Now & Then: Charley Crockett’s Age of the Ram and the Reach of Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
Charley Crockett releases Age of the Ram, the final chapter of his Sagebrush Trilogy, a 20‑song, 45‑minute concept album built around outlaw Billy McLane and produced with Shooter Jennings. The record channels the cinematic storytelling of Marty Robbins' 1959 Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, using western imagery, reprises, and varied moods to create a dusty outlaw serial. While echoing Robbins' archetypal approach, Crockett injects soul, R&B, and bar‑band grit, resulting in a looser, collage‑like sound. Critics note the album’s blend of classic western myth with modern groove, positioning it as a fresh take on country’s mythic tradition.
Andy Hedges – The Westerner
Texas‑born troubadour Andy Hedges has issued *The Westerner*, an album that deliberately revives classic cowboy and western music. The record weaves historic poems—like a Charles Badger Clark piece—into new melodies, and pairs spoken‑word tracks with traditional cowboy songs. Guest artists...
Readers’ Pick: Charley Crockett – Age of the Ram
Twangville’s weekly Readers’ Pick poll for the week of April 3, 2026 named Charley Crockett’s *Age of the Ram* the top new release, earning 34% of the vote (13 out of 38 respondents). The poll listed 16 releases, with Mark Erelli’s *Spring...
Krislyn Arthurs Song Premiere – Missin’ Man
Krislyn Arthurs, an Oklahoma‑born singer‑songwriter, has released the lead single “Missin’ Man” from her debut album Honky Tonk PhD. The record straddles outlaw country, southern rock and a darker “goth‑country” aesthetic, reflecting the gritty realities of small‑town life. Arthurs recorded...
Built with an Old Hammer: Dale Watson’s Honky-Tonk Truth
Dale Watson’s career is a study in grassroots authenticity, from teenage gigs behind chicken‑wire in Texas to a lifelong habit of improvising songs onstage without set lists. Early mentorship from Willie Nelson and a chance record deal propelled him from...
Now & Then: Drayton Farley’s A Heavy Duty Heart and the Reach of Trace
Drayton Farley’s new album *A Heavy Duty Heart* arrived on March 27, 2026, recorded live to tape in Nashville with his touring band and produced by Sadler Vaden. The ten‑track record expands Farley’s plain‑spoken honesty into a broader roots‑rock sound...
Readers’ Pick: Drayton Farley – A Heavy Duty Heart
The weekly Readers’ Pick poll for March 27‑June 2026 named Drayton Farley’s *A Heavy Duty Heart* the top new release, earning 22 % of the vote (6 out of 27 participants). The poll captured a modest but engaged audience of 27 voters, reflecting...
Heart – a Premiere From Charlie Marie
Charlie Marie, the Rhode Island‑born country singer, returns with “Heart,” the lead single from her forthcoming album “Signs.” The track was written after she attended a Black Lives Matter protest, channeling the intense emotions into a gentle, rally‑calling anthem. “Heart”...
SXSW 2026: The Sounds, Part 1
SXSW 2026 showcased a blend of legacy acts and emerging talent, highlighted by the poignant final performance of Texas songwriter Jon Dee Graham, who passed away shortly after his set. Texas country band Silverada delivered a packed preview of their...
Now & Then: Hurray For The Riff Raff’s Live Forever and the Reach of Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Hurray For The Riff Raff’s new live album *Live Forever* showcases Alynda Segarra’s road‑tested songs in a concert setting, emphasizing communal storytelling. The release draws a clear lineage to Lucinda Williams’ 1998 Americana classic *Car Wheels on a Gravel Road*, sharing...
Readers’ Pick: Hurray For The Riff Raff – Live Forever
Twangville’s weekly Readers’ Pick poll for the week of March 20, 2026 crowned Hurray For The Riff Raff’s album *Live Forever* as the fan‑favorite, earning 7 votes (21% of the total). The poll attracted 34 participants, with Tedeschi Trucks Band and The Montvales each receiving 6 votes (18%) for second...
Joe Troop & The Truth Machine – Joe Troop & The Truth Machine
Joe Troop, a multilingual multi‑instrumentalist known for his Grammy‑nominated Che Apalache project, teams up with his longtime North Carolina friends to release the EP *Joe Troop & The Truth Machine*. The six‑track record blends traditional bluegrass instrumentation with global folk influences while...
Rick Vito – Slidemaster
Rick Vito, former Fleetwood Mac guitarist, is set to release his new album Slidemaster on April 3. The record blends fresh slide‑guitar compositions with remastered instrumentals, showcasing his signature blues‑rock style. Highlights include a Bo Diddley‑flavored "The Big Beat," a cover of Peter Green’s "Albatross," and...
Now & Then: The Steel Wheels’ The Steel Wheels and the Reach of Tomorrow the Green Grass
The Steel Wheels' self‑titled album revisits the band’s acoustic roots while expanding the soundscape with reflective, community‑focused lyrics. The review draws a parallel to the Jayhawks’ 1995 release *Tomorrow the Green Grass*, which broadened the mid‑90s roots‑rock lexicon with richer...
