Irie Keef, a vibrant new voice in the Afro-Caribbean music scene, has made an electrifying debut, fusing the energy of major music festivals from Miami to Jamaica into a unique auditory experience. Working closely with Dominican artist Nelly Stharre, Keef’s music ebbs and flows with the rhythm of the three languages she seamlessly blends French, Creole, and English. Drawing inspiration from the inimitable Staniski, Keef presents...

Ken Woods and the Old Blue Gang kick up some serious dust with their single "Ride the Rails," and listening feels less like tapping your foot and more like watching the ground crack open nearby. It’s got that Bakersfield twang alright, bright and wiry, but tangled up with a nervous psychobilly heartbeat and the kind of scuffed-boot roots rock energy that sounds like it’s...