Spare Change Radio

03/27/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CXAsc8VVV/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/14/2026

02/11/2026

Happy Birthday to Joe Ely

Joe, Lee Miles Buchanan, and I began this song before Joe left us on December 15, 2025. We had always planned to release it on Joe’s birthday.

Joe sings “Tennessee Is Not the State I’m In,” a brilliant song by Butch Hancock, whom he admired deeply. Joe recorded his vocals and guitar in Austin years ago, with Lee Miles later adding his creative and engineering touch. Jim Wilson recently completed the mastering.

We share this today to honor Joe and his love for making music. — Sharon Ely

Listen now: https://30tgrs.ffm.to/notthestateimin

Rack'em Records
Thirty Tigers

12/28/2025

TODAY AT BIG EASY. BENEFIT FOR BARRY SEELEN

12/24/2025

Joe Ely has died at 78.

One of the most influential musicians in the early days of alt-country, Ely was a prime mover in Americana music since the days before it was called Americana. A fixture of Austin's progressive country scene of the 1970s and 80s, he drew inspiration from Texas, where he was raised, and from the open road.

To celebrate his life and artistry, we're sharing a feature from ND founder Peter Blackstock published this past February on Ely's final album, "Love and Freedom." The No Depression team sends condolences to the Ely family.

https://nodepression.org/joe-ely-digs-into-his-archives-for-songs-of-love-and-freedom

12/24/2025

“We invite you to read this incredible story of his friendship with Joe Strummer and The Clash, a tale of lightning bugs in South Texas fields, mariachi bands in Mexican border towns, and two kindred spirits who found common ground in poetry, rockabilly, and a shared love of the open road.” - Oxford American

Read here: https://oxfordamerican.org/magazine/issue-87-winter-2014/texas-calling

Photo by Tracy Anne Hart

12/17/2024

One of the coolest events in all of country music will not happen in 2025. The Dale Watson-founded Ameripolitan Awards has announced that due to funding issues, it will not be returning in February as planned.

12/16/2024

Hello fellow Ameripolitans,
I’m sure most of you are wondering what’s up with this years Ameripolitan Awards. The short answer is , it’s not happening. Every year celine and I work tirelessly starting right after the awards is over. Right after clean up , I pay the left over expenses which goes into the tens of thousands. I personally can’t afford it anymore. I wish the awards could continue and if some monetary windfall happened to sponsor it , it would be on like donkey kong.
Now, this doesn’t mean Ameripolitan is gone. We will still sponsor package shows that will feature Ameripolitan up and comers and winners of past Awards. In addition we are in talks for an Ameripolitan Show on a popular format.
It is my belief that we will find funding to continue the awards maybe next year, and maybe pass the baton to someone else who GETS it. So, that’s the skinny. Let’s keep H***y Tonk, Rockabilly , Western Swing and Outlaw alive and keep on keeping on, because mainstream Country Music ain’t gonna do it. I am sad that deserving newcomers will not get the recognition this year, but we will try to spotlight them through our socials. Keep the faith. Let’s hope it’s a temporary set back.

Dale and Celine Lee Watson

05/03/2024

Melissa Carper Announces New Album Borned In Ya and Premieres New Single 'Lucky Five' exclusively on Holler.

05/03/2024

Stay tuned in on Melissa Carper

I am excited to announce that I am birthing a new album into the world— Official birthdate of my new album ‘Borned In Ya’ is July 19th via Thirty Tigers — but you can Pre-Order that album right now here: https://orcd.co/bornedinya
And you can listen to my first single, “Lucky Five,” right now on your favorite streaming service: https://orcd.co/luckyfive

The new album ‘Borned In Ya’ was recorded at Bomb Shelter Studio in Nashville, TN with Andrija Tokic and Dennis Crouch producing and a stellar group of musicians.

On the first single, “Lucky Five” you can hear Dennis Crouch (bass), Jeff Taylor (piano), Rory Hoffman (guitar), Billy Contreras (fiddle), Chris Gelb (drums), Doug Corcoran (trumpet), Jenn Miori Hodges (harmony vocal), and myself singing.
Album art by Pecos McCool
Photo by Aisha Golliher