Thu, 01/05/2017 - 11:33 am

The Multi-Grammy Award winning troubadour Rodney Crowell is set to release Close Ties on March 31st via New West Records.  The 10-song set is his first album in over three years and follows The Traveling Kind, his acclaimed collection of duets with longtime collaborator Emmylou Harris.   Co-produced by Jordan Lehning and Kim Buie, the album features a duet with Sheryl Crow on the haunting “I’m Tied To Ya,” and “It Ain’t Over Yet,” a vocal collaboration with his ex-wife Rosanne Cash and John Paul White.  It is the first time Crowell and Cash have appeared on record together since their chart topping 1988 duet “It’s Such A Small World,” which was also Crowell’s first #1 hit.  Rolling Stone Country premiered the video for “It Ain’t Over Yet,” which also features legendary harmonica player Mickey Raphael, today and can be seen HERE.  They state, “The evocative lyrics call to mind the two-tone, punked-out cover image from Cash’s 1985 LP Rhythm and Romance, which preceded Crowell’s mainstream country breakthrough of five consecutive Number One hits from 1988’s Diamonds & Dirt and the subsequent collapse of the couple’s marriage.” Close Ties will be available on compact disc, LP, and is now available for digital pre-order HERE.

Close Ties both demonstrates Crowell’s strengths as a songwriter and illustrates how he has learned to balance personal recollection, literary sophistication, and his profound musical reach.  It’s at once his most intimate record and his most accessible, the product of years of understanding the ways songs can enter - and be entered by - life.  Close Ties is a loose concept record that ranges from songs about Crowell’s childhood in Texas (“East Houston Blues”) to songs about arriving in Nashville as a young songwriter (“Nashville 1972”) to songs about friends (the anguished “Life Without Susanna”) and lovers lost (“Forgive Me, Annabelle”).  It is a roots record, in the sense that Crowell himself has deep roots that stretch back into the alternative country scene of the early seventies that included Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle and more.  But it defies easy classification.  Is it country?  Is it a singer songwriter record?  “I have declared my loyalty to Americana.  It’s a hard category for people to get their heads around, or at least the terminology is.  But all the people who represent it - Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle and more recent stars like John Paul White and Jason Isbell - share a common thread, and that thread is poet.  Whether they are actual poets or their music exemplifies a poetic sensibility, generally speaking, the Americana artist shuns commercial compromise in favor of a singular vision.  Which resonates with me.”  One trait of a poet and the concept behind Close Ties involves the careful handling of memory.  “A few years ago I made a record called The Houston Kid that triggered Chinaberry Sidewalks (Crowell’s 2011 memoir),” he says.  “Those memory muscles are pretty strong in me.  They have a natural pull.  And so many of these songs use those memories as raw material.”

Fifty years after Crowell first started playing as a teen in Houston garage bands, he has moved into elder-statesman territory, and continues to extend the path carved out by the top-tier songwriters who preceded him.  His songs have been recorded by country legends (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, George Strait), to current country chart toppers (Tim McGraw, Keith Urban) to blues icons (Etta James) to rock and roll legends (Van Morrison, Bob Seger).   He is a Grammy award winner, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, recipient of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting from the Americana Music Association, and the author of his autobiography, the stunning Chinaberry Sidewalks.

The Americana Music Association and the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles have also announced An Evening With Rodney Crowell on Monday, January 23rd.  The conversation and performance will kickoff the 2017 Americana Series at the Museum’s 200-seat Clive Davis Theater and will be moderated by Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares.   Rodney Crowell has also announced tour dates in advance and in support of Close Ties, kicking off February 14th in New Braunfels, TX (Please see dates below with more to be announced).

Rodney Crowell Close Ties Track Listing:
1. East Houston Blues
2. Reckless
3. Life Without Susanna
4. It Ain’t Over Yet (featuring Rosanne Cash & John Paul White)
5. I Don’t Care Anymore
6. I’m Tied To Ya (featuring Sheryl Crow)
7. Forgive Me Annabelle
8. Forty Miles From Nowhere
9. Storm Warning
10. Nashville 1972

Rodney Crowell On Tour (More Dates To Be Announced):
February 14 – New Braunfels, TX @ Brauntex Theater 
February 15 – Tomball, TX @ Main Street Crossing 
February 16 – Tomball, TX @ Main Street Crossing 

February 19-26 – The Cayamo Cruise
March 14 – Aspen, CO @ Wheeler Opera House

March 15 – Ft. Collins, CO @ The Armory
March 16 –  Boulder, CO @ eTown 
March 23 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
March 24 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
March 25 – Chicago, IL @ City Winery
March 30 – New York, NY @ City Winery
March 31 – Sellersville, PA @ Sellersville Theater
April 1 – Washington, DC @ The Hamilton

April 7 – Austin, TX @ Paramount Theater (*Darrell K. Royal Homecoming Show) 
May 7 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Lobero Theater
May 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour 
May 10 – Berkeley, CA @ Freight & Salvage
May 13 – Olympia, WA @ Capitol Theater

September 16 – Bristol, TN @ Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival

Mon, 11/06/2017 - 10:30 am

The Devil Makes Three has announced an extensive North American tour for 2018 with tickets going on sale this Friday, November 10, HERE. The 23-show run will kick-off in Madison, WI on January 10 and hit major cities throughout Canada and the American Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast, ending in Dallas, TX on February 10. Last year, the internationally beloved, Americana trio released Redemption & Ruin on New West Records to critical acclaim. The album is a thoughtfully curated collection of covers that pays tribute to its versatile genre's staple players and the band's most penetrative influences. Divided into two sides, the subjects of "redemption" and "ruin" are explored through various songs written by blues, roots, and rock legends like Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Townes Van Zandt and more. On the album, the band is also joined by an all-star cast of special guests like Emmylou Harris, Tim O'Brien, Jerry Douglas, Darrell Scott and guitar great Duane Eddy. The archival piece is tightly wound together by The Devil Makes Three's rigorous energy and masterful musicianship, both of which shine through their live set. Please see below for full tour details, which includes the band’s current U.S. run that ends with two shows in Denver, CO on November 18 & 19.

American Songwriter calls Redemption & Ruin “a wonderfully successful foray that solidifies and expands the band’s already impressive credentials around a concept that’s a natural extension from their existing catalog of originals.” Additionally, Entertainment Weekly premiered the band’s interpretation of “Champagne and Reefer,” originally written and recorded by Chicago blues legend Muddy Waters, noting, “California trio The Devil Makes Three have served up their singularly spooky blend of blues, folk, and rockabilly for the past decade and a half.” Watch the video for the song HERE. While Redemption & Ruin brings listeners directly to the source point of the band’s inspiration, original songwriting and a zeal for early Americana is what helped propel The Devil Makes Three through celebrated gigs big and small, including appearances at an array of festivals such as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Hangout Fest, Shaky Knees, and Bonnaroo. Through multiple acclaimed albums featuring infectious songs like “Old Number Seven” and “Graveyard,” they have assembled a coalition of indie rock and folk music fans; and their punk spirit, along with some Santa Cruz history, has long pervaded their proudly raw presentation. That ethos helped the band connect with Nashville mastermind Buddy Miller for their 2013 project I’m A Stranger Here, which the Boston Globe praised for “a loose-limbed vibrancy that mimics the intensity of their live shows.”

The Devil Makes Three comprises Pete Bernhard, Cooper McBean, and Lucia Turino. The trio has been playing stomping folk for nearly 15 years and long before it started trending. As early roots influence in America grows, we can count on them not to sanitize its source material, or purge the suffering or the deviance or the repentance, from the stories they sing. “That’s what we think the best stuff is,” Pete says. “And it belongs there. To take it out is to destroy it.”

THE DEVIL MAKES THREE ON TOUR:
November 7 – Arcata, CA @ Humboldt State University
November 9 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater
November 10 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
November 11 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo
November 12 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
November 15 – Missoula, MT @ The Wilma
November 16 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House
November 17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
November 18 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre (SOLD OUT)
November 19 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
January 10 – Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theater
January 11 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
January 12 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
January 13 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
January 14 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
January 16 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
January 18 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
January 19 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
January 20 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
January 23 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Ballroom
January 24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
January 25 – Providence, RI @ Fete
January 26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
January 27 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
January 30 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
January 31 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater
February 1 – Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom
February 2 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
February 3 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
February 7 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
February 8 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
February 9 – Austin, TX @ Emo's
February 10 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater

Wed, 01/03/2018 - 12:39 pm

The Whistles & the Bells – alt-rock moniker of acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Bryan Simpson – has revealed a “dark but beautifully poetic” new single, “Ode To Yeezus / Ultralight Beam,” which EARMILK is premiering today. They call the track “a somber tune that blurs the line between songwriter and mad-man producer,” and state, "Simpson takes a very real moment in Kanye West’s life to create a sonic reflection on the current state of this social media/often shallow world we're living in...It's an evocative look at how too often we forget that artists, like Kanye, are real people with human struggles and that their personal battles aren't just catchy headlines to them," adding, “Be sure to turn the lights down, put these songs on and sip a glass of red wine because that is the best way to enjoy this beautiful, strange magic." Listen HERE. “Ode To Yeezus / Ultralight Beam” is available everywhere digitally. In celebration of the new single, The Whistles & the Bells will play a hometown show in Nashville, TN at Mercy Lounge on February 3 with tickets on sale now.

“Ode To Yeezus / Ultralight Beam” follows The Whistles & the Bells’ sophomore LP Modern Plagues that released last Spring on New West Records. The album has gained considerable critical praise with the Associated Press calling it a “winner” in a must-read comprehensive review that states, “This is the sound of freedom...Simpson's enormous toolbox includes tuba and harp, big drums and a flute solo, hip-hop, klezmer, topical lyrics and wordless ‘la-la-la's.’ An EDM groove propels ‘Zombie Heartz,’ while a fat bass steers ‘Year of the Freak Out’ toward classic R&B. A synthesizer echoes Simpson's vocal on ‘Good Drugs,’ and ‘Small Time Criminals’ connects the French Quarter with Appalachia. These aren't just random whistles and bells. Hooks abound, tying the cornucopia of noise together, and Simpson's social commentary provides further glue.” AllMusic adds, “That Simpson can keep so many disparate balls in the air (chamber pop, Americana, progressive folk, electro-soul, etc.) is impressive enough, but that he can make so much of that chaos compelling is the real trick.” Collaborations on Modern Plagues include co-writes with The Raconteurs’ Brendan Benson that resulted in such out-of-the-box tunes as the lead single “Harry Potter,” which premiered at American Songwriter with the initial announcement of Modern Plagues. Of the song, they state, “A retro pop tune with strong ’80s influences, the video for this track feels like something you would see a teenage Molly Ringwald starring in. Sung from the perspective of a teenage girl, ‘Harry Potter’ highlights what many young adults long for but unfortunately cannot find as they grow older: childhood innocence and simplicity.” View/share the Joshua Shoemaker-produced video HERE. Additionally, The Huffington Post revealed the “inventive” music video for album track “Good Drugs” praising, “[Simpson’s] original off-the-wall undertakings are reminiscent of the whimsical and whip-smart work by David Byrne, Jim James and the Decemberists’ Colin Meloy.” View/share the Neighborhoods Apart-produced video HERE.

Co-produced by Simpson and engineer Eddie Spear (Judah & the Lion, Lake Street Dive, Rival Sons), Modern Plagues’ 11 expansive tracks find Simpson delivering eye-opening lyrical insights and audacious verbal imagery, while displaying a freewheeling sonic sensibility that draws inspiration from a bottomless well of genres and textures. The album follows The Whistles & the Bells’ 2014 self-titled debut, which gained an impressive amount of acclaim as an indie release and led to a larger re-release and record deal with New West Records. Prior to launching The Whistles & the Bells, Simpson had already won substantial success as a bluegrass mandolinist, serving a seven-year, three-album stint with the acclaimed progressive-bluegrass quartet Cadillac Sky. The band’s broad-minded collaborations with both bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach eventually led to an in-demand spot on Mumford and Sons’ 2010 North American Tour. Meanwhile, Simpson also carved out a successful sideline as a mainstream country songwriter, composing hit for icons such as Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and George Strait.

Mon, 01/29/2018 - 3:47 pm

The Ben Miller Band is set to return with Choke Cherry Tree via New West Records this Friday, January 26th, 2018. The Joplin, Missouri-bred combo’s third album and second New West Records release introduces a retooled lineup with Miller and fellow founding member Scott Leeper joined by new additions Rachel Ammons and Smilin’ Bob Lewis. The pair’s multi-instrumental skills bring added authority to Miller’s rootsy new compositions while maintaining the high energy level that originally endeared the band to its fans. The 11-song Choke Cherry Tree was produced by Chris Funk of The Decemberists whose own multi-instrumental abilities helped expand the band’s sonic options. The album features guest appearances from Jenny Conlee and Nate Query (also of the Decemberists), Dan Hunt of Neko Case’s band, Ural Thomas, Rev Shines of Lifesavas, and more. Choke Cherry Tree also features an appearance by the renowned saxophonist Ralph Carney (Tin Huey, Tom Waits) who passed away on December 16th, 2017. The consistently compelling album offers new examples of Miller’s deceptively unpretentious songcraft, beneath whose ramshackle exterior lurks sturdy, infectious melodies and resonant, emotionally insightful lyrics. PopMatters is hosting a stream of the entire album starting today, stating, “The Ben Miller Band became studio rats on their latest album and the attention to detail has produced the finest record of their career.” Hear the album in its entirety HERE. American Songwriter stated in their 4 out of 5 Star review, “Ben Miller takes a huge step forward and is now poised to push his organic, rickety yet sturdy roots music to the next level” while Innocent Words offered “Choke Cherry Tree is easily their best effort yet, an expansive mix of blues, folk, Americana and just enough swamp rock to make Leon Russell proud,” adding “It’ll be interesting to see if they can top themselves on the next outing -- a tough task given how solid Choke Cherry Tree is.” Rolling Stone Country previously premiered the video for album track “Akira Kurosawa,” commenting, “A stomping rocker that boasts a monstrous, wicked riff and compelling hook, ‘Akira Kurosawa’ is a stream-of-consciousness rumination on film and the nature of creating art.” Kurosawa, an incredibly influential Japanese filmmaker, is widely regarded as one of the most important filmmakers of all time and the video features clips from many of his films. See it HERE. Guitar World Magazine also recently premiered the video for the song “One More Time,” calling the band “a wild, roots-rocking combo.” See it HERE. Choke Cherry Tree will be available digitally, as well as compact disc & vinyl and is now available for pre-order via NEW WEST RECORDS. The Ben Miller Band are currently on their initial North American tour in support of Choke Cherry Tree and will be in Syracuse, NY this evening. The band have announced additional North American Tour dates supporting Buddy Guy as well (Please see all dates below, with more headline dates to be added).

Since its formation in 2004, the Ben Miller Band has staked out an iconoclastic niche that’s established them as both a one-of-a-kind creative unit and a grass-roots fan favorite. Channeling a century’s worth of far-flung American musical influences into rousing songcraft that radiates with smarts and soul, Miller’s tunes achieve a musical and emotional depth that belies the materials (and the musicians’) rough exterior. Word of their charismatic live shows spread and the band has astounded audiences across North America, the U.K., and Europe, where they’ve toured to rave reviews (including a high-profile tour of Europe with ZZ Top, thanks to the patronage of avowed Ben Miller Band fan Billy Gibbons). Their early D.I.Y. approach extended to the lo-tech, largely self-built instruments the band members still play on stage, including Miller’s thrift-shop guitars and banjos and Scott Leeper’s one-string washtub bass.

Miller says, “Early in the process of making this album, I thought that we either had to really nail our live approach in the recording studio, or we needed to forget about that and just work on capturing the songs in an inventive way that presents them in their best light. We decided on the latter approach, and we never looked back.” He adds, “I did more demos than usual, and really hashed out the songs at home, which gave me and Chris a really good starting point to work the songs. It was the opposite of just jumping in and playing and trying to capture it on the mics. Even though there was more collaboration with other people on this album, it’s probably the least compromised album I’ve ever made.”

Ben Miller Band On Tour
January 30 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi
January 31 – Auburn Hills, MI @ Callahans Music Hall
February 1 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell's Eccentric Cafe
February 2 – Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
February 3 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern
February 7 – Carbondale, IL @ Copper Dragon
February 8 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
February 9 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom
February 10 – Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird Nightclub
February 11 – Joplin, MO @ Coda
February 15 – Wichita, KS @ Barleycorns
February 16 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
February 17 – Fayetteville, AR @ Georges
March 2 – Salida, CO @ Soulcraft Brewing
March 3 – Avon, CO @ Agave
March 4 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
April 11 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft*
April 12 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern*
April 14 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall*
April 15 – Buffalo, NY @ Iron Works*
April 17 – New York , NY @ BB Kings*
April 18 – New York , NY @ BB Kings*
April 21 – Fort Smith, AR @ ArcBest Performing Arts Center*
April 24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Palace Theater*
April 26 – Beverly, MA @ Cabot*
April 27 – Montclair, NJ @ The Wellmont Theater*
April 28 – Westbury, NY @ Theatre at Westbury*
*appearing with Buddy Guy

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 10:03 am

Justin Townes Earle has announced an extensive North American tour that will begin May 6, 2018 in British Columbia and continue throughout the entire contiguous United States, with a stop in Toronto, ON as well. The 34-show run will present the celebrated singer-songwriter in intimate settings with solo acoustic performances. His acclaimed New West Records debut Kids In The Street saw praise as Earle’s best work yet from NPR Music, Rolling Stone, UPROXX, Associated Press, and more. Exclaim! commented, "Kids in the Street puts the focus squarely on the distance this talented kid has traveled down the bumpy street that is Americana," with Texas Music Magazine adding, “There will be very few albums this year as fine." The 12-song set was produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, First Aid Kit) at his ARC Studios, and is the first time in his decade-long recording career that Earle has worked with an outside producer. Following his companion albums Single Mothers (2014) and Absent Fathers (2015), the deeply soulful set is both emotionally riveting and effortlessly uplifting, and sees the new father embracing sobriety and family life with an enthusiastic outlook into the future.

Please see below for full tour details. Tickets for all shows are available for purchase today HERE.

Earle’s fierce fidelity to his creative muse has been a consistent thread throughout his young life. The son of country-rock iconoclast Steve Earle quickly came into his own as a songwriter and performer, displaying a natural talent for deeply revealing lyrics that reflected his often-harsh life experiences, and a musical approach that effortlessly integrated elements of blues, folk, and country. “Life has changed a lot for me in the last few years. There’s definitely an uplifting aspect to this record in a lot of ways, because I’m feeling pretty positive.” Earle reflects. “When I wrote songs in the past, I was looking in on what I was feeling, but this record’s more about looking outward on what’s happening, and writing about subjects like gentrification and inner city strife. This record also has more of a soul influence to it, and it’s got a deeper connection to the blues than anything I’ve done before.” Much of that soul influence and uplifting hopefulness is displayed on the album single, “Maybe A Moment,” of which Billboard Magazine premiered the Alicia J. Rose-directed music video alongside an in-depth interview with Earle about his inspiration for the song and record. The video can be viewed/shared HERE.

Justin Townes Earle on Tour:
May 6 – Salt Spring Island, BC @ Pitchfork Social
May 8 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
May 9 – Fort Collins, CO @ Washington’s
May 10 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
May 11 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
May 12 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
May 14 – Maquoketa, IA @ Codfish Hollow Barnstormers
May 15 – Evanston, IL @ Space
May 16 – Indianapolis, IN @ The HI-FI
May 17 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Café
May 18 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
May 19 – Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
May 20 – Albany, NY @ Hart Theatre @ The Egg
May 21 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
May 23 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
May 24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 25 – Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center for the Arts
May 26 – Hamden, CT @ The Space Ballroom
May 27 – Amagansett, NY @ The Stephen Talkhouse
May 29 – Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere Music Hall
May 30 – Raleigh, NY @ Stag’s Head Music Hall
May 31 – Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre
June 1 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
June 2 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners
June 4 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theatre
June 5 – Austin, TX @ 3TEN ACL Live
June 6 – Houston, TX @ The Heights Theater
June 7 – Dallas, TX @ Kessler Theater
June 8 – Roswell, NM @ The Liberty
June 10 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
June 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
June 13 – Berkeley, CA @ Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
June 15 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
June 16 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile

Wed, 04/11/2018 - 7:58 am

Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck of R.E.M. fame will release their debut album, Arthur Buck, on June 15th, 2018 via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by Joseph Arthur and mixed by Tchad Blake (U2, Pearl Jam, The Black Keys) with all of its songs co-written by the duo. The collaboration was established after the pair met up in Mexico near the end of 2017. They wrote eight songs in three days and on the fourth day, performed them for a handful of Baja locals near Buck’s home. Arthur says, “My first thought was, ‘Hey, I’ll get Peter to play acoustic guitar on some of the stuff I’m working on!’ So I started showing him songs. But he was like, ‘That’s cool. Now check this out.’ And he started playing chords and whatnot. So I put my guitar down and began singing over his changes, and it was magical. It was easy. And these great songs just started popping out.”

Since their initial meeting, the pair have been steadily working on their debut with basic tracks being recorded at Type Foundry Studio in Portland, OR with Arthur producing at his studio in Brooklyn, NY. The vibrant collection captures the spontaneity at the heart of the project - right down to the 1-2-3-4 count off from Buck that begins the proceedings - with sounds and styles mashed together in a unique and interesting manner. “It was all new songs, and it was spontaneous,” Buck says. “And the great thing about working that way was that it didn’t have to be anything in particular. It was liberated from any expectation. It was free.” The album opens with “I Am The Moment,” which marries Buck’s sharply-strummed acoustic guitar chords to an electronic beat, with all manner of sonic ephemera ping-ponging around in the background. NPR Music premiered “I Am The Moment” today, stating, "The sparks fly freely in the song 'I Am the Moment': a classic chiming Buck guitar lick sets up a vocal that's both gritty and cosmically gleeful, enlivened by a handclap-sharp rhythm track." Hear it HERE. Arthur Buck will be available as an Indie Retail Translucent Blue & Red Split Colored Vinyl Edition, a limited edition Autographed Barnes & Noble Vinyl Variant, Standard Black Vinyl, Compact Disc, and across digital platforms. The album is currently available for pre-order via NEW WEST RECORDS.

The two musicians have a history that stretches back decades; among other pairings, Arthur opened many shows for R.E.M. in the early 2000s, while Buck has backed Arthur on numerous occasions. Both Arthur and Buck have said that these songs differ from their other recording projects and while speaking with Rolling Stone last month, Buck said “It was really spontaneous and kind of magical in its own way, as [being in Mexico] we were kind of disconnected from everything.” Arthur added, “All of a sudden it was like I had this musical partner and friend, and that relieved the music of the burden of the self, if that makes sense.” Of his new bandmate, Buck stated, “Joe is going through that searching period we all go through in life. And those experiences he’s having make this a very forward-looking record, lyrically. The music has a questing kind of feel. We were making it up as we went along.”

Tour dates are in the works for Arthur Buck and will be announced shortly.

Thu, 06/07/2018 - 7:31 pm

The Devil Makes Three are set to return with Chains Are Broken on August 24th via New West Records.  The 11-song set was produced by Ted Hutt (Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly) and recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso, TX.   Chains Are Broken is The Devil Makes Three’s first album of original material since 2013’s acclaimed I’m A Stranger Here, which debuted on the Billboard Top 200.  The new album follows their acclaimed 2016 collection of covers,Redemption & Ruin, which heralded the groups second #1 bow on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums Chart.  Instead of their traditional revolving cast of collaborators in the studio, The Devil Makes Three stuck to its signature power trio of Pete Bernhard, Lucia Turino, and Cooper McBean - with one addition.  This time, they invited touring drummer Stefan Amidon to power the bulk of the percussion and his presence remains most amplified as the band seamlessly translated the spirit of their must see live show into a studio recording.  Rolling Stone Country premiered the first music from Chains Are Broken with the song “Paint My Face” today.  They state, "'Paint My Face' reflects the extra rock & roll edge that Amidon, the band's touring drummer, brings to the equation, as the song is a crunchy shuffle with a quivering, cascading electric guitar line."  They continue, "Despite its somewhat sinister tone, 'Paint My Face' is as much a song about rebirth, both spiritual and creative, as it is about death."  Hear it Here.  Chains Are Broken will be available on compact disc, across digital retailers, standard black vinyl, as well as a limited edition cream & navy blue split colored vinyl LP available at Independent Retailers.  Chains Are Broken is available for pre-order now via New West Records

Hear "Paint My Face" Here

For as much as The Devil Makes Three remain rooted in troubadour traditions of wandering folk, Delta blues, whiskey-soaked ragtime, and reckless rock ‘n’ roll, the band nods to the revolutionary unrest of author James Baldwin, the no-holds barred disillusionment of Ernest Hemingway, and Southern Gothic malaise of Flannery O’Connor.  In that respect, Chains Are Broken resembles a dusty leather bound book of short stories from some bygone era.  “I always want our songs to unfold like short stories,” affirms Pete Bernhard.  “You could think of them as chapters of a book.  This was a much more personal album about what it takes to be a writer of any kind - and what you have to do to make your dream possible.  It was really the headspace I was in.  It might have something to do with getting older.  You start reflecting on life and the people around you.  I was doing that in these songs.  That’s what makes the record more personal.  I’m pulling from these things.  Some of it is about drug addiction.  Some of it is about the things you sacrifice.  Some of it is about the detrimental things we do for inspiration.  Nevertheless, they all have some sort of narrative.” 

Tue, 03/05/2019 - 6:26 pm

Steve Earle & The Dukes are set to return with GUY on March 29th, 2019. A return to New West Records, the 16-song set is comprised of songs written by one of his two primary songwriting mentors, the legendary Guy Clark. GUY appears ten years after his Grammy Award winning album TOWNES, his tribute to his other songwriting mentor, Townes Van Zandt. Produced by Earle and recorded by his longtime production partner Ray Kennedy, GUY features his latest, and possibly best, incarnation of his backing band The Dukes including Kelley Looney on bass, Chris Masterson on guitar, Eleanor Whitmore on fiddle & mandolin, Ricky Ray Jackson on pedal steel guitar, and Brad Pemberton on drums & percussion.

Today, Rolling Stone Country has premiered Earle’s version of Clark’s “Old Friends.”  The closing track on GUY, the song features fellow Guy Clark cohorts Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Terry Allen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Mickey Raphael, Shawn Camp, Verlon Thompson, Gary Nicholson, and the photographer Jim McGuire.  Rolling Stone says, “In the hands of Earle and his band the Dukes, ‘Old Friends’ is a solemn prayer, with Harris harmonizing with Earle on the opening verse.”  Hear it HERE.

NPR Music previously premiered the album’s first single and lead off track “Dublin Blues” along with a nearly 30-minute conversation between Earle and NPR’s Bob Boilen for an edition of All Songs Considered. Hear it HERE.  Stereogum previously premiered Earle’s version of Clark’s “L.A. Freeway,” calling it “...a truly sublime homage.”  Hear it HERE.  And Paste Magazine also previously premiered Earle’s version of “The Randall Knife.”  Hear it HERE.

Steve Earle first met Guy Clark after hitchhiking from San Antonio to Nashville in 1974. A few months after his arrival, he found himself taking over for a young Rodney Crowell as bassist in Guy’s band. “No way I could get out of doing this record,” says Earle. “When I get to the other side, I didn’t want to run into Guy having made the TOWNES record and not one about him.”

“Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark were like Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg to me.”  The mercurial Van Zandt (1944-1997) who once ordered his teenage disciple to chain him to a tree in hopes that it would keep him from drinking, was the On The Road quicksilver of youth.  Clark, 33 at the time Earle met him, was a longer lasting, more mellow burn.  “When it comes to mentors, I’m glad I had both,” says Earle. “If you asked Townes what it’s all about, he’d hand you a copy of Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.  If you asked Guy the same question, he’d take out a piece of paper and teach you how to diagram a song, what goes where. Townes was one of the all-time great writers, but he only finished three songs during the last fifteen years of his life. Guy had cancer and wrote songs until the day he died...he painted, he built instruments, he owned a guitar shop in the Bay Area where the young Bobby Weir hung out. He was older and wiser. You hung around with him and knew why they call what artists do disciplines. Because he was disciplined.”

“GUY wasn’t really a hard record to make,” Earle says. “We did it fast, five or six days with almost no overdubbing. I wanted it to sound live...When you’ve got a catalog like Guy’s and you’re only doing sixteen tracks, you know each one is going to be strong.

There was another reason, Earle said, he couldn’t “get out of” making GUY.  “You know,” he said, “as you live your life, you pile up these regrets. I’ve done a lot of things that might be regrettable, but most of them I don’t regret because I realize I couldn’t have done anything else at the time. With Guy, however, there was this thing. When he was sick --- he was dying really for the last ten years of his life --- he asked me if we could write a song together. We should do it ‘for the grandkids,’ he said. Well, I don’t know...at the time, I still didn’t co-write much, then I got busy. Then Guy died and it was too late. That, I regret.”

Like the TOWNES record, GUY is a saga of friendship, its ups and downs, what endures.

GUY

Steve Earle will appear at a handful of record stores in advance of GUY’s release including Twist & Shout Records in Denver on March 8th, Good Records in Dallas on March 11th, Cactus Music in Houston on March 12th, and Waterloo Records in Austin on March 13th.  He will perform songs from GUY, sign autographs, and the album will also be available for purchase weeks before its release date.  Earle will also appear at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX next week as well as The Luck Reunion held at Willie Nelson’s Texas ranch on Thursday, March 14th alongside Nelson, Mavis Staples, and more.  He is also set to appear at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 27th with The Dukes.  Please see all dates below.

GUY will be available on compact disc, across digital retailers, standard black vinyl, limited edition blue vinyl available at Independent Retailers, an extremely limited-to-200 clear vinyl edition available at retailers in Texas & Tennessee, a limited autographed edition available at Barnes & Noble stores, and limited edition red vinyl exclusively available for pre-order now via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation.  A protege of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, he quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, The Pretenders, and countless others.  1986 saw the release of his debut record, Guitar Town, which shot to number one on the country charts. What followed was a varied array of releases including the Grammy Award Winning albums The Revolution Starts...Now (2004), Washington Square Serenade (2007), and Townes (2009).  A true Renaissance man, Earle has become a novelist, a film, TV, and stage actor, playwright, record producer, and radio host.  Earlier this year, he appeared in the off-Broadway play Samara, for which he also wrote the score that The New York Times called “exquisitely subliminal.”  2018 marked the 30th Anniversary of his legendary album Copperhead Road.  GUY is Steve Earle’s 19th studio album.

Thu, 03/21/2019 - 7:18 pm

Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon are set to release their debut album Solstice tomorrow via New West Records. The all star collaboration features Luther Dickinson alongside Amy Helm, Amy LaVere, Birds of Chicago, Sharde Thomas, and the Como Mamas. Produced by Dickinson over four days at his family’s Zebra Ranch Studio in Independence, MS, Solstice has been met with critical acclaim. No Depression states, “Every song on Solstice resonates with a soulful beauty, with the harmonies and melodies wrapping over and around the lyrics of the songs in a colorful blanket that warms our hearts,” while adding, “Some albums overflow with the feelings of joy and spirit of musical harmony that the musicians must have expressed when making the album.  Solstice is one of those albums; the music itself is transcendent, but the emotions of the musicians wash over us, touching us palpably.” American Songwriter also offered, “If this charming album is any indication, he should make it a yearly tradition.”

Solstice finds Dickinson taking a step back from the microphone in order to focus his efforts behind the scenes and flex his muscles as both a producer and guitarist. The result is a 12-song set that stands apart in his extensive catalog, a collection that brings together some of the most captivating female voices in modern American roots music and filters each of their distinctive personalities through a singular vision of artistic community and musical exploration. It’s a wide-ranging collection that harkens back to the era of the traveling revue, when a rotating cast of entertainers would take turns fronting a house band for a series of dynamic and unpredictable performances. “Each singer brought a handful of songs to the table,” Dickinson says of the album’s diverse source material. “Sometimes it was an old tune they wanted to reinterpret or something new they’d written that felt right for the cast of characters at hand, but no matter the track, all of our colors ended up mixing together on a communal palette.”

While mostly recorded live in the studio, the band did invite a few special guests to contribute additional parts, including the fiddler Lillie Mae Rische (Jack White, Jim Lauderdale), organist Rev. Charles Hodges (Al Green, Willie Mitchell), and Grammy-winning artist and producer Alvin Youngblood Hart. Solstice was also mixed by Jeff Powell at Sam Phillips Recording Service in Memphis, TN.

“The whole idea of this album was to introduce a bunch of friends and get them to collaborate with each other,” says Dickinson. “I wanted to let the chemistry flow, to create an environment where everyone’s flavors naturally blended together and each artist could just be themselves. I think you can feel that freedom in the music. Most of the work was in getting the spark lit,” he says of assembling the all-star cast. “It was sort of like throwing a party. Once you manage to get everybody together, you can just step back and let it all happen.”

Today, Billboard has premiered Solstice in its entirety.  Speaking to the magazine, Dickinson said, "The whole thing just tapped into this funky Mississippi folk-rock acoustic aesthetic we've built at our place.  It's not just the cast of characters but the orchestration -- Amy Helm on mandolin, Allison (Russell of Birds of Chicago) plays clarinet, we've got nylon string banjo, Mississippi fife and drum. Amy LaVere brought upright bass. I play on top of it. We just put it all together and it worked out great." Hear it in full HERE.

With nearly all of the album’s vocals recorded live in just one or two takes, there was no room for overthinking or second-guessing, only instinct and intuition. Commitment to living in the moment was key to keeping the album as cohesive as it is, no small task considering the broad array of songs and voices it encompasses. “Recording the album in the same place at the same time with the same people really helped glue the whole thing together,” says Dickinson. “It wouldn’t have worked if we’d recorded all over the map at different times. We had to physically be present to share in those moments together.”

“We believe music is a celebration of life, and folk music an expression of community and family,” Dickinson concludes. “Solstice is an artifact of our new friendship and musical fellowship.”

Solstice by Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon will be available digitally, on compact disc, as well as vinyl LP and is available for pre-order now via New West Records.

Luther Dickinson and  Sisters of the Strawberry Moon Solstice Track Listing

1. Superlover featuring Birds of Chicago

2. Fly With Me featuring Sharde Thomas

3. Hallelujah (I’m a Dreamer) featuring Amy LaVere

4. Like A Songbird That Has Fallen featuring Amy Helm

5. Kathy featuring Birds of Chicago

6. Hold To His Hand featuring The Como Mamas

7. The Night Is Still Young featuring Amy LaVere

8. Sing To Me featuring Amy Helm

9. We Made It featuring Sharde Thomas

10. Cricket (At Night I Can Fly) featuring Amy LaVere

11. Til It’s Gone featuring Birds of Chicago

12. Search Me featuring The Como Mamas

Mon, 04/01/2019 - 11:29 am

Justin Townes Earle is set to return with The Saint of Lost Causes on May 24th, 2019.  The 12-song set was co-produced by Earle and his longtime engineer Adam Bednarik and was recorded at Sound Emporium in Nashville, TN.  Founded by Cowboy Jack Clement in 1969, Sound Emporium has hosted country luminaries such as Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers as well as R.E.M., and countless other historic artists.  The Saint of Lost Causes is Earle’s  follow up to his critically acclaimed 2017 Kids In The Street, and spans everything from traditional country, blues and folk to western swing, roots-rock and boogie-woogie.  

Justin Townes Earle has done a lot of living in 37 years.  Born in Nashville on January 4th, 1982, he grew up as the son of country-rock iconoclast Steve Earle, who gave him his middle name in honor of his mentor, the brilliant songwriter Townes Van Zandt.  For years he struggled with addiction with numerous stints in rehab; long stretches of itinerancy and general juvenile delinquency; a youth he once said he was “lucky to have gotten out of alive.”  These days Earle is focused as a married father to a baby girl and is creating the best art of his career.  While he describes Kids In The Street as “one of the more personal records I’ve ever made,” he chose to focus his gaze outward for this new set of songs.   

For The Saint of Lost Causes, Earle is focused on a different America - the disenfranchised and the downtrodden, the oppressed and the oppressors, the hopeful and the hopeless, as well as their geography. There’s the drugstore-cowboy-turned-cop-killer praying for forgiveness (“Appalachian Nightmare”) and the Michiganders persevering through economic and industrial devastation (“Flint City Shake It”); the stuck mother dreaming of a better life on the right side of the California tracks (“Over Alameda”) and the Cuban man in New York City weighed down by a world of regret (“Ahi Esta Mi Nina”); the “used up” soul desperate to get to New Orleans (“Ain’t Got No Money”) and the “sons of bitches” in West Virginia poisoning the land and sea (“Don’t Drink The Water”).  

These are individuals and communities in every corner of the country, struggling through the ordinary - and sometimes extraordinary - circumstances of everyday life.  “I was trying to look through the eyes of America,” Earle says.  “Because I believe in the idea of America - that everybody’s welcome here and has a right to be here.”  Earle tells these American stories in detail and without judgement.  While some songs cite historic events, other tracks present fictionalized narratives that are no less harrowing or true-to-life. 

Today, Billboard has premiered the video for The Saint of Lost Causes single “Frightened By The Sound.”  They call it an “impressionistic video of a couple in a tense repose" and that it "is a bit of a mid-album respite, an unspecific rumination about the toll Earle’s song subject exacts on real people.” Speaking to Billboard, Earle offers, ‘That song is not necessarily about one thing. It’s about this world we’re living in, and what could happen to us at any point. We’re probably in one of the more tense times on Earth since the Cuban Missile Crisis -- in this country, anyway. So it’s about the relationships and the way we relate to one another and life and every day with all that going on.”  The video was directed by Joshua Britt & Neilson Hubbard of Neighborhoods Apart Productions and can be seen HERE.  

Rolling Stone Country previously premiered the album’s first single, “Ain’t Got No Money,” calling it a “shifty roots rocker.” Hear it Here

Justin Townes Earle has also announced his initial tour dates in support of The Saint of Lost Causes.  The dates will launch on April 12th in Waverly, AL and include a weeklong support tour with Rodrigo Y Gabriela, an appearance on NPR's Mountain Stage on May 19th (to be aired nationally on May 31st), European dates, and The Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival (alongside Foo Fighters, The Killers, and more). Please see all dates below. 

The Saint of Lost Causes will be available on compact disc, across digital retailers, Standard Black Vinyl, Split Gold & Translucent Yellow Vinyl available exclusively at Independent Retailers, and Translucent Blue-colored vinyl available now for pre-order directly from New West Records.

Justin Townes Earle The Saint Of Lost Causes Track Listing:

1. The Saint Of Lost Causes 

2. Ain’t Got No Money 

3. Mornings In Memphis 

4. Don’t Drink The Water 

5. Frightened By The Sound 

6. Flint City Shake It 

7. Over Alameda 

8. Pacific Northwestern Blues 

9. Appalachian Nightmare 

10. Say Baby 

11. Ahi Esta Mi Nina 

12. Talking To Myself

Justin Townes Earle On Tour:

April 12th - Waverly, AL - Waverly Local

April 13th - Columbia, SC - River Rocks Festival

April 14th - Jacksonville, FL - Murray Hill Theatre

May 19th - Charleston, WV - Culture Center Theatre / NPR Mountain Stage

June 1st - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theater (with Rodrigo Y Gabriela)

June 2nd - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium (with Rodrigo Y Gabriela)

June 4th - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater (with Rodrigo Y Gabriela)

June 5th - Charlottesville, VA - Sprint Pavilion (with Rodrigo Y Gabriela)

June 7th - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap (with Rodrigo Y Gabriela)

June 9th - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Garden Amphitheater (with Rodrigo Y Gabriela)

June 15th - Stockholm, SE - Sthlm Americana 

June 16th - Loderup, SE - Solhallen

June 18th - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Noord

June 20th - London, UK - Union Chapel 

June 22nd - Tunbridge Wells, UK - Black Deer Festival 

June 23rd - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club

June 24th - Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute

June 25th - Newcastle, UK - Live Theatre

June 26th - Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor 

September 21st & 22nd - Franklin, TN Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

Wed, 05/29/2019 - 12:59 pm

Steve Earle & The Dukes have announced additional Summer 2019 Tour Dates in support of their critically acclaimed new album GUY.  A return to New West Records, the 16-song set is comprised of songs written by one of his two primary songwriting mentors, the legendary Guy Clark.  The New Yorker called GUY “a winsome tribute” while Stereogum called the album “...a truly sublime homage.”  GUY appears ten years after his Grammy Award winning album TOWNES, his tribute to his other songwriting mentor, Townes Van Zandt. Produced by Earle and recorded by his longtime production partner Ray Kennedy, GUY features his latest, and possibly best, incarnation of his backing band The Dukes including Kelley Looney on bass, Chris Masterson on guitar, Eleanor Whitmore on fiddle & mandolin, Ricky Ray Jackson on pedal steel guitar, and Brad Pemberton on drums & percussion.

The Summer tour will feature a taping of the iconic PBS music series Austin City Limits on July 2nd.  The broadcast episode will air this fall on PBS as part of Austin City Limits’ milestone Season 45.  Steve Earle & The Dukes will also appear at the Outlaw Music Festival in Dallas, TX, Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic in Austin, TX, an appearance as part of the Grand Ole Opry performance at this year’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, a two-night stand at the famed Los Angeles, CA venue The Troubadour, and end in Nashville, TN as a part of WRLT Lightning 100’s Live On The Green Summer Concert series.  Please see all dates below. 

Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation.  A protege of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, he quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, The Pretenders, and countless others.  1986 saw the release of his debut record, Guitar Town, which shot to number one on the country charts. What followed was a varied array of releases including the Grammy Award Winning albums The Revolution Starts...Now (2004), Washington Square Serenade (2007), and TOWNES (2009).  A true Renaissance man, Earle has become a novelist, a film, TV, and stage actor, playwright, record producer, and radio host.  Earlier this year, he appeared in the off-Broadway play Samara, for which he also wrote the score that The New York Times called “exquisitely subliminal.”  GUY is Steve Earle’s 19th studio album. 

GUY is available on compact disc, across digital retailers, standard black vinyl, limited edition blue vinyl available at Independent Retailers, and is also available directly via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Steve Earle & The Dukes On Tour

May 30th - Kent, OH Kent Stage

May 31st - Indianapolis, IN Egyption Room at Old National Centre 

June 1st - Franklin, OH JD Legends 

June 2nd - Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk Music 

June 4th - Louisville, KY The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts/Brown Theatre

June 6th - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Ponte Vedra Concert Hall 

June 7th - Orlando, FL Plaza Live 

June 8th - Clearwater, FL Capitol Theatre 

June 9th - Atlanta, GA The Buckhead Theatre 

June 11th - Charlotte, NC McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square 

June 13th - Manchester, TN Bonnaroo (Grand Ole Opry @ Bonnaroo)

June 14th - Rocky Mount, VA Rocky Mount Harvester 

June 15th - Cumberland, MD Tri State Wing Off 

June 16th - Dewey Beach, DE Bottle & Cork 

June 18th - Annapolis, MD Ramshead 

June 19th - Durham, NC The Carolina Theatre 

June 20th - Hampton, VA The Vanguard

June 22nd - Tappan, NY 6th Annual Rockland-Bergen Music Festival 

June 23rd - Charleston, WV Mountain Stage 

June 25th - Joliet, IL Rialto Square Theatre 

June 27th - Milwaukee, WI Summerfest 

June 29th - Owesboro, KY Romp Festival 

July 2nd - Austin, TX Austin City Limits Taping 

July 3rd - Dallas, TX Outlaw Music Festival 

July 3rd - Austin, TX Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic 

July 5th - Houston, TX Heights Theater

July 6th - Lake Charles, LA Golden Nugget Casino 

July 9th - Edgartown, MA Old Whaling Church 

July 11th - Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak 

July 13th - Guelph, ON Hillside Festival 

July 14th - Craven, SK Country Thunder 

July 16th - Sudbury, ON Fraser Auditorium

July 17th - North Bay, ON North Bay Capitol Centre 

July 18th - Bala, ON Kee to Bala 

July 19th - Kemptville, ON Kemptville Live 

July 20th - Hammondsport, NY The Pavilion at Point of the Bluff Vinyard 

July 28th - Fisher River, Manitoba Leigh Cochrane Memorial Visitor Center 

July 30th - Cross Lake, Manitoba Cross Lake Arena 

August 1st - Bayfield, WI Big Top Chautauqua 

August 2nd - Minneapolis, MN Music in the Zoo 

August 3rd - Saint Michael, ND Spirit Lake Casino & Resort 

August 4th - Billings, MT Pub Station Ballroom 

August 6th - Bozeman, MT Rialto Theatre 

August 8th - Challis, ID Braun Brothers Reunion Americana Music Festival 

August 9th - Boise, ID Egyptian Theatre 

August 10th - Seattle, WA Nordstrum Recital Hall 

August 11th - Portland, OR Oregon Zoo Amphitheater w/ Lukas Nelson 

August 14th - Los Angeles, CA Troubadour 

August 15th - Los Angeles, CA Troubadour 

August 16th - Monterey, CA Golden State Theatre 

August 17th - Crystal Bay, NV Crystal Bay Club & Casino 

August 19th - Solana Beach, CA Belly Up 

August 20th - Mesa, CA Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center 

August 22nd - Denver, CO Paramount Theatre 

August 23rd - Sioux City, IA Anthem @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 

August 30th - Knoxville, TN World’s Fair Park 

August 31st - Mt. Vernon, KY Renfro Valley 

September 1st - Nashville, TN WRLT Live on the Green

Thu, 08/01/2019 - 1:15 pm

North Mississippi Allstars are set to return with Up and Rolling on October 4th via New West Records. The 12-song set was produced by Luther and Cody Dickinson and recorded at The Zebra Ranch, their family studio established by their father, the legendary Jim Dickinson in Independence, MS. The album also features guest appearances from Mavis Staples, Jason Isbell, Cedric Burnside, Duane Betts, and Sharde Thomas. Up and Rolling finds North Mississippi Allstars getting back to their roots and recapturing the communal spirit upon which the band was founded.  

