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Even More Music

Nickel Creek

Tift Merritt

Note: This page features artists with a very traditional sound and as well as some of my favorites

Nickel Creek is a California based trio that has been billed as bluegrass because of their more traditional sounds. This group features Sara Watkins on the violin (violin to city folks, fiddle for country folks), her brother Sean Watkins on the guitar, and Chris Thile on the mandolin.

This group emerged on the Nashville scene about two or three years ago. In 2000, they released Nickel Creek, which is their first album. In the late spring of 2002, their first album sold enough copies to be considered gold.

After a European tour and a long vacation, Nickel Creek has released their second album, This Side.

Nickel Creek's sounds are reminiscent of The Pozo Seco Singers which featured Don Williams. This group also manages to bring traditional country sounds and a little bit of pop together for a unique and different sound.

I have found that although, they do not use drums in their music, they still seem to have a strong rhythm.

Both of Nickel Creek's albums were produced by bluegrass prodigy, Allison Krauss.

Tift Merritt defines alternative country music. Her sound is a very traditional sound that is reminiscent of Emmylou Harris, The Band, and Linda Ronstadt.

In a time when mainstream country is not excepting real country music, artists like Tift Merritt will have a tough time making it in the music business.

Tift Merritt was born in Texas, but was raised in North Carolina. She calls North Carolina her home.

The picture at the left is from her first video titled, "Virginia, No One Can Warn You." I was struck by her video because she reminded me of Emmylou Harris.

Tift Merritt actually recorded her album, Bramble Rose in Los Angeles, California. To learn more about Tift, visit her website. I hope that she can make it in music despite the fact that mainstream contry will probably want nothing to do with her.

More stuff to come later.