In the opening lines of her new single, “Cosmic Flower,” Nashville-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lydia Luce effortlessly demonstrates her ability to paint immersive, technicolor scenes with her music, singing, “Today the trees are weightless and I am close behind / No strings fly between me and the sky.” Luce wrote the song while sitting on a literal cliff on Orcas Island while participating in an artist residence just off the coast of Washington state. “Cosmic Flower” offers a series of similes, drawing a parallel between nature and love. It folds Luce's passion and inspiration for the vastness of nature with those same feelings in her relationship. Luce recalls, “My partner was on tour, and I was traveling. We had been apart for about a month and wouldn’t see each other for a while. In the past, I might have felt insecurities about our distance, but the strength of our relationship has shown me that we can provide each other space and always come back to one another.” In the end, “Cosmic Flower” is a song about longing, about missing someone. “After Covid, everybody knows what that feels like," Luce says. Her parting lyrics leave a lasting sense of hope, wrapped in a beautiful string arrangement. “I know that I’m always going to find my way to you.”

Today, Holler premiered “Cosmic Flower,” writing, “the lush orchestration gently building as it washes over you and pulls you under its spell. It’s profoundly beautiful.” On June 24, Luce is set to release Garden Songs, a five-song EP sown from her time spent reconnecting with songwriting on Orcas Island. Fans can listen to “Cosmic Flower” here, check out Luce’s previously-released Garden Songs track “Yellow Dawn” here, and pre-save or pre-order Garden Songs now at this link.
 
More About Garden Songs: Writing in such a picturesque setting helped Luce focus her attention on the world around her—quite literally in the case of the EP's first song, "Matter of Time." The summer before Luce landed on Orcas Island, the northwest suffered two brutal heat waves, and the extreme weather killed dozens. It got Luce thinking about the cognitive dissonance of wanting to be present in this remarkable place while grappling with how the same area was deadly to so many during a bout of extreme weather. For a woman who grew up by the ocean, the mountainous water vistas reminded her of her smallness. It also helped to shrink her anxieties and ego down to a manageable enough size to not get in the way of simply writing a song.
 
Luce turned to her impending wedding for "Vow," which is the tale of the next step in a relationship that had been turbulent. The song lands on a moment of looking forward, Luce explains, to "what we've built together and all of our hard work in our relationship and also getting to be present and enjoy where we're at." Another love is at the heart of "Air Castle"—that of Luce's great grandparents. Her father shared a book of their love letters, written between 1909 and 1920, while he was in California and she was in Georgia. The song captures how important it can be to feel like someone is in your corner, seeing the best of you and rooting for your triumph.
 
The EP ends with the beautiful "Yellow Dawn," summing up the feeling that propelled the writing and creation of Garden Songs. Persistence, in love and living, is a choice Luce continues to make, and the fruits of her carrying-on are on full display through this gorgeous musical window into her life.   
 
Garden Songs Tracklist:
Matter of Time
Vow
Air Castle
Cosmic Flower
Yellow Dawn
 
Catch Lydia Luce On Tour:
April 13 - Nashville, TN - City Winery: Lockeland Strings with MORGXN, Louis Prince, Josh Gilligan
April 24 - Los Angeles, CA - Gold Diggers
May 21 - Nashville, TN - The Blue Room: Lockeland Strings with Katy Kirby, Devon Gilfillian and Liza Anne
June 9 Nashville, TN - Jaans House: Lockeland Strings with Nicki Bluhm, Volunteer Department, and more
June 26 - North Haven Island, ME - CrabTree Session
June 30 - Plymouth, MA - The Spire
July 1 - Cape Cod, MA - Cultural Arts Center
July 2 - Portsmouth, NH - Music Hall
July 6 - Bristol, CT - Acousticool

Acclaimed band Flatland Cavalry’s new performance video for their song, “It’s Good To Be Back (‘Round Here Again),” is debuting today—watch/share HERE.

The video is the third installment of the band’s new series, “Far Out West Sessions,” which consists of seven stripped-down versions of songs from their acclaimed album, Welcome to Countryland (stream/purchase here). Produced by Fernando Garcia and filmed by Garcia and John Park at unique locations across the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, “Far Out West Sessions” finds the band celebrating their roots—returning to their home state to perform these songs in their purest form. In addition to today’s release, the band has unveiled two additional videos thus far—“Dancin’ Around A Fire” and “Daydreamer”—with four more to be shared in the coming weeks: “Tilt Your Chair Back,” “Gettin’ By,” “Country Is…” and “Life Without You.”

Released to critical acclaim, Billboard praises the “Daydreamer” video saying, “their practiced, tight-knit musicianship is highlighted on this video…this track is a dreamy country mix,” while Brooklyn Vegan declares, “performed against a gorgeous Texas backdrop, Flatland Cavalry scaled down to a trio and did the song with just banjo, acoustic guitar, and fiddle, and this version is truly lovely.”

In celebration of the new music, the band will continue to perform throughout the fall with their newly confirmed “Far Out West Tour.” Upcoming shows include Portland’s Revolution Hall Seattle’s The Crocodile, Corpus Christi’s Brewster Street Ice House, Asheville’s The Orange Peel, Kansas City’s The Truman and Houston’s White Oak Music Hall among many others. The band will also perform at Stagecoach, Bonnaroo, Windy City Smoke Out and Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival this summer. See below for complete tour itinerary.

Reflecting on the “Far Out West Sessions,” lead singer Cleto Cordero shares:

Up until the pandemic pulled us off the road, we as a band had spent the last five years relentlessly touring and being away from home; seeing the entire country firsthand through the windshield of a white van. All of those experiences led to what would form the collection of songs that made Welcome To Countryland. What better way to honor our time at home than to return to square one and share these songs and stories, broken down and unplugged, in the simple and stunning country land from where I belong? After the long and loud journey that has been our touring career, performing to seas of thousands of loud and rowdy crowds, what a breath of fresh and dusty Far West Texas air to break things down to their simplest elements and play a song or two for the crickets and the creosote– for the spirits of my ancestors!

Long before my mom and dad decided to settle in Midland, TX and raise their large family of seven children, our family’s story began out in their magnificent big backyard, the Trans-Pecos Region of Texas, specifically Redford and Presidio, TX. The opportunity to travel back to where my family’s humble origins begin in Far West Texas wasincredible. I haven't been out that way in over fifteen years or so and was deeply moved by the sentiment of “returning home.” Getting to sing songs in the country that shaped my family’s character was a spiritual experience.”

The new project adds to a breakthrough year for the band, following the release of Welcome to Countryland this past summer. Produced by Jake Gear and recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios, the record continues to receive widespread acclaim:

“a clear musical point of view, original melodies, mature confidence in portraying romantic matters, and increasingly fresh, distinctive lyrics…a straightforward, upbeat electrified country-rock band”—The Wall Street Journal
“Flatland Cavalry are promising to make days a little brighter wherever they go.”
—Rolling Stone
“a dynamic representation of country music”—American Songwriter
“Welcome to Countryland is a showcase of country songwriting. They write songs that get you dancing and singing along with every word."—PopMatters
“with a holistic approach to that diversity-rocks ethos, the Texas-bred band of brothers don’t just talk their talk. They walk the walk.”—Sounds Like Nashville
“feel-good, fiddle-powered sound”—San Antonio Express News
“a mix of richly twangy and a tad bit twisted country that’s straight out of a deep south Texas honky tonk.”—Arizona Daily Star
“pure country...Flatland Cavalry’s music lives and dies by its real, rootsy, spontaneous authenticity”—Country Now
“If you’re craving some sweet country authenticity, then this young Texan six-piece might be exactly what you’re looking for”—Holler
“From the upfront presence of the fiddle to the fantastic lyrics, the album is a great sign of things to come for this band…and country music as a whole”—Whiskey Riff
“their best full album to date…add this one to your collection and look for any of their upcoming shows as they tour in support of it. You won’t be disappointed.”—The Amp

Based in both Texas and Nashville, Flatland Cavalry is Cordero (vocals, acoustic guitar), Jason Albers (drums, background vocals), Jonathan Saenz (bass, background vocals), Reid Dillon (electric guitar, harmonica, second fiddle), Wesley Hall (fiddle) and Adam Gallegos (piano, keys, mandolin, banjo, electric guitar). In addition to the band, Welcome to Countryland also features special guest musicians Spencer Cullum (steel guitar), Jim Hoke (harmonica, jaw harp) and Billy Justineau (B3 organ) as well as background vocals from Hailey Whitters and Kaitlin Butts.

Welcome to Countryland follows the band’s self-released 2016 debut, Humble Folks, which reached #2 on iTunes’ Country Albums chart, #17 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart and #28 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, as well as their acclaimed 2019 release, Homeland Insecurity. Of the album, Rolling Stone declared, “Flatland Cavalry mix Red Dirt roots-rock with fiddle-driven twang. The blend is particularly intoxicating,” while the Dallas Observer praised, “a breath of fresh air for a Texas country music scene hungry for young blood.” Additionally, Wide Open Country selected the group as a “Band to Watch,” hailing, “float effortlessly between the Americana leanings of Texas country and the folksy songwriter influences of singers like Townes Van Zandt and Robert Earl Keen…they’ve got the kind of sound that folks far outside the Lone Star State will appreciate.” Since forming in 2012, Flatland Cavalry has toured relentlessly across the country, building a passionate grassroots fanbase as they went.

WELCOME TO COUNTRYLAND TRACK LIST
1. Country Is… (written by Cleto Cordero, P. Palomino)
2. Some Things Never Change (written by Cleto Cordero, Ava Suppelsa)
3. A Cowboy Knows How (written by Luke Combs, Dan Isbell, Jonathan Singleton)
4. Gettin’ By (written by Cleto Cordero, Jason Nix)
5. Well Spent Time (Cleto Cordero)
6. Life Without You (feat. Kaitlin Butts) (written by Cleto Cordero, Brian Keane)
7. No Ace In The Hole (written by Jason Albers, Cleto Cordero, Reid Dillon)
8. It’s Good To Be Back (Round Here Again) (written by Cleto Cordero)
9. Tilt Your Chair Back (written by Cleto Cordero, Ryan Necci)
10. Fallen Star (written by Cleto Cordero)
11. Daydreamer (written by Cleto Cordero, Adam Landry)
12. Dancin’ Around A Fire (written by Cleto Cordero, P. Palomino)
13. Off Broadway (written by Cleto Cordero)
14. …Meantime (feat. Hailey Whitters) (written by Cleto Cordero, Lainey Wilson)

FLATLAND CAVALRY CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
April 8—Amarillo, TX—La Hacienda Amarillo
April 9—Lubbock, TX—Cook’s Garage
April 28—Stephenville, TX—Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival
April 29—Port Neches, TX—Riverfest
May 1—Indio, CA—Stagecoach
May 4—Portland, OR—Revolution Hall
May 5—Spokane, WA—Knitting Factory Spokane
May 6—Boise, ID—Knitting Factory Boise
May 7—Reno, NV—Virginia Street Brewhouse
May 9—Seattle, WA—The Crocodile
May 12—Ogden, UT—Outlaw Saloon
May 13—Fort Collins, CO—Sundance Steakhouse and Saloon
May 14—Deadwood, SD—Deadwood Mountain Grand
May 15—Great Falls, MT—The Newberry
May 20—Abilene, TX—Mulligan’s Sports Bar & Grill
May 21—Decatur, TX—Wise County Fairgrounds
June 3—Midland, TX—Midland County Horseshoe Pavilion
June 4—Georgetown, TX—Troubadour Festival
June 10—Corpus Christi, TX—Brewster Street Ice House
June 11—New Braunfels, TX—Whitewater Amphitheater
June 16—Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo
June 18—Council Grove, KS—Washunga Days 2022
June 23—Isle of Palms, SC—The Wind Jammer
June 24—Asheville, NC—The Orange Peel
June 25—High Point, NC—Ziggy’s
July 7—Oklahoma City, OK—The Jones Assembly
July 13—La Porte, IN—La Porte County Fair
July 14—Des Moines, IA—Wooly’s
July 15—Cuba, MO—Crawford County Fair
July 16—Iowa City, IA—First Avenue Club
August 5—Kansas City, MO—The Truman
August 7—Chicago, IL—Windy City Smokeout
August 13—Houston, TX—White Oak Music Hall – Outside Lawn
August 19—Helotes, TX—Floore’s Country Store
August 20—Irving, TX—The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

One microphone, a Wurtlizer electric piano, and the acoustics of Lucy’s Meat Market were all Jeff Babko (keys) and Woody Mankowski (vocals, saxophone) needed to record and film Ebunctions’ new single “She Don’t Love Me” (out now). The studio just happens to be run by the band’s longtime friend and engineer Pete Min, who mixed their upcoming debut This Just In right in house. Today, Glide Magazine premiered the video, noting, “Hitting you with a jubilant wave of bittersweet nostalgia, the song shines with soulful vocals and the unique presence of Wurlitzer electric piano. This adds a vinyl richness to the music and truly lets the vocals shine.” Gritty and raw, “She Don’t Love Me” tells the story of a heartbroken man backed by Mankowski’s commanding vocals and witty, Randy Newman-like lyrics. Fans can watch the video for “She Don’t Love Me” at this link and pre-order This Just In ahead of its April 22nd release right here.
 
This Just In Tracklist:
Nothing But Your Love
Feast or Famine
Running In Place
This Ain’t Over
The Real Thing
One Year
I Wouldn’t Change A Thing
Cold Hard Truth
Ebunctions Hef
Somebody Like You
You Had Your Chance
She Don’t Love Me

About Ebunctions: Let’s take a step back to look at exactly who else makes up Ebunctions. “Finest” and “hardest working” were not previously used in a hyperbolic sense, these guys are the creamiest cream of the crop. Take drummer Steve Ferrone for example. Not only did he spend more than two decades in Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, he was part of the “classic lineup” of Average White Band throughout the 70s and has just been announced as John Mayer’s drummer for his upcoming Sob Rock tour. Then there’s bassist Ethan Farmer, whose credits include albums by Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, and too many more to continue naming here. L.A. newcomer, New Orleans guitar maestro Shane Theriot spent time in the studio with the likes of the late, great Dr. John and on the road as musical director for Hall & Oates. In addition to his credits previously listed, Jeff Babko has toured with Steve Martin & Martin Short (see Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life on Netflix) and has done session work for the likes of Frozen 2, Toy Story 4, Superbad and Encanto movie scores. Throw in legendary engineer Eric “ET” Thorngren (Robert Palmer, Talking Heads) on the faders and knobs, and Ebunctions alone make up a huge chunk of liner note mentions of the last few decades.

“The more I love, the less I trust in money / The more I get to know the soul of my fellow man,” sings New Orleans’s prodigal Americana son Andrew Duhon in the opening song of his new album Emerald Blue. Empowered by a wealth of songs crafted and collected throughout the great shutdown and inspired by adventures well-beyond his home in Orleans Parish, Duhon put his poetry in motion and nailed down eleven tunes representative of his view of the world in its current state; politically, socially, and personally. “The more I travel, the more I feel that I’m a man without a country / Is there truth in the story of the promised land?” But Duhon’s deep well of influences—from John Prine and Jim Croce to his city’s greats like Dr. John and Allen Touissant and beyond—and his sense of songwriter self-awareness keep what could’ve been a sad recollection of his forced time-off impressively light and grooving, a skill that his Louisiana predecessors have been refining for centuries.

Duhon released a music video for Emerald Blue’s first single, “Castle On Irish Bayou,” a thumping, bottleneck slide guitar-carried ode to escaping Midcity living for an actual, albeit modestly-sized, castle outside of New Orleans; one of Emerald Blue’s lighter commentaries. Admittedly more clever than true, “Castle On Irish Bayou” is infectious enough to convince even the most discerning real estate investor to uproot and move into the majestically out of place dwelling (which is actually for sale at the moment of this writing). “As I’m getting old enough to consider graduating from living under a landlord, the real estate prices just about everywhere in town scare me to the outskirts, and get me thinking about what’d be like to be ‘king of the Irish Bayou,’” jokes Duhon, but the resulting song will surely plant the same idea in the heads of listeners worldwide. Fans can now watch the “Castle On Irish Bayou” music video at this link and pre-order or pre-save Emerald Blue ahead of its July 29th release right here.

Duhon is gearing up to take his new music on tour this Spring and Summer, but before that, he’s set to make appearances at New Orleans’ renown French Quarter Festival on April 24th and New Orleans’ Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 7th. Amidst the annual Jazz Fest craziness, Duhon will be playing a couple of sets at BreakFest!, an annual mini-festival of his own creation in the brunch time hours during New Orleans’ Jazz and Heritage Festival. The rest of May finds Duhon in the Southeast and Texas before his tour takes him from Washington state to New York City and beyond in July and August. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at andrewduhon.com/upcoming-shows along with ticket information and more.

More About Emerald Blue: Joined by Jano Rix on drums, percussion, and harmonies; Myles Weeks on upright and electric basses and harmonies; and Dan Walker on keys and accordion, Duhon headed into Maurice, Louisiana’s storied Dockside Studios with GRAMMY-award winning engineer and longtime collaborator of Andrew’s, Trina Shoemaker, to capture every inch of vibe and beauty and texture each song had to offer.
 
The tracks on Emerald Blue show serious time spent in listening mode—both to himself, and to the world around him. From the rich Americana twang and propulsive, clacking percussion of “Promised Land” to the vintage rhythm-and-blues grooves of “Digging Deep Down,” Duhon meditates on what it means to be present and true, whether that’s to yourself and your ambition (“Down From The Mountain” and “As Good As It Gets”) to a lover (“Southpaw” and “Plans”) or to a wider world whose fraught and violent track record demands meaningful acknowledgement, reckoning and change. The meditative “Everybody Colored Their Own Jesus,” is an appreciation of some basic wisdom from his church-school days: that faith, respect and love are boundless and have no particular colors, traits or rules. These are songs that come from a very particular time and place, when so many of us—often alone with our flaws and feelings, with few of our regular, dependable distractions—were forced to face hard truths. And yet, using the time-tested language of folk, of the blues, storytelling and soul-searching, voice and keys and strings, Andrew Duhon proves himself worthy of heroes like John Prine—who makes a fantasy cameo in “As Good As It Gets,” the album’s closer—by similarly crafting four-minute worlds in song, that feel purely timeless, as old or as young as the chronic condition of stumbling across Earth with a human heart.
 
That’s true as well of less weighty songs, like the ambling, satisfied title track—or the aforementioned slide-blues love-song romp, “Castle on Irish Bayou,” an ode to a delightfully weird piece of architecture that’ll be warmly familiar to anyone who ever drove East toward the deep blue expanse of Lake Pontchartrain on Interstate 10 out of New Orleans. Emerald Blue shows us the vast worlds that can be discovered and traveled when we sit still, and the breathtaking vistas on view when we look within—or at the people right beside us.
 
Catch Andrew Duhon On Tour:
4.21 - New Orleans, LA - The Church at Hotel Peter & Paul
4.22 - Baton Rouge, LA - Manship Theater
4.24 - New Orleans, LA - French Quarter Fest
5.1 - New Orleans, LA - BreakFest
5.3 - New Orleans, LA - Carrollton Station
5.7 - New Orleans, LA - Jazz & Heritage Festival
5.8 - New Orleans, LA - BreakFest
5.11 - New Orleans, LA - Wednesdays at The Square
5.12 - Beaumont, TX - Courville's
5.14 - Cherokee, TX - Cherokee Creek Fest
5.15 - Dallas, TX - Sundown at Grenada
5.19 - Columbus, MS - Barn Concert Series
5.20 - Franklin, TN - Kimbro's
5.21 - Dunlap, TN - Concerts on the Rocks
5.22 - Chattanooga, TN - The Woodshop
7.7 - Cambridge, MA - Club Passim
7.15 - Pueblo, CO - Brues Alehouse
7.16 - Winter Park, CO - Cooper Creek Square
7.17 - Boulder, CO - Gold Hill Inn
8.10 - Port Townsend, WA - Wheeler Theater
8.11 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
8.12 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
8.13 - Kingston, WA - Concerts in the Barn
8.14 - Nine Mile Falls, WA - Live at Andre's
8.17 - New York, NY - Cafe Wha?
8.18 - Wayne, PA - 118 North
8.21 - Exeter, NH - The Word Barn

With a raucous drum fill and a swirl of chorus-affected guitars, Carolina’s favorite band Blue Dogs kick off their brand new single “That’s How I Knew”—their first studio-recorded music released since 2004’s Halos and Good Buys. And for fans of the long-running band, it’s only the first of lots more to come from an entire album of new music, Big Dreamers, set for release on June 3rd. Produced by accomplished guitarist and longtime Blue Dogs fan—and at times, guitar player—Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit), Big Dreamers marks a long-awaited comeback for the band and an inevitable full-circle moment for their producer. “I have a history with these guys,” Vaden says. “They used to hire me when I was 18 or 19 years old to play with them. I’ve always admired their sound, even on their albums before I started playing with them, but this record represents the best part of the Blue Dogs in my mind. It’s return to form that also brings out the highlights of their last record. Some things are polished and some things are a little more raw.” Vaden isn’t the only fan of Blue Dogs contributing to Big Dreamers, legendary Texas songwriter Radney Foster sings background vocals on “That’s How I Knew,” which he co-wrote with Bobby Houck along with the greasy, mid-tempo “If Ever, ” and dobro master Jerry Douglas joined the boys on the bluegrass-inspired “The Road You Don’t.”
 
Today, JamBase premiered the music video for “That’s How I Knew,” Blue Dogs’ irresistible ode to finding the right relationship, and BrooklynVegan highlighted the track, calling it, "a warm, breezy song that finds the long-running band in fine form." Fans can watch the video at this link and pre-order Big Dreamers ahead of its June 3rd release right here. The band will be celebrating the release of Big Dreamers with a concert at Isle of Palms, South Carolina’s famed Windjammer beach stage on June 3rd. Tickets are still available at this link.

Founded in 1987 and based in Charleston, the group is still led by songwriters Hank Futch (bass) and Bobby Houck (lead singer, acoustic guitar), who grew up together in Florence, South Carolina. ​​After nearly two decades on the road, the Blue Dogs took an extended break from touring in 2007 as Futch and Houck accepted jobs outside of music to support their new families. Yet they both filed away occasional phrases and potential titles, just in case they ever had a chance to make another album together. For this project they were joined in the studio by guitarist Dan Hood, steel guitar player Charlie Thompson, and longtime drummer Greg Walker. Keeping it all in one big Blue Dogs family, former member Phillip Lammonds co-wrote three of the new songs.

“We’re doing this to follow that dream of playing music and sharing our sound with whoever wants to listen,” Futch says. “We’ve probably been Americana before that became a term. But we didn’t feel like we had to be anything other than ourselves to write these songs.” Houck adds, “We still have something to say. We can write good songs that we like, knowing other people will like them too. We’ve got a lot more to do, more places to play, and maybe bigger places to play. Because of this album, we get to live this dream longer than we thought.”

Big Dreamers Tracklist:
The Good Ones
Big Dreamers
Young Love
All Night Long
That’s How I Knew
Love Is Love Is Love
The Good Road
If Ever
The Road You Don’t
Carolina Grand
All Out Of Time

Blue Dogs On Tour:
Apr. 29 - Mills River, NC - Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant
Apr 30 - Rock Hill, SC - Come See Me Festival
May 7 - Bluffton, SC - The Roasting Room
May 8 - Bloomingdale, GA - Randy’s Pickin Parlor
June 3 - Isle of Palms, SC - The Windjammer’s Kona Liquid Aloha Beach Stage

MerleFest organizers and patrons have been counting down the days for the world-famous festival’s return to its usual Spring weekend. Some fans’ annual pilgrimages to MerleFest are already underway, and the Wilkes Community College campus is abuzz with festival staff excitedly readying the festival to take place just one week from now—April 28th through May 1st. Today, MerleFest, presented by Window World, announced the lineup for the fan-favorite Late Night Jam. The Waybacks, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Russell, Kaia Kater, Donna The Buffalo, Kruger Brothers, and Caleb Caudle will join jam hosts Hogslop String Band to explore the theme of this year’s jam: “The Times They Are A-Changin' - Songs from the 60's and 70's Folk-Rock Revolution.”

MerleFest has published the official festival schedule at merlefest.org/schedule so that fans can plan their weekend. Not to be missed traditions include The Waybacks’ Album Hour set on the Hillside Stage on Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning Gospel sets at the Creekside Stage, Thursday’s Late Night Dance Party with Donna The Buffalo on the Dance Stage, and MerleFest’s yet-to-be-announced band competition winners Sunday on the Hillside Stage. Be sure to check out MerleFest first-timers, including the R&B and soul revolution of Durand Jones & The Indications (Thursday on the Watson Stage), Nashville hit songwriter and 1/4 of The Highwomen, Natalie Hemby (Friday on the Cabin Stage), Allison Russell’s ethereal, multi-instrument prowess (Saturday on the Cabin Stage), and Arlo McKinley’s eclectic blend of soul, country, punk, and gospel (Saturday on the Cabin Stage).

Tickets for this year’s festival are still available and may be purchased at www.MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. MerleFest also encourages festivalgoers to download the official MerleFest mobile app ahead of this year’s festivities to keep up to date with schedules, events, and on-site information.

Additionally, MerleFest would like to remind patrons of this year’s safety protocol. The major points are as follows: MerleFest 2022 will be mask-optional in general, but masks will be required while riding on all festival shuttle buses and transportation and in the artist-secured backstage area. Buses will be sanitized periodically, and hand sanitizer will be available prior to boarding shuttle buses. Proof of vaccination/negative COVID-19 tests will not be required for 2022. A full list of MerleFest 2022 safety guidelines can be found at merlefest.org/safety. MerleFest continues to follow the state health guidelines as directed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper along with the CDC and state/local health agencies, so these protocols are subject to change pending state rulings. “Our number one priority has always been to produce a safe and family-friendly event, and that certainly is the goal for MerleFest 2022,” said this year’s festival organizers.

About MerleFest: MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of the son of the late American music legend Doc Watson, renowned guitarist Eddy Merle Watson. MerleFest is a celebration of "traditional plus" music, a unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including old-time, classic country, bluegrass, folk and gospel, and blues, and expanded to include Americana, classic rock, and many other styles. The festival hosts a diverse mix of artists on its 12 stages during the course of the multi-day event. MerleFest is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, funding scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.

With Park City Song Summit, organizers have set out to accomplish one thing over the course of September 7-10: redefine the live music experience.

Live performances are a major ingredient of the Song Summit, but this intimate mountain retreat for music lovers orbits around the minute details of the creative process itself—the why and how music comes about, struggles and breakthroughs alike—in an open dialog with the finest songcrafters of our modern age.

Dubbed Song Summit Labs, these artist-led discussions take place across three stages at The Lodges at Deer Valley with the likes of Jason Isbell, Fred Armisen, Devon Gilfillian, Andrew Bird, Celisse, and many more, intentionally bringing fans closer to the artists they love—both physically and contextually—in a format unlike any other festival or conference.

Then, in the evenings, Lab collaborators take to a number of Park City, Utah’s live music venues for concerts and songwriter rounds, illustrating in real-time the behind-the-scenes magic participants learned about earlier in the day. When both Labs and performances come together, Park City Song Summit embodies what organizers like to call “A love letter to the power of the song.”

Summit Passes include access to 3 days of 30+ Labs, entrance into evening performances, a Song Summit merch bundle, and exclusive lodging discounts. The enhanced Summit+ Pass adds an opening night four-course dinner and private performance with Jason Isbell and Adia Victoria at Blue Sky Ranch, early-entry and premium seating for all Labs, exclusive VIP area with private bar and bites for evening shows, and a personal concierge for restaurant reservations and activity recommendations. Summit Passes will go on sale May 20, 2022. Sign up here to be notified about Song Summit’s May on-sale, as well as additional artist and event announcements.

Artists and Moderators appearing at Park City Song Summit: Adia Victoria, Anders Osborne & Friends, Andrew Bird, Bonny Light Horseman, Cedric Burnside, Celisse, Daniel Donato, David Ramirez, Dave from Dopey Podcast, Devon Gilfillian, Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite Duo, Father John Misty, Fred Armisen, Fruit Bats, Gov’t Mule, Jason Isbell, Jay Blakesberg, Jay Sweet, Jimbo Mathus, Joe Pug, John Craigie, John Doe, Josh Ritter, Katie Pruitt, Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel, Langhorne Slim, Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner, Rising Appalachia, Tré Burt, and Warren Haynes.

World travelers and folk sister-duo Leah and Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia are returning to Colorado for a sold out show at Red Rocks with Trevor Hall and Citizen Cope on April 28.

Skilled on the banjo, fiddle, guitar, and more, the multi-instrumentalist duo, Rising Appalachia, has gained an international fanbase due to their tireless touring, activism, and commitment to embracing music from cross the world. Originally taught in old-timey technique, their Appalachian folk roots blend with sounds of urban music and other global influences, their voices being one of the main instruments.

Leah shares, "“Rising Appalachia has come out of this idea that we can take these traditions of southern music – that we’ve been born and raised with – and we can rise out of them, creating all these different bridges between cultures and stories to make them feel alive."

With Trevor Hall and Citizen Cope, fans can expect a show that crosses genre boundaries, embracing roots, electronic, alternative, hip-hop and various other influences. For a sneak peak, check out Rising Appalachia's NPR Tiny Desk performance here.

In a whirlwind of electric piano and unison horn lines, modern funk masters Lettuce are back with their second new single of 2022, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.” Featuring a guest vocal appearance from Dumpstaphunk bass extraordinaire and “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” co-writer Nick Daniels, this uplifting funk freight train of a track is Lettuce keyboardist Nigel Hall’s reinterpretation  of a classic Clark Sisters tune that was written in similarly uncertain times. “Nigel's contributions to Lettuce have been so important to our growth musically and as a family. He chose to remake this tune and completely crushed the arrangement!,” says Lettuce drummer, Adam Deitch. “Nick Daniels lends his amazing voice and vibe to this song.” Parade Magazine called the song “a mantra for moving out of dark days and into the light,” and celebrated the song’s “classic foot tapping  groove” and its “call for positive change.”

On June 3rd, the GRAMMY-nominated six-piece—Adam Deitch (drums), Ryan Zoidis (saxophone), Adam ‘Shmeeans’ Smirnoff (guitar), Erick ‘Jesus’ Coomes (bass), Nigel Hall (keyboards/vocals), Eric ‘Benny’ Bloom (trumpet)—will be delivering a whole host of new tunes to the world in the form of Unify, the eighth studio album from Lettuce and the third consecutive record made at Denver’s Colorado Sound Studios, completing a loose trilogy starting with 2019’s GRAMMY-nominated Elevate, and continuing with 2020’s Resonate.

Fans can listen to “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” at this link, give the previously-released single “Gravy Train” a spin at this link, pre-order or pre-save Unify ahead of its June 3rd release right here, and pay close attention to lettucefunk.com and @lettucefunk on social media platforms for news on the rollout of this much-anticipated album.

More About Unify: “Dealing with the pandemic, being in separate places, trying to survive without our best friends, without touring, not to mention the political divide in this country,” says Deitch. “We really needed to unify.” Zoidis recalls, “This album came together at a time when we were away from each other longer than we had been in years.” Although the band was able to do a lot of writing and pre-production from their respective home studios, they hadn’t been in the same room or on the same stage together since their European tour was cut short in March 2021, so the first song on Unify captures the raw energy of a much-needed reunion at Colorado Sound Studios—though, that’s not exactly where the story begins.

The roots of Unify took hold several years back when Lettuce assembled at Colorado Sound to begin work on Elevate. Armed with dozens of songs, the band tracked enough material for that record, its successor, and then some (including a vinyl-only, 45-minute, live-in-the-studio, one-take improvisation, Vibe). Combined with some stellar pre-existing tracks held over from the prior two albums, Lettuce was now primed for a third.  The group decamped to the Denver studio and reunited with its esteemed engineer, Jesse O’Brien, mixing alongside O’Brien, and, once again, self-producing the finished work. And, rather than extensively road-testing the songs- fleshing out the repertoire in countless performances on tour before being recorded, this time the band discovered the music as much as made it; essentially debuting the new material as they tracked it live in the studio.

A totally collaborative effort, there were exciting cuts full of brilliant lyrics and arrangements from Hall (whom Coomes calls “one of the greatest singers ever”) and fiery horn parts from Bloom, not to mention the tantalizing prospect of unveiling it all on the upcoming tour. “It’s very, very exciting.  Our audiences are going to hear how we end up interpreting these songs for the first time, in the live form, and then for the 300th time; they’ll get to hear right along with us how the songs will morph and evolve,” says Smirnoff. Adds Coomes, “We’re just getting tighter and tighter.  Really, these are the first records made with the six of us as a team, and it’s the best the band has ever been: live and in the studio; the funkiest and the most fun.”

Lettuce will take their plethora of brand new material out on the road (and across the pond) for the Unify World Tour. Tonight’s stop is in Patchogue, New York, at Blue Point Brewing before heading to Albany’s Empire Live on Thursday, April 21st, and on to Port Chester’s famed Capitol Theatre on Friday, April 22nd. Between their U.S. leg and September’s Europe run, the band will hit some of the country’s most beloved festivals including Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Sonic Bloom, and High Sierra. A full list of tour dates is below and ticket information can be found at lettucefunk.com/tour.

Catch Lettuce On Tour:
April 20 - Patchogue, NY - Blue Point Brewing
April 21 - Albany, NY - Empire Live
April 22 - Port Chester, NY - The Capitol Theatre
April 23 - Washington, DC - National Cannabis Cup
April 24 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Stone Pony
April 27 - St. Louis, MO - The Big Top
April 28 - Little Rock, AR - The Hall
April 29 - Jackson, MS - Duling Hall
April 30 - New Orleans, LA - The Joy Theater (with Soul Rebels)
May 7 - Mill Valley, CA - Mill Valley Music Festival
May 26-29 - Martinsville, VA - Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival
June 16-19 - Hummingbird Ranch, CO - Sonic Bloom Festival
June 19 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
June 23-26 - Rothbury, MI - Electric Forest Festival
June 24-25 - Swanzey, NH - Northlands Music & Arts Festival
June 30-July 3 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival
Aug. 11 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre
Aug. 12 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights
Aug. 13 - Richmond, VA - Jam Packed Craft Beer & Music Festival
Aug. 26 - Martha’s Vineyard, MA - Beach Road Weekend Festival
Sept. 20 - London, UK - Scala
Sept. 21 - Tourcoing, France - Le Grand Mix
Sept. 23 - Paris, France - Billard L’alhambra
Sept. 24 - Rouen, France - Le 106 club
Sept. 26 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
Sept. 27 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Bird
Sept. 28 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso Noord
Sept. 29 - Leuven, Belgium - Het Depot
Sept. 30 - Berlin, Germany - Gretchen
Oct. 2 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset
Oct. 3 - Oslo, Norway - Cosmopolite Scene
Oct. 4 - Jahanneshov, Sweden - Slaktkyrkan
Oct. 5 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Jazzklubben Nefertiti
Oct. 7 - Hamburg, Germany - Mojo Club
Oct. 8 - Brno, Czechia - Groove Brno
Oct. 9 - Vienna, Austria - Club Porgy & Bess
Oct. 11 - Bern, Switzerland - Bierhübeli
Oct. 12 - Pisa, Italy - Lumiere
Oct. 13 - Rome, Italy - Monk Club
Oct. 14 - Milano, Italy - Santeria Toscana 31
Oct. 15 - Rovereto, Italy - Auditorium Melotti
Oct. 17 - Stuttgart, Germany - Im Wizemann
Oct. 18 - Mulhouse, France - Noumatrouff
Oct. 20 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala La Nau
Oct. 21 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Caracol
Oct. 22 - Cenon, France - Le Rocher de Palmer.

When roots-inspired, jam-scene favorites Railroad Earth were preparing to record their new album All For The Song, the guys all agreed it was time to take a field trip. Their destination? The Big Easy. Joined by producer and notable artist in his own right, Anders Osborne, Railroad Earth let the New Orleans grease seep into their already widely-influenced sound to create an album filled with feel-good musical moments and tales of road-trip rainstorms, Louisiana getaways, and losing their brother too soon. Out today, All For The Song finds the two-decade-and-running band keeping their bluegrass soul and rock and roll spirit alive and well—just with a dash of Crystal hot sauce and a pinch of Filé powder added for good measure. Fans can stream or purchase All For The Song today at this link.

All For The Song Tracklist:
The Great Divide
Blues Highway
It’s So Good
Showers of Rain
Come And Go Moon
Runnin’ Wild
My Favorite Spot
Slippin’ Away
Driftin’ - The Bardo - Driftin’
All For The Song
 
Catch Railroad Earth On Tour:
April 23 - Dale, TX - Old Settler’s Music Festival
May 20 - Kansas City, MO - Bluegrass in the Bottoms
May 21 - Denver, CO - Levitt Pavilion
May 26 - Jersey City, NJ - White Eagle Hall
May 27-28 - Cumberland, MD - DelFest
May 29 - Thornville, OH - Dark Star Jubilee
June 23 - Eau Claire, WI - Blue Ox Music Festival
June 30-July 3 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival
July 8 - Jay, VT - Jeezum Crow Festival
July 16 - Seaside Heights, NJ - Live at the Heights
July 21-24 - North Plains, OR - Northwest String Summit
July 29 - Johnstown, PA - Flood City Music Festival
July 31 - Floyd, VA - FloydFest
August 5 - Del Norte, CO - Rhythms on the Rio Festival
August 21 - Wellston, MI - Hoxeyville
December 7-11 - Puerto Morelos, Mexico - Strings & Sol
 
All tour dates and ticket information can be found at railroad.earth/tour.

In addition to their annual Red Rocks run, summer festival appearances, and a co-headlining tour with The Disco Biscuits, everybody’s favorite eclectic rockers Umphrey’s McGee are extending their Summer/Fall tour through October will a slew of newly announced dates. In September, the band will hit tried and true favorites in San Diego, L.A., and Oakland before turning east through the mountains toward Reno, Salt Lake City, and Bozeman. After a brief time off, UM will return to the stage in Richmond, Virginia, before heading south to North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. A full list of dates is below and ticket links for each show can be found at umphreys.com/tour.

This announcement comes on the heels of the release of Umphrey’s McGee’s new single, “So Much,” from their upcoming full-length Asking For A Friend—a collection that legendary music journalist and author, David Fricke, calls “the best and most emotionally direct album Umphrey's McGee have ever made.” “So Much” is a guitar and keyboard-soaked sonic dreamscape that never loses forward momentum due to the band’s uncanny arranging abilities. “There’s so much left, I know. There’s so much left undone,” sings guitarist Brendan Bayliss. Fans can check out “So Much” now at this link and pre-order vinyl or pre-save Asking For A Friend before it comes out on July 1st.

UM’s upcoming album Asking For A Friend is accompanied by a behind-the-scenes podcast through Osiris Media entitled Talking Circles. With episodes leading up to the album release and stretching through the summer, Talking Circles will tell the story of the writing and recording of this set of brand new songs. Three episodes are currently live, including the backstory of “So Much,” right here.

New Umphrey’s McGee Fall Tour Dates:
Sept. 1 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park
Sept. 2 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium
Sept. 3 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
Sept. 4 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
Sept. 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden
Sept. 9 - Bozeman, MT - The ELM
Sept. 29 - Richmond, VA - Music at Maymont
Sept. 30 - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
Oct. 1 - Savannah, GA - Johnny Mercer Theatre
Oct. 2 - Birmingham, AL - Avondale Brewing Company

These new shows are in addition to UM’s previously-announced Summer tour dates:
April 28-30 - Atlanta, GA - SweetWater 420 Festival
May 27-29 - Chillicothe, IL - Summer Camp Music Festival
June 4-5 - St. Augustine, FL - Fool’s Paradise at St. Augustine Amphitheatre
June 9 - Bridgeport, CT - Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater $
June 10 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavillion $
June 11 - Portland, ME - Thompson’s Point $
June 12 - Essex Junction, VT - Champlain Valley Exposition $
June 16 - Dillon, CO - Dillon Amphitheater
June 17 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^
June 18 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
June 19 - Vail, CO - Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre
July 8 - Baldwinsville, NY - Bud Light Amphitheater at Paper Mill Island
July 9 - Marshfield, MA - Levitate Music & Arts Festival
July 10 - Selbyville, DE - Freeman Arts Pavilion
July 14 - Outer Banks, NC - Roanoke Island Festival Park
July 15 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony Summer Stage
July 16 - Thornville, OH - The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival
July 21-24 - North Plains, OR - Northwest String Summit
Aug. 5-7 - Kenai Peninsula, AK - Salmonfest
Aug. 18 - Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park $
Aug. 19 - Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park $
Aug. 20 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater $
Aug. 21 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater
Aug. 24 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Aug. 26-28 - Bridgeview, IL - Sacred Rose Festival

$ Co-bill with The Disco Biscuits
^ with support from lespecial
# with support from Andy Frasco and The U.N.

For a full list of shows, as well as ticket information, please visit umphreys.com/tour.

Leading up to their show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on May 26th, Grammy-nominated bluegrass genre-benders The Infamous Stringdusters are taking over the Denver area’s local food scene with menu collaborations and giveaways sure to make even the most passive fan crack a smile. Named Denver’s “Best Chicken Wings” three times over by Westword, Fire On The Mountain is rolling out a special “Pearl Of Carolina” sauce—named after a track from the Stringdusters’ recently released Toward the Fray—through the month of May. The wing specialists are also hosting an in-store promo to win a pair of tickets for the Dusters’ appearance at Red Rocks with The California Honeydrops and supporting act Karina Rykman.
 
“Fire on the Mountain is beyond excited to do this cross collaboration with our friends The Dusters for their epic show at Red Rocks. FOTM’s foundation is music and food. In fact, our roots were started by slingin’ Spicy Peanuts in the lots of venues where our favorite bands were playing. Making connections with our food and favorite music has quickly become our new love language, and we are so stoked to dig-in with The Dusters and dance the night away,” says brand manager Lauren Larkin.

But that’s not all, as Bridge and Tunnel Restaurant Group have gotten clever with a few menu items across their four Denver restaurant families as well. Rosenberg’s, Lou’s, Famous J’s, and Sherry’s Soda Shoppe will have a specialty menu item cooked up just for Stringdusters fans city-wide. If the good eats weren’t enough, order one of these themed menu items to receive a scratch-off card for a chance to win a variety of prizes.
 
“These [types of] collaborations are the bread and butter of everything we do—especially when it comes to the music and local scene that thrives on it,” shared Ariel Rosemberg, member of the Dusters’ management and label teams. “There’s something to be said about the existing food and drink scene here in Denver, so coming up with these like-minded partnerships, plus those with Station 26 Brewing, Arapahoe Basin and more was sort of a slam dunk!”
 
Tickets for Red Rocks are still available, but going fast, and can be purchased at this link or at the Red Rocks Box Office (open only on event days).
 
All of this exciting news is coming hot on the heels of The Infamous Stringdusters’ new release, Toward the Fray. Already embraced by fans and critics alike, you can read what No Depression and Garden & Gun had to say about the release or check out fresh performances of some of these new Duster songs from NPR’s Free At Noon concert series at World Cafe in Philadelphia.
 
For more information, please visit thestringdusters.com.

This past weekend, music fans nationwide made their way to Wilkesboro, North Carolina, for MerleFest’s triumphant return to its traditional Spring weekend. From Thursday to Sunday, across twelve stages, MerleFest magic unfolded with world-class performances, spontaneous sit-ins, and unforgettable collaborations from the likes of Old Crow Medicine Show, Allison Russell, The Waybacks’ annual Album Hour, and more.

“We are so grateful for our artists, staff, volunteers, vendors, and all the behind-the-scenes folks who made MerleFest 2022 a success. It felt great to be back on campus for our usual spring weekend and we are already looking forward to next year,” said Wes Whitson, festival director.

MerleFest, presented by Window World and held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, which funds scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.

Thursday: Fans were in awe when Durand Jones & The Indications brought their modern-day R&B to the Watson Stage where Jones and drummer Aaron Frazer swapped vocal duties throughout the set. Primed by a day already full of great music and ideal weather, the MerleFest crowd showed up and turned Josh Turner’s headlining set into one big singalong to close out day one.

Friday: Sierra Hull, a last-minute addition to the lineup, showed off her instrumental prowess and songwriting chops on the Americana stage. Fans were abuzz talking about North Carolina native Rissi Palmer’s Cabin stage set. Steep Canyon Rangers took to the Hillside Stage at the golden hour for their Sunset Sessions Set before the Watson stage one-two punch of The Wood Brothers and Greensky Bluegrass. Fans headed over to the dance tent where We Banjo 3 and friends, including the aforementioned Sierra Hull, had the crowd electrified.

Saturday: Shortly after a Hillside stage crowd sang to Jim Lauderdale for his birthday, The Waybacks took the stage for their annual Album Hour performance. Fans were delighted to hear the first notes of Grateful Dead’s “Uncle John’s Band,” giving away the surprise that Workingman’s Dead was to be this year’s subject. Allison Russell and Scythian were much talked-about sets throughout the day and Old Crow Medicine Show surprised everyone with an unplugged “busking” set right in the middle of the festival grounds. Saturday ended with Hogslop String Band hosting the annual Late Night Jam with a laundry list of special guests including Kaia Kater, Donna The Buffalo, and Caleb Caudle.

Sunday: MerleFest closed out with an Americana grand slam on the Watson Stage with Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Emmylou Harris playing hit after hit to a cheerful Sunday crowd.

MerleFest 2023 is set for April 27 – 30. Please stay tuned to merlefest.org for more information.

Although Ethan Hawkins is the sole lyric writer in the Boston-formed quartet Corner House, the subject matter of the group’s songs is a reflection of their collective experience. “What this band really does well is challenge me to be a mirror rather than write songs based on my own life,” he explains. “A lot of the lyrics that I wrote were drawn from conversations that I’ve had with the rest of the band, which I think parallels our experiences with each other musically.” One such song is Corner House’s new single, “Angel Falls,” which Hawkins wrote after a long discussion with Corner House cellist Casey Murray about her experiences with religion as a queer person. “I am human / I have choices / To love who I want to love / I have a right ” he sings on “Angel Falls,” the second single released from their upcoming full-length debut, How Beautiful It’s Been. With the new album, the band—aforementioned songwriter and guitarist Ethan Hawkins and cellist Casey Murray, along with Scottish fiddle player Louise Bichan and bluegrass mandolinist Ethan Setiawan—project a singular sound that incorporates old time, Scottish, progressive bluegrass, and folk music, with the help of their collective mentor and the album’s producer, Scottish harp virtuoso Maeve Gilchrist. They’re joined on this track by Viktor Krauss on bass and moog, and Jordan Perlson on drums.

Today, M Musicians & Music Magazine premiered the music video for “Angel Falls,” writing, "They paint across a wide palette while honoring music from the past." Fans can watch the new video here and check out the previously released singles “South of the City,” and "Mag's 21st." To pre-order or pre-save How Beautiful It’s Been ahead of its May 27th release click this link.

More About How Beautiful It’s Been: Corner House’s first full-length offering features five lyrical songs and four instrumentals, which serve as soundscape meditations between each lyrical offering. Several of the instrumentals, such as “Two Rights Make a Chicken,” showcase the Celtic influence in the band, with gorgeous cello and fiddle melodies calling Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas recordings to mind. In this context, however, they are also accompanied by rhythmic and arpeggiated mandolin and guitar, emerging into improvised solos before returning to the melodic backbone of the tune. In many ways, Corner House is the band we all wish we could be a part of. Mutually inspired, learning from one another, and open to any and all ideas, the group is a beautiful representation of their generation; not only tolerating but embracing diversity in every aspect of their music-making. If we listen closely enough, we may be able to learn just as much from them as they have from one another.  

Catch Corner House On Tour:

May 26 - The Cock n'Bull - Galway, NY

May 27 - Young Tradition Vermont - Burlington, VT

May 28 - Whallonsburg Grange - Whallonsburg, NY

May 29 - Next Stage Arts - Putney, VT

June 11 - Pamet Harbor Club - Truro, MA

June 23 - House concert - Baltimore, MD

June 24 - Red Wing Roots Music Festival - Mt. Solon, VA

June 26 - Stone Room Concerts - Arlington, VA

For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, please visit cornerhouseband.com/shows.

When a master songsmith like Tom T. Hall calls someone “a great credit to a wonderful Kentucky tradition,” it’s time to pull up a chair and pay attention. As it pertains to the nearly-decade-running duo The Local Honeys, he was right on the money. The duo—Linda Jean Stokley and Montana Hobbs—have long been an integral part of Kentucky’s musicscape, and on July 15th, they’ll be adding a new entry into the Bluegrass State’s rich musical canon. Their first release on La Honda Records (Colter Wall, Riddy Arman, Vincent Neil Emerson), The Local Honeys features ten winsome vignettes of rural Kentucky, conjuring 90’s alternatives sounds with hillbilly Radiohead lilts, soaring above layers of deep grooves and rich tones masterfully curated by longtime mentor Jesse Wells, a GRAMMY-nominated producer, musician (currently a member of Tyler Childers’ band The Food Stamps), and Assistant Director at the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead State.

Today, The Local Honeys shared their first taste of the new album with “Dead Horses,” an emotional look at the tragedy of animal husbandry. With lines like “Suppose we’re all just animals with slightly different hides,” Stokely displays a cut and dried existence on the farm and the world at large while drums and banjo meld together propelling the tune from verse to verse. The accompanying music video finds Stokley and Hobbs surrounded by nostalgic photos of their equine counterparts, contributed by the band’s fanbase, adding weight to the meaning of the song itself. The“Dead Horses” video can be viewed right here and pre-order or pre-save The Local Honeys ahead of its July 15th release at this link.

Over the years, The Local Honeys have paid their dues, garnering countless accolades and accomplishments (tours with Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, praise from the New York Times), and have become the defining sound of real deal, honest-to-god Kentucky music. With The Local Honeys, Stokley and Hobbs ended up with the most nuanced, moody, deep-holler sound they have captured to date. “This is the first time we’ve actively gotten to express who we are and where we’re from” says Linda Jean, “The songs on the album speak for us,” adds Montana “they’re about what we know, reflections of us as people. We realized we have the power to add our own narrative into Kentucky music.”

More About The Local Honeys: Throughout The Local Honeys, the duo demand to be interpreted as creators and storytellers, not just purveyors of tradition. Similarly, the sounds captured within the project cement their place as innovators and rule-breakers. Rollicking banjo meets overdriven guitar hooks and blue-collar rural grit is met with lush melodies and nimble harmonies; it’s a project filled with juxtaposition and it isn’t by accident. It’s reflective of who they are and who they run with. Wells along with the rest of Childers’ band The Food Stamps - Rod Elkins (percussion) Craig Burletic (bass) and Josh Nolan (guitar) from Clay City, Kentucky, all lent their expertise and signature groove as collaborators during the session creating a fluidity, warmth, and cohesion that can only be created through friendship. “Who better to record an album that defines your sound than the people who helped you find your sound, the people that understand where you come from, how you listen and who you are,” The Local Honeys said. The project was engineered in Louisville at Lalaland by GRAMMY winner Anne Gauthier.

The songs on The Local Honeys speak to a new generation, a new Appalachian, the people who understand the beauty, the struggle, and the complexity of contemporary Appalachian life. In “The Ballad of Frank and Billy Buck,” Hobbs describes the grace, humor, and irony of an aging hillbilly leading up to the final moments of his unjust demise. Or there’s “If I Could Quit,” a song that grapples with the horrors of the ongoing opiate epidemic and the guttural pain of watching a friend deteriorate through addiction. Pride and sense of place run deep in songs like “Throw Me in the Thicket (When I Die),” a love letter about Linda’s family orchard in Central Kentucky. Playful colloquialisms and regional idiosyncrasies also permeate throughout the record as illustrated in “Better Than I Deserve,” a song built around an informal greeting Montana’s Papaw used throughout her childhood. The album is rounded out with “The L & N Don’t Stop Here No More,” (the only cover on the record written by Appalachian royalty and kin to Hobbs, Jean Ritchie) a song highlighting the hardships of post-coal communities painting an all too familiar scene of contemporary rural Appalachia. Reflecting upon these songs Linda notes, “Songwriting can freeze people in time like a photograph, preserving little nuances particular to specific cultures and I love that.”

Catch The Local Honeys On Tour:

May 20 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Crankie Festival

June 3 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom

June 5 - Wilmington, NC - Bourgie Nights

June 10 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre

July 10 - Crossville, TN - Byrd’s Creek Music Festival

July 15- Nashville, TN- The Basement (album release show)

July 17- Knoxville, TN- Barley’s Taproom

July 19- Asheville, NC- The Grey Eagle

July 20- Decatur, GA- Eddie’s Attic

July 21- Memphis, TN- Hernando’s Hideaway

July 22- St. Louis, MO- Off Broadway

July 23- Kansas City, MO- Knucklehead’s

July 26- Denver, CO- Lost Lake Lounge

July 28- Red Lodge, MT- One Legged Magpie

July 29- Emigrant, MT- The Old Saloon

July 30- White Sulphur Springs, MT- Red Ants Pants Festival

July 31- Bozeman, MT- Live from the Divide

For bassist-turned-frontman John Inghram, the past is a complicated topic. “Like a lot of my fellow musicians, I spent much of my 20’s strung out, partying, and generally just made a lot of poor life choices,” Inghram explains. “A big part of making this album has been deciding that it’s not too late. All I’ve got is the now and I’m going for it.” The album he’s talking about is John Inghram, a debut album nearly two decades in the making during which Inghram spent time in more than a few notable musicians’ backing bands. “My whole career has been about serving other people, and other people’s music,” Inghram explains, “And that is beautiful. But there was some piece that I felt was missing as a creative. I needed to serve my own original music with the creation of this album.” And today, John Inghram is out and available for the world to hear. Fans can stream John Inghram at this link and be sure to check out Inghram’s performance on NPR’s Mountain Stage which begins airing today.

The Infamous Stringdusters have teamed up with the good folks at Backline, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that connects music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources, to release the video for their new album’s title track, “Toward The Fray," here. Additionally, the band’s dobro player Andy Hall penned an essay about mindfulness and the many benefits exclusively for Backline readers. Read Andy Hall's full piece here and an excerpt below:

“The purpose of mindfulness is simple. To be more aware of what is currently happening. Less lost in thought. When our attention goes from the never-ending stream of thoughts, judgments and fantasies the mind creates, and moves to what is actually happening directly around us, we feel better. And if we feel better, we can do better at whatever it is we want to do.”

“The Dusters are part of the original support system for the organization since our launch in 2019,” says Hilary Gleason, Backline co-founder. “It’s heartening to know that their support is more than just a flash in the pan — mental health and mindfulness is something that is truly embraced and embodied by its members.”

“We shot this video in Denver and it’s pretty much based on the lyrics of the song. The little girl portraying the character from the album cover was so amazing and absolutely the star of the shoot. We feel the folks who made the video did a great job bringing to life the essence of what the song (and much of our album) is about,” says Falco. “To me, the theme of the album and in turn this song is about dealing with your problems head on, rather than running away from them,” Falco continues. “One of the things that I’m really proud of is that this record is true to all of us. It’s a genuine record because it really is about everything that we were all going through. We’re talking about the pandemic and all of the chaos, but we’re talking about love and other things, too. We were able to reflect and dive deep and look inward during all of this. I hope people who hear these songs will feel like they’re not alone.”

This video release comes on the heels of the band’s much lauded album of the same name which was released in Feb. of 2022. Of Toward the Fray, No Depression wrote, “This IBMA and Grammy award-winning bluegrass group enters Cormac McCarthy territory with their new album,” Garden & Gun said the Strindusters’ new album “stands as evidence that recent events have changed all of us in a variety of ways,” Andy Hall spoke with Forbes about nature’s inspiration, and the band played World Cafe in Philadelphia for NPR’s Free At Noon concert series.

Since then, the band has been touring aggressively across the country with friends Greensky Bluegrass, Dustbowl Revival, The California Honeydrops, and Karina Rykman. The band will continue its touring momentum this summer and into fall, for a full list of tour dates please see below.

Fans based in the greater Denver, CO area or those making the trek for the band’s Red Rocks show (5/26) should note that for the month of May the band has activations and chef collaborations with foodie havens Fire on the Mountain and Bridge and Tunnel Restaurant Group. Order special off-menu Dusters-themed snacks and sauces at any one of their brick and mortar locations.

Catch The Infamous Stringdusters On Tour:

May 20 - 22 - Round Hill, VA - B Chord Brewing

May 26 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre#

May 27 - 28 - Geneva, MN - Revival Music Festival

May 29 - Chillicothe, IL - Summercamp Festival

June 10 - Ellijay, GA - Holla Yella

June 11 - Bend, OR - Century Center

June 12 - Laytonville, CA - Hogfarm Hideaway

June 17 - 18 - Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival

July 7 - Townsend, TN - Dancing Bear Lodge

July 8 - Covington, KY - Paradise on the Point

July 9 - St. Clair, MO - Pickin on Picknic

July 22 - Trumansburg, NY - Grassroots Fingerlake Festival

July 24 - North Plains, OR - Northwest String Summit

July 29 - Charleston, SC - Pour House

July 30 - 31 - Floyd, VA - FloydFest

August 14 - Grand Junction, CO - Supergrass Fresh Festival

August 21 - Garrettsville, OH - Grass Fire Festival

August 26 - 27 - Lawrence, KS - Kaw River Roots

August 28 - Bridgeview, IL - Sacred Rose

September 16 - Flagstaff, AZ - Pickin in the Pines

October 1 - Raleigh, NC - Red Hat Amphitheater

October 9 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns

November 6 - Moab, UT - Moab Folk Festival

December 7 - 11 - Puerto Morelos, MX - Strings and Sol

December 29 - 31 - Richmond, VA - The National

# with The California Honeydrops and Karina Rykman

For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, please visit thestringdusters.com/tour.

Traditional Irish music and traditional American music share a lot of similarities in instrumentation, lyrical content, and community participation. Still, there are a surprisingly few number of acts who straddle that musical gap across the Atlantic—and even fewer who’ve made a decade-long, award-winning career out of it like Galway-based quartet We Banjo 3. Containing two sets of two brothers—Enda & Fergal Scahill and David & Martin Howley—We Banjo 3 have built their legacy on seamlessly combining the virtuosity and precision in each genre’s traditional disciplines with the artful song-craft and infectious live performance of today’s musical landscape. Their upcoming album Open The Road—out July 15th—meets on the corner of complex-but-nimble instrumentation and magnetic, well-crafted songs; a combination of which their fans have been enjoying from studio to stage since the band first landed on American shores ten years ago.

Today, We Banjo 3 shares the first track from Open The Road, the driving jig-turned-indie pop love song, “Hummingbird.” First conceptualized in March 2020 during the great lockdown, David Howley had ample free time. David and his Nashville roommate Scott Mulvahill, an accomplished musician in his own right, spent time in Scott’s home-studio to lay down some new songs. “We had a house full of instruments, microphones, coffee and whiskey, so we did what we could to stay sane,” Howley remembers. Having mentioned to Mulvahill that he had a tune he liked but that needed it still needed to be finished, Mulvahill replied while tearing open a new bag of coffee beans, “Well let's finish it then!”

Fast-forward to almost two years later, We Banjo 3 finished tracking “Hummingbird” and it landed in the lead-off spot on Open The Road. In addition to the guest musicians who contributed to the initial session—Danny Young on drums and Josh Shilling on keys—The Infamous Stringdusters’ Andy Hall plays his dobro on the final track. Fans can hear “Hummingbird” right now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Open The Road ahead of its July 15th release right here. For more information, please visit webanjo3.com.

Open The Road Tracklist:
Hummingbird
Garden Song
Long Way Down
Heart In Hand
Open The Road
Rialto
Gift Of Life
The First Second Gentleman
Alive With You
Believe In Us

Catch We Banjo 3 On Tour:
June 17 - Dayton, OH - Levitt Pavilion
June 18 - Lakeside, OH - Lakeside Chautauqua: Hoover Auditorium
June 19 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage (Culture Center Theater)
June 23 - Memphis, TN - Overton Park Shell (formerly Levitt Shell)
June 24 - Owensboro, KY - ROMP 2022
July 16 - Oak Hill, NY - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2022
July 19 - Rockport, MA - Shalin Liu Performance Center
July 20 - Natick, MA - Center For Arts In Natick
July 29 - Ventura, CA - Ventura Music Festival 2022
July 30 - Denver, CO - Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
July 31 - Lyons, CO - RockyGrass Festival 2022
Aug. 1 - Crested Butte, CO - Center for the Arts Crested Butte
Aug. 3 - Portsmouth, OH - Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
Aug. 5-7 - Dublin, OH - Dublin Irish Fest 2022
Aug. 9-10 - Bethlehem, PA - MUSIKFEST
Aug. 12 - St. Paul, MN - Irish Fair of Minnesota 2022
Aug. 13 - La Crosse, WI - IrishFest La Crosse 2022
Aug. 14 - St. Paul, MN - Irish Fair of Minnesota 2022
Aug. 19 - 21 - Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Irish Fest
Sept. 2-4 - Kansas City, MO - Kansas City Irish Festival 2022
Oct. 21 - Frederick, MD - Weinberg Center For The Arts
Oct. 22 - Manteo, NC - Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival

2023 (Rescheduled) Tour Dates:
Jan. 27 - Sacramento, CA - The Sofia
Jan. 29 - Berkeley, CA - Freight & Salvage
Feb. 1 - Flagstaff, AZ - Orpheum Theater
Feb. 2 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre
Feb. 3 - Wickenburg, AZ - Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts
Feb. 4 - Chandler, AZ - Chandler Center for the Arts

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit webanjo3.com/tour.

In this day and age, a singular, definitive stamp of approval is a hard thing to come by. Unless, of course, you’re the modern funk band Lettuce and THE Bootsy Collins steps into the studio to put his timeless spin on your new record—which is exactly what happened when the band was tracking “Keep That Funk Alive” from their upcoming album Unify. Within the first few seconds of the track, fans are met with one of the dirtiest envelope-filtered bass runs since Mothership Connection, a glowing sign that this group is more than capable in their role of funky preservation. Not so much a passing of the torch as it is a welcoming with open arms, Bootsy and the GRAMMY-nominated sextet of Lettuce—Adam Deitch (drums), Ryan Zoidis (saxophone), Adam ‘Shmeeans’ Smirnoff (guitar), Erick ‘Jesus’ Coomes (bass), Nigel Hall (keyboards/vocals), Eric ‘Benny’ Bloom (trumpet)—all join hands in honor of, you guessed it, keeping the Funk alive; an idea which Deitch gleaned from a pre-vax Covid-era Instagram post of Bootsy’s before the two had even met. “Linking up organically with one of the inventors of funk music, eternally iconic bassist and vocalist Bootsy Collins, still feels like a dream,” says Deitch. “Bootsy wants to keep the Funk alive…and we wholeheartedly agree with that statement. Major props to Bootzilla for believing in us!” Fans can listen to “Keep That Funk Alive” right here, pre-order or pre-save Unify digitally ahead of its June 3rd release at this link, and pre-order vinyl and Unify-centric merch bundles here.

For more information please visit lettucefunk.com.

More About Unify: “Dealing with the pandemic, being in separate places, trying to survive without our best friends, without touring, not to mention the political divide in this country,” says Deitch. “We really needed to unify.” Zoidis recalls, “This album came together at a time when we were away from each other longer than we had been in years.” Although the band was able to do a lot of writing and pre-production from their respective home studios, they hadn’t been in the same room or on the same stage together since their European tour was cut short in March 2021, so the first song on Unify captures the raw energy of a much-needed reunion at Colorado Sound Studios—though, that’s not exactly where the story begins.

