TR Ritchie has passed

T.R. Ritchie has succumbed to pancreatic cancer. His bio.

Ritchie singing "Decomposing the Blues":


Ritchie singing "White Bark":

A fond farewell to Pete Seeger

Charles Pierce eloquently offers far more than moi could dream of in this piece on the now late Pete Seeger.

Pete Seeger's testimony before the HUAC in 1955. It's telling that Seeger and his efforts at social justice are noted to this day while the Congress critters who put questions to him have long been consigned to the dustbin of irrelevancy.

Was Seeger always right? No (who is?) and he was grounded enough to admit as much. Where's that admission from the fascist wannabees 'protecting' this country from its own Constitution?

An interview with Ronny Cox

Nick Spacek interviews folk musician Ronny Cox (yes that is dueling banjos you are hearing off in the distance).

Oh where have you been my darling young one?

If you are at overload as yet, Tom Junod writes a little differently than most about the mystery of Bob Dylan, that so-called song-and-dance man.

Anais Mitchell interviewed

Natalie Gallagher interviews Anais Mitchell.

The upcoming Folk Alliance Conference

Natalie Gallagher writes that the Folk Alliance Conference and Winter Music Camp is coming up in February and serves up John Fullbright's song "Gawd Above."

Here's Grant Lee Phillip's "Walking in Green Corn."

Young & old

Kristin M. Hall writes about the age difference between the youngest Grammy nominee in the folk category this year and the eldest.

Larry Hoyt's Favorite Albums of 2013

Favorite Albums of 2013  - Hard Choices - and I'm probably forgetting a few
by Larry Hoyt - host of Common Threads on WAER-FM (88.3 Syracuse)

Artist - Album Title

* LOREN & MARK - Live in Europe - great acoustic guitar playing and lively vocals by Loren Barrigar, who, with his guitar partner Mark Mazengarb, are a world-class act.
www.lorenandmark.com

* OSCAR ISAAC & VARIED ARTISTS - Inside Llewyn Davis - a brilliant mix of the old and the new, songs and artists -

* BURNS SISTERS - Hills of Ithaca - the song, "Hills of Ithaca" is classic, imho -

* THE BARN BIRDS (Jonathan Byrd & Kris Kokesh) - The Barn Birds - excellent all the way 'round

* THE GLORIA DARLINGS - Come Home to Me - I love the sweet harmonies of these two gals from the Seattle area

* STEVE MARTIN & EDIE BRICKELL - Love Has Come for You - top-quality from start to end

* EMMYLOU HARRIS & RODNEY CROWELL - Old Yellow Moon - Americana done right

2014 releases to check out

Kim Ruehl offers five new CDs to watch for in 2014 -- four newbie artists and a golden oldie. This month and next are the release dates.

Guy Clark's "Five Best Songs"

Kim Ruehl details the "Five Best Songs" from Guy Clark.

The name Paul Clayton is a new one to me musically

Jack Spillane profiles musician Paul Clayton. Here's more. Here's another very interesting article.

A feature on John Gorka

Brian DAmbrosio profiles John Gorka. It's a fascinating look at someone who is very funny on stage in addition to his musical talents yet suffers from pre-show anxiety that  carries over into his performance -- yet the audience never knows.

David Rovics and his "Song for Chelsea Manning"

Edward Teller writes about David Rovics and the re-creation of "Song for Chelsea Manning."