Although If… is only his second full-length solo album, the renowned cartoonist, graphic designer and musician David Heatley has been writing songs and playing in bands for over 30 years. All of the tracks were written, performed and produced by David who was joined in the studio by an all-star line up including members of the Louisiana Grammy-winning Cajun band Lost Bayou Ramblers, folk jazz singer-songwriter and guitarist Sarah Quintana and Americana folk rocker Lilli Lewis.  Heatley describes If… as “a portrait of someone in the throes of ‘impossible love,’ with all the ..read more

Megson duo, Stu and Debbie Hanna, celebrate 20 years on the burgeoning UK roots scene with their 13th album, What Are We Trying To Say? The award-winning singers, lyricists and multi-instrumentalists are joined in the studio by world class double bassist John Parker whose mastery of so many genres adds a third dimension to the glorious soundscape the trio creates. The influence of the media, especially the press during the constantly changing world of the pandemic and not knowing who or what to believe, was the starting point for this wonderful, eclectic and uncompromising collection of songs ..read more

Greta Van Fleet performed in Tucson, Arizona in front of a nearly sold-out arena, a show that was a makeup of a previous date postponed last year. This young band made up of three brothers and one buddy have brought the ‘70s back in a huge way. Many say they are trying to be Led Zeppelin. I disagree; I think they were influenced by them, but they are not trying to copy anyone. I am too young to have experienced Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, etc. When I watch these guys, I feel like I have just stepped back in time to some magical place: the ‘70s regalia, the long hair… I hope they don’t change a th ..read more

New Orleans-based drummer Al Lauro joined the touring band of Southern Rock star David Allan Coe in the late 70s. During his six years with Coe he acquired the nickname Big Al, and became good friends with the band’s guitarist, Warren Haynes. He and Warren started a side project called the Unknown Blues Band, which played off and on for a few years, after which Big Al decided to form his own band, Big Al and the Heavyweights. Big Al and the Heavyweights became an acclaimed touring band and released six albums since 1998. The Heavyweights currently include Al Lauro on drums, Louisiana Music Hal ..read more

Today, singer, songwriter and author Mary Lee Kortes shared a video for her new song “Green Sand” which features Joe Jackson. “Green Sand is partly inspired by the story of Bonnie and Clyde,” writes Kortes, “by the envy and coveting of the riches and plenty of others so prominent in the Depression era—Beulah’s era—but also by the more universal desire for what seems forever out of reach. Joe Jackson offered to guest on the record and this song gave the perfect opportunity for the brilliance of both his voice and piano playing.”  The song is the second single from her recently announced a ..read more

Brad Frost is a musician, web designer, design system consultant, speaker, and writer hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a lifelong bass player and holds a Music Industry Minor from James Madison University. Speaking about the direct correlation between music and web design Brad says, “The web industry is full of musicians. My theory on it is that music is both an art and a science. There is music theory, parallel 5ths, and a whole formal discipline. In the same sense with computers and programming there are 1-’s, 0-’s, and logic. At the same time, it is an art form and there’s this ..read more

“You know, you’re requesting songs I know and love but haven’t ever played. Why don’t you write me a little setlist?” asked a tall, kindly figure taking a seat at my table. “I’ll learn some.” So, I did. I handed it to him on a piece of composition paper the following week, and I think by that next Thursday set he had already worked through some Marty Robbins and George Jones medleys. And so began the pattern of the next four years. And a friendship unlike anything else in my life. If I mentioned just some of the musicians he’d played with throughout his career – David Bromberg, Kate and Anna M ..read more

In 1967, Terry Adams and Steve Ferguson, two musicians from Louisville, Tennessee, formed the New Rhythm And Blues Quartet in Florida after playing together in earlier bands. From the release of their 1969, self-titled debut, NRBQ became not only one of the greatest genre-defying bands on the planet, but also a band whose live shows were as unpredictable as they were unparalleled in the joy they brought their audiences. Although Ferguson left the band in 1971, he was never far away—periodically showing up at gigs (much to the delight of fans), and playing with Adams on various releases keeping ..read more

Over the past few days, thousands of Ten Years After fans across the globe have already taken delivery of the eagerly anticipated 50th anniversary edition mix of A Space In Time by renowned UK producer Chris Kimsey who was also the original recording engineer in 1971. The album was the band’s most successful, reaching number 17 in Billboard 200, and has been given a brand new stereo mix using transfers from the original two-inch multi-track tapes together with modern day plug-ins. Ten Years After Chris sets the scene: “Finding the masters was quite a journey because, following Woodstock, Ten Y ..read more

I recently talked with Robert Connely Farr about his most recent album and the Bentonia Blues. The album Shake It, full of songs recorded in a down home blues style, was released on October 7, 2022 to enthusiastic reviews. The guitars may be electric blues but not bluesy rock and roll. Farr hails from Bolton, Mississippi just down the road a piece from Bentonia, where there is a style of blues called – appropriately enough – the Bentonia Blues.  Blues aficionados will find many gems on the album ranging from Farr’s self-penned “Ain’t No Other Way” and “Going Down South” to covers of Char ..read more