Folk
Natural Brown Prom Queen Is Sudan Archives’ Brilliant Homecoming
Brittney Parks might be the only artist who can use the phrases “step inside my cottage” and “only bad bitches” in the same verse. The multi-hyphenate alt-R&B musician — better known as Sudan Archives, our September Artist of the Month — uses both of them effortlessly in “Home Maker,” the opening track to her multifarious new album Natural Brown Prom Queen. At once, she paints herself as both the modern hot girl and a timeless Aphrodite. “Home Maker” is a fitting mission statement to Natural Brown Prom Queen, a record that luxuriates in introversion, creature comforts, and the freedom allotted by the places you feel most safe. “Don’t you feel at home when you’re with me?” she repeats in the bridge. There’s a bit of a come-hither wink to it, but also an edge. Rather than playing into th...
Brandi Carlile Announces In These Silent Days Acoustic Re-Release In the Canyon Haze
Just in time for its first anniversary, Brandi Carlile is giving her most recent album In These Silent Days an update: The folk singer will re-record an acoustic version of the album song-by-song, titled In the Canyon Haze. Before it’s out on September 28th, Carlile has offered a preview with the new version of “You and Me on the Rock.” The idea for In the Canyon Haze came about when Carlile was pondering a deluxe edition of Silent Days. Rather than tacking on a few bonus tracks, she figured: Why not make the entire album a bonus? The album keeps the original’s tracklist with the exception of a cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” As for the new album’s title, Carlile cites the rootsy, bohemian spirit of the Laurel Canyon music scene. Pre-orders are ongoing....
Joni Mitchell Receives Honorary Doctorate from Berklee: “My Mother Would Be Really Proud”
That’s Dr. Mitchell, to you. Joni Mitchell has received an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music. Berklee’s Office of the President and Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice presented Mitchell with the much-deserved honor yesterday, August 23rd, at a private event in Santa Monica. As Pitchfork points out, the ceremony was hosted by Linda and Russell Brown of MaddocksBrown Foundation, during which the legendary folk musician quipped: “Well, luckily I’m too old to get a swelled head.” Naturally, she also wore a custom beret to the ceremony, embroidered with her new name “Dr. Joni Mitchell.” “It’s a beautiful event. Words can’t describe it. I’ve got my good friends here with me,” Mitchell told the crowd, which included Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. “I wish my parents were...
Beth Orton Announces Fall 2022 Tour Dates, Shares “Friday Night”: Stream
Beth Orton is gearing up to release a new album called Weather Alive. To support the release, she’s announced a Fall 2022 tour. She’s also shared a new single from the album called “Friday Night.” Hot off a run of European dates opening for Alanis Morissette, Orton’s upcoming tour marks her first string of headlining US shows in five years. She’ll first perform across the UK in August and October before heading over to North America in November, where she’ll perform in cities like Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles. The tour wraps up November 22nd in Vancouver, and tickets go on sale Friday, August 19th via Ticketmaster. Orton recorded new single “Friday Night” with The Smile drummer Tom Skinner, multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, and The Invisible bassist Tom Herbert. In a sta...
Andrew Bird and Iron & Wine Perform NPR Tiny Desk Concert: Watch
Andrew Bird and Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam have found freedom on the other side of peak popularity: past branding, past pretense, where all that’s left is joy in making music. The newfound friends took a break from touring the country together to perform a joint Tiny Desk Concert, and their set was as casual and exuberant as if they were noodling around on the porch on a Saturday night. The pair have an easy chemistry, with Bird playing the handsome straight man and Beam the class clown. “We started learning each other’s songs,” Bird said. “I love Sam’s writing” — at which time Beam interrupted: “I love your handwriting.” They opened with “Make a Picture” from Bird’s 2022 album Inside Problems, before moving on to the 2007 Iron & Wine favorite, “Flightless Bird, Ame...
R.I.P. Judith Durham, The Seekers Singer Dead at 79
Judith Durham, singer of the Australian pop band The Seekers, has died at age 79. According to Universal Music Australia, Durham’s cause of death was chronic lung disease. “Our lives are changed forever losing our treasured lifelong friend and shining star,” the company said in a statement. “Her struggle was intense and heroic — never complaining of her destiny and fully accepting its conclusion. Her magnificent musical legacy Keith, Bruce and I are so blessed to share.” Born July 3rd, 1943 in Essendon, Victoria, Judith Mavis Cock studied classical piano at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium. Also a classically trained vocalist, she performed blues, gospel, and jazz pieces before cutting her eponymous debut EP in 1963. Advertisement Related Video Soon after, Durham joined Atho...
