Music I Am Enjoying
4 Feb
It’s a great time for music. There’s an abundance of creativity in the air, a boom in innovation and imagination, and great new ways to reach people globally that are a series of firsts in history for musicians and songwriters. You tube and the internet have changed everything. The old gatekeepers no longer have a monopoly on who is allowed into the arena, old radio is dead or dying, old media the same, and the world wide web is wide open and ripe with possibilities. There’s no more gate to keep! No one is in charge. It’s a free for all. And really, thats a good thing. Because so many artists could not shape themselves into the pretzel that old media demanded before allowing entrance, they were shut out. Today, the game has changed. It’s becoming easier for the cream to rise to the top. It’s a vastly different world then it was when I entered the music business in 2000, and it’s an exciting time. Sure, it’s hard to get heard because there’s so much happening now, (it’s like trying to drink from an open fire hydrant there’s so much out there now), but what a good problem to have! It’s a great time to be alive, and to be an artist and a fan of original music.
Here’s a few of the people I’ve been enjoying, a few artists I’d like to share with you l because I love them, enjoy their work, and believe they have something valuable to offer. Let me know what you think, it’s would be great to hear from you.
CW Stoneking –We played a show with him on BBC Radio Scotland as part of the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow. He’s amazing, check him out.
Fred Eaglesmith–My friend, my hero, my mentor, my favorite songwriter. ‘Nuff said.
Gretchen Peters–An absolutely gifted and amazing artist, with a fantastic new CD out now.
Lori McKenna–What a great song, what a great songwriter, what a great CD.
Ruthie Foster.New CD just out, Let It Burn.
She’s a true BAD ASS!!! She’s got it, and then some.
Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, The Harrow and The Harvest.
7 years in the making, and finally, here it is. A new record from one of the most amazing duo’s that have ever walked the earth. They are truly timeless, operating outside of time as I know it. They are time travellers, and we are lucky to be able to see perform live in our time. If they are playing near you, you gotta go see them. It never ceases to amaze me how good they are live. Truly, truly great.
You’re not wrong about Lori McKenna.
* new fan
Fred is an old favorite!!!! Can just see the Canadian plains. And thanks for the Lori McKenna clip. Never heard her before…..love women with “different” voices. And Ruthie goes without saying.
What I’m looking forward to hearing is a wonderful singer and songwriter who has just pooled talents with Joe Henry for her latest album. When will it be out? I hope you were able to keep things ‘fun’, despite Joe’s unerring focus…
Big fan of all of then except Lori McKenna, but only because I keep meaning to listen to her but have never got around to it. I know, I know … excuses, excuses.
Gretchen just did a twinterview with me, which was really informative http://bit.ly/ywA0zp