With the release of their eighth studio album, Behind Beyond, via their own imprint label on July 9, 2013; Northern California's the Mother Hips will celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band. This album follows their 2009 studio release, Pacific Dust, and a four-disc retrospective compilation, Days of Sun and Grass, both of which garnered critical praise from outlets including The New Yorker, Mojo, Relix, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and cemented the band's reputation as creators of "California Soul." Co-founded by principal songwriter/lead vocalist Tim Bluhm and guitarist/vocalist Greg Loiacono, the Mother Hips has spawned its own community and even its own rock festival, Hipnic. Held at Big Sur, Hipnic is now in its fifth year and has featured like-minded California bands including Cass McCombs, Jackie Greene, Al Jardine, Neal Casal, Dawes and others.It's been a long, winding journey since their 1993 debut on Rick Rubin's American Recordings, Back to the Grotto, through to the present day, which finds them in full charge of their own careers. Through it all, the Mother Hips are self-sustaining and, 20 years in, continue to operate as a cottage industry. The band also has its own beer and its own wine.Behind Beyond, recorded over the past year at Mission Bells Studio in San Francisco with co-producer Dave Simon-Baker, finds Bluhm wading cautiously into midlife, exploring thoughts of mortality as if it were a hazy dream. Loiacono, the man behind the many instrumental passages that weave through the album, says that this album "stretches out a lot more than any of our other records." There's a sense of ease with these songs, from the laid-back feel of "Isle Not of Man" to the psychedelic guitar interplay of "Jefferson Army."Bluhm is the tall, rugged, frontman that pulls the listener in while Loiacono is the compact, explosive guitar ace that drives the music. But it's their partnership -- the unique, almost brotherly way they sing and play together -- that defines the band.When asked what makes this album special, the two bandleaders come at it from a different angle. Loiacono references the second track, "Freed From A Prison," a song he wrote but that Bluhm sings, citing the ability to let go of the song that made it work. "That song is about the concept of being freed from a prison you didn't even know you were in," he says. "It's this idea of finally opening up to an experience that was there for you the whole time. To me, a lot of this album is like that."
Bluhm says that making the music meaningful -- going beyond just having a solid, well-played tune -- is the most important thing for him. "It's about making creative choices that are unconventional but that are still appealing that hopefully can reach the listener in a way they didn't expect and affect parts of their heart and mind they didn't expect to be affected by rock music, he says. I'm trying to make music that has a spiritual aspect where it's more than just a good song and more than just a rocking band or a commodity, an emotional experience that you might not even know is happening because it's surrounded by a loud rock band."It all started in 1990 at California State University in Chico when Bluhm and Loaicano found themselves living in the same house, teaching each other guitar chords and experimenting with harmony. They didn't realize it but they were laying the foundation for a sound, a style and a partnership that would last their entire lives. The Hips were signed to Rick Rubin's American Recordings while still in college and released their debut in 1993, followed by 1995's Part Timer Goes Full and 1996's Shootout. The band found themselves swept up into the life of major label touring, along with the heavy partying and relentless grind that has destroyed countless bands. Little promotion from the label found the Hips self-releasing 1998's Later Days and regrouping as a band.Since then, they've gone on to release independent studio albums (Green Hills of Earth, Kiss The Crystal Flake, and Pacific Dust) and have cultivated one of the most rabid and loyal fan bases in rock today. Focusing on quality rather than quantity, the Hips returned from a four-year hiatus (2001 - 2005) to find that they were more popular than ever. The core line-up of the band has remained stable since 2004, Bluhm, Loiaconco and drummer John Hofer. In 2011, Paul Hoaglin left the band and Frank Zappa and Fear bassist Scott Thunes joined the Hips. These days, the Mother Hips have changed their approach to touring, playing 80 shows a year rather than hundreds, concentrating on well-defined tour markets rather than staying out for long hauls. 
Today the Hips are free; they make their own schedule, recording and touring when it feels right. They're a successful independent business as well, having built up a loyal following and community for their sound and gaining the respect of their peers and critics along the way. Bluhm coined the term "California Soul" back in 1998 with the song "Gold Plated" when he sang: "There's some boys I know/ who play that rock & roll / they've slept on a lot of floors / to get that California Soul." Flash forward nearly two decades. The term has stuck and they're proud of the monicker."California isn't just a state," explains Bluhm. "It's a psychic idea ... the end of the frontier. It's not just a place; it's a style and a state of mind."The same thing can be said about the Mother Hips.Tour Dates:Jun 28 San Francisco, CA - The IndependentJun 29 San Francisco, CA - The Independent Aug 11 San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Festival, Golden Gate Park *US tour dates to be announced soon
Bay Area legends The Mother Hips will be in the Denver area on Friday, September 13 for a show at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood, CO. Fronted by songwriters Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono, the Hips have just released their eighth studio album, Behind Beyond, which marks 20 years since their debut release for Rick Rubin's American Recordings. The band's live performances are legendary and their recent performances at SF's Outside Land Festival landed them in Rolling Stone and San Francisco Chronicle and many other outlets. The Hips' eclectic sound - cosmic country, Beatle-esque pop and RnR - was dubbed "California Soul" and has brought the band a loyal, grassroots following.
Since the band's formation back in Tim and Greg's college days in Chico, CA in the early 90s, the Hips have weathered being on a major label, drug habits, line-up changes and a fickle industry to emerge as a complete cottage industry: they have their own self-sufficient imprint, Mother Hips Records, their own beer, "Hips Helles," their own "Mother Hips 'California Soul'" wines and their own rock festival, Hipnic, held annually at Big Sur.
Bluhm says that making the music meaningful -- going beyond just having a solid, well-played tune -- is the most important thing for him.
"I'm trying to make music that has a spiritual aspect where it's more than just a good song and more than just a rocking band or a commodity, an emotional experience that you might not even know is happening because it's surrounded by a loud rock band."
Along with a US fall tour, the Hips have also partnered with renowned music venue Pappy & Harriet's for the 1st Annual "Desert Dust Up" music festival taking place on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21st at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown, CA. Along with the Hips, featured artists include Los Lobos, The Easy Leaves, The Donkeys, The Lonely Wild, Old Californio and many others. There will be music on both the outside and inside stages at the venue, starting at 5 pm on September 20th and 3 pm on September 21. Tickets are on sale now here and you can check out updates at the Desert Dust-up Facebook page here.
Give a shout for press, interview or guest list requests or to be serviced with Beyond That.
The 30A Songwriters Festival is excited to announce that tickets are now available for the 2021 Virtual 30A Songwriters Festival scheduled to debut Friday, January 29th at 6:00 p.m. EST, Saturday January 30th at 6:00 p.m. EST, and Sunday January 31st at 6:00 p.m. EST. The Virtual Festival is a three-part series with each episode running approximately one hour. The presentation is a documentary of the past decade of Festivals edited from film footage shot at Festivals together with recent recordings of many of your favorite artists performing songs for our online 2021 Festival. Many of the festival's performers contributed special content: Jason Isbell, performing with his band the 400 Unit, contributes a remote recording presented in multiple frames to highlight the band. Rosanne Cash and her husband John Leventhal contribute a personal greeting to the 30A crowd and perform a beautiful acoustic rendition of "Seven Year Ache," and rock legend Graham Nash contributes a version of "Just A Song Before I Go" on acoustic guitar filmed at his home.
Brandi Carlile and the twins perform a live song from the Moore Theater in Seattle, and Kristian Bush and his band introduce a song from their very own studio. Indigo Girls perform acoustic from the Atlanta offices of Russell Carter Artist Management (Festival co-producer), where they have performed Facebook Live shows throughout 2020.
David Ryan Harris performs a solo electric song and 30A mainstay Shawn Mullins is presented live from an Annual 30A Songwriters Festival preview party at the WaterColor Lake House for members/sponsors of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County ( co-producer and beneficiary of the Festival). Additional performers include Rodney Crowell, Patty Griffin, The War & Treaty, Chely Wright, John Paul White from The Civil Wars, Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, Kyshona Armstrong, Jeffrey Steele, Robyn Hitchcock, Steve Earle, Mindy Smith, Dan Navarro, Birds of Chicago and many more.
The Virtual Festival is offering special bundles this year, one of which includes tickets and a spectacular coffee table photography book with photos shot over the years at past Festivals. Tickets for the three-part 2021 Virtual 30A Songwriters Festival are $45 in advance and $50 beginning on Friday, January 29th. Here is how this works. Once you purchase your ticket, you can view the Friday show beginning at 6:00 p.m. EST anytime up until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. You can at that time watch the Saturday show anytime from then until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, at which time you can watch the Sunday show. At the completion of the initial viewing of the Sunday show, you will have the option to re-watch all three shows together for a full week. Please note that anyone can buy tickets for the three part series anytime in the future after the debut weekend and can watch the combined three-part series anytime for a period of one week. Ticket purchasers will receive an email with a link from VEEPS to view the three-part series — details can be found at 30asongwritersfestival.veeps.com.
The 2021 Virtual event is sponsored in part by Visit South Walton, Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, Grand Boulevard Town Center, and Silver Sands Premium Outlets.
Pre-Order BUNDLES:
Weekend Pass, 30ASF Grey Hat, 30ASF 2021 Virtual T-Shirt and 30ASF Retrospective Book - $175
Weekend Pass, 30ASF Grey Hat, 30ASF Retrospective Photography Book, 12 30ASF T-Shirts (1 for each year of the Festival, including 2021 Virtual Shirt) - $520
Weekend Pass plus all 12 30ASF T-Shirts (1 for each year of the festival, including 2021 Virtual shirt) - $425
**Shirts and hats to be shipped in March and Book to be shipped in April**
Amy Ray is premiering the video for her new single “Muscadine” today with Garden & Gun. The song features Merge Records artist H.C. McEntire and is available through all digital service providers and Amy's own Daemon Records HERE. The song was penned by Amy Ray and recorded with her band remotely in their respective homes. Amy sings this story of love and loss over a landscape of haunting melodic keyboard drones, mixed with acoustic guitar, dobro, pedal steel, and fiddle, laid over a heartbeat of rhythm and bass. Alt-Americana, North Carolinian and Merge Records artist H.C. McEntire (Mount Moriah) provides a whole chorus of backing vocals that are her own special flavor of sweet and devastating.
The song was produced by Brian Speiser, and mixed by Bobby Tis, both of whom helped create Amy’s most recent country release, Holler. Bobby and Brian hail from the ranks of the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Amy says, “I wrote this song after one of my oldest dogs passed. Regardless of living deaf and blind for his last few years, he was always willing to go on adventures with me in the woods. He might run into a few trees along the way, or fall in a little ditch, but he always got up and carried on. I started the music from a riff on acoustic guitar, with some inspiration from Brent Cobb records, and the idea of simple parts that add up to capture a certain ache I was feeling. In the end, it’s a country tune about learning to love and receive love in the purest way, and to not be picky about life, but to stay the course with curiosity and gratitude."
The Amy Ray Band is hitting the road for a few summer shows in the southeastern US during Amy's short break from Indigo Girls’ touring. The dates coincide with the upcoming release of Amy's next single, “Chuck Will’s Widow,” her 3rd in a series of solo singles released this past year.
The song, inspired by the mournful calls of the nightbird, resonated with Amy, a confessed night owl. "Chuck Will's Widow" will be available on all digital service providers on July 23, 2021 and features guests Michelle Malone and The War and Treaty.
“I just wanted to get out and play some of our new songs, continue our thread, and have fun," Amy says of the dates. "Hopefully this will inspire some more songwriting. We really want get back into the studio in December 2021 and record together, ya know, live in person. This band thrives on being together in both a live and a studio setting. I want to get enough songs recorded to release a vinyl LP."
Amy called on a couple of artists she loves to join her on these dates, with S.G. Goodman and Daphne Willis announced as support for the Durham and Asheville, NC shows.
“Most exciting to me is who is gonna be playing support for these shows!" she says. "S.G. Goodman is going to be our special guest at Motorco in Durham, NC. I have been listening to her recent record for a while and I am so psyched to get to see her play! AND I just got turned onto the music of Daphne Willis and she will be opening our show in Asheville, NC at Salvage Station! We start our little run of shows with a super fun free festival in Brookhaven (Atlanta) on July 30th —- fingers crossed I will get to see Rick Springfield play ‘Jesse’s Girl.'"
AMY RAY BAND TOUR DATES
7.30.21-Atlanta, GA- Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Summer Block Party-FREE
7.31.21-Durham, NC-Live in the Lot at Motorco Music Hall with special Guest, S.G. Goodman
https://motorcomusic.com/event/live-in-the-lot-presents-amy-ray-band
8.01.21-Asheville, NC-Salvage Station with special Guest, Daphne Willis
For the past 12 years, the 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of die-hard live music fans from around the country to hear original songwriters spanning many genres of music perform their songs. The beach resort towns along Highway 30A on the Gulf of Mexico feature 30 venues presenting over 230 songwriters and 300+ solo, band and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of January 14 – 17, 2022.
30A Songwriters Festival will celebrate its 13th year with performances on the main stage at presenting partner Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach with headline performances by renowned artists BROTHERS OF A FEATHER (feat. CHRIS & RICH ROBINSON of the BLACK CROWES), MAVIS STAPLES, EMMYLOU HARRIS, DAWES and JENNY LEWIS.
We are especially happy to welcome AMY GRANT and RICKI LEE JONES to the 2022 30A Songwriters Festival for the first time. Returning to perform two shows each throughout the weekend are songwriting legends RODNEY CROWELL, PATTY GRIFFIN, STEVE EARLE, JOHN PAUL WHITE (The Civil Wars), GARY LOURIS (JAYHAWKS), SHAWN MULLINS and DAR WILLIAMS!
WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING AN ADDITIONAL 150+ ARTISTS TO THE 2022 LINEUP OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS - STAY TUNED
We are pleased to announce the following confirmed artists: Marc Broussard, Carlene Carter, Robyn Hitchcock, Sierra Hull, James McMurtry, Liz Longley, Dan Navarro, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Jeffrey Steele, Kalen & Aslyn, Peter Bradley Adams, Kyshona Armstrong, Jeff Black, Mary Gauthier, Alex Guthrie, Toby Lightman, Charlie Mars, Michael McDermott, Leigh Nash, Abe Partridge, Alice Peacock, Darden Smith, J Barnaby Bright, Meaghan Farrell, Jesse Terry, The Young Fables, and many more!
The 30A Songwriters Festival production team transforms amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios into unique music venues ranging in capacity from 75 to 750 seats indoors and 6,000 outdoors.
Dueling rockstar brothers Chris and Rich Robinson formed The Black Crowes in 1984, penning several hit songs and becoming renowned on the live music circuit all before the age of 23. But over a storied career that saw the release of eight studio albums, four live albums, and over 35 million records sold, the brothers continuously butted heads, calling it quits forever in 2013; each brother vowed to never play or speak with the other again. This January, Chris and Rich will reunite on the mainstage at Grand Boulevard as Brothers of a Feather, an acoustic duo, and perform their classic hits from “She Talks to Angels” and “Twice as Hard” to “Remedy.”
Mavis Staples is the kind of once-in-a-generation artist whose impact on music and culture would be difficult to overstate. She’s both a Blues and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer; a civil rights icon; a Grammy Award winner; a chart-topping soul/gospel/R&B pioneer; a National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient; and a Kennedy Center honoree. She’s collaborated with everyone from Prince to Bob Dylan. A legendary live performer, she will treat the 30A audience to a string of The Staples Singers’ classics in addition to selections from her recent trio of acclaimed albums made with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy.
Emmylou Harris returns to serenade the 30A mainstage with her incomparably expressive voice and eloquent, straightforward songs that first shook up country radio in the 1970s, cementing her place as the premiere songwriter of a generation. Over her career she's sold more than 15 million records and garnered 14 Grammy Awards, three CMA Awards, and four Americana Awards in the process.
Dawes will showcase songs from their latest critically acclaimed album, Good Luck With Whatever (recorded at the historic RCA studios in Nashville Tennessee with six-time Grammy-award winning producer Dave Cobb). The Los Angeles-based group is one of the finest folk rock bands of the modern era — just ask their forbearers. Studio collaborators include Jackson Browne and Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers). Such signature songs “Time Spent in Los Angeles” and “All Your Favorite Bands” evoke a classic Laurel Canyon sound for the new millennia.
Jenny Lewis established herself as indie rock royalty as the frontwoman of Rilo Kiley, but as a solo artist she has blossomed into a singular, contemporary singer-songwriter. The New York Times calls her “a stylish performer who defies genre and salts her songs with a sly and off-kilter intelligence.” Her latest record On the Line features performances from Ringo Starr, Beck, and Don Was (The Rolling Stones).
Rickie Lee Jones will make her 30A debut fresh off the release of her memoir, Last Chance Texaco, released in the spring of 2021. Her chronicles are “as rich and colorful as Jones’s best lyrics,” writes The New York Times. The two-time Grammy winner, known for her haunting voice that ranges from deep yearning to late-night sultry, first appeared on the Los Angeles scene in the mid-1970s penning instant classics like “Chuck E.'s In Love,” “Danny’s All-Star Joint,” and the pivotal breakup album Pirates.
Co-producers Russell Carter and Jennifer Steele commented on the 2022 30A Songwriters Festival:
“2022 marks the 13th year of producing the 30A Songwriters Festival. It began as a small event and grew quickly into a premier one-of-a kind musical showcase for world-class songwriters. From the start, the Festival has been a benefit for the local nonprofit Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.” Russell Carter, President of Russell Carter Artist Management and Festival Co-Producer points out that “this year — 2022 — we celebrate a New Morning. In honor of this theme, select musicians will showcase Bob Dylan’s classic album, New Morning, performing all of the songs in the original album sequence.”
“Anticipation for the 2022 30A Songwriters Festival is dramatically stronger than ever after 15 months of postponed shows due to the pandemic," said Cultural Arts Alliance Executive Director and Festival Co-Producer Jennifer Steele. "The Cultural Arts Alliance has been instrumental in establishing a rich and rewarding culture of creativity that enhances our community's quality of life, and we are eager to re-engage in person with our wonderful music enthusiasts, both fans and performers from all over the country, in support of the Arts."
Festival Weekend Passes are currently available at www.30asongwritersfestival.com. VIP tickets that include premium seating on the lawn at Grand Boulevard for the headline shows on Saturday and Sunday afternoons along with access to the VIP tent serving complimentary food, beer, wine and cocktails are also available. For a full description of each ticket package including VIP mainstage and transportation packages for groups of 2 up to 12, visit www.30asongwritersfestival.com.
Amy Ray releases a new single this week titled "Chuck Will's Widow," her 3rd in a series of solo singles released this past year. "Chuck Will's Widow" is available on all digital service providers on today and features guests Michelle Malone and The War and Treaty. The song, inspired by the mournful calls of the nightbird, resonated with Amy, a confessed night owl and premiered this week on Folk Alley. They write: "The sparse opening ripples out into an exuberant and jubilant wave of sound as pedal steel, dobro, guitar, mandolin, and accordion circle around one another as Michelle Malone and the War and Treaty move the song onto a higher plane with their glorious harmonies."
LISTEN TO "CHUCK WILL'S WIDOW HERE
Following the release, the Amy Ray Band is hitting the road for a few summer shows in the southeastern US during Amy's short break from Indigo Girls’ touring.
“I just wanted to get out and play some of our new songs, continue our thread, and have fun," Amy says of the dates. "Hopefully this will inspire some more songwriting. We really want get back into the studio in December 2021 and record together, ya know, live in person. This band thrives on being together in both a live and a studio setting. I want to get enough songs recorded to release a vinyl LP."
Amy called on a couple of artists she loves to join her on these dates, with S.G. Goodman and Daphne Willis announced as support for the Durham and Asheville, NC shows.
“Most exciting to me is who is gonna be playing support for these shows!" she says. "S.G. Goodman is going to be our special guest at Motorco in Durham, NC. I have been listening to her recent record for a while and I am so psyched to get to see her play! AND I just got turned onto the music of Daphne Willis and she will be opening our show in Asheville, NC at Salvage Station! We start our little run of shows with a super fun free festival in Brookhaven (Atlanta) on July 30th —- fingers crossed I will get to see Rick Springfield play ‘Jesse’s Girl.'"
AMY RAY BAND TOUR DATES
7.30.21-Atlanta, GA- Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Summer Block Party-FREE
7.31.21-Durham, NC-Live in the Lot at Motorco Music Hall with special Guest, S.G. Goodman
8.01.21-Asheville, NC-Salvage Station with special Guest, Daphne Willis
On her first new album in five years, North Carolina’s Valorie Miller writes about one of the most beautiful pieces of land near Asheville, North Carolina — but not in the way you might expect. The narrative of her new album, Only The Killer Would Know, out May 6 via Blackbird Record Label / Indie AM Gold, emerged after Miller discovered that her acre of land in Swannanoa sat adjacent to, if not in the middle of, a hazardous waste area overseen by the government. Miller experienced health issues that led her to eventually leave the property. Only later, by talking to her former neighbors and doing her own research, did she discover it was a “superfund” site, so named because of the massive cost necessary to clean up the mess left by irresponsible corporations (in this case, a company called Chemtronics that manufactured weaponry and explosives).
Today, Miller shares the video for "Home of the Brave" via Popmatters. Shot on location in North Carolina, the visuals and lyrics juxtapose the beauty of the land against the toxic secrets hidden below. “Here in the mountains so green, it’s deceiving / You’d almost believe it’s a Garden of Eden,” she sings. “Somebody sold you thoughts that you’re thinking / And left a trace in the water you’re drinking.” The video shows Valorie sitting at her kitchen table with a massive document about the Chemtronics site, along with articles, maps, and graphs that she acquired through her research. It’s a fitting visual, considering the album title.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "HOME OF THE BRAVE" HERE and PRE-SAVE HERE
PRE-ORDER ONLY THE KILLER WOULD KNOW HERE
lIt’s a big, scary, horrible subject, and a lot of these songs grew out of that," Miller told Popmatters. "There’s not much you can do about those places. They will be toxic for our lifetime and for lifetimes to come. Writing a song is always how I’ve addressed things in my life, but I’ve never had an inspiration quite like this.”
Over the album’s nine songs, Miller’s spare arrangements, haunting, ethereal vocals (think Mazzy Star) and riveting eco-narratives are a genre unto themselves and tell a story that in some ways is all too familiar, yet entirely original. Unraveling the true story of her beloved acre of land – and the toxicity that lay below — is what led to the album’s title.
“You hear that term in detective shows, when somebody has insider information,” she says. “With Only The Killer Would Know, the ‘killer’ refers to the people who dump that stuff in the ground. And by researching all of that, I'm the detective,” she says. “To help find the killer, or the person responsible, the investigator has to know certain details that no one else could possibly know. In this case, the information is readily available, but nobody's looking except for me. I know all of this weird stuff about that place. Meanwhile, in this entire community, practically nobody is even aware that that place is there.”
Recorded in Asheville with rising producer Kayla Zuskin, the album begins with “Apocalachia,” with wrenching lyrics that confront the situation head-on. “Field of Flowers” then offers a poignant message about growth and accountability, especially when it comes to how we treat the earth, with Miller gently advising, “leave the flowers in the ground.”
“I think that the record definitely embodies a relationship between people and nature, whether it’s a toxic one or a healthy one,” she says. “I’ve been forced to become an environmentalist because of Chemtronics, but I’ve always loved nature and I’ve done a lot of camping and living in places that were very rural. But I’ve never had any kind of activist history, and I don’t consider myself an activist now, unless it’s through my art and talking about this subject.”
Some of that eerie, dreamlike vibe seeps into the later songs on Only The Killer Would Know, due to the innovative Asheville musicians that Zuskin brought into the sessions. In the studio with a female producer for the first time, Miller describes the whole experience as “shockingly relaxing.”
Miller has lived in Asheville for decades now. Born in Durham, NC, she learned to play guitar around third grade, using a guidebook while immobilized in leg casts after knee surgery. After college in Colorado, she kicked around the state for a few years, living in her truck or in shacks with no electricity or running water. In time, she returned to North Carolina and took a job at a camp near Asheville for juvenile delinquents. When she later married, she moved to a 60-acre farm in nearby Madison County.
One day, a friend visiting the farm heard Miller playing guitar and singing, then persistently encouraged her to pursue an emerging artist grant from the state. Much to her surprise, Miller received the grant. “And when I got it, I was actually kind of horrified, like, ‘Oh no, now what do I do?’” she recalls. “So, the whole thing developed on a whim. But that grant was enough to shoe me into a life in music, then I just kept going.”
Leaving the farm and the marriage, Miller moved to downtown Asheville and started playing songwriter nights in the ‘90s. She made her first album, on cassette, at 29 years old. Although she could already sing harmony, Miller taught herself to play bass and toured the country with her boyfriend at the time, Malcolm Holcomb. However, they broke up just before Miller moved to her property in the Swannanoa.
