Banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck has certainly broken more boundaries than any other picker in recent memory, from his early days performing bluegrass-inspired folk compositions on Rounder in the late '70s to his quirky jazz freak-outs with the Flecktones throughout the '90s. In late 2001, this peculiar innovator released an album of banjo interpretations of classical works by Bach, Chopin, and Scarlatti. Before classical purists roll their eyes, they must remember that the banjo hasn't always been seen as the instrument of choice of backwoods musicians in the Appalachian mountains, but as recently as the 1940s was used as a primary rhythm instrument in all manner of parlor music.

These songs came to be a record accidentally and unintentionally. They were written sporadically over a tumultuous two years riddled with more valleys than mountaintops. We considered it a victory when we could actually make ourselves get together to write, even if we struggled to produce anything of any quality. Creativity was tough amidst half-hearted business relationships, being dropped from our label, inconsistent touring, and filing personal bankruptcy.

Introducing Acoustic Hits, the antidote to end your busy day. Acoustic Hits is a 2CD collection of more than chilled acoustic songs and unique covers. Including stripped back favourites from James Bay, Clean Bandit, Justin Bieber and Jonas Blue chosen to help you unwind. The album also features handpicked music from rising new stars Hailee Steinfeld, Anne-Marie and Dua Lipa along with covers and live versions of some of the best songs in the UK charts. Acoustic Hits is the album you need to fight the chaos of modern life.

"It's Personal" is a heart-filled album by Bev Grant, a long-time feminist and labor social activist who has been creating and using music for social change since the late 60s. She was founder of a popular political band called The Human Condition which played around the NYC area for 19 years and currently is founder and director of The Brooklyn Women's Chorus which will be celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. This album is her first solo album in a number of years, although she did record an album in 2014 with singer/songwriter Ina May Wool, called WOOL&GRANT.

There's no denying Brad Paisley is one of the biggest stars in the modern era of Country music, and he will be releasing his tenth studio album "Love and War" on April 21st, 2017, through Sony Music Entertainment. The album features collaborations with artists such as Mick Jagger, Timbaland, John Fogerty and Bill Anderson.

Kids In The Street is the 7th and latest album from American roots troubadour, Justin Townes Earle. After marrying, moving to various corners of the country and continuous touring with both full band and solo, Earle made time to reflect on the past few years and find new clarity. With Kids In The Street, he made a conscious decision to work with a producer for the first time in his now decade-long career. Earle made the trip to Omaha, Nebraska to work with Mike Mogis (First Aid Kit, M.Ward, Connor Oberst) at ARC Studios.

Daniel Romano is an Ontario-based artist, poet, musician and performer of international acclaim. A genre-defying student of musical experimentation and a brilliant multi-instrumentalist, Romano is acutely well versed in the languages of melody, shape, lyric construction and song arrangement. Apt in its title, “Modern Pressure” will surely prove to be his most explorative endeavor to date.

Emily Barker's new album was recorded at Sam Phillips Recording Service in Memphis with Grammy winning producer Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Margo Price) and an all-star cast of Memphis session players. Sweet Kind of Blue is her first full studio album since 2013's critically lauded Dear River and marks a new sound for Barker as she returns to the soul and blues influences that first inspired her to become a songwriter and musician.

The Captain is the 1999 album by Australian country singer Kasey Chambers. This was released through Asylum Records.

Barricades & Brickwalls is the 2001 album by Australian country singer Kasey Chambers. The follow up to 1999's The Captain, this was released through Warner Bros. Records.

Sometimes it’s hard not to write about artists and albums without using tired adjectives and metaphors. Sometimes it’s easy to just lean on previously printed sentiment and move on. But sometimes it isn’t easy, sometimes there’s more to the story, and more to the music. Andrew Hyatt isn’t new to the country music scene in Ontario or Canada. Country fans know him from his radio singles, That’s How I’m Living, MGR (Me And A Girl And A Radio), and his most recent release, the CMT featured, She Ain’t You. Those who have listened know that Andrew is the real deal, that he’s got the voice to back up the songs and the songs to connect with listeners. And those who have seen him on stage know that he’s not a studio creation.

A river's course is never straight and a well-worn path isn’t always the best way. Costanza’s journey in life and music has followed the river’s course and found new paths. Growing up in the Land of Enchantment was beautiful and heartbreaking. Costanza’s connections to the Rio Grande river valley run deep and so do the scars that he earned there. From ideal early memories of picking apples at the family orchard in Belen, NM to dealing with murder; Costanza gives us raw, unfiltered songs about love, loss and everything in between.

Carter Sampson is a rising star in Americana. The Okie born singer made a splash in the UK roots scene with her 2016 album Wilder Side (a Bob Harris favorite) and her staggering performances at Maverick Festival and AMAUK. Queen of Oklahoma is a compilation of the best songs from her first 3 albums that were not released in Europe.

Only the second compilation in his long career third, if Smile, the 2003 collection of his soundtrack appearances, is counted Greatest Hits runs 15 songs, the same length as 2001's Anthology, Vol. 1: Cowboy Man. Seven of those songs are shared mainly early singles from his first two albums ("Cowboy Man," "God Will," "Why I Don't Know," "Give Back My Heart," "I Loved You Yesterday," "If I Had a Boat," "If I Were the Man You Wanted") and the rest of the compilation adds his other country charting singles, starting with 1986's "Farther Down the Line," running through 1988's "She's No Lady," and adding "I Married Her Because She Looks Like You," "Stand by Your Man," "Nobody Knows Me," "Don't Touch My Hat," and "Private Conversation." Given that Lovett is as much an album artist as a hitmaker, there are some inevitable omissions here "You've Been So Good Up to Now," a mainstream Top 40 hit in 1992, is absent, as are the Texas tourism anthem "That's Right (You're Not from Texas)" and the Toy Story hit "You've Got a Friend in Me," not to mention deep cuts like "L.A. County," "Here I Am," and "Church," among many others but as a basic portrait of Lovett's best-known material, this is a solid set.

ACM Awards Vocal Group of the Year Nominee Rascal Flatts revealed the official track list for their highly-anticipated tenth studio album BACK TO US (Big Machine Records) today. The collection is reminiscent of the trio s distinct sound that catapulted their status as international superstars, while maintaining an edge that has kept them at the forefront of the genre. With 12 of 13 tracks produced by the group with bassist Jay DeMarcus taking the reigns the album explores the powerful emotions of relationships with songwriting credits from the trio throughout, adding a personal depth to the release.