Mike Farris "Oh, Mary Don't You Weep"

Mike Farris is a force of nature. With 2007's Salvation In Lights, his second solo album, he emerged full blown in his new incarnation, delivering Americana Evangelism, having shed the skin of an earlier, much unhealthier center stage role for the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies. He is a lesson for us all. He lived the binges; drugs and drinking and excess; 'too much ain't enough' lifestyle that so often accompanies success. Then he literally got religion, and left the bad habits behind in 2002. It has been a solid last three years, as Mike channels his energy into his music. And what energy it is. Pure white light. Seeing his show is an instant 'click' moment. Infectious, powerful, a tour de force. He takes the stage with the intensity of a tsunami, and you feel washed clean by the sheer joy of it. I don't care which of his albums you buy, but trust me on this one, buy one and you will buy them all. He is a secret weapon of Gospel - good tidings, GLAD tidings.

Photo Credit: Ed RodeHis latest, The Night The Cumberland Came Alive, features Sam Bush, Kenny Vaughan, Byron House, Ketch Secor, and The McCrary Sisters. It is a 6-song EP to commemorate and celebrate the rebirth of Nashville, after the "1,000 year" flood that took place on May 1, 2010. The project was recorded just weeks afterwards, set forth to help rebuild and repair the flood damage. There's a cool article about the project in this month's special Americana issue of the Direct Buzz.

When I saw him on the schedule for the Americana Fest, I was SO excited, we just HAD to have him come by. We booked him at 9am! Then I was kicking myself, because I wasn't there, having been called away to a meeting, knowing what I was missing. As I have said before, I don't often tell the guys what kind of musical experience is coming their way. But I texted Beans & Aaron and said, "Mike is on his way over to blow your mind." He even does that solo! Check him out live for a jolt of love. He is wrapping up some dates in Spain, and then will be returning to the US. I'll tell you, too; be prepared to be blown away, VERY blown away.

- Jessie Scott

John Brannen "I Could Be Persuaded"

The town is alive with the sound of music! Austin City Limits Music Festival is going on, and Zilker Park is playing host to a smorgasbord of the most happening artists in America. Over the three days, there is plenty of Americana being represented. Starting with the annual appearance of Asleep At The Wheel, Two Tons of Steel, Sahara Smith, JJ Grey and Mofro, Those Darlins, Ponderosa, Carolyn Wonderland, Tom Freund, Band of Heathens, Sarah Harmer, and Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses. And that was just yesterday! Here is today's schedule. Plus, this year there are aftershows in clubs around town. Sorry, we don't mean to tease you, but instead to tantalize you with the choices to dive into. Next year, when you are scheduling vacation time, pick one of the incredible music festivals and immerse yourself, right! And a head's up, for ACL you have to buy tickets early, cause this one sells out every year.

"I Could Be Persuaded" is the song we bring you today from John Brannen. He is one of those mysterious people that just starts you to guessing - where he came from, how he grew up, what his story is. His travels have taken him to many of the music centers in the United States: New York, Nashville, Memphis, Muscle Shoals, Los Angeles, and there are hints of each layered in, on top of his Southern roots, Charleston, where he was born. With chiseled features and a Southern rock sensibility, he makes common man music. It is an easy groove to live in. John's 6th, and latest CD is called Bravado, and it was co-produced by David Z, whose credits include Prince, Fine Young Cannibals, Buddy Guy, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

When we hooked up with John in Nashville, during the Americana Fest last month, he had one of those crazy long travel days, and we so appreciate that he came to see us anyway. I guess he really could be persuaded...Game On!

- Jessie Scott

Frazey Ford "Firecracker"

The creative process is so interesting to me, finally to take to heart the concept that to everything there is indeed a season. To soak up, to craft, to work toward a goal, to make something happen out of thin air. For me, that is the magic to keeping it interesting, to getting somewhere meaningful, to using one's time well on this planet. Being engaged is the goal, so really, the goal is not the goal at all. I flew back from San Francisco on a full plane, to find a teeming airport awaiting in Austin. The world comes to Austin's doorstep a couple of times a year, and this is one of them. Austin City Limits Music Festival is this week, and the parties and buzz have already started. It is so cool to get to be in a roomful, a city-ful really, of people that are equally excited, that get to live the American dream of doing what they love. Music. Or as Joni Mitchell astutely wrote, "Stoking the star maker machinery behind the popular song."

The Be Good Tanyas were a band out of Canada that we played on X Country at XM, seemingly eons ago. They released three albums and it has since taken four years, but Frazey Ford is back with a solo record released in July called Obadiah. Of it she says, “I get to have the elements of solo-ness in terms of fully directing the direction, but then I'm also able to incorporate other people's visions when it feels right.” This album combines the Be Good Tanyas' folk centeredness with the other thing she loves, soul and gospel. Her voice is simply impossible to believe, that it could be as fragile as fine bone china, yet still retain the tensile strength for a moon shot in a space capsule. Frazey takes you on a ride. And not just any ride, exactly where she wants you to go. There is a ghostliness, as if just maybe her voice could unlock the mystery of the universe, the genome project and win a Nobel Peace Prize as people unite to celebrate it. It is a voice whereby everything is possible.

Frazey came by our Sweet Suite studio at the Sheraton a couple of weeks back during the Americana Fest in Nashville. Let's light this firecracker!

- Jessie Scott