Kathleen Grace with Larry Goldings Tie Me to You Monsoon The last time this writer heard the superb and sultry vocalist Kathleen Grace was on her last recording, 2013’s No Place to Fall, which was essentially an Americana recording imbued by the likes of Greg Leisz’s pedal steel, Dave Raven’s drums, and plenty of electric […]
Dylan Hayes Electric Band Songs for Rooms and People Blujazz There is no photo of Dylan Hayes on the CD jacket, but a quick search reveals a 20-something. Indeed, this is his debut album and it has tons of youthful energy flowing through the keyboards, whether acoustic or electric, that Dylan Hayes plays on Songs […]
With the current situation with Covid 19 lockdown and the complete shutdown of the gig economy, we feel it’s important that we do something to support the indie music community. We will be opening our “Making a Scene” Facebook page as a virtual Venue with a May 1, 2, and 3 kickoff show from Noon […]
Sarah Siskind Modern Appalachia Red Request Sarah Siskind’s Modern Appalachia is long overdue as it’s her first album in nine years. This is an important project as evidenced by the gleaming list of guests including Bill Frisell, Justin Vernon, Jeff Sipe, Mike Seal, Daniel Kimbro, Rose Cousins, Julie Lee, and Elizabeth Foster. Don’t let the […]
#Bloomerangs Moments and Fragments Instru Dash Mental It’s unusual to begin your band name with the pound sign but in this age of text messaging and digital communication perhaps, it’s not odd. (and, for those who file CDs alphabetically like this writer, how do you deal with a #? Suggest you just go to ‘b’). […]
Lou Volpe Before & After Jazz Guitar Let’s acknowledge that moat of the artists you read about on these pages are blues musicians. Even though the record label above and perhaps some of guitarist Lou Volpe’s previous work my steer toward jazz, this writer finds plenty of blues in Volpe’s style. Think back to Larry […]
Laila Biali Out of Dust Self-released (in U.S.) labels elsewhere We are reminded constantly that some of the best music comes from across our northern border. Just this week we heard again from Canadian genre-defying Basia Bulat, a three-time Polaris Music Prize finalist and three-time Juno Award nominee, who released Are You in Love? This […]
Carla Olson Have Harmony Will Travel 2 Sunset Blvd. Have Harmony Will Travel 2 is Carla Olson’s successor to her acclaimed 2013’s Have Harmony, Will Travel which featured two-part vocals with Peter Case, Richie Furay, John York, Scott Kempner and Juice Newton. This one includes comparably renowned names such as Timothy B. Schmidt (The Eagles), […]
Funk Shui NYC Shark NATO on a Plane ZOHO Funk Shui NYC is a 15-piece ensemble led by co-leaders trombonist Rob Susman and bari sax/flutist Dave Morgan. They are ostensibly a jazz unit but it’s their wide-ranging repertoire that sets them apart. The five tunes composed by band members here ring with funk, classic rock […]
Juliana MacDowell Leaving Home Conch Town Music Juliana MacDowell releases Leaving Home on Conch Town Music and it’s as fresh as spring itself. This, her second studio album, explores familiar themes and presents them in a beautiful light. Released on friday the thirteenth in the middle of a pandemic, touring to promote the album is […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene presents an an interview with The Flyin’ A’s! The Flyin’ A’s perform Americana with a Texas Kick. This husband and wife duo hails from Austin, Texas. You can hear their Texas roots in all they do. This high energy duo is famous for their top notch songwriting, breathtaking harmonies, and […]
Making a Scene – Getting a Booking Agent! If you are serious about being a touring artist, the most important person on your team is your booking agent. The bottom line of all the people on your team, your booking agent is the one that is generating income for you. The booking agent is one […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Sarah Morris Sarah Morris has a habit of missing the forest. From the day the Minneapolis based singer-songwriter picked up a guitar, armed with the bone-deep memory of her parents’ well-loved record collection and rooted in the storytelling fire of a Mary Chapin Carpenter tune, she’s […]
Chickaboom Tami Neilson Outside Music Canadian-born, New Zealand-based vocalist Tami Neilson releases Chickaboom! through Outside Music on February 14, 2020. Valentines Day! What’s not to love about that! Chickaboom! is revivalist rockabilly with clickety-clack percussion and a stomp-n-holler groove. With a vocal range that sways and phrasing that evokes artists like Amy Winehouse, St. Paul […]
Robert Vincent In This Town You’re Owned Thirty Tigers If it’s possible for an Englishman to be an Americana artist, then singer-songwriter Robert Vincent would be the first in line. Vincent continues to put his distinctive stamp on the genre as evidenced by the reception and acclaim received at this past year’s AmericanaFest. He is […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Danny Kensy! Danny Kensy is a nationally touring Country artist and songwriter based in Richmond, VA. His music blends a modern day edge with classic and traditional Western sounds. Danny has opened for such acts as Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Gary Allan, The Charlie Daniels Band, and […]
Marshall Crenshaw Miracle of Science Shiny-tone Records The Detroit born Marshall Crenshaw released his self-titled debut in 1982. That first album included the Top 40 hit “Someday, Someway”. Crenshaw followed with 1983’s “Field Day” which contained the single “Whenever You’re On My Mind”; and his 1985 album “Downtown” containing the hit “Little Wild One”. His […]
