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The Southland Music Line 2021- A Year in Review


Article by Johnny Cole
Photos by Stephen Anderson

The Southland Music Line began the new year hoping things would be better for us all than the very difficult year of 2020. These hopes would be met with mixed outcome. Sadly, the many cancellations or postponements that occurred in 2020 continued for much of 2021, yet, live music and some events did make a gradual reappearance, often with a variety of rules and mandates with an emphasis on safety. Thankfully, for much of the year we were able to enjoy live music at some of our favorite venues such as The Peoples Room of Mobile, Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, Jack’s by the Tracks and the Grand Magnolia Ballroom, all of which did an incredible job of helping to keep live music alive on the Gulf Coast. Live music also returned to the popular Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm with several autumn shows. The Frog Pond even introduced a special premiere on May 28th of its long awaited Tree House Hall with an exciting show by Grayson Capps, Corky Hughes, Will Kimbrough, Andrew Duhon and Molly Thomas.

However, a number of events that we have enjoyed for many years were once again canceled in 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic precautions. Austin’s Southwest by Southwest, Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival were all canceled for the second year in a row. Thankfully, The Mississippi Songwriters Festival held in Ocean Springs and Gautier, MS successfully returned in September – a highly welcomed event! A number of other regional festivals such as The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, Ozone Songwriters Festival and the Panama City Songwriters Festival took place in 2021, too.

In the fall of this year, The Southland Music Line celebrated its 8th anniversary while making a substantial update at to our official website. As the year progressed, despite some setbacks, we pressed on with our coverage of great music and newsworthy events publishing several articles and photo collections for a productive 2021. Our popular Mississippi Blues Trail Series spotlighted numerous Blues Trail markers throughout the year, too. We would like to thank Dr. Tom Leytham and Mrs. Juanita Smith (aka “Music Mom”) for their writing contributions to The Southland Music Line in 2021.

Top photo: Corky Hughes, Grayson Capps, Will Kimbrough, Cary Hudson & Gram Rea at The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm in Silverhill, AL – The 2021 Readers’ Choice Award winner for Outdoor Music Venue of the Year; Above photo: Eric Erdman – “2021 Music Artist of the Year” as chosen by both the The Southland Music Line’s management team and our readers in The Readers’ Choice Awards.

☆ 2021 Music Artist of the Year as Chosen by The Southland Music Line’s Management Team

Each year, The Southland Music Line’s management team along with a body of consultants and contributors choose a different artist to be that year’s “Music Artist of the Year”. At the beginning of December, we announced that Eric Erdman had been chosen as our Music Artist of the Year.  Click Here for article.

☆ Results of The 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards

During the month of December, we celebrate the Gulf Coast Music Scene with our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. The results for this year’s voting are:
▪︎ Readers’ Choice Music Artist of the Year: Eric Erdman (Runners-Up: Abe Partridge, The Jollies and Red & The Revelers)
▪︎ Readers’ Choice Album of the Year: Live In the UK: Agony Is Alright – Abe Partridge (Runners-Up: Psychedelics – Lauren Murphy and Good Whiskey and Bad Decisions – The Jollies)
▪︎ Readers’ Choice (Indoor) Music Venue of the Year: Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, AL (Runners-Up: The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL and Jack’s by the Tracks in Pascagoula, MS)
▪︎ Readers’ Choice (Outdoor) Music Venue of the Year: The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm in Silverhill, AL (Runner-Up: The Wharf in Orange Beach, AL)
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Readers’ Choice Album of the Year: Live In the UK: Agony Is Alright – Abe Partridge

☆ Top Ten Album List(s) by The Southland Music Line’s Management Team:

☆ Johnny Cole (Chief Editor/Writer/Co-Founder) –
▪︎ 1. The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
▪︎ 2. Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook, Vol. 1 – Barry Gibb & Friends
▪︎ 3. Star-Crossed – Kacey Musgraves
▪︎ 4. Love For Sale – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
▪︎ 5. Paint The Roses: Live in Concert – Larkin Poe with Nu Deco Ensemble
▪︎ 6. In These Silent Days – Brandi Carlile
▪︎ 7. Hail Satin – Dee Gees (Foo Fighters) * released on July 17, 2021 for Record Store Day.
▪︎ 8. Raise The Roof – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
▪︎ 9. Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! – Aaron Lee Tasjan
▪︎10. True Stories and Other Lies – Stephen Lee Veal