Today, Relix has premiered the video for the album's title track, “Up and Rolling.” Speaking to Relix, Luther Dickinson said, “The video for ‘Up and Rolling’ was shot on location at our family’s recording studio compound and Otha Turner’s driveway.  Director J.B. Lawrence got a mean case of poison ivy. I escaped with a mere 30 or so chigger bites.” He continued, “You can see the Mississippi heat in the haze of our film. The camera shut down from overheating at one point. ‘Up and Rolling’ is about good times and despite the heat, we genuinely enjoyed ourselves, goofing around, dancing to the tune blasting out of our Ford van. The nighttime dancing in head light shoot ran J.B.’s car battery down but our van’s faithful jumper cables saved the day and we went our separate ways, hot, exhausted, and only beginning to itch.”  See the “Up and Rolling” video Here.

Paste Magazine previously premiered the song “What You Gonna Do?” featuring Mavis Staples, which originally appeared on The Staple Singers’ essential 1965 album Freedom Highway. Hear “What You Gonna Do?” Featuring Mavis Staples HERE

A forgotten roll of film inspired a musical accompaniment, the North Mississippi Allstars’ new record Up and Rolling.  Shot before the turn of the century, the photographs resonate with the music of four families from the Mississippi hills. The music "is the sound of modern Mississippi," says Luther Dickinson. 

In 1996, a photographer from Texas, Wyatt McSpadden, traveled to North Mississippi looking to photograph local musicians. Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson had grown up just south of Memphis and cut their teeth playing experimental rock & roll together, as well as the roots repertoire pioneered by their father, Jim Dickinson, a legendary producer (Big Star, the Replacements) and session player (Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan). Their feet were firmly planted in the North Mississippi mud and music scene, and they were excited to show Wyatt around their community, to introduce him to the musical families of Otha Turner, RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. “Wyatt was so smooth nobody felt he was taking photos,” Luther recalls. “No one was self-conscious or posing. Wyatt had a cloak of invisibility.”

A month after McSpadden took those photos, the newly formed North Mississippi Allstars made their Memphis debut, incorporating their father’s concept of roots music as a framework for improvisation and blending experimental/psychedelic excursions into Hill Country anthems. In just a few short years, their lives would then be forever changed with the release of their debut album Shake Hands with Shorty in 2000.  They wouldn’t see most of the photos for over two decades until McSpadden tracked the brothers down in 2017.  Luther says, “The images stopped me in my tracks and blew my mind. The music that changed our lives was captured in these photographs. Cody and I wanted to set the music free and record an album to accompany these photographs illustrating what Mississippi music sounded like in 1996 - and what it sounds like now.” Up and Rolling takes listeners on a tour of this vibrant and rural community: through the hills and along the back roads to Otha’s home, to Junior Kimbrough’s nightclub, and RL Burnside's house parties.  

North Mississippi Allstars Photo By Wyatt McSpadden

Along with their originals, they covered some of their favorite songs by these local heroes, with help from Cedric Burnside and Sharde Thomas, Otha Turner’s granddaughter. “She was only a child when she became his apprentice and heir to the bamboo throne of fife and drum music,” says Luther. “Now she’s the Queen of the Hill Country and my favorite singing partner.” In addition to duetting with him on RL Burnside’s raunchy “Peaches,” she also sings with Luther on Otha’s “Call That Gone.” 

Mavis Staples keeps NMA marching on the freedom highway, singing on her family’s classic "What You Gonna Do?” Jason Isbell appears on a tune that has been in the Dickinson family for years: “Our father recorded ‘Mean Old World’ with Duane Allman and Eric Clapton during the Layla sessions.  Jason invited me to record an acoustic, slide guitar duo version. Cody came up with the new arrangement and wanted to record an electric version with Jason and Duane Betts, using ‘Mean Old World’ as a vehicle to lay down an epic statement about modern-day roots rock guitar.”

Luther hopes, “the boogie is rooted, but spreads evasively from the kudzu jungle grown-over Junior’s concrete slab and Otha’s porch boards through the Zebra Ranch’s razor wire chain link fence.  Transcending time and space, the music reaches out into the dark of night like the wisteria vine, looking for free-hearted souls to latch onto and wedge into the foundations of hate, slowly tearing down walls a generation at a time.”

In 23 years, North Mississippi Allstars have released ten acclaimed studio albums, three of which were nominated for Grammy Awards in the Blues Album of the Year category. Luther Dickinson has also gar

tages with Robert Plant, Mavis Staples, Patty Griffin, John Hiatt among many others. Up And Rolling will be available across Digital Retailers, Compact Disc, Standard Black vinyl, Limited Edition Black & White Split Colored Vinyl available exclusively at Independent Retailers and Clear & Black Smoke Swirl Colored Vinyl available for Pre-Order Now via New West Records

Sat, 11/23/2019 - 1:09 pm

New West Records just released Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band. Released in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Allman Brothers Band’s debut album, the 10-song set of jazz interpretations of Allman Brothers Band favorites features Marc Broussard and Ruthie Foster on vocals on two songs each. Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band also features Jack Pearson on guitar, who performed as a member of the Allman Brothers Band from 1997 to 1999. The celebrated trombonist Wycliffe Gordon of Jazz at Lincoln Center fame is featured as a soloist on “Don’t Want You No More,” and wrote the arrangement for “Statesboro Blues.” Gordon is consistently ranked among leading trombone players in the Downbeat critics poll and has topped the list at least five times. The 15-piece Big Band of Brothers was produced by Mark Lanter, Charles Driebe & John Harvey and was recorded & mixed by Eric Bates at Bates Brothers Recording in Hueytown, AL.

Today, PopMatters has premiered the album in its entirety. They state, "Big Band of Brothers is a truly remarkable and imaginative take on the music of the legendary Allman Brothers Band, rendered with affection and imagination, it asks us to appreciate the true genius of Macon, Georgia's finest” and "This recording is as entertaining and scintillating as Coltrane's Live at the Village Vanguard, the Brothers' own Eat A Peach or those legendary Fillmore East sets." When speaking to PopMatters, project creator and co-producer John Harvey said, “The original Allman Brothers Band undeniably ranks among the very best bands born in America, and their melding of blues, rock, gospel and jazz was unique.  Their collective genius left behind a musical legacy as rich as any I can think of. It is my hope that our big band jazz re-imagining of their works reflects the reverence we hold for that genius.”  Hear Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band in its entirety HERE.  

While jazz interpretations of Allman Brothers Band classics might come off as a surprise to some, the genre always held great inspiration for the band and its members. Gregg Allman, recalling the band’s early days, told the journalist Bob Beatty, “Jaimoe [Allman Brothers Band drummer Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson] turned all of us on to so much neat stuff. He gave us a proper education about jazz and got us into Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Kind of Blue was always on the turntable - Duane really got his head around that album - and he also seriously dug Coltrane’s My Favorite Things.” While speaking to Relix Magazine in 2013, longtime Allman Brothers Band guitarist Warren Haynes offered this about founding member Duane Allman, “It’s interesting when you think about Duane’s roots in blues and R&B. As he was growing as a musician, jazz musicians were becoming more and more important to him. He talked a lot about how important Coltrane was in influencing him. It’s almost a cliche to say that you’ve been influenced by John Coltrane these days because it’s so obvious that he’s an icon. But for somebody in the early ‘70s to actually take that influence into a rock or pop sensibility was quite a stretch. Perhaps he helped to make Coltrane a universal influence in ways he didn’t even realize, the same way that people like Duane and Clapton contributed to the rediscovery of Robert Johnson.”

Big Band of Brothers A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band will be available on compact disc, across digital retailers, and Peach Colored vinyl.  Big Band of Brothers' A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band is now available for pre-order via New West Records.

Big Band Of Brothers A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band Track Listing:

1. Statesboro Blues featuring Marc Broussard

2. Don’t Want You No More featuring Wycliffe Gordon

3. It’s Not My Cross To Bear featuring Ruthie Foster 

4. Hot ‘Lanta 

5. Whipping Post featuring Marc Broussard 

6. Stand Back featuring Jack Pearson

7. Dreams 

8. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed 

9. Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’ featuring Ruthie Foster 

10. Les Brers In A Minor 

Mon, 11/25/2019 - 1:45 pm

Richard Thompson’s The Cold Blue - Original Motion Picture Score will be released on vinyl for the first time for Record Store Day Black Friday (this Friday, November 29th).  The double LP set is available on 180 gram “Sky Blue” Colored Vinyl and strictly limited to 2,500 copies worldwide.

The 19-track score was written and arranged by Thompson for the acclaimed filmmaker Erik Nelson’s film of the same name.  Thompson brought together a small chamber orchestra comprised of four french horns, a string quartet, double bass, oboe, clarinet, harmonica and percussion. The orchestra was conducted by Peter Askim and recorded at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, CA.

In 1943, William Wyler, one of Hollywood's most renowned and versatile directors, went to Europe to document air war in progress for his film The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress. Wyler flew actual combat missions with B-17's and during production, one of his cameramen, Harold Tannenbaum, was lost along with his plane over France.  The footage was filmed during the spring and summer on 8th Air Force bases in England, and on bombing missions over Europe.  Incredibly, all of Wyler's original 16-millimeter footage shot for The Memphis Belle was recently discovered deep in the vaults of the National Archives.  The filmmaker Erik Nelson constructed the new documentary, The Cold Blue, out of the silent material as well as new interviews he conducted with nine surviving B-17 crewmen.  The veteran’s voices take us through the harrowing world that Wyler and his cameramen captured in the summer of 1943.  Painstakingly restoring every frame, Nelson removed dust spots and scratches, and restored the color of the original footage.  A meditation on youth, war and trauma, The Cold Blue stands as a tribute to one of the world’s great filmmakers and the men of the 8th Air Force who flew mission after suicidal mission in the Second World War.

Upon its initial digital release in May, NPR premiered the score in its entirety, calling it “Stunning.” Speaking to NPR, Thompson said, “I wrote almost wall to wall music...Scoring under speech was less of an issue than competing with the noise of the aircraft; I had to be sensitive to the droning of the engines being in (or close to) certain musical keys, and cues were written from this basis sometimes.” Continuing, “Every burst of ack-ack, every empty shell case landing on the floor of the plane, every whine of the Pratt and Whitney engines, all contribute to the emotion of the moment, and it is always the role of the music to push those emotions a little further.”  Hear Richard Thompson’s The Cold Blue - Original Motion Picture Score via NPR HERE.

Richard Thompson

Following a Four Night Stand in Evanston, IL closing 2019, Richard Thompson has also announced a solo acoustic tour launching January 17th in Newark, NJ through February 8th in New York City.  Please see all dates below.

Richard Thompson’s musical influence cannot be overstated.  Having co-founded the groundbreaking group Fairport Convention as a teenager in the 60s, he and his bandmates invented the distinctive strain of British Folk Rock.  He left the group by the age of 21 which was followed by a decade long musical partnership with his then-wife Linda, to over 30 years as a highly successful solo artist.  In 2011, Thompson received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) personally bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.  The Los Angeles Times called him the finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix and Rolling Stone has named him one of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time.  He has received lifetime achievement awards for songwriting from Britain’s BBC Awards, the Americana Music Association, and was awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award.  His song “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” was named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Greatest Songs Since 1923.”  A wide range of musicians have recorded Thompson’s songs including Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., Sleater-Kinney, Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Jones, David Byrne, Don Henley, Los Lobos, and many more.  His massive body of work includes many Grammy nominated albums as well as numerous soundtracks, including Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man.  Thompson’s genre defying mastery of both acoustic and electric guitar along with engaging energy and onstage wit continue to earn him new fans and a place as one of the most distinctive virtuosos and writers in Folk Rock history.  In 2018, Thompson released his critically acclaimed studio album 13 Rivers, which Uncut Magazine called “His best album in decades.”

Richard Thompson The Cold Blue - Original Motion Picture Score Track Listing:

1. The Cold Blue 

2. The Cold Blue Part Two 

3. No Tomorrow 

4. Fresh Eggs 

5. A Sudden Boom 

6. Family 

7. Tremendous Workers

8. Beautiful Sight 

9. Beautiful Ship 

10. Cold Air 

11. Over There 

12. Big Thunderstorm 

13. Superstitious 

14. Kill a Human 

15. Red Flare 

16. Just Germans 

17. I’ll Be Seeing You 

18. Family (Guitar Version) 

19. The Cold Blue (Guitar Version) 

Richard Thompson Solo, Acoustic Tour Dates:

December 28th - Evanston, IL SPACE

December 29th - Evanston, IL SPACE

December 30th - Evanston, IL SPACE

December 31st - Evanston, IL SPACE

January 17th - Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center

January 18th - Princeton, NJ McCarter Theatre

January 19th - Easton, MD Avalon Theatre

January 21st - Alexandria, VA The Birchmere

January 24th - Wilmington, DE Grand Opera House

January 25th - Harrisburg, PA Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts

January 26th - Collingswood, NJ Scottish Rite Auditorium

January 28th - Pawling, NY Daryl’s House

January 29th - Albany, NY The Swyer at The Egg

January 30th - Portsmouth, NH The Music Hall

January 31st  - Burlington, VT First Unitarian Church

February 1st - Brownfield, ME Stone Mountain Arts Center

February 4th - Fairfield, CT The Warehouse

February 5th - Port Washington, NY Landmark on Main Street

February 7th - New York, NY Symphony Space

February 8th - New York, NY Symphony Space

Thu, 03/26/2020 - 8:10 am

Steve Earle & The Dukes will release Ghosts of West Virginia on May 22nd, 2020 via New West Records. The album was produced by Steve Earle and engineered by Ray Kennedy at Jimi Hendrix’s legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The 10-song set is Earle’s 20th studio album and was mixed entirely in mono, lending a sonic cohesion and punch. In recent years, Earle has experienced partial hearing loss in one ear and can no longer discern the separation that stereo is designed to produce. The recording features his latest incarnation of his backing band The Dukes; Chris Masterson on guitar, Eleanor Whitmore on fiddle & vocals, Ricky Ray Jackson on pedal steel, guitar & dobro, Brad Pemberton on drums & percussion, and Jeff Hill on acoustic & electric bass. 

SPIN has premiered the song “John Henry Was A Steel Drivin’ Man.” Hear the second song shared from Ghosts of West Virginia HERE.

Rolling Stone Country previously premiered the first single, “Devil Put the Coal in the Ground.”  They called the song “...thrilling and anxiety-ridden all at once.” Hear it HERE.

Ghosts of West Virginia centers on the Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion that killed twenty-nine men in that state in 2010, making it one of the worst mining disasters in American history. Investigations revealed hundreds of safety violations, as well as attempts to cover them up, and the mine’s owners were forced to pay more than $200 million in criminal liabilities.

Earle started working on the album after being approached by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, a playwright team that would create Coal Country, a theater piece about the disaster. They interviewed the surviving West Virginia miners, along with the families of the miners who died, and created monologues for their characters using those words. Working closely with Oskar Eustis, the Public Theater’s Artistic Director, they workshopped the songs and text for nearly four years. Earle functioned as “a Greek chorus with a guitar,” in his words. He was on stage for the entire play and performed seven of the songs that lead Ghosts of West Virginia, including the powerful “It’s About Blood,” in which Earle blazons the names of all the men who died. The songs provided personal, historical and social context for the testimony of the play’s characters.  Opening to critical acclaim on March 3rd, the production was postponed indefinitely after only two weeks due to restrictions and safety concerns because of COVID-19.

In ten deftly drawn, powerfully conveyed sonic portraits, Earle explores the historical role of coal in rural communities. With Ghosts of West Virginia, Earle says that he was interested in exploring a new approach to his songwriting. “I’ve already made the preaching-to-the-choir album,” he says, specifically alluding to his 2004 Grammy Award winning The Revolution Starts...Now. As anyone politically attuned as Earle understands, there are times when the faithful need music that will raise their spirits and toughen their resolve. But he came to believe that our times might also benefit from something that addresses a different audience, songs written from a point of view that he is particularly capable of rendering.

Steve Earle: Ghosts of West VirginiaTo be sure, Earle’s politics have not changed. He believes in sustainable energy sources and ending fossil fuels. “But that doesn’t mean a thing in West Virginia,” he says. You can’t begin communicating with people unless you understand the texture of their lives, the realities that provide significance to their days. That is the entire point of Ghosts of West Virginia.

“I thought that, given the way things are now, it was maybe my responsibility to make a record that spoke to and for people who didn’t vote the way that I did,” he says. “One of the dangers that we’re in is if people like me keep thinking that everyone who voted for Trump is a racist or an asshole, then we’re fucked, because it’s simply not true. So this is one move toward something that might take a generation to change. I wanted to do something where that dialogue could begin.” He adds, “I said I wanted to speak to people that didn’t necessarily vote the way that I did, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have anything in common. We need to learn how to communicate with each other. My involvement in this project is my little contribution to that effort. And the way to do that — and to do it impeccably —is simply to honor those guys who died at Upper Big Branch.” Speaking to SPIN, Earle said “I think what’s killing this country more than anything else — coronavirus notwithstanding — is a virus borne of us not understanding each other, and not understanding what we have in common.”

Steve Earle & The Dukes suffered a major loss when, not long before the band went into the studio, bassist Kelley Looney, who had played with Earle for thirty years, passed away. Beyond the death of a longstanding musical partner, Earle was faced with the prospect of finding someone who could share the telepathic musical communication so characteristic of the band. Happily, Jeff Hill, recently of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, joined the band on bass. “Earle says, “Jeff stepped into the breach, but it was hard. It was really hard.” In addition to the 29 miners killed at Upper Big Branch, Ghosts of West Virginia is dedicated to the memory of Kelley Looney.

Steve Earle’s Ghosts of West Virginia will be available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited Yellow & Blue West Virginia Swirl colored LP edition will be available at Independent Retailers. An extremely limited to 500 Smoke/Coal Colored Vinyl Edition autographed by Steve Earle is available for pre-order now via NEW WEST RECORDS

Fri, 04/03/2020 - 1:04 pm

Steve Earle is set to perform a special live stream this Sunday, April 5th beginning at 3pm  Eastern via his Official Facebook page as well as the Sirius XM Outlaw Country Official Facebook page as well. The solo performance will commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion that killed twenty-nine men in West Virginia on April 5th, 2010, making it one of the worst mining disasters in American history. The audio from the live stream will also air via Earle’s weekly Hardcore Troubadour radio show on SiriusXM Outlaw Country, Channel 60, next week (premiering April 11th at 9pm Eastern).

Earle’s live stream performance will feature the songs he wrote for and performed in Coal Country, a new play with music based on the disaster written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jenson and directed by Jessica Blank. Opening on March 3rd to critical acclaim at The Public Theater in New York City, the production was postponed after two weeks due to COVID-19.

For Coal Country, Jensen and Blank interviewed the surviving West Virginia miners, along with the families of the miners who died, and created monologues for their characters using those words. Working closely with Oskar Eustis, The Public Theater’s Artistic Director, Jensen, Blank, and Earle workshopped the songs and text for nearly four years. Earle functioned as “a Greek chorus with a guitar,” and was on stage for the entire play with the songs providing personal, historical and social context for the testimony of the characters.

An hour before the live stream performance is set to begin, the creative team members of Coal Country plan to release a special tribute video via their Official Facebook Page at 2pm Eastern.

The seven songs Earle wrote specifically for Coal Country lead his forthcoming studio album Ghosts of West Virginia to be released on May 22nd via New West Records.

Tue, 05/05/2020 - 11:23 am

Steve Earle & The Dukes will release Ghosts of West Virginia on May 22nd, 2020 via New West Records. In support of Independent Retailers, Earle has announced a virtual in-store performance for Friday, March 15th at 8pm Eastern. The private, solo performance will be pre-recorded from Grimey’s Records in Nashville, TN. Earle stated, "Now is the time for artists to step up and support indie stores who have supported them — in any way we can."

Fans are encouraged to support their local record store by pre-ordering a copy of the album on CD, LP, or Limited Edition “Yellow & Blue West Virginia Swirl” Colored Vinyl available exclusively at Independent Retail (While Supplies Last). Each pre-order guarantees a copy of the album that will be shipped to arrive on or before the May 22nd release date and a ticket to view the virtual in-store that will go live on May 15th. Fans are advised to contact their local record store and/or check their socials to pre-order the album directly. 100% of the ticket price for the Virtual In-Store performance will benefit the Independent Retailer. Fans who have previously pre-ordered Ghosts of West Virginia can purchase a standalone Virtual In-Store Ticket HERE with 100% of those funds equally allocated to all participating retailers.

Ghosts of West Virginia centers on the Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion that killed twenty-nine men in that state in 2010, making it one of the worst mining disasters in American history. Earle started working on the album after being approached by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, a playwright team that would create Coal Country, a play with music about the disaster. They interviewed the surviving West Virginia miners, along with the families of the miners who died, and created monologues for their characters using those words.

Working closely with Oskar Eustis, the Public Theater’s Artistic Director, they workshopped the songs and text for nearly four years. Earle was on stage for the entire play and performed seven of the songs that lead Ghosts of West Virginia, providing personal, historical and social context for the testimony of the play’s characters. Opening to critical acclaim on March 3rd, the production was postponed after only two weeks due to COVID-19. It was recently announced that Earle has received a nomination in the “Outstanding Music in a Play” category for the 65th Annual Drama Desk Awards. Jessica Blank also received an “Outstanding Director” Nomination as well. The Drama Desk Awards ceremony will take place virtually this year on Sunday, May 31st.

In ten deftly drawn, powerfully conveyed sonic portraits, Earle explores the historical role of coal in rural communities. With Ghosts of West Virginia, Earle says that he was interested in exploring a new approach to his songwriting. “I’ve already made the preaching-to-the-choir album,” he says, specifically alluding to his 2004 Grammy Award winning The Revolution Starts...Now. As anyone politically attuned as Earle understands, there are times when the faithful need music that will raise their spirits and toughen their resolve. But he came to believe that our times might also benefit from something that addresses a different audience, songs written from a point of view that he is particularly capable of rendering.

Democracy Now! premiered the song “Union, God and Country” on today’s broadcast. Earle told the show, “West Virginia was the most unionized place in America until very recently. Upper Big Branch was the first non-union mine on that mountain — and it blew up and killed 29 men. This is a song about better days.” Democracy Now! is a daily independent news hour hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez and is available on Pacifica, NPR, community, college and satellite radio stations, on PBS, public, community and satellite TV; and viewed by millions of people online each day. Hear Steve Earle’s “Union, God and Country” HERE.

Mother Jones previously premiered the powerful “It’s About Blood” in which Earle blazons the names of all the men who died. Mother Jones says of Ghosts of West Virginia, “It’s a ghostly cycle—infused with Earle’s eclectic blend of country, folk, rock, blues, and roots music—about extraction, exploitation, mining life, and death. And in the song ‘It’s About Blood,” Earle names the dead—literally. He contrasts the subterranean grit of the miners with the financial gains of the company: ‘Don’t want to hear about the state of the economy / Fiscal reality, profit and loss / None of that matters when you’re underground anyway / Damn sure can’t tell me nothin’ ‘bout cost.” Hear the powerful “It’s About Blood” Here. Rolling Stone Country previously premiered the first single, “Devil Put the Coal in the Ground.”  They called the song “...thrilling and anxiety-ridden all at once.” Hear it HERE. SPIN also previously premiered the song “John Henry Was A Steel Drivin’ Man” which can be heard HERE.

To be sure, Earle’s politics have not changed. He believes in sustainable energy sources and ending fossil fuels. “But that doesn’t mean a thing in West Virginia,” he says. You can’t begin communicating with people unless you understand the texture of their lives, the realities that provide significance to their days. That is the entire point of Ghosts of West Virginia.

“I thought that, given the way things are now, it was maybe my responsibility to make a record that spoke to and for people who didn’t vote the way that I did,” he says. “One of the dangers that we’re in is if people like me keep thinking that everyone who voted for Trump is a racist or an asshole, then we’re fucked, because it’s simply not true. So this is one move toward something that might take a generation to change. I wanted to do something where that dialogue could begin.” He adds, “I said I wanted to speak to people that didn’t necessarily vote the way that I did, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have anything in common. We need to learn how to communicate with each other. My involvement in this project is my little contribution to that effort. And the way to do that — and to do it impeccably —is simply to honor those guys who died at Upper Big Branch.” Speaking to SPIN, Earle said “I think what’s killing this country more than anything else — coronavirus notwithstanding — is a virus borne of us not understanding each other, and not understanding what we have in common.”

Steve Earle’s Ghosts of West Virginia will be available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited Yellow & Blue West Virginia Swirl colored LP edition will be available at Independent Retailers. An extremely limited to 500 Smoke/Coal Colored Vinyl Edition autographed by Steve Earle is available for pre-order now via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Thu, 05/21/2020 - 9:55 am

Steve Earle & The Dukes will release their anticipated Ghosts of West Virginia tomorrow via New West Records.  The album centers on the Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion that killed twenty-nine men in that state in 2010, making it one of the worst mining disasters in American history. Its first seven songs were written for and performed by Earle in Coal Country, a play with music about the disaster. Opening to critical acclaim on March 3rd at the Public Theater in NYC, the production was postponed after only two weeks due to COVID-19. Despite its abbreviated run, Earle has received a nomination in the “Outstanding Music in a Play” category for the 65th Annual Drama Desk Awards. Ghosts of West Virginia has received widespread praise with Rolling Stone stating, “Like the best of Earle’s early work, Ghosts of West Virginia is an album that gets the details right,” while the Associated Press said “Earle’s empathetic attempt to address the divide has resulted in one of his best albums.” In their 4 out of 5 Star review, American Songwriter called the album “... one of his most potent ever which, in a career with 20 releases is saying plenty. Ghosts of West Virginia displays once again that Steve Earle is one of America’s most captivating, unvarnished, provocative and talented singer/songwriters.”

Today, Billboard has premiered Ghosts of West Virginia in its entirety. Listen to the album in full, a day ahead of its release.

Earle will commemorate the release of Ghosts of West Virginia with a live, solo performance of the full album and post-show conversation online tomorrow, Friday, May 22nd at 4 pm ET/1 pm PT. Tens of thousands of hardworking, never give up, one day longer sisters and brothers in the Labor Movement from across America have been invited to attend the virtual concert experience.

The Union, God, and Country-Saluting Labor event will be simulcast on Steve Earle’s official Facebook and YouTube platforms and shared with the United Mine Workers of America, United Steel Workers, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, American Federation of Teachers and others. During the post-show Q&A, Steve will answer questions from union members about the new album, his thoughts on the labor movement, and more.

Steve Earle & The Dukes

Phil Smith, Director of Communications and Governmental Affairs for the UMWA says “Steve Earle has long captured the true blue-collar spirit in his music, but with this album, he has also captured the struggles of West Virginia coal miners who put their lives and health on the line every single day – far too many of them without the protection of a union contract. The choice coal operators give to nonunion miners is not whether they want a union or not, it is whether they want a job or not. The miners at the Upper Big Branch mine voted against organizing a UMWA Local Union on two separate occasions as a result of campaigns of outright fear and intimidation by their employer, Massey Energy. They knew their mine was not safe. But they needed the job. That was the choice they had. God Bless those miners who lost their lives that terrible day in April and God Bless their families today. It IS about the blood.”

Lisa Jordan, Director of Education/Membership Development of the United Steel Workers adds “Steve Earle knows the value of working ‘union’ in terms of health and safety, and wages and benefits. Most of all, he knows the voice of union labor. Whether from the workers or the family of miners who have died, his songs show a true understanding of the texture of their lives, the realities, and the significance of coal mining in this often-forgotten part of America. This performance will salute all those that have to go to work every day to support their families and to make sure America runs-the nurses and laborers, the steelworkers and teachers, the public sector workers, and tire-builders, the teamsters and the grocery clerks, the mineworkers and the academics. All those that believe in democracy in our communities and workplaces, this is for you.”

In ten deftly drawn, powerfully conveyed sonic portraits, Earle explores the historical role of coal in rural communities. With Ghosts of West Virginia, he says that he was interested in exploring a new approach to his songwriting. “I’ve already made the preaching-to-the-choir album,” he says, specifically alluding to his 2004 Grammy Award-winning The Revolution Starts...Now. As anyone politically attuned as Earle understands, there are times when the faithful need music that will raise their spirits and toughen their resolve. But he came to believe that our times might also benefit from something that addresses a different audience, songs written from a point of view that he is particularly capable of rendering.

Ghosts of West Virginia

“You can’t begin communicating with people unless you understand the texture of their lives, the realities that provide significance to their days. That is the entire point of Ghosts of West Virginia. I thought that, given the way things are now, it was maybe my responsibility to make a record that spoke to and for people who didn’t vote the way that I did but that doesn’t mean we don’t have anything in common. We need to learn how to communicate with each other. My involvement in this project is my little contribution to that effort. And the way to do that — and to do it impeccably — is simply to honor those guys who died at Upper Big Branch,” says Earle.

Steve Earle’s Ghosts of West Virginia will be available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited Yellow & Blue West Virginia Swirl colored LP edition will be available at Independent Retailers. An extremely limited to 500 Smoke/Coal Colored Vinyl Edition autographed by Steve Earle is available for now via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Thu, 07/02/2020 - 12:38 pm

The Austin, TX-based Los Coast will release “A Change Is Gonna Come” featuring Gary Clark Jr. tomorrow. Their version of the iconic Sam Cooke song follows the psychedelic alt-soul outfit’s 2019 debut Samsara which Rolling Stone said “... nods to the funky 1970s, mixing the gospel influenced vocals of frontman Trey Privott with steady grooves, fat keyboard and clouds of reverb.” Building a grassroots buzz through their mesmerizing live performances supporting Gary Clark Jr., St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and more, NPR said, “... you might not be able to slap an evergreen label on their sound, but the five-piece will certainly get your heart rate up and set your booty for ‘shake’ in no time.” Blending a mix of genres that includes R&B, new wave, funk, and world music, Los Coast has created a sound that reflects their vast influences, weaving them into something uniquely their own.

Today, SPIN has premiered their take on “A Change Is Gonna Come,” featuring Gary Clark Jr., calling it "a moving and powerful spin on the 1964 Cooke classic." Speaking to SPIN, Los Coast frontman Trey Privott said, "We decided to do our version of this song last year. I think we’d come to a place where rather than writing a song, we wanted to pay tribute to the greats who’d come before us. My producer, Jacob Sciba, and I started working on some cover ideas. We thought 'let’s do Sam Cooke!' In my mind, he is one of the best singers in history, and I’d been singing his tunes since I was 16. I’d toured with Gary Clark Jr. earlier in the year, and we'd decided we wanted to work on something soon. Jacob hit him up to see if he wanted to get involved. He knocked it out of the park. After we finished, G played this benefit called 'Voices for Justice' with The Chicks. It was a benefit to help seek justice for people who’d been wrongly convicted of crimes that they didn’t commit. Afterwards, Gary told me a story about this man who called him from prison. The man said that he listened to 'A Change Is Gonna Come' everyday to maintain hope as he got through his term. There are people like this all over the United States in our prison system. That’s what the song is about. It’s a cry for equality in the justice system. It’s a plea for a fair shot at the American Dream." Hear Los Coast featuring. Gary Clark Jr.’s version of “A Change Is Gonna Come” HERE.

All proceeds from the release of “A Change Is Gonna Come” will benefit DAWA. From the organization’s website: DAWA is a safety net for people of color who are experiencing short term life crisis. More specifically, people of color who are: musicians, artists, social workers, teachers, healing practitioners, and service industry workers. These are the people who GIVE to others/serve day in and day out for a living, and are often at the highest risk for mental health crisis. In 2020, this client base will be able to apply for funds to help with emergency financial needs. For more information please visit the official DAWA website.

Los Coast's "A Change Is Gonna Come" featuring Gary Clark Jr. can be found HERE. Their debut album Samsara is available now from New West Records.

Thu, 09/17/2020 - 7:45 am

Steve Earle & the Dukes announced today that they will be recording an album of songs written by Justin Townes Earle with 100% of artist advances and royalties going to a trust for Justin's daughter, Etta St. James Earle. It is expected that the album will be recorded in October and released in January, 2021, around the time of what would have been Justin's thirty-ninth birthday. More details to be announced shortly. 

Wed, 01/27/2021 - 11:29 am

Sara Watkins of the Grammy-winning groups Nickel Creek and I’m With Her, as well as The Watkins Family Hour will release Under the Pepper Tree on March 26th via New West Records. The 15-song set was produced by Tyler Chester (Sara Bareilles, Margaret Glaspy) and is the follow up to her critically acclaimed 2016 solo album Young In All The Wrong Ways. Created with families in mind, the personal project encompasses songs Sara embraced as a child herself and brings storytelling, solace, and encouragement to the listener, no matter the age. In addition to two stunning original songs, the album includes Sara’s renditions of “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, The Beatles’ “Good Night,” “Moon River” (originally sung by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s), and more. Under the Pepper Tree also reunites Sara’s Nickel Creek bandmates Chris Thile and her brother Sean on “Blue Shadows on the Trail” (from the 1986 comedy The Three Amigos), Sara’s I’m With Her bandmates Sarah Jarosz & Aoife O’Donovan on “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” (originally performed by Roy Rogers & Sons of the Pioneers), Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes on Harry Nilsson’s “Blanket for a Sail,” David Garza on Roy Orbison’s “Beautiful Dreamer,” and Sara’s now three-year old daughter on her immensely sweet rendition of The Sound of Music’s “Edelweiss.”

Today, Variety has premiered the video for “Pure Imagination,” alongside a conversation with Sara about the album’s creation. The video brings the album’s incredible artwork created by Adam Sniezek to life and can be seen HERE.

Sara admits that she initially felt conflicted about making a children’s record until she realized that perhaps this album could impact a young listener in the same manner as the music from her own childhood affected her. The nostalgic and gentle Under the Pepper Tree offers a comforting record for those moments as daily rhythms fade into nightly rituals — and when a child’s imagination comes to life. “I want this album to be a place of calm, imagination, and relief,” Sara says. “Some days are perfect and things are a dream and make you feel like a superhero. And some days are just… such a challenge. I feel like this record has a place in both of those days, and I really hope that these recordings find a place in kids’ hearts, and become as special as they are to me.”

Sara sequenced the album’s 15 songs with the vinyl listening experience in mind. After forming the track listing of Side A and Side B, she then crafted transitions between the songs, making each half of the album seamlessly glide by. Sara says, “Although this album can certainly be enjoyed by listening all the way through, very early on in the planning I began thinking of it as something to be taken one side at a time. I imagine someone dropping the needle on side A one night, and side B the next.”

Under the Pepper Tree also features a stunning vinyl package so children can interact with the record in a deeper way. The idea stemmed from the vintage vinyl releases she’s collected for her daughter. “You find some that are really beautiful, and there are some Winnie the Pooh albums that we listen to on a daily basis, not just because of what they sound like, but because of what they look like,” she says. “My daughter will look at the book while I put on the record. The pages don’t tell everything that’s in the song, but that doesn’t matter because sometimes she’s more looking and sometimes she’s more listening. It’s all there, it’s all connected. I want kids to experience my record that way, with all of those senses.”

Under the Pepper Tree will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 1,500 Neon Pink with Metallic Silver Vinyl Edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide, while a limited to 500 Translucent Blue Vinyl Edition will be available directly via New West Records. Under the Pepper Tree is available for pre-order NOW via New West Records.

Sun, 02/21/2021 - 9:00 am

Sara Watkins of the Grammy-winning groups Nickel Creek and I’m With Her, as well as The Watkins Family Hour will release Under the Pepper Tree on March 26th via New West Records. The 15-song set was produced by Tyler Chester (Sara Bareilles, Margaret Glaspy) and is the follow up to her critically acclaimed 2016 solo album Young In All The Wrong Ways. Created with families in mind, the personal project encompasses songs Sara embraced as a child herself and brings storytelling, solace, and encouragement to the listener, no matter the age. In addition to two stunning original songs, the album includes Sara’s renditions of “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, The Beatles’ “Good Night,” “Moon River” (originally sung by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s), and more. Under the Pepper Tree also reunites Sara’s Nickel Creek bandmates Chris Thile and her brother Sean on “Blue Shadows on the Trail” (from the 1986 comedy The Three Amigos), Sara’s I’m With Her bandmates Sarah Jarosz & Aoife O’Donovan on “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” (originally performed by Roy Rogers & Sons of the Pioneers), Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes on Harry Nilsson’s “Blanket for a Sail,” David Garza on Roy Orbison’s “Beautiful Dreamer,” and Sara’s now three-year old daughter on her immensely sweet rendition of The Sound of Music’s “Edelweiss.”

Today, Paste Magazine has premiered the video for “Blue Shadows on the Trail” which features Nickel Creek. Sara said, "As a kid, I watched the movie The Three Amigos a LOT. Specifically, I watched it a lot with my Nickel Creek bandmates at the Thile’s house. We'd run around quoting jokes, sing along and even tried the 'My Little Buttercup' dance once. As an adult, I’ve sung this countless times to my own daughter.  When I decided to make a record full of songs from my childhood, I knew that I wanted 'Blue Shadows on the Trail' to be included, and I also knew the only way to do it was with Nickel Creek. Now that we in the band have our own families, it makes this moment even more sweet for this lifetime Nickel Creeker." See the “Blue Shadows on the Trail” video HERE.

Variety previously premiered the video for “Pure Imagination,” alongside a conversation with Sara about the album’s creation. The video brings the album’s incredible artwork created by Adam Sniezek to life and can be seen HERE.

Sara admits that she initially felt conflicted about making a children’s record until she realized that perhaps this album could impact a young listener in the same manner as the music from her own childhood affected her. The nostalgic and gentle Under the Pepper Tree offers a comforting record for those moments as daily rhythms fade into nightly rituals — and when a child’s imagination comes to life. “I want this album to be a place of calm, imagination, and relief,” Sara says. “Some days are perfect and things are a dream and make you feel like a superhero. And some days are just… such a challenge. I feel like this record has a place in both of those days, and I really hope that these recordings find a place in kids’ hearts, and become as special as they are to me.”

Sara sequenced the album’s 15 songs with the vinyl listening experience in mind. After forming the track listing of Side A and Side B, she then crafted transitions between the songs, making each half of the album seamlessly glide by. Sara says, “Although this album can certainly be enjoyed by listening all the way through, very early on in the planning I began thinking of it as something to be taken one side at a time. I imagine someone dropping the needle on side A one night, and side B the next.”

Under the Pepper Tree

Under the Pepper Tree also features a stunning vinyl package so children can interact with the record in a deeper way. The idea stemmed from the vintage vinyl releases she’s collected for her daughter. “You find some that are really beautiful, and there are some Winnie the Pooh albums that we listen to on a daily basis, not just because of what they sound like, but because of what they look like,” she says. “My daughter will look at the book while I put on the record. The pages don’t tell everything that’s in the song, but that doesn’t matter because sometimes she’s more looking and sometimes she’s more listening. It’s all there, it’s all connected. I want kids to experience my record that way, with all of those senses.”

Under the Pepper Tree will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 1,500 Neon Pink with Metallic Silver Vinyl Edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide, while a limited to 500 Translucent Blue Vinyl Edition will be available directly via New West Records. Under the Pepper Tree is available for pre-order NOW via New West Records

Sat, 02/27/2021 - 4:31 pm

Riley Downing of The Deslondes will release his debut solo album Start It Over on May 14th via New West Records. The 12-song set was co-produced by Andrijia Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff) & John James Tourville of the Deslondes. On Start It Over, Downing, Tokic, and Tourville are joined by an incredible lineup of musicians including Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, Greenhornes) on electric bass, Dennis Crouch (Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, co-founder of Nashville's acclaimed The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill) on double bass, Peter Keys (P-Funk, Lynyrd Skynyrd) on melotron, Meg Coleman (Yola) and Jimmy Lester (Los Straightjackets, Blaze Foley) on drums, Jeff Taylor (George Strait, Elvis Costello, The Time Jumpers) on keyboards, Derry Deborja (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, John Prine) on Farfisa, Kyshona Armstrong on vocals, and more.

Today, American Songwriter has premiered the video for the first single “Deep Breath," saying the song "exemplifies the album's loose, roots-driven feel. At times reminiscent of the laid-back, rhythm-heavy sound of '70s Tulsa, with expected doses of New Orleans and fuzzed out guitar that is otherworldly, it's easy to imagine that the tune is some long-lost single from a bygone era." See the “Deep Breath” video, directed by Joshua Shoemaker HERE.

Hailed as “burgeoning stars” by The New York Times, The Deslondes’ singular sound mixed the gritty folk and country of old Alan Lomax field recordings with the electrified soul of early Stax and Sun Records. The group’s 2014 self-titled debut was a breakout hit, praised by NPR as “energized, elegant and new,” and their follow-up, Hurry Home, earned similar acclaim with Rolling Stone calling it “a gritty, grimy mix of early rock ‘n’ roll and lo-fi R&B.” Upon their hiatus, Downing returned to his home in Missouri, helping his brother with his plumbing business and embarking on some short solo runs.

A passionate record collector, primarily of 45rpm singles, Downing and his Deslondes band mate John James Tourville decided it might be fun to collaborate and release a single. The songs kept coming and a full album was quickly realized with Downing and Tourville beginning a long-distance collaboration, adding longtime Deslondes producer Tokic into the musical chain as well. The three hashed out songwriting, arrangement, and production ideas by passing demos back and forth from their respective homes - Downing in Missouri, Tourville in North Carolina, and Tokic in Tennessee - during the months of lockdown. By the time the three met up in person at Tokic’s Bomb Shelter Studios in Nashville, everyone had been quarantined at home for two months, nary a gig or jam session to be had.

Downing’s ability to set gripping, evocative narratives within soundscapes that weave together country, blues, folk, R&B, bluegrass, rock, soul and whatever else catches his ear is something that, once you hear it, is hard to shake free from. Same goes for his voice — deep, dusty, and drawling, it’s an instrument that can stop you in your tracks with its character and expressiveness, as well as through his knack for laying out complex emotions in plainspoken, direct language. Start It Over reflects the mingling of past and present, traditional and unusual, that has long characterized Downing’s musical makeup. Joy comes through loud and clear on the album, which, even in its most serious and somber moments — and also given the fact that it was recorded during the pandemic — radiates with a sincere appreciation for life and living in the here and now.

Riley Downing’s Start It Over will be available across digital retailers, compact disc, as well as “Sea Glass & Turquoise” color vinyl. Start It Over is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 5:28 pm

John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band will release Leftover Feelings on May 21st via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by Jerry Douglas and recorded at Historic RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tenn. A meeting of two American music giants in a legendary setting, Leftover Feelings is neither a bluegrass album nor a return to Hiatt’s 1980s days with slide guitar greats Ry Cooder and Sonny Landreth. There’s no drummer, yet these grooves are deep and true. And while the up-tempo songs are, as ever, filled with delightful internal rhyme and sly aggression, The Jerry Douglas Band’s empathetic musicianship nudges Hiatt to performances that are startlingly vulnerable.

The collaboration follows Hiatt’s 2018 studio album The Eclipse Sessions. Receiving widespread critical acclaim, The New York Times said “Hiatt still writes, as evidenced by his latest release, The Eclipse Sessions, a collection of timeless tunes that show his unassuming mastery,” while Guitar Player called him “...an artist on par with American greats such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, and Bruce Springsteen.” Jerry Douglas is a Dobro master who reinvented the instrument and is responsible for bringing it to popular presence in modern times. The Jerry Douglas Band’s 2017 studio album What If was nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album” category with Rolling Stone saying, “Even after 14 Grammys, Jerry Douglas is still exploring unlikely musical pairings…”

Historic RCA Studio B was one of the cradles of the “Nashville Sound” in the 1950s and 60s. A sophisticated style characterized by background vocals and strings, the Nashville Sound and Studio B played major roles in establishing Nashville’s identity as an international recording center. Hitmakers in Studio B included Country Music Hall of Fame members Eddy Arnold, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and more. Songs recorded within its walls span decades, genres and emotions, with Presley’s forlorn “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and Parton’s autobiographical “Coat of Many Colors” among them.

Built when Hiatt was five years old, Studio B was designed for music to be made in real time by musicians listening to each other and reacting in the emotional moment. That’s what happened here: Five players on the studio floor, making decisions on instinct rather than calculation. “I was immediately taken back to 1970, when I got to Nashville,” said Hiatt upon entering the studio. A half-century ago, Hiatt lived in a ratty, $15-a-week room on Nashville’s 16th Avenue, less than a mile away from RCA and Columbia studios that were the heartbeat of what had come to be known as “Music Row.” “You can’t not be aware of the records that were made there…Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Waylon Jennings doing ‘Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line’ (which is referenced in the new song “The Music is Hot”). But that history wasn’t intimidating, because it’s such a comfortable place to make music.”

Today, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum has premiered the video for “All The Lilacs In Ohio,” which was filmed at Historic RCA Studio B during the recording sessions. See the “All The Lilacs In Ohio,” video which was directed by Lagan Sebert and Ted Roach, HERE. Additional digital content that highlights the Leftover Feelings project will be published by the museum, expanding its educational commitment to the iconic studio.

