John Prine has been named the first honorary poet laureate of the state of Illinois, nearly three months after the singer-songwriter’s death from complications related to COVID-19. Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the honour earlier this week, saying in a statement: “He leaves behind an unparalleled musical legacy and was beloved by family and millions of fans who hope that in Heaven he finds Paradise waitin’ just as he longed for,” quoting Prine’s “Paradise.” Continue reading “John Prine is Illinois’ first honorary Poet Laureate”
At AUK we are on a quest to find the ‘Top 10 Americana Albums Ever’. Over the last few weeks our writers have been going through the mental anguish of trying to narrow the whole history of Americana down to just ten albums. When every writer has had their say, a shortlist of the most frequently chosen albums will be drawn up and voted on, in order to generate the definitive AUK writers top ten. This week’s tortured soul is Andrew Frolish. 
Bonnie Koloc was one of three performers who, during the early 1970s, made up the celebrated ‘Trinity of the Chicago Folk Scene’. The other two were John Prine and Steve Goodman. That in itself should be enough to make you sit up and take notice. However, Bonnie Koloc was far too good to be remembered only by this association; she was an exceptional artist in her own right. 
We’re all missing live music at the moment. We have been trying to fill that void with regular ‘mini-gigs’. Great artists have been sharing performances recorded at home as they adapt to the same lockdown restrictions as you and me. Today’s show is a beautiful performance from virtual duo, Pete Gow and Joe Bennett (The Dreaming Spires, Bennett Wilson Poole, Co-Pilgrim and more…), expertly put together while separate from one another.