Posts by Maeri Ferguson

[rating=8.00] There are moments in many of the Water Liars’ songs when lead singer Justin Peter Kinkel-Schuster’s voice seems to cut through the atmosphere, sharp and clear and hauntingly beautiful. The Mississippi band puts that voice front and center on dark, Southern folk rock songs that could easily leave you breathless. Now, with the release […]

[rating=7.00] Dex Romweber is a kind of mysterious chameleon, never ceasing to morph his sound. And this has never been truer than on his newest record Carrboro, a warm collection of raspy blues, old school crooning, high energy rockabilly and down home soul. With a few covers thrown in, there’s no stone left unturned for […]

[rating=8.00] For those who feel weary of the over saturation of new artists’ takes on old school soul, fear not. St. Paul and the Broken Bones are here to make it all better for you.  As if they sensed that we needed a fresher perspective, they’ve sexed things up and allowed themselves to be a […]

[rating=8.00] Though they’re approaching thirty years together as a band, in many ways, Teenage Fanclub has not aged a bit. They’re still as sonically sweet as they were in the early nineties, and their pop hooks are still some of the very best. With their first release in six years, titled Here, the Scots are […]

[rating=8.00] Many were mystified by Ryley Walker’s enchanting 2015 record Primrose Green. It was a bewitching, trippy groove that conjured up images of the cemetery scenes from Easy Rider, with guitar playing that could hypnotize you. On his follow up, Golden Sings That Have Been Sung, Walker builds on that pastoral sound. At times sullen […]

[rating=9.00] Four prolific records in and countless show-stopping live performances later, it is sometimes easy to overlook the fact that Lydia Loveless is only in her twenties. Her songs are all at once wise beyond her years, and a reminder that she is a work in progress – a young person still learning about herself. […]

[rating=7.00] There isn’t a Lori McKenna-penned song in existence that won’t find some way to get to you, whether it’s making you crack up, cry your eyes out, or fall madly in love. And though the songstress has written for seemingly every country artist under the sun, it’s McKenna’s own raw emotion-packed vocals that truly do […]

Peace flowed freely out of Fort Adams for the final day of Newport Folk Festival, which began traditionally, with gospel music pouring off the Fort stage and out into the crowd. The Berkelee Gospel Choir eased festival-goers into the day after a long weekend, and the soothing sounds of folk singer Ian Fitzgerald (with Smith […]

Continuing the tradition of politicism and positivity, the second day of Newport Folk brought more loud, passionate voices of change to all three stages. Leading the charge was the day’s headliner, Patti Smith. Doing a set filled with covers, she brought the house down on the Fort stage as the sun went down. Father John […]

There could not be a more poignant, significant time of year for the Newport Folk Festival to take place than this week, as the Republican National Convention blows through Cleveland. Though the two events are many miles apart, they coincide in a particularly special way. As the convention pushes extreme negativity and displays a complete […]