The roots of Unify took hold several years back when Lettuce assembled at Colorado Sound to begin work on Elevate. Armed with dozens of songs, the band tracked enough material for that record, its successor, and then some (including a vinyl-only, 45-minute, live-in-the-studio, one-take improvisation, Vibe). Combined with some stellar pre-existing tracks held over from the prior two albums, Lettuce was now primed for a third.  The group decamped to the Denver studio and reunited with its esteemed engineer, Jesse O’Brien, mixing alongside O’Brien, and, once again, self-producing the finished work. And, rather than extensively road-testing the songs- fleshing out the repertoire in countless performances on tour before being recorded, this time the band discovered the music as much as made it; essentially debuting the new material as they tracked it live in the studio.

A totally collaborative effort, there were exciting cuts full of brilliant lyrics and arrangements from Hall (whom Coomes calls “one of the greatest singers ever”) and fiery horn parts from Bloom, not to mention the tantalizing prospect of unveiling it all on the upcoming tour. “It’s very, very exciting.  Our audiences are going to hear how we end up interpreting these songs for the first time, in the live form, and then for the 300th time; they’ll get to hear right along with us how the songs will morph and evolve,” says Smirnoff. Adds Coomes, “We’re just getting tighter and tighter.  Really, these are the first records made with the six of us as a team, and it’s the best the band has ever been: live and in the studio; the funkiest and the most fun.”

Lettuce will take their plethora of brand new material out on the road (and across the pond) for the Unify World Tour. The tour picks up again next weekend at Martinsville, Virginia’s Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival, and for the rest of the Summer, the band will hit some of the country’s most beloved festivals including Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Sonic Bloom, and High Sierra. Lettuce will begin their European leg of the Unify World Tour on September 20th in London. A full list of tour dates is below and ticket information can be found at lettucefunk.com/tour.

Catch Lettuce On Tour:

May 26-29 - Martinsville, VA - Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival

June 16-19 - Hummingbird Ranch, CO - Sonic Bloom Festival

June 19 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

June 23-26 - Rothbury, MI - Electric Forest Festival

June 24-25 - Swanzey, NH - Northlands Music & Arts Festival

June 30-July 3 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival

Aug. 11 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre

Aug. 12 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights

Aug. 13 - Richmond, VA - Jam Packed Craft Beer & Music Festival

Aug. 26 - Martha’s Vineyard, MA - Beach Road Weekend Festival

Sept. 20 - London, UK - Scala

Sept. 21 - Tourcoing, France - Le Grand Mix

Sept. 23 - Paris, France - Billard L’alhambra

Sept. 24 - Rouen, France - Le 106 club

Sept. 26 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp

Sept. 27 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Bird

Sept. 28 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso Noord

Sept. 29 - Leuven, Belgium - Het Depot

Sept. 30 - Berlin, Germany - Gretchen

Oct. 2 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset

Oct. 3 - Oslo, Norway - Cosmopolite Scene

Oct. 4 - Jahanneshov, Sweden - Slaktkyrkan

Oct. 5 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Jazzklubben Nefertiti

Oct. 7 - Hamburg, Germany - Mojo Club

Oct. 8 - Brno, Czechia - Groove Brno

Oct. 9 - Vienna, Austria - Club Porgy & Bess

Oct. 11 - Bern, Switzerland - Bierhübeli

Oct. 12 - Pisa, Italy - Lumiere

Oct. 13 - Rome, Italy - Monk Club

Oct. 14 - Milano, Italy - Santeria Toscana 31

Oct. 15 - Rovereto, Italy - Auditorium Melotti

Oct. 17 - Stuttgart, Germany - Im Wizemann

Oct. 18 - Mulhouse, France - Noumatrouff

Oct. 20 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala La Nau

Oct. 21 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Caracol

Oct. 22 - Cenon, France - Le Rocher de Palmer   

It’s been a few years since Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Jeff Hanna paid $4 to see Bob Dylan play at his high school auditorium in Long Beach, California, but the fire lit inside of Hanna that night still burns as strong as ever. Hanna and his Dirt Band bandmates have had quite a career of their own since then, introducing folk, bluegrass, and country music—what would later be termed “Americana”—to a whole new generation of fans. Their latest effort, however, is a full-circle return with Dirt Does Dylan, a ten-track album highlighting some of the gems from Dylan’s vast catalog with the help of three new band members: fiddle specialist Ross Holmes; singer-songwriter and bass player Jim Photoglo (who wrote one of the Dirt Band’s biggest hits, “Fishin’ in the Dark”); and Dirt Band founder Jeff Hanna’s son, the absurdly talented singer and guitarist Jaime Hanna. Produced and recorded by Ray Kennedy at Room & Board Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Dirt Does Dylan finds a generation-spanning Dirt Band paying an appropriately great tribute to arguably the greatest songwriter of the 20th century with the help of friends like Jason Isbell, The War & Treaty, Steve Earle, and Rosanne Cash, to name a few.

For more information on Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Dirt Does Dylan, please visit nittygritty.com. To stream or purchase Dirt Does Dylan today, click here.

Dirt Does Dylan In The News:

Jeff Hanna spoke with Billboard about the concept and recording process behind Dirt Does Dylan.

The Bluegrass Situation named the band their May Artist of the Month.

PBS Newshour spoke with Hanna about Doc Watson’s influence at their recent MerleFest performance.

Jeff and Jaime Hanna joined Premier Guitar’s Rig Rundown, showcasing a taste of their beloved guitar collection.

Tennessean premiered the band’s “feel-good” video “Forever Young,” calling their rendition, “an Americana foot-stomper.”

No Depression praised the album in their review, commenting, “A downright stirring 'The Times They Are A-Changin’.' The song’s never been more powerful than in this moving version. So don’t think twice about adding this album to your record collection. It can nestle next to the Dirt Band classic Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

Holler. interviewed Jeff Hanna about the band’s origins and evolution.

Tracklisting:

1. Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You

2. Girl from the North Country

3. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry

4. Country Pie

5. I Shall Be Released (ft. Larkin Poe)

6. She Belongs to Me

7. Forever Young

8. The Times They Are A-Changin’ (ft. Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, and The War and Treaty)

9. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

10. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)

Catch Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on tour:

May 20 - Papillion, NE - Sumtur Amphitheater

May 21 - Chesterfield, MO - Chesterfield Amphitheatre

May 22 - Louisville, KY - Iroquois Amphitheater

June 9 - Eureka Springs, AR - Eureka Springs City Auditorium

June 10 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater

June 11 - Salina, KS - Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts

June 24 - Grand Junction, CO - Country Jam 2022

June 25 - North Platte, NE - Nebraskaland Days

July 14 - Davenport, IA - Rhythm City Casino Resort

July 15 - Decorah, IA - Winneshiek County Fair

July 16 - Chicago, IL - City Winery

July 21 - Marietta, OH - Peoples Bank Theatre

July 22 - Shipshewana, IN - Blue Gate Performing Arts Center

July 23 - Twin Lakes, WI - Country Thunder Wisconsin 2022

Aug. 3 - McMinnville, OR - Yamhill County Fair & Rodeo

Aug. 4 - Boise, ID - The Egyptian Theatre

Aug. 6 - Bellvue, CO - Mishawaka Amphitheatre

Aug. 12 - Hinckley, MN - Grand Country Nights 2022

Aug. 13 - South West Fargo, ND - Lights Amphitheater

Aug. 18 - Three Forks, MT - Headwaters Country Jam 2022

Aug. 19 - Rexford, MT - Abayance Bay Marina

Aug. 27 - Gilbert, AZ - Higley Center For The Performing Arts

Aug. 28 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre

Sept. 2 - Orange Park, FL - Thrasher-Horne Center

Sept. 3 - Mill Spring, NC - The Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2022

Sept. 17 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

Nov. 4 - Clearwater, FL - Bilheimer Capitol Theatre

All tour dates and ticket information can be found at nittygritty.com/tour.

With a half-time back beat and a feel-good guitar twang, songwriter Forrest McCurren graciously marries a classic rock road song with a classic country love song on his new tune “Little Rock.” Sparked by how his messy motel room on the road was compared to the orderly and clean life he led back home, McCurren spun up this rocker that evokes the urgency of a road warrior like himself to make it on home, specifically to his wife Margaret—who sings and plays drums and fiddle on McCurren’s upcoming debut Oh Me, Oh My. “The motel room I had booked in Little Rock was a complete mess and the AC wouldn’t turn off,” remembers McCurren. “I probably could have had my room switched, but the owner, and from what I could tell the only employee, was a sweet lady named Ramona that had run the place since the 60’s. I didn’t want to trouble her so I decided I’d go out and stay up late enough that I didn’t care that the bed sheets hadn’t been washed.” The initial idea transformed into an ode to Margaret and getting home to her. “Ever since I’ve known her, I knew we fit side-by-side,” says McCurren. Last week, Wide Open Country premiered the music video for “Little Rock,” which follows Forrest and Margaret on a beautifully-shot mission from the fireworks store to the Piggly Wiggly and beyond. They noted, “You could consider Oh Me, Oh My a soundtrack to those moments of human connection that feel almost cosmic.”

Fans can watch the “Little Rock” music video now at this link and stay up to date on all things Forrest and Oh Me, Oh My ahead of its August 19th release right here.

More About Forrest McCurren and Oh Me, Oh My: McCurren’s entertaining debut album Oh Me, Oh My showcases the energy of his live shows with songs that shimmer and rock with an ebullient warmth that’s bound to reach into listeners’ hearts and souls and get them to reflect a little on the people and places that mean the most to them. “Whenever I’m playing I feel most present, and I love sharing an hour or two of music with folks,” says McCurren. “Music should be a celebration!” He’s always writing songs, but all the songs on this album are from a three-year period when McCurren was setting out on his own, between college and now. He’s looking back at his life, looking at his life now, and looking forward to his life to come in the 10 songs on the album. “I was just setting out on my own,” McCurren laughs. “I spent a lot of time thinking about my grandparents, painting a picture of characters I knew growing up. In the songs there’s a sense of longing and place, and they evoke the transition from running wild as a kid to running wild as a man. The songs have a sense of movement and a sense of place and a sense of who I was gonna be.”

As soon as he learned three chords, McCurren started to write songs. “I’ve always been a writer, and I have always liked stories.” In his early 20s he started accumulating songs. “I never had a plan in my life; music has always given me something to keep me focused,” he says. He strives to “win over a crowd of 1,000 with an original song.” In his songwriting, he resembles Hemingway. “I always try to write one true sentence. Every song I have kept, the first line I wrote was the first line of the song. Words come first, then melodies get inspired by the words. I trust the quickness of the way I write. I am always jotting down rhymes. Songs have given me a way of understanding who I am and relating to people.”

Music is McCurren’s favorite ways to connect with people. “My songs show them a little bit of who I am and when I show them a little of me they share a little bit of them, too.” He doesn’t write sad songs, but songs that move us and celebrate, as he says, the “luckiness of life.” As his debut album shows, McCurren excels at making those connection and at celebrating life. Forrest McCurren has a reverence for the songs, and he sings, plays, and writes with a heart for bringing people together.

Catch Forrest McCurren On Tour:
June 17-18 - Jadwin, MO - The Campout Music Festival
June 23-26 - Slade, KY - Festival of the Red
Oct. 6-8 - Eldon, MO - Lake Ozark Music Festival

For more tour dates and ticket information please visit forrestmccurren.com/calendar.

Sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith, better known as Rising Appalachia, are no strangers to reimagining music on their terms, in their voices, but their latest release—a haunting cover of James Blake’s “I Need A Forest Fire” from his 2016 LP, The Colour In Anything—may be one of the most creatively executed reworkings in recent memory. Originally featuring the distinct falsetto of Bon Iver, Blake’s arrangement of sparse drums, vocal samples, and synthesizers has been traded for a slow-grooving, acoustic replication, full of lush harmonies and rhythmically fingerpicked guitars. The resulting record gives the song a more organic feel, closer to the cedar smoke of which Rising Appalachia sings. Of course, the forest fire in question is more figurative in nature; a commentary on necessary rebirth—life’s second chances. “Touched by the powerful lyrics and sculpted sonics of James Blake, this is our folk rendition of a powerful song about the elemental destruction of the overgrown ego and its havoc  through the catharsis of flames,” says Leah. Fans can stream or purchase Rising Appalachia’s version of “I Need A Forest Fire” now at this link.

Since their release of Leylines in 2019, Rising Appalachia has released a number of standalone singles, remixes, and even a surprise LP, The Lost Mystique of Being in the Know, which Mike Davies of UK’s folk radio called "undoubtedly one of the most intoxicating musical experiences you’ll have this year." For more music, information on Rising Appalachia’s social and environmental mission, upcoming tour dates, and more please visit risingappalachia.com.

Catch Rising Appalachia On Tour:

June 10 & 11 - Garrettsville, OH - Pyro Art and Music Festival 2022

June 16 - Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2022

July 9 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station

July 24 - Reno, NV - Artown

July 25 & 26 - Petaluma, CA - The Mystic

July 28 - Berkeley, CA - The UC Theatre

July 30 - Big Sur, CA - Tree Bones

Aug. 2 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom

Aug. 3 - Seattle, WA - The Neptune

Aug.t 5 - Ninilchik, AK - Salmonfest 2022

Sept. 3 - Boulder, CO - The Colorado Chautauqua

Sept. 5 - Buena Vista, CO - The Lawn at The Surf Hotel

Sept. 9 - Park City, UT - Park City Song Summit

Oct. 8 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns

For ticket information, visit risingappalachia.com/tour.

Elevate, then Resonate, and now, Unify, the guys in GRAMMY-nominated funk sextet Lettuce have been sending not-so-subliminal messages with their music (and album titles) for going on three decades now. Their newest effort, Unify, however, showcases exactly what the band has been working towards all these years; not just the unification of humanity through music, but also the coming together of each member to make the band’s most powerful, funkiest form to date. From the fit-for-the-times “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” which Parade Magazine called “a mantra for moving out of dark days and into the light,” to the classic Lettuce vibes of “Gravy Train,” to the stamp of approval from funkmaster general Bootsy Collins on “Keep That Funk Alive,” the band—Adam Deitch (drums), Ryan Zoidis (saxophone), Adam ‘Shmeeans’ Smirnoff (guitar), Erick ‘Jesus’ Coomes (bass), Nigel Hall (keyboards/vocals), Eric ‘Benny’ Bloom (trumpet)—have cemented their role as groove disciples for the next generation with Unify; proudly becoming funk’s torchbearers for all booty shakers, young and old.

Fans can now listen to Unify in its entirety right here and order vinyl and Unify-centric merch bundles here. A full list of Unify World Tour dates can be found below. For more information please visit lettucefunk.com.

NPR’s Morning Edition invited Lettuce drummer Adam Deitch and album guest Bootsy Collins to talk about the past, present, and future of funk. Listen to their interview here.

More About Unify: “Dealing with the pandemic, being in separate places, trying to survive without our best friends, without touring, not to mention the political divide in this country,” says Deitch. “We really needed to unify.” Zoidis recalls, “This album came together at a time when we were away from each other longer than we had been in years.” Although the band was able to do a lot of writing and pre-production from their respective home studios, they hadn’t been in the same room or on the same stage together since their European tour was cut short in March 2021, so the first song on Unify captures the raw energy of a much-needed reunion at Colorado Sound Studios—though, that’s not exactly where the story begins.

The roots of Unify took hold several years back when Lettuce assembled at Colorado Sound to begin work on Elevate. Armed with dozens of songs, the band tracked enough material for that record, its successor, and then some (including a vinyl-only, 45-minute, live-in-the-studio, one-take improvisation, Vibe). Combined with some stellar pre-existing tracks held over from the prior two albums, Lettuce was now primed for a third. The group decamped to the Denver studio and reunited with its esteemed engineer, Jesse O’Brien, mixing alongside O’Brien, and, once again, self-producing the finished work. And, rather than extensively road-testing the songs- fleshing out the repertoire in countless performances on tour before being recorded, this time the band discovered the music as much as made it; essentially debuting the new material as they tracked it live in the studio.

A totally collaborative effort, there were exciting cuts full of brilliant lyrics and arrangements from Hall (whom Coomes calls “one of the greatest singers ever”) and fiery horn parts from Bloom, not to mention the tantalizing prospect of unveiling it all on the upcoming tour. “It’s very, very exciting. Our audiences are going to hear how we end up interpreting these songs for the first time, in the live form, and then for the 300th time; they’ll get to hear right along with us how the songs will morph and evolve,” says Smirnoff. Adds Coomes, “We’re just getting tighter and tighter. Really, these are the first records made with the six of us as a team, and it’s the best the band has ever been: live and in the studio; the funkiest and the most fun.”

Lettuce will take their plethora of brand new material out on the road (and across the pond) for the Unify World Tour, including two newly announced dates with the Tower of Power: July 7th in San Diego accompanied by the San Diego Symphony and July 20th at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony. For the rest of the Summer, the band will hit some of the country’s most beloved festivals including Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Sonic Bloom, and High Sierra. Lettuce will begin their European leg of the Unify World Tour on September 20th in London. A full list of tour dates is below and ticket information can be found at lettucefunk.com/tour.

Catch Lettuce On Tour:

June 16-19 - Hummingbird Ranch, CO - Sonic Bloom Festival

June 19 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

June 23-26 - Rothbury, MI - Electric Forest Festival

June 24-25 - Swanzey, NH - Northlands Music & Arts Festival

June 30-July 3 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival

July 7 - San Diego, CA - The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park w/ Tower Of Power and the San Diego Symphony

July 20 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ Tower Of Power and the Colorado Symphony

Aug. 11 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre

Aug. 12 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights

Aug. 13 - Richmond, VA - Jam Packed Craft Beer & Music Festival

Aug. 26 - Martha’s Vineyard, MA - Beach Road Weekend Festival

Sept. 20 - London, UK - Scala

Sept. 21 - Tourcoing, France - Le Grand Mix

Sept. 23 - Paris, France - Billard L’alhambra

Sept. 24 - Rouen, France - Le 106 club

Sept. 26 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp

Sept. 27 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Bird

Sept. 28 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso Noord

Sept. 29 - Leuven, Belgium - Het Depot

Sept. 30 - Berlin, Germany - Gretchen

Oct. 2 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset

Oct. 3 - Oslo, Norway - Cosmopolite Scene

Oct. 4 - Jahanneshov, Sweden - Slaktkyrkan

Oct. 5 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Jazzklubben Nefertiti

Oct. 7 - Hamburg, Germany - Mojo Club

Oct. 8 - Brno, Czechia - Groove Brno

Oct. 9 - Vienna, Austria - Club Porgy & Bess

Oct. 11 - Bern, Switzerland - Bierhübeli

Oct. 12 - Pisa, Italy - Lumiere

Oct. 13 - Rome, Italy - Monk Club

Oct. 14 - Milano, Italy - Santeria Toscana 31

Oct. 15 - Rovereto, Italy - Auditorium Melotti

Oct. 17 - Stuttgart, Germany - Im Wizemann

Oct. 18 - Mulhouse, France - Noumatrouff

Oct. 20 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala La Nau

Oct. 21 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Caracol

Oct. 22 - Cenon, France - Le Rocher de Palmer

Over the course of a full music industry shutdown, there was one thing, and only one, that saved Saskatchewan-based band The Sheepdogs; straight up, non-bummer, pandemic-induced rock and roll. And today, with the release of their new album Outta Sight, The Sheepdogs hope that rock and roll can save you too. The hard-working and hard-living Canadian band—Ewan Currie, Ryan Gullen, Sam Corbett, Jimmy Bowskill, and Shamus Currie—were, like the rest of us, confused, cast ashore, and feeling isolated during COVID, but their output during that time produced the grooviest, simplest, and most penetrating album of their career. With no roadmap and an overall uncertainty hanging over the universe, The Sheepdogs circled up, plugged into their amps, shared riffs and melodies, and leaned on each other for inspiration. The guys say it was the least prepared they’ve been cutting a record since their self-titled album in 2012, but bassist Ryan Gullen calls the music they made a “life raft,” claiming that their initial sessions for Outta Sight saved them from their anxieties. “Playing rock music kept us grounded…kept us going.”

Fans can hop aboard The Sheepdogs’ life raft today and listen to Outta Sight at this link. The band is also embarking on an international tour this fall, with a plethora of stops in Canada, Europe, and the U.S.

The strength of The Sheepdogs in full throttle appeals to your senses. Without pretension, it’s urgent, rhythmic, clear, and fun; it’s a break from slick production and gazing at your navel and proclaims the joy and jubilation of drums, bass, horns, and electric guitar. The Sheepdogs make tunes that make you nod your head. The artistry, however, beneath the stadium riffs—the harmonies, the multiple guitar parts, the groove behind a rhythm section that hangs out together when they’re not on the clock—is battle-honed and spit-shined between vans, garages, thousands of soundchecks, and, yes, headlining shows.

“A no-bullshit approach, a workmanlike ability to put our heads down and play resulted in a real feeling and vibe on the record that I think is special,” says Currie. “It’s something that just might have saved us and the feeling on the album is us taking that negative pandemic energy and expressing it, transferring it, through non-bummer straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll.” Outta Sight is the biggest, brightest, beer-swillingest, lighters lit in the cheap seats, smile-inducing COVID stadium rock record to emerge from the pandemic blues. It’s got humor, it’s got chops, and it’s performed and recorded by five brothers from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan who are grateful to get together and play for rock fans.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll is about cheering us up. Simple as that,” says Currie. “We hope our music does the same for the listeners at a time where things still can feel very tough. There’s no greater truth than rock ‘n’ roll.”

For more information, please visit thesheepdogs.com.

Catch The Sheepdogs On Tour:

Sept. 16 - Fredericton, NB - Harvest Music Fest

Sept. 18 - Charlottetown, PEI - PEI Brewing Company

Sept. 20 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Sept. 22 - Montreal, QC - MTelus

Sept. 23 - Quebec City, QC - Palais Montcalm

Sept. 24 - North Bay, ON - Capitol Centre

Oct. 7 - Bristol, UK - Thekla

Oct. 8 - Manchester, UK - Gorilla

Oct. 9 - London, UK - Electric Ballroom

Oct. 13 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall

Oct. 14 - Belleville, ON - The Empire Theatre

Oct. 15 - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios

Oct. 17 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair

Oct. 18 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

Oct. 20 - Ardmore, PA - Ardmore Music Hall

Oct. 21 - Washington, DC - Union Stage

Oct. 22 - Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall

Oct. 24 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle

Oct. 25 - Nashville, TN - Basement East

Oct. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade - Purgatory

Oct. 28 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs)

Oct. 30 - Dallas, TX - Tulips

Nov. 1 - Austin, TX - The Ballroom

Nov. 3 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi Fi

Nov. 4 - Detroit, MI - El Club

Nov. 5 - Kitchener, ON - Centre In The Square

Nov. 18 - London, ON - London Music Hall

Nov. 19 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall

Nov. 20 - Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club

Nov. 22 - Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings Theatre

Nov. 23 - Regina, SK - Casino Regina

Nov. 25 - Saskatoon, SK - TCU Place

Nov. 26 - Calgary, AB - The Palace Theatre

Nov. 27 - Edmonton, AB - Midway

Nov. 28 - Red Deer, AB - Bo’s Bar & Grill

Dec. 1 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom

Dec. 2 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom

Dec. 3 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern

Dec. 4 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge

Dec. 6 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent

Dec. 7 - Los Angeles, CA - The Moroccan Lounge

Dec. 8 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah

Dec. 9 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar

Dec. 11 - Denver, CO - Globe Hall

Dec. 12 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown

Dec. 14 - Lexington, KY - The Burl

Dec. 15 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom

Dec. 16 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom

Today, after almost two decades since their last release, Carolina’s favorite rock and rollers the Blue Dogs are back in the game with the release of a brand new full-length album, Big Dreamers. Produced by accomplished guitarist and longtime Blue Dogs fan—and at times, guitar player—Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit), Big Dreamers marks a long-awaited comeback for the band and an inevitable full-circle moment for their producer. “I have a history with these guys,” Vaden says. “They used to hire me when I was 18 or 19 years old to play with them.” Vaden isn’t the only fan of Blue Dogs contributing to Big Dreamers, legendary Texas songwriter Radney Foster sings background vocals on “That’s How I Knew,” which he co-wrote with Bobby Houck along with the greasy, mid-tempo “If Ever,” and dobro master Jerry Douglas joined the boys on the bluegrass-inspired “The Road You Don’t.”

This week Folk N Rock premiered the music video for “Big Dreamers” and Relix Magazine shared a full album first listen of Big Dreamers. Fans can now stream or purchase Big Dreamers in its entirety at this link. The Blue Dogs are celebrating the release of Big Dreamers with a performance (June 3rd) at The Windjammer in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Tickets are still available at this link.

More About Blue Dogs and Big Dreamers: Founded in 1987 and based in Charleston, the group is still led by songwriters Hank Futch (bass) and Bobby Houck (lead singer, acoustic guitar), who grew up together in Florence, South Carolina. ​​After nearly two decades on the road, the Blue Dogs took an extended break from touring in 2007 as Futch and Houck accepted jobs outside of music to support their new families. Yet they both filed away occasional phrases and potential titles, just in case they ever had a chance to make another album together. For this project they were joined in the studio by guitarist Dan Hood, steel guitar player Charlie Thompson, and longtime drummer Greg Walker. Keeping it all in one big Blue Dogs family, former member Phillip Lammonds co-wrote three of the new songs.

“We’re doing this to follow that dream of playing music and sharing our sound with whoever wants to listen,” Futch says. “We’ve probably been Americana before that became a term. But we didn’t feel like we had to be anything other than ourselves to write these songs.” Houck adds, “We still have something to say. We can write good songs that we like, knowing other people will like them too. We’ve got a lot more to do, more places to play, and maybe bigger places to play. Because of this album, we get to live this dream longer than we thought.”

Big Dreamers Tracklist:

The Good Ones

Big Dreamers

Young Love

All Night Long

That’s How I Knew

Love Is Love Is Love

The Good Road

If Ever

The Road You Don’t

Carolina Grand

All Out Of Time

Blue Dogs On Tour:

June 3 - Isle of Palms, SC - The Windjammer’s Kona Liquid Aloha Beach Stage

June 10 - Norfolk, VA - Norfolk Harbourfest

July 2 - Aiken, SC - Aiken Music Fest

July 8 - Columbia, SC - The Main Course

July 9 - Knoxville, TN - Barley's Knoxville

July 10 - High Point, NC - The Revival with Paul Thorn & Friends

July 23 - Phenix City, AL - Chattahoochee Brewing

Sept. 13-17 - Nashville, TN - AMERICANAFEST

Sept. 30 - Sumter, SC - Sumter Opera House

Oct. 8-9 - North Charleston, SC - Riverfront Revival

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit https://bluedogs.com/shows

Park City Song Summit, an all-new, intimate mountain retreat for music lovers, will certainly include some very special live performances, but the heartbeat of the event is the creative process itself, discussed and shared in an open dialog with the finest song crafters of our modern age. The artist-led discussions have been dubbed Summit Labs, and today, Park City Song Summit has released a list of Lab themes and participants for each day of its inaugural weekend; September 7-10 in Park City, Utah. In the evenings, Summit Lab collaborators will head to Park City’s live music venues for concerts and songwriter rounds, illustrating in real-time the themes, methods, and magic touched on throughout the day’s Labs. When both Summit Labs and live performances come together, Park City Song Summit embodies what organizers like to call “A love letter to the power of the song.”

Lab topics include “Comedy For Musicians, But Everyone Is Welcome” in which Fred Armisen talks music, comedy, and timing with anyone who’ll listen, “That’s The Way The World Goes Round” with Jason Isbell, Warren Haynes, Margo Price, and Newport Folk’s Jay Sweet exploring the lessons left behind by the great John Prine, “A Long Way To Go” where Celisse and Adia Victoria discuss their views on everything from a Southern reckoning to the brilliance of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and “Have You Been To Electric Lady(Land)?” where CBS’s Anthony Mason sits down with Lee Foster, co-owner and general manager of Jimi Hendrix’s historic Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Additionally, a number of popular podcasts—including Katie Pruitt’s The Recovering Catholic, Dopey Podcast, and Joe Pug’s The Working Songwriter—will be on-site, recording special PCSS episodes in front of live Lab audiences. A full list of Summit Labs, organized by day, can be found here.

Summit Passes include access to three days of 30+ Labs, guaranteed entrance into exclusive Early Live Shows , a Song Summit merch bundle, and lodging discounts. The enhanced Summit+ Pass adds an opening night four-course dinner and private performance with Jason Isbell and Adia Victoria at Blue Sky Ranch and a personal concierge for restaurant reservations and activity recommendations. Both passes will be available for purchase at this link on Friday, June 17 at 12PM MT.

Newly-announced artists and Lab moderators include Anthony Mason, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Ivan Neville, Jeremy Ivey, JK McKnight, Keith Garde, Marissa R. Moss, Margo Price, Mavis Staples, Michelle Esrick, Peter Shapiro, Tammy McCrary, Uwade, and Wyatt Pike.

Today’s newly-added guests will be joining previously-announced artists and moderators at Park City Song Summit: Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie, Adia Victoria, Anders Osborne & Friends, Andrew Bird, Bonny Light Horseman, Cedric Burnside, Celisse, Daniel Donato, David Ramirez, Dave Mannheim from the Dopey Podcast, Devon Gilfillian, Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite Duo, Father John Misty, Fred Armisen, Fruit Bats, Jason Isbell, Jay Blakesberg, Jay Sweet, Jimbo Mathus, Joe Pug, John Craigie, John Doe, Josh Ritter, Katie Pruitt, Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel, Langhorne Slim, Rising Appalachia, Tré Burt, and Warren Haynes.

It’s been just over twenty years since powerhouse musical siblings Sara and Sean Watkins began their Watkins Family Hour shows at L.A.’s beloved Largo nightclub. Two decades, two studio albums, and hundreds of performances later, the two are taking stock of the ever-evolving community of musicians and music lovers the project helped build. As part of that reflection, Watkins Family Hour is releasing its third studio album, Vol. II. The collection features a number of longtime friends of the show—Fiona Apple, Jon Brion, Jackson Browne, Madison Cunningham, Lucius, Gaby Moreno, Benmont Tench, and Willie Watson, to name a few—joining Sean and Sara across eleven tracks that encapsulate where Watkins Family Hour started, how the project grew, and where it could be headed in the future.

Today, in addition to announcing the forthcoming album, Watkins Family Hour shared a taste of Vol. II with “Hypnotized,” a disjointedly trippy Tune-Yards number turned articulate demonstration of just how good Watkins Family Hour is at reimagining songs; a fine balance of the source material and the Watkins’ now-signature sound. “While on tour for our previous record, we heard this Tune-Yards song on the radio and then proceeded to listen to it just about every day after that while driving to the next town,” Sara and Sean remember. “Their version is so beautifully intricate and wild. We knew it would be a challenge, but it became apparent we needed to learn the dang thing ourselves and record it.” This version of “Hypnotized” from Vol. II is rounded out by the drums and bass of Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes) and Sebastian Steinberg (Soul Coughing, Fiona Apple, Blake Mills), respectively, who, in the words of Sean and Sara, “brought such a deep and mysterious feel to it.”

Fans can hear “Hypnotized” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Vol. II ahead of its August 19th release date right here. Watkins Family Hour is set to appear at High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, California, over the weekend of June 30-July 3. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at watkinsfamilyhour.com/tour.

More About Vol. II: Vol. II follows Watkins Family Hour’s sophomore album Brother Sister, which they released as the COVID-19 pandemic began taking hold of the globe and, in turn, shut down the live music industry. That record was, serendipitously, a quieter affair, showcasing the musical interplay between Sara and Sean that keeps the Family Hour heart beating. In many ways, it’s also a successor to Watkins Family Hour, the self-titled 2015 album that introduced the band to a broader audience and sent them, along with some of their closest collaborators, out on the road to tour.

Sean and Sara recorded Vol. II in January of 2022. The siblings and their guests recorded the entire LP in just three days, decamping at the historic East West Studio in Los Angeles with producers David Boucher and Tyler Chester. While plotting the project, the pair had a deep roster of past Family Hour guests to choose from, a process that also contributed to song selection for the album.

“A lot of the strategy was marrying the songs to the guests that we wanted to be part of the record,” Sara says. “So we knew, for example, that Willie Watson was somebody who we wanted to have on the record because we have such a long history with him specifically. So we did the Jim and Jesse song ‘She Left Me Standing on the Mountain’ with Gabe Witcher and Willie, who are both part of the foundation of the Family Hour.”

While Vol. II is certainly a celebration of the band’s collaborative show itself, it’s also a tribute to Largo, the beloved Los Angeles venue that first hosted them and is an essential hub of the city’s creative community. “We wanted to capture what we’ve done over the years, but also capture the process that is continually at work, which is this intermingling of the musical community here in Los Angeles that surrounds Largo.”

As both Sean and Sara continue to work on their own solo music, as well as with their other bands like Nickel Creek and I’m With Her, Watkins Family Hour remains an invaluable resource and respite for them both, offering a familiar but ever-evolving space to test new ideas, meet new collaborators and, most importantly, have a good time doing what they love.

“It’s been really exciting to be part of this thing that is happening and growing and enables us to dig deep into this musical community,” Sean says. “The consistency has been invaluable to both of us, as musicians.” Sara adds, “But also, in life, the Family Hour has been and continues to be a huge part of making us feel anchored in the crazy city of Los Angeles.”

Vol. II Tracklist:

The Way I Feel Inside (Ft. Lucius)

Hypnotized

Pitseleh (Feat. Madison Cunningham)

Thanks a Lot (Ft. Jon Brion)

The Late Show (Ft. Jackson Browne)

Tennessee Waltz (Ft. Benmont Tench)

She Left Me Standing on the Mountain (Ft. Willie Watson)

We Were Meant to Be Together

On the Outside (Ft. Gaby Moreno)

(Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You (Ft. Fiona Apple)

Grief and Praise (Ft. Madison Cunningham)

Catch Watkins Family Hour On Tour:

June 30 - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Folktale Winery

July 2-3 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival

July 10 - Novato, CA - HopMonk Tavern

Aug. 13 - Lexington, VA - Lime Kiln Theater

Sept. 13-17 - Nashville, TN - Americana Fest

Nov. 13 - Beaverton, OR - The Reser

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit watkinsfamilyhour.com/tour.

In Umphrey’s McGee’s never ending quest to provide their fanbase with the most unique live and recorded musical experiences, the band has adopted, or in most cases, developed, a quiver of show- and album-enhancing tools for fans. From the groundbreaking “Headphones & Snowcones” program, which grants fans access to professional headphones and a soundboard-quality mix to listen wirelessly at shows, to their UMBowl, where the audience can vote on the setlist in real-time and choose favorite improv themes via text message, to becoming the first group to launch its own single-artist streaming service with UMLive.net, which has since grown and now lives on through Nugs.net and is used by the likes of Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen to deliver soundboard-quality concert recordings to fans, Chicago’s favorite improv-rockers have sought out cool and unusual opportunities to connect with those who love them the most. Today, Umphrey’s continues their march into new territory with the announcement of a limited Asking For A Friend NFT.

Equal parts access, utility, and collectible, this token grants fans access to the streaming premiere of Umphrey’s McGee’s new album, Asking For A Friend, on Lively the night before the record is released (June 30th at 8pm Eastern). Immediately following, the band will answer your questions, discuss the record and share some behind-the-scenes photos and video of the recording sessions.  Additionally, the AFAF token grants access to download audio stems of the entire 14-song album. Fans can deep dive by accessing individual mixes of each instrument, isolating tracks, and playing along at will. Each stem-set includes a Garage Band file for easy import on any Apple device. To tie the collection together, each token is also a limited-edition piece of art, featuring a composite image built from 14 individual lyrically based pieces. The streaming event will be hosted on Lively.

Hidden amongst the 2,022 NFTs are one-of-a-kind easter eggs. Randomly selected holders will win copies of the vinyl test pressing, handwritten lyrics, studio-used song charts, free UM concert tickets, and more, bringing a taste of the band’s legendary “Golden Ticket” giveaways onto the Ethereum blockchain. Token holders are also entitled to future benefit unlocks.

For those who may be new to NFTs and want to test the water, Umphrey’s McGee and Nothing Too Fancy Music’s goal is to help educate their fans, and the greater jam band audience, about the value of NFTs. This is an entry-level offer—25 bucks and purchasable by credit card if someone doesn’t yet have a wallet set up—that hopefully will pique curiosity and encourage fans to explore the world of NFTs and what benefits might be accessible to them.

The AFAF NFT will be available starting June 21 for $25 or 0.02 ETH. Please visit AFAF.io for more information.

Last week, the band dropped another Asking For A Friend track ahead of its July 1st release via Nothing Too Fancy Music, “New Wings.” Umphrey’s singer and guitarist Brendan Bayliss already had a chance to try it out live at Wrigley Field during the Chicago Cubs’ bout with the St. Louis Cardinals this past Friday. Check out a clip from Marquee Sports’ broadcast here.

The upcoming Asking For A Friend is accompanied by a behind-the-scenes podcast through Osiris Media entitled Talking Circles. With episodes leading up to the album release and stretching through the summer, Talking Circles will tell the story of the writing and recording of this set of brand new songs utilizing demos, live recordings, alternate takes, mix stems, and interviews with all six band members. Five episodes are currently live, including the backstory of “New Wings,” right here.

Finally, Umphrey’s McGee continues with their tour this week in Colorado. The band will be at the Dillon Amphitheater on June 16th, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on June 17th and 18th, and at Vail’s Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre on the 19th. For fans unable to attend, all four shows will be live-streamed via Nugs.net. A full list of Umphrey’s tour dates can be found below or at umphreys.com/tour.

More About Asking For A Friend: Mostly recorded in three distinct sessions at three different studios during the pandemic and never played live—their first album since 2009’s Mantis of which fans haven’t gotten a sneak peek of from stage—Asking For A Friend explores a feeling that UM guitarist and vocalist Brendan Bayliss describes as “tapping into the idea that we were all isolated yet somehow still connected and experiencing the same emotions.” That isolated feeling is perfectly captured in the album’s cover art: the lonely, surrounded-by-clouds peak of Chicago’s John Hancock Center (or 875 N Michigan Ave) photographed by “Chicago’s Picture Poet” himself, Barry Butler.

Asking For A Friend began to take shape in a pre-COVID world in September 2019 when the band met up with longtime UM engineer Greg Magers and producer Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Lumineers, The Avett Brothers) in Nashville for a session that would ultimately produce standalone UM single “Suxity” as well as the first few tracks of this new album. Session two found the band at guitarist Jake Cinninger’s home studio in Niles, Michigan, deep in the throes of the first few months of the global pandemic. Working on new music by day and performing via live stream at night proved to be highly successful and entertaining for the band who’d just been sidelined a mere three months before. The final full-band session for Asking For A Friend took place at ECTO productions in Chicago, a.k.a. the band’s production warehouse. Relying on the record during the day/perform at night mentality once more, UM completed full-band, live tracking for the record before putting finishing touches on from their home studios. “It was a real welcome change to be able to sing the vocals in my pajamas,” says Bayliss.

Pulling the ripcord and taking an enforced break after twenty years of touring resulted in not only a complex emotional reaction from members of Umphrey’s McGee. "Those first three months felt like an eternity," keyboardist Joel Cummins says. But "there was a huge excitement and motivation when we got back together again. More than ever, we realized how much we needed each other and this music. But their reunion also refined a newfound approach to letting their new music flow freely; not over-thinking it. “This album reflects how our songwriting has really come a long way since the days of putting ‘legos’ together, a term given to explain our past process of assembling the greater sum of the parts in eclectic fashion,” says drummer Kris Myers. “Instead, we were able to naturally connect with these songs with our hearts, and a little less from our heads through simple, serene songs.” The end result is an astoundingly cohesive fourteen song album that feels like a fresh statement from a group of world-class musicians and friends reapproaching their craft with a new lens, but long time fans will be happy to know that the Umphrey’s McGee they know and love is still very much present on Asking For A Friend, just more refined. More focused.

Catch Umphrey’s McGee On Tour:

June 16 - Dillon, CO - Dillon Amphitheater

June 17 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^

June 18 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre #

June 19 - Vail, CO - Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre

July 8 - Baldwinsville, NY - Bud Light Amphitheater at Paper Mill Island

July 9 - Marshfield, MA - Levitate Music & Arts Festival

July 10 - Selbyville, DE - Freeman Arts Pavilion

July 14 - Outer Banks, NC - Roanoke Island Festival Park

July 15 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony Summer Stage

July 16 - Thornville, OH - The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival

July 21-24 - North Plains, OR - Northwest String Summit

Aug. 5-7 - Kenai Peninsula, AK - Salmonfest

Aug. 18 - Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park $

Aug. 19 - Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park $

Aug. 20 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater $

Aug. 21 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater

Aug. 24 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Aug. 26-28 - Bridgeview, IL - Sacred Rose Festival

Sept. 1 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park

Sept. 2 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium

Sept. 3 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater

Sept. 4 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino

Sept. 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden

Sept. 9 - Bozeman, MT - The ELM

Sept. 29 - Richmond, VA - Music at Maymont

Sept. 30 - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Oct. 1 - Savannah, GA - Johnny Mercer Theatre

Oct. 2 - Birmingham, AL - Avondale Brewing Company

$ Co-bill with The Disco Biscuits

^ with support from lespecial

# with support from Andy Frasco and The U.N.

For a full list of shows, as well as ticket information, please visit umphreys.com/tour.

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Peter Mulvey and fellow Milwaukeeans, the in-demand dynamic duo SistaStrings have joined hands once again for a brand new studio album, Love Is The Only Thing, due out August 12th on Righteous Babe Records. A self-proclaimed anti-fascist record, Love Is The Only Thing keeps kindness and compassion in the foreground, following a similar musical path to Mulvey and SistaStrings’ Live at the Café Carpe, which was released in late 2020 and, like the new album, includes drummer Nathan Kilen rounding out the ensemble. Fans can pre-order or pre-save Love Is The Only Thing right now at this link and get refamiliarized with Mulvey and SistaStrings’ brilliant sound by checking out Live at the Café Carpe right here.

SistaStrings—cellist-vocalist Monique Ross and violinist-vocalist Chauntee Ross—bring all the beautiful versatility of their cello and violin music—along with sibling-strong vocal harmonies—to Love Is The Only Thing. Classically trained string players who grew up singing in church, Monique and Chauntee were destined to defy conventions of genre and race alike, blending R&B, gospel, and classical sounds. Mulvey met the Rosses in 2016, and all three felt an instant kinship. “Peter has been the complete definition of an ally. We found a home in the folk/Americana realm when we began working with Peter and that gave our career the direction it was lacking,” says Monique.

The bright light of family illuminates this record and all that went into making it. Its existence hinges on the way we take care of each other, from its fan-supported funding to the sanctuary of Café Carpe to the blood sisterhood of the Rosses to Mulvey’s newfound fatherhood. “This album is basically a happy family song, then a song about how f*cked up things are, then a family song, then a song about how f*cked up things are,” Mulvey laughs. And making Love Is The Only Thing at such a tumultuous time in history reinforced Mulvey’s and SistaStrings’ role as activists just as much as musicians. “Finding refuge and rejuvenation in these songs with this group of musicians was healing and personally some sort of mission statement for why we even make music in the first place,” Chauntee remembers.

Love Is The Only Thing explores loss, tension, and the love that sees us through it. Folk classic “Shenandoah” longs for a kinder America, while “Old Men Drinking Seagram’s” is a snapshot of a small town full of hate. “Soft Animal” offers tender sensuality, while “On the Eve of the Inaugural” finds the narrator turning his care to a baby in a stranger’s car. “Song for Michael Brown” is a humble plea for compassion for Brown and for all of us living with the threat of violence and hate. Some songs are more focused on the loneliness of the pandemic and its flipside of love and togetherness. “You and (Everyone Else)” addresses the pandemic loneliness and fear for others' safety, while “Five Hundred Days” promises a happy reunion. That promise is fulfilled on “Early Summer of ‘21,” a catchy song about a day when it’s safe to hug everybody, wait in line for tacos, and feel free again.

The record finishes with the title track, a Chuck Prophet cover. With jangly acoustic guitar, rousing drumming, bold strings, and an anthemic chorus, this is the sound of musicians having fun together. It’s also a reminder that it’s not easy to make a better world, but ultimately that work reveals our humanity. “Love is a hurting thing/ Oh, but love is the only thing anymore," Mulvey and SistaStrings belt out in the refrain. It’s then abundantly clear that the love songs and the protest songs have been about the same thing all along.

Love Is The Only Thing Tracklist:

Shenandoah

Soft Animal

O My Dear (the Demagogue)

Old Men Drinking Seagram’s

You and (Everybody Else)

Early Summer of ‘21

Five Hundred Days

On the Eve of the Inaugural

Pray for Rain

February Too

Song for Michael Brown

Love Is the Only Thing

Catch Peter Mulvey On Tour:

Jun. 10 - Mio, MI - Nor-East'r 2022

Jun. 12 - Rockford, IL - Meridian Music Shed

Jun. 23-25 - Fort Atkinson, WI - The Shi*unauts Live at The Cafe Carpe

July 9-10 - New Bedford, MA - New Bedford Folk Festival

July 28 - Portsmouth, NH - Portsmouth Music Hall w/ Mark Erelli

July 29 - Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center w/ Mark Erelli

July 30 - Concord, NH - Capitol Center for the Arts w/ Mark Erelli

Aug. 18 - Sandwich, NH - John Davidson's Club Sandwich

For more tour dates and ticket information, please visit petermulvey.com

Catch SistaStrings On Tour:

Jun. 21 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl*

Jun. 24-25 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre*

Aug. 5 - Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum*

Aug. 6 - Chicago, IL - Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island*

Aug. 11 - Salt Lake City, UT - Vivent Arena*

Aug. 18 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion#

Aug. 19 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center For the Arts#

Aug. 20 - Philadelphia, PA - Mann Center For The Performing Arts#

Aug. 24 - London, UK - Omeara^

Sept. 9-10 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks#

Sept. 25 - Bridgeport, CT - Sound on Sound 2022*

Oct. 22 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden*

*performing w/ Brandi Carlile

^performing w/ Allison Russell

#performing w/ Allison Russell and Brandi Carlile

In May of 2020, in the haze of “waiting for more information,” We Banjo 3’s David Howley set his cup of coffee down on the piano lid, played one chord, and the first line of their new song “Gift Of Life” popped right out—“Over the ditch and into the wilds.”

“I sat there in the grips of realizing a fear of failure can keep you on the ‘safe path,’ but what about the woods? There’s a lot of life to be lived under the trees,” says Howley, remembering the energy he channeled into the tune. “The song came from trying to convince myself that sometimes you might have to stumble into the unknown and trust yourself to choose the right turns.” A pretty, six-string strummer at its onset, “Gift Of Life” steadily gains instrumentation throughout its four and a half minutes, eventually culminating in a poppy groove adorned with horns and interjecting banjo and mandolin lines before one last refrain; “Maybe the gift of life is living / The treasure is the quest.” Yesterday, JamBase premiered the single, and today, fans can give “Gift Of Life” a listen right here.

Containing two sets of two brothers—Enda & Fergal Scahill and David & Martin Howley—We Banjo 3 have built their legacy on seamlessly combining the virtuosity and precision in Irish and American music’s traditional disciplines with the artful song-craft and infectious live performance of today’s musical landscape. Their upcoming album Open The Road—out July 15th—meets on the corner of complex-but-nimble instrumentation and magnetic, well-crafted songs; a combination of which their fans have been enjoying from studio to stage since the band first landed on American shores ten years ago. Hear Open The Road’s previously-released single, “Hummingbird,” at this link and pre-order or pre-save Open The Road ahead of its July 15th release right here. For more information, please visit webanjo3.com.

Open The Road Tracklist:

Hummingbird

Garden Song

Long Way Down

Heart In Hand

Open The Road

Rialto

Gift Of Life

The First Second Gentleman

Alive With You

Believe In Us

Catch We Banjo 3 On Tour:

June 17 - Dayton, OH - Levitt Pavilion

June 18 - Lakeside, OH - Lakeside Chautauqua: Hoover Auditorium

June 19 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage (Culture Center Theater)

June 23 - Memphis, TN - Overton Park Shell (formerly Levitt Shell)

June 24 - Owensboro, KY - ROMP 2022

July 16 - Oak Hill, NY - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2022

July 19 - Rockport, MA - Shalin Liu Performance Center

July 20 - Natick, MA - Center For Arts In Natick

July 29 - Ventura, CA - Ventura Music Festival 2022

July 30 - Denver, CO - Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox

July 31 - Lyons, CO - RockyGrass Festival 2022

Aug. 1 - Crested Butte, CO - Center for the Arts Crested Butte

Aug. 3 - Portsmouth, OH - Vern Riffe Center for the Arts

Aug. 5-7 - Dublin, OH - Dublin Irish Fest 2022

Aug. 9-10 - Bethlehem, PA - MUSIKFEST

Aug. 12 - St. Paul, MN - Irish Fair of Minnesota 2022

Aug. 13 - La Crosse, WI - IrishFest La Crosse 2022

Aug. 14 - St. Paul, MN - Irish Fair of Minnesota 2022

AUG 19 - 21 - Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Irish Fest

Sept. 2-4 - Kansas City, MO - Kansas City Irish Festival 2022

Oct. 21 - Frederick, MD - Weinberg Center For The Arts

Oct. 22 - Manteo, NC - Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival

2023 (Rescheduled) Tour Dates:

Jan. 27 - Sacramento, CA - The Sofia

Jan. 29 - Berkeley, CA - Freight & Salvage

Feb. 1 - Flagstaff, AZ - Orpheum Theater

Feb. 2 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre

Feb. 3 - Wickenburg, AZ - Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts

Feb. 4 - Chandler, AZ - Chandler Center for the Arts

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit webanjo3.com/tour

Growing up, 14-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist and singer Dan Tyminski wasn’t really a six-string picker, favoring mandolin or banjo when he joined the jam—until he heard Tony Rice, that is. Hearing Rice kick-off “Ten Degrees and Getting Colder” with J.D. Crowe and the New South for the first time, Tyminski was overtaken by the sound, forever changing his trajectory as a musician. Like the rest of the tight-knit bluegrass world, Tyminski was devastated by the loss of his hero in late 2020. Upon hearing the news, Tyminski took to writing a song for Rice as a way to relieve some of his grief. “I cried all day on day one, and on day two, had written the instrumental part.” The song ended up being called “One More Time Before You Go,” and grew into the title track of Tyminski’s new EP One More Time Before You Go: A Tribute To Tony Rice.

Today, Tyminski shared a taste of the upcoming star-studded tribute ahead of its July 22nd release date with his recording of “Church Street Blues” featuring the reigning queen of bluegrass guitar, Molly Tuttle. Sticking closely to Rice’s classic arrangement, Tyminski and Tuttle cross-pick their way through the long-beloved tune, trading solos and sharing vocals on the song’s iconic chorus. Fans can check out “Church Street Blues” now at this link.

Fans may have already heard “One More Time Before You Go” this week on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction. For “One More Time Before You Go,” Tyminski called fellow guitarist and multiple IBMA Award-winner Josh Williams—who had also played with Tony—to shed whatever light he could on the masterful guitarist, and the two of them took to the studio to capture the song with Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and Todd Phillips, all world-class musicians who also loved Rice.

When all was said and done, Tyminski ended up with five songs featuring a number of fellow Rice devotees and friends. New guard pickers like Tuttle, Billy Strings, and Dan Tyminski Band-member Gaven Largent share space with Douglas, Bush, Dailey & Vincent, and more for a stunning all-star tribute to the man who influenced a whole genre of music. Fans can listen to “Church Street Blues” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save One More Time Before You Go: A Tribute to Tony Rice ahead of its July 22nd release right here. Additionally, a full list of Tyminski’s tour dates can be found below or at this link.

For more information, please visit dantyminski.com.

One More Time Before You Go Tracklist:

Church Street Blues (feat. Molly Tuttle)

One More Time Before You Go (feat. Jerry Douglas, Todd Phillips, Sam Bush, Josh Williams)

Ten Degrees And Getting Colder (feat. Dailey & Vincent)

Where The Soul Of A Man Never Dies (feat. Billy Strings)

Why You Been Gone So Long (feat. Gaven Largent)

Catch Dan Tyminski On Tour:

June 30 - Nashville, TN - Bluegrass Nights at The Ryman

August 12 - York, PA - Appell Center For The Performing Arts

August 13 - Goshen, CT - Podunk Bluegrass Festival 2022

August 18-20 - Marion, NC - North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival 2022

August 25 - Middlesboro, KY - Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series

August 27 - Lexington, VA - Lime Kiln Theater

August 28 - Doylestown, PA - Bluegrass at the TileWorks Summer Series

September 1-4 - Brunswick, ME - Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival 2022

September 1 - Pawling, NY - Daryl’s House

September 3 - Plymouth, MA - Spire Center for the Performing Arts

September 18 - Flagstaff, AZ - Pickin’ In The Pines 2022

September 27-29 - West Raleigh, NC - IBMA Bluegrass Ramble 2022

September 30 - Rocky Mount, VA - Harvester Performance Center

October 7-8 - Big Stone Gap, VA - Blue Highway Fest 2022

October 14 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe Big Barn

November 10 - Wilmington, OH - Roberts Centre

November 10-12 - Wilmington, NC - Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival 2022

In the twenty-four years since eclectic improv-rock band Umphrey’s McGee formed, their sound has been an amalgamation of genres, moods, and tempos, effortlessly flowing from one feeling to the next throughout an album or concert—or sometimes within a singular song. But with time and repetition comes wisdom and maturity, both personally and musically, and in the case of the band’s new album Asking For A Friend, Umphrey’s McGee entered the recording studio with something to say and a wise, measured way to say it. The end result is an astoundingly cohesive fourteen-song album that feels like a fresh statement from a group of world-class musicians and friends reapproaching their craft with a new lens. But long-time fans will be happy to know that the Umphrey’s McGee they know and love is still very much present on Asking For A Friend, just more refined. More focused.

Fans can now stream or purchase Asking For A Friend in its entirety at this link and order vinyl and AFAF-centric merch right here. Umphrey’s tour continues on July 8th in Baldwinsville, New York, at the Bud Light Amphitheater at Paper Mill Island. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at umphreys.com/tour.

In conjunction with the release of Asking For A Friend, Umphrey’s have launched their first-ever NFT offering. The AFAF token grants access to download audio stems of the entire 14-song album. Fans can deep dive by accessing individual mixes of each instrument, isolating tracks, and playing along at will. Each stem-set includes a Garage Band file for easy import on any Apple device. To tie the collection together, each token is also a limited-edition piece of art, featuring a composite image built from 14 individual lyrically based pieces. Hidden amongst the 2,022 NFTs are one-of-a-kind easter eggs. Randomly selected holders will win copies of the vinyl test pressing, handwritten lyrics, studio-used song charts, free UM concert tickets, and more, bringing a taste of the band’s legendary “Golden Ticket” giveaways onto the Ethereum blockchain. Token holders are also entitled to future benefit unlocks. For more information please visit AFAF.io.

Asking For A Friend is also accompanied by a behind-the-scenes podcast through Osiris Media entitled Talking Circles. With episodes leading up to the album release and stretching through the summer, Talking Circles will tell the story of the writing and recording of this set of brand new songs utilizing demos, live recordings, alternate takes, mix stems, and interviews with all six band members. Five episodes are currently live right here.

Catch Umphrey’s McGee On Tour:

July 8 - Baldwinsville, NY - Bud Light Amphitheater at Paper Mill Island

July 9 - Marshfield, MA - Levitate Music & Arts Festival

July 10 - Selbyville, DE - Freeman Arts Pavilion

July 14 - Outer Banks, NC - Roanoke Island Festival Park

July 15 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony Summer Stage

July 16 - Thornville, OH - The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival

July 21-24 - North Plains, OR - Northwest String Summit

Aug. 5-7 - Kenai Peninsula, AK - Salmonfest

Aug. 18 - Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park $

Aug. 19 - Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park $

Aug. 20 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater $

Aug. 21 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater

Aug. 24 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Aug. 26-28 - Bridgeview, IL - Sacred Rose Festival

Sept. 1 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park

Sept. 2 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium

Sept. 3 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater

Sept. 4 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino

Sept. 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden

Sept. 9 - Bozeman, MT - The ELM

Sept. 29 - Richmond, VA - Music at Maymont

Sept. 30 - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Oct. 1 - Savannah, GA - Johnny Mercer Theatre

Oct. 2 - Birmingham, AL - Avondale Brewing Company

$ Co-bill with The Disco Biscuits

For a full list of shows, as well as ticket information, please visit umphreys.com/tour.

In a flurry of steel guitar and raucous drum beats, Americana renaissance man Jim Lauderdale kicks off Game Changer—his 35th full-length album—with “That Kind Of Life (That Kind Of Day),” a rollicking ode to what Jim calls “the sentiment and wishes for others to have a good life.” Lauderdale had the instrumental twin guitar/steel hook in his head when he sat down to write “That Kind Of Life.” “For some reason, the first line—‘When a baby tastes a little bit of sunshine, kicks their legs and bounces up and down, Grins and laughs and everything is so fine, We wanna keep em’ that way for a while’—just tumbled out, I wasn’t really sure where it was going but that image popped into my head and I went with it,” he says. The rest of the verses followed and Lauderdale topped it all off with a call-to-action of sorts in the chorus. The resulting tune is a breezy, windows-down country journey, willing listeners to have that kind of feeling “Where things will go a little more their way.”

Today, American Songwriter premiered the track and called it, “a message of the times, delivered like only Lauderdale can in a blended Americana fuse.” Fans can listen to “That Kind Of Life (That Kind Of Day)” now at this link 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.

In addition to the exciting news of Lauderdale’s new album, he’s also just been named a 2022 nominee for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Lauderdale, along with eleven other of his contemporaries, will be celebrated at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala in October where the Class of 2022 Hall of Fame inductees will be announced. Members are encouraged to vote and can cast their ballot at this link.
 
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:
July 9 - Black Mountain, NC - The White Horse w/ The Po’ Ramblin Boys
July 16 - Oak Ridge, TN - ORNL Summer Sessions
July 21 - Buffalo, NY - Sportsmen's Tavern
July 22-24 - Trumansburg, NY - Finger Lakes Grassroots 2022
July 25-29 - Swannanoa, NC - Swannanoa Gathering
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 24 - Nashville, TN - Tommy Emmanuel’s CMA Theatre
September 25 - Nashville, TN - Tommy Emmanuel’s Guitar Camp
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
November 3 - Los Angeles, CA - Outlaw Country West 2022
 
For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, please visit jimlauderdalemusic.com.

It’s easy to overlook the grimy underside of small town America, but take away the idyllic Norman Rockwell visage and sometimes the only thing left is a mean spirit. When Peter Mulvey sat down with fellow songwriter John Statz to pen “Old Men Drinking Seagram’s,” they ended up sketching a portrait of a few such towns they’d had the “dubious pleasure of knowing.” In its delivery, it's a pretty picture, but “Old Men Drinking Seagram’s” pulls no punches in a way that will leave listeners largely nodding in disappointed agreement or missing the point altogether; the latter, most likely, antagonists pulled straight from the song. “Often, our daily life is a search for the optimal balance between honesty and kindness,” says Mulvey. “In art, sometimes the gloves come off.”

“Old Men Drinking Seagram’s” is the latest single from Mulvey’s upcoming album with SistaStrings—cellist and vocalist Monique Ross and violinist and vocalist Chauntee Ross—entitled Love Is The Only Thing. The song’s lilting, major-key melody is perfectly countered by nondescript, creepy background noise—borderline horror movie foley—courtesy of Chauntee, Monique, and drummer Nathan Kilan, who rounds out the album’s quartet of musicians. The end result is a delightful tune that leaves an uneasy feeling, rightfully so, in the hearts and minds of listeners. Like Mulvey says, “Sometimes the gloves come off.”

Fans can listen to “Old Men Drinking Seagram’s” now at this link, check out the previously-released single “You and (Everybody Else),” and pre-order or pre-save Love Is The Only Thing ahead of its August 12th release via Righteous Babe Records right here. For even more Peter Mulvey & SistaStrings, check out their Live at the Café Carpe album at this link.

Mulvey has a number of solo dates—as well as shows with Mark Erelli—coming up and SistaStrings are on the road all summer playing as part of Allison Russell’s and Brandi Carlile’s bands, including Carlile’s show at Madison Square Garden in October. The Rosses also performed with both artists at the 2022 Grammy Awards. A full list of tour dates for both Mulvey and SistaStrings can be found below.

More About Love Is The Only Thing: The bright light of family illuminates Love Is The Only Thing and all that went into making it. Its existence hinges on the way we take care of each other, from its fan-supported funding to the sanctuary of Café Carpe to the blood sisterhood of the Rosses to Mulvey’s newfound fatherhood. “This album is basically a happy family song, then a song about how f*cked up things are, then a family song, then a song about how f*cked up things are,” Mulvey laughs. And making Love Is The Only Thing at such a tumultuous time in history reinforced Mulvey’s and SistaStrings’ role as activists just as much as musicians. “Finding refuge and rejuvenation in these songs with this group of musicians was healing and personally some sort of mission statement for why we even make music in the first place,” Chauntee remembers.

Love Is The Only Thing explores loss, tension, and the love that sees us through it. Folk classic “Shenandoah” longs for a kinder America, while “Old Men Drinking Seagram’s” is a snapshot of a small town full of hate. “Soft Animal” offers tender sensuality, while “On the Eve of the Inaugural” finds the narrator turning his care to a baby in a stranger’s car.  “Song for Michael Brown” is a humble plea for compassion for Brown and for all of us living with the threat of violence and hate. Some songs are more focused on the loneliness of the pandemic and its flipside of love and togetherness. The newly-released “You and (Everyone Else)” addresses the pandemic loneliness and fear for others' safety, while “Five Hundred Days” promises a happy reunion. That promise is fulfilled on “Early Summer of ‘21,” a catchy song about a day when it’s safe to hug everybody, wait in line for tacos, and feel free again.

The record finishes with the title track, a Chuck Prophet cover. With jangly acoustic guitar, rousing drumming, bold strings, and an anthemic chorus, this is the sound of musicians having fun together. It’s also a reminder that it’s not easy to make a better world, but ultimately that work reveals our humanity. “Love is a hurting thing/ Oh, but love is the only thing anymore," Mulvey and SistaStrings belt out in the refrain.  It’s then abundantly clear that the love songs and the protest songs have been about the same thing all along.

Love Is The Only Thing Tracklist:

Shenandoah

Soft Animal

O My Dear (the Demagogue)

Old Men Drinking Seagram’s

You and (Everybody Else)

Early Summer of ‘21

Five Hundred Days

On the Eve of the Inaugural

Pray for Rain

February Too

Song for Michael Brown

Love Is the Only Thing

Catch Peter Mulvey On Tour:

July 9-10 - New Bedford, MA - New Bedford Folk Festival

July 28 - Portsmouth, NH - Portsmouth Music Hall w/ Mark Erelli

July 29 - Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center w/ Mark Erelli

July 30 - Concord, NH - Capitol Center for the Arts w/ Mark Erelli

Aug. 18 - Sandwich, NH - John Davidson's Club Sandwich

From the very beginning of Sara and Sean Watkins’ Watkins Family Hour shows at Los Angeles’s Largo nightclub, their focus has been on musical community; building, sharing, and growing. From the start, friends and contemporaries would show up, try out new songs, and collaborate on old ones, resulting in a modern musical institution catered to musicians and music lovers that is now two decades-running. With their new album, Vol. II, the Watkins returned to the recording studio with a host of long-time friends and Watkins Family Hour band mates like Jon Brion, Jackson Browne, Madison Cunningham, Lucius, Gaby Moreno, Benmont Tench, and Willie Watson. Today, the group shared “(Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You” from Vol. II; a track that features former Family Hour touring band member, longtime fixture at Largo, and wholly singular artist in her own right, Fiona Apple.

