Left Bank Artists

Grammy Premiere Ceremony is streaming now!!

Allison Russell will soon perform & is nominated for THREE awards : Best Americana Album (Outside Child), Best American Roots Performance (Nightflyer) and Best American Roots Song (Nightflyer, by Allison & JT Nero, songwriters)

64th Annual GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony Music’s Biggest Night kicks off with the Premiere Ceremony, featuring 6 special performances and more than 70 GRAMMYs awarded across music genres ranging fro...

Happy Valentine's Day from the Banjo Family ~ here's to love in all its magical forms

Here’s a Valentine’s Day playlist I curated with my valentine, Abigail Washburn, for TIDAL.



https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/b1a11c2c-143c-4c92-9a08-f4bc02b77b30

Leyla McCalla announces her wild and beautiful album: Breaking the Thermometer on Anti Records today! The full album will be out May 6... but we'll share a few sneak peeks along the way

This record is the album companion to a music, dance and theater work inspired by the story of Radio Haiti, the first, independent radio station in Haiti to report news in Haitian Kreyol, ultimately underlining the critical importance of a free and independent press to democracy, self and societal liberation. Leyla's made an absolute masterpiece with this music and message, walking you through her personal story and the story of this station in English, French and Haitian Kreyol... backed by heavy Haitian vodou drumming, interspersed with recordings from the Radio Haiti archives.

It's brilliant... so excited to announce that the record is COMING!

I've been holding this back for so long! And now it can be told! Hallelujah!

My album 'Breaking the Thermometer' is set to be released on Anti Records May 6th, 2022. 🥳 For me, this is an album of stories, memory and ancestry. It is me wanting to understand my place in the rich history of the Haitian diaspora and to create conversations with my music about how to envision a more free and just world. It has been a deeply life altering journey to bring these songs into fruition. I've done tons of research and yet I know that I'm just scratching the surface. I feel both most vulnerable and stronger than ever. Releasing an album with ANTI has long been a dream of mine and I am deeply grateful to be on a record label that wants to uplift and support my mission.

This album is inspired by the theater work "Breaking the Thermometer to Hide the Fever" that I developed alongside Kiyoko McCrae. Guided by archivist extraordinaire, Laura Wagner we started doing research at the archive at Duke University in 2017 and it took me years of developing the songs for the theater production to see how these songs could exist in an album form. The title comes from a metaphor used by Jean Dominique, the vociferous agronomist turned journalist and radio station owner, where he describes the press as the thermometer of the people. The idea is that you can break the thermometer but it won't stop the fever. I continue to be awe struck by the commitment of Radio Haiti's journalists, all of whom risked or lost their lives fighting to be able to tell the truth about what was going on in Haiti. The stories are inspiring, heart wrenching and prophetic. There is much to learn from these stories.

It really takes a village to bring a project like this into fruition and I am just floored by all of the people that are in my corner. I am eternally grateful for the incredible collaborators that have graciously guided me on this journey. Thank you Duke Performances for commissioning me to create this multimedia performance that would stretch my artistry to the beyond. This album would not have been possible without the generosity of Michèle Montas, widow of and co-director of Radio Haiti. Michele generously gave me permission to use her voice and the recordings in the archive and transform them into art. Kiyoko McCrae, my dear friend and theater maker, wanted me to dig deeper into myself to realize the power of my story in helping me to understand this history. Laura Wagner helped me to understand what I could have never understood on my own. All of my collaborators Shawn Myers, Sheila Anozier, Jo Nazro, Markus Schwartz & Lakou Brooklyn, Jeff Pierre Music, Kyle Sheehan, Damas Louis, Zuri Obi, and their artistry went into these songs. I learned more from you all than I could ever quantify! You all brought the true spirit of collaboration to this process and I admire the hell out of all of you!

