On the new release by the Little Willies, the New York-based country music (!) group formed by Norah Jones (piano, vocals), Richard Julian (guitar, vocals), Jim Campilongo (guitar), Lee Alexander (bass) and Dan Rieser (drums), the group tackles a selection of old classics made famous by the likes of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and others.

Among the notable tracks is “Tommy Rockwood,” an instrumental by Campilongo that is the sole original tune on the disc. The tune is mostly guitar-oriented with a country-rock vibe, but there is a smart Norah Jones solo that proves that she does have the chops to back up the acclaim some jazz snobs say is undeserved. Also very good is the cover of Parton’s classic “Jolene,” played here more organically than the original. Read the rest of this entry »

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When Bill Wyman left the Rolling Stones in 1992, fans of the septuagenarian bassist thought he would simply retire and concentrate on Sticky Fingers, his United States-themed cafe (according to Keith Richards’ best-selling autobiography) and his signature metal detector. However, nothing could be further from the truth. He has kept quite busy with his Rhythm Kings, a band he founded in 1998 with longtime musical partner Terry Taylor. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Old Town School of Folk Music has been the stage for countless performances for its half-century existence, hosting concerts that run the gamut from Americana to folk-rock and world music and in the meantime giving lesser-known artists a chance to showcase their talents to appreciative audiences that might not be reached otherwise.

To celebrate this, the school is releasing a four-disc box set of recordings made during these shows—some made on the sound board and others captured during radio broadcasts. The full package includes as many as 127 songs that had to be individually cleared with each artist or their estates. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo: M Sharkey

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Listening to Brooklyn-based alt-Latin band Pistolera (“female gunslinger”) you’d think they hail from the north of Mexico. Their sound is strongly influenced by “corrido,” a fast-paced, syncopated beat with lyrics about  various issues—heartbreak, social issues and, more recently, the tension involving immigration to the United States. That influence can be felt in songs like “Cazador,” a protest song about the Minutemen vigilantes on the Mexico-US border, and the very danceable “Policia.” Read the rest of this entry »

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The number of people Jerry Douglas has played with is pretty much incalculable—although Del McCoury, a one-time compatriot, is set to perform at the Old Town School of Folk this week. Appearing on a steady stream of albums since the sixties, this Ohio-born dobro player has spent the better part of the last decade and change lending a hand to Alison Krauss in her backing group. The singer, who hails from Decatur, has counted innumerable accolades over time. And while Krauss’ vocals and acumen on fiddle are undeniable, the company she keeps isn’t too shabby either. Read the rest of this entry »

From 1972’s “The Fast One” through J.D. Souther’s re-recording of “Silver Blue” for this year’s low-key “A Natural History,” the singer/songwriter’s vision of country, rock and folk’s intersection hasn’t been daring. But it has been sturdy and enduring, which accounts for a handful of artists from other genres adapting his compositions. Starting out as a jazzbo, toting around a sax as much as drumsticks, Souther found himself in the middle of SoCal’s embrace of countrified sounds during the late sixties and into the early seventies. Never as raucous as the Flying Burrito Brothers or as psychedelic as the Byrds, Souther’s talents afforded him interaction with all those folks while sharing an apartment with soon-to-be Eagles’ frontman Glenn Frey. Souther, in fact, would be responsible for some of that band’s biggest hits. Read the rest of this entry »

Quiet Life

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This Americana/folk band paid their dues in their native New London, Connecticut for several years, but recently they picked up and left for the West Coast. Led by vocalist Sean Spellman, their sound has very strong country tendencies with a rock edge. Think of them as an update on Crazy Horse with tight CSN & Y harmonies, which can be heard on tunes like “Downtown”—sort of a jaded look at New York City and “Young Girls,” a tune that goes even heavier on their country side. The band is rounded out by Ryan Spellman, Craig Rupert, Jeremy Bruno, Harris Pittman and—as their official Facebook page states—friends… whatever that might mean. They have a strong following via social networks, which they use to advertise gigs, post videos and invite fans to concerts. They are currently on a major national tour in support of Seattle-based The Moondoggies, another folk group with stronger rock ‘n’ roll tendencies. (Ernest Barteldes)

February 4 at The Hideout, 1354 West Wabansia, (773)227-4433, 10pm. $10.

