Blues at the Crossroads Podcast: Episode 2 – Allison Russell on Songs of Our Native Daughters

Episode 2 of our podcast

Blues at the Crossroads.

It features a chat about Songs of Our Native Daughters, a stunning album by four women roots artists, Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell, Leyla McCalla and Amythyst Kiah, between Gary Burnett and podcast producer, Gemma Burnett, followed by an revealing interview with Bird’s of Chicago’s Allison Russell, in which she talks about the making of the album and her own family history.

“We had this kind of amazing experience of living together, working together, for twelve days and it was just kind of a creative explosion for each of us.”

Listen and subscribe here.

Best Americana Albums 2016

2016 was a bumper year for Americana and Roots music. With such variety and quality, it’s hard to grade them in any meaningful way.  So here’s the ten we’ve enjoyed most in alphabetical order by artist, followed by our next 10, and a final 5.

Birds of Chicago – Real Midnight

Luther Dickinson – Blues & Ballads  

Check out our recent interview with Luther here.

Dori Freeman – Dori Freeman

Luke Winslow King – I’m Glad Trouble Don’t Last Always

 Here’s our take on this album.

Sean McConnell – Sean McConnell

Parker Millsap – The Very Last Day

Kenny Meeks – New Jerusalem

Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing

Various – God Don’t Never Change

Here’s what we think of this superb album.

Lucinda Williams – Ghosts of Highway

Check out our take on this album here.

And our 11 – 20 list (again in alphabetical order by artist)

Avett Brothers – True Sadness

Brandy Clark – Big Day in a Small Town

Bob Dylan – Falling Angels

John Moreland – Tulsa Heat

Margo Price – The Farmer’s Daughter

John Prine – For Better, or Worse

Mavis Staples – Livin’ On a High Note

Here’s our take on this album.

Sister Hazel – Lighter In The Dark

Various – Southern Family

Brooks Williams – Brooks’ Blues

Check out our recent interview with Brooks here.

 

And our final five:

Brent Cobb – Shine on Rainy Day

Eric Clapton – I Still Do

Here’s our comment on this album.

Eric Bibb – Happiest Man in the World

Keith Richards – Cross Eyed Heart

Check out what we have to say about this album.

Sara Watkins – Young in All the Wrong Ways

 

And check out our Best Blues Albums of 2016 here.