“Before this album, I’ve always gone in the studio and tried to figure it out with barely any money. That can hold you back in certain ways, especially if you’re nervous and unsure about the people you’re working with,” she says. “It’s a huge relief to make this album. I've always wanted to make a record that I really like from start to finish, and I’m so glad that it happened. I'm a late bloomer, I think.
TRACKLISTING
1. Apocalachia
2. Field Of Flowers
3. Home Of The Brave
4. Not For Nuthin
5. Only The Killer
6. Orbit
7. Pearl Choker
8. Welcome To Lonesome
9. Your Own Well
Over the past four years, the Opelika Songwriters Festival has attracted die-hard live music fans from around the Southeast to hear original songwriters spanning many genres of music perform their songs. Restaurants, bars, a distillery and an Inn in historic downtown Opelika become music listening rooms for two nights and a third day for dozens of solo, band, and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of October 14 – 16, 2022. Tickets are on-sale now HERE.
Opelika Songwriters Festival will celebrate its 3rd year with performances on the main stage at 1st Ave in downtown Opelika on Saturday afternoon October 15th with headline performances by renowned artists Indigo Girls and Rickie Lee Jones. Shawn Mullins and John Paul White perform two evening shows during the Festival weekend. Other artists performing include Leigh Nash, Jeff Black, Dan Navarro, Kim Richey, Peter Bradley Adams, Paul McDonald, Adam Hood, Larry Mitchell, Abe Partridge, Meaghan Farrell, Katie Martin, Bradley Cole Smith, Martha's Trouble, Haraway Brothers, Grayson Capps, Mark True, Stephanie Jeck, Dave Potts, Mutt Cooper and more.
Along with the music, Opelika Songwriters Festival is the perfect event for people who like to combine music, sports and relaxation at a world class spa. The official Festival hotel is the Opelika Auburn Marriott Resort and Spa at Grand National featuring three 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Golf golf courses, with scenic views, driving ranges, putting greens and golf lessons. Additionally there are elaborate resort-style pools with bar service, as well as eight tennis courts and an award-winning spa.
"Amy and I look forward to getting back to the Opelika/Auburn area where we have played many fun shows through the years. We are especially excited to share the stage with Rickie Lee Jones whom we admire so much as a singer and songwriter," says Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls.
Shawn Mullins, a veteran of the 30A Songwriters Festival, performed at the first two Opelika Songwriters Festivals and says the historic town offers something special for music fans. "Downtown Opelika stands out for its authenticity," he says."There are brewpubs, a distillery, boutiques, and a Pinball emporium inhabiting these beautifully restored, original cotton warehouses and retail buildings from the early 1920s Pepperill Mill era that drove the economy many years ago. Having these locations — all within walking distance — utilized as listening rooms for the Festival make this a fun, intimate gathering."
Indigo Girls' debut album sold over two million units under the power of singles “Closer to Fine” and “Kid Fears” in 1989 and turned Indigo Girls into one of the most successful folk duos in history. Over a thirty-five-year career that began in clubs around their native Atlanta, Georgia, the Grammy-winning duo has recorded sixteen studio albums (seven gold, four platinum, one double platinum), sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following. Their latest critically acclaimed record, Look Long is a stirring and eclectic collection of songs that finds the duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers reunited in the studio with their strongest backing band to date as they chronicle their personal upbringings with more specificity and focus than they have on any previous song-cycle.
Rickie Lee Jones will make her Opelika Songwriters festival debut fresh off the release of her memoir, Last Chance Texaco, released in the spring of 2021. Her chronicles are “as rich and colorful as Jones’s best lyrics,” writes The New York Times. The two-time Grammy winner, known for her haunting voice that ranges from deep yearning to late-night sultry, first appeared on the Los Angeles scene in the mid-1970s penning instant classics like “Chuck E.'s In Love,” “Danny’s All-Star Joint,” and the pivotal breakup album Pirates.
Opelika.jpg
“I was drawn to work on the Festival concept Rob and Jen with Sound Wall proposed in 2019, the first year of the Opelika Songwriters Festival, because my Grandfather managed the mill in Opelika when I was a young child and my father was born and raised there," explains Festival co-producer Russell Carter. "I was thrilled to meet in downtown Opelika and experience firsthand the preservation, renewal and innovations that had taken place in recent years. The restaurants, bars, distillery, pubs, galleries, boutiques, Inn and record shop create a custom-made setting for a unique small town multi-day music festival." Co-producers Rob and Jen Slocumb add, “We are happy to join together with venue partners throughout downtown Opelika in 2022, including John Emerald Distillery, the Heritage House, the Irish Bred Pub, Jailhouse at Rock n Roll Pinball, and our studio, the Sound Wall. Anticipation for the 2022 Opelika Songwriters Festival is stronger than ever coming off the success of the 2020 event which was postponed to the Fall of 2021 due to the pandemic. Music fans are very eager now to enjoy public music performances up close and personal!"
Festival Weekend Passes are currently available at www.opelikasongwritersfestival.com. VIP tickets that include VIP area at Main Stage with private bathrooms and bar, a whiskey tasting at John Emerald Distillery and a Sunday Brunch that includes an in the round performance with (3) festival songwriters.
Grammy-winning folk duo Indigo Girls return with a full summer 2022 tour schedule including Summerfest and Red Rocks shows. Indigo Girls will be joining fellow headliners Rickie Lee Jones, Brandi Carlile, Sarah McLachlan and Neko Case on these dates. As always, they are bringing along a some of their favorite artists as support for these dates, including Katie Pruitt, Nicole Atkins, Danielle Howle, Becky Warren, Ruthie Foster, and Lucy Wainwright Roche. Along with songs from throughout their career, they'll be highlighting songs from their critically-acclaimed release Look Long (Rounder Records/ Concord), a stirring and eclectic collection of songs that finds the duo reunited with their strongest backing band to date. Dates are listed below. Visit www.indigogirls.com for more info.
Indigo Girls unite with members of their renowned backing band and special guests from across the globe for Look Long: Together, a career-spanning concert special featuring hits, rarities, and for the first time, full-band live renditions of songs from 2020’s Look Long album. Their streaming concert special will be available through the streaming platform VEEPS on May 8. Woven between multi-cam performances, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray discuss songwriting and reveal the inspiration behind signature songs in a series of intimate home movie segments. Look Long: Together is your evening with the Indigo Girls: a one-of-a-kind celebration of nearly four decades of Indigo Girls music and community.
Veeps is now available on Apple TV, Roku, iOS, and Android. Once you purchase your ticket, just download the app (or stream online), and get ready for a one of a kind night of Indigo Girls on May 8, 6 pm PT/ 9 pm ET. More info at https://indigogirls.veeps.com.
Over a 35-year career that began in clubs around their native Atlanta, Georgia, Saliers and Ray have recorded 16 studio albums (seven gold, four platinum, one double platinum), sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following. On their sixteenth studio album, Indigo Girls tell their origin story.
“We joke about being old, but what is old when it comes to music,” Saliers asks. “We’re still a bar band at heart. Our passion for music feels the same as it did when we were 25-years-old.”
Produced by John Reynolds (Sinéad O’Connor, Damien Dempsey) and recorded in the countryside outside Bath, England at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, the eleven songs on Look Long have a tender, revealing motion to them, as if they’re feeding into a Super 8 film projector, illuminating a darkened living room. “When We Were Writers” recounts the flying sparks and passion Saliers felt as a young college student when the duo first started performing together. “Shit Kickin’” is a nuanced love letter to Ray’s Southern heritage. “I’m a little bit left of the ‘salt of the earth’ / That’s alright, I’ll prove my worth,” she sings.
“As time has gone on, our audience has become more expansive and diverse which gives me a great sense of joy,” says Saliers.
Crowd singalongs that often overpower the band itself are a trademark of Indigo Girls concerts. With the duo returned to the road, amphitheaters across the country will once again fill with the sound of those collective voices raised in song. The phenomenon epitomizes the sense of community that defines Indigo Girls’ music. As one bar band once put it, “We go to the doctor, we go to the mountains…we go to the Bible, we go through the work out.” For millions, they go to Indigo Girls. On Look Long, they’ll find a creative partnership certain of its bearings, forging a way forward.
Buy/Listen Look Long: https://found.ee/IGLookLong
Exclusive bundles from Indigo Girls available in their store: https://found.ee/IG_D2C
Check out the music video "Change My Heart"
Tour Dates:
25 Apr 2022 Lexington Opera House - Lexington, KY
27 Apr 2022 Thomas Wolfe Auditorium: Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville, NC w/ Danielle Howle
28 Apr 2022 The Fillmore Charlotte - Charlotte, NC / Danielle Howle
29 Apr 2022 Mars Music Hall - Huntsville, AL w/ Kristy Lee
01 May 2022 Beale Street Music Festival - Memphis Fairgrounds, Memphis, TN
03 May 2022 Granada Theater - Dallas, TX w/ Katie Pruitt
04 May 2022 House of Blues: Houston - Houston, TX w/ Katie Pruitt
05 May 2022 Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater - Austin, TX w/ Ruthie Foster
20 May 2022 Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis (symphony show)
21 May 2022 The Blue Note Columbia, MO - w/ Chapel Hart
22 May 2022 Orpheum Theatre - Wichita , KS - w/ Chapel Hart
24 May 2022 Hoyt Sherman Place - Des Moines, IA - w/ Chapel Hart
25 May 2022 Orpheum Theater - Omaha, NE - w/ Chapel Hart
26 May 2022 Tulsa Theater - Tulsa, OK - w/ Chapel Hart
09 Jun 2022 Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park - Atlanta, GA w/ Rickie Lee Jones
10 Jun 2022 Hayden Homes Amphitheater - Bend, OR w/ Sarah McLachlan
13 Jun 2022 Washington Center For Performing Arts - Olympia, WA w/ Becky Warren
14 Jun 2022 Mount Baker Theatre - Bellingham, WA - w/ Becky Warren
15 Jun 2022 Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheater - Seattle, WA w/ Becky Warren
17 Jun 2022 Pioneer Courthouse Square - Portland, OR w/ Neko Case
18 Jun 2022 Greek Theatre - Berkeley, CA w/ Brandi Carlile
20 Jun 2022 The Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA w/ Becky Warren
21 Jun 2022 Gallo Center for the Arts - Modesto, CA w/ Becky Warren
22 Jun 2022 Humphreys Concerts by the Bay - San Diego, CA w/ Becky Warren
24 Jun 2022 Orchestra Hall - Minneapolis, MN (symphony show)
25 Jun 2022 Orchestra Hall - Minneapolis, MN (symphony show)
27 Jun 2022 Paramount Theatre - Cedar Rapids, IA w/ Lucy Wainwright Roche
28 Jun 2022 Cahn Auditorium - Evanston, IL w/ Lucy Wainwright Roche
30 Jun 2022 Summerfest - Milwaukee, WI
01 Jul 2022 Door Community Auditorium - Fish Creek, WI
02 Jul 2022 Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua - Bayfield, WI w/ Lucy Wainwright Roche
08 Jul 2022 Ascend Amphitheater - Nashville, TN w/ Brandi Carlile
09 Jul 2022 Ascend Amphitheater - Nashville, TN w/ Brandi Carlile
11 Aug 2022 Vivint Arena - Salt Lake City, UT w/ Brandi Carlile
14 Aug 2022 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival - Lyons, CO
17 Aug 2022 Dr Pepper Park - Roanoke, VA - TBD
18 Aug 2022 Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD w/ Brandi Carlile
21 Aug 2022 Provincetown Town Hall - Provincetown, MA w/ Bitch
21 Aug 2022 Provincetown Town Hall - Provincetown, MA w/ Bitch
23 Aug 2022 Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center - Oak Bluffs, MA - TBD
24 Aug 2022 Pines Theater at Look Park - Florence, MA - w/ Bitch
25 Aug 2022 Bristol Township Ampitheatre - Bristol, PA - TBD
27 Aug 2022 Pavilion at Point of the Bluff Vineyard - Hammondsport, NY - TBD
28 Aug 2022 Lowell Summer Music Series: Boarding House Park - Lowell, MA - TBD
30 Aug 2022 Tanglewood - Lenox, MA w/ Brandi Carlile
31 Aug 2022 Thompson's Point - Portland, ME w/ Brandi Carlile
08 Sep 2022 Sonoma State University: Weill Hall at The Green Music Center - Rohnert Park,CA
09 Sep 2022 Prescott Parks Arts Festival - Portsmouth, NH
10 Sep 2022 Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO w/ Brandi Carlile
11 Sept 2022 Ghost Ranch - Abiquiu NM
15 Oct 2022 Opelika Songwriters Festival - Opelika, AL w/ Rickie Lee Jones
Years before Americana music earned its own category at the Grammy Awards, Steve Forbert helped pioneer the genre's mix of folk, roots-rock, and richly delivered storytelling. He's been a torchbearer of that sound for more than four decades since, navigating the twists and turns of an acclaimed career that's taken him from gold records to Grammy nominations, from New York City's CBGB to Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, from his 1978 debut album to 2022's vital and versatile Moving Through America. The album will be released on Blue Rose tomorrow, May 13, 2022. Forbert has two live sessions that are available to stream for release day: he'll be performing on WXPN's "Free at Noon" at noon ET — find out how to listen HERE. Steve will also be performing a session for Paste magazine at 5 pm ET that will be live-streamed on Facebook; check HERE.
Steve has announced tour dates through June, including two weeks in the UK (scroll down for complete dates or go to https://www.steveforbert.com.
PRE-SAVE/PRE-ORDER MOVING THROUGH AMERICA HERE
It's the songs that take center stage with Moving Through America. Filled with character portraits and quirky insights, the album unfolds like a mosaic of modern-day American life, delivered by someone who's been crisscrossing the country for nearly half a century. With an author's nuance and a humorist's wit, Forbert offers glimpses into the everyday lives of his characters: a dog running from the sky's thunderclaps; a Houston man preparing to take his girlfriend out for fried oysters; a road-tripping motorist steadily making his way across the Midwest. Forbert inhabits each character, turning their storylines into first-person narratives that blur the lines between subject and scribe.
Moving Through America marks a new chapter in a story that's still unfolding. These are songs for the head, the heart, and the heartland, from the acoustic funky-tonk of "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" to the Tom Petty-worthy "Say Hello to Gainesville," which salutes the head Heartbreaker himself.
Backed by the same band that appeared on his collection of cover songs, Early Morning Rain, in 2020, he sounds every bit as spirited as he did in the late 1970s, back when he left his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, and headed to New York in search of new horizons.
"I was a fan of the Byrds and The Rolling Stones," he recalls of those early years up North, "but I also loved the singer/songwriters from that era. Country music, too. Gram Parsons was a real touchstone for me, and there wasn't a name yet that could encompass all those sounds. I wanted to keep that sound alive with my own music, and I didn't care that this was the late 1970s in New York City. I watched pop music go through a lot of changes, particularly in the eighties, but it never made me want to change what I was doing. I was making music that sounded like the way I felt.”
His unwavering work ethic soon paid off. "Romeo's Tune," a track from Forbert's 1979 breakthrough, Jackrabbit Slim, became a hit, climbing to Number 11 in the U.S. and pushing its accompanying album to gold status. When New Wave bands began to dominate the FM airwaves a couple of years later, Forbert stuck to his guns, continuing to fly the flag for organic roots music that proudly blurred the lines between genres. Releasing 20 albums in twice as many years, he has remained prolific well into the 21st century, serving as an elder statesman of Americana music while still writing music that's spry and steadfast. He's also a member of the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame, author of the lauded memoir Big City Cat: My Life in Folk-Rock, and a Grammy nominee for his tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, Any Old Time. Meanwhile, his older songs continue to resonate in today's world, with Keith Urban recording his own version of "Romeo's Tune" on the artist's platinum-certified album Greatest Hits: 18 Kids.
Moving Through America is an album of songs that’ll get under your skin. Once again, this legacy songwriter finds narrative gold in the everyday, delivering a batch of songs that show he’s got plenty of fuel left in the tank. Steve Forbert is still moving through America, and with his latest album, he takes us with him.
TRACKLISTING
1. Buffalo Nickel
2. Moving Through America
3. Fried Oysters
4. Living the Dream
5. Please Don’t Eat the Daisies
6. Times Like These
7. I Can’t Get Back
8. Say Hello to Gainesville
9. It’s Too Bad (You Super Freak)
10. What’s a Dog Think
11. USS Palo Alto
TOUR DATES:
MAY 13 Philadelphia, PA - "Friday at Noon" Live on WXPN
MAY 13 Paste Magazine - livestream event, 5 pm ET
MAY 19 New York, NY - The Iridium
MAY 20 Stanhope, NJ - Stanhope House
MAY 27 Pawling, NY, Daryl’s House
MAY 28 Bryn Mawr, PA - Bryn Mawr Gazebo
JUN 04 Old Saybrook, CT - Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
JUN 05 Cambridge, MA - Club Passim
JUN 10 Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts
JUN 11 Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater
JUN 15 Manchester UK / Band On The Wall
JUN 16 Milton Keynes UK / The Stables
JUN 17 London UK / Academy 02, Islington
JUN 19 Bristol, UK - Folk House
JUN 22 Crawley, UK - The Hawk Studio
JUN 28 Glasgow, Scotland - St. Lukes UK
JUN 29 Thorner Nr Leeds/ Victory Hall
JUN 30 Birmingham/ Kitchen Garden Cafe
JUL 02 Easton Woodbridge / Maverick Festival
JUL 03 Cambridge - Junction UK
JUL 10 Piermont, NY - Turning Point
AUG 05 Asbury Park, NJ - The Wonder Bar
AUG 25 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe
From his first gigs with the legendary Mother Hips all the way up to his last solo album, Mystic Traces, Greg Loiacono has always been driven by one unwavering desire: to connect. With his charismatic new album, Giving It All Away (Blue Rose Music), recorded at Dave Schools’ Northern California studio, Spacecamp, Loiacono dives headfirst into the dichotomies of love, exploring happiness and heartache and redemption and regret, all with great insight and empathy. He’s assisted by his longtime friend and collaborator Scott Hirsch (Hiss Golden Messenger, William Tyler), who assembled a collection of originals and reimagined covers that could speak to the dualities of love and heartbreak while simultaneously challenging Loiacono to fully inhabit his new vocal approach. Loiacono shared the first single from the album, a slow-jam version of the Genesis hit “That’s All,” at Jambase this week along with his upcoming live dates.
LISTEN/PURCHASE "THAT'S ALL" HERE
PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE
“I knew I wanted to put a cover song or two on this record and ‘That’s All’ really encompasses so much of what this record is about,” says Loiacono, who transported the song from its original ‘80s habitat into a more swaggering, Curtis Mayfield-esque setting at the suggestion of Blue Rose founder Joe Poletto. “It goes back and forth between the push and the pull, the highs and the lows, the agony and the ecstasy of being in love.
The subtly powerful rhythm section of Michael Urbano on drums and Dave Schools on bass really sealed the deal on the cover concept. And Danny Eiesnberg's organ part is quite remarkable in its groove. I am very happy with the way this track came out."
Loiacono had spent lockdown producing records for other artists and revisiting country and soul music of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the songs and sounds on Giving It All Away capture that vibe perfectly. He credits Hirsch for pushing him beyond his comfort zone as an artist, forcing him to embrace his falsetto singing voice and write with a clarity and directness he was unaccustomed to.
Working with Hirsch as producer and backed by an all-star band that included drummer Urbano (Sheryl Crow, John Hiatt), organist Eisenberg (Counting Crows, Jonathan Richman), and Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools on bass, Loiacono cut the bulk of the album live on the floor at Schools’ Spacecamp studio in Occidental, California, capturing most tunes in just a few takes each. Though Loiacono would later add vocals at his home studio and solicit remote contributions from horn players and backup singers including the legendary Vicki Randle (Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples), it’s the energy and the feel of those raw Occidental sessions that lays the groundwork for the album’s amiable atmosphere.
“Recording live was essential because the rhythm section is the centerpiece of these songs,” explains Loiacono. “We knew we had to keep everything feeling groovy and deep in the pocket at all times, even on the slowest songs.
“The whole session was really something special” he continues. “We had some challenges getting the recording started, including PG&E losing all power within a 15-mile radius of the studio. But those hangups gave us plenty of time to run the tunes. This was the first time we had all played together. There was instant chemistry between us and by the time we started tracking this song we had really found a great connection and groove. It's a true joy making music with these individuals.”
That emphasis on groove is undeniable on Giving It All Away, which sounds straight out of the late ’60s or early ’70s with wide-open drums, buoyant bass lines, and lush organ pads underpinning Loiacono’s gently aching meditations on love, loss, and everything in between. The intoxicating “Can’t Forget” wears its broken heart on its sleeve as a badge of honor, while the doo wop-tinged “Mr. G” grapples with the burning questions that linger long after a relationship has ended. The breezy title track takes solace in the revelation that you can never share your heart too freely. “We’re only living when we’re giving it all away,” Loiacono sings. “You can’t take it with you when you go.
“I remember riding around in the back of my mom’s Chrysler as a kid and she’d be playing this Sade song called ‘Hang On To Your Love,’” says Loiacono. “I always envisioned ‘Giving It All Away’ as a response to that tune. The idea here is that you shouldn’t hang on to your love! You should give it away while you can. Tell the people you care about how important they are to you because life is fragile and tomorrow is never guaranteed. Even if you risk getting hurt by opening yourself up in that way, it’s worth it, because someday you won’t be around to give that love anymore.”
Loiacono’s artful cover choices help reinforce that notion throughout the record, as well. The soulful “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” (originally by Barbara Lynn, though later performed by Freddy Fender) refuses to grow jaded in the face of rejection, while an R&B reinterpretation of The Mother Hips’ “Del Mar Station” transforms bitterness into determination, and the inspired take on Genesis’s “That’s All,” which makes peace with love’s fickle nature.
And in the end, that’s what Giving It All Away is all about. Deep connection requires deep vulnerability, and growth is rarely comfortable. When it comes to love, though, the risks are always worth the reward.
TRACKLISTING
Giving it All Away
Can't Forget
Mister G
What Can I Say
Even Though I Lost
That's All
Love is The Way
Del Mar Station
And Not Cry
You'll Lose a Good thing
TOUR DATES (full band shows):
May 22- Hipnic Festival Big Sur, CA
August 12th- The Chapel SF, CA
August 13th- Harlow’s Nightclub Sacramento, CA
August 19th- Michael’s on Soquel, CA
August 20th- Chico Women’s Club Chico, CA
*stay tuned for additional dates
Americana duo The Cactus Blossoms, brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, continue to tour for their acclaimed new album One Day with a series of June dates. The band was recently featured on The Late Show With Steve Colbert's "Late Show Me Music" series performing their Top 5 Americana Radio single "Hey Baby." The song, featuring the Minnesota-based brothers' trademark harmonies and an upbeat message, was lauded by Guitar World, The Boot, The Bluegrass Situation, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune and more. “That idea of finding a silver lining comes up a lot on this record,” says Torrey about the single. “It’s an acknowledgment that no matter how messed up things might be, people still want to believe in the world and find ways to feel lucky and joyful.”
Stream / Download the album HERE
Their video for next single, “Everybody” (featuring Jenny Lewis) was featured at Rolling Stone who wrote, “The song plays out like a conversation, nodding to Elvis Presley’s 'Suspicious Minds' in the opening line — 'Here we go again/Asking where I’ve been' — and then ultimately recognizing the other person’s agency and best intentions in the three-part harmonies of the chorus.” The song was picked up by Stereogum, Under The Radar, Brooklyn Vegan and others outlets.
While The Cactus Blossoms have drawn frequent comparisons to other musical siblings like the Everlys and Louvins over the years, One Day often suggests a more soulful, ’70s-inspired palette, hinting at times to Bobby Charles or JJ Cale with its playful Wurlitzer, breezy guitars, and lean, muscular percussion. The band’s classic country and old-school pop roots are still there, of course, but the growth and evolution underlying One Day is obvious, not only in the duo’s writing, but in their core philosophy, as well.
Lockdown hit the brothers hard. Quarantine put a sudden halt to their plans to record a new studio record, and as Minneapolis began to erupt in social and political unrest following the police killing of George Floyd, music began to seem like the least of the duo’s concerns.
“It felt like the whole world was falling apart,” says Burkum. “We had to put things on hold just so we could try to wrap our heads around everything that was happening in Minneapolis and beyond.”
As 2020 stretched on, Torrey and Burkum slowly began to regain their footing, and when it felt safe enough to get together in person, they started kicking ideas back and forth, inviting each other into their respective writing processes earlier than ever before. When it came time to record, the brothers called on longtime collaborator/engineer Alex Hall, who brought his mobile rig up from Chicago so they could cut the album quick and dirty in Burkum’s basement. They kept their circle tight for the sessions, working with their core touring band—which included both their older brother and their cousin—to capture the songs with a feel as close to the live show as possible.
