There is nothing like making new fans. The Belleville Outfit have been doing just that for the last couple of years, bringing their retro, swing, gypsy awesomeness to Nashville this past week. They, along with all of the other New and Emerging Artist of the Year Nominees (The Band Of Heathens, Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles, and Justin Townes Earle, who won it) were all asked to play during the Americana Honors and Awards at the Ryman Auditorium this past Thursday.

This year's show was even more electric than usual; that's what happens when you get the Flatlanders, Raul Malo, Emmylou Harris, and John Fogerty in the same space...just to name a few, there were many more performers and  presenters. John Prine was there too, and so was his long time manager and label head of Oh Boy Records, Mr. Al Bunetta. Al is a mover and shaker, and in this case I mean that literally, as he was dancing to the Belleville Outfit in the wings.

Now it's your turn to boogie…."It's A Good Day," Indeed!

-Jessie

In a nod to ee cummings, in almost all lower case, john Arthur martinez came to the Music Fog bus and delivered a heartfelt solo acoustic performance of the song he co-authored with Jan Landry.

His new album Purgatory Road is an homage to singer/songwriters, and the selection of tunes paints a portrait of life liberty and the pursuit, as well as grapples with the real quandaries of our time. Yes, John wears a hat, but he's no hat act; yes, he was on Nashville Star, but he is so much more than the stereotype that might evoke. He is heart and soul, and here he is.

-Jessie