Variety chief music critic and senior writerhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3muxegkpu7222Here's my interview with the director of "Elsinore." This was one of my two favorite films at Telluride, and Andrew Scott is an instant leading choice to be nominated, but I hope there's an excellent shot for Simon and the film for best director and picture, too... https://variety.com/2026/film/news/elsinore-telluride-film-festival-andrew-scott-simon-stone-1236854213/07 Sep 2026 20:38 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3muxegkpu7222https://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3muujl74zss2xMy first dispatch from Telluride this year... Bill Gates says, be afraid, be very afraid... https://variety.com/2026/film/news/bill-gates-ai-controls-telluride-film-festival-2001-1236853326/ via @variety.com https://variety.com/2026/film/news/bill-gates-ai-controls-telluride-film-festival-2001-1236853326/?utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv406 Sep 2026 17:32 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3muujl74zss2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mukfi45z2s2pNot to be forgotten... David Byrne’s Hollywood Bowl Shows Put a Seal on One of the Greatest Rock Tours of All Time: Concert Review https://variety.com/2026/music/concert-reviews/david-byrne-hollywood-bowl-tour-concert-review-1236849387/02 Sep 2026 16:52 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukfi45z2s2phttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3muie4azbks2aI had some thoughts in this column about Stella Lefty's villification and why it's just a little more complicated than it's made out to be. https://variety.com/2026/music/columns/stella-lefty-boston-punching-bag-controversy-stick-season-1236848388/01 Sep 2026 21:22 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3muie4azbks2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mud7fvihhc27Either this was the festival of my dreams or that's just the heat stroke talking... At Daisy Chain Fields, Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan and Honored Forebears Convene for a Superb Festival That’s Hot to Go in Every Way: Concert Review https://variety.com/2026/music/concert-reviews/daisy-chain-fields-olivia-rodrigo-chappell-roan-concert-review-1236846844/30 Aug 2026 20:15 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mud7fvihhc27https://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mtz2l5zzyc2rI did a list of Dolly's 30 best songs... which I will hold firm to till I suddenly remember the 30 I should have mentioned instead. Agree or disagree? https://variety.com/lists/dolly-parton-30-best-greatest-songs/26 Aug 2026 19:22 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz2l5zzyc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mtx6c6mzq22o"Stop the presses" is not a completely antiquated phrase. This quickly written appreciation was the last thing sent to the printer for Variety's weekly print edition this afternoon... It doesn't do her justice, but we do what we can, when we're hurried and heartbroken.26 Aug 2026 01:23 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtx6c6mzq22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mrj4prfwxk2zLoved talking with so many "Hadestown" folks: creator Anaïs Mitchell, actors Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, André De Shields and Patrick Page, and director Brett Sullivan. Saw it again last night and what Sullivan did to immortalize the show was even more impressive. https://variety.com/2026/music/news/hadestown-musical-film-actors-interview-1236821221/26 Jul 2026 00:27 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrj4prfwxk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mqxortoo222dMy recommendation for "Mexodus," a production now playing and worth your while at Pasadena Playhouse... https://variety.com/2026/legit/reviews/mexodus-pasadena-playhouse-musical-theater-review-1236815638/ via @variety.com19 Jul 2026 02:02 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqxortoo222dhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mqmxfowhqk2ySo happy, as always, to get to talk to Allison Russell at length, this time about her beautiful third solo album, "In the Hour of Chaos." https://variety.com/2026/music/news/allison-russell-discusses-new-album-in-the-hour-of-chaos-1236809386/ https://variety.com/2026/music/news/allison-russell-discusses-new-album-in-the-hour-of-chaos-1236809386/?utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1dennhaw0idaa&fbclid=IwY2xjawTDbpRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe0TItJMCfIj2DuDedMY_EZiwzjepCPr8F7hENNRI1zQWyjSJGEArrg0d_yHI_aem_mE0rK1GmrggdfY8Fy1r1sg14 Jul 2026 19:37 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmxfowhqk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mqfqjfp37s22My enthusiastic endorsement of the Jack White album. https://variety.com/2026/music/album-reviews/jack-white-frozen-charlotte-album-revew-1236807326/11 Jul 2026 22:45 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqfqjfp37s22https://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mqawntnngc2sGlad to have had a chance to talk to Sarah and Allison together, as they hit the road in tandem. https://variety.com/2026/music/news/sarah-mclachlan-tour-allison-russell-joint-interview-1236806144/10 Jul 2026 00:52 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqawntnngc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mpzlhrtq522rThis guy's