Leftover Feelings

John Hiatt’s lyrics and melodies have graced more than 20 studio albums, have been recorded by Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, B.B. King & Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Iggy Pop, and scores of others, and have earned him a place in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, A BMI Troubadour award, and a lifetime achievement in songwriting designation from the Americana Music Association. Jerry Douglas has performed on more than 1,500 albums by artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Earl Scruggs, and James Taylor, and none of those works sound a bit like the new and masterful Leftover Feelings.

John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band’s Leftover Feelings will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 750 edition autographed by John Hiatt & Jerry Douglas and pressed on Clear & Black splatter vinyl will be available exclusively at Barnes & Noble, a Blue Marble vinyl edition limited to 2,000 copies will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide, while a Gold Marble vinyl edition limited to 700 copies is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Tue, 03/23/2021 - 10:53 am

Sara Watkins of the Grammy-winning groups Nickel Creek and I’m With Her, as well as The Watkins Family Hour will release Under the Pepper Tree this Friday via New West Records. The 15-song set was produced by Tyler Chester (Sara Bareilles, Margaret Glaspy) and is the follow up to her critically acclaimed 2016 solo album Young In All The Wrong Ways. Created with families in mind, the personal project encompasses songs Sara embraced as a child herself and brings storytelling, solace, and encouragement to the listener, no matter the age. In addition to two stunning original songs, the album includes Sara’s renditions of “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, The Beatles’ “Good Night,” “Moon River” (originally sung by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s), and more. Under the Pepper Tree also reunites Sara’s Nickel Creek bandmates Chris Thile and her brother Sean on “Blue Shadows on the Trail” (from the 1986 comedy The Three Amigos), Sara’s I’m With Her bandmates Sarah Jarosz & Aoife O’Donovan on “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” (originally performed by Roy Rogers & Sons of the Pioneers), Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes on Harry Nilsson’s “Blanket for a Sail,” David Garza on Roy Orbison’s “Beautiful Dreamer,” and Sara’s now three-year old daughter on her immensely sweet rendition of The Sound of Music’s “Edelweiss.”

Today, Parade Magazine premiered Sara’s rendition of “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” featuring I’m With Her. Speaking to Parade, Sara said, “It was a delight to get to sing this old favorite of mine with two of my favorite people, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan. On a personal level, I spent the first two years of my daughter’s life on the road with them (and Aoife with her daughter as well) and though my daughter will not remember that time, I will never forget the support and strength that they gave me as I was a new mother.” Hear “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” HERE.

Variety previously premiered the video for “Pure Imagination,” alongside a conversation with Sara about the album’s creation while SPIN premiered the video for “Night Singing,” an original song written by Sara. Paste Magazine also premiered the video for “Blue Shadows on the Trail” featuring  Nickel Creek.

The nostalgic and gentle Under the Pepper Tree offers a comforting record for those moments as daily rhythms fade into nightly rituals — and when a child’s imagination comes to life. “I want this album to be a place of calm, imagination, and relief,” Sara says. “Some days are perfect and things are a dream and make you feel like a superhero. And some days are just… such a challenge. I feel like this record has a place in both of those days, and I really hope that these recordings find a place in kids’ hearts, and become as special as they are to me.”

Sara sequenced the album’s 15 songs with the vinyl listening experience in mind. After forming the track listing of Side A and Side B, she then crafted transitions between the songs, making each half of the album seamlessly glide by. Sara says, “Although this album can certainly be enjoyed by listening all the way through, very early on in the planning I began thinking of it as something to be taken one side at a time. I imagine someone dropping the needle on side A one night, and side B the next.”

Under the Pepper Tree also features a stunning vinyl package so children can interact with the record in a deeper way. The idea stemmed from the vintage vinyl releases she’s collected for her daughter. “You find some that are really beautiful, and there are some Winnie the Pooh albums that we listen to on a daily basis, not just because of what they sound like, but because of what they look like,” she says. “My daughter will look at the book while I put on the record. The pages don’t tell everything that’s in the song, but that doesn’t matter because sometimes she’s more looking and sometimes she’s more listening. It’s all there, it’s all connected. I want kids to experience my record that way, with all of those senses.”

Under the Pepper Tree will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 1,500 Neon Pink with Metallic Silver Vinyl Edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide, while a limited to 500 Translucent Blue Vinyl Edition will be available directly via New West Records. Under the Pepper Tree is available for pre-order NOW via New West Records

Wed, 03/24/2021 - 9:37 am

John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band will release Leftover Feelings on May 21st via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by Jerry Douglas and recorded at the Historic RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tenn. A meeting of two American music giants in a legendary setting, Leftover Feelings is neither a bluegrass album nor a return to Hiatt’s 1980s days with slide guitar greats Ry Cooder and Sonny Landreth. There’s no drummer, yet these grooves are deep and true. And while the up-tempo songs are, as ever, filled with delightful internal rhyme and sly aggression, The Jerry Douglas Band’s empathetic musicianship nudges Hiatt to performances that are startlingly vulnerable.

The collaboration follows Hiatt’s 2018 studio album The Eclipse Sessions. Receiving widespread critical acclaim, The New York Times said “Hiatt still writes, as evidenced by his latest release, The Eclipse Sessions, a collection of timeless tunes that show his unassuming mastery,” while Guitar Player called him “...an artist on par with American greats such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, and Bruce Springsteen.” Jerry Douglas is a Dobro master who reinvented the instrument and is responsible for bringing it to popular presence in modern times. The Jerry Douglas Band’s 2017 studio album What If was nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album” category with Rolling Stone saying, “Even after 14 Grammys, Jerry Douglas is still exploring unlikely musical pairings…”

Historic RCA Studio B was one of the cradles of the “Nashville Sound” in the 1950s and 60s. A sophisticated style characterized by background vocals and strings, the Nashville Sound and Studio B played major roles in establishing Nashville’s identity as an international recording center. Hitmakers in Studio B included Country Music Hall of Fame members Eddy Arnold, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and more. Songs recorded within its walls span decades, genres and emotions, with Presley’s forlorn “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and Parton’s autobiographical “Coat of Many Colors” among them.

Built when Hiatt was five years old, Studio B was designed for music to be made in real time by musicians listening to each other and reacting in the emotional moment. That’s what happened here: Five players on the studio floor, making decisions on instinct rather than calculation. “I was immediately taken back to 1970, when I got to Nashville,” said Hiatt upon entering the studio. A half-century ago, Hiatt lived in a ratty, $15-a-week room on Nashville’s 16th Avenue, less than a mile away from RCA and Columbia studios that were the heartbeat of what had come to be known as “Music Row.” “You can’t not be aware of the records that were made there…Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Waylon Jennings doing ‘Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line’ (which is referenced in the new song “The Music is Hot”). But that history wasn’t intimidating, because it’s such a comfortable place to make music.”

Today, Paste Magazine has premiered the video for album highlight “Mississippi Phone Booth.” Of the album and RCA Studio B, they say, "The space remains nearly identical to how it was originally built, and its specific quality is felt throughout Leftover Feelings, an album sonically in its own league thanks to the winning combination of Hiatt’s stellar vocals and lyricism, and Douglas’ thoughtful and innovative instrumentals." The video for "Mississippi Phone Booth" was directed by Ted Roach and Lagan Sebert and was filmed at the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville, Tenn. See it HERE.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum previously premiered the video for “All The Lilacs In Ohio,” which was filmed at Historic RCA Studio B during the recording sessions. See the “All The Lilacs In Ohio,” video which was also directed by Lagan Sebert and Ted Roach, HERE. Additional digital content that highlights the Leftover Feelings project will be published by the museum, expanding its educational commitment to the iconic studio.

John Hiatt’s lyrics and melodies have graced more than 20 studio albums, have been recorded by Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, B.B. King & Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Iggy Pop, and scores of others, and have earned him a place in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, A BMI Troubadour award, and a lifetime achievement in songwriting designation from the Americana Music Association. Jerry Douglas has performed on more than 1,500 albums by artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Earl Scruggs, and James Taylor, and none of those works sound a bit like the new and masterful Leftover Feelings.

John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band’s Leftover Feelings will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 750 edition autographed by John Hiatt & Jerry Douglas and pressed on Clear & Black splatter vinyl will be available exclusively at Barnes & Noble, a Blue Marble vinyl edition limited to 2,000 copies will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide, while a Gold Marble vinyl edition limited to 700 copies is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Sun, 04/11/2021 - 1:34 pm

The Wallflowers will release Exit Wounds on July 9th via New West Records. The 10-song set is their first album in nearly a decade and was produced by Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Weezer). Exit Wounds was mixed by Chris Dugan (Green Day) and features the acclaimed singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne on four songs. While it has been nearly a decade since we’ve heard from the group with whom Jakob Dylan first made his mark, he always knew they’d return. “The Wallflowers is much of my life’s work,” he says simply. The much-anticipated record finds the band’s signature sound — lean, potent and eminently entrancing — intact.

The Wallflowers announced their return with a live performance of the first single “Roots and Wings” last week on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! See the performance HERE.

For the past 30 years, The Wallflowers have stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands — a unit dedicated to and continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades, baked into the grooves of smash hits like 1996’s Bringing Down the Horse as well as more recent and exploratory fare like 2012’s Glad All Over.

True to its title, Exit Wounds is an ode to people — individual and collective — that have, to put it mildly, been through some stuff. Jakob Dylan says, “I think everybody — no matter what side of the aisle you’re on — wherever we’re going to next, we’re all taking a lot of exit wounds with us. Nobody is the same as they were four years ago. That, to me, is what Exit Wounds signifies. And it’s not meant to be negative at all. It just means that wherever you’re headed, even if it’s to a better place, you leave people and things behind, and you think about those people and those things and you carry them with you. Those are your exit wounds. And right now, we’re swimming in them.” Dylan continues, “I’m the same writer I’ve always been — I was just also writing during a time when the world felt like it was falling apart. That changes the way you address even the simplest things, because you have panic in your mind all the time. You have anxiety. And you also have hope. And it’s all in there.”

Exit Wounds finds Dylan surrounded with a fresh cast of musicians, which he is quick to point out is not all that unusual. “The Wallflowers have always been a vehicle for me to make great rock ‘n’ roll records,” he says. “And sometimes the lineup that makes the record transfers over into touring, and sometimes it doesn’t. But my intention is always to make the Wallflowers record I want to make, using the musicians I have beside me.” Dylan assembled a backing band of musical associates — “people that I’ve wanted to play with or that I have played with through the years...This was not the type of thing where it’s a rotating cast and you call a different drummer for each song, or you pull out the Rolodex and ring the local session guys,” Dylan says. “The record was made as a band - the five Wallflowers. It’s just exciting to have guys playing in a room together. That’s how you get the one plus one equals three factor. That’s the magic.” For Dylan, Exit Wounds is the next chapter in a career devoted to chasing — and capturing — that magic.

Dylan has repeatedly stepped outside of his band, first with a pair of more acoustic and rootsy solo albums, Seeing Things (2008) and Women + Country (2010). Most recently, he Executive Produced and starred in the acclaimed 2018 documentary film Echo in the Canyon. The film found Dylan collaborating with a host of artists classic and contemporary, from Neil Young and Brian Wilson to Beck and Fiona Apple. Echo In the Canyon was also the last on-screen appearance by Tom Petty and was the ninth biggest theatrical documentary released that year. The Wallflowers’ overwhelmingly successful single “One Headlight” was prominently featured in the Judd Apatow film The King of Staten Island last year and continues to be a massive hit, topping Billboard’s “Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Songs” chart.

The Wallflowers have also announced a 53-Date Arena Tour scheduled to launch on July 16th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT and concluding at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA on October 7th. Please see all dates below.

The Wallflowers’ Exit Wounds will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited Opaque Purple Vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide while a limited to 500 Purple Splatter vinyl edition will be available via New West Records. A limited to 500 Purple and Pink Splatter vinyl edition will be available via Nordic Retailers while a limited to 500 Purple and Silver Marbled vinyl edition will be available via the Magnolia Record Club. A Super Deluxe Vinyl edition limited to 750 copies will be autographed by Jakob Dylan. It will also feature a linen-wrapped jacket, purple foil-stamped & numbered, and housed & protected in a clear outer sleeve.

The Wallflowers’ Exit Wounds is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Track Listing:

1. Maybe Your Heart’s Not In It No More
2. Roots And Wings
3. I Hear The Ocean (When I Wanna Hear Trains)
4. The Dive Bar In My Heart
5. Darlin’ Hold On
6. Move The River
7. I’ll Let You Down (But Will Not Give You Up)
8. Wrong End Of The Spear
9. Who’s That Man Walking ‘Round My Garden
10. The Daylight Between Us

The Wallflowers On Tour:

July 16th - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena 
July 17th - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
July 18th - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center 
July 20th - Bethlehem, PA  - The Wind Creek Event Center 
July 22nd - Camden, NJ - BB&T Pavilion
July 23rd - Syracuse, NY - St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheatre at Lakeview 
July 25th - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater 
July 27th - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center 
July 28th - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live 
July 30th - Virginia Beach, VA - Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre 
July 31st - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek 
August 1st - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion 
August 3rd - Atlanta, GA - Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood 
August 4th - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena 
August 6th - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre 
August 7th - West Palm Beach, FL - iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre 
August 8th - Jacksonville, FL - Dally’s Place Amphitheatre 
August 10th - Pelham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheatre 
August 12th - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion 
August 13th - The Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 
August 15th - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP 
August 16th - Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre 
August 18th - Moline, IL - TaxSlayer Center 
August 20th - Memphis, TN - Live at the Garden 
August 21st - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 
August 22nd - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theatre 
August 24th - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center 
August 25th - Toledo, OH - Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre 
August 27th - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 
August 28th - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center 
August 29th - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre 
August 31st - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center 
September 1st - Burgettstown, PA - S&T Bank Music Park 
September 3rd - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center 
September 4th - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Amphitheatre 
September 5th - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage 
September 8th - Sioux Falls, SD - Denny Sanford Premier Center 
September 9th - Omaha, NE - CHI Health Center 
September 10th - Welch, MN - Treasure Island Resort & Casino 
September 12th - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center 
September 14th - Nampa, ID - Ford Idaho Center Amphitheatre 
September 17th - Las Vegas, NV - The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas 
September 18th - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre 
September 21st - Vancouver, BC - Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena 
September 22nd - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre 
September 23rd - Ridgefield, WA - Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre 
September 25th - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre 
September 26th - Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center 
September 28th - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena 
September 30th - San Diego, CA - Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre 
October 3rd - Irvine, CA - FivePoint Amphitheatre 
October 5th - Phoenix, AZ - Ak-Chin Pavilion 
October 7th - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl

Wed, 05/05/2021 - 11:26 am

Los Lobos will return with Native Sons on July 30th via New West Records. The 13-song set was produced by Los Lobos in East Los Angeles and finds the band mapping their musical DNA as a kaleidoscopic selection of tribute songs from their homeland, ultimately creating a crucial snapshot of L.A.’s musical heritage. Having formed in 1973 and gotten their start playing spirited renditions of Mexican folk music at parties and in restaurants, Los Lobos are no strangers to reinterpretation (and if you’ve ever been to one of their legendary live shows, you already know that). These brothers have always held a deep appreciation for diverse music, and they love pulling out old gems and making them shine like new.

For all the trailblazing musical acts who’ve emerged from Los Angeles, very few embody the city’s wildly eclectic spirit more wholeheartedly than Los Lobos. Over the last five decades, the East L.A.-bred band has made an indelible mark on music history by exploring an enormous diversity of genres—rock-and-roll and R&B, surf music and soul, mariachi and música norteña, punk rock and country—and building a boldly unpredictable sound all their own.

In a nod to their neighborhood, Native Sons opens with the wide-eyed frenzy of “Love Special Delivery” by Thee Midniters, an East L.A. garage band and one of the first Chicano rock groups to ever score a major hit in the U.S. From there, it features favorites and deep cuts by other Los Angeles luminaries such as the Beach Boys, WAR, Buffalo Springfield, Jackson Browne, and more. In a particularly meaningful moment for the band, Native Sons includes a fiery cover of “Flat Top Joint” by the Blasters, the seminal L.A. roots-rock band who helped pave the way for their signing to Slash Records in the early ’80s (and whom counted Steve Berlin as a member before his joining Los Lobos). The album’s title track is its sole original song, a loving homage to Los Angeles that sounds right at home amid so many classic tracks.

Today, Variety has premiered “Love Special Delivery” by Thee Midniters as well as “Sail On, Sailor” by the Beach Boys.  Of “Love Special Delivery,” Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo says “We grew up on Thee Midniters and felt like they were representing us, so their music means a lot.” “Sail On, Sailor,” an early-70s track originally sung by longtime Los Lobos friend Blondie Chaplin, was one that Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin says “seemed like it would be easy, but once we broke the eggshell it revealed itself to be a lot more complex,” adding “The genius of so many of these records is all the layers that meld together in a way that isn’t very obvious at first.” Hear “Love Special Delivery” and “Sail On, Sailor” HERE.

As with all of their catalogue, Native Sons reveals Los Lobos’ ability to merge genres and styles with both sophistication and playful spontaneity, an element that’s perfectly reflected in the album’s unbridled joy. “I played it for a friend and his first response was that it’s a party record—which sounds right to me,” says Hidalgo. Beyond that undeniably feel-good quality, Native Sons essentially serves as a love letter to Los Angeles and the endless possibilities to be found when all boundaries are shattered. “I couldn’t say there’s a common thread for all these artists, but in a way that’s exactly what makes L.A. great,” says Berlin. “You’ve got R&B and punk rock and rock-and-roll and folk, and somehow it exists together in this one weird city that we all call home.”

Los Lobos have also announced their initial 2021 & 2022 tour dates in support of Native Sons, launching May 27th in Santa Cruz, CA.  But first, the band will celebrate Cinco de Mayo this evening with a special live-streamed performance from the studio, featuring a post-show Q&A with the band. Tickets can be purchased via Mandolin HERE.  See all Los Lobos tour dates, including appearances with The Mavericks, Steve Earle & The Dukes, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band below.

Quickly finding their footing in L.A.’s punk/college-rock scene, Los Lobos began sharing bills with bands like Public Image Ltd. and the Circle Jerks. After making their major-label debut with 1984’s critically lauded How Will the Wolf Survive?, they went on to achieve such triumphs as contributing a smash-hit cover of Ritchie Valens’s signature song “La Bamba” to the 1987 biopic of the same name, winning three Grammy Awards, collaborating with the likes of Elvis Costello and Ry Cooder, and earning massive worldwide critical acclaim.

Los Lobos’ Native Sons will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. The Double LP vinyl editions will be housed in a gatefold sleeve and will feature three sides of music and a custom etching on its fourth side.  A Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl Edition limited to 4,000 copies worldwide will be available at Independent Record Stores while a Brown Vinyl Edition limited to 1,000 copies is available for pre-order NOW via New West Records.

Los Lobos Still Are: David Hidalgo (vocals, guitars) - Louie Pérez, Jr. (vocals, guitars) - Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitars, bass, Hammond B3 organ) - Conrad Lozano (vocals, bass) - Steve Berlin (saxes, midisax, keyboards)

Wed, 05/05/2021 - 12:05 pm

John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band will release Leftover Feelings on May 21st via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by Jerry Douglas and recorded at Historic RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tenn. A meeting of two American music giants in a legendary setting, Leftover Feelings is neither a bluegrass album nor a return to Hiatt’s 1980s days with slide guitar greats Ry Cooder and Sonny Landreth. There’s no drummer, yet these grooves are deep and true. And while the up-tempo songs are, as ever, filled with delightful internal rhyme and sly aggression, The Jerry Douglas Band’s empathetic musicianship nudges Hiatt to performances that are startlingly vulnerable.

The collaboration follows Hiatt’s 2018 studio album The Eclipse Sessions. Receiving widespread critical acclaim, The New York Times said “Hiatt still writes, as evidenced by his latest release, The Eclipse Sessions, a collection of timeless tunes that show his unassuming mastery,” while Guitar Player called him “...an artist on par with American greats such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, and Bruce Springsteen.” Jerry Douglas is a Dobro master who reinvented the instrument and is responsible for bringing it to popular presence in modern times. The Jerry Douglas Band’s 2017 studio album What If was nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album” category with Rolling Stone saying, “Even after 14 Grammys, Jerry Douglas is still exploring unlikely musical pairings…”

Historic RCA Studio B was one of the cradles of the “Nashville Sound” in the 1950s and 60s. A sophisticated style characterized by background vocals and strings, the Nashville Sound and Studio B played major roles in establishing Nashville’s identity as an international recording center. Hitmakers in Studio B included Country Music Hall of Fame members Eddy Arnold, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and more. Songs recorded within its walls span decades, genres and emotions, with Presley’s forlorn “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and Parton’s autobiographical “Coat of Many Colors” among them.

Built when Hiatt was five years old, Studio B was designed for music to be made in real time by musicians listening to each other and reacting in the emotional moment. That’s what happened here: Five players on the studio floor, making decisions on instinct rather than calculation. “I was immediately taken back to 1970, when I got to Nashville,” said Hiatt upon entering the studio. A half-century ago, Hiatt lived in a ratty, $15-a-week room on Nashville’s 16th Avenue, less than a mile away from RCA and Columbia studios that were the heartbeat of what had come to be known as “Music Row.” “You can’t not be aware of the records that were made there…Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Waylon Jennings doing ‘Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line’ (which is referenced in the new song “The Music is Hot”). But that history wasn’t intimidating, because it’s such a comfortable place to make music.”

Today, Relix Magazine has premiered the video for the album highlight “I’m In Asheville,” saying “The pairing of these iconic musicians is a true cause for celebration, which has bluegrass, folk, country and Americana enthusiasts alike eager to hear the results.” See the Lagan Sebert & Ted Roach directed video filmed at historic RCA Studio B HERE.

John Hiatt and The Jerry Douglas Band have also announced their initial tour dates in support of Leftover Feelings launching in August. Each date will feature a full set by The Jerry Douglas Band with John Hiatt joining the band for his performance to follow. Please see tour dates, with more to be announced, below.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum previously premiered the video for “All The Lilacs In Ohio,” which was filmed at Historic RCA Studio B during the recording sessions. Additional digital content that highlights the Leftover Feelings project will be published by the museum, expanding its educational commitment to the iconic studio. Paste Magazine previously shared the video for album highlight “Mississippi Phone Booth” which was filmed at the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville, TN and CMT also premiered the video for “Long Black Electric Cadillac” as well.

John Hiatt’s lyrics and melodies have graced more than 20 studio albums, have been recorded by Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, B.B. King & Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Iggy Pop, and scores of others, and have earned him a place in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, A BMI Troubadour award, and a lifetime achievement in songwriting designation from the Americana Music Association. Jerry Douglas has performed on more than 1,500 albums by artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Earl Scruggs, and James Taylor, and none of those works sound a bit like the new and masterful Leftover Feelings.

John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band’s Leftover Feelings will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 750 edition autographed by John Hiatt & Jerry Douglas and pressed on Clear & Black splatter vinyl will be available exclusively at Barnes & Noble, a Blue Marble vinyl edition limited to 2,000 copies will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide, while a Gold Marble vinyl edition limited to 700 copies is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Wed, 05/19/2021 - 11:31 am

The Wallflowers will release Exit Wounds on July 9th via New West Records. The 10-song set is their first album in nearly a decade and was produced by Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Weezer). Exit Wounds was mixed by Chris Dugan (Green Day) and features the acclaimed singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne on four songs. While it’s been nearly a decade since we’ve heard from the group with whom Jakob Dylan first made his mark, he always knew they’d return. The much-anticipated record finds the band’s signature sound — lean, potent and eminently entrancing — intact. KCRW has stated that “Exit Wounds is a beacon for us all, a tribute to the rough year we’ve made it through.”

The Wallflowers announced their return last month with a live performance of the first single “Roots and Wings” on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! See the performance HERE. The Wallflowers have also been announced as a part of Good Morning America’s 2021 Summer Concert Series on Tuesday, July 13th. In addition to the televised broadcast, the performance will be streamed live on the ABC app, Youtube TV, or Hulu + Live TV.

Yesterday, Rolling Stone premiered Exit Wounds’ lead off track “Maybe Your Heart’s Not In It No More.” Jakob Dylan described the song as “a conversation you could find yourself having with your muse — one where you’re asking if they’ve changed their mind or have you changed yours. Are you still in sync or have you lost touch? You’ll be needing one another — so checking on each other’s condition now and then is a good idea."

SHARE “MAYBE YOUR HEART’S NOT IN IT NO MORE” HERE

For the past 30 years, The Wallflowers have stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands — a unit dedicated to and continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades, baked into the grooves of smash hits like 1996’s Bringing Down the Horse as well as more recent and exploratory fare like 2012’s Glad All Over.

Exit Wounds finds Dylan surrounded with a fresh cast of musicians, which he is quick to point out is not all that unusual. “The Wallflowers have always been a vehicle for me to make great rock ‘n’ roll records,” he says. “And sometimes the lineup that makes the record transfers over into touring, and sometimes it doesn’t. But my intention is always to make the Wallflowers record I want to make, using the musicians I have beside me. This was not the type of thing where it’s a rotating cast and you call a different drummer for each song, or you pull out the Rolodex and ring the local session guys,” Dylan says. “The record was made as a band - the five Wallflowers.”

Dylan has repeatedly stepped outside of his band, first with a pair of more acoustic and rootsy solo albums, Seeing Things (2008) and Women + Country (2010). Most recently, he executive produced and starred in the acclaimed 2018 documentary film Echo in the Canyon. The film found Dylan collaborating with a host of artists classic and contemporary, from Neil Young and Brian Wilson to Beck and Fiona Apple. Echo In the Canyon was also the last on-screen appearance by Tom Petty and was the ninth biggest theatrical documentary released that year. The Wallflowers’ overwhelmingly successful single “One Headlight” was prominently featured in the Judd Apatow film The King of Staten Island last year and continues to be a massive hit, topping Billboard’s “Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Songs” chart.

The Wallflowers’ Exit Wounds will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited Opaque Purple Vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide while a limited to 500 Purple Splatter vinyl edition will be available via New West Records. A limited to 500 Purple and Pink Splatter vinyl edition will be available via Nordic Retailers while a limited to 500 Purple and Silver Marbled vinyl edition will be available via the Magnolia Record Club. A Super Deluxe Vinyl edition limited to 750 copies will be autographed by Jakob Dylan. It will also feature a linen-wrapped jacket, purple foil-stamped & numbered and housed & protected in a clear outer sleeve. The Wallflowers’ Exit Wounds is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

The Wallflowers Exit Wounds Track Listing:

1. Maybe Your Heart’s Not In It No More
2. Roots And Wings
3. I Hear The Ocean (When I Wanna Hear Trains)
4. The Dive Bar In My Heart
5. Darlin’ Hold On
6. Move The River
7. I’ll Let You Down (But Will Not Give You Up)
8. Wrong End Of The Spear
9. Who’s That Man Walking ‘Round My Garden
10. The Daylight Between Us

Sun, 06/13/2021 - 8:59 am

Los Lobos will return with Native Sons on July 30th via New West Records. The 13-song set was produced by Los Lobos in East Los Angeles and finds the band mapping their musical DNA as a kaleidoscopic selection of tribute songs from their homeland, ultimately creating a crucial snapshot of L.A.’s musical heritage. Having formed in 1973 and gotten their start playing spirited renditions of Mexican folk music at parties and in restaurants, Los Lobos are no strangers to reinterpretation (and if you’ve ever been to one of their legendary live shows, you already know that). These brothers have always held a deep appreciation for diverse music, and they love pulling out old gems and making them shine like new.

For all the trailblazing musical acts who’ve emerged from Los Angeles, very few embody the city’s wildly eclectic spirit more wholeheartedly than Los Lobos. Over the last five decades, the East L.A.-bred band has made an indelible mark on music history by exploring an enormous diversity of genres—rock-and-roll and R&B, surf music and soul, mariachi and música norteña, punk rock and country—and building a boldly unpredictable sound all their own.

In a nod to their neighborhood, Native Sons opens with the wide-eyed frenzy of “Love Special Delivery” by Thee Midniters, an East L.A. garage band and one of the first Chicano rock groups to ever score a major hit in the U.S. From there, it features favorites and deep cuts by other Los Angeles luminaries such as the Beach Boys, WAR, Buffalo Springfield, Jackson Browne, The Blasters (whom counted Steve Berlin as a member before his joining Los Lobos) and more. The album’s title track is its sole original song, a loving homage to Los Angeles that sounds right at home amid so many classic tracks.

Today, KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic premiered “Misery,” which was originally recorded by Barrett Strong (who co-wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits). They say, "Los Lobos carries the straightforward minor blues romp into a new era, navigating its howling plea to heartbreak with shuffling guitars and smooth, warm rhythms, as only they can." Los Lobos frontman David Hidalgo states in the extensive liner notes to Native Sons, “This is probably one of my favorite songs on the album. Barrett moved to L.A. when Motown did.” Hear Los Lobos’ rendition of “Misery” Here.

Variety previously premiered “Love Special Delivery” by Thee Midniters as well as “Sail On, Sailor” by the Beach Boys. Of “Love Special Delivery,” Hidalgo says “We grew up on Thee Midniters and felt like they were representing us, so their music means a lot.” “Sail On, Sailor,” an early-70s track originally sung by longtime Los Lobos friend Blondie Chaplin, was one that Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin says “seemed like it would be easy, but once we broke the eggshell it revealed itself to be a lot more complex,” adding “The genius of so many of these records is all the layers that meld together in a way that isn’t very obvious at first.”

As with all of their catalogue, Native Sons reveals Los Lobos’ ability to merge genres and styles with both sophistication and playful spontaneity, an element that’s perfectly reflected in the album’s unbridled joy. “I played it for a friend and his first response was that it’s a party record—which sounds right to me,” says Hidalgo. Beyond that undeniably feel-good quality, Native Sons essentially serves as a love letter to Los Angeles and the endless possibilities to be found when all boundaries are shattered. “I couldn’t say there’s a common thread for all these artists, but in a way that’s exactly what makes L.A. great,” says Berlin. “You’ve got R&B and punk rock and rock-and-roll and folk, and somehow it exists together in this one weird city that we all call home.”

Los Lobos have also announced additional 2021 & 2022 tour dates in support of Native Sons. The extensive tour includes a special Costa Mesa show with X & The Blasters on August 1st, as well as performances with The Mavericks, Steve Earle & The Dukes, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Please see all Los Lobos dates, with more to be added, below.

Los Lobos: Native Sons

Quickly finding their footing in L.A.’s punk/college-rock scene, Los Lobos began sharing bills with bands like Public Image Ltd. and the Circle Jerks. After making their major-label debut with 1984’s critically lauded How Will the Wolf Survive?, they went on to achieve such triumphs as contributing a smash-hit cover of Ritchie Valens’s signature song “La Bamba” to the 1987 biopic of the same name, winning three Grammy Awards, collaborating with the likes of Elvis Costello and Ry Cooder, and earning massive worldwide critical acclaim.

Los Lobos’ Native Sons will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. The Double LP vinyl editions will be housed in a gatefold sleeve and will feature three sides of music and a custom etching on its fourth side.  A Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl Edition limited to 4,000 copies worldwide will be available at Independent Record Stores while a Brown Vinyl Edition limited to 1,000 copies is available for pre-order NOW via New West Records.

Los Lobos Still Are: David Hidalgo (vocals, guitars) - Louie Pérez, Jr. (vocals, guitars) - Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitars, bass, Hammond B3 organ) - Conrad Lozano (vocals, bass) - Steve Berlin (saxes, midisax, keyboards)

Los Lobos Native Sons Track Listing

1. Love Special Delivery 
2. Misery 
3. Bluebird / For What It’s Worth 
4. Los Chucos Suaves 
5. Jamaica Say You Will
6. Never No More
7. Native Son 
8. Farmer John 
9. Dichoso
10. Sail On, Sailor
11. The World Is A Ghetto
12. Flat Top Joint
13. Where Lovers Go

Los Lobos On Tour:

June 18, 2021 – Reedley, CA – The Wakehouse 
June 19, 2021 – Gross Valley, CA – Nevada County Fairgrounds 
June 24, 2021 -Lowell, MA - Lowell Summer Music Series 
July 4, 2021 - Taos, NM - Kit Carson Park
August 1, 2021 – Costa Mesa, CA - Pacific Amphitheatre ~
August 5, 2021 - Evanston, IL - Canal Shores Golf Course
August 6, 2021 – Michigan City, IN – Uptown Social 
August 12, 2021 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery @
August 14, 2021 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre @
August 15, 2021 - Costa Mesa, CA - OC Fair & Event Center       
August 20 - Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort @
August 21, 2021 - Los Angeles, CA - The Greek @     
August 24, 2021 - Montgomery, AL - Montgomery Performing Arts Centre +  
August 26, 2021 - Selbyville, DE - The Freeman Stage at Bayside +          
August 27, 2021 - Doswell, VA - Meadow Event Park +    
August 28, 2021 – LaGrange, CA – Sweetland Amphitheatre +
August 30, 2021 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium +     
September 3, 2021 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station +           
September 4, 2021 - Beaver Dam, KY - Beaver Dam Amphitheatre + 
September 6, 2021 – Avon, CO - Avon Performance Pavilion at Harry A. Nottingham Park
September 9, 2021 - Grass Valley, CA - The Center For The Arts 
September 16, 2021 -  Lowell, MA - Lowell Summer Music Series   
September 17, 2021 – Camden, NJ - Wiggins Park XPoNential Festival
September 18, 2021 - Webster, MA - Indian Ranch   
September 19, 2021 - Westhampton Beach, NY - Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center        
September 22, 2021 - Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest Cafe            
September 23, 2021 - South Orange, NJ - South Orange Performing Arts Center           
September 24, 2021 - Harrisburg, PA - Whitaker Center         
September 25, 2021 - State College, PA - State Theatre  
September 26, 2021 - Albany, NY - The Egg          
October 1, 2021 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern          
October 2, 2021 - Bisbee, AZ - Historic Warren Ballpark      
October 8, 2021 - Santa Barbara, CA - Lobero Theatre           
October 9, 2021 - Bakersfield, CA - World Records            
October 21, 2021 - Austin, TX - Antone's          
October 22, 2021 - Austin, TX - Antone's          
October 23, 2021 - Goliad, TX - Schroeder Hall 
October 24, 2021 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe Big Barn    
November 2, 2021 - Millvale, PA - Mr Smalls Theatre      
November 3, 2021 - Cleveland, OH - Music Box Supper Club           
November 4, 2021 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark          
November 5, 2021 - Grand Rapids, MI - Listening Room           
November 6, 2021 - Fort Wayne, IN - Clyde Theatre  
November 13, 2021 - Tacoma, WA - The Spanish Ballroom @ McMenamin's Elk's Temple          
November 14, 2021 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre    
November 18, 2021 - Washington, DC - City Winery      
November 19, 2021 - Washington, DC - City Winery      
December 19, 2021 - New York, NY - City Winery     
December 20, 2021 - New York, NY - City Winery     
December 21, 2021 - New York, NY - City Winery     
January 13, 2022 - Honolulu, HI - Blue Note Hawaii       
January 14, 2022 - Honolulu, HI - Blue Note Hawaii   
February 10, 2022 – Clearwater, FL – Billheimer Capitol Theatre    
March 3, 2022 - Raton, NM - Shuler Theater            
March 4, 2022 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington's  
March 5, 2022 - Steamboat Springs, CO - Strings Music Pavilion 
March 7, 2022 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater          
March 23, 2022 - Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center   
March 26, 2022 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center For The Arts 
March 31, 2022 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
April 1, 2022 - Brugge, Belgium - Stadsschouwburg Brugge      
April 2, 2022 - Leuven, Belgium - Het Depot       
April 3, 2022 - Antwerp, Belgium - De Roma         
June 24, 2022 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily's Place Amphitheater *    
June 25, 2022 - Mobile, AL - Mobile Civic Center *
June 28, 2022 - Indianapolis, IN - The Amphitheater at White River State Park *          
July 1, 2022 - Canandaigua, NY - Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center *
July 2, 2022 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *       
July 3, 2022 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center *      
July 6, 2022 - New Haven, CT - Westville Music Bowl *
July 8, 2022 - Philadelphia, PA - The Mann Center of Performing Arts *
July 9, 2022 - Burlington, VT - Midway Lawn *
July 10, 2022 - Patchogue, NY - Great South Bay Music Festival *      
July 12, 2022 - Lewiston, NY - Artpark *
July 15, 2022 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre *
July 16, 2022 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre * 
July 19, 2022 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap *    
July 21, 2022 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park *       
July 23, 2022 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion *    
July 24, 2022 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights *     
July 26, 2022 - Aurora, IL - RiverEdge Park *          
July 29, 2022 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre *        
July 30, 2022 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre *

~ w/ X & The Blasters
@ w/ The Mavericks 
+ w/ Steve Earle & The Dukes 
* w/ Tedeschi Trucks Band  

Mon, 07/12/2021 - 1:55 pm

In celebration of its 15th Anniversary, Drive-By Truckers will release Plan 9 Records July 13th, 2006 tomorrow via New West Records. The 25-song set features the classic Drive-By Truckers lineup of Mike Cooley, Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell, Brad Morgan, John Neff, and Shonna Tucker and was recorded live in its entirety at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA. The album will be available for the first time tomorrow across digital platforms. Double LP vinyl and double compact disc editions featuring extensive liner notes written by Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood will be released on Friday, August 6th. Plan 9 Records July 13th, 2006 was previously issued as a limited “bootleg” version for Record Store Day Black Friday last year. Immediately selling out, the limited version became a sought after collectors item by fans. The new vinyl version will be available on color vinyl and will feature updated packaging including the original poster art for the performance by the band’s longtime designer, the celebrated artist Wes Freed.
 
The now legendary live set served as both a celebration of Plan 9 Records’ 25th Anniversary, but also a ticketed benefit concert for The Harvey Foundation. On New Year’s Day, 2006, Kathryn and Bryan Harvey and their two children were brutally murdered in their home in part of a horrific crime spree that made national news. The Harvey’s were a part of a community that welcomed Drive-By Truckers with open arms and the The Bryan and Kathryn Harvey Family Memorial Endowment was created by their friends and family to provide music, visual art and performing arts enrichment in the greater Richmond area. Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood would later write the song “Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife” in tribute to Bryan and his family for 2008’s celebrated Brighter Than Creation’s Dark.

Today, American Songwriter premiered the live album in full, a day ahead of its digital release. Patterson Hood told the magazine, “The Live at Plan 9 recording is the best recording I have ever heard of the 2001-2006 version of the Drive-By Truckers (the Jason Isbell era). It was a very special night on so many levels with the band firing on all cylinders, perfectly captured on tape. An essential document of our band from that time period.”
 
Patterson Hood said in his accompanying liner notes, “Our pay was a case of PBR and two bottles of whiskey. There wasn’t a drop left by the end of the encore. They pushed back all of the record shelving to make room for a little over 200 people and cut us loose to play a two hour plus set. Loose and raggedy at times, yet somehow also tighter than shit. It was by far our favorite show of the year and all these years later, I think it is one of the best performances from that era of the band. A few months later, that incarnation of the band was no more and our lives have continued to move in all kinds of mysterious ways. We’re all close friends again and even though it kinda feels like a lifetime ago, it was great to hear these tracks and to re-live the best parts of who we used to be. When you think you have it turned up a little too loud, reach over and turn it up a little bit more.”
 
Drive-By Truckers Plan 9 Records July 13th, 2006 will be available across digital retailers tomorrow. The album will also be available on double compact disc for the first time as well as standard black vinyl on August 6th. A limited green color vinyl edition will be available via Independent retailers while a limited “Red & Black Ice Mix” color vinyl edition is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.
 
Drive-By Truckers Plan 9 Records July 13th, 2006 Track Listing:
 
1. Tales Facing Up
2. One Of These Days
3. Easy On Yourself
4. Feb. 14
5. Aftermath USA
6. Gravity’s Gone
7. Sink Hole
8. Outfit
9. My Sweet Annette  
10. Marry Me
11. A World Of Hurt
12. Why Henry Drinks
13. The Day John Henry Died
14. Wednesday
15. Shut Up And Get On The Plane
16. Ronnie And Neil
17. Moonlight Mile
18. Let There Be Rock
19. Zip City
20. Goddamn Lonely Love
21. 18 Wheels Of Love
22. Nine Bullets
23. Daddy’s Cup
24. Decoration Day
25. Lookout Mountain

Sat, 07/17/2021 - 12:20 pm

Los Lobos will return with Native Sons on July 30th via New West Records. The 13-song set was produced by Los Lobos in East Los Angeles and finds the band mapping their musical DNA as a kaleidoscopic selection of tribute songs from their homeland, ultimately creating a crucial snapshot of L.A.’s musical heritage. Having formed in 1973 and gotten their start playing spirited renditions of Mexican folk music at parties and in restaurants, Los Lobos are no strangers to reinterpretation (and if you’ve ever been to one of their legendary live shows, you already know that). These brothers have always held a deep appreciation for diverse music, and they love pulling out old gems and making them shine like new.
 
For all the trailblazing musical acts who’ve emerged from Los Angeles, very few embody the city’s wildly eclectic spirit more wholeheartedly than Los Lobos. Over the last five decades, the East L.A.-bred band has made an indelible mark on music history by exploring an enormous diversity of genres—rock-and-roll and R&B, surf music and soul, mariachi and música norteña, punk rock and country—and building a boldly unpredictable sound all their own.
 
In a nod to their neighborhood, Native Sons opens with the wide-eyed frenzy of “Love Special Delivery” by Thee Midniters, an East L.A. garage band and one of the first Chicano rock groups to ever score a major hit in the U.S. From there, it features favorites and deep cuts by other Los Angeles luminaries such as the Beach Boys, WAR, Buffalo Springfield, The Blasters (whom counted Steve Berlin as a member before his joining Los Lobos) and more. The album’s title track is its sole original song, a loving homage to Los Angeles that sounds right at home amid so many classic tracks.
 
Today, Mother Jones premiered the band’s rendition of Jackson Browne's “Jamaica Say You Will,” calling them "a national treasure." From Native Sons' extensive album liner notes, Louie Perez Jr. says "I used to go over to David’s house after school and listen to records with him, and this song always resonated for me—such a beautiful melody. And the narrative was something I was attracted to. The storytelling. This song in particular inspired me to write from introspection—and I saw that my songs could be personal, but I could still write them to be universal. To this day, that’s been the template."
 
The National Endowment for the Arts also recently named Los Lobos a part of its newest class of National Heritage fellows. The honor recognizes individuals and groups who represent the richness and breadth of America’s folk and traditional arts and supports their continuing contributions to our nation’s traditional arts heritage.
 
As with all of their catalogue, Native Sons reveals Los Lobos’ ability to merge genres and styles with both sophistication and playful spontaneity, an element that’s perfectly reflected in the album’s unbridled joy. “I played it for a friend and his first response was that it’s a party record—which sounds right to me,” says Hidalgo. Beyond that undeniably feel-good quality, Native Sons essentially serves as a love letter to Los Angeles and the endless possibilities to be found when all boundaries are shattered. “I couldn’t say there’s a common thread for all these artists, but in a way that’s exactly what makes L.A. great,” says Berlin. “You’ve got R&B and punk rock and rock-and-roll and folk, and somehow it exists together in this one weird city that we all call home.”
 
Los Lobos have also announced 2021 & 2022 tour dates in support of Native Sons. The extensive tour includes a special Costa Mesa show with X & The Blasters on August 1st, as well as performances with The Mavericks, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle & The Dukes, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Please see all Los Lobos dates, with more to be added, below.
 
Quickly finding their footing in L.A.’s punk/college-rock scene, Los Lobos began sharing bills with bands like Public Image Ltd. and the Circle Jerks. After making their major-label debut with 1984’s critically lauded How Will the Wolf Survive?, they went on to achieve such triumphs as contributing a smash-hit cover of Ritchie Valens’s signature song “La Bamba” to the 1987 biopic of the same name, winning three Grammy Awards, collaborating with the likes of Elvis Costello and Ry Cooder, and earning massive worldwide critical acclaim.
 

Los Lobos’ Native Sons will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. The Double LP vinyl editions will be housed in a gatefold sleeve and will feature three sides of music and a custom etching on its fourth side.  A Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl Edition limited to 4,000 copies worldwide will be available at Independent Record Stores while a Brown Vinyl Edition limited to 1,000 copies is available for pre-order NOW via New West Records.
 
Los Lobos Still Are: David Hidalgo (vocals, guitars) - Louie Pérez, Jr. (vocals, guitars) - Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitars, bass, Hammond B3 organ) - Conrad Lozano (vocals, bass) - Steve Berlin (saxes, midisax, keyboards)

Sat, 07/31/2021 - 7:51 pm

Los Lobos returns with Native Sons via New West Records. The 13-song set was produced by Los Lobos in East Los Angeles and finds the band mapping their musical DNA as a kaleidoscopic selection of tribute songs from their homeland, ultimately creating a crucial snapshot of L.A.’s musical heritage. Having formed in 1973 and gotten their start playing spirited renditions of Mexican folk music at parties and in restaurants, Los Lobos are no strangers to reinterpretation (and if you’ve ever been to one of their legendary live shows, you already know that). These brothers have always held a deep appreciation for diverse music, and they love pulling out old gems and making them shine like new. Met with critical acclaim, The Associated Press said, "The adventurous song selections make the album a celebration of diversity, and a showcase for Los Lobos' marvelous versatility...It's true roots music." David Fricke said in his 4 out of 5 Star MOJO review, “Pin Ups en Espanol: East LA’s greatest dance band hosts a ‘covers’ party,” American Songwriter said in their 4 out 5 Star review, "...What's here is consistently inspirational," and Uncut Magazine awarded the album 8 out of 10 stars. Mother Jones said “They are a national treasure,” while the actor, comedian, and podcast host Marc Maron exclaimed “Los Lobos makes almost all other bands look like novelty acts.”

