The Bowmans "Southern Sky"

I really missed Folk Alliance this year. I know I said that earlier this week, but it is true. It's hard not to be there when you know your friends are all attending, and now that the tales are being told and the pictures are being posted on Facebook, I am sighing. Oh well, I guess there is always next year. While the crew was working on other Music Fog projects, I kept busy spring cleaning and trying to catch up before the next wave of madness starts as SXSW® is approaching. Hey, I even assembled my Weber grill and cooked out for the very first time this season. Maybe my moodiness is made more so by the music I am listening to.

It is The Bowmans, twins from Davenport, Iowa now living in New York City. Drummer and percussionist Mike Meadows introduced us to them at last year's Folk Alliance in Memphis. They seem to sing with almost one voice, it was magical to watch them, even very first thing in the morning coming aboard the Music Fog bus, as I recall. Last winter, they recorded an album Songs for the Holidays which will be released next year. This past Fall, The Bowmans released their Live at Powerplay Studios, which was recorded in Maur, Switzerland. They head back to Europe for a tour in April. Here are Claire and Sarah with the Fog recording of "Southern Sky," a song you'll find on their self-titled CD, and on the new album.

- Jessie Scott

Madison Violet "Small of My Heart"

Memphis is fine this time of year. It is much more temperate than it was last year at this time, when the Music Fog crew was parked in a tour bus out in front of the Memphis Marriott Downtown. That is the headquarters of the Folk Alliance International Conference. It is quite an event, housed under one roof, bringing a cocoon like vibe to the goings-on. It brings a grand sense of community. It started yesterday, and goes until Sunday, February 20th. On tap are panels, workshops, instrument clinics, and a keynote address from Jac Holzman, legendary founder of Elektra Records on its 60th Anniversary. There are countless artists playing, there are upstairs suites where the live music goes into the wee small hours. There is lots of Red Bull being consumed, let me tell you! And we wish we could have been there this year, ah well.

So the next best thing just might be to bring you something from the Music Fog bus from last year. We had such a blast with everyone coming to visit, that it was hard to pick which one to bring you today. Drum roll please...it's Madison Violet! They are not at Folk Alliance this year either, though, having chosen to stay north of the border. But last month they were in Grenada...check out this Dinghy Concert Series performance they did! So fun!

"Small Of My Heart" comes from their 2009 album No Fool For Trying. It was produced in Toronto by Les Cooper (Jill Barber, The Good Lovelies) and featuring a stellar cast of musicians including Treasa Levasseur, Paul Mathew, Cindy Fairbank, Joel Stouffer, Victor Bateman, Adrian Lawryshyn and Chris Coole. If you are wanting a path to do some musical discovery, there you go! Here is the Music Fog version of "Small of My Heart," filmed during the 2010 FAI.

- Jessie Scott

Charlie Faye with Will Sexton "Whirlwind"

Sitting in the quiet before the 'storm' of MusicFest at Steamboat Springs 2011, which is just getting underway. Gotta catch your breath a bit, and not because the altitude is so extreme, but that's part of it, for sure. I don't buy the "drink water for altitude sickness" cure, preferring beer, thanks. I am watching a celebrity travel show on TV, that is shining a light on exotic locations and exotic hotels. Kinda funny, as the Music Fog crew is ensconced on location again. I love my travel. Once we setup shop here, and start recording, we'll bring you a few performance videos during the long weekend, with more to come over the following weeks.

What a year 2010 was for Charlie Faye. Nothing like dreaming big and doing it…she pledged to spend 10 months in ten different cities, putting bands together in each and then recording with each. As she and I have been in orbit in different parts of the planet, I haven't seen her to ask how it all went. But I did get progress reports on her as the year went on, and I think a good, productive time was had by all, and that included members of Calexico, The Eagles, Violent Femmes, Ian Moore, among many others. There, of course, is an album in the works...wonder if this song will be included? Wow, we have been holding this video for almost a year, and what a year it was for Music Fog too! Let's revisit Folk Alliance in Memphis this past February. Charlie Faye along with Will Sexton on "Whirlwind." Whew!!!

- Jessie Scott