“From the start, we knew we wanted to keep the instrumentation minimal and consistent across the whole album and embrace the dryness that came with recording in Page’s basement,” says Torrey. “We wanted it to sound raw.”
One Day Tracklist:
01) Hey Baby
02) One Day
03) Is It Over
04) Everybody (featuring Jenny Lewis)
05) Runaway
06) Ballad Of An Unknown
07) Not The Only One
08) Love Tomorrow
09) Lonely Heart
10) I Could Almost Cry
11) If I Saw You
Tour Dates:
06/04/22 - McGill, NV @ Schellraiser Music Festival
06/08/22 - Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads Saloon ▲
06/09/22 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Ponyboy ▲
06/10/22 - Dallas, TX @ Sons Of Hermann Hall ▲
06/11/22 - Austin, TX @ 3TEN ▲
06/12/22 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall ▲
06/15/22 - St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway ▲
06/16/22 - Iowa City, IA @ Gabes ▲
06/17/22 - Des Moines, IA @ xBk ▲
06/18/22 - Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge ▲
07/08/22 - Berwyn, IL @ FitzGerald's
07/09/22 - Chicago, IL @ Square Roots Festival
09/10/22 - River Falls, WI @ Tattersall Distilling River Falls
▲ w/ Esther Rose
West Coast rocker Greg Loiacono, stepping out his role as co-founder of The Mother Hips, has released the title track to his retro-soul inspired new album, Giving It All Away (Blue Rose Music). "Giving It All Away" premieres today at Glide Magazine and is up on all streaming services HERE. Loiacono has also shared a new video for the song above, which features a falsetto vocal against a Hammond-organ propelled deep groove. Loiacono tells Glide, “The ‘you can’t take it with you when you go’ back-up vocals were my attempt at doing a ‘Pips” thing as in Gladys Knight and the Pips.” The recording instantly transports you back to a time when soul music was a regular part of the Billboard charts, and radio was still how people were turned on to new music. The lyrics were inspired by an insight meditation by Jack Kornfield. "My mom gave me a bunch of cassettes of some of his old talks and I used to listen to them all the time when I drove around . . . a long time back . . . long enough to have a tape player in my car. He said it very off the cuff. I envision the shoulder shrug of an old rabbi with it, ‘Well, you can’t take it with you when you go.'" Recorded at Spacecamp, Dave Schools’ (Widespread Panic) Northern California studio, the song was produced by Scott Hirsch (Hiss Golden Messenger) who contributes acoustic guitar, along with Michael Urbano on drums (Sheryl Corw, John Hiatt), Schools on bass guitar, Danny Eisenberg (Counting Crows, Jonathan Richmond) on Hammond organ, and Kelly McFarling on backing vocals.
STREAM/PURCHASE "GIVING IT ALL AWAY" HERE
PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE
Glide writes: "The title track from his forthcoming third solo record exhibits a real depth of collaboration not only through the musicians he played with on the track but also that his son, Noah Loiacono, created the accompanying video with his partner Isaac Goff and their friend Pheobe Zheng in New York City. 'Giving It All Away' is a more mellow follow-up to his last single, a sweet take on Genesis’ 'That’s All.' 'Giving It All Away' takes us back to Greg’s softer side but this time with a dose of Soul that is immediately retrievable."
Giving It All Away is a collection of originals and reimagined covers that could speak to the dualities of love and heartbreak while simultaneously challenging Loiacono to fully inhabit his new vocal approach. Loiacono dives headfirst into the dichotomies of love, exploring happiness and heartache and redemption and regret, all with great insight and empathy.
Loiacono had spent lockdown producing records for other artists and revisiting country and soul music of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the songs and sounds on Giving It All Away capture that vibe perfectly. He credits Hirsch for pushing him beyond his comfort zone as an artist, forcing him to embrace his falsetto singing voice and write with a clarity and directness that felt fresh and inspired.
“Recording live was essential because the rhythm section is the centerpiece of these songs,” Loiacono explains. “We knew we had to keep everything feeling groovy and deep in the pocket at all times, even on the slowest songs.
That emphasis on groove is undeniable on Giving It All Away, which sounds straight out of the late ’60s or early ’70s with wide-open drums, buoyant bass lines, and lush organ pads. The intoxicating “Can’t Forget” wears its broken heart on its sleeve as a badge of honor, while the doo wop-tinged “Mr. G” grapples with the burning questions that linger long after a relationship has ended. The breezy title track takes solace in the revelation that you can never share your heart too freely. “We’re only living when we’re giving it all away,” Loiacono sings. “You can’t take it with you when you go."
Loiacono’s artful cover choices help reinforce that notion throughout the record, as well. The soulful “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” (originally by Barbara Lynn, though later performed by Freddy Fender) refuses to grow jaded in the face of rejection, while an R&B reinterpretation of The Mother Hips’ “Del Mar Station” transforms bitterness into determination, and the inspired take on Genesis’s “That’s All,” which makes peace with love’s fickle nature.
TRACKLISTING
Giving it All Away
Can't Forget
Mister G
What Can I Say
Even Though I Lost
That's All
Love is The Way
Del Mar Station
And Not Cry
You'll Lose a Good thing
TOUR DATES (full band shows):
August 12th- The Sweetwater, Mill Valley, CA
August 13th- Harlow’s Nightclub, Sacramento, CA
August 19th- Michael’s on Main ,Soquel, CA
August 20th- Chico Women’s Club, Chico, CA
*stay tuned for additional dates
"It's all-American music," says The Coffis Brothers’ co-frontman, Kellen Coffis, about the band's recent album, Turn My Radio Up. "There's rock, blues, acoustic folk, and country in there. As music fans, we go all the way back to the beginning — to pioneers like Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers — but we also look to artists like the Eagles and Tom Petty for influence. That's our playbook." The 5-piece band, led by Kellis and Jamie Coffis, take the American roots rock sound and imbue it with a Northern California sensibility. The Coffis Brothers are currently on tour; stream down for tour dates or check HERE.
STREAM THE COFFIS BROTHERS TURN MY RADIO UP HERE
With the aptly-titled Turn My Radio Up,The Coffis Brothers salute the glory days of the FM dial while planting their flag firmly in the present. A loose, organic album that showcases the full range of the band's abilities, the record bounces between full-throttle anthems like "Find Out the Hard Way" and acoustic folk songs like "Feel This Free." Along the way, the band makes room for soulful, piano-driven standouts ("It's So Easy"), atmospheric Americana ("Two of A Kind"), and tongue-in-cheek twang ("Ramona"), with Jamie and Kellen trading vocal and songwriting duties throughout.
Recorded at producer Tim Bluhm's (The Mother Hips) home studio in Marin County and at 25th Street Recording in Oakland CA, Turn My Radio Up is an album for car stereos, hazy afternoons, and long highways. Jangling guitar leads and front-porch folk songs share equal space with heartland rock anthems and campfire-worthy Americana ballads, all dreamt into existence by a group of road warriors who wear their West Coast stripes proudly. This is honest, heartfelt roots-rock with an emphasis on the roots.
Jamie and Kellen Coffis were raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains of northern California. Their mother was a children's musician who often recruited the boys to join her onstage, instilling in them an appreciation for energetic, catchy songs that focused on melody, mood, and message. "We learned how to sing three-part harmonies with Mom at a young age," remembers Jamie, who later grew into an accomplished keyboardist as his brother sharpened his chops on guitar. When the two began writing songs together, they found that their shared upbringing — including the music they'd heard on the radio airwaves as kids — had left a lasting mark on their artistic sensibilities.
"We have always loved the radio," says Kellen. "You can listen to one station and hear something you've never heard anywhere else, or you can listen to the classic rock station and hear music that hearkens back to yesteryear. Our music does both of those things, too."
Tour info and more can be found at https://www.coffisbrothers.com.
Aericana duo The Cactus Blossoms, brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, continue to tour for their acclaimed new album One Day with newly announced fall dates. Along with headlining shows, the band will join Wilco for three dates in the Midwest (scroll down for a complete tour listing). They're also performing in Washington, DC at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage on October 5. The Minnesota-based band is currently in the studio recording an EP of songs by written by fellow Minnesota native Bob Dylan. The EP is slated for a fall release; check this space for updates: www.thecactusblossoms.com
The Cactus Blossoms were recently featured on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert's "Late Show Me Music" series performing their Top 5 Americana Radio single "Hey Baby." The song, featuring the Minnesota-based brothers' trademark harmonies and an upbeat message, was lauded by Guitar World, The Boot, The Bluegrass Situation, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune and more. “That idea of finding a silver lining comes up a lot on this record,” says Torrey about the single. “It’s an acknowledgment that no matter how messed up things might be, people still want to believe in the world and find ways to feel lucky and joyful.”
Stream / Download the album HERE
While The Cactus Blossoms have drawn frequent comparisons to other musical siblings like the Everlys and Louvins over the years, One Day often suggests a more soulful, ’70s-inspired palette, hinting at times to Bobby Charles or JJ Cale with its playful Wurlitzer, breezy guitars, and lean, muscular percussion. The band’s classic country and old-school pop roots are still there, of course, but the growth and evolution underlying One Day is obvious, not only in the duo’s writing, but in their core philosophy, as well.
Lockdown hit the brothers hard. Quarantine put a sudden halt to their plans to record a new studio record, and as Minneapolis began to erupt in social and political unrest following the police killing of George Floyd, music began to seem like the least of the duo’s concerns.
“It felt like the whole world was falling apart,” says Burkum. “We had to put things on hold just so we could try to wrap our heads around everything that was happening in Minneapolis and beyond.”
When it came time to record, the brothers called on longtime collaborator/engineer Alex Hall, who brought his mobile rig up from Chicago so they could cut the album quick and dirty in Burkum’s basement. They kept their circle tight for the sessions, working with their core touring band—which included both their older brother and their cousin—to capture the songs with a feel as close to the live show as possible.
“From the start, we knew we wanted to keep the instrumentation minimal and consistent across the whole album and embrace the dryness that came with recording in Page’s basement,” says Torrey. “We wanted it to sound raw.”
Tour Dates:
SU 8.4 - Madison, WI - Terrace at Memorial Union
FR 9.9 - Madison, WI - The Sylvee w/ Wilco
SA 9.10 - River Falls, WI - Tattersall Distilling
SU 9.11 - Fargo, ND - Fargo Brewing Company w/ Wilco
MO 9.12 - Sioux Falls, SD - Washington Pavilion w/ Wilco
FR 9.16 - Fridley, MN - Forgotten Star Brewing
WE 9.28 - Somerville, MA - Crystal Ballroom @ Somerville Theater
TH 9.29 - Burlington, VT - HG Showcase Lounge
SA 10.1 - Fairfield, CT - StageOne
MO 10.3 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater
TU 10.4 - Vienna, VA - Jammin' Java
WE 10.5 - Washington DC - Kennedy Center | Millennium Stage
TH 10.6 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle Back Room
FR 10.7 - Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse
SA 10.8 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
TH 10.13 - Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House
SU 10.16 - Brooklyn Center, MN - Minnesota Monthly's Rhythm & Brews
TH 2.23.23 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival
FR 2.24.23 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival
Today, Amy Ray announces the release of her tenth solo album, If It All Goes South, out September 16 on Amy's own Daemon Records, and shares a peek into the album sessions with a DIY video for her upbeat song "A Mighty Thing" featuring Sarah Jarosz. The song, which captures the fervor of a tent revival meeting and features the propulsive banjo picking of Alison Brown, deals with how Jesus figures into the identity of gay Southerners raised surrounded by the Christian faith — "they taught me how to hate myself" Amy sings — but also explores the comfort offered by the "true gospel of love."
Watch the video HERE
Listen to "A MIGHTY THING" HERE (available on DSPs August 19; pre-save HERE)
Pre-save If It All Goes South (out Sept. 16) HERE and at Apple Music HERE
Amy Ray: One of my favorite moments from recording my new record, If It All Goes South, was the night we recorded "A Mighty Thing". My band and I were recording live to tape in Nashville, and it was not only the last day of our recording session but the last 4 hours. The virtuosic, Sarah Jarosz showed up after flying home from a gig, she came straight to the studio from the airport, mandolin in hand. We popped her into an iso booth and all got into our positions and did about 7 takes. Then we picked our favorite, recorded her harmonies, and the song was ready to mix. It was an appropriate whirlwind recording experience to go along with the punkabilly nature of the music and lyrics for this song.
The best line I have heard recently from a preacher, was at a funeral for a friend up in North Georgia. The preacher was so excited about Jesus, and in his evangelizing about Jesus, he kept saying over and over, "Folks, you can’t beat that deal”. I grew up in the church and this was one of the most convincing moments I have ever experienced, the sheer charisma, the glory. But then in the afterglow, I thought of all my self loathing and years of healing I needed to get past the negative parts of my church life. But, I will never lose hold of the positive things, and all the teachers that taught me about the true gospel of love in every aspect of my life. One thing I know for sure, fear is what keeps us apart, and this song is all about that too.
Recorded live to tape at Nashville’s Sound Emporium and mainly produced by her frequent collaborator Brian Speiser, If It All Goes South owes much of its freewheeling vitality to the potent chemistry between Ray and her longtime bandmates, including guitarist Jeff Fielder (a Seattle-based musician known for his work with artists like Mark Lanegan and Duff McKagan), keyboardist Daniel Walker (Heart, Ann Wilson, John Fullbright), pedal-steel player Matt Smith (also a member of The Honeycutters), banjo player Alison Brown, fiddle player/guitarist Adrian Carter, bassist Kerry Brooks, and drummer Jim Brock. The follow-up to 2018’s Holler (a widely acclaimed release featuring Vince Gill and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon), the album also includes a dazzling lineup of guest musicians: Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, The Highwomen’s Natalie Hemby, Phil Cook, and I’m With Her, to name a few.
In keeping with the spirited eclecticism that’s always defined Ray’s work (the cathartic punk of her 2001 solo debut Stag, the finespun country of 2014’s Goodnight Tender), If It All Goes South encompasses everything from gospel to punkabilly to folk, each handled with equal parts unruly ingenuity and extraordinary precision.
“Every day we had a new challenge—we’d have a string section in one room, the band in the main room, the backup singers somewhere else, and we had to figure how to make it all happen live,” says Ray, who also had the album mixed to tape by sound engineer/mixer Bobby Tis (Tedeschi Trucks Band, Neal Francis). “But even though the parameters were much stricter, I think it really added to the character of the record,” she adds. “You had to either love what you’d done, or commit to doing it all over again.”
Completed in nine whirlwind days, the making of If It All Goes South includes countless moments of indefinable magic. In reimagining an Indigo Girls gem called “They Won’t Have Me,” for instance, Ray and her bandmates pulled off the tremendous feat of deftly switching from acoustic to electric instruments mid-recording, giving way to one of the most powerfully exhilarating turns on the album. And for Ray, those moments of communion with her fellow musicians have proven to be an endless source of sustenance.
“My band and I have been driving around in a van together for about nine years now, so at this point we’re like family,” she says. “We’re all so loyal to each other and to the project, and everybody’s doing it for the love of it. For us it’s about carrying your own amp, putting on your own show, and being proud at the end of the night that you were able to achieve something. None of us ever wants to get too comfortable—it’s always about the act of trying.”
The Amy Ray Band will kick off the release with the following shows. Look for additional dates to be announced soon. Go to www.amy-ray.com for updates.
AMY RAY BAND - CD RELEASE SHOWS
WED, Sept. 21 Asheville, NC - Salvage Station w/Katie Pruitt
THU, Sept. 22 Atlanta, GA - The Fox Theater; Amy Ray Band supports Brandi Carlile
FRI, Sept. 23 Franklin, TN - The Franklin Theatre
West Coast rocker Greg Loiacono, stepping out his role as co-founder of The Mother Hips, is releasing his vintage soul inspired new album, Giving It All Away (Blue Rose), today. The album is a collection of originals and reimagined covers that could speak to the dualities of love and heartbreak while simultaneously challenging Loiacono to fully inhabit a new vocal approach. Loiacono dives headfirst into the dichotomies of love, exploring happiness and heartache and redemption and regret, all with great insight and empathy. The album is streaming now at Relix Magazine and is available on CD, vinyl and through all streaming services.
LISTEN TO GIVING IT ALL AWAY HERE
STREAM/PURCHASE THE ALBUM HERE
The recording instantly transports you back to a time when soul music was a regular part of the Billboard charts, and radio was still how people were turned on to new music. Recorded at Spacecamp, Dave Schools’ (Widespread Panic) Northern California studio, the album was produced by Scott Hirsch (Hiss Golden Messenger) who contributes acoustic guitar, along with Michael Urbano on drums (Sheryl Crow, John Hiatt), Schools on bass guitar, Danny Eisenberg (Counting Crows, Jonathan Richmond) on Hammond organ, and Vicki Randle (Mavis Staples, Aretha Franklin) and Kelly McFarling on backing vocals.
Loiacono had spent lockdown producing records for other artists and revisiting country and soul music of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the songs and sounds on Giving It All Away capture that vibe perfectly. He credits Hirsch for pushing him beyond his comfort zone as an artist, forcing him to embrace his falsetto singing voice and write with a clarity and directness that felt fresh and inspired.
“Recording live was essential because the rhythm section is the centerpiece of these songs,” Loiacono explains. “We knew we had to keep everything feeling groovy and deep in the pocket at all times, even on the slowest songs.
That emphasis on groove is undeniable on Giving It All Away, which sounds straight out of the late ’60s or early ’70s with wide-open drums, buoyant bass lines, and lush organ pads. The intoxicating “Can’t Forget” wears its broken heart on its sleeve as a badge of honor, while the doo wop-tinged “Mr. G” grapples with the burning questions that linger long after a relationship has ended. The breezy title track takes solace in the revelation that you can never share your heart too freely. “We’re only living when we’re giving it all away,” Loiacono sings. “You can’t take it with you when you go."
Loiacono’s artful cover choices help reinforce that notion throughout the record, as well. The soulful “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” (originally by Barbara Lynn, though later performed by Freddy Fender) refuses to grow jaded in the face of rejection, while an R&B reinterpretation of The Mother Hips’ “Del Mar Station” transforms bitterness into determination, and the inspired take on Genesis’s “That’s All,” which makes peace with love’s fickle nature.
TRACKLISTING
Giving it All Away
Can't Forget
Mister G
What Can I Say
Even Though I Lost
That's All
Love is The Way
Del Mar Station
And Not Cry
You'll Lose a Good thing
Album release shows (full band):
August 12th- The Sweetwater, Mill Valley, CA
August 13th- Harlow’s Nightclub, Sacramento, CA
August 19th- Michael’s on Main ,Soquel, CA
August 20th- Chico Women’s Club, Chico, CA
— stay tuned for additional dates
Milwaukee duo Dead Horses return with Brady Street, their first full-length since their breakthrough 2018 album, My Mother The Moon, which found the band lauded by NPR, Rolling Stone, Noisey, Billboard and more for their intimate, folk-inspired songs. The duo, songwriter Sarah Vos and upright bassist Dan Wolff, came together in college. Together, they weave together a patchwork of classic and contemporary influences that span trad roots, indie-folk, and other experimental musical idioms with songs that are personal, revelatory, and relatable, brimming with imaginative phrases, poetry, vulnerability, and a feeling of redemption.
Milwaukee’s eclectic Brady Street neighborhood provides a colorful backdrop for the latest album by folk duo Dead Horses. Brady Street, which is came out on August 12, 2022, is Dead Horses’ first full-length release since their arresting 2018 record, My Mother the Moon. The last album charted on the Americana Top 50 radio charts for three consecutive months. The single “Turntable” accrued more than 35 million spins on Spotify and was also featured on the Amazon and Apple Americana playlists. The pair’s select media highlights include a Rolling Stone “Artist You Should Know” mention as well as profiles in Billboard, Noisey, and even independent global news publication Democracy Now!
For their fourth full-length press, the pair decided to stick to their roots and record at Honeytone Studios in Neenah. “We wanted to produce something that seemed true to us, so we opted for a closer-to-home approach,” explains Daniel Wolff. “The experience allowed us to dive in and out of the studio and really work with the individual songs and the overall feel of Brady Street. Because of this, I believe we created a set of songs that contain a wider variety of sounds and textures that we knew were possible for us but didn’t have the chance to accomplish yet based on our previous recording strategies.”
The new record kicks off with its title track, “Brady Street,” a song that took many months to finish, but one that Sarah Vos says she “never lost faith in because it seemed to really capture a mood I’ve never been able to through song.” The second and third tracks open to reveal Dead Horses’ evolution into more intricate places rhythmically and sonically, only to pull away to the live recorded, sparsely beautiful, intimate “Bird Over the Train.” Track 8, titled “You Are Who You Need to Be,” is a ballad meant to empower those who don’t fit into society’s gender and sexuality norms. The final tracks, “Under Grey Skies” and “Days Grow Longer,” leave the listener with an unexpected sound from the band. “The sound is more fun and lighthearted than what we usually create, unless you’re looking too hard,” Vos observes.
"I feel that Brady Street is a coming-of-age record for us – both musically and thematically,” Vos shares. “In some ways, Brady Street is an answer to My Mother the Moon. The latter was written and recorded in the midst of working through childhood traumas and first venturing out on my own. Brady Street is less naive, more gritty, more focused.” Brady Street takes the intimacy of nature and brings it into the oftentimes reckless city life. Instead of walks through the forest, the songs take the audience on walks through the city, past all the old churches and bars with rich histories. Both records are filled with songs of hope and the search for beauty, as well as compassion for others, especially strangers. Written primarily throughout the COVID lockdown, Brady Street turns inward and reflects the introspection many of us encountered over the course of the often-melancholy pandemic.
Since the band’s early days, Dead Horses has been something of a fluid project centered around Sarah and Dan but has also welcomed other like minded musicians for recording and touring. The band's seemingly dark name is a loving tribute to a former friend of the band who passed away due to struggles with opioid abuse. To this end, Vos says, “Our music is about hope and joy, all while sharing an important message that you’re never alone in your battles.”
The union of Sarah’s emotive songwriting and Dan’s intrepid bass playing transcends the singer-songwriter-with-backup-musicians paradigm. Dan’s adventurous musicality equally shines alongside Sarah’s songwriting sensibility. To date, Dead Horses has released three albums, two of which have been produced by Ken Coomer of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco, an Audiotree Live Session, three singles, and a five-song EP.
Touring has been essential to the group’s vitality. Choice live performance highlights include national tours with Mandolin Orange and Trampled by Turtles, opening for The Who at Alpine Valley, appearances at Red Rocks Amphitheater, and festivals such as Northwest String Summit, Red Wing Roots, Red Ants Pants, and Bristol Rhythm and Roots.
Sarah and Dan met during post-college crossroads moments. “Everything felt like this blank canvas back then, and we had these lifelong dreams of music,” Sarah recalls. “It all happened very organically.” Initially, Sarah and Dan resided in different musical spheres. Sarah was at a singer-songwriter vantage point, whereas Dan had previously played in punk bands, but the two quickly bonded over their shared adoration of folk music and upbringings in the church.
During those formative times, Sarah showed Dan songs she had been writing since high school. Inspired by her catalog of music, Dan decided to take on a new instrument, the upright bass, and set out to explore its melodic possibilities. Once together, the pair wasted no time in pursuing recording and touring opportunities, garnering a dedicated fanbase from the start.
Dead Horses is thrilled to support Brady Street with tours across the United States. Over the years, the road has become somewhat of a second home for Sarah and Dan. “Connecting with people at shows and being open together breathes new life into everything,” Sarah notes. “You can go somewhere and feel like a total stranger or a lost tourist at first,” as Dan perfectly describes the sensation of performing, “but once you hit the stage, you feel like you’re part of an all-too-familiar community.”
Amy Ray announces the release of her tenth solo album, If It All Goes South, out September 16 on Amy's own Daemon Records. Recorded live to tape at Nashville’s Sound Emporium and mainly produced by her frequent collaborator Brian Speiser, If It All Goes South owes much of its freewheeling vitality to the potent chemistry between Ray and her longtime bandmates, including guitarist Jeff Fielder (a Seattle-based musician known for his work with artists like Mark Lanegan and Duff McKagan), keyboardist Daniel Walker (Heart, Ann Wilson, John Fullbright), pedal-steel player Matt Smith (also a member of The Honeycutters), banjo player Alison Brown, fiddle player/guitarist Adrian Carter, bassist Kerry Brooks, and drummer Jim Brock. The follow-up to 2018’s Holler (a widely acclaimed release featuring Vince Gill and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon), the album also includes a dazzling lineup of guest musicians: Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, The Highwomen’s Natalie Hemby, Phil Cook, and I’m With Her, to name a few.
In keeping with the spirited eclecticism that’s always defined Ray’s work (the cathartic punk of her 2001 solo debut Stag, the finespun country of 2014’s Goodnight Tender), If It All Goes South encompasses everything from gospel to punkabilly to folk, each handled with equal parts unruly ingenuity and extraordinary precision.