For all the trailblazing musical acts who’ve emerged from Los Angeles, very few embody the city’s wildly eclectic spirit more wholeheartedly than Los Lobos. Over the last five decades, the East L.A.-bred band has made an indelible mark on music history by exploring an enormous diversity of genres—rock-and-roll and R&B, surf music and soul, mariachi and música norteña, punk rock and country—and building a boldly unpredictable sound all their own.

In a nod to their neighborhood, Native Sons opens with the wide-eyed frenzy of “Love Special Delivery” by Thee Midniters, an East L.A. garage band and one of the first Chicano rock groups to ever score a major hit in the U.S. From there, it features favorites and deep cuts by other Los Angeles luminaries such as the Beach Boys, WAR, Buffalo Springfield, Jackson Browne, The Blasters (whom counted Steve Berlin as a member before his joining Los Lobos) and more.

Today, SPIN has shared the video for the album’s title track, “Native Son.” The album’s sole original song is a loving homage to Los Angeles that sounds right at home amid so many classic tracks. The video was previously premiered on the jumbotron at Dodger Stadium last Friday night ahead of the band’s performance of the national anthem which kicked off the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers home game.  The “Native Son” video was partially filmed in Lincoln Heights, one of the oldest neighborhoods in East L.A. and directed by Piero F Giunti & Jon Luini. See The “Native Son” Video Here.

The National Endowment for the Arts also recently named Los Lobos a part of its newest class of National Heritage fellows. The honor recognizes individuals and groups who represent the richness and breadth of America’s folk and traditional arts and supports their continuing contributions to our nation’s traditional arts heritage.

As with all of their catalogue, Native Sons reveals Los Lobos’ ability to merge genres and styles with both sophistication and playful spontaneity, an element that’s perfectly reflected in the album’s unbridled joy. “I played it for a friend and his first response was that it’s a party record—which sounds right to me,” says Hidalgo. Beyond that undeniably feel-good quality, Native Sons essentially serves as a love letter to Los Angeles and the endless possibilities to be found when all boundaries are shattered. “I couldn’t say there’s a common thread for all these artists, but in a way that’s exactly what makes L.A. great,” says Berlin. “You’ve got R&B and punk rock and rock-and-roll and folk, and somehow it exists together in this one weird city that we all call home.”

Los Lobos have also announced 2021 & 2022 tour dates in support of Native Sons. The extensive tour includes a special Costa Mesa show with X & The Blasters on August 1st, as well as performances with The Mavericks, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle & The Dukes, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Please see all Los Lobos dates, with more to be added, below.

Quickly finding their footing in L.A.’s punk/college-rock scene, Los Lobos began sharing bills with bands like Public Image Ltd. and the Circle Jerks. After making their major-label debut with 1984’s critically lauded How Will the Wolf Survive?, they went on to achieve such triumphs as contributing a smash-hit cover of Ritchie Valens’s signature song “La Bamba” to the 1987 biopic of the same name, winning three Grammy Awards, collaborating with the likes of Elvis Costello and Ry Cooder, and earning massive worldwide critical acclaim.

Los Lobos’ Native Sons will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. The Double LP vinyl editions are housed in a gatefold sleeve and feature three sides of music and a custom etching on its fourth side.  A Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl Edition limited to 4,000 copies worldwide will be available at Independent Record Stores while a Brown Vinyl Edition limited to 1,000 copies is available NOW via New West Records.

Los Lobos Still Are: David Hidalgo (vocals, guitars) - Louie Pérez, Jr. (vocals, guitars) - Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitars, bass, Hammond B3 organ) - Conrad Lozano (vocals, bass) - Steve Berlin (saxes, midisax, keyboards)

Los Lobos On Tour:

August 1, 2021 – Costa Mesa, CA - Pacific Amphitheatre ~
August 4, 2021 - Cincinnatti, OH - PNC Pavilion at Riberbend #
August 5, 2021 - Evanston, IL - Canal Shores Golf Course
August 6, 2021 – Michigan City, IN – Uptown Social
August 7, 2021 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights #
August 8, 2021 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens #
August 12, 2021 – Vashon, WA - Vashon Center for the Arts
August 13, 2021 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery @
August 14, 2021 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre @
August 20 - Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort @
August 21, 2021 - Los Angeles, CA - The Greek @     
August 24, 2021 - Montgomery, AL - Montgomery Performing Arts Centre +  
August 26, 2021 - Selbyville, DE - The Freeman Stage at Bayside +          
August 27, 2021 - Doswell, VA - Meadow Event Park +    
August 28, 2021 – LaGrange, CA – Sweetland Amphitheatre +
August 30, 2021 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium +     
September 3, 2021 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station +           
September 4, 2021 - Beaver Dam, KY - Beaver Dam Amphitheatre +
September 6, 2021 – Avon, CO - Avon Performance Pavilion at Harry A. Nottingham Park
September 9, 2021 - Grass Valley, CA - The Center For The Arts
September 16, 2021 -  Lowell, MA - Lowell Summer Music Series   
September 17, 2021 – Camden, NJ - Wiggins Park XPoNential Festival
September 18, 2021 - Webster, MA - Indian Ranch   
September 19, 2021 - Westhampton Beach, NY - Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center        
September 22, 2021 - Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest Cafe            
September 23, 2021 - South Orange, NJ - South Orange Performing Arts Center           
September 24, 2021 - Harrisburg, PA - Whitaker Center         
September 25, 2021 - State College, PA - State Theatre  
September 26, 2021 - Albany, NY - The Egg          
October 1, 2021 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern          
October 2, 2021 - Bisbee, AZ - Historic Warren Ballpark  
October 7, 2021 - Santa Barbara, CA - Lobero Theatre    
October 8, 2021 - Santa Barbara, CA - Lobero Theatre           
October 9, 2021 - Bakersfield, CA - World Records            
October 21, 2021 - Austin, TX - Antone's          
October 22, 2021 - Austin, TX - Antone's          
October 23, 2021 - Goliad, TX - Schroeder Hall
October 24, 2021 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe Big Barn    
November 2, 2021 - Millvale, PA - Mr Smalls Theatre      
November 3, 2021 - Cleveland, OH - Music Box Supper Club           
November 4, 2021 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark          
November 5, 2021 - Grand Rapids, MI - Listening Room           
November 6, 2021 - Fort Wayne, IN - Clyde Theatre  
November 13, 2021 - Tacoma, WA - The Spanish Ballroom @ McMenamin's Elk's Temple          
November 14, 2021 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre    
November 18, 2021 - Washington, DC - City Winery      
November 19, 2021 - Washington, DC - City Winery     
December 3, 2021 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
December 19, 2021 - New York, NY - City Winery     
December 20, 2021 - New York, NY - City Winery     
December 21, 2021 - New York, NY - City Winery     
January 13, 2022 - Honolulu, HI - Blue Note Hawaii       
January 14, 2022 - Honolulu, HI - Blue Note Hawaii   
February 9, 2022 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Broward Center for the Performing Arts
February 10, 2022 – Clearwater, FL – Billheimer Capitol Theatre    
March 3, 2022 - Raton, NM - Shuler Theater            
March 4, 2022 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington's  
March 5, 2022 - Steamboat Springs, CO - Strings Music Pavilion
March 7, 2022 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater          
March 23, 2022 - Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center   
March 26, 2022 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center For The Arts
March 31, 2022 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
April 1, 2022 - Brugge, Belgium - Stadsschouwburg Brugge      
April 2, 2022 - Leuven, Belgium - Het Depot       
April 3, 2022 - Antwerp, Belgium - De Roma         
June 24, 2022 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily's Place Amphitheater *    
June 25, 2022 - Mobile, AL - Mobile Civic Center *
June 28, 2022 - Indianapolis, IN - The Amphitheater at White River State Park *          
July 1, 2022 - Canandaigua, NY - Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center *
July 2, 2022 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *       
July 3, 2022 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center *      
July 6, 2022 - New Haven, CT - Westville Music Bowl *
July 8, 2022 - Philadelphia, PA - The Mann Center of Performing Arts *
July 9, 2022 - Burlington, VT - Midway Lawn *
July 10, 2022 - Patchogue, NY - Great South Bay Music Festival *      
July 12, 2022 - Lewiston, NY - Artpark *
July 15, 2022 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre *
July 16, 2022 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre *
July 19, 2022 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap *    
July 21, 2022 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park *       
July 23, 2022 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion *    
July 24, 2022 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights *     
July 26, 2022 - Aurora, IL - RiverEdge Park *          
July 29, 2022 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre *        
July 30, 2022 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre *

~ w/ X & The Blasters
@ w/ The Mavericks
+ w/ Steve Earle & The Dukes
* w/ Tedeschi Trucks Band   
# w/ Emmylou Harris

Tue, 09/07/2021 - 4:14 pm

The Wild Feathers will release Alvarado on October 8th, 2021 via New West Records. The 12-track set was produced by the band and follows their 2020 career-spanning odds-and-ends collection Medium Rarities. Formed in 2010, The Wild Feathers have released three critically acclaimed studio albums, one live record captured at the historic Ryman Auditorium, and toured with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bob Seger, and more.
 
After a major tour with Blackberry Smoke was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic last year, the group hunkered down in a small cabin northwest of Nashville in VanLeer, TN. Using the confidence gained from self-producing three new songs found on the Medium Rarities compilation, The Wild Feathers decided to keep things in-house, producing themselves, which was a part of the hard-scrabble work ethic that got them their success in the first place. For the first time without a fancy studio, the band were confident and calm during the process, which cohesively allowed the sound to be exactly what they felt like instead of having to answer to anyone. Knocking out 14 songs in just four days, they bonded over barbecues and beers and there was a warmness that hadn’t been present since their early days. This relaxed approach is reflected in the laid-back nature of the songs featured on the stellar Alvarado.
 
Today, Holler premiered the album highlight “Side Street Shakedown, saying "The cinematic track feels like an uptempo fight sequence. It begins with a dynamic guitar riff that builds into a pure rock explosion, coursing with energy and uncertainty." Hear “Side Street Shakedown” HERE.
 
SPIN previously shared the first single “Ain’t Lookin’” with The Wild Feathers' Ricky Young offering, “We’ve always written and demoed new songs in a cabin outside of town and then gone into the studio to record the album. This time, we decided to take the studio to the cabin and produce it ourselves. We’ve never been more proud of a collection of songs because it feels and sounds exactly how we wanted it to. No outside input or opinions, just the five of us in a room together.” PopMatters also previously premiered the album highlight “Another Sunny Day," with Young saying, “In a lot of ways, 'Another Sunny Day' is a great example of what Alvarado stands for: An optimistic look into the future with the growing pains of being a band for a decade in the past. A wiser and happier group of guys that love what they do."
 
The Wild Feathers will launch headline dates in support of Alvarado on September 15th in Indianapolis. The tour features stops at Antone’s in Austin, TX, Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK, Thalia Hall in Chicago, IL as well as a “Spirit of the South” date with Blackberry Smoke and The Allman Betts Band at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on October 28th. Please see dates below, with many more to be announced soon.
 
With Alvarado, The Wild Feathers have done what’s usually a difficult task for a band at this stage of their career: evolve and produce some of their best work to date.
 
The Wild Feathers’ Alvarado will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited “Color in Color Orange & Black Blob” vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide while a limited to 500 “Orange & Black Swirl” edition is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

The Wild Feathers Alvarado Track Listing:
 
1. Alvarado
2. Ain’t Lookin’
3. Over the Edge
4. Side Street Shakedown
5. Out on the Road
6. Get Out of My Own Way
7. Off Your Shoulders
8. Long Shot
9. Top of the World
10. Flashback
11. Midway Motel
12. Another Sunny Day
 
The Wild Feathers On Tour (More Dates To Be Announced Soon):
 
September 15 - Hi-Fi - The Annex - Indianapolis, IN
September 16 - The Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS
September 17 - Boondocks - Springfield, IL
September 18 - Shipyard Music Festival - Cape Giradeau, MO
October 10 - Druid City Music Hall - Tuscaloosa, AL
October 12 - House of Blues - The Parish - New Orleans, LA
October 14 - Tower Theatre - Oklahoma City, OK
October 15 - Kessler Theater - Dallas, TX
October 16 - The Heights Theater - Houston, TX
October 17 - Antone's - Austin, TX
October 19 - The Wave - Wichita, KS
October 21 - Cain's Ballroom - Tulsa, OK
October 22 - Blue Note - Columbia, MO
October 23 - The Castle Theatre - Bloomington, IN
October 24 - Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL
October 26 - Barnato Lounge - Omaha, NE
October 28 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO *
October 30 - Off Broadway - St. Louis, MO
November 11 - Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
November 14 - The Hamilton - Washington, DC
November 16 - Westcott Theater - Syracuse, NY
November 21 - River Road Farm - Franklin, VA
 
* The Spirit of the South Tour with Blackberry Smoke & The Allman Betts Band

Thu, 09/30/2021 - 7:42 pm

Lilly Hiatt will return with Lately on October 15th via New West Records. The 10-song set was co-produced by Lilly and her drummer Kate Haldrup at Death Ladder in East Nashville, TN. In celebration of “Cassette Week,” the cassette version of the album will be released a week early on Friday, October 8th. Lately is the follow up to Hiatt’s critically acclaimed Walking Proof, which was among the first records released to feel the full wrath of the soon-to-be raging pandemic that would bring the world to its knees. Despite the timing of its release, the long player was named a “Best Album of the Year” by Rolling Stone, No Depression, Magnet Magazine, Slant Magazine and more. NPR Music called Lilly “...one of the great 21st Century Southern Rockers,” saying, “...she’s a striving, self-made heroine of country-accented indie rock” while Rolling Stone said “Hiatt proves herself to be Nashville’s indie-rocker-to-watch on this collection of Big Star-worthy jangle anthems and introspective psych-folk.” Rolling Stone Country called the album “...exhilarating…” saying, “At once electrifying and dreamy, the follow-up to Hiatt’s breakout Trinity Lane cements her as a vital voice.” Pitchfork said, “...Walking Proof winds through moments of incandescent joy, gentleness, cathartic noise, and even unease...It’s as if Hiatt has emerged from a dark, uncertain period as a stronger, bolder artist, winding up with an album that encompasses a full spectrum of feeling as it rocks with abandon” while Paste Magazine said in their 8 out of 10 star review, “This is music to liberate yourself to.”
 
As each day passed following the release of Walking Proof, more events were postponed, moved, and ultimately canceled. The sudden stillness forced Lilly to take a long, deep look inside and despite having a new album just released, she went back to doing what she does best: she picked up the guitar and started to write. What could have been devastating ended up being therapeutic, and Lilly learned how to find fulfillment in quieter places versus the adrenalized life she was used to.
 
Today, The Boot premiered the video for the album’s title track. Lilly says, "'Lately' is all for you. I'd like to let you in on the strife and hope that came from the last year for me. The song is a dream that can come true, even if that dream changes over time. Dylan Reyes took the dream and turned it into a vivid trip for our video and here it is." See the “Lately” video, directed by Dylan Reyes, HERE.

SPIN previously shared the video for the album highlight “Been,” alongside a feature with Lilly about Lately’s creation. The video was created by Lilly and is composed of vintage super 8 footage filmed by her mother and recently found in the Hiatt Family storage unit.
 
Lilly says, “Last year was tough. That’s an understatement for certain. Tears were shed, lives were lost, and lonely was a way of life. I have always felt lonely, but never gone to the depths of solitude that I had in 2020. The irony of that is, I was not alone at all in that space. Everyone had lost something, and we all were trying to rebuild our lives as we knew them. As a means of keeping sane, I started to write songs. Some of them sucked. I kept doing it though, because I had nothing else to fill my cup.”  She continues, “Depression was a big part of fall and winter. I forgot how down I could feel. But I also felt hope in that light that came from a memory of a past adventure or a stranger’s smile while walking down the street. Little things lifted my spirits. I missed my friends. I missed my family. I was devastated by the grief our country was facing, as well as the world. I felt unified in knowing that I was not on my own in that mentality. Many were questioning a lot of what was happening and though ideologies and understandings were fractured and opposing, most people I know craved to be together again. I realized that my heart was full of everything I loved and that would carry me forward for the time being. Eventually we would all get back to one another.”
 
And get back together we have begun to do. Following an appearance on Mountain Stage this weekend on October 3rd, Lilly will launch a North American tour with Lydia Loveless on October 20th in Houston, TX. The tour will keep the duo on the road throughout most of November and will feature stops at the Continental Club in Austin, The Chapel in San Francisco, a two night stand at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle, and more. Additional 2021 headline dates in support of Lately have also been announced as well. Please see all dates below.
 
By opening up about her fears and anxiety and having taken a big step back, Lilly Hiatt learned more about herself than she could have ever realized. Which is what great songwriters do.
 
Lilly Hiatt’s Lately will be available across digital platforms and on cassette. Lately is available for pre-order NOW via New West Records.

Sat, 10/09/2021 - 3:09 pm

The Wild Feathers released Alvarado via New West Records. The 12-track set was produced by the band and follows their 2020 career-spanning odds-and-ends collection Medium Rarities. Formed in 2010, The Wild Feathers have released three critically acclaimed studio albums, one live record captured at the historic Ryman Auditorium, and toured with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bob Seger, and more.
 
After a major tour with Blackberry Smoke was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic last year, the group hunkered down in a small cabin northwest of Nashville in VanLeer, TN. Using the confidence gained from self-producing three new songs found on Medium Rarities, The Wild Feathers decided to keep things in-house, producing themselves, which was a part of the hard-scrabble work ethic that got them their success in the first place. For the first time without a fancy studio, the band were confident and calm during the process, which cohesively allowed the sound to be exactly what they felt like instead of having to answer to anyone. Knocking out 14 songs in just four days, they bonded over barbecues and beers and there was a warmness that hadn’t been present since their early days. This relaxed approach is reflected in the laid-back nature of the songs featured on the stellar Alvarado.
 
Today, American Songwriter premiered the album in full alongside a feature with the band about its creation. Calling them a “pioneering band,” they say, “For over a decade, The Wild Feathers have forgone the rules and regulations set by the rigid music industry, making the records they want to make and releasing them as they please...the 12-track collection sees The Wild Feathers stepping confidently in a new direction, resulting in some of their most realized recordings to date.” Hear Alvarado in its entirety HERE.

The Wild Feathers have launched headline dates in support of Alvarado and will be in Chattanooga, TN tonight with a special hometown record release show in Nashville, TN tomorrow night. The tour features stops at Antone’s in Austin, TX, Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK, Thalia Hall in Chicago, IL as well as a “Spirit of the South” date with Blackberry Smoke and The Allman Betts Band at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on October 28th. Please see dates below, with more to be announced soon.
 
With Alvarado, The Wild Feathers have done what’s usually a difficult task for a band at this stage of their career: evolve and produce some of their best work to date.
 
The Wild Feathers’ Alvarado will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited “Color in Color Orange & Black Blob” vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide while a limited to 500 “Orange & Black Swirl” edition is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

The Wild Feathers On Tour (More Dates To Be Announced Soon):
 
October 7 - Station Street Live - Chattanooga, TN
October 8 - Brooklyn Bowl - Nashville, TN
October 9 - Center Stage/The Loft - Atlanta, GA
October 10 - Druid City Music Hall - Tuscaloosa, AL
October 12 - House of Blues - The Parish - New Orleans, LA
October 14 - Tower Theatre - Oklahoma City, OK
October 15 - Kessler Theater - Dallas, TX
October 16 - The Heights Theater - Houston, TX
October 17 - Antone's - Austin, TX
October 19 - The Wave - Wichita, KS
October 21 - Cain's Ballroom - Tulsa, OK
October 22 - Blue Note - Columbia, MO
October 23 - The Castle Theatre - Bloomington, IN
October 24 - Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL
October 26 - Barnato Lounge - Omaha, NE
October 28 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO *
October 30 - Off Broadway - St. Louis, MO
November 11 - Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
November 12 - Madison Theatre - Covington, KY
November 14 - The Hamilton - Washington, DC
November 16 - Westcott Theater - Syracuse, NY
November 18 - Brooklyn Bowl - Philadelphia, PA
November 19 - Crystal Ballroom - Somerville, MA
November 20 - Brooklyn Bowl - New York, NY
November 21 - River Road Farm - Franklin, VA
 
* The Spirit of the South Tour with Blackberry Smoke & The Allman Betts Band

Thu, 01/13/2022 - 1:33 pm

North Mississippi Allstars will release Set Sail on January 28th via New West Records. The 10-song set was produced by Luther and Cody Dickinson and follows their Grammy Award nominated 2019 album Up and Rolling. Set Sail features an appearance by Stax Records legend William Bell on the album standout “Never Want To Be Kissed” (which Bell also co-wrote and co-produced). The album has already been met with critical acclaim with Uncut Magazine stating, "Bloodlines and geography figure into every NMAs album, but on Set Sail, Luther and Cody Dickinson make family and setting the conjoined theme..." in their 8 out 10 Star rated review.
 
Today, PopMatters premiered the “Never Want To Be Kissed” video which was shot at William Bell’s recording studio outside of Atlanta, GA.  Luther Dickinson said of working with Bell, “He had the whole plot of the song conceptualized, as if it was a movie. I’ve never seen a song written like that before. Usually, for me, story lines unfold as they are written. We simply helped William turn the plot into lyrics and added music but we were truly only helping William realize his vision. We recorded a voice memo at the session and built the song up from there. Some of the audio on the record is from the original voice memo. It’s an honor to work with a living legend and soul music pioneer.” William Bell said, “Luther and Cody are my kind of people, locked in the tradition of Blues and Soul stories and songs. Pure perfectionists at their craft!” See the Cartter Fontaine-directed “Never Want to Be Kissed” Video HERE.

After 25 years, twelve albums, four Grammy Award nominations, and sold out shows everywhere, North Mississippi Allstars open up their world once again on Set Sail, welcoming other family into the fold. As sons of the legendary producer and musician Jim Dickinson, Luther and Cody Dickinson started the band in 1996 as a loose collective of like-minded second-generation musicians who shared a local repertoire and regional style. Over the years, the lineup has shifted by design, and with Set Sail, they mined the talents of Jesse Williams on bass and Lamar Williams, Jr., the son of Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams, Sr, on vocals. During the Allman Betts Band Family Revival, the Dickinsons first linked up with Lamar, becoming fast friends and collaborators, paving the way for Set Sail.

“The chemistry we have with this lineup is powerful,” observes Luther. “We are all second-generation musicians and share a telepathic, relaxed ease about creating and performing. I believe music is a form of communion with our loved ones and conjuring this vibe with members of musical families can be inspirational. Lamar and I are like-minded. I’ve never had the pleasure of working with a singing partner like Lamar. He has a true-blue quality in his musicality that will pull you in and break your heart. At the same time, Jesse grew up playing music with his brothers and his father—as did we. He plays like a sibling. I’m drawn to musical families, regardless of style. Playing with second- or third-generation players allows us an easy unspoken musical dialog. It’s not a big thing; it’s just what we do. We never had to figure out what it means and takes to be a musician. We all inherently know.” He continues, “Each generation has to reinvent itself and shed the skin of the elders. On Set Sail, we feel as if we’ve once again ‘broken the code,’ and know what we want and how to get it.”

Set Sail continues the band’s tradition of creating roots music that displays remarkable variety. The record sizzles with hard yet understated groove, grown folk music. Luther’s wide-ranging guitar style features jazz riffs, psychedelic sounds, and soulful slide. Drummer and multi-instrumentalist Cody draws on roots music, rock, jazz, rap, and other styles to create rhythms that propel the band’s sounds and move it forward. Their two aesthetics combine to create the band’s unique style, “Primitive Modernism,” melding the new and the old. Luther notes, “We leaned into our other greatest influences: folk, soul, and psychedelic rock, but everything we play feels like North Mississippi.”

North Mississippi Allstars’ initial 2022 tour dates in support of Set Sail will launch February 1st in Solana Beach, CA. Please see all dates below.

Set Sail will be available across digital retailers on January 28th, 2022. Standard Compact Disc and Vinyl editions will be released on April 1st. A limited “Gotham Color” vinyl & compact disc edition featuring exclusive variant packaging & a download with two unreleased bonus tracks will be available at Independent Retailers.  An autographed & limited “Cloudy Day” Blue vinyl edition and a limited, autographed compact disc edition are both available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

North Mississippi Allstars Set Sail Track Listing
 
1. Set Sail part I (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
2. Bumpin’
3. See the Moon (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr. and Sharisse Norman)
4. Outside (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
5. Didn’t We Have a Time
6. Never Want To Be Kissed (Featuring William Bell)
7. Set Sail part II (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
8. Juicy Juice
9. Rabbit Foot (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
10. Authentic (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
 
North Mississippi Allstars On Tour:
 
February 01 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up
February 02 - Venice, CA - Venice West
February 03 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow’s
February 04 - Crystal Bay, NV - Crystal Bay Club
February 05 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent
February 06 - Felton, CA - Felton Music Hall
February 08 - Boise, ID - Egyptian Theatre
February 09 - Bend, OR - Tower Theatre
February 10 - Eugene, OR - Hult Center for the Performing Arts
February 11 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
February 12 - Seattle, WA - Nectars
June 01 - London, UK - Lafayette
June -03 - Suffolk, UK - Red Roster Festival
June 06 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso Noord

Sun, 01/23/2022 - 12:02 pm

Corb Lund will release Songs My Friends Wrote across digital platforms on April 29th via New West Records. The 10-song set features Lund putting his spin on some of his favorite songs written by close friends and world-class songwriters such as Hayes Carll, Todd Snider, Canadian Country Music Legend Ian Tyson, and more. Songs My Friends Wrote is the follow up to 2020’s critically acclaimed Agricultural Tragic. It was Lund’s first studio album of original material in 5 years and earned him the 2021 CCMA (Canadian Country Music Association) Award for Alternative Country Album of the Year, his 13th career win. No Depression said “Corb Lund radiates authenticity from first note to last” and the album landed at #7 on their readers’ “50 Favorite Roots Music Albums of 2020” list. Vinyl and Compact Disc editions of Songs My Friends Wrote will be available on Friday, June 17th (please see physical edition details below).
 
“Songs My Friends Wrote is an album I’ve been threatening to make for years,” says Lund. “In most cases I’ve picked relatively obscure songs that have always spoken to me, even though many of them won’t be so familiar to people. The best part about recording all these tunes was that they reminded me of all the people who I haven’t been able to hang out with for the past two years because of the plague we’ve all been dealing with. All of these tunes bring a smile to my face and I hope they do the same for you.”
 
Today, Lund has released the album’s first single, “Highway 87,” which was written by Hayes Carll. Lund shares, “I’ve known Hayes forever. We met at a card game in Dauphin, Manitoba, many moons ago and we both lost all our money to my ex, Debbie. Hayes and I have toured together, written together, drank together and he’s one of my best friends in music. This song is one of his that’s older and not as widely known, but my guys and I have been playing it for years. I love it.”
 
Lund spoke at length about the album for a feature published by Holler today as well.
 
Share “Highway 87” HERE.

Lund had plans to embark on a completely sold-out cross-country Canadian tour that was set to begin later this week. With the ongoing global pandemic, the tour will be moved to April and May. 2022 will also see Lund’s debut at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN, a career highlight. Please see corblund.com and Lund’s social media pages for additional updates.  
 
Corb Lund has received multiple CCMA, JUNO, and international award nominations and wins. A rural Albertan hailing from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with a long family lineage of ranchers and rodeo people, Lund is about as authentic as they come. Embracing both his Western heritage and his indie rock past through his music, he has been known to filter a range of cowboy themes past and present through his unique lens - from rough-and-tumble tales of lawless frontier saloons to the somber realities of running a modern family ranch. Most recently, Lund has been actively leading protests against the Alberta provincial government's plan to allow open-pit coal mining on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
 
Corb Lund’s Songs My Friends Wrote will be available across digital platforms on Friday, April 29th with physical editions following on June 17th.  A limited “Smoke Color” vinyl edition autographed by Corb Lund, as well as a limited edition autographed compact disc will be available at independent retailers and directly from NEW WEST RECORDS. Standard Black Vinyl and Standard Compact Discs will also be available.

Corb Lund Songs My Friends Wrote Track Listing:
 
1. Highway 87 (Hayes Carll)
2. That’s What Keeps the Rent Down, Baby (Geoff Berner)
3. Montana Waltz (Ian Tysoon)
4. Blue Wing (Tom Russell)
5. Pasa-Get-Down-Dena (John Evans)
6. Spookin’ the Horses (Fred Eaglesmith)
7. Little Rock (Hayes Carll)
8. Road To Las Cruces (Ian Tyson)
9. Big American Headliner (Mike Plume)
10. Age Like Wine (Todd Snider)

Thu, 01/27/2022 - 1:00 pm

North Mississippi Allstars will release Set Sail tomorrow via New West Records. The 10-song set was produced by Luther and Cody Dickinson and follows their Grammy Award Nominated 2019 album Up and Rolling. Set Sail features an appearance by Stax Records legend William Bell on the album standout “Never Want To Be Kissed” (which Bell also co-wrote and co-produced). Set Sail has been met with critical acclaim with The Associated Press saying “The North Mississippi Allstars have mastered their métier and pin the meter on Set Sail. The 10 tunes from brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson and their casual collective are loose but tight, playful and joyful, high-flying but grounded in a groove." Mojo Magazine said, “...North Mississippi Allstars capture the lightning in a bottle groove that marks out all the best Southern Soul,” and Uncut Magazine awarded Set Sail 8 out of 10 Stars. Holler exclaimed, “Like the timely arrival of superheroes. Just when you needed them most, North Mississippi Allstars return with a lively injection of positivity and uplifting roots funk to rescue us all” while No Depression said “Set Sail is their most soulful, funky creation to date…”
 
Today, American Songwriter premiered Set Sail in its entirety alongside a feature with Luther Dickinson. Hear the album in full, a day ahead of its release, HERE.
 
After 25 years, twelve albums, four Grammy Award nominations, and sold out shows everywhere, North Mississippi Allstars open up their world once again on Set Sail, welcoming other family into the fold. As sons of the legendary producer and musician Jim Dickinson, Luther and Cody Dickinson started the band in 1996 as a loose collective of like-minded second-generation musicians who shared a local repertoire and regional style. Over the years, the lineup has shifted by design, and with Set Sail, they mined the talents of Jesse Williams on bass and Lamar Williams, Jr., the son of Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams, Sr, on vocals. During the Allman Betts Band Family Revival, the Dickinsons first linked up with Lamar, becoming fast friends and collaborators, paving the way for Set Sail.
 
“The chemistry we have with this lineup is powerful,” observes Luther. “We are all second-generation musicians and share a telepathic, relaxed ease about creating and performing. I believe music is a form of communion with our loved ones and conjuring this vibe with members of musical families can be inspirational. Lamar and I are like-minded. I’ve never had the pleasure of working with a singing partner like Lamar. He has a true-blue quality in his musicality that will pull you in and break your heart. At the same time, Jesse grew up playing music with his brothers and his father—as did we. He plays like a sibling. I’m drawn to musical families, regardless of style. Playing with second- or third-generation players allows us an easy unspoken musical dialog. It’s not a big thing; it’s just what we do. We never had to figure out what it means and takes to be a musician. We all inherently know.” He continues, “Each generation has to reinvent itself and shed the skin of the elders. On Set Sail, we feel as if we’ve once again ‘broken the code,’ and know what we want and how to get it.”
 
Set Sail continues the band’s tradition of creating roots music that displays remarkable variety. The record sizzles with hard yet understated groove, grown folk music. Luther’s wide-ranging guitar style features jazz riffs, psychedelic sounds, and soulful slide. Drummer and multi-instrumentalist Cody draws on roots music, rock, jazz, rap, and other styles to create rhythms that propel the band’s sounds and move it forward. Their two aesthetics combine to create the band’s unique style, “Primitive Modernism,” melding the new and the old. Luther notes, “We leaned into our other greatest influences: folk, soul, and psychedelic rock, but everything we play feels like North Mississippi.”

North Mississippi Allstars’ initial 2022 tour dates in support of Set Sail will launch next week on February 1st in Solana Beach, CA. Please see all dates below.

Set Sail will be available across digital retailers tomorrow. Standard Compact Disc and Vinyl editions will be released on April 1st. A limited “Gotham Color” vinyl & compact disc edition featuring exclusive variant packaging & a download with two unreleased bonus tracks will be available at Independent Retailers.  An autographed & limited “Cloudy Day” Blue vinyl edition and a limited, autographed compact disc edition are both available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

North Mississippi Allstars Set Sail Track Listing
 
1. Set Sail part I (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
2. Bumpin’
3. See the Moon (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr. and Sharisse Norman)
4. Outside (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
5. Didn’t We Have a Time
6. Never Want To Be Kissed (Featuring William Bell)
7. Set Sail part II (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
8. Juicy Juice
9. Rabbit Foot (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
10. Authentic (Featuring Lamar Williams Jr.)
 
North Mississippi Allstars On Tour:
 
February 01 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up
February 02 - Venice, CA - Venice West
February 03 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow’s
February 04 - Crystal Bay, NV - Crystal Bay Club
February 05 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent
February 06 - Felton, CA - Felton Music Hall
February 08 - Boise, ID - Egyptian Theatre
February 09 - Bend, OR - Tower Theatre
February 10 - Eugene, OR - Hult Center for the Performing Arts
February 11 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
February 12 - Seattle, WA - Nectars
June 01 - London, UK - Lafayette
June -03 - Suffolk, UK - Red Roster Festival
June 06 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso Noord

Fri, 02/11/2022 - 1:14 pm

Today, John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas debut the first official trailer for their upcoming documentary Leftover Feelings: A Studio B Revival to coincide with the 2022 lineup reveal from the Boulder International Film Festival. Directed by Ted Roach and Lagan Sebert, the film features interviews with Dolly Parton, Lyle Lovett, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, and more testifying their respect for Hiatt and Douglas, and their reverence for the Historic RCA Studio B located on Nashville’s Music Row. The documentary musically weaves the narrative together, led by Hiatt and The Jerry Douglas Band in up-close, all-access footage shot during the recording of their 2022 Grammy Award nominated album Leftover Feelings available from New West Records.

Met with widespread critical acclaim, Uncut Magazine said of the Leftover Feelings album, "At 68, Hiatt is producing some of the best work of his career, mapping his inner life with an eloquence that most can only aspire to.” The Wall Street Journal said “The project itself was recorded at the historic RCA Studio B in Nashville. As seen on videos of the recording in progress, the camaraderie, good times and shared good humor were palpable. You'll find them catching." Glide Magazine said “The Douglas-Hiatt pairing doesn’t just work – it excels brilliantly. Count this as Hiatt’s best recording since 2008’s Same Old Man” while Relix said “The pairing of these iconic musicians is true cause for celebration, which has bluegrass, folk, country and Americana enthusiasts eager to hear the results."

“I am such a fan of John Hiatt and his songwriting,” offers Dolly Parton in the film. “He has written some of the biggest hits ever and some of the greatest songs ever written in this whole wide world.” Rodney Crowell says, “Jerry Douglas…where would I start? Well, the dude’s won 14 Grammys, you can start right there.” Emmylou Harris adds, “It’s just a joy to play with him, he can play anything. It’s a beautiful marriage between them.”

Leftover Feelings: A Studio B Revival will be screening at the Boulder International Film Festival twice on Saturday, March 5th, in addition to upcoming screenings at the Amelia Island Film Festival February 24-27th, and at the Durango Film Festival on March 4-5th. These selections follow a World Premiere at the 2021 Nashville Film Festival, with more upcoming festival announcements coming soon.

Historic RCA Studio B serves as the perfect backdrop for John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas’ musical journey. Lyle Lovett explains, “Just walking into the room, you can’t help but imagine standing where Elvis Presley stood. There is an extra energy that comes from that.” The studio was one of the cradles of the “Nashville Sound” in the 1950s and 60s. A sophisticated style characterized by background vocals and strings, the Nashville Sound and Studio B played major roles in establishing Nashville’s identity as an international recording center. Hitmakers in Studio B included Country Music Hall of Fame members Eddy Arnold, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and more. Songs recorded within its walls span decades, genres and emotions, with Presley’s forlorn “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and Parton’s autobiographical “Coat of Many Colors” among them. Built when Hiatt was five years old, Studio B was designed for music to be made in real time by musicians listening to each other and reacting in the emotional moment. That’s what happened during the Leftover Feelings sessions: Five players on the studio floor, making decisions on instinct rather than calculation.

John Hiatt’s lyrics and melodies have graced more than 20 studio albums, have been recorded by Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, B.B. King & Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Iggy Pop, and scores of others, and have earned him a place in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, A BMI Troubadour award, and a lifetime achievement in songwriting designation from the Americana Music Association. Jerry Douglas has performed on more than 1,500 albums by artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Earl Scruggs, and James Taylor, and none of those works sound a bit like the masterful Leftover Feelings.

Thu, 02/24/2022 - 1:00 pm

49 Winchester will release Fortune Favors The Bold on May 13th, 2022 via New West Records. The 10-track set was co-produced by the band and Stewart Myers (O.A.R., The Infamous Stringdusters) with additional recording & production by Kenny Miles (Wayne Graham). Rolling Stone Country has praised 49 Winchester’s live performance while Whiskey Riff called the band “....one of the greatest up and coming country music acts out there right now.” 49 Winchester’s New West Records debut follows their acclaimed 2020 self-released III, which American Songwriter named “...a confident collection that gives voice to the band’s pure, unfettered intents” while Americana Highways called frontman Isaac Gibson’s songwriting “Unforgettable,” saying, “...together they are distinctly and proudly Appalachian — carrying on and reinventing the musical traditions of their region with a sound that is wholly and distinctively their own.”
 
SPIN shared the video for the album’s lead off track, “Annabel.”
 
Share “Annabel” HERE.

Formed on Winchester Street in the small mountain town of Castlewood, Virginia (population: 2,045), 49 Winchester started as a group of neighborhood teenage friends set on a calculated DIY path. In 2014 they independently released their eponymous debut, followed by 2018’s The Wind, and 2020’s celebrated III. Reflecting on his early days as a jack-of-all-trades stone mason, where it was about trying to make ends meet in an effort to keep the band rolling along, frontman Gibson can’t help but be grateful for a well-earned notion at the core of the band’s ethos — anything worthwhile in life is built brick-by-brick. “Everything has to be built. And very few people are going to achieve success overnight,” says Gibson. “We didn’t start out as a bunch of hot shot pickers out of Nashville. We started out on the ground floor — very basic songwriting and instrumentation. But we kept working at it, always progressing in what we wanted to do and how we wanted to sound — each song better than the previous one, the show this evening better than last night.”
 
Since their formation, there have been hundreds of shows and thousands of miles between the starting line in Castlewood and where 49 Winchester stands today as a rapidly rising band. In its essence, Fortune Favors The Bold is about going against all odds to bring your art into fruition and into the world.
 
Quickly becoming a standout live act, 49 Winchester have been confirmed to support Whiskey Myers on their Tornillo Summer Tour. The band is also set to appear at Willie Nelson’s "Luck Reunion" and multiple appearances at the SXSW Music Festival next month. Additionally, the band are confirmed for this year’s Floydfest (where they were named the winner of the “On The Rise” award at last year’s festival), Merlefest, Red Wing Roots Music Fest, and will also return to the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, where they have solidified themselves as a fan favorite. Please see tour dates below, with more to be announced soon.
 
49 Winchester’s Fortune Favors The Bold will be available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A stamped & numbered to 500 bronze color vinyl edition will be available exclusively via Vinyl Me, Please while a limited, translucent orange vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers. An autographed, “Seaglass Blue” color vinyl edition limited to 500, as well as limited edition autographed compact discs are available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

49 Winchester Fortune Favors The Bold Track Listing

1. Annabel
2. Man’s Best Friend
3. Russell County Line
4. All I Need
5. Hillbilly Daydream
6. Damn Darlin’
7. Fortune Favors The Bold
8. Second Chance
9. Neon
10. Last Call
 
49 Winchester On Tour:

March 9 - Fayetteville, AR - George’s Majestic Lounge
March 10 - Tulsa, OK - Mercury Lounge
March 11 - Dallas, TX - Sundown at Granada
March 17 - Spicewood, TX - Luck Reunion
March 18 - Austin, TX - Antone’s (New West Records Official Showcase)
March 19 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe
March 26 - Pineville, KY - Bell Theatre
April 21 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
April 22 - Oxford, MS - Double Decker Art Fest
April 23 - Biloxi, MS - Crawfish Music Festival
April 29 - Brevard, NC - 185 King Street
April 30 - Scaly Mountain, NC - Bear Shadow Music Fest
May 1 - North Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFest
May 5 - Athens, GA - Southern Brewing Company
May 6 - Atlanta, GA - Smith’s Olde Bar
May 10 - New York, NY - The Mercury Lounge
May 14 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern
May 19 - Greenville, SC - The Radio Room
May 20 - Elon, NC - Power and Sound Revival
May 21 - Beaufort, NC - Beaufort Music Festival
June 3 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
June 4 - Lexington, KY - The Burl
June 8 - Cedar Rapids, IA - McGrath Amphitheatre *
June 9 - Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park *
June 10 - Camdenton, MO - Lake Ozarks Amphtheater *
June 11 - Council Bluffs, IA - Westfair Amphitheatre *
June 15 - Cincinnati, OH - Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center *
June 16 - Asheville, NC - Rabbit Rabbit *
June 18 - Brandon, MS - Brandon Amphitheater *
June 25 - Mount Solon, VA - Red Wing Roots Music Festival
July 7 - North Charleston, SC - Firefly Distillery - Lawn *
July 8 - Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre *
July 9 - Raleigh, NC - Red Hat Amphitheater *
July 10 - Portsmouth, VA - Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion *
July 12 - Manteo, NC - Roanoke Island Festival Park *
July 14 - Dothan, AL - National Peanut Festival *
July 15 - Cocoa, FL - Cocoa Riverfront Park *
July 16 - Pompano Beach, FL - Pompano Beach Amphitheatre *
July 17 - St. Augustine, FL - The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre *
July 27-30 - Floyd, VA - FloydFest
August 4 - Missoula, MT - Big Sky Amphitheatre *
August 5 - Billings, MT - Magic City Blues Festival *
August 7 - Boise, ID - Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden *
August 11 - Grand Junction, CO - Las Colonias Park Amphitheater *
August 12 - Sandy, UT - Sandy City Amphitheater *
August 13 - Cheyenne, WY - Terry Bison Ranch Resort - Gathering Hall *
September 10 - Bristol, TN - Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion
 
* Whiskey Myers with Shane Smith & The Saints, and 49 Winchester

Fri, 03/11/2022 - 8:38 am

49 Winchester will release Fortune Favors The Bold on May 13th, 2022 via New West Records. The 10-track set was co-produced by the band and Stewart Myers (O.A.R., The Infamous Stringdusters) with additional recording & production by Kenny Miles (Wayne Graham). Rolling Stone Country has praised 49 Winchester’s live performance while Whiskey Riff called the band “....one of the greatest up and coming country music acts out there right now.” 49 Winchester’s New West Records debut follows their acclaimed 2020 self-released III, which American Songwriter named “...a confident collection that gives voice to the band’s pure, unfettered intents” while Americana Highways called frontman Isaac Gibson’s songwriting “Unforgettable,” saying, “...together they are distinctly and proudly Appalachian — carrying on and reinventing the musical traditions of their region with a sound that is wholly and distinctively their own.”

Today, Wide Open Country premiered the video for “Russell County Line.” Filmed in the band’s hometown of Castlewood, Virginia, the video features a visit to the Clinch River where their neighborhood and childhood homes were situated. It also features the once bustling downtown, with the old train station, post office, hotels still standing from the Appalachian coal boom, having become weathered by the time the band members were growing up in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. The video depicts, quite literally, 49 Winchester revisiting their roots. Frontman Isaac Gibson says, “The drone shots really show how gorgeous Southwest Virginia is. It was great to be able to capture the essence of home on video. I'm thrilled with how it turned out. I'm excited for the fans to see it and those who are from far and wide to get a little taste of central Appalachia.” SPIN also previously premiered "Annabel," the leadoff track from Fortune Favors The Bold as well.

Share the “Russell County Line” Video Here

Formed on Winchester Street in the small mountain town of Castlewood, Virginia (population: 2,045), 49 Winchester started as a group of neighborhood teenage friends set on a calculated DIY path. In 2014 they independently released their eponymous debut, followed by 2018’s The Wind, and 2020’s celebrated III. Reflecting on his early days as a jack-of-all-trades stone mason, where it was about trying to make ends meet in an effort to keep the band rolling along, frontman Gibson can’t help but be grateful for a well-earned notion at the core of the band’s ethos — anything worthwhile in life is built brick-by-brick. “Everything has to be built. And very few people are going to achieve success overnight,” says Gibson. “We didn’t start out as a bunch of hot shot pickers out of Nashville. We started out on the ground floor — very basic songwriting and instrumentation. But we kept working at it, always progressing in what we wanted to do and how we wanted to sound — each song better than the previous one, the show this evening better than last night.”

Fortune Favors The Bold

Since their formation, there have been hundreds of shows and thousands of miles between the starting line in Castlewood and where 49 Winchester stands today as a rapidly rising band. In its essence, Fortune Favors The Bold is about going against all odds to bring your art into fruition and into the world.

