Matt Wickstrom
Matt Wickstrom is a freelance journalist based at the foothills of Appalachia in Waco, Kentucky. His passion for the music of Tyler Childers, Kelsey Waldon and other acts from his home state is only rivaled by his love of mountain drives, auto racing, University of Kentucky basketball and a good bourbon (on the rocks).
INTERVIEW•Introducing: Brit Taylor
Calling from a front porch swing on her Mt. Juliet, Tennessee farm with dog Whiskey by her side, Taylor candidly reflected on everything from using nature as inspiration to working on your own terms, while discussing the long and difficult road to releasing Real Me.
INTERVIEW•My Essentials: Arlo McKinley
As we sit down to mull over the five essentials he couldn’t live without, Arlo McKinley shares what kept him going through a period of self-doubt and what continues to bring him comfort in both music and life.
LIVE REVIEW•Jade Bird at The Burl in Lexington, KY
It may have been billed as an intimate evening of acoustic music, but at their show at The Burl in Lexington, Kentucky, vocal powerhouses Jade Bird and Savannah Conley certainly filled the instrumental void (and then some).
INTRODUCING•New Artist of the Week: Sam Filiatreau
Sam Filiatreau's self-deprecating new single 'Wrecking Ball' showcases his quirky lyricism.
INTRODUCING•New Artist of The Week: Eric Bolander
Kentucky singer-songwriter Eric Bolander has no problem cutting straight to the cold, hard truth in the soul-stirring country ballads he spins.
INTERVIEW•In Conversation: Blackberry Smoke
Charlie Starr discusses working with Dave Cobb, the cultural misconceptions highlighted within You Hear Georgia and how he makes sense of genre classifications.
LIVE REVIEW•Katie Pruitt and S.G. Goodman Live At The Burl, KY
For many music lovers in Central Kentucky, the Burl is a home away from home, so to get to step foot back inside and lay eyes on the glowing stain glass behind the stage is nothing short of magical.
ALBUM REVIEW•Cristina Vane - Nowhere Sounds Lovely
Leaning heavily on old school rock and pre-war blues, Vane’s songwriting also explores paths of gospel, bluegrass, delta blues, country and even waltzes, resulting in a record that resembles a patchwork quilt of influences, both old and new.