The album was recorded and produced by Kevin Ratterman at Invisible Creature in Los Angeles, CA in November of 2020. Kevin, you are a bright bright light in this world! You hatched the perfect plan for how to record these songs. You created the environment for us to flourish and it was magical. The songs feature my band Shawn Myers, Pete Olynciw, Nahum Zdybel with Jeff Pierre and special guest mélissa laveaux. Though I have been touring with my band since 2018, this is our first recorded project together. They bring their absolute best to the table and push me to be a better musician. I am so eternally grateful to your commitment to this project and to our synergy as a band! Excited to take this show on the road!

Thank you to my dear managers Carissa Stolting and Noelle Panepento for all of your support in bringing this work to light! These visionary women see beyond the commercial side of the music business and are charting sustainable paths for artists like me who want to make big crazy projects and explore all of the facets of their artistry. THANK YOU!

I am thinking of my parents, my relatives and my ancestors whose stories live in my bones and make me feel strong. One of our collaborators Damas "Fan Fan" Louis, a master drummer and hougan, entered the realm of the ancestors December 10th, 2019. He offered me the rhythmic foundation for these songs and set me on a path of exploring the cosmology of Haitian Vodou. My brother Daniel McCalla passed away on October 28th, 2021 and he always championed my work and would have loved to see this come to fruition. I know he is with me and has my back.

This album is dedicated to the legacy of the journalists of Radio Haiti-Inter - the first radio station in Haiti to broadcast in Kreyol, the language of the Haitian people. I can't wait to share more about this journey with you all over the coming months.

Preorder + stream “Vini Wè” now https://leylamccalla.ffm.to/breakingthethermometer

xx
Leyla

Cover photo by Noe Cugny

Once a year... the Uncle Earl ladies reunite for an epic bluegrass throw down... in 2022 it will be at RockyGrass's 50th!

Hot off the announcement presses: Uncle Earl will reunite for RockyGrass's 50th birthday this summer! Can't wait to jam with Rayna Gellert Kristin Andreassen ...

Congrats Allison Russell!! Colbert debut January 13th!!

I am so EXCITED to announce that I'll be making my (virtual) debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this January 13th!

I'll be playing "Persephone" ( co-written by aka Jeremy Thomas Lindsay) joined by & filmed live audio captured by , video captured by

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Allison
Aspasia Allison Russell

Congrats Allison Russell & Outside Child!

Outside Child // Best of 2021:
* Barack Obama: “Nightflyer” Best of 2021 list
* The New York Times: #2 Best Album of 2021
* NPR Music: #4 Best Music of 2021
* Variety: #1 Best Album of 2021, Chris Willman’s list
* The Atlantic: #3 The 10 Best Albums of 2021
* The Bitter Southerner: #1 Best Southern Album of 2021
* Stereogum: #1 Best Country Album of 2021
* Complex: #17 Best Canadian Album of 2021
* Sinister Girlz: #1 Best Album of 2021
* The Globe and Maill: Canadian Artist of the Year
* AllMusic: Year in Review
* RIFF-MAG.COM: Year In Review
* Philadelphia Inquirer: Best Albums of 2021
* WXPN: “Nightflyer” Best Songs of 2021
* FEMMUSIC.com Magazine: Best New Artist
* TheDerrick: Best Albums of 2021
Nominations:
* 3 GRAMMY Nominations: Best Americana Album (Outside Child), Best American Roots Song & Best American Roots Performance (Nightflyer, co-written by JT Nero)
* 4 Canadian Folk Music Awards / Prix de musique folk canadienne Nominations
* 3 AmericanaUK Award nominations
* 3 Americana Music Association nominations
* Polaris Music Prize long list

Allison Russell 2021 Highlights Sign up to my newsletter to stay in touch: https://found.ee/AllisonRussellEmailSignUpFollow Allison Russell:Instagram: https://found.ee/AllisonRussellInstagr...