Quickly becoming a standout live act, 49 Winchester have been confirmed to support Whiskey Myers on their Tornillo Summer Tour. The band is also set to appear at Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion and multiple appearances at the SXSW Music Festival next week. Additionally, the band are confirmed for NPR’s Mountain Stage, this year’s Floydfest (where they were named the winner of the “On The Rise” award at last year’s festival), Merlefest, Red Wing Roots Music Fest, and will also return to the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, where they have solidified themselves as a fan favorite. Please see tour dates below, with more to be announced soon.

49 Winchester’s Fortune Favors The Bold will be available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A stamped & numbered to 500 bronze color vinyl edition will be available exclusively via Vinyl Me, Please while a limited, translucent orange vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers. An autographed, “Seaglass Blue” color vinyl edition limited to 500, as well as limited edition autographed compact discs are available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

49 Winchester Fortune Favors The Bold Track Listing

1. Annabel
2. Man’s Best Friend
3. Russell County Line
4. All I Need
5. Hillbilly Daydream
6. Damn Darlin’
7. Fortune Favors The Bold
8. Second Chance
9. Neon
10. Last Call
 
49 Winchester On Tour:

March 11 - Dallas, TX - Sundown at Granada
March 16 - Austin, TX - 2:30pm Lambert’s (SXSW - C3 BBQ Showcase) / 5:00pm Jam In The Van
March 17 - Spicewood, TX - Luck Reunion
March 18 - 5:00pm The Pershing (SXSW Paste Magazine Party) / 10:00pm Antone’s (New West Records Showcase)
March 19 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe
March 26 - Pineville, KY - Bell Theatre
April 3 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage
April 21 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
April 22 - Oxford, MS - Double Decker Art Fest
April 23 - Biloxi, MS - Crawfish Music Festival
April 29 - Brevard, NC - 185 King Street
April 30 - Scaly Mountain, NC - Bear Shadow Music Fest
May 1 - North Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFest
May 5 - Athens, GA - Southern Brewing Company
May 6 - Atlanta, GA - Smith’s Olde Bar
May 10 - New York, NY - The Mercury Lounge
May 14 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern
May 19 - Greenville, SC - The Radio Room
May 20 - Elon, NC - Power and Sound Revival
May 21 - Beaufort, NC - Beaufort Music Festival
June 3 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
June 4 - Lexington, KY - The Burl
June 8 - Cedar Rapids, IA - McGrath Amphitheatre *
June 9 - Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park *
June 10 - Camdenton, MO - Lake Ozarks Amphtheater *
June 11 - Council Bluffs, IA - Westfair Amphitheatre *
June 15 - Cincinnati, OH - ICON Music Center Festival Park*
June 16 - Asheville, NC - Rabbit Rabbit *
June 18 - Brandon, MS - Brandon Amphitheater *
June 24 - Richmond, VA - Brown’s Island - Friday Cheers
June 25 - Mount Solon, VA - Red Wing Roots Music Festival
July 7 - North Charleston, SC - Firefly Distillery - Lawn *
July 8 - Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre *
July 9 - Raleigh, NC - Red Hat Amphitheater *
July 10 - Portsmouth, VA - Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion *
July 12 - Manteo, NC - Roanoke Island Festival Park *
July 14 - Dothan, AL - National Peanut Festival *
July 15 - Cocoa, FL - Cocoa Riverfront Park *
July 16 - Pompano Beach, FL - Pompano Beach Amphitheatre *
July 17 - St. Augustine, FL - The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre *
July 27-30 - Floyd, VA - FloydFest
August 4 - Missoula, MT - Big Sky Amphitheatre *
August 5 - Billings, MT - Magic City Blues Festival *
August 7 - Boise, ID - Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden *
August 11 - Grand Junction, CO - Las Colonias Park Amphitheater *
August 12 - Sandy, UT - Sandy City Amphitheater *
August 13 - Cheyenne, WY - Terry Bison Ranch Resort - Gathering Hall *
September 10 - Bristol, TN - Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion
 
* Whiskey Myers with Shane Smith & The Saints, and 49 Winchester

Mon, 04/04/2022 - 12:37 pm

Los Lobos was awarded “Best Americana Album” for their 2021 studio album Native Sons at last night’s 64th Annual Grammy Awards. It is their fourth Grammy Award win. The 13-song Native Sons was produced by Los Lobos in East Los Angeles and found the band mapping their musical DNA as a kaleidoscopic selection of tribute songs from their homeland, ultimately creating a crucial snapshot of L.A.’s musical heritage. Met with wide critical acclaim, David Fricke said in his 4 Star MOJO review, “Pin Ups en Espanol: East LA’s greatest dance band hosts a ‘covers’ party,” while Uncut Magazine awarded the album 8 out of 10 stars. Mother Jones said “They are a national treasure,” while the actor, comedian, and podcast host Marc Maron exclaimed “Los Lobos makes almost all other bands look like novelty acts.”

Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin accepted the award on behalf of the band, saying “The concept of this record was gratitude. It was a thank you to the city that we started in and the artists and records that inspired us to try to make a living out of this. I think it’s an important concept. I just want to thank everybody that had anything to do with our career. Next year will be 50 years. It’s amazing to think about. These things never get old, so thank you very much.”

For all the trailblazing musical acts who’ve emerged from Los Angeles, very few embody the city’s wildly eclectic spirit more wholeheartedly than Los Lobos. Over the last five decades, the East L.A.-bred band has made an indelible mark on music history by exploring an enormous diversity of genres—rock-and-roll and R&B, surf music and soul, mariachi and música norteña, punk rock and country—and building a boldly unpredictable sound all their own.

The National Endowment for the Arts also named Los Lobos a part of its newest class of National Heritage fellows. The honor recognizes individuals and groups who represent the richness and breadth of America’s folk and traditional arts and supports their continuing contributions to our nation’s traditional arts heritage.
 
Native Sons

As with all of their catalog, Native Sons reveals Los Lobos’ ability to merge genres and styles with both sophistication and playful spontaneity, an element that’s perfectly reflected in the album’s unbridled joy. “I played it for a friend and his first response was that it’s a party record—which sounds right to me,” says Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo. Beyond that undeniably feel-good quality, Native Sons essentially serves as a love letter to Los Angeles and the endless possibilities to be found when all boundaries are shattered. “I couldn’t say there’s a common thread for all these artists, but in a way that’s exactly what makes L.A. great,” says Berlin. “You’ve got R&B and punk rock and rock-and-roll and folk, and somehow it exists together in this one weird city that we all call home.”

Los Lobos will launch another leg of their extensive Native Sons tour this Friday in Santa Maria, CA. The tour features two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheater on July 29th and 30th, as well a hometown show at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles on August 19th as a part of the “Wheels of Soul Tour” alongside the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Please see all dates below.

Quickly finding their footing in L.A.’s punk/college-rock scene, Los Lobos began sharing bills with bands like Public Image Ltd. and the Circle Jerks. After making their major-label debut with 1984’s critically lauded How Will the Wolf Survive?, they went on to achieve such triumphs as contributing a smash-hit cover of Ritchie Valens’s signature song “La Bamba” to the 1987 biopic of the same name, winning four Grammy Awards, collaborating with the likes of Elvis Costello and Ry Cooder, and earning massive worldwide critical acclaim.

Los Lobos’ Native Sons is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Los Lobos Still Are: David Hidalgo (vocals, guitars) - Louie Pérez, Jr. (vocals, guitars) - Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitars, bass, Hammond B3 organ) - Conrad Lozano (vocals, bass) - Steve Berlin (saxes, midisax, keyboards)

Los Lobos On Tour:
 
04.08.2022 - Presqu'ile Winery - Santa Maria, CA
04.09.2022 - Rio Theater - Santa Cruz, CA
04.10.2022 - Sweetwater Music Hall - Mill Valley, CA
04.20.2022 - South Orange PAC - South Orange, NJ
04.23.2022 - The Fountain Stage at Regents Square Western New Mexico University - Silver City, NM
04.28.2022 - The Burl - Lexington, KY
04.29.2022 - The Basement - Nashville, TN
05.06.2022 - Boulder Station - Las Vegas, NV
05.07.2022 - Riverside Municipal Auditorium - Riverside, CA
06.02.2022 - Egyptian Theatre - Park City, UT
06.03.2022 - Egyptian Theatre - Park City, UT
06.04.2022  - Egyptian Theatre - Park City, UT
06.05.2022  - Egyptian Theatre - Park City, UT
6.24.2022  - Daily's Place Amphitheater - Jacksonville, FL *
6.25.2022  - Mobile Civic Center - Mobile, AL *
6.26.2022 - Tuscaloosa Amphitheater - Tuscaloosa, AL *
6.28.2022  - The Amphitheater at White River State Park - Indianapolis, IN *
6.29.2022  - Fox Theatre - Detroit, MI *
7.01.2022  - Constellation Brands / Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center    Canandaigua, NY *
7.02.2022 - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion - Gilford, NH *
7.03.2022 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center - Saratoga Springs, NY *
7.06.2022 - Westville Music Bowl - New Haven, CT *
7.08.2022 - The Mann Center of Performing Arts - Philadelphia, PA *
7.09.2022 - Midway Lawn - Burlington, VT *
7.10.2022 - Great South Bay Music Festival - Patchogue, NY *
7.12.2022  - Artpark - Lewiston, NY *
7.15.2022  - Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA *
7.16.2022  - Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA *
7.19.2022 - Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA *
7.20.2022  - Virginia Credit Union LIVE! - Richmond, VA *
7.21.2022 - Coastal Credit Union Music Park - Raleigh, NC *
7.23.2022 - PNC Music Pavillion - Charlotte, NC *
7.24.2022 - Rose Music Center at The Heights - Huber Heights, OH *
7.26.2022 - RiverEdge Park - Aurora, IL *
7.27.2022  - Fabulous Fox Theatre - St Louis, MO *
7.29.2022 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO *
7.30.2022 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO *
08.18.2022  - Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre - San Diego, CA *
08.19.2022 - Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA *
08.20.2022 - UC Berkeley - Berkeley, CA *
08.23.2022 - Memorial Auditorium - Sacramento, CA *
08.24.2022  - Cuthbert Amphitheater - Eugene, OR *
08.26.2022 - White River Amphitheatre - Auburn, WA *
08.27.2022 - Hayden Homes Amphitheater - Bend, OR *
08.28.2022 - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino - Reno, NV *
08.31.2022 - Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden - Boise, ID *
09.01.2022 - KettleHouse Amphitheater - Bonner, MT *
09.03.2022 - Bluestem Center for the Arts Amphitheatre - Moorhead, MN *
09.15.2022-09.18.2022 - Super Legends Cruise - North Long Beach, CA
11.03.2022-11.08.2022 - Outlaw Country West Festival - Los Angeles, CA
 
* Wheels of Soul Tour with Tedeschi Trucks Band

Sat, 04/09/2022 - 1:16 pm

The Deslondes are set to return with Ways & Means July 8th, 2022 via New West Records. The 14-song set is their first album in five years and follows 2017’s critically acclaimed Hurry Home. Ways & Means was produced by The Deslondes & their longtime collaborator Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes) and was recorded at The Bombshelter in Nashville, TN. The album features Margo Price on the title track, as well as Twain and the multi-instrumentalist Billy Contreras on multiple songs as well. Long combining elements of early Stax, Sun, and Atlantic Records with the influence of a more raw, stripped-down sound gleaned off field recordings from Alan Lomax and the Mississippi Records catalog, the band also incorporate psychedelic flourishes that bring to mind the sonic experimentation of Joe Meek, Lee Hazlewood and the Velvet Underground. Infusing everything from saxophone, flute, and synth to string arrangements and a full drum kit for the first time, the group naturally progresses and evolves in real-time on their third full-length offering.
 
Lauded as “burgeoning stars” by The New York Times, The Deslondes’ 2014 self-titled debut was a breakout hit praised by NPR as “energized, elegant, and new,” and their follow-up, Hurry Home, earned similar acclaim with Rolling Stone calling it “a gritty, grimy mix of early rock ‘n’ roll and lo-fi R&B.” Following the band’s hiatus in late 2018, members Sam Doores and Riley Downing each released their debut solo albums to critical acclaim. PopMatters called Doores' eponymous debut “...a deeply poetic and haunting collection that draws upon the musicians’ disparate influences” and “Perhaps not since Los Lobos’ Kiko has an artist so effortlessly married avant-garde and everyman sensibilities, arriving at a place where childlike curiosity meets the fruits of patient practice and ambition. Deep knowledge and unbound imagination coexist peacefully, happily, throughout. Of Downing’s Start It Over (2021), Uncut Magazine in the U.K. called it a “dusty triumph” and described his voice  “...like Johnny Cash with a hangover,” exclaiming “His brain…is abuzz with sounds and ideas, which makes his solo debut a thrill.”
 
Today, Holler shared the first sampling of Ways & Means with the album highlight “South Dakota Wild One,” exclaiming, "Stop what you're doing! The Deslondes are back!" and saying "'South Dakota Wild One' is nothing short of magnificent." Downing says, “It’s a nostalgic song about getting into music, traveling, and running into the special people who were around then, but aren’t around now.”
 
Share “South Dakota Wild One” Here.

The Deslondes have also announced their initial tour dates in support of Ways & Means, launching July 13th in Athens, GA. Please see tour dates, with more to be added soon, below.
 
“The album title reminds me of being young, getting into the music business, going through everything and coming out of it,” Downing observes. “We’re taking a look right, left, and back at ourselves.” The Deslondes’ John James Tourville adds, “We were letting go of a bunch of old dynamics that left us burnt out. We’re focused on being productive and on the other side.”
 
The “other side” might just be their brightest yet.
 
The Deslondes remain Dan Cutler, Sam Doores, Riley Downing, Cameron Snyder, and John James Tourville.
 
The Deslondes’ Ways & Means will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 300 “Flambeaux” color vinyl edition will be available via Vinyl Me, Please. A limited to 1,500 “Sun King” color vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers and can be pre-ordered NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

The Deslondes Ways & Means Track Listing:
 
1. Good to Go
2. Five Year Plan
3. Ways & Means
4. South Dakota Wild One
5. Consider Me
6. Howl at the Moon
7. Home Again
8. Wild Eden
9. Standing Still
10. Dunes
11. Tomorrow Morning
12. Bound by Love
13. Sweet Release
14. Hero
 
The Deslondes On Tour:

July 13 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt
July 14 - Nashville, TN - Basement East
July 16 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic
July 17 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
July 19 - Baltimore, MD - The Metro Gallery
July 20  - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
July 21 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
July 30 - North Hillsdale, NY - Oldtone Roots Fest
September 24 - Cincinnati, OH - Whispering Beard
September 25 - Seymour, IN - The Greenhouse
September 27- Davenport IA - Racoon Motel
September 28 - Spring Green, WI - Shitty Barn
September 29 - Chicago, IL - The Hideout
September 30 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
October 1 - St Paul MN - Turf Club
October 2 - Des Moines IA - xBk
October 4 - Columbia MO - Rose Music Hall
October 5 - KC, MO - Knuckleheads
October 6 - St Louis, MO - Off Broadway
October 7 - Memphis, TN - Hernando's Hideaway

Tue, 05/24/2022 - 11:28 am

JD McPherson will release The Warm Covers EP, Vol 2 digitally this Friday, May 27th via New West Records. The 5-song set features McPherson’s interpretations of songs originally performed by Iggy Pop, Pixies, Irma Thomas, Art Neville, and Oklahoma R&B and Country Legend Big Al Downing. McPherson has digitally released one cover a month throughout 2022 with all songs engineered & mixed by Alex Hall (The Cactus Blossoms, Pokey LaFarge) at Reliable Recorders in Chicago, IL. The EP is the sequel to his 2014 collection of covers which featured his interpretations of songs performed by Nick Lowe, Alabama, “Billy Boy” Arnold, and more. A physical edition of The Warm Covers including additional bonus tracks is planned for release in 2023.
 
Of the songs featured on The Warm Covers EP, Vol. 2, McPherson says, “These recordings represent not only a cross-section of my musical upbringing, but also a leap into sunshine following a dark couple of years. These tunes are old friends - and to record them with these new collaborators brought me back to life in a lot of ways. Some of these song choices might not make sense together on paper, but to me it's practically the story of my life in three-minute bursts of unchecked enthusiasm.”
 
McPherson & his band will also support Robert Plant & Alison Krauss on their anticipated tour in support of last year’s acclaimed Raise The Roof. In addition to performing a support set with his own band for each date, McPherson will also be featured as guitarist in Plant & Krauss’ touring band as well. The 23-date tour launches next Wednesday, June 1st in Canandaigua, NY and will feature performances at Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills, Queens, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO, the Moody Amphitheater in Austin, TX and more. Please see all dates below.
 
McPherson says, “It's really impossible to express not only my excitement, but also my gratitude for being welcomed into this band for the upcoming tour.  For more than ten years, I've been a huge fan of the Plant/Krauss project (not to mention the individual artists within) and all of the musicians involved. I once bought an autographed Raising Sand poster on eBay, for Pete's sake. The opportunity to play in this band with my musical heroes isn't something I could have ever dreamed of.  Being asked to open the US shows is the bourbon-soaked cherry on the icing.”
 
JD McPherson’s The Warm Covers EP, Vol. 2 will be available digitally this Friday, May 27th and can be pre-saved HERE.

SUPPORT ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS ON TOUR WHILE ALSO BEING FEATURED IN PLANT & KRAUSS’ TOURING BAND

JD McPherson On Tour With Robert Plant & Alison Krauss:

June 1st -  Canandaigua, NY - CMAC
June 3rd -  Saratoga Springs, NY - SPAC
June 4th - Forest Hills, NY - Forest Hills Stadium
June 6th - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
June 7th - Chicago, IL - Jay Pritzker Pavilion 
June 9th - Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amp at White River State Park
June 11th - Columbia, MD - MPP
June 12th - Philadelphia, PA - TD Pavilion @ The Mann
June 14th - Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre
June 16th - Atlanta, GA - Cadence Bank Amp @ Chastain Park
August 15th - San Diego, CA - The Rady Shell @ Jacobs Park
August 17th - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
August 18th - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
August 20th - Stateline, NV - Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena
August 21st - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
August 23rd - Napa, CA - Oxbow RiverStage
August 25th - Bend, OR - Hayden Homes Amp
August 27th - Troutdale, OR - Edgefield 
August 28th - Redmond, WA - Marymoor Park
August 30th - Salt Lake City, UT - Sandy Amp
September 1st - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks 
September 3rd - Grand Prairie, TX - Texas Trust CU Theatre Grand Prairie
September 4th - Austin, TX - Moody Amphitheatre

Wed, 06/22/2022 - 7:54 am

Kris Kristofferson will release Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981 on September 2nd via New West Records. The previously unreleased & unheard 15-song set was the final date of Kristofferson’s 1981 tour and was recorded at the legendary Pasadena, TX honky tonk most well known for its role in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy. Kristofferson is backed by an incredible live band featuring Stephen Bruton, Billy Swan, Donnie Fritts, Tommy McClure, Glen Clark, and Sammy Creason. The album also features exclusive liner notes written by the country music legend & Gilley’s co-owner Mickey Gilley, as well as additional pieces written by the legendary George Strait, and Billy Swan.
 
Today, The Boot shared the concert’s lead off song, saying "As Kristofferson rolls through 'Me and Bobby McGee,' the energy in the room is palpable, with waves of screams from the exhilarated crowd audible throughout the rollicking performance. Although the song has taken on a life of its own over the decades, Kristofferson's fiery performance from the Gilley's stage showcases his electrifying and unequivocal level of artistry."

SHARE “ME AND BOBBY McGEE” FROM LIVE AT GILLEY’S - PASADENA, TX: SEPTEMBER 15, 1981

From his liner notes written three months before his passing in May, Mickey Gilley offered, “Gilley’s could hold several thousand people, but the club was very intimate. You were right there on the stage with people all around you. You could bend down and shake hands with people.” He continued, “Right next to the club was the recording studio, and we recorded everything that was done onstage. We could record onto the 24-track machine that we had in the studio, then we would do the mixing…We booked a lot of shows around that time, including some people I didn’t think would want to play the club. We got some acts that made me think, ‘Are you kidding me?’...Kris Kristofferson was one of those artists that I didn’t think would want to play Gilley’s, because he was such a big name and a tremendous talent.”
 
George Strait exclaimed, “What a great album this is! Classic Kristofferson songs throughout, and live!! Kris was in his prime and his vocals were outstanding and very soulful as always. I got to play Gilley's a few times back in those days and this record takes me right back there. You can tell the crowd is loving him and he’s loving them right back. That’s what it’s all about. It was an exciting time to say the least. So close your eyes and listen to this record. Imagine you’re right there standing in front of the stage with the man himself looking right at you. I think you’ll get a really good idea of what Gilley's was like back then when Kris played there. What a treat that must’ve been.”
 
Kris Kristofferson Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981 will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A very limited to 300 White Vinyl Edition will be available exclusively at Texas Retailers while a limited, foil stamped and numbered to 750, Opaque Metallic Silver Vinyl Edition will be available via Vinyl Me, Please. A limited Opaque Red with White Marble Vinyl Edition will be available at Independent Retailers and can be found for Pre-Order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Kris Kristofferson Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981 Track Listing:
 
1. Me And Bobby McGee
2. Here Comes That Rainbow Again
3. Casey’s Last Ride
4. You Show Me Yours (And I’ll Show You Mine) / Stranger
5. Nobody Loves Anybody Anymore
6. Darby’s Castle
7. If It’s All The Same To You
8. The Pilgrim
9. For The Good Times
10. Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down
11. The Silver Tongued Devil And I
12. Smile At Me Again
13. Same Old Song
14. Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)
15. Why Me

Thu, 06/23/2022 - 1:35 pm

Town Mountain has signed with New West Records and will release their anticipated Lines in the Levee on October 7th, 2022. The 11-song collection was produced, engineered, and mixed by the multiple Grammy Award nominated Justin Francis (Kacey Musgraves, Orville Peck, Anti-Flag) at Ronnie’s Place in Nashville, TN. Hailing from Asheville, NC, Town Mountain is the sum of all of its vast and intricate influences — this bastion of alt-country rebellion and honky-tonk attitude pushed through the hardscrabble Southern Appalachian lens of its origin. Lines in the Levee follows 2018’s acclaimed New Freedom Blues and is the first to feature the addition of drummer Miles Miller (of Sturgill Simpson musical lore).

The hearty base of Town Mountain’s music is classic country, old school rock and roll, and traditional string bands. Both on stage and on record, the group’s wide-ranging influences like The Band, Grateful Dead, Bill Monroe, Townes Van Zandt, Chuck Berry, John Hartford, and more can be heard. Lines in the Levee is a bona fide workshop in the seamless blend of Americana, country, bluegrass, and folk roots — this crossroads of deep influences and cultivated visions each band member brings to the table. Guitarist Robert Greer says “This is the sound we’ve been working towards since the inception of the band. It isn’t a departure, it’s an evolution — the gate is wide open right now.”

Today, Taste of Country premiered the video for the album’s title track which was directed by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard for Neighborhoods Apart. Town Mountain's primary lyricist Phil Barker says the song “was written amid the social upheaval of 2020. Lyrically, I wanted the song to communicate that a change is coming for those who don’t have a voice or feel disenfranchised. Musically, I wanted the rhythm to have a similar intensity and make you feel like something is about to happen.” Taste of Country says, “The song provides hope and confidence in the face of uncertainty and fear from the last two years.”

SHARE TOWN MOUNTAIN’S “LINES IN THE LEVEE” VIDEO

After more than a decade together, the fiercely independent band has proven they have staying power by regularly cranking out authentic hit albums, collaborating with like-minded artists such as Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, and Jerry Douglas and consistently selling out shows nationwide. The members of Town Mountain felt an immediate kinship with New West Records and a genuine bond of creative fulfillment and sustained artistic growth. Banjoist Jess Langlais said of the partnership, “New West came to some of our shows and the ball started rolling. They knew they wanted to work with us, and we knew we wanted to work with them. New West lets the artist steer the ship and that’s what we were looking for — to have the autonomy to do what we want, but to also have a great label behind us.”

Well established coast-to-coast for their incendiary live performances, Town Mountain has also announced their initial tour dates in support of Lines in the Levee. Launching this Saturday night at the Hootenanny at the Caverns in Pelham, TN, the tour also features a special album release party at the historic Station Inn in Nashville. Please see tour dates, with more to be added, below.

Lines in the Levee is a moment in time for Town Mountain to take pause and glance over its shoulder at the road to the here and now. Right from the beginning, it’s always been about camaraderie and the creation of something unique.

Town Mountain are Phil Barker, Bobby Britt, Robert Greer, Jesse Langlais, Miles Miller, and Zach Smith.

"Lines In The Levee" out October 7th, 2022

Town Mountain’s Lines in the Levee will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. An extremely limited to 100 Coke Bottle Clear vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers in North Carolina while a limited to 1,000 Translucent Orange vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide. A limited to 500 Translucent Yellow vinyl edition is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS. All limited color vinyl editions will be autographed by the members of Town Mountain.

Town Mountain Lines in the Levee Track Listing:
 
1. Lines in the Levee
2. Comeback Kid
3. Distant Line
4. Firebound Road
5. Rene
6. Seasons Don't Change
7. Daydream Quarantina
8. Big Decisions
9. Unsung Heroes
10. American Family
11. Lean Into the Blue
 
Town Mountain On Tour:
 
6/25/22 - Hootenanny at The Caverns - Pelham, TN
7/8/22 - Byrd's Creek Music Festival - Crossville, TN
7/9/22 - Wolf Hills Brewing - Abingdon, VA
7/22/22 - Hangar House - Salt Lake City, UT
7/23/22 - Oyster Ridge Music Festival - Kemmerer, WY
7/29/22 - Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC
7/30/22 - Salvage Station - Asheville, NC
8/5/22 - Haw River Ballroom - Saxapahaw, NC
8/6/22 - Eddie's Attic - Atlanta, GA
8/19/22 - The Southern - Charlottesville, VA
8/20/22 - The Monument - Winchester,VA
9/2/22 - Nelsonville Music Fest - Nelsonville, OH
9/30/22 - Cumberland Mountain Fall Festival - Middlesboro,KY
10/5/22 - Station Inn - Nashville, TN (Album Release Performance)
10/6/22 - The Burl - Lexington, KY (Album Release Performance)
10/14/22 - Southgate House - Cincinnati, OH
10/15/22 - HiFi Indy - Indianapolis, IN
10/20/22 - Outer Banks Bluegrass Fest - Manteo, NC
10/21/22 - The Camel - Richmond, VA
10/22/22 - The Hamilton - Washington, DC
11/4/22 - Southern Pines Concert Series - Southern Pines, NC
11/5/22 - 5 Points Music Sanctuary - Roanoke, VA
11/6/22 - Headliners - Louisville, KY
11/8/22 - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO
11/9/22 - Tulsa Shrine - Tulsa, OK
11/10/22 - Tulips - Ft. Worth, TX
11/11/22 - The Ballroom - Austin, TX
11/12/22 - Last Concert Cafe     - Houston, TX
11/13/22 - Hideaway on Lee - Lafayette, LA

Thu, 07/21/2022 - 10:22 am

Kris Kristofferson will release Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15th, 1981 on September 2nd via New West Records. The previously unreleased 15-song set was the final date of Kristofferson’s 1981 tour and was recorded at the legendary Pasadena, TX honky tonk most well known for its role in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy. Kristofferson is backed by an incredible live band featuring Stephen Bruton, Billy Swan, Donnie Fritts, Tommy McClure, Glen Clark, and Sammy Creason. The album also features exclusive liner notes written by the country music legend & Gilley’s co-owner Mickey Gilley, as well as additional pieces written by the legendary George Strait, and Billy Swan.
 
Today, Holler shared the performance highlight “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down," saying the recording "...captures an icon in his prime, the raw energy of the audience surging throughout the record." Hear "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" from Live at Gilley's - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981 HERE.

The Boot previously shared the concert’s lead off song, saying "As Kristofferson rolls through 'Me and Bobby McGee,' the energy in the room is palpable, with waves of screams from the exhilarated crowd audible throughout the rollicking performance. Although the song has taken on a life of its own over the decades, Kristofferson's fiery performance from the Gilley's stage showcases his electrifying and unequivocal level of artistry."
 
SHARE “SUNDAY MORNIN’ COMIN’ DOWN”
SHARE “ME AND BOBBY McGEE”

From his liner notes written three months before his passing in May, Mickey Gilley offered, “Gilley’s could hold several thousand people, but the club was very intimate. You were right there on the stage with people all around you. You could bend down and shake hands with people.” He continued, “Right next to the club was the recording studio, and we recorded everything that was done onstage. We could record onto the 24-track machine that we had in the studio, then we would do the mixing…We booked a lot of shows around that time, including some people I didn’t think would want to play the club. We got some acts that made me think, ‘Are you kidding me?’...Kris Kristofferson was one of those artists that I didn’t think would want to play Gilley’s, because he was such a big name and a tremendous talent.”
 
George Strait exclaimed, “What a great album this is! Classic Kristofferson songs throughout, and live!! Kris was in his prime and his vocals were outstanding and very soulful as always. I got to play Gilley's a few times back in those days and this record takes me right back there. You can tell the crowd is loving him and he’s loving them right back. That’s what it’s all about. It was an exciting time to say the least. So close your eyes and listen to this record. Imagine you’re right there standing in front of the stage with the man himself looking right at you. I think you’ll get a really good idea of what Gilley's was like back then when Kris played there. What a treat that must’ve been.”
 
Kris Kristofferson's Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15th, 1981 will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A very limited to 300 White Vinyl Edition will be available exclusively at Texas Retailers while a limited, foil stamped and numbered to 750, Opaque Metallic Silver Vinyl Edition will be available via Vinyl Me, Please. A limited Opaque Red with White Marble Vinyl Edition will be available at Independent Retailers and can be found for Pre-Order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Kris Kristofferson Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15th, 1981 Track Listing:
 
1. Me And Bobby McGee
2. Here Comes That Rainbow Again
3. Casey’s Last Ride
4. You Show Me Yours (And I’ll Show You Mine) / Stranger
5. Nobody Loves Anybody Anymore
6. Darby’s Castle
7. If It’s All The Same To You
8. The Pilgrim
9. For The Good Times
10. Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down
11. The Silver Tongued Devil And I
12. Smile At Me Again
13. Same Old Song
14. Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)
15. Why Me

Sat, 07/23/2022 - 3:24 pm

In James McMurtry’s new effort, The Horses and the Hounds, the acclaimed songwriter backs personal narratives with effortless elegance (“Canola Fields”) and endless energy (“If It Don’t Bleed”). This first collection in seven years, due August 20 on New West Records, spotlights a seasoned tunesmith in peak form as he turns toward reflection (“Vaquero”) and revelation ( closer “Blackberry Winter”). Familiar foundations guide the journey. “There’s a definite Los Angeles vibe to this record,” McMurtry says. “The ghost of Warren Zevon seems to be stomping around among the guitar tracks. Don’t know how he got in there. He never signed on for work for hire.”

The Horses and the Hounds is a reunion of sorts. McMurtry recorded the new album with legendary producer Ross Hogarth (John Fogerty, Van Halen, Keb’ Mo’) at Jackson Browne’s Groove Masters in Santa Monica, California, a world class studio that has housed such legends as Bob Dylan (2012’s Tempest) and David Crosby (2016’s Lighthouse) as well as Browne himself for I’m Alive (1993) and New Found Glory, Coming Home (2006). McMurtry and Hogarth first worked together 30 years ago, when Hogarth was a recording engineer in the employ of John Mellencamp at Mellencamp’s own Belmont Studios near Bloomington, Indiana. Hogarth recorded McMurtry’s first two albums, Too Long in the Wasteland and Candyland, for Columbia Records and later mixed McMurtry’s first self-produced album, Saint Mary of the Woods, for Sugar Hill Records. Another veteran of those three releases, guitarist David Grissom (Joe Ely, John Mellencamp, Dixie Chicks), returns with some of his finest work.

Accordingly, the new collection marks another upward trajectory: The Horses and the Hounds will be McMurtry’s debut album on genre-defining Americana record label New West Records (Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Buddy Miller, dozens more).

“I first became aware of James McMurtry’s formidable songwriting prowess while working at Bug Music publishing in the ’90s,” says New West president John Allen. “He’s a true talent. All of us at New West are excited at the prospect of championing the next phase of James’ already successful and respected career.” McMurtry perfectly fits a label housing “artists who perform real music for real people.” After all, No Depression says of the literate songwriter’s most recent collection, Complicated Game: “Lyrically, the album is wise and adventurous, with McMurtry — who’s not prone to autobiographical tales — credibly inhabiting characters from all walks of life.” “[McMurtry] fuses wry, literate observations about the world with the snarl of barroom rock,” National Public Radio says. “The result is at times sardonic, subversive and funny, but often vulnerable and always poignant.”
 
His lauded storytelling — check out songs such as “Operation Never Mind” and “Ft. Walton Wake-Up Call” on The Horses and the Hounds— consistently has turned heads for decades now. “James writes like he’s lived a lifetime,” said John Mellencamp back in 1989, when Too Long in the Wasteland hit the Billboard 200. “James McMurtry is one of my very few favorite songwriters on Earth and these days he’s working at the top of his game,” says Americana all-star Jason Isbell. “He has that rare gift of being able to make a listener laugh out loud at one line and choke up at the next. I don’t think anybody writes better lyrics.” McMurtry’s albums Just Us Kids (2008) and Childish Things (2005) back the claim, each scoring endless critical praise. The former earned McMurtry his highest Billboard 200 chart position in two decades (since eclipsed by Complicated Game) and notched Americana Music Honors & Awards nominations. Childish Things spent six full weeks topping the Americana Music Radio chart in 2005 and 2006, and won the Americana Music Association’s Album of the Year, with “We Can’t Make It Here” named the organization’s Song of the Year.
 
Other accolades include a 1996 Grammy nomination for Long Form Music Video for Where’d You Hide the Body and an American Indie Award for Best Americana Album for It Had to Happen (1997).
 
McMurtry tours year-round and consistently throws down unparalleled powerhouse performances, reflected in the release of two live discs: the universally lauded Live in Aught-Three on Compadre Records, and 2009’s Live in Europe, which captured the McMurtry band’s first European tour and extraordinary live set. Along with seasoned band members Ronnie Johnson, Daren Hess, and Tim Holt, Live in Europe features special guests Ian McLagan (Faces) and Jon Dee Graham (True Believers, Skunks). (Video of the performance is available on the included DVD.)

Thu, 07/28/2022 - 10:26 am

Town Mountain will release their anticipated Lines in the Levee on October 7th, 2022 via New West Records. The 11-song collection was produced, engineered, and mixed by the multiple Grammy Award nominated Justin Francis (Kacey Musgraves, Orville Peck, Anti-Flag) at Ronnie’s Place in Nashville, TN. Hailing from Asheville, NC, Town Mountain is the sum of all of its vast and intricate influences — this bastion of alt-country rebellion and honky-tonk attitude pushed through the hardscrabble Southern Appalachian lens of its origin. Lines in the Levee follows 2018’s acclaimed New Freedom Blues and is the first to feature the addition of drummer Miles Miller (of Sturgill Simpson musical lore).
 
The hearty base of Town Mountain’s music is classic country, old school rock and roll, and traditional string bands. Both on stage and on record, the group’s wide-ranging influences like The Band, Grateful Dead, Bill Monroe, Townes Van Zandt, Chuck Berry, John Hartford, and more can be heard. Lines in the Levee is a bona fide workshop in the seamless blend of Americana, country, bluegrass, and folk roots — this crossroads of deep influences and cultivated visions each band member brings to the table. Guitarist Robert Greer says “This is the sound we’ve been working towards since the inception of the band. It isn’t a departure, it’s an evolution — the gate is wide open right now.”
 
Today, Holler premiered the album highlight “Seasons Don’t Change.”  Town Mountain’s Jesse Langlais said of the song, “Change is constant, change is inevitable, change is here and now. It’s not hard to see that the human race is playing a massive role in climate change. All you have to do is read the paper, watch the news or just step outside. Floods, fires, melting roads, rising sea levels, drought, and the question that looms over us everyday, what’s next? “Seasons do change’ is what my daughter tells me when she listens to this song, and for now they still do. Although they certainly bleed together. I can’t really tell when Summer starts and Spring ends. I hope, for her and the following generations, that we can somehow manage the trouble that’s coming their way.” Hear “Seasons Don’t Change” HERE.

Taste of Country previously premiered the video for the album’s title track, saying “The song provides hope and confidence in the face of uncertainty and fear from the last two years.” See the Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard directed “Lines in the Levee” video HERE.

After more than a decade together, the fiercely independent band has proven they have staying power by regularly cranking out authentic hit albums, collaborating with like-minded artists such as Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, and Jerry Douglas and consistently selling out shows nationwide. The members of Town Mountain felt an immediate kinship with New West Records and a genuine bond of creative fulfillment and sustained artistic growth. Banjoist Jesse Langlais said of the partnership, “New West came to some of our shows and the ball started rolling. They knew they wanted to work with us, and we knew we wanted to work with them. New West lets the artist steer the ship and that’s what we were looking for — to have the autonomy to do what we want, but to also have a great label behind us.”
 
Well established coast-to-coast for their incendiary live performances, Town Mountain has also announced their initial tour dates in support of Lines in the Levee. The tour features special album release parties at the historic Station Inn in Nashville and The Burl in Lexington, KY. Please see dates, with more to be added, below.
 
Lines in the Levee is a moment in time for Town Mountain to take pause and glance over its shoulder at the road to the here and now. Right from the beginning, it’s always been about camaraderie and the creation of something unique.
 
Town Mountain are Phil Barker, Bobby Britt, Robert Greer, Jesse Langlais, Miles Miller, and Zach Smith.
 
Town Mountain’s Lines in the Levee will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. An extremely limited to 100 Coke Bottle Clear vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers in North Carolina while a limited to 1,000 Translucent Orange vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide. A limited to 500 Translucent Yellow vinyl edition is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS. All limited color vinyl editions will be autographed by the members of Town Mountain.

Town Mountain Lines in the Levee Track Listing:
 
1. Lines in the Levee
2. Comeback Kid
3. Distant Line
4. Firebound Road
5. Rene
6. Seasons Don't Change
7. Daydream Quarantina
8. Big Decisions
9. Unsung Heroes
10. American Family
11. Lean Into the Blue
 
Town Mountain On Tour:
 
7/29/22 - Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC
7/30/22 - Salvage Station - Asheville, NC
8/5/22 - Haw River Ballroom - Saxapahaw, NC
8/6/22 - Eddie's Attic - Atlanta, GA
8/19/22 - The Southern - Charlottesville, VA
8/20/22 - The Monument - Winchester,VA
9/2/22 - Nelsonville Music Fest - Nelsonville, OH
9/16/22 - Rivergrass - Knoxville, TN
9/30/22 - Cumberland Mountain Fall Festival - Middlesboro,KY
10/5/22 - Station Inn - Nashville, TN (Album Release Performance)
10/6/22 - The Burl - Lexington, KY (Album Release Performance)
10/7/22 - Ziggy’s - High Point, NC
10/14/22 - Southgate House - Cincinnati, OH
10/15/22 - HiFi Indy - Indianapolis, IN
10/20/22 - Outer Banks Bluegrass Fest - Manteo, NC
10/21/22 - The Camel - Richmond, VA
10/22/22 - The Hamilton - Washington, DC
11/4/22 - Southern Pines Concert Series - Southern Pines, NC
11/5/22 - 5 Points Music Sanctuary - Roanoke, VA
11/6/22 - Headliners - Louisville, KY
11/8/22 - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO
11/9/22 - Tulsa Shrine - Tulsa, OK
11/10/22 - Tulips - Ft. Worth, TX
11/11/22 - The Ballroom - Austin, TX
11/12/22 - Last Concert Cafe     - Houston, TX
11/13/22 - Hideaway on Lee - Lafayette, LA

Sun, 08/14/2022 - 3:10 pm

49 Winchester will make their Grand Ole Opry debut on August 30th in support of their critically acclaimed Fortune Favors the Bold. The new album has quickly generated over 10 million global streams and is now generating north of 750,000 streams a week. Fortune Favors the Bold debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top New Artist Chart, #7 on the Billboard Current Country Chart, and #10 on the Billboard Folk Americana Chart as well. Of their Opry debut, frontman Isaac Gibson said, “I remember when this band first started, people half-jokingly said, ‘When are you boys gonna be on the Grand Ole Opry?’ And I would respond, half-jokingly myself, ‘Someday soon.’ After years of constant work, and the utmost faith in each other and what we are doing, here we are. Seeing this play out before our eyes is quite literally a dream come true. It’s a tremendous honor, and a feather in the cap of anyone in this realm of music.”
 
Met with critical acclaim, Whiskey Riff said, “49 Winchester strikes gold…The best record released so far in 2022, don’t be surprised if it still remains on top at the year’s end,” while Magnet Magazine called them “One of the country’s most promising new outfits.” Holler awarded the album an 8 out of 10 star review while Glide Magazine said, “...the Virginia-based 49 Winchester has put plenty of miles on the van, playing hundreds of shows, sticking with their own brand of outlaw country that would make Willie, Waylon and the boys beam with pride.”
 
Quickly becoming a standout live act, 49 Winchester has been garnering new fans while supporting Whiskey Myers on their Tornillo Summer Tour and will also appear at their Firewater Festival as well. The band recently made their Ryman Auditorium debut to thunderous applause and will also return to the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, where they have solidified themselves as a fan favorite. Additionally, they have announced an appearance at this year’s AmericanaFest, as well as select dates with Turnpike Troubadours, Nikki Lane, SUSTO, Kendall Marvel, and more. Please see tour dates below.
 
Formed on Winchester Street in the small mountain town of Castlewood, Virginia (population: 2,045), 49 Winchester started as a group of neighborhood teenage friends set on a calculated DIY path. In 2014 they independently released their eponymous debut, followed by 2018’s The Wind, and 2020’s celebrated III. Reflecting on his early days as a jack-of-all-trades stone mason, where it was about trying to make ends meet in an effort to keep the band rolling along, frontman Gibson can’t help but be grateful for a well-earned notion at the core of the band’s ethos — anything worthwhile in life is built brick-by-brick. “Everything has to be built. And very few people are going to achieve success overnight,” says Gibson. “We didn’t start out as a bunch of hot shot pickers out of Nashville. We started out on the ground floor — very basic songwriting and instrumentation. But we kept working at it, always progressing in what we wanted to do and how we wanted to sound — each song better than the previous one, the show this evening better than last night.”
 
49 Winchester’s Fortune Favors The Bold is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

49 Winchester On Tour:

August 11 - Grand Junction, CO - Las Colonias Park Amphitheater *
August 12 - Sandy, UT - Sandy City Amphitheater *
August 13 - Cheyenne, WY - Terry Bison Ranch Resort - Gathering Hall *
August 16 - Denver, CO - Globe Hall
August 18 - Omaha, NE - Reverb Lounge
August 19 - Dubuque, IA - Five Flags Center ~
August 20 - Saint Louis, MO - Old Rock House
August 27 - Nashville, TN - WMOT Roots on the Rivers
August 30 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry
August 31- Indianapolis, IN - Hi-Fi Indy
September 2 - Chicago, IL - Carol's Pub
September 3 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
September 4 - Lake View, IA - Stone Pier Concert Series
September 10 - Bristol, TN - Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion
September 13-19 - Nashville, TN - AmericanaFest
September 23 - Ashland, KY - FoxFire Music & Arts Festival
September 29- Little Rock, AR - Stickyz Rock'n'Roll Chicken Shack
September 30 - La Cygne, KS - Whiskey Myers’ Firewater Festival
October 1 - Oklahoma City, OK - Ponyboy at Tower Theatre
October 8 - Roseland, VA - Devils Backbone Hoopla
October 13  - Chattanooga, TN - Songbirds
October 14 - McCaysville, GA - Tooneys Music Venue
October 15 - North Wilkesboro, NC - Concerts on the Deck
October 20 - Houston, TX - Last Concert Cafe ^
October 21 - Dallas, TX - Kessler Theater
October 22 - New Braunfels, TX - Whitewater Amphitheater %
October 28 - Knoxville, TN - The Mill & Mine #
November 4 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
November 5 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
November 6 - Simpsonville, SC - Greenville Country Music Fest
November 10 - Memphis, TN - Growlers $
November 11 - Ft. Smith, AR - The Majestic $
November 17 - Greenville, NC - State Theatre +
November 18 - Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
November 19 - Charleston, SC - Holy Smokes BBQ Fest
 
* Supporting Whiskey Myers
~ Supporting Larry Fleet
^ With Nikki Lane
% Supporting Turnpike Troubadours
# Supporting Flatland Cavalry
$ With Kendell Marvel
+ With SUSTO

Tue, 08/16/2022 - 10:59 am

In honor of his birthday today, New West Records & Pedernales Records are proud to announce Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver to be released November 11th, 2022. The 12-song set was co-produced by Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher and features renditions of Shaver songs lovingly recorded by Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ryan Bingham and Nikki Lane, Steve Earle, Edie Brickell, Rodney Crowell, Margo Price, Allison Russell, and Amanda Shires.

The Texas singer-songwriter who died on October 28th, 2020 was an integral member of the Outlaw Country movement. A favorite among music legends, Johnny Cash once called Shaver “my favorite songwriter,” while Willie Nelson declared, “Billy Joe is definitely the best writer in Texas.” Upon the announcement of Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver, Nelson said, “He was just real; there wasn’t one phony drop of blood in him.” AllMusic called Shaver’s songs “among the greatest in the whole history of the (country) genre” while the Washington Post said, “When the country outlaws were collecting their holy writings, Billy Joe Shaver was carving out Exodus.”