Bob Dylan Accuser Drops Sexual Assault Lawsuit Following Allegations of Destroyed Evidence
An anonymous woman who accused Bob Dylan of sexually assaulting her as a child has dropped her lawsuit against him after being being accused of destroying evidence, Billboard reports. Last year, a woman identified only as J.C. accused Dylan of sexually abusing her over a six-week period in 1965, claims the artist called “false, malicious, reckless and defamatory.” The woman’s case first came under scrutiny after her timeline of events failed to match up with records of Dylan’s 1965 touring schedule. Then, at a hearing on July 28th, she asked the federal judge overseeing the case to dismiss it “with prejudice,” meaning it will be permanently closed and cannot be refiled. J.C.’s request to end the lawsuit came after she failed to turn over texts and emails pertinent to the case pri...
Joni Mitchell Announces The Asylum Albums (1972-1975) Archival Box Set
The Joni-ssance is coming, and right on cue, Joni Mitchell will soon share another collection in her ongoing archival box set series. Up next is The Asylum Albums (1972-1975), out on September 23rd via Rhino/Elektra. The 5xLP set includes remastered versions of 1972’s For the Roses, 1974’s Court and Spark, the 1974 live double-album Miles of Aisles, and 1975’s The Hissing of Summer Lawns. As a preview, you can hear the remastered version of Mitchell’s already-perfect For the Roses highlight “You Turn Me On I’m a Radio” today. The Asylum Albums is the third in Mitchell’s archival series, following 2020’s The Early Years (1963-1967) and last year’s The Reprise Albums (1968-1971). This go around, iconic the singer-songwriter tapped Bernie...
Joni Mitchell Plays Surprise Newport Folk Festival Set With Special Guests
Folk icon Joni Mitchell wowed the crowd at the Newport Folk Festival on Sunday (July 24) when the “Big Yellow Taxi” singer took the stage for her first full-length live set in more than 20 years. In her first appearance at the annual gathering since 1969, the reclusive Mitchell held court on a gilded chair for a 13-song set that included a parade of special guests paying tribute to the 78-year-old singer who has struggled with health issues and rarely appeared in public since suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Rolling Stone reported that Mitchell was supported by a group that included newly solo singer Marcus Mumford, Brandi Carlile, Blake Mills, Lucius, Taylor Goldsmith, Wynonna and more as they pitched in on s...
Paul Simon Comes Out of Retirement to Play Surprise Set at Newport Folk Fest: Watch
Paul Simon made a surprise appearance at Newport Folk Festival on Saturday, sitting in with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats for a set consisting entirely of Simon’s own songs. It marked Simon’s first-ever appearance at the storied festival, as well as a rare live performance for the veteran singer-songwriter, who previously announced his retirement from touring in 2018. With the backing of Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Simon first performed “Graceland.” He was then joined by Rhiannon Giddens to debut a new version of “American Tune,” featuring new lyrics penned by Simon. A performance of “The Boxer” followed, with Simon joined Lucius, Lukas Nelson, Natalie Merchant, Jerry Douglas, and others. Finally, he closed his set with “The Sound of Silence.” Prior to Simon taking the sta...
Joni Mitchell Takes the Stage for Rare Live Performance at Newport Folk Festival: Watch
Paul Simon wasn’t the only surprise guest at this weekend’s Newport Folk Festival. Joni Mitchell took the stage on Sunday for a rare live performance, joining Brandi Carlile to sing “A Case of You” and “Just Like This Train.” Mitchell has been largely retired from music since suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015. Earlier this year, she made a rare public appearance at the Grammy Awards, where she was honored as the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year and received a trophy for Best Historical Album for her retrospective album, Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol 1: The Early Years (1963-1967). At Newport, Mitchell appropriately performed while sitting on a throne. In addition to Carlile, she was backed by a number of other musicians, including Marcus Mumford, Lucius, Blake Mills, Taylor Goldsmith, and ...
Steven Spielberg Directs First-Ever Music Video for Marcus Mumford’s “Cannibal”: Watch
Marcus Mumford unveiled his first solo single, “Cannibal,” last week, but what he didn’t mention at the time was that the accompanying black-and-white visuals had been directed by none other than Steven Spielberg making his music video debut. “On Sunday 3rd July in a high school gym in New York, Steven Spielberg directed his first music video, in one shot, on his phone,” Mumford wrote on social media. He added that Kate Capshaw, who starred as Willie Scott in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and has played the role of Spielberg’s wife since 1991, served as “the almighty dolly grip.” Meanwhile, Mumford’s famous girlfriend Carey Mulligan worked as “Costumer/Sound.” The video itself was filmed with Spielberg holding his phone as Capshaw rolled him backwards on a swivel chai...
