Kristen’s Playlist

Best Local Music Scenes

I was recently talking with a friend about checking out Coachella this year. It’s a local music festival outside of LA, closer to Palm Springs. As we were debating if we should go (which I think I will), we began comparing the show to other festivals, such as:

Austin City Limits

South By Southwest

Chicago’s Blues Fest

New Orleans Jazz Fest

My friend then wondered if there was a site that featured all the cool, if not smaller, local music festivals.  I haven’t really tried searching online but thought I’d start the blog post here and ask if any of you have recommendations.

Do you have a favorite local music festival? Perhaps it’s only one day or it could be a weekend. Any kind of music is welcomed- blues, country, alternative, live, gospel.

Let me know!

A Ray of Light

Step into the quiet and soulful sounds provided by Mr.Ray LaMontagne and be prepared to take a journey.  The title of his latest album is called “Till the Sun Turns Black,” which I can only assume means sunset, will leave you wanting to listen until dawn.

Though his voice whispers some lyrics, others are more pronounced with scratchy soul. These sounds are reminiscent of Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye. You’d think you were listening to an undiscovered artist from the 50s and yet he is a twenty-something, New Englander.

My favorite songs on this album include Three More Days, Barfly, You Can Bring Me Flowers, and Within You.

Three More Days draws you instantly in and willing to check out the other songs, so I’d start there. You Can Bring Me Flowers features a bit more jazz with the horns and drums.  The last song on the album, Within You, sounds like a farewell tune that the Beatles may have done in the 60s.

If you check him out, let me know what you think.