Veteran songwriter and all-around Americana renaissance man Jim Lauderdale has a special knack for turning just about any situation into a toe-tapping, stuck-in-your-head country tune. With his new single “Friends Again,” Lauderdale puts to tape the grateful feeling of reconnecting with a lost confidant—just in time for National Friendship Day on August 7th. “This song is a celebration of that wonderful time of reconciliation between people who were once close and can rekindle that bond between them,” says Lauderdale. Complete with tremolo Telecaster hooks and sweet pedal steel interplay, the song fits right in on Lauderdale’s upcoming album Game Changer—out August 26th. For Jim, this tune came about swiftly and effortlessly. “The title and melody hit me at once and I just thought of that situation that we all hopefully get to go through after a falling out,” he says. “To literally be friends again!”
Today, JamBase premiered “Friends Again.” Fans can hear “Friends Again” today at this link, check out Jim’s previously-released single “That Kind Of Life (That Kind Of Day)” here, and pre-order or pre-save Game Changer ahead of its August 26th release right here. A list of Lauderdale’s tour dates can be found below or at jimlauderdalemusic.com.
Jim will be celebrating the release of his 35th album at the historic country music venue, The Opry, on August 26th for a special performance that will give concertgoers a blend of classic country sounds with a modern country flair that is highlighted throughout Game Changer. Tickets for this event can be purchased here. The official album release show will take place at Nashville’s famed 3rd and Lindsley presented by WMOT on August 31st. Tickets for this event are available here.
More About Game Changer: Operating under his own label, Sky Crunch Records, for the first time since 2016, Lauderdale recorded Game Changer at the renowned Blackbird Studios in Nashville, co-producing the release with Jay Weaver and pulling from songs he’d written over the last several years. “There's a mixture on this record of uplifting songs and, at the same time, songs of heartbreak and despair—because that's part of life as well,” he says. “In the country song world especially, that's always been part of it. That’s real life.”
From rollicking guitar riffs on “That Kind of Life (That Kind of Day)” to the slow, sweet harmonies of “I’ll Keep My Heart Open For You,” Game Changer shows off Lauderdale’s ingenuity as a singer, songwriter, and producer—while re-establishing him as one of Americana’s most steadfast champions. “Country music is constantly evolving, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for steel guitar and a Telecaster," he says. "I have done my job on this record if people who love classic country feel like they can put it on, or have it in their collection, and it would fit right in."
Respecting the past doesn’t mean he’s not breaking new ground. “We’re All We’ve Got,” a co-write with Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris, offers a timely message about healing torn relationships at home and across the world. And “Friends Again,” a grinning number about rekindling a friendship, is fresh and forward-looking. At every turn, Lauderdale’s collaborative spirit and genuine love for the creative process reveal themselves in thoughtful, well-crafted songs sure to stand the test of time. "When everything works right, it's just magical to be able to hear them back," he says. "You feel, at least for those three-and-a-half minutes, like life makes sense.”
Catch Jim Lauderdale On Tour:
August 13 - Maggie Valley, NC - Songwriting Camp
August 26 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry
August 31 - Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley album release show
September 11 - Bristol, VA - Bristol Rhythm and Roots
September 13-17 - Nashville, TN - AmericanaFest
September 22 - Nashville, TN - Tommy Emmanuel’s Guitar Camp USA: Nashville Skyline II
September 24 - Nashville, TN - Tommy Emmanuel’s CMA Theatre
September 25 - Nashville, TN - Tommy Emmanuel’s Guitar Camp
October 6 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry
October 7 - Augusta, GA - Summer Series
October 8 - Pelham, TN - Cave Fest @ The Caverns
October 12 - Jacksonville Beach, FL - Blue Jay Listening Room
October 13 - Live Oak, FL - Suwanee Roots Revival 2022
October 21 - Pomeroy, OH - Songwriter Weekend Fur Peace Ranch
October 25 - Brooklyn, NY - Skinny Dennis
November 3 - Los Angeles, CA - Outlaw Country West 2022
For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, please visit jimlauderdalemusic.com.
