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

Miss Tess & the Bon Ton Parade "Train Ride to Caroline"

Americana. It is a term batted around more these days, but still ill defined. It combines roots forms; country, rock 'n roll, gospel, R&B, blues, folk, and is none of these things purely, but the synthesis creates something wholly its own. It is a melting pot of music, much as American is a melting pot society. If you are new to the term Americana, it is described on the Americana Music Association's website: "Americana is music that honors and is derived from the traditions of American roots music. It is music inspired by American culture traditions which is not only represented in classic man made / roots based sounds but also through new and contemporary artists whose music is clearly inspired by these great traditions."

In some cases, it isn't even American roots, but other ones that wind up in the musical stew. Like Tex-Mex, or the French influence in Zydeco, or the Gypsy and Jewish influence of jazz included in the music of Miss Tess and The Bon Ton Parade. She and the band are New York based. When I think about it, it is a pretty amazing collection of young artists living there: Annie & the Beekeepers, The Wiyos, Yarn, and The Bowmans, just to name some. They have a new EP release called The Waltz Set coming soon, and are doing a show to celebrate that in New York on Thursday, September 30th, in the big room at Rockwood Music Hall. Interesting to have this music in one of its historical touchstones, the Lower East Side of New York. Perfect melting pot scenario.

Back in March we had the honor of Miss Tess and The Bon Ton Parade performing during Music Fog's artist showcase at Threadgill's in Austin. "Train Ride to Caroline" comes from that session.

- Jessie Scott

Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines "Hand Me Down Blues"

I am on a blues jag again. It was one of the earliest influences for me, starting when I discovered Muddy Waters through listening to the early Rolling Stones. Since the 60's there have been times of total immersion in it. And the blues, they are coming around for me again. From hanging at Antone's in Austin, to my iPod, which is chock full. The traveling through the Delta, and then Chicago, you get to feel how the land influenced the music, and how it sprang from the troubles of the day. It still speaks to me. Love troubles, people troubles, money troubles, work troubles. And it feels better, just singing along. You get the same kind of release as chanting Buddhist mantras. Accomplishes peace. Gives you insight.

Photo Credit: Mary BrutonEnter Terri Hendrix. She is the consummate songwriter, with lots to say, and the gift with which to deliver it. Her new CD is called Cry Till You Laugh. If that ain't the philosophy of why people sing the blues, I don't know what is. This new CD is just out a month and there is an accompanying book of the same title. It was meant to be a jazz album, but it kind of had a mind of its own. Terri is a classically trained vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, mandolin and harmonica and she's a very imaginative songwriter. She sings with abandon, whether scat, folk, blues, or Gothic Americana. She calls the new album's influences "a yin and yang of life."

We were so glad to catch up with Terri at WoodyFest, and she brought the wonderful Lloyd Maines with her. Together they make magic. "Hand Me Down Blues" is one of those 'lessons about life' songs. Every day we wake, we can be happy or we can wallow in the past. Choose wisely, you only go around once.

- Jessie Scott