John Rumsey's Top 10 picks for 2017

These are my top 10 picks for 2017:

John Rumsey

Four Strong Winds

alternate Wednesdays 10am to noon

KVMR Nevada City, CA

1.  Joe Jencks, "Poets, Philosophers, Workers & Wanderers",Turtle Bear Music
2.  Variious Artists, Tribute to the Travelin' Lady Rosalie Sorrels, rosaliesorrels
3.  Tim Grimm, A Stranger in This Land, Vault Records
4.  John McCutcheon, Trolling For Dreams, Appalseed Productions
5.  Chris Hillman, Bidin' My Time, Rounder Records
6.  Wailin' Jennys, Fifteen, Red House
7.  Andy and Judy, This Old Town, Andy and Judy
8.  The Talbott Brothers, Gray, The Talbott Brothers
9.  Tim O'Brien, Where The River Meets The Road, Howdy Skies Records
10. Laura Zucker, Say Yes, Laura Zucker

Honorable mention to I Draw Slow, Wyatt Easterling, Trout Steak Revival and M Matthew Byrne.

Ross Altman's review of Tom Russell's CD ""Folk Hotel"

CD TITLE: FOLK HOTEL

ARTIST: TOM RUSSELL

LABEL: FRONTERA RECORDS

RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

BOOK TITLE: FOLK HOTEL: REFLECTIONS, PAINTINGS, LYRICS

AUTHOR: TOM RUSSELL

PUBLISHER: FRONTERA PRESS (KANSAS CITY, MO)

PUBLICATION DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

RENAISSANCE COWBOY

By Ross Altman, PhD

A superb review...

Ross Altman's review of Katy Moffat's CD "Where The Heart Is"

TITLE: WHERE THE HEART IS

ARTIST: KATY MOFFATT

LABEL: CENTERFIRE MUSIC

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 18, 2017

"UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED"
By Ross Altman, PhD

"There’s a new benchmark for singer/songwriter greatness, and her name is Katy Moffatt..."

Go here for another excellent Ross Altman review.

More of what we were never taught in school

"The Music I Love Is a Racial Minefield" -- Michael Mechanic

My review of Tom Russell's CD "Folk Hotel"

Tom Russell has never been a GRAMMY nominee let alone the winner of such an award. Of course, he's not a 'prominent' singer-songwriter in a 'popular genre' but the artistry of his music, whether it be on his latest CD "Folk Hotel," or in many of his earlier releases, blatantly outshines many of the actual honorees.

Just give "All on a Belfast Morning" a listen:



Yes, "let us not confuse the pint with the pouring."

In this new release, Russell continues his penchant for writing about historical and cultural figures in a compelling manner as with "Folk Hotel" and its numerous references:



But in "Harlan Clancy," he goes present day in depicting a segment of life in rural America so pertinent in the 2016 election:



Our vocabulary is expanded in the provocatively titled "The Dram House Down in Gutter Lane" with listeners learning about harrigans, hags, rusty guts and more. His vivid use of such antiquated words is reminiscent of the late Dave Carter.



Dylan Thomas and his poetry are lauded in "The Sparrow of Swansea."



Russell writes and sings about fragility in life, of facing and combating demons, succumbing  to or subsisting alongside them in a makeshift shelter. He is both earthy and eloquent. There simply isn't a better craftsman producing such work today.

Tracy Grammer with a new release

"Tracy Grammer plays Northampton, plans return" -- Steve Pfarrer

Mike Regenstreif's Top 17 for 2017

"Top 17 for 2017" -- Mike Regenstreif

Top Folk Music Picks of 2017 -- Karen Impola, Iowa Public Radio

Karen Impola's top folk music picks for 2017

1. Catfish Keith – "Shake Sugaree" – Mississippi River Blues

2. Al Murphy – "Steamboat Quickstep" – Hogs in the Cornfield

3. Keith Reins & Tara McGovern – "The Twa Sisters" – Folk Songs You Never Sang in Grade School

4. Raldo Schneider – "That Thing" – Churchills’ Blues

5. Medicinal Purposes – "Badazz" – That’s What I’m Talkin’ About

6. Rhiannon Giddens – "At the Purchaser’s Option" – Freedom Highway

7. Joel Mabus – "We’ll Understand It Better Bye and Bye" – Different Hymnals

8. David Rawlings – "Yup" – Poor David’s Almanack

9. Usher’s Island – "Felix the Soldier" – Usher’s Island

10. The Early Mays – "Chase the Sun" – Chase the Sun

Catching up with Hayes Carll

"Hayes Carll happy to be a fan favorite for the right reasons"--Steve Knopper