With a Texas swing take somewhere between Dean Martin’s and Ernest Tubb’s definitive versions, Watkins Family Hour’s “(Remember Me)” kicks off with long-time Heartbreaker Benmont Tench’s honky-tonk piano and ends with Greg Leisz’s slinky pedal steel; the two enveloping a smile-inducing performance crowned by Sara, Sean, and Fiona’s three-part blend in the song’s iconic choruses. “I first heard this Stuart Hamblen song while going down an Ernest Tubb rabbit hole,” remembers Sara. “It’s hard for us to resist a country shuffle with attitude like this one. It’s our favorite kind of thing to sing with Fiona Apple.”

Fans can hear “(Remember Me) I’m the One Who Love You” now at this link and read the premiere on Consequence of Sound here. Check out WFH’s previously-released Tune-Yards cover “Hypnotized,” and pre-order or pre-save Vol. II ahead of its August 19th release date right here. Watkins Family Hour tour continues on July 10th at HopMonk Tavern in Novato, California. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at watkinsfamilyhour.com/tour.

More About Vol. II: Vol. II follows Watkins Family Hour’s sophomore album Brother Sister, which they released as the COVID-19 pandemic began taking hold of the globe and, in turn, shut down the live music industry. That record was, serendipitously, a quieter affair, showcasing the musical interplay between Sara and Sean that keeps the Family Hour heart beating. In many ways, it’s also a successor to Watkins Family Hour, the self-titled 2015 album that introduced the band to a broader audience and sent them, along with some of their closest collaborators, out on the road to tour.

Sean and Sara recorded Vol. II in January of 2022. The siblings and their guests recorded the entire LP in just three days, decamping at the historic East West Studio in Los Angeles with producers David Boucher and Tyler Chester. While plotting the project, the pair had a deep roster of past Family Hour guests to choose from, a process that also contributed to song selection for the album.

“A lot of the strategy was marrying the songs to the guests that we wanted to be part of the record,” Sara says. “So we knew, for example, that Willie Watson was somebody who we wanted to have on the record because we have such a long history with him specifically. So we did the Jim and Jesse song ‘She Left Me Standing on the Mountain’ with Gabe Witcher and Willie, who are both part of the foundation of the Family Hour.”

While Vol. II is certainly a celebration of the band’s collaborative show itself, it’s also a tribute to Largo, the beloved Los Angeles venue that first hosted them and is an essential hub of the city’s creative community. “We wanted to capture what we’ve done over the years, but also capture the process that is continually at work, which is this intermingling of the musical community here in Los Angeles that surrounds Largo.”

As both Sean and Sara continue to work on their own solo music, as well as with their other bands like Nickel Creek and I’m With Her, Watkins Family Hour remains an invaluable resource and respite for them both, offering a familiar but ever-evolving space to test new ideas, meet new collaborators and, most importantly, have a good time doing what they love.

“It’s been really exciting to be part of this thing that is happening and growing and enables us to dig deep into this musical community,” Sean says. “The consistency has been invaluable to both of us, as musicians.” Sara adds, “But also, in life, the Family Hour has been and continues to be a huge part of making us feel anchored in the crazy city of Los Angeles.”

Vol. II Tracklist:

The Way I Feel Inside (Ft. Lucius)

Hypnotized

Pitseleh (Feat. Madison Cunningham)

Thanks a Lot (Ft. Jon Brion)

The Late Show (Ft. Jackson Browne)

Tennessee Waltz (Ft. Benmont Tench)

She Left Me Standing on the Mountain (Ft. Willie Watson)

We Were Meant to Be Together

On the Outside (Ft. Gaby Moreno)

(Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You (Ft. Fiona Apple)

Grief and Praise (Ft. Madison Cunningham)

Catch Watkins Family Hour On Tour:

July 10 - Novato, CA - HopMonk Tavern

Aug. 13 - Lexington, VA - Lime Kiln Theater

Aug 14 - York, PA - Susquehanna Folk Festival

Sep 16 - Cincinnati, OH - Longworth-Anderson Series at Memorial Hall

Sep 17 - Nashville, TN - Americana Fest

Sep 18 - Indianapolis, IN - The Toby Theatre

Sep 20 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark

Sep 21 - Kent, OH - Kent Stage

Sep 22 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Clyde Theatre

Sep 23 - Bay Harbor, MI - Great Lakes Center for the Arts

Sep 24 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music

Sep 25 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music

Nov. 13 - Beaverton, OR - The Reser

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit watkinsfamilyhour.com/tour.

This September, Park City Song Summit will welcome fans and artists alike to experience live music like they’ve never before. The all-new rejuvenating mountain retreat will offer artist-led discussions by day and small-venue performances by night.
 
And today, Park City Song Summit has announced the daily schedule for evening programming featuring intimate performances from Father John Misty, Devon Gilfillian, Katie Pruitt, Celisse and more. Announced venues include Park City’s finest listening rooms like The Cabin, The Songwriter House–where songcrafters will perform “In the Round'' every day from 3pm-6pm and again from 9pm-12am–and O.P. Rockwell, which is currently available for Summit+ and Summit pass holders—with one more venue on Main Street to be announced in the coming weeks. Individual tickets to The Songwriter House and The Cabin, as well as full weekend passes are available now at this link.
 
The daily show schedule is as follows:
 
Thursday, September 8:

    The Songwriter House: Danny Myrick, Earl Bud Lee, Garrison Starr, Jaida Dreyer, Kylie Sackley, Matt Warren, Neon Union, Pher, Rick Brantley, Tim James, Travis Howard, Waylon Payne, Wyatt Pike
    The Cabin: John Doe, Katie Pruitt, Jimbo Mathus
    O.P. Rockwell: Warren Haynes, Celisse, Jeremy Ivey
    Main Street venue TBA: Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Uwade

 Friday, September 9:

    The Songwriter House: Bill Luther, Danny Myrick, Dave Pahanish, Garrison Starr, Josh Kelley, Megan Linville, Rick Brantley, Sean McConnell, Shelly Fairchild, Tim James, Travis Howard, Waylon Payne, Wyatt Pike
    The Cabin: Devon Gilfillian, Cedric Burnside, Charlie Musselwhite & Elvin Bishop Duo
    O.P. Rockwell: Father John Misty (solo), Bonny Light Horseman, Rising Appalachia
    Main Street venue TBA: John Craigie, Tré Burt  

 Saturday, September 10:

    The Songwriter House: Bill Luther, Dave Pahanish, Earl Bud Lee, Hailey Steele, Jaida Dreyer, Josh Kelley, Kylie Sackely, Matt Warren, Megan Linville, Neon Union, Pher, Sean McConnell, Shelly Fairchild
    The Cabin: Langhorne Slim, David Ramirez, Joe Pug
    O.P. Rockwell: Anders Osborne & Friends, Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel, Daniel Donato
    Main Street venue TBA: Fruit Bats (solo), Josh Ritter

For information on individual show tickets and all Summit Passes, please visit https://parkcitysongsummit.com/tickets.

In addition to these up close performances, the heartbeat of Park City Song Summit will be the Summit Labs, which will take place during the day and feature artist-led discussions from speakers like Mavis Staples, Anthony Mason, Fred Armisen, Jason Isbell and more. When both Summit Labs and live performances come together, Park City Song Summit embodies what organizers like to call “A love letter to the power of the song.” A full list of Summit Labs, organized by day, can be found here.

Summit Passes include access to three days of 30+ Labs, guaranteed entrance into exclusive Early Live Shows, a Song Summit merch bundle, and lodging discounts. The enhanced Summit+ Pass adds an opening night four-course dinner and private performance with Jason Isbell and Adia Victoria at Blue Sky Ranch and a personal concierge for restaurant reservations and activity recommendations. Both passes are available for purchase now at this link.

Brothers Enda & Fergal Scahill and David & Martin Howley–collectively known as Galway-based quartet We Banjo 3—are a decade dedicated to their music, fans, and to their unique craft of bridging the gap between the traditions of Irish and American folk music; a straddling act that few dare attempt and even fewer accomplish. Today, We Banjo 3 released an entirely new collection of songs into the world with their album Open The Road. Meeting on the corner of complex-but-nimble instrumentation and magnetic, well-crafted songs, Open The Road finds the Scahills and Howleys seamlessly combining the virtuosity and precision that both genres demand; whether the Atlantic falls to the east or west of them at any given time, We Banjo 3 preserve the intoxicating energy that’s brought them fans from the world over via their electric stage show and recording studio prowess.

Fans and critics alike have already weighed in on just how much they like We Banjo 3’s latest offering, including NPR, who praised their single “Gift Of Life,” calling it “a soulful meditation on self-discovery, augmented by the tune's innovative combination of instruments.” In their album review, Twangville wrote “Open The Road showcases [We Banjo 3’s] musical mastery,” and Americana UK said that Open The Road is “An absolute pleasure to have on repeat in the car.” JamBase premiered “Gift Of Life” and No Depression called the single “a gem of a song” in their review. In an interview with the band, DittyTV praised Open The Road as “A gorgeous new studio album” from We Banjo 3.

Fans can now stream or purchase Open The Road right here. We Banjo 3 will continue their summer tour this weekend at the legendary Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, New York. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at webanjo3.com/tour.

Lastly, don’t miss the premiere of their new video “The Making of Open The Road,” on Friday, July 22 @ 11am PT / 7pm GMT, where the band will join fans on YouTube Live and celebrate 10 years of We Banjo 3.

Open The Road Tracklist:

Hummingbird

Garden Song

Long Way Down

Heart In Hand

Open The Road

Rialto

Gift Of Life

The First Second Gentleman

Alive With You

Believe In Us

Catch We Banjo 3 On Tour:

July 16 - Oak Hill, NY - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2022

July 19 - Rockport, MA - Shalin Liu Performance Center

July 20 - Natick, MA - Center For Arts In Natick

July 29 - Ventura, CA - Ventura Music Festival 2022

July 30 - Denver, CO - Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox

July 31 - Lyons, CO - RockyGrass Festival 2022

Aug. 1 - Crested Butte, CO - Center for the Arts Crested Butte

Aug. 3 - Portsmouth, OH - Vern Riffe Center for the Arts

Aug. 5-7 - Dublin, OH - Dublin Irish Fest 2022

Aug. 9-10 - Bethlehem, PA - MUSIKFEST

Aug. 12 - St. Paul, MN - Irish Fair of Minnesota 2022

Aug. 13 - La Crosse, WI - IrishFest La Crosse 2022

Aug. 14 - St. Paul, MN - Irish Fair of Minnesota 2022

AUG 19 - 21 - Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Irish Fest

Sept. 2-4 - Kansas City, MO - Kansas City Irish Festival 2022

Oct. 21 - Frederick, MD - Weinberg Center For The Arts

Oct. 22 - Manteo, NC - Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival

2023 (Rescheduled) Tour Dates:

Jan. 27 - Sacramento, CA - The Sofia

Jan. 29 - Berkeley, CA - Freight & Salvage

Feb. 1 - Flagstaff, AZ - Orpheum Theater

Feb. 2 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre

Feb. 3 - Wickenburg, AZ - Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts

Feb. 4 - Chandler, AZ - Chandler Center for the Arts

Leading up to the writing of her new album, Talking Walls, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Lilly Winwood had all but resigned herself from continuing her music career. Burned out after her last album cycle and in the midst of a pandemic, Winwood took a job to pay the bills—but she couldn’t stop writing. She knew she was on the cusp of something important. “I’d be working in a restaurant all day and then at night, come 3 a.m., I’d be pulling half-written songs out of my apron,” she recalls. “Then it all came together.”

When Winwood decided to get sober, the floodgates opened. Talking Walls captures that tumultuous period, with Winwood literally “talking to the walls” as she looked inward with new purpose. Penned over long sleepless nights, with clear eyes and a willingness to ask tough questions, each song takes a different tack into the introspective wind, backed by a minimalist-roots sound. The now East Nashville-based artist (and daughter of Grammy-winning British rocker Steve Winwood) simply wrote her story and brought it to her band at Nashville’s Trace Horse studio—no producer needed.

Today, The Boot premiered “Brighter Days,” a swaggering, pedal-steel laden track showcasing Lilly’s soulful voice and the simple, organic feel that the band landed on in the studio. Praising the first single, The Boot said, “Americana standout Lilly Winwood is ready to soak up the moment.” Fans can listen to “Brighter Days” right here, check out the official video for Winwood’s previously released single, “Sleep Issues,” here, and pre-order or pre-save Talking Walls ahead of its August 26th release at this link. Winwood will be joining singer/songwriter Jackie Greene for a selection of late summer dates and will also be joining singer/songwriter Todd Snider for a selection of early fall dates. A full list of Winwood’s upcoming tour dates can be found below or at lillywinwood.org/shows.

Talking Walls Tracklist:
Sleep Issues
Good Old Days
Keep it Spinning
Long Haul
Airplane
A Paper Trail of Broken Hearts
Brighter Days
Idastoned
Laundry Day

More About Talking Walls: Likening the writing process behind Talking Walls to “painting with sound,” Lilly Winwood spent hours alone with just a guitar and a pen, getting to know herself and the world she’d long kept at arm’s length. No longer trying to impress anyone, each track features the weary sense of freedom that comes with letting down one’s guard—and the title itself speaks to that freedom. Part of the resilient ballad, “Long Haul,” Talking Walls is a tribute to how the songs were written, and the change they instilled.

“It’s an ode to letting people down—but for a good reason,” she says. “There’s a line that says ‘Learning how to read a room / By talking to the wall,’ and it was like trying to figure out how to be around people again…but I need to be myself first.”

Likewise, she mixes a steady throb of up-all-night angst with a gentle country-rock vibe of dreamy clarity in “Sleep Issues.” “Airplane” reaches new spiritual altitudes with its slide-guitar soul rock. “A Paper Trail of Broken Hearts” investigates the failed love of acid-trips gone by, and “Idastoned” uses 12-string guitar and bluesy vocals to create a jaunty blast of old-time pop.

Meanwhile, the album closing “Laundry Day” is both stained by heartbreak, and liberated by the end of a romantic cycle. Both heady and built around the most mundane of chores, it’s a fitting reminder that in this unpredictable world, hearts can wash clean when you least expect it – and so can creative souls.  

“I want this to inspire people to keep going with their art,” Winwood says. “Even though it may seem like they’re not in a good space now, don’t give up on it. Keep talking to the walls.”

Catch Lilly Winwood On Tour:
Aug. 6 - Gowrie, IA - Bandshell Bash ‘22
Sept. 7 - Rocky Mount, VA - Harvester Performance Center*
Sept. 9 - Norfolk, CT - Infinity Hall Norfolk*
Sept. 10 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts*
Sept. 11 - Hartford, CT - Infinity Hall Hartford*
Sept. 13 - Albany, NY - The Egg - Swyer Theatre*
Sept. 15 - Fairfield, CT - StageOne*
Sept. 16 - Natick, MA - Center for Arts In Natick*
Sept. 17 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theatre*
Sept. 18 - Wilmington, DE - The Queen*
Oct. 13 - Sarasota, FL - Big Top Brewing Company
Oct. 14 - Bradenton, FL - Big Top Brewing Company
Oct. 20 - Rochester, NY - Abilene Bar & Lounge
Oct. 21 - New York, NY - The Bitter End

* = opening for Todd Snider

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit lillywinwood.org/shows.

Planet Bluegrass, organizers of Rockygrass, Lyons Folks Fest, and the famed Telluride Bluegrass Festival—which has coincided with the summer solstice for 5 decades—are pleased to announce Mabon, a new concert series programmed in conjunction with longtime Planet Bluegrass fan-favorite, Watchhouse. Mabon will take place September 16-18 in Lyons, Colorado, at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch during the Autumn equinox. Tickets are on-sale now.

The series kicks off on Friday, September 16 with Regina Spektor and a special duo set from hosts Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz—aka Watchhouse. Saturday, September 17 continues with a could-only-be-at-Planet-Bluegrass billing of Emmylou Harris with Watchhouse as her backing band and sets from Thee Sacred Souls, Big Richard, and a performance from one half of Watchhouse, Andrew Marlin with his instrumental stringband. Sunday will kick off with Yasmin Williams and fans will ease into the fall season and afternoon with Waxahatchee and The Lil’ Smokies. The weekend will be bookended by a final, full band Watchhouse set.

“We are so excited to be curating this series with Watchhouse!,” says Grace Barrett, Planet Bluegrass’ director of partnerships and communications. “They are dear friends whose music has inspired us for years. The Planet Bluegrass calendar really functions around the sun, and we can't think of a better way to say ‘so long’ to summer.”

Frantz and Marlin share in that enthusiasm. They add, “We’ve been lucky enough to play so many festivals and events and have always loved the ones hosted by Planet Bluegrass. We haven’t been able to sit in on the curation side until now and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to reach out to artists whose songs have meant a lot to us over the years, or just recently. Autumn solstice feels like the perfect time to cozy up and sink into some feely songs together.”

Please click here for tickets and visit this link for more information.

Upcoming at Planet Bluegrass: In addition to a special one-off show with Elephant Revival on Aug. 20, the good folks at Planet Bluegrass are busy preparing for the 50th anniversary of Rockygrass (July 29-31) and Rocky Mountain Folks Festival (Aug. 12-14), all taking place in beautiful Lyons, CO.

Tickets for Rockygrass are sold out but Folks Festival is on-sale now, visit bluegrass.com for tickets and more information. Music fans, please note that Folks Fest is on a low ticket alert with only a limited number of single day Friday tickets left.

While soulful songsmith Ali McGuirk loves to dip into a multitude of genres and sub-genres, her upcoming album Til It’s Gone never gets too far away from from its rhythm and blues essence; a well that many artists have drawn from over the years, but few deliver with such a spellbinding conviction as McGuirk. Acting as co-producer along with celebrated folk-blues songwriter Jonah Tolchin, McGuirk let the songs of Til It’s Gone wander from shadowy emotional spaces to big, bad guitar workouts to delicate little confessions. But her bold and buttery voice carries each song to the next until the album’s end.

Today, McGuirk released the first single from Til It’s Gone—out September 16th via Signature Sounds—the easy-grooving “All Back.” “When this hook first came to mind for me, the theme was really open and I wasn't sure what the song would be about. As it developed, it became clear to me that I was writing a song for the end of the pandemic,” remembers McGuirk. Complemented by sultry background vocals and tasty Hammond organ interjections (that’s Larry Goldings on the B3!), “All Back” feels all at once vintage and current; like following the footsteps of R&B greats right into the challenges of current day.

“Surviving the pandemic as an artist required some faith and this song felt like a little prayer of hope and resilience,” says McGuirk. “We are faced with pandemics, climate chaos, ever-deepening inequality, and so much ignorance, but we learned a lot in March 2020 about our ability to adapt and I need to believe that it’s going to be alright, but we've got to do something right now.”

Fans can watch the music video for “All Back” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Til It’s Gone ahead of its September release right here. Ali’s tour continues on July 26th in Salt Lake City, Utah. A full list of dates can be found below or at alimcguirk.com.

More About Til It’s Gone: On the recommendation of producer Jonah Tolchin (a star singer-songwriter in his own right), McGuirk traveled from her adopted home of Burlington, Vermont, to the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake to track much of Til It’s Gone. A sublime set of songs that pairs McGuirk’s trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours, the album began to bloom at the L.A. sessions. McGuirk remembers describing to Tolchin the vibe she envisioned for the record. She mentioned something about it being akin to the cool fusion of styles that Little Feat achieved in the ’70s—that funky, twangy, jazzy and thoroughly-authentic feel. Tolchin suggested they just call up legendary Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett and get him to lay down a few parts.

“Fred Tackett came in and was casually telling stories about sessions he did with Ringo and Harry Nilsson like it’s not a big deal,” McGuirk says with a laugh. “It took me a minute to acclimate, but once the music started, everyone was so supportive and into the tunes.”

Tolchin and engineer/studio owner Sheldon Gomberg recruited an A-list of session players including Tackett, organist Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones), singer Valerie Pinkston (Ray Charles, Luther Vandross), percussionist Lenny Castro (Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder), and more. They provided the astounding chops, but the true magic of Til It’s Gone comes from McGuirk’s singular voice as both singer and songwriter. The nine tracks—songs that run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice—succeed because McGuirk has composed dynamic, hypnotic frames for her vocals.

Catch Ali McGuirk On Tour:

Sept. 16 - Nashville, TN - Five Spot (AMERICANAFEST)

Sept. 17 - Easthampton, MA - Arcadia Music Festival

Oct. 1 - Albany, NY - The Linda

Oct. 2 - Portsmouth, NH - The Press Room

Oct. 5 - Lancaster, PA - Tellus360

Oct. 6 - Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House

Oct. 7 - Somerville, MA - The Crystal Ballroom at the Somerville

Oct. 8 - New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine

Oct. 14 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Lounge

Oct. 19 - Syracuse, NY - 443 Listening Room

Oct. 22 - Rochester, NY - The Abilene

Oct. 23 - Buffalo, NY - Sportsmen’s Tavern

Oct. 29 - Portland, ME - One Longfellow Square

All tour dates and ticket information can be found at alimcguirk.com.

Punk veteran. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Alt-country songwriter. Modern-day guitar hero. For more than 25 years, Foo Fighters six-stringer Chris Shiflett has blurred the lines between genre and generation, balancing his full-band projects with an ongoing solo career. With his new single, “Long, Long Year,”–out everywhere tomorrow–Shiflett turns a new page, building a bridge between his native California and Nashville, Tennessee, where he recorded this new tune with legendary producer Vance Powell and a small roster of Americana all-stars: bassist Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, Jack White, Wanda Jackson), drummer Julian Doro (Eagles of Death Metal, The Whigs), keyboardist Mike Webb, steel guitarist Luke Schneider, and mandolinist/harmony vocalist Sierra Hull.

Kicking off with a swaggering drum pattern, “Long, Long Year’s” mid-tempo, piano and pedal steel-filled arrangement is a windows-down, let-it-all-out singalong. “I spent a lot of time alone at my studio in L.A. during the first part of the lockdown just woodshedding tunes,” says Shiflett. “The line ‘It’s been a long, long year’ was rattling around my head for obvious reasons, but I framed it as a love song.” The resulting tune feels like a release, sung with uplifting emotion and forward-looking, both in the intended love song framing and through the greater, pandemic-induced dread lens. Today, Consequence of Sound shared their exclusive interview with Shiflett for their Origins series, where they gave the first look of the lyric video and insights behind the release. Fans can check out the lyric video for “Long, Long Year” now at this link, pre-save the single here, and stay tuned to chrisshiflettmusic.com for more new music in the coming months.

Shiflett On The Recording Of “Long, Long Year”: “My trip out to Nashville in March of 2021 was my first time recording any solo material since I made Hard Lessons. I hadn’t done much traveling post-covid lockdown so I was a little nervous heading out there to work with a producer and roomful of musicians I didn’t really know. In true Nashville style we made our introductions and got right down to work, hammering out the basic tracks in a few hours. Vance was great and made me feel right at home, and the group of players he put together were on point. Next day we did some overdubs and Sierra came in and added mandolin and harmony vocals on ‘Long, Long Year’ and the tracks started coming together.”

About Chris Shiflett: A longtime member of Foo Fighters, Shiflett has already played an integral role in shaping the sound, swagger, and scope of rock music throughout the 21st century. He joined the band in 1999, after kicking off his career playing guitar for seminal pop-punk groups like No Use For a Name and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Foo Fighters quickly made use of his guitar-playing chops with Shiflett contributing to era-defining hits like "All My Life," "Times Like These," and "Best of You." While flying the flag for modern rock & roll, he also made time to pursue projects outside of the band. Groups like Jackson United and Chis Shiflett and the Dead Peasants found him in the driver's seat, establishing his credentials as a frontman, while the long-running Americana podcast Walking the Floor found him shining a light on his heroes and contemporaries, its 200+ episodes highlighting the storytellers, songwriters, and road warriors of contemporary roots music. Two critically-acclaimed solo albums, 2017's West Coast Town and 2019's Hard Lessons, marked Shiflett's own entry into the Americana world, mixing classic Bakersfield influences with greasy guitar riffs, Marshall amplifiers, and country-rock crunch.

After a cascading series of unfortunate events—including the loss of her parents, divorce, cancer, 2020’s lockdown, and an overall life upheaval—North Carolina singer and songwriter Rebekah Todd turned to psychedelic therapy to try and set herself back on track. It worked. After a three-year hiatus from her band and music career, Todd will be releasing her new LP, Realign, on September 30th, with a clear head and a focused sound.

Todd describes Realign as a conceptual piece, describing, through sound, her full circle return to being herself. As the album moves through each song, listeners will hear quiet simplicity with a tinge of sadness for the first several tracks until “Night Train,” which almost sounds as if the listener is hopping along for an unknown ride into an explosion of sound that leads into “Wrinkle,” her psychedelic awakening, and finally to the all-encompassing “Realign,” the album’s title track, with the relatable line “Maybe I can realign myself this time.”

Today, Todd shared the music video for “Realign,” a song she describes as “an anthem for anyone trying to make their way back to their true selves.” Visually, the video matches the dark tones of the recording, following Todd through a fever dream; bound, then buried, then born again. “We all go through difficult times in life. We face loss, addiction, heartache, this list goes on and on,” says Todd. “‘Realign’ is about starting over and rising from the ashes of it all with new power and force…to the point that our own friends may not even recognize us.”

Fans can watch the “Realign” video right here and can download the single at this link.

Catch Rebekah Todd On Tour:

August 4 - Boone, NC- Boone Saloon

August 5 - Waxhaw, NC- Jammin by the Tracks

August 6 - Brevard, NC- 185 King St

More About Rebekah Todd: Rebekah Todd’s brand of “Cosmic Soul Rock” is a force to be reckoned with. Based out of North Carolina, Rebekah and her band bring fresh energy to each performance, which carries fans to a place that can only be described as transcendental and unforgettable. Pulling from a wide range of influences from Hiatus Kaiyote to Tedeschi Trucks Band, Todd focuses on the art of expression above all else.

Todd currently has three releases under her belt; an EP and two LPs, with a third full-length album, Realign, set for a Fall 2022 release. Todd has received countless awards and recognitions including 2013 Carolina Music Awards “Best Female Musician,” 2016 winner of Floyd Fest “On The Rise” Competition, 2017 Wilma Magazine’s “Woman to Watch,” 2018 Encore Magazine’s “Best Female Musician” and much more. The band is adored at festivals and Rebekah is known for exhilarating performances with acts such as Keller Williams, Big Something, Vince Herman, Andy Frasco, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, The Fritz, and has been billed alongside acts such as Karl Denson, Mavis Staples, Dr. Dog, Dumpstaphunk, Artimus Pyle, Shovels & Rope, Hiss Golden Messenger, Citizen Cope, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, and Rusted Root. In addition to having her own podcast (Rebekah Toddcast), she has been featured on Michael Franti’s podcast “Stay Human.”

As we quickly approach the one month countdown to the inaugural weekend of Park City Song Summit, event organizers have released even more opportunities for fans to experience the magic firsthand.

Today, show tickets for O.P. Rockwell as well as Single-Day Lab Passes are on sale now. Artists set to perform at O.P. Rockwell include Warren Haynes, Celisse, Jeremy Ivey, Father John Misty (solo), Bonny Light Horseman, Rising Appalachia, Anders Osborne & Friends, Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel and Daniel Donato. For the complete lineup and daily schedule for all shows, please visit https://parkcitysongsummit.com.

As for Summit Labs—the heartbeat of the weekend—fans are invited to sit in on intimate conversations between artists and moderators like Mavis Staples, Warren Haynes, Margo Price, Jason Isbell, Jay Sweet and more. Lab topics include “Comedy For Musicians, But Everyone Is Welcome” in which Fred Armisen talks music, comedy, and timing with anyone who’ll listen, “Have You Been To Electric Lady (Land)?” where CBS’s Anthony Mason sits down with Lee Foster, co-owner and general manager of Jimi Hendrix’s historic Electric Lady Studios in New York City, “Her Country” where award-winning journalist Marissa R. Moss and Nashville singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt discuss how the women of country music became the success they were never supposed to be, and more.

When both Summit Labs and Live Shows come together, Park City Song Summit embodies what organizers like to call “A love letter to the power of the song.” A full list of Summit Labs, organized by day, can be found here.

Fans can purchase Show Tickets, Single-Day Lab Passes, and Summit+ Passes at https://parkcitysongsummit.com. Please note that tickets and passes are available only through this website and that ShowClix is the only official ticketing partner.

More info on Summit+ Passes: Summit Passes, which are now sold out, include access to three days of 30+ Labs, guaranteed entrance into exclusive Early Live Shows, a Song Summit merch bundle, and lodging discounts. The enhanced Summit+ Pass adds an opening night four-course dinner and private performance with Jason Isbell and Adia Victoria at Blue Sky Ranch and a personal concierge for restaurant reservations and activity recommendations. A few Summit+ passes remain available for purchase on the website while supplies last.,

It’s been a long road to here for songwriter Bobby Cool. Just over the last few years, especially during an industry-wide shutdown, Cool found himself working as a janitor, radon inspector, and flooring salesman to make ends meet. Before that, he honed his craft in Athens, Georgia, dive bars before making a move up to Nashville’s club scene. Every step of the way, though, Cool collected bits and pieces of everyday life stuff; memories, anecdotes, tall tales, and true stories. His superpower? Bringing all of those small moments back around and telling them in a way that makes listeners feel as if the tunes were written just for them. Today, Cool released his latest collection of ten well-crafted stories as an album called Family Time. In the vein of Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, and Sturgill Simpson, Cool blends bluegrass, Americana, and country into a rousing, good-time mix of genres that critics and fans alike have already fallen in love with. The Country Note wrote, “Bobby Cool draws the listener in with his down-to-earth style as he writes about the every day,” and, in their premiere of album single “American Dream,” Americana Highways said, “If you allow Bobby Cool to entertain you, you’ll find deep country with strong Southern rural roots in every note. Find nostalgia and hope and a story of family we can all relate to.” Today, Folk N Rock premiered Family Time in its entirety, writing, “The plethora of stories and connections is not the only standout aspect of the album, but the music itself ranges from touching, to uplifting, to something you can even jam out to.”

Throughout Family Time, it’s clear that Cool revels in telling a good story as much as he does in trying to live one out. He sings songs that reach listeners wherever they find themselves in life, touching, healing, and embracing them with music that fills their hearts and reminds them that life’s most important events happen on family time.

Fans can purchase or stream Family Time today at this link and check out the lyric video for “American Dream” here. For more information, please visit bobbycoolmusic.com.

Family Time Tracklist:
American Dream
Waffle House
You In Mind
Waves of Grain
My Love
Crazy
Stella
Perry St. Blues
Join The Party
Battle of the Lion King

It was Leo Tolstoy who said “All great literature is one of two stories; a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town,” and in the case of Andrew Duhon and his latest album Emerald Blue, released today via Vere, both instances are true. Duhon temporarily left New Orleans, his longtime home and musical muse in 2019, finding himself inspired by the landscape of the Pacific Northwest and notably, its colors—a hue he describes as ‘emerald blue’ for which the album is named, the same shade looking back at him in his partner’s eyes. Had he overlooked the specific shade of her eyes while living below sea level? Or did the change of location open his mind more acutely? The record does just that: examine the familiar in the context of the unfamiliar. Emerald Blue is a probing appreciation of the dailiness of life; a note-taking exercise in living.

Duhon channeled his new perspective into an eleven song collection, calling on friends and collaborators including Jano Rix on drums, percussion, and harmonies; Myles Weeks on upright and electric basses and harmonies; and Dan Walker on keys and accordion. Duhon returned South for the recording process, finding comfort and creativity in Maurice, Louisiana’s storied Dockside Studios with GRAMMY-award winning engineer and longtime collaborator of Andrew’s, Trina Shoemaker, to capture every inch of vibe and beauty and texture each song had to offer. Click here to purchase and to stream Emerald Blue.

More About Emerald Blue: The tracks on Emerald Blue show serious time spent in listening mode—both to himself, and to the world around him. From the rich Americana twang and propulsive, clacking percussion of “Promised Land” to the vintage rhythm-and-blues grooves of “Digging Deep Down,” Duhon meditates on what it means to be present and true, whether that’s to yourself and your ambition (“Down From The Mountain” and “As Good As It Gets”) to a lover (“Southpaw” and “Plans”) or to a wider world whose fraught and violent track record demands meaningful acknowledgment, reckoning, and change. The meditative “Everybody Colored Their Own Jesus,” is an appreciation of some basic wisdom from his church-school days: that faith, respect, and love are boundless and have no particular colors, traits, or rules. These are songs that come from a very particular time and place, when so many of us—often alone with our flaws and feelings, with few of our regular, dependable distractions—were forced to face hard truths. And yet, using the time-tested language of folk, of the blues, storytelling and soul-searching, voice and keys and strings, Andrew Duhon proves himself worthy of heroes like John Prine—who makes a fantasy cameo in “As Good As It Gets,” the album’s closer—by similarly crafting four-minute worlds in song, that feel purely timeless, as old or as young as the chronic condition of stumbling across Earth with a human heart.

That’s true as well of less weighty songs, like the ambling, satisfied title track—or the aforementioned slide-blues love-song romp, “Castle on Irish Bayou,” an ode to a delightfully weird piece of architecture that’ll be warmly familiar to anyone who ever drove East toward the deep blue expanse of Lake Pontchartrain on Interstate 10 out of New Orleans. Emerald Blue shows us the vast worlds that can be discovered and traveled when we sit still, and the breathtaking vistas on view when we look within—or at the people right beside us.

Catch Andrew Duhon On Tour:

7.29 - Lafayette, LA - Grouse Room

7.30 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks

7.31 - Mobile, AL - Callaghan’s

8.01 - Birmingham, AL - Dave’s Pub

8.02 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic

8.03 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle

8.04 - Greenville, SC - Radio Room

8.05 - Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse

8.07 - Raleigh, NC - Pour House Music Hall

8.10 - Port Townsend, WA - Wheeler Theater

8.11 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern

8.12 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir

8.13 - Kingston, WA - Concerts in the Barn

8.14 - Nine Mile Falls, WA - Live at Andre's

8.17 - New York, NY - Cafe Wha?

8.18 - Wayne, PA - 118 North

8.19 - Syracuse, NY - 443 Social Club

8.20 - South Lincoln, VT - Private Party

8.21 - Exeter, NH - The Word Barn

8.24 - Vienna, VA - Jammin Java

8.25 - Thomas, WV - Purple Fiddle

9.23 - Red River, NM - Red River Folk Fest

10.18 - Venice, CA - Venice West

10.20 - Mill Valley, CA - Sweetwater Music Hall

10/28 - Santa Barbara, CA - Lobero Theatre

For all upcoming tour dates and ticket information, please click here.

Building around solid community and great songs, siblings Sara and Sean Watkins began their Watkins Family Hour shows at L.A.’s beloved Largo nightclub two decades ago. Twenty years later, the pair are still pushing the limits of their original vision, consistently inviting new members to the fold to tackle devastatingly good tunes. Today, Watkins Family Hour shared another taste of their new album, Vol. II—out August 19th—with a particularly lovely cover of Elliott Smith’s “Pitseleh” featuring Grammy-nominated folk-rocker Madison Cunningham.

Originally appearing on Smith’s 1998 album XO, Sean, Sara, and Madison transform the original’s swift waltz feel into a dreamy, pizzicato guitar-scape accented by a retro-feeling, unison string arrangement and subtle harmony. “Sara and I have been huge fans of Elliott Smith for a long time. Years ago, we were asked to take part in an Elliott Smith tribute concert in LA and this is the song I chose to do,” says Sean. “The fragility and heartbreaking imagery of the lyric have always spoken to me. I love the contrast between that sadness and Madison Cunningham’s gorgeous and sparkling guitar part.”

Fans can hear Watkins Family Hour’s all-new interpretation of “Pitseleh” at this link, check out the previously-released Vol. II singles, “Hypnotized” and “(Remember Me) I’m The One Who Loves You” featuring Fiona Apple, and pre-save or pre-order Vol. II ahead of its August 19th release date right here. Watkins Family Hour tour continues on August 13th at Lexington, Virginia’s Lime Kiln Theater. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at watkinsfamilyhour.com/tour.

Catch Watkins Family Hour On Tour:

Aug. 13 - Lexington, VA - Lime Kiln Theater

Aug 14 - York, PA - Susquehanna Folk Festival

Sept. 16 - Cincinnati, OH - Memorial Hall

Sept. 17 - Nashville, TN - Americana Fest

Sept. 18 - Indianapolis, IN - The Toby Theatre

Sept. 20 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark

Sept. 21 - Kent, OH - Kent Stage

Sept. 22 - Fort Wayne, IN - Clyde Theatre

Sept. 23 - Bay Harbor, MI - Great Lakes Center for the Arts

Sept. 24 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music

Sept. 25 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music

Oct. 23 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere

Oct. 25 - New York, NY - (Le) Poisson Rouge

Oct. 27 - Albany, NY - The Egg

Oct. 29 - Groton, MA - Meadow Hall at Groton Hill Music Center

Oct. 30 - Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center

Nov. 13 - Beaverton, OR - The Reser

Nov. 14 - Eugene, OR - Soreng Theater at Hult Center

Nov. 16 - San Luis Obispo, CA - Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo

Nov. 29 - Santa Barbara, CA - UCSB Campbell Hall

Dec. 1 - Napa, CA - JaM Cellars Ballroom

Dec. 2 - Menlo Park, CA - The Guild Theatre

Dec. 3 - Northridge, CA - The Soraya

To kick off their “New Wings” music video, perennial improv-rock favorites Umphrey’s McGee turn to a George Lucas-esque setup before the tape rolls:

“It is March 2020. The world has entered a pandemic lockdown. EVERYONE IS HOME. After 22 years, Umphrey’s McGee is unable to tour. Amidst the global chaos, they reach out to each other, and to their fans. To do this, they must spread NEW WINGS.”

Quickly, the text dissolves into a series of photos and videos from the band’s Asking For A Friend recording sessions before revealing the star of the show; a hyper-detailed miniature set designed to reflect the creative spaces that the band shared during their Covid recording process. Directed, designed, and edited by Pete Herzog—and miniatures by Stephanie Herzog—the video glides through rooms in the micro “House of Umph,” catching glimpses of hidden song props scattered throughout. Woven between the set piece shots and the behind-the-scenes footage, “New Wings” captures the retrospective of the entire album and recording process.

Fans can watch the “New Wings” video debut tonight at 8pm central at this link. Immediately following the premiere, stick around for a live conversation between Director Pete Herzog & Producer Kevin Browning as they explore the creative process behind constructing the video and building the intricately detailed House of UM. Don’t forget to check out the just-released album Asking For A Friend here. A list of Umphrey’s McGee tour dates can be found below or at umphreys.com/tour.

In conjunction with the “New Wings'' video release, the band is holding a contest for fans to find easter eggs among the many, mini details that make up the video’s “set.” For each level of easter eggs found, UM will unlock a new prize for fans—anything from merch store discount codes to the band’s infamous Golden Tickets. For more information on the contest, please visit umphreys.com.

More About Asking For A Friend: Mostly recorded in three distinct sessions at three different studios during the pandemic and never played live—their first album since 2009’s Mantis of which fans haven’t gotten a sneak peek of from stage—Asking For A Friend explores a feeling that UM guitarist and vocalist Brendan Bayliss describes as “tapping into the idea that we were all isolated yet somehow still connected and experiencing the same emotions.” That isolated feeling is perfectly captured in the album’s cover art: the lonely, surrounded-by-clouds peak of Chicago’s John Hancock Center (or 875 N Michigan Ave) photographed by “Chicago’s Picture Poet” himself, Barry Butler.

Asking For A Friend began to take shape in a pre-COVID world in September 2019 when the band met up with longtime UM engineer Greg Magers and producer Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Lumineers, The Avett Brothers) in Nashville for a session that would ultimately produce standalone UM single “Suxity” as well as the first few tracks of this new album. Session two found the band at guitarist Jake Cinninger’s home studio in Niles, Michigan, deep in the throes of the first few months of the global pandemic. Working on new music by day and performing via live stream at night proved to be highly successful and entertaining for the band who’d just been sidelined a mere three months before. The final full-band session for Asking For A Friend took place at ECTO productions in Chicago, a.k.a. the band’s production warehouse. Relying on the record during the day/perform at night mentality once more, UM completed full-band, live tracking for the record before putting finishing touches on from their home studios. “It was a real welcome change to be able to sing the vocals in my pajamas,” says Bayliss.

Pulling the ripcord and taking an enforced break after twenty years of touring resulted in not only a complex emotional reaction from members of Umphrey’s McGee. "Those first three months felt like an eternity," keyboardist Joel Cummins says. But "there was a huge excitement and motivation when we got back together again. More than ever, we realized how much we needed each other and this music. But their reunion also refined a newfound approach to letting their new music flow freely; not over-thinking it. “This album reflects how our songwriting has really come a long way since the days of putting ‘legos’ together, a term given to explain our past process of assembling the greater sum of the parts in eclectic fashion,” says drummer Kris Myers. “Instead, we were able to naturally connect with these songs with our hearts, and a little less from our heads through simple, serene songs.” The end result is an astoundingly cohesive fourteen-song album that feels like a fresh statement from a group of world-class musicians and friends reapproaching their craft with a new lens, but long-time fans will be happy to know that the Umphrey’s McGee they know and love is still very much present on Asking For A Friend, just more refined. More focused.

Catch Umphrey’s McGee On Tour:

Aug. 5-7 - Kenai Peninsula, AK - Salmonfest

Aug. 18 - Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park $

Aug. 19 - Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park $

Aug. 20 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater $

Aug. 21 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater

Aug. 24 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Aug. 26-28 - Bridgeview, IL - Sacred Rose Festival

Sept. 1 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park

Sept. 2 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium

Sept. 3 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater

Sept. 4 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino

Sept. 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden

Sept. 9 - Bozeman, MT - The ELM

Sept. 29 - Richmond, VA - Music at Maymont

Sept. 30 - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Oct. 1 - Savannah, GA - Johnny Mercer Theatre

Oct. 2 - Birmingham, AL - Avondale Brewing Company

$ Co-bill with The Disco Biscuits

For a full list of shows, as well as ticket information, please visit umphreys.com/tour.

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.

Good Vibez Presents, the creative geniuses behind the beloved California Roots Music & Arts Festival, are pleased to announce Rebels & Renegades, a 2-day music festival taking place October 15-16 at the Monterey Fair & Event Center in Monterey, CA, the once home to the famous Monterey Pop Festival. The inaugural 2022 lineup includes performances by hippie and cowboy fan favorites Cody Jinks, Trampled by Turtles, Orville Peck, Houndmouth, The Cadillac Three, Shane Smith and The Saint, Nikki Lane, Sierra Hull, Fruition, Charles Wesley Godwin, Kat Hasty, Myron Elkins, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

The team behind Rebels & Renegades, Good Vibez Presents, were inspired by the rebellious spirit and storytelling culture of Americana, outlaw country, bluegrass, and folk artists of today, saluting the outlaw in all of us with this year’s musical and non-musical offerings. “We've been planning Rebels & Renegades since 2019, and to see it coming to life in 2022 is phenomenal,” said Amy Sheehan, part owner of Good Vibez with Dan Sheehan. “We are excited to establish a new music experience in Monterey, full of down-to-earth music, interactive art opportunities and local craft and food creatives. Our vision has always been to bring music that we love to the town we call home.”

The festival, a multidimensional experience, will feature, in addition to mainstage performances from the aforementioned artists, interactive art stations, a local “makers” marketplace, and delicious food from some of Monterey Bay’s most creative chefs. Intimate acoustic pop up performances will be scattered throughout the famed grounds as well as craft beer, wine, cider and spirit bars. Limited onsite RV sites and exceptional VIP experiences and travel packages are available to those who want to elevate their festival experience.

Who: Cody Jinks, Trampled by Turtles, Orville Peck, Houndmouth, The Cadillac Three, Shane Smith and The Saint, Nikki Lane, Sierra Hull, Fruition, Charles Wesley Godwin, Kat Hasty, Myron Elkins, and more TBA

What: Inaugural Rebels & Renegades Music Festival

When: October 15 & 16, 2022

Where: Monterey Fair & Event Center in Monterey, CA

Make it a long weekend: Monterey, CA is a bucket-list vacation destination, especially in October with the temperatures topping out in the mid 70s. Fans traveling to the festival are encouraged to explore the Big Sur coastline of the iconic Highway 1, wander the historic Cannery Row, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, sip local wine at tucked-away tasting rooms, play 18 holes at one of the many golf courses, go whale and dolphin watching, or picnic at one of Monterey’s beaches. Come for the music, but give yourself a few days on either side to soak up all the goodness that this California Coast has to offer.

A note from Good Vibez: We acknowledge that the Rebels & Renegades Festival, held in the Monterey Bay, is on the traditional, ancestral territories and homelands of the Esselen, Rumsen, Costanoan and Ohlone people. To recognize the ancestral lands is an important step in honoring the people who have called the Monterey Bay home from time immemorial, and we acknowledge their continued presence today. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor and make visible those whose land we work upon. We are grateful for the opportunity to host community gatherings here. As we acknowledge Monterey Bay as the homeland of these tribes, we ask that you, as visitors, treat this place with the same respect as those who walked before you.

We encourage you to learn more about the people of the Monterey Bay in their own words by visiting their websites: esselentribe.org, ohlonecostanoanesselennation.org, crc.nativeweb.org

In their fourteenth year together, bay-area soul/R&B favorites The California Honeydrops hit the post-lockdown ground running. Tour dates and festivals returned, including the Honeydrops’ first headlining show at Red Rocks, and, much to the delight of the band and fans alike, the group returned to the recording studio to lay down a new full-length album. Today, the Honeydrops are sharing the very first taste of their upcoming release Soft Spot—out October 7th.

“Takin’ My Time” kicks off with a slinky groove that the Honeydrops are known for, having made a career out of their signature blend of Bay Area R&B, Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second line. With tasty horn-section interjections dancing around well-timed background vocals, “Takin’ My Time” embodies exactly what guitarist, trumpeter, and lead singer Lech Wierzynkski wanted to channel with the song’s lyrical content—as he describes, “Slow down, erase your social media, smoke some weed, watch the sunset, get out of the rat race.”

The Honeydrops have come a long way since Wierzynkski and drummer Ben Beaullieu started busking in an Oakland subway station, but the band has stayed true to that organic, street-level feel. Listening to Lech sing, it can be a surprise that he was born in Warsaw, Poland, and raised by Polish political refugees. He learned his vocal stylings from contraband American recordings of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Louis Armstrong, and later at Oberlin College and on the club circuit in Oakland, California. With the additions of Johnny Bones on tenor sax and clarinet, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards, and Beau Bradbury on bass, they’ve built a powerful full-band sound to support Wierzynski’s vocals.

Fans can listen to “Takin’ My Time” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Soft Spot ahead of its October 7th release right here. This year has also brought the Honeydrops’ return to live music with their first headlining date at Red Rocks as well as performances at festivals across the country including FloydFest, High Sierra, and Burning Man, and now, The California Honeydrops will kick off their nationwide Lil Bit Of Lovin’ Tour in Napa on September 9th. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at cahoneydrops.com.

Soft Spot Tracklist:

Honey and Butter

Gonna Be Alright

Nothing at All

I Miss You Baby, Pt. 1

Tumblin’

Takin’ My Time

The Unicorn

Soft Spot

In Your Arms

Lil Bit of Love

Sneakin’ into Heaven

I Miss You Baby, Pt. 2

More About Soft Spot from Honeydrops drummer Ben Malament: “The first thing many people say to us after watching the band perform on stage is “Man, you all LOVE to play together!” That’s why Soft Spot is such an important album, because we didn’t get to play and hunker down as a full band like this for almost two years! After a few of us recorded the Covers from the Cave album, strictly from home for our quarantined fans, it was a pleasure and privilege to let loose all together in the beautiful Oakland studio, bouncing off each other with creativity, jokes, and sweat, with Thai food and donuts, day after day, night after night. The music on Soft Spot speaks that joy and diligence. Sometimes we recorded when we were hella sick or had pulled back muscles—getting older is tough! Sometimes we recorded on our birthdays and had cake next to the mics. When you get good sounds, you can’t stop! And all the sounds we were getting were good. Really good. And that’s when the recording is easy.

“We continued the Honeydrops album tradition of bringing many special musical guests to bless the studio with their magic. Sousaphones, strings, space echoes, it’s all here. Our engineer, Jacob LaCally’s, aka ‘Cubby's,’ fine ears and maybe finer patience kept the session rolling through the hours. Leon Cotter and Scott Messersmith have become staples of the Honeydrop sound, filling the room with the full band sensation we could lean back on.

We enlisted the Kid Wonder and Oakland native, Oliver Tuttle, with his beautiful energy and ideas and the ‘Ponchatoula Powerhouse,’ Miles Lyons, dropped in from Louisiana to add a whole new low end to our music!

“This album has our unique Honeydrop take on many styles of music, all under a cohesive production style so there’s no confusion. There’s no provin’. Only groovin’. ’Soft Spot’ is a special one. We can’t tell you how happy we are to have made it and to give you these new songs.”

Catch The California Honeydrops On Tour:

Sept. 9 - St. Helena, CA - Charles Krug Winery

Sept. 10 - San Luis Obispo, CA - SLO Gathering

Sept. 11 - Perris, CA - Same Same But Different Festival 2022

Sept. 19 - Buena Vista, CO - Ivy Ballroom at Surf Hotel

Sept. 20 - Crested Butte, CO - Center for the Arts

Sept. 22 - Telluride, CO - Sheridan Opera House

Sept. 24 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up

Oct. 14 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre

Oct. 16 - Flagstaff, AZ - Yucca North

Oct. 18 - Durango, CO - Animas City Theatre

Oct. 19 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf

Oct. 21 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom

Oct. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

Oct. 23 - St. Louis, MO - The Big Top

Oct. 25 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club

Oct. 26 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club

Oct. 27 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

Oct. 29 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Annex

Oct. 30 - Ferndale, MI - Magic Bag

Oct. 31 - Kalamazoo, MI - Bell’s Brewery

Nov. 2 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Nov. 3 - Portland, ME - Aura

Nov. 5 - New York, NY - Sony Hall

Nov. 6 - Boston, MA - Royale Boston

Nov. 8 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

Nov. 9 - Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre

Nov. 11 - Charlottesville, VA - The Jefferson Theater

Nov. 12 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel

Nov. 13 - Highlands, NC - Highlands Food and Wine Festival 2022

Jan. 15-22, 2023 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Sandy Beaches Cruise 2023

With his debut full-length album Oh Me, Oh My, Missouri-bred songwriter Forrest McCurren showcases his sharp eye for the little quirks in the world and the people who surround him; a skill that reveals humor bubbling just below the surface of everyday life. Like some of his favorite influences—Kristofferson, Prine, and Van Zandt, to name just a few—McCurren writes songs that illustrate the ways we’re in which we’re all interconnected in our yearnings for a better world and our hopes for more compassionate and tolerant humanity.

Fans and critics alike have already latched onto McCurren’s storytelling in a deeply human way, praising his “honesty and warmth” (Twangville) and calling Oh Me, Oh My “a soundtrack to those moments of human connection that feel almost cosmic” (Wide Open Country). With the release of Oh Me, Oh My, McCurren shares his whole new collection with the world. Oh Me, Oh My can be streamed or purchased right here, and don’t forget to check out the music video for “Little Rock” at this link and “Oh Me, Oh My” at this link. A full list of McCurren’s tour dates can be found below.

Oh Me, Oh My In The News:

Outsider Magazine recently sat down with McCurren for an exclusive inside look into his single, “Denver,” which they called “a smooth blend of country, folk, and rock that calls to mind great artists from days gone by. Sonically, it might call to mind Tom Petty. Additionally, John Prine’s influence is clear in the slice-of-life songwriting style. Make no mistake, though, McCurren might tip his hat to the greats, but he’s not trying to be anyone but himself with his debut release.”

Wide Open Country wrote, “You could consider Oh Me, Oh My a soundtrack to those moments of human connection that feel almost cosmic.”

The Boot called McCurren’s debut single “Little Rock” a “country-rock endeavor in the vein of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Prine.”

In their review of the record, Twangville wrote, “There’s an honesty and warmth that shows an understanding and appreciation for life in small-town America."

Glide Magazine praised McCurren’s “knack for writing succinctly brilliant lyrics.”

Americana Highways said, “McCurren often immerses the audience in a sense of place, time, and character that are met by robust rhythms and warm strings that make sure that the songs are as memorable musically as well as lyrically.”

NPR affiliate High Plains Public Radio called McCurren “a midwestern master of his songwriting craft."

In their review of the album, Americana UK noted, "It’s this blue-collar feel that runs through each song that makes it so appealing and very real."

McCurren sat down with The Pitch to talk about the new record and all things Missouri.

More About Forrest McCurren and Oh Me, Oh My: McCurren’s entertaining debut album Oh Me, Oh My showcases the energy of his live shows with songs that shimmer and rock with an ebullient warmth that’s bound to reach into listeners’ hearts and souls and get them to reflect a little on the people and places that mean the most to them. “Whenever I’m playing I feel most present, and I love sharing an hour or two of music with folks,” says McCurren. “Music should be a celebration!” He’s always writing songs, but all the songs on this album are from a three-year period when McCurren was setting out on his own, between college and now. He’s looking back at his life, looking at his life now, and looking forward to his life to come in the 10 songs on the album. “I was just setting out on my own,” McCurren laughs. “I spent a lot of time thinking about my grandparents, painting a picture of characters I knew growing up. In the songs there’s a sense of longing and place, and they evoke the transition from running wild as a kid to running wild as a man. The songs have a sense of movement and a sense of place and a sense of who I was gonna be.”

As soon as he learned three chords, McCurren started to write songs. “I’ve always been a writer, and I have always liked stories.” In his early 20s he started accumulating songs. “I never had a plan in my life; music has always given me something to keep me focused,” he says. He strives to “win over a crowd of 1,000 with an original song.” In his songwriting, he resembles Hemingway. “I always try to write one true sentence. Every song I have kept, the first line I wrote was the first line of the song. Words come first, then melodies get inspired by the words. I trust the quickness of the way I write. I am always jotting down rhymes. Songs have given me a way of understanding who I am and relating to people.”

Music is McCurren’s favorite ways to connect with people. “My songs show them a little bit of who I am and when I show them a little of me they share a little bit of them, too.” He doesn’t write sad songs, but songs that move us and celebrate, as he says, the “luckiness of life.” As his debut album shows, McCurren excels at making those connection and at celebrating life. Forrest McCurren has a reverence for the songs, and he sings, plays, and writes with a heart for bringing people together.

Catch Forrest McCurren On Tour:

Aug. 25 - Manitou Springs, CO - Lulu's Downstairs

Aug. 26 - Pagosa Springs, CO - Break Room Brewing

Aug. 27 - Fort Collins, CO - Magic Rat at The Elizabeth

Aug. 29. - Mancos, CO - Fenceline Cider & Wine

Aug. 30 - Cortez, CO - WildEdge Brewing Collective

Oct. 6 - Eldon, MO - Lake Ozark Music Festival

For more tour dates and ticket information please visit forrestmccurren.com/calendar.

On Saturday, September 17th, Grammy Award-winners and Americana mainstays Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will make their grand return to Nashville’s beloved Ryman Auditorium for a special, one-night-only performance. Set to be taped for a future PBS broadcast, the Dirt Band’s show lands on Saturday night of Nashville’s annual AmericanaFest, a lineup slot saved for the great trailblazers and torchbearers of Americana Music previously filled by the likes of Levon Helm’s Ramble at the Ryman and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Fans can expect a career retrospective of tunes from the Dirt Band as well as songs from their recently-released album Dirt Does Dylan, and if past shows set a precedent, a special guest (or two, or more) could certainly make an appearance. Tickets for the 8 pm show on September 17th are on sale now and can be purchased at this link.

The Dirt Band have been on tour in support of their latest release, Dirt Does Dylan, a guest-laden take on Bob Dylan’s deep catalog of songs. The album garnered praise from the likes of Billboard, The Bluegrass Situation, and No Depression, who wrote, “So don’t think twice about adding this album to your record collection. It can nestle next to the Dirt Band classic Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

Recently, American Songwriter premiered the group’s music video for “Girl from the North Country,” Dirt Does Dylan’s second track. Fans can watch the video now at this link and purchase or stream Dirt Does Dylan right here.

Catch Nitty Gritty Dirt Band On Tour:

Aug. 25 + 26  - Alto, NM - Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts

Aug. 27 - Gilbert, AZ - Higley Center For The Performing Arts

Aug. 28 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre

Sept. 1 - Atlanta, GA - City Winery

Sept. 2 - Orange Park, FL - Thrasher-Horne Center

Sept. 3 - Mill Spring, NC - The Earl Scruggs Music Festival

Sept. 17 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

Oct. 6 - Stockton, CA - Bob Hope Theatre

Oct. 7 - Redding, CA - Win-River Resort & Casino

Oct. 8 - Carmel By the Sea, CA - Sunset Center

Oct. 9 - Visalia, CA - Visalia Fox Theatre

Oct. 11 - Bakersfield, CA - Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace

Oct. 13 - Berkeley, CA - Freight & Salvage

Oct. 14 - Santa Clarita, CA - The Canyon

Oct. 15 - Pala, CA - Pala Casino Spa & Resort

Oct. 16 - Agoura Hills, CA - The Canyon

Oct. 28 - Eureka Springs, AR - Eureka Springs’ Auditorium

Nov. 4 - Clearwater, FL - Bilheimer Capitol Theatre

Nov. 5 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall

Nov. 6 - Durham, NC - The Carolina Theatre of Durham, Fletcher Hall

Nov. 11 - Washington, D.C. - City Winery

Nov. 12 - Boston, MA - City Winery

Nov. 13 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head on Stage

Nov. 16 - Shipshewana, IN - Blue Gate Performing Arts Center

Nov. 17 - Marietta, OH - Peoples Bank Theatre

Nov. 18 - Lexington, KY - Lexington Opera House

Nov. 19 - Owensboro, KY - Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Feb. 10, 2023 - Miami, FL - Cayamo Cruise 2023

All tour dates and ticket information can be found at nittygritty.com/tour

Bay-Area R&B/Soul favorites The California Honeydrops set the scene for their new single, “I Miss You Baby Pt. 1,” with a sensual, unassuming piano intro before a snare drum crack ushers in the song’s signature staccato horn line and the dance party ensues. The juxtaposition of the song’s upbeat feel and lonesome lyrics is exactly how Honeydrops vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynkski wanted it to play out. “Dance to this one to get all that reminiscing and regret out of your mind, body, and soul,” he encourages. The second sneak-peek from their upcoming full-length album, Soft Spot, “I Miss You Baby Pt. 1” has all of the energy of a band returning to the studio after a forced hiatus—and all of the classic, groovy feel fans have come to love over The California Honeydrops’ 14-year career together.

The Honeydrops have come a long way since Wierzynkski and drummer Ben Malament started busking in an Oakland subway station, but the band has stayed true to that organic, street-level feel. With the additions of Johnny Bones on tenor sax and clarinet, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards, and Beau Beaullieu on bass, they’ve built a powerful full-band sound to support Wierzynski’s vocals.

Today, Relix premiered “I Miss You Baby Pt. 1,” writing “a soulful groovin’ tune that could easily slip into the finest of leisure suits.” Also adding, “Not only does the track inspire the listener to slow down, but it also serves as a perfect example of the group’s inclination to blur the line between the stage and the person dancing in the first row.” Fans can hear the Honeydrops’ new tune at this link, listen to the previously-released “Takin’ My Time” here, and pre-order or pre-save Soft Spot ahead of its October 7th release right here.

This year has also brought the Honeydrops’ return to live music with their first headlining date at Red Rocks as well as performances at festivals across the country including FloydFest, High Sierra, and Burning Man, and now, The California Honeydrops will kick off their nationwide Lil Bit Of Lovin’ Tour in Napa on September 9th. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at cahoneydrops.com.

Catch The California Honeydrops On Tour:

Sept. 9 - St. Helena, CA - Charles Krug Winery

Sept. 10 - San Luis Obispo, CA - SLO Gathering

Sept. 11 - Perris, CA - Same Same But Different Festival 2022

Sept. 19 - Buena Vista, CO - Ivy Ballroom at Surf Hotel

Sept. 20 - Crested Butte, CO - Center for the Arts

Sept. 22 - Telluride, CO - Sheridan Opera House

Sept. 24 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up

Oct. 14 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre

Oct. 16 - Flagstaff, AZ - Yucca North

Oct. 18 - Durango, CO - Animas City Theatre - SOLD OUT

Oct. 19 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf

Oct. 21 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom

Oct. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

Oct. 23 - St. Louis, MO - The Big Top

Oct. 25 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club - SOLD OUT

Oct. 26 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club

Oct. 27 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

Oct. 29 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Annex

Oct. 30 - Ferndale, MI - Magic Bag

Oct. 31 - Kalamazoo, MI - Bell’s Brewery

Nov. 2 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Nov. 3 - Portland, ME - Aura

Nov. 5 - New York, NY - Sony Hall

Nov. 6 - Boston, MA - Royale Boston

Nov. 8 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

Nov. 9 - Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre

Nov. 11 - Charlottesville, VA - The Jefferson Theater

Nov. 12 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel

Nov. 13 - Highlands, NC - Highlands Food and Wine Festival 2022

Jan. 15-22, 2023 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Sandy Beaches Cruise 2023

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit cahoneydrops.com.

“It's a constant challenge to try to keep making better and better records, write better and better songs. I still always feel like I'm a developing artist,” says veteran songwriter and Americana renaissance man, Jim Lauderdale. This may be a surprising sentiment from a man who’s won two Grammys, released 34 full-length albums, and taken home the Americana Music Association’s coveted Wagonmaster Award. But his brand new album Game Changer is convincing evidence that the North Carolina native is only continuing to hone his craft.  

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."

Fans can purchase or stream Game Changer in its entirety today at this link.

Tonight, Jim will be celebrating the release of his 35th album at the historic country music venue, The Grand Ole Opry, 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. In addition, Jim will also be joining The Dustbowl Revival for select tour dates which can be found below.

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.”  
 
“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.”
 
Game Changer Tracklist:
That Kind Of Life (That Kind Of Day)
Friends Again
Keep It Real
Game Changer
Wishbone
Lightning Love
Our Happy Hour
We’re All We’ve Got
Let’s Make Some Memories
I’ve Heard Of That
You’re Hoggin’ My Mind
I’ll Keep My Heart Open For You
 
Catch Jim Lauderdale On Tour:
August 26 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry
August 31 - Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley album release show
September 9 - Chico, CA - Laxson Auditorium California State University*
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
November 12 - St. Viroqua, WI - The Historic Temple Theater*
 
*= w/ The Dustbowl Revival
 
For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, please visit jimlauderdalemusic.com.

Lilly Winwood’s new album Talking Walls beautifully captures a tumultuous period over the last couple of years; universally and, especially, personally. Like a lot of her performing songwriter compatriots, Winwood found herself working hard to pay the bills during that uncertain time in the music industry. “I’d be working in a restaurant all day and then at night, come 3 a.m., I’d be pulling half-written songs out of my apron,” she recalls. But through it all, Winwood never stopped writing.

