Americana Spirit

Posted by amyclark on 08/19/2008
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11/27/2007 Stephen L. Betts Justin Townes Earle, the son of Steve Earle, has signed a record deal with Bloodshot Records, the label announced Tuesday. His debut for the label, The Good Life, is slated for spring 2008. After stints in the bluegrass/ragtime combo The Swindlers and the louder, more rocking Distributors, the 25-year-old changed gears, now focused on music incorporating acoustic blues and folk. Recording is underway at House of David studios, the room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Presley and Neil Young. Justin’s diverse inspirations include Townes Van Zandt (he was named in honor of his dad Steve's hero), The Replacements, Ray Charles and The Pogues. The Good Life is produced by RS Field, who has helmed critically-acclaimed albums by Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth, Webb Wilder and Buddy Guy. **** Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin and songwriter/guitarist Buddy Miller will join forces for a series of shows in January. The tour has been christened Three Girls and Their Buddy. All four artists will appear on stage together to play acoustic versions of their hits as well as collaborate with each other.   After the tour concludes, they will all join Lyle Lovett and several other artists for Cayamo: A Journey Through Song, a six-day Caribbean cruise setting sail on Feb. 4, 2008.    Three Girls and Their Buddy tour dates:  Jan. 11 - Chattanooga, TN (Tivoli Theater) Jan. 12 - Knoxville, TN (Tennessee Theater) Jan. 14 - Chapel Hill, NC (Memorial Hall) Jan. 15 - Asheville, NC (Thomas Wolfe Auditorium) Jan. 17 - Roanoke, VA (Roanoke PAC) Jan. 18 - Indianapolis (Clowes Hall) Jan. 19 - Milwaukee (Pabst Theater) Jan. 20 - Lexington, KY (Singletary Theater) Jan. 22 - Athens, OH (Ohio U Templeton-Blackburn) Jan. 24 - Cleveland (Allen Theater) Jan. 25 - Pittsburgh (Carnegie Music Hall) Jan. 26 - Ann Arbor, MI (Folk Fest) **** Robert Plant and Alison Krauss move into the top spot on the Americana airplay chart this week. Their collaboration, Raising Sand, swaps places with Steve Earle’s chart-topping Washington Square Serenade, now at No. 2. Levon Helm’s Dirt Farmer moves into the No. 3 position, switching spots with John Fogerty’s Revival, now at No. 4. And closing out the top five is Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino, climbing one spot from No. 6. Check out the entire Americana airplay chart