This week, I was at one of our fabulous open mics in Seattle when an excellent local old timey duo called the Whisky Swillers got up and did their rendition of "Little Brown Jug." I hadn't heard this old folk song in a long time (maybe since violin lessons when I was a kid), so I went home to look it up and learn more about where it came from.

Turns out it was written in 1869 as a drinking song, was revived during the prohibition era, and has been covered by countless folk artists, including Elizabeth Cotten. Learn more about the history and lyrics of "Little Brown Jug."

image © Smithsonian Folkways

Alison Krauss is not the Grammy-winningest woman in the history of the industry for nothing. (She's taken away 21 trophies over the course of her 22-year career, and is up for five more Grammys this year.) She's consistently delivered great album after great album, beautifully-performed song after song. So, honestly, there's no scientific method for determining the answer to that question.

But, for anyone interested in learning more about Alison's work, who doesn't have the time or money to buy every single album she's ever made, I've devised a little list of songs I believe offer a pretty decent cross-section of her work, both with and without Union Station. Sure, there are a lot of heartbreak songs on the list, but she just does them so well. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of AKUS fans out there that may be shocked to see I didn't include their favorite song on the list (i.e. why did I not include a single instrumental?), so feel free to leave your own list in the comments.

photo: Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images

Leonard Cohen has been retired for 15 years, but returned to the road last summer with a special Canadian and European tour following his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now, he's just announced he'll play his first show in the U.S. since emerging from retirement. The date is scheduled for Feb. 19 at the Beacon Theater in New York City. As of yet, there are no other tour dates listed on his Web site, though a fan site indicates he'll be hitting the road for a full tour of the U.S. and Canada in April. Learn more about Leonard Cohen, including recommended CDs and MP3s.

image © Legacy

Meaghan Smith's Sire Records debut, The Cricket's Quartet may, at first listen, remind folks of old timey jazz vocalists or newer singer-songwriters like Norah Jones, but her musical sensibilities call together a slew of other disparate Americana elements. This four-song EP showcases Smith on vocals and keys, while clarinet solos, whistling and well-timed horns and strings round out the sound. Read my full review of Meaghan Smith's The Cricket's Quartet.

image © Sire Records