This week marks the annual Americana Music Conference in Nashville. Earvolution is joining the party by hosting two "unofficial" happy hours at the Douglas Corner Cafe with some great live Americana music. On Thursday November 1st, we'll kick things off with Joe White, Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek and the Pawnshop Roses. On Friday November 2nd, both Joe White and the Pawnshop Roses return with short sets before Patty Hurst Shifter takes the stage. Both parties kick off at 4:30pm.

Patty Hurst Shifter springs from the acclaimed Raleigh/Chapel Hill area alt country scene and has a direct tie to the legendary Whiskeytown of Ryan Adams lore. PHS drummer Skillet Gilmore was in Whiskeytown with Adams and Gilmore's wife Caitlin Cary (one of Earvolution's first full length interview subjects). Indeed, Cary and her Tres Chicas pal Tonya Lamm helped out with some backing vocals on the tune "The Sadder Side", which also features Ian McLagan of the Faces on the Hammond B3. PHS also features singer/guitarist J. Chris Smith, lead guitarist/vocalist Marc E. Smith (no relation), bassist/vocalist Jesse Huebner.

Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek (another North Carolina act) enjoys being part of an acclaimed duo, but is also a formidable songwriter in her own right. While Polecat is still enjoying its recent release Ordinary Seasons co-produced by Grammy winner Steven Heller (Doc Watson/David Holt), Laurelyn also has one of her songs ("Anna Lee" appearing on the new Levon Helm record Dirt Farmer which hits stores tomorrow. You can also catch Polecat Creek at an Americana Music Association showcase at the Station Inn in Nashville on Saturday, November 3, 2007.

The Pawnshop Roses, if you didn't know yet, are the first act on Earvolution Records (which is more artist development company then traditional record label), and are continuing to build buzz from their first full length record Let it Roll. Pop Matters is the latest to recognize the Pawnshop Roses as a praise worthy act, writing "on other standouts like opening track "Here We Go", the band proves it can keep time with contemporaries like Ryan Adams and Jesse Malin." Good company indeed. The band is in the midst of a southern swing that will include a recording session at the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis on Halloween night and stops in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and West Virginia. But, before hitting the road to what is quickly becoming their new second home (the south) the Roses were graced with some special studio guests in Philadelphia. Lenesha Randolph and Jason Crosby from Robert Randolph's Family Band stopped in to help out on some new tracks that I can't wait for everyone to hear and will be unveiled in January at a special show at Philadelphia's World Cafe Live.

Joe Whyte is an Americana singer-songwriter based in New Jersey. Yes, New Jersey. While we dig all the great garage and indie rock that streams out of Williamsburg and all those cool little neighborhoods over the bridge, Joe Whyte reminds us that there is some diversity in the Brooklyn music scene. Joe's new record Devil in the Details just came out and the title track along with tunes like "No More" is as Americana as anything coming out of the genre's traditional geographic sources. The Captain Obvious blog says the "album is a cohesive collection of alt. country pearls that shimmer with simplicity and effectiveness." In addition to releasing the new record, Joe is just back from the Darvel Music Festival in Scotland and following a few dates in Nashville this week will return back to New York City for upcoming shows at both the Living Room (Nov. 15th) and the Rockwood Music Hall (Dec. 18th.)

Labels: Patty Hurst Shifter, Pawnshop Roses