Music City Roots

Check out our first live show of 2018 and the first from our Roots on the Road series, as we stage Roots at leading venues all around Nashville TN. This one comes from the City Winery with a lineup that's loaded and very Music City. We open with new music from smooth rocking country soul man Derek Hoke. And we close with a celebration of the new album Arkansas by rock and roll hall of famer John Oates.

In between, fresh bluegrass as the harmony focused Ms Adventure plays its debut show in their Nashville home town. And the ghost of Hank Williams is clearly communicating with the legendary Greg Garing, who brings a fiery hillbilly band to the stage. It was a grand sold out night, and there was wine.

With Music City Roots on limited run this winter and spring as we work toward moving into a new venue, we're offering up Roots Rewind shows pulled from the audio vaults of the show's 8+ years on the air. This episode took place August 24, 2011 at the Loveless Barn and featured a night curated by songwriter, roots rocker and raconteur Marshall Chapman. She had just published 'They Came To Nashville' featuring interviews with major artists and writers about their arrival stories in Music City. This is a show heavy on great songs and stories, with Rodney Crowell, Bobby Bare, Mary Gauthier and Don Henry. 

It's a year-end feast of sound and celebration as Roots closes a four year run at the Factory, with a gorgeous and wide ranging lineup. Modernist songwriter Anthony DaCosta pairs his spectral guitar and keening voice with the fiddle of Kimber Ludiker to open the show. And we close the night with another gorgeous voice - heck maybe the most gorgeous voice in roots music - the hit-making and heartwarming suzy Bogguss. In between, the elegant and talented Dawn Landes with music she's been working on in the studio with the legendary Fred Foster. (He produced Roy Orbison, don't you know) Also And the Whiskey Gentry play songs from their stellar 2017 album Dead Ringer.

Nashville, Muscle Shoals and Memphis are all represented on a Tennessee Wednesday night. From Music City we'll hear the sweet trio harmony of country music new comers Maybe April. And From Memphis, the first son of rockabilly music. He's got a new album reviving his extensive song catalog and a new book documenting his amazing life in rock and roll. He's Billy Burnette.

Also on the bill, Hannah Aldridge is a daughter of the Muscle Shoals studio world, though she's found her voice in dark and rough edged country rock. While Mike Younger mixes music with activism.

Hard core country music is finally back on the radar of at least some of the major labels on Music Row, and we'll open this week's show with discovery and Big Machine Records artist Alex Williams. We'll close the show with decidedly indie, Grateful Dead inspired country rock by Nashville's much admired Cordovas. In between, the rough hewn, sardonic and evocative songs of Cafe Rooster recording artist Darrin Bradbury plus the refined, stage-honed sound of some Music City veterans - husband and wife duo Lost Hollow.

This week on MCR our cup runs over with stories and soul as the mood turns to the holidays and an attitude of gratitude. We open with the sincerity and show stopping voice of country star John Berry who offers an acoustic band set. The show closes with a songwriting legend from Texas who's a newly minted author of a short story collection. It's a dual release book and album by Radney Foster.

In between, two volcanic vocalists with deep roots in southern music and an impeccable way with a song. Ashley Cleveland conjures a spirit and an atmosphere of grace in her gospel rock. Jimmy Hall, of Wet Willie fame and collaborator with Jeff Beck, takes his harmonica and blows the roof off the place.

This week on MCR, sets that swing from the refined to the rustic and back again. The show opens with a remarkable flight of imagination by Last Train Home founder Eric Brace. He's teamed up with master Nashville multi-instrumentalist Rory Hoffman to make Cartes Postales, an album of French songs from the obscure to the classic. And we end the night with new music from the rocking country song poet from Swoope, VA we know and love as Scott Miller. In between, the craggy and truthful songs of North Carolina's David Childers and then graceful words and stunning singing from Canadian folk star Rose Cousins.

This week on MCR, a West Virginia songwriter steps up on the big stage with chops in songwriting, singing and stagecraft that are rare for anyone , let alone a 22 year old. His sophomore album Red Arrow is making waves at Americana radio and he has mainstream appeal too. He's Christian Lopez.

Also on the show, folk singer and comedian Greg Hall keeps the crowd off balance and in stitches. Newcomer Lauren Alexander shows off flair for folk with a pop sensibility. And the bewitching indie pop meets hard country sound of Sandy Hook KY native Leah Blevins.

This week on MCR, songs in brown and black, from bluegrass to southern soul. The night starts with IBMA songwriter of the year and charming vocalist Donna Ulisse. And we close with new songs that sound like standards from an ever- evolving Amy Black. She's got a new album made in, and titled, Memphis.

In between, the feel good and tuneful songs of Nashville's Guthrie Brown. And we dip into the show's archives for a set by the inimitable Texas songwriting legend James McMurtry. Peter Cooper hosts this week. Interviews too.

This week on MCR, three from Nashville and a one man British invasion. The celebrated band Blank Range demonstrates exquisite song craft and harmony vocals in a shaggy indie rock style. Hugh Masterson, a recent transplant from Wisconsin, delivers straight up country rock and well told stories. And from a literal isle in the British Isles, emerging blues star Davy Knowles. 

Also on the bill, a return visit from hard country phenomenon Emi Sunshine. She played Roots when she was ten years old adn she was darn good. Now she's 13 and the growth has been exponential.