Today, Variety premiered Willie Nelson & Lucinda Williams’ rendition of Shaver’s signature tune, “Live Forever” alongside a feature with co-producers Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher.

SHARE WILLIE NELSON & LUCINDA WILLIAMS’ “LIVE FOREVER”

From his album liner notes, co-producer Freddy Fletcher wrote of Shaver, “His influence on the greatest of artists is what inspired this project. The album is a testament to his words and their deep impact on wonderful songwriters and performers. He’s a hero to so many, and we are honored to pay homage to his legacy.”

On the topic of songwriting, Billy Joe Shaver once said “when you write songs, and you write good songs, people will always remember you. Words will always outlive us. And if your name is attached to those words, you’re gonna live forever.”

Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver will be available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 500 “Old Chunk of Coal” Color Vinyl Edition will be available via Vinyl, Me Please, a limited to 300 Purple, Blue & Green Marble Vinyl Edition will be available via the Magnolia Record Club, and a limited to 300 Gold & Green Color Vinyl Edition will be available via Heady Wax Fiends. A limited to 500 “Denim” Vinyl Edition is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

About Billy Joe Shaver: In 1965, Billy Joe Shaver hitchhiked to Nashville and convinced the country singer Bobby Bare to listen to his songs. Bare quickly signed Shaver to a $50 a week job as a songwriter and recorded his song “Ride Me Down Easy.” Kris Kristofferson’s rendition of “Good Christian Soldier” and Tom T. Hall’s recording of “Willie the Wandering Gypsy and Me” soon followed. Shaver’s breakout moment came in 1973 when Waylon Jennings’ landmark album Honky Tonk Heroes was released. Hailed as the first “Outlaw Country” record, ten of its eleven songs were written or co-written by Shaver. One of which, “You Asked Me To,” was a top 10 hit for Jennings and was later recorded by Elvis Presley. Shaver’s legendary debut album, Old Five and Dimers Like Me, was produced by Kristofferson and issued in 1973 as well. He went on to release more than 20 albums, including the Grammy-nominated Everybody’s Brother in 2007. His final album, 2014’s acclaimed Long in the Tooth was his first to chart in Billboard’s Top Country Albums. Shaver's songs have been recorded and performed by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, The Allman Brothers, and countless other legendary artists and his signature song, “Live Forever,” was performed by Robert Duvall in the 2009 film Crazy Heart. He was honored with the first ever Americana Music Award for Lifetime Achievement in Songwriting in 2002, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Billy Joe Shaver died on October 28th, 2020.

Thu, 09/01/2022 - 10:18 am

Kris Kristofferson will release Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981 tomorrow via New West Records. The previously unreleased 15-song set was the final date of Kristofferson’s 1981 tour and was recorded at the legendary Pasadena, TX honky tonk most well known for its role in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy. Kristofferson is backed by an incredible live band featuring Stephen Bruton, Billy Swan, Donnie Fritts, Tommy McClure, Glen Clark, and Sammy Creason. The album also features exclusive liner notes written by the country music legend & Gilley’s co-owner Mickey Gilley, as well as additional pieces written by the legendary George Strait, and Billy Swan.
 
Today, Taste of Country premiered the album in full, a day ahead of its release, exclaiming, "Too many albums are labeled as 'essential' in the 21st century, but this project truly transports country fans to an essential era in the genre's history. The Live at Gilley's album is raw, rowdy, and inspired." Hear Kris Kristofferson’s Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981 in its entirety HERE.
 
From his liner notes written three months before his passing in May, Mickey Gilley offered, “Gilley’s could hold several thousand people, but the club was very intimate. You were right there on the stage with people all around you. You could bend down and shake hands with people.” He continued, “Right next to the club was the recording studio, and we recorded everything that was done onstage. We could record onto the 24-track machine that we had in the studio, then we would do the mixing…We booked a lot of shows around that time, including some people I didn’t think would want to play the club. We got some acts that made me think, ‘Are you kidding me?’...Kris Kristofferson was one of those artists that I didn’t think would want to play Gilley’s, because he was such a big name and a tremendous talent.”
 
George Strait exclaimed, “What a great album this is! Classic Kristofferson songs throughout, and live!! Kris was in his prime and his vocals were outstanding and very soulful as always. I got to play Gilley's a few times back in those days and this record takes me right back there. You can tell the crowd is loving him and he’s loving them right back. That’s what it’s all about. It was an exciting time to say the least. So close your eyes and listen to this record. Imagine you’re right there standing in front of the stage with the man himself looking right at you. I think you’ll get a really good idea of what Gilley's was like back then when Kris played there. What a treat that must’ve been.”

Kris Kristofferson's Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981 will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A very limited to 300 White Vinyl Edition will be available exclusively at Texas Retailers while a limited, foil stamped and numbered to 750, Opaque Metallic Silver Vinyl Edition will be available via Vinyl Me, Please. A limited Opaque Red with White Marble Vinyl Edition will be available at Independent Retailers and is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.
 
Kris Kristofferson Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981 Track Listing:
 
1. Me And Bobby McGee
2. Here Comes That Rainbow Again
3. Casey’s Last Ride
4. You Show Me Yours (And I’ll Show You Mine) / Stranger
5. Nobody Loves Anybody Anymore
6. Darby’s Castle
7. If It’s All The Same To You
8. The Pilgrim
9. For The Good Times
10. Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down
11. The Silver Tongued Devil And I
12. Smile At Me Again
13. Same Old Song
14. Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)
15. Why Me

Sun, 10/02/2022 - 4:26 pm

New West Records & Pedernales Records will release Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver on November 11th, 2022. The 12-song set was co-produced by Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher and features renditions of Shaver songs lovingly recorded by Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ryan Bingham and Nikki Lane, Steve Earle, Edie Brickell, Rodney Crowell, Margo Price, Allison Russell, and Amanda Shires.
 
The Texas singer-songwriter who died on October 28th, 2020 was an integral member of the Outlaw Country movement. A favorite among music legends, Johnny Cash once called Shaver “my favorite songwriter,” while Willie Nelson declared, “Billy Joe is definitely the best writer in Texas.” Upon the announcement of Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver, Nelson said, “He was just real; there wasn’t one phony drop of blood in him.” AllMusic called Shaver’s songs “among the greatest in the whole history of the (country) genre” while the Washington Post said, “When the country outlaws were collecting their holy writings, Billy Joe Shaver was carving out Exodus.”
 
CMT shared George Strait’s rendition of “Willy The Wandering Gypsy and Me” this week and the song is available digitally today. Strait said, "It was an honor to be a part of this tribute to one of Texas’s best. He got down deep into the very soul of country. RIP Billy Joe. See you down the road amigo."
 
SHARE GEORGE STRAIT’S “WILLY THE WANDERING GYPSY AND ME”

Variety previously shared Willie Nelson & Lucinda Williams’ rendition of Shaver’s signature tune, “Live Forever” alongside a feature with co-producers Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher. Rolling Stone previously shared Miranda Lambert’s rendition of “I’m Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be A Diamond Someday)” as well.
 
From his album liner notes, co-producer Freddy Fletcher wrote of Shaver, “His influence on the greatest of artists is what inspired this project. The album is a testament to his words and their deep impact on wonderful songwriters and performers. He’s a hero to so many, and we are honored to pay homage to his legacy.”
 
On the topic of songwriting, Billy Joe Shaver once said “when you write songs, and you write good songs, people will always remember you. Words will always outlive us. And if your name is attached to those words, you’re gonna live forever.”
 
Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver will be available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 500 “Old Chunk of Coal” Color Vinyl Edition will be available via Vinyl, Me Please, a limited to 300 Purple, Blue & Green Marble Vinyl Edition will be available via the Magnolia Record Club, and a limited to 300 Gold & Green Color Vinyl Edition will be available via Heady Wax Fiends. A limited to 500 “Denim” Vinyl Edition is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Sun, 10/09/2022 - 12:45 pm

Town Mountain released their anticipated Lines in the Levee last Friday via New West Records. The 11-song collection was produced, engineered, and mixed by the multiple Grammy Award nominated Justin Francis (Kacey Musgraves, Orville Peck, Anti-Flag) at Ronnie’s Place in Nashville, TN. Hailing from Asheville, NC, Town Mountain is the sum of all of its vast and intricate influences — this bastion of alt-country rebellion and honky-tonk attitude pushed through the hardscrabble Southern Appalachian lens of its origin. Lines in the Levee follows 2018’s acclaimed New Freedom Blues and features Miles Miller (of Sturgill Simpson musical lore) on drums.
 
The hearty base of Town Mountain’s music is classic country, old school rock and roll, and traditional string bands. Both on stage and on record, the group’s wide-ranging influences like The Band, Grateful Dead, Bill Monroe, Townes Van Zandt, Chuck Berry, John Hartford, and more can be heard. Lines in the Levee is a bona fide workshop in the seamless blend of Americana, country, bluegrass, and folk roots — this crossroads of deep influences and cultivated visions each band member brings to the table. Guitarist Robert Greer says “This is the sound we’ve been working towards since the inception of the band. It isn’t a departure, it’s an evolution — the gate is wide open right now.”
 
Relix premiered the video for the album highlight “Comeback Kid.” Of the song, Town Mountain’s Phil Barker says, “‘Comeback Kid’ is a tune about the struggle of finding your way through the music business. Overcoming the doubts people have in you, the doubts you have in yourself, and dealing with the mental struggle of putting yourself and your art out there every night, emotionally exposed.” See the “Comeback Kid” video, directed by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard HERE.
 
After more than a decade together, the fiercely independent band has proven they have staying power by regularly cranking out authentic hit albums, collaborating with like-minded artists such as Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, and Jerry Douglas and consistently selling out shows nationwide. The members of Town Mountain felt an immediate kinship with New West Records and a genuine bond of creative fulfillment and sustained artistic growth. Banjoist Jess Langlais said of the partnership, “New West came to some of our shows and the ball started rolling. They knew they wanted to work with us, and we knew we wanted to work with them. New West lets the artist steer the ship and that’s what we were looking for — to have the autonomy to do what we want, but to also have a great label behind us.”
 
Well established coast-to-coast for their incendiary live performances, Town Mountain will launch the Lines in the Levee Tour with two special album release performances this Wednesday at the historic Station Inn in Nashville, TN and Thursday at The Burl in Lexington, KY. Please see dates, with more to be added, below.

Town Mountain’s Lines in the Levee will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. An extremely limited to 100 Coke Bottle Clear vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers in North Carolina while a limited to 1,000 Translucent Orange vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers worldwide. A limited to 500 Translucent Yellow vinyl edition is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS. All limited color vinyl editions are autographed by the members of Town Mountain.

Town Mountain Lines in the Levee Track Listing:
 
1. Lines in the Levee
2. Comeback Kid
3. Distant Line
4. Firebound Road
5. Rene
6. Seasons Don't Change
7. Daydream Quarantina
8. Big Decisions
9. Unsung Heroes
10. American Family
11. Lean Into the Blue
 
Town Mountain On Tour:
 
10/5/22 - Station Inn - Nashville, TN (Album Release Performance)
10/6/22 - The Burl - Lexington, KY (Album Release Performance)
10/7/22 - Ziggy’s - High Point, NC
10/14/22 - Southgate House - Cincinnati, OH
10/15/22 - HiFi Indy - Indianapolis, IN
10/20/22 - Bluegrass Island Fest 2022  - Manteo, NC
10/21/22 - The Camel - Richmond, VA
10/22/22 - The Hamilton - Washington, DC
11/4/22 - First Friday at The Sunrise Theater - Southern Pines, NC
11/5/22 - 5 Points Music Sanctuary - Roanoke, VA
11/6/22 - Headliners - Louisville, KY
11/8/22 - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO
11/9/22 - Tulsa Shrine - Tulsa, OK
11/10/22 - Tulips - Ft. Worth, TX
11/11/22 - The Ballroom - Austin, TX
11/12/22 - Last Concert Cafe     - Houston, TX
11/13/22 - Hideaway on Lee - Lafayette, LA
1/20/23 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC
1/21/23 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
2/10/23 - Visulite Theatre - Charlotte, NC
2/11/23 - Barrelhouse Ballroom - Chattanooga, TN
2/15/23 - Woodlands Tavern - Columbus, OH
2/16/23 - Thunderbird Cafe - Pittsburgh, PA
2/17/23 - The Loud - Huntington, WV
2/18/23 - 3rd & Lindsley - Nashville, TN
2/23/23 - Georgia Theatre - Athens, GA w/ 49 Winchester
2/24/23 - Intuition Ale Works - Jacksonville, FL
2/25/23 - Vinyl Music Hall - Pensacola, FL

Fri, 10/14/2022 - 12:01 pm

The Bad Ends will release their debut album, The Power and the Glory, on January 20th via New West Records. The nine-song set was produced by Mike Albanese of Maserati and The Bad Ends in the band’s hometown of Athens, GA, a city that remains a breeding ground for all things alternative (and is the famous homebase of B-52’s, R.E.M, Pylon, The Elephant Six Recording Co., and more). The Bad Ends feature Mike Mantione of 90s Athens favorites Five Eight on vocals & guitar, Dave Domizi on bass & vocals, Geoff Melkonian on keyboards & vocals, Christian Lopez on guitars & mandolin, and in his first full-time band since leaving R.E.M. in 1997, the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Berry on drums. The debut album was recorded, produced, mastered, and manufactured entirely in Athens, GA and also features appearances from Sean Dunn of Five Eight and John Neff of Drive-By Truckers.

Today, Stereogum premiered the video for the first single “All Your Friends Are Dying,” which was directed by Lance Bangs (Jackass, Sonic Youth, Pavement). The lead single seesaws between a sinewy melodic riff and melancholic hook topped off with a shout, which Mantione likens to “dancing at the foot of a grave.” Largely shot at Berry’s home in Athens, the video also features appearances by Mike Mills of R.E.M., Vanessa Briscoe Hay of Pylon, Bob Hay of the Squalls, Frank McDonald of The Glands, a namechecked Jody Stephens of Big Star, music producer David Barbe (also of Bob Mould’s Sugar), and many more. Mantione says “The song and the video are a celebration of Athens. The song is also a tribute to Big Star and The Glands. I'm really singing it to a friend who missed this special performance of the Big Star Third album and I'm warning my friend not to miss stuff because life doesn't last very long. The cameos were just the most fun. I got to drive around Athens with so many awesome friends. We were supposed to look glum, but once they got into the van with me, laughter would erupt. Athens had an incredible, beloved local vegetarian restaurant called The Grit which closed a day before we shot the last of the cameos. We do a drive-by of The Grit as sort of a farewell nod."

Initially working up songs for a possible solo album to be produced by Melkonian and featuring friends Domizi and Lopez, a chance encounter between Mantione and Berry led to the group of friends jamming. After one particularly fruitful session, Bill simply proclaimed, “I’m in a band again.” The brotherhood between the musicians crystallized with this declaration.
 
THE BAD ENDS TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM THE POWER AND THE GLORY JANUARY 20th, 2023

Mantione says, “It was one of the happiest times, but I found myself tuning into the suffering around me and wanting to help family through their hardest times. One afternoon, a close friend committed suicide. He left two sons fatherless. He was there for me years before, and he’d helped so many other people who wondered what happened. I doubled down on getting my life together and started writing and making music with a vengeance.”
 
Bill Berry says, “In very early 2017, a chance pedestrian encounter in downtown Athens found me face to face with one Mike Mantione. At that point it had been over 2 decades since I’d involved myself with the record making process and here was a man Peter Buck recently described as 'the unsung hero of Athens rock and roll' offering an opportunity to play in the game again. It was energizing to once again play with top notch musicians. This record is unique for me in that it was the only one, with which I was involved, that was written, rehearsed, recorded, produced and mastered in Athens!”
 
Domizi says, “Emotionally, being in this band felt like a fresh start in music. It made me feel like a kid again, which is a precious thing as you get older.” Melkonian adds, “To me, it feels like it felt when we were in our twenties, young, and hungry—like the old days of being in bands.” “Mantione says, “For me, it was a journey in and of itself to get to a nine-song record. This is geared like many of my favorite old albums. It’s to the point.”
 
The Bad Ends have also announced their first ever live show on Sunday, November 27th at Nuci’s Space in Athens, GA. Nuci’s Space is located in the shadow of Athens’ St. Mary’s Steeple, all that is left of the church constructed in 1871 which was the site of R.E.M.’s first-ever show on April 5th, 1980. The Bad Ends live debut will be a part of “Athens Uncovered: Steeple Edition,” a day-long festival “featuring over ten acts from Athens’ storied music scene history and present” commemorating Nuci’s Space, the R.E.M. Steeple, and their one-of-a-kind music scene. The Nuci’s Space “vision is to end the epidemic of suicide and to inspire a culture free of the stigma attached to brain illnesses and its sufferers by supporting a community-wide effort that focuses on education, prevention and access to appropriate treatment.” Please visit Nuci’s Space for more information.
 
“I was so grateful to be able to record this album with my friends,” Mantione smiles. “I’m a bit of a fanboy of Bill’s and pretty much so is everyone else in the band. One of the crazy things is to be in a room with Bill, watch him work, and hear stories about the albums that defined everything I know and love about music. I will never forget how excited I was on the first day of recording.”

 
Ultimately, The Bad Ends tell timeless stories of their own.
 
The Bad Ends' The Power and the Glory will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 750 Translucent Orange edition autographed by The Bad Ends will be available at Independent Retailers while a limited to 300 Hand-Poured Translucent Green edition autographed by The Bad Ends is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Sat, 10/22/2022 - 1:24 pm

New West Records & Pedernales Records are proud to announce Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver to be released November 11th, 2022. The 12-song set was co-produced by Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher and features renditions of Shaver songs lovingly recorded by Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ryan Bingham and Nikki Lane, Steve Earle, Edie Brickell, Rodney Crowell, Margo Price (featuring Joshua Hedley), Allison Russell, and Amanda Shires.
 
The Texas singer-songwriter who died on October 28th, 2020 was an integral member of the Outlaw Country movement. A favorite among music legends, Johnny Cash once called Shaver “my favorite songwriter,” while Willie Nelson declared, “Billy Joe is definitely the best writer in Texas.” Upon the announcement of Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver, Nelson said, “He was just real; there wasn’t one phony drop of blood in him.” AllMusic called Shaver’s songs “among the greatest in the whole history of the (country) genre” while the Washington Post said, “When the country outlaws were collecting their holy writings, Billy Joe Shaver was carving out Exodus.”
 
SPIN shared Margo Price’s (ft. Joshua Hedley) rendition of Shaver’s “Ragged Old Truck” today. Price says, “I first met Billy in a dusty parking lot outside of Luck, Texas. I was drinking straight out of a bottle of Wild Turkey and he asked me for a pull. We talked for a long time about his songs. I told him my favorites were 'Black Rose' and 'Ragged Old Truck' and I said, that second one might have saved my life. I was in a deep depression when I first heard it and that song pulled me out. He put his hand, minus a few fingers, on my shoulder and said ‘Me too darlin, me too.’"

SHARE MARGO PRICE’S (FT. JOSHUA HEDLEY) “RAGGED OLD TRUCK”

Variety previously shared Willie Nelson & Lucinda Williams’ rendition of Shaver’s signature tune, “Live Forever” alongside a feature with co-producers Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher. Rolling Stone previously shared Miranda Lambert’s rendition of “I’m Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be A Diamond Someday)” and CMT shared George Strait’s rendition of “Willy The Wandering Gypsy and Me.” Of his contribution, Strait said, "It was an honor to be a part of this tribute to one of Texas’s best. He got down deep into the very soul of country. RIP Billy Joe. See you down the road amigo."
 
From his album liner notes, co-producer Freddy Fletcher wrote of Shaver, “His influence on the greatest of artists is what inspired this project. The album is a testament to his words and their deep impact on wonderful songwriters and performers. He’s a hero to so many, and we are honored to pay homage to his legacy.”
 
On the topic of songwriting, Billy Joe Shaver once said “when you write songs, and you write good songs, people will always remember you. Words will always outlive us. And if your name is attached to those words, you’re gonna live forever.”

Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver will be available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 500 “Old Chunk of Coal” Color Vinyl Edition will be available via Vinyl, Me Please, a limited to 300 Purple, Blue & Green Marble Vinyl Edition will be available via the Magnolia Record Club, and a limited to 300 Gold & Green Color Vinyl Edition will be available via Heady Wax Fiends. A limited to 500 “Denim” Vinyl Edition is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver Track Listing:

1. Willie Nelson (w/ Lucinda Williams) - Live Forever
2. Ryan Bingham (w/ Nikki Lane) - Ride Me Down Easy
3. Rodney Crowell - Old Five And Dimers Like Me
4. Miranda Lambert - I’m Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be A Diamond Someday)
5. Edie Brickell - I Couldn’t Be Me Without You
6. Nathaniel Rateliff - You Asked Me To
7. George Strait - Willy The Wandering Gypsy And Me
8. Amanda Shires - Honky Tonk Heroes
9. Steve Earle - Ain’t No God In Mexico
10. Margo Price (ft. Joshua Hedley) - Ragged Old Truck
11. Willie Nelson - Georgia On A Fast Train
12. Allison Russell - Tramp On Your Street

Sat, 11/12/2022 - 1:40 pm

Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver was just released via New West Records & Pedernales Records. The 12-song set was co-produced by Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher and features renditions of Shaver songs lovingly recorded by Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ryan Bingham and Nikki Lane, Steve Earle, Edie Brickell, Rodney Crowell, Margo Price (featuring Joshua Hedley), Allison Russell, and Amanda Shires.
 
The Texas singer-songwriter who died on October 28th, 2020 was an integral member of the Outlaw Country movement. A favorite among music legends, Johnny Cash once called Shaver “my favorite songwriter,” while Willie Nelson declared, “Billy Joe is definitely the best writer in Texas.” Upon the announcement of Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver, Nelson said, “He was just real; there wasn’t one phony drop of blood in him.” AllMusic called Shaver’s songs “among the greatest in the whole history of the (country) genre” while the Washington Post said, “When the country outlaws were collecting their holy writings, Billy Joe Shaver was carving out Exodus.”
 
Today, Taste of Country premiered the album in its entirety, a day before its release saying "It's a fitting tribute to a true country music outlaw...The cross-genre and multi-generational roster of artists is a tribute to Shaver's broad influence, as well as the lasting qualities of his songs." Hear Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver in full HERE.
 
From his album liner notes, co-producer Freddy Fletcher wrote of Shaver, “His influence on the greatest of artists is what inspired this project. The album is a testament to his words and their deep impact on wonderful songwriters and performers. He’s a hero to so many, and we are honored to pay homage to his legacy.”
 
On the topic of songwriting, Billy Joe Shaver once said “when you write songs, and you write good songs, people will always remember you. Words will always outlive us. And if your name is attached to those words, you’re gonna live forever.”
 
To further salute the figurehead of the outlaw country movement, Amazon Music will also reveal the never-before-heard demo of “Wacko from Waco,” tomorrow via their popular “Written By” playlist series. The song was written by Billy Joe Shaver and the studio version performed alongside Willie Nelson appears as a bonus track on Shaver’s 2012 Live at Billy Bob’s Texas. “Wacko from Waco” gives Shaver’s side of the infamous shooting at Papa Joe’s Saloon in Lorena, TX. He recorded this stripped down acoustic version of “Wacko” in a small Santa Monica, CA demo studio after the ink was dry on his 2011 acquittal and will be available for the first time.
 
Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Mon, 12/12/2022 - 4:44 pm

The Bad Ends will release their debut album, The Power and the Glory, on January 20th via New West Records. The nine-song set was produced by Mike Albanese of Maserati and The Bad Ends in the band’s hometown of Athens, GA, a city that remains a breeding ground for all things alternative (and is the famous homebase of B-52’s, R.E.M, Pylon, The Elephant Six Recording Company, The Glands, and more). The Bad Ends feature Mike Mantione of 90s Athens favorites Five Eight on vocals & guitar, Dave Domizi on bass & vocals, Geoff Melkonian of the Josh Joplin Group on keyboards & vocals, Christian Lopez on guitars & mandolin, and in his first full-time band since leaving R.E.M. in 1997, the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Berry on drums. The debut album was recorded, produced, mastered, and manufactured entirely in Athens, GA and also features appearances from Sean Dunn of Five Eight and John Neff of Drive-By Truckers.
 
Today, Brooklyn Vegan premiered the album highlight “The Ballad of Satan’s Bride,” which Bill Berry calls “a juggernaut of rock, hardly a ballad.” Mike Mantione said, “‘The Ballad of Satan’s Bride’ was the first song we recorded together as a band. It has the worst villain in it of any song I’ve ever written. The song embodies total despair and tragic grief, yet I sang it with wild abandon over Bill’s soca beat pulsing at the heart as the song continues tearing itself apart. I could never have imagined the complex rhythm he played, but it instantly galvanized the arrangement.” Hear “The Ballad of Satan’s Bride” HERE.
 
The Bad Ends previously shared the video for the first single “All Your Friends Are Dying,” which was directed by Lance Bangs (Jackass, Sonic Youth, Pavement). Largely shot at Berry’s home in Athens, the video also features appearances by Mike Mills of R.E.M., Vanessa Briscoe Hay of Pylon, Bob Hay of the Squalls, Frank McDonald of The Glands, a namechecked Jody Stephens of Big Star, music producer David Barbe (also of Bob Mould’s Sugar), and many more. The band also previously shared the video for the second single, “Thanksgiving 1915” which was directed by Marc Pilvinsky. Mantione says, "This should qualify for 'The Most Un-Rock and Roll Video Ever.' Dad's working at the restaurant. Kind of like The Bear meets the Muppet Movie."
 
Initially working up songs for a possible solo album to be produced by Melkonian and featuring friends Domizi and Lopez, a chance encounter between Mantione and Berry led to the group of friends jamming. After one particularly fruitful session, Bill simply proclaimed, “I’m in a band again.” The brotherhood between the musicians crystallized with this declaration.
 
Mantione says, “It was one of the happiest times, but I found myself tuning into the suffering around me and wanting to help family through their hardest times. One afternoon, a close friend committed suicide. He left two sons fatherless. He was there for me years before, and he’d helped so many other people who wondered what happened. I doubled down on getting my life together and started writing and making music with a vengeance.”
 
Bill Berry says, “In very early 2017, a chance pedestrian encounter in downtown Athens found me face to face with one Mike Mantione. At that point it had been over 2 decades since I’d involved myself with the record making process and here was a man Peter Buck recently described as 'the unsung hero of Athens rock and roll' offering an opportunity to play in the game again. It was energizing to once again play with top notch musicians. This record is unique for me in that it was the only one, with which I was involved, that was written, rehearsed, recorded, produced and mastered in Athens!”
 
Domizi says, “Emotionally, being in this band felt like a fresh start in music. It made me feel like a kid again, which is a precious thing as you get older.” Melkonian adds, “To me, it feels like it felt when we were in our twenties, young, and hungry—like the old days of being in bands.” “Mantione says, “For me, it was a journey in and of itself to get to a nine-song record. This is geared like many of my favorite old albums. It’s to the point.”

The Bad Ends have also announced a rare live performance celebrating the release of The Power and the Glory at the legendary 40 Watt club in Athens, GA on Saturday, January 28th. They will also support Drivin N Cryin on February 18th at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA (please note: Bill Berry will not be appearing at this date).  
 
“I was so grateful to be able to record this album with my friends,” Mantione smiles. “I’m a bit of a fanboy of Bill’s and pretty much so is everyone else in the band. One of the crazy things is to be in a room with Bill, watch him work, and hear stories about the albums that defined everything I know and love about music. I will never forget how excited I was on the first day of recording.”
 
Ultimately, The Bad Ends tell timeless stories of their own.
 
The Bad Ends' The Power and the Glory will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 750 Translucent Orange edition autographed by The Bad Ends will be available at Independent Retailers while a very limited Hand-Poured Translucent Green edition autographed by The Bad Ends is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Thu, 01/05/2023 - 9:26 am

The Bad Ends will release their debut album, The Power and the Glory, on January 20th via New West Records. The nine-song set was produced by Mike Albanese of Maserati and The Bad Ends in the band’s hometown of Athens, GA, a city that remains a breeding ground for all things alternative (and is the famous homebase of B-52’s, R.E.M, Pylon, The Elephant Six Recording Company, and more). The Bad Ends feature Mike Mantione of 90s Athens favorites Five Eight on vocals & guitar, Dave Domizi on bass & vocals, Geoff Melkonian of the Josh Joplin Group on keyboards & vocals, Christian Lopez on guitars & mandolin, and in his first full-time band since leaving R.E.M. in 1997, the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Berry on drums. The debut album was recorded, produced, mastered, and manufactured entirely in Athens, GA and also features appearances from Sean Dunn of Five Eight and John Neff of Drive-By Truckers.
 
Today, Magnet Magazine premiered the album highlight “Mile Marker 29,” calling The Power and the Glory "A raggedy bar-rock romp with dark and disturbed undercurrents." Share "Mile Marker 29" HERE.
 
The Bad Ends previously shared the video for the first single “All Your Friends Are Dying,” which was directed by Lance Bangs (Jackass, Sonic Youth, Pavement). Largely shot at Berry’s home in Athens, the video also features appearances by Mike Mills of R.E.M., Vanessa Briscoe Hay of Pylon, Bob Hay of the Squalls, Frank McDonald of The Glands, a namechecked Jody Stephens of Big Star, music producer David Barbe (also of Bob Mould’s Sugar), and many more. The band also previously shared the video for the second single, “Thanksgiving 1915” which was directed by Marc Pilvinsky. Mantione says, "This should qualify for 'The Most Un-Rock and Roll Video Ever.' Dads working at the restaurant. Kind of like The Bear meets the Muppet Movie."
 
Initially working up songs for a possible solo album to be produced by Melkonian and featuring friends Domizi and Lopez, a chance encounter between Mantione and Berry led to the group of friends jamming. After one particularly fruitful session, Bill simply proclaimed, “I’m in a band again.” The brotherhood between the musicians crystallized with this declaration.
 
Mantione says, “It was one of the happiest times, but I found myself tuning into the suffering around me and wanting to help family through their hardest times. One afternoon, a close friend committed suicide. He left two sons fatherless. He was there for me years before, and he’d helped so many other people who wondered what happened. I doubled down on getting my life together and started writing and making music with a vengeance.”
 
Bill Berry says, “In very early 2017, a chance pedestrian encounter in downtown Athens found me face to face with one Mike Mantione. At that point it had been over 2 decades since I’d involved myself with the record making process and here was a man Peter Buck recently described as 'the unsung hero of Athens rock and roll' offering an opportunity to play in the game again. It was energizing to once again play with top notch musicians. This record is unique for me in that it was the only one, with which I was involved, that was written, rehearsed, recorded, produced and mastered in Athens!”
 
Domizi says, “Emotionally, being in this band felt like a fresh start in music. It made me feel like a kid again, which is a precious thing as you get older.” Melkonian adds, “To me, it feels like it felt when we were in our twenties, young, and hungry—like the old days of being in bands.” “Mantione says, “For me, it was a journey in and of itself to get to a nine-song record. This is geared like many of my favorite old albums. It’s to the point.”
 
The Bad Ends have also announced a rare live performance celebrating the release of The Power and the Glory at the legendary 40 Watt club in Athens, GA on Saturday, January 28th. They will also support Drivin N Cryin on February 18th at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA (please note: Bill Berry will not be appearing at this date).  
 
“I was so grateful to be able to record this album with my friends,” Mantione smiles. “I’m a bit of a fanboy of Bill’s and pretty much so is everyone else in the band. One of the crazy things is to be in a room with Bill, watch him work, and hear stories about the albums that defined everything I know and love about music. I will never forget how excited I was on the first day of recording.”

Ultimately, The Bad Ends tell timeless stories of their own.
 
The Bad Ends' The Power and the Glory will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 750 Translucent Orange edition autographed by The Bad Ends will be available at Independent Retailers while a very limited Hand-Poured Translucent Green edition autographed by The Bad Ends is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

 

Thu, 02/02/2023 - 1:36 pm

Sunny War will release her New West Records debut Anarchist Gospel tomorrow via New West Records. The 14-song set was produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff) and features appearances by Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Allison Russell, David Rawlings, Jack Lawrence of the Raconteurs, Micah Nelson, John James Tourville of The Deslondes, Kyshona Armstrong, Dennis Crouch, and more. All songs were written by Sunny War with the exception of “Baby Bitch” (Ween) and “Hopeless” (Van Hunt). With Anarchist Gospel, Sunny has crafted an eclectic set of songs that draw on a range of ideas and styles: ecstatic gospel, dusty country blues, thoughtful folk, rip-roaring rock and roll, even avant garde studio experiments. She melds them together into a powerful statement of survival, revealing a probing songwriter who indulges no comforting platitudes.
 
Met with widespread acclaim, NPR Music called her new music “Thrilling,” Rolling Stone said “It all amounts to a powerful statement from a singer-songwriter poised to become one of the year’s most vital voices in roots music,” and in their 9/10 rated review, Holler called it “a victory of an album,” saying “She sounds like a shrewd, modern-day Nina Simone.” MOJO Magazine named Anarchist Gospel their “Album of the Month,” calling it “an exercise in building hope out of chaos…remarkably centred and complete, the work of a songwriter who knows who she is and how she got here.” Uncut Magazine called it “a rich, evocative portrait” in their 8 out of 10 rated review while Glide Magazine called it “...a stunningly effective experience… a thoroughly unforgettable listen.” Sunny War also made her network television debut with a performance of the songs “No Reason,” “New Day,” and “Whole” on CBS Saturday Morning last Saturday, January 28th.
 
A day ahead of its official release, SPIN has shared Anarchist Gospel in full alongside a feature with Sunny War. They say, "The album, showcasing her probingly personal writing, affectingly understated voice, and magnetically dexterous acoustic folk-blues fingerpicking, is the work of an accomplished and distinctive artist. " Hear the album in its entirety HERE.
 
“I feel like there are two sides of me,” says the singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso. “One of them is very self-destructive, and the other is trying to work with that other half to keep things balanced.” That’s the central conflict on Anarchist Gospel, which documents a time when it looked like the self-destructive side might win out. Sunny says, “Everybody is a beast just trying their hardest to be good. That’s what it is to be human. You’re not really good or bad. You’re just trying to stay in the middle of those two things all the time, and you’re probably doing a shitty job of it. That’s ok, because we’re all just monsters.”
 
As a kid, Sunny War was obsessed with AC/DC and also loved ‘80s guitar bands like Motley Crüe. Later, she was obsessed with Bad Brains, the Minutemen, and X. She is the rare roots artist who covers Ween and can drop a Crass reference into a song. “I don’t really make music with a traditional roots audience in mind. I like weird music, outsider music, like Daniel Johnston and Roky Erickson,” she says.
 
Even as Sunny War was developing a guitar style that married acoustic punk to country blues, her two sides were already at odds. As a teenager, she began drinking heavily, which led to her dropping out of school, and quickly becoming addicted to heroin and meth. For money, she busked along the boardwalks of Venice Beach, recording an album to sell out of her guitar case and letting that self-destructive side win most of the battles. A series of seizures landed her in a sober living facility in Compton, so emaciated that she could only wear children’s pajamas. Music remained a lifeline, and she fell in with a crew at Hen House Studios in Venice, where over the years she made a series of albums and EPs, including 2018’s With the Sun and 2021’s Simple Syrup.
 
Twelve years after she kicked meth and heroin, Anarchist Gospel documents a moment when Sunny War had finally gained the upper hand on her self-destructive side, only to watch that stability crumble.
 
After a difficult breakup and her lease in Los Angeles ended, Sunny moved to Nashville, where she was born and lived until she was twelve years old. Among the items she packed were demos for several new songs of heartache and hard-won hope. She booked sessions with Tokic and captured a raw energy in Anarchist Gospel.  As the recording wound down, Sunny received word that her father was in the hospital and wasn’t going to make it. She says, “This album represents such a crazy period in my life, between the breakup and the move to Nashville and my dad dying. But now I feel like the worst parts are over. What I learned, I think, is that the best thing to do is just to feel everything and deal with it. Just feel everything.”
 
Because it promises not healing but resilience and perseverance, because it doesn’t take anything for granted, Anarchist Gospel holds up under such intense emotional pressure, acknowledging the pain of living while searching for something that lies just beyond ourselves, some sense of balance between the bad and the good.
 
Sunny War has also announced her initial tour dates in support of Anarchist Gospel. Prior to the tour launching at Joe’s Pub in New York City on February 22, she will be appearing in Chattanooga, TN on February 11 at the Cherry Street Tavern. The tour also includes appearances at this year’s SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX in March. A series of live appearances supporting Sarah Shook & The Disarmers have also been announced as well. Sunny War will celebrate the release of Anarchist Gospel this evening at Rough Trade Records with a free in-store performance and autograph signing beginning at 6pm. See tour dates, with more to be added, below.
 
Sunny War’s Anarchist Gospel will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 750 Opaque Red Color Vinyl Edition is available via Independent Retailers, a limited to 300 Translucent Red & Black Marble Color Vinyl Edition is available via Heady Wax Fiends, and a limited to 200 Silver with Red Swirl Color Vinyl Edition is available via Magnolia Records. A limited to 500 Hand-Poured Opaque Red, Black, and White Color Vinyl Edition is available via Rough Trade and is also available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.
 
Sunny War Anarchist Gospel Track Listing:
 
1. Love's Death Bed
2. No Reason
3. Shelter And Storm
4. I Got No Fight
5. Swear To Gawd
6. Earth
7. New Day
8. Baby Bitch
9. His Love
10. Hopeless
11. Higher
12. Test Dummy
13. Sweet Nothing
14. Whole
 
Sunny War On Tour:
 
February 2 - New York, NY - Rough Trade Records (Signing & Performance)
February 11 - Chattanooga, TN - Cherry Street Tavern
February 22 - Joe's Pub - New York, NY
February 23 - Kennedy Center - Washington, DC
February 24 - Kennett Flash - Kennett Square, PA
February 25 - Narrows Center for the Arts - Fall River, MA
February 26 - Cafe Nine - New Haven, CT
February 27 - Atwood's Tavern - Cambridge, MA
February 28 - Press Room - Portsmouth, NH
March 1 - One Longfellow Square - Portland, ME
March 2 - Zen Barn - Waterbury Center, VT
March 3  - Funk N Waffles - Syracuse, NY
March 4  - Caffe Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY
March 5 - Back Porch Festival - Northampton, MA
March 7 - The Loft @ Manor Mill - Monkton, MD
March 8 - Richmond Music Hall - Richmond, VA
March 9 - Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC *
March 10 - New Brooklyn Tavern - Columbia, SC *
March 11 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA *
March 12 - The Basement East - Nashville, TN *
March 14 - White Water Tavern - Little Rock, AR *
March 15  - Ponyboy - Oklahoma City, OK *
March 17 - Austin, TX - SXSW Music Festival
March 18 - Austin, TX - SXSW Music Festival
March 20 - Continental Club - Houston, TX
March 21 - 100 Men Hall - Bay St. Louis, MS
March 22 - Princess Theatre - Decatur, AL
March 24 - Lo-Fi Lounge - Indianapolis, IN
March 25 - Reclaim the Stage Festival - Chicago, IL
April 21 - Old Settler’s Festival - Dale, TX
May 11 - Macon, GA - Grants Lounge
May 12 - Concord, NC - Cabarrus Brewing
May 21 - Portland, OR - Show Bar
May 22 - Eugene, OR - 10x10 Series
May 24 - Atscadero, CA - Bristol's Cider House
May 25 - Los Angeles, CA - Resident
May 26 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
May 27 - Strawberry Music Festival - Grass Valley, CA
 
* w/ Sarah Shook & the Disarmers

Mon, 02/06/2023 - 9:02 am

Willie Nelson was awarded “Best Country Solo Performance” for his rendition of Billy Joe Shaver’s “Live Forever” at last night’s 65th Annual Grammy Awards. The song is the opening track of the critically acclaimed album Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver which was released last year on New West Records & Pedernales Records. The 12-song set was co-produced by Charlie Sexton & Freddy Fletcher and featured renditions of Shaver songs lovingly recorded by George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ryan Bingham and Nikki Lane, Steve Earle, Edie Brickell, Rodney Crowell, Margo Price (featuring Joshua Hedley), Allison Russell, and Amanda Shires in addition to Nelson.
 
Upon its release, Nelson, who once stated “Billy Joe Shaver is definitely the best writer in Texas,” said  “He was just real; there wasn’t one phony drop of blood in him.”
 
The Texas singer-songwriter who died on October 28th, 2020 was an integral member of the Outlaw Country movement. A favorite among music legends, Johnny Cash once called Shaver “my favorite songwriter.” AllMusic called Shaver’s songs “among the greatest in the whole history of the (country) genre” while the Washington Post said, “When the country outlaws were collecting their holy writings, Billy Joe Shaver was carving out Exodus.”
 
From his album liner notes, co-producer Freddy Fletcher wrote of Shaver, “His influence on the greatest of artists is what inspired this project. The album is a testament to his words and their deep impact on wonderful songwriters and performers. He’s a hero to so many, and we are honored to pay homage to his legacy.” About the Grammy Award win, Fletcher said, “Nothing makes us happier than knowing how happy Billy Joe would be right now to have his legacy honored. He is beyond deserving. It’s about damn time.”
 
On the topic of songwriting, Billy Joe Shaver once said “when you write songs, and you write good songs, people will always remember you. Words will always outlive us. And if your name is attached to those words, you’re gonna live forever.”
 
Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Thu, 02/16/2023 - 1:37 pm

Ben Folds will release his new album What Matters Most on June 2 via New West Records. The 10-song set was co-produced by Folds and Joe Pisapia (K.D. Lang, Guster) in East Nashville, TN and features guest appearances by dodie, Tall Heights, and Ruby Amanfu. What Matters Most is Folds’ first studio album since his chart-topping collaboration in 2015 with the string ensemble yMusic.

The masterful collection is a bold, timely, cinematic work. It is one that examines the tragic and the absurd in equal measures as it reckons with hope and despair, gratitude and loss, identity and perspective. The songs are bittersweet, hilarious at times, yet often laced with a quiet sense of longing and dread. Taken as a whole, the result is an undeniably joyful album that refuses to succumb to the weight of the world around it, an ecstatic reminder of all the beauty and promise hiding in plain sight for anyone willing (and present enough) to recognize their moments as they arrive.
 
Folds says, “There’s a lifetime of craft and experience all focused into this one record. Sonically, lyrically, emotionally, I don’t think it’s an album I could have made at any other point in my career.”
 
Today Folds shares the first new music from What Matters Most with the album highlight “Winslow Gardens,” an off-kilter pop song about losing track of the passing time while isolating with a loved one.

SHARE BEN FOLDS’ “WINSLOW GARDENS”

“I come from the vinyl era, and this perhaps more than any record I’ve made is a true album,” says Folds. “There’s a very specific sequence and arc to each side, all building up to this almost surreal positive finale, and that structure was really important to me.” He adds, “More than anything, I wanted to make an album that was generous, that was useful,” says Folds. “I want you to finish this record with something you didn’t have when you started.”
 
Ben Folds also announced an initial round of new tour dates in support of What Matters Most, with shows across the US, the UK - including a concert at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London - and throughout Europe.  Please see announced dates below as well as www.benfolds.com/tour. Additional shows are expected to be announced soon.
 
Born and raised in North Carolina, Folds first rose to fame in the mid-’90s with Ben Folds Five, whose acerbic, genre-bending take on piano pop helped define an entire era of alternative rock. After scoring multiple hit singles and a gold record with the band, Folds launched his solo career in 2001, releasing a series of similarly acclaimed albums that would firmly establish him as one of the most ambitious and versatile songwriters of his generation. In 2010, Folds teamed up with celebrated author Nick Hornby on a collaborative record titled Lonely Avenue. In 2014, he composed and performed his first piano concerto for the Nashville Symphony & Nashville Ballet. In 2017, he became the artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, where he began curating a series of performances marrying contemporary artists with symphonic orchestration. In 2019, he released his New York Times best-selling memoir, A Dream About Lightning Bugs; and in 2021, he launched the Lightning Bugs podcast, an interview series on creativity and process with guests as diverse as Jon Batiste, Sara Bareilles, Rainn Wilson, and his close friend Bob Saget. As if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Folds also revealed himself to be a prolific photographer with gallery shows in the US and Europe, appeared onscreen in films and television (most recently playing himself in three episodes of the hit Amazon Prime series The Wilds), composed music for a 25-minute stage adaptation of Mo Willem’s Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (which premiered at the Kennedy Center and was featured on PBS), and serves on the boards of the Arts Action Fund, the Nashville Symphony and Planet Word, a new immersive museum in Washington, DC, dedicated to celebrating the power of language. Last year, Folds was nominated for an Emmy Award for his composition and performance of the theme song to the Apple TV special It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown.
 
“It can be difficult jumping back and forth from one discipline to another,” says Folds, “but you learn so much from moving between worlds and collaborating with so many different kinds of artists. I performed some of the songs on this record with the National Symphony Orchestra before I finished recording them for the album, and that context gave me so much insight into how I wanted to handle them in the studio.”
 
