Posted in Donna the Buffalo, Tara Nevins, tagged album, americana fest, Americana Music Conference, Bill Frater, Donna the Buffalo, Freight Train Boogie, Music, NAshville, Snowbird, Tara Nevins, TN, Video, Wood & Stone on November 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Freight Train Boogie‘s interview with Tara Nevins, (Donna The Buffalo), recorded at the Americana Music Conference in Nashville, TN. Oct, 14th, 2011. She talks about her latest album, Wood & Stone.
Here’s Donna the Buffalo’s Tara Nevins performing “Snowbird” from the lobby of The Sheraton Hotel in Nashville during the Americana Music Assoc. conference. Recorded by Bill Frater (Freight Train Boogie) with an iPhone 4, pardon
Posted in Donna the Buffalo, Tara Nevins, tagged accordian, album, Americana, bluegrass, CD release, country, Donna the Buffalo, fiddle, Free download, larry campbell, levon helm, multi-instrumentalist, Music, Old-time, producer, Snowbird, solo album, song, songwriting, Stars Fell on Alabama, Tara Nevins, Tennessee River, Van Morrison, Wood and Stone, You’ve Got It All on April 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Multi-instrumentalist and Producer Larry Campbell sits down with Tara Nevins (Donna the Buffalo) to discuss her upcoming solo album “Wood And Stone”. Hear music and download the song “Snowbird” for free at http://www.facebook.com/TaraNevins. To order the new album head over to www.funkyside.com.
“This album is personal and sort of revelatory,” Nevins says. “It’s an expression of recent emotional discovery within relationships lost and found, and how knowing the core of who we are is the real deal. There were so many elements I wanted to explore—to combine all the pieces of my personal musical puzzle–and then have it come together in a cohesive whole. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Larry Campbell. I am honored to have had him both produce and play on my record. He’s an amazingly talented and soulful musician. He has a very natural, down-to-earth approach and an instinctual insightfulness that I really appreciate; he really got what I was after. The whole experience was inspiring and challenging in a very positive way.”
Campbell is a much-sought-after musician/producer renowned for his work with Bob Dylan and still rolling from the success of Levon Helm’s two Grammy- winners, Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt, which he produced. He found Nevins’s project immediately compelling. “I liked the feel of the project– her combination of old-time mountain music and original songwriting—and I was taken with Tara’s unique talent; she’s got a distinctive voice—there’s a kind of honesty that shines through.”
The record kicks off with the title cut “Wood and Stone,” and that “honest” element is readily apparent in this touching tribute to home and family. Old-timey acoustics are quickly joined by drums and steel guitars as Nevins sings about “the better part of me” regarding her upbringing and early influences. “It’s got that magical blend of music and lyrics,” Campbell says of it, “and it really paints a picture of where she comes from.”
Ten of the thirteen tracks are originals, and Nevins’ complexity gets a broad stage. She dispenses wit and wisdom with an atypical take on love and relationships through gritty songs such as “You’ve Got It All” and “You’re Still Driving That Truck,” then turns to wrenching hearts with songs like “Snowbird” (accompanied by Jim Lauderdale), a beautiful metaphorical ballad about the pain of loving someone unable to truly give back, and “Tennessee River,” a haunting, gripping song about the stranglehold love can have over a person’s whole existence. “Stars Fell on Alabama” sounds like it fell from her heart and pen too, but Nevins has the capacity to take a well-known standard like this, change the melody, and perform it so ingenuously that it fits in seamlessly to the whole groove of the record.
The record is “framed” by another nostalgic piece, “The Beauty of the Days Gone By” (by Van Morrison), bringing the record full-circle and serving as a sort of catharsis for the dark tone of “Tennessee River”. “I wanted to end the record with it,” Nevins explains, “because I love the sentiment of the song and it’s kind of like ‘the sun always comes back out’ kind of thing. We grow and learn and take our relationships with us for better and for worse and that’s life in all its beauty and glory.”
Nevins’ rare blend of enormous talent coupled with genuine down-home humbleness has won the hearts of fans and colleagues alike. “Tara has this worldly awareness combined with a fragile innocence,” Larry Campbell notes, “which makes her songwriting and music very accessible…very appealing.” Wood and Stone is sure to add to that appeal.
Hear music and download “Snowbird for free at http://www.facebook.com/TaraNevins. To order the new album head over to www.funkyside.com.