“Every day we had a new challenge—we’d have a string section in one room, the band in the main room, the backup singers somewhere else, and we had to figure how to make it all happen live,” says Ray, who also had the album mixed to tape by sound engineer/mixer Bobby Tis (Tedeschi Trucks Band, Neal Francis). “But even though the parameters were much stricter, I think it really added to the character of the record,” she adds. “You had to either love what you’d done, or commit to doing it all over again.”
Completed in nine whirlwind days, the making of If It All Goes South includes countless moments of indefinable magic. In reimagining an Indigo Girls gem called “They Won’t Have Me,” for instance, Ray and her bandmates pulled off the tremendous feat of deftly switching from acoustic to electric instruments mid-recording, giving way to one of the most powerfully exhilarating turns on the album. And for Ray, those moments of communion with her fellow musicians have proven to be an endless source of sustenance.
“My band and I have been driving around in a van together for about nine years now, so at this point we’re like family,” she says. “We’re all so loyal to each other and to the project, and everybody’s doing it for the love of it. For us it’s about carrying your own amp, putting on your own show, and being proud at the end of the night that you were able to achieve something. None of us ever wants to get too comfortable—it’s always about the act of trying.”
The Amy Ray Band will kick off the release with the following shows. Look for additional dates to be announced soon. Go to www.amy-ray.com for updates.
AMY RAY BAND - CD RELEASE SHOWS
WED, Sept. 21 Asheville, NC - Salvage Station w/Katie Pruitt
THU, Sept. 22 Atlanta, GA - The Fox Theater; Amy Ray Band supports Brandi Carlile
FRI, Sept. 23 Franklin, TN - The Franklin Theatre w/ H.C. McEntire
—more dates to be announced soon
Indigo Girls will be honored with The Spirit of Americana Award for lifetime achievement as songwriters and recording and touring artists as well as outspoken social activists during a televised ceremony at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, September 14. The awards ceremony serves as the hallmark event of Americanafest produced by the Americana Music Association (the AMA), which takes place this year on Sept. 13-17 in Nashville, TN.
The awards recognize a lifetime of artistry in music. Speaking of the Indigo Girls, the AMA states that “their songs, musicianship and voices have touched our hearts. Their authentic talents define today what so many find appealing in the Americana world - and right there on their website, is the tab for Advocacy — combining to set a standard that places them in our pantheon of musical innovators”.
The Spirit of Americana Award is co-presented in partnership with the nation’s leading advocate for Freedom of Speech; the not for profit, First Amendment Center founded by the late John Siegenthaler, Sr. Past recipients of this award have included: Mavis Staples, Rosanne Cash, Graham Nash, Billy Bragg, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jackson Browne, Stephen Stills, Steve Earle, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash.
The 2022 Honors & Awards show will stream live via Circle Network’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels (@CircleAllAccess), NPR Music and the Americana Music Association Facebook page Wednesday, September 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET, while live audio simulcasts of the show will be available via SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country, and on Nashville area terrestrial radio stations: WRLT (100.1 FM), WSM (650 AM) and WMOT (89.5 FM).
On the morning of the ceremony, Saliers and Ray will sit down with acclaimed writer and culture critic Ann Powers for an in-depth, career-spanning interview in front of a live audience of AmericanaFest attendees.
Remaining tickets to the Americana Honors & Awards show will be on sale to the general public during the day on Wednesday September 14th at the Westin Hotel downtown and at the Ryman Auditorium box office before the show at 5:00 p.m.
Over a 35-year career that began in clubs around their native Atlanta, Georgia, the multi-Grammy-winning duo of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray has recorded 16 studio albums, sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following across the globe. Rolling Stone describes them as the “ideal duet partners.” Committed and uncompromising activists, they work on issues like immigration reform, LGBTQ advocacy, education, death penalty reform, and Native American rights.
Indigo Girls will tour through the Fall of 2022 and into the new year. Highlights include headlining the 2022 Opelika Songwriters Festival in Opelika, Alabama on October 15 joined by Rickie Lee Jones, Shawn Mullins, John Paul White and many others. Tickets are available HERE.
Indigo Girls will ring in the new year in their home town of Atlanta, GA with two nights of performances (December 30 and 31st ) backed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Audiences will be treated to full symphonic arrangements of classic hits and fan favorites like “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” and “Power of Two.”
Look for coming announcements for new confirmed shows in 2023 including a tour of major US markets in June and UK and European markets in August. More at https://www.indigogirls.com
Indigo Girls Fall / Winter Tour 2022
9/16 – Aiken, SC* - Indigo Girls with The Aiken Symphony
10/15 – Opelika, AL - Opelika Songwriters Festival 2022
10/16 – Mobile, AL - Saenger Theatre Mobile
10/18 – New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's Uptown
10/19 – Houston, TX - House of Blues Houston
10/21 – Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre
10/22 – San Antonio, TX - The Rustic (RIM)
10/23 – Austin, TX - Stubb's BBQ
10/25 – New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's Uptown
11/12 – Tybee Island, GA - Tybee Post Music Festival
11/14 – Des Moines, IA - Hoyt Sherman Place
11/15 – Omaha, NE - Orpheum Theatre
11/16 – Wichita, KS - Orpheum Theatre
11/18 – Tulsa, OK - Tulsa Theater
11/19 – Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
11/20 – Evanston, IL - Cahn Auditorium
12/2 – Tarrytown, NY - Tarrytown Music Hall
12/3 – New London, CT - Garde Arts Center
12/4 – Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie Theatre
12/6 – Newton, NJ - The Newton Theatre
12/7 – Ithaca, NY - State Theatre
12/9 – Plymouth, NH - Flying Monkey Performance Center
12/10 – Beverly, MA - The Cabot
12/30 – Atlanta, GA* - Atlanta Symphony Hall
12/31 – Atlanta, GA* - Atlanta Symphony Hall
* w/ symphony
John Prine once said, “Bob Dylan opened the door when there was no door, and then left it open for others to come through.” When Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, aka Minnesota band The Cactus Blossoms, found that door, they walked right through it. "Dylan’s music was a friend and guide to me in those early years and has continued to be an artistic home base for me and Page,” Torrey says. "His songwriting on the Nashville Skyline and New Morning albums are such departure from his mid-60s rock’n’roll poetry, and they really comfortably fit into our wheelhouse without us having to imitate his unique style."
On their upcoming EP, If Not For You (Bob Dylan Vol. 1), out September 30 on all streaming platforms, The Cactus Blossoms reimagine four songs from the Bob Dylan songbook. Vol. 1 draws from Dylan’s early catalog and filters his work through the lens of the brothers’ signature harmonies and lush arrangements, adding new layers to these familiar classics. The band shared the first single, "Tell Me That It Isn't True," from Dylan's influential 1969 Nashville Skyline album, with The Boot, which writes, "The track's thoughtful production allow each element, including the stirring piano lines and acoustic guitar, to perfectly anchor Burkum and Torrey's heartfelt vocals."
LISTEN/STREAM "TELL ME THAT IT ISN'T TRUE" HERE
PRE-SAVE IF NOT FOR YOU (BOB DYLAN SONGS VOL. 1) HERE
"I’ve always liked the raw emotion of the song… you don’t know if he’s just jealous and delusional or if she’s really seeing someone else," Jack Torrey tells The Boot. "That vagueness and earnest attitude in the lyrics feels universal somehow."
"When we were finishing up our One Day album we were itching to get back in the studio and keep the creativity flowing,” Torrey says. "We had recorded a version of "Went to See The Gypsy” a while back and we were thinking about doing an EP of other people’s songs, but then it just made sense to stick with all Dylan tunes. He’s written a million songs and he’s always been an inspiration for us. So many of Bob Dylan’s songs are filled with wonderful phrasing that doesn’t really lend itself to harmony singing, so we got together and started singing some of his songs to see which ones we could bend into our world,” Torrey says.
The Cactus Blossoms are currently on tour, including select dates with Wilco. You can expect to hear some of the Dylan covers in their set along with favorites from their acclaimed recent album, One Day.
If Not For You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1) tracklist:
1. If Not For You
2. To Ramona
3. Went To See The Gypsy
4. Tell Me That It Isn't True
TOUR DATES
9/9/22 - Madison, WI - The Sylvee *
9/10/22 - River Falls, WI - Tattersall Distillery
9/11/22 - Fargo, ND - Fargo Brewing *
9/12/22 - Sioux Falls, SD - Washington Pavilion *
9/16/22 - Fridley, MN - Forgotten Star Brewing
9/28/22 - Somerville, MA - Somerville Theatre **
9/29/22 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground **
10/1/22 - Fairfield, CT - StageOne **
10/3/22 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater **
10/4/22 - Vienna, VA - Jammin’ Java **
10/5/22 - Washington, DC - The Kennedy Center
10/6/22 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle - Backroom **
10/7/22 - Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse **
10/8/22 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl **
10/13/22 - Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House
10/15/22 - Mankato, MN - Hooligans
10/16/22 - Brooklyn Center, MN - MN Monthly Rhythm & Brews
11/26/22 - Viroqua, WI - Historic Temple Theatre
2/23/23 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival
2/24/23 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival
* w/ Wilco
** w/ Alexa Rose
On their new EP, If Not For You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1), out today on all streaming platforms, brother duo The Cactus Blossoms reimagine four songs from the Bob Dylan songbook. Vol. 1 draws from Dylan’s early catalog and filters his work through the lens of the brothers’ signature harmonies and lush arrangements, adding new layers to these familiar classics.
LISTEN/STREAM IF NOT FOR YOU (BOB DYLAN SONGS VOL. 1) HERE
John Prine once said, “Bob Dylan opened the door when there was no door, and then left it open for others to come through.” When Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, aka The Cactus Blossoms, found that door, they walked right through it.
"Dylan’s music was a friend and guide to me in those early years and has continued to be an artistic home base for me and Page,” Torrey says. "His songwriting on the Nashville Skyline and New Morning albums are such departure from his mid-60s rock ’n’ roll poetry, and they really comfortably fit into our wheelhouse without us having to imitate his unique style."
"When we were finishing up our One Day album we were itching to get back in the studio and keep the creativity flowing,” Torrey says. "We had recorded a version of "Went to See The Gypsy” a while back and we were thinking about doing an EP of other people’s songs, but then it just made sense to stick with all Dylan tunes. He’s written a million songs and he’s always been an inspiration for us. So many of Bob Dylan’s songs are filled with wonderful phrasing that doesn’t really lend itself to harmony singing, so we got together and started singing some of his songs to see which ones we could bend into our world.”
The Cactus Blossoms are currently on tour. You can expect to hear some of the Dylan covers in their set along with favorites from their acclaimed recent album, One Day.
If Not For You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1) tracklist:
1. If Not For You
2. To Ramona
3. Went To See The Gypsy
4. Tell Me That It Isn't True
Over the past four years, the Opelika Songwriters Festival has attracted die-hard live music fans from around the Southeast to hear original songwriters spanning many genres of music perform their songs. Restaurants, bars, a distillery and an Inn in historic downtown Opelika become music listening rooms for two nights and a third day for dozens of solo, band, and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of October 14 – 16, 2022. Tickets are on sale now HERE.
Opelika Songwriters Festival will celebrate its 3rd year with performances on the main stage at 1st Ave in downtown Opelika on Saturday afternoon October 15th with headline performances by renowned artists Indigo Girls and Rickie Lee Jones. Shawn Mullins and John Paul White perform two evening shows during the Festival weekend. Other artists performing include Leigh Nash, Jeff Black, Dan Navarro, Kim Richey, Peter Bradley Adams, Paul McDonald, Adam Hood, Larry Mitchell, Abe Partridge, Meaghan Farrell, Katie Martin, Bradley Cole Smith, Martha's Trouble, Haraway Brothers, Grayson Capps, Mark True, Stephanie Jeck, Dave Potts, Mutt Cooper and more.
New additions include Glenn Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket) & Kristian Bush (Sugarland), Michelle Malone, Cousin Curtiss, and more.
Along with the music, Opelika Songwriters Festival is the perfect event for people who like to combine music, sports and relaxation at a world class spa. The official Festival hotel is the Opelika Auburn Marriott Resort and Spa at Grand National featuring three 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Golf golf courses, with scenic views, driving ranges, putting greens and golf lessons. Additionally there are elaborate resort-style pools with bar service, as well as eight tennis courts and an award-winning spa.
"Amy and I look forward to getting back to the Opelika/Auburn area where we have played many fun shows through the years. We are especially excited to share the stage with Rickie Lee Jones whom we admire so much as a singer and songwriter," says Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls.
Shawn Mullins, a veteran of the 30A Songwriters Festival, performed at the first two Opelika Songwriters Festivals and says the historic town offers something special for music fans. "Downtown Opelika stands out for its authenticity," he says."There are brewpubs, a distillery, boutiques, and a Pinball emporium inhabiting these beautifully restored, original cotton warehouses and retail buildings from the early 1920s Pepperill Mill era that drove the economy many years ago. Having these locations — all within walking distance — utilized as listening rooms for the Festival make this a fun, intimate gathering."
Indigo Girls' debut album sold over two million units under the power of singles “Closer to Fine” and “Kid Fears” in 1989 and turned Indigo Girls into one of the most successful folk duos in history. Over a thirty-five-year career that began in clubs around their native Atlanta, Georgia, the Grammy-winning duo has recorded sixteen studio albums (seven gold, four platinum, one double platinum), sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following. Their latest critically acclaimed record, Look Long is a stirring and eclectic collection of songs that finds the duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers reunited in the studio with their strongest backing band to date as they chronicle their personal upbringings with more specificity and focus than they have on any previous song-cycle.
Rickie Lee Jones will make her Opelika Songwriters festival debut fresh off the release of her memoir, Last Chance Texaco, released in the spring of 2021. Her chronicles are “as rich and colorful as Jones’s best lyrics,” writes The New York Times. The two-time Grammy winner, known for her haunting voice that ranges from deep yearning to late-night sultry, first appeared on the Los Angeles scene in the mid-1970s penning instant classics like “Chuck E.'s In Love,” “Danny’s All-Star Joint,” and the pivotal breakup album Pirates.
“I was drawn to work on the Festival concept Rob and Jen with Sound Wall proposed in 2019, the first year of the Opelika Songwriters Festival, because my Grandfather managed the mill in Opelika when I was a young child and my father was born and raised there," explains Festival co-producer Russell Carter. "I was thrilled to meet in downtown Opelika and experience firsthand the preservation, renewal and innovations that had taken place in recent years. The restaurants, bars, distillery, pubs, galleries, boutiques, Inn and record shop create a custom-made setting for a unique small town multi-day music festival." Co-producers Rob and Jen Slocumb add, “We are happy to join together with venue partners throughout downtown Opelika in 2022, including John Emerald Distillery, the Heritage House, the Irish Bred Pub, Jailhouse at Rock n Roll Pinball, and our studio, the Sound Wall. Anticipation for the 2022 Opelika Songwriters Festival is stronger than ever coming off the success of the 2020 event which was postponed to the Fall of 2021 due to the pandemic. Music fans are very eager now to enjoy public music performances up close and personal!"
Festival Weekend Passes are currently available at www.opelikasongwritersfestival.com. VIP tickets that include VIP area at Main Stage with private bathrooms and bar, a whiskey tasting at John Emerald Distillery and a Sunday Brunch that includes an in the round performance with (3) festival songwriters.
Amy Ray has released a new animated video for her Top 20 Americana Radio single, "Joy Train," exclusively with Garden & Gun Magazine. The single appears on her 10th solo album, If It All Goes South, out now on Ray's own Daemon Records. Ray enlisted a North Georgia artist, Julie Best, to provide the animation set against a rural background filmed near her home. Garden & Gun writes that the whimsical video is “a creation that’s uniquely Ray and uniquely Southern, with its driving Dobro guitar and lively fingerpicking set to an imaginative folk-art romp that will make you want to do as the narrator does at the end: 'I open my window, spring is on the bloom… I’m jumping on that joy train, y’all make me some room.'"
Watch the video for "Joy Train" HERE
Stream/purchase If It All Goes South HERE and at Apple Music HERE
Ray says, "The artist / creator for the video is Julie Best. She lives in my neck of the woods, in the North GA Mountains, and we share a love of nature and the magical universe. She has a series of works called Floating Animal Paintings, that are very powerful to me because they combine whimsy, wisdom, and vulnerability in a very striking way. I envisioned her characters taking us on the 'Joy Train' journey.
"The song is about faith, compassion and joy in the face of struggle, and I knew her drawings would provide that. Julie said, ‘Do you wanna be a mama bear of wolf?” I said “a mama bear”, and that’s how it began. The song starts with me and my baby bear in the back seat, we are travelers. We ultimately pickup the myriad of beings that we come across, and journey on to what I think of as redemption and healing, all under the watchful gaze of Martin Luther King Jr, Medgar Evers, and some heavenly hounds and horses. I asked Julie to add a banjo player because Allison Brown’s banjo is key to the song, and I think a cricket is the perfect character for Allison.”
In the accompanying interview, Ray explains that the song's message was partly inspired by a Black church revival she encountered while riding her bike around Jackson, MS. She was moved by the joyful scene, while recognizing that she was "channeling an experience that was not hers."
“I know I’m never going to get it right because I’m white and I don’t know enough," Ray says. "I’m still a student. I’m still learning. I feel party to all the oppression and racism of the South because I’m from so many generations of Southerners, but I’m also inspired and constantly informed by these ghosts of civil rights heroes that wake me up and say, 'What’s wrong with you? Sing, dance, have joy.’”
If It All Goes South owes much of its freewheeling vitality to the potent chemistry between Ray and her longtime bandmates, including guitarist Jeff Fielder (a Seattle-based musician known for his work with artists like Mark Lanegan and Duff McKagan), keyboardist Daniel Walker (Heart, Ann Wilson, John Fullbright), pedal-steel player Matt Smith (also a member of The Honeycutters), banjo player Alison Brown, fiddle player/guitarist Adrian Carter, bassist Kerry Brooks, and drummer Jim Brock. The follow-up to 2018’s Holler (a widely acclaimed release featuring Vince Gill and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon), the album also includes a dazzling lineup of guest musicians: Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, The Highwomen’s Natalie Hemby, Phil Cook, and I’m With Her, to name a few. Recorded live to tape at Nashville’s Sound Emporium, the album was mainly produced by her frequent collaborator Brian Speiser.
Ray has upcoming shows in NYC and will be announcing more Amy Ray Band tour dates soon. Go to www.amy-ray.com for updates.
AMY RAY SHOWS
SUN Oct 9 New York, NY - City Winery (Amy Ray duo w/Jeff Fielder)
MON Oct 10 New York, NY - City Winery (Amy Ray duo w/Jeff Fielder)
THU Feb 23, 2023 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band (Amy Ray Band)
Look dates in the Southeast in February and the Northeast in May 2023
For the past 13 years, the 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of dedicated live music fans from around the country to hear original songwriters spanning many genres of music perform their songs. The beach resort towns along Highway 30A on the Gulf of Mexico feature 30 venues presenting over 200 songwriters and 300+ solo, band and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of January 13 – 16, 2023.
30A Songwriters Festival will celebrate its 14th year with performances on the main stage at presenting partner Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach with headline performances by renowned artists LYLE LOVETT, GIN BLOSSOMS, RICKIE LEE JONES, STEVE EARLE, YOLA, AND MORGAN WADE.
The festival welcomes for the first time to 30A AMY GRANT, TOM RUSH, BRIAN VANDER ARK (THE VERVE PIPE), the BLACK OPRY REVUE, BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN, and JOHN CRAIGIE.
Returning to perform two shows each throughout the weekend are songwriting legends JOHN PAUL WHITE (The Civil Wars), SHAWN MULLINS, KATHLEEN EDWARDS, TINSLEY ELLIS, DARRELL SCOTT, ADIA VICTORIA, CHUCK PROPHET, LIVINGSTON TAYLOR, ABE PARTRIDGE, LILLY HIATT, JOHN FULLBRIGHT, SARAH LEE GUTHRIE, PAUL THORN, AND JAMES MCMURTRY.
An Additional 100+ Artists Will Be Announced Over the Next Few Weeks—Stay Tuned
We are pleased to announce the following confirmed artists: Hayes Carll, Glenn Phillips, Jeffrey Steele, Pat McGee, Bob Schneider, Abe Partridge, Cousin Curtiss, Mary Gauthier, Dan Navarro, Mark Erelli, Jonathan Byrd, Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey, Will Hoge, Don Dixon & Marti Jones, , Nicole Chillemi and the Jazz Legacy Project, Amanda Platt & The Honeycutters, Griffin House, Gretchen Peters, Kim Richey, Amy LaVere & Will Sexton, Will Kimbrough, Leigh Nash, Garrison Starr, Michael Tolcher, Mary Bragg, Tim Easton, Kalen & Aslyn, Cooper Carter, Crys Matthews, Florence Dore, Adrian Carter, John Lowell, Heather Mae, Charlie Mars, Michael McDermott, Leslie Mendelson, Amy Rigby, Danielle Howle, Side Pony, Darden Smith, The Kennedys, Pat Byrne, Levi Lowery, Certainly So, Eddie 9V, Tall Pines, Meaghan Farrell, Jesse Lynn Madera, Danni Nicholis, Certainly So, Alice Peacock, Hannah Miller, Sammi Accola, and Goldpine.
Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums since his self-titled debut in 1986. A singer, composer, and actor, the four-time Grammy award-winning musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers. This January, Lovett will take to the mainstage at Grand Boulevard to perform a career-spanning set ranging from early hits like “If I Had a Boat” and “Cowboy Man” to selections from 2022’s 12th of June.
Gin Blossoms’ fusion of melodic rock, folk, and country elements helped pave the way for the modern rock of today. Their five-time platinum breakthrough New Miserable Experience contained instant classics like “Hey Jealousy,” “Found Out About You,” and “Allison Road” and established them as one of the great songwriting bands of their generation. Renowned live performers, playing over 100 tour dates a year, Gin Blossoms will treat the 30A audience to a string of singalong hits like “Til I Hear It From You,” “Follow You Down,” and “As Long As It Matters,” as well as cuts from their latest release Mixed Reality.
Rickie Lee Jones charmed two sold-out audiences at last year's festival and she returns in 2023 to play the headline stage as well as a special evening night club performance. Her acclaimed memoir Last Chance Texaco released in 2021 is “as rich and colorful as Jones’s best lyrics,” writes The New York Times. The two-time Grammy winner, known for her haunting voice that ranges from deep yearning to late-night sultry, first appeared on the Los Angeles scene in the mid-1970s penning instant classics like “Chuck E.'s In Love,” “Danny’s All-Star Joint,” and the seminal album, Pirates.
Steve Earle needs little introduction. One of America’s most gifted living songwriters, the three-time Grammy winner has released twenty-two albums and amassed one of the most beloved songwriting catalogs of all time during his four-decade career. Multi-platinum successes “Copperhead Road” and “Guitar Town” are just the tip of the iceberg. Earle’s songs have been recorded by such music legends as Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Carl Perkins, Waylon Jennings, Vince Gill and Joan Baez. Throughout his career, Earle has also become a novelist, a film, TV and stage actor, a playwright, a short story author, a record producer and a radio host. His latest release, Jerry Jeff pays tribute to legendary outlaw singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker.
Morgan Wade is taking the world by storm with her acclaimed debut album Reckless (Produced by Jason Isbell + the 400 Unit guitarist Sadler Vaden and Paul Ebersold), hit singles "Wilder Days" and "Run," and a sold out cross-country tour. But Wade didn’t start writing to be a sensation, for critical acclaim, or massive concert tours. She wrote to speak her truth, to save her own life – and perhaps throw a rope to others who are struggling. Wade has a voice The FADER lauds is “like a jagged blade, sharp enough to draw blood but lustrous under the light” while The New York Times declares “she sounds like she’s singing from the depths of history.” Wade's 30A debut is your chance to see a major star on the rise.
Yola achieved breakout success with her critically acclaimed debut album Walk Through Fire in 2019. Hailed as a Black British genre fluid rising star, she landed four Grammy nominations including Best New Artist for her unique blend of Americana and classic R&B and established herself as one of the best live performers on the scene. Her anthemic new album Stand for Myself is a sonic mix of symphonic soul and classic pop tracing a musical thread to Yola’s most eclectic musical inspirations. Yola made her acting debut as Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic Elvis.
The 30A Songwriters Festival production team transforms amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios into unique music venues with state of the art sound systems ranging in capacity from 75 to 750 seats indoors and 6,000 outdoors.
It's been a busy year for Amy Ray. As half of iconic folk duo Indigo Girls, she received the Americana Music Association's Spirit Award along with a heartfelt introduction by longtime friend Brandi Carlile. Her acclaimed solo album, If It All Goes South, featuring a stunning collection of songs dealing with Ray's conflicted relationship with her beloved South, reached #10 on the Americana radio album chart and remains in the top 15. 2023 will see the Amy Ray Band, a tight, compelling outfit that has been together nine years now, hitting the road in February for over two weeks of dates. Highlights include Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour on February 20 and Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on February 23 supporting the Tedeschi Trucks Band, along with headline shows in her native Georgia at the legendary 40 Watt in Athens and Variety Playhouse in Atlanta.
