I’ve never received a Grammy and I’m thrilled for anyone who gets any award. Over the years I’ve cast a cold eye on the award season having often got a little over excited at the nominations. ‘Oh look, there’s ****** and they’ve finally been recognised!’ Only to wake up on Monday morning that the usual suspects swept the board and an opportunity has gone.
The CMA ’24 awards were a classic case in point. Poor Shabbozey; everyone in the world thought he had the single of the year except the folks who hand out gongs on Music Row. And then there was Beyonce´. Single handedly re writing the manual of country music and bringing an amazing collection of talent to the party into the bargain. Allison Russell, Tiera Kennedy, Rhiannon Giddens, Dolly, Willie the aforementioned Shaboozey...the list goes on and on.
So on this week’s Another Country we shall celebrate the great decision to award Beyonce´s Cowboy Carter, best album at The Grammys as well as giving gongs to Kacey Musgraves and Sierra Ferrell. We applaud you folks.
We have some beautiful new music too from Alisa Amidor, Red Sky July and Cale Tyson to play you as well as ain interview with a special guest.
Willie Watson, once of Old Crow Medicine Show was in town last week to play at Celtic Connections. We met up with him the day after his show at Cottiers to talk about the record he calls his debut album. The reason for my clarification is Willie has already made two solo albums, Folk Singer Vol 1 and 2, but this new album is his first featuring original songs. It’s not the easiest interview I’ve ever conducted and at points I almost thought we weren’t going to finish. You can hear Willie talking about his own mental health and combatting ADHD which helps explains how he responded.
We will be playing out songs from the new album as well as some of the old catalogue and lovely collaborations with The Fairfield Four. It all starts at 8 p.m. this evening on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Scotland. Join me if you can.