Johnny Cole’s Ten Favorite Singles/Album Tracks of 2021: 1) “Another Lonely Day” – Aaron Lee Tasjan, 2) “Justified” – Kacey Musgraves, 3) “Wasted Days” – John Mellencamp & Bruce Springsteen, 4) “Chaise Longue” – Wet Leg, 5) “Right On Time – Brandi Carlile, 6) “Easy On You” – Adele, 7) “Shades of Pink” – Chaislyn, 8) “You Should Be Dancing” – Dee Gees (Foo Fighters), 9) “Dustland” – The Killers ft. Bruce Springsteen, 10) “Like I Used To” – Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen

* See Below for Johnny Cole’s Annual Year End Lists & J.C. Music Awards.

☆ Stephen “Andy” Anderson (Photographer/ Co-Founder) –
▪︎ 1. In Defense of My Own Happiness – Joy Oladokun
▪︎ 2. 662 – Christone Ingram
▪︎ 3. The Horse and Hounds – James McMurtry

▪︎ 4. Outside Child – Allison Russell
▪︎ 5. Delta Kream – The Black Keys
▪︎ 6. We Are – Jon Batiste
▪︎ 7. Gold-Diggers Sound – Leon Bridges
▪︎ 8. 30 – Adele
▪︎ 9. Sour – Olivia Rodrigo
▪︎ 10. Star-Crossed – Kacey Musgraves
▪︎ 11. Triage – Rodney Crowell

▪︎ 12. Raise the Roof – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
▪︎ 13. In Those Silent Days – Brandi Carlile
▪︎ 14. Leftover Feelings – John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band
▪︎ 15. The Marfa Tapes – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & John Randall
▪︎ 16. J.T. – Steve Earle
▪︎ 17. Tempting Fate – Carolyn Wonderland
▪︎18. Pinky’s Blues – Sue Foley
▪︎ 19. Remember Her Name – Mickey Guyton
▪︎ 20. I Be Trying – Cedric Burnside

☆ Robby Amonett (Artist/Co-Founder) “Alphabetical Order” –
▪︎ The Burden of Restlessness – King Buffalo
▪︎ Circle of Days – Hippie Death Cult
▪︎ Depreciated – John R. Miller
▪︎ Eldovar: A Story of Darkness & Light Elder – Elder & Kadavar
▪︎ Georgia Blue – Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
▪︎ Gold-Diggers Sound – Leon Bridges
▪︎ Goodbye L.A. – Jeremy Pinnell
▪︎ The Horses and the Hounds – James McMurtry
▪︎ In Defense of My Own Happiness – Joy Oladokun
▪︎ Live in the UK : Agony is Alright – Abe Partridge
▪︎ The Marfa Tapes – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & John Randall
▪︎ Mercy – Cody Jinks
▪︎ Monuments -The Vintage Caravan
▪︎ Sad Dimension – Mark Mann
▪︎ Start It Over – Riley Downing

☆ Brenda Germany (Associate Editor/Writer) “Alphabetical Order” –
▪︎ 662 – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
▪︎ Blessings and Miracles – Santana
▪︎ bLow – Colin Linden
▪︎ Faster – Samantha Fish
▪︎ Hardware – Billy F. Gibbons
▪︎ The Last of the Better Days Ahead – Charlie Parr
▪︎ Live in the UK: Agony is Alright – Abe Partridge
▪︎ Medicine at Midnight – Foo Fighters
▪︎ Raise The Roof – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
▪︎ Star-Crossed – Kacey Musgraves

☆ Johnny Cole’s Annual Year End Lists, Complete List of Shows & J.C. Music Awards:
Click Here for Complete of Shows in 2021 “Keeping Up with The Line”
Click Here for Favorite Shows, Concerts & Music Events of 2021
Click Here for the J.C. Annual Music Awards, Favorite 100 Albums of 2021 (and honorable mentions), Favorite 100 singles/tracks of 2021 & list of musicians seen in 2021

The June 8th article and photo collection spotlighting singer-songwriter Summerlyn Powers was one of our most popular projects of 2021.