If It All Goes South owes much of its freewheeling vitality to the potent chemistry between Ray and her longtime bandmates, including guitarist Jeff Fielder (a Seattle-based musician known for his work with artists like Mark Lanegan and Duff McKagan), keyboardist Daniel Walker (Heart, Ann Wilson, John Fullbright), pedal-steel player Matt Smith (also a member of The Honeycutters), banjo player Alison Brown, fiddle player/guitarist Adrian Carter, bassist Kerry Brooks, and drummer Jim Brock. The follow-up to 2018’s Holler (a widely acclaimed release featuring Vince Gill and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon), the album also includes a dazzling lineup of guest musicians: Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, The Highwomen’s Natalie Hemby, Phil Cook, and I’m With Her, to name a few. Recorded live to tape at Nashville’s Sound Emporium, the album was mainly produced by her frequent collaborator Brian Speiser.
Go to www.amy-ray.com for updates.
RECENT PRAISE FOR IF IT ALL GOES SOUTH
"Ray clearly possesses an emotional clarity as well as the innate ability to shift the settings, a skill that results in a varied set of songs that can be, by degrees, both tender and tempestuous.” —American Songwriter (4/5)
“Amy Ray has reached another milestone” —Relix
"There’s nothing quite like watching people do the thing they’ve spent a lifetime training to do: Winning Wimbledon, dancing lead in Giselle, breaking a 1,000-year-old Viking weightlifting record, cooking dinner in 8 minutes and 37 seconds. Listening to If It All Goes South, the latest solo outing from Indigo Girls co-founder Amy Ray, falls under that umbrella." —No Depression
"a creation that’s uniquely Ray and uniquely Southern, with its driving Dobro guitar and lively fingerpicking set to an imaginative folk-art romp" —Garden & Gun ("Joy Train" video premiere)
"She always finds a powerful and often positive spin to drive her songs, whether they talk of community, inclusivity, social justice, the climate emergency or coping with loss.” —Holler UK
"the production captures the energy and immediacy that you only get from a band flying live and without a net"
—Salvation South
"I think this is one of the best songs ("Muscadine") of the year. It’s about a dog, about unconditional love, about not knowing if you can love, about deciding to love anyway." —Ann Powers/NPR
"One of this year’s finest local releases as well as a highlight of Ray’s work, both as a solo act and even with her full time Indigo Girls gig.” —Creative Loafing Atlanta
“Ray’s band is cooking with the sort of rich, instinctive chemistry here that less seasoned players only dream about…” —Country Queer
AMY RAY BAND SHOWS
09 Feb 2023 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater #
10 Feb 2023 Austin, TX - Stubb's Jr.#
11 Feb 2023 Houston, TX - Continental Club: Houston #
13 Feb 2023 New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's Uptown #
14 Feb 2023 Jackson, MS - Duling Hall #
15 Feb 2023 Birmingham, AL - Saturn #
17 Feb 2023 Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom #
19 Feb 2023 Nashville, TN - The Basement East #
20 Feb 2023 Lexington, KY - Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour
21 Feb 2023 Knoxville, TN - Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum #
23 Feb 2023 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN (supporting the Tedeschi Trucks Band)
24 Feb 2023 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club #
25 Feb 2023 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse #
# dates with Kevn Kinney supporting
Known for their stellar musicianship and effortless close harmonies, identical twins The Brother Brothers, Adam and David Moss, have announced winter tour dates (scroll down for a complete list). Along with select East Coast dates in December, including an NPR Mountain Stage show on December 18, the duo will hit the Midwest in January. The brothers are currently working on a follow-up to Cover to Cover, an acclaimed collection that found the Mosses putting their own spin on some of their favorite artists. The album was widely praised, with the Associated Press admiring their "crystalline vocal blend" and American Songwriter writing that "the two convey their covers with such reverence and regard that they exude a charm all their own."
While the Brothers have grown into a favorite on streaming services and playlists, their live shows seal the deal, showcasing the duo's haunting, string-driven indie folk songs and the brothers' hilariously dry, deadpan banter.
For Cover to Cover sessions, they enlisted a cadre of old friends including Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive), Sarah Jarosz, Michaela Anne, Alison Brown, and hired some of Nashville’s finest session musicians: Jeff Picker (Ricky Skaggs), Matthew Meyer, Ryan Scott and Michael Rinne.
The Brother Brothers' breakthrough full-length in late 2018, Some People I Know, introduced the duo's thoughtful lyrics and exquisite harmonies to global audiences The duo then enlisted producer Ryan Hadlock (Lumineers, Brandi Carlile) for 2021's Calla Lily, which featured the single "On the Road Again" (check out the whimsical video HERE). Along with headline tours, the brothers have toured with Courtney Marie Andrews, I'm With Her, Keb' Mo' and others.
The Brother Brothers currently have over 460K monthly Spotify followers and have been featured on such playlists as Fresh Folk (where they graced the cover), Your Favorite Coffeehouse, Acoustic Chill and many others. Check this space for updates: http://www.thebrotherbrothersmusic.com
And just for the holidays - check out the gorgeous live video for their song "Red and Gold."
A project years in the making, engineer/producer Tucker Martine (My Morning Jacket, Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case, First Aid Kit) assembled an inspired cast of musician and guests (Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck, Laura Veirs, Bill Frisell, k.d. lang, among others) at his Portland, OR studio, Flora Recording and Playback, as a Christmas gift to his father, Nashville songwriter Layng Martine Jr. The album, Music Man, has a vintage sound that might make you think you’re listening to a ‘70s reissue on Light in the Attic or Bear Family rather than a brand new recording. Music Man will be out on May 19 on Bloodshot/KRS; it's the first release on the newly launched Bloodshot Records in conjunction with Kill Rock Stars.
Single link: https://pocp.co/music-man
Album pre-order: https://pocp.co/music-man-lp
Layng, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, is an engaging, energetic character at 81 years old who's had his songs covered by Elvis, Reba, Jerry Lee and others back in his Nashville writing heyday. Now 81, Layng and his wife Linda split their time between Nashville and Rhode Island. His life has had its share of triumphs and tragedies. Layng’s 2019 memoir, Permission to Fly, details his early wandering days, his time as a songwriter in Nashville, and the car accident that left his wife a paraplegic. He was inspired to write a memoir after his “Modern Love” essay for the New York Times about the incident, which shared details of their life post accident with candor and humor and became one of its most shared columns.
Speaking Across Generations: Layng and Tucker Martine (By Patterson Hood)
The occasion is Music Man, the wonderful new album by veteran Nashville based songwriter Layng Martine Jr.. A long-time dream project instigated by his son, Portland Oregon based super-producer Tucker Martine. A new Tucker Martine production is in itself an event due to his track record. His studio, Flora Recording and Playback has brought us wonderful albums by the likes of My Morning Jacket, Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case, Case/Lang/Viers, The Decemberists, M. Ward and Laura Veirs (who happens to be his wife as well as one of the country’s most underrated artists) among many others. Layng is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and has quite the track record as a workingman songwriter (Elvis Presley’s last-ever session included a Layng Martine Jr. song) and quite the fine voice himself. You can add in the Father/Son part of the story, which is alway an interesting dynamic, but the cherry on top of it all is that the album is a damned fine record. Period.
Music Man started off as a Christmas gift from Tucker to his father a few years ago. Five days of studio time to record, plus his services as a Producer, Drummer and Engineer and the necessary time for mixing, etc. A wonderful present to make a wonderful album. Tucker picked the songs from Layng’s extensive catalog, some dating as far back as 1964, selected the musicians to accompany and put it all together. Notable among the players, Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Bill Frisell, Laura Veirs and K.D. Lang as well as a wealth of other talented musicians. Special kudos to Tucker for handling the drum duties with aplomb. The resulting album is neither retro nor modern, inhabiting some timeless space that speaks of the generations of songs it contains. The songs literally sparkle with excitement and vitality and give new credence to the term “good time music”.
Talking on the phone to the Martine’s, junior and senior, my first impression was seeing where a lot of Tucker’s warmth of personality must have come from. Speaking with them made me look forward to a time when we can all hang out over dinner and maybe a few beers. Their joyousness about the project translates into the sound of the record, as it literally sounds like a wonderful time occurring and being captured onto tape.
Immediately evident in talking to the two generations of Martines was the deep love and mutual respect for each other. As artists, fathers, people. They both spoke of what each had personally gained from the wonderful time they had creating this project and an appreciation of the gift they were to each other. Neither harbored any illusions about the nature of the current music business and where an album like this would sit in the grand scheme of such things. A hit record wasn’t ever the point of this type of thing. What they did create is a fantastic record that rewards repeated listens and holds its own among the best of the releases we’ll hear this year. A record that holds up alongside the best of both of the artists who created it. A record I plan to return to again and again.
—Patterson Hood (writer, artist and long time member of Drive-By Truckers. Like Tucker, also a second-generation musician and son of Muscle Shoals bassist David Hood.)
Erik Vincent Huey releases his debut, Appalachian Gothic, today through the Orchard/CEN and his own Appalachian AF Records. The album was recorded at Cowboy Technical Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and produced by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll guitarist (Joan Jett, Del-Lords, Steve Earle & The Dukes) and producer (Bottle Rockets, Jimbo Mathus, Yayhoos, Sarah Borges). Erik (aka Cletus McCoy) is the frontman of The Surreal McCoys, a Cowpunk Americana band that — boosted by airplay of its single “Whole Lotta Folsom” on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country and other outlets — cracked the Top 50 on the Americana Album Charts and currently enjoys over 45K monthly listeners on Spotify, where it is north of 2 million spins.
STREAM/PURCHASE APPALACHIAN GOTHIC HERE
Huey grew up in West Virginia in the heart of coal country. His father, grandfather and great grandfather (who came over from Ireland) were all coal miners in the Monongahela Valley, Appalachian Gothic finds Huey taking a nostalgic deep dive into the Appalachia of his WV youth while wrestling with the contemporary realities of a hardscrabble region that’s been left behind in many ways. While the album explores darker themes and raw subject matter such as the legacy of coal mining and the ravages of the opioid crisis on songs like “The Devil is Here in These Hills,” “Dear Dad," “The Appalachian Blues,” and “The Battle of Uniontown,” it also taps into a defiant streak of optimism on twangy upbeat rockers like “Winona” and the pro-union anthem “Yours in the Struggle" about which SiriusXM Outlaw Country's Mojo Nixon states, "Erik and Roscoe subvert 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' into a union organizing song! Genius!!"
Along with DC area CD release shows, Erik will be touring with Jared Dickenson and Chris Kasper in April and May; dates will be announced soon.
Bay Area rockers The Mother Hips are releasing their "masterful" (MOJO ****) new album, When We Disappear, today on Blue Rose. MOJO writes, "I still don’t have an easy answer as to what kind of band they are. All I know is that whatever they play or sing sounds like California. Late-’60s/early -’70s West Coast country rock and soul play a big part." Thirty years in, the band is experiencing a creative renaissance, cementing their reputation as one of the key purveyors of their West Coast sound, a mix of cosmic country, Beach Boys psychedelia and hooks-driven rock and roll.
The Hips headed to New Mexico, spending time at Ghost Ranch before settling in at Jono Manson's Kitchen Sink studio in Sante Fe in late 2021 for the sessions. Self-produced, When We Disappear features nine compelling new tracks co-written by co-founders Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono — a collection of compelling, guitar-driven songs inspired by psychology and literature.
Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “one of the Bay Area’s most beloved live outfits,” The Mother Hips' headline and festival performances have became the stuff of legend, finding them sharing stages with everyone from Johnny Cash and Wilco to Lucinda Williams and The Black Crowes. Rolling Stone called the band “divinely inspired,” while Pitchfork praised their “rootsy mix of 70’s rock and power pop,” and The New Yorker lauded their ability to “sing it sweet and play it dirty.”
The Hips announced a run of tour dates and festivals, including the band's own annual "Hipnic" festival at Big Sur in March. Scroll down for complete dates.
TRACKLISTING
1. When We Disappear
2. Codine
3. She Stepped Away
4. Iffy Jackpot
5. Almost To Idaho
6. Leaving The Valley
7. Lost Out The Window
8. Spirit Of 98
9. Room Four
10. Stories Unborn
THE MOTHER HIPS on tour:
Fri, JAN 27 Chico, CA - Chico Women's Club
Sat, JAN 28 Chico, CA - Chico Women's Club
Fri, FEB 24 Austin, TX - 3TEN Austin City Limits Live
Sat, FEB 25 Denton, TX - Dan's Silverleaf
Fri, MAR 10 Carson City, NV - Nashville Social Club Carson City
Sat, MAR 11 Livermore, CA - Almost Famous Wine
Fri, MAR 24 Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room Highland Park
Sat, MAR 25 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up
Sat, APR 8 San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
Fri, May 19 Big Sur, CA - Hipnic
Sat, MAY 20 Big Sur, CA - Hipnic
Sun, MAY 21 Big Sur, CA - Hipnic
Sat, MAR 25 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up
-stay tuned for additional dates to be announced soon
Just in time for Easter, Grammy-winner Tim O’Brien releases a new bluegrass original, “Little Lamb Little Lamb,” premiering today at The Bluegrass Situation. The song is a taste of what to expect on O’Brien’s upcoming full release, Cup of Sugar, which drops June 16th on Howdy Skies Records. Along with his longtime band, the album features bluegrass legend Del McCoury on a track. O'Brien shares, "In the 46 years I’ve been recording, this is my very first release of all original material." "Little Lamb Little Lamb" was written last spring and recorded in December and features O’Brien on guitar and lead vocal, and features longtime band members Mike Bub (bass), Shad Cobb (fiddle), Jan Fabricius (mandolin and vocal), and Cory Walker (banjo). The uptempo track's lyrics contrast the joyful rebirth of spring with the narrator’s advancing age as it celebrates rebirth and renewal.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "LITTLE LAMB LITTLE LAMB" HERE
STREAM/PURCHASE THE SINGLE HERE
PRE-ORDER/ PRE-SAVE CUP OF SUGAR HERE
O'Brien shared the thoughts behind the song with The Bluegrass Situation. Nothing says spring like newborn lambs jumping up and down. It’s just encouraging, reassuring like the song says. In May of 2017, Jan [Tim’s wife and bandmate, Jan Fabricius] and I rambled up a country road southwest of Bonane in County Kerry and these lambs were everywhere, testing their legs. The video includes clips from that trip as well as clips from a recent Mountain Stage taping. We’d played at the Fiddle Fair in Baltimore, West County Cork, and that’s a chill little spot, but we wanted even more chill so we booked three or four nights by a lake below a mountain pass there near Bonane. There was really nothing going on except grass growing and sheep grazing. We asked the older woman who ran a cafe by the B&B if she was local. She said, ‘Oh no.’ I asked her where she was from, and she said, ‘I’m from three miles away. My husband’s from here, but people will never accept me as a local.’ Needless to say, we had some good quiet time.
Cup of Sugar includes 13 new originals written or co-written by O'Brien, with songs about a bear, a fish, lambs, horses, and some people too — a grave digger, a neighbor, and even Walter Cronkite. While the songs are playful and sprinkled with humor, there's plenty to chew on just below the surface.
Sounding more and more like himself, O’Brien will debut the new material from Cup of Sugar at the 50th annual Telluride Bluegrass festival on June 17. Please to to go to www.timobrien.net for updates.
TOUR DATES:
Thursday, April 20, 2023 Columbus, Ohio
Friday, April 21, 2023 Peninsula, Ohio
Saturday, April 22, 2023 Wheeling, West Virginia
Sunday, April 23, 2023 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Saturday, May 6, 2023 Hot Springs, Virginia
Friday, May 26, 2023 Cleveland, West Virginia
Saturday, May 27, 2023 Cumberland, Maryland
Saturday, June 17, 2023 Telluride, Colorado
Saturday, July 8, 2023 Frankfort, Illinois
Sunday, July 9, 2023 Frankfort, Illinois
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 Berwyn, Illinois
Friday, July 28, 2023 Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin
Saturday, July 29, 2023 Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin
Friday, August 18, 2023 Manchester Center, Vermont
Saturday, August 19, 2023 Manchester Center, Vermont
Saturday, September 30, 2023 Mamaroneck, New York
Saturday, October 14, 2023 Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Friday, November 3, 2023 Moab, Utah
Saturday, November 4, 2023 Moab, Utah
Troubadour Steve Forbert’s acclaimed 1988 album, Streets of This Town, will be back in print on CD and 140-gram vinyl for the first time in 28 years. The re-issue, Streets of Town: Revisited has been remixed and remastered and will be released through Blue Rose on June 2; the CD format contains a bonus track, "They're Out To Break Us.” The album is notable as Forbert’s first opportunity to record and release an album after several years of legal struggles with his then-label, CBS Records.
Forbert is sharing the original 1988 video for "On the Streets Of This Town," filmed in Los Angeles. The video features the newly remixed and remastered audio. Forbert says, "The video for "On The Streets of This Town" was filmed in downtown Los Angeles in 1988. Whenever I happen to be on those sidewalks again, I feel like I'm still seeing those same people traversing about, on the go to who knows where."
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "ON THE STREETS OF THIS TOWN" HERE
PRE-ORDER CDs + LPs HERE
Moving to NYC from his native Mississippi, Forbert burst on the international scene with his 1979 hit “Romeo’s Tune” and put out several more albums with his label, CBS, before reaching an impasse with them. The songs on Streets Of This Town: Revisited were written between 1984 -1988. During this time, the Meridian, MS native had moved from Greenwich Village to Nashville, TN, continuing to write and tour with his band, The Rough Squirrels. Forbert caught the ear of E Street bassist Garry Tallent, who brought the band into his Long Branch, NJ studio to produce the original recordings that became Streets Of This Town. The songs chronicle the trials and tribulations of four years of a recording-artist purgatory and became Forbert’s first album for Geffen Records.
Streets Of This Town got an enthusiastic reception on its original release – Rolling Stone called it “arguably the best record he has ever made” in their 4-star review, and the Washington Post dubbed it “the most moving and consistent album of his career.”
"Like much of his previous work, it explores his country’s ups, downs, foibles, and quirks with intelligence, humor, and a whole lot of charm.” —American Songwriter
"Forbert’s genius lies in his artful way of telling funny and memorable stories about the hopes and dreams of ordinary folks across America. In that way, he continues to follow in the footsteps of his folk music hero and fellow Meridian, Mississippi, native Jimmie Rodgers.” —No Depression
Forbert is currently touring for his recent release, Moving Through America. Tour dates below:
TOUR DATES:
SU 29 Apr Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic
SA 6 May Bethlehem, PA - Godfrey Daniels
WE 17 May Washington, DC - Kennedy Center
FR 9 Jun Glen Cove, NY - My Father’s Place at Metropolitan - Steve Forbert & The Renditions
SA 10 Jun Beacon, NY - Towne Crier Cafe
SU 11 Jun Bryn Mawr, PA - Bryan Mawr Gazebo - Steve Forbert & The Renditions
SA 22 Jul Somerville, MA - The Burren
SU 23 Jul West Yarmouth, MA - The Music Room
TH 26 Oct New York, NY - Iridium
FR 01 Dec Elkton, MD - Elkton Music Hall
Today, octogenarian Layng Martine Jr. is premiering his new single, "Love You Back To Georgia," at The Bluegrass Situation. The upbeat track, written in the early '70s by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member, celebrates summer, cars, and live music and the exhilaration of sharing it all with someone you love. Layng's songs have been covered by Elvis, Reba, Jerry Lee, The Pointer Sisters and many others back in his Nashville songwriting heyday. "Love You Back to Georgia" appears on Music Man, out May 19 on Bloodshot Records/Kill Rock Stars. The album sessions were put together by Layng's son, super producer Tucker Martine, and recorded at his Portland studio, Flora Recording and Playback. Tucker, who also plays drums on the album, is known for his production work with My Morning Jacket, Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case, and First Aid Kit as well as the new Grammy-winning Madison Cunningham album.
Layng says of the song, "I wrote ‘Love You Back to Georgia’ in 1973, soon after we arrived in Nashville. I was 31. Cars, girls, and music had pretty much summed up my youthful obsessions. Nothing had … or has … really changed. Even now at 81, I still can’t imagine anything much more enjoyable and uplifting than my wife and I pulling into a Dairy Queen in our convertible with ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ blasting from the car speakers. It’s our modern-day version of ‘Love You Back to Georgia’ … when being young and in the back seat of a car with a girl and going somewhere exciting to hear music was ‘as good as it gets.’ ‘Love You Back to Georgia’ is a celebration of all those moments and emotions.”
For Music Man, Tucker assembled an inspired cast of musician and guests (Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck, Laura Laura Veirs, Bill Frisell, k.d. lang, among others) at his Portland, OR studio, Flora Recording and Playback, as a Christmas gift to Layng. Music Man has a vintage sound that might make you think you’re listening to a ‘70s reissue on Light in the Attic or Bear Family rather than a brand new recording.
These days, Layng and his wife Linda split their time between Nashville and Rhode Island. His life has had its share of triumphs and tragedies. Layng’s 2019 memoir, Permission to Fly, details his early wandering days, his time as a songwriter in Nashville, and the car accident that left his wife a paraplegic. He was inspired to write a memoir after his “Modern Love” essay for the New York Times about the incident, which shared details of their life post accident with candor and humor and became one of its most shared columns.
PRE-SAVE/PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE
STREAM/PURCHASE "LOVE YOU BACK TO GEORGIA" HERE
CHECK OUT LAYNG'S BANDCAMP PAGE HERE
Grammy-winner Tim O’Brien has a released a new video for "Bear" premiering today at Bluegrass Today; it's the second single from O'Brien's upcoming album, Cup of Sugar, and will be available on all streaming services starting this Friday, May 10; you can pre-save the single HERE. Bluegrass Today comments on O'Brien's well-known sense of humor and droll wit, both in evidence in this song about a frustrated, jazz-playing bear who just can't get no respect. It's one of the 13 original tracks on O'Brien's next album release, Cup of Sugar out June 16th on Howdy Skies Records. O'Brien shares, "In the 46 years I’ve been recording, this is my very first release of all original material."
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "BEAR" HERE
PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE THE SINGLE HERE
PRE-ORDER/ PRE-SAVE CUP OF SUGAR HERE
O'Brien shares the story behind the song: “The songs for Cup of Sugar started with "Bear." It was December of 2021, and the news was all about Russia and would Putin invade Ukraine. I had just read a book on the history of dancing bears. White Nationalism was a prominent topic, the flip side being Black Lives Matter. Trump had lost the election but was ramping up his spoiled brat act. I could imagine the gripes Putin, Trump, and the White Nationalists had, even if I didn’t agree.
"I’d also reread some of a favorite book by Rafi Zabor: The Bear Goes Home. In the plot this guy in NYC wins a dancing bear in a card game, and after he gets busted trying to busk with it, he leaves the bear in his flat during work. One day he comes home and the bear’s talking and playing clarinet. The bear becomes a jazz sensation but he’s also the ultimate outsider.
"So I was thinking about all that. I think the bear represents anyone or any social group that feels their world has changed too much while they weren’t looking. The bear comes out of his cave in spring and all the trees are cut down. He’s just pissed off. ‘I’m a bear,’ he cries, ‘but damn it, I’m more than that.’
I can identify with the bear because I’m old. I don’t relate to a lot of new stuff and while I do fairly well in spite of all the changes, sometimes I’ll swear at them.”
Cup of Sugar is Tim’s first album of all original songs — 13 new tracks about a bear, a fish, lambs, horses and some people too — a grave digger, a neighbor, and even Walter Cronkite. O'Brien is backed by his loyal band mates Mike Bub, Shad Cobb and wife Jan Fabricius, supplemented by Jamie Dick on drums, Mike Rojas on keyboards, Russ Pahl on steel guitar, and Cory Walker on banjo. Bluegrass icon Del McCoury lends his signature guitar and tenor vocal on “Let the Horses Run.” Co-writers include Ronnie Bowman, Jonathon Byrd, Shawn Camp, Jan Fabricius, and Thomm Jutz.
Sounding more and more like himself, O’Brien will debut the new material from Cup of Sugar at the 50th annual Telluride Bluegrass festival on June 17. Please to to go to www.timobrien.net for updates.