Posted in Donna the Buffalo, Tara Nevins, tagged Allison Moorer, American roots traditionalist, Americana, Byron Isaacs, CD release, duo, folk country, Jim Lauderdale, Justin Guip, larry campbell, levon helm, Levon Helm Studios, Mule to Ride, Music, New Album, new music, new release, NY, Ramble, roots, roots music, Snowbird, solo album, Tara Nevins, Teresa Williams, The Heartbeats, Wood and Stone, Woodstock on April 20, 2011| 1 Comment »
Ready for some new music from Tara Nevins? Download a free mp3 of “Snowbird” (accompanied by Jim Lauderdale) from the new album Wood and Stone, out May 3rd. Share the widget and make a comment here: http://on.fb.me/e3lYgj for a chance to win a signed vinyl copy of the album.
Please share the widget wherever you can! No email is required for the download.
American roots traditionalist Tara Nevins releases an exploration of her own heritage, musical and otherwise, in Wood and Stone, her first solo album since Mule to Ride in 1999. Wood and Stone showcases her ever-evolving repertoire as she journeys both back to her own “roots” and head-long into new territory. Set for a May 3rd release through Sugar Hill Records, the album was produced by Larry Campbell and recorded at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY, the home of the Ramble (Where she will be performing songs from the record on May 27th)! Featured guests on the album include Levon Helm, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Moorer, Teresa Williams, The Heartbeats, along with the core band of Larry Campbell, Justin Guip, and Byron Isaacs.
Posted in Donna the Buffalo, Tara Nevins, tagged album release, American roots traditionalist, Americana, Cajun, CD release, country, Dirt Farmer, Donna the Buffalo, dreamspider publicity, DtB, female musician, fiddle, heritage, Jim Lauderdale, larry campbell, Mule to Ride, Music, nevins, Old-time, Old-timey, record, roots music, Snowbird, songwriter, Stars Fell on Alabama, Sugar Hill, Sugar Hill Records, Tara Nevins, The Heartbeats, Wood and Stone on March 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Nashville, TN—March 7, 2011 – American roots traditionalist Tara Nevins releases an exploration of her own heritage, musical and otherwise, in Wood and Stone, her first solo album since Mule to Ride in 1999. Wood and Stone showcases her ever-evolving repertoire as she journeys both back to her own “roots” and head-long into new territory.
Tara Nevins. Photo by John D Kurc
Fans of Nevins from her 21-year tenure with Donna the Buffalo are familiar with her versatile talents; she shares the vocal and songwriting responsibilities for the band and is a stellar musician on fiddle, guitar, and accordion. (She plays a mean scrubboard too.) Prior to DTB, Nevins was a founding member of the all-female, old time/Cajun band The Heartbeats. (They join her on two tracks here as well.) Wood and Stone delivers the musical expertise fans have come to expect and surprises with new perspectives.
“This album is personal and sort of revelatory,” Nevins says. “It’s an expression of recent emotional discovery within relationships lost and found, and how knowing the core of who we are is the real deal. There were so many elements I wanted to explore—to combine all the pieces of my personal musical puzzle–and then have it come together in a cohesive whole. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Larry Campbell. I am honored to have had him both produce and play on my record. He’s an amazingly talented and soulful musician. He has a very natural, down-to-earth approach and an instinctual insightfulness that I really appreciate; he really got what I was after. The whole experience was inspiring and challenging in a very positive way.”
Campbell is a much-sought-after musician/producer renowned for his work with Bob Dylan and still rolling from the success of Levon Helm’s two Grammy- winners, Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt, which he produced. He found Nevins’s project immediately compelling. “I liked the feel of the project– her combination of old-time mountain music and original songwriting—and I was taken with Tara’s unique talent; she’s got a distinctive voice—there’s a kind of honesty that shines through.”
The record kicks off with the title cut “Wood and Stone,” and that “honest” element is readily apparent in this touching tribute to home and family. Old-timey acoustics are quickly joined by drums and steel guitars as Nevins sings about “the better part of me” regarding her upbringing and early influences. “It’s got that magical blend of music and lyrics,” Campbell says of it, “and it really paints a picture of where she comes from.”
Ten of the thirteen tracks are originals, and Nevins’s complexity gets a broad stage. She dispenses wit and wisdom with an atypical take on love and relationships through gritty songs such as “You’ve Got It All” and “You’re Still Driving That Truck,” then turns to wrenching hearts with songs like “Snowbird” (accompanied by Jim Lauderdale), a beautiful metaphorical ballad about the pain of loving someone unable to truly give back, and “Tennessee River,” a haunting, gripping song about the stranglehold love can have over a person’s whole existence. “Stars Fell on Alabama” sounds like it fell from her heart and pen too, but Nevins has the capacity to take a well-known standard like this, change the melody, and perform it so ingenuously that it fits in seamlessly to the whole groove of the record.