Talking Walls—out now—looks back on that era gracefully and groovily, finding Winwood literally “talking to the walls” as she looks inward with new purpose. Penned over those long sleepless nights, with clear eyes and a willingness to ask tough questions, each song takes a different tack into the introspective wind—all backed by a minimalist-roots sound. The now East Nashville-based artist (and daughter of Grammy-winning British rocker Steve Winwood) simply wrote her story and brought it to her band at Nashville’s Trace Horse studio—no producer needed. The result is a stunning, musical look inside the mind of an open, honest songwriter just trying to make it through to the other side.

Fans can purchase or stream Talking Walls today at this link, and don’t forget to check out the music videos for “Keep It Spinning” and “Sleep Issues.” A list of Winwood’s tour dates can be found below or at lillywinwood.org/shows.

Talking Walls In The News:

“With its warm 70s soft rock sound and poppy hooks, it sounds like Linda Ronstadt on a road trip with the Go-Gos, bringing to mind the country-tinged glossy pop of recent albums from Pearl Charles and Lola Kirke.” - Holler

“Americana standout Lilly Winwood is ready to soak up the moment.” - The Boot

“Winwood has a fantastic, raw spark that makes her music so unique.” - Tonic Grain

Talking Walls Tracklist:
Sleep Issues
Good Old Days
Keep it Spinning
Long Haul
Airplane
A Paper Trail of Broken Hearts
Brighter Days
Idastoned
Laundry Day

More About Talking Walls: Likening the writing process behind Talking Walls to “painting with sound,” Lilly Winwood spent hours alone with just a guitar and a pen, getting to know herself and the world she’d long kept at arm’s length. No longer trying to impress anyone, each track features the weary sense of freedom that comes with letting down one’s guard—and the title itself speaks to that freedom. Part of the resilient ballad, “Long Haul,” Talking Walls is a tribute to how the songs were written and the change they instilled.

“It’s an ode to letting people down—but for a good reason,” she says. “There’s a line that says ‘Learning how to read a room / By talking to the wall,’ and it was like trying to figure out how to be around people again…but I need to be myself first.”

Likewise, she mixes a steady throb of up-all-night angst with a gentle country-rock vibe of dreamy clarity in “Sleep Issues.” “Airplane” reaches new spiritual altitudes with its slide-guitar soul rock. “A Paper Trail of Broken Hearts” investigates the failed love of acid trips gone by, and “Idastoned” uses 12-string guitar and bluesy vocals to create a jaunty blast of old-time pop.

Meanwhile, the album-closing “Laundry Day” is both stained by heartbreak, and liberated by the end of a romantic cycle. Both heady and built around the most mundane of chores, it’s a fitting reminder that in this unpredictable world, hearts can wash clean when you least expect it – and so can creative souls.  

“I want this to inspire people to keep going with their art,” Winwood says. “Even though it may seem like they’re not in a good space now, don’t give up on it. Keep talking to the walls.”

Catch Lilly Winwood On Tour:
Sept. 7 - Rocky Mount, VA - Harvester Performance Center*
Sept. 9 - Norfolk, CT - Infinity Hall Norfolk*
Sept. 10 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts*
Sept. 11 - Hartford, CT - Infinity Hall Hartford*
Sept. 13 - Albany, NY - The Egg - Swyer Theatre*
Sept. 15 - Fairfield, CT - StageOne*
Sept. 16 - Natick, MA - Center for Arts In Natick*
Sept. 17 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theatre*
Sept. 18 - Wilmington, DE - The Queen*
Oct. 13 - Sarasota, FL - Big Top Brewing Company
Oct. 14 - Bradenton, FL - Big Top Brewing Company
Oct. 20 - Rochester, NY - Abilene Bar & Lounge
Oct. 21 - New York, NY - The Bitter End

* = opening for Todd Snider
+ = opening for Jackie Greene

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit lillywinwood.org/shows.

2022 has been the year of Sierra Hull. After a whirlwind summer criss-crossing the country, the acclaimed mandolinist and her dynamic band left a wake of awestruck audiences at major festivals including Sacred Rose Festival, Under The Big Sky, and the Cayamo Cruise, sharing the stage with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Madison Cunningham, Margo Price, and Billy Strings, along the way. Shining as a showstopping genre-blending artist, Hull recently announced that her band will be hitting the road for an energetic and fiery series of headlining shows throughout September and October with support from Lindsay Lou or Taylor Rae on select dates.
 
The tour offers die hard Hull fans the chance to see a full-length set with her band of virtuosos as they stretch out on fan-favorites and new songs, including the premiere of a special commissioned piece written for the FreshGrass Festival on September 23rd. Hull will wrap the year as a featured guest with Cory Wong (Vulfpeck) in November and Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart in December.
 
Catch Sierra Hull On Tour:
Sept. 18 - Louisville, KY - Bourbon & Beyond Music Festival
Sept. 21 - Ardmore, PA - Ardmore Music Hall ^
Sept. 22 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge ^
Sept. 23 - North Adams, MA - FreshGrass Festival
Sept. 24 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Showcase Lounge +
Sept. 27 - Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall +
Sept. 28 - Cincinnati, OH - Memorial Hall +
Sept. 29 - Boone, NC - Appalachian Theatre +
Sept. 30 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station *
Oct. 1 - Raleigh, NC - Wide Open Bluegrass
Oct. 2 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Pour House +
Oct. 4 - High Point, NC - Ziggy’s ^
Oct. 5 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern ^
Oct. 6 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere ^
Oct. 7 - Big Stone Gap, VA - Blue Highway Festival
Oct. 8 - Pelham, TN - CaveFest
Oct. 14 - Bakersfield, CA - World Records
Oct. 15 - Seaside, CA - Rebels and Renegades Music Festival
 
^ with Lindsay Lou
+ with Taylor Rae
* with The Infamous Stringdusters
 
For a full list of tour dates—including featured dates with Cory Wong and Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart —and ticket information, please visit sierrahull.com/tour.

The Ghost of Paul Revere, a band with over a decade of accolades and friendship, offer their final collection of songs in the form of a record aptly titled Goodbye, which is available everywhere today for streaming. Releasing via Americana Vibes, and featuring the band’s—Griffin Sherry [guitar, vocals], Max Davis [banjo, vocals], Sean McCarthy [bass, vocals], and Chuck Gagne [drums, vocals]—signature blend of folk, bluegrass, rock, country, and Americana rooted in ponderous lyricism and raucous energy, Goodbye is both an offering of gratitude to fans and a celebration. Stream and/or pre-order vinyl for Goodbye today at this link.

For this release and their back catalog, the band has signed with Americana Vibes, of which the label co-founder Ivory Daniel, says “Everything that we strive for here at Americana Vibes is embodied within the music, art, and humanity behind this album, Goodbye. We’re excited to welcome the Ghosts to our family, and even more so to release this body of work while amplifying the importance of the Ghosts catalog across the globe.”

In addition to the album, the Ghost of Paul Revere will be making their final descent onto Ghostland, their hometown self-curated festival, for their final show tomorrow, Saturday, September 3.

When asked about this specific collection of songs, Sherry smiles, “I hope listeners love the songs and want to keep listening to them for as long as they’ve got ears.” He continues with “I do think it is a good moment in time for us. I hope the whole body of work shows you the journey we’ve been on from where we started to how we got here. We took a lot of chances and integrated different types of music and instruments, but the core has been there since 2011. That core is we care about the songs, their quality, and singing on them with as much passion as possible. I hope Goodbye shows that a group of friends can go out in the world, sing those songs, and be rewarded for it. Maybe it inspires other people to take a chance and realize creating can be a really wonderful thing to do. It has been for us.”

The friendship between musicians that Sherry speaks of is, no doubt, at the core of this release. The foursome met in Maine, formed the band in 2011 and went on to release three full-length albums before Goodbye including Believe [2014], Monarch [2017], and Good At Losing Everything [2020]—followed by the EP series Field Notes, Vol. 1-3. In their decade of banddom, they’ve shared the stage with The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Revivalists, Trampled By Turtles, and The Infamous Stringdusters, and rose to headliner status, playing over 1,200 shows. Beyond inciting applause from tastemakers a la Billboard, Boston Globe, The Boot, and more, Governor Janet Mills formally ratified the band’s “Ballad of the 20th Maine” as the official State Ballad of Maine. The guys even managed to launch their own destination experience and one of the Northeast’s most popular independent festivals, Ghostland—in its eighth year as of 2022.

“The most prevalent emotion is gratitude,” says McCarthy. Sherry echoes with, “We were able to build the band by creating what we wanted to create, writing what we wanted to write, and performing the way we wanted to perform. We have a brotherhood that will hopefully endure forever, even as it changes shape. Hopefully, the songs last too.”

The collection of songs on Goodbye feel a bit like a victory lap, one in which the band is enjoying the natural end to all good things and inviting fans to attend a rowdy, joyful curtain closing of sorts. The album’s origins are much like the band’s, beginning by decamping to a family cabin to reunite and write in late 2020. 48-hours of writing in ‘20 fueled the creativity to continue writing into ‘21. By the time they hit the studio with co-producer and engineer Dan Cardinal, they had decided the overall direction and opted to primarily record live.

This energy underlines the first single “Letters From The War Of Love And Loss.” Delicate acoustic guitar entwine with a soulful vocal performance and a jazz-y piano solo. Still, their boisterous knack for a sing-a-long refrain takes the spotlight. “It’s a communal song that we hope the audience would want to join in and sing along with us. This is our party tune,” says Shery.

On the other end of the musical and emotional spectrum, “Knuckle” rustles up airy guitar rife with western soundtrack-style tension as the beat simmers in the background beneath hypnotic harmonies which is an “an exploration of the idea you need an audience as an artist,” reveals Davis. “A lot of my favorite painters revered solitude and the space within the studio. You’re creating the whole opus to escape from everybody, including yourself. It’s an opportunity to get out of your own way and channel something else.”

Then, there’s “In Deep.” Max’s deftly plucked banjo rings out through this dyed-in-the-wool love letter sent straight from the heart, a song written for McCarthy’s soon-to-be-wife with the band’s combined hearts and energy.

“Vivid Dream” hinges on a head-nodding groove before a bluesy electric guitar lick kicks in, embracing the band’s rock ‘n’ roll inclinations wholeheartedly.

“The record ebbs and flows between soft songs that are more akin to what we used to do and more rocking songs with pretty good grit to them,” says Sherry. The band’s final offering, Goodbye, plays homage to the more-than-a-decade of music-making with friends. “How does one write an obituary of a ghost?” the band asked on social media when announcing their departure from the scene. The answer, of course, is hidden in the 12 songs of Goodbye.

For more information, please visit ghostofpaulrevere.com and americanavibes.com.

Goodbye track listing:

At Least I Know It's True

In My Yard

Gratefully Here

In Deep

JTE

Letters From the War of Love and Loss

Me and My Shadow

Rider

Vivid Dream

Older Lately

Knuckle

Goodbye

Good Vibez Presents, the creative geniuses behind the beloved California Roots Music & Arts Festival, are pleased to announce the second round of artists to play Rebels & Renegades, a 2-day music festival taking place October 15-16 at the Monterey Fair & Event Center in Monterey, CA, the once home to the famous Monterey Pop Festival. Announced today, Shooter Jennings & the Werewolves of LA do "Zevon", White Buffalo, Tejon Street Corner Thieves, and Claire Wright will join an already stacked lineup including Cody Jinks, Trampled by Turtles, Orville Peck, Houndmouth, The Cadillac Three, Shane Smith and The Saints, Nikki Lane, Sierra Hull, Fruition, Charles Wesley Godwin, Kat Hasty, and Myron Elkins.

The team behind Rebels & Renegades, Good Vibez Presents, were inspired by the rebellious spirit and storytelling culture of Americana, outlaw country, bluegrass, and folk artists of today, saluting the outlaw in all of us with this year’s musical and non-musical offerings. In an interview with Monterey Herald, Dan Sheehan, part owner of Good Vibez, said, “The biggest thing that all these bands have in common, regardless of the genre of music they play, is they’re all storytellers. Our whole model is hippies and cowboys. That’s kind of who’s coming to this. A mix of those styles and people, so it should be a lot of fun.” Rebels & Renegades is a three-year dream in the making, one that will establish a new music experience in Monterey, full of down-to-earth music, interactive art opportunities, and local craft and food creatives. “Our vision has always been to bring music that we love to the town we call home,” said Amy Sheehan, Monterey-local and part owner of the festival.

The festival, a multidimensional experience, will feature, in addition to mainstage performances from the aforementioned artists, interactive art stations, a local “makers” marketplace, and delicious food from some of Monterey Bay’s most creative chefs. Intimate acoustic pop up performances will be scattered throughout the famed grounds as well as craft beer, wine, cider and spirit bars. Limited onsite RV sites and exceptional VIP experiences and travel packages are available to those who want to elevate their festival experience.

Who: Cody Jinks, Trampled by Turtles, Orville Peck, Houndmouth, The Cadillac Three, Shane Smith and The Saint, Nikki Lane, Amigo the Devil, Sierra Hull, Fruition, Charles Wesley Godwin, Kat Hasty, Myron Elkins, and newly announced Shooter Jennings, White Buffalo, Tejon Street Corner Thieves, and Claire Wright

What: Inaugural Rebels & Renegades Music Festival

When: October 15 & 16, 2022

Where: Monterey Fair & Event Center in Monterey, CA

Tickets: VIP and GA on sale now with early bird pricing at rebelsandrenegadesfest.com

Make it a long weekend: Monterey, CA is a bucket-list vacation destination, especially in October with the temperatures topping out in the mid 70s. Fans traveling to the festival are encouraged to explore the Big Sur coastline of the iconic Highway 1, wander the historic Cannery Row, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, sip local wine at tucked-away tasting rooms, play 18 holes at one of the many golf courses, go whale and dolphin watching, or picnic at one of Monterey’s beaches. Come for the music, but give yourself a few days on either side to soak up all the goodness that this California Coast has to offer.

Non-profit partner spotlight: For every VIP Palomino Pass purchased, the festival will donate $5 to Hidden Hills Ranch. Hidden Hills Ranch is a Monterey County nonprofit organization providing families and individuals of all ages and abilities with innovative hands-on opportunities for discovery, inspiration, and education in a peaceful setting. They encourage a life-long love of learning, deep respect for all life, and appreciation of our natural world by incorporating rescued farm animals and unique outdoor experiences; both free exploration and structured enrichment programs are available. Hidden Hills Ranch is truly a "safe haven" for their animals, clients and visitors. For more information on the good work that Hidden Hills Ranch is doing, please visit hiddenhillsranch.org.

“Nobody really wants to lose a good thing / But I see it again and again,” sings The California Honeydrops’ soulful lead vocalist Lech Wierzynkski, floating above the Bay Area R&B-tinged sound he and his band have become loved for over their last fourteen years together. “Nothing At All,” the latest single from the Honeydrops’ upcoming album Soft Spot, rides a mid-tempo groove with elements of Allen Touissant’s New Orleans-y arrangements, George Benson’s laid-back vibe, and sweet, high vocals a la Curtis Mayfield ballads. The band sets the vibe, and in less than three minutes, Wierzynkski tells a story about what he calls “unintended consequences.” “We all want something we can hold on to,” says Wierzynkski. “We may destroy everything trying to get a little certainty and safety.”

The Honeydrops have come a long way since Wierzynkski and drummer Ben Malament started busking in an Oakland subway station, but the band has stayed true to that organic, street-level feel. With the additions of Johnny Bones on tenor sax and clarinet, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards, and Beau Beaullieu on bass, they’ve built a powerful full-band sound to support Wierzynski’s vocals; a sound very present in “Nothing At All” as well as its B-Side, a righteously groovy cover of Sam Cooke’s “Good Times.” A special treat for Honeydrops fans, new and old, “Good Times” is a happy reminder to have fun and let loose, just as the band did with their funky arrangement of the beloved tune.

Fans can hear “Nothing At All” now right here, “Good Times” at this link, check out previously-released Soft Spot singles “I Miss You Baby Pt. 1” and “Takin’ My Time” at their respective links, and pre-order or pre-save Soft Spot ahead of its October 7th release right here. Fans can also pre-order Soft Spot on vinyl here or CD here.

Tomorrow, The California Honeydrops will kick off their nationwide Lil Bit Of Lovin’ Tour in Napa, California; a run of shows that will take the band from sea to shining sea over the course of the next three months. A complete list of tour dates can be found below or at cahoneydrops.com.

Soft Spot Tracklist:

Honey and Butter

Gonna Be Alright

Nothing At All

I Miss You Baby Pt. 1

Lil Bit Of Love

Sneakin’ Into Heaven

I Miss You Baby Pt. 2

Tumblin’

Takin’ My Time

The Unicorn

Soft Spot

In Your Arms

More About Soft Spot from Honeydrops drummer Ben Malament: “The first thing many people say to us after watching the band perform on stage is “Man, you all LOVE to play together!” That’s why Soft Spot is such an important album, because we didn’t get to play and hunker down as a full band like this for almost two years! After a few of us recorded the Covers from the Cave album, strictly from home for our quarantined fans, it was a pleasure and privilege to let loose all together in the beautiful Oakland studio, bouncing off each other with creativity, jokes, and sweat, with Thai food and donuts, day after day, night after night. The music on Soft Spot speaks that joy and diligence. Sometimes we recorded when we were hella sick or had pulled back muscles—getting older is tough! Sometimes we recorded on our birthdays and had cake next to the mics. When you get good sounds, you can’t stop! And all the sounds we were getting were good. Really good. And that’s when the recording is easy.

“We continued the Honeydrops album tradition of bringing many special musical guests to bless the studio with their magic. Sousaphones, strings, space echoes, it’s all here. Our engineer, Jacob LaCally’s, aka ‘Cubby's,’ fine ears and maybe finer patience kept the session rolling through the hours. Leon Cotter and Scott Messersmith have become staples of the Honeydrop sound, filling the room with the full band sensation we could lean back on.

We enlisted the Kid Wonder and Oakland native, Oliver Tuttle, with his beautiful energy and ideas and the ‘Ponchatoula Powerhouse,’ Miles Lyons, dropped in from Louisiana to add a whole new low end to our music!

“This album has our unique Honeydrop take on many styles of music, all under a cohesive production style so there’s no confusion. There’s no provin’. Only groovin’. ’Soft Spot’ is a special one. We can’t tell you how happy we are to have made it and to give you these new songs.”

Catch The California Honeydrops On Tour:

Sept. 9 - St. Helena, CA - Charles Krug Winery

Sept. 10 - San Luis Obispo, CA - SLO Gathering

Sept. 11 - Perris, CA - Same Same But Different Festival 2022

Sept. 19 - Buena Vista, CO - Ivy Ballroom at Surf Hotel

Sept. 20 - Crested Butte, CO - Center for the Arts - SOLD OUT

Sept. 22 - Telluride, CO - Sheridan Opera House

Sept. 24 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up

Oct. 14 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre

Oct. 16 - Flagstaff, AZ - Yucca North

Oct. 18 - Durango, CO - Animas City Theatre - SOLD OUT

Oct. 19 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf

Oct. 21 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom

Oct. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

Oct. 23 - St. Louis, MO - The Big Top

Oct. 25 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club - SOLD OUT

Oct. 26 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club

Oct. 27 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

Oct. 29 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Annex

Oct. 30 - Ferndale, MI - Magic Bag

Oct. 31 - Kalamazoo, MI - Bell’s Brewery

Nov. 2 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Nov. 3 - Portland, ME - Aura

Nov. 5 - New York, NY - Sony Hall

Nov. 6 - Boston, MA - Royale Boston

Nov. 8 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

Nov. 9 - Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre

Nov. 11 - Charlottesville, VA - The Jefferson Theater

Nov. 12 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel

Nov. 13 - Highlands, NC - Highlands Food and Wine Festival 2022

Jan. 15-22, 2023 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Sandy Beaches Cruise 2023

Over the course of a full music industry shutdown, there was one thing, and only one, that saved Saskatchewan-based band The Sheepdogs; straight-up, non-bummer, pandemic-induced rock and roll. In a few days’ time, the band will take every bit of that energy captured on their latest album, Outta Sight, to venues across the country—from Vermont to California and back. The hard-working and hard-living Canadian band present cool, vintage rock and roll without pretension. It’s urgent, rhythmic, clear, and fun. It’s a break from slick production and gazing at your navel, and proclaims the joy and jubilation of drums, bass, horns, and electric guitar.

The Sheepdogs make tunes that make you nod your head. The artistry, however, beneath the stadium riffs—the harmonies, the multiple guitar parts, the groove behind a rhythm section that hangs out together when they’re not on the clock—is battle-honed and spit-shined between vans, garages, thousands of soundchecks, and, yes, headlining shows.

The first of The Sheepdogs’ U.S. headlining tour is on September 20th at Burlington, Vermont’s legendary Higher Ground. The road dogs will be throughout the Northeast, Southeast, Texas, and the Midwest in October and November before starting their westerly jaunt in Seattle on December 3rd. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at thesheepdogs.com.

Fans who haven’t checked out The Sheepdogs’ new album Outta Sight should do so immediately right here. In October, their live album Live at Lee’s will be available in vinyl for the tour.

The Sheepdogs’ Tour Dates (U.S. only):

Sept. 20 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Oct. 15 - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios

Oct. 17 - Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair

Oct. 18 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

Oct. 20 - Philadelphia, PA - Ardmore Music Hall

Oct. 21 - Washington, DC - Union Stage

Oct. 22 - Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall

Oct. 24 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle

Oct. 25 - Nashville, TN - Basement East

Oct. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade - Purgatory

Oct. 28 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs)

Oct. 29 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger

Oct. 30 - Dallas, TX - Tulips

Oct. 30 - Fort Worth, TX - Tulips FTW

Nov. 1 - Austin, TX - Spiderhouse

Nov. 3 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi Fi

Nov. 4 - Detroit, MI - El Club

Nov. 19 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall

Nov. 20 - Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club

Dec. 3 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern - SOLD OUT

Dec. 4 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge

Dec. 6 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent

Dec. 7 - Los Angeles, CA - The Moroccan Lounge

Dec. 8 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah

Dec. 9 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar

Dec. 11 - Denver, CO - Globe Hall

Dec. 12 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown

Dec. 14 - Lexington, KY - The Burl

Dec. 15 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom & Tavern

Dec. 16 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom

Heavily-awarded and universally-loved fiddle player Jason Carter has spent years collaborating with a laundry list of all-time great musicians across a multitude of genres—not to mention his three decades as a member of the Del McCoury Band and being a founding member of the Travelin’ McCourys—but, never before have all of his friends, from all those years, joined Carter on his own solo album. That is, until now.

On Nov 4, 2022, Carter will release Lowdown Hoedown, a thirteen-song collection featuring Carter’s own, rich vocals and red-hot fiddling backed up by a stunning lineup of musicians whom he calls friends. Imagine that Carter is throwing the pickin’ party of the century and we’re all invited to join in. The guests? Well, there’s Dierks Bentley, Aiofe O’Donovan, Vince Gill, Billy Strings, Sarah Jarosz, Jon Fishman, Marty Stuart, and that’s barely scratching the surface. The multitude of guests speaks not only to Carter’s long-known stellar musicianship but also to his personality, lighting up the backstage hangs of music festivals nationwide.

Today, Carter shared the opening track from Lowdown Hoedown, “King of the Hill,” a Bruce Hornsby tune that features Sam Bush on mandolin, Jerry Douglas on dobro, Russ Carson on banjo, Dennis Crouch on Bass, and Cody Kilby, Carter’s longtime Travelin’ McCourys bandmate, on guitar. “The story is about a guy who is unhappy with his job and relates to it like a prison. I think it made a great bluegrass song,” says Carter, who was introduced to the song by Kilby. “This was the first song we recorded for the record and the band knocked it out of the park.”

Fans can hear “King of the Hill” now right here and pre-order or pre-save Lowdown Hoedown ahead of its release at this link.

Last night, Carter took to the stage at the world-famous Station Inn in Nashville, Tennessee, to stretch out this new batch of songs for the first time at the Bluegrass Situation’s 10th Anniversary Party. Joining him and the band of Cody Kilby, Cory Walker, Ashby Frank, and Alan Bartram at the beloved Bluegrass venue were Ronnie and Rob of The Travelin’ McCourys, David Grier, Kyle Tuttle, Vince Herman, Shelby Means, Brenna MacMillan, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Michael Cleveland, and Ketch Secor. To see a list of Carter’s upcoming tour dates with Del McCoury Band and the Travelin’ McCourys, please visit jasoncarterfiddle.com/tour.

Lowdown Hoedown Tracklist:

King of the Hill

The Six O'clock Train and a Girl with Green Eyes

The Likes of Me

Paper Angel

Dust Bowl Dream

Hoedown for My Lowdown Rowdy Ways

Good Things Happen

Midnight Flyer

Queen of the Nashville Night

Kissimmee Kid

You Led Me to the Wrong

Highway 52

Bird Song

The latest standalone single from sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith—better known as world-folk troubadours Rising Appalachia—is all about gratitude. The song, “Thank You Very Much,” is an uplifting slow-burn, adding layers of the band’s world music leaning instrumentation one at a time until the final, swirling refrain. It’s simple. And lovely. And certainly meaningful to its intended recipients. “Thank You Very Much started as a totem to our family and to the blue-collar bedrock of our upbringing,” says Leah. “It moved into a wider place of gratitude…into a song that speaks as an anthem for us, to the so many radical and wild humans who have stepped in and helped make this music soar, and to the long road that we all walk together towards home. It is a testimony to the simple power of appreciation.”

Yesterday, PopMatters premiered “Thank You Very Much,” praising Rising Appalachia’s “healing melodies” and dubbing the tune “a meditation on the road traveled thus far.” Fans can join in on the wave of gratitude today by checking out “Thank You Very Much” right here. Rising Appalachia will be back on tour in October with a run through Tennessee and North Carolina. A list of tour dates can be found below or at risingappalachia.com/tour.

Since their release of Leylines in 2019, Rising Appalachia has released a number of standalone singles, remixes, and even a surprise LP, The Lost Mystique of Being in the Know, which Mike Davies of UK’s folk radio called "undoubtedly one of the most intoxicating musical experiences you’ll have this year." For more music, information on Rising Appalachia’s social and environmental mission, upcoming tour dates, and more please visit risingappalachia.com.

Catch Rising Appalachia On Tour:

Oct. 6 - Jonesborough, TN - National Storytelling Festival

Oct. 7 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre

Oct. 9 - Pelham, TN - Cave Fest

Oct. 20 - Black Mountain, NC - LEAF Festival 2022

Nov. 17 - Deland, FL - Cafe Da Vinci

Nov. 18 - Stuart, FL - Terra Fermata

Nov. 19 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live

Nov. 20 - Miami Beach, FL - North Beach Bandshell

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit risingappalachia.com/tour.

While straightforward songwriting certainly has its place in every last genre of music, it's the sneaky, or clever, or “is this a joke or not?” kind of tunes that can really leave a lasting mark on discerning listeners. John Fullbright’s new single, “Social Skills,” is a striking example of the GRAMMY-nominated musician’s deviously masterful songcraft; combining deeply funny lyrics with a distressed delivery that leaves listeners confused about whether or not they’re supposed to laugh. “Social Skills” rides a thumping, straightforward rock groove while Fullbright links line after line of what its like to lean on one vice or another—or all of them—to cope with a lack of, you guessed it, social skills. The song’s catchy refrain is repeatedly delivered with a sing along tinge, but it’s a devastatingly honest confession from its writer: “So I drink this gin and I take these pills, just because I don’t have social skills.”

The public at large hasn’t heard much from Fullbright since his critically lauded album Songs; a chasm of eight years that seemed unthinkable for someone with so much hype—including a GRAMMY nod, an Americana Music Association Emerging Artist nomination, and awards from ASCAP and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame—surrounding his early career. “It’s been a process of learning how to be in a community of musicians and less focusing on the lone, depressed songwriter…just playing something that has a beat and is really fun,” Fullbright says. On September 30th, Fullbright is set to end the dry spell with the release of his new LP, The Liar, opening up his newfound trust in musical collaboration for the world to hear. “That’s not to say there are no songs on this record where I depart from that because there are, but there's also a band with an opinion. And that part is new to me.”

Fans can hear “Social Skills” now at this link, check out the previously-released singles “Paranoid Heart” here and “Poster Child” here, and pre-order or pre-save The Liar ahead of its release right here. A full list of Fullbright’s tour dates can be found below or at johnfullbrightmusic.com/tour.

More About The Liar: The Liar was recorded at Steve and Charlene Ripley’s farm-to-studio compound in northeastern Oklahoma. After Steve’s passing, Charlene flirted with the idea of selling the studio property, so Fullbright mobilized quickly to ensure he was able to record there before it changed hands. He threw together a band made up of, as Fullbright calls them, “the usual suspects.” Anyone fleetingly familiar with Oklahoma music will recognize the roster, which includes Jesse Aycock, Aaron Boehler, Paul Wilkes, Stephen Lee, and Paddy Ryan, all of whom are in more bands than seems possible. Along with a few more friends stopping in to lay down takes, they finished the songs and tracked the album with engineer Jason Weinheimer in a whirlwind four days.

“It was such a collaborative thing with some really cool voices,” Fullbright said, expressing surprise at the ease of the process. “It's just like playing music in Tulsa. Everybody kind of does whatever they do, and it works.”

The grab-and-go momentum landed Fullbright in the studio with some old songs (“Unlocked Doors” also appeared on 2009’s Live at the Blue Door), some new, and some unfinished, making his newfound trust in musical collaboration essential to the arrangements and reflected fully on the final album. The Liar, as a result, utilizes emotional and instrumental dynamics in ways Fullbright hasn’t allowed himself to explore fully before. There’s a noticeable slack here, an indulgent instrumental break there, and the general feeling that the tight-lipped John Fullbright who agonized over the writing process and then hesitated to talk about the meanings behind his songs in the past has eased up.

“What rules didn’t I have?” Fullbright says about his former songwriting self. “Even like, how many syllables were in a line, I had arbitrary rules for. So much of that has gone out the door, and I’m so much happier. It’s really just the idea that you don’t have to do this by yourself. It’s so much more fun to collaborate.”

The Liar Tracklist:

Bearden, 1645

Paranoid Heart

Stars

The Liar

Unlocked Doors

Where We Belong

Social Skills

Lucky

Blameless

Poster Child

Safe To Say

Gasoline

Catch John Fullbright On Tour:

September 17 - Nashville, TN - AMERICANAFEST 2022

September 23 - Santa Monica, CA - McCabe’s Guitar Shop

September 25 - Glen Ellen, CA - Jack London State Park

September 30 - Oklahoma City, OK - Blue Door (sold out)

October 1 - Oklahoma City, OK - Blue Door (sold out)

October 2 -  Tulsa, OK - Fassler Hall

October 7 - Dallas, TX - The Kessler Theater

October 8 - Austin, TX - C-Boys Heart & Soul

October 9 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe

October 13 - Kansas, OK - Bushyhead Farm Fall Festival

October 23 - Pittsburgh, KS - Mountain Stage

October 26 - Fayetteville, AR - George’s Majestic Lounge

October 27 - Little Rock, AR - Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack

October 28 - Memphis, TN - B-Side

October 29 - Nashville, TN - The Bluebird Cafe

October 30 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic

November 17 - New York, NY - Rockwood Music Hall

November 20 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts

December 1 - Dallas, TX - Poor David’s Pub

December 2 - Austin, TX - The Saxon Pub

December 3 - La Grange, TX - The Bugle Boy

December 4 - Houston, TX - McGonigel’s Mucky Duck

December 5 - San Antonio, TX - Sam’s Burger Joint

There’s a well of inspiration from which each new generation of rhythm and blues artists draws; a timeless suspension in which the likes of Etta James, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin continue to live. And while the past decade has seen a rising crop of nuevo-soul and R&B artists flourish, few are doing it with such a spellbinding conviction as Ali McGuirk. Her new album Til It’s Gone—out today via Signature Sounds—explores the genre's various offshoots, harnessing McGuirk’s songs and performances with a laundry list of A-list session players, but never strays too far from the pure, cool source. Acting as co-producer along with celebrated folk-blues songwriter Jonah Tolchin, McGuirk let the songs of Til It’s Gone wander from shadowy emotional spaces to big, bad guitar workouts to delicate little confessions. But her bold and buttery voice carries each song to the next until the album’s end.

Fans can finally hear Til It’s Gone now at this link. And don’t forget to check out the music videos for album tracks “X Boyfriends” and “All Back.” McGuirk is set to play at Nashville’s AMERICANAFEST tonight and will head up to Massachusetts for Arcadia Music Festival tomorrow. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at alimcguirk.com.

Catch Ali McGuirk On Tour:

Sept. 16 - Nashville, TN - Five Spot (AMERICANAFEST)

Sept. 17 - Easthampton, MA - Arcadia Music Festival

Sept. 28- Vienna, VA - Jammin’ Java

Sept. 30 - Providence, RI - Askew

Oct. 1 - Albany, NY - The Linda

Oct. 2 - Portsmouth, NH - The Press Room

Oct. 5 - Lancaster, PA - Tellus360

Oct. 6 - Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House

Oct. 7 - Somerville, MA - The Crystal Ballroom at the Somerville Theater

Oct. 8 - New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine

Oct. 9 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater

Oct. 13 - Egremont, MA - The Barn

Oct. 14 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Lounge

Oct. 15 - Upper Jay, NY - Upper Jay Art Center

Oct. 19 - Syracuse, NY - 443 Listening Room

Oct. 20 - Peninsula, OH - G.A.R. Hall

Oct. 22 - Rochester, NY - The Abilene

Oct. 23 - Buffalo, NY - Sportsmen’s Tavern

Oct. 28 - Keene, NH - The Colonial Theatre

Oct. 29 - Portland, ME - One Longfellow Square

Nov. 3 - Denver, CO - Daniels Hall at Swallow Hill

Nov. 4 -  Basalt, CO - The Arts Center at Willits

Nov. 5 - Fort Collins, CO - The Magic Rat

Nov. 6 - Taos, NM - Taos Center for the Arts Encore Gallery

While Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chris Shiflett gets a lot of recognition for his role in Foo Fighters, the modern-day guitar hero has seemingly always had one foot in the country music world—and, these days, he’s been spending a lot of time making music in Nashville. Just this week, Shiflett played the Grand Ole Opry alongside a best-of-Nashville band—Sierra Hull (mandolin), Mike Bub (bass), Michael Cleveland (fiddle)—and today, he released his second of two singles recorded with legendary producer Vance Powell, “Born & Raised.” Shiflett began writing the tune while surfing his hometown Santa Barbara coastline but finished it in Music City where a group of Americana studio all-stars—bassist Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, Jack White, Wanda Jackson), drummer Julian Doro (Eagles of Death Metal, The Whigs), keyboardist Mike Webb, and steel guitarist Luke Schneider—brought “Born & Raised” to life.

A swirl of West Coast nostalgia, heartland hooks, and Deluxe Reverb drive, the song unfolds like a love letter to one's roots, delivered by a man who's spent most of his adulthood on the move. “Born & Raised” and Shiflett’s recently-released “Long, Long Year” are both songs that find Shiflett in a reflective mood, looking at where he's been before heading toward whatever's next. Speaking of what’s next, fans of Shiflett should certainly be keeping an eye out for even more new music over the next year.

Fans can save “Born & Raised” here and watch the lyric video now at this link. Don't forget to check out “Long, Long Year” right here. A list of Shiflett’s upcoming tour dates can be found below or at chrisshiflettmusic.com/shows.

Shiflett On The Recording Of “Born & Raised”: “My trip out to Nashville in March of 2021 was my first time recording any solo material since I made Hard Lessons. I hadn’t done much traveling post-covid lockdown so I was a little nervous heading out there to work with a producer and roomful of musicians I didn’t really know. In true Nashville style we made our introductions and got right down to work, hammering out the basic tracks in a few hours. Vance was great and made me feel right at home, and the group of players he put together were on point.”

Catch Chris Shiflett On Tour:

Sept. 17 - Redondo Beach, CA - BeachLife Ranch Festival 2022

Dec. 3 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre

Dec. 8 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues Anaheim

Dec. 17 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues Las Vegas

Dec. 28 - Los Angels, CA - The Belasco

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of his iconic solo debut, Radney Foster is touring through Summer 2023, his first stop at Nashville's City Winery. “Thirty years ago, Radney Foster opened up his heart, wrapped it in lap steel and Fender guitars, shouted it from a microphone mountain in a voice of bluebonnet twang, and created a work of riotous loss along the lines of Merle Haggard or Buck Owens," says author/historian Peter Cooper. “Del Rio, TX 1959 is an album that mines the personal to unearth the universal.”

An influence to many artists, the album produced hits: "Just Call Me Lonesome,” "Nobody Wins,” "Easier Said Than Done,” "Hammer and Nails,” and "Closing Time." Fans can expect to hear the album top to bottom with later tunes towards the end.  Legendary steel guitarist Steve Fishell (who coproduced the album with Foster) will be joining the band on select dates.

Prior to Del Rio, TX 1959, Foster was half of the duo Foster & Lloyd (who, with “Crazy Over You” became the first duo in history to top the country charts with their debut single). His solo debut was on the upstart record label Arista Nashville, where his labelmates included Alan Jackson, Diamond Rio, Pam Tillis and Brooks and Dunn.

Foster’s discography contains countless cuts by artists ranging anywhere from country (Keith Urban, The Chicks, Brooks and Dunn, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) to contemporary (Marc Broussard, Hootie & The Blowfish, Kenny Loggins, Los Lonely Boys, George Benson). Foster has appeared in film, TV and stage including as host of CMT Crossroads, in the feature film Beauty Mark, on stage in the acclaimed musical, Troubadour.

His most recent project For You To See The Stars is in two parts, a book of short fiction, and a companion CD of the same name. Foster, who produced the first three Randy Rogers Band albums, recently reunited with them to produce Homecoming. He’s currently working on a second book of short fiction, and a side jazz project with his sons, The Space Cadet Quintet.

Tour Dates:

10/6 – City Winery, Nashville, TN

10/7 – Red Clay Theater, Duluth, GA

10/9 – Riverfront Revival, Charleston, SC

10/20 – Kessler Theater, Dallas, TX

10/21 – The Heights, Houston, TX

10/22 – Gruene Hall, New Braunfels, TX

11/4 – Rockbox, Fredericksburg, TX

11/12 - The Red Rooster, Hawkins, TX

11/13 – Graham Memorial Aud., Graham, TX

11/19 – Paul Poag Theatre, Del Rio, TX

12/9 - The Bugle Boy, LaGrange, TX

12/10 – Third Coast Theatre, Port Aransas, TX

Amidst shuttered rural dance clubs and encroaching globalization, five Grammy award-winning Cajun musicians push against stereotypes of the South and move the music of their ancestors forward with the hopes of keeping their culture alive. But the fans are getting older and older, the dance halls are closing, and the language is fading away. Yet these artists push on, winning awards, going on world tours, and are starting to get millennials out two-stepping on Friday nights. But will it be enough to save a dying community? A brand new feature-length documentary, Roots of Fire (Part 1), finds these artists lending their voices, examining the discrimination that almost erased their customs, and sharing the unique sounds created when the forces of fresh talent and deep history collide to fight for cultural survival.

Filmmakers Abby Berendt Lavoi and Jeremey Lavoi initially started their Roots of Fire project to capture amazing stories in the world of South Louisiana roots music with the goal of sharing those stories in a style that would appeal to audiences outside of Louisiana—hopefully growing the fan bases of both Cajun and Zydeco music in the process. The resulting film achieves those goals, and then some. A beautifully shot, music-filled ride through South Louisiana culture, Roots of Fire focuses on its own questionable future while presenting upbeat, down-home Cajun music to the world at large.

“It is not our intention to make an authoritative work on Cajun music, its vibrant history, or even its contemporary diaspora,” say the Lavois. “We wanted to make something that was authentic to our sensibilities, something entertaining, and something that feels like a window into this colorful artistic community.” What they achieved could possibly mean more to the future of the genre than any history book could muster. Roots of Fire presents a host of artists and musicians to new fans, providing a welcome introduction to the world of Cajun music.

“We also wanted to make a film that was very music-forward and devoted as much running time as we could justify to hearing—and feeling—the actual music,” they say. “At the end of the day, experiencing this music live is the best way to consume it. From day one of this project, it has been our goal to capture that experience as faithfully as possible.”

Film Threat has already given Roots of Fire a 9/10 score, writing, “Prepare to be immersed in the wild gumbo of the live scene in Lafayette, Louisiana, that strives to keep the locals’ French traditions alive.” And now’s the chance to catch Roots of Fire on the big screen at a host of North American film festivals this fall. A list of scheduled festival appearances can be found below.

Please visit rootsoffire.com for more information on the documentary, its creators, and what’s to come from the Roots of Fire team.

Roots of Fire Film Fest Schedule:

September 22-28 - Lunenburg, NS - Lunenburg Doc Fest

October 7-15 - Hot Springs, AR - Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

October 19–24 - Memphis, TN - Indie Memphis Film Festival

November 4-14 - Grayslake, IL - Lake County Film Festival

November 3-13 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Film Festival 2022

November 10-13 - Lafayette, LA - Southern Screen Festival 2022

Previous Screenings:

March 2022 - Oxford, MS - Oxford Film Festival

April 2022 - Houston, TX - World-Fest Houston

June 2022 - San Francisco, CA - San Francisco Documentary Film Festival

August 2022 - Providence, RI - Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival

More About Roots of Fire’s Filmmakers:

Director-Producer Abby Berendt Lavoi: Abby Berendt Lavoi is an award-winning Director, Writer, Producer, mother, cancer survivor, and joyful ball of sarcasm. She is the Showrunner of My Amazing Cheap Date: New Orleans and has received honors and awards from the New Orleans Film Festival, SIFF, SFIndieFest, Indie Memphis, Hot Springs Doc Fest, Telly Awards, Promax/BDA, and many others. Her TV credits include MTV, TVLand, Nick@Nite, and Current TV. In 2021, she won the Women in Film and Television’s Resilient Woman Award. She won Best Editor at Mockfest for the film Rolled. Her series It’s a Rough Life was a finalist for the NYTVF History Channel Unscripted Development Pipeline. At her video agency, Lavoi Creative, she has created content for Pandora, Google, Vox, Discovery, and more.

Director-Producer Jeremey Lavoi: Jeremey Lavoi is an award-winning Director working in non-fiction. He is the Showrunner of My Amazing Cheap Date: New Orleans. He was on the Emmy Award winning staff at Current TV where he directed dozens of short documentaries on various topics including Skating the Aftermath, about New Orleans skateboarders in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. At his video agency, Lavoi Creative, he has produced content for Google, Netflix, Vox, Discovery, and others. In 2012 his team won Best Film at the San Francisco 48 Hour Film Festival. His web series It’s a Rough Life, which was a finalist for the 2014 NYTVF History Unscripted Development Pipeline. His additional television credits include Discovery Health, Science Channel, MTV2, CNBC, History Channel, and TechTV/ G4.

Producer-Sound Stephen Thorpe: Stephen Thorpe is a Bay Area based audio engineer. In 2012 he founded Din Pan Alley, an audio services company with a sound design studio in uptown Oakland. He does field and post-production sound for networks including ABC, CNN, NatGeo, Netflix, and ESPN, records remotely for NPR, and travels with reality-documentary shows.

As much of the world turns a romantic eye to the West—with television shows like Yellowstone driving popular culture toward a fictional depiction of life on the ranch—singer and songwriter Colter Wall continues to  deliver a realistic lens into the West and cowboying, with his distinguished, authentic voice. Today, Wall surprised his fans with the release of two new songs on La Honda Records; a Wall original called “Cypress Hills and the Big Country” and a cover of “Let’s All Help the Cowboys (Sing the Blues)” written by country music titan Cowboy Jack Clement. Audiences saw Wall’s performances at the Stagecoach Music Festival and legendary Canadian rodeo, the Ponoka Stampede, in June, and glimpses here and there on social media of his work on the ranch, but these new releases reveal that he’s also been writing and recording new music this summer, much to the delight of Colter’s dedicated followers.

“Cypress Hills and the Big Country” was written by Wall about his native country of southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada. With images of the regional landscape decorating the song’s narrative, Wall revels in the expansiveness of the prairie that he upholds, and he calls for the solitude and comfort afforded by the hard work of cowboy life. Wall is joined by Patrick Lyons on mandolin, dobro, and guitar for this sweet, easygoing ode to where he calls home, singing, “You can duck underneath all your trials and troubles for a time, like a pronghorn underneath a bottom wire.”

With “Let’s All Help the Cowboys (Sing the Blues),” Wall performs a stripped-down version of the song once popularized by Waylon Jennings. In his version of the song, Wall presents a vocal range yet to be heard. The whimsical, smooth nature of the lyrics breaks as Wall leads the chorus with a wail, his voice almost breaking itself. Backed up again by Lyons on mandolin and dobro and Jake Groves on harmonica, Wall’s brawny guitar playing  is matched only by his obvious love for the song in its execution.

“Let’s All Help the Cowboys (Sing the Blues)” and “Cypress Hill and the Big Country” can both be streamed or purchased now at this link.

This release of new music follows Wall’s 2020 LP Western Swings & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs—which Associated Press called “raw as the prairie wind”—and Colter Wall and the Scary Prairie Boys’ Live In Front Of Nobody, a 2021 livestream, full-band show turned indie record store, vinyl-only release–a coveted and limited release. Information on both albums can be found at colterwall.com.

More About Colter Wall: Colter Wall and his music are from the prairies of southern Saskatchewan, where he lives and works. He is a La Honda Records recording artist and has appeared abroad, including Austin City Limits and most recently at the Ponoka Stampede.

“Good lovin’ is something we all look forward to,” says The California Honeydrops’ singer and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynkski of the band’s new single, “In Your Arms.” The tune is, naturally, a reflection of his sentiment; a good time, toe-tapping love song riding on the wings of the Bay Area’s resident R&B machine. The rhythm section behind “In Your Arms” grooves like a synthesizer-less Stevie Wonder or something from the oft-overlooked Stuff catalog, maintaining a bouncing forward momentum for Wierzynkski’s ever soulful vocal delivery. Filled out by another stellar horn arrangement—much like the rest of the Honeydrops’ upcoming album Soft Spot—“In Your Arms” is the perfect snapshot of where old school soul meets new school cool, all in the name of love; something Wierzynkski holds high on his list of priorities. “Sometimes it’s the only thing keeping us alive,” he says.

The Honeydrops have come a long way since Wierzynkski and drummer Ben Malament started busking in an Oakland subway station, but the band has stayed true to that organic, street-level feel. With the additions of Johnny Bones on tenor sax and clarinet, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards, and Beau Beaullieu on bass, they’ve built a powerful full-band sound to support Wierzynski’s vocals.

Today, Under The Radar premiered “In Your Arms” who said, “‘In Your Arms’ is another easygoing feel-good effort from the band, replete with danceable grooves, lovestruck lyrics, and a soaring horn arrangement. With plenty of sunny hooks and soulful harmonies in the mix, the track evokes the heyday of retro-soul, even while retaining a thoroughly fresh vitality.” Fans can listen to “In Your Arms” now at this link, check out previously-released Soft Spot singles “Nothing At All,” “I Miss You Baby Pt. 1,” and “Takin’ My Time” at their respective links, and pre-order or pre-save Soft Spot ahead of its October 7th release right here. Fans can also pre-order Soft Spot on vinyl here or CD here. As a special treat to fans, the Honeydrops also just released a groovy cover of Sam Cooke’s “Good Times,” available here.

Tonight, The California Honeydrops will continue their nationwide Lil Bit Of Lovin’ Tour in Telluride, Colorado; a run of shows that will take the band from sea to shining sea over the course of the next three months. A complete list of tour dates can be found below or at cahoneydrops.com.

Catch The California Honeydrops On Tour:

Sept. 22 - Telluride, CO - Sheridan Opera House - SOLD OUT

Sept. 24 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up - SOLD OUT

Oct. 14 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre

Oct. 16 - Flagstaff, AZ - Yucca North

Oct. 18 - Durango, CO - Animas City Theatre - SOLD OUT

Oct. 19 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf

Oct. 21 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom

Oct. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

Oct. 23 - St. Louis, MO - The Big Top

Oct. 25 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club - SOLD OUT

Oct. 26 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club

Oct. 27 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

Oct. 29 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Annex

Oct. 30 - Ferndale, MI - Magic Bag

Oct. 31 - Kalamazoo, MI - Bell’s Brewery

Nov. 2 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Nov. 3 - Portland, ME - Aura

Nov. 5 - New York, NY - Sony Hall

Nov. 6 - Boston, MA - Royale Boston

Nov. 8 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

Nov. 9 - Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre

Nov. 11 - Charlottesville, VA - The Jefferson Theater

Nov. 12 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel

Nov. 13 - Highlands, NC - Highlands Food and Wine Festival 2022

Jan. 15-22, 2023 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Sandy Beaches Cruise 2023

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit cahoneydrops.com.

Americana newcomer Jack Schneider has a laundry list of eclectic descriptors fitting to precede his name—record producer, songwriter, tape machine enthusiast, Vince Gill’s rhythm guitarist, and NYU grad, to name a few—but on November 11th of this year, Schneider will be adding “recording artist” to that list with the release of his debut LP Best Be On My Way. Recorded live to tape in Nashville with some of the city’s biggest names—the aforementioned Gill, David Rawlings, Stuart Duncan, and Dennis Crouch—Schneider’s inaugural record is a testament to tradition, timelessness, and the modern relevance of old ways. As a whole, the record is a testament to the necessity of looking at the past in order to know just where you’re headed. Riddled with raw truths, compelling stories, and unforgettable sonic motifs, Best Be On My Way is necessary listening for life’s long road ahead.

Today, Holler premiered Best Be On My Way’s first single, the album-opening “Josephine.” Showing their highest praise for the opening track they stated, “If listening to Jack Schneider feels like traveling back in time then maybe that’s because in some ways you are. Records are capable of taking you places and Jack Schneider and his band have every intention of setting you on a journey back through the years to a time when everything felt a little more real somehow.” The song finds Schneider strumming his beloved 1956 Martin D-28 guitar, “Big Jim,” in front of an all-star band of acoustic musicians. A delicate blend of love and longing, “Josephine” will be a shoo-in for fans of The Band, Bob Dylan, or James Taylor—and contemporary favorites like Gillian Welch, Watchhouse, or The Avett Brothers. Fans can hear “Josephine” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Best Be On My Way ahead of its November 11th release right here. A list of Schneider’s upcoming tour dates can be found below or at jackschneidermusic.com/tour.

More About Best Be On My Way: Best Be On My Way was recorded on a hot day in June at Nashville’s Sound Emporium. Inside the air-conditioned studio, there was a slight quiver in the air—the hum of a tape machine, the impression that the atmosphere was churning inside a black-and-white photograph. There was an unspoken sense, among those who knew Schneider well, of momentousness: the session itself felt as though it were a real-life culmination of a long and tenuous journey on Schneider’s part, in which he had collected friends and strangers along the way and gathered them together for the odyssey’s retelling. From childhood friends to recent mentors, the motley crew of musicians sat in a wide circle in the live room as around a campfire, much to the contemporarily trained Engineers’ dismay. The players themselves were evidence of a gap Schneider is bridging between musical generations: Grammy award-winning artists Vince Gill and David Rawlings played alongside both Stuart Duncan and Dennis Crouch—longtime Nashville session musicians—and Liv Greene and Griffin Photoglou, two twenty-something artists fresh out of college.

Throughout the long months of quarantine, Schneider began working intensively with former Gruhn Guitars colleague and frequent collaborator, Wes Langlois. Shut up in the studio together for weeks, the two wrote, recorded, and released what they referred to as “vanishing albums:” full-length records accessible for a week at a time each during the pandemic, after which they were removed from streaming services and unavailable for physical purchase. It was from these ephemeral collections of songs that the seed for Schneider’s (permanent) debut record was born.

Best Be On My Way Tracklist:
Josephine
Farewell Carolina
Marietta
Tennessee
Best Be On My Way
Don’t Look Down
Slow Things Down
Nothing Left To Show
In The Morning
Del Rio Blues

Catch Jack Schneider On Tour:
Sept. 25 - Rockford, IL - Coronado Performing Arts Center
Sept. 26 - Joliet, IL - Rialto Square Theatre
Sept. 27 - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center
Oct. 27 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic

The public at large hasn’t heard much from John Fullbright since his critically lauded album Songs; a chasm of eight years that seemed unthinkable for someone with so much hype—including a GRAMMY nod, an Americana Music Association Emerging Artist nomination and awards from ASCAP and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame—surrounding his early career. Why did it take so long? “It’s been a process of learning how to be in a community of musicians and less focusing on the lone, depressed songwriter…just playing something that has a beat and is really fun,” Fullbright says. Today, Fullbright ended the dry spell by releasing his new LP, The Liar, opening up his newfound trust in musical collaboration for the world to hear.

The Liar can be streamed or purchased today at this link. Fulbright’s tour continues tonight with the first of two sold-out shows at Oklahoma City’s Blue Door. A complete list of Fullbright’s tour dates can be found below or at johnfullbrightmusic.com/tour.

The Liar In The News:

No Depression reviewed the album, saying, “The Liar puts his impressive vocal range to full use. Fullbright’s star burned hot at the start of his career and now, eight years later, he is reminding us why. He can still write an unflinchingly vulnerable song that will shred your heart to pieces when he belts it out, low and leathery, with all the force of a freight train...with songs like these, Fullbright is reclaiming his place.”

Whiskey Riff shared a detailed preview of The Liar, calling Fullbright a “master songwriter and musical savant,” and writing, “the end result is a much more creative, yet much less polished finished product for Fullbright who in years past had treated the process like a science.”

Twangville praised The Liar, saying, “John Fullbright was already known as a terrific songwriter, self-contained in his performances. He’s obviously opened up in the last 8 years and added a sense of casualness to his songs. That combination is a potent one.”

Earlier this week, the Austin-American Statesman premiered Fullbright’s latest single, “Stars,” with music writer Peter Blackstock saying it, “instantly struck me as an American classic…an extraordinary singer, Fullbright puts all of his heart and emotion into the simple yet cathartic lyrics.”

Uncut named The Liar their “Americana Album of the Month” in the recent November 2022 issue, praising his vocal might and “renewed lightness of spirit.”

More About The Liar: The Liar was recorded at Steve and Charlene Ripley’s farm-to-studio compound in northeastern Oklahoma. After Steve’s passing, Charlene flirted with the idea of selling the studio property, so Fullbright mobilized quickly to ensure he was able to record there before it changed hands. He threw together a band made up of, as Fullbright calls them, “the usual suspects.” Anyone fleetingly familiar with Oklahoma music will recognize the roster, which includes Jesse Aycock, Aaron Boehler, Paul Wilkes, Stephen Lee, and Paddy Ryan, all of whom are in more bands than seems possible. Along with a few more friends stopping in to lay down takes, they finished the songs and tracked the album with engineer Jason Weinheimer in a whirlwind four days.

“It was such a collaborative thing with some really cool voices,” Fullbright said, expressing surprise at the ease of the process. “It's just like playing music in Tulsa. Everybody kind of does whatever they do, and it works.”

The grab-and-go momentum landed Fullbright in the studio with some old songs (“Unlocked Doors” also appeared on 2009’s Live at the Blue Door), some new, and some unfinished, making his newfound trust in musical collaboration essential to the arrangements and reflected fully on the final album. The Liar, as a result, utilizes emotional and instrumental dynamics in ways Fullbright hasn’t allowed himself to explore fully before. There’s a noticeable slack here, an indulgent instrumental break there, and the general feeling that the tight-lipped John Fullbright who agonized over the writing process and then hesitated to talk about the meanings behind his songs in the past has eased up.

“What rules didn’t I have?” Fullbright says about his former songwriting self. “Even like, how many syllables were in a line, I had arbitrary rules for. So much of that has gone out the door, and I’m so much happier. It’s really just the idea that you don’t have to do this by yourself. It’s so much more fun to collaborate.”

The Liar Tracklist:

Bearden, 1645

Paranoid Heart

Stars

The Liar

Unlocked Doors

Where We Belong

Social Skills

Lucky

Blameless

Poster Child

Safe To Say

Gasoline

Catch John Fullbright on Tour:

September 30 - Oklahoma City, OK - Blue Door (sold out)

October 1 - Oklahoma City, OK - Blue Door (sold out)

October 2 -  Tulsa, OK - Fassler Hall

October 7 - Dallas, TX - The Kessler Theater

October 8 - Austin, TX - C-Boys Heart & Soul

October 9 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe

October 13 - Kansas, OK - Bushyhead Farm Fall Festival

October 23 - Pittsburgh, KS - Mountain Stage

October 26 - Fayetteville, AR - George’s Majestic Lounge

October 27 - Little Rock, AR - Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack

October 28 - Memphis, TN - B-Side

October 29 - Nashville, TN - The Bluebird Cafe

October 30 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic

November 17 - New York, NY - Rockwood Music Hall

November 18 - Hamden, CT - Cellar on the Treadwell

November 20 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts

December 1 - Dallas, TX - Poor David’s Pub

December 2 - Austin, TX - The Saxon Pub

December 3 - La Grange, TX - The Bugle Boy

December 4 - Houston, TX - McGonigel’s Mucky Duck

December 5 - San Antonio, TX - Sam’s Burger Joint

The annual homecoming of musicians and industry leaders within the international bluegrass community (IBMA) gathered again in Raleigh, NC last week to celebrate and award the year’s best songs, albums, and players. Recognized yet again for his dynamic and immediately recognizable voice that has lent high, lonesome heart to over 30 records in his six-decade career, Del McCoury was crowned Male Vocalist of the Year for the fifth time. This is McCoury’s 19th IBMA award to date, maintaining the title of the most awarded artist in bluegrass history.

As with most things McCoury, it’s all in the family. Cody Kilby, guitar player for The Travelin’ McCourys (founded by his sons Rob and Ronnie, and longtime Del McCoury Band members, Jason Carter and Alan Bartram), was named Guitar Player of the Year for the first time in his career.

Largely regarded as a genre architect and wildly supportive of next-generation pickers, McCoury’s influence and impact were felt in every category of this year’s awards, and certainly in the World of Bluegrass music festival that tails the conference, of which tens of thousands of music fans from across the globe travel to attend. He first came on the bluegrass scene in 1963 playing with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. In the 1980’s he found front-man success and began playing with his sons Rob and Ronnie McCoury (also founding members of The Travelin’ McCourys), relocating to Nashville. His influence and taste are as diverse and as varied as his namesake festival DelFest lineups—having collaborated with the likes of Phish, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Steve Earle, and countless expected and unexpected others.

At 83, McCoury refuses to slow down and why would he? Playing music with family—and friends who feel like family—to loving and appreciative fans continues to keep the bluegrass patriarch feeling young. The DMB tour rolls on with tour dates from mid-October to mid-November of this year, all while planning for DelFest 2023 which takes place annually over Memorial Day weekend in beautiful Cumberland, MD. A full list of remaining tour dates for 2022 is below. For more information on DelFest 2023, please visit www.delfest.com.

On tour:

Oct. 14 - Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que - Grovetown, GA

Oct. 15 - Bloomin’ Bluegrass - Farmers Branch, TX

Oct. 21 - Sellersville Theater - Sellersville, PA

Oct. 22 - Rams Head - Hammondsport, NY (co-bill with The Travelin’ McCourys)

Nov. 10 - Walhalla Performing Arts Center - Walhalla, SC

Nov. 11 - Renfro Valley Barn Dance - Mount Vernon, KY

Nov. 12 - Industrial Strenght Bluegrass - Wilmington, OH

Nov. 13 - Library Theater - Hoover, AL

Good Vibez Presents, the creative geniuses behind the beloved California Roots Music & Arts Festival, are pleased to present Rebels & Renegades, a 2-day music festival taking place October 15-16 at the Monterey Fair & Event Center in Monterey, CA, the once home to the famous Monterey Pop Festival.

The team was inspired by the rebellious spirit and storytelling culture of Americana, outlaw country, bluegrass, and folk artists of today, saluting the outlaw in all of us with this year’s musical and non-musical offerings.

The festival, a multidimensional experience, will feature, in addition to mainstage performances from the aforementioned artists, interactive art stations, a local “makers” marketplace, and delicious food from some of Monterey Bay’s most creative chefs. Intimate acoustic pop up performances will be scattered throughout the famed grounds as well as craft beer, wine, cider and spirit bars.

Who: Cody Jinks, Trampled by Turtles, Orville Peck, Houndmouth, The Cadillac Three, Shane Smith and The Saints, Nikki Lane, Amigo the Devil, Sierra Hull, Fruition, Charles Wesley Godwin, Kat Hasty, Myron Elkins, and newly announced Shooter Jennings, White Buffalo, Tejon Street Corner Thieves, and Claire Wright

What: Inaugural Rebels & Renegades Music Festival

When: October 15 & 16, 2022

Where: Monterey Fair & Event Center in Monterey, CA

Tickets: rebelsandrenegadesfest.com

“This record is all about love and good lovin’ and other things that matter,” says The California Honeydrops’ frontman, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynski of the band's brand new LP, Soft Spot. Released today, Soft Spot finds the band drawing deep from the soulful well of the great rhythm and blues acts that came before them—from roots rock to classic Bay Area R&B, to Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second line. “We continued the Honeydrops’ album tradition of bringing special musical guests to bless the studio with their magic,” adds drummer Ben Malament. “Sousaphones, strings, space echoes…it’s all here.”

The Honeydrops have come a long way since Wierzynkski and Malament started busking in an Oakland subway station, but the band has stayed true to that organic, street-level feel. Listening to Lech sing, it can be a surprise that he was born in Warsaw, Poland, and raised by Polish political refugees. He learned his vocal stylings from contraband American recordings of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Louis Armstrong, and later at Oberlin College and on the club circuit in Oakland, California. With the additions of Johnny Bones on tenor sax and clarinet, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards, and Beau Beauilleu on bass, they’ve built a powerful full-band sound to support Wierzynski’s vocals.

Fans can purchase or stream Soft Spot today right here as well as vinyl for pre-order here and CD for purchase here. The Honeydrops will continue their nationwide Lil Bit Of Lovin’ Tour at Tempe, Arizona’s Marquee Theatre on October 14th. A complete list of tour dates can be found below or at cahoneydrops.com.

Catch The California Honeydrops On Tour:

Oct. 14 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre

Oct. 16 - Flagstaff, AZ - Yucca North

Oct. 18 - Durango, CO - Animas City Theatre - SOLD OUT

Oct. 19 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf

Oct. 21 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom

Oct. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

Oct. 23 - St. Louis, MO - The Big Top

Oct. 25 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club - SOLD OUT

Oct. 26 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club

Oct. 27 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

Oct. 29 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Annex

Oct. 30 - Ferndale, MI - Magic Bag

Oct. 31 - Kalamazoo, MI - Bell’s Brewery

Nov. 2 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Nov. 3 - Portland, ME - Aura

Nov. 5 - New York, NY - Sony Hall - SOLD OUT

Nov. 6 - Boston, MA - Royale Boston

Nov. 8 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

Nov. 9 - Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre

Nov. 11 - Charlottesville, VA - The Jefferson Theater

Nov. 12 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel

Nov. 13 - Highlands, NC - Highlands Food and Wine Festival 2022

Jan. 15-22, 2023 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Sandy Beaches Cruise 2023

Self-confessed demented-pop artist Eddy Lee Ryder has been writing songs and performing them in quite the nomadic way since she was a teenager, but her new single “Smoke and Mirrors” ended up in a place even she couldn’t have imagined; a hardcore slasher horror film.

