No Depression started it's life as a quarterly print magazine in 1995, fueled by it's founding editors' passion for alt-country music and long-form journalism.

Over the course of it's first print run, it helped solidify the importance of Americana and roots music on the national stage. In the years since, No Depression has developed a robust web publication, publishing long features, honest criticism, and weekly columns in addition to it's wealth of community-driven content.

In 2015, to celebrate the publication's 20th anniversary, the FreshGrass Foundation brought it back to print as a high-end, ad-free, quarterly journal focused once again on long-form music journalism.

To open 2019, No Depression will examine standards in roots music and the poetic lyrics within them. Stories will offer in-depth analyses on the most beloved, covered, and lasting songs in bluegrass, Americana, folk, jazz, and country and explore what fuels their longevity. Additionally, the issue will celebrate the poetry of roots music and the naturally entwined nature of music, literature, and storytelling.

Contents list:

• The Beatles as a lasting influence to bluegrass and country musicians
• Gillian Welch on winning a literary prize from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Amanda Shires on her love of poetry and earning her M.F.A.
• Keith Secola and his "Native Americana" anthem
• The legend of "John Henry"
• An introduction to jazz standards
• Jason Molina's biographer reflects on the Magnolia Electric Co.
• The parallels between hip-hop and folk music lyrics
• John Prine on songwriting

Original illustrations by Megan Amoss and Caitlin McDonagh

Design by Marcus Amaker