David Crosby—A Life Acoustic, His Story as Seen Through the Prism of His Guitars
Folk rock legend David Crosby recalls the Martin guitars he used at Woodstock, with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and more.
Mark Kemp
Former AG editor Mark Kemp is the author of Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race, and New Beginnings in a New South (Simon & Schuster, 2004; University of Georgia Press, 2006).
10 Essential Non-Classical Nylon-String Guitar Albums
The nylon-string acoustic guitar is known as a classical or flamenco instrument, but here are 10 non-classical albums centered around the nylon-string guitar.
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Texas Legend Joe Ely Talks About His Recent Accolades, His Songcraft, and His Love of Guitars
Last year was a big one for Joe Ely. He was named the 2016 official Texas State Musician, and he was inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association Hall of Fame.
GUITAR TALK: David Crosby Talks About His Impressive Acoustic Guitar Collection…and the One That Got Away
Watch David Crosby reflect on his relationship with guitars.
On Latest Album, LA Folk-rock Band Dawes Finds Inspiration in Technology
From the new album’s hard-hitting opening track, “One of Us,” based squarely on a gritty, fuzzy synthesizer hook, We’re All Gonna Die introduces a more muscular and electronic Dawes.
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[UPDATE] Will New Rosewood Trade Restrictions Have Implications for Acoustic Guitarists?
At a wildlife summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, delegates representing 181 countries agreed to get serious about the illegal rosewood trade.
Richard Hoover’s Santa Cruz Guitar Co. Celebrates a Milestone
Since being founded in 1976 by Richard Hoover some 70 miles south of San Francisco, CA, Santa Cruz Guitars has become a favorite of superstars and aficionados.
Acoustic Guitar Sessions Presents LA Folk Rockers Dawes
When Dawes came in to perform for Acoustic Guitar Sessions recently, they did stripped-down versions of three songs—"Roll with the Punches," "We're All Gonna Die," and "When the Tequila Runs Out," from their least stripped-down album yet: the bold new We're All Gonna Die
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Acoustic Guitar Sessions Presents James McMurtry
Texas singer, songwriter, and guitarist James McMurtry arrived at the AG studio recently, surly and travel-weary, with a new haircut, an old fishing cap, an Ovation 12-string guitar, and a deep well of stories to tell in song.
The Problem: Your Guitar Songbook Includes Chord Diagrams With No Dots [Video]
[Disclaimer: The following is not an actual instructional piece. We’re so sorry. It’s Friday and we just want you to have a good laugh.] By Mark Kemp THE PROBLEM: You pick up your guitar and turn to your favorite songbook…
Six-String Sagas: Ani DiFranco, Eric Bibb, and 11 More Top Players Share Guitar Stories [VIDEO]
More than 160 artists have been featured in Acoustic Guitar Sessions. Here we take a look back at some of the series’ most interesting guitar tales.
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Brazil’s Seu Jorge Tours Acoustic Tribute to David Bowie [Video]
By Mark Kemp Brazilian samba revivalist Seu Jorge will kick off a brief David Bowie tribute tour on Nov. 4 in Miami, Florida. The singer and guitarist, best known in the U.S. for his Bowie covers in the 2004 Wes Anderson film The…
Finnish Airline Breaks Olli Soikkeli’s Prized Guitar; Watch Him Play It In This ‘AG Session’
Finnish guitarist Olli Soikkeli, who performs the blistering lead guitar parts in this recent Acoustic Guitar Session featuring the Rhythm Future Quartet, met with guitar tragedy last weekend in Europe.
British Singer-Songwriter Michael Kiwanuka’s Latest Debuts in Folk Top 5
Love & Hate, British folksinger Michael Kiwanuka‘s sophomore album, released July 15, has entered Billboard‘s Americana/Folk chart at No. 3. The singer-songwriter’s debut album of 2012, Home Again, was a set of mostly acoustic folk songs. Love & Hate finds Kiwanuka exploring more of an…
New Book Showcases Arkansas Farmer & Guitar Maker Ed Stilley’s Folk Art
‘Gifted: The Instruments of Ed Stilley’ is a handsome coffee table book of some of the most extraordinary photographs of some of the most extraordinary stringed instruments you’ll ever see.
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Dave Grohl Offers Tips on Playing Acoustic Guitar — For Drummers
By Mark Kemp When former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl announced two decades ago that he would be coming back with a new band after his brief but meteoric run with that iconic ’90s band, music industry insiders were not just a…
Top 5 Countdown: Best Sara Watkins Acoustic Moments on Youtube
By Mark Kemp Sara Watkins isn’t particularly well-known for her acoustic-guitar playing — that’s been brother Sean’s role in most of her projects. She’s more well-known for her nuanced voice, fiddle playing, and generally great acoustic music-making. So, to celebrate the release of Watkins’ new…
Monday Morning Wisdom: Kamara Thomas’ ‘That’s No Way to Treat Your Sweet Guitar’
By Mark Kemp Here’s a great way to start out your week: North Carolina-based singer-songwriter Kamara Thomas‘ tender ode to her guitar, with lyrics any player could identify with: I wept all night when I forgot my axe Down in New Orleans…
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Carter Family Documentary ‘The Winding Stream’ Now Streaming on Netflix
By Mark Kemp Among the most famous musical families in U.S. history – from the Guthries to the Jacksons to the Wainwrights and Roches – none has made a more profound and lasting impact on American popular culture than the Carters. And…
Former Wings Guitarist Henry McCullough Dies at 73: Watch Him Perform ‘Belfast to Boston’
Henry McCullough, the guitarist for Paul McCartney and Wings whose notable work includes the gorgeous solo on the band’s 1972 No. 1 hit, “My Love,” died today after a long illness, according to Billboard. McCullough was 73. “He was a pleasure to work…
Watch Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Top 5 Acoustic Performances on Youtube
By Mark Kemp To celebrate the release of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s new album, The Things That We Are Made Of this Friday, AG combed Youtube for her five best acoustic moments. Agree? Tell us about it. Disagree? Show us your choices. Also, check out AG‘s…
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Merlefest 2016: Watch Tommy Emmanuel, Sierra Hull, and More Pick Out the Jams!
Knowledge and experience pay off. That’s what my mom always told me. She still does. And it goes doubly when you’re setting out to create a video montage from one of your favorite events of the year: Merlefest, that ever-growing piece…
Merlefest 2016: Watch John Oates Go ‘One On One’ With His Mahogany Martin
After Hall & Oates came out of Philly with a blue-eyed soul sound that would top the pop charts by the late 1970s and through the early ’80s, John Oates eventually became sort of a Pip to Daryl Hall’s Gladys…
Merlefest 2016: Watch Kacy & Clayton Perform ‘Wood View’
One of the highlights of the ‘Acoustic Guitar Stage’ at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, recently was the Canadian duo Kacy & Clayton, whose electric folk-rock is reminiscent of 1960s British folk bands such as the Fairport Convention. I…
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Merlefest 2016: Jim Lauderdale Talks About the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest
Some of Americana’s greatest contemporary songwriters, including Gillian Welch and Tift Merritt, began their careers by winning the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest held each year at Merlefest. Acoustic Guitar is a sponsor of the contest, and I sat down with…