TOUR DATES:
# Tim O’Brien Band
^ Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius
05-26-2023 Cleveland, WV - Jerry Run Summer Theatre #
05-27-2023 Cumberland, MD - Del Fest #
05-28-2023 Cumberland, MD - Del Fest #
06-10-2023 Oak Ridge, TN - ORNL Federal Credit Union Sessions #
06-17-2023 Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival #
07-08-2023 Frankfort, IL - Frankfort Bluegrass Fest #
07-09-2023 Frankfort, IL - Frankfort Bluegrass Fest #
07-26-2023 Berwyn, IL - FitzGeralds #
07-28-2023 Manitowish Waters, WI - Midsummer Bluegrass Festival #
07-29-2023 Manitowish Waters, WI - Midsummer Bluegrass Festival #
08-18-2023 Manchester Center, VT - Green Mountain Bluegrass ^
08-19-2023 Manchester Center, VT - Green Mountain Bluegrass ^
08-20-2023 Red Hook, NY - Hardeman Orchards ^
09-13-2023 Austin, TX - The 04 Center ^
09-14-2023 Houston, TX - Mucky Duck ^
09-28-2023 Easton, MD - Historic Avalon Theatre ^
09-29-2023 White Hall, MD - Star Bright Farm ^
09-30-2023 Mamaroneck, NY - Emelin Theatre ^
10-01-2023 Berwick, ME - Hackmatack Playhouse ^
10-02-2023 Cambridge, MA - Club Passim ^
10-07-2023 Chattanooga, TN - 3 Sisters Music Festival #
10-14-2023 Big Stone Gap, VA Blue Highway Fest #
11-03-2023 Moab, UT - Moab Folk Fest ^
11-04-2023 Moab, UT - Moab Folk Fest ^
11-15-2023 Richmond, VA - Tin Pan ^
11-17-2023 Berryville, VA - Barns at Rose Hill
11-18-2023 Parkersburg, WV - Parkersburg Arts Center
12-08-2023 Oak Ridge, TN - Secret City Radio Show ^
Today, two-time folk Grammy nominee Eliza Gilkyson is sharing the first single, the "brightly ethereal" (Folk Alley) "Safety Zone, from her new album, Home, set for released June 23 on her own imprint, Realiza Records. Premiering today, the song came about after a bad accident Eliza suffered at last year's Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas.
“I left my car in gear when I pulled up and got halfway out of the car, which rolled forward and dragged me down a dirt road, over a low rock wall and into a tree," she recalls. "I don’t know why I didn’t die, and when I re-live it the math just doesn’t add up, like how did I survive that? It felt miraculous, still does.”
Folk Alley's Henry Carrigan writes, "Gilkyson conveys the unearthliness of the scene of her accident ... the song patters along Gypsy jazz, Django Reinhardt-like rhythm guitar strums while Don Richmond’s resonator guitar lines and Ray Bonneville’s moaning harp notes weave under and around each other, creating a spooky reverberation as the song slowly unfurls. The gospel-inflected chorus features a call and response structure that affirms the power of universe that protects the singer from harm, at least in this moment."
Listen to "Safety Zone" HERE/ Pre-save HERE
Pre-order Home HERE
Home reunites Eliza with producer/multi-instrumentalist Don Richmond and features a wide range of songs that reflect Eliza’s appreciation for family, home and hearth, in a time when those things have become essential to maintain sanity and decency.
Cameos include a gorgeous duet with Robert Earl Keen, “How Deep,” that asks some of life’s important questions, and a sweet duet with longtime friend Mary Chapin Carpenter, “Sparrow,” on the appreciation a songwriter feels for their fans and friends who inspire their songs into being.
Other standout tracks include the upbeat and hopeful “World Keeps on Singing,” the gospel tinged “Safety Zone,”and the stripped-down love song “Witness,” which features Eliza's brother, renowned L.A. musician Tony Gilkyson (X, Lone Justice, Chuck E. Weiss) on soulful electric guitar. In the harmony-laden “Sunflowers,” she imagines a Ukrainian mother’s wish for normalcy and safety. And in the epic storytelling ballad “Man in the Bottle,” she features snippets of her dad’s songs — hit songwriter Terry Gilkyson (“Bare Necessities) — played by the Southwest’s beloved Western dance band, The Rifters, and longtime family friend Van Dyke Parks, who played in an early incarnation of her dad’s band “The Easy Riders” when he was just a teenager.
The album wraps up with the title track “Home.” Written by Karla Bonoff, the song reflects on the ways that home can be a sanctuary in the most difficult times.
Eliza says, "The pandemic changed our lives and our world forever, illuminating the sanctity of home and hearth, of trusted friendships and family, and a new deeper appreciation for the many little blessings we may have taken for granted before this cataclysmic shift occurred. It has been a time of terrible loss and insecurity about the future, as well as one of newfound resolve, connection and commitment. These songs were born out of all these conflicting forces coming into play while trying to find the balance."
TRACKLISTING
1. True North
2. World Keeps On Singing
3. How Deep
4. Sunflowers
5. Safety Zone
6. Witness
7. Here Comes the Night
8. Man In the Bottle
9. Sparrow
10. Hom
LIVE DATES
THU, 6/15/23 Taos, NM — Taos Center for the Arts United States
Today, octogenarian Layng Martine Jr., a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member whose songs have been hits for Elvis, Reba, Jerry Lee, The Pointer Sisters and many others, releases his debut album, Music Man. To celebrate, Layng is sharing an in-studio video for the effervescent "Little Bit of Magic," filmed at Flora Recording and Playback. No Depression writes, "Music Man is the feel-good album of the year, and it illustrates Martine’s gift for weaving ingenious, often humorous lyrics (Ray Stevens was Martine’s earliest supporter) and rollicking music that encourages listeners to roll back the rug and dance.” You can listen to new interviews featuring Layng as well, including Otis Gibbs' YouTube convos (check out "Breakfast with Merle Haggard") and "Wheels Off with Rhett Miller," where he banters with the Old 97's frontman.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC" HERE
Music Man is the first new release on the newly launched Bloodshot Records in conjunction with renowned indie label Kill Rock Stars. The album sessions were put together by Layng's son, super producer Tucker Martine, and recorded at his Portland studio, Flora Recording and Playback. Tucker, who also plays drums on the album, is known for his production work with My Morning Jacket, Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case, and First Aid Kit as well as the new Grammy-winning Madison Cunningham album.
For the sessions, Tucker assembled an inspired cast of musician and guests (Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck, Laura Laura Veirs, Bill Frisell, k.d. lang, among others) at his Portland, OR studio, Flora Recording and Playback, as a Christmas gift to Layng. Music Man has a vintage sound that might make you think you’re listening to a ‘70s reissue on Light in the Attic or Bear Family rather than a brand new recording.
These days, Layng and his wife Linda split their time between Nashville and Rhode Island. His life has had its share of triumphs and tragedies. Layng’s 2019 memoir, Permission to Fly, details his early wandering days, his time as a songwriter in Nashville, and the car accident that left his wife a paraplegic. He was inspired to write a memoir after his “Modern Love” essay for the New York Times about the incident, which shared details of their life post accident with candor and humor and became one of its most shared columns.
"The songs started with 'Bear.' It was December of 2021, and the news was all about Russia and would Putin invade Ukraine. I had just read a book on the history of dancing bears. White Nationalism was a prominent topic, the flip side being Black Lives Matter. Trump had lost the election but was ramping up his spoiled brat act. I could imagine the gripes Putin, Trump and the White Nationalists had, even if I didn’t agree. I’d also reread some of a favorite book by Rafi Zabor: The Bear Goes Home. In the plot, this guy in NYC wins a dancing bear in a card game, and after he gets busted trying to busk with it, he leaves the bear in his flat during work. One day he comes home and the bear’s talking and playing clarinet. The bear becomes a jazz sensation but he’s also the ultimate outsider. So I was thinking about all that. I think the bear represents anyone or any social group that feels their world has changed too much while they weren’t looking. The bear comes out of his cave in spring and all the trees are cut down. He’s just pissed off. 'I’m a bear' he cries, 'but damn it, I’m more than that.' I can identify with the bear because I’m old. I don’t relate to a lot of new stuff and while I do fairly well in spite of all the changes, sometimes I’ll swear at them.
"The saddest song is one I wrote with Jan. We were driving along talking about some folks we know who are locked into a dysfunctional relationship, how we wished they could figure it out, change things. Jan said, 'She can’t.' I said, 'He won’t.' and then we both said, 'They’ll never' in unison.
More songs started coming in the spring of 2022. I got with Ronnie Bowman and these brothers from West Virginia, Chris and Donnie Davisson, to co-write. I try to bring something to a session so we can start right in, and I thought how about 'thinkin’ like a fish.' I played a funk lick on the banjo and we spit out some words to it. After we were done that day, I played it for Jan’s son Lane, who’s crazy about fishing, and he gave me an idea for the last verse. Another song that fell out one morning is 'Let the Horses Run.' I happened on the funny story of Lulu the Nashville border collie who inherited a fortune when her owner died with no heir. The dog’s master was a guy who helped put up a notorious statue of the first Grand Wizard of the KKK here in Nashville, and his death resulted in the statue finally coming down. Ronnie and I got together again and came up with ‘Diddleye Day,' which rhymes dogs with hogs, and so I’m thinking maybe there’s a whole theme here.
"But I also had written 'The Anchor' which was just something I was just ready to write. It’s in line with the social justice songs on 'He Walked On," but again it’s from the point of view of someone old who realizes they’re a throwback, in this case 'Walter Cronkite' who’s commenting from the great beyond. I’m in my late 60’s and doing fine but I’m looking at things from that older perspective. One of my closest friends, J.D. Hutchison was in hospice care when Ronnie and I wrote 'Goodbye Old Friend.” (J.D. passed away soon after.) With 'Cup of Sugar,' "The Pay’s a Lot Better Too' and maybe even 'Gila Headwaters,' I’ve got that elder perspective again: life is short but it’s wonderful so don’t sweat the small stuff. The guy in 'Stuck in the Middle' is taken by surprise but he takes it lightly.
I let the songs dictate the arrangements. I asked myself is it all acoustic, is it an electric country record? Is it time to go electric?. But I ended up making another pretty eclectic set of acoustic tracks. Jan and I work on the form, tempo, and key for each of them at home, and she sings and plays her parts live when we get to the studio. That builds a strong frame before we get to the studio. With session guys like Mike Rojas, Russ Pahl, and Jaimee Dick, as well as with my bandmates Mike Bub and Shad Cobb, you just get them in the room and play the song. They find the way. Dennis Crouch came one day when Bub couldn’t make it, and Paul Burch joined in too on a couple. I had a lot of fun writing the songs and had just as much fun recording them. It was a blast having Del McCoury come in to play some real first-generation bluegrass. I think Cory Walker crushed the banjo part."
Brennen Leigh is premiering the official video for her trucker song "Carole with an E" with Holler, who writes: "Like the other songs on Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet,' ’Carole With an E’ echoes the best of the era, when bluegrass-fuelled tunes, beer soaked honky-tonk ballads and hard-country weepers burst forth from AM transistor radios. The album’s country roots run deep, with guests like Marty Stuart and Rodney Crowell and a line-up of top-flight musicians."
Shot on location in Nashville by filmmaker Jesse Weeden, Brennen and the team were able to borrow a big rig for the shoot. The resulting "brilliant" video features the song's co-writer Mallory Eagle playing the "pearls and kitten heels"-wearing Carole, along with cameos from producer Chris Scruggs, Josh Hedley and others. The video ends with Brennen and Mallory exchanging some classic CB lingo — 10-4!!
Brennan tells Holler, “I’m a fan of trucker country, the sub-genre of country music that’s exclusively about long haul trucking and all its idiosyncrasies. Although I’m not a member of trucker culture, I’m fascinated by it, and I relate to the songs. They’re true Americana, in the real sense of the word. So, when Mallory came over one day and suggested we write an anthem about her trucker neighbor back in Oklahoma, I was into it. We tried to keep as true as we could to Carole’s real story. She’s become something of a movement for us. Carole, in my understanding, is this tough, beautiful lady who happens to drive for a living. I find her irresistible.
“We had to do some research into the lingo,” she adds. “Which is as sophisticated as any poetry I’ve ever read. I dare you to find higher art than the poetry of CW McCall.”
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "CAROLE WITH AN E"
PRE-SAVE PRE-ORDER AIN'T THROUGH HONKY TONKIN' YET
The album’s country roots run deep, with guests like Marty Stuart and Rodney Crowell and a lineup of top-flight musicians, yet each track soars with abandon. With thoughtful, incisive lyrics and vibrant melodies at the forefront, Leigh has successfully created a modern gem, while honoring country music’s enduring golden era.
“I’m in love with this idea of the real Nashville, " says Leigh. “The idyllic golden age, which, to me, is around 1967, 1968, because of the alchemy, the explosion that occurred, with the best country music songwriters ever, the best singers in country music.”
TRACKLISTING
01 - Running Out Of Hope, Arkansas
02 - Somebody's Drinking About You
03 - The Red Flags You Were Waving
04 - I Ain't Through Honky Tonkin' Yet
05 - Mississippi Rendezvous
06 - Carole With An E
07 - The Bar Should Say Thanks
08 - Every Time I Do
09 - Throwing Away A Precious Jewel
10 - I'm Still Looking For You
11 - When Lonely Came To Town
12 - You Turned Into A Dragon
With a career spanning more than four decades, there are not a lot of "firsts" for Grammy-winner Tim O’Brien, until now. O'Brien's new album, Cup of Sugar, finds the renowned songwriter and multi-instrumentalist delivering 13 original new tracks which he's either written or co-written. The cover art says a lot about the album, with its black and white hands extended in a neighborly fashion. The title track features the lyrics, "I try to pick my battles, don't want to start a war. If I need a cup of sugar, I'll knock on my neighbor's door." You can hear Tim and the band performing the song on a recent NPR Mountain Stage episode HERE. O'Brien and his band kick off the album release this weekend at Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado, followed by a summer full of festival dates, an appearance on Woodsongs Old Time Hour, and shows at Nashville's famed Station Inn in July. (Scroll down for a complete schedule.)
Cup of Sugar includes songs about a bear, a fish, lambs, horses and some people too — a grave digger, a neighbor, and even venerable '60s and '70s CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite. May of the songs deal with aging with humor and poignancy. Bluegrass Today notes O'Brien's "terrific" sense of humor and droll wit, both in evidence in throughout the album, but also points out that there's "cleverness behind the japes, some wisdom in the jokes."
STREAM/ DOWNLOAD CUP OF SUGAR HERE
CUP OF SUGAR AVAILABLE AT AIRPLAY DIRECT HERE
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "BEAR" HERE
In "Bear," a whimsical song inspired by the book The Bear Goes Home, “Bear,” a bear wakes up from hibernation to a world that’s changed so drastically that it looks uninhabitable. O’Brien says of the song, “I can identify with the bear because I’m getting old. I can relate to a lot of new stuff and while I do fairly well in spite of all the changes, sometimes I’ll swear at them. The bear represents anyone struggling with a changing world.”
"Llittle Lamb Little Lamb" find O'Brien commenting on the cycle of life, contrasting springtime and the frolicking new lambs with own advancing age. He observes, "It’s just like magic how the seasons come and go/Reassures me in a way you’ll never know/Living and dying walk along hand in hand/ You wouldn’t understand little lamb little lamb."
O'Brien is backed by his loyal bandmates Mike Bub, Shad Cobb and wife Jan Fabricius, supplemented by Jamie Dick on drums, Mike Rojas on keyboards, Russ Pahl on steel guitar, and Cory Walker on banjo. Bluegrass icon Del McCoury lends his signature guitar and tenor vocal on “Let the Horses Run.” Co-writers include Ronnie Bowman, Jonathon Byrd, Shawn Camp, Jan Fabricius, and Thomm Jutz.
Sounding more and more like himself, O’Brien will debut the new material from Cup of Sugar at the 50th annual Telluride Bluegrass festival on June 17. Please go to www.timobrien.net for updates.
TOUR DATES:
# Tim O’Brien Band
^ Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius
06-17-2023 Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival #
07-08-2023 Frankfort, IL - Frankfort Bluegrass Fest #
07-09-2023 Frankfort, IL - Frankfort Bluegrass Fest #
07-26-2023 Berwyn, IL - FitzGeralds #
07-27-2323 Minneapolis, MN - The Dakota #
07-28-2023 Manitowish Waters, WI - Midsummer Bluegrass Festival #
07-29-2023 Manitowish Waters, WI - Midsummer Bluegrass Festival #
08-18-2023 Manchester Center, VT - Green Mountain Bluegrass ^
08-19-2023 Manchester Center, VT - Green Mountain Bluegrass ^
08-20-2023 Red Hook, NY - Hardeman Orchards ^
09-13-2023 Austin, TX - The 04 Center ^
09-14-2023 Houston, TX - Mucky Duck ^
09-15-2023 Ft. Worth, TX - Grand Ballroom at Southside Preservation Hall ^
09-28-2023 Easton, MD - Historic Avalon Theatre ^
09-29-2023 White Hall, MD - Star Bright Farm ^
09-30-2023 Mamaroneck, NY - Emelin Theatre ^
10-01-2023 Berwick, ME - Hackmatack Playhouse ^
10-02-2023 Cambridge, MA - Club Passim ^
10-07-2023 Chattanooga, TN - 3 Sisters Music Festival #
10-14-2023 Big Stone Gap, VA Blue Highway Fest #
11-03-2023 Moab, UT - Moab Folk Fest ^
11-04-2023 Moab, UT - Moab Folk Fest ^
11-15-2023 Richmond, VA - Tin Pan ^
11-17-2023 Berryville, VA - Barns at Rose Hill
11-18-2023 Parkersburg, WV - Parkersburg Arts Center
12-08-2023 Oak Ridge, TN - Secret City Radio Show ^
Today, Southern rock band The Steel Woods are releasing the second single from their fourth studio album, On Your Time, The song, "Devil In This Holler" premieres today at Whiskey Riff and will be available on all streaming services tomorrow HERE. Co-founder, vocalist and guitarist Wes Bayliss shares the inspiration for the song with Whiskey Riff, saying, "it’s ultimately a song about perseverance and how the good always prevails in the long run." He shares the story behind the song with Whiskey Riff below:
"'Devil In This Holler' is one I wrote one night after playing a show deep in the hills of Kentucky where everything had gone wrong since we had gotten there. It seemed as if there was something fighting our every move and did not want the show to go on. In the end, good prevailed, our perseverance paid off, we were able to play the show and then I got a song out of it.
"I guess the message here is: the Devil won’t hinder the ones doing His work. If you feel like something keeps beating you down and making it hard to do what you know is right, let that be the fuel to press on and assurance that you’re on the right path.”
The Steel Woods have captivated audiences with their powerful sound and heartfelt lyrics over their past three albums. With On Your Time, they embark on a poignant and emotional journey loosely following the trajectory of Uncle Lloyd, a charming but dissolute character first introduced on The Woods' debut album, 2017’s Straw in the Wind. This ambitious album not only showcases their musical evolution and episodic storytelling abilities but also serves as a tribute to the vision and legacy of their late co-founder, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, who passed away just before the release of their third album, All of Your Stones. Led by Bayliss, the band's guitarist, lead vocalist and co-founder, The Steel Woods have poured their heart and soul into this album, creating a record that reflects their resilience, growth and unwavering spirit.
On Your Time finds the band back with an album that reveals calm and introspective thoughts as well delivering the gripping country and rock and roll that’s found them lauded by Rolling Stone Country, Whiskey Riff, Saving Country Music and Wide Open Country, among others. The band, who’ve shared stages with Cody Jinks, Cody Johnson and Miranda Lambert and graced festival stages nationwide, are currently on an extensive U.S. tour to support the album (scroll down for complete dates and ticket info).
TOUR DATES ON SALE HERE
Today, Southern rock band The Steel Woods are releasing "The Man From Everywhere," the third single from their fourth studio album, On Your Time, The single premiered at Holler magazine and is available on all streaming services HERE. Holler writes, "In the same way that songwriters like Tom T. Hall and John Prine seemed to be magically able to catch a story as if it was blowing in on the wind before letting it float away again, we can almost feel this “man from everywhere" just passing by as the song unfolds. All we get is a moment of time in his story before he’s gone again, but that moment tells us everything we need to know."
LISTEN TO "THE MAN FROM EVERYWHERE"
AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING SERVICES HERE
Co-founder, vocalist and guitarist Wes Bayliss shares the inspiration for the song: "It’s a song loosely based on the story of Uncle Lloyd as a prequel to the Darrell Scott song we cut on our first record, It's written from the perspective of a man who just can’t seem to get things right; hinting that his drinking and gambling addictions are the reason he’s abandoned every good thing he’s ever had going for him. When Connie and I were writing this one I started really getting excited about the record and realizing this crazy idea I had could actually be great."
The Steel Woods have captivated audiences with their powerful sound and heartfelt lyrics over their past three albums. With On Your Time, they embark on a poignant and emotional journey loosely following the trajectory of Uncle Lloyd, a charming but dissolute character first introduced on The Woods' debut album, 2017’s Straw in the Wind. This ambitious album not only showcases their musical evolution and episodic storytelling abilities but also serves as a tribute to the vision and legacy of their late co-founder, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, who passed away just before the release of their third album, All of Your Stones. Led by Bayliss, the band's guitarist, lead vocalist and co-founder, The Steel Woods have poured their heart and soul into this album, creating a record that reflects their resilience, growth and unwavering spirit.
On Your Time finds the band back with an album that reveals calm and introspective thoughts as well delivering the gripping country and rock and roll that’s found them lauded by Rolling Stone Country, Whiskey Riff, Saving Country Music and Wide Open Country, among others. The band, who’ve shared stages with Cody Jinks, Cody Johnson and Miranda Lambert and graced festival stages nationwide, are currently on an extensive U.S. tour to support the album (scroll down for complete dates and ticket info).
TOUR DATES ON SALE HERE
PRE-ORDER ON YOUR TIME HERE / ORDER FROM THE BAND HERE
TRACK LISTING:
1. The Man From Everywhere
2. Cut the Grass
3. Devil in This Holler
4. Famine Fortune
5. On Your Time
6. You Don’t Even Who Who I Am
7. Border Lord
8. Stories to Tell to Myself
9. Broken Down Dam
10. If Not for the Rain
THE STEEL WOODS ON TOUR:
9/1/23 - Beer City Hall - Oklahoma City, OK
9/2/23 - Caveman Festival - Weston, CO
9/3/23 - Moxi Theater - Greeley, CO
9/4/23 - The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT
9/14/23 - Born & Raised Festival - Pryor, OK
9/15/23 - White Oak Music - Houston, TX
9/16/23 - Studio at the Factory - Dallas, TX
9/22/23 - 191 Toole - Tucson, AZ
9/23/223 - Ramona Mainstage - Ramona, CA
9/28/23 - Ventura Music Hall - Ventura, CA
10/5/23 - Mystic Theatre - Petaluma, CA
10/6/23 - Rebels & Renegades - Monterey, CA
10/7/23 - The Parish at HOB - Anaheim, CA
10/12/23 - Luckenbach Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
10/13/23 - Cuero Turkeyfest - Cuero, TX
10/14/23 - Tipitina’s - New Orleans, LA
10/19/23 - Amos’ Southend - Charlotte, NC
10/20/23 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
10/21/23 - Hargray Capitol Theatre - Macon, GA
10/27/23 - Tooneys Music Venue - McCaysville, GA
10/28/23 - Manchester Music Hall - Lexington, KY
11/10/23 - Louisiana Grandstand - Shreveport, LA
11/11/23 - Cain’s Ballroom - Tulsa, OK
11/17/23 - Bourbon Theatre - Lincoln, NE
11/18/23 - Knuckleheads The Saloon - Kansas City, MO
12/8/23 - The Bluestone - Columbus, OH
12/9/23 - Piere's - Fort Wayne, IN
For the past 15 years, the 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of dedicated live music fans from around the world to hear original songwriters spanning multiple genres perform their songs. The beach resort towns along Scenic Highway 30A on the Gulf of Mexico feature 30 venues presenting over 180 songwriters and 280+ solo, band, and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of January 12 – 15, 2024.
30A Songwriters Festival will celebrate its 15th year with performances on the main stage at presenting partner Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach with headline performances by renowned artists JEFF TWEEDY, ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS, ROSANNE CASH and KT TUNSTALL.
The festival will also be welcoming the following first-timers to 30A: KELLY WILLIS, SHANNON WHITWORTH AND WOODY PLATT, SUNNY WAR, CHAPEL HART, JOHN MUQ, JACK BARKSDALE, THE PINK STONES, DAVID CHILDERS, MEGAN BURTT, RACHAEL KILGOUR, PETE FRANCIS, DEREK and KATELYN DRYE, MATTHEW KILLOUGH, MIKE KINNEBREW, CAITLIN CANNON and BAYLEE LITTRELL.
Returning to perform two shows each throughout the weekend are songwriting legends RODNEY CROWELL, JOHN OATES, STEVE EARLE, MATTHEW SWEET, MINDY SMITH, DRIVIN N CRYIN, AARON LEE TASJAN (WITH BAND), PARKER MILLSAP, PETER YARROW, DAVID RYAN HARRIS, SHAWN MULLINS, ROBYN HITCHCOCK, JOHN FULLBRIGHT, BLACK OPRY REVUE, VICKI PETERSON AND JOHN COWSILL, JEFFREY STEELE, DAVID LOWERY (CRACKER), EMERSON HART, THE REV. SHAWN AMOS &THE BROTHERHOOD, MARY GUTHIER, BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN, SARAH LEE GUTHRIE, WILL HOGE, CHUCK PROPHET, FLORENCE DORE, DAN BERN and ABE PARTRIDGE.
