Welcome to the Freight Train Boogie

The Freight Train Boogie is a website dedicated to Americana Music: which includes the edgier country & folk singers, Hillbilly Twang, some bluegrass, blues and rock. We place a special emphasis on "Alt.Country", Roots Rock and many small label and independent releases. We love Country music, as long as it's "real" Country.

THE CROOKED JADES are a SF Bay Area old-timey band who are modern innovators with vintage instruments.
Order Shining Darkness from their site.

Americana music is influenced by elements of rock, country, blues and folk. It doesn't have to be slickly sung or played, the feeling is more important. Many of the more established artists you've probably already heard of: Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Gram Parsons, sometimes Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, Wilco or Lucinda Williams. Many people come to this music after feeling disconnected from rock or country that's heard on commercial radio. Perhaps the best way to illustrate what Americana music is, is to list a hundred or so Essential Freight Train Boogie Artists. Some you may have already heard of, but there are a bunch of excellent "under the radar" singers who deserve to be heard. That's what we're here for: to spread the word about this music and to help and promote the artists. The Reviews section is where we review new CD releases, and there's a huge archive of past reviews. The FTB News is mostly links to current Roots music articles and information on the web and in other media, including info on upcoming CD releases. The Links section is of course, links to other good, interesting or useful websites, although it's far from complete. Finally, FTB Radio is heard on Live365 and is a random mix of Freight Train Boogie music with a special emphasis on small label and self released CD's. FTB Editor Bill Frater also does a weekly radio show on KRCB-FM in Sonoma County, California.

New and upcoming releases... more

RY COODER
I, Flathead
(Nonesuch/Perro Verde)