Through a series of informal introductions to Ryder’s music through mutual friends, Damien Leone—creator, director, and writer of Terrifier 2—ended up using “Smoke and Mirrors” in his film after a search for something that sounded like Fleetwood Mac and Kate Bush. “It was actually my friend Jeff Harris, who also was brought into the Terrifier family as a photographer, who messaged me one morning. ‘Can you email Damien? I don't know why but they are looking for music in your genre, I don't know how it fits with a slasher flick but that's what they want!’” remembers Ryder.

The upbeat song itself has a much different backstory. “It's about friends of mine, amazing independent awesome women, who started doubting themselves or losing themselves after getting married to men who didn't treat them very well,” says Ryder. “One of the husbands I reference in this song would text other girls but the messages would pop up on my friend's synced iPad. He once said, ‘Sometimes I wait for her plane to burn in flames.’ That line made it into the song. And this was coming from a guy who would judge me for not being married!”

Fans can hear “Smoke and Mirrors” now at this link and, if you dare, check out the trailer for Terrifier 2 right here. Ryder is playing a special single-release show at New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall on October 10th.

Critically-acclaimed instrumentalist and songwriter Justin Hiltner has announced his debut solo album, 1992 available December 9, 2022. The project’s lead single and title track is a heartbreaking and singular exploration of survivor’s guilt, disability, and embodiment and is available today via streaming platforms, download, and Bandcamp.

Premiering this week on The Bluegrass Situation, Hiltner described the single: “At the time I began writing [‘1992’], I was reading [Randy Shilts’] And the Band Played On and spending a good amount of time studying the movement for queer rights in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. It dawned on me that I wasn't born after the HIV/AIDS epidemic, I was born into it. And almost certainly there were gay men and queer folks dying of HIV in the very same hospital where I was born.” Accompanied simply by stark, low-tuned banjo, the story within “1992” is entrancing and solemn, a truly original message – especially within the genres and regions Hiltner has called home.

1992 was recorded in September 2020 with Grammy Award winning producers and bluegrass, folk, and children’s music stalwarts Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer engineering and co-producing at their studio in Lansing, North Carolina – the hometown of bluegrass and old-time forebear Ola Belle Reed. The collection’s twelve original songs, each recorded live and the majority tracked in single takes, were captured atop the idyllic and gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains with a panoramic view of Pond Mountain, White Top, and New Pinnacle from Ashe County, NC, a setting that complicates and unspools narratives around where queer folks belong while upending stereotypes of “ownership,” “authenticity,” and placemaking in bluegrass, Appalachia, and the South.

Other songs on the album deal with class issues and social justice, love, loss, and longing, and Hiltner’s journey through cancer – his treatment, recovery, disability, and the traumas of surviving cancer only to land in the COVID-19 pandemic. The banjo playing throughout is technically impressive and challenging, but serves each song tastefully and, often, subtly, reminding of solo pickers and performers like John Hartford and Darrell Scott. “Pieces,” a song about the slow drip of losing oneself in love, was co-written with Rounder recording artist Caroline Spence, a longtime friend of Hiltner’s. “Benson Street,” which was written with flatpicker and songwriter Molly Tuttle, is full of pining and the imagery of southern summers.

Hiltner’s highly-anticipated solo debut feels strikingly mature and sharp, with a point of view rare even in the fast growing queer country movement, a reminder of why NPR Music called him “A leader in the burgeoning movement to welcome and highlight queer voices in bluegrass.”

1992 will be available wherever you download, stream, or purchase music on December 9, 2022. Pre-order open now.

1992 Track List:

Dark Side

U R the HWY 1 (APT 2)

Everglades

Benson Street

1992

Hannah

Oligarchs

10 Years (Gotta Get Out)

Pieces

I Wanted More

I Cry Every Day Now

Another Way

If Jarrod Dickenson’s third studio album, BIG TALK sounds like a mighty roar of defiance, that’s not a design choice or a marketing decision. The big Texan is settling scores all over town and he means every f*cking word.

So what happened in the years since the release of Dickenson’s soulful sophomore long-player, Ready the Horses, to have turned this honey-voiced southern gentleman into a brawler? After a major label deal-gone-bad threatened to choke off his career, Covid complications left him with a life-long medical condition and the Trump era sought to eviscerate the notion that America might still be that shining city on a hill, Dickenson would have certainly been forgiven for retreating to his Nashville home to lick his wounds and maybe write a collection of introspective self-pity anthems. Instead, the hardships and infuriation of recent years have only added steel to the resolve of an artist already willing to do it the hard way, prepared to stand in the face of a music business that shows dwindling regard for the brand of artistry that first inspired him to pick up a guitar and sing for his life.

Today, Dickenson shared the first single from BIG TALK, “Long Hard Look,” a swampy, gritty, low-down groover that asks listeners to examine themselves and how they treat those around them. “We live in an age where it seems our first instinct is to succumb to our darker nature,” says Dickenson. “We’re quick to make snap judgments about people and to attack anyone who thinks or acts differently than we do.”

“Long Hard Look” suggests that everyone take a step back and ask themselves—just as the song does—“Are you picking up your brother, or are you knocking him down?”

Fans can stream or purchase “Long Hard Look” today at this link, watch its beautifully animated lyric video at this link, and be sure to pre-save or pre-order BIG TALK ahead of its February 3rd release right here.

Dickenson is finishing up a tour run through the Northeast this week at Atwood’s Tavern in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 16th and New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall - Stage 1 on October 18th. Tour dates and ticket information can be found at jarroddickenson.com/tour.

More About BIG TALK: This album represents Dickenson’s most direct and uncompromising body of songwriting to date and his decision to occupy the producer’s chair has injected BIG TALK with a drive and coherence that compliments the muscle of its material. Furthermore, Dickenson has assembled a band of ferocious players to bring these songs to life with striking authenticity in a series of live sessions recorded to tape.

The album features the talents of Jano Rix (The Wood Brothers) on drums and keys, Ted Pecchio (Doyle Bramhall II, Tedeschi Trucks Band) on bass, JP Ruggieri on guitars, and Claire Dickenson on backing vocals. Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers makes a guest appearance, singing on “Home Again,” and Ethan Johns (Producer - Ray LaMontagne, Ryan Adams, Laura Marling, Kings of Leon) wrote the string arrangement for the closing torch song, “Goodnight.” Together they create that unmistakable sound that only comes from the assembly of great players, in a room, having a blast. And what better way to flip the bird at those dark entities that inspired the album’s creation than to rage with such joy?

If Dickenson’s previous works have ventured a foot into the territory of rock and roll, BIG TALK plants a large flag. It’s classic like Petty, gritty like Waits. There are McCartney-esque melodies and the blues get thrown down with a certain Rolling Stones swagger, and yet Jarrod Dickenson has crafted a sound that is all his own. BIG TALK sounds for all the world like a man who has found his groove. Get the record, see a show, just don’t piss him off.

BIG TALK Tracklist:

1. Buckle Under Pressure

2. Born To Wander

3. Home Again (feat. Oliver Wood & Jano Rix)

4. Prefer To Lose

5. Bamboozled

6. With Any Luck

7. If You’re Looking

8. Long Hard Look

9. Don’t Deprive Me

10. Goodnight

Award-winning Canadian duo Whitehorse—Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet—were originally planning on recording an EP of 70s country songs instead of what became their upcoming album I’m Not Crying You’re Crying—out on January 13th via Six Shooter Records. But when the lockdown hit, the pair began churning out new original songs. “Luke was like staying up late every night and writing all the songs about lockdown,” remembers McClelland. “And then he all of a sudden had like this collection of songs about lockdown that was stunning, and so I was like, oh, okay, I'm going to shift my thinking and start writing thematically.” The first song McClelland penned during these sessions was “If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me,” a Telecaster and pedal steel-driven two-step embodying McClelland’s original idea for the song’s refrain: “If the loneliness don’t kill me, then the good times surely will.”

Yesterday, Holler. premiered “If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me,” writing, “On their new record, Whitehorse don’t just dip their toes into 70s-inspired classic country music, they jump in and splash about and luxuriate in its depths and currents. The simplicity and timelessness of the songs belies a musical playfulness and uniquely modern wit as they reimagine the country duet for a new generation.” Fans can stream or purchase “If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying ahead of its January 13th release right here.

The accompanying music video, filmed in LA and directed, produced, and edited by Lyle Bell and Caitlin Veitch, combines a cool, contemporary look with the duo’s retro 70s country inspiration. View it now at this link, and don’t forget to check out Whitehorse’s previously-released singles “Division 5” and “Leave Me As You Found Me” right here.

More about I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying: Whitehorse’s upcoming LP, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, sees the duo lean further into classic country tones which is both a nod to their influences and an evolution of their sound. Whitehorse have received five consecutive JUNO Award nominations in three different genre categories, attesting to their brilliance at crossing genres from psychedelic Americana and pop-noir to squalling blues rock and celestial folk.

A twist on the ever-present “pandemic album,” Whitehorse distilled and transcended the gloom and uncertainty of the time with a collection about heartbreak and loyalty; getting by and going crazy; and shaking things up and hunkering down. The resulting twelve-song collection is playful yet profound; masterfully simple and timeless. I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying is an immaculate collection of 70s country-inspired songs that showcase Whitehorse at their absolute best.

I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying Tracklist:

If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me

I Might Get Over This (But I Won’t Stop Loving You)

The Road

Division 5

Manitoba Bound

Bet The Farm

Leave Me As You Found Me

6 Feet Away

I Miss The City

Sanity, TN

Lock It Down

Scared of Each Other

As a 30+ year Del McCoury Band member and a founding member of the Travelin’ McCourys, fiddle player Jason Carter has made a lot of friends and fans throughout his heavily-awarded career. But never before have all of his friends, from all of the years, joined Carter for his own solo album. That is, until now. Today, the man himself released Lowdown Hoedown, a thirteen-song collection featuring Carter’s own, rich vocals and red-hot fiddling backed up by a stunning lineup of musicians whom he calls friends. Imagine that Carter is throwing the pickin’ party of the century and we’re all invited to join in. The guests? Well, there’s Dierks Bentley, Aiofe O’Donovan, Vince Gill, Billy Strings, Sarah Jarosz, Jon Fishman, Marty Stuart, and that’s barely scratching the surface.

The multitude of guests speaks not only to Carter’s long-known stellar musicianship but also to his personality, lighting up the backstage hangs of music festivals nationwide. Now, fans far and wide can join in on the party by streaming or purchasing Lowdown Hoedown at this link.

Carter will be hitting the road in January for his first ever solo tour, with stops in Colorado, Kentucky, North Carolina, and more. A list of dates can be found below or at jasoncarterfiddle.com/tour.

“New Orleans is super special for Leah and I,” says Chloe Smith, who along with her sister Leah Song, fronts the wildly popular world-folk group Rising Appalachia. “We lived here for about seven years. It’s our soul home. We learned so much music here and we wrote so much music here.” Her words can be heard introducing the group’s crowd-favorite tune, “Indigo Dance,” on their brand new release, Live From New Orleans at Preservation Hall—available for download or streaming now. Fans take note: 10% of all streaming profits from this record will be donated to the Preservation Hall Foundation which exists to create greater awareness and appreciation for traditional New Orleans Jazz and the communities that support it.

Arriving in the Big Easy in 2007 to a city still reeling from Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, Leah and Chloe were not only struck by the music. The resolve of New Orleanians shone brightly on the pair. “We lived there for seven years, soaking in the jazz and brass, the spirit of its people,” remembers Chloe. “Naturally, those sounds seeped into our music, as well as into our identity as Southerners.”

During the development of Rising Appalachia as we know it today, Leah and Chloe cut their teeth busking in New Orleans’ French Quarter, just a few short blocks from the iconic Preservation Hall, a 19th-century Creole townhouse later transformed into a non-profit performance art space in 1961. Preservation Hall brought musical traditions under the same roof before they were legally allowed to perform together. Hosting intimate acoustic concerts 350 nights per year for over half a century, Preservation Hall is a quintessential pilgrimage in the birthplace of Black American music.

So in January 2021, with the pandemic in full swing and neither Rising Appalachia nor Preservation Hall staging events with live audiences, the band was invited to collaborate with the distinguished institution and produce a live-stream concert to bring Rising Appalachia’s signature sound and the spirit of New Orleans into people’s homes around the globe. The electric performance, brimming with full band dynamics and exploring the deeper annals of Rising Appalachia's NOLA-centric songbook with the help of Aurora Nealand (clarinet, accordion) and Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s Branden Lewis (trumpet), was captured for all to enjoy in the form of Live From New Orleans at Preservation Hall.

Fans can download or stream Live From New Orleans at Preservation Hall today at this link, and be sure to stay tuned for more exclusive videos from Rising Appalachia’s 2021 performance by visiting risingappalachia.com.

Rising Appalachia’s 2022 tour concludes next week with a run of shows through Florida. A full list of dates can be found below or at risingappalachia.com/tour. Throughout the past year, Rising Appalachia have also been dropping standalone singles for their rabid fanbase. Check out “Thank You Very Much” (which PopMatters dubbed “a meditation on the road traveled thus far”) and a haunting cover of James Blake’s “I Need A Forest Fire” at their respective links.

Live From New Orleans at Preservation Hall Tracklist:

Just a Closer Walk With Thee - Live

Indigo Dance - Live

Stand Like An Oak - Live

Catalyst - Live

Shed Your Grace - Live

Long Haul - Live

Find Your Way -Live

Silver - Live

River Mouth - Live

Downtown - Live

St. James Infirmary - Live

Resilient - Live

Catch Rising Appalachia On Tour:

Nov. 17 - Deland, FL - Café Da Vinci

Nov. 18 - Stuart, FL - Terra Fermata

Nov. 19 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live

Nov. 20 - Miami Beach, FL - North Beach Bandshell

Americana newcomer Jack Schneider’s debut LP, Best Be On My Way, is a testament to tradition, timelessness, and the modern relevance of old ways. Schneider is a budding record producer, wise songwriter, NYU grad, Vince Gill’s rhythm guitarist, and, very relevant to this album’s recording process, a tape machine enthusiast. In spite of a few reluctant anachronisms, the recording of Best Be On My Way was a scene plucked straight from 1972 with a cast of some of Nashville’s most beloved musical characters—the aforementioned Gill, David Rawlings, Stuart Duncan, Dennis Crouch, and more—huddled around vintage microphones running straight to tape; the tried and true, old school way. The resulting album feels warm and lively, full of compelling stories and unforgettable sonic motifs. Best Be On My Way should be a shoo-in for fans of The Band, Bob Dylan, or James Taylor—and contemporary favorites like Gillian Welch, Watchhouse, or The Avett Brothers.

Best Be On My Way is out now and can be streamed or purchased at this link, and be sure to check out the official music video for “Josephine” and an intimate, in-studio version of “Don’t Look Down.” Schneider will be performing on the world-famous Grand Ole Opry on November 29th. For upcoming tour dates and ticket information, please visit jackschneidermusic.com/tour.

More About Best Be On My Way: Best Be On My Way was recorded on a hot day in June at Nashville’s Sound Emporium. Inside the air-conditioned studio, there was a slight quiver in the air—the hum of a tape machine, the impression that the atmosphere was churning inside a black-and-white photograph. There was an unspoken sense, among those who knew Schneider well, of momentousness: the session itself felt as though it were a real-life culmination of a long and tenuous journey on Schneider’s part, in which he had collected friends and strangers along the way and gathered them together for the odyssey’s retelling. From childhood friends to recent mentors, the motley crew of musicians sat in a wide circle in the live room as around a campfire, much to the contemporarily trained Engineers’ dismay. The players themselves were evidence of a gap Schneider is bridging between musical generations: Grammy award-winning artists Vince Gill and David Rawlings played alongside both Stuart Duncan and Dennis Crouch—longtime Nashville session musicians—and Liv Greene and Griffin Photoglou, two twenty-something artists fresh out of college.

Throughout the long months of quarantine, Schneider began working intensively with former Gruhn Guitars colleague and frequent collaborator, Wes Langlois. Shut up in the studio together for weeks, the two wrote, recorded, and released what they referred to as “vanishing albums:” full-length records accessible for a week at a time each during the pandemic, after which they were removed from streaming services and unavailable for physical purchase. It was from these ephemeral collections of songs that the seed for Schneider’s (permanent) debut record was born.

Best Be On My Way Tracklist:
Josephine
Farewell Carolina
Marietta
Tennessee
Best Be On My Way
Don’t Look Down
Slow Things Down
Nothing Left To Show
In The Morning
Del Rio Blues

MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the first round of artist additions for 2023. Taking place April 27-30, 2023, on the campus of Wilkes Community College, MerleFest 2023 will feature performances from North Carolina’s favorite sons The Avett Brothers, country mega-star and Highwoman Maren Morris, the genre-weaving cultural collective Black Opry Revue. Also joining the lineup are award-winning MerleFest veterans Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, and many more. 2023 will mark MerleFest’s 35th festival and will honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday year. To celebrate the historic milestone event, organizers intend to feature MerleFest’s unique history and present unique collaborations to honor the festival’s founding folk icon.  From the flatbed trailer stage at the 1988 Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Festival to today, and looking into the future, MerleFest will continue to draw fans from all over the world to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains each spring to make music, moments, and memories together.

In addition to those mentioned above, the following artists and bands are set to appear at MerleFest 2023: Andy May, Banknotes, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, Donna the Buffalo, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Jim Lauderdale, Joe Smothers, Kruger Brothers, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Mark Bumgarner, Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen, Pete & Joan Wernick, Presley Barker, Roy Book Binder, Scythian, T. Michael Coleman, The InterACTive Theater of Jef, The Waybacks, Tony Williamson, and Wayne Henderson.

MerleFest 2023 Tickets are available now. For general admission passes, as well as patio seating, reserved seating, camping, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.

About The Avett Brothers (performing Friday): Three-time GRAMMY Award nominees and North Carolina Music Hall of Fame inductees The Avett Brothers made mainstream waves with their 2009 major label debut, I And Love And You. Esteemed documentary May It Last: A Portrait of The Avett Brothers (co-directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio) chronicles the writing of 2016’s True Sadness. In 2019, the band released their 10th studio album, Closer Than Together, featuring “High Steppin'” which reached #1 on the Americana Radio Singles chart. Their newest album, The Third Gleam, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, #1 on Rock Albums, #1 Vinyl Albums, and “Victory" hit #1 on the Americana Radio Singles chart. In January 2022, Swept Away, a musical inspired by and featuring the music of The Avett Brothers, premiered in Berkeley, CA to rave reviews.

About Maren Morris (performing Saturday): Maren Morris is one of the leading voices in music today, armed with incredible vocal stylings and songwriting chops, sheer talent, honest lyrics, and an undeniable presence. Her third album, Humble Quest, which is nominated for Album of the Year at this year's CMA Awards, debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and features Gold-certified lead single, “Circles Around This Town.” Her four-time Platinum single “The Bones” dominated 2020, earning Morris Song of the Year and Female Artist of the Year at the 2021 ACM Awards, Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2020 CMA Awards, plus Female Artist of the year and Music Event of the Year at the 2020 ACM Awards and a 2021 GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Song. Her 2019 album GIRL was named Album of the Year at the 2019 CMA Awards. Her Platinum-certified debut album HERO earned a GRAMMY for Best Country Solo Performance, New Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2017 ACM Awards and New Artist of the Year at the 2016 CMA Awards. HERO features the much-lauded singles “My Church,” “80s Mercedes,” “I Could Use A Love Song,” and “Rich.”

About Black Opry Revue (performing Friday): The MerleFest Black Opry Revue performance will include Yasmin Williams, Chris Pierce, Ping Rose, Nikki Morgan, Aaron Vance, Mel Washington, and Leon Timbo with more artists to be added soon. Black Opry is a home for Black artists and Black fans of country, blues, folk, and Americana music. Country music has been made by and loved by Black people since its inception. For just as long, Black artists, songwriters, and musicians have been overlooked and disregarded in the genre by fans and executives. Black Opry wants to change that. They invite music fans to discover, support, and enjoy the Black artists who make magic in this space. One of the most valuable aspects of country music is its versatility and diversity in sound. Country, blues, folk, and Americana music overlaps, weaving together the distinctions of each genre. The Black Opry Revue showcases and celebrates the diversity in sound and stories that Black artists offer to these genres.

About Sam Bush (performing Saturday): There was only one prize-winning teenager carrying stones big enough to say thanks, but no thanks to Roy Acuff. Only one son of Kentucky finding a light of inspiration from Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys and catching a fire from Bob Marley and The Wailers. Only one progressive hippie allying with like-minded conspirators, rolling out the New Grass revolution, and then leaving the genre's torch-bearing band behind as it reached its commercial peak. There is only one consensus pick of peers and predecessors, of the traditionalists, the rebels, and the next gen devotees. Music's ultimate inside outsider. Or is it outside insider? There is only one Sam Bush.

About Jerry Douglas (performing Thursday, Friday & Saturday): Dobro master and 14-time GRAMMY winner Jerry Douglas is a freewheeling, forward-thinking recording and touring artist whose output incorporates elements of country, bluegrass, rock, jazz, blues, and Celtic into his distinctive musical vision. Called “Dobro’s matchless contemporary master” by The New York Times, three-time CMA Musician of the Year award recipient Douglas is one of the most innovative recording artists in music as a solo artist, band leader for The Jerry Douglas Band and his GRAMMY-winning bluegrass band The Earls of Leicester, as well as a member of groundbreaking ensembles including Alison Krauss & Union Station, J.D. Crowe & the New South, The Country Gentlemen, Boone Creek, and Strength In Numbers. As Jerry Douglas continues his incalculable influence on country, Americana, bluegrass, and their many related genres, he forges ahead as a true pioneer in American music.

About Peter Rowan (performing Friday, Saturday & Sunday): Peter Rowan's bluegrass career started as a Blue Grass Boy in 1964. By Bill Monroe's own admission, Peter sounded a lot like him. When the two harmonized together, they were said to have reached "heavenly heights." Monroe & Rowan co-wrote what has already become a bluegrass standard, “Walls Of Time.” Peter's touring bluegrass band consists of outstanding players Keith Little, banjo; Paul Knight, bass; and Mike Witcher, dobro. The band features original songs written by Rowan along with Carter Family and Bill Monroe favorites. This is a winning combination for an audience that knows and loves this music!

About MerleFest: MerleFest, presented by Window World, celebrates its 35th celebration on April 27-30, 2023. MerleFest started in 1988 as a fundraiser for the Garden of the Senses at Wilkes Community College to memorialize world-renowned flatpicker Doc Watson’s late son, Eddy Merle Watson. In keeping with the MerleFest traditions, 2023 will offer jams honoring MerleFest’s past, present, and future. The celebration also aligns with the late Doc Watson’s 100th heavenly birthday. The festival plans to celebrate the life of Doc & Merle Watson and the history of MerleFest both visually and musically through vintage videos and artist collaborations.

Leading up to the making of their new album, Mile Twelve—a flourishing act whose output has helped push the envelope of New England’s progressive bluegrass and string-band scene—learned a whole new level of perseverance, patience, and performance. “Mile Twelve made fast gains for the first few years, like shiny young bluegrass bands do,” says guitarist Evan Murphy. “We picked fast, sang high, and toured hard. Then it all crashed against the brick wall of Covid.”

Luckily for fans of the band, and of the broader genre, Mile Twelve is back—with two new members, to boot. Joined by Ella Jordan on fiddle and vocals and Korey Brodsky on mandolin, founding members Evan Murphy (guitar, vocals), Catherine Bowness (banjo), and Nate Sabat (bass, vocals) have just announced the fruits of their forced-hiatus and reformation; a brand new album called Close Enough To Hear.

Close Enough To Hear lets listeners in close to a band that decided to continue after all of that heartache—a band that’s grown up a bit too. The vocals might be softer, the viewpoint a little weathered, but there’s no chasing of metronomes here, no tuning of vocals. Mile Twelve decided to stand back up and keep going, quietly delivering what very well may be its best album yet.

Yesterday via Folk Alley, Mile Twelve debuted their new album’s title track “Close Enough To Hear,” a tenderly sung and tightly played ode to being separated from loved ones. I was desperately missing my three-year-old nephew, my brothers, my sisters-in-law, and my parents,” says Murphy. “This song was a simple visualization of a perfect day, and what we were all missing so much at that time.” While Murphy tends to find it easier to write from the perspective of other characters rather than from his own point of view, “Close Enough To Hear” is all very personal. “It spilled onto the page immediately after I did a morning Metta meditation, calling to mind people who I love,” he remembers. Though originally written in the early days of lockdown, the song has a timeless quality that will certainly resonate with any and all listeners who are missing someone.

Fans can watch the music video for “Close Enough To Hear” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Close Enough To Hear ahead of its February 3rd release right here.

Mile Twelve have a few more shows left in 2022, all of which can be found listed below or at miletwelveband.com/tour.

More About Close Enough To Hear: Fans of Mile Twelve will notice the presence of two new members on Close Enough To Hear: fiddler and vocalist Ella Jordan and mandolinist Korey Brodsky. Take note of the new dimension they add to the band, and their ability to lock in with founding members Evan Murphy (guitar, vocals), Catherine Bowness (banjo), and Nate Sabat (bass, vocals). These aren’t session players; this album captures the formation of a new coherent unit. “Recording this album, our third full length, wasn’t easy,” says Murphy. “The pandemic froze the music industry for two years. We had undergone personnel changes. People who followed us couldn’t be blamed for wondering what, if anything, we might be up to. This was attempting a high jump from a total standstill, no running start.”

Both of the bands' previous full-length albums, as well as their guest star-packed EP, were recorded in Nashville. But the new challenges of traveling and dodging positive covid tests kept the band closer to home. They chose Sam Kassirer’s legendary Great North Sounds in the woods of Parsonsfield, Maine, a studio that’s played host to a murderer’s row of Americana acts and has become a fixture of the New England recording scene.

“I’m more proud of this album than anything else I’ve done to date,” says bassist Nate Sabat. “Listening back, I feel an undeniable urgency in the music. A fresh sound rushing out, wanting to be heard. The songwriting, arrangements, execution, and aesthetic are all bullseye, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this music with our fans.”

This is a band looking forward—simultaneously shoring up their bluegrass foundations (in the transfixing a capella opening of “If Only,” for example) while also pushing their musical boundaries and driving into new territory. You’ll detect flavors of jazz (“Red Grapes on the Vine”), acoustic pop (“Take Me As I Am”), and trance music (“Light of Angels”). Heard as a whole, Close Enough to Hear displays the vast potential of acoustic string band music in the hands of capable players.

Close Enough To Hear Tracklist:

Romulus

Johnny Oklahoma

Close Enough To Hear

Red Grapes on the Vine

Light of Angels

Hopping Around Telluride

Waiting

Anywhere Town

Take Me As I Am

If Only

Catch Mile Twelve On Tour:

Nov. 19 - Lake Purdy, NY - Westchester Bluegrass Club

Dec. 2 - East Syracuse, NY - Folkus

Dec. 3 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association

Jan. 20-22 - Anchorage, AK - Anchorage Folk Festival

For ticket information and future dates, please visit miletwelveband.com/tour.

As part of a rising generation of bands who pride themselves on their eclectic influences, genre-melding songwriting, and electric live shows, Colorado-based outfit The Runaway Grooms aren’t just picking up the torch, they’re taking off with it. And on February 10th, the Grooms—guitarist and vocalist Adam Tobin, keyboardist Cody Scott, bassist and vocalist Zach Gillam, drummer Justin Bisset, and guitarist and vocalist Zac Cialek—are releasing their third studio album, This Road, into the world and onto stages nationwide.

Recorded on the road at Paloma Sound Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with former Ardent Studio engineer Jeremy Horn, the Grooms’ third LP marks the band’s return to more of an American roots rock songwriting style, all while keeping one foot in the tight-knit jam band circle from which they emerged. Equally inspired by jazz-fusion exploration from the likes of Steely Dan, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Yes, and the guitar-driven prowess of Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Grateful Dead, This Road dives in and out of grooves and moods, turning on a dime, but always focusing on what the band sees as the most important aspect; the song. Oh, and keeping the crowd on their dancing feet. In addition to telling stories and gleaning wisdom from life, love, and struggle, This Road captures an array of emotions and moods drawn from the dramatic narrative of living on the road in a touring band.

Yesterday, JamBase premiered the first track from This Road, the piano-driven rocker “Jenny.” Written by Tobin as a letter from his late grandmother to his mother, “Jenny” is a story about love, life, family, and the passing of time. Recorded live in the studio to capture the organic energy found in The Runaway Grooms’ live show, “Jenny” winds higher and higher, punctuated by Cialek’s piercing lap steel guitar and Scott’s change from rhythmic piano to swirling B3 organ. The up and down dynamics of the song’s instrumentation flows beautifully with its lyrical content, exactly as the band intended, and is capped off by an all-engulfing slide guitar solo before the song effortlessly fades into the album’s next track. Westword included the track in their new music column this week, calling it "six minutes of classic-rock bliss that’s equal parts The Band and the Allman Brothers."

Fans of the aforementioned bands and more modern contemporaries like Goose or Billy Strings should check out “Jenny” today at this link and stay up to date on all things ahead of their February 10th release right here.

The Runaway Grooms are wrapping up their fall tour with two more shows this weekend in Arkansas and a Frisco, Colorado, engagement on December 10th. Tour dates can be found below or at therunawaygrooms.com/tour.

This Road Tracklist:

Jenny

Mister Ford

Here I Come Again

This Road

Heartwork

Catch The Runaway Grooms On Tour:

Nov. 18 - Little Rock, AR - Stickyz Rock 'N' Roll Chicken Shack

Nov. 19 - Eureka Springs, AR - Chelsea's Corner Cafe

Dec. 10 - Frisco, CO - 10 Mile Music Hall

For ticket information, please visit therunawaygrooms.com/tour.

With their ever-apropos name, Utah-based indie-pop outfit The National Parks want their music to spark memories of listeners’ own outdoor adventures. “I’m spiritually connected when I’m in nature and when I’m listening to music,” says the band’s violinist Megan Parks. “We hope you hear the connection between nature and music, too.” And on March 3rd, The National Parks will expand their vision yet again on their fifth full-length album, 8th Wonder.

“The overarching theme is getting out of our heads, getting into nature and experiencing the world around us with the people who matter the most and living life to the fullest,” adds guitarist, vocalist, and partner to Megan, Brady Parks. Complete with Sydney Macfarlane on vocals and keys and Cam Brannelly on drums, The National Parks want listeners to feel the rush of running and jumping into a lake at full speed; the feeling of the clouds parting and bathing in the warm sun; or being met with a gust of cool, morning air upon stepping outside. These are the sensations being translated into song on 8th Wonder.

Today, Flood premiered the first taste of 8th Wonder, the album’s smooth grooving title track. Flood described the track as “awe-struck, folk-pop” and also added, “Sometimes when a creative surge hits, it hits hard such as the case with The National Parks ‘8th Wonder’ without ever really letting up.” “8th Wonder” came about during a wildly fruitful, two-week writing session. “I’ve never experienced anything like it,” says Brady. “I felt like a lightning bolt of inspiration had hit me and I was scared that if I stopped writing, the inspiration would stop.” During the frenzy, Megan was pregnant with the couple’s new baby boy, and the amazement and excitement for the future was the driving force behind the catchy love song. “This song has stood out to us since the day I sent over a demo to the band,” says Brady. “It's been amazing to watch it grow as we all added to it in the studio and it's a song that we are so excited to have out in the world.”

Bonus Points: The National Parks snuck all of the Natural Wonders of the World into the lyrics of “8th Wonder.” Can you pick out all seven of them?

Fans can hear “8th Wonder” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save 8th Wonder ahead of its March 3rd release right here.

In addition to the album announcement, The National Parks have also announced the Spring leg of their 2023 8th Wonder Tour. Stops include The Troubador in Los Angeles and Antone’s in Austin. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at thenationalparksband.com/tour.

More About 8th Wonder: At the top of 2022, The National Parks hopped on Zoom for a “New Year’s Resolutions meeting,” which galvanized their next step and the vision for the album became completely clear. The band discussed their ambitions for the year ahead and ultimately decided they wanted to hone in more on their core identity for the next LP. That connection with the natural world became the thematic center of the writing process. “We’ve stepped into what The National Parks is,” Sydney elaborates. “We basically said, ‘This is who we are and who we have always been.’ We decided to show who we are without trying to prove anything. I think it’s our best work.”
 
“Angels,” the album’s first single and opening track, sets the tone for what’s to come. The layered, evocative song centers on breaking free of expectation and searching for adventure on the open road—a sentiment that threads through the rest of the album. On the song, Brady sings, “Imma tell our kids about this someday.”  
 
Following “Angels,” The National Parks initially teased the album with the single “History Channel.” A pop-punk beat sets the pace as piano dances around a thick guitar riff. Brady’s voice echoes on the chantable chorus as he confesses, “I didn’t know I could feel this way.” “It’s about being caught up in day-to-day routines,” the frontman reveals. “Something happens, and you take a step back to admire life for how epic it really is. For me, it came right after our son was born. I was so in awe of Megan and having a baby. It took my life from the plains to the mountain range and it was so massive and mysterious. That’s the heart of it for me.” “We really tapped into the energy of bands like blink-182 and Taking Back Sunday,” Cam goes on. “It was so fun to record because we got to listen to music from our childhood.”
 
A violin solo glistens through “Sunshine” as acoustic guitars wrap around a steady beat. “You’re finding those people and holding onto that energy when the days are rough,” he says.  

Then, there’s “Trouble.” It bottles the butterflies of “love-at-first sight.” Speaking of love, the finale “Rodeo” traces a roadmap of real romance across “all of the places we’ve been on this journey as we’ve pursued music and our relationships” in between steady handclaps and tambourine.
 
In the end, The National Parks welcome everyone into a much bigger and more wonderful musical world. “When you hear this, we hope you feel like you stepped outside,” Brady leaves off. “We hope you discover the spirit of the unknown and the adventure of life with all its ups and downs. This album is about embracing it all and living life to the fullest.

8th Wonder Tour Spring 2023 Dates:
Friday, March 17 - Salt Lake City, UT - Union Events Center
Friday, April 21 - Rexburg, ID - Romance Theater
Saturday, April 22 - Boise, ID - Treefort Music Hall
Tuesday, April 25 - Portland, OR - Mission Theater
Wednesday, April 26 - Seattle, WA The Crocodile's Madame Lou's
Friday, April 28 - Berkeley, CA Cornerstone
Saturday, April 29 - Santa Cruz, CA The Atrium
Thursday, May 4 - San Diego, CA Voodoo
Friday, May 5 - Los Angles, CA Troubadour
Tuesday, May 9 - Houston, TX The Bronze Peacock at House of Blues - Houston
Wednesday, May 10 - Austin, TX - Antone's
Thursday, May 11 - Dallas, TX - Kessler
Friday, May 12 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street OKC
Saturday, May 13 - Denver, CO - Bluebird

The whole of Juno-nominated songwriter Jill Barber’s new album—Homemaker, out February 10th via Outside Music—focuses on a delicate balance between living out her role as “Canada’s Sweetheart” in the public eye and the complexities of motherhood and marriage at home. And while the struggles and successes encapsulated in Homemaker speak universally, the album’s most wide-reaching message comes in the form of Barber’s latest single, “Beautiful Life.”

Barber’s bouncing, fingerpicked number doesn’t mince words when taking on the influences social media has on our realities and emotions in this day and age. Animated by funny and hard-hitting juxtapositions throughout, Barber’s observations in “Beautiful Life” range from “Seems like everybody’s living the dream” to “I’ve got Cheerios stuck to my feet.” Barber describes the song as “a reminder that social media doesn’t tell the whole story, a pretty picture doesn’t always reflect the whole truth, and living a rich and beautiful life is about embracing the messy chaos of it all.” The song’s refrain sums up Barber’s at-peace outlook: “I may not influence another, be the world’s greatest mother, or a model wife, but I don’t need a pretty picture to know I’ve got a beautiful life.”

Today, Under The Radar premiered the masterfully-illustrated music video for “Beautiful Life” praising the new track stating, “The track is carried by gentle fingerpicked guitar and sweet sun-lit melodies, coloring Barber’s vocals with a warm early-morning glow, one that is bolstered even further by her charming lyricism.” Watch the video here.

Fans can stream or purchase “Beautiful Life” at this link, check out Barber’s previously-released singles “Joint Account (feat. Slow Leaves)” and “Instant Cash For Gold” at their respective links, and pre-order or pre-save Homemaker ahead of its February 10th release right here.

More About Homemaker: Written and recorded in Barber’s adopted hometown of Vancouver where she lives with her husband and two children, Homemaker is the first record that sees Jill in the role of a producer, co-producing with Erik Nielsen (City and Colour), and featuring some of Vancouver’s top session players like Paul Rigby (Neko Case), and Geoff Hicks (Colin James). “These songs are so damn personal, and such a deep reflection of my soul, that I felt an almost maternal instinct to both protect them and produce them for myself,” says Barber. “I really feel like I stepped into my own power as a producer on this record, with a lot of generous assistance from engineer/producer Erik Nielsen, who really championed my abilities in the studio.”
 
Homemaker is a return to Jill’s folk roots. Whereas her most recent albums have been bathed in lush string arrangements, Homemaker sees emotions laid bare, with a stripped-down production style reminiscent of her acclaimed debut Oh Heart and double Juno Award-nominated follow-up, For All Time. But mostly, Homemaker is a statement about the humility and strength that it takes to do the meaningful work of creating a home for others, while still holding space for your own dreams.

Following the success of their summer mixtape 3Sirens Presents With Love Part 1, the team behind East Nashville indie label and recording studio 3Sirens is at it again, embodying their mission statement of “Building community and celebrating great artists…all while having a little fun” in a brand new set of songs: With Love Part 2. “Building a 1960s style Laurel Canyon music community or a 1920’s Parisian artistic movement, a la Gertrude Stein, has always been the dream of 3Sirens. A nostalgic fantasy perhaps but a good pursuit nonetheless,” say 3Sirens founders and head-dreamers, The Grahams. As part of the greater picture of 3Sirens, pairing up trailblazing musicians with beloved, nostalgic songs became the tangible export of what was being built and nurtured—part love letter to the Nashville music community and part good-time, grade-A listening.

3Sirens Presents With Love Part 2 finds acts like Lilly Hiatt, Nicole Atkins, Chuck Mead, and more covering their favorites songs from the 80s and 90s with an all-star backing band. And while some artists chose to stick more closely to the original versions of these songs—see: Elizabeth Cook’s take on “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”—Patrick Sweany’s version of DEVO’s 1978 classic “Gates Of Steel” brings another feel to the table altogether, stripping away the signature synth-pop sound and focusing on the words and feelings of the song itself. With a much slower tempo and sparse R&B instrumentation, Sweany’s soulful voice shines through, transforming the original track into something else entirely.

Fans can now stream or purchase With Love Part 2 in its entirety right here. For those who want to revisit With Love Part 1, it can be streamed or purchased right here. Info on 3Sirens, the studio, and more can be found at 3sirens.com.

More About With Love: “With Love was our first real chance to bring fellow, local, creative minds together in one place to capture an era of music we all could connect to and have fun with,” say The Grahams. “We chose this era because we wanted to dig up some of the gems that were either ‘one-hit wonders’ or forgotten anthems and give them the Nashville treatment.” 3Sirens engineer, producer, and all-around studio guru Dex Green (Twen, Nicole Atkins, Margo Price, Collective Soul, Aaron Lee Tasjan) helmed the board. “The idea was to record songs that lived outside of the respective singer’s zip code so to speak. Like when Johnny Cash covered Nine Inch Nails kind of thing,” says Green—who enlisted Audley Freed, Fred Eltringham, and Robert Kearns of Sheryl Crow fame (among many others) to be the backing band for the sessions.

With Love: Part 2 Tracklist:

Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Elizabeth Cook (Original by Tears For Fears)

Road To Nowhere - Chuck Mead (Original by Talking Heads)

Don’t Get Me Wrong - The Grahams (Original by Pretenders)

1880 or So - Nicole Atkins (Original by Television)

Under The Milky Way - Lilly Hiatt (Original by The Church)

Gates Of Steel - Patrick Sweany (Original by DEVO)

MerleFest, presented by Window World, has just added another huge list of performers to its already stacked 2023 lineup—which featured headliners like The Avett Brothers and Maren Morris. Taking place April 27-30, 2023, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, MerleFest attendees will have the chance to see boogie-rock masters Little Feat, next-generation guitar slinger Marcus King, living country music legend Tanya Tucker, Miko Marks’ blend of country, blues, southern rock and gospel, and many more take to the festival’s multiple weekend stages.

2023 will mark MerleFest’s 35th festival and will honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday year. To celebrate the historic milestone event, organizers intend to feature MerleFest’s unique history and present unique collaborations to honor the festival’s founding folk icon. From the flatbed trailer stage at the 1988 Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Festival to today, and looking into the future, MerleFest will continue to draw fans from all over the world to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains each spring to make music, moments, and memories together.

In addition to those mentioned above, the following bands and artists have been added to the MerleFest 2023 lineup: AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Alison Brown, Andy Cohen, Anna Lynch, Bee Taylor, Brothers Comatose, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Cole Chaney, Compton & Newberry, Dom Flemons, I Draw Slow, Lightnin’ Wells, The Local Honeys, Nigel Wearne, Stillhouse Junkies, Taylor Rae, Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive, Todd Albright, Tommy Prine, Yasmin Williams, and The Youngers.

These newly-added artists will join MerleFest’s previously-announced lineup: The Avett Brothers, Maren Morris, Black Opry Revue, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, Andy May, Banknotes, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, Donna the Buffalo, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Jim Lauderdale, Joe Smothers, Kruger Brothers, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Mark Bumgarner, Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen, Pete & Joan Wernick, Presley Barker, Roy Book Binder, Scythian, T. Michael Coleman, The InterACTive Theater of Jef, The Waybacks, Tony Williamson, and Wayne Henderson.

MerleFest 2023 Tickets are available now. For general admission passes, as well as patio seating, reserved seating, camping, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.

American roots music has seen its fair share of beloved duos over the years—from The Monroe Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs to modern-day pairs like Milk Carton Kids and The War and Treaty—but few leave audiences as amazed as Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley. Built on the interplay of Ickes’s Dobro and Hensley’s six-string guitar, the only thing outshining the virtuosity of this group’s instrumental performances is their singing and songwriting prowess. On February 10th, Ickes and Hensley are set to release a whole new full-length album via Compass Records, Living In A Song. Featuring ten co-written tunes and focusing on a classic country sound, Living In A Song is an in-depth look at the wonderful interplay between two masters of their craft.

Today, Ickes and Hensley shared a sneak peek of Living In A Song, the album’s title track which grew out of their experiences as touring musicians. According to Hensley, the song practically wrote itself after a long day on the road driving through Ohio. When Hensley digs into the lyrics there is no question that he has lived the story he is telling, lifted up even further when Ickes’ tenor harmony enters the chorus.

Fans can check out “Living In A Song” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Living In A Song ahead of its February 10th release right here. Rob and Trey will next take the stage on December 30th in Asheville, North Carolina, with their friends Leftover Salmon. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at robandtrey.com/#shows.

More About Living In A Song: Rob and Trey re-enlisted Grammy-winning producer Brent Maher (The Judds, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson) for the project (they worked together on Rob and Trey’s previous album release, World Full Of Blues). The three-man team wrote several songs together for this project. Additionally, Rob and Trey teamed with other award-winning songwriters to collaborate, which resulted in over 40 songs to choose from when it came time to record. Ickes and Hensley made a conscious decision to focus on their songwriting craft and lean the music in a classic country direction, with some elements of Americana and bluegrass thrown in for good measure. The results of their collaboration show the depth of their musicianship and are nothing short of stellar.

“Deeper Than a Dirt Road” is a radio-friendly, feel-good paean to rural living, evoking life in the tiny East Tennessee town where Hensley was raised. And the duo’s rendition of “Way Downtown” draws its inspiration from Doc Watson’s version recorded 50 years ago on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will The Circle Be Unbroken album, giving the duo a chance to trade some tasty licks with fiddle virtuoso Stuart Duncan. While a lot of Living In A Song focuses on acoustic instruments, “Moonshine Run” finds Rob and Trey ripping on lap steel and electric guitar in addition to their signature un-amplified instruments. “I had this song pieced together for a few years,” remembers Hensley. “I grew up near a river bridge and had always heard stories from the ‘other side of the bridge.’ It seemed to be a divider for the town I grew up in.” The songs lyrics put it more bluntly: “That river’s bridge cuts the town in two / Between the common day sinners and the chosen few.” The song that began as Hensley’s collection of stories was finished with Ickes and prolific songwriter Thomm Jutz. The unison vocal and guitar lick that closes out each chorus bring the duo as close to classic rock as they may have ever been. “Hear me roarin’ down the valley on a moonshine run.”

Life’s challenges play a key role in the inspiration for Living In A Song. “Is the World Still Turning” was the first song written for the project and is a gorgeous broken-hearted love song inspired by the historically unprecedented shutdown at the beginning of the pandemic. “I Thought I Saw a Carpenter” is another heartfelt ballad, inspired by Ickes’ father’s words as he lay dying from cancer; the emotion that Ickes captures in his Dobro solo is as poignant as any vocal. The album closes with “Thanks,” a track reminiscent of early Johnny Cash. Hensley wrote words to the melody penned by his friend Lyle Brewer and once he started working on it found that the song arrived quickly, giving him the opportunity to reflect on his love for his family as he put pen to paper. The demo version of the track had such a great feel that it ended up being the master, with producer Maher playing “percussion” on the back of an old Gretsch guitar.

Living In A Song Tracklist:
Living In A Song
Deeper Than A Dirt Road
Backstreets Off Broadway
Way Downtown
I’ve Given All That I Can Take
Moonshine Run
Just Because
I’m Working On A Building
Is The World Still Turning
Louisiana Woman
I Thought I Saw A Carpenter
Thanks

Catch Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley On Tour (more dates to be announced soon):
Dec. 30 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station*
Jan. 23 - Lexington, KY - Lyric Theatre^
Feb. 10 - Johnson City, TN - The Down Home
Feb. 16 - Knoxville, TN - Barley’s
Feb. 17 - Cartersville, GA - The Booth Museum Gala - Savoy Automobile Museum
Feb. 18 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic
Feb. 22 - Washington, DC - City Winery
Feb. 23 - Philadelphia, PA - City Winery
Feb. 26 - Portsmouth, NH - The Music Hall Lounge
Feb. 27 - New York, NY - City Winery
March 31 - Phoenix, AZ - MIM:  Musical Instrument Museum
April 1 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Folk Festival
May 11 - Athens, AL - Fiddlers Concert Series
May 24 - Raleigh, NC - Private Event
October 14 - Williamsburg, KY - River Stomp Bluegrass Festival

*with Leftover Salmon
^with Jason Carter

For all dates and ticket information, please visit robandtrey.com/#shows.

Powerhouse independent festival producers, Good Vibez Presents and Reggae Rise Up Vegas are joining forces to bring the Holo Holo Music Festival to Las Vegas, Nevada May 6-7, 2023. For these two days in May, Vegas, colloquially known as the ninth island of Hawaii, will transform into an oasis of island vibes.

On Saturday, Holo Holo Vegas will feature Kolohe Kai, Collie Buddz, Katchafire, Kapena, Anuhea, Ka'ikena Scanlan, and a special comedy set by Tumua. And on Sunday, J Boog, Steel Pulse, Sammy Johnson, Ekolu, Paula Fuga, Fia, Eli-Mac. Hosted by Western Conference and Big Body Cisco and DJ sets by Westafa.

“‘Holo Holo’ means ‘to travel, to sail, to move,” says O‘ahu-born Good Vibez co-owner, Dan Sheehan. This familiar expression is most often heard between friends as in ‘let’s holo holo up country’, Sheehan says, when detailing the festival’s origin. The inaugural Holo Holo Music Festival took place in Northern California in 2022, but “this event desires movement, so carrying Holo Holo to Vegas next year is a natural progression for its fluidity.” For Sheehan, curating this lineup is more than just something on his to-do list. “Growing up in Ewa Beach, O’ahu, island music and reggae were the soundtracks to my childhood. These styles of music — the heartbeat of the islands — is the backbone of my work as a festival producer and venue owner. A big part of Good Vibez Presents is discovery, and I’m honored to be able to showcase and celebrate these bands at Holo Holo.”

Holo Holo is an all ages event and tickets will go on sale at 10 AM Pacific on Dec. 8, and will be available for purchase at holoholofestival.com. Limited travel packages from Fuse (including hotel and ticket bundles) will also be available on Dec. 8, click here for more details. Six tiers of tickets are available — from standard GA to Premium VIP Cabana — to ensure music fans have the experience they prefer.

What: Holo Holo Music Festival

When: Saturday, May 6 & Sunday, May 7, 2023; doors at 1 PM, music at 2 PM.

Where: Downtown Las Vegas Event Center

Who: Saturday: Kolohe Kai, Collie Buddz, Katchafire, Kapena, Anuhea, Ka’ikena Scanlan, and a special comedy set by Tuma. Sunday: J Boog, Steel Pulse, Sammy Johnson, Ekolu, Paula Fuga, Fia, Eli-Mac. Hosted by Western Conference and Big Body Cisco and DJ sets by Westafa.

Tickets, daily schedules, and more information: holoholofestival.com

After more than a decade living in Music City, critically-acclaimed banjo player, songwriter, and community builder Justin Hiltner has independently released his solo, full-length debut, 1992 today. The project can be downloaded or streamed digitally everywhere, or purchased directly at this link.

“I can’t believe we’re here!” Hiltner exclaims, “After over ten years imagining this moment, my debut solo album is here and I couldn’t be more proud of it. I spent so much time over the past four years alone, synthesizing these stories into these songs – but they aren’t just mine anymore, they’re everyone’s now, too.”

Hiltner has made a name for himself in bluegrass, old-time, Americana, and country as a community builder and activist – as well as a multiple International Bluegrass Music Association Award nominee – highlighting and championing queer causes and disability rights in roots music. Known for his appearance on the Peabody Award-winning podcast, Dolly Parton’s America, Hiltner uses the banjo and Nashville-style songwriting to complicate and bring nuance to narratives around bluegrass, old-time, Appalachia, and underrepresented folks’ vital contributions to these regions and art forms.

1992, which was co-produced by Grammy winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer in the Blue Ridge Mountains, deals with class issues and social justice, love, loss, and longing, and Hiltner’s journey through cancer head on. The often devastating and poignant collection doesn’t just examine his treatment, recovery, subsequent disability, and the traumas of surviving cancer only to land in the COVID-19 pandemic. It also ties these personal, individual stories to the greater social and political issues of the day, all underpinned by technically impressive and challenging banjo picking that serves each song deftly and artfully throughout.

1992 is a masterwork that never listens as the debut it is, highlighting queer, disabled, and other contributions to bluegrass and Appalachia – contributions that almost always go unspoken and invisible.

Listen and purchase the 1992 here. DJs, download now via Airplay Direct.

More about Justin Hiltner: Justin Hiltner is a queer, disabled banjo player, songwriter, and music writer known from the Peabody Award-winning podcast Dolly Parton’s America and the Broadway national tour of the 2019 Tony Award-winning revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Born and raised in Newark, Ohio, he currently makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee.

Past releases include Watch it Burn (2018) and Room at the Table (2022) with Jon Weisberger, Silver Dagger (2021), “Hold Each Other Up” (2020) with Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, and “Live and Let Live” (2019) with Bluegrass Pride, Laurie Lewis, Melody Walker, and more.

“Boys can die but legends never fall,” sings Mile Twelve’s Evan Murphy in the refrain of their new single, “Johnny Oklahoma,” a triumphant and wild tale involving a brave youth turned human cannonball. And still, from this concise and clever story song, listeners may sense a bit of nihilism; a heavy load sang in a major key. These musicians are clearly working through some hard questions posed by the last few years.

“Mile Twelve made fast gains for the first few years…like shiny young bluegrass bands do,” says Murphy, who plays guitar and sings in the flourishing act whose output has helped push the envelope of New England’s progressive bluegrass and string-band scene’s current era. “We picked fast, sang high, and toured hard. Then it all crashed against the brick wall of Covid.” Luckily for fans of the band, and of the broader genre, Mile Twelve made it through to the other side—with a brand new album called Close Enough To Hear.

Today, Mile Twelve shared the aforementioned tale of “Johnny Oklahoma” with the world, shedding light on both the fictional bravery of the song’s main man and the real-life existential reasoning of his creators. “Johnny Oklahoma is in the prime of his life when he decides to sacrifice everything for his community by being blasted out of a cannon and straight into kingdom come,” says Murphy, who took inspiration from a number of epic personalities and stories throughout time to write this new account.

“This song combines so many raw materials that have been rattling around in my head for years,” remembers Murphy. “Shirley Jackson’s short story ‘The Lottery,’ about the ritual stoning of an innocent person chosen at random in order to keep the rest of the town safe; Lawnchair Larry who flew attached only to helium balloons; Casey at the Bat who seemed so mythic and invincible until he struck out; And finally the Irish folk song Mrs. McGrath in which a mother mourns the loss of her son’s legs in a battle overseas,” he lists. Musically, the song is a tender yet exciting finger-picked ode, dotted with symmetrical banjo and mandolin flourishes that keep the song feeling modern and refreshing; a signature move from Mile Twelve, whose innovation and picking prowess earned them IBMA’s 2020 New Artist of the Year Award.

Premiering today on The Bluegrass Situation, fans can check out the music video for “Johnny Oklahoma” at this link, watch the previously-released music video for “Close Enough To Hear,” and pre-order or pre-save Close Enough To Hear ahead of its February 3rd release right here.

Mile Twelve have already wrapped up their 2022 tour, but a full list of confirmed 2023 dates can be found below or at miletwelveband.com/tour.

More About Close Enough To Hear: Fans of Mile Twelve will notice the presence of two new members on Close Enough To Hear: fiddler and vocalist Ella Jordan and mandolinist Korey Brodsky. Take note of the new dimension they add to the band, and their ability to lock in with founding members Evan Murphy (guitar, vocals), Catherine Bowness (banjo), and Nate Sabat (bass, vocals). These aren’t session players; this album captures the formation of a new coherent unit. “Recording this album, our third full length, wasn’t easy,” says Murphy. “The pandemic froze the music industry for two years. We had undergone personnel changes. People who followed us couldn’t be blamed for wondering what, if anything, we might be up to. This was attempting a high jump from a total standstill, no running start.”

Both of the bands' previous full-length albums, as well as their guest star-packed EP, were recorded in Nashville. But the new challenges of traveling and dodging positive covid tests kept the band closer to home. They chose Sam Kassirer’s legendary Great North Sounds in the woods of Parsonsfield, Maine, a studio that’s played host to a murderer’s row of Americana acts and has become a fixture of the New England recording scene.

“I’m more proud of this album than anything else I’ve done to date,” says bassist Nate Sabat. “Listening back, I feel an undeniable urgency in the music. A fresh sound rushing out, wanting to be heard. The songwriting, arrangements, execution, and aesthetic are all bullseye, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this music with our fans.”

This is a band looking forward—simultaneously shoring up their bluegrass foundations (in the transfixing a capella opening of “If Only,” for example) while also pushing their musical boundaries and driving into new territory. You’ll detect flavors of jazz (“Red Grapes on the Vine”), acoustic pop (“Take Me As I Am”), and trance music (“Light of Angels”). Heard as a whole, Close Enough to Hear displays the vast potential of acoustic string band music in the hands of capable players.

Close Enough To Hear Tracklist:

Romulus

Johnny Oklahoma

Close Enough To Hear

Red Grapes on the Vine

Light of Angels

Hopping Around Telluride

Waiting

Anywhere Town

Take Me As I Am

If Only

Catch Mile Twelve On Tour in 2023:

Jan. 20-22 - Anchorage, AK - Anchorage Folk Festival

Mar. 4 - Northampton, MA - Back Porch Festival

Mar. 22 - Atlantic Beach, FL - Fleet Landing

Mar. 23-24 - Live Oak, FL - Suwanee Spring Reunion

Mar. 25 - Fort Myers, FL - Sydney & Berne Davis Arts Center

Mar. 26 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic

Mar. 29 - Nashville, TN - The Station Inn

Mar. 31 - Berryville, VA - Barns of Rose Hill

Apr. 14 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts

Jun. 15-16 - Grass Valley, CA - CBA Father’s Day Festival

DelFest, the festival brainchild of Del McCoury and his extended McCoury family, is celebrating its 15th year in 2023, and for those who’ve been all 14 years or those looking to make their first Memorial Day memories with Del and the gang, today is the day everyone’s been waiting for: The initial DelFest 2023 lineup is here! From Trampled By Turtles to Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Sierra Ferrell to Sierra Hull, and The Infamous Stringdusters to The California Honeydrops, this year’s lineup once again reflects the all-encompassing musical community that festival hosts—make that 2023 GRAMMY-nominated festival hosts—The Del McCoury Band have cultivated over the years. Produced in conjunction with High Sierra Music and held at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in beautiful Cumberland, MD, DelFest originated from the desire to create a family-friendly music festival celebrating the rich legacy of McCoury music while creating a forum for world-class musical collaborations and showcasing fresh, new talent. This year’s DelFest will, as usual, take place over Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28.

For DelFest 2023, The Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys will be joined by St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Trampled By Turtles, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Infamous Stringdusters, The California Honeydrops, Sierra Ferrell, Sierra Hull, Rising Appalachia, The Tim O’Brien Band, Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force with Los Texmaniacs, Lindsay Lou, Cris Jacobs, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Troubadour Session (Cris Jacobs, Anna Moss, Lindsay Lou, and more), Kitchen Dwellers, The Broomestix, Junior Sisk, Price Sisters, Handmade Moments, and Birches Bend. As always, Joe Craven, will emcee for the weekend.

In addition to traditional stage sets by these world-class artists, attendees can again expect to see one-of-a-kind collaborations, special guest sit-ins, various tributes to Del McCoury and his musical legacy, and intimate appearances from the aforementioned artists. Delfest will, as usual, be immediately preceded by the 3-day DelFest Academy hosted by The Travelin’ McCourys and other all-star players.

Fans are encouraged to take advantage of discounted Advance 4-Day passes which are available now at DelFest.com. All other passes including DELuxe VIP packages, on-site RV passes with and without hookups, and parking will go on sale at a later date to be announced.

For information including camping, parking, partners, and more, please visit delfest.com and follow DelFest on all social platforms. Can’t wait until May for Del-centered goodness? Relive the magic of DelFest on the festival’s YouTube page.

It’s been almost twenty years since Terry Eldredge, Jamie Johnson, Jimmy Mattingly, Dave Talbot, Terry Smith, and Danny Roberts played a fateful run of shows at the Station Inn (with Bobby Osborne as the special guest) as an unnamed band in February of 2004—the earliest iteration of what would become bluegrass supergroup, The Grascals. The band quickly rose from the hallowed and popcorn-scented Station Inn, and their signature sound of cutting edge bluegrass mixed with Nashville songwriting sensibilities made legions of fast fans. That same fateful year, the band signed a record deal with Rounder Records, was booked as the opener and to perform with Dolly Parton on her “The Vintage Tour,” and became regulars on the Grand Ole Opry.

A lot has changed since 2004, as things do. Band members have come and gone, and The Grascals’ signature sound has both tightened up and grown more exploratory over their 10 record span. As the band looks towards their 20th anniversary in 2024, they are ecstatic to announce the return of founding member Jamie Johnson who left the band in 2015 for alcohol and depression treatment. This joyful announcement was made on stage at the Station Inn on December 10, a full circle moment given the band’s history with the venue.

Now, nearly 8 years in sobriety, and at the suggestion of his wife and son, Johnson rejoins with joy, “I thank my Lord for His grace and this gift of sobriety, my family for their daily support and the best love ever, and I thank The Grascals for giving me another chance to pick some great music and finish what we started 19 years ago.” Since getting sober, Johnson has become an outspoken advocate for others in recovery, and a practitioner of music-based addiction therapy.

“Having Jamie back with us makes the band feel brand new again because of the excitement he brings. I am really looking forward to this next chapter of The Grascals story,” says mandolin player, Danny Roberts. Bass player Terry Smith adds, “I’m so happy about the return of one of the most beloved Grascals in our band history. Jamie is family.”

2023’s Grascals’ lineup will feature Terry Smith (upright bass/vocals), Danny Roberts (mandolin), Kristin Scott Benson (banjo), Adam Haynes (fiddle), John Bryan (guitar/vocals), and Jamie Johnson (guitar/vocals). For The Grascals, a musical bond has been forged at the intersection of personal friendships, shared professional resumes, and an appreciation for the innovative mingling of bluegrass and country music that has been a hallmark of the Nashville music scene for decades.

What’s next? At the top of next year, the band plans to record new music for their longtime label, Mountain Home Music Company, and fans should look for a new album in mid 2023. The Grascals will continue to be represented by The Andrea Roberts Agency who has worked with the band since 2004. And to celebrate their 20th anniversary, select tour dates will feature founding member, Terry Eldredge.

For more information on all things Grascals, please visit grascals.com.

On Tour:

1/7/23 - Jekyll Island, Ga - Jekyll Island Convention Center

1/28/23 - Nashville, TN - Music City Sheraton

2/17/23 - Asheville, NC - Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort

2/25/23 - Brooksville, FL - Florida Classic Park

3/11/23 - Milan, IN - VFW Post 6234

3/25/23 - Clay City, KY - Meadowgreen Appalachian Music Park

3/31/23 - Bristol, VA - Delta Hotel by Marriott

4/1/23 - Immokalee, FL - Seminole Casino Hotel

5/25/23 - Branson, MO - Silver Dollar City

5/26/23 - Branson, MO - Silver Dollar City

6/15/23 - Roxboro, NC - Willow Oak Music Park

6/23/23 - Morehead, KY - Poppy Mountain Music Park

7/21/23 - Pickens, SC - Historic Hagood Mill

7/28/23 - Strawberry Point, IA - Backbone Bluegrass Music Park

9/9/23 - Mocksville, NC - Carolina Bible Camp

9/15/23 - Conway, MO - Starvy Creek Music Park

9/22/23 - Pigeon Forge, TN - Leconte Center

9/23/23 - Bean Blossom, IN - Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground

10/21/23 - Point Pleasant, WV - West Virginia Farm Museum

Chris Williams and Kid Reverie’s new album began with an inquisitive search for a simple sound. Having heard Steve Varney’s (Kid Reverie) open-back banjo accompanying fellow songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov on a YouTube video, Williams began tracking down something similar for his own personal collection. “That banjo sounded so amazing on one condenser mike, and I wanted to find one like it,” says Williams. After a long search, he landed on Varney’s website. Williams noticed that he offered lessons and decided to sign up for one or two. “I was so taken with his work and his instrument that I’d pay to talk to him,” Williams chuckles. Kid Reverie recalls, “Chris always came to our lessons with a solid idea. I routinely found myself saying something like, ‘This is great, now let’s make it a song.’”

The pair have just announced the upcoming album Something from Nothing—due out March 3rd, 2023. Born from their initial collaboration, the pair eventually c0-wrote the twelve songs that became Something from Nothing. Co-produced by Williams and Varney and mastered by Varney, the two played every instrument on the album—with the exception of Michael McKee who joins in on drums for five songs and Ayda Varney who plays cat toy sounds on a tune. “This process was very cathartic. It took a trying time for both of us and allowed us to open ourselves to a writing partnership that neither of us expected. I am grateful for this amazing musical experience and hope everyone enjoys these songs as much as we loved creating them!” Kid Reverie affirms that he’s “rarely had such deep collaboration with another songwriter. For so long it felt like we were just doing lessons. I think it took both of us quite a while to realize we were co-writing songs and making an album.”

