These brothers be howlin. The Howlin’ Brothers kicking it.

January.  Snow.  February.   Snow.  March.  Snow.  Like you, we are ready for spring.  For green.  For wide open trails, peaks to climb, rivers to paddle, downhills to bomb.

For now, that’s just wishful thinking.  So, in the meantime, we leave you with Trail Mix.

We kick off this month with a track from The Howlin’ Brothers, a Tennessee trio that bends and stirs rag time, old time, and country blues into a rip roarin’ good time.  Their latest release, Howl, was produced by Brendan Benson, a founding member of The Raconteurs.

Trail Mix is also excited to include a track from Anthrax, one of the biggest names in heavy metal music over the last three decades.  This month, Anthrax is releasing Anthems, an eight track EP featuring covers from some of the band’s favorite tunes from the 1970s.  We offer you the title track from that release, a cover of Rush’s “Anthems,” though you will notice it is marked “stream only.”

Stream only tracks are new for Trail Mix; from time to time, we will be adding tracks for stream that will not be available for download.  Historically, we have been able to give away everything we offer on Trail Mix.  The music business being what it is, not all tracks can be given away for free.  We understand that and are totally cool with it.  Instead of denying those artists involvement in Trail Mix, however, we have decided to drop in a stream only track from time to time and turn you folks on to great stuff that, heretofore, we have not included.

Also on this month’s mix are brand new tunes from British folk rocker Bobby Long, enchanting songstresses Lady Lamb The Beekeeper, Caitlin Rose, Heidi Talbot, and Shannon Labrie, roots rockers The Nadas, Fat Opie, and Todd May, noted singer/songwriter Steve Forbert, and longtime rockers from Great Britain, The Waterboys.

March also finds us showcasing a couple tunes from two new releases on the fabled Alligator Records label. We are happy to be working with the fine folks at Alligator and offer new tracks from Anders Osborne and Jesse Dee.

Make sure to check out a couple great Virginia bands – Weird Mob, out of Charlottesville, and Scratch River Telegraph Company, from way out in the mountains of Wise County – the rollicking one man blues of Montana’s Smokestack & The Foothill Fury, and the beautiful harmonies of Duluth, Minnesota’s Low.

Trail Mix is rounded out with tracks from Rolling Nowhere, Jacob & The Good People, Jacco Gardner, Smoke Fairies, Nakia, and Maston.  All great songs, all great artists.

Make sure to download and stream as often as you would like.  Tell your friends and neighbors.  Mention a song or two that really strikes your fancy.  And, as always, reach out and buy a record or two from these tremendous artists.  Supporting them shows your appreciation for their support of Trail Mix.  Happy listening!

Download Trail Mix March 2013 here.

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Download more music from month’s past here! They never go out of style.