Twangfest won't arrive until June, but 88.1 KDHX and Twangfest delivered a taste of what's to come with their 13th annual SXSW day parties this past week in Austin.

Marah guitarist and singer, David Bielanko summed up a great deal about Twangfest 15 with his mid-set statement from the microphone.

Mother Nature was raging outside Friday night, but inside the Duck Room, fans were treated to a storm of a different type as night three of Twangfest 15 stirred up a squall of mighty fine roots-based music.

Night two of Twangfest 15 went down at Blueberry Hill's Duck Room and began with St. Louis' own Cassie Morgan and the Lonely Pine. The folk duo, which included Beth Bombara was without a doubt the most resourceful act of the night.

You know a band throws down when it has a dude playing the musical saw. Michigan folk rockers, Frontier Ruckus, brought its melancholy, autumnal sound to the KDHX studios and, yes, the musical saw made an appearance.

The second night of Twangfest was a night for the listeners, as 4 female fronted bands playing various styles of folk rock were featured on Blueberry Hill's Duck Room stage.

Rock & roll can be a monotonous beast sometimes. The tour, write, record, tour cycle can wear thin on a band when money’s coming in small spurts and there are several mouths to feed.

Jill Andrews has been singing and writing songs since she met future everybodyfields partner Sam Quinn at a summer camp in Tennessee when she was in her teens.

A few songs into his headlining set opening the first night of Twangfest 15, Texan Hayes Carll, fully understanding the effects of the recession, thanked the audience "for spending money to come out to see us."

The kickoff to Twangfest 15 exceeded all expectations at the Pageant Wednesday night.

It is physically impossible to be sad or bummed out when listening to Kelly Willis. Her voice, so gracefully soft, smooth and simply lovely, radiates an energy that immediately puts the soul at ease.

Elizabeth Cook is performing on June 8 at Twangfest 15, her third appearance at the festival. Her music can be witty, contemplative and everything in between.

Chatham County Line might be the only group you’ll hear claim to “wear out ties.” After over ten years of touring, the Raleigh, North Carolina natives have consistently approached their style of country/folk/bluegrass music with as much charisma and, more importantly, professionalism, as possible.

Robbie Fulks follows his own path. Trying for years to break into the country music scene in Nashville, Fulks eventually gave up, striking out on his own and releasing Country Love Songs in 1996. Never looking back, the twists and turns of his career have been as unconventional as his songwriting.

The Baseball Project
Volume 2: High and Inside
Yep Roc

The second album from the Baseball Project, Volume 2: High and Inside, continues the mission set forth by the band to bring our nation's pastime to life through a series of rock ballads.

Bon Iver is set to release a new album in June. Should Justin Vernon's side project Gayngs feel threatened? One can hope.

Photo highlights from the first afternoon of the 12th annual KDHX and Twangfest Day Parties at South By Southwest. Parties went down at Jovita's in Austin. All photos by Chris Bay. See more at my Flickr stream.

Photo highlights from the second afternoon of the 12th annual KDHX and Twangfest Day Parties at South By Southwest. Parties went down at Jovita's in Austin. All photos by Chris Bay. See more at my Flickr stream.

One of the highlights of all the unofficial day parties at South By Southwest is the Twangfest and KDHX bash at Jovita’s. And I’m not just saying that because I love Twangfest.

You wouldn't know it from the SNOMG but spring really is just around the corner. And that means Twangfest.

Consider Magnolia Mountain a classic alternative country band, much in the mold of the Blood Oranges or the Jayhawks, but with a large ensemble approach that brings the songs of Mark Utley to life. Hear the band's live session on KDHX on the eve of its Twangfest 14 performance.

Mystical and profane, dark and comic, soulful and in-the-groove -- the songs of Ray Wylie Hubbard have stood the test of time. In what should be the twilight of his career, he sounds as spirited and hungry as any Americana artist. The Texas maestro stopped by KDHX for songs and conversation during a rare appearance in St. Louis.

Big Smith, currently composed of 6 family members, has been evolving professionally since 1996. The band originates from Springfield, Mo., and exemplifies the culture of the Ozarks. Their music is guttural, mischievous and soulful. The family plays a few foot-stomping hillbilly tunes on KDHX in advance of its Twangfest 14 headlining set.

SAINT LOUIS, October 1, 2009 - KDHX, Saint Louis' award-winning, independent community radio and media arts organization, today announced the winner of its first Twangfest Flickr Contest. Music fans were invited to submit photographs from this summer's Twangfest 13, KDHX's Americana music festival held this past June.