DUANE BETTS RETURNS WITH POWERFUL NEW ALBUM ISLE OF HOPE ON JUNE 12

Beloved and respected singer, songwriter and guitarist Duane Betts will release his highly anticipated new album, Isle of Hope, June 12 via Sun Records (pre-order/pre-save HERE). Produced by Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb, Isle of Hope is Betts’ most unguarded and personal work to date and establishes him as one of music’s most compelling voices. 

The album was created during a transformative period for Betts. During a peak moment of his thriving, decades-long career as both a solo artist and founding member of The Allman Betts Band, he lost his father and mentor, Dickey Betts. Isle of Hope is a snapshot of this pivotal moment, as Betts was forced to confront the reality of time and mortality head on, which ultimately led him to a new sense of personal clarity and conviction. 

“With Isle of Hope, I wanted to show my life’s experiences. All that I’ve been through, all that shaped me and all I aspire to be and translate to the listener a sense of purpose and hope and optimism. In these anxious times in the world, music is always a sanctuary and gives people a feeling of purpose and strength. I wanted this record to exemplify that,” Betts shares.  

Recorded in just five days at Cobb’s studio in Savannah, GA, Isle of Hope consists of ten tracks written by Betts and his longtime collaborator Stoll Vaughan, including “Down to Houston,” which is out today. Listen/share HERE and watch the official music video HERE.  

Isle of Hope is Betts’ first release on Sun Records. Of the new partnership, Dominic Pandiscia, Chief Strategy Officer of Primary Wave/Sun Label Group, shares, “It’s truly an honor to have Duane join Sun Records. Duane is uniquely positioned to help carry Sun’s legendary legacy forward with the release of Isle of Hope, an all-time great album showcasing the depth of his songwriting and musicianship.” 

In addition to Betts and Cobb, the project also features Johnny Stachela (guitar), J.D. Simo (guitar), Brian Allen (bass), Philip Towns (keyboard) and Derrek Phillips (drums). 

Known for his electric live performances, Betts and his band, Palmetto Motel, will continue to tour through this summer including upcoming headline shows at Vienna’s The Barns at Wolf Trap (two nights), Annapolis’ Rams Head on Stage, Albany’s Swyer Theatre at The Egg, Fort Lauderdale’s Amaturo Theater and Clearwater’s Capitol Theatre. He will also perform select dates with The Allman Betts Band this month. See below for complete tour itinerary. 

Isle of Hope follows Betts’ long-awaited 2023 debut solo album, Wild & Precious Life, which featured Derek Trucks, Marcus King and Nicki Bluhm and received widespread acclaim, with Relix praising its “masterful guitar work,” while No Depression declared, “[it] secures Betts’ place in the pantheon of great Southern rockers” and Goldmine Magazine proclaimed, “While it’s taken 20 years for Betts to make his official debut, this record was worth the wait.” 

Prior to starting his solo career, Betts founded The Allman Betts Band alongside Devon Allman. Since the band’s inception in 2018, they’ve released two studio albums (Down to the River and Bless Your Heart) and toured relentlessly, including their annual Allman Betts Family Revival. The event features the band alongside a variety of special guests, such as Jimmy Hall, Robert Randolph, Jason Isbell, Charlie Starr and Marcus King, and celebrates the music of The Allman Brothers Band. 

ISLE OF HOPE TRACKLIST
1. Heartache
2. Reckless
3. Into The Void
4. Pills And Liquor
5. Silver Afternoon
6. Down To Houston
7. Best Wishes
8. Manatee River
9. Winners of War
10. Keep My Hands Clean

DUANE BETTS CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
March 21—Kahului, HI—Maui Arts & Cultural Center*
March 22—Honolulu, HI—Hawaii Theatre*
April 11—Steamboat Springs, CO— Gondola Plaza – Steamboat Ski Area+
April 16—Fairfield, CT—SHU Community Theatre+
April 17—Vienna, VA—The Barns at Wolf Trap+
April 18—Vienna, VA—The Barns at Wolf Trap+
April 19—Charleston, WV—Mountain Stage+
April 21—Annapolis, MD—Rams Head on Stage+
April 22—Red Bank, NJ—The Vogel at Count Basie+
April 23—Ardmore, PA—Ardmore Music Hall+
April 24—Homer, NY—Homer Center for the Arts+
April 25—Buffalo, NY—University at Buffalo Center for the Arts+
April 26—State College, PA—The State Theatre+
April 29—Albany, NY—Swyer Theatre at The Egg+
April 30—Manchester, NH—The Rex Theatre+
May 1—Westhampton Beach, NY—Westhampton Beach PAC+
May 2—East Greenwich, RI—The Greenwich Odeum+
May 3—Norfolk, CT—Infinity Hall Norfolk+
May 27—Ponte Vedra Beach, FL—Ponte Vedra Concert Hall+
May 28—Stuart, FL—Lyric Theatre+
May 29—Fort Lauderdale, FL—Amaturo Theater+
May 30—Bonita Springs, FL—Arts Bonita PAC+
May 31—Clearwater, FL—Capitol Theatre+
June 6—Vail, CO—Gerald Ford Amphitheater – Allman Betts Family Revival*
August 10—Ocean City, NJ—Ocean City Music Pier+
January 16—Fort Lauderdale, FL—The Big Easy Cruise+*The Allman Betts Band show
+Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel show