Article Contributed by Devious Planet
Published on 2026-08-31
GRAMMY-nominated artist, 10-time Blues Music Award winner, Kansas City Hall of Fame inductee, and acclaimed bassist Danielle Nicole has released her fourth solo album, Fireflies, via 40 Below Records, along with the official music video for its standout single, “Gaslight.”
Recorded live to analog tape in her hometown of Kansas City, Fireflies is Nicole’s most personal and musically adventurous album to date. Produced by legendary drummer and producer Tony Braunagel (Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt) and featuring guitarist Brandon Miller and renowned keyboardist Jim Pugh, the 11-song collection transforms grief into resilience while expanding Nicole’s signature blend of blues, soul, and American roots music.
Premiered by Ink 19, the video for “Gaslight” brings one of Fireflies’ most compelling tracks to life. The old-school R&B-infused anthem explores breaking free from emotional manipulation and learning to trust your own instincts. Driven by Nicole’s unmistakable bass lines, Braunagel’s relentless syncopated groove, sinewy guitars, and her soaring, soulful vocals, the track delivers one of the album’s most powerful statements of resilience.
At the heart of Fireflies is a deeply personal story. Nicole began writing the album while navigating the devastating loss of her brother Kris, her lifelong musical collaborator and bandmate in the award-winning family trio Trampled Under Foot.
“Every album is an era of your life, where you write about whatever you’re going through,” she says. “When my brother passed away, I was still writing a lot, but my grief kept me from completing some of these songs. I had to push hard through the mental blocks.”
Rather than retreat inward, Nicole embraced collaboration as the album’s guiding force. Working closely with Braunagel, Miller, and Pugh during an intensive 11-day recording session, the songs evolved organically as arrangements and performances took shape together in the studio.
“It felt so organic and spontaneous,” Nicole recalls. “Jim Pugh has a uniquely creative approach to the keys, where he can sound traditional or completely out of this world, depending on what you need. Brandon writes beautiful sections that challenge me as a singer. I wanted us all to build these songs together, in the same room.”
The result is a record that balances vulnerability with strength. Songs like “Soulside” explore finding peace amid grief, while “Take Me Back,” featuring Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, revisits Nicole’s Missouri upbringing through vivid memories of home.
The recording carries additional emotional weight through the use of Kris Nicole’s drum kit, quietly honoring his enduring presence throughout the album.
Elsewhere, “Gaslight” and “Tug of War” emerge as bold declarations of self-empowerment, while “Radical Love” celebrates compassion through an irresistible groove and uplifting message. The title track, “Fireflies,” reflects on the quiet passage from childhood innocence into adulthood, becoming the emotional centerpiece of an album that celebrates memory while embracing what’s still to come.
Early reviews have praised both Nicole’s songwriting and the album’s emotional honesty. Ink 19 praised the record’s reliance on Nicole’s voice and storytelling rather than studio artifice, while Blues Rock Review highlighted the strength of the album’s writing, arrangements, and performances.
For Nicole, Fireflies is also a musical homecoming. Growing up in Kansas City, she was immersed in blues, soul, and roots music from an early age. One unforgettable performance changed everything.
“We had a great blues festival in Kansas City, and I was able to see Etta James perform,” Nicole remembers. “She was fearless. My parents were musicians who played in cover bands, so music was always part of my family, but I didn’t realize I wanted to sing and perform until I heard Etta.”
That fearless spirit echoes throughout Fireflies. Inspired by the traditions of blues yet unbound by convention, Danielle Nicole has crafted an album that honors her roots while confidently pushing forward. With its rich blend of soul, blues, R&B, and deeply personal storytelling, Fireflies stands as one of the strongest statements of her career.
DANIELLE NICOLE TOUR DATES
Sept 2 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe
Sept 3 - Fort Worth, TX - Billy Bob’s Texas
Sept 4 - Austin, TX - O4 Center
Sept 5 - Tulsa, OK - The Vanguard
Sept 10 - Las Vegas, NV - Big Blues Bender
Sept 22 - Sellersville, PA - ST94
Sept 23 - New York, NY - Drom
Sept 24 - Turners Falls, MA - Shea Theater
Sept 25 - Thomaston, ME - Watts Hall
Sept 26 - Old Saybrook, CT - The Kate
Sept 27 - Boston, MA - City Winery
Sept 30 - Buffalo, NY - Sportsmens Tavern
Oct 1 - Cleveland, OH - Music Box Concert Hall
Oct 15 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
Oct 16 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly’s
Oct 18 - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre
Nov 3 - Leiden, Netherlands - Q-bus
Nov 4 - Verviers, Belgium - Spirit of 66
Nov 6 - Joldelund, Germany - Gerd’s Juke Joint
Nov 7 - Rheine, Germany - Stadthalle
Nov 8 - Weert, Netherlands - De Bosuil
Nov 9 - Kassel, Germany - Theaterstübchen
Nov 10 - Hamburg, Germany - Nica Jazz Club
Nov 12 - Šumperk, Czechia - Blues Alive
Nov 13 - Vienna, Austria - REIGEN Live
Nov 14 - Budapest, Hungary - Analog Music Hall
Nov 16 - Salzburg, Austria - Rockhouse
Nov 18 - Hembrechts, Germany - Textilmuseum
Nov 19 - Fulda, Germany - Kreuz
Nov 20 - Oss, Netherlands - Groene Engel
Nov 21 - Gaildorf, Germany - Häberlen
Nov 22 - Aalten, Netherlands - LSA Music
Nov 27 - Wichita, KS - The Cotillion Ballroom
Nov 28 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
2027
Jan 31 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
Feb 17 - London, UK - 100 Club
Feb 18 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Academy
Feb 19 - Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor
Feb 20 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
Feb 21 - Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK - The Cluny
