Elliott BROOD "Riding In Time"

It is an awesome thing to immerse oneself in music. I just got to see The Trishas again, more powerful than ever, as they played Shady Grove in Austin on Thursday. Their long awaited EP is out! They Call Us The Trishas features five tunes, and just whets the appetite for more. Then, on Saturday, it was enigmatic post-folk singer Tom Freund, accompanied by hipster maestro Chris Masterson, delivering easy lyrics, playing with their articulation and twisting the cadence. Tom will be heading south to play Austin City Limits Festival, and has a new EP out called Collapsible Plans. Last night, it was the magnificent Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros, whose new CD is called Agave. And as I am traveling with them, it is a joy indeed to be treated to their artistry. We hope to soon be bringing you some Walt and the gang, and some solo Mystiquero Bill Small, who recently released an album too, The Next Time. I could go on and on with recommendations, but I will stop here. Maybe I'll do another installment in another article. Just know that there is great music out there, if you look for it. The creative spirit is alive and well. It is almost too much to keep up with.

When Music Fog took over the stage at Threadgill's, during SXSW, we encountered the "problem" of just having too many artists that we wanted to book. We are ever vigilant to bring you more. Some that you know, some that you might have heard of, and some that might be totally new to you. Here's hoping that this wasn't your first rodeo with the Elliott BROOD. They are about to head out on another leg of their tour on August 26th, this time to Europe. Wish we could go with them! Let's talk Zen, let's celebrate gentle harmonies and introspective licks that don't scream, but wash upon you as the water laps the shore. Elliott BROOD, "Riding In Time."

- Jessie Scott

Robert Plant - Band of Joy

Wha...? Robert Plant is Americana? Now when did that happen? He, the iconic Led Zeppelin vocalist and native of Great Britain? Well, hell yeah! When you think about Led Zeppelin's inclusion of the roots flavors, it really should come as no surprise. He and Alison Krauss collaborated on the Raising Sand CD, and then attended the Americana Conference in Nashville two years ago. Robert was seen everywhere, wanted to go to everything, and by all accounts had a blast! There was a famous quote from him issued back then, "It's great to be considered to be part of the movement that is healthy and has some discrimination."

So, it should come as no surprise that Robert would follow up the 2007 album by continuing, again, to work with guitarist and co-producer Buddy Miller. And the inclusion of Patty Griffin, Marco Giovino, Byron House, and Darrell Scott makes the self titled Band of Joy album an Americana MVP project, which drinks deep from American roots music. The palate is broad, with flourishes from mid 50's Rockabilly, Country, Soul and R&B; covering traditional songs as well as "Harms Swift Way" from Townes Van Zandt and Los Lobos' "Angel Dance," which is the lead track. Check it out here, or dive even deeper (below) with a back-story video on the making of the album, which comes out on September 14th.

Don't forget the Americana Music Association's Festival and Conference is coming up September 8th--11th in Nashville. The 2010 Americana Lifetime Achievement Award honorees were just announced. They are Wanda Jackson - Performance; John Mellencamp - Songwriting; Luke Lewis - Executive; Greg Leisz - Instrumentalist, and Brian Ahern - Producer/Engineer. All will be present to receive their awards at the 9th Annual AMA Honors and Awards Show September 9th, presented by the Gibson Foundation at the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The show will also feature appearances by Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Patty Griffin, Sam Bush, The Avett Brothers, Corb Lund, Will Kimbrough, Sarah Jarosz, and more. Jim Lauderdale will again serve as master of ceremonies, while Buddy Miller will lead an all-star house band. The host hotel is the Sheraton Nashville Downtown, which has a special conference room rate. Can't wait!!!

- Jessie Scott

Travis Linville "Waterwheel"

I love the profusion of music festivals, they seem to be everywhere these days. It is quite impossible to even know about them, let alone attend them all. But what's really cool about having them dot the landscape, is that you shouldn't have to travel too far from home to get to one, and be able to spend a great day, or weekend, immersed in the sonic fog (music fog?) of it all. And what with August upon us, the summer of weird weather is almost over! There is the thought of autumn, crisp air a-coming (well we can dream, can't we?) - with all due apologies to the citizens of San Francisco, and other places where the mercury didn't seem to get out of the 50's this summer!

So comes the Illinois River Jam. Music, camping, float trip, friends, family, food and music! It's happening September 24th and 25th at Peyton's Place in Tahlequah, Oklahoma...should be a fun time. Travis Linville will be there, along with Randy Crouch, Adam Carroll, Owen Temple and lots more artists. There are actually a bunch more dates for Travis, as he cruises the Red Dirt trail up from Texas through Oklahoma, which gives you a chance to see his expansive palette of sounds, if you are along the way. Travis, post Burtschi Brothers in 2006, has been taking it on the road himself. He is Norman, OK based, and he is always busy. Recently, Travis has been performing as part of a gritty electric duo featuring electric dobro/guitar with drummer Chris Foreman, though. When he's not out singing songs, Travis is producing other musicians' records at his DirtyBird Recording studio.

We met up with Travis this past February, in the early morn, on the Music Fog bus in Memphis during Folk Alliance 2010. The tune "Waterwheel" comes from his CD Hometown Blues, and a solo acoustic version was later featured on See You Around, much like we bring you here!

- Jessie Scott