Randy Travis mixed in.

In the end, it wasn’t just Paul’s songs or stories that made the night special—it was the genuine joy he brought to the stage, a joy that filled the room and reminded everyone why live music, even on a rainy night, is worth showing up for.

What happens when a self-described introvert—someone who has openly questioned their place in the music industry finds themself playing to a sold-out crowd? The answer, at least in the case of Joy Oladokun, is an unforgettable night of raw, deeply personal, and powerfully resonant music.

Dark Country does not demand attention, but rewards those who take the time to sit with it. The album is a poignant meditation on love, aging, and devotion—proof that even after all these years, Gary Louris still has plenty of stories to tell.

Life is Just a Vapor is Paul Thorn at his best: funny, wise, and deeply human. It’s a collection of songs that embrace the joys, struggles, and quiet triumphs of life’s later chapters, proving that even in the winter of life, there’s plenty to celebrate.