NEWS
Americana Agency
Jonathan Byrd
Doug and Telisha Williams
Idgy Vaughn
Corinne West and the Posse
Michael Johnathon
Amy Speace
Charlie Louvin
Terri Hendrix
The Inaugural Chattahippie Music Festival in September
Three American Agency artists have accepted inviations to perform at the first annual version of this festival. Chattanooga plays host this celebration of peace, love and great Americana music. Described as a cross between MerleFest and Bonnaroo, Chattahippie is an outdoor event, located on a beautiful 50+ acre riverside venue.
For more information, visit the Chattahippie Music Festival website.
Jonathan Byrd:
“Judge” Byrd: The Songwriter’s Songwriter
When top folk festivals like Kerrville in Texas and Sisters in Oregon call the Americana Agency to book Jonathan Byrd, they not only want him to perform concerts and not only want him to teach at their songwriting schools. He is in demand as a judge of their songwriting competitions. They explain that the credibility of their contest depends on songwriting reputation of the judges, and Jonathan’s is as esteemed as anyone writing in the folk music world today.
Jonathan Byrd’s Spring Surprise
The twelve tracks on This is the New That,
which will be released this spring, will surprise his fans by revealing
an edgier artist, according to advance reviews. Randy Auxier of WDBX
in Carbondale, Illinois writes that “Jonathan Byrd continues to
inspire awe with his versatility and musical sensitivity. This is
the New That does for rock and roll what The Sea and the Sky did
for bluegrass, which is to take things to a different level. Folkies
will like this recording, but Byrd draws a wider circle concentric to
the one he already created. It is possible for first-rate songwriting
to be sustained through a full length rock recording while exploring
nearly every mode of human emotion.”
Charlie Louvin :
Americana Agency signs Charlie Louvin
Charlie Louvin is the latest artist featured from the Americana Agency.
Doug and Telisha Williams :
Nashville Legends Tap Doug & Telisha Williams for Support
Charlie Louvin . . . Lucinda Williams . . . Darrell
Scott . . . all are legends in the country music world . . . and all
have invited Doug & Telisha to share the stage with them. Grand Old
Opry Member and Country Music Hall of Farmer Charlie Louvin is most famous
as one of half the Louvin Brothers, seminal Nashville artists in the
50’s and 60’s – Doug & Telisha opened for him at
the Handlebar in Greenville, SC. Lucinda Williams is the reigning queen
of the alt-country genre – Doug & Telisha opened for her at
the Carolina Theater in Greensboro, NC. And Darrell Scott, having written
chart hits for Garth Brooks, the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill,
has emerged as a performer in his own right – Doug & Telisha
opened for him at Ashland Coffee & Tea in Ashland, VA.
Idgy Vaughn :
Idgy Vaughn Joins Kris Kristofferson for Paramount Theatre Gala
Austin’s Paramount Theatre has selected its artists for their 2008 Annual Fundraising Gala and Concert: Kris Kristofferson and Idgy Vaughn. These two great songwriters join forces to benefit the historic theatre, which has stood on Congress Avenue in the heart of downtown Austin for nearly 100 years. The Paramount is a non-profit organization that presents comedy, drama, music, dance, spoken word, children’s programming and films to more than 200,000 people each year. For more information, visit the Paramount Theatre website.
Idgy Vaughn US Tours Announced: Northwest, Midwest and Northeast
Many Texas artist rarely venture out of their state. But, with concert presenters around the nation curious about all the fuss over Idgy's unique brand of TexAmericana music, she will spend the rest of 2008 taking it to them. Playing as a duo with heralded Austin guitarist Will Sexton, Idgy will tour the Northwest in July, the Midwest in August and the Northeast in September. Among the notable gigs are:
Home on the Grange Concert Series on Lopez Island, WA
Bossier Arts Council Concert Series at Fairfield Studios in Shreveport, LA
Common Fence Music Concert Series in Portsmouth, RI
Check out Idgy'e entire touring schedule. Tour dates are being added regularly.
Corinne West and the Posse :
NPR Picks "Hell Yes" as One of the Five Best Road Songs of All Time
Virtually everyone has heard the siren song of the open road at some point or another. Out of the thousands of great road songs, NPR picked Corinne West's "Hell Yes" as one of five which provide a soundtrack to that long journey we're all forced to take at least once: to try to figure out what we're supposed to be doing with our lives. NPR said:
" 'Hell Yes' is about something we all do (or think we should do) at some point in our lives: move on, move away, take chances and try to figure out what it's all about. 'Hell Yes' offers a perfect mix of humor (she sings about broken down buses and random marriage proposals) and serious ('I haven't yet settled myself/ how does one settle oneself?') The upbeat tempo and cheerful lyrics offset the soul-searching, ultimately making it feel like it'll be okay, eventually."
The other best Road Songs are:
"Tangled Up in Blue" by Bob Dylan
"Car Outside" by Jimmy LaFave
"Goin' by Feel" by Ray Bonneville
"How Many Miles" by the Waifs
To read about and listen to them, go to NPR Music.
"Art of the Song" Profiles Corinne West
John Dillon and Vivian Nesbill host an hour-long radio show, broadcast on 160 stations worldwide, which explores inspiration and creativity through songwriting and other art forms. They spend the hour with Corinne West learning why she write songs and where she finds the sources of her inspiration. She share her insights about creative expression with the radio audience. Listen to the profile on the Web at Art of the Song.
Michael Johnathon :
Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour
Michael Johnathon’s Woodsongs Old-Time Radio
Hour is broadcast each week to one million listeners on 500 radio stations
and XM satellite radio. Woodsongs is now a TV show available to all PBS
stations and is being telecast in markets reaching 58 million people.
The audio and video of the shows are available on the Internet. In the
last six months, there have been 1,680,000 downloads of them. For more
information, visit www.woodsongs.com.
Amy Speace :
Amy Speace Sings Title Cut on Judy Collins
Tribute AlbumWildflower Records is releasing a tribute album of
the songs of folk music icon Judy Collins. The album has various artists
each performing one of Judy Collins’ songs. Wildflower has selected
Amy Speace to perform the title track of the album, “Born to the
Breed.”
2008 Freedomfest Concert Features Amy Speace & the Tearjerks
Liberty State Park, where 25,000 people gather for the annual Fourth of July Freedomfest, is part of America's Historic Trilogy, along with the Stature of Liberty and Ellis Island During the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of European immigrants were greeted by the Statue of Liberty, processed at Ellis Island and then boarded trains at the Central Railroad Terminal at Liberty State Park to take them to their new lives. Amy Speace & The Tearjerks will take the stage set up next to the historic Terminal for a concerrt that precedes a fireworks display over the water. "Freedomfest reminds Americans how much their nation cherishes freedom and diversity," Amy said. "I am excited and honored to share my music with those who come to celebrate."
Terri Hendrix :
Ms. Hendrix Goes to Washington
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is held each summer on the National Mall in Washinton, DC. Drawing more than a million visitors, the festival is the capital's largest annual cultural event. Each festival focuses on a different state; the culture and traditions of Texs are featured in 2008. The Smithsonian has selected Terri Hendrix to represent Texas music by performing at this year's festival.