Tag Archives: The Bluegrass Situation

Tami Neilson’s Love And Loss

Tami Neilson

Tami Neilson

One of my favourite musical discoveries from this past year is old tyme country crooner, Tami Neilson.

Neilson, who lives in New Zealand but was originally from Canada, at one point used to have to busk on the streets of Midland, Ontario for food. Knowing Midland as I do, that she could succeed at this is a profound marvel to me.

I wrote a feature story on her for The Bluegrass Situation.

To read about the busking as well as tales of meeting Roy Orbison, not-meeting Johnny Cash and more, click here.

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Joel Plaskett’s Social Justice

Joel Plaskett

Joel Plaskett

Happy-go-lucky hoser troubadour Joel Plaskett’s been getting more serious in his old age.

In fact, his latest album The Park Avenue Sobriety Test tickles the edges of protest singer territory.

I spoke to Joel about this evolution and more for The Bluegrass Situation.

To read the story go here.

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Lisa Leblanc Explains Her ‘Folk Trash’

Lisa Leblanc

Lisa Leblanc

Lisa Leblanc is awesome.

She calls the fiery folk-rock-bluegrass-whatever music she makes “folk trash” and it’s a mighty fair description.

I wrote about Leblanc’s folk trash as well as a wildly inspirational roadtrip she went on for The Bluegrass Situation.

To read the story go here.

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20 Amazing Versions Of ‘Wayfaring Stranger’

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou Harris

I went down a deep YouTube rabbit hole recently and when I emerged what I had with me were 20 amazing versions of the traditional song “Wayfaring Stranger” recorded throughout the decades.

My favourites are probably the Neko Case and 16 Horsepower versions, but there are a number of other (sometimes surprisingly) great renditions amongst the 20 I highlighted in an article for The Bluegrass Situation.

To read the full list, go here.

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Bluegrass Situation’s Contemporary Canadiana Primer

Some cool Canadiana

Some cool Canadiana

The Bluegrass Situation, a dandy roots-Americana-trad website from the U.S. of A., has decided to start taking a look at what’s cooking in Canada.

One of the first stories they did was a “Canadiana” primer, by me, featuring 20 of the best hoser acts going right now.

To see who got picked and to check out the rest of the Bluegrass Situation site, go here.

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