We are pleased to announce the following additional confirmed artists:
Jeff Black, Heather Maloney, Scott Miller, Grant-Lee Phillips, Garrison Starr, Gurufish, Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey, Paul McDonald, Brendan Abernathy, Charlie Mars, Dan Navarro, Mary Bragg, Eliot Bronson, Pat Byrne, Robby Hecht, The Kennedys, Joe Leathers, Michael Farren, Martha's Trouble, Darden Smith, Brian White, Karyn Williams, Diane Durrett, The Rough & Tumble, Becky Warren, The Tall Pines, Levi Lowrey, Bradley Cole Smith, Trisha Gene Brady, Meaghan Farrell, Jesse Lynn Madera, Alice Peacock, Jennifer Lynn Simpson, Sammi Accola, Chris Alvarado, Pete Francis, Kurtis John, Casey LeVasseur, and Cat Ridgeway
An Additional 100+ Artists Will Be Announced Over the Next Few Weeks—Stay Tuned
Jeff Tweedy – As the founding member and leader of the Grammy Award winning legendary American rock band Wilco, and before that the co-founder of the groundbreaking alt‐country band Uncle Tupelo, Jeff Tweedy is one of contemporary music’s most accomplished songwriters, musicians, and performers. Jeff has released three solo albums, written original songs for thirteen Wilco albums, and is the author of two New York Times’ Bestselling books. Jeff will release his third book, World Within A Song, on Nov. 7, 2023. Jeff travels all over the world performing with Wilco and on his own to sold out audiences. We are extremely fortunate to welcome Jeff Tweedy to our headline stage to celebrate our 15th year of the 30A Songwriters Festival.
Elvis Costello & the Imposters - Elvis Costello has followed his musical curiosity in a career spanning more than 40 years. An award-winning songwriter, performer, author, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Costello began his career as part of London’s pub rock scene in the early 1970s and became a seminal figure in the emerging new wave and British punk movements later in the decade. His debut album, My Aim Is True (1977) – inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2007 – was a breakout success and was followed in rapid succession by This Year’s Model (1978) and Armed Forces (1979). All three appear on Rolling Stone’s list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." He is perhaps best known for his performances with The Attractions and the Imposters. Acclaimed collaborators include Burt Bacharach, The Brodsky Quartet, Paul McCartney, and the Roots. His songs have been recorded by a number of great artists including: George Jones, Chet Baker, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison. This January, Elvis Costello and the Imposters will take to the mainstage at Grand Boulevard to dazzle the 15th Annual 30A Songwriters audience with a wide-ranging set of classic songs.
Rosanne Cash - When you read the name Rosanne Cash, chances are you think of the singer-songwriter with nearly two dozen Top 40 hits, fourteen Grammy nominations, and four Grammy Awards. If you have paid close attention, you may also think of Cash as an author, whose memoir Composed garnered praise from high-profile critics and landed on The New York Times’s bestseller list. Or you have seen her as a music community catalyst who often brings together giants of American roots music for various events. Or in documentary films, as someone with a valued voice and a first-hand experience of modern music history. If you take a step back, though, it becomes much clearer that Rosanne Cash is all these things at once. The totality of her role as an artist, a woman, and the responsible courier of a storied cultural legacy means Cash is a rare artist with many outlets. All of these point toward the same end: Her belief that art and culture are a vital, shaping force in society. Indeed, Rosanne Cash has begun with music and art since she launched her career in 1978. But that has always been just the beginning. This year, Rosanne will be performing with her longtime partner and collaborator John Leventhal and their band celebrating 30 years of music making together.
KT Tunstall - KT Tunstall burst onto the music scene with her 2004 multi-platinum debut, Eye to the Telescope, which spawned the global hits "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" and "Suddenly I See." These songs established Tunstall as a captivating, must-see performer, as well as a songwriter with a singular knack for balancing introspective folk and propulsive rock. "I feel there are two immediate, recognizable pillars of my style," she says. "I have this troubadour, acoustic guitar-driven emotional side. Then there's definitely a rocker side of me with sharper teeth." In the last few years, the Grammy-nominated Scottish Musician has expanded on these musical selves by focusing on a trilogy of records, where each album zeroes in on a single concept: soul, body and mind. The first, 2016's KIN, was the soul record; 2018 WAX was the body record, and the new NUT is the mind record.
The 30A Songwriters Festival production team transforms amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios into unique music venues with state of the art sound systems with capacities ranging from 100 to 1000 seats indoors and 6,000 outdoors.
The 30A Songwriters Festival is co-produced by Russell Carter Artist Management and the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton, and net proceeds from the Festival support the CAA's mission to advance the Arts in Walton County, Florida.
"We are thrilled to host Elvis Costello in January 2024," comments Russell Carter, President of Russell Carter Artist Management and Festival Co-Producer. "Most Artists who break commercially do so after many years of hard development work. Elvis Costello flat out burst on the international scene with his debut album My Aim is True. Seemingly out of nowhere he appeared on Saturday Night Live with a name borrowed from Presley and looks apprehended from Buddy Holly. He proceeded to rage like the British punk and pub rocker that he was. His debut record demonstrated a melodic sense on par with Lennon & McCartney and a lyrical and poetic prowess comparable to Dylan. Over several decades of album releases, Elvis has recorded amazing songs encompassing R&B, country, jazz, baroque pop, Tin Pan Alley and classical music. It is with tremendous pride that we introduce Elvis Costello, one of my very favorite artists and one of our generation's greatest songwriters, to the 30A Songwriters Festival.
"As we approach the 15th anniversary of the 30A Songwriters Festival, we want to acknowledge how fortunate we are to have hosted so many world class musicians in our small beach community," says Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County Executive Director and Co-Producer Jennifer Steele. “We gambled in 2010 that touring musicians would enjoy spending an extended weekend performing along the uniquely beautiful coast on the Gulf of Mexico, and fortunately Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Jason Isbell, Mavis Staples, John Prine, Indigo Girls, Brian Wilson, Brandi Carlile, Grace Potter and hundreds more have proved us right. Our Festival is a partnership with venues, resort communities, rental agencies and hotels along Hwy. 30A and beyond, along with important regional and national business sponsors who all benefit from the exposure to the many thousands of music lovers the Festival attracts. Most importantly, our local community benefits as 100% of the Festival's net proceeds are further invested in our mission to foster creativity and our vision of a thriving Walton County where everyone experiences the power of the Arts."
Adds Carter, "There is a direct correlation between the success of the 30A Songwriters Festival and the richness of cultural arts experiences in our communities, including an Art in Public Spaces program (murals and sculptures), The Foster Gallery that supports local artists, professional theatre, the Underwater Museum of Art, Flutterby Children's Arts Festival, and the ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival."
Festival Weekend Passes are currently available at www.30asongwritersfestival.com. VIP tickets that include premium seating and complementary gourmet food and drinks in the VIP tent on Saturday and Sunday afternoons are also available. For a full description of each ticket package including VIP mainstage and full weekend transportation packages for groups of 2 up to 12, visit www.30asongwritersfestival.com.
The 30A Songwriters Festival is presented by Grand Boulevard with additional support from Visit South Walton, the Florida Department of State Division of Arts & Culture, WaterColor Inn and Resort, and ASCAP.
About the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County
The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that fosters the inclusive and collaborative advancement of the Arts and envisions a thriving Walton County where everyone experiences the power of the Arts. As the creative core of our community for 30 years, the CAA provides accessible opportunities for all forms of art, every variety of maker, all levels of learners and art lovers. Through support for and presentation of creative and educational programs and services, the CAA strives to connect the people of Walton County to a broader view, critical exploration and answers only the Arts have the power to provide. Members of the CAA receive a 10% discount off weekend passes and admission to an exclusive performance on Wednesday, January 12th. Call (850) 622-5970 to become a member and take advantage of the discount. www.culturalartsalliance.com.
About Russell Carter Artist Management
Russell Carter Artist Management is a full-service artist management firm that has worked with national recording artists since 1990 currently including Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins, Matthew Sweet, Abe Patridge, and Sarah Lee Guthrie. Prior to forming RCAM, Russell Carter practiced entertainment law in Atlanta for ten years. He is a board member of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) in Florida. RCAM, based in the 4th Ward in Atlanta, books, promotes, and co-produces the 30A Songwriters Festival with the CAA and co-produces the Opelika Songwriters Festival in Alabama with the Sound Wall.
About Grand Boulevard
Grand Boulevard is the shop, dine, play and stay Town Center located on Northwest Florida’s Beaches. Based on the prominent mixed-use architectural model, Grand Boulevard offers a dynamic lifestyle experience with convenient access to a multitude of exclusive shopping and dining options, entertainment, professional services, corporate offices and lodging. Grand Boulevard is a Howard Group and Merchants Retail Partners property. For more information visit GrandBoulevard.com.
For the past 15 years, the 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of dedicated live music fans from around the world to hear original songwriters spanning multiple genres perform their songs. As No Depression wrote, “perhaps the best thing about the 30A Songwriters Festival (called simply ‘Songwriters’ by locals) is that it seems to recognize that some people who write great songs are quite famous, but not every great songwriter is a household name.” Dedicated to celebrating the iconic voices of our time, as well as the best in up and coming and career artists, 30A Songwriters Festival has hosted John Prine, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Leon Russell, Emmylou Harris and many more since its inception. One of the festival’s main attractions is the intimacy of the venues and the camaraderie among concertgoers and musicians, many who kick off their year with a performance at the fest. The festival is also a fundraiser for the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. As the creative core of the community for over 30 years, the Cultural Arts Alliance fosters creativity through the inclusive and collaborative advancement of the Arts, providing opportunities for residents and visitors to experience diverse forms of art and learning, connecting them to a broader view, critical exploration and answers only the Arts have the power to provide.
The beach resort towns along Scenic Highway 30A on the Gulf of Mexico feature 30 venues presenting over 180 songwriters and 280+ solo, band, and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of January 12 – 15, 2024.
Today, Jon Dee Graham is sharing the third single from his upcoming album, Only Dead For A Little While, out November 10 on New West subsidiary Strolling Bones Records. The single, "there's a ghost on the train," references an eerie trip Jon Dee took on the legendary train the "City of New Orleans," immortalized in song by Steve Goodman and made famous by Arlo Guthrie, among others. In keeping with Halloween, the song is premiering exclusively today at The Bluegrass Situation HERE and will be available on all streaming services on November 2 HERE. Along with his long-running Wednesday night residency at Austin's famed Continental Club, Jon Dee will be doing a hometown in-store at Waterloo Records in Austin on Monday, November 5 at 5 pm CST.
LISTEN TO "there's a ghost on the train" HERE/ pre-save HERE
"PRE-ORDER/ PRE-SAVE ONLY DEAD FOR A LITTLE WHILE HERE
Jon Dee shares, "SO…my old friend Charlie Hunter, who started Roots on The Rails (train adventures with live music…we’ve been to see polar bears in Churchill on the Hudson!) had made friends w the guy who found and restored "The City of New Orleans" train of Steve Goodman fame. Charlie asked if I’d play the first run from Chicago to NOLA. I was in. It’s such an old and iconic train I got to talking with one of the porters, and I said ‘I bet this train’s got a few ghosts’. He got all serious and said 'O this train is haunted as hell!’ No matter how I wheedled him he wouldn’t say anymore than that.
"So I’m playing on and off late into the night. At one point during a break I’m heading back to the baggage car to have a smoke and as I’m approaching one of the doors between cars, I see a hazy figure on the other side and I get all gooseflesh and it keeps coming and I think ‘Sweet Jesus! I’m seeing a ghost on the City of New Orleans!’ When I reached the door, I realized that I was SEEING MY OWN REFLECTION in the door’s window. Relieved but disappointed, I pushed on through to the baggage car. When I entered the dark baggage car, I caught a brief glimpse of 3 or 4 guys sitting in the back and then it was gone…another trick of the light.
"Next day Charlie said, 'Were they PLAYING CARDS? Penny a point, ain’t no one keeping score??' SO, pretty sure I saw the ghost of Steve Goodman on The City of New Orleans.”
Only Dead For A Little While, his first new album in seven years, brings Jon Dee back to the New West family, where the three albums he released after the turn of the century helped launch him as a solo artist. The 5th generation Texan's artistry and accomplishments are well-known throughout his home state and the music community beyond, as a seminal figure in Texas punk and Americana (The Skunks and True Believers), as a hotshot guitarist for other artists (Alejandro Escovedo, John Doe, etc), as an explosive performer whose club sets leave no prisoners, and as a singer-songwriter whose range extends from a whisper to a howl. As a guitarist, he’s been tapped by Alejandro Escovedo (True Believers!), John Hiatt, The Knitters, John Doe, James McMurtry, Eliza Gilkyson, Lone Justice, Patty Griffin and many more.
It's a collection of songs an artist makes when he has nothing left to prove, nothing to lose, nothing to hide. Think of Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind, but sharpen the blade and crank the volume. You might even think of Frank Sinatra’s September of My Years, though Jon Dee Graham is a very different sort of saloon singer. There’s a certain darkness, bittersweet, whenever you stare mortality in the face. And especially when that face is the one you see in the mirror. But there’s also the richness of being alive and in love and open to it all. And that’s where the magic lies.
The result is a full-force triumph that reflects the seismic challenges we’ve been through—the pandemic or all of us, financial and medical and psychological issues for some of us, a return from the dead for it least one of us—and reassures that everything will somehow work out.
FOLLOW JON DEE GRAHAM
instagram
facebook
strolling bones
JON DEE TOUR DATES:
MON, Nov 6 Waterloo Records in-store - Austin, TX, 5 pm CST
SAT, Nov 25 Fitzgeralds - Berwyn IL
SUN, Nov 26 Kiki’s House of Righteous Music - Madison WI
THU, Dec 7 The Post - Fort Worth TX
SAT Dec 9 The Blue Door - Oklahoma City
SAT Feb 3 Bugle Boy - La Grange TX
The Amy Ray Band (of Indigo Girls) is joining songwriter Dar Williams for a string of West Coast tour dates this January. The tour will kick off on January 15 in Santa Barbara and wrap up in Seattle on January 25; scroll down for routing and venues.
Ray's most recent solo album, If It All Goes South, features a stunning collection of songs dealing with Ray's conflicted relationship with her beloved South. The album reached the Americana radio album chart Top 10 and found Amy and her band making their Grand Ole Opry debut.
Renowned folk/pop singer-songwriter, writer and teacher Williams first came to prominence in the vibrant mid-90’s Boston music scene, inspired by the eclectic influences of alt-rockers, Berklee jazz musicians, slam poets, and folk artists, like Patty Griffith, Melissa Ferrick, the Throwing Muses, Vance Gilbert, and Jonatha Brooke. Her latest album, I'll Meet You Here, was praised by No Depression for its "encouragement and resilience."
Williams is looking forward to sharing the stage with the Amy Ray Band, saying, "I’ve always loved Amy for the same reason everyone loves her. So smart, so funny, so committed to all the things I care about, too. I got to see the Amy Ray Band at the River Roads festival in September, and I was amazed at how familiar, but also wholly new, her voice was in this sterling lineup.
"I look forward to wherever this tour takes us, on the stage and on the road!"
Ray agrees, adding, "We are super excited to play the West Coast with Dar Williams and appreciate her sharing the stages! I have been a Dar fan for a long time, I love her songwriting and have always taken note of her astute analysis of our musical eco-system. Indigo Girls have been walking the same roads with Dar for years, so this feels very familial yet totally brand new, because this will be the first time for the Amy Ray Band to play most of these venues, which I will add, are some of my favorites music establishments in this country.
"Amy Ray Band has been together for over a decade but we rarely get the opportunity to do a full tour of the West Coast. For us, it’s long overdue, and the band considers it a highlight of the year."
The group will continue on to the Southwest for their first shows since the release of If It All Goes South. Ray says, "We have a special place in our hearts for Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. I just hiked the 21-mile South Rim to North Rim Grand Canyon hike. I did it in 18 hours…pretty slow, but all in one go, 6 am -12 midnight. Six other women led the way, including my sister. So Arizona is def a bright spot for me, cause now I get to return to one of the most stunning places on earth.
"Fort Collins has welcomed us with open arms and become a new favorite spot for Indigos as well.
Santa Fe has been in our routing for a few tours, and is always one of our wildest shows-so much good energy in that place.
Dar Williams and Amy Ray Band on Tour:
Mon, January 15 Santa Barbara, CA - Marjorie Luke Theatre
Tue, January 16 West Hollywood, CA, - Troubadour
Thu, January 18 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Fri, January 19 Grass Valley, CA - Center for the Arts
Sat, January 20 Grants Pass, OR - Rogue Theater
Sun, January 21 Eugene, OR - MacDonald Theater
Tue, January 23 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
Wed, January 24 Olympia, WA - Capital Theater
Thu, January 25 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theater
The High Hawks, an all-star cast of musical friends from Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Hard Working Americans, and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, are following up their acclaimed eponymous debut with Mother Nature’s Show, out February 16 on LoHi Records. The band is premiering the first single “Diamond Sky,” today at Jambase; the song will be on all streaming services this Friday; pre-save HERE.
Songwriter Adam Greuel shared the inspiration behind the song: “Diamond Sky kind of reflects on the many experiences of good lovin' energy. To me, it's kind of a musing on the way that true love changes over time, taking different shapes, sort of similar to the changing seasons we experience yearly. I really have no damn clue, but I love thinking about it, and love sure is lovely."
Mother Nature's Show was recorded during the dead of winter at historic Pachyderm Studios in the small town of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, just 20 miles west of the banks of the Mississippi and Highway 61. The sextet of roots music veterans arrived at Pachyderm on New Year’s Day 2023, a Sunday, and recorded the 12 tracks included on the record over the course of the first week of the year while a blizzard raged outside the studio.
“There was a certain coziness to it,” says Keyboardist-vocalist Chad Staehly. “We were out in the woods, it was dumping snow, and it was just the work in front of us. It was like, ‘All right, this is a new chapter. It’s New Year's Day and we're gathering together to make a record.’ There was something really cool about all that.”
Vince Herman is best known as one of the two frontmen for Leftover Salmon and many people know Staehly from the jam band supergroup Hard Working Americans, but it’s the group they co-founded — Great American Taxi — that connects all the members of The High Hawks in one way or another. Bassist Brian Adams and drummer Will Trask were both members of Taxi, while vocalist-fiddler-guitarist Tim Carbone, best known as a member of Railroad Earth, produced two of GAT’s albums. In addition, vocalist-guitarist Adam Greuel of Horseshoes & Hand Grenades was influenced by Taxi in his teenage years and even played a few gigs with the group.
With four singer-songwriters — Carbone, Greuel, Herman and Staehly — there was no shortage of material to choose from. They shared demo tapes with one another in the months leading up to the sessions and arrived at Pachyderm with more than enough songs for the record. The song sequence takes the listener down Highway 61, the oft-called “Blues Highway” immortalized by Bob Dylan, that follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans, passing through St. Louis, Memphis and the Mississippi delta.
As fans have come to expect, there’s a variety of musical stylings represented — from Southern, country and psychedelic rock to honky-tonk and even a ballad and a waltz — with The High Hawks’ sonic cohesiveness claiming each style as their own. What you hear are six superb musicians in the Pachyderm tracking room, looking at one another, reacting in real time to what is being played and capturing the kind of musical magic that eludes recording artists who build their records part by part. The band’s performances throughout the record are top-notch, and there’s very little overdubbing.
When asked about the authenticity of The High Hawks’ new album, Herman assures with a laugh, “AI had no part in the making of this record.”
Pre-order CD/vinyl editions of the album via the LoHi store — all physical pre-orders (CD/vinyl) will be automatically entered for a chance to win win an Epiphone acoustic guitar autographed by the band.
TRACK LISTING:
1. Diamond Sky
2. Somewhere South
3. Temperature Is Rising
4. Fox River Blues
5. Mother Nature’s Show
6. Top Shelf, Rock Bottom
7. Radio Loud
8. Somewhere In Themiddle
9. Same Old Stories
10. This Is What Love Feels Like
11. Backwater Voodoo
12. Shine Your Blues
Indigo Girls and Amos Lee are teaming up for a string of major North American amphitheater dates in September 2024; tickets go on sale this week. The tour kicks off September 15 at the world-renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO and moves west from there with notable stops at Los Angeles’ Greek Theater, the Santa Barbara Bowl, and Oregon’s Edgefield Amphitheater. The artists will rotate who performs the closing set each night depending on the market. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, December 15 at 10 am local time—artist pre-sales begin Wednesday, December 13 at 10 am local time. Local and venue pre-sales will run December 14 at 10am. See below for the complete schedule (more dates TBA).
The September amphitheater dates are a natural continuation of the momentum both Amos Lee and Indigo Girls are carrying into the new year.
Released this November, Amos Lee’s new album, Honeysuckle Switches: The Songs of Lucinda Williams, pays deep homage to his “songwriting hero.” The success of 2022’s Dreamland brought Lee to national television audiences on Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Rachael Ray and The Late Late Show with James Corden and spawned a long, successful year of touring. Recording Honeysuckle Switches was both a grounding and healing experience. The lead single “Greenville,” is Lee’s take on the classic Williams/Emmylou Harris collaboration from her 1998 masterpiece Car Wheels On A Gravel Road. Listen here.
Indigo Girls began 2023 with a performance on NPR Tiny Desk followed by a direct flight to the Sundance Film Festival where their career-spanning documentary, It’s Only Life After All, premiered in the coveted opening night slot to rave reviews and a standing ovation. The film has screened at major festivals across the globe, including Tribeca Festival, SXSW, and Toronto’s Hot Docs. Indigo Girls’ music takes center stage in another upcoming film, the jukebox musical romance Glitter & Doom. Directed by Tom Gustafson (Were the World Mine, Frameline32), Glitter & Doom boasts a star-studded queer supporting cast featuring Lea DeLaria, Tig Notaro, Kate Pierson of The B-52s, RuPaul's Drag Race alum Peppermint, and even a cameo from the Indigo Girls themselves. Both Glitter & Doom and It’s Only Life After All will be released to general audiences in 2024. The prominent featuring of Indigo Girls’ signature hit “Closer to Fine” in Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster film Barbie prompted a surge of renewed interest and press around Indigo Girls’ music including interviews by NPR's All Things Considered, the New York Times, Variety, and more. The attention brought the folk icons' music to millions of new listeners, triggering percentage leaps in the band’s streaming numbers and new fans to their first Indigo Girls concert ever.
The pairing of Amos Lee and Indigo Girls offers music lovers an exceptional opportunity to spend a night immersed in world-class singing and songwriting.
Amos Lee + Indigo Girls Tour Dates
September 15 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO (Amos Lee to close)
September 19 - The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park – San Diego, CA (Amos Lee to close)
September 21 - Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA (Indigo Girls to close)
September 23 - The Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA (Amos Lee to close)
September 24 - The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, CA (Amos Lee to close), on sale TBC
September 25 - The Masonic – San Francisco, CA (Indigo Girls to close)
September 27 - Edgefield Amphitheater – Troutdale, OR (Amos Lee to close)
The High Hawks, an all-star cast of musical friends from Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Hard Working Americans, and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, have premiered a new video for their single "Somewhere South" today at Live For Live Music; it's a timely track that finds the band fantasizing about escaping the snow and bitter cold for sun and fun on a tropical beach. The single, the second from their sophomore release Mother Nature's Show, out February 16 on LoHi Records, will be available this Friday, January 12 on all streaming services HERE. In addition, the High Hawks are adding to their Midwest and Greensky Bluegrass dates with a West Coast tour this May; tickets will go on sale this Friday, January 12 HERE.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "SOMEWHERE SOUTH" HERE
LISTEN/DOWNLOAD THE SINGLE HERE/ PRE-ORDER HERE
The High Hawks features Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon), Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth), Chad Staehly (Great American Taxi), Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades), Brian Adams (DeadPhish Orchestra), and Will Trask (Great American Taxi), all bring decades of recording and touring history to the project which they recorded during a snowy January at Minnesota's famed Pachyderm Studios. The song sequence — a musical travelogue — takes the listener down Highway 61, the oft-called “Blues Highway” immortalized by Bob Dylan, that follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans, passing through St. Louis, Memphis and the Mississippi delta.
The video for "Somewhere South" was shot by Tim Carbone and finds Herman shoveling snow up in Girdwood, AK (shot when the band was playing the Alyeska Resort late last year) as he dreams of a tropical getaway, cutting to footage of Herman and Carbone enjoying beach life down in Puerto Morales, Mexico where they played the Strings & Sol Festival.
