John Shipe- Water This Dark review

John Shipe Water This Dark JohnShipeMusic.com John Shipe has a way with lyric and melody, one that places him within the highest class of singer-songwriter, traveling Americana troubadours. From the one-sheet: Americana songwriter John Shipe’s work exhibits seasoned self-reliance, as his sustained sobriety has become personal convention over the past several years. He’s emerged fully…

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John McEuen- The Newsman: A Man of Record review

John McEuen The Newsman: A Man of Record Compass Records Once upon a long time ago, ‘spoken word’ songs were common in country music. Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John,” Red Sovine’s “Teddy Bear,” CW McCall’s “Convoy,” and a dozen other ‘trucker’ songs, and even Ray Stevens’ “The Streak” were all hit songs that were, essentially,…

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Domenic Cicala- Bitter Blues review

Domenic Cicala Bitter Blues DomenicCicala.com If and when the Fervor Coulee Rootsicana Radio Hour gets to air, I guarantee Domenic Cicala will be one of the first artists I play. And it won’t be an easy task to decide which of his songs first gets a spin. DC-area resident Cicala’s previous album, a country duets…

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2024 Western Canada Bluegrass Fests including Blueberry Music Festival

Over at Fervor Coulee Bluegrass hosted by Country Standard Time, I advance the Western Canadian bluegrass fests including my favourite, Blueberry. This will be the 37th edition of Blueberry which started in 1985. I attended my first Blueberry in 1997 and went faithfully for most of a decade until I lost faith. I would attend…

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Aaron Lee Tasjan- Stellar Evolution review

Aaron Lee Tasjan Stellar Evolution Blue Élan Records AaronLeeTasjan.com As influenced by Big Star, Tom Petty, and the Velvet Underground as by any trad. country artist, Tasjan has flirted with mainstream Americana success while retaining every element of individuality marking his progress across more than a decade of recording and genre experimentation. What Tasjan Tasjan…

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The Stetson Family- The Stars, If You Look Closely review

The Stetson Family The Stars, If You Look Closely TheStetsonFamily.com Surprises. After more than twenty years exploring roots music—the good, the indifferent, and the ugly—I remain open to surprises. Most recently, a predominately blue-enveloped CD provided the most pleasing of musical wonders. Having not previously encountered The Stetson Family, I approached their CD as I…

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Fervor Coulee’s Favourite Roots Albums of 2024, January to March

Bonnie Montgomery, River To help me keep myself organized, I find it effective to review my annual favourites on a quarterly basis. This helps me when it comes to ‘year-end’ favourite lists, but also aids me in recalling albums that I enjoyed and which have possibly moved on from as the ‘new’ overwhelms the desk.…

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Paul Black- Beautiful Sin review

Paul Black Beautiful Sin PaulBlack.ca Blues-rock from Vancouver Island. It has been 14 years since Paul Black released an album (Blue Words), and Beautiful Sin has a lot going for it. With ten original songs and a clever reimagining of The Commodores’ “Brick House,” Beautiful Sin is a strong collection of sharply envisioned electric blues.…

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Crandall Creek- Ain’t Love Somethin’ review

Crandall Creek Ain’t Love Somethin’ CrandallCreek.com Copper Mountain Exciting bluegrass out of West Virginia, Ain’t Love Somethin’ is a crackerjack recording from Crandall Creek. Now fronted by Carly Greer, the band’s new recording is memorable and compelling. Greer is a vibrant singer possessing a full voice and exuberant approach to bluegrass vocals; if bluegrass wasn’t…

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Corb Lund- El Viejo review

Over at Country Standard Time, I’ve reviewed the latest from Corb Lund, El Viejo. Find it here.

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