Americana | World Music Central

Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival spring 2026 poster. Photos of headliners.

Events

Donna The Buffalo, Rising Appalachia Headline 2026 Shakori Hills Festival

The 22nd Annual Spring Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will return to Pittsboro, North Carolina, from May 7–10, 2026. Festival founders and…

Della Mae Magic Accident cover artwork. a phyo of the four women wearing colorful pants and shirts including pik, red, blue and orange.

Music videos

Della Mae Grow Their “Family Tree”

World Music Central News Room January 11, 2026 No Comments Americana Bluegrass Della Mae world music

Della Mae has released “Family Tree,” the second single from their upcoming album Magic Accident, due January 23. Band founder and fiddler Kimber Ludiker leans…

The album cover features a swamp scene under an orange-tinted night sky, illuminated by a full moon. The band’s name, Creedence Clearwater Revival, appears in white lettering on the left, while the titles Bad Moon Rising and Shadows on the Bayou stand on the right. The image includes misty water and hanging moss.

New CDs

Celebrate Halloween with Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Bad Moon Rising Shadows on the Bayou

World Music Central News Room October 22, 2025 No Comments Americana country-rock Creedence Clearwater Revival folk-rock Halloween music world music

A new Creedence Clearwater Revival compilation has collected some of the band’s classic songs that have a haunting Halloween spirit. Bad Moon Rising Shadows on…

Larry Keel and Jon Stickley cover artwork. A photo of the two bearded artists.

Album reviews

Pickin’ Partners: Keel & Stickley Tune Up A Debut

Ryan Emmert September 23, 2025 No Comments American folk music Americana Bluegrass Larry Keel world music

Larry Keel and Jon Stickley – Larry Keel and Jon Stickley (self-released, 2025) Veteran guitar flatpickers Larry Keel and Jon Stickley have released their first…

The album cover for Lace by Billy Eli features the artist seated in a dimly lit room, gazing thoughtfully into the distance. He wears a fringed jacket and yellow cowboy boots, with a bottle of beer beside him on a rustic wooden table topped with red roses.

Album reviews

Lace Threads Old-School Country with a Modern Stitch

Ryan Emmert June 13, 2025 No Comments Americana Billy Eli country music

Billy Eli – Lace (self released, 2024) Billy Eli’s Lace weaves classic country influences with a personal, grounded perspective. Drawing inspiration from artists like Charlie…

The album cover for Empire State by Greg Copeland features a sepia-toned image viewed from inside a car. Through the windshield, a herd of cattle stands in the snow, partially obscured by a windshield wiper mid-swipe. The artist's name and album title are boldly displayed in black, all-caps text on beige bands at the top and bottom, respectively.

Album reviews

Greg Copeland’s Stark Songwriting on Empire State

Ryan Emmert June 7, 2025 No Comments American folk music Americana Greg Copeland Greg Leisz Jay Bellerose Jennifer Condos Sara Watkins Tyler Chester Val McCallum

Greg Copeland – Empire State (Franklin & Highland Recordings/Hemifrån/Paraply Records, 2024) On Empire State, Greg Copeland weaves understated melodies with unflinching lyricism to examine difficult…

The album cover for Now I'm a Kite by Susan Anders features a collage-style illustration with layers in shades of pink, purple, and blue. A flowing kite and a bird in mid-flight dominate the scene. The artist’s name arcs above the bird, while the album title floats beside it in a handwritten font.

Album reviews

Up and Up: Susan Anders Soars with Now I’m a Kite

Ryan Emmert June 4, 2025 No Comments American folk music Americana Susan Anders

Susan Anders – Now I’m a Kite (Zanna Discs, 2025) American singer-songwriter Susan Anders returns with Now I’m a Kite, a new collection of introspective,…

The album cover for Rituals by Watchhouse features a two-tone illustration in white against a deep blue background. It depicts a domestic scene: a dish rack or shelf lined with bowls and kitchenware, draped with various cloths and towels.

Album reviews

Watchhouse Taps Into the Sacred: Rituals Finds Grace in the Act of Letting Go

Ryan Emmert May 30, 2025 No Comments American folk music Americana Watchhouse world music

Watchhouse – Rituals (Tiptoe Tiger Music/Thirty Tigers, 2025) Watchhouse (Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz) offer a quiet invocation on their exquisite new album Rituals. This…

Watchhouse - Photo Credit Jillian Clark. A photo of the duo leaning on each other.

Music videos

Burning Bright: Watchhouse Ignite Reflection with “Firelight”

World Music Central News Room May 15, 2025 No Comments American folk music Americana Watchhouse world music

North Carolina folk duo Watchhouse, Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, unveil “Firelight,” the final pre-release single from their upcoming album Rituals, out May 30. The…

Helene Cronin – Maybe New Mexico cover artwork. A photo of the artist playing guitar.

Album reviews

Helene Cronin’s ‘Maybe New Mexico’: A Roadmap of Reflection

Ryan Emmert April 7, 2025 No Comments American folk music Americana Helene Cronin

Helene Cronin – Maybe New Mexico (self-release, 2025) Helene Cronin’s Maybe New Mexico is her most personal album to date, presenting an intimate, acoustic-driven sound.…