Josh Deutsch/Nico Solfiato Trio Redshift Musica.org (from Italy) The duo of trumpeter Josh Deutsch and guitarist Nico Solfiato have been active since 2006 when they first met in Boston. They draw on multiple genres, sometimes covering classical and pop in addition to jazz. Sometimes they are totally acoustic but are not averse to electronic loops […]
HOME PAGE Making A Scene Presents an Interview with Pi Jacobs LA based singer-songwriter Pi Jacobs plays what she calls an “Americana bluesy rock thing”. In 2016 she signed to the Travianana / Mountain Fever Group label based in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. In 2017 they released her first album, A Little Blue, to great critical acclaim, and […]
Eric Brace & Last Train Home Daytime Highs & Overnight Lows Red Beet Records Eric Brace & Last Train Home release their eleventh collaboration Daytime Highs & Overnight Lows on Red Beet Records. These are traveling songs, perhaps traveling through time as they evoke a feeling from another era while being new at the same […]
Making a Scene Goes to the Grammys On Sunday 1/26/2020 I had the opportunity to attend the Grammy ceremonies at the Staple Center in Los Angeles. As every musician, producer and engineer will tell you, this is the one event that is on their bucket list. To attend the Grammy’s is like getting a front […]
Randall Bramblett The Meantime (10th Anniversary Edition) New West This marks the tenth anniversary of Randall Bramblett’s “piano trio” album, The Meantime, which New West is commemorating with remastered versions, two previously unreleased tracks, and a vinyl issue for the first time. The album is one that is rather criminally under-recognized in Bramblett’s catalog but […]
Vance Gilbert Good Good Man Vance Gilbert is superlative, and he has outdone himself on his latest album, Good Good Man. The songs on Good Good Man are soulfelt, funky, Jazz-infused, with a wall of sound quality and an impressive list of guests that include blues and singer/songwriter Chris Smither, Tommy Malone of the Subdudes […]
The Wood Brothers Kingdom In My Mind Oh the things we tell ourselves. Kingdom In My Mind is the latest album release by The Wood Brothers. This is the seventh studio release by the band, and it is marvelously experimental. As favorite on mine, a Wood Brothers’ live show is captivating. For the band to […]
Raquel Cepeda Passion – Latin Jazz Self-released Houston-based jazz vocalist and songwriter Raquel Cepeda is a multi-talented artist with an interesting story and an auspicious debut. She uses the word ‘passion’ liberally. It’s the name of her band, her album, and her life force. From the liner notes, these excerpts from Cepeda will provide a […]
Five Grand Stereo Sex and Money Everyone who is a lover of music,has a special period in their lives. This is most likely in their early teens to mid twenties. A lot of growing up is done during that period. A lot of firsts take place, first love , first date, first kiss,and first job if […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Ainsley McGray Ainsley McGray is a multi-award winning artist. Her emotive, cinematic sound and searing lyrics, packs a rock edge guaranteed to give you an epic experience you won’t forget. From age four, Ainsley’s musical priority has been to create a specific emotion that is built […]
Fay Victor Barn Songs Northern Spy You may have never heard a vocal album like this one, unless, of course, you’ve heard Fay Victor before. Called by some an avant-garde vocalist and luminary on the contemporary avant-garde scene, Victor’s website has a slightly different descriptor – sound artist. Victor is many things – a composer, […]
HOME PAGE Making A Scene Presents an Interview with John Surge Years before John Surge launched his songwriting career — first as a member of power-pop bands and later as the frontman of his own country-leaning solo band, John Surge and the Haymakers — the musician grew up outside of Los Angeles. It was the […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Bill Scorzari! Bill Scorzari’s sound is gritty, raw and at times, downright sad. His songs transition through a multitude of emotions and themes centered on the experiences of the human condition. Of his music, some say it’s spoken word, and others, an amalgam of the voice […]
HOMEPAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Nick Nace! Nick Nace’s path from Canada to New York City to Nashville has been one filled with music, but the acclaimed folk singer-songwriter admits his muse led him in a different direction throughout his younger days than it does presently. Even though he was raised on […]
Jason James Seems Like Tears Ago Traditional country music is alive and kicking and Jason James is its ambassador. The ten original songs on Seems Like Tears Ago captures emotions and melds cheating heartaches, love done wrong songs, good ol’ honky-tonkin’ and countrypolitan stylings without once mentioning pontoon boats or rum drinks by the pool. […]
Bill Scorzari Now I’m Free There are poets, there are songwriters, there are painters of fine art, and there’s Bill Scorzari. The new album, Now I’m Free is a bold and delicate balance of each. To say it is a thing of beauty is an understatement. The album has played continuously these last few months […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Susan Gibson One of the reasons Susan Gibson always keeps a banjo close at hand, be it in the studio or at every show she plays, is because she likes the “lift” it brings to counterbalance a particularly heavy lyric: “Almost like it’s got a smile […]
