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 […]

The early bird gets the worm at this year’s Newport Folk Festival, with many of the can’t-miss acts performing in the first half of each day. Sure, headliners like Elvis Costello, Alabama Shakes and Father John Misty are sure to draw huge crowds, but for a truly special Folk Fest experience, set your alarm clock […]

[rating=7.00] Whether in Nickel Creek or Watkins Family Hour, Sara Watkins has always stood out as an enormous talent. She has the kind of voice you can’t believe is real. It’s breathtakingly beautiful at every point in her range. We’ve watched her grow and evolve as a singer-songwriter over the years, and on her latest […]

[rating=8.00] The smooth-voiced Austinite tenor Michael Fracasso is known for his heavenly hybrid of folk, rock, country, pop, blues, roots…the list goes on. Fracasso cannot be pinned down. His sound is special, and no matter what he’s singing, you know him when you hear him. (The first time I heard him, I was upstairs in my […]

[rating=7.00] Now that the novelty of their name has mostly worn off for fans, we are free to focus on Diarrhea Planet’s continuous evolution as a killer rock band. Their latest record  is a bombastic, hook-filled ride through sun-drenched, beer-soaked garages. Their brand of pop-infused punk rock is more addictive than ever on Turn to […]

[rating=8.00] William Tyler is a force of nature when he plays guitar, and though his previous records have been compelling and rich, his latest, Modern Country, is his most layered yet. Working with a full band that includes Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche, Tyler plays with a more melodic sound this time, making his guitar act […]

[rating=7.00] Through his free-wheeling psychedelic sound, Steve Gunn appears to have found some zen. His latest record, Eyes on the Lines, is a journey best taken outside in the sunshine, on fresh grass and dirt paths, under blue skies and across meadows and streams. It’s a vivid, visual album that incorporates trippy, meandering guitar riffs […]

[rating-9.00] “I’m a new kinda broken/it’s getting harder not to feel,” Robert Ellis sings, full of feels, on the soaring single “How I Love You” off his new self-titled record. His fourth full-length album, Robert Ellis offers up a new version of the formidable singer-songwriter. Ellis is at his most vulnerable this time around, both […]

[rating=7.00] From the mischievous opening guitar riffs on Aluminium, the new record from Birmingham, AL rockers Vulture Whale, there’s an implied naughtiness that will only intrigue you to keep listening. And their heady jams will continue to twist and turn in ways that will make you want to head-bang and shake your ass in equal measure. […]

[rating=8.00] We hold artists like Sonny Smith near and dear because they never cease to surprise us, entertain us, intrigue us and leave us wanting more. Smith continues to make sweet, strange music with Sonny and the Sunsets on the newly released Moods Baby Moods, a cheeky and fantastic follow-up to last year’s weirdly wonderful […]

[rating=8.00] About a year after their stellar record Me Oh My, Asheville, NC band The Honeycutters have created a fresh batch of stunners with the follow-up On the Ropes. Lead by the heavy-hitting vocals of Amanda Anne Platt, the band continues to hone their strong country sound with just the right mix of fun and […]