On the cover: Lyle Lovett, photograph by Todd V. Wolfson. Song lyric from "In My Own Mind" by Lyle Lovett.

FRONT PORCH
Hello Stranger; Box Full Of Letters; Field Reportings; Farther Along (Sam Phillips).

Mark Zingarelli's Lunch Counter Diaries

MIKED — live reviews
Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, CO; Alejandro Escovedo benefit in Chicago, IL; Neil Young & Crazy Horse in Columbia, MD; Thorns, Jayhawks in Seattle, WA; Martin Stephenson, Avett Brothers in Durham, NC; Twangfest in St. Louis, MO.

TOWN & COUNTRY — brief regional features
Randy Weeks (Los Angeles, CA); Los Lonely Boys (San Angelo, TX); James Mathus (Efland, NC); Rosie Thomas (Seattle, WA); Patrick Park (Los Angeles, CA); Steve Turner (Seattle, WA); Bocephus King (Vancouver, BC); Valorie Miller (Asheville, NC).

A PLACE TO BE — regional portrait  
Clarksdale, Mississippi. (Eric Babcock & Paige La Grone Babcock)

DON’T ASK ME NO QUESTIONS — Q&A    
Joan Baez. (Linda Ray)

THE LONG WAY AROUND — extended features
Robert Randolph (Daniel Durchholz)
My Morning Jacket (Allison Stewart)
Thad Cockrell (Barry Mazor)
Shelby Lynne (Michael McCall)
Lyle Lovett (Geoffrey Himes)
Mike Seeger (Jon Weisberger)

SITTIN’ & THINKIN’ — essay  
The relationship between artist and audience. (Geoffrey Himes)

NOT FADE AWAY — reissues
Willie Nelson; Jim Reeves; Merle Travis; Jessi Colter; Little Miss Cornshucks; Terry Allen; Bob Neuwirth; New Riders Of The Purple Sage; Thee Midniters; Beat Farmers; Continental Drifters; Rock City; Flight Of Mavis; Vulgar Boatmen; Pearls Before Swine; Holy Modal Rounders; Down In The Basement; Jimmy Martin; Lilly Brothers & Don Stover; Tex Ritter; Carl T. Sprague; Tennessee Ernie Ford; Johnny Horton.

WAXED — reviews
Rodney Crowell; June Carter Cash; Marty Stuart; Emmylou Harris; Patty Loveless; Willie Nelson & Ray Price; Dwight Yoakam; Warren Zevon; Howard Tate; Mavericks; Del McCoury Band; Danny Barnes; Joe Henry; Chris Knight; Tim O’Brien; Amy Allison; Josh Rouse; Marshall Crenshaw; Jay Bennett & Edward Burch; Trailer Bride; Brave Combo; North Mississippi Allstars; Colin Linden; Guy Davis; Blazers; Graham Lindsey; Oh Susanna; Mojave 3; Weakerthans; Marc Olsen; Centro-Matic; Dead End Angels; Eastmountainsouth; Po’ Girl; Blue Highway; Ruthie & the Wranglers; Shakin’ Apostles; Howard Kalish; Houston Brothers; Cash Brothers; Barn Burning; Tywanna Jo Baskette; Kristie Stremel; Kris Delmhorst; George Usher Group; Gene Pistilli; Justin Lute; Jon Shain; Jim Campilongo Electric Trio; Sleepy Jackson. IMPORTS: St. Thomas; Alice Texas. TRIBUTARIES: Louvin Brothers; Patsy Cline; Peggy Lee (by Maria Muldaur); Sister Rosetta Tharpe; Johnny Cash. LIVE WIRES: Kris Kristofferson; Tracy Nelson; Grey DeLisle; Wayne Hancock; Heybale. FILM AT 11: Heartworn Highways; Steve Earle; Waylon Jennings; Jimmy Martin; Sam Cooke; Allison Moorer; Alison Krauss & Union Station; Scruggs/Watson/Skaggs. BOUND: Col. Tom Parker; Tim Buckley.

THE NO DEPRESSION TOP 40
A retail chart for May-June 2003.

SCREEN DOOR — stuff we like
Songs inspired by sports. (Peter Blackstock)