20 Tips on Creating High Quality Music Videos On A Budget! In the abnormally over-saturated social media and music age, the chance for an unsigned artist or band getting recognition by releasing a song without a video is little to none. Unfortunately, most high-quality music videos released from famous artists start at $20,000 and goes […]
Steve Katz The Juggle Independent At the age of fifteen Steve Katz was already studying guitar with Dave Van Ronk and Reverend Gary Davis. He met guitarist Stefan Grossman and together they spent time rediscovering bluesmen Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James and Son House. Living in Greenwich Village Katz and his friends, Grossman, Maria Muldaur, […]
SISSTER Wows LA at the release party for her debut self-titled EP Patrick O’Heffernan (Los Angeles) SISSTER wowed a n LA audience when she released her self-titled EP last week and demonstrated why she is so popular and so beloved. You could feel the love in the air at the Sunset Blvd multi-venue Los Globos […]
HOME PAGE FACEBOOK PAGE Making A Scene Presents an Interview with Elliott Murphy Fresh from being inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame by Billy Joel, Elliott Murphy is embarking on a US Tour! Billy Joel Inducts Elliott Murphy into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. More then thirty-five years have passed […]
HOME PAGE FACEBOOK PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Matt Campbell We talk about his journey, his new CD, The Music Business and the state of country music. Listen to tracks from his new CD and the interview on Mixcloud .. Then listen to more of Matt’s music and add him to your […]
HOME PAGE FACEBOOK PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Michelle Lewis! Many performers live for applause. Michelle Lewis just wants to make you cry. There are sad songs, and uplifting songs. But more sad Songs,” She says. “For me, music is always more interesting the deeper you dig emotionally. My passion and my […]
Home Page Facebook page Making a Scene Talks with Indie Singer/Songwriter Mikalyn Hay! Mikalyn is a unique artist, old soul and world weary and yet so young and fresh. She comes at every song with a deep sense of herself as an artist with an alternative view of what is cool and classic in the same breath. […]
Joey Morant Forever Sanctified BluJazz Trumpeter, composer, producer, entertainer Joey Morant is a veteran presence in the current NYC jazz scene. Morant works as a soloist, in duet and trio settings, and in larger bands and orchestras. It’s not only his trumpet playing, but scat singing, and his on stage banter that sets him apart. […]
HOME PAGE FACEBOOK PAGE MAKING A SCENE Presents an interview with Americana Artist Mike Aiken! Life on the fringe has its benefits, not the least of which is the perspective from an outsider’s view. Northwind Records is proud to announce the release of Mike Aiken’s seventh studio album, WAYWARD TROUBADOUR. Aiken’s 11song package is the […]
Jimmy LaFave Peace Town Music Road Posthumous albums that come barely a year after the artist’s passing can be difficult to listen to. My tears are welling up while writing, knowing how much we’ll miss Jimmy LaFave. He, in the words of Gretchen Peters, possessed not only a “singular voice” but was arguably the best […]
Giulia Millanta is a cosmopolitan Americana artist. Her newest album “Conversation with a Ghost” is crisp and refreshing. The melodies are masterfully executed. Each instrument is selective in accentuating Giulia’s ethereal vocal. As expected from having a “Conversation with a Ghost“, the tempo and vibe of the songs are hauntingly familiar. https://www.giuliamillanta.com/ “Conversation with a Ghost” […]
HOME PAGE FACEBOOK PAGE David Olney doesn’t change his appearance; he changes reality’s appearance. He changes the room and the way we feel inside the room. He changes hearts, minds, and moods like the rest of us change bedsheets, only without the hassle of ill-fitted corners. His songs are marvels of surprise and delight. With […]
Photos above by Sam Watson Gatos Blancos is a jam band with soul and an evolving groove that is refreshingly unpredictable. Gatos Blancos brilliantly interpret the tone and resonance within each instrument. They play the sweet spots. Each song was unique, each had a good groove. Stage lighting was purposely dark to create mood for […]
First Impressions I have attended many music showcase events over the years, two notables being both the International Blues Challenge (IBC)and the Blues Music Awards, both held in Memphis Tn. Both of which present showcases and events geared towards the Blues market as a music genre. I have participated as both a judge and an industry professional […]
In 1986 the organizers of New York’s “New Music Festival” wanted to bring their festival to Texas. They contacted the Austion Chronicle in the hopes of making it happen. Fortunately for Austin that deal feel through, Roland Swenson, a staffer at the Austin chronicle got together with his publisher Nick Barbaro, Editor Louis Black and Musician/booking agent Louis […]
This is The Voice of Indie Blues the show that brings you the Future of the Blues by showcasing artists who are out there touring and creating new original music rooted in the blues. We Embrace the Diversity of the Blues that always has and still is being made from the blues! ZZ Ward Bag […]