5 PM CT: Join Abigail Washburn and Wu Fei in conversation with Jane Hirshfield and , as they discuss their contributions to Princeton University's essay collection "Ways of Hearing"

Ways of Hearing: Reflections on Music in 26 Pieces is an outstanding anthology in which notable musicians, artists, scientists, thinkers, poets, and more—from Gustavo Dudamel and Carrie Mae Weems to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Paul Muldoon—explore the influence of music on their lives and work.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pp-live-ways-of-hearing-panel-tickets-166738317797?aff=aff0bandsintown&appId=wf_novtnvyjnfuohea.pbz&comeFrom=242&artist_event_id=102815313

P&P Live! "Ways of Hearing" Panel Join Wu Fei, Jane Hirshfield, Elaine Pagels and Abigail Washburn in a panel discussion of WAYS OF HEARING moderated by editor Scott Burnham.

Tonight at 10:35 CT // 11:35 ET ... Allison Russell will make her late nite tv debut on Kimmel

Beyond thrilled to be making my Jimmy Kimmel Live network tv debut TONIGHT with dear friends Brandi Carlile and Brittney Spencer and uplifted by Larissa Maestro, Jeremy Thomas Lindsay, and Steve Dawson - it’s surreal and wonderful and ACTUALLY HAPPENING - ha! Tune in @ 10:35 CT. Afterwards, the audio version of our performance will be available for purchase on Bandcamp with proceeds benefiting National Bail Out’s initiative. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🖤🌈✨

📸:

Huge resounding congrats to Allison Russell on this stunning feature in the The New York Times. Cannot wait for the world to hear the power, beauty and magic of Outside Child, her debut album... out this Friday

Check out Abigail Washburn + Béla Fleck's latest ! ✨

Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn: Alone Together Duets Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn perform a duet from their home in Nashville.

Reclaiming History: Our Native Daughters premieres February 22nd. So excited to learn about Our Native Daughters' remarkable album journey! http://bitly.com/2YPAVge

✨ LOOK + LISTEN ✨

From the studio 👉🏾 to the stage. We’re pulling back the curtain and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at Our Native Daughters groundbreaking Smithsonian Folkways Recordings album and cross-country tour.

Reclaiming History: Our Native Daughters premieres February 22nd. Tune in to join Amythyst Kiah, Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell Music, and Leyla McCalla for this journey of resilience, resistance, and reclamation. 🎶 http://bitly.com/2YPAVge

Tune in tonight to hear hosting this amazing new documentary about the music of Haiti and New Orleans. Tune in at 8 PM ET at wx.pn/listen

TONIGHT! Our radio documentary KANAVAL: Haitian Rhythms and the Music of New Orleans debuts on XPN. Tune in for an amazing show with host Leyla McCalla at 8 p.m. EST at 88.5 FM, or wx.pn/listen

Check out the first two (of four) new covers by Allison Russell Music, "By Your Side" & "Landslide!"

Every time I listen to a modern song that moves me, it feels like resistance. Sade's "By Your Side" and Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" are the first two covers of four that create a world I want to visit and revisit - they sound like freedom to me. Out Now. https://found.ee/ARByYourSideLandslide 🎨: Niki Smith Frazier 🌈

Produced, engineered, mixed by Dan Knobler
Mastered by Knack Mastering
Larissa Maestro - cello
Jen Gunderman - keys
Dan Knobler - guitars, bass, melotron
Aspasia Allison Russell - vocals, harmony vocals, clarinet
Out now Fantasy Records

The musical chemistry between JT Nero and Allison Russell Music is undeniable. Chicago native Nero first came to notice with gospel influenced band JT & The Clouds. Allison Russell is a Montreal native who toured internationally as part of the folk group Po'Girl.

Birds of Chicago signed with Signature in 2017 and released the EP American Flowers. The Luther Dickinson co-produced full- length Love In Wartime was released in 2018. Allison Russell also records as part of the folk supergroup Our Native Daughters.

