The 2012 installment of Harvest Sessions, presented by 88.1 KDHX, continued on Saturday, May 19 at the Tower Grove Farmer's Market with a performance by the Gordons.

The Folk School of St. Louis hosted the inaugural St. Louis Folk & Roots Festival at the Atomic Cowboy on Saturday.

Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside played at Off Broadway last night, and proved that despite just releasing their first full length album last year, they are a band to watch.

On Thursday night, Gregory Alan Isakov performed a well-attended show at the Old Rock House. Behind him stood a projected, sepia-tinged, photo depicting a rural youth listening intently to a large, conical, medieval-looking, horn-shaped hearing device.

Tim DeLaughter and his robed tribe, the Polyphonic Spree, transformed the Duck Room's basement venue into a multi-colored joy machine last night.

The 2012 installment of Harvest Sessions, presented by 88.1 KDHX, kicked off on Saturday, May 5 at the Tower Grove Farmers' Market with family friendly performances by Farmer Jason and Ryan Spearman.

Despite the intimate crowd at Off Broadway Tuesday night, the Spring Standards were able to generate a real party atmosphere on the dance floor.

Justin Townes Earle
Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now
Bloodshot

That Justin Townes Earle would begin his career in the shadow of other great songwriters was unavoidable; after all, his father is Steve Earle, and he carries the name of late Texas songwriter Townes Van Zandt.

Jacob Alspach may be a whiz on the guitar, ukulele and banjo, but he'd just as rather sing to kids about jello and giraffes than indulge in more typical folk fare.

The Lumineers played a sold out show at the Duck Room Saturday night, though it was their first appearance ever in St. Louis.

The Heavy Anchor played host to a simmer-down-and-listen type of show on Saturday Night. In a closely confined and intimate room, Frontier Ruckus put on a mysteriously inviting performance.

Part John Prine, part Dylan, part lonely cowboy swilling whiskey out on a moonlit prairie, Jeffrey Foucault has a chameleonic sound. This quality enhances the troubadour's grace and emboldens the emotional power of the music.

There are a million tired clichés that can be used to describe singer-songwriters. Tuesday evening at the Old Rock House Dar Williams put on a performance that was neither tired nor clichéd.

To embark on a solo career after being part of a successful group for a number of years is a daunting task. Nevertheless, Sara Watkins seems to be making a smooth transition.

So many musical strains come together in the songs of Cree Rider – honky tonk, cajun, blues and, of course, rock 'n' roll – it's easy to get lost in the sound. But his stories are always sure guides.

Sara Watkins has spent most of her young life on stage making music, but only in the past few years has she stepped up to the mic alone to pour her songs out into the world.

Sara Watkins' previous two trips through St. Louis included supporting the Decemberists and the Blind Boys of Alabama, but last night she was the center of attention to the seated crowd at Blueberry Hill.

Brothers Lazaroff
"Science Won"
Self-released

Brothers Lazaroff are ever-evolving. From their Austin-inspired alt-country beginnings, they've added new layers of other forms of American music with each album.

Throughout a career that has spanned nearly three decades, Toronto's Cowboy Junkies have maintained the same raw emotional resonance that was present on their now classic 1987 release, "The Trinity Session."

Few contemporary folk musicians seek out new sounds and audiences like Abigail Washburn. From her Chinese sojourns to her indie rock fusions, she always sets the old-time clock forward.

Philadelphia's Denison Witmer opened with a set of introspective tunes concerned with self-study and literary metaphors. After a few minutes of self-deprecation about his height, Witmer slipped into "Light on My Face" from 2012's "The Ones Who Wait." The track stood out as a meticulous ode to love and careful passion. Here, Witmer, with his slight nasal rasp, conjured the solo work of Get Up Kids lead singer Matthew Pryor.

Punk-rock icon Kevin Seconds has always said the main intention with his music was to play extremely melodic songs extremely fast. Thirty or so years later, the tempo has slowed down, but Seconds' songs and vocals have blossomed as witnessed Thursday night at the Firebird.

The Head and the Heart brought an abundance of sing-along sunshine from Seattle to St. Louis on Sunday night at the Pageant. Joyful attendees stomped, clapped and swayed along to the sweet folk-rock and harmonies offered throughout the evening.

The Head and The Heart took the Pageant stage in front of an enthusiastic crowd, filled with fans both young and old.

Lights, the nom de music of Valerie Poxleitner, is most often associated with the electronic-pop of artists like Owl City and Björk. But even with just an acoustic guitar, Lights still shines brightly.