Article Contributed by Mountain Home Music Company
Published on 2026-05-04
“Lonesome Trails and Tall Tales" is a collection of tunes about the human condition,” says Darren Nicholson of his new album for Mountain Home Music Company, out now, “about living, loving, losing, fighting, redemption, and moving on. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a hand in writing all of these. I was so blessed to have some of the best pickers and singers in the world join me on this project. I’m especially excited, as this is my first vinyl release, and it’s a limited run featuring the amazing artwork of Grace Van’t Hof.”
Brimming with the confidence of an artist who’s fully found his own voice, Lonesome Trails and Tall Tales centers around the veteran mandolinist’s sturdy songs, many written with long-time collaborator, Charles Humphrey III (Songs From The Road Band). Working with award-winning producer, Jeff Collins, Nicholson assembled a supporting cast that includes labelmates Kristin Scott Benson (banjo) and fiddler Deanie Richardson, while band members Kevin Sluder and Avery Welter, together with Jennifer Nicholson, turn in soulful harmonies and an assortment of friends like studio wizards David Johnson (acoustic guitar) and bassist Mark Fain chip in to bring each tale to life.
Focus track “All Trains Come to Pass” is, as Nicholson notes, “a barn-burner! It was written by Thomm Jutz, Charles Humphrey III, and myself. The song speaks metaphorically about the passing of time and how important it is to live in every moment. Breathe it in.” With its headlong rush, spirited picking and bluegrass-friendly imagery, the song conveys a thoughtful message rooted in the upbeat side of his artistic personality:
Folks on both sides of the tracks
Gone today ain't coming back
Pullman coach or old boxcar
Do your thing be who you are
All trains come to pass
Down the line in a flash
Live each day like it’s the last
All trains come to pass
“The band is kicking on this one,” he adds, “and it was so much fun to record! We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did creating it.”
In addition to “All Trains Come to Pass” and songs that are already fan favorites — "Ain’t No Sin,” "Big Sky” and “Any Highway” top that list — Lonesome Trails and Tall Tales serves up a couple of alternative versions of yet-to-be-released singles in a countrified version of “I’m Home Late Again” and an extended “Eager Overachiever" with a spoken introduction, as well as the meditative “Time to Leave,” written with western North Carolina favorite Ashley Heath.
“I’m so proud of everything about this,” Nicholson enthuses. “It’s who and what I am musically; my signature sound and writing. I hope you enjoy it!”
Lonesome Trails and Tall Tales is streaming in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL. Listen to it HERE.