☆ Our Articles in 2021:
▪︎ “Mississippi Blues Trail Series – Cotton Pickin’ Blues” by Brenda Germany
▪︎ “Mississippi Blues Trail Series: Sam Cooke – Clarksdale” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “Mississippi Blues Trail Series – Delta Blues Museum and the Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival” by Brenda Germany
▪︎ “Lauren Murphy Releases Her Much Anticipated Album, “Psychedelics”” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “All This Entertainment – The Gulf Coast Based Multi-Media Company Shows No Signs of Slowing Down” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “Can’t Stop The Music Concert Series – Mississippians Making Music” by Brenda Germany
▪︎ “Celebrating The Music of Jimmy “Duck’ Holmes at the Legendary Blue Front Cafe” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “A Pair of Delcos by The Dashboard Light” by Tom “Doc” Leytham
▪︎ “Fans of The Peoples Room of Mobile Celebrate Six Year Anniversary” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “Summerlyn Powers – Heartfelt Songs & Creative Expressions” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “Mississippi Blues Trail Series – Bobby Rush” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “A Promise Fulfilled – Grand Magnolia Music Brings Great Entertainment To Pascagoula” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “Mississippi Blues Trail Series – Summers Hotel & Subway Lounge” by Brenda Germany
▪︎ “The Youth Showcase at the 12th Annual Mississippi Songwriters Festival” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “Music Review: “Wasted Days” by John Mellencamp & Bruce Springsteen” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “The Southland Music Line Celebrates Eight Years” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “Music Icons Who Found Success at an Early Age” by Johnny Cole
▪︎ “Eric Erdman: 2021 Music Artist of the Year” by Johnny Cole & Juanita Smith

Click Here for our article archives, which include the above titles.

☆ The covers appearing on “The Line” in 2021:

☆ The Photo Albums appearing on “The Line” in 2021:

Click Here for “ALL” the photo collections by Stephen “Andy” Anderson in 2021.

☆ 2021 Monthly Music Spotlights:
▪︎ Jan – Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook, Vol. 1 – Barry Gibb & Friends
▪︎ Feb – Psychedelics – Lauren Murphy
▪︎ Mar – Medicine at Midnight. – Foo Fighters
▪︎ Apr – “Carnage” – Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
▪︎ May – “Be Here Instead” – Parker Millsap
▪︎ June – “Delta Kream” – The Black Keys
▪︎ July – “No Gods No Masters” – Garbage
▪︎ Aug – “Happier Than Ever” – Billie Eillish
▪︎ Sept – “Pressure Machine” – The Killers
▪︎ Oct – “Star-Crossed” – Kacey Musgraves
▪︎ Nov – “In These Silent Days” – Brandi Carlile
︎▪︎ Dec – “The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts” – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Click Here to visit our Spotlight Music of the Month Archives.

Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, AL received the most votes this year as Favorite (Indoor) Music Venue.

☆ Music Fans of the Month in 2021:
▪︎ Jan. – Mike & Karen Grisham
▪︎ Feb. – Jim Pennington
▪︎ Mar. – Tarver Shelton
▪︎ Apr. – Smitty & Dotty Armour
▪︎ May – John “J T.” Thompson
▪︎ June – Nancy Hughes
▪︎ July – Robert & Carrie Dienelt
▪︎ Aug. – Cathe Steele
▪︎ Sept. – Juanita Smith
▪︎ Oct. – Ashton Cole
▪︎ Nov. – Stan Flint
▪︎ Dec. – John Dolan

Click Here for review of all Music Fans of the Month.

☆ Acknowledgements:
The Southland Music Line thanks all of the fine folks who granted us access to shows, events and festivals or even saved us a seat.

Photo of Cary Hudson at The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm in Silverhill, AL – The 2021 Readers’ Choice Award winner for Outdoor Music Venue of the Year


● CLICK HERE FOR JOHNNY’S COMPLETE LIST OF SHOWS IN 2021
CLICK HERE FOR JOHNNY’S FAVORITE SHOWS, CONCERTS & EVENTS OF 2021
CLICK HERE FOR JOHNNY COLE’S ANNUAL MUSIC AWARDS, FAVORITE ALBUMS, SINGLES/SINGLES & LIST OF MUSICIANS SEEN IN 2021

CLICK HERE FOR 2021 PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STEPHEN ANDERSON COLLECTION

Page Designed & Edited by Johnny Cole
Additional Editing by Brenda Germany
© The Southland Music Line. 2021.
All rights reserved

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: We welcome requests for permission to use content from The Southland Music Line website and Facebook page. Any shared articles or photos may not be altered, edited nor cropped and must include the appropriate copyrights of The Southland Music Line.

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