The record is “framed” by another nostalgic piece, “The Beauty of the Days Gone By” (by Van Morrison), bringing the record full-circle and serving as a sort of catharsis for the dark tone of “Tennessee River”. “I wanted to end the record with it,” Nevins explains, “because I love the sentiment of the song and it’s kind of like ‘the sun always comes back out’ kind of thing. We grow and learn and take our relationships with us for better and for worse and that’s life in all its beauty and glory.”
Nevins’s rare blend of enormous talent coupled with genuine down-home humbleness has won the hearts of fans and colleagues alike. “Tara has this worldly awareness combined with a fragile innocence,” Larry Campbell notes, “which makes her songwriting and music very accessible…very appealing.” Wood and Stone is sure to add to that appeal.
Posted in Donna the Buffalo, tagged accordion, album, album release, Allison Moore, Americana, Americana Music, Amy Helm, banjo, Bass, Byron Issacs, CD release, collaborate, Donna the Buffalo, drums, DtB, electric guitar, fiddle, Finger Lakes GrassRoots, greatest guests record, her, January, Justin Glip, larry campbell, levon helm, Levon Helm Studios, Loveless Barn, mandolin, Mercy Lounge, Music, Music City Roots, musician, NAshville, New Album, pedal steel, Roy Jay, Scott Preston, Shakori Hills, Silverlined, Snowbird, Sugar Hill Records, Tad Dickens, tambourine, Tara Nevins Album, Teresa Williams, The Heartbeats, The herd, The Roy Jay Band, vocals, Woodstock on January 20, 2011| 1 Comment »
Donna the Buffalo is bringing the Herd back to Nashville with two performances! DtB plays Music City Roots on Jan 26th and Mercy Lounge with The Roy Jay Band on Thursday, January 27th, 2011. The Music City Roots Lineup for January 26th includes Catie Curtis, The Cleverlys, The Black Lillies, Donna The Buffalo, Rayland Baxter, with Host: Jim Lauderdale.
DtB is also excited to announce are going to be spending more time in Nashville working on a new Donna the Buffalo album starting in late February! Tara Nevins’ solo album is is due out this April! More details below.
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Photo by Jim Gavenus
Here’s a Nice video of DtB on Music City Roots in 2009:
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DtB had successful 2008 release of “Silverlined“, which rose to #8 on the Americana Music Chart and also marked their 20th year as a band.
In an interview with Tad Dickens(Roanoke Times reporter), Nevins described the album:
Donna is preparing to record a new album in the next couple of months. It will be the band’s “greatest guests record,” Nevins said. The idea sprang from the band’s annual closing set at the festival it helped create, Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance, held in Trumansburg, N.Y. The band likes to bring up whatever musicians are still around by the time the festival is winding down.
“We’ve formed so many great relationships like that over the years, and we also have our musicians that we’ve always loved to play with or collaborate with but haven’t yet,” said Nevins.
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Produced in Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock by 2 time Grammy award-winner Larry Campbell who also be performs on the album. Nevins penned 90% of the material and sings on all of the songs.
In a recent interview with Scott Preston (Cincy Groove) Nevins describes the players on the album:
The nucleus of the band was Larry Campbell, Byron Issacs, who plays bass in Levon’s band, Justin Glip who is the engineer at the studio played drums on quite a few tracks. I was also very fortunate to get to have Levon Helm play drums on 2 songs. I overdubbed some fiddle, accordion, tambourine, and Larry played pedal steel, mandolin, banjo, electric guitar, bass. We also had Teresa Williams and Amy Helm (Levon’s daughter) do some vocals, they both also sing in Levon’s band. Allison Moore came in to sing on a song as well. I played in an all female string band, called The Heartbeats. So I had those gals come in and we ripped out a couple tunes.
Check out this fan video from Shakori Hills performing one of her new songs, Snowbird.
Posted in Donna the Buffalo, Shakori Hills Festival, tagged album, Americana, conert, Donna the Buffalo, festival, Festivals, fol, Jeb Puryear, larry campbell, Levon Helm Studios, Lyrics, Music, NEW Song, Shakori Hills, Snowbird, song, Tara Nevins on October 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Video of Donna the Buffalo’s Tara Nevins & Jeb Puryear at Shakori Hills Festival. This is Tara’s NEW Song “Snowbird” and is going to be on Tara’s NEW solo album that she’s been recording in Levon Helm Studios with Larry Campbell–Set for a Spring release!
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