Billy Bragg, Patrick Wolf, Radiohead, More Back Lily Allen in Illegal Firesharing Battle
Nearly 100 musicians attended yesterday's meeting to support Lily Allen's fight against digital piracy, then greeted the U.K. pop star with cheers when she decided to pay a surprise visit.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsOne on One: 20 Single-Artist Cover Albums Worth A Listen
A well-done cover song is a beautiful thing—and, by extension, so is a compilation of tracks by a slew of musicians paying tribute to one of their heroes. But it takes a special combination of love and guts and a hearty dash of hubris for a single artist to tackle the oeuvre of another—whether a friend or a legend—all by their lonesome. Sometimes the result is a mess (like Dirty Dancing songstress Jennifer Warnes' maudlin, schlocky Leonard Cohen tribute, Famous Blue Raincoat), but when the stars align, it can be really wonderful. Here are a few of our favorites. (Scroll... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayTen Songs About Print Journalism
Once upon a time, being a newspaperman (or woman) was something to stand up and shout about. Journalism was a noble occupation. Reporters and critics worked for peanuts but fought the good fight. The public loved us, believed us, hung on to every word of our investigative stories and critical analyses. We were in the trenches, dodging threats and insults from criminals, corrupt politicians (and cranky rock stars), ferreting out Truth for the sake of Justice and the American Way. That was a long time ago. ... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayNew, old artists harmonize at Newport's Folk Festival 50
In the 50 years since the founding of the Newport Folk Festival, it's remarkable to realize just how much the term "folk" has expanded. Back in the old days, so much as plugging in a guitar was enough to brand a folk artist as a traitor of biblical proportions.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsPete Seeger B-Day Party at Madison Square Garden to Feature Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder and More
Folk legend Pete Seeger is having a birthday party at Madison Square Garden. The fact that the environmentalist crusader and pioneer of protest music is turning a spry 90 is a big reason to celebrate on its own, but when the guest list includes Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder, John Mellencamp, Ben Harper, Billy Bragg and Emmylou Harris, to name just a few of the 50+ artists scheduled to pay their respects on stage, it's time to kick up your heels and grab a ticket. ... read more
Found in: Blogs, Sweet TalkWXPN to debut new "Power of Song" series for September
WXPN, everyone's favorite non-commercial radio station out of the University of Pennsylvania, has announced plans to start a new radio and web-based series called "Power of Song." Launching exclusively for September, the series hopes to bring attention to the importance of music in culture by exploring "the intersection between music and politics, tracing the history of music rich in social commentary."... read more
Found in: Culture, NewsBilly Bragg: Mr. Love & Justice
Considering the impassioned stump speeches he's been known to give... read more
Found in: Music, ReviewsMr. Bragg to release Mr. Love & Justice
Legendary British songwriter Billy Bragg will release his new album Mr. Love & Justice April 22 on Anti- Records. And while his fans may have grown a little impatient over the last six years since the release of Bragg’s last album England, Half-English, they’ll have to forgive him when they hear the schedule he’s been keeping. After collaborating with Wilco in 1998 and releasing an album of unpublished Woody Guthrie songs in 2000, Bragg was commissioned to write new lyrics for Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” The new lyrics were unveiled during a 2007 performance at London’s Royal Festival... read more
Found in: Music, NewsBilly Bragg wins award, chums with Queen, plans new record
Legendary British songsmith and politico Billy Bragg was recently awarded the 2007 Classic Songwriter at the UK's venerable Q Awards. After accepting the award, Bragg took a metaphorical victory lap around London, visiting his old grammar school on behalf of one his charities, Love Music, Hate Racism, then rubbing elbows with Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Festival Hall before eventually performing a rendition of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Collaborating with Beethoven, entertaining the Queen, (hey, she asked for a signed copy of the score!), it's really all in a day's work for your favorite folk troubadour. With a new record... read more
Found in: Music, NewsBilly Bragg
The Progressive Patriot: A Search for Belonging
Billy Bragg's notion of "Englishness" has taken quite a beating lately... read more
