The 2011 summer concert series at Chateau Ste. Michelle features a lot of top musicians and one movie star — Jeff Bridges — who performs…
Read Full ArticleSeattle’s Brent Amaker and the Rodeo bring country-noir to SXSW festival
Seattle’s wildly entertaining and always rebellious country band Brent Amaker and the Rodeo performed an official SXSW showcase Wednesday, March 16, at the Velveeta Room…
Read Full ArticleQuirky Tomten wins tenth annual Sound Off! competition at EMP/SFM
Playing the final set of the night as a “wild card” band, Seattle baroque pop group Tomten won the tenth annual Sound Off! competition for…
Read Full ArticleCD REVIEW: ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Like Christmas’ with Shelby Lynne
With the launch this year of her own recording label, Everso Records, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne was finally free to release a first-time Christmas CD…
Read Full ArticleCharlie Louvin and Seattle’s Mark Pickerel share musical roots
By MIKEL TOOMBS There are at least two United States of Americana events to note this week. Just in time for Veterans Day, Charlie Louvin,…
Read Full ArticleCONCERT PREVIEW: Auburn’s He Is We has a Taylor Swiftian ingenuousness
By MIKEL TOOMBS “Is this more than a crush?” He Is We singer Rachel Taylor asks on “Blame It on the Rain,” one (actually two)…
Read Full ArticleRising Texas singer-songwriter Sahara Smith has a really haunting sound
By MIKEL TOOMBS When Sahara Smith was introduced to me as a “222-year-old rising Texan artist,” I knew I had to check her out. Pretty…
Read Full Article‘Grievous Angel: The Legend of Gram Parsons’ makes its Seattle debut
In 1973, musician and writer Michael Bate interviewed Gram Parsons, known as “the original cosmic cowboy.” Six months later, the pioneering country-rocker (and father of…
Read Full ArticleCONCERT REVIEW: Billy Currington, Uncle Kracker shake up Puyallup Fair
Hatless cowboys ruled the grandstand at the Puyallup Fair Friday night (Sept. 24), drawing a noisy, foot-stomping crowd for a double bill featuring Billy Currington…
Read Full ArticlePHOTO GALLERY: Willie Nelson wows ’em at the Puyallup Fair grandstand
Willie Nelson has been one of the biggest stars in the Puyallup Fair constellation this year. Seattle photographer Christopher Nelson snapped these photos of the…
Read Full ArticleCONCERT REVIEW: Star Anna and her all-star band at Bumbershoot
By MIKEL TOOMBS Bumbershoot 2010 got off to a rousing start Saturday, in part because of a surprising set by local favorite Star Anna that…
Read Full ArticleCD REVIEW: Laura Cash’s second solo album, ‘Awake But Dreaming’
Laura Cash had the good fortune to become the wife of John Carter Cash and daughter-in-law of the late Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash.…
Read Full ArticleCONCERT PREVIEW: Randy Rogers Band brings ‘straight-up country’ to Ballard
By MIKEL TOOMBS It’s not often that the Tractor Tavern hosts an evening of “straight-up country.” The old-Ballard club leans to more off-center offerings, like…
Read Full ArticleCONCERT PREVIEW: ‘Kinky’ Friedman saddles up for a West Coast tour
Texas country singer, novelist, humorist, cigar peddler and former gubernatorial candidate Richard S. “Kinky” Friedman hasn’t written a new song in at least 20 years.…
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