Tune in Wed 2/10 at 8pm ET to watch Birds of Chicago perform live on our 25th Anniversary series. Streaming here: signaturesounds.com/homesessions

Congratulations to Abigail Washburn and Wu Fei on their Album of the Year nomination for the International Folks Music Awards! ✨

Announcing the nominees for the 2021 International Folk Music Awards - Folk Alliance International We're thrilled to announce the nominees for the member-voted Best Of and Lifetime Achievement Awards, presented at the 2021 International Folk Music Awards!

Excited to see Abigail Washburn & Wu Fei's debut album recognized as one of the The Guardian's 10 Best Folk Albums of 2020!

The 10 best folk albums of 2020 Folk artists this year drew inspiration from China, south Asia and the wildness of the sea on the way to making stirring and vital music

Check out the latest holiday single from Abigail Washburn and Béla Fleck! 🪕🎄

It’s here! Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn are sharing a homegrown, double-banjo arrangement of Tex Logan’s “Christmas Time’s a Coming,” with the new lyric, “and I know I’m staying home.” 🎄 The song was recorded in early December at their home in Nashville, to bring a little cheer, acceptance, and to shine a light on Direct Relief! Stream Now: https://linktr.ee/abigailwashburn 🪕

Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay.

Tune into livestream tomorrow at 8PM ET for a performance from Abigail Washburn and Béla Fleck! 🪕

Looking forward to taking part in We Banjo 3's livestream tomorrow evening with Béla Fleck! Grab your tickets here: https://shop.webanjo3.com/collections/we-banjo-3-a-winter-wonderful/products/a-winter-wonderful-show-ticket ❄️🪕

Congratulations to Abigail Washburn and Wu Fei on their debut collaborative album being named one of The Times and The Sunday Times' best world & folk albums of 2020!

The best albums of 2020 1. Phoebe BridgersPunisherRead our verdict on the winning album and an interview with Phoebe2. Run the JewelsRun the Jewels 4The voice of calm amid the George Floyd riots, the rapper Killer Mike was

Congratulations to Leyla McCalla on her Songlines Music Awards win!! ⭐Tune-in for the live ceremony and a winning performance from Leyla on Sunday, December 13th at 7pm (GMT).

Tune in TONIGHT at 8PM ET as Allison Russell Music hosts this week's fun episode of ✨

Don’t miss Episode 2 of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass' “Let The Music Play On & On” on Tuesday, December 8th hosted by my fellow Our Native Daughter, Allison Russell Music!

More info: Over the last twenty years, for one weekend every October, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has brought together some of the most iconic and revered names in roots music for a free celebration in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. This year we took the show on the road to bring you even closer to artists with recordings and interviews from their hometowns. Please join us as we “Let The Music Play On & On”.

Website: www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com
Youtube: www.youtube.com/hsbfest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardlystrictlybluegrass

Take a look at this moving speech & video by Allison Russell encouraging everyone to vote on behalf of her and the over 100 million immigrants living in this country who do not have that right.

"Democracy- though abused - is still the least abusive system of government, we’ve yet conceived... And I know - I know in my blood and bones - that when we who are called “minorities”- who are “othered”- disregarded and underestimated - I know that when we come together - we are the majority- by a landslide."

* Produced by T Bone Burnett & Colin Linden
* Directed by Jesse Mechanic
* Archival video footage of the Nashville lunch counter protests from the 60s civil rights movement courtesy of Metro Nashville Archives.
* Originally delivered at the Women's March in Nashville, October 17th, 2020.

Watch Songwriter Allison Russell's Spoken-Word Essay on Race, Identity, and Voting “I want to be a good ancestor — to leave this country, this world, better than we found it,” says the Our Native Daughters member

New set of instrumentals from Rachel Grimes, The Way Forth:

Rachel Grimes - Sisterhood of Man (Instrumental) Sisterhood of Man (Instrumental) from the album The Way Forth - Instrumentals Music by Rachel Grimes Filmed and edited by Catharine Axley © Mossgrove Media 2...