Though Ryan Adams hasn’t put out a great record in a while, we dig on the fact that he’s become an Americana-fied, big belt buckled version of Bob Pollard—he cranks songs out and more often than not, they do the trick. Meanwhile, Will Sheff of Okkervil River has been on a songwriting tear as of late, having penned enough fireball lyrical turns to make most writers green with envy. Which is why Norah Jones enlisted the two to help co-write her forthcoming full-length alongside longtime collaborator Jesse Harris. Jones, a chanteuse more closely associated with piano bench fare for your Dad, will be playing guitar on this one, a change that might signal some eminent rocking and rolling. She, as some may recall, also helped Adams write “Dear John” for the latter’s 2005 record with his Cardinals, Jacksonville City Nights. Soy lattes will be a’spilling. (via SPIN)

In addition to Outside Lands and Treasure Island Music Festival, San Francisco has a chance to cash in on the ‘grass’ part of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival October 2-4. The free event, which celebrates its ninth birthday this year, boasts some impressive heavyweights and newcomers on multiple stages, ranging from Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett to Neko Case, Okkervil River, Old 97’s, Dr. Dog, and Tom Morello. It’s also worth noting that MC Hammer is also slated to perform, as is actor Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers. STEVE MARTIN, YOU GUYS. HE WAS IN “FATHER OF THE BRIDE.”

Full lineup:
Abalone Dots
Aimee Mann
Allen Toussaint
Allison Moorer
Amadou & Mariam
Austin Lounge Lizards
Barefoot Nellies
Billy Bragg
Billy Joe Shaver
Booker T. & the DBTs
Boz Scaggs and the Blue Velvet Band
Buddy Miller
Charlie Haden
Dar Williams
Darrell Scott Band
Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women
Doc Watson & David Holt
Dr. Dog
Dry Branch Fire Squad
Earl Scruggs
Eliza Gilkyson
Elizabeth Cook
Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Emmylou Harris
Gillian Welch
Guy Clark & Verlon Thompson
Hayes Carll
Hazel Dickens
Jessica Lea Mayfield
John Prine
Jorma Kaukonen
Kevin Welch
Kieran Kane & Fats Kaplin
Kimmie Rhodes
Laurie Lewis
Little Feat
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
Malo
Marianne Faithfull
Marley’s Ghost
Marshall Crenshaw
Marty Stuart
Mavis Staples
MC Hammer
Mike Farris & the Roseland Rhythm Revue
Moonalice
Neko Case
Nick Lowe
ODC/Dance
Okkervil River
Old 97’s
Old Crow Medicine Show
Pamela Rose
Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys
Reckless Kelly, The Fireants
Red Wine
Richie Havens
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Robert Earl Keen
Robyn Hitchcock
Rodney Crowell
Roger Knox presents the Aboriginal Country & Western Songbook
Rosie Flores with Jon Langford and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts
Steve Earle & the Bluegrass Dukes
Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers
The Brothers Comatose
The Chieftains
The Claire Lynch Band
The Del McCoury Band
The Duhks
The Flatlanders featuring: Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock
The Knitters
The Tim O’Brien Band
The Wronglers
Todd Snider
Tom Morello
World Party

In his opening column, Michael Cranston — the IM Solipsist — voices meta-concerns of how to be interesting in a market already grossly oversaturated in blogs and opinions to Tripwire Editor Derek Evers.

Are You Reading This?

I don’t know if I would be.
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Will Sheff was a regular on the Tripwire in 08, and for good reason. For every Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes fan out there, Will and his band Okkervil River have been going strong for a decade now and stand as a testament, not a Stand In, for this renewed folk rock trend. –Derek Evers
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[Will Sheff]

It was a pretty nasty night outside, but whoever fought the rain to get to the Music Hall of Williamsburg would agree that last nights show was worth the trek. Will Sheff and his friends put on a show filled with good vibes and quality music. It was a night of both newly discovered talent and classic sing a longs.
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