Today, Chris Williams and Kid Reverie shared the first listen from Something from Nothing, the ebbing and flowing “Half a Mile.” Written a few tunes into Williams’ and Varney’s time writing songs together, “Half a Mile” was a marked point of exploration for the pair, entering a mix of time signatures and tempo changes. “Every writing session we had, I was blown away by Steve’s in-depth knowledge of theory, song structure and catalog of hundreds of songs and examples within each at his fingertips,” remembers Williams. “Very useful when reaching for ideas and inspiration.”

Joined on drums by the aforementioned McKee, Williams and Varney lay down a luscious bed of stringed instruments and on which the song’s story is told. “‘Half a Mile’ is about growing in different ways; about questioning generational teachings we all morph into by process of hand-me-down traditions,” says Williams, adding, “Finding we can have it multiple ways without abandoning anything entirely.” With a stack of beautiful background vocals and string arrangements, the song’s second chorus crashes into a loping ¾ time before stripping it all away and returning to the original feel for the final verse. “It’s hard to remember exactly who did what throughout each song, as we both wore so many hats,” Williams remembers. “As usual, our songwriting process was super gratifying.”

Fans can stream or purchase “Half a Mile” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Something from Nothing ahead of its March 3rd release right here.

More About Something from Nothing: Something from Nothing opens with spacious, atmospheric “Morning,” filled with pirouetting strings and keys that evoke melancholic loss and yearning for the promise of a new day. “My mom passed away during COVID,” recalls Williams, “and I was standing outside the hospital where she was a patient when this song began to form in my mind.” He pondered separation and loss—two themes woven through the arc of the album—and how they affected him and others during the pandemic, wondering where hope for the future might lie. “I imagined this perfect golden field, a place both physical and abstract. A retreat for loss and memories, hopes and determination. A space that our own energies could converge and swirl, absent each other,” he says. As Kid Reverie remembers about writing the song: “The title, the space and ease… It led me to produce it like a grand entrance.”

“Morning” segues effortlessly into “The Fog,” a dreamy waltz floating on piano, synths, and ringing guitar lines that echo the notes on the piano. The Beatles-esque soundscape pulls us into the beauties and mysteries of a fog-shrouded landscape. “Half a Mile” ingeniously combines lilting banjo rolls and an upbeat Flying Burrito Brothers country rock tempo with soaring symphonic strains and transcendent vocals, while the spare guitar strums that introduce “Himalayan Hills” undulate and wash into sparkling, crystalline vocals that evoke the spiritual grandeur of the landscape in the song’s title. As Williams observes, “imagine a photo of mountains as far as the eyes can see, covered with flowers in every hue the mind could conjure. A place so majestic one would find it impossible to carry burdens. Mountains so imposing, they demand respect and surrender.”

The gorgeous love song to the universe “Asleep” floats on lush strings, echoing vocals, and melodic piano chords, punctuated by the plaintive strains of banjo fingerpicking on the instrumental bridge, while the heart-catching “Dappled Grey”—“Don’t tell anyone this is my favorite,” Kid Reverie chuckles—ambles through the vagaries of love, flitting between the crooning poetic explorations of Simon and Garfunkel and the spiraling harmonies of the Beatles. As Williams says of the song, “It meanders gently from the start with swells and valleys, conveying a sense of uncertainty while matching the story line for line. That is the amazing thing about music; the emotion that it can evoke from a listener who had no plans on being dragged in.”

The album closes with the lullaby “Mercury,” the first song that Varney and Williams wrote together. “It is a very simple delving into the depths of love and imagination,” William says. “This was our first song,” Kid Reverie recalls. “It’s pretty nostalgic to listen back and think about how we were trying to figure each other out. It ended up being a cosmic lullaby. I remember referencing it in my car and my daughter asked to hear it again. Always a good sign.”

Chris Williams and Kid Reverie hope the songs on Something from Nothing inspire others in their art: “not to be afraid to take chances musically.” Their music illuminates the struggles of the human soul, lighting a path between the shadows and light that leads from despair, fear, and loss to hope, courage, and love.

Something from Nothing Tracklist:

Morning

Fog

Half A Mile

Himalayan Hills

Warning Bell (feat. Kid Reverie)

Asleep

Pretenders

Gambit

Dappled Grey

Glimmer

Carolina

Mercury

“I’m always down for a love song about a place,” says Steve Varney—better known as Kid Reverie—of his new collaboration with lifelong Carolinian, Chris Williams. Released today as a single from their upcoming album together, “Carolina” is just that. “The story starts on the beach in Wilmington. It stretches out to the Smokies and ends on the Outer Banks in Ocracoke’s Silver Creek Harbor…where the sun can be observed setting over its silver waters through the mouth of the harbor,” recalls Williams. “Surely one of my favorite memories.”

Holler premiered the track and boasted about it stating, “‘Carolina’ is so gently life affirming and transcendental it feels like it’s being poured down into the very depths of your soul.” Also adding, “It spirals around, dipping and soaring, a ghostly understated bluegrass spiritual that feels like it’s bleeding through the walls from another universe.”

Williams had a fairly complete layout of the song before ever sending it to Varney, having tracked guitars, strings, vocals, and more, inspired by the state which he calls home. “I love everything about North Carolina,” he says. “There is a comfort in where you were born, where you’ve explored, all the emotions tied to so many stories rooted in that place. In retrospect, I could see so many metaphors and similes relating to how healing and familiar my surroundings were while navigating life in this area.”

Varney immediately recognized the direction in which Williams was heading and the pair sat down and picked the whole arrangement apart. “We slowly worked through each verse, the vocal rhythm, phrasing, choice of words, instruments, leaving nothing untouched,” remembers Williams. “It was shockingly comprehensive and eye opening. I had never dissected a song so thoroughly.” In addition to replacing Williams’ background vocals and adding more layers and percussions tracks, Varney laid down the song’s signature banjo lines. “I loved sitting down with my banjo late at night and playing solos until one clicked,” he recalls. “Even at its loudest, this one always felt so gentle to me,” says Varney. Williams agrees and adds, “The finished product was my most proud musical accomplishment up to that point.”

“Carolina” is one of twelve tracks from Chris Williams and Kid Reverie’s upcoming album, Something from Nothing, which can be pre-ordered or pre-saved ahead of its March 3rd release right here. Fans can listen to “Carolina” now at this link and check out the pair’s previously-released single, “Half a Mile,” right here.

More About Something from Nothing: Something from Nothing opens with spacious, atmospheric “Morning,” filled with pirouetting strings and keys that evoke melancholic loss and yearning for the promise of a new day. “My mom passed away during COVID,” recalls Williams, “and I was standing outside the hospital where she was a patient when this song began to form in my mind.” He pondered separation and loss—two themes woven through the arc of the album—and how they affected him and others during the pandemic, wondering where hope for the future might lie. “I imagined this perfect golden field, a place both physical and abstract. A retreat for loss and memories, hopes and determination. A space that our own energies could converge and swirl, absent each other,” he says. As Kid Reverie remembers about writing the song: “The title, the space and ease… It led me to produce it like a grand entrance.”

“Morning” segues effortlessly into “The Fog,” a dreamy waltz floating on piano, synths, and ringing guitar lines that echo the notes on the piano. The Beatles-esque soundscape pulls us into the beauties and mysteries of a fog-shrouded landscape. “Half a Mile” ingeniously combines lilting banjo rolls and an upbeat Flying Burrito Brothers country rock tempo with soaring symphonic strains and transcendent vocals, while the spare guitar strums that introduce “Himalayan Hills” undulate and wash into sparkling, crystalline vocals that evoke the spiritual grandeur of the landscape in the song’s title. As Williams observes, “imagine a photo of mountains as far as the eyes can see, covered with flowers in every hue the mind could conjure. A place so majestic one would find it impossible to carry burdens. Mountains so imposing, they demand respect and surrender.”

The gorgeous love song to the universe “Asleep” floats on lush strings, echoing vocals, and melodic piano chords, punctuated by the plaintive strains of banjo fingerpicking on the instrumental bridge, while the heart-catching “Dappled Grey”—“Don’t tell anyone this is my favorite,” Kid Reverie chuckles—ambles through the vagaries of love, flitting between the crooning poetic explorations of Simon and Garfunkel and the spiraling harmonies of the Beatles. As Williams says of the song, “It meanders gently from the start with swells and valleys, conveying a sense of uncertainty while matching the story line for line. That is the amazing thing about music; the emotion that it can evoke from a listener who had no plans on being dragged in.”

The album closes with the lullaby “Mercury,” the first song that Varney and Williams wrote together. “It is a very simple delving into the depths of love and imagination,” William says. “This was our first song,” Kid Reverie recalls. “It’s pretty nostalgic to listen back and think about how we were trying to figure each other out. It ended up being a cosmic lullaby. I remember referencing it in my car and my daughter asked to hear it again. Always a good sign.”

Chris Williams and Kid Reverie hope the songs on Something from Nothing inspire others in their art: “not to be afraid to take chances musically.” Their music illuminates the struggles of the human soul, lighting a path between the shadows and light that leads from despair, fear, and loss to hope, courage, and love.

Something from Nothing Tracklist:
Morning
Fog
Half a Mile
Himalayan Hills
Warning Bell (feat. Kid Reverie)
Asleep
Pretenders
Gambit
Dappled Grey
Glimmer
Carolina
Mercury

Endorsed by such varied greats as Tom T. Hall, The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, and Ricky Skaggs, The Gibson Brothers have long been heralded by those in-the-know as masters of their craft. Their latest effort, Darkest Hour, aims to make them household names. By taking universally known truths and feelings and distilling them into impeccable bluegrass, country, and Americana songs—and playing them oh so sweetly—Eric and Leigh Gibson connect with each and every audience member, longtime listener, and casual passerby. With their new single, “One Minute Of You (Song For Annie Gray),” their target audience is every parent everywhere who wishes to have (or have had) more time with their rapidly growing children. “Leigh wrote this song for his daughter, Annie,” says Eric. ”It's for all the parents out there who all know that time with your kids slips away quickly.”

The third single from The Gibson Brothers’ upcoming Jerry Douglas-produced LP, Darkest Hour, “One Minute Of You (Song For Annie Gray)” rides a galloping acoustic guitar foundation with minimal percussion and tasty electric guitar and fiddle flourishes. The song, like most of the Gibson’s catalog, feels equally at home on stage at a bluegrass festival or on classic country radio waves. “Now, Babe, I know there comes a day / But I don’t want to give away one minute of you.”

Fans can check out “One Minute Of You (Song For Annie Gray)” over at The Bluegrass Situation now, save the track here, and pre-order or pre-save Darkest Hour ahead of its release at this link.

Due out on January 27th, Darkest Hour spans from trad-grass to country-soul and back again, utilizing classically bluegrass instruments as well as electric guitars and drums to craft a sound fit for the songs it surrounds. And while The Gibson Brothers have achieved a level of success doing things their way, and that’s not going to change, those that know—their peers that voted them to two Entertainers of the Year Awards, and their famed crop of producers—know just how talented these guys are. And just how much they deserve for Darkest Hour to take The Gibson Brothers to a whole new level.

Additionally, The Gibson Brothers just announced a string of tour dates throughout January and February beginning in Old Saybrook, Connecticut on the 26th. A complete list of dates can be found below or at gibsonbrothers.com/tour.

More About Darkest Hour: While The Gibson Brothers’ last release, Mockingbird, featured gorgeous production, recreating the sound on stage was difficult. “We put together a band to go out and try to recreate it,” remembers Eric Gibson. “But we couldn't. We would have to have such a huge band to try to recreate that record, but we did the best we could.”

Darkest Hour producer Jerry Douglas—who has won 14 Grammy awards and backed up everyone from Ray Charles to Paul Simon and George Jones—wanted to make a record The Gibson Brothers could actually play on the road. So, he picked the best songs out of dozens and squirreled the group away in Sound Emporium’s Studio B. But then the pandemic hit. “We did our last shows in March of 2020,” Eric says. “We were in Nashville the week everything was shutting down. It was surreal, but Jerry was like, ‘Guys, the world's going crazy. Let's let this be our little cocoon.’ And we did. We cut all of the acoustic stuff and then went home and didn't play any more gigs until things started opening. Then we went back and finished the record with Jerry in February of 2021.”

The result is arguably the strongest record The Gibson Brothers have ever made. The songs recorded in the first recording period featured Mike Barber (bass), Justin Moses (mandolin), Eamon McLoughlin (fiddle), and of course, Jerry Douglas, adding in John Gardner (drums), Guthrie Trapp (electric guitar), Todd Parks (bass), and Alison Krauss (vocals) for the final tracks, Darkest Hour showcases just how easily Eric and Leigh move from what Dan Auerbach dubbed “country soul” (“I Go Driving”) to high octane bluegrass (“What a Difference A Day Makes” and “Dust”) with Douglas always keeping the spotlight on the songs themselves. “That’s what I love about those guys,” Douglas told me, “they are just great songwriters.”

Darkest Hour Tracklist:

1. What A Difference A Day Makes

2. Heart’s Desire

3. So Long Mama

4. I Feel The Same Way As You

5. Shut Up and Dance

6. I Go Driving

7. My Darkest Hour

8. Who’s Gonna Want A Heart Like Mine

9. One Minute Of You (Song For Annie Gray)

10. Your Eyes Say His Name

11. Dust

12. This Good Day

Catch The Gibson Brothers On Tour:

Jan. 26 – Old Saybrook, CT – The Kate

Jan. 27 – Fairfield, CT – StageOne

Jan. 28 – Shirley, MA – Bull Run

Jan. 29 – Newburyport, MA – Firehouse Center

Feb. 2 – Glens Falls, NY – The Park Theater

Feb. 3 – Clinton, NY – Kirkland Art Center

Feb. 4 – Norwood, NY – Norwood Central School

Feb. 9 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head

Feb. 10 - Richmond, VA – The Tin Pan

Feb. 11 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center

Feb. 12 – Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall

Feb. 16 – Newport, KY – The Southgate House Revival

Feb. 18 – Nashville, TN – Analog at Hutton Hotel

Feb. 19 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle

Six-string virtuosos Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley just shared a brand new tune from their upcoming Compass Records release, Living In A Song; a spirited, full-band ode to America’s favorite clear liquor, “Moonshine Run.” While much of Living In A Song spotlights the duo's proficiency on acoustic guitar and dobro, “Moonshine Run” finds Ickes and Hensley ripping on lap steel and electric guitar in addition to their signature un-amplified instruments. “I had this song pieced together for a few years,” remembers Hensley. “I grew up near a river bridge and had always heard stories from the ‘other side of the bridge.’ It seemed to be a divider for the town I grew up in.” The song's lyrics put it more bluntly: “That river’s bridge cuts the town in two / Between the common day sinners and the chosen few." The song that began as Hensley’s collection of stories was finished with Ickes and prolific songwriter Thomm Jutz. The unison vocal and guitar lick that closes out each chorus bring the duo as close to classic rock as they may have ever been. “Hear me roarin’ down the valley on a moonshine run.”

Fans can check out “Moonshine Run” today at this link, hear the album’s previously-released title track, “Living In A Song,” here, and pre-order or pre-save Living In A Song ahead of its February 10th release right here. Ickes and Hensley will next take the stage for WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour on January 23rd in Lexington, Kentucky, with their fiddling friend Jason Carter (Del McCoury Band, The Travelin’ McCourys). A full list of tour dates can be found below or at robandtrey.com.

More About Living In A Song: Ickes and Hensley re-enlisted Grammy Award-winning producer Brent Maher (The Judds, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson) for the project and wrote 30 songs, picking the best to record. Ickes and Hensley made a conscious decision to lean the music in a classic country direction, with some elements of Americana and bluegrass thrown in for good measure. The results of their collaboration show the depth of their musicianship and are nothing short of stellar.

The title track, “Living In A Song,” grew out of their experiences as touring musicians, and according to Hensley, the song practically wrote itself after a long day on the road driving through Ohio. When Hensley digs into the lyrics there is no question that he has lived the story he is telling, lifted up even further when Ickes’ tenor harmony enters the chorus. “Deeper Than A Dirt Road” is a radio-friendly, feel-good paean to rural living, evoking life in the tiny East Tennessee town where Hensley was raised. And the duo’s rendition of “Way Downtown” draws its inspiration from Doc Watson’s version recorded 50 years ago on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will The Circle Be Unbroken album, giving the duo a chance to trade some tasty licks with fiddle virtuoso Stuart Duncan.

Life’s challenges play a key role in the inspiration for Living In A Song. “Is The World Still Turning” was the first song written for the project and is a gorgeous broken-hearted love song inspired by the historically unprecedented shutdown at the beginning of the pandemic. “I Thought I Saw A Carpenter” is another heartfelt ballad, inspired by Ickes’ father’s words as he lay dying from cancer; the emotion that Ickes captures in his Dobro solo is as poignant as any vocal. The album closes with “Thanks,” a track reminiscent of early Johnny Cash. Hensley wrote words to the melody penned by his friend Lyle Brewer and once he started working on it found that the song arrived quickly, giving him the opportunity to reflect on his love for his family as he put pen to paper. The demo version of the track had such a great feel that it ended up being the master, with producer Maher playing “percussion” on the back of an old Gretsch guitar.

Living In A Song Tracklist:

Living In A Song

Deeper Than A Dirt Road

Backstreets Off Broadway

Way Downtown

I’ve Given All That I Can Take

Moonshine Run

Just Because

I’m Working On A Building

Is The World Still Turning

Louisiana Woman

I Thought I Saw A Carpenter

Thanks

Catch Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley On Tour:

Jan. 23 - Lexington, KY - Michael Johnathan’s WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour at Lyric Theatre^

Feb. 10 - Johnson City, TN - The Down Home

Feb. 11 - Nashville, TN - City Winery

Feb. 16 - Knoxville, TN - Barley’s

Feb. 17 - Cartersville, GA - The Booth Museum’s Boots & Saddles Pre-Gala Party

Feb. 18 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic

Feb. 22 - Vienna, VA - Jammin’ Java

Feb. 23 - Philadelphia, PA - City Winery

Feb. 24 - Tivoli, NY - Kaatsbaan Cultural Park

Feb. 25 - Northampton, MA - The Parlor Room - Signature Sounds Presents

Feb. 26 - Portsmouth, NH - The Music Hall Lounge

Feb. 27 - New York, NY - City Winery

March 16 - Jackson Hole, WY - Showroom Session - The Silver Dollar Showroom - The Wort Hotel

March 22 - Winston-Salem, NC - Barn at Reynolda Village - “More Barn” Concert Series

March 23 - Shelby, NC - The Earl Scruggs Center - Center Stage Concert Series

March 31 - Phoenix, AZ - MIM: Musical Instrument Museum

April 1 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Folk Festival

May 6 - Pinewood, SC - BirdFest

May 11 - Athens, AL - Fiddlers Concert Series

May 24 - Raleigh, NC - Private Event

June 9 - Pagosa Springs, CO - Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival

Oct. 14 - Williamsburg, KY - River Stomp Bluegrass Festival

^with Jason Carter

For all dates and ticket information, please visit robandtrey.com/#shows.

Award-winning Canadian duo Whitehorse—Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet—just released their eighth LP, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, leaving no emotional, personal, fantastical, or political stone unturned. The new album finds the pair venturing deeper into classic country music touchstones than ever before; a move that is both a homecoming and an evolution of their sound. A twist on the ever-present “pandemic album,” Whitehorse distilled and transcended the gloom and uncertainty of the time with a collection about heartbreak and loyalty; shaking things up and hunkering down. The resulting twelve-song collection is playful yet profound; masterfully simple and timeless—and is out today on Six Shooter Records, surprising and charming critics and fans alike.

Stream or purchase I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying today at this link, where you can listen to fan favorites like “Division 5,” "If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me,” and new tracks like “Bet The Farm,” which is a chapel-ready ode to loving love.

In addition to the release of I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, Whitehorse have just announced an early summer tour that begins on May 18th at Sarnia, Ontario’s Imperial Theatre, and UK fans can catch the duo live later this month from Jan. 26-28 for UK Americana Week. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at whitehorsemusic.ca/live.

I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying Tracklist:

If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me

I Might Get Over This (But I Won’t Stop Loving You)

The Road

Division 5

Manitoba Bound

Bet The Farm

Leave Me as You Found Me

6 Feet Away

I Miss The City

Sanity, TN

Lock It Down

Scared of Each Other

Catch Whitehorse On Tour:

Jan 26-28: London, UK - UK Americana Week*

May 18 - Sarnia, ON - Imperial Theatre

May 19 - Highgate, ON - Mary Webb Centre

May 24 - Meaford, ON - Meaford Hall Arts and Cultural Centre

May 25 - London, ON - Aeolian Hall Performing Arts Centre

May 26 - Guelph, ON - Royal City Evangelical Missionary Church

May 28 - Peterborough, ON - Market Hall Performing Arts Centre

May 31 - Ridgeway, ON - The Sanctuary Centre for the Arts

June 1 - Paris, ON - DT Concerts Series

June 2 - Kingston, ON - BLU Martini

June 3 - Ottawa, ON - National Arts Centre

June 4 - Parry Sound, ON - Charles W. Stockey Centre

*with Keep The Wild Flowers Blooming hosted by Bob Harris, with Allison Russell, William Prince and Elles Bailey)

MerleFest, presented by Window World, will honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday, and commemorate the festival’s 35th year in 2023. To celebrate the historic milestone, organizers intend to showcase MerleFest’s unique history, celebrate the festival’s diverse, genre-crossing catalog, and present unique artist collaborations to honor the festival’s founding folk icon. For over three decades MerleFest continues to draw fans from all over the world to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains each spring to make music, moments, and memories together.

Along with recognizing MerleFest’s 35-year commitment to honoring and preserving the musical legacies of Doc and Merle Watson, the festival will also celebrate its founding mission to raise funds for Wilkes Community College. MerleFest is Wilkes Community College’s primary fundraiser and to date has given back over nineteen million dollars to the college and its students. Contributions from MerleFest directly support student scholarships, building improvements, emergency funds for students, and so much more. Local civic clubs and organizations raise over $400,000 annually to support their causes by selling food and volunteering their time assisting with various aspects of the festival. Since its inception in 1988, these organizations have been an integral part of what makes MerleFest a success year after year.

MerleFest is proud to once again welcome our 2023 Acoustic Kids Showcases with Andy May. Since 2001 the Acoustic Kids program has given young musicians of any skill level the opportunity to perform on festival stages in a supportive environment. Beginner through pro, all musicians 18 or younger are welcome to participate and share their music with the MerleFest audience. Each year, we host three 1.5-hour showcases and a half-hour Acoustic Kids Ambassadors set.

Pre-registration is required to participate in Acoustic Kids and is open from February 1 through March 20 (or until all showcases are full). Online registration, showcase schedules, and FAQs are available at https://andymay.com/acoustic-kids-registration-merlefest/, and detailed registration instructions are at https://andymay.com/acoustic-kids/registration-instructions/.

MerleFest is excited to welcome back the School Day and MerleFest Outreach programs in 2023. Last held in 2019, MerleFest School Day hosts over 3,000 students and their teachers from area middle and high schools on Friday to enjoy the festival free of charge. In addition to welcoming students to MerleFest, the MerleFest Outreach program brings MerleFest to the students. The MerleFest Outreach program enhances regional education by showcasing performances from festival artists in 17 public schools, giving many students who may otherwise not be able to attend, a face-to-face encounter with the artists and their craft.

It’s not too late! MerleFest Volunteer applications are still open. As a volunteer, participants will receive free entry to the festival for the entire day of their shift, free parking, and shuttle, and 10% off camping at River’s Edge Campground. Most importantly, volunteers will be supporting a major fundraiser for Wilkes Community College. Please visit merlefest.org/volunteer to sign up before the April 15th deadline.

The Wilkes Community College Foundation will host its third annual MerleFest Mega Raffle to support scholarships at WCC! Over $150,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded! ONLY 3,000 tickets will be sold and you do not have to be present to win. The Mega Raffle drawings will be held during the festival on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at the Mega Raffle/Silent Auction Tent at 2:00 p.m. Winners will be announced during the live drawings and notified via email and phone to confirm the prize. Raffle tickets are $100 each and include two entries to the MerleFest Mega Raffle drawings. Mega Raffle Tickets go on sale February 1, 2023.

MerleFest 2023 Tickets are available now. For general admission passes, as well as patio seating, reserved seating, camping, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.

About MerleFest: MerleFest, presented by Window World, celebrates its 35th year on April 27-30, 2023. MerleFest started in 1988 as a fundraiser for the Garden of the Senses at Wilkes Community College to memorialize world-renowned flatpicker Doc Watson’s late son, Eddy Merle Watson. In keeping with the MerleFest traditions, 2023 will offer jams honoring MerleFest’s past, present, and future. The celebration also aligns with the late Doc Watson’s 100th heavenly birthday year. The festival plans to celebrate the life of Doc & Merle Watson and the history of MerleFest both visually and musically through vintage videos and artist collaborations.

Good Vibez Presents, the team behind the now-legendary California Roots Music and Arts Festival, have announced the final artist additions for the festival’s 2023 lineup. Grammy-nominated Cali Roots-veterans Rebelution are set to headline on Thursday, Billboard Reggae Chart-topping outfit Stick Figure tops Saturday’s bill, and longtime fan favorites Thievery Corporation and Chali 2na & Cut Chemist join the lineup on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. These bill-topping artists join the already-announced talent of Wu-Tang Clan, Dirty Heads, Shaggy, Cypress Hill, Dispatch, and many many more for the 12th Annual Cali Roots, returning to the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California, on May 25-28, 2023.

3-day and 4-day tickets, as well as Fuse travel packages, are still available at this link, and single-day tickets will go on sale Wednesday, January 18th at 10 am Pacific. Per usual, Cali Roots is an all-ages-welcome event, and kids 10 and under can attend for free with parents or guardians. In addition to four days of music, Cali Roots offers local food and beverage vendors, captivating art installations, on-site greening initiatives, community-focused nonprofits, and intimate pop-up performances.

California Roots Music and Arts Festival 2023 Lineup:

Thursday:

Rebelution, Thievery Corporation, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Atmosphere, SOJA, Katchafire, Dub Inc, Mihali, Mykal Rose + Subatomic Sound System, Anuhea, Thrive

Friday:

Wu-Tang Clan, Sublime with Rome, Cypress Hill, Steel Pulse, Common Kings, The Interrupters, L.A.B, Maoli, Jesse Royal, Lila Iké, Surfer Girl, Joe Samba, Kyle Smith, Soulwise

Saturday:

Stick Figure, Shaggy, Collie Buddz and Friends, Hieroglyphics feat. Del the Funky Homosapien,  Gentleman, Hirie, Ozomatli feat. Chali 2na and Cut Chemist, Alborosie, BadFish, Kes, The Skints, The Hip Abduction, Little Stranger, Cydeways

Sunday:

Dirty Heads, Iration, Dispatch, Kolohe Kai, Matisyahu, The Movement, Natiruts, The Elovaters, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Denm, Thee Sacred Souls, Shwayze, KBong and Johnny Cosmic, Tunnel Vision, B Foundation, The Rudians

From Merle Haggard to The Sex Pistols (on successive shows in 1978!) many musical legends have graced the long stage of the Longhorn Ballroom. From its early days as Bob Wills’ Ranch House to a wild period when infamous club owner and assassin Jack Ruby was running the venue to Dewey Groom’s long tenure as its owner, the Longhorn was Dallas’s home for acts like Tex Ritter, Nat King Cole, Patsy Cline, T- Bone Walker, Ernest Tubb, Ray Charles, Asleep at the Wheel, Little Richard, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Charley Pride, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Ramones, James Brown, Patti Smith, Johnnie Taylor, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Al Green, George Strait, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Selena, and more.

And when the Longhorn’s glory days were all but over and the venue went dormant, a dancehall-sized hole was left in the heart of Texas' live music scene. Enter musical and historical steward Edwin Cabaniss and the rest of the Kessler Presents team—the same group who took on the revitalization of Dallas’s historic Kessler Theater and The Heights Theater in Houston. The group is currently in the thick of an intensive restoration of the Longhorn’s hallowed grounds with the promise of bands being back on stage by Spring 2023.

Cabaniss and his team hope to share the story of Longhorn Ballroom not in just a historical way, but as a living, breathing testament to its musical contributions to the greater American musical canon.

The historical storytelling aspect will be done in part with the original museum-style display cases built into the walls of the Longhorn for show patrons to peruse. These cases include everything from Tex Ritter’s suit to James Brown’s robe; an extraordinary collection of guitars from artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette, and BB King; the dress Loretta Lynn wore when she played the Longhorn; Bob Wills’ fiddle amplifier; and many, many other items and photographs from the venue’s early days—all lovingly collected and meticulously displayed.

Regarding the artists who will play at the Longhorn in this modern era, this 2,000+ capacity venue is a way for Kessler Presents to continue their support of artists within the Dallas touring market. “We take great pride that many artists build their fan bases at the Kessler Theater and then graduate to bigger rooms.” says Cabaniss. “With the addition of the Longhorn Ballroom, we can continue to grow with them.”

Cabaniss and team understands the positive impact his venues can have on the community. Upon purchasing the Longhorn Ballroom, he engaged with local leaders, businesses, and nearby residents to map out a strategy for revitalization of this long neglected area. In his words, “To successfully rebuild a neighborhood from the ground up, you must have a catalyst project to get it started and an engaged set of stakeholders to sustain it long term.”

Dallas’ Mayor Eric Johnson, with whom Cabaniss worked closely to ensure this venue will positively add to the neighborhood and to Dallas’ greater arts community, said, “The Longhorn Ballroom is a monument to our city's rich music history — a history that deserves to be front and center nationally. And the Longhorn Ballroom is located in a part of our city that is primed for growth in the years ahead.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity to help preserve a piece of our past while building something new and exciting that is up to modern standards,” Mayor Johnson said. “And Edwin Cabaniss is someone who has both a viable plan and the experience necessary to revive and revitalize a uniquely Dallas venue. I am thrilled about the possibilities, and I look forward to seeing some great concerts there for years to come.”

Like the Kessler Theater and the Heights Theater, Longhorn Ballroom will be run by the well seasoned team of Kessler Presents, a proudly independent operating company that prioritizes the patron and artist experience and the communities in which they operate.

What: The Grand Reopening of Longhorn Ballroom

When: Spring 2023 - First shows to be announced soon!

Where: 216 Corinth St, in the Cedars neighborhood of Dallas, TX

Who: Edwin Cabaniss and his team at Kessler Presents

“Every song written feels like a little victory to its writer. Sure, some are better than others, and from time to time—if you’re lucky—you write something special. But every one counts,” says Eric Gibson of International Bluegrass Music Association Award-winners, The Gibson Brothers. He’s explaining how he and his brother Leigh, as well as their all-star band, ended up in the studio with producer—and dobro-playing legend—Jerry Douglas, who encouraged the Gibsons to send him all-original songs to comb through for their brand new album, Darkest Hour. “Making this record of songs Jerry deemed as keepers with him is a dream come true,” says Eric. “The songs reflect where we came from, where we are, and where we go from here.”

“The Gibson Brothers are more than a musical act that runs around the country like everyone else. They are two of the kindest, most thoughtful, and interesting people I know. They come from deep family roots that have shaped them into very good men with values that are rare these days. They have an eyes wide open interest in what goes on around them and they turn their experiences into songs that are well-deep in substance, intellect and charm,” Douglas says. “I asked them for all the songs they had written because I already liked them musically and personally, but didn’t think the broader audience knew what was in there. Then I just painted around what they gave me. I wanted to make a Gibson Brothers record that could let them express all the things they are. I’m very proud of what we made and I think it shows all the facets of their personalities, both Eric and Leigh. They are brothers but they each see things in a different light. That brings richness to the canvas, and they are nowhere near the end of what they have to say.” With the help of Douglas and a host of stellar guest musicians—Justin Moses, Guthrie Trapp, and Alison Krauss, to name a few—Darkest Hour spans from trad-grass to country-soul and back again, utilizing classically bluegrass instruments as well as electric guitars and drums to craft a sound fit for the songs it surrounds.

Fans can now stream or purchase Darkest Hour in its entirety right here. For those itching to hear these new tunes live and in-person, The Gibson Brothers are currently on tour through the end of February. They’re playing tonight in Fairfield, Connecticut, and a full list of tour dates can be found below or at gibsonbrothers.com/tour.

While The Gibson Brothers’ last release, Mockingbird, featured gorgeous production, recreating the sound on stage was difficult. “We put together a band to go out and try to recreate it,” remembers Eric Gibson. “But we couldn't. We would have to have such a huge band to try to recreate that record, but we did the best we could.”

Darkest Hour producer Jerry Douglas—who has won 14 Grammy awards and backed up everyone from Ray Charles to Paul Simon and George Jones—wanted to make a record The Gibson Brothers could actually play on the road. So, he picked the best songs out of dozens and squirreled the group away in Sound Emporium’s Studio B. But then the pandemic hit. “We did our last shows in March of 2020,” Eric says. “We were in Nashville the week everything was shutting down. It was surreal, but Jerry was like, ‘Guys, the world's going crazy. Let's let this be our little cocoon.’ And we did. We cut all of the acoustic stuff and then went home and didn't play any more gigs until things started opening. Then we went back and finished the record with Jerry in February of 2021.”

The result is arguably the strongest record The Gibson Brothers have ever made. The songs recorded in the first recording period featured Mike Barber (bass), Justin Moses (mandolin), Eamon McLoughlin (fiddle), and of course, Jerry Douglas, adding in John Gardner (drums), Guthrie Trapp (electric guitar), Todd Parks (bass), and Alison Krauss (vocals) for the final tracks, Darkest Hour showcases just how easily Eric and Leigh move from what Dan Auerbach dubbed “country soul” (“I Go Driving”) to high octane bluegrass (“What a Difference A Day Makes” and “Dust”) with Douglas always keeping the spotlight on the songs themselves. “That’s what I love about those guys,” Douglas told me, “they are just great songwriters.” 

Darkest Hour Tracklist:

1. What A Difference A Day Makes

2. Heart’s Desire

3. So Long Mama

4. I Feel The Same Way As You

5. Shut Up and Dance

6. I Go Driving

7. My Darkest Hour

8. Who’s Gonna Want A Heart Like Mine

9. One Minute Of You (Song For Annie Gray)

10. Your Eyes Say His Name

11. Dust

12. This Good Day

Catch The Gibson Brothers On Tour:

Jan. 27 – Fairfield, CT – StageOne

Jan. 28 – Shirley, MA – Bull Run

Jan. 29 – Newburyport, MA – Firehouse Center

Feb. 2 – Glens Falls, NY – The Park Theater

Feb. 3 – Clinton, NY – Kirkland Art Center

Feb. 4 – Norwood, NY – Norwood Central School

Feb. 9 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head

Feb. 10 - Richmond, VA – The Tin Pan

Feb. 11 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center

Feb. 12 – Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall

Feb. 16 – Newport, KY – The Southgate House Revival

Feb. 18 – Nashville, TN – Analog at Hutton Hotel

Feb. 19 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle

Hot on the heels of their announcement regarding the re-opening of Dallas’s famed Longhorn Ballroom, the team behind the venue, Kessler Presents, is already scheduling top tier programming. Today, the performers were announced for the Longhorn’s soft launch period beginning at the end of March and continuing into April, wasting no time adding new names to the legendary list of musicians who’ve already stepped foot on this stage—not to mention inviting some of them back.

On March 30th, Western Swing torchbearers Asleep at the Wheel with Brennen Leigh and Joshua Hedley will be the first acts back in the Longhorn, keeping in line with Kessler Presents’ goal of honoring and connecting the venue’s history to the venue’s present and future.

“We first played the Longhorn in 1974, and for a bunch of young Bob Wills fans, it was a thrill. I have seen the ups and downs of the Longhorn over the last 50 years, and am very excited and relieved that Edwin and his team are going to continue to honor the tradition of this special place and make sure it is never forgotten or lost like so many other of Texas’ historic venues and dance halls,” says Asleep at the Wheel frontman and founder, Ray Benson. “To be the first band back on the Longhorn stage for the reopening is an honor and an opportunity I take great pride in having. You can bet the dance floor will be packed and Bob Wills music will be played!”

Heading into the weekend, Old Crow Medicine Show and special guest Joshua Ray Walker will perform on March 31st, and on Saturday, April 1st, Morgan Wade with special guests Lucero and Kaitlin Butts will finish out the Longhorn Ballroom’s weekend. Part of the drive behind everything Kessler Presents does—and by proxy, the Longhorn Ballroom—is to support and grow artists. So, when the demand for Morgan Wade’s originally scheduled Kessler Theater show instantly sold out,  it only made sense to move the wildly-popular artist’s performance over to the new, larger-capacity Longhorn Ballroom—and to add alt-country favorites Lucero to the bill. Finally, on April 22nd, the long-reigning queen of Americana, Emmylou Harris, will grace the Longhorn stage for the very first time—a modern history moment.

All shows will go on sale at 10 A.M. CST on their respective on-sale date, see below for more information. Tickets can be purchased at Longhornballroom.com.

"We are excited to share the first batch of shows as it is just a taste of what patrons can expect from Longhorn Ballroom programming in the coming years,” says the Longhorn’s primary steward and head of Kessler Presents, Edwin Cabaniss. “From the legendary to the emerging-and-rocketing-toward-stardom, every bill during our soft launch is made up of artists we love and are personally excited to see perform. Taking our cues from the venue's 72-year-old history—we're taking our time building out our calendar because we want to get it just right. We want to ensure artists and patrons have a remarkable experience every time they walk through our doors.”

Longhorn Ballroom’s First Round Of Shows:

Mar 30: Asleep at the Wheel with Brennen Leigh and Joshua Hedley (on sale 2/1)

Mar 31: Old Crow Medicine Show with special guest Joshua Ray Walker (artist presale 2/1, public on sale 2/3)

Apr 1: Morgan Wade with special guests Lucero and Kaitlin Butts (on sale 1/31)

Apr 22: Emmylou Harris (on sale 2/3)

Visit Longhornballroom.com for more information and to sign up for news alerts relating to ticket and show announcements, and be sure to follow Longhorn Ballroom on socials: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube. Fans are encouraged to dig into Longhorn Ballroom’s musical history by listening to this Spotify playlist which features songs from every era and artist.

Count Basie’s name alone conjures images of late nights, swaying to sounds that are ever cool, hip, and fresh. The world-famous jazz pianist and band leader helped redefine music several times over and set the preconditions for jazz innovations, rock and roll, and popular American music. On April 7th, a whole new host of colorful talents will mix with Basie’s legendary sound and influence as part of a brand new album called Late Night Basie. Releasing on Primary Wave Music label and distributed by Green Hill Music, Late Night Basie captures the essence of the man and his music with each song a modern-day interpretation of a Count Basie classic. For both the longtime fan and the new listener, surprise and delights await in this timely, important recording. And for those who may have never heard the magic of Count Basie, Late Night Basie is certainly intended to be a door into his plentiful catalog of music.

With Late Night Basie, visionary producer Paul Peck wanted to find and highlight the intersection of Count Basie through seemingly unrelated artists. For him, Basie is one of the primary colors of music; one that allows you to create infinite variations when mixed and matched with others and itself. “I see Basie as an artist who didn’t care about overwhelming you with a torrent of notes. He made the right choice in the right place at the right time to create space to hear and absorb the intent and feeling of the music,” says Peck. “This quality among others makes him so universally understood and so impactful, that he is the core of an almost infinite number of musical variations.” Late Night Basie is the latest of these variations, featuring performances from Terence Blanchard, Talib Kweli, Nicholas Payton, The Count Basie Orchestra (directed by Scotty Barnhart), Cimafunk, Larkin Poe, The Soul Rebels, Lettuce, Jazzmeia Horn, Ray Angry, Will Lee & Shawn Pelton, Jimmy Vivino, Weedie Braimah & others.

“Putting together this tribute album to Count Basie has been a labor of love over the last several years”, states Rob Dippold, Partner & President of Digital Strategy for Primary Wave Music. “As we strive to continuously develop fresh and tasteful approaches to celebrate (and create new IP) for our iconic song catalogs, this release will introduce Count Basie to new generations of music lovers while respecting his existing fanbase."

Today, Primary Wave Music shared the first track from Late Night Basie, “Didn’t You,” performed by GRAMMY-nominated funk torchbearers Lettuce and hip hop trailblazer and activist, Talib Kweli. Written by saxophone great Frank Foster for Basie’s best selling album, April in Paris, this remix leaps out of the speakers with a leadoff, funky bass drum figure before the horns of Ryan Zoidis (alto sax) and Benny Bloom (trumpet) blend and bend the notes of the first chord on top of Erick Coomes’ chugging bass—all within the song’s first four bars.

Following Lettuce’s statement of the melody, Kweli flows over the rhythm section with a verse that manages to jump off the title and bridge his signature social commentary with a quick sweep of Basie’s life, making plain the link between hip-hop and Count Basie-swing. “Providing inspiration for them black and brown babies,” Kweli raps over the contagiously funky band. “Piano lessons for 25 cents a session, got him counting all their blessings while he fattened up the rhythm section.” Throughout, Adam Smirnoff’s guitar effects and Nigel Hall’s keyboards lend a smoky, atmospheric cushion to the entire proceedings.

Fans can check out “Didn’t You” by Lettuce (feat. Talib Kweli) right now at this link and Late Night Basie can be pre-saved or pre-ordered ahead of its April 7th release right here.

For more information, please visit CountBasie.com.

Late Night Basie Tracklist:

“Didn’t You” Lettuce (Feat. Talib Kweli)

“One O’Clock Jump” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Jazzmeia Horn & Ray Angry)

“Blue & Sentimental” - Larkin Poe (Feat. Will Lee & Shawn Pelton)

“M-Squad” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Terence Blanchard)

“Jumpin’ at the Woodside” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Jimmy Vivino & Ray Angry)

“St. Thomas” - The Soul Rebels (Feat. Nicholas Payton, Cimafunk & Weedie Braimah)

“One O’Clock Jump” (Bonus track) - Danny Jonokuchi & The Revisionists*

*winners of DownBeat Magazine’s inaugural Count Basie Contest

Upcoming Concert Dates for the Count Basie Orchestra (Directed by Scotty Barnhart):

Feb 8 - Culver, IN (Culver Academies)

Feb 10 - Dubuque, IA (University of Dubuque Heritage Center)

Feb 11- Edgerton, WI (Edgerton Performing Arts Center)

Mar 3 - Stillwater, OK (Mcknight Center For The Performing Arts Center)

Like any good folk songwriter before her, Ellie Turner hones in on the twists and turns of her journey—not so much her destination—to tell the collective story of her debut album, When The Trouble’s All Done. And Turner’s path has taken quite a few twists and turns. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Turner has always been creative, although her passion was initially channeled into visual art and design. “I was all set to attend Savannah College of Art and Design,” she explains, “but a last-minute conviction of spirit led me elsewhere. I ended up at The University of Arkansas on a total whim where I studied Economics, and more importantly, where I fell in love with folk music. It filled me up like nothing else ever had. I couldn’t get enough… I think that was probably when I first started to understand the power folk music had to stop time.”

After a few years working as an analyst for Southwest Airlines, she “finally mustered up the courage to leave my corporate gig for something more creative,” although she still didn’t pursue music. It would take one more year and a brief stint at the interior design company The Citizenry before she finally gained the confidence to say yes to the thing she truly loved. “I was at breakfast with my Dad on a Saturday morning when I made the decision to quit my job, sell my house, and move to Nashville. It was July of 2018, I was 26 years old, and I felt so behind,” Turner says. Fast forward to current day where Turner is on the cusp of releasing her first album, surrounded by friends and community and a steadfast dedication to crafting folk songs able to “stop time”—Turner’s songs do seem to exist on their own metaphysical planes, as meditations of sorts.

Today, Under The Radar premiered the first track from When The Trouble’s All Done, “One More Day.” The last song written for the album, “One More Day” features Turner’s signature soft yet piercing vocals, which feel like a secret told to a best friend, floating atop a lightly-grooving bed of acoustic guitars and upright bass. Album producer, and fellow recording artist, Jack Schneider sings the low harmony on the song’s refrain: “Just one more day until tomorrow / One more day you’re on my mind.”

“Do you ever put off reading the last page of a book because you’re not quite ready for the story to end? Even if you pretty much already know what’s to come in the sentences waiting so patiently in line for you? That’s sort of what this song was for me,” Turner explains the impetus of “One More Day.” “ The end of the story. The bird’s eye view. The frame in full focus, finally, and at last. It is a song of acceptance and about learning how to move forward in life holding joy and sorrow at the same time in a single hand’s grip. Life is anything but black and white, and this song is a surrendered recognition of the gray.”

Listen to “One More Day” now at this link, and pre-order or pre-save When The Trouble’s All Done ahead of its March 24th release right here. Turner will be performing in the Northeast beginning February 12th in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A full list of upcoming dates can be found below.

When The Trouble’s All Done Tracklist:

One More Day

The ‘I Love You’ Song

Daughter

Wandering

A Little Farther Down The Line

Katabatic

If That Ocean’s Still Blue

Holyoke

Oh, Sister

When The Trouble’s All Done

More About When The Trouble’s All Done: Through every element of her album’s creation, Turner has taken care to retain a specific presentation of her songs. Most of the tracks feature just acoustic guitars, upright bass, and vocals. “The album was performed and recorded live-to-tape at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Tennessee,” she says. “This was a very conscious decision made by myself and my producer, Jack Schneider. We would play the song live until we felt like the most honest version of the song had been performed and captured. The imperfections and unexpected little moments of each performance are where the magic of the record lives. I wanted it to feel as if I was in someone’s living room and was handed a guitar to play.” Save for one cover of Bob Dylan’s “Oh, Sister,” all of the songs from When The Trouble’s All Done are originals written by Turner or co-written with Schneider.

Catch Ellie Turner On Tour:

February 12 - Portsmouth, NH - The Press Room

February 13 - Boston, MA - Club Passim

February 18 - New York, NY - The Church of the Epiphany

February 19 - New York, NY - The Scratcher Bar

March 16 - Chicago, IL - Montrose Saloon

April 28 - Nashville, TN - The Station Inn (Album Release Show)

Sometimes, inspiration strikes in the strangest of places. According to three-time Juno Award nominee Del Barber, his new tune, “Still Got You,” flashed before his eyes while he was taking a leak outside one night on his little farm in western Manitoba. “The stars looked like they were crammed in the sky like sardines, the wolves were howling, cows were bawling,” Barber remembers. “I had my dog Fischer next to me. I realized how lucky I was to have this life; the simplicity, the isolation, all of it.” Seemingly surrounded by darkness in every facet of the outside world, Barber felt like his was on a little self-made island, away from the shouting and chaos of it all. “My partner Haylan and I were building a life on the fringes of it all and I was in love with it and proud of what we had,” he says. However, with those feelings of love and thankfulness came guilt. “I had privileges so many didn’t have and I wanted to do right by them. And I knew there’d be some consequences from looking away from the world as often as we liked.”

Premiered by The Bluegrass Situation, each verse of “Still Got You” reflects the juxtaposition of Barber’s retreat and the things he’s shielded himself from—or possibly missing out on—with lines like: “They've got just cause and they're rallyin' in the streets / I'm just pruning my tomatoes and pulling out the weeds.” But the repeated refrain of the song is this simple: “The whole world goes to shit and I've still got you.”

“Still Got You” opens up with a bouncy, finger-picked guitar supporting Barber’s easily approachable vocals; warm and inviting and jumping right into the story. A few more instruments ease their way in before the song’s groovy one-two feel gives way to a half time beat that challenges listeners not to bob their heads along the way. Barber’s delivery and the good time vibes of the song’s instrumentation provide a light balance to the song's lyrical content—the same kind of uplifting feeling that the writing process brought to its writer. “This song was written slowly over a few months,” recalls Barber. “Whenever the idea for it came up I’d casually add to the piece. It was a simple effort, a calming process that I used to choose to celebrate doing the small things well, seeing the good in my life, leaning into it and finding peace in shutting out the world from time to time.”

Fans can stream or purchase “Still Got You” today at this link, and check out an in-studio performance video of the song right here. “Still Got You” is the first taste of Barber’s upcoming album, Almanac—coming out Spring 2023 via acronym Records. For more info, including tour dates, please visit delbarber.com.

After a major label deal-gone-bad threatened to choke off his career, Covid complications left him with a life-long medical condition, and the Trump era sought to eviscerate the notion that America might still be that shining city on a hill, honey-voiced Texan songwriter Jarrod Dickenson would have certainly been forgiven for retreating to his Nashville home to lick his wounds and maybe write a collection of introspective self-pity anthems. Instead, the hardships and infuriation of recent years have only added steel to the resolve of an artist already willing to do it the hard way, prepared to stand in the face of a music business that shows dwindling regard for the brand of artistry that first inspired him to pick up a guitar and sing for his life—and Dickenson laid it all out for the world to hear on his new ass-kicking LP, BIG TALK. Out now, BIG TALK sounds like a mighty roar of defiance— that’s not a design choice or a marketing decision. The big Texan is settling scores all over town and he means every f*cking word.

Fans can stream or purchase BIG TALK right now at this link and don’t forget to check out out Dickenson’s collection of BIG TALK music videos: “With Any Luck,” “Prefer To Lose,” “Buckle Under Pressure,” and “Long Hard Look.” Limited edition BIG TALK vinyl can be purchased at Dickenson’s official web store.

Dickenson is heading over to Europe for the first leg of 2023’s The BIG TALK Tour in March, but will first make stops in Rochester, New York, on February 9th and Towaco, New Jersey, on February 11th. A full list of tour dates and ticket information can be found right here.

BIG TALK Tracklist:

1. Buckle Under Pressure

2. Born To Wander

3. Home Again (feat. Oliver Wood & Jano Rix)

4. Prefer To Lose

5. Bamboozled

6. With Any Luck

7. If You’re Looking

8. Long Hard Look

9. Don’t Deprive Me

10. Goodnight

Good Vibez Presents together with PR Entertainment are pleased to announce the lineup for the 6th annual Lake Tahoe Reggae Fest which will take place Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23, 2023. Additionally, Lake Tahoe Reggae Fest announce a venue change from South Lake Tahoe’s Hard Rock to the festival’s new 2023 home, Palisades Tahoe. “We are thrilled to partner with PR Entertainment to bring people together for mindful, sustainable gatherings rich with music—old and new school reggae—and art in the Tahoe Basin,” says Dan Sheehan, co-founder of Good Vibez Presents.

“Our entire team is excited for this summer and our new home at Palisades Tahoe. Taking the Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival to this beautiful Tahoe location will give music and nature fans memories for a lifetime,” says Paul Reder of PR Entertainment, a long-time Tahoe resident and one of the largest independent concert promoters and theatrical producers in the Tahoe area.

Tickets, as well as VIP, will go on sale Feb. 14 at 10 AM PST at laketahoereggaefest.com. VIP offerings include a private bar and bathroom, and a VIP-only viewing area.

Considered one of North America’s best ski resorts, Palisades Tahoe is known for its vibrant ski culture. It was host to the 1960 Winter Games, and has been home to an incredible list of music festivals over the years including Bill Graham’s iconic Summer Music Festival with the Jerry Garcia Band in 1991. Music lovers will also know it as the modern-day home to the WinterWonderGrass Festival. When driving into Palisades, it’s impossible not to be stunned by the view of Tram Face, the imposing rock cliff below the Aerial Tram, and the jagged snow-covered peaks that shoot up in every direction. Higher on the mountain, a sparkling Lake Tahoe splays out before you, a view Mark Twain once described as “the fairest picture the whole earth affords.”

Like all festivals in the Good Vibez canon, festival goers can expect exciting programming both on and off stage including local food vendors, interactive local art displays, a quirky and quality vendor area, and a commitment to leaving the community better than they found it with composting, recycling, and greening initiatives which work towards zero waste.

“We love working in the High Sierra,” says Amy Sheehan, co-founder of Good Vibez. “Being a destination for outdoor lovers and music fans alike, we feel a real synergy when working here. I find that a lot of our patrons come for the music and end up staying a few days for the hiking, dining, and general exploring that the majestic High Sierra range has to offer.”

What: 6th Annual Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival

When: Saturday, July 22nd & Sunday, July 23rd, 2023

Where: Palisades Tahoe (1960 Olympic Valley Rd, Olympic Valley, CA 96146)

Who: Rebelution, Stick Figure, Tribal Seeds, Pepper, Dispatch, Hirie, J Boog, The Expendables, Iya Terra, Bumpin Uglies, The Elovaters, Pipedown, and Claire Wright

For more information and to purchase tickets starting February 14 at 10 AM PST, please visit laketahoereggaefest.com.

When it came time for the Infamous Stringdusters to record their new album, A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs, the band gathered in the studio and pressed record; all at once, all together, just like the bluegrass pioneers whose music they were picking. Hot on the heels of yet another GRAMMY nomination—this time for their latest LP, Toward The Fray—the Stringdusters are revisiting the forefathers of the genre in a way not too distant from their GRAMMY-nominated A Tribute to Bill Monroe. “The concept of paying tribute to the Grandfathers or originators of Bluegrass is one we bounced around for awhile and after Bill Monroe, the most logical, I think any bluegrass musician would agree, is Flatt & Scruggs,” says Stringdusters bassist Travis Book. “They're legendary and without Earl's banjo, bluegrass just doesn't exist the way we know it today.” A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs—the band’s 13th full-length album—will be released on April 21st via their Americana Vibes label.

Today, the band shared an early listen of their take on Flatt & Scruggs’ 1954 single, “I’d Rather Be Alone.” “For the album, each of us brought a song to the table that we wanted to sing and that had meaning to us,” remembers Book. “I reached out to my friend, Jon Weisberger, and asked him if he'd suggest a song that he thought hadn't been overdone and would suit my voice. I was thrilled when he suggested ‘I'd Rather Be Alone’ because I was familiar with it but hadn't really played it much or learned the lyrics and it was a perfect fit.” The band quickly locked into easy bounce of the rhythm section and loping vocal delivery. “It's a lament and it's a sad song but it's so beautiful,” says Book. “The way the melody hangs the line out there— “You say you're sorry that you went awaaaaay”—it's just classic Flatt & Scruggs!”

Fans can listen to “I’d Rather Be Alone” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs ahead of its April 21st release, including a specialty vinyl pressing here. Fans can also pre-order the full suite of Flatt & Scruggs merch via a bundle here. The Stringdusters are back on the road this weekend in Killington, Vermont, before making a run through some of Colorado’s most beautiful and beloved mountain towns through the end of the month. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at thestringdusters.com/tour.

A Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs Tracklist:

I’d Rather Be Alone

Will You Be Lonesome

Blue Ridge Cabin Home

Earl's Breakdown

Cabin on the Hill

Down the Road

Catch The Infamous Stringdusters On Tour:

Feb. 11 - Killington, VT - Killington Ski Resort

Feb. 24 - Frisco, CO - 10 Mile Music Hall

Feb. 25 - Frisco, CO - 10 Mile Music Hall

Feb. 26 - Telluride, CO - Sheridan Opera House

Feb. 27 - Telluride, CO - Sheridan Opera House

Feb. 28 - Crested Butte, CO - Center for the Arts

March 1 - Crested Butte, CO - Center for the Arts

March 3 - Steamboat Springs, CO - WinterWonderGrass

March 4 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington’s

March 5 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre

March 23-26 - Live Oak, FL - Suwanee Spring Reunion

April 20-21 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino Crown Room

April 22 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall

April 23 – Mill Valley, CA – Sweetwater Music Hall

May 5-6 - Baltimore, MD - Charm City Bluegrass Festival

May 19-20 - Clive, IA - Greenbelt Music Festival

May 25-28 - Cumberland, MD - DelFest

June 1-3 - Oak Hill, WV - Mountain Music Festival

June 15-18 - Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival

June 21-24 - Owensboro, KY - ROMP Fest

June 22-24 - Eau Claire, WI - Blue Ox Festival

June 29-July 2 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival

For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, please visit thestringdusters.com/tour.

Today, the good folks at Planet Bluegrass are pleased to announce the initial lineup for Rocky Mountain Folks Festival 2023. Charley Crockett, The Tallest Man on Earth, Josh Ritter and The Royal City Band, Tank and the Bangas, Larkin Poe, and The Secret Sisters will take the stage at the 33rd annual celebration of great songs which takes place August 11-13 in beautiful Lyons, CO, at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch along the St. Vrain River. Tickets are on sale today at 10 AM MT at shop.bluegrass.com. This is Folks Festival’s initial lineup offering and fans should stay tuned to Planet Bluegrass social media and website for lineup additions and more information including camping, parking, and single day tickets. 

Who: Charley Crockett, The Tallest Man on Earth, Josh Ritter and The Royal City Band, Tank and the Bangas, Larkin Poe, and The Secret Sisters with more to be announced in the coming weeks

What: 33rd Annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival

Where: Lyons, CO at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch along the St. Vrain River (yes, it is as magical as it sounds)

When: August 11-13

Why: It’s the most stunning music venue on the front range! You can discover your new favorite songwriter whilst enjoying a crisp dip in the creek, or lounging on your tarp sun bathing with friends. It’s without a doubt the best way to experience live music in Colorado.

Bringing together world-class songwriters of all genres for three days of music, camping, and inspiration, Rocky Mountain Folks Festival is the premiere Front Range festival for music lovers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Rocky Mountain Folks Festival is accepting entries for the 2023 Songwriter Showcase through their ticketing partner, See Tickets. The entrance fee is $20 per song. Contestants may submit up to two original songs. Official rules and guidelines as well as how to submit for consideration can be found here.

For all other information, please visit bluegrass.com/folks.

Equally inspired by jazz-fusion exploration from the likes of Steely Dan, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Yes, and the guitar-driven prowess of Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Grateful Dead, The Runaway Grooms’ new album, This Road, dives in and out of grooves and moods, turning on a dime, but always focusing on what the band sees as the most important aspect; the song. Oh, and keeping the crowd on their dancing feet. Released today, This Road finds the Grooms—guitarist and vocalist Adam Tobin, keyboardist Cody Scott, bassist and vocalist Zach Gillam, drummer Justin Bisset, and guitarist and vocalist Zac Cialek—not only telling stories and gleaning wisdom from life, love, and struggle, but also capturing an array of emotions and moods drawn from living on the road in a hard-touring band. All of these sounds and stories were captured at Paloma Sound Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with former Ardent Studio engineer Jeremy Horn.

Fans can now purchase or stream This Road in its entirety right here and don’t forget to check out the official music video for “Jenny” at this link.

In addition to tonight’s album release show in Avon, The Runaway Grooms are hitting some of Colorado’s favorite mountain towns this February and supporting String Cheese Incident’s Kyle Hollingsworth and Umphrey’s McGee’s Joel Cummins at Denver’s Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom. A complete list of dates can be found below or at therunawaygrooms.com/tour.

This Road Tracklist:

Jenny

Mister Ford

Here I Come Again

This Road

Heartwork

Catch The Runaway Grooms On Tour:

Feb. 10 - Avon, CO - Agave*

Feb. 17 - Denver, CO - Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom^

Feb. 18 - Buena Vista, CO - The Lariat

Feb. 22 - Steamboat Springs, CO - Schmiggity’s

Feb. 25 - Winter Park, CO - Devil’s Craft

*with Danger Mountain String Band

^with Kyle Hollingsworth & Joel Cummins

For ticket information, please visit therunawaygrooms.com/tour.

Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley along with Compass Records are pleased to announce the release of their brand new full-length album, Living In A Song, available everywhere today. Known widely as six-string virtuosos—or “bluegrass aces” according to Rolling Stone—Ickes and Hensley made a conscious effort on this release to spotlight their songwriting chops by collaborating with and playing homage to some of Nashville’s finest songwriters. There’s no doubt in anyone’s minds that Ickes and Hensley can hang in the highest realm jam circles, which has been evident since day one of their recording and touring career, but the lesser known (but just as established) side to this duo is their love of, and obsession with, great songs. They love to sing them, they love to record them, they love to write them, and fans will love to listen to them. Click here to press play on the entirety of Living In A Song.

On tour: Ickes and Hensley’s lengthy Living In A Song Tour across the United States kicks off tonight with a sold-out show at The Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee and Sat. Feb. 11 at City Winery in Nashville, Tennessee (see below for a current list of tour dates).

Making the record: Ickes and Hensley re-enlisted Grammy Award-winning producer Brent Maher (The Judds, Merle Haggard, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson) for the project and wrote 30 songs, picking the best to record. Ickes and Hensley made a conscious decision to lean the music in a classic country direction, with some elements of Americana and bluegrass thrown in for good measure. The results of their collaboration show the depth of their musicianship and are nothing short of stellar.

The songs: The title track, “Living In A Song,” grew out of their experiences as touring musicians, and according to Hensley, the song practically wrote itself after a long day on the road driving through Ohio. When Hensley digs into the lyrics there is no question that he has lived the story he is telling, lifted up even further when Ickes’ tenor harmony enters the chorus. “Deeper Than A Dirt Road” is a radio-friendly, feel-good paean to rural living, evoking life in the tiny East Tennessee town where Hensley was raised. And the duo’s rendition of “Way Downtown” draws its inspiration from Doc Watson’s version recorded 50 years ago on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will The Circle Be Unbroken album, giving the duo a chance to trade some tasty licks with fiddle virtuoso Stuart Duncan.

Inspiration: Life’s challenges play a key role in the inspiration for Living In A Song. “Is The World Still Turning” was the first song written for the project and is a gorgeous broken-hearted love song inspired by the historically unprecedented shutdown at the beginning of the pandemic. “I Thought I Saw A Carpenter” is another heartfelt ballad, inspired by Ickes’ father’s words as he lay dying from cancer; the emotion that Ickes captures in his Dobro solo is as poignant as any vocal. The album closes with “Thanks,” a track reminiscent of early Johnny Cash. Hensley wrote words to the melody penned by his friend Lyle Brewer and once he started working on it found that the song arrived quickly, giving him the opportunity to reflect on his love for his family as he put pen to paper. The demo version of the track had such a great feel that it ended up being the master, with producer Maher playing “percussion” on the back of an old Gretsch guitar.

Previous singles: In January, the duo released “Moonshine Run” as a single which is a spirited, full-band ode to America’s favorite clear liquor. Rolling Stone championed the track by noting that it “crackles with outlaw attitude and a swampy groove.” While much of Living In A Song spotlights the duo's proficiency on acoustic guitar and dobro, “Moonshine Run” finds Ickes and Hensley ripping on lap steel and electric guitar in addition to their signature un-amplified instruments. The song that began as Hensley’s collection of stories was finished with Ickes and prolific songwriter Thomm Jutz. The unison vocal and guitar lick that closes out each chorus bring the duo as close to classic rock as they may have ever been. The aforementioned title track was released with the album’s announcement in December of 2022.

Living In A Song Tracklist:

Living In A Song

Deeper Than A Dirt Road

Backstreets Off Broadway

Way Downtown

I’ve Given All That I Can Take

Moonshine Run

Just Because

I’m Working On A Building

Is The World Still Turning

Louisiana Woman

I Thought I Saw A Carpenter

Thanks

Catch Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley On Their Living In A Song Tour:

Feb. 10 - Johnson City, TN - The Down Home

Feb. 11 - Nashville, TN - City Winery

Feb. 16 - Knoxville, TN - Barley’s

Feb. 17 - Cartersville, GA - Private Event - The Booth Museum’s Boots & Saddles Pre-Gala Party

Feb. 18 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic

Feb. 22 - Vienna, VA - Jammin’ Java

Feb. 23 - Philadelphia, PA - City Winery

Feb. 24 - Tivoli, NY - Kaatsbaan Cultural Park

Feb. 25 - Northampton, MA - The Parlor Room - Signature Sounds Presents

Feb. 26 - Portsmouth, NH - The Music Hall Lounge

Feb. 27 - New York, NY - City Winery

March 4 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry

March 16 - Jackson Hole, WY - The Silver Dollar Showroom - The Wort Hotel

March 17 - Bozeman, MT - Live At The Divide

March 22 - Winston-Salem, NC - Barn at Reynolda Village - “More Barn” Concert Series

March 23 - Shelby, NC - The Earl Scruggs Center - Center Stage Concert Series

March 24 - Raleigh, NC - Private Event

March 31 - Phoenix, AZ - MIM: Musical Instrument Museum

April 1 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Folk Festival

April 14 - St. Petersburg, FL - Craftsman House

April 15 - Winter Park, FL - Gram Parsons Derry Down

April 16 - Sarasota, FL - Fogartyville

May 6 - Pinewood, SC - BirdFest

May 11 - Athens, AL - Fiddlers Concert Series

May 20 - Sevierville, TN - Bloomin’ BBQ and Food Festival

June 9 - Pagosa Springs, CO - Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival

Oct. 14 - Williamsburg, KY - River Stomp Bluegrass Festival

For all dates and ticket information, please visit robandtrey.com

MerleFest, presented by Window World, is excited to announce the final round of artist additions to the 35th annual festival. Taking place April 27-30, 2023, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, MerleFest 2023 will welcome The Black Crowes’ Chris and Rich Robinson’s stripped-down side-project, Brothers of a Feather, the Grammy-winning trio of acoustic music torchbearers Nickel Creek, Tommy Emmanuel—one of only five musicians to ever earn the Chet Atkins-given title of C.G.P. or Certified Guitar Player, the highly anticipated Doc Watson’s 100th Birthday Jam hosted by The Kruger Brothers, your favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter, Lori McKenna, hard-working honky-tonk storyteller, Joshua Ray Walker, North Carolina’s favorite husband and wife duo, Woody Platt & Shannon Whitworth, and many more—and that’s all in addition to previously announced headliners like The Avett Brothers and Maren Morris and MerleFest favorites Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas.

The following bands and artists were also included in today’s announcement: Ali McGuirk, Bella White, Ben Chapman, The Biscuit Eaters, The Brothers Young, The Burnett Sisters Band with Colin Ray, Della Mae, Gravity Check Juggling, Henhouse Prowlers, High Road, Holt & Cabe, John Jorgensen Bluegrass Band, John Paul White, Laney Lou & The Bird Dogs, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Pretty Little Goat, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Songs From the Road Band, Southbound 77, and Taylon Hope.

Today’s additions will join this year’s previously announced list of MerleFest favorites and first-timers: Andy May, The Avett Brothers, Banknotes, Black Opry Revue, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, Donna the Buffalo, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Jerry Douglas, Jim Lauderdale, Joe Smothers, Kruger Brothers, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Maren Morris, Mark Bumgarner, Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen, Pete & Joan Wernick, Peter Rowan, Presley Barker, Roy Book Binder, Sam Bush, Scythian, T. Michael Coleman, The InterACTive Theater of Jef, The Waybacks, Tony Williamson, and Wayne Henderson.

MerleFest 2023 Tickets are available now. For general admission passes, as well as patio seating, reserved seating, camping, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.

DelFest, the festival brainchild of Del McCoury and his extended McCoury family, are pleased to announce lineup additions to the 15th annual homecoming of bluegrass, jamgrass, Americana, and folk songwriters.

Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Keller Williams Grass feat. The Hillbenders, The Gibson Brothers, The Hillbenders, Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle, Sicard Hollow, The Dirty Grass Players, David Parmley, Jacob & Heaven, Never Come Down join an already stacked lineup featuring, of course, The Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys, along with friends St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Trampled By Turtles, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Infamous Stringdusters, The California Honeydrops, Sierra Ferrell, Sierra Hull, Rising Appalachia, The Tim O’Brien Band, Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force with Los Texmaniacs, Lindsay Lou, Cris Jacobs, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Troubadour Session (Cris Jacobs, Anna Moss, Lindsay Lou, and more), Kitchen Dwellers, The Broomestix, Junior Sisk, Price Sisters, Handmade Moments, and Birches Bend. As always, Joe Craven, will emcee for the weekend.

This year’s lineup once again reflects the all-encompassing musical community that festival hosts—make that 2023 GRAMMY-nominated festival hosts—The Del McCoury Band have cultivated over the years. Produced in conjunction with High Sierra Music and held at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in beautiful Cumberland, MD, DelFest originated from the desire to create a family-friendly music festival celebrating the rich legacy of McCoury music while creating a forum for world-class musical collaborations and showcasing fresh, new talent. This year’s DelFest will, as usual, take place over Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28.

In addition to traditional stage sets by these world-class artists, attendees can again expect to see one-of-a-kind collaborations, special guest sit-ins, various tributes to Del McCoury and his musical legacy, and intimate appearances from the aforementioned artists. Delfest will, as usual, be immediately preceded by the 3-day DelFest Academy hosted by The Travelin’ McCourys and other all-star players.

Tickets and parking passes are on-sale now at DelFest.com. Please note there will be a price increase on February 20 at midnight EST so fans should not delay in making Memorial Day Weekend plans!  

For information including camping, parking, partners, and more, please visit delfest.com and follow DelFest on all social platforms. Can’t wait until May for Del-centered goodness? Relive the magic of DelFest on the festival’s YouTube page.

For the last two-and-a-half decades, Chicago-formed improv-rock outfit Umphrey’s McGee have been wowing fans, critics, music nerds, and passersby with their wholly unique brand of tunes and explorations. Instead of celebrating 25 years together with a gold watch or some engraved silver plate, the band is continuing to break the mold by finding new ways to give back to their rabid community of fans during this momentous occasion; known henceforth as umXXV.

The first, and easiest to explain, drop of umXXV is a brand new song, “Staircase.” “I had been writing a lot during covid lockdown,” says Umphrey’s bassist Ryan Stasik, who came up with the bones of “Staircase” after a morning surf session using nothing more than the TonePad app on his phone. “I thought it was pretty cool and added some drum loops, some Moog Taurus basslines, and some synth bass. Then I sent it to [guitarist Brendan] Bayliss asking if he could add anything or work his magic,” Stasik remembers. “He did.” The song’s textures ebb and flow with intricate details making their way to and from the forefront over the course of a steady build. A mixture of digital tones gives way to full-blown electric guitars and drums in the chorus: “There's no subscribing to a scene, who has the courage or the teeth”

“I recorded some vocals over [Stasik’s] parts and then a few months later I was messing around with what is now the chorus section,” says Bayliss. “Once I spliced the two together I knew that we had just finished a new song; one that doesn’t sound like anything else we were working on at that time.” Fans can stream or purchase “Staircase” today at this link.

Umphrey’s have also partnered with Lively, an online live experience platform, to present fans with umXXV Digital Collectibles from the band’s ongoing 25th-anniversary tour. Fans can claim a part of UM history and hear sounds from the umXXV tour via a high-quality audio player and gain access to exclusive content, communications, and more. Each drop coincides with individual shows from this tour, the first release coming from the band’s January 12th show at Washington, DC’s 9:30 Club. Only a limited amount of 25 will be released per show giving fans verifiable ownership like never before. Upon purchasing a umXXV Digital Collectible, fans will be able to listen and download the show on umphreys.xyz.

“As we kick off our 25th-anniversary tour, we’re excited to continue to engage with the UM fan base using another innovative technology,” says UM keyboardist Joel Cummins. “Each show on the tour will be commemorated with 25 limited edition copies featuring unique ticket stub art & soundboard audio. It’s going to be a fun ride and we’re excited to have you join us.”

Umphrey’s McGee’s umXXV Tour continues Feb. 22 in Sacramento, CA followed by a run of shows through California, Nevada, Arizona, and back to the west coast. Into summer, the band will hit fan-favorite festivals including Summer Camp Music Festival, The Peach Music Festival, and a grand return to Bonnaroo for their 10th appearance since performing at the inaugural event in 2002. A full list of dates can be found below or at umphreys.com/tour.

Catch Umphrey’s McGee On Tour:

Feb. 22 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades

Feb. 23 - Petaluma, CA - Mystic Theatre & Music Hall SOLD OUT

Feb. 24 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues

Feb. 25 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas

Feb. 26 - Tempe, AZ - Innings Festival

March 2 - Bend, OR - Midtown Ballroom

March 3 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theatre

March 4 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox at The Market

March 5 - Portland, OR - McMenamins Crystal Ballroom

March 10-12 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up Aspen SOLD OUT

April 12 - Pensacola, FL - Vinyl Music Hall

April 12 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live

April 14 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues Orlando

April 15 - Miami Beach, FL - Miami Beach Bandshell

April 19 - Fayetteville, AR - JJ’s Live

April 20 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater

April 21 - Houston, TX - House of Blues Houston

April 22 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues Dallas

April 27 - Isle of Palms, SC - The Windjammer SOLD OUT

April 28 - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

April 29 - Savannah, GA - Johnny Mercer Theatre

April 30 - Birmingham, AL - Avondale Brewing Company

May 26 - Chillicothe, IL - Summer Camp Music Festival

June 15 - Dillon, CO - Dillon Amphitheater

June 16-17 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

June 18 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo

June 29-July 2 - Scranton, PA - The Peach Music Festival

For all dates and ticket information, please visit umphreys.com/tour.

“I do believe certain songs can only be found in certain instruments,” says Canadian songwriter Doug Paisley; specifically of his new tune “Rewrite History.” You see, he wrote this song on a friend’s 100-year-old guitar, and in listening to the woody, softly-strummed chords underneath Paisley’s sweetly-sung verses, it’s not too difficult for one to buy into his theory. “Rewrite History” is one of eleven new songs from Paisley’s upcoming album, Say What You Like. Producer Afie Jurvanen—perhaps best known as recording artist BAHAMAS—brought in a wealth of new grooves, vibes, and tones for the whole of Say What You Like, but on “Rewrite History” in particular, his BAHAMAS bandmate and Toronto-based recording artist Felicity Williams brings Paisley’s musical fate full circle. “When I heard Felicity sing on the recording, I thought the idea and the story and the song might just have been made for her to sing her part,” he says. Williams’s soft layers of vocals do, in fact, meld with the song in a way that could be scientific proof of musical predestination.

Today, Magnet premiered “Rewrite History,” writing, “disarmingly conversational and underhandedly poignant, ‘Rewrite History’ is a bit of an anomaly.”

Due out on March 17th, Say What You Like is Paisley’s first release since 2018’s Starter Home which landed on The New Yorker’s Ten Best Albums of the Year and a step in a brand new direction as the first release with Paisley’s new record label Outside Music, a welcoming, Canada-based home for a Canadian artist who’s long been signed to U.S.-based labels.

Culled from 250 unrecorded songs spanning a decade of unregulated creativity, the Canadian songwriter’s Say What You Like is a snapshot of an artist functioning at his best and highest level—honest, exposed, searching, and yet comforting in his ability to communicate the universal in the struggles of the individual. And, with the help of Jervanen it manages to be groovy too. One gets the sense from these songs that Paisley simply must write. “As a songwriter these days,” he reflected earlier this year, “there’s very little to gain and very little to lose so I am working only from the heart, there’s no other motive.” And on Say What You Like, it shows.

Fans can stream or purchase “Rewrite History” now at this link, check out the previously-released tracks, “Say What You Like” and “Sometimes It’s So Easy,” and pre-save or pre-order Say What You Like ahead of its March 17th release right here.

Say What You Like Tracklist:
Say What You Like
Sometimes It’s So Easy
Wide Open Plain
Rewrite History
Almost
If I Wanted To
I Wanted It Too Much
Make It A Double
You Turn My Life Around
Holy Roller
Old Hometown

Every June—for the past five decades—music fans known as Festivarians have made their annual pilgrimage to the box canyon town of Telluride, Colorado, for the legendary Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Inspired by the beauty of the natural landscape and the skillfully played music from a multitude of genres, this legendary gathering has long been a bucket list destination for musicians and music fans alike. Produced by Planet Bluegrass, this year’s Telluride Bluegrass is set to be one for the record books, and it should be—seeing that 2023 is the 50th annual edition!

For their 50th, Telluride Bluegrass is happy to announce a laundry list of festival-veteran performers and only-at-Telluride collaborations fit for such a celebration. The full lineup announcement includes genre-crossing legends Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, long-time friends of the festival, The String Cheese Incident, another matchup of Emmylou Harris featuring Watchhouse, the grand return of now-supergroup Nickel Creek, the ever-venerable Sam Bush, and the original Béla Fleck & The Flecktones lineup—the last two, Bush and Fleck, have stepped foot on the Telluride Bluegrass main stage many times as part of a little band called New Grass Revival. A complete list of Telluride Bluegrass performers can be found below and at bluegrass.com.

“Fifty years is an incredible accomplishment in the music industry; one you don't see often. We are thrilled to have made it to this milestone,” says Grace Barrett, Director of Communication and Partnerships for Planet Bluegrass. “There is such plentiful history in Telluride, from the rich age of mining to the plethora of exceptional musicians that have serenaded the valley floor over the years, and we couldn't have made it here without the devotion of each and every one of our Festivarians. Here's to the next 50!”

Fans lucky enough to have obtained tickets can still purchase camping passes or enter a song in the Troubadour Contest by following this link. For those still trying to obtain tickets, Planet Bluegrass will be putting all refunded tickets back on sale in the coming weeks. You can find all information about the refunded ticket re- sale and other ticketing policies here.

Today’s full Telluride Bluegrass lineup announcement includes:

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

The String Cheese Incident

Sam Bush Band

Béla Fleck and The Flecktones

Emmylou Harris with Watchhouse

Gregory Alan Isakov

Mary Chapin Carpenter

Punch Brothers

Del McCoury Band

Greensky Bluegrass

The Infamous Stringdusters

Leftover Salmon

Nickel Creek

Yonder Mountain String Band

Telluride House Band

Sarah Jarosz

Tim O’Brien Band

The Peter Rowan Band

The Earls of Leicester

Chris Thile

Sierra Ferrell

Charles Wesley Godwin

Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy

Bella White

Yasmin Williams

Town Mountain

Two Runner

Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba

Full Cord (winners of the 2022 Telluride Band Competition)

Sure, Tommy Prine grew up in Nashville surrounded by music, art, and writing—and it’s certainly no secret that he learned to play guitar by watching his late father, John, picking his own beloved tunes—but summers spent in his mother’s homeland of Ireland lent their own inspiration and ten straight years camping at Bonnaroo introduced Prine to a swath of music not belonging under the greater Americana umbrella. In a way, what makes Prine’s own music so special is how he’s navigated life and creativity apart from his family’s name—as he once said, on stage, to a disorderly request for one of his dad’s songs, “You’re not about to get an hour of John Prine Junior.”

The truth is, it took a long while for Prine to even share the songs he’d been writing about the triumphs and tragedies of his life, only recently deciding to let his friends and now-collaborators Ruston Kelly and Gena Johnson hear what he’d been putting together. Kelly and Johnson got back to Prine—together on a call, in an intervention of sorts—and urged him to quit his job, get in the studio, and share his music with the world. And on June 23rd, Prine will finally release his debut album, This Far South. C0-produced by Kelly and Johnson and released via Thirty Tigers, This Far South is an emotionally complex but universally accessible debut that sonically brings together a colorful patchwork of musical influences and lyrically explores existential questions and emotional experiences.

Today, Prine shared the album’s title track, “This Far South,” with fans; a slow-burn fingerpicked promise to himself that is sure to resonate with many. “I found my rock bottom and tried to escape it several times, ultimately finding the courage to see it through to the other side,” remembers Prine. “There were several years where I felt without purpose…spent all my time partying and just existing. I found myself at a fork in the road and chose the better path, and in that moment, I swore I would never be ‘this far south’ again.” Thick with vocal harmonies, the song’s final verse finds its plot at least partly resolved, its narrator singing: “I’m learning that it’s not good to fly / I’ve chosen the habit that I’m dropping / Coming down’s exhausting / I think I deserve some rest.”

Fans can stream or purchase “This Far South” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save the full album ahead of its June 23rd release right here. Itching for more Tommy Prine while waiting on the album to drop? Don't miss the live version of "This Far South," recorded at Garden & Gun here and check out previously released singles, “Ships In The Harbor”—which Luke Combs "can’t stop listening to" and Garden & Gun called “A gorgeous meditation on change and loss, and an acknowledgment that both are inevitable”—right here and “Turning Stones” here.

Prine is fresh off of a run of shows in the southeast that just culminated in his first of four residency shows at Nashville’s The Basement, not to mention supporting Tyler Childers over two sold-out shows in London. A full list of tour dates, including the rest of the March residency, can be found below or at tommyprine.com/tour.

Catch Tommy Prine On Tour:

Mar. 9 - Nashville, TN - The Basement

Mar. 16 - Nashville, TN - The Basement

Mar. 30 - Nashville, TN - The Basement

Apr. 4 - Brighton, UK - The Folklore Rooms

Apr. 5 - London, UK - The Slaughtered Lamb

Apr. 7 - Dublin, IRE - Vicar Street

Apr. 8 - Dublin, IRE - Vicar Street

Apr. 20 - St. Petersburg, FL - Palladium Theatre

Apr. 21 - Jacksonville Beach, FL - Blue Jay Listening Room

Apr. 22 - Tallahassee, FL - Word of South Music and Literature Festival

Apr. 29 - Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFest

For ticket information, please visit tommyprine.com/tour.

“The overarching theme of this album is getting out of our heads, getting into nature, and experiencing the world around us with the people who matter the most,” says guitarist, vocalist, and namesake of his band, The National Parks, Brady Parks. The record he’s speaking of is their fifth full-length album, 8th Wonder, and it’s out now. Along with Megan Parks on violin, Sydney Macfarlane on vocals and keys, and Cam Brannelly on drums, The National Parks want listeners to feel the rush of running and jumping into a lake at full speed; the feeling of the clouds parting and bathing in the warm sun; or being met with a gust of cool, morning air upon stepping outside. These are the sensations being translated into song on 8th Wonder. Fans and critics who have already bonded with tunes like “Trouble,” “Sunshine,” and “8th Wonder,” ahead of the album’s release are sure to find just as much fun and inspiration in the album as a whole, just in time for the budding spring and summer ahead.

The entirety of 8th Wonder is now available to stream or purchase at this link, and tickets for The National Parks’ 8th Wonder Tour can be purchased at thenationalparksband.com/tour. The band will kick off their spring tour in Salt Lake City before making their way up and down the west coast and Rocky Mountains region. Their fall tour starts in Birmingham, Alabama, and hits most east coast and midwest markets throughout September and October. A full list of 8th Wonder Tour dates can be found below. 

More About 8th Wonder: At the top of 2022, The National Parks hopped on Zoom for a “New Year’s Resolutions meeting,” which galvanized their next step and the vision for the album became completely clear. The band discussed their ambitions for the year ahead and ultimately decided they wanted to hone in more on their core identity for the next LP. That connection with the natural world became the thematic center of the writing process. “We’ve stepped into what The National Parks is,” Sydney elaborates. “We basically said, ‘This is who we are and who we have always been.’ We decided to show who we are without trying to prove anything. I think it’s our best work.”

“Angels,” the album’s first single and opening track, sets the tone for what’s to come. The layered, evocative song centers on breaking free of expectation and searching for adventure on the open road—a sentiment that threads through the rest of the album. On the song, Brady sings, “Imma tell our kids about this someday.”  
 
Following “Angels,” The National Parks initially teased the album with the single “History Channel.” A pop-punk beat sets the pace as piano dances around a thick guitar riff. Brady’s voice echoes on the chantable chorus as he confesses, “I didn’t know I could feel this way.” “It’s about being caught up in day-to-day routines,” the frontman reveals. “Something happens, and you take a step back to admire life for how epic it really is. For me, it came right after our son was born. I was so in awe of Megan and having a baby. It took my life from the plains to the mountain range and it was so massive and mysterious. That’s the heart of it for me.” “We really tapped into the energy of bands like blink-182 and Taking Back Sunday,” Cam goes on. “It was so fun to record because we got to listen to music from our childhood.”

A violin solo glistens through “Sunshine” as acoustic guitars wrap around a steady beat. “You’re finding those people and holding onto that energy when the days are rough,” he says.  

Then, there’s “Trouble.” It bottles the butterflies of “love-at-first sight.” Speaking of love, the finale “Rodeo” traces a roadmap of real romance across “all of the places we’ve been on this journey as we’ve pursued music and our relationships” in between steady handclaps and tambourine.

In the end, The National Parks welcome everyone into a much bigger and more wonderful musical world. “When you hear this, we hope you feel like you stepped outside,” Brady leaves off. “We hope you discover the spirit of the unknown and the adventure of life with all its ups and downs. This album is about embracing it all and living life to the fullest.

8th Wonder Tour Spring 2023 Dates:
Friday, March 17 - Salt Lake City, UT - Union Events Center
Thursday, April 20 - Rexburg, ID - Romance Theater
Friday, April 21 - Rexburg, ID - Romance Theater (SOLD OUT)
Saturday, April 22 - Boise, ID - Treefort Music Hall
Tuesday, April 25 - Portland, OR - Mission Theater
Wednesday, April 26 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile's Madame Lou's
Friday, April 28 - Berkeley, CA - Cornerstone
Saturday, April 29 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Atrium
Thursday, May 4 - San Diego, CA - Voodoo
Friday, May 5 - Los Angles, CA - Troubadour
Saturday, May 6 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom
Tuesday, May 9 - Houston, TX - The Bronze Peacock at House of Blues - Houston
Wednesday, May 10 - Austin, TX - Antone's
Thursday, May 11 - Dallas, TX - Kessler
Friday, May 12 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street OKC
Saturday, May 13 - Denver, CO - Bluebird

8th Wonder Tour Fall 2023 Dates:
Thursday, September 28 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn
Friday, September 29 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
Saturday, September 30 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
Monday, October 2 - Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
Tuesday, October 3 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
Thursday, October 5 - Nashville, TN - Basement East
Friday, October 6 - Charlotte, NC - Camp Northend
Saturday, October 7 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Music Hall
Monday, October 9 - Columbus, OH - A&R Music Bar
Tuesday, October 10 - Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Music Hall
Thursday, October 12 - Washington, DC - Union Stage
Friday, October 13 - New York, NY - Brooklyn Made
Saturday, October 14 - Boston, MA - Crystal Ballroom @ Somerville
Thursday, October 19 - Indianapolis, IN - The Hi-Fi
Friday, October 20 - Chicago, IL - Metro
Saturday, October 21 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line
Monday, October 23 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
Wednesday, October 25 - Kansas City, MO - RecordBar
Thursday, October 26 - Fayetteville, AR - George's Majestic
Friday, October 27 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
Saturday, October 28 - Louisville, KY - Headliners

For all dates and ticket information, please visit thenationalparksband.com/tour.

“They say things have to get worse before they can get better,” Idaho-born songwriter Eilen Jewell reflects on the last few years of her life. “And for a while there, everything got worse.” Indeed, in the span of just a few months, Jewell watched as her marriage, her band, and what felt like her entire career fell apart in a series of spectacular, heartbreaking implosions. By the time the dust had finally settled, the critically acclaimed recording artist was grieving and shocked, living in a remote cabin in the mountains and unsure if she’d ever get to make music again. Fortunately for all involved, especially fans of Jewell’s music, she took her time to regroup, recenter, and set off to live a renewed life—including making a new album—by dictating her own path forward.

With Get Behind The Wheel, her ninth studio album—out on May 5th via Signature Sounds—Jewell does precisely that, planting herself firmly in the driver’s seat as she picks up the pieces and finds new purpose and meaning in the process. Co-produced by multi-instrumental wizard Will Kimbrough (Todd Snider, Hayes Carll, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell), the collection pushes Jewell’s trademark blend of vintage roots-noir into more psychedelic territory, with spacious, cinematic arrangements complementing her revelatory explorations of grief, loss, resilience, and redemption. Today, Jewell shared the first song from Get Behind The Wheel, the twisting and turning “Crooked River.”

“When the pandemic hit and my life fell apart, I spent a lot of time in the mountains of Idaho trying not to spin out too much,” says Jewell. She took to a guidebook of local hiking trails, exploring them one by one just for something to do. “On my way to most of the trailheads, I would pass a sign for Crooked River,” she recalls. “Something about that name kept calling to me, so I stopped and got out, and it became one of my favorite spots.” The song “Crooked River” was born from the long and arduous path that the river’s name evokes, becoming a symbol of Jewell’s personal trials and, ultimately, the salvation found in the company of her outdoor getaway. Her ode culminates in the song’s pleading refrain: “Wash my hands, wash my sins / Let me shiver in your ruthless wind / Take me down, take me in / Oh, you Crooked River”

Fans can stream or purchase “Crooked River” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Get Behind The Wheel ahead of its May 5th release right here. The single has already been garnering attention from the likes of The Bluegrass Situation and NPR, who wrote, “Eilen Jewell strikes a balance between heartache and triumph.” Jewell hits the road next week in Australia before heading back stateside for a string of east coast dates in May. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at eilenjewell.com/tour.

Get Behind The Wheel Tracklist:

Alive

Crooked River

Lethal Love

Come Home Soon

Winnemucca

Could You Would You

Breakaway

You Were A Friend Of Mine

Outsiders

Silver Wheels And Wings

The Bitter End

Catch Eilen Jewell On Tour:

Mar 3 - Archies Creek, AU - The Archies Creek Hotel

Mar 4 - Castlemaine, AU - Theatre Royal

Mar 5 - Yackandandah, AU - Star Hotel Yackandandah

Mar 7 - Sydney, AU - Factory Theatre

Mar 9 - Thornbury, AU - Thornbury Theatre-Ballroom

Mar 10-11 - Port Fairy, AU - Port Fairy Folk Festival 2023

Mar 12 - Brunswick, AU - Brunswick Ballroom

Mar 14 - St Kilda West, AU - The Gershwin

Mar 15 - Eltham, AU - Eltham Hotel

Mar 16 - Fortitude Valley - Qld, AU - The Zoo

Mar 18-19 - Katoomba, AU - Blue Mountains Music Festival of Folk, Roots, and Blues 2023

Apr 14 - Winnemucca, NV - The Martin Hotel

Apr 15 - Fallon, NV - Churchill Arts Council

May 6 - Ybor City, FL - WMNF Tropical Heatwave 2023

May 9 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic

May 10 - Nashville, TN - City Winery

May 11 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic

May 12 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle

May 13 - Greer, SC - Albino Skunk Music Festival 2023

May 14 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage

Jun 24 - Greenfield, MA - Green River Festival 2023

Jun 25 - Pawling, NY - Daryl’s House

Jun 27 - New York, NY - City Winery NYC

Jun 28 - Old Saybrook, CT - The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center

Jun 29 - Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair

Jun 30 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts

July 1 - Red Hook, NY - Hardeman Orchards

July 2 - Portland, ME - One Longfellow Square

July 5 - Woodbridge, NJ - Woodbridge Wednesdays

July 6 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

July 7 - Frenchtown, NJ - ArtYard

July 8 - Homer, NY - Center for the Arts of Homer

July 9 - Buffalo, NY - Sportsmens Tavern

Sep 7 - Berwyn, IL - Fitzgerald’s

For ticket information, please visit eilenjewell.com/tour.

More than five decades ago, the legendary Count Basie covered Sonny Rollins’s now-classic “St. Thomas,” melding his iconic piano playing and big band stylings with its Caribbean-inflected feel to great effect. The blending of sounds and cultures moved people’s bodies and minds in a way that still ripples into the current day. Fittingly, the newest single from the upcoming musical celebration of Count Basie, Late Night Basie—out April 7th via Primary Wave Music—find New Orleans’ beloved brass outfit The Soul Rebels collaborating with fellow New Orleanian and trumpet titan Nicholas Payton, Cuba’s genre-bending golden boy Cimafunk, and Grammy-nominated djembe master, producer, and composer Weedie Braimah on a whole new cross-Caribbean version of “St. Thomas.”

For a song that’s long been part of the jazz standard repertoire, this Late Night Basie cut of “St. Thomas” channels Basie’s 1967 version in a way that seamlessly blends even more musical styles into a funk new brew. The Soul Rebels’ “St. Thomas” snaps and crackles with a vibe and brio that is a perfect context for Cimafunk’s unique vocalizations and Nicholas Payton’s melodically free-flowing improvisation and prodigious chops; a gumbo representation of collaboration and cross-pollination just as bright today as it was in Basie’s hands 56 years ago.

“The music and spirit of Count Basie has extraordinarily influenced how today’s contemporary and progressive ensembles with horns and brass arrange music,” says drummer and co-found of The Soul Rebels, Lumar LeBlanc. “Basie’s musical, artistic, and cultural impact is deep and powerful, and we’re grateful to participate in this special project.” “We're blessed to have trailblazers like Count, who used his art to make people feel good,” adds Cima. “He had an incredible ability to get everyone to smile and move their bodies. I always try and bring some of Count’s elegance, groove, and swag to the stage with me, and it’s a real privilege to be part of this project to celebrate his life and legacy…and keep folks smiling and dancing to his music!”

Fans can check out “St. Thomas” right now at this link and read what New Orleans-based Gambit Weekly had to say about the song right here.

Hear the previously-released single “Didn’t You” by Lettuce (feat. Talib Kweli) at this link. Late Night Basie can be pre-saved or pre-ordered ahead of its April 7th release right here.

For more information, please visit CountBasie.com.

More About Late Night Basie: With Late Night Basie, visionary producer Paul Peck wanted to find and highlight the intersection of Count Basie through seemingly unrelated artists. For him, Basie is one of the primary colors of music; one that allows you to create infinite variations when mixed and matched with others and itself. “I see Basie as an artist who didn’t care about overwhelming you with a torrent of notes. He made the right choice in the right place at the right time to create space to hear and absorb the intent and feeling of the music,” says Peck. “This quality among others makes him so universally understood and so impactful, that he is the core of an almost infinite number of musical variations.” Late Night Basie is the latest of these variations, featuring performances from Terence Blanchard, Talib Kweli, Nicholas Payton, The Count Basie Orchestra (directed by Scotty Barnhart), Cimafunk, Larkin Poe, The Soul Rebels, Lettuce, Jazzmeia Horn, Ray Angry, Will Lee & Shawn Pelton, Jimmy Vivino, Weedie Braimah & others.

“Putting together this tribute album to Count Basie has been a labor of love over the last several years”, states Rob Dippold, Partner & President of Digital Strategy for Primary Wave Music. “As we strive to continuously develop fresh and tasteful approaches to celebrate (and create new IP) for our iconic song catalogs, this release will introduce Count Basie to new generations of music lovers while respecting his existing fanbase."

Late Night Basie Tracklist:

“Didn’t You” Lettuce (Feat. Talib Kweli)

“One O’Clock Jump” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Jazzmeia Horn & Ray Angry)

“Blue & Sentimental” - Larkin Poe (Feat. Will Lee & Shawn Pelton)

“M-Squad” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Terence Blanchard)

“Jumpin’ at the Woodside” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Jimmy Vivino & Ray Angry)

“St. Thomas” - The Soul Rebels (Feat. Nicholas Payton, Cimafunk & Weedie Braimah)

“One O’Clock Jump” (Bonus track) - Danny Jonokuchi & The Revisionists*

*winners of DownBeat Magazine’s inaugural Count Basie Contest.

2023 will mark MerleFest’s 35th festival and, as previously announced, will honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday year through musical collaboration and commemoration over the weekend of April 27-30, 2023, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Today, MerleFest, presented by Window World, shared another piece of celebratory news. My Name Is Merle, director Robert Kinlaw’s latest documentary, is set to premiere Saturday evening at 4:30 PM during MerleFest 2023 at the Walker Center. Chronicling the rise and continued legacy of North Carolina’s favorite community fundraiser turned renowned music festival, My Name Is Merle was produced by EducationNC. Immediately following the premiere at the festival, EdNC will be publishing the documentary online, freely accessible by all at EdNC.org and on the MerleFest YouTube channel.

“What's amazing is that after 35 years of growth, the festival is still a volunteer-driven fundraiser. The proceeds provide education for local people, directly contributing to economic mobility in the area,” says Kinlaw. “I hope you enjoy this exploration into the fascinating traditions of North Carolina mountain music and the festival that continues them today!”

In another bit of historical news, the official MerleFest archives will be available for public viewing beginning in April 2023. The collection of audiovisual recordings as well as print photographs and other historical content was donated by the Wilkes Community College Foundation to Appalachian State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center through the Appalachian State University Foundation in December 2020, forever cementing MerleFest’s place in the history books. The MerleFest archives primarily consist of audiovisual content of festival performances but also includes print photographs, festival programs, articles and clippings, ephemera, correspondence, and oral histories.

“We are very excited to partner with Appalachian State University to preserve this content and share it with researchers and fans of MerleFest. This has been a long time coming and with 2023 being our 35th festival, and the year we honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday the timing couldn’t be better” says Wes Whitson, festival director. Fans are encouraged to make plans to visit the library and check out the available content starting in April of this year. A MerleFest Archives viewing station is scheduled to be installed and available for patron use by April 1st, in time for the 35th annual festival. Portions of the collection are open now.  Researchers and fans can make an appointment to view the collection by going to collections.library.appstate.edu.

The festival also announced its annual MerleFest Band Competition participants. Since the festival's inception, MerleFest has fostered and provided opportunities to up-and-coming musicians, songwriters, local and regional artists, and other unknown talents from around the country. MerleFest continues that tradition each year by inviting eight groups to not only perform during Saturday's events but also compete for the chance to perform on the Cabin Stage in front of thousands of festival goers. This year’s Band Competition will include Ashes & Arrows (Asheville, NC), Casey Noel (Greensboro, NC), Crystal Fountains (Charlotte, NC), Colin Cutler (Greensboro, NC), The Greenliners (Asheville, NC), The Letter Show (Charleston, SC), Red Eye Gemini (Charlotte, NC), and Reedy River String Band (Greenville, SC).

“For some, performing at the nation's largest Americana music festival is a springboard for their musical careers, while for all the participants it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says longtime MerleFest Band Competition host, Mark Bumgarner. “The level of talent has been incredible and continues to wow the crowds each year.” The Band Competition performances will take place on MerleFest’s Plaza Stage from 11 am to 3:30 pm on Saturday, April 29th, and the winner of the coveted spot on the Cabin Stage’s Sunday lineup will be announced at 4 pm.

Tickets for MerleFest 2023—which will feature performances by Brothers of a Feather with Chris & Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes, The Avett Brothers, Maren Morris, Nickel Creek, Little Feat, Tanya Tucker and many more—are available now. For general admission passes, reserved seating, camping, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.

When Robert Earl Keen announced in January 2022 that he would be retiring from touring September 2022, he also made it clear that he had no intention of hanging up his guitar, putting down his pen, or never recording again. “Quitting the road doesn’t mean I’m dead, and it doesn’t mean I’m going to quit producing stuff,” he has stated time and again. Just to prove the point Keen has just announced what might be his most ambitious project to date: a brand new full-length album, an accompanying performance video of the entire album, a detailed songbook for folks at home to sing and play along, and an accompanying 92-page, full-color graphic novel. Ladies and gentlemen, let us introduce you to The Robert Earl Keen Band’s Western Chill.

It’s a treasure trove of material from Keen and his band; but he wants to be very clear about what Western Chill is not: a swan song.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, let alone ahead of Keen. At this point in his life and career, the focus is to savor every moment, catch his breath, and fully take in the long-awaited splendor and freedom to write and create to his heart’s content without having to fall lockstep into a grinding tour schedule. After playing for untold thousands of fans for the better part of four decades, the man has earned his license to chill—and Western Chill is our invitation to join him.

Beginning today—and up until its April 14th release—the Western Chill boxed set is available for pre-order from Keen’s own label, Scriptorium Rex. Included in the boxed set is a gatefold vinyl of Western Chill, a DVD of The Robert Earl Keen Band’s full album performance, the Western Chill songbook, and the album’s accompanying graphic novel. It should also be clearly noted that Western Chill is a collector’s edition available in physical form. For the foreseeable future there will be no download or streaming links, so fans are encouraged to dive into the entirety of Western Chill the way it was intended: kick back, crack a cold one, sing along, and enjoy the vibe.

This week, for a preview into the visual world of Western Chill, Garden & Gun magazine shared the band’s performance of the album’s title track, “Western Chill.” Fans can watch Keen and the band rock through their ultimate mood-setter in 6/8 time at this link.

Fans can pre-order Western Chill today directly from westernchill.com.

Robert Earl Keen - Western Chill (Album Video)

“This tune has what we like to refer to in the bluegrass world as drive,” says The Infamous Stringdusters’ Andy Hall of their brand new take on Flatt and Scruggs’ “Down The Road.” “Not too fast…but powerful,” he laughs. And he isn’t wrong, especially in the capable hands of this GRAMMY-winning quintet. “Down The Road” is the second single from the Stringdusters’ upcoming album, A Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs—out April 21st via the band’s own Americana Vibes label.

Hot on the heels of yet another GRAMMY nomination—this time for their latest LP, Toward The Fray—the Stringdusters are revisiting the forefathers of the genre in a way not too distant from their GRAMMY-nominated A Tribute to Bill Monroe. “The concept of paying tribute to the Grandfathers or originators of Bluegrass is one we bounced around for awhile and after Bill Monroe, the most logical, I think any bluegrass musician would agree, is Flatt & Scruggs,” says Stringdusters bassist Travis Book. “They're legendary and without Earl's banjo, bluegrass just doesn't exist the way we know it today.”

"Down the Road Is a staple of the Flatt and Scruggs canon and one they recorded early in their career,” says Hall, “As is the case with many Flatt and Scruggs songs, it's very banjo driven. It's a fun one to play! We do it our own way and even put a little jam at the end.” When it came time for the Infamous Stringdusters to record A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs, the band gathered in the studio and pressed record; all at once, all together, just like the bluegrass pioneers whose music they were picking.

Fans can stream or purchase “Down The Road” now at this link, check out the previously-released single, “I’d Rather Be Alone” here, and pre-order or pre-save A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs ahead of its April 21st release, including a specialty vinyl pressing here. Fans can also pre-order the full suite of Flatt & Scruggs merch via a bundle here.

The Stringdusters will kick off their 2023 festival season next weekend at Suwannee Spring Reunion in Live Oak, Florida, before hitting staples like Telluride Bluegrass, ROMP Fest, High Sierra, and more throughout the summer. For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, please see below or visit thestringdusters.com/tour.

A Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs Tracklist:

1. I’d Rather Be Alone

2. Will You Be Lonesome

3. Blue Ridge Cabin Home

4. Earl's Breakdown

5. Cabin on the Hill

6. Down the Road

Catch The Infamous Stringdusters On Tour:

3/23-26 - Live Oak, FL - Suwanee Spring Reunion

4/20-21 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino Crown Room

4/22 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall

4/23 – Mill Valley, CA – Sweetwater Music Hall

5/5-6 - Baltimore, MD - Charm City Bluegrass Festival

5/19-20 - Clive, IA - Greenbelt Music Festival

5/25-28 - Cumberland, MD - DelFest

5/26-29 - Greenfield, MA - Strange Creek Campout

6/1-3 - Oak Hill, WV - Mountain Music Festival

6/15-18 - Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival

6/21-24 - Owensboro, KY - ROMP Fest

6/22-24 - Eau Claire, WI - Blue Ox Festival

6/22-24 - Caneadea, NY - Estival Festival

6/29-7/2 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival

7/12-7/16 - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival

9/1-9/3 - Mill Springs, NC - Earl Scruggs Music Festival

9/2 - Brunswick, ME - Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival

For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, please visit thestringdusters.com/tour.

Hot on the heels of their successful rollout of The Songwriter Tapes Vol. 1, dynamic trio Luke Laird, Lori McKenna, and Barry Dean are already onto the next installment. Today, the trio released Vol. 2, anchored by McKenna’s haunting version of “Girl Crush” which was made famous by Little Big Town in 2014. Dean’s John Pardi contribution, “Heartache Medicine,” and Laird’s 2007 Carrie Underwood cut “So Small” round out the familiar tunes while Laird’s “The Good Parts” sheds a little light on a gem from his unreleased catalog. Choosing the four songs for each of the songwriters to sing was a collaborative process. And while it may have been difficult to narrow it down to 12 tracks after more than 65 collective years in country music, the result is a timeless anthology of career-defining songs from as far back as 2004 and as recent as 2020.

Fans can check out The Songwriter Tapes Vol. 2 right here, and for those who have yet to explore Vol. 1, it can be streamed or purchased here. Stay tuned for Vol. 3, and for more information, please visit creativenationmusic.com.

The Songwriter Tapes Vol. 2 In The News:

Paste Magazine named “Girl Crush” in their Best New Songs feature, happy to hear the song “back in McKenna’s capable hands.”

American Songwriter shared “Girl Crush” ahead of the release of Vol. 2, praising the combination of stripped-down acoustic guitar and McKenna’s “rugged voice.”

The Songwriter Tapes Vol. 2 Tracklist:

“Girl Crush” performed by Lori McKenna (Recorded by Little Big Town in 2014)

(Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose)

“Heartache Medication” performed by Barry Dean (Recorded by Jon Pardi in 2019)

(Barry Dean, Jon Pardi, Natalie Hemby)

“So Small” performed by Luke Laird (Recorded by Carrie Underwood in 2007)

(Luke Laird, Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey)

“The Good Parts” Luke Laird  

(Luke Laird, Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins)

More About Laird, McKenna, and Dean: Laird, who moved to Nashville more than 25 years ago, has racked up the kind of numbers that are hard to comprehend: 52 radio singles, 24 No. 1 hits, and more than 125 cuts to his name. He was the ACM’s songwriter of the year in 2015, and BMI’s songwriter of the year in 2012. His first cut by a country artist was Lee Ann Womack’s “Painless,” from her 2005 album, not too long after he’d graduated from college.

McKenna’s story started almost 20 years ago when Faith Hill discovered her music and decided to put a couple of the singer-songwriter’s songs on her 2005 Fireflies album. McKenna has since become the go-to songwriter, known for her penchant for honest and epic themes. She won two consecutive Grammys—for “Girl Crush” and “Humble and Kind”—and she made history in 2016 when she was crowned the first female songwriter of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Dean has been hard at work in Nashville after pivoting from his official 9-to-5 day job to songwriting full-time in his mid-30s. Almost instantly, he had his name in parentheses next to Martina McBride’s on “God’s Will” and Reba McEntire’s on “Moving Oleta.” Now, after 20 years, he has over 100 cuts from artists like Alison Krauss, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Meatloaf, and Eric Church. Dean’s No. 1 songs include Jon Pardi’s “Heartache Medication”, Michael Ray’s “Think A Little Less” and Little Big Town’s Grammy-winning “Pontoon.” He also received a BMI Pop award for Ingrid Michaelson’s “Girls Chase Boys.”

Good Vibez Presents and JMF Presents are joining forces to bring the Holo Holo Music Festival back to California this fall. Over the weekend of September 9th and 10th, Holo Holo will land at the Old Sacramento Waterfront in Sacramento, California, for two days of island music and reggae. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, Kolohe Kai, Common Kings, J Boog and Steel Pulse plus island favorites, FIJI, Rebel Souljahz, Maoli, Three Plus, Ka’ikena Scalan, Mike Love, Koauka, Eli Mac, and rounding everything out, Chris Boomer, CRSB and Western Conference will take the stage to transform Sacramento into an oasis of island vibes.

“‘Holo Holo’ means ‘to travel, to sail, to move,’” says O‘ahu-born Good Vibez co-owner, Dan Sheehan. “This familiar expression is most often heard between friends as in ‘let’s holo holo up country,’” he says when detailing the festival’s origin. The inaugural Holo Holo Music Festival took place in Northern California in 2022, but, in Sheehan’s words “this event desires movement,” which brings its second gathering to Las Vegas, Nevada, in the early summer of 2023 and now to Sacramento this coming September.

For Sheehan, curating this lineup is more than just something on his to-do list. “Growing up in Ewa Beach, O’ahu, island music and reggae were the soundtracks to my childhood. These styles of music—the heartbeat of the islands—are the backbone of my work as a festival producer and venue owner. A big part of Good Vibez Presents is discovery, and I’m honored to be able to showcase and celebrate these bands at Holo Holo.”

“For decades we’ve worked inland and up and down the coast of California to bring great music to great people,” says Amy Sheehan, co-founder of Good Vibez. “We are thrilled to partner with JMF Presents, fellow music lovers with deep ties to the Sacramento market.”  

What: Holo Holo Music Festival - Sacramento

When: Saturday, Sept. 9 & Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023; doors at 1 PM, music at 2 PM.

Where: Old Sacramento Waterfront - The Old Sacramento State Historic Park: 111 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Who: Kolohe Kai, Common Kings, J Boog, Steel Pulse, FIJI, Rebel Souljahz, Maoli, Three Plus, Ka’ikena Scalan, Mike Love, Koauka, Eli Mac, Chris Boomer, CRSB and Western Conference

Tickets are on sale Tuesday, March 28th at 10 am PDT and can be purchased at holoholofestival.com. Feeling lucky? Enter to win 2 VIP tickets to Holo Holo Sacramento by clicking here.

A note from Good Vibez Presents re: Land acknowledgment: The history of the Sacramento area, and the people, is rich in heritage, culture, and tradition. Sacramento was a gathering place for many local tribes who have lived throughout the central valley and the foothills for generations and are the original stewards of this land. We acknowledge that the Holo Holo Festival - Sacramento is within the traditional, ancestral territories and homelands of the Nisenan people, the Southern Maidu people to the North, the Valley, and Plains Miwok/ Me-Wuk people to the south of the American River, and the Patwin Wintun people to the west of the Sacramento River. We would also like to honor the Wilton Rancheria, the only federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County.

To recognize the ancestral lands that we work upon is an important step in honoring the people who have called this area home from time immemorial and acknowledging their continued presence today. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor, and make visible those whose land we work upon. We are grateful for the opportunity to host community gatherings here. We ask that you, as visitors, treat this place with the same respect as those who walked before you.

We encourage you to learn more about the history of these lands by visiting websites such as:

https://www.nisenan.org

https://wiltonrancheria-nsn.gov/Home/TribalHistory/tabid/305/Default.as…

https://www.yochadehe.org/

“There's nothing darker and more depraved in all of creation than love's shadow side,” says Idaho-born songwriter Eilen Jewell of her newest single. Out today, “Lethal Love” is, in Jewell’s words, “A dangerous carnival of hungry ghosts, a Pandora's box full of eternal craving, inhabited by trapped, debauched spirits playing deadly games for the hell of it. But this song is an ode, not a dirge. Why not celebrate that dark side? It's not going anywhere, so we might as well enjoy it.” With Get Behind The Wheel, her ninth studio album—out on May 5th via Signature Sounds–Jewell chronicles the last few years of her life, giving fans a no frills album–her most honest work to date.

Fans can stream or purchase “Lethal Love” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Get Behind The Wheel ahead of its May 5th release right here. Jewell just wrapped up a month long tour in Australia and will be back on the road in April and May for a string of US dates. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at eilenjewell.com/tour.

Get Behind The Wheel Tracklist:

Alive

Crooked River

Lethal Love

Come Home Soon

Winnemucca

Could You Would You

Breakaway

You Were A Friend Of Mine

Outsiders

Silver Wheels And Wings

The Bitter End

Catch Eilen Jewell On Tour:

Apr 14 - Winnemucca, NV - The Martin Hotel

Apr 15 - Fallon, NV - Churchill Arts Council

May 6 - Ybor City, FL - WMNF Tropical Heatwave 2023

May 9 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic

May 10 - Nashville, TN - City Winery

May 11 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic

May 12 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle

May 13 - Greer, SC - Albino Skunk Music Festival 2023

May 14 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage

Jun 24 - Greenfield, MA - Green River Festival 2023

Jun 25 - Pawling, NY - Daryl’s House

Jun 27 - New York, NY - City Winery NYC

Jun 28 - Old Saybrook, CT - The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center

Jun 29 - Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair

Jun 30 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts

July 1 - Red Hook, NY - Hardeman Orchards

July 2 - Portland, ME - One Longfellow Square

July 5 - Woodbridge, NJ - Woodbridge Wednesdays

July 6 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

July 7 - Frenchtown, NJ - ArtYard

July 8 - Homer, NY - Center for the Arts of Homer

July 9 - Buffalo, NY - Sportsmens Tavern

Sep 7 - Berwyn, IL - Fitzgerald’s

For ticket information, please visit eilenjewell.com/tour.

With every element of her brand new album When The Trouble’s All Done, Ellie Turner took great care to retain a specific presentation of her songs. “I wanted it real and imperfect,” she remembers. “I wanted it honest. I wanted it stripped down to the core and essence of whatever it was.” Most of the tracks feature just acoustic guitars, upright bass, and vocals performed live to tape at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville. “This was a very conscious decision made by myself and my producer, Jack Schneider,” says Turner. “We would play the song live until we felt like the most honest version of the song had been performed and captured.”

Of course, Turner and Schneider’s way of recording only really lands if the songs stand up on their own, and in this case, Turner has presented a ten-song collection of beautiful, lilting, timeless folk songs. And, save for one cover of Bob Dylan’s “Oh, Sister,” are all original compositions by Turner or co-written with Schneider. A stunning debut album, When The Trouble’s All Done feels like Turner’s tribute to the folk music that changed her life back in college. “It filled me up like nothing else ever had,” she remembers. “I couldn’t get enough.” But in reality, Turner has added new pages to the great folk songbook with When The Trouble’s All Done.

Fans can now stream or purchase When The Trouble’s All Done in its entirety at this link. Turner will take the stage at the world-famous Station Inn in Nashville, Tennessee, for her album release show on April 28th.

More About When The Trouble’s All Done: Through every element of her album’s creation, Turner has taken care to retain a specific presentation of her songs. Most of the tracks feature just acoustic guitars, upright bass, and vocals. “The album was performed and recorded live-to-tape at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Tennessee,” she says. “This was a very conscious decision made by myself and my producer, Jack Schneider. We would play the song live until we felt like the most honest version of the song had been performed and captured. The imperfections and unexpected little moments of each performance are where the magic of the record lives. I wanted it to feel as if I was in someone’s living room and was handed a guitar to play.” Save for one cover of Bob Dylan’s “Oh, Sister,” all of the songs from When The Trouble’s All Done are originals written by Turner or co-written with Schneider.

When The Trouble’s All Done Tracklist:

One More Day

The ‘I Love You’ Song

Daughter

Wandering

A Little Farther Down The Line

Katabatic

If That Ocean’s Still Blue

Holyoke

Oh, Sister

When The Trouble’s All Done

Monterey-based festival promoter Good Vibez Presents is proud to announce the return of the Alta Music Festival to Avila Beach, California, over the weekend of September 23-24, 2023. Taking place at the beautiful Avila Beach Resort, just south of San Luis Obispo, Alta Music Festival will be nestled between a picturesque coastline and stunning mountains for a two-day, one-stage musical event. An intimate festival experience, Alta is put on by music lovers, for music lovers. Today, the festival announced its 2023 lineup, including headliners Dirty Heads and Sublime with Rome performing a 40 OZ to Freedom. Pepper, E-40, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Tribal Seeds, Tropidelic, Shwayze, Rome & Duddy, and Coyote Island round out the list of performers who will take the stage on Saturday and Sunday while patrons enjoy the lush atmosphere and delicious food and drink Avila Beach Resort offers.

Fans are encouraged to sign up for Alta Music Festival pre-sale tickets by visiting this link. General on-sale passes will be available on Tuesday, April 4 at 10 am PT.

A portion of the proceeds from the Alta Music Festival will benefit Operation Surf, a 501c(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit operationsurf.org.

What: Alta Music Festival 2023

When: Saturday, September 23 & Sunday, September 24, 2023

Where: Avila Beach, California

Who: Dirty Heads, Sublime with Rome, Pepper, E-40, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Tribal Seeds, Tropidelic, Shwayze, Rome & Duddy, and Coyote Island

A note from Good Vibez Presents re: Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that our Alta Music Festival, at the Avila Beach Resort in Avila Beach is on the traditional, ancestral territories and homelands of the Chumash people. To recognize the ancestral lands that we work upon is an important step in honoring the people who have called the San Luis Obispo County area home from time immemorial and acknowledging their continued presence today. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor, and make visible those whose land we work upon. We are grateful for the opportunity to host community gatherings here. As we acknowledge this area as the homeland of the Chumash, we ask that you, as visitors, treat this place with the same respect as those who walked before you.

About Good Vibez Presents: Good Vibez Presents is a full-circle project for founders and industry veterans, Dan and Amy Sheehan, who have been promoting and producing unforgettable, multidimensional events around the world for decades—most notably the largest reggae-rock festival in the country, California Roots Music & Arts Festival in Monterey and the newly-launched roots, Americana, and outlaw country fest, Rebels & Renegades. Since 2003, Good Vibez has produced hundreds of concerts and festivals all along the West Coast, Hawaii, Arizona, North Carolina, and Mexico, bringing people together with mindful, sustainable gatherings rich with music and art. Centered on their desire to use their platforms to elevate creatives in their community, their events are rooted in supporting local nonprofits and small businesses. “Everyone who walks through our doors is valued. We want everyone to feel as though they are being welcomed into our home for the weekend,” says Amy Sheehan. “We strive to give artists a hospitable, safe, and comfortable environment where creativity can thrive. And we work to give fans the coveted you-had-to-be-there memory with every ticket, it’s more than just what or who is on stage; it’s the food, the drinks, the art installations, the commitment to safety, and the friendliness of our staff.”

Good Vibez Presents believes: Community is everything; There is no Planet B; Music ties us together; and your “favorite band” should be a list ten miles long.

“I wrote this song about the first panic attack I had,” says Tommy Prine about his new tune “Reach The Sun.” It happened before he played his very first show. “Even though it was something I had always wanted for myself, the gravity of what I was about to do set in and it was hard to process,” Prine remembers. Like the rest of the songs from Prine’s upcoming debut This Far South—out June 23rd via Thirty Tigers—“Reach The Sun” feels very personal; a journal entry observation set to music. The theme doesn’t end there. More often than not, Prine spins his narrative with positivity and hope, no matter how distant those feelings seem at the start. “‘Reach The Sun’ is about learning to ground yourself and doing something that you love is part of the brighter things of life,” he says.

An emotionally complex but universally accessible debut, This Far South—co-produced by Ruston Kelly and Gena Johnson—brings together a sonic patchwork of musical influences to help tell the story of each song. “Reach The Sun” takes a cue from Prine’s mother’s home of Ireland, its entire first verse nothing but vocals and a digital droning tone imitating something like Uilleann pipes. Eventually, rock and roll instrumentation takes the song higher, but “Reach The Sun” never leaves the waltzing 6/8 time feel of its seemingly Celtic roots. Inspirations from groups like Outkast or The Strokes or Bon Iver sneak into This Far South as well, but Prine always sounds like Prine; honest in his emotions and impactful with his message.

Fans can hear “Reach The Sun” today at this link and are encouraged to join in for the premiere party tonight at 5 pm Central on Tommy Prine’s YouTube channel. This Far South can be pre-ordered or pre-saved ahead of its June 23rd release right here, and the album’s previously-released title track can be streamed or purchased here.

Itching for more Tommy Prine while waiting on the album to drop? Hear “Ships In The Harbor”—which Luke Combs "can’t stop listening to" and Garden & Gun called “A gorgeous meditation on change and loss, and an acknowledgment that both are inevitable”—right here and “Turning Stones” here.

Prine is fresh off of a run of shows in the southeast that just culminated in four sold out residency shows at Nashville’s The Basement with special guests Katie Pruitt, Ruston Kelly, Amanda Shires and Tré Burt, not to mention supporting Tyler Childers over two sold-out shows in London. A list of tour dates, including Ireland, U.K., and U.S. stops, can be found below or at tommyprine.com/tour.

Stories Behind This Far South: The album’s title track, “This Far South'' marks a turning point in Prine’s life as he found himself struggling to escape a dark, aimless period. He ultimately found the courage to act on choices that would see him to the other, brighter, side. “There were several years where I felt without purpose, spent all my time partying, and just existing. I found myself at a fork in the road and chose the better path, and in that moment, I swore I would never be ‘this far south’ again.”

Grief is a major throughline of Prine’s current work. In 2017, Prine lost his best friend to an overdose. “Since then, I have lost some more friends and have others who are still navigating the ups and downs of struggles with drug abuse.” His song, “Letter To My Brother,” was written as a message to the friends he’s lost, those in Recovery, and friends who are still struggling.

He still grapples with the passing of his father in April 2020. “The world lost one of the greatest songwriters of all time, but I lost my dad.” Prine bears the loss of his father and the memories he carries for others on the track, “By The Way.” “The comment I get the most is how much I look like him, and sometimes it makes me feel like I’m a sad reminder to those who loved him.”

While navigating that loss has been difficult, he’s found solace in connecting with others who have lost loved ones through music. “When I'm playing certain songs, I can literally look out in the crowd and tell who else has lost their dad,” he says. “I can immediately tell which people have experienced, specifically, losing their father. They'll come up and tell me afterward, and I'll be like, ‘Yeah, like, I figured that this conversation was going to happen,’ because I could see their reaction. It’s been really powerful to see real-deal evidence that grief is a shared experience, and that suffering is a shared experience between humans.”

This Far South Tracklist:

Elohim

Crashing Again

This Far South

Reach The Sun

By The Way

Mirror and a Kitchen Sink

Boyhood

Some Things

Letter to My Brother

Cash Carter Hill

I Love You, Always

Catch Tommy Prine On Tour:

Apr. 4 - Brighton, UK - The Folklore Rooms

Apr. 5 - London, UK - The Slaughtered Lamb

Apr. 7 - Dublin, IRE - Vicar Street

Apr. 8 - Dublin, IRE - Vicar Street

Apr. 20 - St. Petersburg, FL - Palladium Theatre

Apr. 21 - Jacksonville Beach, FL - Blue Jay Listening Room

Apr. 22 - Tallahassee, FL - Word of South Music and Literature Festival

Apr. 29 - Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFest

May 25 - New York, NY - Cafe Wha?

Aug 25-27 - Lutterworth, UK - The Long Road Festival

Sep 23-24 - Franklin, TN - Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival

For ticket information, please visit tommyprine.com/tour.

With DelFest 2023 just a few weeks away, festival organizers—including DelFest brainchild and namesake Del McCoury and his extended McCoury family—are finalizing every last detail to make this year’s festival the best one yet. Returning to its longstanding home in Cumberland, Maryland, over Memorial Day Weekend (May 25-28), DelFest has just announced the 2023 late-night lineup and added one more very special act to the bill: Jason Carter & Friends. The longtime Del McCoury Band and Travelin’ McCourys fiddler released his critically acclaimed solo album Lowdown Hoedown late last year and is bringing a swath of new tunes and some familiar faces to the DelFest stage. Additionally, the DelFest daily schedule has been finalized. Of course, Del McCoury band will play their infamous soundcheck set on Wednesday night and full show on Saturday, and headliners Trampled By Turtles and St. Paul & The Broken Bones will play the Grandstage stage on Thursday and Sunday, respectively. Daily schedules can be found here and the late-night lineup can be found below.

In addition to the late-night shows, DelFest is making good use of the Music Hall stage by adding a Friday and Saturday morning bloody mary bar (complete with live music) from 10 am until noon. Taylor Rae and Charm City Junction are scheduled to perform on Friday and Caleb Stine and Justin Trawick & The Common Good will both take the stage on Saturday.

DelFest 4-, 3-, and 2-day passes, along with parking and RV passes, can still be purchased at this link. Early bird ticket prices will increase on April 10th, so fans are encouraged to purchase tickets this weekend. Single day tickets will be available for purchase tomorrow, April 7th, at 11am EST.

DelFest 2023 Late Night Lineup:

Thursday: Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass featuring The Hillbenders

Friday: The Infamous Stringdusters with Kitchen Dwellers

Saturday: The California Honeydrops with Cris Jacobs

Sunday: An evening with The Travelin’ McCourys

As in years past, late-night shows are separately ticketed events, and tickets for each night’s performances are available now at this link.

More About DelFest’s Long Running Home: Located along the Potomac River in the scenic Appalachian Mountains, and personally chosen by Del, the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD (2.5 hours from Baltimore and D.C.) serves as the ideal location for DelFest. The fairgrounds are conveniently located near four major airports and can be easily reached by rail or road. The city of Cumberland, MD, is a welcoming host offering multiple hotel options, a charming downtown, and great amenities that include biking, fishing, and kayaking, as well as a steam train engine and museum, and interesting dining options. Come for the music, and perhaps stay an extra day to explore the area offerings which are well suited for music fans and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

The world-famous jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie helped redefine music several times over and set the preconditions for jazz innovations, rock and roll, and popular American music, and today, a whole new host of colorful talents have mixed with Basie’s legendary sound and influence as part of a brand new album called Late Night Basie. Releasing on Primary Wave Music label and distributed by Green Hill Music, Late Night Basie captures the essence of the man and his music with each song a modern-day interpretation of a Count Basie classic.

With Late Night Basie, visionary producer Paul Peck wanted to find and highlight the intersection of Count Basie through seemingly unrelated artists. The resulting album features a broad swath of genre-spanning musicians, from hip hop visionary Talib Kweli appearing with funk torchbearers Lettuce to New Orleans’ own Soul Rebels with Nicholas Payton and Cuban wunderkind Cimafunk to blues rock sister duo Larkin Poe with first-call players Will Lee and Shawn Pelton; not to mention the modern day Count Basie Orchestra.

“This recording proves once again that Count Basie’s music stands the test of time with its ever-expanding appeal and adaptability,” says Scotty Barnhart, director of the Count Basie Orchestra. “There is something here for all ages and tastes which is exactly how Basie would want it.” Barnhart and the rest of the Count Basie Orchestra, along with vocalist Carmen Bradford, are taking the stage for five nights at New York’s iconic Birdland Jazz Club on May 23-27. A full list of Count Basie Orchestra concert dates can be found below.

The latest single from this project is the Basie classic “Blue & Sentimental,” in the expert hands of Larkin Poe (Feat. Will Lee & Shawn Pelton). Click here to listen and click here for a few words from Larkin Poe regarding what Basie means to them as musicians.

Fans can stream or purchase Late Night Basie in its entirety today at this link. For more information, please visit CountBasie.com.

Late Night Basie Tracklist:

“Didn’t You” Lettuce (Feat. Talib Kweli)

“One O’Clock Jump” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Jazzmeia Horn & Ray Angry)

“Blue & Sentimental” - Larkin Poe (Feat. Will Lee & Shawn Pelton)

“M-Squad” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Terence Blanchard)

“Jumpin’ at the Woodside” - The Count Basie Orchestra (Feat. Jimmy Vivino & Ray Angry)

“St. Thomas” - The Soul Rebels (Feat. Nicholas Payton, Cimafunk & Weedie Braimah)

“One O’Clock Jump” (Bonus track) - Danny Jonokuchi & The Revisionists*

*winners of DownBeat Magazine’s inaugural Count Basie Contest.

Upcoming Concert Dates for the Count Basie Orchestra (Directed by Scotty Barnhart):

May 20 - Boston, MA - Calderwood Studio at GBH Boston^

May 23-27 - New York, NY - Birdland Jazz Club*

June 9 - Boone, NC - Appalachian Theatre of the High Country*

August 12 - Denver, CO - Balistreri Vineyards*

August 20 - Stowe, VT - Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow*

^with guest vocalist Diane Schuur

*with guest vocalist Carmen Bradford

A broad mountain stream and towering red rock bluffs surround the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons, Colorado. It’s a stunning and peaceful refuge, and to the delight of music fans nationwide, there’s also a stage! For over 30 years, festivalgoers (or “Festivarians'' as they’ve been dubbed by Planet Bluegrass), have been making the trek to Colorado’s front range for the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival; three days of music, camping, and inspiration from songwriters of all genres. Today, the team at Planet Bluegrass announced the full lineup for Folks Fest 2023—August 11-13—which includes acts like Texas’s country, blues, and Americana troubadour Charley Crockett, funky New Orleans genre-benders Tank and the Bangas, and Swedish folk balladeer The Tallest Man on Earth. The entire lineup can be found below and at bluegrass.com/folks.

The Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriters Showcase is now open for submissions. The Songwriter Showcase is Folks Fest’s nationally-recognized singer-songwriter competition, open to anyone who writes and performs original music, and who is not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal. Contestants are judged on the quality of the song’s composition (50%), vocal delivery (25%), and overall performance (25%). Ten finalists will be selected to receive a 3-day pass to the 2023 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival to compete in a live performance contest for cash and prizes. Online song submissions will be accepted for the 2023 Songwriter Showcase until July 14th and can be submitted by following this link.

Like all of Planet Bluegrass’s events, tickets for Rocky Mountain Folks Fest are going fast, but 3-day passes, single-day passes, camping passes, and more are still available for purchase at this link. For more information, please visit bluegrass.com/folks.

Rocky Mountain Folks Festival 2023 Lineup:

Charley Crockett

Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band

Larkin Poe

The Tallest Man on Earth

Tank and the Bangas

Shovels & Rope

Celisse

Katie Pruitt

The Secret Sisters

Stephen Kellogg

Leyla McCalla

Seth Walker

Caitlin Canty

Humbird

Dead Horses

Benjamin Dakota Rogers

Kuinka

The Sensational Barnes Brothers

The Pairs

Shanna in a Dress

Songwriter Showcase

About Planet Bluegrass: For over 30 years, Planet Bluegrass has been redefining the musical festival by creating exceptional experiences that protect the planet through environmental leadership and a strong community.

Fiercely and decidedly independent, their three festivals make a unique musical mark: each takes place in breathtaking natural Colorado environments, each features the world’s finest musicians and songwriters, and each embraces a “Leave No Trace” ethic that defines Planet Bluegrass as a leader in Sustainable Festivation. Planet Bluegrass presents Telluride Bluegrass, Rockygrass, and Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, bucket list musical gatherings for artists and fans alike. Planet Bluegrass is invested in the next generation of songwriters and musicians as evidenced by Rockygrass Academy and Song School.

Good Vibez Presents, the all-types-of-music-loving promoters behind the beloved California Roots Music & Arts Festival, are pleased to announce the return of Rebels & Renegades in 2023. A once-a-year gathering of musical hippies and cowboys in Monterey, California, Rebels & Renegades will once again take place at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, this year bringing music to festivalgoers over three days; October 6-8, 2023. Good Vibez went all out on the programming for Rebels & Renegades 2023, inviting everyone from headliners Turnpike Troubadours, Whiskey Myers, and Wilco; to Grammy-winners Molly Tuttle and The Infamous Stringdusters; to don’t-miss up-and-comers like Vincent Neil Emerson and Jaime Wyatt. A full daily lineup can be found below.

With Rebels & Renegades, promoters Dan and Amy Sheehan and all of the Good Vibez crew enjoyed the challenge of creating a fresh festival experience grown from their family’s love of exactly what they are programming: left-of-center country, Americana, folk, outlaw, Texas country, bluegrass, and roots music. Dan Sheehan shares, “What was once just a dream has now become a reality. The line for Rebels & Renegades 2023 is one of the best line ups I have developed for any of our festivals. It was quite the process putting it together over the last 4 months and I am really excited to share it with the world.”

Reverent when it matters and irreverent where a change would do good, Rebels & Renegades is their nod to the outlaw in everyone. The inaugural year of Rebels & Renegades took place in October of 2022 and was celebrated by Rolling Stone for its “no genres allowed” programming ethos. Expanding to 3 days and in ‘23, fans will have the distinct pleasure of hearing and seeing their favorite bands play the same iconic stage on which Jimi Hendrix set his guitar aflame at 1967’s Monterey Pop Festival.

Pre-sale signup is available now right here, and Rebels & Renegades tickets will go on sale on April 11th at 10 am Pacific at this link. For more information, please visit rebelsandrenegadesfest.com.

Rebels & Renegades 2023 Lineup:

Friday, October 6:

Turnpike Troubadours

Old Crow Medicine Show

Morgan Wade

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

Flatland Cavalry

The War and Treaty

Brent Cobb

The Steel Woods

Rayland Baxter

Boy Named Banjo

Jamie Wyatt

TK & The Holy Know-Nothings

Danno Simpson

Saturday, October 7:

Whiskey Myers

Charley Crockett

The Devil Makes Three

Paul Cauthen

Kurt Vile & The Violators

The California Honeydrops

Jamestown Revival

Reckless Kelly

Vincent Neil Emerson

JD Clayton

Channing Wilson

Sunday, October 8:

Wilco

Shakey Graves

Elle King

The Wood Brothers

Sierra Ferrell

Shane Smith & The Saints

Whitey Morgan and the 78’s

The Infamous Stringdusters

American Aquarium

Mike and The Moonpies

Wyatt Flores

Peter One

Satsang

“Quitting the road doesn’t mean I’m dead, and it doesn’t mean I’m going to quit producing stuff,” reiterates Americana legend and model Texan Robert Earl Keen. He did retire from touring in September of last year, but his new release Western Chill finds the songwriter alive and well and, seemingly, very relaxed. And while Keen is still making public appearances—he was just officially honored on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives and popped into Dallas’s newly reopened Longhorn Ballroom to play a tune with Old Crow Medicine Show—Western Chill makes it very apparent that retirement suits him. For most artists, dropping an album of fourteen new songs would be enough, but, proven time and time again, Keen isn’t most artists.

Currently, the only way to hear Western Chill is to purchase the entire box set, and thankfully, the box set is where it’s at. Including a 92-page graphic novel inspired by the album, a play-along/sing-along songbook for all fourteen songs, and a DVD of the Robert Earl Keen Band performing the entire new album at Keen’s Snake Barn studio space, the only thing “chill” about the release is the songs themselves. For the foreseeable future there will be no download or streaming links, so fans are encouraged to dive into the entirety of Western Chill the way it was intended: kick back, crack a cold one, sing along, and enjoy the vibe.

Pre-sales are over, but fans can now purchase Keen’s Western Chill package for immediate delivery at this link and don’t forget to stay up to date—rumor has it, REK has already finished another record—at robertearlkeen.com.

Western Chill In The News:

The Wall Street Journal sang high praises for Western Chill, summing the release up as such: “In total, the sounds and sights Mr. Keen and band have concocted and assembled in this box work as road maps toward getting happily de-stressed and deliberately lost—for the audience, too. The set concedes, subtly but truly, that working on the road can’t actually go on forever, and that every party, despite what the familiar lyrics suggest, ends. The music and good-natured humor, though—those can keep right on coming.”

Rolling Stone excited readers for Keen’s release of Western Chill and the “whole batch of extra goodies to accompany it.”

Garden & Gun premiered Western Chill’s title track, writing of the album, “Despite its size (and very laidback vibe), the project is not a swan song or a retirement notice. Quite the contrary. Less time on the road leads to more time in the studio—and the Snake Barn. Expect Keen’s next album, which he says is already all but finished, to push the limits even further.”

Western Chill Tracklist:

Western Chill

Blue Light (feat. Bill Whitbeck)

Waves (feat. Brian Beken)

Hello Stranger (feat. Kym Warner)

The City (feat. Brian Beken)

Let’s Valet

Balmorhea

Marfa

Bone and Flowers (feat. Bill Whitbeck)

Sweet Summer Rain

Mister Mockingbird (feat. Bill Whitbeck)

Mr. Blues on the Run

Walking On

Rippling Waters

The wait is almost over! MerleFest, presented by Window World, kicks off next Thursday. As fans prepare to embark on their annual pilgrimages to MerleFest, the Wilkes Community College campus is abuzz with staff and volunteers excitedly making final preparations for the festival which takes place just one week from now—April 27-30.

MerleFest has just posted the official schedule—which can be found at this link—so that fans can plan their weekend. This year will mark MerleFest’s 35th festival and honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday. To celebrate the historic milestone event, organizers intend to feature MerleFest’s unique history and present unique collaborations to honor the festival’s founding folk icon. In addition to the Doc-Centennial, not-to-be-missed traditions include Donna The Buffalo’s opening night dance party on Thursday, The Waybacks’ legendary Album Hour set on Saturday at the Hillside Stage, and a trio of Sunday morning gospel sets at the Creekside Stage. MerleFest is also hosting a number of artists for their very first time at the world-renowned event. Don’t miss first-timer sets from acts like the genre-defying and industry-challenging Americana singer Miko Marks (Friday at 12:45 p.m. on the Watson Stage), bluegrass-steeped folkster Bella White (Sunday at 1:50 p.m. on the Cabin Stage), the emotive and thoughtful songs of Tommy Prine (Saturday at 5:45 p.m. on the Americana Stage), AJ Lee & Blue Summit’s fan-favorite brand of acoustic music (Friday at 5:45 p.m. on the Americana Stage), and the transcendent southern rock of Ben Chapman (Friday at 4:15 p.m. on the Dance Stage).

Tickets for MerleFest 2023—which will feature performances by Brothers of a Feather with Chris & Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes, The Avett Brothers, Maren Morris, Tanya Tucker, Nickel Creek, Little Feat, and many more—are available now. For general admission passes, reserved seating, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase. Festival goers can save money by purchasing their tickets in advance of the festival’s opening day, April 27th. MerleFest also encourages festival goers to download the official MerleFest mobile app ahead of this year’s festivities to keep up to date with schedules, events, and on-site information.

The WCC Foundation is once again hosting its MerleFest Mega Raffle to support scholarships at Wilkes Community College. Over $150,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded and only 3,000 tickets will be sold. The Mega Raffle drawings will be held during the festival on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at the Mega Raffle/Silent Auction Tent at 2:00 p.m., and ticket holders do not need to be present to win. Winners will be announced during the live drawings and notified via email and phone to confirm the prize. Raffle tickets are $100 each and include two entries to the MerleFest Mega Raffle drawings. Mega Raffle Tickets are on sale now at merlefest.org/megaraffle.

Some of the most memorable sets in High Sierra Music Festival’s three-decades-running history have taken place after the California sun had set; way after—sometimes when it was on the verge of rising again. The legendary late-night High Sierra show can take the form of a sweat-fueled dance party, swirling psychedelic jams and explorations, or full crowd participation singalongs, and if festivalgoers have planned accordingly and saved a little gas in their tanks, they’ve traditionally been rewarded with once-in-a-lifetime musical memories.

This year, the team behind High Sierra Music Festival aims to keep the sleep-deprived thriving with yet another all-star-ridden late-night lineup over the weekend of June 29th-July 2nd in beautiful Quincy, California. Thursday finds New Orleans’ funk torchbearers Galactic in the High Sierra Music Hall; On Friday, in an incredibly intimate setting, moe. will bring their long-loved dual-guitar invasion to the Funk’n Jamhouse while Lebo & Friends take fans on a “Yacht Rock” themed nautical journey for the ages in the Music Hall; and Saturday and Sunday find Lotus and The Nth Power back in the Hall on each respective night. The entire late-night lineup can be found below or right here. As in years past, late-night shows are separately ticketed events, and tickets for each night’s performances are available now at this link.

New for this year, HSMF will be offering a very limited quantity of wristbands that grant fans access to the full slate of High Sierra 2023 late-night shows. These wristbands can be purchased in advance at the above ticket link and will be picked up at the late-night box office. These non-transferable tickets are not eligible for resale.

This week’s Late Night announcement draws from an already stacked lineup featuring artists and bands like Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Thievery Corporation, Cory Wong, Neil Francis, Sierra Hull, and many many more. View the full HSMF 2023 lineup right here.

4-day festival passes as well as FestivALL VIP packages and camping passes are still available to purchase by following this link. For more information, please visit highsierramusic.com.

High Sierra Music Festival Late-Night Lineup:

Thursday, June 29th:

High Sierra Music Hall: Galactic with Polyrhythmics

Funk’n Jamhouse: Jerry’s Middle Finger (2 Sets)

Friday, June 30th:

High Sierra Music Hall: Lebo & Friends with New Monsoon

Funk’n Jamhouse: moe. with Big Something

Saturday, July 1st:

High Sierra Music Hall: Lotus with Dopapod

Funk’n Jamhouse: Diggin Dirt with Boot Juice

Sunday, July 2nd:

High Sierra Music Hall: The Nth Power with Con Brio

More About High Sierra Music Festival: Priding itself on a diverse musical lineup, one-of-a-kind intimate artist “playshops,” and legendary sit-ins and surprises throughout the weekend, HSMF remains the live music fan mainstay—a home away from home to pilgrimage to each year for a community experience of musical chances taken, all day and all night, on stages big and small. From the Grandstand Stage to the “don’t let out the air-conditioning” doors of the High Sierra Music Hall, festival-goers spend every day celebrating old traditions, as well as forging new ones each and every year. Craft brews and artisanal cocktails and cuisine to satisfy any appetite can be found around the clock, and kids never get bored of the daily parades, engaging Family Village, and the always-popular community swimming pool right next door. On-site yoga, Pilates, and guided meditations provide a non-musical lift for the body, mind, and spirit. High Sierra Music Festival continues to be the cradle of exciting music in the picturesque locale of Plumas-Sierra Fairgrounds in Quincy, CA—located an easy distance from major airports in Reno, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Sacramento.

Hot on the heels of yet another GRAMMY nomination—this time for their latest LP, Toward The Fray—prolific bluegrass quintet the Infamous Stringdusters are revisiting the forefathers of the genre with their brand new album, A Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs; in a way not too distant from their GRAMMY-nominated A Tribute to Bill Monroe. “The concept of paying tribute to the Grandfathers or originators of Bluegrass is one we bounced around for a while and after Bill Monroe, the most logical, I think any bluegrass musician would agree, are Flatt & Scruggs,” says Stringdusters bassist Travis Book. “They're legendary; without Earl's banjo, bluegrass just doesn't exist as we know it today.” And just like the bluegrass pioneers they’re paying tribute to, the band gathered in the studio and pressed record; all together, all at once.

Today, the Stringdusters released the six-song collection of their favorite tunes from Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs’s catalog on their own record label, Americana Vibes, to the delight of fans and critics alike. A Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs can be streamed or purchased in its entirety at this link. Limited color vinyl and more Flatt & Scruggs-centric merch can be found right here.

A Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs Tracklist:

1. I’d Rather Be Alone

2. Will You Be Lonesome

3. Blue Ridge Cabin Home

4. Earl's Breakdown

5. Cabin on the Hill

6. Down the Road

The Stringdusters are in the middle of their 2023 Spring tour with the second of two shows in Crystal Bay, Nevada, taking place tonight. The rest of the Stringdusters’ schedule finds the band hitting festival-season staples like Telluride Bluegrass, ROMP Fest, High Sierra, and more throughout the summer. For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, please see below or visit thestringdusters.com/tour.

Catch The Infamous Stringdusters On Tour:

4/20 - Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino Crown Room

4/21 - Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino Crown Room

4/22 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall

4/23 – Mill Valley, CA – Sweetwater Music Hall

5/5-6 - Baltimore, MD - Charm City Bluegrass Festival

5/19-20 - Clive, IA - Greenbelt Music Festival

5/25-28 - Cumberland, MD - DelFest

5/26-29 - Greenfield, MA - Strange Creek Campout

6/1-3 - Oak Hill, WV - Mountain Music Festival

6/15-18 - Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival

6/21-24 - Owensboro, KY - ROMP Fest

6/22-24 - Eau Claire, WI - Blue Ox Festival

6/22-24 - Caneadea, NY - Estival Festival

6/29-7/2 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival

7/12-7/16 - Durham, NY - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival

7/15 - Charleston, SC - The Refinery

7/21-23 - Redmond, OR - Fairwell Festival

8/4 - Bellvue, CO - The Mishawaka

8/5 - Dillon, CO - Dillon Amphitheater

8/6 - South Fork, CO - Rhythms on the Rio

8/11 - Alta, WY - Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival

8/12-13 - Livingston, MT - Pine Creek Lodge

9/1 - Mill Springs, NC - Earl Scruggs Music Festival

9/2 - Brunswick, ME - Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival

9/15-17 - East Aurora, NY - Borderland Music Festival

10/8 - Monterey, CA - Rebels & Renegades Music Festival

10/6-8 - Pelham, TN - Cave Fest

12/6-10 - Puerto Morelos, Q.R. - Strings & Sol

“Last year's Park City Song Summit was the stuff dreams are made of,” says the event’s founder and ringmaster, Ben Anderson. “Our artists, speakers, and attendees all walked away with lasting stories and songs to remember our inaugural event.” This year, PCSS is building on what was a stellar inaugural gathering—check out SPIN’s recap here—by not only growing entertainment offerings but moving to a new venue capable of sharing the Song Summit experience with a bigger audience.

Today, Park City Song Summit announced its initial lineup that finds hit country songwriters like Jeffrey Steele and Earl Bud Lee on the same list as hip hop pioneers Grandmaster Flash and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels; Cuban wunderkind Cimafunk next to R&B guitar shredder Celisse; and New Orleans legend Anders Osborne and Grammy-winning guitarist, songwriter, and producer Eric Krasno alongside Dead legend, Bobby Weir—who’s making a return to Park City forty years after his band’s show there—further exemplifying the Song Summit’s mission of writing a “love letter to the power of the song.” A full list of performers, as well as Lab moderators, can be found below or at parkcitysongsummit.com.

Live performances are a major ingredient of the Song Summit, but this intimate mountain retreat for music lovers orbits around the minute details of the creative process itself—the why and how music comes about, struggles and breakthroughs alike—in an open dialog with the finest song crafters of our modern age. During the day, sit-down, artist-led discussions—dubbed Summit Labs—​​intentionally bring fans closer to the artists they love, both physically and contextually. This year’s Lab and performances include topics involving the 50th anniversary of hip hop, a tribute to the greatness of Stevie Wonder, a new Nashville Unplugged songwriters stage, the tangled roots of Latinx and Black music, Women and the blues, the "Havana Funk Experience" ft. jazz/funk music students from New Orleans and Havana, Cuba and so much more.

Park City Song Summit 2023 will be held in a new location at The Canyons Village. “The Canyons Village reflects the intention of our programming and provides ample physical room for our minds and hearts to roam in a variety of settings,” says Anderson. “The addition of the amphitheater stage allows us to offer the Park City Song Summit experience to a bigger audience.” Labs and performances will take place in and around the Canyons Village while a few of the intimate late night venues from last year will remain in use along Park City’s Main Street historic district.

The most talked about aspect of last year’s Song Summit—and the heart of its creation in the first place—is the event’s emphasis on mental health, wellness, and recovery. This year, there will be daily wellness activities such as meditation sessions, yoga, guided hikes with therapists, afternoon re-centering, and many other health-minded activities, as well as ample hangs for those attendees in recovery. Additionally, Song Summit beneficiaries include the event’s 501c3, More Than Music Foundation, Stand Together Music, The Phoenix, Amber Health, and the Huntsman Mental Health Institute. “Wellness, impact, and inclusivity will continue to be the backbone of our mission and our programming,” says Anderson. “We look forward to gathering again this fall, and in the meantime know that my team and I will be diligently working to bring music fans and the music industry an event that gives: gives to our community, gives to our artists, gives to our charitable partners, and ultimately gives a whole lotta love.”

3-day Summit Passes and add-ons, single-day passes, and individual show tickets will be available for presale May 4 and to the general public May 11. For more information, please visit parkcitysongsummit.com.

PCSS Performers:
Adia Victoria
Anders Osborne
Black Opry Revue ft. The Kentucky Gentlemen, Valerie Ponzio, Autumn Nicholas, South Texas Tweek, Rissi Palmer and Making Movies
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros ft. The Wolfpack
Brad Walker & The Hornstars
Celisse
Chuck D
Cimafunk
Danielle Ponder
Danny Myrick
Darryl "DMC" McDaniels
Devon Gilfillian
Earl Bud Lee
Eric Krasno & Friends
Even Stevens
Grandmaster Flash
Jeffrey Steele
Joe Pug
Josh Blaylock
Josh Jenkins
Joy Oladokun
Madeline Hawthorne
Matisyahu
Matt Warren
Megan Linville
Paul Janeway of St. Paul and The Broken Bones
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Ruby Amanfu
Sam Ashworth
Sinclair
Steele Fountain
Steve Poltz
Travis Howard

Lab Moderators and Featured Guests:
Aaron Benward
Anthony Mason of CBS
Antong Lucky
Caroline Randall Williams
Ciona Rouse
Collin Laverty
David Manhiem of the Dopey Podcast
Dave Margulies
Enrique Chi
Havana Funk Experience
Holly G
Jay Blakesberg
Leta Herman
Marissa R. Moss
Rissi Palmer
Ruthie Lindsey
SongwritingWith:Soldiers
Tressie McMillan Cottom

“Tequila won't get you across that desert / To Evangelina in old Mexico,” sings the rich Canadian baritone of Colter Wall in his brand new tune, “Evangelina.” The song, originally written and recorded by Hoyt Axton, paints a thirsty picture of longing and half-laid plans to chase down a lost love; all backed up by a band steeped in the traditional sounds of Wall’s prairie homelands.

“Evangelina” is the first release from Wall’s upcoming album, Little Songs which is due out on July 14th via Wall’s longtime label La Honda Records and new partner RCA Records. On Little Songs, fans of Wall’s will find the same hardscrabble voice they’ve loved over the years connecting the contemporary world to the values, hardships, and celebrations of rural life. From the titular track he sings, “You might not see a soul for days on them high and lonesome plains. You got to fill the big empty with little songs.” The ten-song LP features eight originals inspired by—and written in—Wall’s home of Battle Creek, Saskatchewan, along with the aforementioned Axton cut and a cover of Ian Tyson’s “The Coyote & The Cowboy.”

Fans can hear “Evangelina” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Little Songs ahead of its July 14th release right here. Wall is also gearing up for two rare live appearances at Denver’s Dusty Boots festival on July 1st and Montana’s Under The Big Sky on July 14th. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit colterwall.com.

More About Little Songs: With his longtime touring band, Wall returned to Yellowdog Studios in Wimberly, Texas, where he cut his 2020, Billboard-charting album, Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs, to track the ten tunes that make up Little Songs. With co-producer Patrick Lyons, Wall tracked eight original songs and two fan-favorite covers from Ian Tyson and Hoyt Axton. Little Songs is an upbeat, sometimes somber glimpse into the rural work and social life of the Canadian West, and, more so than with previous albums, opens emotional turns as mature and heartening as the resonant baritone voice writing them.

This release of new music follows the recent partnership between Wall’s longtime label La Honda Records and RCA Records, with Little Songs as the first album on the joint venture. Prior to the new album, Wall released two standalone singles—“Cypress Hills and the Big Country” and a cover of Cowboy Jack Clement’s “Let’s All Help the Cowboys (Sing the Blues)”—as well as the 2020 LP Western Swings & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs and Colter Wall and the Scary Prairie Boys’ Live In Front Of Nobody, a 2021 livestream, full-band show turned indie record store, vinyl-only release–a coveted and limited release. Information on both albums can be found at colterwall.com.

Little Songs Tracklist:

Prairie Evening/Sagebrush Waltz

Standing Here

Corralling The Blues

The Coyote & The Cowboy

Honky Tonk Nighthawk

For a Long While

Cow/Calf Blue Yodel

Little Songs

Evangelina

The Last Loving Words

More About Colter Wall: Colter Wall and his music are from the prairies of southern Saskatchewan, where he lives and works. He is a La Honda Records/RCA Records recording artist and has appeared abroad, including Austin City Limits and most recently at the Ponoka Stampede.

With their brand new album Home Is Where The Heart Is, the Davisson Brothers Band set out to paint a clear picture of their homeland. Created like a declaration of musical independence—a national anthem for the Appalachian way of life—Home Is Where The Heart Is is the masterpiece the band has worked toward their whole career, and after working hard to earn the respect of their peers, it wasn’t done alone. Produced by wildly popular songwriter and recording artist Brent Cobb and Nashville’s legendary recording studio character David “Ferg” Ferguson, Home Is Where The Heart Is finds Davisson Brothers Band—brothers Chris and Donnie Davisson on lead guitar and lead vocals, respectively, their nephew Gerrod Bee on bass and life-long family friend Aaron Regester on drums—joined in the studio by bluegrass (Tim O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, Rob McCoury) and jam-band royalty (Vince Herman, Lindsay Lou, and more) to help round out their signature mountain sound.

Fans can stream or purchase Home Is Where The Heart Is today at this link and check out the Davisson’s music video for “Mountain High” right here. The Davisson Brothers Band has a host of festival appearances and headlining shows from now until October on the calendar, but their first stop post-album-release is at none other than the Grand Ole Opry. The band will take the stage at the world-famous Opry House tomorrow night, April 29th. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at davissonbrothersband.com/tour.

More About Home Is Where The Heart Is: The Davisson brothers enlisted big names Brent Cobb and David “Ferg” Ferguson to produce, and although the album was recorded by the band themselves, icons like Tim O’Brien, Rob McCoury, Stewart Duncan, Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman, Ronnie Bowman, Kyle Tuttle, Lindsay Lou, and more are featured.

Then there was the songwriting, which put trusted Music City tunesmiths like Wyatt Durrette, Rob Snyder, Channing Wilson, and Adam Hood in the same room as “the grandpa of jam bands” (Herman), “the world champion banjo player” (Tuttle), and more. “My first thought was to take some of our writer friends from Nashville, and get them out of Nashville,” Chris explains. “I wanted to put them together with some of our Jam Band/Bluegrass buddies and do something that’s never been done.”

“We ended up in South Carolina at a lodge, and I was a little nervous to see how this would go, but it was magic,” Chris continues. “The country guys had never been in a bluegrass jam circle, and I’ve got the best mandolin guys, the best banjo guys, and here’s this country writer just soaking it all in for a week. By the last two days, these songs just started coming out.” By the end, the Davissons had nearly 100 songs to choose from, with Cobb and Ferguson (famous as Johnny Cash’s favored engineer) to guide the album’s creation. Setting up shop in Nashville’s famous Cowboy Arms Hotel And Recording Spa, they immediately recognized the “home” theme, and wisely aimed to distill the Davisson Brothers sound down to its essential ingredients, something as pure and potent as mountain moonshine—and just as transparent.

“What makes me more proud of this album than anything is the way it happened,” Chris says. “It wasn’t something somebody put on paper in a conference room. Between Brent’s vision for a song’s vibe, and David’s ability to capture them so well, this is basically the album we’ve been trying to accomplish our whole career.”

Home Is Where The Heart Is Tracklist:

Home

Mountain High

Appalachian Breeze

Eastern Kentucky

Wild and Wonderful

Cross My Heart

John Deere Tractor

Long Hard Road

She Ain’t Coming Back

Life On Fire

I’m Good With It

Morningstar

Catch Davisson Brothers Band On Tour:

April 28 - Winnsboro, SC - Carolina Adventure World

April 29 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry

May 6 - St. Mary’s, WV - St. Mary’s High School

May 12 - Thomas, WV - Purple Fiddle

May 20 - Charleston, WV - The Bucket

June 3 - Electric City, WA - Sunbanks Country Music Festival

June 9 - Winchester, VA - Backseat Events

June 11 - Myrtle Beach, SC - Carolina Country Music Fest

June 16 - Kannapolis, NC - The Swanee Theater

June 17 - St Albans, WV - YakFest

June 18 - Wildwood, NJ - Barefoot Country Music Fest

June 23 - Glenville, WV - Sue Morris Complex

June 24 - Zanesville, OH - American Made Country Music Festival

June 30 - Cumberland, MD - Ali Ghan Shrine Club

July 1 - Salem, WV - Fourth of July Celebration

July 4 - Gallipolis, OH - Gallipolis River Rec Fest

July 7 - Morgantown, WV - Ruby Amphitheatre

July 8 - White Hall, WV - Town of White Hall

July 29 - Mineral Wells, WV - West Virginia Laborers’ Training Center

August 1 - Petersburg, WV - Tri County Fair

August 4 - Ravenswood, WV - Ohio River Festival

August 5 - Mount Airy, MD - Mount Airy VFC Carnival

August 10 - Mannington, WV - Mannington District Fair

August 11 - Davis, WV - Canaan Valley Resort

Sept. 2 - Webster Springs, WV - Bergoo Bash

Sept. 30 - Kingwood, WV - Preston County Buckwheat Festival

Oct. 6 - Salem, WV - Salem Apple Butter Festival

Ticket info for all dates can be found at davissonbrothersband.com/tour.

“I want my work to be seen as subtle by definition,” says three-time Juno Award nominee Del Barber. “I want my statements to come across as questions rather than decrees or opinions.” Barber’s way of seeing the world and his place within it takes center stage on his brand new album, Almanac. If Barber’s previous release, Stray Dogs: Collected B-Sides Vol. 1 felt like the end of one of life’s seasons, Almanac doggedly led him into the next. With his aforementioned mission statement of sorts, Barber wrote the twelve songs which make up Almanac from a new perspective. “Some of these songs are descriptions of my world through my own eyes; a way of songwriting I’ve never felt I’ve done well until now.” The final result, his eighth full-length album, is a thoughtful, gratitude-filled display of songcraft. “Writing Almanac felt like I had another chance,” says Barber. “It felt like spring.”

Fans can now stream or purchase Almanac in its entirety right here and check out Barber’s music videos for “Still Got You” and “I Told You So” at their respective links. For more information, please visit delbarber.com. Barber’s tour continues tonight in Toronto. A full list of dates can be found at delbarber.com/shows.

More About Almanac: After writing Almanac on his farm 250 miles northwest of Winnipeg, where he lives with his wife and two children, 3-time Juno Award nominee Del Barber took his road band to the city. The whole of Almanac was recorded at No Fun Club in the space of one week with co-producers Grant Siemens and Scott Franchuk. Barber says that he wanted the atmosphere in the studio to be spontaneous and collaborative, traits that certainly shine through on Almanac’s lively, unpolished sound. “It was a really beautiful session,” Barber says. “There were no grand intentions, just an aim to get good players and friends together and record a pile of my songs. Going into this session I really wanted to enjoy the process, not think too hard, and just keep it simple and honest. I had a group of great songs and I really didn’t want to stand in their way.”

Almanac Tracklist:

1. Something To Say

2. Still Got You

3. I Told You So

4. One Good Year

5. Even God Almighty

6. Flash In The Pan

7. Jared

8. Spade

9. Bulls

10. Me And Jim

11. Maria

12. On My Way Out The Door

More About Del Barber: With nominations for JUNO Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards, and Canadian Folk Music Awards, Del Barber has shaped the folk music canon in Canada with five critically acclaimed studio albums under his belt—as well as a myriad of fans.  His last album, Easy Keeper (acronym Records)—recorded in a cabin during the pandemic—received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone and The Bluegrass Situation. His newest album Almanac (acronym Records) is out today, April 28.

As the stages are broken down and the gear is packed up, fans from across the country and the world are coming down from their annual MerleFest excitement. The centerpiece of MerleFest 2023—which took place this past weekend, April 27-30, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina—was the all-encompassing celebration of what would have been MerleFest founder Doc Watson’s 100th birthday. In addition to the Doc-themed jam, artists from all genres of music paid homage to the man himself and his spirit echoed through the hills of Wilkes Community College where his legacy thrives in festival form. From Thursday to Sunday, across twelve stages, MerleFest magic unfolded with world-class performances, spontaneous sit-ins, and unforgettable collaborations from the likes of Jerry Douglas, Black Opry Revue, The Waybacks, and The Travelin’ McCourys and friends featuring Del McCoury.

Festival Director Wes Whitson commented, “MerleFest 35 was something special. We can’t thank everyone enough for their support of Wilkes Community College and MerleFest. To the Artists and to the fans that support them, and to our amazing staff and the small army of dedicated volunteers who work hard each and every year to make MerleFest the premier roots based music festival in the country – please know you made a big difference for our students by being a part of MerleFest. MerleFest is back and firing on all cylinders, and we are so excited for what is already in the works for 2024. See you next spring!”

MerleFest, presented by Window World and held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, which funds scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.

Thursday: Local rising star Presley Barker opened MerleFest 2023 on the Watson Stage with a bluegrass set paying homage to Doc Watson, followed by guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel. Rock legends Little Feat brought a star-studded jam, inviting Tommy Emmanuel back up on stage as well as Miko Marks and Jerry Douglas. Brothers of a Feather with Chris & Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes closed out the Watson Stage, performing a special acoustic set.

Friday: Yasmin Williams wowed festival-goers at the Hillside stage with her incredible guitar skills; the clouds cleared just in time and a rainbow appeared above the Cabin Stage for sets from Dom Flemons, John Paul White, and Bee Taylor. Black Opry Revue kicked off the night on the Watson Stage with a cavalcade of special guests including fan-favorite Miko Marks. Marcus King infused the crowd with energy and soul with his signature electric, horn-forward set, inviting his dad Marvin to join for closer “Goodbye Carolina.” North Carolina natives The Avett Brothers closed out the night, performing an hour and a half of fan favorites along with a tribute to the late Calypso legend Harry Belafonte, adding their unique twist to “Jump In The Line.”

Saturday: Mark Bumgarner hosted the Band Competition, crowning Ashes & Arrows as the 2023 winners on the Plaza Stage. The Waybacks played an hour and a half long set with their renditions of The Who’s Who’s Next for the annual Album Hour, another highly-anticipated MerleFest tradition. My Name is Merle, a documentary chronicling the rise and continued legacy of MerleFest, premiered at the Walker Center; if you missed it, you can watch here via EducationNC’s YouTube channel. Hosted by the Kruger Brothers, Doc’s 100th Birthday Jam featured a variety of special guests including Jerry Douglas, Mitch Greenhill, Peter Rowan, T Michael Coleman, and many more. Acclaimed songwriter Lori McKenna charmed the crowd at The Cabin Stage with the massive hits that she’s penned and co-written, including “Girl Crush.” Maren Morris closed out The Watson Stage with her energetic, larger-than-life vocals and instant country-pop classics. Scythian kept the party going with their eclectic jam at the Dance Tent.

Sunday: The Travelin’ McCourys and friends featuring Del McCoury took to the Watson Stage in the afternoon, taking the place of Nickel Creek who unfortunately had to cancel due to a doctor-mandated vocal rest for Chris Thile. Del McCoury, the living link to Bill Monroe, charmed fest goers while his sons, Rob and Ronnie McCoury, proved yet again that the future of bluegrass is in good hands. The “and friends” portion was a who's who of the best pickers and playing, including Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, and more. Country royalty Tanya Tucker had fans up and dancing, her signature sass and spunk on full display closing out the festival on a high note.

About MerleFest: MerleFest, presented by Window World, celebrates its 35th celebration on April 27-30, 2023. MerleFest started in 1988 as a fundraiser for the Garden of the Senses at Wilkes Community College to memorialize world-renowned flatpicker Doc Watson’s late son, Eddy Merle Watson. In keeping with the MerleFest traditions, 2023 will offer jams honoring MerleFest’s past, present, and future. The celebration also aligns with the late Doc Watson’s 100th heavenly birthday. The festival plans to celebrate the life of Doc & Merle Watson and the history of MerleFest both visually and musically through vintage videos and artist collaborations.

About Window World®: Window World®, headquartered in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is America’s largest replacement window and exterior remodeling company, with more than 200 locally owned franchises nationwide. Founded in 1995, the company sells and installs windows, siding, doors and other exterior products, with over 21 million windows sold to date. Window World is an ENERGY STAR® partner and its windows, vinyl siding and Therma-Tru doors have all earned the Good Housekeeping Seal. Through its charitable foundation, Window World Cares®, Window World and its franchisees provide funding for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Since its inception in 2008, the foundation has raised over $13 million for St. Jude. Window World also supports veterans and the military through its Window World Military Initiative (WWMI). WWMI defines Window World’s commitment to honor and serve America’s veterans, active military and military families across the entire franchise system by focusing on three pillars: Careers, Community Outreach and Partnerships. The Veterans Airlift Command has been a partner since 2008. During that time, Window World has contributed over $2.5 million in flights and donations to the organization. For more information, visit WindowWorld.com or call 1-800 NEXTWINDOW. For home improvement and energy efficiency tips, décor ideas and more, follow Window World on Facebook and Twitter.

From day one at Park City Song Summit—the intimate mountain retreat for music lovers held September 7-9 in Park City, Utah—founders wanted to put an emphasis on the power of the song; not just in performance, but their inspiration, development, and creation as well. That’s why half of Song Summit’s programming comes in the form of Summit Labs: open-ended discussions and panels designed to bring fans closer to the artists they love, both physically and contextually. Before fans and attendees take to the Canyons Amphitheater and the clubs of Park City in the evenings, Park City Song Summit artists will have already clued them into the why and how the music comes about, struggles and breakthroughs alike.  

This year’s Song Summit Labs include subjects like The Tangled Roots of Black and Latinx Music, Rhythm of Recovery: Music and Mental Health, and Hip Hop: The First 50 Years—the last of which is a discussion with two of the genre’s greatest trail blazers, Chuck D and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels—as well as on-site live podcast recordings of Joe Pug’s Working Songwriter and Eric Krasno’s Plus One. There are also a number of songwriter rounds and songwriter “Hall of Fame Tributes” featuring the likes of JD Souther, Jeffrey Steele, and Even Stevens. A full list of Song Summit Labs can be found below.

In the evenings, Summit Lab participants will take to stages around Park City to bring their music to life. This year’s Song Summit performance lineup finds hit country songwriters like Jeffrey Steele and Earl Bud Lee on the same list as hip hop pioneers Grandmaster Flash and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels; Cuban wunderkind Cimafunk next to R&B guitar shredder Celisse; and New Orleans legend Anders Osborne and Grammy-winning guitarist, songwriter, and producer Eric Krasno alongside Dead legend, Bobby Weir—who’s making a grand return to Park City forty years after his band’s show there. A full list of performers can also be found below or at parkcitysongsummit.com.

Park City Song Summit 2023 will be held in a new location at The Canyons Village. “The Canyons Village reflects the intention of our programming and provides ample physical room for our minds and hearts to roam in a variety of settings,” says Anderson. 3-day Summit Passes and add-ons, single-day passes, and individual show tickets are on sale now at this link. For more information, please visit parkcitysongsummit.com.

Park City Song Summit Lab Lineup:

Road Dog Wellness moderated by Dave Margulies with Steve Poltz

SongwritingWith:Soldiers - The Healing Power of Music moderated by Joe Pug with Jay Clementi

Alchemy Healing: Ancient Wisdom For Modern Times with Leta Herman

The Tangled Roots of Black and Latinx Music moderated by Holly G with Rissi Palmer and Enrique Chi

Songwriter Hall of Fame Tribute with host Aaron Benward and Jeffery Steele

“Porch Talking the Blues” A Panel Discussion of the Radical Southern, Black, Femme Roots of the Blues moderated by Tressie McMillan Cottom with Adia Victoria and Celisse

Technology and Songwriting: An Album Forged from Lockdown moderated by Joe Pug with Eric Krasno, Otis McDonald, and Mike Chiavaro

Songwriting Workshop with Steve Poltz

“How She Move” The Embodied Poetics of BluesSpeech and BluesMovement choreographed by Gabriel Terry with Adia Victoria, Ciona Rouse, Caroline Randall Williams, and Celisse

Live: Plus One Podcast hosted by Eric Krasno with Matisyahu

Power Women in the Industry moderated by Marissa R. Moss with Emily Lichter and Lenore Kinder

Songwriter Round with Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, and Joe Pug

Hip Hop: The First 50 Years moderated by David Manheim with Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Chuck D

This Land is Your Land: A Conversation with Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Songwriting Workshop with Matt Warren and Josh Jenkins

Songs in the Key of Life: Songwriting of Stevie Wonder moderated by Tressie McMillan Cottom with Celisse, Danielle Ponder and Brittney Spencer

Color Me Country moderated by Marissa R. Moss with Rissi Palmer

Songwriter Hall of Fame Tribute with host Aaron Benward and JD Souther

Cimafunk and the Cubano Music Revolution moderated by Anthony Mason with Cimafunk

Live: Working Songwriter Podcast with host Joe Pug and Paul Janeway of St. Paul & The Broken Bones

Songwriting Workshop with Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth

Havana Funk Experience - Passing the Torch to the Next Generation of Jazz and Funk Artists with Collin Laverty, Bill Taylor, and the Havana Funk kids

Embodiment, Meditation & Movement moderated by Ruthie Lindsey with music by Joy Oladokun

1 Million Strong presents "Rhythm of Recovery: Music and Mental Health" with Anders Osborne and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels

The Birth of a Culture with Grandmaster Flash and David Manheim

Iconic Rock n' Roll Photography with Jay Blakesberg

Songwriter Hall of Fame Tribute with host Aaron Benward and Even Stevens

Park City Song Summit Performances:
Adia Victoria
Anders Osborne
Black Opry Revue ft. The Kentucky Gentlemen, Valerie Ponzio, Autumn Nicholas, South Texas Tweek, Rissi Palmer and Making Movies
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros ft. The Wolfpack
Brad Walker & The Hornstars
Celisse
Chuck D
Cimafunk
Danielle Ponder
Danny Myrick
Darryl "DMC" McDaniels
Devon Gilfillian
Earl Bud Lee
Eric Krasno & Friends
Even Stevens
Grandmaster Flash
Jeffrey Steele
Joe Pug
Josh Blaylock
Josh Jenkins
Joy Oladokun
Madeline Hawthorne
Matisyahu
Matt Warren
Megan Linville
Paul Janeway of St. Paul and The Broken Bones
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Ruby Amanfu
Sam Ashworth
Sinclair
Steele Fountain
Steve Poltz
Travis Howard

“Getting to play music for a living is wild, but getting to work with friends on such fun projects makes me fall in love with music all over again,” says ACM-nominated vocalist and songwriter Sunny Sweeney. In this case, her friends are fellow powerhouse artists Rissi Palmer, Miko Marks, and Tami Neilson. And the project she is referring to? A waltzing, heartfelt cut of Bob Dylan’s beloved classic, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” “Working with Miko, Rissi, and Tami on one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs is simply just a dream,” says Sweeney. “I feel like we have all lived a little and all ‘felt the words.’”

Co-produced by Sweeney and long-time guitarist, Harley Husbands, “Don’t Think Twice” rides a 6/8 drum groove as each singer takes her turn with the song’s near-perfect verses. The production is accentuated by a multi-part horn arrangement by Doug Corcoran, vintage sounding Hammond organ by Kevin McKendree, Husbands’ soulful electric guitar fills, and Joanna Janét floating in and out on harmony vocals, all creating a retro backdrop for Sweeney, Palmer, Marks, and Neilson to feel out each verse in their own way.

“I’ve been a long-time fan of Sunny’s work, so it was a total honor to sing on a track with her,” says Palmer. “Add in Miko and Tami, who I’m also a fan of, and you’ve pretty much got a dream team.” Marks adds, “I’m elated that I get to be on a record with women I admire and am really glad that Sunny had this beautiful and heartfelt idea to collaborate.” Neilson, honored to be included with some of her favorite contemporaries, said, “Sunny didn’t even have to say what song it was…phone book, car manual? I’m in!”

Yesterday, The Boot premiered the track writing, “‘Don't Think Twice, It's All Right’ is a true musical gem born from the spirit of collaboration.” Fans can stream or purchase “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” today at this link. Sweeney’s tour continues tonight. A full list of dates can be found below or at sunnysweeney.com/tour.

In addition to the release of “Don’t Think Twice,” Sweeney also just released a stellar cover of Emmylou Harris’s “Red Dirt Girl” with fellow Texan Jamie Lin Wilson. She is also featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit which opened last month in Nashville, Tennessee and runs through February 2024. Sweeney’s hard-to-miss, sparkly guitar, hats from Standard Hat Works in Waco, Texas, and a handmade wooden sculpture made by Sweeney’s stepdad, Paul Strickland, in honor of her song “Poet’s Prayer” were lent to the museum for this one year, limited-time display.

Catch Sunny Sweeney On Tour:

May 12 - Harrisonburg, VA - The Golden Pony

May 14 - Greenville, SC - Doc’s Tavern

May 15 - Raleigh, NC - The Pour House Music Hall

May 16 - Greensboro, NC - Flat Iron

May 17 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre

May 18 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry House

June 1 - Springfield, MO - Southbound Bar & Grill

June 2 - Bonner Springs, KS - Private Event

June 3 - Winfield, KS - Island Park

June 10 - Kilgore, TX - The Back Porch

June 15 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe Big Barn

June 16 - Saint Jo, TX - Red River Station

June 17 - Graham, TX - Graham Concert Series on the Square

June 18 - Tomball, TX - Private Event

June 21 - Bozeman, MT - Live from the Divide

June 22-24 Red Lodge, MT - Red Lodge Songwriter Festival

June 25 Billings, MT - Pub Station

July 8 - Clinton, WI - Live in the Lot

July 11 - Indianapolis, IN - HiFi w/ Corb Lund

July 15 - Maquoketa, IA - Codfish Hollow Barn

July 19 - Denton, TX - Dan’s Silverleaf

July 21 - Groesbeck, TX - Old Fort Parker

Aug 3 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern.

Fall UK tour announced:

Nov 9 - Newcastle - The Cluny

Nov 10 - Leek - Foxlowe Arts Center

Nov 12 - Nottingham - The Bodega

Nov 13 - Birmingham - Kitchen Garden Cafe

Nov 14 - Manchester - Retro

Nov 15 - Gloucester - Gloucester Guildhall

Nov 17 - Cardiff - Acapela Studio

Nov 19 - London - Oslo

Nov 20 - Oxford - The Bullingdon

Nov 21 - Southampton - 1865

Nov 25 - Belfast - Limelight 2

For tickets and information on all tour dates, please visit sunnysweeney.com/tour.

Throughout the past eight decades of bluegrass music, each era of the genre has been marked with a certain kind of standout act; not in terms of popularity or radio airplay, but based on the amount of other world-class musicians hanging out at this one group’s shows on their off nights. From the Stanley Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs to the Bluegrass Album Band and Nashville Bluegrass Band, there’s always one band of players’ players out there dropping the jaws of their contemporaries. For the past five years, the guilty party has been found on Monday nights at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in Madison, Tennessee; East Nash Grass.

Dobro legend Jerry Douglas calls East Nash Grass a “band of ringers,” saying, “The sound they make when they play together rivals that of any of their main gigs.” Every member is an accomplished professional in their own right on the road with national touring acts, and each would be a featured musician in any band. With James Kee on guitar, Cory Walker on banjo, Harry Clark on mandolin, Gaven Largent on dobro, Maddie Denton on fiddle, and Jeff Picker on bass, East Nash Grass is a band of all-stars, without question. But unlike many all-star bands that come together for one album or concert, East Nash Grass is a band in the true sense. Each member contributes their energy and their creative work to the group; the sum of which is miraculously greater than its parts.

Today, The Bluegrass Situation shared “Magic City Grey” from their upcoming album Last Chance To Win—coming out on August 18th. "When our buddy Christian Ward and Cory’s brother Jarrod Walker wrote this one, we couldn’t help but think of our beautiful home of Madison,” says Denton about the sweetly sung, mid tempo tune. Accented by a short but sweet Largent solo, “Magic City Grey” might be about the Magic City of Birmingham, Alabama, but it was written in Madison. “Madison is Magic City to us, and we love the song,” says Denton of the first tune the band cut during the Last Chance To Win recording sessions.

Fans can hear “Magic City Grey” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Last Chance To Win ahead of its August release right here. East Nash Grass is hitting the road this summer, with dates including a stop at their hometown bucket-list venue, the Ryman Auditorium. Find a full list of tour dates below or at eastnashgrass.com/tour.

Last Chance To Win Tracklist:

1. Last Chance to Win

2. I Almost Told Her

3. East Due West Blues

4. Papa’s on the Housetop

5. Jenna McGaugh

6. How Could I Love Her So Much

7. When You Come Home

8. Starlet Iris

9. Magic City Grey

10. Love Slippin’ Away

11. Railroadin’ & Gamblin’

Catch East Nash Grass On Tour:

June 17 - Grass Valley, CA - Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival

June 18 - Grass Valley, CA - Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival

June 21 - Morehead, KY - Rudy Fest

June 22 - Nashville, TN - Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman

June 30 - Smithville, TN - Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree

July 1 - Smithville, TN - Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree

July 21 - Paragould, AR - Big Grass Bluegrass Festival

August 11 - Goshen, CT - Podunk Bluegrass Festival

August 31 - Brunswick, ME - Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival

Sept 1 - Brunswick, ME - Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival

September 9 - Hendersonville, TN - Folk n’ Bluegrass Festival

September 15 - Flagstaff, AZ - Pickin’ In The Pines

September 16 - Flagstaff, AZ - Pickin’ In The Pines

October 27 - Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley

October 28 - Chattanooga, TN - Barrelhouse Ballroom

November 3 - Hope, AR - Hempstead Hall - U of A Hope

For more information, please visit eastnashgrass.com/tour.

“A celebration of 25 years of music and the next best show,” is how Chicago-formed improv-rockers Umphrey’s McGee describe Frame x Frame, an all-new retrospective “rockusensory” film about the band of brothers who’ve stepped on stage together more than 2600 times—and growing. Premiering both in-person and virtually via nugs.net on June 11th, Frame x Frame features footage from the band's extensive archive tells the endearing story of a band taking their craft seriously while never taking themselves too seriously with the keen eye of director Pete Herzog and producer Kevin Browning. “I love music documentaries and in 2011, I had a vision that I wanted to direct a 25th-anniversary rockumentary for UM,” says Herzog. “Since 2006, our family has been vacationing around the band’s tour schedule and have seen some amazing sights, met some incredibly kind people, and rocked the hell out of some concerts.”

Frame x Frame will premiere live on nugs.net at 7:30 pm ET with a Q&A immediately following. Pre-orders for the premiere will begin Wednesday, May 24th at 11 am ET at this link. Early patron pricing is $19.99 and shifts to $24.99 after the first 500 pre-orders. As a small thank you for the continued patronage, the first 500 pre-orders of the virtual stream will have their name in the film’s credits.

For those in Chicago, there will be a special in-person premiere at the historic Music Box Theatre. The live Q&A will take place on stage after the screening with UM members Brendan Bayliss and Andy Farag alongside director Herzog and producer Browning. Tickets for the Music Box premiere are $24.99 and will go on sale on May 24th at 12 pm CT. More details on the Music Box screening here.

Umphrey’s will continue celebrating their quarter-century anniversary on tour this summer. After this coming weekend’s annual Summer Camp Music Festival, the band will make a run through New England before heading west for two nights at Morrison, Colorado’s beloved Red Rocks Amphitheatre on June 16th and 17th, then onto a quick, post-Rocks flight to Tennessee for their Sunday Bonnaroo set—the bands 10th appearance since playing on the farm for the festival’s inaugural year in 2002. A complete list of tour dates can be found below or at umphreys.com/tour.

Catch Umphrey’s McGee On Tour:

May 26-28 - Chillicothe, IL - Summer Camp Music Festival

June 1 - Mashantucket, CT - Great Cedar Showroom at Foxwoods

June 2 - Hampton Beach, NH- Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

June 3 - Hyannis, MA- Cape Cod Melody Tent

June 4 - Portland, ME - State Theatre

June 15 - Dillon, CO - Dillon Amphitheater

June 16 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

June 17 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

June 18 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo

June 29 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom

June 30 - Scranton, PA - The Peach Music Festival

July 1 - Garrettsville, OH - Resonance Music and Arts Festival

July 2 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

July 13-15 - Snowshoe, WV - 4848 Festival

Aug. 17 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Stone Pony

Aug. 18 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion

Aug. 19 - Utica, NY - Saranac Brewery

Aug. 24 - Huntsville, AL - VBC Mars Music Hall

Aug. 25 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station

Aug. 26 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station

Aug. 27 - Chattanooga, TN - The Signal

Sept. 9-10 - Indianapolis, IN - ALL IN Music & Arts Festival

Sept. 14 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot

Sept. 15 - Missoula, MT - The Wilma

Sept. 16 - Bozeman, MT - The ELM

Sept. 17 - Bozeman, MT - The ELM

For a full list of shows, as well as ticket information, please visit umphreys.com/tour.

With his brand new single, “Cash Carter Hill,” Tommy Prine uses a steadily growing cascade of couplets to paint a picture of growth and discovery, and eventually, a triumphant—and in this case, very rock and roll—crescendo on the other side of it all. “This song highlights my journey to create my own life and path as an artist as the son of a legendary sing-songwriter,” says Prine, ever conscious of the legacy his father—the late, great John Prine—left behind. “It’s an intense job and I feel this song encapsulates the thoughts and feelings going through my head as I navigate my life.” Like Prine’s journey itself, “Cash Carter Hill” builds to a cathartic, jubilant jam, replete with relief, realization, electric guitars, and pounding drums. The blend of rhythmically strummed acoustic guitars and heavier, full-band elements ebb and flow throughout Prine’s debut album, This Far South—out June 23rd via Thirty Tigers.

An emotionally complex but universally accessible debut, This Far South—co-produced by Ruston Kelly and Gena Johnson—brings together a sonic patchwork of musical influences to help tell the story of each song. “Reach The Sun” takes a cue from Prine’s mother’s home of Ireland, its entire first verse nothing but vocals and a digital droning tone imitating something like Uilleann pipes. Eventually, rock and roll instrumentation takes the song higher, but “Reach The Sun” never leaves the waltzing 6/8 time feel of its seemingly Celtic roots. Inspirations from groups like Outkast or The Strokes or Bon Iver sneak into This Far South as well, but Prine always sounds like Prine; honest in his emotions and impactful with his message.

Fans can listen to “Cash Carter Hill” now at this link, check out Prine’s previously-released singles—“Reach the Sun,” “This Far South,” and “Mirror and a Kitchen Sink”—at their respective links, and pre-order or pre-save This Far South ahead of its June 23rd release right here.

Prine will appear at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on June 2nd supporting his friend and producer, Ruston Kelly, before heading out on his own headlining tour this summer. A complete list of the This Far South Tour dates can be found below or at tommyprine.com/tour.

This Far South Tour Dates:

June 2 - Nashville, TN - Ascend Amphitheater *

June 30 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl

July 1 - Chattanooga, TN - Songbirds

July 2 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle

July 6 - Louisville, KY - The Whirling Tiger

July 7 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI

July 8 - Evanston, IL - SPACE

July 9 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark

July 11 - Kalamazoo, MI - Bell’s Brewery

July 13 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon

July 14 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry

July 15 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall

July 16 - Davenport, IA - Racoon Motel

Aug. 8 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway

Aug. 9 - Columbia, MO - Rose Music Hall

Aug. 10 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

Aug. 11 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown

Aug. 12 - Des Moines, IA - xBK

Aug. 22 - Dublin, IRL - Whelan's Upstairs

Aug. 25 - London, UK - Lafayette +

Aug. 26-27 - Lutterworth, UK - The Long Road Festival

Aug. 29 - Bristol, UK - The Louisiana

Aug. 30 - Birkenhead, UK - The Swinging Arm

Aug. 31 - Glasgow, UK - Glad Cafe

Sep. 1 - Newcastle upon Tyne - Cluny 2

Sep. 3 - Cambridge, UK - The Portland Arms

Sep. 8-10 - Bristol, TN - Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

Sep. 23-24 - Franklin, TN - Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival

Oct. 11 - Vancouver, BC - Wise Hall

Oct. 12 - Bellingham, WA - New Prospect Theatre

Oct. 13 - Seattle, WA - Conor Byrne Pub

Oct. 14 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios

Oct. 15 - Bend, OR - Volcanic Theatre Pub

Oct. 17 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord

Oct. 18 - Santa Cruz, CA - Moe’s Alley

Oct. 20 - Mariposa, CA - The Grove House

Oct. 21 - Morro Bay, CA - The Siren

Oct. 22 - Los Angeles, CA - Gold Diggers

Oct. 23 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy + Harriet’s

Nov. 8 - Lexington, KY - The Burl

Nov. 9 - Newport, KY - The Southgate House Revival

Nov. 10 - Columbus, OH - Natalie’s Grandview

Nov. 11 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe

Nov. 12 - Washington, D.C. - Pearl Street Warehouse

Nov. 14 - Philadelphia, PA - The Lounge At World Cafe Live

Nov. 17 - Exeter, NH - The Word Barn

Nov. 18 - Cambridge, MA - Club Passim

* supporting Ruston Kelly

+ supporting Margo Price

For ticket information, please visit tommyprine.com/tour.

Colter Wall prevails his songwriting with tough-times emotion with his latest single, “Corralling the Blues.” Wall sings about depression and its largely unaddressed presence in agricultural communities and individuals with such charm that it's easy to miss just how down-and-out the song’s leading character has become. “I might get to thinking that I might could quit drinking, but then what else is there to do?” sings Wall. Co-produced with Patrick Lyons, “Corralling the Blues” is a song written from experience and played in-studio by Wall’s long-time touring band. Fluttering harmonica melodies and sly dobro fills weave together Wall’s to-the-point, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, with enough jest to make even the most downhearted listener crack a smile. “And it’s this contemplation that spurs conversation with the ceiling that I been talking to.”

“Corralling the Blues” appears on Wall’s upcoming album, Little Songs which is due out on July 14th via Wall’s longtime label La Honda Records and new partner RCA Records. On Little Songs, fans of Wall’s will find the same hardscrabble voice they’ve loved over the years connecting the contemporary world to the values, hardships, and celebrations of rural life. From the titular track he sings, “You might not see a soul for days on them high and lonesome plains. You got to fill the big empty with little songs.” The ten-song LP features eight originals inspired by—and written in—Wall’s home of Battle Creek, Saskatchewan, along with a Hoyt Axton cut, “Evangelina,” and a cover of Ian Tyson’s “The Coyote & The Cowboy.”

Fans can listen to “Corralling The Blues” today at this link, check out Wall’s previously-released Little Songs single “Evangelina,” and pre-order or pre-save Little Songs ahead of its July 14th release right here. Wall is also gearing up for two rare live appearances at Denver’s Dusty Boots festival on July 1st and Montana’s Under The Big Sky on July 14th. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit colterwall.com.

More About Little Songs: With his longtime touring band, Wall returned to Yellowdog Studios in Wimberly, Texas, where he cut his 2020, Billboard-charting album, Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs, to track the ten tunes that make up Little Songs. With co-producer Patrick Lyons, Wall tracked eight original songs and two fan-favorite covers from Ian Tyson and Hoyt Axton. Little Songs is an upbeat, sometimes somber glimpse into the rural work and social life of the Canadian West, and, more so than with previous albums, opens emotional turns as mature and heartening as the resonant baritone voice writing them.

This release of new music follows the recent partnership between Wall’s longtime label La Honda Records and RCA Records, with Little Songs as the first album on the joint venture. Prior to the new album, Wall released two standalone singles—“Cypress Hills and the Big Country” and a cover of Cowboy Jack Clement’s “Let’s All Help the Cowboys (Sing the Blues)”—as well as the 2020 LP Western Swings & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs and Colter Wall and the Scary Prairie Boys’ Live In Front Of Nobody, a 2021 live stream, full-band show turned indie record store, vinyl-only release–a coveted and limited release. Information on both albums can be found at colterwall.com.

Little Songs Tracklist:

Prairie Evening/Sagebrush Waltz

Standing Here

Corralling The Blues

The Coyote & The Cowboy

Honky Tonk Nighthawk

For a Long While

Cow/Calf Blue Yodel

Little Songs

Evangelina

The Last Loving Words

More About Colter Wall: Colter Wall and his music are from the prairies of southern Saskatchewan, where he lives and works. He is a La Honda Records/RCA Records recording artist and has appeared abroad, including Austin City Limits and most recently at the Ponoka Stampede.

“Apparently, my neighborhood is cursed,” says Graham Sharp, Steep Canyon Rangers’ banjoist and co-writer of their brand new single, “Hominy Valley.” A pulsating romp through the hills and valleys of which the Rangers sing, “Hominy Valley” dives into the backstory of Sharp’s cursed neighborhood: the story of General Rutherford’s campaign against the Cherokee during the Revolutionary war. “The story is that the army got wind they were being followed by two Cherokee scouts and poisoned a creek that one of them drank from,” recalls Sharp. “His friend buried him sitting upright on the hill, under what is now a huge old oak tree, looking over the valley to keep watch.”

Sharp had been trying to write “Hominy Valley” for years and never got it across the finish line until one random night, sitting with his song idea after dinner. “I sat down and the whole thing was there,” he remembers. “The story never felt right until it connected with the current construction of apartments going on at the very spot right now.” Along with his co-writers and bandmates, Aaron Burdett and Barrett Smith, Sharp tied together the centuries-spanning effect of outside influencers taking North Carolina’s land for their own and the band shaped the song in only the way the Steep Canyon Rangers could; a moving story about the layers of human history in Sharp’s West Asheville neighborhood. “It’s not just a shared history, but a living history. Nothing is stamped and finished,” he says.

“Hominy Valley” is the opening track and first single from Steep Canyon Rangers’ upcoming album, Morning Shift—due out September 8th. Produced by the distinguished Darrell Scott and engineered by the legendary Dave Sinko, Morning Shift found the Rangers recording their 14th studio album in Bat Cave, North Carolina, at the Inn Bat Cave, a historical refuge settled near a long-forgotten crossroads of Southern Appalachia. This was the perfect space to feel confident in expanding upon that Carolina sound, the perfect runway to let their well-oiled machine do what it does best- craft stories from the ground up, as a unit. “It was like going to recording camp,” said Scott, “We ate together, we stayed at the Inn together the whole time, and we recorded. Going about it that way made for a very organic record. We had a great engineer with Dave Sinko, who could in essence create a studio space in a rustic, historic home.”

Morning Shift also marks the band’s first album with new band member Burdett on guitar and vocals, bringing a soul-stirring element to the Rangers’ mastery of mountain music. Burdett is an award-winning singer-songwriter and a student of folk tradition providing a fresh, emotional context to the Rangers’ songbook.

Today, Folk Alley premiered the track writing, "'Hominy Valley' perfectly kicks off the anticipation of another excellent new album from the Steep Canyon Rangers." Fans can listen to “Hominy Valley” now and pre-order or pre-save Morning Shift ahead of its September 8th release right here. Steep Canyon Rangers are on tour throughout the summer with a string of dates with longtime collaborators Steve Martin & Martin Short beginning in September. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at steepcanyon.com/tour.

Morning Shift Tracklist:

Hominy Valley

Deep End

Second in Line (Junior)

Old Stone House/Handlebars/Chimney Rock

Harvest Queen

Ghost of Glasgow

Above My Burdens

Birds of Ohio

Alabama Calling

Morning Shift

Fare Thee Well, Carolina Gals

Recommend Me

Catch Steep Canyon Rangers On Tour:

June 10 - Bluegrass & Brew Festival - Hampton, VA

July 1 - Salvage Station - Asheville, NC +

July 7 - Wachholz College Center - Kalispell, MT

July 8 - Daly Mansion - Hamilton, MT

July 13 - Grey Fox - Oak Hill, NY

July 14 - Rams Head - Annapolis, MD

July 15 - Sellersville Theatre - Sellersville, PA

July 16 - Long’s Park - Lancaster, PA

July 21 - Midtown Listening Lawn Outdoor - Grand Rapids, MI

July 22 - Murphy Theatre - Wilmington, OH

Aug. 2 - Denver Botanic Gardens - Denver, CO ^

Aug. 3 - Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, CO

Aug. 4 - Matthews Opera House - Spearfish, SD

Aug. 5 - Centerfest - Lewistown, MT