Paula Boggs Band – Sumatra
Paula Boggs Band’s fifth album, *Sumatra*, blends bold, coffee‑like flavors with folk, blues, and jazz, opening with a Gregorian chant and weaving heritage songs into modern arrangements. Original tracks such as “Bard of Vietnam” and “Note To Quinn” explore war...
Andy Thomas – Highway Junkie
Andy Thomas releases his latest album, *Highway Junkie*, a gritty blend of outlaw honky‑tonk and southern rock. Produced by Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools, the record captures Thomas’s transition from a road‑warrior lifestyle to a more sober, reflective creative phase after...
Monday Morning Video – John Moreland
John Moreland’s 2013 ballad “Break My Heart Sweetly,” featured in his album *In the Throes*, continues to draw attention for its stark emotional honesty. The song’s raw lyricism and minimalist arrangement have cemented Moreland’s reputation as a leading voice in...
Now & Then: Reese McHenry’s Forever and the Reach of Furnace Room Lullaby
Reese McHenry’s posthumous album *Forever* assembles her final decade of recordings, delivering garage‑rock grit alongside roots and blues sensibilities. The collection feels like a living band record rather than an archival curio, showcasing her signature blend of world‑weary humor and...
Readers’ Pick: Reese McHenry – Reese McHenry Forever
Twangville’s weekly Readers’ Pick poll for the week of March 6, 2026 crowned Reese McHenry’s new album “Reese McHenry Forever” as the top release. The album captured 53 % of the vote, tallying 39 out of 74 total votes cast by the site’s community. The poll...
Tedeschi Trucks Band – Future Soul
The Tedeschi Trucks Band is set to release its new studio album *Future Soul* next week, featuring all 12 members on most tracks. The record blends heavy blues roots with R&B, rock, and acoustic elements, delivering a dense wall‑of‑sound experience....
Monday Morning Video – TopHouse
TopHouse, a Montana‑born band rooted in bluegrass, delivered a high‑energy live show in Boston that married intricate instrumentation with pop‑songcraft. Their performance featured the new track “I Don’t Want to Move On,” taken from the forthcoming 2025 album Theory and...
Now & Then: Rose’s Pawn Shop’s American Seams and the Reach of Southern Rock Opera
Rose’s Pawn Shop releases American Seams, a live‑in‑studio album that blends bluegrass, rock, and country storytelling after two decades on the road. Produced by Eric Corne, the record captures a raw, communal sound that mirrors the band’s touring energy. The...
Readers’ Pick: Rose’s Pawn Shop – American Seams
Rose’s Pawn Shop’s new album “American Seams” topped Twangville’s Readers’ Pick poll for the week of February 27, 2026, capturing 22 % of the 36 votes cast. The record also placed tenth in the broader Readers’ Tops Winter 2026 ranking. Although the sample size...
From Busker to Believer: The Hard-Earned Songs of Slaid Cleaves
Slaid Cleaves, a Texas‑based Americana singer‑songwriter, recounts his rise from $600‑a‑month busking gigs to a sustainable independent music career. After quitting his minimum‑wage job, he spent years honing his craft on the streets of Cork and in Austin’s open‑mic scene,...
Twangville Returns to NYC’s Cafe Wha? On April 1st
Twangville will host a showcase at NYC’s historic Cafe Wha? on April 1, featuring Lydia Loveless and debuting Will Dailey. The event continues the venue’s legacy of legendary performances. Loveless brings a decade‑spanning catalog, while Dailey presents his new album...
Alan Williams – Floating On the Dreamline
Alan Williams is retiring from his professorship at the University of Massachusetts‑Lowell while releasing his third solo album, Floating On the Dreamline. The record spans indie‑rock, power‑pop, heavy‑metal, bossa nova, and piano ballads, reflecting his diverse musical background. Student collaborators from...
Cody Diekhoff of Chicago Farmer on Upcycling Used Guitar Strings and Touring in “Barbara Streisvan”
Chicago Farmer (Cody Diekhoff) tours in a 250,000‑mile Chevy Express dubbed "Barbara Streisvan," currently undergoing rust repairs. His wife’s side business, Twice upon a Strings, upcycles his used guitar strings into jewelry sold at shows, with 20% of proceeds supporting...
Monday Morning Video – Stephen Kellogg
Stephen Kellogg marked a career milestone by performing his 3,000th show, a feat that reflects more than eight years of nearly nightly touring. The landmark concert, show 2999, took place in New York City before the artist returned to Western Massachusetts...
Now & Then: The Band of Heathens’ Country Sides and the Reach of Golden Smog’s Down by the Old Mainstream
The Band of Heathens released *Country Sides* on February 20, 2026, a self‑produced 11‑track record recorded in just over a week at their own Finishing School studio. The album leans on democratic vocal duties, barroom‑style piano, and a lean, road‑ready...