Ben Folds’ What Matters Most will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A very limited to 200 Metallic Gold Color Vinyl Edition autographed by Folds and featuring a flexi disc with an exclusive bonus track (a cover of the Psychedelic Furs’ “The Ghost in You”) will be available via Rough Trade. A limited Seaglass Blue color vinyl edition autographed by Folds will be available at independent retailers and is also available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

What Matters Most Track Listing:
 
1. But Wait, There’s More
2. Clouds With Ellipses (feat. dodie)
3. Exhausting Lover
4. Fragile
5. Kristine From The 7th Grade
6. Back To Anonymous
7. Winslow Gardens
8. Paddleboat
9. What Matters Most
10. Moments (feat. Tall Heights)

Ben Folds On Tour:
 
March 24 - Eau Claire, WI - The Pablo Center at The Confluence
March 25 - Viroqua, WI - The Historic Temple Theatre
March 26 - Dubuque, IA - Five Flags Theatre
March 28 - Fort Wayne, IN - The Clyde Theatre
March 29 - Urbana, IL - Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
April 21 - Tallahassee, FL - Capital City Amphitheatre *
April 23 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall *
April 25 - Cincinnati, OH - Cincinnati Music Hall *
April 26 - Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Theatre
April 28 - Greensboro, NC - Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts *
April 29 - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
April 30 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Gaillard Center
May 30 - Chicago, IL - Orchestra Hall*
June 13 - New London, CT - Garde Arts Center
June 14 - Lowell, MA - Memorial Auditorium
June 16 - Lewiston, NY - ARTPARK Mainstage Theater
June 17 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center
June 18 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theatre
June 20 - Wilmington, DE - The Grand Opera House
June 22 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
June 23 - Greensburg, PA - Palace Theatre
June 24 - Indianapolis, IN - Rock the Ruins at Holiday Park
June 25 - Detroit, MI - Motor City Casino
June 27 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
June 28 - St. Louis, MO - Stifel Theatre
June 30 - Onamia, MN - Grand Casino Mille Lacs
July 1 - Fargo, ND - Outdoors at Fargo Brewing
July 22 - Columbus, OH - Bicentennial Stage at the Columbus Commons *
August 2 - Bonner, MT - KettleHouse Amphitheatre *
August 4 - Park City, Utah - TBA *
August 8 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
August 9 - Cedar Rapids, IA - McGrath Amphitheatre
August 10 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
August 11 - Salina, KS - The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
August 13 - Arvada, CO - TBA
August 15 - Mesa, AZ - Mesa Arts Center
August 16 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
August 17 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
August 19 - Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater
August 20 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
October 6 & 7 -  Minneapolis, MN - Orchestra Hall *
October 20 & 21 - Dallas, TX  - Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center *
November 8 - Bath, United Kingdom - The Forum
November 9 - Brighton, United Kingdom - Brighton Dome  
November 10 - Birmingham, United Kingdom - Symphony Hall
November 12 - Oxford, United Kingdom - New Theatre
November 13 - London, United Kingdom - Royal Albert Hall
November 15 - Gateshead, United Kingdom - Sage Gateshead
November 16 - York, United Kingdom - Grand Opera House
November 17 - Manchester, United Kingdom - O2 Apollo
November 18 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom - Usher Hall
November 20 - Dublin, Ireland - The Helix
November 23 - Zurich, Switzerland - Kaufleuten
November 25 - Berlin, Germany - Admiralspalast
November 26 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Kurhaus
November 27 - Utrecht, Netherlands - TrivoliVredenburg - Grote Zaal
November 30 - Paris, France - La Cigale
December 1 - Antwerp, Belgium - De Roma
December 2 - Dudelange, Luxembourg - Opderschmelz
December 4 - Essen, Germany - Lichtburg
 
* Orchestra dates

Sat, 03/04/2023 - 10:57 am

49 Winchester have announced their first ever European live dates as direct support for Luke Combs’ 2023 World Tour. Kicking off on September 30 in Oslo, Norway, the 14 date trek will conclude with a 2-Night Stand at London’s O2 Arena. 49 Winchester’s Isaac Gibson said, “Luke is someone whose music and approach we’ve admired for years. We are beyond grateful and excited to hit the road with him in Europe this fall, and take the 49 show worldwide on the biggest stages of our career. See ya’ll out there!”

49 Winchester have been on the road for the past year in support of their critically acclaimed New West Records debut Fortune Favors the Bold. The new album has quickly generated over 40 million global streams and over 17 million global streams for the single “Russell County Line.” The band has also been selected as a Spotify “Hot Country Artist to Watch in 2023” and an Apple Music “Country Riser in 2022.” Fortune Favors the Bold debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top New Artist Chart, #7 on the Billboard Current Country Chart, and #10 on the Billboard Folk Americana Chart as well. Met with critical acclaim, Rolling Stone called them “Country Music’s Buzziest of Buzz Bands,” and also named the record one of the “25 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2022.” Bandcamp named Fortune Favors the Bold one of the “Best Country Records of 2022,” as did No Depression, Holler, PopMatters, Whiskey Riff, WMOT, and more.

49 Winchester have steadily become a must-see live act. Prior to their European tour supporting Luke Combs, the band will make their London debut at the C2C: Country to Country Music Festival alongside the Zac Brown Band, Midland, and more. They will return to the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage for their second appearance & make their Stagecoach debut in April. In September, the band will also return to the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, where they have solidified themselves as a fan favorite every year. Please see all dates below.
 
Formed on Winchester Street in the small mountain town of Castlewood, Virginia (population: 2,045), 49 Winchester started as a group of neighborhood teenage friends set on a calculated DIY path. In 2014 they independently released their eponymous debut, followed by 2018’s The Wind, and 2020’s celebrated III. Reflecting on his early days as a jack-of-all-trades stone mason, where it was about trying to make ends meet in an effort to keep the band rolling along, frontman Gibson can’t help but be grateful for a well-earned notion at the core of the band’s ethos — anything worthwhile in life is built brick-by-brick. “Everything has to be built. And very few people are going to achieve success overnight,” says Gibson. “We didn’t start out as a bunch of hot shot pickers out of Nashville. We started out on the ground floor — very basic songwriting and instrumentation. But we kept working at it, always progressing in what we wanted to do and how we wanted to sound — each song better than the previous one, the show this evening better than last night.”
 
49 Winchester’s Fortune Favors The Bold is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS

49 Winchester On Tour:

March 10-12 - London UK - C2C Music Festival
March 17 - Anderson SC - Wendells Dippin Branch
March 18 - Columbia SC - St. Pat’s in Five Points
March 31 - Bristol TN - Paramount Center for the Arts *Night 1
April 1 - Bristol TN - Paramount Center for the Arts *Night 2
April 5 - Oxford OH - Brick Street
April 6 - Columbus OH - A&R Music Bar
April 7 - Pittsburgh PA - Thunderbird Cafe
April 14 - Mccaysville GA - TOONEYS Music Venue
April 15 - Helena AL - Helena Amphitheater
April 18 - Nashville TN - Grand Ole Opry
April 20 - Oklahoma City OK - Beer City Music Hall
April 22 - Fort Worth TX - Tulips FTW
April 25 - Tucson AZ - Rialto Theatre
April 27 - Phoenix AZ - Valley Bar
April 28 - Flagstaff AZ - The Museum Club
April 30 - Indio CA - Stagecoach Festival
May 2 - Santa Fe NM - Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery
May 4 - Denver CO - Bluebird Theater
May 5 - Hays KS - Fox Theatre
May 6 - Kansas City MO - Knuckleheads
May 12-13 - Huntersville NC - North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival
May 19 - Winchester VA - Katie’s House Country Music Festival
May 21 - Richmond VA - Dominion Riverrock Festival
May 27 - Worcester MA - Country Carnival Music Festival
June 1 - Decatur IL - Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater
June 3 - Chattanooga TN - Riverbend Festival
June 4 - Lexington KY - Railbird Music Festival
June 9-10 - Pineville KY - Laurel Cove Music Festival
June 16 - Wise VA - VA-KY District Fair
June 23 - New Martinsville WV - Back Home Festival
June 24 - Hamilton OH - Whimmydiddle Festival
July 14-16 - Whitefish MT - Under the Big Sky Festival
July 21 - Yerington NV - Night in The Country
July 28-29 - Fort Smith AR - Peacemaker Festival
August 3 - Huber Heights OH - Rose Music Center at the Heights
August 4 - Cincinnati OH - PNC Pavilion
August 5 - Charlottesville VA - Ting Pavilion
September 8-10 - Bristol TN - Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
September 30 - Oslo NO - Spektrum #
October 1 - Stockholm SE - Avicii Arena #
October 4 - Copenhagen DK - VEGA Forum #
October 6 - Hamburg DE - Barclays Arena #
October 7 - Amsterdam NL - AFAS Live #
October 8 - Paris FR - La Cigale #
October 10 - Zurich CH - The Hall #
October 11 - Brussels BE - Ancienne Belgique #
October 13 - Dublin IE - 3 Arena #
October 14 - Belfast UK - SSE Arena #
October 16 - Glasgow UK - OVO Hydro Arena #
October 17 - Manchester UK - AO Arena #
October 19 - London UK - O2 Arena *Night 1 #
October 20 - London UK - O2 Arena *Night 2 #
 
# supporting Luke Combs

Sun, 04/02/2023 - 3:57 pm

Rodney Crowell will release The Chicago Sessions on May 5, 2023, via New West Records. The 10-song set was produced by Jeff Tweedy and recorded by Tom Schick at Wilco’s Loft in Chicago. The masterful, cross-generational collaboration follows Crowell’s acclaimed 2021 album Triage. Hailed by Rolling Stone as a “country music trailblazer” and by The New York Times as an artist whose songwriting “gets better and sharper with age,” Crowell delivers an incisive, engaging collection that balances careful craftsmanship with joyful liberation at every turn. Sounding both fresh and familiar, it’s among Crowell’s very best work.

As Jeff Tweedy puts it, “The way that Rodney writes is deeply connected to a classic era of country songwriters that I’ve always loved. In my estimation, it’s as close as I can get to working with Townes Van Zandt or Felice and Boudleaux Bryant — people who crafted songs with a very specific sensibility. And I like being near that.”

Today, Crowell released the video for the album highlight “Loving You Is the Only Way to Fly.” Of the song, Crowell says, “‘Loving You Is the Only Way to Fly’ is something I wrote a while back with Sarah Buxton and Jedd Hughes, both of whom appear on the record. Jedd and I were sitting around with guitars in our hands when he started playing the basic chord pattern. I’m pretty sure the title sprang from something Ben Vaughn said to me back when we were writing ‘When Losers Rule The World,’ but I haven’t had the nerve to ask. Ben, if you read this, I wish you could’ve been there. If you feel left out, you can have my portion of the proceeds and I’ll take credit for putting Jeff Tweedy in charge of overseeing a pretty dang decent recording of the song. Much love, Rodney.”

SHARE THE "LOVING YOU IS THE ONLY WAY TO FLY" VIDEO

Crowell previously released the video for the album’s first single, “Everything at Once,” which features footage recorded at The Loft during recording. A co-write with Tweedy, the song walks a tightrope between hope and despair as it playfully wrestles with overstimulation in an overcrowded world. Perhaps no track better encapsulates the spirit of the record. Crowell explains, “It occurred to me that Jeff and I are both songwriters, and we ought to write something together for this album. We could have harmonized on it and gone down an Everly Brothers route, but ultimately we decided to just sing in unison and throw it out there like an all-skate. I love that we didn’t get too precious about it.” See the “Everything at Once” video HERE.

While looking at the cover of The Chicago Sessions, listeners might recognize a familiar callback to Crowell’s 1978 debut, Ain’t Living Long Like This. “In a lot of ways, this album feels like that very first record to me,” Crowell reflects. “When my daughter suggested we lay the artwork out similarly, the connection made perfect sense. There’s something very simple, very innocent about it. It’s just me and the band in a room together, loose and live and having fun.” The Chicago Sessions is indeed a throwback to the legendary Crowell’s early days of making records, but it’s no nostalgia trip. The songs are vital and timely, touching on everything from love and mortality to race and religion, and the performances are nothing short of intoxicating, fueled by raw guitars, honky-tonk piano, and tight, punchy drums. Tweedy wields a light touch as a producer, his influence subtle yet unmistakable. Engineer Tom Schick’s mixes are dynamic and lively, alternately lush and spacious in all the right places, with a spotlight fixed firmly on Crowell’s warm, weathered vocals throughout.

While most of The Chicago Sessions consists of newly written material, Crowell revisits two tracks from the 1970s. The first, the aching “You’re Supposed to Be Feeling Good,” is a Crowell original first recorded by Emmylou Harris on her 1977 Luxury Liner record. While he had long intended to record it himself, the stars didn’t align until a new arrangement fell into place with Tweedy on guitar. The second, Townes Van Zandt’s “No Place to Fall,” had always held a special place in Crowell’s heart. “The first time I heard that song, Townes was sitting across the table from me at Guy and Susanna Clark’s house,” Crowell recalls. “He said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a new song for you,’ and it’s been imprinted on my psyche ever since. I wanted to record it as an homage to somebody that I learned a lot about songwriting from.”
 
Crowell brought three players with him to The Loft — guitarist Jedd Hughes, pianist Catherine Marx, and bassist Zachariah Hickman — while enlisting Windy City natives John Perrine and Spencer Tweedy (Jeff’s son) to split drumming duties. Jeff Tweedy appears on vocals, guitars, and banjo throughout.
 
Crowell has also announced his initial tour dates in support of The Chicago Sessions. Launching May 2 in New York City at Sony Hall, the initial run of dates feature stops at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and the legendary Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, TX. Crowell has also announced the dates for his annual songwriting camp “It Starts With A Song 2023” August 21-24 in Nashville as well as being a part of the Cayamo Cruise lineup of artists next March 1-8, 2024. See tour dates, with more to be added, below.
 
For Rodney Crowell, it’s always been about the songs. Born and raised in Houston, he moved to Nashville in the early 1970s, coming to prominence first as a writer before establishing himself as a critically acclaimed solo artist in his own right. With 15 #1 songs on the country music charts throughout his career, along with two GRAMMY Awards, he has written hits for such country legends as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and George Strait, as well as for current chart toppers like Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. He’s been covered by r&b icons (Etta James) and rock legends (Van Morrison, Bob Seger).
 
Throughout the last 20 years, he has been celebrated by the music industry. In 2003, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2006 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Songwriting from the Americana Music Association. In 2017 he was honored with ASCAP’s prestigious Founder’s Award, and in 2019 he was presented with the Poet’s Award by the Academy of Country Music. In addition to his prolific output as a singer, songwriter, and producer, he also found time to become a celebrated author, publishing his memoir, Chinaberry Sidewalks, and a lyrical retrospective, Word for Word, both to widespread praise.  
 
It would be difficult to overstate Crowell’s impact on country and roots music over the past 50 years. He may be a seasoned veteran, but the transcendent The Chicago Sessions feels like the first time all over again.
 
The Chicago Sessions will be available across digital platforms and on compact disc and standard black vinyl. An extremely limited pressing of 100 copies on Royal Blue vinyl will be available only in Chicago record stores, while 1,000 copies will be pressed on Denim Blue vinyl and sold at independent retailers worldwide. A limited-to-300 Green vinyl edition autographed by Crowell is available exclusively for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Sat, 04/15/2023 - 1:03 pm

The Drive-By Truckers will release The Complete Dirty South on June 16, 2023, via New West Records. Originally released in 2004 to wide acclaim, The Dirty South explores the mean highways and dark hollers of what the band called the “Mythological South,” a tornado-ravaged landscape populated by bootleggers and small-time criminals, everyday folks just scraping to get by and looming icons like Sam Phillips, John Henry, and Sheriff Buford Pusser. The album is a reckoning with the place they call home. Pitchfork sang its praises: “The Drive-By Truckers’ Southern rock always sounds homemade, and like liquor from a still, it’s extremely potent… [They] find the connections between these larger-than-life figures and the life-size experiences that shaped them. For them, the South is a stretch of highway where many have died, an ordinary place made extraordinary by human tragedies. The Dirty South is their homemade roadside memorial.”

The ground-breaking album has been re-sequenced and expanded to the band’s initially proposed 17-song track listing. It includes 3 bonus tracks that were left off the original album, 4 remixed songs, and 2 featuring newly updated vocals. Also included is a 32-page book featuring original and new liner notes written by the Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood, track-by-track descriptions written by Hood, Mike Cooley and Jason Isbell, never-before-seen photos, and updated artwork by the late Wes Freed. The Complete Dirty South was remastered by the legendary Greg Calbi. This definitive version of the album will finally be available as the band intended.

Today, the Drive-By Truckers shared the remixed & remastered “Puttin’ People on the Moon,” which features new vocals. Patterson Hood says, “I wrote ‘Puttin’ People on the Moon’ in the passenger seat of our van driving through western Tennessee and northern Georgia in late 2003. At the time I was angry about the recently started war in Iraq and the polarization President Bush and his cronies were unleashing on our country, but also drawing a parallel to the policies of President Reagan, who at the time many still viewed as a grandfatherly presence despite his enacting so many policies that had major negative ramifications on our future, a future we’re still living through now. The song was probably the best political song I had ever written at that time and unfortunately is more timely today than it was in 2003.” Hood adds, “We recorded it in Muscle Shoals (in one take) in January 2004, but by the time the record came out, I had already begun to regret the vocal take, which attempted some things I hadn’t yet really learned how to do at that time. As the years have passed, it is one of two on that album that has always really bothered me when I hear it played, while live it has morphed into a truly powerful song for me to sing. When we were given the opportunity to do a ‘Directors Cut’ version of what many consider to be our masterpiece, I wanted to take another stab at that vocal and nailed what I believe to be a definitive version of it in one take. One that truly captures the inherent anger and despair of the song as written and played by the band. The scream at the end might be the most primal recording of my voice anywhere in our catalog and I’m very proud to have this version out there after all these years. The Complete Dirty South might indeed be DBT’s masterpiece.”

SHARE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS’ “PUTTIN’ PEOPLE ON THE MOON

In the newly penned liner notes Patterson Hood writes, “The period from 2002, a few months after we self-released our breakthrough album Southern Rock Opera, through the end of 2005, when we wrapped up The Dirty South Tour, is widely considered to be our band’s glory days. It was certainly exciting… In January of 2004, the label realized that we had a new completed album and were hoping to release it that summer. Not only that, it was to be another double album. They weren’t too happy about any of this. We took their unhappiness as an insult and so it went. In the end, a sort of compromise was reached and New West agreed to release the album and we agreed to shorten it to fit on one CD. The Dirty South came out in August of 2004 to wide acclaim and went on to be the best selling of our albums at the time.”

Hood adds, “A lot has happened in the nearly twenty years since The Dirty South was released. All of these years later, it is still considered one of our best albums… Shortly after we left (New West), they restructured the label and the source of our turmoil moved on to other things. We are on excellent terms with the powers that be now and we were happy when they reached out to us about the idea of reissuing The Dirty South, enabling us to put out the album the way we had originally intended it to be. We have reconstructed the original sequence and concept as it was conceived. Where possible we preserved the original John Agnello mixes but remixed the bonus tracks and also fixed a couple of vocal issues that I have always regretted about the original version (for purists, those versions still exist out there, but this gave us a chance to present it the way I’ve always wished it could be)… This version finally allows it to be heard and seen the way we had always hoped and intended.”

The Complete Dirty South will be available across digital platforms, double compact disc, and 2 LP’s pressed on “Reposado” color vinyl. A limited to 500 “Whiskey” color vinyl edition will be packaged with a lithograph autographed by Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Jason Isbell, Shonna Tucker, and Brad Morgan, and is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

The Complete Dirty South Track Listing:
 
1. Where The Devil Don’t Stay
2. Tornadoes
3. The Day John Henry Died
4. Puttin’ People on the Moon (remixed & featuring new vocals)
5. Goode’s Field Road (remixed)
6. Carl Perkins’ Cadillac
7. TVA
8. The Sands of Iwo Jima (remixed & featuring new vocals)
9. Danko/Manuel
10. The Boys from Alabama
11. The Buford Stick
12. Never Gonna Change
13. Cottonseed
14. The Great Car Dealer War (remixed)
15. Daddy’s Cup
16. Lookout Mountain
17. Goddamn Lonely Love

Sun, 04/30/2023 - 4:41 pm

SUSTO will return with My Entire Life July 28 via New West Records. The 12-song set was produced by Wolfgang Zimmerman (Band of Horses) and SUSTO’s Justin Osborne and Johnny Delaware. My Entire Life follows their critically acclaimed 2021 album Time in the Sun which Holler said “provides proof that Osborne and his bandmates are an important voice in today’s conflicted world,” while No Depression called it a “fluid and engaging listen.” Ink 19 said “It’s a great example of SUSTO’s ability to create true lyrical and musical masterpieces so fresh you simply cannot turn it off” while the Bitter Southerner named it one of “The Best Southern Albums of 2021.”

A season of drastic change is what brought SUSTO frontman Justin Osborne to the band’s new album. There was a divorce, difficulties re-building his band after the pandemic, and the pain and helplessness of witnessing family members struggle with addiction and mental illness. Despite these challenges, Justin ultimately found himself in a new landscape, with new love and a deeper perspective, all of which is masterfully projected into My Entire Life. As a whole, the album documents Justin’s personal journey through highs and lows in his life, with many of the details on full display. He narrates the demise and aftermath of an almost decade long relationship, while celebrating the joy of falling in love, and the hopefulness of starting over.

Today, Paste Magazine shared the video for the album’s title track and lead single, “My Entire Life,” a song with an urgency “to keep living.” Director Luke Pilgrim says, “We at Sozo Bear Films ventured into the relatively unknown world of AI art. We took inspiration from the lyrics, SUSTO’s entire catalog, as well as Justin’s previous musical endeavors to create visuals that represent themes from his entire life. We used stable diffusion to create a mind-bending psychedelic experience. Stable Diffusion is a type of deep learning generative neural network with the ability to prompt, render and process AI imagery.”

SHARE SUSTO’S "MY ENTIRE LIFE" VIDEO

“SUSTO’s narrative has always been confessional, and songwriting is my way of trying to make sense of the chaos—good and bad—around me,” observes Justin. “This record is my story of navigating a bunch of chaos, but finding ways to carry on and manifest my own happiness…the last few years were a challenge, but I look back and see that I made it through a better, truer, and more realized version of myself.”
 
Much of the album was recorded at The Space in Charleston, SC, but major sessions also took place at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, NC, and Chase Park Transduction in Athens, GA. The band also took a recording pilgrimage to the Mexican town of Tepoztlan (the mythical birthplace of mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatl), where they turned an airbnb into a remote recording studio with the help from members of Mexican Institute of Sound. The result is a compelling blend of rock, folk and psychedelia, with vivid country-esque storytelling. It’s as raw and real as anything the band has done so far.
 
SUSTO have also announced their initial live performances in support of My Entire Life. Launching on May 5th in Roanoke, VA, the trek features stops in Nashville, TN at the historic Ryman Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA at the legendary Troubadour, and an appearance at the Americana Music Festival in September.  See all dates, with more to be announced, below.
 
For as much as My Entire Life is the ultimate vision of what SUSTO can be, it’s also a classic story of one person rising from the ashes, wiser, and fiery than ever.
 
SUSTO’S My Entire Life will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 200 Blue & Purple Marble Vinyl Edition will be available via Heady Wax Fiends. A limited to 750 Blue & Green Marble Vinyl Edition autographed by SUSTO’s Justin Osborne will be available via Independent Retailers and for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

My Entire Life Track Listing:

1. Rock On
2. Mermaid Vampire
3. Mt. Caroline
4. Tina
5. My Entire Life
6. Optimum Artist
7. Cowboys
8. Hyperbolic Jesus
9. Double Stripe
10. Rooster
11. Tragic Kingdom
12. Break Free, Rolling Stone
 
SUSTO On Tour:
 
5.5.23 — Roanoke, VA — Martin’s Downtown
5.6.23 — Raleigh, NC — Lincoln Theatre w/ Harvey Street Co + Ellis Bullard
5.9.23 — Greenville, NC — Radio Room w/ Ellis Bullard
5.10.23 — Greenville, NC — Radio Room w/ Sunhouse
5.12.23 — Atlanta, GA — Terminal West w/ Easy Honey
5.13.23 — Huntersville, NC — North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival
5.20.23 — Nashville, TN — Supporting Futurebirds @ Ryman Auditorium
6.10.23 — Healdsburg, CA — The Bloodroot Ramble
7.29.23 – Austin, TX – Parish
7.29.23 — Fort Worth, TX — Tulips
8.2.23 — Boulder, CO — JBE AAA Summitfest - Hill Stage at the Fox Theatre
8.5.23 — Basalt, CO — The Arts Campus at Willits w/ Esther Rose
8.10.23 – Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar w/ Esther Rose
8.11.23 — West Hollywood, CA — Troubadour w/ Esther Rose
8.12.23 — Felton, CA — Felton Music Hall w/ Esther Rose
8.13.23 — Berkeley, CA — Cornerstone w/ Esther Rose
8.16.23 — Portland, OR — Mississippi Studios w/ Esther Rose
8.17.23 — Seattle, WA — Tractor Tavern w/ Esther Rose
8.18.23 — Spokane, WA — Lucky You Lounge w/ Esther Rose
8.19.23 — Columbia Falls, MT — The Coop w/ Esther Rose
8.21.23 — Bozeman, MT — The Rialto w/ Esther Rose
8.22.23 — Billings, MT — The Pub Station w/ Esther Rose
8.25.23 — St. Paul, MN — Turf Club
8.26.23 — Milwaukee, WI — The Backroom @ Colectivo
9.2.23 — Charleston, SC — The Refinery w/Big Something
9.8.23 - 9.9.23 — Maquoketa, IA — Fine Today Fest @ Codfish Hollow Barn
9.19.23 - 9.23.23 — Nashville, TN — AmericanaFest 

Sat, 05/06/2023 - 1:54 pm

Rodney Crowell released The Chicago Sessions today via New West Records. The 10-song set was produced by Jeff Tweedy and recorded by Tom Schick at Wilco’s Loft in Chicago. The masterful, cross-generational collaboration follows his acclaimed 2021 album Triage. Hailed by Rolling Stone as a “country music trailblazer” and by The New York Times as an artist whose songwriting “gets better and sharper with age,” Crowell delivers an incisive, engaging collection that balances careful craftsmanship with joyful liberation at every turn. Sounding both fresh and familiar, it’s among his very best work.
 
The Chicago Sessions has been met with wide critical acclaim with Uncut Magazine saying in their 8/10 rated review, “At 72 years of age, Crowell remains both a vital link to (Townes) Van Zandt’s classic sensibility and an enduring force whose vitality shows few signs of waning.” PopMatters awarded it 9/10 stars saying, “Rodney Crowell travels to the house Wilco built and subtly delivers one of his best albums in years,” while American Songwriter called it “Another triumph from Rodney Crowell.” Holler said, “Reminiscent of Johnny Cash in his later years, when he carved out something fresh with Rick Rubin… Hopefully this album is the beginning of a beautiful friendship for Crowell and Tweedy.” As Jeff Tweedy puts it, “The way that Rodney writes is deeply connected to a classic era of country songwriters that I’ve always loved. In my estimation, it’s as close as I can get to working with Townes Van Zandt or Felice and Boudleaux Bryant — people who crafted songs with a very specific sensibility. And I like being near that.”
 
Prior to the album release, Crowell shared the videos for the album’s first single, “Everything at Once,” which features footage recorded at The Loft during recording. A co-write with Tweedy, the song walks a tightrope between hope and despair as it playfully wrestles with overstimulation in an overcrowded world. Perhaps no track better encapsulates the spirit of the record. Crowell also previously released the video for the album highlight “Loving You Is The Only Way to Fly” as well as the video for “Lucky,” which features Crowell wearing John Lennon’s legendary suit worn during the opening of The Beatles’ debut film A Hard Day’s Night.
 
Looking at the cover of The Chicago Sessions, listeners might recognize a familiar callback to Crowell’s 1978 debut, Ain’t Living Long Like This. “In a lot of ways, this album feels like that very first record to me,” he reflects. “When my daughter suggested we lay the artwork out similarly, the connection made perfect sense. There’s something very simple, very innocent about it. It’s just me and the band in a room together, loose and live and having fun.” The Chicago Sessions is indeed a throwback to the legendary Crowell’s early days of making records, but it’s no nostalgia trip. The songs are vital and timely, touching on everything from love and mortality to race and religion, and the performances are nothing short of intoxicating, fueled by raw guitars, honky-tonk piano, and tight, punchy drums. Tweedy wields a light touch as a producer, his influence subtle yet unmistakable. Engineer Tom Schick’s mixes are dynamic and lively, alternately lush and spacious in all the right places, with a spotlight fixed firmly on Crowell’s warm, weathered vocals throughout.
 
While most of The Chicago Sessions consists of newly written material, Crowell revisits two tracks from the 1970s. The first, the aching “You’re Supposed to Be Feeling Good,” is a Crowell original first recorded by Emmylou Harris on her 1977 Luxury Liner record. While he had long intended to record it himself, the stars didn’t align until a new arrangement fell into place with Tweedy on guitar. The second, Townes Van Zandt’s “No Place to Fall,” had always held a special place in Crowell’s heart. “The first time I heard that song, Townes was sitting across the table from me at Guy and Susanna Clark’s house,” Crowell recalls. “He said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a new song for you,’ and it’s been imprinted on my psyche ever since. I wanted to record it as an homage to somebody that I learned a lot about songwriting from.”
 
Crowell brought three players with him to The Loft — guitarist Jedd Hughes, pianist Catherine Marx, and bassist Zachariah Hickman — while enlisting Windy City natives John Perrine and Spencer Tweedy (Jeff’s son) to split drumming duties. Jeff Tweedy appears on vocals, guitars, and banjo throughout.
 
Crowell will also launch his tour in support of the album this Sunday at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. The initial run of dates also features a stop at the legendary Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, TX. Additionally, Crowell has announced the dates for his annual songwriting camp “It Starts With A Song 2023” August 21-24 in Nashville as well as being a part of the Cayamo Cruise lineup of artists next March 1-8, 2024. See tour dates, with more to be added, below.
 
For Rodney Crowell, it’s always been about the songs. Born and raised in Houston, he moved to Nashville in the early 1970s, coming to prominence first as a writer before establishing himself as a critically acclaimed solo artist in his own right. With 15 #1 songs on the country music charts throughout his career, along with two GRAMMY Awards, he has written hits for such country legends as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and George Strait, as well as for current chart toppers like Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. He’s been covered by r&b icons (Etta James) and rock legends (Van Morrison, Bob Seger).
 
Throughout the last 20 years, he has been celebrated by the music industry. In 2003, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2006 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Songwriting from the Americana Music Association. In 2017 he was honored with ASCAP’s prestigious Founder’s Award, and in 2019 he was presented with the Poet’s Award by the Academy of Country Music. In addition to his prolific output as a singer, songwriter, and producer, he also found time to become a celebrated author, publishing his memoir, Chinaberry Sidewalks, and a lyrical retrospective, Word for Word, both to widespread praise.  
 
It would be difficult to overstate Crowell’s impact on country and roots music over the past 50 years. He may be a seasoned veteran, but the transcendent The Chicago Sessions feels like the first time all over again.
 
The Chicago Sessions is available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. An extremely limited pressing of 100 copies on Royal Blue vinyl is available only in Chicago record stores, while 1,000 copies pressed on Denim Blue vinyl is available at independent retailers worldwide. The Chicago Sessions is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

The Chicago Sessions Track Listing:
 
1. Lucky
2. Somebody Loves You
3. Loving You Is the Only Way to Fly
4. You’re Supposed to Be Feeling Good
5. No Place to Fall
6. Oh Miss Claudia
7. Everything at Once (feat. Jeff Tweedy)  
8. Ever the Dark
9. Making Lovers Out of Friends
10. Ready to Move On
 
Rodney Crowell On Tour
With Special Guests Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

 
May 7, 2023 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music
May 9, 2023 - Denver, CO - Soiled Dove Underground
May 11, 2023 - Mount Vernon, WA - Lincoln Theatre
May 12, 2023 - Portland, OR - Alberta Rose Theatre
May 14, 2023 - Grass Valley, CA - The Center For the Arts
May 15, 2023 - Petaluma, CA - Mystic Theatre
May 16, 2023 - Santa Barbara, CA - Lobero Theatre
June 1, 2023 - Tulsa, OK - Switchyard Tulsa at Cain’s Ballroom
June 2, 2023 - Dallas, TX - Longhorn Ballroom
June 3, 2023 - Kerrville, TX - The Arcadia Live
June 15, 2023 - Stephenville, TX - Birdsong Amphitheater
June 16, 2023 - Houston, TX - Heights Theatre
June 17, 2023 - New Braunfels, TX - Gruene Hall
July 13, 2023 - Bristol, TN - Paramount Bristol
July 15, 2023 - Union Hall, VA - The Coves Amphitheater at Smith Mountain Lake
July 16, 2023 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere
July 18, 2023 - Northampton, MA - BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity
July 19, 2023 - Ridgefield, CT - The Ridgefield Playhouse
July 20, 2023 - Rockport, MA - Shalin Liu Performance Center
July 22 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center For The Arts
August 21-24, 2023 - Nashville, TN - Rodney Crowell:  It Starts With A Song 2023
March 1-8, 2024 - Miami, FL - Cayamo Cruise

Tue, 05/16/2023 - 4:03 pm

The Drive-By Truckers will release The Complete Dirty South on June 16, 2023, via New West Records. Originally released in 2004 to wide acclaim, The Dirty South explores the mean highways and dark hollers of what the band called the “Mythological South,” a tornado-ravaged landscape populated by bootleggers and small-time criminals, everyday folks just scraping to get by and looming icons like Sam Phillips, John Henry, and Sheriff Buford Pusser. The album is a reckoning with the place they call home. Pitchfork sang its praises: “The Drive-By Truckers’ Southern rock always sounds homemade, and like liquor from a still, it’s extremely potent… [They] find the connections between these larger-than-life figures and the life-size experiences that shaped them. For them, the South is a stretch of highway where many have died, an ordinary place made extraordinary by human tragedies. The Dirty South is their homemade roadside memorial.”

The ground-breaking album has been re-sequenced and expanded to the band’s initially proposed 17-song track listing. It includes 3 bonus tracks that were left off the original album, and 4 remixed songs featuring newly updated vocals. Also included is a 32-page book featuring original and new liner notes written by the Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood, track-by-track descriptions written by Hood, Mike Cooley and Jason Isbell, never-before-seen photos, and updated artwork by the late Wes Freed. The Complete Dirty South was remastered by the legendary Greg Calbi. This definitive version of the album will finally be available as the band intended.

Today, the Drive-By Truckers shared the remixed “Goode’s Field Road” featuring new vocals from Patterson Hood. He says, “I wrote the song as part of the album as we originally envisioned it as a kind of connective tissue between the state line gang narrative and the more personal songs on the album. We recorded it in Athens during the fall of 2003. When it ended up being dropped from the sequence, it was later released on The Fine Print collection of outtakes and oddities. This version features a new vocal and mix (and is quite a different version from the one on Brighter Than Creation’s Dark). It has always been one of my favorite songs that I have ever written.”

SHARE “GOODE’S FIELD ROAD” FEATURING NEW VOCALS FROM PATTERSON HOOD

The Drive-By Truckers previously shared “Puttin’ People on the Moon,” which features new vocals as well. Hood says, “I wrote ‘Puttin’ People on the Moon’ in the passenger seat of our van driving through western Tennessee and northern Georgia in late 2003. At the time I was angry about the recently started war in Iraq and the polarization President Bush and his cronies were unleashing on our country, but also drawing a parallel to the policies of President Reagan, who at the time many still viewed as a grandfatherly presence despite his enacting so many policies that had major negative ramifications on our future, a future we’re still living through now. The song was probably the best political song I had ever written at that time and unfortunately is more timely today than it was in 2003.” Hood adds, “We recorded it in Muscle Shoals (in one take) in January 2004, but by the time the record came out, I had already begun to regret the vocal take, which attempted some things I hadn’t yet really learned how to do at that time. As the years have passed, it is one of two on that album that has always really bothered me when I hear it played, while live it has morphed into a truly powerful song for me to sing. When we were given the opportunity to do a ‘Directors Cut’ version of what many consider to be our masterpiece, I wanted to take another stab at that vocal and nailed what I believe to be a definitive version of it in one take. One that truly captures the inherent anger and despair of the song as written and played by the band. The scream at the end might be the most primal recording of my voice anywhere in our catalog and I’m very proud to have this version out there after all these years. The Complete Dirty South might indeed be DBT’s masterpiece.”

In the newly penned liner notes Patterson Hood writes, “The period from 2002, a few months after we self-released our breakthrough album Southern Rock Opera, through the end of 2005, when we wrapped up The Dirty South Tour, is widely considered to be our band’s glory days. It was certainly exciting… In January of 2004, the label realized that we had a new completed album and were hoping to release it that summer. Not only that, it was to be another double album. They weren’t too happy about any of this. We took their unhappiness as an insult and so it went. In the end, a sort of compromise was reached and New West agreed to release the album and we agreed to shorten it to fit on one CD. The Dirty South came out in August of 2004 to wide acclaim and went on to be the best selling of our albums at the time.”

Hood adds, “A lot has happened in the nearly twenty years since The Dirty South was released. All of these years later, it is still considered one of our best albums… Shortly after we left (New West), they restructured the label and the source of our turmoil moved on to other things. We are on excellent terms with the powers that be now and we were happy when they reached out to us about the idea of reissuing The Dirty South, enabling us to put out the album the way we had originally intended it to be. We have reconstructed the original sequence and concept as it was conceived. Where possible we preserved the original John Agnello mixes but remixed the bonus tracks and also fixed a couple of vocal issues that I have always regretted about the original version (for purists, those versions still exist out there, but this gave us a chance to present it the way I’ve always wished it could be… This version finally allows it to be heard and seen the way we had always hoped and intended.”

The Complete Dirty South will be available across digital platforms, double compact disc, and 2 LP’s pressed on “Reposado” color vinyl. The Complete Dirty South is available to pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

The Complete Dirty South Track Listing:
 
1. Where The Devil Don’t Stay
2. Tornadoes
3. The Day John Henry Died
4. Puttin’ People on the Moon (remixed & featuring new vocals)
5. Goode’s Field Road (remixed & featuring new vocals)
6. Carl Perkins’ Cadillac
7. TVA
8. The Sands of Iwo Jima (remixed & featuring new vocals)
9. Danko/Manuel
10. The Boys from Alabama
11. The Buford Stick
12. Never Gonna Change
13. Cottonseed
14. The Great Car Dealer War (remixed & featuring new vocals)
15. Daddy’s Cup
16. Lookout Mountain
17. Goddamn Lonely Love

Wed, 06/14/2023 - 4:49 pm

Los Lobos have announced tour dates celebrating their 50th Anniversary as a band. Launching August 12 in Santa Fe, NM, the trek will feature intimate appearances at Los Angeles’ famed Whisky a Go Go and a very special return to the band’s alma mater James A. Garfield High School in East L.A.. Tickets for Los Lobos’ 50th Anniversary Concerts are on sale this Friday, June 16th at 10:00am Local Time. Please see the 50th Anniversary tour dates below.

The band’s Louie Perez, Jr. says “We're very excited and proud to announce that we'll be playing at The Escalante Auditorium at James A. Garfield High School in East Los Angeles as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations. Garfield High is our alma mater and where we all met. It remains a huge part of who we are. There will always be a special place in our hearts for Garfield High. We may be wolves, but we're also Bulldogs for life."

Over the past 50 years, Los Lobos have created an unprecedented body of work and a legacy of greatness. The numbers are staggering: 100+ gigs a year for five decades running, crossing millions of miles to rock millions of fans. They’ve recorded 17 studio albums, 7 live LPs, released 3 compilations, 2 EPs, 2 DVDs, and contributed over 40 guest appearances on their friends’ recordings — all garnering 4 Grammy Awards, an Austin City Limits Hall of Fame induction, the ALMA Ritchie Valens Pioneer Award, NEA and Hispanic Heritage Foundation Honors, Congressional recognition, plus countless “Keys to the City” and “Los Lobos Day” celebrations.

Five Brothers who have dedicated their off-stage time to helping others, working for peace and justice, penning some of the most literate and important music of their time, transforming the hard cries from the East L.A. barrio into songs of hope, tales of common folk finding ways to endure. As proud Chicanos, their songs have always glistened with the distillation from their Mexican and Latin American roots. Los Lobos have helped spread the rich diversity of cultures across every continent, throughout the global community. And in the true rebel spirit, they did it all on their own terms, against formula. Quite simply, they are one of the tightest, one of the best, one of the most prolific bands ever. And, amazingly, with the original founding members as the pack the entire time. Unprecedented.

Los Lobos still are David Hidalgo, Louie Perez, Jr., Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, Steve Berlin.

Los Lobos’ Grammy Award Winning 2021 Album Native Sons is available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS. The 13-song album was produced by Los Lobos in East Los Angeles and found the band mapping their musical DNA as a kaleidoscopic selection of tribute songs from their homeland, ultimately creating a crucial snapshot of L.A.’s musical heritage. Met with wide critical acclaim, David Fricke said in his 4 Star MOJO review, “Pin Ups en Espanol: East LA’s greatest dance band hosts a ‘covers’ party,” while Uncut Magazine awarded the album 8 out of 10 stars. Mother Jones said “They are a national treasure,” while the actor, comedian, and podcast host Marc Maron exclaimed “Los Lobos makes almost all other bands look like novelty acts.”

LOS LOBOS 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATES:

August 12 – Santa Fe, NM – The Bridge @ Santa Fe Brewing
September 21 - Paso Robles, CA - Vina Robles Amphitheatre
September 27 – Little Rock, AR – Center for Humanities and Arts
September 30 – Carmel, CA – Sunset Center Theater
November 17 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
November 18 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
November 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Paramount
November 22 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
November 25 – East Los Angeles, CA – James A. Garfield High School
December 9 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
December 22 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
December 23 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern

Sat, 08/05/2023 - 6:32 pm

Buddy & Julie Miller will release In The Throes on September 22 via New West Records. The 12-song set was produced by Buddy Miller and features Emmylou Harris, Regina McCrary, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Gurf Morlix, and Matt Slocum of Sixpence None the Richer. In The Throes follows their 2019 acclaimed Breakdown on 20th Ave. South, which was Buddy & Julie Miller’s first album in a decade. Rolling Stone said the album “...ranks among the year’s finest,” and American Songwriter called it “...a mesmerizing listen.” Uncut Magazine called it “One of the most eagerly anticipated Americana albums of the year” while NPR Music said, “At the heart of the album are the riveting idiosyncrasies of Buddy & Julie’s partnership, and it’s a wondrous thing to be allowed back in.”
 
In the Throes is a deeply soulful collision of dusty country, mournful gospel, cosmic blues, and ecstatic R&B. It sounds lively and diverse, eccentric and slightly askew, thorny with desire and blame. The fearless collection came to life during an intensely creative period for Julie. She says, “I got deep into songwriting mode, and they just kept coming along.” Buddy watched with wonder and admiration as his wife filled up notebooks with lyrics and recorded voice memos with melodies. By his count she ended up with more than one hundred songs—some of them fully written, others simply fragments. Julie wrote every song on the album with the exception of “Don’t Make Her Cry,” which is a rare co-write between Bob Dylan, Regina McCrary, and Julie.
 
Today, SPIN shared the song with Buddy Miller offering, “‘Don't Make Her Cry' were the words Regina McCrary's father, Reverend Sam McCrary, said to Bob when they met at a Nashville show in 1978 shortly after she joined his band. Three decades later, they finally wrote lyrics to the song together in Huntsville, AL. When it came to writing the music, Bob said to Regina, 'give it to Buddy Miller.' I then passed it to Julie, who added more lyrics, moved others around, and set it to music." Featuring a sympathetic lead vocal from Buddy, “Don’t Make Her Cry” sits naturally on the album: a soft-spoken ode to perseverance and protection.

SHARE “DON’T MAKE HER CRY” CO-WRITTEN BY BOB DYLAN, REGINA McCRARY, AND JULIE MILLER

Buddy & Julie Miller previously shared the album’s title track which Holler called “a gut-punching chunk of driving alt-country.” Of the song, Buddy says, “‘In the Throes’ deals with the toll taken on a relationship when one partner is constantly gone, on the road, working and preoccupied. ‘Nuff said.” Hear “In the Throes” HERE.

Named “Artist of the Decade” by No Depression, and “Instrumentalist of the Year” multiple times by the Americana Music Association, Buddy Miller is a highly sought after producer and guitarist who has worked with Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, John Fogerty, Solomon Burke, Frank Black of the Pixies, Steve Earle and more. He also joined T Bone Burnett on the musical team working on the hit ABC-TV series Nashville, and following Burnett’s departure, became the show’s Executive Music Producer. Alongside Jim Lauderdale, Buddy is also the co-host of The Buddy & Jim Show on Outlaw Country, SiriusXM. Julie Miller is a critically acclaimed solo artist whose debut album was released in 1990. A brilliant songwriter, Julie’s songs have been recorded by Levon Helm, Solomon Burke, Little Jimmy Scott, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Wynonna Judd, Lee Ann Womack, Dianna Krall, and countless others. Between the two, they have a Grammy Award and several nominations, 13 Americana Music Association Awards, and scores of gold and platinum records from other artists who have cut their songs.

After over forty years of marriage, Buddy & Julie Miller have recorded only four albums as a duo, but they are always creating, always making art together. They’ve pushed hard at the boundaries of Americana music, devising their own idiosyncratic and imaginative equation of styles and genres. “Music is such a wonderful thing to have in a relationship,” Buddy says. “That’s how we met back in Austin in the mid 70s. We started playing together, and we’ve been playing together ever since. I love her writing and she tolerates my singing and playing. It’s a lot of give and take, but it’s such a joy.”
 
With In the Throes, their stamp is on every note, every word.

