First of all hello to everyone my name is Andrew and I'm new to this site but I noticed there hasn't been an americana thread in quite awhile. So I decided to come up with a new topic. We all know of the greats...Graham Parsons, Uncle Tupelo, Ryan Adams etc. But I want to know what new up and coming alt country bands there are. Can anyone give me a few names?

I'll bite. Here's a list of my favorite up-and-comers:

1. Elephant Micah
I've said it before, but this guy's my favorite artist, period. A sorrowful beauty pervades his work that is unparalleled. For the uninitiated, I'd start with Agrarian Malaise, or possibly Hindu Windmills if you can tolerate lo-fi pretty well.

2. J. Tillman
He's got my favorite singing voice. He plays sad-bastard folk music, often minimalist, though he does flesh out his songs more on Minor Works and his newest, Vacilando Territory Blues. My favorite albums of his remain his first two, I Will Return and Long May You Run. Both are fragile, minimalist albums that accentuate the beauty of Tillman's voice and his knack for wringing enormous pain, heartache, and pathos out of the simplest chords and melodies.

3. Anthony da Costa
This guy made two amazing albums last year with Typical American Tragedy and Bad Nights/Better Days, which he did with Abbie Gardner. Incredibly, he was only 17. Talk about an up-and-comer. Very accessible folk/Americana stuff and masterfully performed. It's hard to believe how advanced and sophisticated his writing and playing are. I expect big things. He could be huge before long.

4. The Snake the Cross the Crown
I convinced a lot of people to give their 2007 release, Cotton Teeth, a listen, and virtually without exception, everyone loved it. It's a tremendous album from a band that transmogrified themselves in their first three releases from an emo band to an alternative rock band to an exceptional Americana band. Again, they make very accessible music, but also music that seems to grow and reveal new facets with each listen. Can't recommend these guys enough. Hopefully, they're cooking up Cotton Teeth's follow up right now.


5. Tallest Man On Earth
Dude is an exuberant wailer and plays the guitar with abandon. I love his intricate finger-picked guitar work. His Dylanesque voice bothered me a bit at first but doesn't anymore. Pitchfork gave him their seal of approval, and I thought his popularity would soar, but it hasn't seemed to. With his next release, he may take off though. Regardless, I'm really looking forward to what he does next.

6. Peter Broderick
This guy is involved in literally dozens of different music projects, the lates of which was a score for a dance performance of some sort. Most of his albums have been of the minimalist/classical instrumental flavor, but last year he released a gorgeous album called Home, which consists almost entirely of voice and guitar.

7. Horse Feathers
Peter Broderick plays violin for these guys, who play a sort of downbeat folk music. The lead singer Justin Ringle has a unique and very expressive voice that, along with Broderick's violin playing, make Horse Feathers really stand out. Their first album had several amazing songs but was a bit inconsistent, but their latest, House With No Home, is golden from beginning to end. One of the best albums of 2008.


I'm too lazy to write much more, but here's a list of some other great up-and-coming Americana artist and bands:
The National Lights
Tyler Ramsey
Ladyhawk
The Great Outdoors
Royal Army Recording Co
Haley Bonar
Pete Greenwood
Doug Burr
The Strugglers
Travel By Sea
Or, the Whale
Romantica
Will Stratton
Hotel Alexis
Caroline Herring
Tim Grimm
Chris Kiehne
Ruru
Hayward Williams

I know it's a long list, but I really, really like all of these artists.

A couple more:

Phosphorescent

They play music on the threshold between folk and ambient, but their 2009 release "To Willie" is straight Americana. It is a collection of Willie Nelson covers.

The Deep Dark Woods

Their 2009 album "Winter Hours" is fantastic. Americana with baritone vocals and lots of instrumentation. One of my favorites of 2009.

Doug Paisley
Clay George
Deep Dark Woods
The Cave Singers
Catherine Maclellan
Megan Hamilton
Woodpidgeons
Shelly Short
Jon Rae Fletcher
Ruth Minnikin
Murry Hammond
Bartenders Bible
Miss Lana Rebel
Huck Notari
Thrift Store Cowboys
Roger Dean Young
Shuyler Jansen
Dan Magnan