On the cover: Photograph by Jim Herrington. Microphone courtesy Steve Tviet, Omni Sound, Nashville, TN. Photographed at the Belcourt Theater (home to the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930s), with special thanks to Julia Sutherland of Belcourt Yes! Extra special thanks to David Rawlings for loaning vintage gear that didn't fit in the final frame. On the spine: Song lyric from "Sooner Or Later", which appears on the Doug Sahm album S.D.Q. '98 and was written by Robert Flick.

FRONT PORCH
Hello Stranger; Farther Along.

A PLACE TO BE
Regional portrait
"Austin City Limits" celebrates its 25th anniversary.

MIKED
Live reviews
Son Volt in St. Louis, MO; Knitters in San Francisco, CA; Blue Rodeo, Sadies in Chicago, IL; Roger Wallace in Oslo, Norway; Johnny Dowd in New York City, NY; Doug Sahm tribute in Austin, TX.

TOWN & COUNTRY
Brief regional features
Mountain Heart (Ellijay, GA); Phil Lee (Nashville, TN); Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time (Nashville, TN); Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers (Tempe, AZ); Mertons (Frankfort, KY); Ed Burleson (Lewisville, TX); Barbara Cue (Athens, GA); Nickel Slots (Raleigh, NC).

DON'T ASK ME NO QUESTIONS
Q&A
Bill Frisell (interview by Peter Blackstock).

THE LONG CUT
Extended features
Ready For The Country:
Tift Merritt (by David Menconi)
Mike Ireland (by Grant Alden)
Marah (by Geoffrey Himes)
Hayseed (by Jon Weisberger)
Trailer Bride (by Fred Mills)
James Talley (by Bill Friskics-Warren)
Jerry Jeff Walker (by Michael Perry)

NOT FADE AWAY
Reissues
Byrds; Kendalls; Mickey Newbury; Lefty Frizzell; Pee Wee King; Ole Rasmussen; Orval Prophet; Tom Rush; WPAQ: The Voice Of The Blue Ridge Mountains.

WAXED
Record reviews
Chuck Prophet; Alan Jackson; Mike Ness; Tom House; Kenny Roby; Kenny Roby & Neal Casal; Malcolm Holcombe; Teddy Morgan & the Pistolas; Richmond Fontaine; Legendary Stardust Cowboy; Ron Gaddis; Bob Delevante; Tanya Rae Brown; Bruce Henderson; Star City; Frog Holler; Joe Louis Walker; Lonesome Brothers; Julie Doiron & the Wooden Stars; Mark Stuart; Jeffrey Halford & the Healers; Ronny Elliott; Shannon Stephens; Ultraviolets; Cousin Lovers; Mike Plume Band; Andy Scheinman; Leftover Salmon. Imports: Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham; Grand Drive.

THE NO DEPRESSION TOP 40
A retail chart for September-October 1999.

SCREEN DOOR
Stuff we like
Farewell, Sir Doug: a photograph by John Carrico.