Buddy and Julie Miller’s In the Throes will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited “Seaglass Blue” color vinyl edition autographed by Buddy & Julie Miller will be available via Independent Retailers and is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Buddy & Julie Miller In The Throes Track Listing:

1. You’re My Thrill
2. In The Throes
3. Don’t Make Her Cry
4. Niccolo
5. I Love You
6. The Last Bridge You Will Cross
7. The Painkillers Ain’t Workin’
8. Tattooed Tear
9. I Been Around
10. I’ll Never Live It Down
11. We’re Leavin’
12. Oh Shout

Sat, 09/16/2023 - 6:20 pm

Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars will release his new solo album, Magic Music For Family Folk on November 17 via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by Dickinson and mixed by Jeff Powell at Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, TN and by Kevin Houston at the Dickinson’s Zebra Ranch Studios in Coldwater, MS. Magic Music for Family Folk features Dickinson’s rendition of favorite songs from his childhood by The Meters, Staple Singers, John Lee Hooker, Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson and more. The album also includes guests Yola, Allison Russell, Lillie Mae, Sharde Thomas, Sharisse Norman, as well as Dickinson’s Mother and Children.
 
Dickinson delivers an album of songs from his community that run four generations deep. The 10-time GRAMMY Award-nominated producer, solo artist, and North Mississippi Allstars co-founder creates a record worthy of its own traditions. Dickinson says, “This collection of my childhood favorites was recorded for fun, at home, with family and friends, in the spirit of sharing. As a new father, I needed music that my family and friends could enjoy that’s also suited to my funky taste and organic, acoustic aesthetic. Having daughters altered my listening habits and it was hard to find records that we all liked, so I had to make one.”
 
“Everyone is welcome.”
 
The bulk of the material was recorded in 2017 “during dinner parties, sleepovers, and play dates either in a social setting. I wanted to expose my kids to the joy of recording music. So we would invite friends over to the house and record, family style."
 
After burning rough mix CDs for the family car, Dickinson stowed away the project until earlier this year. He says, “When it comes to art or music, the perspective of time can’t be bought or faked. This record definitely benefited from fresh ears, as well as techniques and sounds I had developed over the years doing production and film scores.” Luther’s daughters initially recorded vocals for the album in 2017 and later overdubbed them this year. “Having my daughters sing along with their younger selves was a unique sensation and document of their youth,” Dickinson says.
 
Today, Relix Magazine premiered the album’s lead off track, “Are You Sure,” featuring Sharde Thomas and Sharisse Norman. Popularized by The Staple Singers on 1972’s Be Altitude: Respect Yourself, Dickinson translates the track into a breezy acoustic number accented by a soft beat, bluesy guitar lead, and hummable heavenly harmonies. Dickinson says, “Mavis Staples and The Staple Singers have been an influential force in our family. They set an example of love and togetherness for all, inspiring three generations of my family. The melody and message of ‘Are You Sure’ resonates with my intention behind recording Magic Music for Family Folk.”

SHARE LUTHER DICKINSON’S “ARE YOU SURE”

"My father, Jim Dickinson, learned 'Old Blue,' 'Turkey in the Straw,' and 'Old Hen' from his friends and teachers, Memphis musicians Furry Lewis and Gus Cannon. Passing his songs down to a fourth generation felt magical and inspired the title," he shares.  
 
Magic Music for Family Folk closes with Dickinson’s sole original. He says, “I wrote ‘Whatever River’ for my daughters as a possible portal of companionship — in case they ever miss me in the future. It’s my personal belief and practice that music is a realm in which one can commune with loved ones, transcending time and space. Therein lies The Magic Of Music for Family Folk.”
 
In the end, Luther Dickinson might just bring you and your loved ones close to the speaker…  and one another.
 
Luther Dickinson’s Magic Music for Family Folk will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, standard black vinyl, and is available for pre-order NOW via ANTONE'S RECORDS/NEW WEST RECORDS.

Luther Dickinson Magic Music for Family Folk Track Listing:
 
1. Are You Sure
2. They All Ask’d For You
3. Crawdad
4. Old Blue
5. Beulah Land
6. Old Hen
7. Turkey In The Straw
8. Chicken
9. Boom Boom
10. Pay Day
11. Whatever River

Sun, 10/15/2023 - 1:23 pm

Sunny War has announced 2024 tour dates in support of her New West Records debut Anarchist Gospel. The tour features 3 consecutive nights supporting Mitski at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY, as well as the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Additionally, she will appear at the 30A Songwriters Festival in South Walton, FL, the 2024 edition of the Cayamo Cruise, and more. Before heading abroad for her first UK & European dates in support of the album, Sunny War will support the legendary Bonnie Raitt this weekend in Austin, TX at ACL Live. Please see all dates below.
 
Anarchist Gospel was released on February 3, 2023 to widespread critical acclaim. NPR Music called her new music “Thrilling,” Rolling Stone said “It all amounts to a powerful statement from a singer-songwriter poised to become one of the year’s most vital voices in roots music,” and in their 9/10 rated review, Holler called it “a victory of an album,” saying “She sounds like a shrewd, modern-day Nina Simone.” MOJO Magazine named Anarchist Gospel their “Album of the Month,” calling it “an exercise in building hope out of chaos…remarkably centred and complete, the work of a songwriter who knows who she is and how she got here.” Uncut Magazine called it “a rich, evocative portrait” in their 8 out of 10 rated review while Glide Magazine called it “...a stunningly effective experience… a thoroughly unforgettable listen.” She made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS Saturday Morning, and The Late Show with Steven Colbert (Late Show Me Music) in support of the album. She was selected as a TIDAL RISING Artist in 2023 and Spotify included Anarchist Gospel on their “Best Folk & Americana Albums of 2023 (So Far)” list as well. Additionally, Sunny War received a “Best New Artist” nomination at this year’s Americana Music Association Awards.
 
Anarchist Gospel was produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff) and features appearances by Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Allison Russell, David Rawlings, Jack Lawrence of the Raconteurs, Micah Nelson, John James Tourville of The Deslondes, Kyshona Armstrong, Dennis Crouch, and more. All songs were written by Sunny War with the exception of “Baby Bitch” (Ween) and “Hopeless” (Van Hunt). With Anarchist Gospel, Sunny has crafted an eclectic set of songs that draw on a range of ideas and styles: ecstatic gospel, dusty country blues, thoughtful folk, rip-roaring rock and roll, even avant garde studio experiments. She melds them together into a powerful statement of survival, revealing a probing songwriter who indulges no comforting platitudes.

Sunny War on tour

Sunny War On Tour:

10/12/2023 - Nelsonville, OH - Stuart's Opera House
10/13/2023 - Livingston, KY - Moonshiner's Ball
10/14/2023 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits *
10/20/2023 - London, UK - Slaughtered Lamb
10/21/2023 - Utrecht, NL   - Ramblin Roots Fest @ Tivoli Vredenberg
10/22/2023 - Ghent, BE - Trefpunt
10/23/2023 - Paris, FR - New Morning
10/25/2023 - Cologne, DE - Helios
10/26/2023 - Berlin, DE - Prachtwerk
10/27/2023 - Karlsruhe, DE - Substage
10/28/2023 - Lucerne, CH - Echolot Festival
10/29/2023 - Mareno di Piave, IT - Corner Live
10/30/2023 - Lyon, FR  Club Transboordeur
10/31/2023 - Zaragoza, ESP - Rock & Blues
11/1/2023 - Valencia, ESP - 16 Toneladas
11/3/2023 - Santiago de Compostela, ESP - Riquela (Outono Festival)
11/5/2023 - Madrid, ESP  El Sol (Momentos Alhambra)
11/8/2023 - Glasgow, SCT - Oran Mor - Auditorium (upstairs)
11/9/2023 - Dublin, IR - Grand Social
11/16/2023 - Grass Valley, CA - Grass Valley Center for the Arts
11/17/2023 - Livermore, CA - Livermore Performing Arts Center
11/18/2023 - Sacramento, CA - The Sofia
11/25/2023 - Chattanooga, TN - The Woodshop
11/29/2023 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi-Fi
11/30/2023 - Chicago, IL - Judson & Moore
12/1/2023 - Mosinee, WI - Lamplight Sessions
12/2/2023 - Hopkins, MN - Hopkins Center for the Arts
12/3/2023 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
12/5/2023 - Sioux City, IA - Vangarde Arts
12/6/2023 - Kansas City, MO - The Ship
12/7/2023 - Wichita, KS - Wave
12/8/2023 - Tulsa, OK - Mercury Lounge
12/9/2023 - Fort Worth, TX - Tulip's
12/10/2023 - Little Rock, AR - White Water Tavern
12/14/2023 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wallis
1/11/2024 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
1/12/2024 - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Music Experience
1/13/2024 - South Walton, FL - 30A Songwriters Festival
1/19/2024 - Sisters, OR - The Belfry ^
1/20/2024 - Portland, OR - Alberta Abbey ^
1/21/2024 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
1/22/2024 - Vancouver, BC - Fox Cabaret
2/1/2024 - Silver City, NM - Light Hall Theater ^
2/15/2024 - Philadelphia, PA - Milkboy
2/16/2024 - Charlottesville, VA - Front Porch House Concert
2/17/2024 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd
2/18/2024 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Warhol
2/19/2024 - Monkton, MD - Manor Mill
2/20/2024 - New York, NY - Joe's Pub
2/21/2024 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts
2/22/2024 - Gloucester, MA - The Cut ^
2/23/2024 - Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center ^
2/24/2024 - Hudson, NY - WYLDE
2/26/2024 - Brooklyn, NY - King's Theatre %
2/27/2024 - Brooklyn, NY - King's Theatre %
2/28/2024 - Brooklyn, NY - King’s Theatre %
3/1-3/8/2024 - Cayamo Cruise
4/7/2024 - Eureka Springs, AR - Ozark Mountain Soul Festival
4/11/2024 - Nashville, TN - The Ryman %
 
* with Bonnie Raitt
^ with Chris Pierce
% with Mitski

Mon, 10/30/2023 - 11:05 am

Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars will release his new solo album, Magic Music For Family Folk on November 17 via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by Dickinson and mixed by Jeff Powell at Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, TN and by Kevin Houston at the Dickinson’s Zebra Ranch Studios in Coldwater, MS. Magic Music for Family Folk features Dickinson’s rendition of favorite songs from his childhood by The Meters, Staple Singers, John Lee Hooker, Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson and more. The album also includes guests Yola, Allison Russell, Lillie Mae, Sharde Thomas, Sharisse Norman, as well as Dickinson’s Mother and Children.

Dickinson delivers an album of songs from his community that run four generations deep. The 10-time GRAMMY Award-nominated producer, solo artist, and North Mississippi Allstars co-founder creates a record worthy of its own traditions. Dickinson says, “This collection of my childhood favorites was recorded for fun, at home, with family and friends, in the spirit of sharing. As a new father, I needed music that my family and friends could enjoy that’s also suited to my funky taste and organic, acoustic aesthetic. Having daughters altered my listening habits and it was hard to find records that we all liked, so I had to make one.”

“Everyone is welcome.”

The bulk of the material was recorded in 2017 “during dinner parties, sleepovers, and play dates. I wanted to expose my kids to the joy of recording music. So we would invite friends over to the house and record, family style."

After burning rough mix CDs for the family car, Dickinson stowed away the project until earlier this year. He says, “When it comes to art or music, the perspective of time can’t be bought or faked. This record definitely benefited from fresh ears, as well as techniques and sounds I had developed over the years doing production and film scores.” Luther’s daughters initially recorded vocals for the album in 2017 and later overdubbed them this year. “Having my daughters sing along with their younger selves was a unique sensation and document of their youth,” Dickinson says.

Today, Holler premiered the single “Beulah Land,” featuring Yola, Allison Russell, Sharde Thomas, as well as Dickinson’s mother and daughters. They say, "'Beulah Land' is a timely spiritual and a unique document of togetherness in a world that often feels divided and in need of a little love." Dickinson offers, “Our version of Mississippi John Hurt’s ‘Beulah Land’ is my favorite. Allison had just finished recording when Yola arrived for the evening dinner party. But as soon as she walked in the door, I sat her down, handed her headphones, and hit record. Her spontaneous, first impression vocal performance, without ever hearing the track, instantly became my favorite moment of recording. These days, if I am going to sing a spiritual song, I gravitate towards a non-specific, inclusive message and ‘Beulah Land’ speaks to the theme of the album and supports the Magic Music of Family Folk concept I wanted to share with my children.”

SHARE LUTHER DICKINSON’S “BEULAH LAND” FT. YOLA, ALLISON RUSSELL, AND SHARDE THOMAS

Relix Magazine previously premiered the album’s lead off track, “Are You Sure,” featuring Sharde Thomas and Sharisse Norman. Popularized by The Staple Singers on 1972’s Be Altitude: Respect Yourself, Dickinson translates the track into a breezy acoustic number accented by a soft beat, bluesy guitar lead, and hummable heavenly harmonies.

"My father, Jim Dickinson, learned 'Old Blue,' 'Turkey in the Straw,' and 'Old Hen' from his friends and teachers, Memphis musicians Furry Lewis and Gus Cannon. Passing his songs down to a fourth generation felt magical and inspired the title" he shares.  

Magic Music for Family Folk closes with Dickinson’s sole original. He says, “I wrote ‘Whatever River’ for my daughters as a possible portal of companionship — in case they ever miss me in the future. It’s my personal belief and practice that music is a realm in which one can commune with loved ones, transcending time and space. Therein lies The Magic Of Music for Family Folk.”

In the end, Luther Dickinson might just bring you and your loved ones close to the speaker…  and one another.

Luther Dickinson’s Magic Music for Family Folk will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, standard black vinyl, and is available for pre-order NOW via ANTONE'S RECORDS/NEW WEST RECORDS.

Sun, 11/19/2023 - 9:25 am

Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars just released his new solo album, Magic Music For Family Folk via New West/Antone's Records. The 11-song set was produced by Dickinson and features his rendition of favorite songs from his childhood by The Meters, Staple Singers, John Lee Hooker, Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson and more. The album also includes guests Yola, Allison Russell, Lillie Mae, Sharde Thomas, Sharisse Norman, as well as Dickinson’s Mother and Children. Met with critical acclaim, Uncut Magazine named Magic Music for Family Folk their “Americana Album of the Month,” while MOJO said “his admirable motivation was simply to pass it on to the next generation; ‘it’ being great music and the camaraderie it brings. Pleasurable and heartfelt, you have to hope it achieves its intention.” No Depression said, “Buy a copy of Magic Music for your kids, but get another for yourself. It’s good to share, but you’ll want your own to get your groove on as well,” while Glide Magazine said, “...this LP can work not only as a bonding agent across generations but also as a starting point for excursions into the foundation(s) of American music.”

Dickinson delivers an album of songs from his community that run four generations deep. The 10-time GRAMMY Award-nominated producer, solo artist, and North Mississippi Allstars co-founder creates a record worthy of its own traditions. Dickinson says, “This collection of my childhood favorites was recorded for fun, at home, with family and friends, in the spirit of sharing. As a new father, I needed music that my family and friends could enjoy that’s also suited to my funky taste and organic, acoustic aesthetic. Having daughters altered my listening habits and it was hard to find records that we all liked, so I had to make one.”

“Everyone is welcome.”

Today, Garden & Gun premiered the album in its entirety, saying, “Luther Dickinson blazed a trail with his fiery blues guitar licks in his bands North Mississippi Allstars and Hill Country Revue (each with his brother, Cody). But the Mississippi native also knows how to turn down the volume, often trading electric for acoustic on the nimble folk songs of records such as 2019’s Solstice and 2016’s excellent Blues & Ballads, For his new album, Magic Music for Family Folk, Dickinson strips it down even further with touching, easygoing versions of favorite songs he grew up with.” Hear the album in full HERE.

The bulk of the material was recorded in 2017 “during dinner parties, sleepovers, and play dates in a social setting. I wanted to expose my kids to the joy of recording music. So we would invite friends over to the house and record, family style."

After burning rough mix CDs for the family car, Dickinson stowed away the project until earlier this year. He says, “When it comes to art or music, the perspective of time can’t be bought or faked. This record definitely benefited from fresh ears, as well as techniques and sounds I had developed over the years doing production and film scores.” Luther’s daughters initially recorded vocals for the album in 2017 and later overdubbed them this year. “Having my daughters sing along with their younger selves was a unique sensation and document of their youth,” Dickinson says.

"My father, Jim Dickinson, learned 'Old Blue,' 'Turkey in the Straw,' and 'Old Hen' from his friends and teachers, Memphis musicians Furry Lewis and Gus Cannon. Passing his songs down to a fourth generation felt magical and inspired the title" he shares.  

Magic Music for Family Folk closes with Dickinson’s sole original. He says, “I wrote ‘Whatever River’ for my daughters as a possible portal of companionship — in case they ever miss me in the future. It’s my personal belief and practice that music is a realm in which one can commune with loved ones, transcending time and space. Therein lies The Magic Of Music for Family Folk.”

In the end, Luther Dickinson might just bring you and your loved ones close to the speaker…  and one another.

Luther Dickinson’s Magic Music for Family Folk will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, standard black vinyl, and is available NOW via ANTONE'S RECORDS/NEW WEST RECORDS.

Luther Dickinson Magic Music for Family Folk Track Listing:

1. Are You Sure
2. They All Ask’d For You
3. Crawdad
4. Old Blue
5. Beulah Land
6. Old Hen
7. Turkey In The Straw
8. Chicken
9. Boom Boom
10. Pay Day
11. Whatever River

Mon, 11/20/2023 - 3:54 pm

Town Mountain will release Dance Me Down Easy: The Woodstock Sessions EP on January 18, 2024 via New West Records. The 6-song set was produced by Town Mountain & Justin Francis and recorded at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. The EP consists of the band’s renditions of favorites originally recorded by The Kinks, J.J. Cale, Dire Straits, Levon Helm, and The Rolling Stones. Dance Me Down Easy follows the band’s 2022 New West Records debut Lines In the Levee. Met with critical acclaim, the album was named one of the “15 Best Americana Albums of the Year” by PopMatters and one of “The Best Musical Moments of 2022” by The Bluegrass Situation. In their 4 out of 5 star review, American Songwriter said “Town Mountain scales new heights with a down-home delight” while Bandcamp called it “...an impressive statement of purpose and artistic ambition from a band on a growth spurt.”

Frontman Robert Greer said, “Recording at Levon Helm’s Barn in upstate New York has an instant cool vibe. You don’t have to search for it or pay a speaker to motivate you. The vibe is there...in permanent ink. It’s all over the walls and in the floors. The grounds outside exude it! The soulfulness is as much a part of the barn as is the foundation or the rough hewn lumber.” Town Mountain’s Phil Barker added, “I would say Levon Helm is one of, if not, the biggest influences on this band as a whole. He was a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, but definitely down home. And I think that was his art...drawing people in with an easy going drawl and the promise of a good time. So having never had the pleasure of seeing him play in person, the barn has been on our list of places to play or record for a while now. And it definitely did not disappoint. It seemed like every rafter, every nook, around every corner, there was this mischievous little secret about some profound musical moment that happened there once upon a time. You think of all the shared experiences, all the conversations, all the revelerie of the highest caliber that took place within those walls and you can't help but feel the bubbling energy of endless musical possibilities. Levon had it figured out, and his barn continues to be such a fitting tribute. Bringing everybody down home for a little while.”

Today, Relix premiered the band’s covers of “So Far Away,” by Dire Straits as well as “Strangers,” by The Kinks. Greer said, “I've always been a big Dire Straits fan. ‘So Far Away’ has always spoken to my wanderlust. It's as though Knopfler knows a thing or two about the frustrations of being on the road and missing the person you love who's at home.  Great songs are filled with relatable subject matter.” Of The Kinks’ “Strangers,” Barker says, “This is a song I’ve loved for years and could listen to on repeat endlessly. To me it has this great building energy and perfectly captures the raw emotion of longing for connection, the most basic of human emotion. We all just want to know we’re not alone. As a band, we tried to give it a little more of a country, rocking flair.”

SHARE TOWN MOUNTAIN'S “SO FAR AWAY” & “STRANGERS

Well established coast-to-coast for their incendiary live performances, Town Mountain will launch their 2024 touring in support of the EP on January 18 in Manitou Springs, CO. The tour features stops at the Basement East in Nashville, TN, The Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA, and the Radio Room in Greenville, SC. Please see tour dates, with more to be announced, below.

Dance Me Down Easy: The Woodstock Sessions EP will be available across digital platforms on January 18, 2024 and can be pre-saved HERE.

Dance Me Down Easy: The Woodstock Sessions EP Track Listing:

1. Devil In Disguise (J.J. Cale)
2. Dance Me Down Easy (Levon Helm)
3. Flannery's Reprise (Traditional)
4. So Far Away (Dire Straits)
5. Strangers (The Kinks)
6. Sweet Virginia (Rolling Stones)

Town Mountain On Tour:

1/18/24 - Manitou Springs, CO -  Lulu's Downstairs
1/19/24 - Basalt, CO - The Arts Campus at Willits  
1/20/24 - Denver, CO - Ogden
1/25/24 - Chattanooga, TN - Barrelhouse Ballroom
1/26/24 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom
1/27/24 - Nashville, TN - Basement East
2/1/24 - Richmond, VA - Broadberry
2/2/24 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom
2/3/24 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
2/15/24 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre
2/16/24 - Rocky Mount, VA - Harvester
2/17/24 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station
2/22/24 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
2/23/24 - Charleston, SC - Pour House
2/24/24 - Greenville, SC - Radio Room

Thu, 01/18/2024 - 9:05 am

Town Mountain release Dance Me Down Easy: The Woodstock Sessions EP today via New West Records. The 6-song set was produced by Town Mountain & Justin Francis and recorded at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. The EP consists of the band’s renditions of favorites originally recorded by The Kinks, J.J. Cale, Dire Straits, Levon Helm, and The Rolling Stones. Dance Me Down Easy follows the band’s 2022 New West Records debut Lines In the Levee. Met with critical acclaim, the album was named one of the “15 Best Americana Albums of the Year” by PopMatters and one of “The Best Musical Moments of 2022” by The Bluegrass Situation. In their 4 out of 5 star review, American Songwriter said “Town Mountain scales new heights with a down-home delight” while Bandcamp called it “...an impressive statement of purpose and artistic ambition from a band on a growth spurt.”

Frontman Robert Greer said, “Recording at Levon Helm’s Barn in upstate New York has an instant cool vibe. You don’t have to search for it or pay a speaker to motivate you. The vibe is there...in permanent ink. It’s all over the walls and in the floors. The grounds outside exude it! The soulfulness is as much a part of the barn as is the foundation or the rough hewn lumber.” Town Mountain’s Phil Barker added, “I would say Levon Helm is one of, if not, the biggest influences on this band as a whole. He was a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, but definitely down home. And I think that was his art...drawing people in with an easy going drawl and the promise of a good time. So having never had the pleasure of seeing him play in person, the barn has been on our list of places to play or record for a while now. And it definitely did not disappoint. It seemed like every rafter, every nook, around every corner, there was this mischievous little secret about some profound musical moment that happened there once upon a time. You think of all the shared experiences, all the conversations, all the revelerie of the highest caliber that took place within those walls and you can't help but feel the bubbling energy of endless musical possibilities. Levon had it figured out, and his barn continues to be such a fitting tribute. Bringing everybody down home for a little while.”

Well established coast-to-coast for their incendiary live performances, Town Mountain will launch their 2024 touring in support of the EP tonight in Manitou Springs, CO. The tour features stops at the Basement East in Nashville, TN, The Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA, and the Radio Room in Greenville, SC. Please see tour dates, with more to be announced, below.

Dance Me Down Easy: The Woodstock Sessions EP is available across digital platforms TODAY.

dr

Dance Me Down Easy: The Woodstock Sessions EP Track Listing:

1. Devil In Disguise (J.J. Cale)
2 Dance Me Down Easy (Levon Helm)
3. Flannery's Reprise (Traditional)
4. So Far Away (Dire Straits)
5. Strangers (The Kinks)
6. Sweet Virginia (Rolling Stones)

Town Mountain On Tour:

1/18/24 - Manitou Springs, CO -  Lulu's Downstairs
1/19/24 - Basalt, CO - The Arts Campus at Willits
1/20/24 - Denver, CO - Ogden
1/25/24 - Chattanooga, TN - Barrelhouse Ballroom
1/26/24 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom
1/27/24 - Nashville, TN - Basement East
2/1/24 - Richmond, VA - Broadberry
2/2/24 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom
2/3/24 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
2/15/24 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre
2/16/24 - Rocky Mount, VA - Harvester
2/17/24 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station
2/22/24 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
2/23/24 - Charleston, SC - Pour House
2/24/24 - Greenville, SC - Radio Room
3/14/24 - Hagerstown, MD - Hub City Live
3/15/24 - Washington, DC - Pearl Street Warehouse
3/17/24 - Northampton,  MA - Back Porch Music Festival
3/21/24 - Live Oak, FL - Suwanee Spring Reunion
3/22/24 - Live Oak, FL - Suwanee Spring Reunion
3/23/24 - Pensacola, FL - Vinyl Music Hall
4/5/24 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
4/6/24 - Eureka Springs, AR - Ozark Mountain Soul Fest
4/19/24 - McMinnville, TN - Park Theater
4/20/24 - Glasgow, KY - The Grove Outdoor Venue & Drinkery
5/3/24 - Bryan, TX - Michael Hearne's Big Barn Dance Music Festival
7/28/24 - Floyd County, VA - Floyd Fest

Sat, 02/17/2024 - 3:08 pm

Lilly Hiatt released her new single “Hidden Day” today via New West Records. Produced by Scot Sax, the single is her latest in a line of standalone songs Lilly has independently released over the past year. “Hidden Day” is the first new music issued by New West since her Lately LP in 2021. Met with critical acclaim, Slant Magazine awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying, “Lilly Hiatt’s Lately is the artist’s most daring, experimental album to date,” while Glide Magazine said “...if there is any justice in the world, Lately will find the audience it truly deserves.”

SHARE LILLY HIATT’S “HIDDEN DAY” VIDEO

Lilly says, “I wrote this with my friend Scot Sax on a sunny day in East Nashville. We were in agreement that a hidden day would be much to everyone’s advantage. Then we decided we would make one of our own.” The video was directed by Scot Sax and features him on drums, Bear Mitchell on bass, and Molly Martin on guitar as well.

“Hidden Day” is available ahead of Lilly’s North American tour launching tomorrow night in Nashville, TN. The live performance is one of the first held at the newly opened Cannery Hall. The 26-date trek also features stops at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia, Elsewhere in Brooklyn, NY, The Beachland Tavern in Cleveland, OH, ACL Live in Austin, TX, 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis, MN, Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, OR and more. Please see tour dates below.

Lilly Hiatt is currently working on her sixth full length studio album for release on New West Records. “Hidden Day” is available for streaming everywhere NOW via New West Records.

Lilly Hiatt On Tour:

2/17 Nashville, TN @ Cannery Hall
2/22 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
2/23 Charleston, SC @ Charleston Pour House
2/24 Charlotte, NC @ The Evening Muse
2/25 Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
2/27 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
2/28 Malden, MA @ Faces Brewing Co
2/29 Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere
3/1 Washington, DC @ DC9
3/2 Pittsburgh PA @ Club Cafe
3/3 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
3/5 Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell's Eccentric Cafe
3/6 Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
3/7 Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi
3/8 Berwyn, IL @ Fitzgerald's
3/9 St. Louis, IL @ Off Broadway
3/21 Little Rock, AR @ Stickyz Rock-n-Roll Chicken Shack
3/22 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
3/23 Austin, TX @ 3TEN ACL Live
3/26 North Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory NoHo
3/27 Milly Valley, CA @ Sweetwater Music Hall
3/29 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
3/30 Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
4/4 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
4/5 Des Moines, IA @ xBk Live
4/6 Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads

Sat, 02/24/2024 - 2:44 pm

Corb Lund returns with El Viejo today via New West Records. The 11-track set was produced by Lund and recorded entirely in his living room in Lethbridge, AB with his band The Hurtin’ Albertans. El Viejo is Lund’s first album of original material since 2020’s critically acclaimed Agricultural Tragic. Gathering around his living room, Lund & Co. tapped into his most cherished musical influences of acoustic tone and lyrical aptitude. There is a common theme — possibly even a character thread — of the gambler, the outlaw who roams from place-to-place with no direction home. Met with critical acclaim, Uncut Magazine awarded El Viejo an 8/10 rating as their “Americana Album of the Month” while Holler awarded it an 8.5/10 rating, saying “Wise, honest and fun, it’s a collection for the good times and the bad, resonating whether you come out swinging or come up short.” Glide Magazine said “El Viejo is a stunning character study of gamblers and loners moving from card game to card game, perfectly bridging modern Americana with the likes of Jerry Reed, Del McCoury and Marty Robbins with a Springsteen-like sense of storytelling in three-minute bursts” while No Depression said “Listening to El Viejo is like cracking open a dusty, leather-bound book about the Old West, populated by rough-around-the-edges characters at the end of their ropes.”

Lund says, “It was just a few of us in my house. No studio. No outside producer. No adults in the room. No stress.” He continues, “This is my favourite album we’ve made in years and I’ve been planning it for a long while. It’s all acoustic instruments; banjos, mandos, acoustic guitars, resonators, not an electric lick on it, and it kinda kicks ass. I LOVE those kinds of sounds and they’re my favourite to sing over. We cut it all live sitting in a circle like a campfire and it’s the real deal. Honest mistakes and all, live vocals, live guitar solos, live harmonica licks.” With the album, Lund has created an ode to the notion of stripping everything down and letting the tape roll — simply capturing a moment of pure vulnerability and organic inspiration in real time.  

El Viejo pays tribute to Lund’s late friend and mentor, the famed Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Tyson, who passed away December 29, 2022. Today, The Bluegrass Situation premiered the video for the album’s title track. Lund says, “We dedicated the record to our late friend, Ian Tyson, and the title track is a tribute to him. ‘El Viejo’ was our friendly nickname for him and it means ‘the old man.’ I’m pretty proud of the song, and the video, which uses a lot of cool old stock footage of him. Hope the record is as satisfying to listen to as it was for us to make. I left it all on the field for this one.”

SHARE CORB LUND’S “EL VIEJO (FOR IAN)” VIDEO DIRECTED BY NOAH FALLIS

Lund will launch his Canadian tour in support of El Viejo, with New West labelmates 49 Winchester as support, on March 5th in Vancouver. Additionally, Lund will also make his Carnegie Hall debut in New York City on March 22 alongside Ramblin’ Jack Elliott & more as a part of “Roll On, Cowboys with Andy Hedges & Friends” presented by the National Ranching Heritage Center. He has also announced his initial US headline dates as well as European tour dates supporting the Dead South. Please see tour dates (with more to be announced) below.

Much like his music, Lund is decidedly hard to define. The western Canadian singer-songwriter is an elusive artist — onstage, offstage, and in the studio — seamlessly weaving between the outlaw country, Western, and indie-folk realms with an honest curiosity and rowdy devotion to each. He was raised with the tried and true DIY sentiment of “if you want something done, you gotta do it yourself” launching his career recording in his basement, printing his own shirts, booking his own tours, being his own manager and publicist… whatever it took to get it done. He toured for years with the indie-metal band the smalls, and later turned his sights to writing Western songs, creating a unique and quirky hybrid writing style along the way. He has received multiple CCMA, JUNO, and international award nominations and wins. In 2022, Lund won his 14th career Canadian Country Music Award and made his debut at the historic Grand Ole Opry earlier in the year as well. A rural Albertan hailing from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with a long family lineage of ranchers and rodeo people, Lund is about as authentic as they come.

Corb Lund’s El Viejo is available across digital retailers, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited Black & White Splatter Vinyl edition including a Corb Lund autographed postcard, as well as an autographed compact disc edition, is available at Independent Retailers and directly from NEW WEST RECORDS today.

Corb Lund El Viejo Track Listing:

1. The Cardplayers
2. I Had It All
3. Was Fort Worth Worth It?
4. Out On a Win
5. Redneck Rehab
6. El Viejo (for Ian)
7. When the Game Gets Hot
8. Girl With the Stratocaster
9. It Takes Practice
10. Insha’Allah
11. Old Familiar Drunken Feeling

Corb Lund On Tour:  

3.5.2024 - Vancouver, BC - The Orpheum *
3.6.2024 - Kelowna, BC - Kelowna Community Theatre *
3.7.2024 - Calgary, AB - Grey Eagle Event Centre *
3.9.2024 - Edmonton, AB - Midway Music Hall *
3.11.2024 - Saskatoon, SK - TCU Place *
3.13.2024 - Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings Theatre *
3.14.2024 - Thunder Bay, ON - Thunder Bay Community Auditorium *
3.16.2024 - Ottawa, ON - Algonquin Commons Theatre *
3.17.2024 - London, ON - London Music Hall *
3.18.2024 - Hamilton, ON - Bridgeworks
3.20.2024 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall *
4.12.2024 - New Braunfels, TX - Riley's Tavern
4.13.2024 - Coupland, TX - Coupland Dancehall
4.14.2024 - Lubbock, TX - Cactus Theater
4.16.2024 - Buena Vista, CO - Surf Hotel
4.17.2024 - Colorado Springs, CO - Lulu’s Downstairs
4.18.2024 - Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater
4.19.2024 - Greeley, CO - Moxi Theater
4.20.2024 - Grand Junction, CO - Warehouse 25sixty-five
4.21.2024 - Ridgway, CO - The Sherbino
4.23.2024 - Flagstaff, AZ - Yucca North
4.24.2024 - Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole
4.25.2024 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriet’s
4.26.2024 - Ramona, CA - Ramona Mainstage
4.27.2024 - Newport Beach, CA - Campus JAX
4.28.2024 - Mariposa, CA - The Grove House
4.30.2024 - Mill Valley, CA - Sweetwater Music Hall
5.1.2024 - San Luis Obispo, CA -The Siren
5.2.2024 - Chico, CA - Tackle Box
5.3.2024 - Roseville, CA - Goldfield Roseville
5.4.2024 - Sparks, NV - The Ranch House
5.5.2024 - Cedarville, CA - The Marchy Barn
5.6.2024 - Bend, OR - The Domino Room
5.7.2024 - Portland, OR - Dante's
5.8.2024 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
5.11.2024 - Whitefish, MT - Great Northern Bar
5.28.2024 - Amsterdam, NL - Tolhuistuin Zonzij
5.29.2024 - Groningen, NL - Der Aa-Theater
5.30.2024 - Hamburg, DE - Sporthalle #
6.1.2024 - Berlin, DE - Zitadelle Spandau #
6.2.2024 - Leipzig, DE - Clara-Zetkin-Park #
6.4.2024 - Prague, CZ - Zlute Lazne #
6.5.2024 - Bratislava, SK - STARS Auditorium, #
6.6.2024 - Budapest, HU - Budapest Park #
6.7.2024 - Kalsdorf, AT - Kulturkeller
6.8.2024 - Linz, AT - Posthof FrischLuft Open Air #
6.9.2024 - Stuttgart, DE - Wagenhallen #
6.11.2024 - Cologne, DE - Palladium #
6.12.2024 - Wiesbaden, DE - Schlachthof #
6.13.2024 - Munich, DE - Zenith #
6.15.2024 - Saarbrücken, DE - Garage #
6.16.2024 - Tilburg, NL - 013 Poppodium #
6.17.2024 - Brussels, BE - Ancienne Belgique #
6.18.2024 - Paris, FR - Salle Pleyel #
6.19.2024 - London, UK - The Lower Third
6.20.2024 - Manchester, UK - Gulliver’s
6.21.2024 - Birkenhead, UK - Future Yard
6.22.2024 - Dublin, IE - The Cobblestone
6.23.2024 - Kilkenny, IE - Cleere's Bar & Theatre

* w/ 49 Winchester supporting
# supporting The Dead South

Fri, 03/01/2024 - 6:59 am

The legendary Richard Thompson will return with Ship To Shore on May 31, 2024 via New West Records. The 12-song set was produced by Richard Thompson and recorded in Woodstock, NY. Ship To Shore follows his 2018 studio album 13 Rivers and his 2021 memoir Beeswing: Losing My Way and Finding My Voice 1967-1975 which was published by Algonquin Books. Met with overwhelming critical acclaim, Pitchfork said 13 Rivers “may be his best album this century,” while Uncut Magazine awarded it a 9/10 rating, calling it “his best album in decades.”
 
The influential singer-songwriter and virtuosic guitarist has been on a singular musical journey for over a half-century, from his days in the ‘60s as a pioneer of British folk rock with Fairport Convention, to his seminal ‘70s duo work with Linda Thompson, to the exploratory, deeply emotional music of the solo career that has been his primary concern ever since. The time taken between 13 Rivers and Ship To Shore is something like an eternity for the prolific artist, but once Thompson began writing, new songs came in a burst of inspiration. To craft the album, he retreated to Woodstock, New York, where he was joined by his longtime band — guitarist Bobby Eichorn, bassist Taras Prodaniuk, and drummer Michael Jerome — along with harmony vocalist Zara Phillips, fiddle player David Mansfield, and engineer Chris Bittner. The team worked quickly — roughly a week to track, vocals included.
 
Ship To Shore pulls from various styles, genres and eras, but remains unmistakably Richard Thompson. “I liked the idea of having a strong base to work from and reaching out from there,” he says. “And I think of my base as being British traditional music, but there’s also Scottish music, there’s Irish music. There’s jazz and country and classical. As far as I’m concerned, once you establish your base, you can reach out anywhere. It’ll still be you ringing through, wherever you decide to go musically.”
 
Today, Thompson shared the album highlight, “Singapore Sadie,” offering, “I have been playing this live over the past year or so and it has become a favorite. We recorded it really quickly in two or three takes and David Mansfield is featured on the fiddle.”

SHARE RICHARD THOMPSON’S “SINGAPORE SADIE

Richard Thompson has announced his initial tour dates in support of Ship To Shore. Prior to the album release, he will launch a brief North American tour on March 21 in Fairfield, CT. He will launch a 12-date UK tour in Bristol on May 26 that features a performance at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London on June 8. Thompson has also announced a performance at The Town Hall in New York City on October 18. Please see tour dates, with more to be announced, below.

Richard Thompson’s musical influence cannot be overstated. Having co-founded the groundbreaking group Fairport Convention as a teenager in the ‘60s, he and his bandmates invented the distinctive strain of British Folk Rock.  He left the group by the age of 21 which was followed by a decade-long musical partnership with his then-wife Linda, to over 30 years as a highly successful solo artist.  In 2011, Thompson received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) personally bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.  The Los Angeles Times called him “the finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix” and Rolling Stone has named him one of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time.  He has received lifetime achievement awards for songwriting from the BBC Radio 2 Awards, the Americana Music Association, and was awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award.  His song “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” was named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Greatest Songs Since 1923.”  A wide range of musicians have recorded Thompson’s songs including Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., Sleater-Kinney, Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Jones, David Byrne, Don Henley, Los Lobos, and many more.  His massive body of work includes many Grammy-nominated albums as well as numerous soundtracks, including Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man and 2019’s The Cold Blue.
 
Thompson’s genre defying mastery of both acoustic and electric guitar along with engaging energy and onstage wit continue to earn him new fans and a place as one of the most distinctive virtuosos and writers in Folk Rock history.
 
Richard Thompson’s Ship To Shore will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited “Deep Blue” color vinyl edition of 500 with a bonus orange flexi disc featuring a demo of the song “Trust” will be available via Rough Trade. An autographed compact disc edition and a limited Orange & Yellow Marble color vinyl edition featuring a 5x7 archival print autographed by Richard Thompson will be available via Independent Retailers and is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Richard Thompson Ship To Shore Track List:

1. Freeze
2. The Fear Never Leaves You
3. Singapore Sadie
4. Trust  
5. The Day That I Give In
6. The Old Pack Mule  
7. Turnstile Casanova  
8. Lost In The Crowd  
9. Maybe
10. Life’s A Bloody Show
11. What’s Left To Lose  
12. We Roll

Richard Thompson On Tour:

03/01/24 - Mamaroneck, NY - The Emelin Theatre *
03/02/24 - Beacon, NY - The Towne Crier Cafe *
03/15/24 - Old Saybrook, CT - The Kate *
03/16/24 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts *
03/17/24 - Northampton, MA - Back Porch Festival *
03/21/24 - Fairfield,CT - Sacred Heart University Community Theater *
03/22/24 - Derry, NH - Tupelo Music Hall *
03/23/24 - Burlington, VT - First Unitarian Church *
03/24/24 - Shirley, MA - The Bull Run *
04/04/24 - Hartford, CT - Infinity Music Hall *
04/05/24 - Gloucester, MA - The Cut *
04/06/24 - Roslyn, NY - My Father's Place *
04/07/24 - Roslyn, NY - My Father's Place *
04/09/24 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head Tavern *
04/10/24 - Richmond, VA - Tin Pan *
04/11/24 - Vienna, VA - The Barns at Wolf Trap *
04/12/24 - Collingswood, NJ - The Scottish Rite *
05/25/24 - Cambridge, England, UK - Corn Exchange #
05/26/24 - Bristol, UK - Beacon #
05/27/24 - York, UK - Barbican #
05/29/24 - Glasgow, UK - Royal Concert Hall #
05/30/24 - Gateshead, UK - Glasshouse #
05/31/24 - Manchester, UK - Aviva Studios at Manchester Factory International #
06/01/24 - Stoke-on-Trent, UK - Victoria Hall #
06/03/24 - Birmingham, UK - Symphony Hall #
06/04/24 - Cardiff, UK - New Theatre #
06/05/24 - Portsmouth, UK - Guildhall #
06/06/24 - Brighton and Hove, UK - Dome Concert Hall #
06/08/24 - London,UK - Royal Albert Hall #
07/28/24 - Cape May, NJ - Cape May Convention Hall #
10/18/24 - New York, NY - The Town Hall #
08/23/25- 08/30/25 - Venice, Italy - Harmony Voyages- Gems of the Adriatic Cruise

* Solo Show
# Full Band

Thu, 03/21/2024 - 4:20 pm

Pokey LaFarge will return with Rhumba Country on May 10, 2024, via New West Records. The 10–song set was co-produced by Chris Seefried, Elliot Bergman, and LaFarge and was recorded in Los Angeles, CA & Chicago, IL. On Rhumba Country, LaFarge reveals his newly heightened devotion to making music that channels pure joy. He says, “There was a time when I glorified sadness because I lost sight of who I was, but now I understand that creating and expressing joy is my gift, and gifts are meant to be shared.” Reclaiming his voice, he has recorded his boldest album yet.

Paste Magazine premiered the song and video for "One You, One Me,” which they call "brooding, time-worn...rich and vibrant.” The song includes a personal video diary shot on Super 8 through the Netherlands, Italy, England, France, California, and Maine. LaFarge says, “Captured over six years, this is a world travel journal of my wife, Addie Hamilton, and I from when we were dating to when we were engaged and culminating in the celebration that was our wedding.” Share Pokey LaFarge's "One You, One Me" Video.

LaFarge previously shared the video for the album’s first single, “Sister Andre.” He said, “Sister André is a love song for those who are lonely and looking and waiting to love and be loved. An encouragement to never give up the patient pursuit. It could come at any time! In this case, encouragement comes from Sister André, who inspired this song the day of her passing after 118 years of age.” See the Paris Peterson-directed video HERE.

Pokey LaFarge also announced his initial North American and UK tour dates in support of Rhumba Country. Launching May 3 in Woodstock, NY at Levon Helm’s Studio, the trek features stops at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, The Bluebird in Denver, CO, Los Angeles’ legendary The Troubadour, and more. See tour dates below, with many more to be announced.

Pokey LaFarge’s Rhumba Country will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. Limited Gold vinyl and compact disc editions both autographed by Pokey LaFarge, will be available via Independent Retailers and are available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Pokey LaFarge Rhumba Country Track Listing:

1. One You, One Me
2. For A Night
3. Run Run Run
4. Like A Sailor
5. Sister Andre
6. So Long Chicago
7. It’s Not Over
8. Home Home Home
9. Made To Be Loved
10. You Make My Garden Grow

Pokey LaFarge On Tour:

3/20 & 3/21 - Boise, ID - Treefort Festival
5/3 - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studio
5/4 - Washington, DC - Kennedy Center
5/5 - Pawling, NY - Daryl's House
5/8 - Columbus, OH - Skully's Music Diner
5/10 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi Fi Annex
5/11 - Bloomington, IL - Castle Theatre
5/12 - Nashville, TN - 3rd and Lindsey
5/14 - Davenport, IA - Redstone Room
5/15 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theater
5/16 - Duluth, MN - The West Theatre
5/18 - Viroqua, WI - Historic Temple Theater
5/19 - Elkader, IA - Cabin Concerts
5/30 - Frankfort, KY - The Grand Theatre
6/1 - Cincinnati, OH - Memorial Hall
6/2 - Columbia, MO - Rose Park
6/4 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
6/6 - Ft Collins, CO - Washington’s
6/7 - Denver, CO - Bluebird
6/8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Fort Desolation
6/10 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
6/11 - Vancouver, BC - The Pearl
6/12 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
6/14 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
6/15 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
6/21-6/23 - Mount Salon, VA - Red Wing Festival
8/9-8/11 - Lyons, CO - Rocky Mountain Folk Festival
8/16 - Devon, UK - Beautiful Days
8/17 - Brighton, UK - Chalk
8/18 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
8/20 - Liverpool, UK - Philharmonic
8/21 - Dublin, IE - Whelans
8/22 - Belfast, UK - Ulster Sports Club
8/23 - Edinburgh, UK - La Belle Angel
8/24 - Buckinghamshire, UK - Towersey Festival
8/23 - 8/25 - Leicestershire, UK - The Long Road