in love with Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. My lost childhood was recovered, intact. A review of a memorable night at the Hollywood Bowl: https://variety.com/2026/music/concert-reviews/herb-alpert-tijuana-brass-hollywood-bowl-concert-review-1236802736/07 Jul 2026 02:43 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpzlhrtq522rhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mptke6jl7c2thttps://variety.com/2026/music/columns/taylor-swift-wedding-lyrical-attitudes-journey-matrimony-1236801727/04 Jul 2026 17:07 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mptke6jl7c2thttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mpn3nlztvk2eAn amazing tour. https://variety.com/2026/music/concert-reviews/rosalia-tour-concert-review-forum-lux-1236799736/02 Jul 2026 03:28 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpn3nlztvk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mp7s46fens2nAlways a pleasure to talk with Rhiannon Giddens about whatever she has going on. In this case, it's about a beautiful album she has coming out in September, "Hope Is the Thing With Feathers," that is quintessential Rhiannon. https://variety.com/2026/music/news/rhiannon-giddens-album-hope-thing-with-feathers-interview-1236790494/ @rhiannongiddens.bsky.social @variety.com26 Jun 2026 20:33 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp7s46fens2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3motiml22m22qMy review of Dylan's great new tour (which is like the previous tour in most key ways, and that's not a bad thing)... Bob Dylan Erects a Watchtower in the Desert With Moody, Magisterial Show at Palm Springs’ Acrisure Arena: Concert Review https://variety.com/2026/music/concert-reviews/bob-dylan-tour-acrisure-arena-concert-review-1236786726/ via @variety.com21 Jun 2026 23:11 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3motiml22m22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3momenns2hk2rHappy birthday Paul. This is an 80 best songs list I did when he was turning 80. I meant to update it to 84 picks today, and thought about adding my favorite from "Dungeon Lane," but I didn't get it done. Is there anything from the album you would add? https://variety.com/lists/paul-mccartney-best-songs/ via @variety.com19 Jun 2026 03:11 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3momenns2hk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3moc5u2w4pc2oAn accounting of a great John Prine tribute I headed east to catch... At ‘Songwriters Salute John Prine’ Tribute at Wolf Trap in Virginia, Emmylou Harris, Margo Price, Allison Russell and Others Press the Case for Prine as America’s Poet Laureate https://variety.com/2026/music/news/john-prine-tribute-wolf-trap-songwriters-salute-virginia-1236781076/ via @variety.com15 Jun 2026 01:43 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3moc5u2w4pc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mo2wv4ito22yhttps://variety.com/2026/music/album-reviews/olivia-rodrigo-album-review-pretty-sad-for-girl-so-in-love-1236778775/12 Jun 2026 04:50 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo2wv4ito22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mnik5o36o22mGlad to catch up with Sara Bareilles and her director to discuss this terrific film... Sara Bareilles and Director Josh Alexander on Turning Loss Into Musical Magic in the Tribeca-Premiering Documentary ‘Good Grief’ https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sara-bareilles-documentary-good-grief-director-josh-alexander-1236767123/04 Jun 2026 21:14 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnik5o36o22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mmuipflikk2nI long for the 1940s, when children could walk around unattended at night, and attend — witttingly or otherwise — jazz improv sessions [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 May 2026 21:55 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmuipflikk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mmuijklka22nThe Onion has labored for decades now under the delusion that headline writers don't use contractions. For me that's just a comedy killer... [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 May 2026 21:51 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmuijklka22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mmuie5refs2nMy review of 'Brigadoon' at the Pasadena Playhouse... https://variety.com/2026/music/reviews/brigadoon-pasadena-playhouse-review-lerner-loe-1236760181/27 May 2026 21:48 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmuie5refs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mml4f2xzrs2rBob Dylan turns 85 Sunday. Five years ago, some of us came up with a list of the 80 best cover versions of Dylan songs for Variety, so this seems like a fine time to resurrect that... And here's a bonus list of 50 more! 50 More of the Best Bob Dylan Covers Ever Recorded https://variety.com/lists/best-bob-dylan-covers-50-more/ https://variety.com/lists/bob-dylan-80-best-greatest-cover-songs/24 May 2026 04:20 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mml4f2xzrs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/cwillman.bsky.social/post/3mmkmqrb2mc2kI reviewed the Paul McCartney album... https://variety.com/2026/music/album-reviews/paul-mccartney-boys-of-dungeon-lane-album-review-1236757156/23 May 2026 23:40 +0000at://did:plc:l2vx4zgzjym2crobcwbreiib/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmkmqrb2mc2k