Hayes Carll "Another Like You"

And...scene. MusicFest at Steamboat Springs is done for another year, and what an amazing time it was. We kiss the mountains and big blue Rocky Mountain sky goodbye, as we try to catch our altitude compromised breath, and center our alcohol infused brains. Good times. It is interesting to me that this music scene, Texas, Red Dirt, and Americana, has expanded so much that it can no longer be contained at one event. What I mean is there are SO many performers now that you can't stage them all in one place. Could take weeks, if you did that actually! It is just exploding.

There were some artists on the MusicFest roster last year that didn't make it this time. Like Hayes Carll, for instance. But never fear, we caught up with him in September during Americana Fest in Nashville, and voila! We have new music for you. Hayes' new CD KMAG YOYO (& other American stories) hits the street on February 15th. There are several ways to pre-order, see each of the bundles and other exclusives at the official Hayes Carll store. If you are lucky enough to have a local radio station that plays Americana you might be hearing music from his new CD any minute. We have an incredible duet for you today at Music Fog, and you'll find the studio version on the new album next month. Here's Hayes and bassist Bonnie Whitmore trading lines on this modern day love song which features one character that watches Fox News, and the other who enjoys MSNBC...as Hayes puts it!

- Jessie Scott

Kevin & Dustin Welch w/ Kelley Mickwee "Highland Mary"

OMG what a day! We are intrepidly reporting from MusicFest 2011 at Steamboat Springs. Day three of filming, in order of appearance in the Music Fog studio at the Steamboat Grand today: Randy Rogers, Charlie Robison, Sons of Bill, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, Uncle Lucius, Willy & Cody Braun from Reckless Kelly, Roger Creager and Paul Overstreet. Our tally for the three days of recording is 25 amazing artists, and we have captured lots of cool songs from each. It appears we might even have captured five brand new songs that have never been recorded, and two that were actually named during their recording session. We have been asking all the artists that came by what they thought about the MusicFest. Everyone talked about how great it is to be able to spend time with one another, share music and good times. That seems to be a mantra 'round these parts.

We had Kevin and Dustin Welch in the studio here, with Kelley Mickwee singing backup, on the song "Highland Mary." This collaboration embodies the spirit of MusicFest. It is just beautiful having them play together; father, son and Trisha member.

- Jessie Scott

Dirty River Boys "Union Painter"

Steamboat Day 3. Beans got up at 8 am today and slow roasted brisket in the studio kitchen. We were seduced by the aroma all day, and we finally got to eat by the end of the night with the Zack Walther Band. They were our final recording of the day. We also had visits from Jason Eady, Wade Bowen, Kevin and Dustin Welch, The Trishas, Will Kimbrough, Radney Foster, Micky Braun, and Luke Olson. Yes, it's all coming your way...you'll be able to "Get Down with the Get Down, Right On!" That's our new slogan on this trip, which Beans and Aaron heard on the radio on the way out to Oklahoma City to meet us girls. God Bless AM radio, great remnants of sound from other eras, in this case, the sounds of soul.

We had an amazing day, and once again I was struck by the level of songwriting; these are the best of our generation. Fun, serious, wholly awesome. Yesterday we had a Music Fog debut performance from El Paso's Dirty River Boys, Nino Cooper, Marco Gutierrez, and Travis Stearns. We loved it! This is also their first year at the MusicFest, so there are plenty of new eyes and ears on them---hope you're one of those sets. More video from Steamboat to come...

- Jessie Scott