Category Archives: Commentary

What’s New for the 15th of March: some DeLint stories for early spring; lots of polskas, Serbian folk rock, progressive jazz, and Nordic music from the archives

Posted on 16th March 2026 by Reynard

Maybe there’s something you can learn from being a cat instead of a little girl. — Charles de Lint’s The Cats of Tanglewood Forest Iain here. So winter ends in just six days; sure, tell that to the weather outside. It’s been warm with temperatures … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 1st of March: Emma Bull’s War for The Oaks, Rosanne Cash’s ‘Runaway Train’, Johnny Cash at San Quentin, plus new Americana and jazz music

Posted on 1st March 2026 by Reynard

I’m worried about you I’m worried about me The curves around midnight Aren’t easy to see Flashing red warnings Unseen in the rain This thing has turned into A runaway train Rosanne Cash’s ‘Runaway Train’ There’s always music playing here … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 1st of February: Kage Baker retrospective; new Americana, Buddhist chants and Finnish songs, new and reissued jazz, and more

Posted on 1st February 2026 by Reynard

I don’t think humanity just replays history, but we are the same people our ancestors were, and our descendants are going to face a lot of the same situations we do. It’s instructive to imagine how they would react, with different … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 4th of January: Favorite books and music of 2025

Posted on 4th January 2026 by Reynard

To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven Pete Seeger’s “Turn! Turn! Turn!” We’ve given over this edition to Gary, our music editor extraordinaire, who’s telling us about the … Continue reading →

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What’s New for 23 November

Posted on 23rd November 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

Weather like this makes me want to write ‘Death’ on all the leaves. — Marianne C. Porter I can smell garlic, cumin, nutmeg, cardamom, and even a hint of ginger on the whole baby lamb being slowly cooked as I … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 9th of November: rhymers and ravens, folk songs and folk tales, jazz guitar and dark forests and constellations put to music, Hungarian tunes and knights and rakes and tinkers and fools, and more

Posted on 9th November 2025 by Reynard

The fiddle playing that tune had a mute on its bridge, substantially reducing the volume of the music, but it was still loud enough for the woman to lift her head and smile when she heard it. She knew that … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 12th of October

Posted on 12th October 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

“I really didn’t mean to steal it.”  Mr. Williams shook his head. He scratched at his chin nervously. “Why not? That’s what they’re there for. Tunes belong to everybody. So do stories.” — Robert Holdstock’s Mythago Wood Finch ‘ere. I’m … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 28th of September: Appalachia in books, music and more

Posted on 28th September 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but she was a bit like a cat herself, forever wandering in the woods, chasing after squirrels and rabbits as fast as her skinny legs could take her when the fancy struck, climbing trees … Continue reading →

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New SF from James S. A. Corey; Terry Gillian’s Excalibur; Rolling Stones do Aaron Copland’s ‘A Fanfare for The Common Man’; An offbeat history of coffee; an interview with Russian folk singer Zhenya Wind; and a grab bag of folk music

Posted on 31st August 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

There’s always hope for something. Just not always… not always what we want.  James S. A. Corey’s The Mercy of Gods I smelled something quite enticing in the hallway out of our Kitchen. So I handed Pub duties over to Finch … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 3rd of August: A mix of Heinlein reviews; new jazz out of Vermont and a grab bag of archival reviews; Italian American food writing, and more

Posted on 3rd August 2025 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says “15 miles to the love shack” Love shack, yeah, yeah I’m headin’ down the Atlanta highway Lookin’ for the love getaway Heading for the love getaway … Continue reading →

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