Travis Linville "Waterwheel"

I love the profusion of music festivals, they seem to be everywhere these days. It is quite impossible to even know about them, let alone attend them all. But what's really cool about having them dot the landscape, is that you shouldn't have to travel too far from home to get to one, and be able to spend a great day, or weekend, immersed in the sonic fog (music fog?) of it all. And what with August upon us, the summer of weird weather is almost over! There is the thought of autumn, crisp air a-coming (well we can dream, can't we?) - with all due apologies to the citizens of San Francisco, and other places where the mercury didn't seem to get out of the 50's this summer!

So comes the Illinois River Jam. Music, camping, float trip, friends, family, food and music! It's happening September 24th and 25th at Peyton's Place in Tahlequah, Oklahoma...should be a fun time. Travis Linville will be there, along with Randy Crouch, Adam Carroll, Owen Temple and lots more artists. There are actually a bunch more dates for Travis, as he cruises the Red Dirt trail up from Texas through Oklahoma, which gives you a chance to see his expansive palette of sounds, if you are along the way. Travis, post Burtschi Brothers in 2006, has been taking it on the road himself. He is Norman, OK based, and he is always busy. Recently, Travis has been performing as part of a gritty electric duo featuring electric dobro/guitar with drummer Chris Foreman, though. When he's not out singing songs, Travis is producing other musicians' records at his DirtyBird Recording studio.

We met up with Travis this past February, in the early morn, on the Music Fog bus in Memphis during Folk Alliance 2010. The tune "Waterwheel" comes from his CD Hometown Blues, and a solo acoustic version was later featured on See You Around, much like we bring you here!

- Jessie Scott

David Olney & Sergio Webb "Covington Girl"

I have been on a tear through the countryside. You just don't know where it will take you! Sometime last weekend, I jumped a plane and flew out to see the subdudes at Rancho Nicasio, just north of San Francisco, which is the perfect venue to see this most engaging band. The boughs were swaying in the breeze, the girls were swinging in perpetual motion - all arms and groove and attitude, and then the guys even got down by getting up out of their chairs to dance. By the end of the show, everyone was on their feet, it was like being at a revival. There was rapture on people's faces. Kids were standing on tables and their dad's shoulders to see what was causing the vibe to levitate to the skies. Pure energy. Music like this is love. There is a big event that shines a light on Americana music coming up out here, too; the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, a free concert, October 1, 2 & 3 in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. It is celebrating the 10th anniversary, and the line-up was just announced a couple of weeks ago. I am happy to report that the subdudes are on the list.

Photo Credit: Stacie HuckebaLet me add that it is quite the honor to be asked to play at this prestigious festival. David Olney and Sergio Webb will be there this year too! David's music is so cinematic. Rich with detail and intensity. His songs have been recorded by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Del McCoury, Lonnie Brooks, James King, Slaid Cleaves, Dale Ann Bradley, Tom Rozum, Ann Rabson, Kieran Kane/Kevin Welch/Fats Kaplin, Tim O’Brien and others. He has released more than 20 albums over four decades, including six live recordings. David's most recent CD, Dutchman’s Curve was released in April 2010. In addition, he is an author, with a short story published in “Amplified.” And David has become synonymous with Classic Poetry as his performances stop time. The train robbery song "Covington Girl" comes from the new CD; here delivered with the weaving in of Sergio Webb's engaging guitar. The song first appeared on Sergio's 2009 CD Bolivar Blues. We filmed this at Folk Alliance in Memphis this past February, aboard the Music Fog bus.

- Jessie Scott

  David Olney - Covington Girl

  Sergio Webb - Covington Girl

Madison Violet "Lauralee"

Magic happens when Madison Violet comes around. They make sweet music together, even when the message has a bit of snarl, as it does on the song we are posting for you today that warns "Lauralee" to stay away. Lest you be wondering, in the fine style of "which one's Pink?" there is neither a Madison, nor a Violet, as Madviolet is Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac, and they hail from small Scottish towns in Canada. They've been together a decade or so now, with both of them having absorbed their respective parental units' vintage LP collections growing up, drinking from a well that has yielded a sound called both city-folk and tumbleweed pop.

On July 28th, they were announced winners of the coveted "Maxell Song of the Year," for the song "The Ransom," in the 13th annual John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Get a load of the judges for this thing: Elton John, Tim McGraw, Wyclef Jean, Bacon Brothers, Carlos Santana, Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, Natasha Badingfield, John Legend, Enrique Iglesias, Mary J. Blige; just to name some of them! There is a Music Fog version of "The Ransom," so check that out too, if you haven't seen it already.

We had an interesting occurrence with Madison Violet recently as they were touring Germany. Their audience found some of the Music Fog videos, and their comments are a hoot! We were watching a spike in our numbers, when we dug in to see where it was coming from, we found it was being driven by all guys, all German guys, all in a state of major lust! Many of these new fans discovered them after an amazing performance on the German music TV show Rockaplast. The girls are back in Canada now, in case you want to escape the heat of summer stateside...run on up and see them! And YES, they will be returning to Germany in October. Hubba Hubba! For complete tour dates, visit their website.

Now, "Lauralee" from Madison Violet, accompanied by Adrian Lawryshyn on upright bass and vocals. This was filmed during our Memphis Folk Alliance Sessions on the Music Fog bus!

- Jessie Scott