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This Austin-based singer-songwriter does not use metaphors or mince any words with his politically charged lyrics. Songs like “Cheney’s Toy” and “We Can’t Make It Here” point a middle finger directly at the maladies of outsourcing, government corruption and its irreversible consequences with no holds barred.

McMurtry (the son of novelist Larry McMurtry) got his first break in 1989 when a demo made its way to the hands of John Mellencamp, who produced his debut disc. He has been a fixture of sorts in the folk music scene performing regularly in Austin with his band, formerly known as The Heartless Bastards.

He is currently on tour promoting his latest CD/DVD combo “Live in Europe,” a document of his first European tour, where he was backed by longtime band members Ronnie Johnson, Daren Hess and Tim Holt. Also appearing on the disc are keyboardist Ian McLagan and Texas songwriter Jon Dee Graham.

For his Chicago appearances, he will do a solo appearance accompanied solely by his own guitar—something he rarely does these days. (Ernest Barteldes)

January 14, The Montrose Room at the InterContinental Hotel, 5300 North River Road, Rosemont, (847)544-5300, 8:30pm, $24; January 15, Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 North Lincoln, (773)728-6000, 7 and 10pm, $18-$22; January 16, Evanston Space, 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, (847)492-8860, 8pm, $20-32.

Photo: Nero's House of Women

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Jon Langford has grit in his voice and melody in his soul. A punk-rock pioneer, a leading light of alt-country, a troubadour for our times, a musicians’ mentor, a visual artist of uncommon skill, a singer-songwriter who writes with the authority of having lived a life rather than just having imagined it, how do you peg Langford? Is he folk, rock, country, punk, what? Yes, he’s all that. Langford is Langford, a transplanted Welshman who’s been in Chicago long enough for us to claim him, and in doing so, stake a claim to a treasure. Langford’s new album with his Skull Orchard co-conspirators, “Old Devils,” plays like the new story collection from a favorite author: engaging tales, beautiful hooks and a singular musical voice. Who else can get you humming along to a song like “Getting Used to Uselessness” like it’s “We are the Champions” or something? The Old Devils Ball, a pre-Halloween record release party with Jon Langford and Skull Orchestra, also features Andre Williams and the Gold Stars, Sally Timms and MC Danbert Nobacon. (Brian Hieggelke)

October 16 at Martyrs’, 3855 North Lincoln, (773)404-9494, martyrslive.com, 9pm. $12.

That little four-stringed instrument associated with whimsical island music seems to be in its renaissance. It could be its non-intimidating size or perhaps its pleasing ease to pick up and pick out a tune. The Chicago Ukulele Cabaret is taking its bi-monthly cabaret to new levels this weekend with the first Great Midwest Ukefest, promising “traditional to extreme and everything in-between.”

“My co-founder, Mike Simons, was inspired by a show he saw in New York called the Ukulele Cabaret, a very free-wheeling open mic that went for hours and hours,” Tony Bianchi, co-founder of the Chicago Ukulele Cabaret says.

The Ukefest is expanding this cabaret, honoring the regular acts at the open mics with a full set. Each curated act will play about ten songs, a 35-40 minute set.

“For some people that will be no problem, but for some that’s the longest they’ve ever played,” Bianchi says. “We want to encourage people to go as far as they want to go.”

There will be eight hours of live music which begins with a two-hour open-mic slot, barbecue and raffles, with proceeds going to the Intonation Music Workshop, a nonprofit that empowers children through innovative music education.

“It’s a very easy instrument to pick up, as a gateway string instrument,” Bianchi says. “It’s great for people who want to play and want to perform but are intimidated by the guitar.” (Lindsey Kratochwill)

August 22, 2pm-10pm, Chief O’Neill’s Pub and Restaurant, 3471 North Elston. $10.