For twenty years, Duluth, MN troubadour Charlie Parr has been touring every corner of the nation, sleeping in his van and living lean, to bring his unique take on the country blues to the people. Reserved, cerebral and devoted entirely to his own vision, he’s one of our finest folk artists and a lyricist well worthy of a certain other Minnesota songwriter who so famously blended poetry and the blues. He took a new tack with his latest album on Smithsonian Folkways, tapping producer Tucker Martine and his studio friends for a contemplative and immersive album of ruminations, pictorials, and stories. For someone who’s not comfortable in interviews, he spent a convivial hour at my studio and left behind a remarkable conversation.
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The Americana Music Association released its nominees for the 2024 Honors And Awards on Tuesday in a music-rich ceremony at the National Museum of African American Music. Tyler Childers and Sierra Ferrell led the list with nods for Artist, Album and Song of the Year. Familiar past winners will also be eligible for 2024 awards, including Allison Russell, Jason Isbell, and The War and Treaty.
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There are countless reasons to pay homage to the legacy of country music and almost as many different ways to do so. Canadian artist Bahamas and Nashville’s Kelsey Waldon are doing just that in their own ways with recent projects. At a time when country traditions are strong across the Americana landscape, Bootcut by Bahamas and There’s Always A Song by Waldon demonstrate the power of devotion to a craft on one hand and celebration of heroes on the other.
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Gallagher Guitars, a boutique luthier in tiny Wartrace, TN that had earned the loyalty of Doc Watson and other important acoustic musicians, was all but left for dead a few years ago. Middle Tennessee native David Mathis took over the brand and moved its equipment and legacy to Murfreesboro. Now it's back on track to make more guitars this year than ever in its history, and it's throwing its first-ever festival in the street outside its shop next Saturday, May 4. A day of instrument contests and performances is capped by a ticketed show featuring bluegrass star Dan Tyminski and his band.
LINER NOTES
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A closer look at the three bands performing Wednesday night from 7 to 9pm at Tennessee Brew Works for WMOT's Local Brew Fifth Anniversary show.
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Jessie Scott sat down with Willi Carlisle at The Fitting Room Studio in Madison, as he is getting ready to play the Basement East on April 13.
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Jessie Scott sits down with Grammy winner, Cedric Burnside for a WMOT Words & Music session.
WMOT VIDEO: LIVE SESSIONS ON NPR MUSIC
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Last week, Steve Poltz and Maggie Antone performed at Riverside Revival for WMOT's monthly Wired In series. Watch highlights from their show here.
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Jon Muq performed "Runaway", "Shake Shake" and "Hello Sunshine" at a beach house turned studio in Florida for WMOT's 2024 30A Songwriters Sessions.
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Click here to watch Steve Poltz and Maggie Antone LIVE at Riverside Revival for WMOT's Wired In series on May 1st at 7 p.m. CST.
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KT Tunstall performed "Three", "Hallowed Ground" and "Big Black Horse & A Cherry Tree" at a beach house turned studio in Florida for WMOT's 2024 30A Songwriters Sessions.
NPR Top Stories
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NPR listeners wrote to ask whether the environmental harm from building EVs "cancels out" the cars' climate benefits. Experts say the answer is clear.
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Dallas singer 4batz rose from obscurity to a breathlessly awaited debut in barely a year — but his arrival is part of a tense exchange between hip-hop and R&B more than a decade in the making.
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Millions of new parents in the U.S. are swamped by medical debt during and after pregnancy, forcing many to cut back on food, clothing, and other essentials.
Win a pair of tickets to Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors at The Ryman Auditorium on May 17, 2024.
Win a pair of tickets to the Nashville Symphony featuring Marcus Miller at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on May 22, 2024.
Win a pair of tickets to Steve Martin & Martin Short at The Opry House September 19th
All good things don’t have to come to an end! Give your used vehicle new life when you donate it to WMOT. Donating is easy, the pick-up is free, and your gift is tax-deductible.
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