Chris Thomas King I’m still not sure what “river music” is exactly, or which musicians play it, but I know it when I hear it. Chris Thomas King, born in the Mississippi River city of Baton Rouge (Louisiana), plays it. King’s father, Tabby Thomas, was a well-known blues musician who opened a blues
Nick Spitzer, host of NPR's American Routes, talks about American roots music, river music, and changing the world.
Ellis talks about growing up next to the river and what river music is to him.
La Crosse, Wisconsin isn’t known for its vibrant music scene, marching bands at OctoberFest maybe; no one will ever confuse the city with Austin or Minneapolis. There are plenty of live bands and places to hear them play, but the scene is dominated by cover bands and party bands—decent musicians who are not
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three Are there musical styles that are timeless, whose appeal cuts across generations? The success of Pokey LaFarge seems to argue “yes.” LaFarge, influenced by the ragtime of early 20th century, breathes new life into a traditional form, creating music that is contemporary but with deep roots.
The first time I saw William Elliott Whitmore perform was at an alternative country music festival. He walked on stage before a crowd still worked up from the previous high octane act. He settled into his chair and launched into an a capella version of a song called Cold and Dead, a haunting meditation about
