The 35th edition of Merlefest wrapped up recently in western North Carolina with even more tributes for and songs connected to Doc Watson than usual, because the late great folk guitarist and songster was born in 1923, 100 years ago. We’ve already told you about the definitive Doc anthology released in 2021 by Craft Recordings with 101 tracks from across his profoundly influential career. Now there’s a new multi-artist tribute album out that’s more creative and provocative than it needed to be.

Happy Birthday Willie Nelson! One Night In Texas: The Next Waltz’s Tribute To The Red Headed Stranger pairs a dozen stars of Americana and roots country music with a crack band under the direction of Bruce Robison, and while it may not be as much fun as being there under the stars at Nelson’s Luck Ranch, it’s a valuable memento of how much Texas loves its songwriting godfather.

A Murfreesboro native, Trent Summar reflects on his roots in the video for "Country Every Day", the first song from a new Trent Summar and The New Row Mob ep. I Might Get Used to California is out today.

WMOT Celebrates Earth Day with a Tuesday Night Special hosted by Ana Lee. Give it a listen and celebrate Mother Earth!

Touring in a band since he was 17 years old, Nashville's Elliott Blaufuss has learned a lot about life. He's gained insight into human nature, life on the road, isolation. Lots of fodder for songwriting, including how to love a "Dive Motel", as he describes in the first single released from his debut full length album, The Sea Between Us, out tomorrow. His album release show is tonight at The Dive Motel in Nashville.

I wrote in January about the important but hidden connections between Americana music and jazz, and little did I know at the time that an exemplary recording had recently been released. Now I’ve discovered Sweet Tooth, a mostly instrumental suite for jazz sextet from bass player and singer Mali Obomsawin. Folk music fans may know her as a member of the excellent former trio Lula Wiles (with Eleanor Buckland and Isa Burke), but with this debut project, Obomsawin proves she’s also a visionary composer. She steps into the spotlight with a story to tell about her roots in the Abenaki First Nation at Odanak, part of Canada’s Wabanaki Confederacy.

Most knew him as a sideman, a drummer whose contributions elevated those he performed with such as Morphine, Treat Her Right, Jeffrey Foucault and Chris Smither among others. He was also a songwriter. Billy Conway passed away in December of 2021 and shortly thereafter, a group of close friends and collaborators gathered to pay tribute and record some of the songs he left behind. That recording, Further On: The Songs of Billy Conway is out today.

WMOT's Top 10 albums represent sonic diversity- from legends like Bonnie Raitt digging into the blues to Bluegrass breakout Molly Tuttle returning to her roots. See the top 100 albums played on WMOT in 2022 and be listening for the 89 and a half Top Spins of 2022 Countdown in two parts. The first starts with our number 1 album and ends with 45- that will be played on December 30 starting at 2pm and replaying at 7am on December 31. The first weekend in January, we will bring you #46 through 90 at those same times.

How a long-time music executive became a children's author with a message of love over everything this holiday season.

Our year-end list of the most played songs of 2022 features 100 songs by Grammy winners and current nominees, Americana Honors & Awards winners, newcomers, and veterans. Listen December 20 at 7 p.m. for our Tuesday Night Special featuring songs from the list.