Posts by Maeri Ferguson

[rating=9.00] Rayland Baxter’s sound has certainly evolved on his new record Imaginary Man, the fantastic follow-up to 2012’s strong debut feathers & fishHooks. He’s mostly a classic folk artist that somehow manages to never remain too predictable. While his first album was definitely a lot more stripped down and acoustic, Man pushes the envelope and […]

[rating=9.00] When the first single off Ashley Monroe’s new record The Blade emerged earlier this year, it seemed that she was, perhaps, en route to a flashier, more mainstream career. “On to Something Good” is an undeniably catchy song, impossible to ignore and ideal for country radio-play. And with another Blake Shelton duet in “Lonely […]

[rating=9.00] If you can make it through a listen of the new record from Tame Impala without melting into an all-consuming groove and dancing your ass off, you have no business with electro-pop. Currents is a perfectly spaced out synth fest of epic proportions, sweet and salty, nuanced and huge all at the same time. […]

It takes stamina to get through day three of Newport Folk Festival. Typically it’s the most relaxed day of the weekend, no matter the lineup. The need to rush between stages to catch every set seems to have faded along with the previous evening’s picturesque sunset, and there’s more time to take a deep breath […]

The Fort Stage acted as the setting for countless standout moments on day two of Newport Folk Festival. Playing host to Jason Isbell, The Decemberists and Sufjan Stevens, the performances on the main stage were all over the place in the best way. Another unannounced guest on the Fort Stage did indeed turn out to be […]

Day one Newport Folk Fest attendees could not have predicted all of the surprises in store as they made their way by car, bus, bicycle and foot across the harbor to Fort Adams on such a magnificent sunny day. Around every corner, someone unexpected appeared and gave a killer performance as part of collaborations we […]

As another Newport Folk Festival looms this weekend, the three-day lineup leaves many attendees thrilled and excited, but always a handful scratching their heads. What exactly constitutes “folk music” and how do some artists qualify and others don’t? Ever since Dylan went electric at the festival 50 years ago in 1965, heated debates over what […]

[rating=9.00] There are few songwriters who so deftly capture the authentic American spirit like Jason Isbell. His 2013 tour de force record Southeastern was like a rebirth for him, as he was embarking on a new adventure, clean and sober after a long struggle with addiction. Isbell broke our hearts with Southeastern, penning songs about […]

Photos by Emilie Holland. On the morning of the final day of Solid Sound, festival-goers awoke to blustery winds and cold rain, but packed their cars and soldiered on to Mass MoCA for one last dose of art and music. And luckily, the Sunday schedule allowed for a lull in the day that was ideal for […]

Photo by Twitter user @Doukhobor666 Before Mother Nature had her way with the festival-goers of Solid Sound on Saturday, it was a busy day, beginning with Ryley Walker’s dark, brooding, soulful and haunting, almost Zeppelin-like set of trippy, jazzy instrumental jams and the occasionally wild howl. This quickly transitioned to the soft, traditional old world folk […]

Photo by Twitter user @BE_EDamon. Lest it be mistaken for something else, Solid Sound is first and foremost a fan festival. While fabulous music, art and comedy take place all weekend, the main event each day proves to be Wilco and their seemingly endless sets at the end of each night (save for Sunday, when side […]

As we inch closer to the biennial Wilco-hosted Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, Massachusetts on the grounds of Mass MoCA, it’s crucial to remember the profound impact it has had on this quiet little slice of the Berkshires. And only a little ways into this year’s documentary about the festival titled Every Other Summer, it […]

[rating=8.00] Listening to T. Hardy Morris and the Hardknocks will leave you feeling dirty, in a really good way. There’s something so disheveled and gritty about his twangy sound, and he’s been bringing it to countless stages on tours with both the Hardknocks and his side project Diamond Rugs all year. Morris is just the […]

[rating=9.00] Your song of summer awaits, and you’ll find it in an unexpected place, specifically, the title track off the latest record from Billy Shaddox, I Melt, I Howl. Shaddox hails from Colorado, and is the rare songwriter who seems to have a natural knack for crafting a pop song, and a deep understanding of […]

[rating=7.00] “No longer motivated by fear”, sings Kevin Galloway on the opening track “The Light” off the new record of the same name from his band Uncle Lucius. Thought The Light is the band’s fourth record, its material is new territory for them. Having recently split from their label, their album was funded through crowdsourcing from their […]

[rating=8.00] Evan Phillips is having a hell of a year. Fresh off Resolution Road, his beautiful collaboration record with Tim Easton and Leeroy Stagger (Easton Stagger Phillips), Phillips’ new solo album Silhouettes continues his streak of gorgeously smooth pop country songwriting. Silhouettes is, in many ways, a throwback record. It has all of the moody, […]

[rating=7.00] Heather Maloney’s sound is timeless. The Northampton singer-songwriter has a clear and pure voice, and she uses it to tell down-to-earth tales in polished folk songs. Her new record Making Me Break plays out like a picturesque musical photo album, with sepia-tone photos and pressed, sun-drenched wild flower fields. There are elements of romance […]

[rating=8.00] When you hear the nearly eight-minute long blues guitar epic of Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe”, the opening track off Otis Taylor’s latest record Hey Joe Opus/Red Meat, you’ll get just a taste of what you’re in for. And when the strings and horns kick in, adding an element of fantasy to this south western […]

[rating=9.00] Mikal Cronin has come a long way since 2013’s critically lauded record MCII. The praise was well-deserved for such a fantastic breakout album, and with his newest MCIII, Cronin is proving that he’s still got plenty of juice left in him. A breakup record to be sure, MCIII is moody, but buoyant and youthful. […]

[rating=7.00] Everyone loves Rhett Miller as the front man of Old 97s, but his solo records have been a bit more divisive. Miller has been more experimental with his own music, recording more pop-heavy albums like The Instigator and The Dreamer. But on his latest full-length solo record The Traveler, he’s moved in a different […]