Displaying items by tag: folk

David Burchfield writes Americana that swaggers wildly through raw emotion within a meticulously written and arranged package. With connections to his indie folk, classic country, and bluegrass roots, Burchfield carves a unique path in the folk rock world with his powerful 5-piece, the Fire Guild. American Songwriter has said: "This type of solid songcraft would make Burchfield fit right in on a bill with the likes of Lucinda Williams or Jason Isbell." Burchfield’s literate lyrics meet emotive grace in nods to Jason Isbell, Watchhouse (Mandolin Orange), and David Ramirez. There is a powerful candor in Burchfield’s writing – raw, emotive, and rich with details that bring the listener right into the scene of his passion. Solo, Burchfield performs with a surprising ferocity and conviction that has silenced even the rowdiest of rooms. Critics have called his 5-piece band, David Burchfield & the Fire Guild, akin to “the Band meets the Stray Birds” – equal parts all out roots rock party and sensitively arranged balladry. Burchfield has opened for Nicki Bluhm, Anders Osborne, Noah Gundersen, David Ramirez, and Joe Pug.

"Shook Twins' performances feel like a glimpse into a long history of musical discovery—their shows can feel like late-night porch sessions, where the songs are so internalized they stream out like a conversation." – Emilee Booher, Willamette Week

They wowed us in 2014 and in 2015 and now they are back for two sets at the 12th Annual Ogden Music Festival and a free-to-the-public outreach concert on Monday following the festival. If you haven't seen and heard them yet, its time you did!

With her fourth album, Undercurrent, Sarah Jarosz makes a studied departure from her previous records, shifting the emphasis from her skills as a multi-instrumentalist to her songwriting and vocal performance. Undercurrent accentuates the growth and maturity that Jarosz, now 25, has achieved since graduating from New England Conservatory and moving to New York City. The change in approach garnered Jarosz two Grammy Awards in 2017—Best Folk Album for Undercurrent and Best American Roots Performance for “House Of Mercy.” Undercurrent also picked up the award for 2017 Album of the Year from Folk Alliance International.

Sammy Brue embodies the kind of wisdom, talent and natural empathy that are often signs of age and maturity, and yet at 15 years old, he can place himself in the shoes of others, real or fictionalized, and write stories about them. "He's a student of East Nashville, not Greenwich Village, budding from this new folk resurgence in fascinating ways." ~ Rolling Stone Country

The Ogden, UT based songwriter has been writing songs since the age of 10. He signed to New West Records at 14 and now, with his debut album in hand, Sammy takes the next step forward. The forthcoming album, titled I Am Nice, produced by Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes) and John Paul White (former Civil Wars) will be released early summer of 2017. Recorded in Florence, Al, they created a brilliant album with nuanced dimension that provides emotional resonance to Brue's songs which Rolling Stone described as “a collection of devastatingly beautiful songs that touch on heartbreak, jealousy, God and Suicide;” and further declared Brue as “An Americana prodigy."

Though Sammy may appear quiet and unassuming, his songs speak volumes. From busking at Sundance at the age of 10, to opening for Justin Townes Earle, John Paul White, Lucinda Williams and John Moreland to mention a few, and performing at Summerfest, and the Newport Folk Festival, you will be hearing a lot about Sammy Brue as he stands on the precipice of what appears to be a long and ever-evolving creative journey.

Raised in hard-bitten Nebraska, Joshua James’ work reflects a distinctly American ache, a yearning for a big sky and an open road. Beckoned westward out of his heartland home by the voices of Jim Morrison and Isaac Brock, he made it as far as the mountains of Utah, where like the settlers before him, he was stopped in his tracks by the arresting beauty. Here, where the mountains pierce the heavens, some believe a conduit is open between man and the divine.

The 3 Muses (Eliza, Kjersten and Lucy Danzig) have charmed audiences coast to coast with their tight three part sister harmonies and their distinct personalities. They have opened for many notable acts including; Jerry Douglas and the Earls of Leicester, The Duhks and the Shook Twins. The Muses perform regularly with their parent's (Peter & Mary Danzig) folkgrass duo, Otter Creek. They are featured on several tracks of Otter Creek’s most recent album The Fiddle Preacher which climbed to #16 on the Folk Charts. The Muses first E.P. is scheduled to be released at the beginning of June 2016.

Facing West is a duo from Northern Utah featuring Colten Peterson on the bass and Hudson Bosworth playing guitar and banjo. Their musical style is primarily rooted in Bluegrass but spans many different genres including Americana, Rock, and Country. The duo has recently been hard at work creating and performing originals that have quickly become crowd favorites. They enjoy writing their own music and just recorded their first EP that is now available for purchase. Hudson won his blue guitar at the Utah state flatpicking competition last summer at the Ogden Music Festival and was able to travel to the Winfield Music Festival and compete at the National level. Facing West were recently involved in a PTSA Battle of the Bands and recognized as one of the top 12 bands out of 192 in the State of Utah at a High School Level. Their youthful energy combined with their love for performing on the live stage is sure to entertain audiences of all ages!

“To me, music is food and you need a variety to stay healthy and strong,” - Luther Dickinson on his prolific musical output, which, at last count, includes three new, somewhat divergent roots albums planned for 2015.

When Luther Dickinson was growing up in rural Mississippi — just 40 miles south of Memphis, but deep in the hill country — his favorite band was Black Flag, the caustic L.A. punk band that defined the hardcore movement in the 1980s. That may surprise listeners who have been following his career as a folk-blues-rock innovator. With his brother Cody, Luther is a charter member of the North Mississippi Allstars and has recorded with an amazing array of musicians over the years: Beck, Patty Griffin, Mavis
Staples, John Hiatt, Buddy Miller, RL Burnside, Lucero, Jon Spencer, and Robert Plant. He’s also produced albums by Jim Lauderdale, Amy LaVere, and Otha Turner, whose Everybody’s Hollerin’ Goat was named one of the top 10 blues records of the ‘90s by Rolling Stone. 

“A meditation on solitude, with a defiant edge in her steely-soft vocals…immersive and complex.” - Wall Street Journal Speakeasy on "In the Magic Hour"

Aoife O’Donovan’s sophomore album, “In the Magic Hour”—produced by Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Neko Case) and out Jan. 22, 2016 via Yep Roc Records—is a 10-song album full of the singer’s honeyed vocals mixed with gauzy, frictionless sounds: splashing cymbals, airy harmonies, the leisurely baritone musings of an electric guitar.Written in the wake of O’Donovan’s grandfather’s death, “In the Magic Hour” is hermost introspective effort yet, an aching exploration of memory and mortality.

Raised in hard-bitten Nebraska, Joshua James’ work reflects a distinctly American ache, a yearning for a big sky and an open road. Beckoned westward out of his heartland home by the voices of Jim Morrison and Isaac Brock, he made it as far as the mountains of Utah, where like the settlers before him, he was stopped in his tracks by the arresting beauty. Here, where the mountains pierce the heavens, some believe a conduit is open between man and the divine.