The song's co-writer, Herman, shares: "Somewhere South’ was captured by Aaron Ratiere, Ben Chapman, and I sitting on a Nashville porch on a fine summer day. Thinking about beaches and escaping that high country cold when you need to. Who can argue with that?!?”
The rest of of the songs on Mother Nature's show represent a variety of musical stylings — from Southern, country and psychedelic rock to honky-tonk and even a ballad and a waltz — with The High Hawks’ sonic cohesiveness claiming each style as their own.
Pre-order CD/vinyl editions of the album via the LoHi store — all physical pre-orders (CD/vinyl) will be automatically entered for a chance to win win an Epiphone acoustic guitar autographed by the band: https://www.lohirecords.com/shop/the-high-hawks-mother-natures-show
TOUR DATES:
* shows with Greensky Bluegrass
THU, Feb. 15 – Frisco, CO – 10 Mile Music Hall w/ Chris Thompson & Friends
FRI, Feb. 16 – Denver, CO – Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
SAT, Feb. 17 – Boulder, CO – eTown Music Hall
SUN, Feb. 18 – Ft. Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre w/ Wood Belly
THU, Feb. 29 – West Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom *
FRI, Mar. 1 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre *
SAT, Mar. 2 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed *
SUN, Mar. 3 — Madison, WI – The Sylvee *
TUE, May 7 — Portland, OR — Polaris Hall
WED, May 8 — Bend, OR — Domino Room
THU, May 9 — TBA
FRI, May 10 — Novato, CA — HopMonk
SAT, May 11 — Auburn, CA — Odd Fellow’s Lodge
SUN, May 12— Santa Cruz, CA — Moe’s Alley
Grammy-winning folk icons Indigo Girls will join Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter/rocker Melissa Etheridge for a run of co-billed shows this August. The tour kicks off at Ravinia at Highland Park, IL and will include select Midwest and Northeast dates (see below), followed by their co-billed West Coast tour with Amos Lee. Pre-sale tickets for Indigo Girls' fans go on sale this Wednesday, January 17 @ 10 a.m. local with tickets on sale to the public on Friday, January 19 at 10 a.m. local; all tickets are available at indigogirls.com
2024 will see the official release of the Indigo Girls' acclaimed film documentary, It’s Only Life After All. The film has screened at major festivals across the globe, including Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Festival, SXSW, and Toronto’s Hot Docs. Details to be announced soon.
The Indigo Girls’ music takes center stage in another upcoming film, the jukebox musical romance Glitter & Doom. Directed by Tom Gustafson (Were the World Mine, Frameline32), Glitter & Doom boasts a star-studded queer supporting cast featuring Lea DeLaria, Tig Notaro, Kate Pierson of The B-52s, RuPaul's Drag Race alum Peppermint, and even a cameo from the Indigo Girls themselves. The film was recently purchased by Music Box Films who have announced a March 8, 2024, theatrical release in NYC and L.A. followed by a nationwide theatrical rollout and a VOD release.
Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Melissa Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. On September 17, 2021, Melissa released her most recent studio project, titled One Way Out. Etheridge also released her memoir Talking to My Angels (HarperCollins), which debuted at #9 on the New York Times Bestseller list.
The pairing of Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls offers music lovers an exceptional opportunity to spend a night immersed in world-class singing and songwriting.
Indigo Girls + Melissa Etheridge Co-billed Tour Dates *
8/11/2024 Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival *Tickets for select date will be available beginning Wednesday, April 24th.
8/13/2024 St. Louis, MO - Saint Louis Music Park
8/14/2024 Indianapolis, IN - Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
8/16/2024 Chautauqua, NY - The Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
8/17/2024 Boston, MA Leader Bank Pavilion
8/18/2024 Sidney, ME - Snow Pond Center for the Arts - The Bowl in the Pines
8/21/2024 Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
8/22/2024 Philadelphia, PA - TD Pavilion at The Mann
8/25/2024 Washington, DC - Wolf Trap *Tickets for select date will be available beginning Friday, February 16th.
Amos Lee + Indigo Girls Tour Dates
9/15/24 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO (Amos Lee to close)
9/19/24 The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park – San Diego, CA (Amos Lee to close)
9/21/24 Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA (Indigo Girls to close)
9/23/24 The Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA (Amos Lee to close)
9/24/24 The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, CA (Amos Lee to close), on sale TBC
The High Hawks have premiered a new lyric video for their timely song "Temperature Is Rising." Americana Highways premiered the video, writing that the song's "swaggery roots rock launches this probe into the confusion and conflict that we experience with the uncontrolled experiment we all live within – social media." As we dive head first into another presidential election year, the song and video hit home ahead of the anticipated division tearing at the social fabric of this country. The song appears on their upcoming sophomore album, Mother Nature's Show, out February 16, 2024 on LoHi Records.
The song's co-writer, Tim Carbone, shares: "Social media has turned into a poison and it’s played a large part in the disconnect and dissonance in our society. 'Temperature Is Rising' tries to chronicle and address that."
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "TEMPERATURE IS RISING" HERE
PRE-SAVE THE ALBUM HERE
The High Hawks features Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon), Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth), Chad Staehly (Great American Taxi), Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades), Brian Adams (DeadPhish Orchestra), and Will Trask (Great American Taxi), all bring decades of recording and touring history to the project which they recorded during a snowy January at Minnesota's famed Pachyderm Studios. The song sequence — a musical travelogue — takes the listener down Highway 61, the oft-called “Blues Highway” immortalized by Bob Dylan, that follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans, passing through St. Louis, Memphis and the Mississippi delta.
The rest of of the songs on Mother Nature's show represent a variety of musical stylings — from Southern, country and psychedelic rock to honky-tonk and even a ballad and a waltz — with The High Hawks’ sonic cohesiveness claiming each style as their own.
Pre-order CD/vinyl editions of the album via the LoHi store — all physical pre-orders (CD/vinyl) will be automatically entered for a chance to win win an Epiphone acoustic guitar autographed by the band: https://www.lohirecords.com/shop/the-high-hawks-mother-natures-show/
TOUR DATES:
THU, Feb. 15 – Frisco, CO – 10 Mile Music Hall +
FRI, Feb. 16 – Denver, CO – Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
SAT, Feb. 17 – Boulder, CO – eTown Music Hall
SUN, Feb. 18 – Ft. Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre^
THU, Feb. 29 – West Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom *
FRI, Mar. 1 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre *
SAT, Mar. 2 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed *
SUN, Mar. 3 — Madison, WI – The Sylvee *
TUE, May 7 — Portland, OR — Polaris Hall
WED, May 8 — Bend, OR — Domino Room
THU, May 9 — TBA
FRI, May 10 — Novato, CA — HopMonk%
SAT, May 11 — Auburn, CA — Odd Fellows Lodge@
SUN, May 12 — Santa Cruz, CA — Moe’s Alley
THUR, June 27 - Blue Ox Music Festival - Eau Claire, WI
+ - w/ Chris Thompson and Friends
^ - w/ Wood Belly
* - supporting Greensky Bluegrass
% - w/ Jason Beard and the Whiskey Family Band
@ - w/ Broken Compass Bluegrass
The High Hawks, an all-star cast of musical friends, release their acclaimed sophomore album, Mother Nature's Show, today on LoHi Records. The six-piece features Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon), Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth), Chad Staehly (Great American Taxi), Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades), Brian Adams (DeadPhish Orchestra), and Will Trask (Great American Taxi), who all bring decades of recording and touring history to the project. Their single, "Somewhere South," is currently in the Americana Radio single chart's Top 20; you can watch the band's snowbird video HERE.
Mother Nature's Show was recorded during a snowy January at Minnesota's famed Pachyderm Studios. The song sequence — a musical travelogue — takes the listener down Highway 61, the oft-called “Blues Highway” immortalized by Bob Dylan, that follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans, passing through St. Louis, Memphis and the Mississippi delta. The songs on Mother Nature's show represent a variety of musical stylings — from Southern, country and psychedelic rock to honky-tonk and even a ballad and a waltz — with The High Hawks’ sonic cohesiveness claiming each style as their own.
Stream/purchase the album HERE
Order CD/vinyl editions of the album via the LoHi store HERE
TOUR DATES:
* shows with Greensky Bluegrass
FRI, Feb. 16 – Denver, CO – Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
SAT, Feb. 17 – Boulder, CO – eTown Music Hall
SUN, Feb. 18 – Ft. Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre w/ Wood Belly
THU, Feb. 29 – West Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom *
FRI, Mar. 1 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre *
SAT, Mar. 2 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed *
SUN, Mar. 3 — Madison, WI – The Sylvee *
WED., Apr. 3 — Peoria, IL — Kenny’s Westside
THU, Apr. 4 — Iowa City, IA — Wildwood Saloon
FRI, Apr. 5 — Wausau, WI — Whitewater Music Hall
TUE, May 7 — Portland, OR — Polaris Hall
WED, May 8 — Bend, OR — Domino Room
THU, May 9 — TBA
FRI, May 10 — Novato, CA — HopMonk
SAT, May 11 — Auburn, CA — Odd Fellow’s Lodge
SUN, May 12— Santa Cruz, CA — Moe’s Alley
Folk blues legend Chris Smither is back with a new single, "Down In Thibodaux," out today on all streaming services HERE. It's the first track from his 20th album, All About The Bones, out May 3 on Signature Sounds. Recorded at Sonelab Studios in Easthampton MA by Justin Pizzoferrato (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., the Hold Steady) All About the Bones has a feel that is somehow baroque and austere at once. Smither premiered a new performance video for "Down In Thibodaux" with American Blues Scene, who write, "With his signature beat-driven finger-picking and playful vocal wisdom, Smither and company let the good times roll on this bayou blues, this Cajun dance party exalting his New Orleans beginnings." The video features longtime producer David Goodrich on diddley bow and Austin artist BettySoo on vocals.
Smither shares, "When I was a kid my next door neighbor was a man named Boudreaux from Thibodaux, LA. I made up the rest of the story as a chance to use a few French terms and throw out some cultural references from Cajun country.
"The rhythm has a sort of Cajun feel to it, and Goody playing the diddley bow adds a perfect homemade touch to what is really just a home-made song in the nicest sense. Zak (Trojano) would fit in with any band at a fais do-do, and BettySoo can sing with any one, while showing my favorite smile."
STREAM/PURCHASE "DOWN IN THIBODAUX" HERE
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
PRE-SAVE PRE-ORDER ALL ABOUT THE BONES HERE
The sound and imagery All About the Bones is as elemental as the inky black shadows cast by a shockingly bright moon. The listener is welcomed into some gothic mansion on an imaginary New Orleans street, and there in the lamplit parlor confronts the band, a minimalist skeleton crew: Smither’s inimitable propulsive guitar and rumbling baritone are joined seamlessly to producer Goodrich’s carpetbag of instruments, Zak Trojano’s rock-steady, primal drumming, BettySoo’s diaphanous harmony vocals, and the flat, mournful flood of Jazz legend Chris Cheek’s saxophone. Smither and David Goodrich have been refining their musical conversation for decades, both in the studio and onstage, and by now, their bond verges on the telepathic. Goodrich plays on nearly every track. His sound is by now so translucent that it seems to function as a swath of silence, allowing the songs to burn like ciphers in the crackling air.
And oh, the songs on All About the Bones. Smither, after six decades of sharpening his knife as a songwriter, can at this point open damn near anything with a flick of his wrist. God and the Devil are opened here. Mortality is too. Politics, consciousness, renewal, family, vulnerability, surrender… Smither has sat with these topics like so many Zen koans, for so long, that every line is a pearl. The title track, “All About the Bones,” kicks the record off with “Consider your high station/ think about your fame. All of your creation depended on your frame.” Irony, wit, the double meaning of “depended” — each verse is a master class in songwriting.
Smither turns 80 this year, but his tour schedule, including dates at the Iridium in New York City, Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock and two nights at McCabe's in Los Angeles, shows he has no intention of slowing down. (Scroll down for complete dates.)
TRACK LISTING:
1) All About the Bones
2) Digging the Hole
3) Still Believe in You
4) If Not for the Devil
5) Calm Before the Storm
6) Down in Thibodaux
7) In the Bardo
8) Close the Deal
9) Completion
10) Time to Move On
TOUR DATES:
# with special guest Peter Mulvey
% with special guest BettySoo
SA MAR 23 Eastham, MA - First Encounter Coffeehouse
SA MAR 30 Charleston, WV - Clay Center’s Walker Theater/Woody Hawley Concerts
FR APR 12 Elkton, MD - Elkton Mic Hall
SA APR 13 Blairstown, NJ - Roy’s Hall
SU APR 14 Tuckerton, NJ - Lizzie Rose
TH APR 18 Concord, NH - Capitol Center for the Arts (Cloudbelly opens)
FR APR 19 Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center
SA APR 20 Brunswick, ME - Concerts for a Cae
WE MAY 01 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Mic Hall
TH MAY 02 Nashville, TN - Bluebird Cafe
SA MAY 04 Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic
FR MAY 17 Fall River, MA - Narrows Ctr for Arts #
SA MAY 18 Boston, MA - City Winery Boston #
SU MAY 19 Portsmouth, NH - 3S Artspace #
SA MAY 25 Pomeroy, OH Fur Peace Ranch #
WE MAY 29 Washington, DC - The Hamilton #
TH MAY 30 Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live #
FR MAY 31 Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios #
SA JUN 01 Northampton, MA - Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity #
TH JUN 06 Annapolis, MD - Ram’s Head On Stage #
FR JUN 07 New York City, NY - Iridium #
TH JUN 20 Madison, WI - The Bur Oak %
FR-SA, JUN 22 - 23 Effingham, IL - Moccasin Creek Festival
FR JUN 21 Evanston, IL - SPACE %
TH JUL 11 Berkeley CA - Freight and Salvage
FR JUL 12 Santa Monica , CA - McCabe’s
SA JUL 13 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe’s
WE JUL 17 Eugene, OR - Shedd Institute
TH JUL 18 Portland, OR - Alberta Rose Theatre
TUE JUL 23 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
Americana supergroup The High Hawks, who just wrapped up a run of tour dates with Greensky Bluegrass, continue to tour for their acclaimed sophomore album, Mother Nature's Show. The album continues to rise on the Americana Radio album chart, where it's currently at #11, while the album is now at #1 on the Jamband radio chart. Along with a sold-out Chicago show at the Salt Shed, the two bands ended their run in Madison, WI with a special treat for fans, all joining onstage to perform two John Hartford songs, “Steam Powered Aereoplane” and “Up On The Hill Where They Do the Boogie.”
This is the second release for the group and has been acclaimed by the press and fans. Mother Nature's Show was recorded during a snowy January at Minnesota's famed Pachyderm Studios and it's no wonder adjectives like "cosy" and "warm" keep popping up in the reviews. The song sequence — a musical travelogue — takes the listener down Highway 61, the oft-called “Blues Highway” immortalized by Bob Dylan, that follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans, passing through St. Louis, Memphis and the Mississippi delta.
The songs on Mother Nature's Show represent a variety of musical stylings — from Southern, country and psychedelic rock to honky-tonk and even a ballad and a waltz — with The High Hawks’ sonic cohesiveness claiming each style as their own.
Stream/purchase the album HERE
Order CD/vinyl editions of the album via the LoHi store HERE
TOUR DATES:
Thur. Feb. 29 - Val Air Ballroom - West Des Moines, IA*
Fri. Mar. 1 - Palace Theatre - St. Paul, MN*
Sat. Mar. 2 - The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL*
Sun. Mar. 3 - The Sylvee - Madison, WI*
Wed. Apr. 3 - Kenny's Westside - Peoria, IL
Thur. Apr. 4 - Wildwood Saloon - Iowa City, IA
Fri. Apr. 5 - Whitewater Music Hall - Wausau, WI
Tue. May 7 - Polaris Music Hall - Portland, OR
Wed. May 8 - The Domino Room - Bend, OR Thu. May 9 - Ashland, OR - The Armory
Fri. May 10 - HopMonk - Novato, CA&
Sat. May 11 - OddFellows Lodge - Auburn, CA+
Sun May 12 - Moe's Alley - Santa Cruz, CA
* - supporting Greensky Bluegrass
& - with Jason Beard & The Whiskey Family Band
+ - with Broken Compass Bluegrass
While 2023 saw Grammy-winning duo Indigo Girls' iconic song "Closer to Fine" used prominently in Greta Gerwig's hit film Barbie, 2024 finds the Indigo Girls and their music in two films as well as playing their biggest tour venues in 25 years on co-billed tours with Amos Lee and Melissa Etheridge. The folk icons were guests this morning on both Morning Joe and The Today Show performing their new single from the film Glitter & Doom, "What We Wanna Be."
Today sees the release of the full trailer for Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All, the acclaimed documentary feature by Alexandria Bombach. The film has screened at major festivals across the globe in 2023, including Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Festival, SXSW, and Toronto’s Hot Docs and will finally see its theatrical release through distributor O-Scope Labs. The theatrical release will kick off on March 29 with a special screening in the Indigo Girls' hometown of Atlanta at Atlanta’s Tara Theater, followed by a Q &A and live performance. For everyone not in Atlanta, the film plays nationwide for special one-night-only screenings on April 10th! Scroll down for theaters and tour markets. The film will also be available through VOD on May 7, followed by a a wide release on streaming services later this year.
Find tickets & learn more at indigogirls.oscilloscope.net/#theaters
The Indigo Girls’ music takes center stage in another new film, the jukebox musical romance Glitter & Doom, out now. Directed by Tom Gustafson (Were the World Mine, Frameline32), Glitter & Doom boasts a star-studded queer supporting cast featuring Lea DeLaria, Tig Notaro, Kate Pierson of The B-52s, RuPaul's Drag Race alum Peppermint, and even a cameo from the Indigo Girls themselves. The film Music Box Films released the film in NYC and L.A. March 8 and the Girls performed their new single from the film, "What We Wanna Be," this morning on the Today Show. Look for a nationwide theatrical rollout and a VOD release. The film soundtrack is now available through the PS Classics record label streaming and digitally HERE.
More on Glitter & Doom at https://www.musicboxfilms.com/film/glitter-doom/
Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All theatrical screenings:
3/29 AFS Tara - Atlanta, GA
4/10 Vidiots - Los Angeles, CA
4/10 IFC Center - New York, NY
4/10 Music Hall - Portsmouth, NH
4/10 Hi-Pointe - St. Louis, MO
4/10 Ft. Wayne Cinema Center - Ft. Wayne, IN
4/10 Rialto Elmwood - Berkeley, CA
4/10 Rialto Sebastopol - Sebastopol, CA
4/10 Rafael Film Center - San Rafael, CA
4/10 The Roxie - San Francisco, CA
4/10 Cinema Arts Center - Huntington, NY
4/10 The Nightlight - Akron, OH
4/10 Lake Worth Playhouse - Lake Worth, FL
4/10 Rio Theatre - Vancouver, BC
4/10 SIFF Egyptian - Seattle, WA
4/10 Aperture - Winston-Salem, NC
4/10 Gateway Film Center - Columbus, OH
4/10 Frida Cinema - Irvine, CA
4/10 Darkside Cinema - Corvallis, OR
4/10 Grail Moviehouse - Asheville, NC
4/10 SPACE Gallery - Portland, ME
4/10 Enzian - Orlando, FL
4/10 Sun-Ray Cinema - Jacksonville, FL
4/10 Charlestowne 18 - St. Charles, IL
4/10 Cinema 21 - Portland, OR
4/10 Harris Theater - Pittsburgh, PA
4/10 Downtown West Cinema 8 - Knoxville, TN
4/10 Medlock Crossing 18 & RPX - Johns Creek, GA
4/10 Regal Mall of Georgia IMAX - Buford, GA
4/10 McDonough 16 - McDonough, GA
4/10 Rancho Mirage 16 & IMAX - Rancho Mirage, CA
4/10 City North 14 IMAX & RPX - Chicago, IL
4/10 Crocker Park 16 & IMAX - Westlake
4/10 Stonefield 14 & IMAX - Charlottesville, VA
4/10 Kiln Creek 20 - Newport News, VA
4/10 Short Pump 14 & IMAX - Richmond, VA
4/10 REG King of Prussia 4DX & IMAX - King Of Prussia, PA
4/10 Warrington 22 & IMAX - Warrington, PA
4/10 Red Rock 16 & IMAX - Las Vegas, NV
4/10 Hamilton Place 8 - Chattanooga, TN
4/10 Hacienda 20 IMAX & RPX - Dublin, CA
4/10 Farmingdale 10 & IMAX - Farmingdale, MA
4/10 Long Beach 26 & IMAX - Long Beach, CA
4/10 Mira Mesa 18 & IMAX & RPX - San Diego, CA
4/11 Michigan Theatre - Ann Arbor, MI
4/11 Screenland Armour - Kansas City, MO
4/11 Moxie - Springfield, MO
4/12 Broadway Metro - Eugene, OR
4/12 Boedecker Theater - Boulder, CO
4/12 Austin Film Society - Austin, TX
4/14 The Little - Rochester, NY
4/15 Belcourt - Nashville, TN
4/16 Grand Cinema - Tacoma, WA
4/16 Buskirk-Chumley Theater - Bloomington, IN
5/2 ACME Screening Room - Lambertville, NJ
6/7 6/9 Hot Docs Festival - Toronto, ON
Indigo Girls On Tour
3/21 Athens OH - Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium - symphony show
3/23 Providence RI, Performing Arts Center - symphony show
3/26 Minneapolis MN, Orchestra Hall - symphony show
3/28 New York, NY David Geffen Hall - Music & conversation with NPR's Ann Powers
4/11 Rocky Mount VA, Harvester Performance Center
4/12 Boone, NC, Schaefer Center for Performing Arts
4/14 Paducah, KY, The Carson Center
4/16 La Vista, NE, The Astro
4/17 Iowa City, IA, Englert Civic Theatre
4/18 Iowa City, IA, Englert Civic Theatre
4/20 Milwaukee WI, Bradley Symphony Center - Symphony show
4/26 Davidson NC, Davidson College Stadium
4/28 Atlanta GA, Fox Theatre benefit w/Charlie Starr & Benji Shanks of Blackberry Smoke, Kevn Kinney hosting
4/29 Decatur AL, Princes Theatre
5/1 Tallahassee FL, Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
5/3 Clearwater FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall
5/4 Orlando FL, The Plaza Live
5/5 Coral Springs FL, Center for the Arts
5/7 Fort Myers FL, Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
5/11 Tysons VA, Capital One Center - symphony show
Indigo Girls + Melissa Etheridge Co-Headline Tour
8/11 Highland Park IL - Ravinia
8/13 St. Louis MO, St. Louis Music Park
8/14 Indianapolis IN - Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
8/16 Chautauqua NY - Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
8/17 Boston MA - Leader Bank Pavilion
8/18 Sidney ME - Snow Pond Center for Arts
8/20 Brooklyn NY - Kings Theatre
8/21 Bethel NY - Bethel Woods Center for Arts
8/22 Philadelphia PA - TD Pavilion at the Mann
8/24 Vienna VA - Wolf Trap
8/25 Vienna VA - Wolf Trap
8/27 Selbyville DE - Freeman Arts Pavilion
8/30 Lenox MA - Tanglewood w/Judy Collins and Rufus Wainwright
Indigo Girls + Amos Lee Co-Headline Tour
9/14 Dillon CO, Dillon Ampitheatre
9/15 Morrison CO, Red Rocks Ampitheatre
9/19 San Diego, CA - The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
9/21 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
9/23 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
9/24 Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery
9/25 San Francisco, CA - The Masonic
9/27 Troutdale, OR - McMenamins Edgefield
Wanderer is the long-awaited new solo album from Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth Moody, founding and current member of Billboard-charting and JUNO-award winning folk trio, The Wailin’ Jennys. Open-tuned guitars (inspired by Moody’s heroes, Joni Mitchell and Laura Marling), provide the backdrop for soaring pedal steel and the otherworldly vocals and the intricate harmonies we've come to expect from Moody. Recorded at Sound Emporium in Nashville, the self-penned 10-song album was co-produced by Moody and Dan Knobler (Allison Russell, Lake Street Dive) and mixed by Tucker Martine (Madison Cunningham, First Aid Kit) and will be released May 17 on Moody's Blue Muse Records via True North Records.
Today, Moody shares the first single from the album, "Seventeen," along with an extended interview at PopMatters.
"It’s about that tender time, at the edge of adulthood, when there are so many feelings and so few tools to cope with them,” Moody shares. "I was thinking about that time of my life, having a lot of memories and dreams, and remembering that thrill and that pain. Looking for clues, in a way. It’s exhilarating. It’s confusing. It can be so devastating. But it’s something we all have to go through in our own way."
STREAM/PURCHASE "SEVENTEEN" HERE
PRE-ORDER WANDERER HERE; PRE-SAVE HERE
It's been over a decade since her last solo release, These Wlilder Things, a stunningly beautiful album featuring Mark Knopfler, who subsequently brought Moody to support him on his European tours. She'd always intended to record a follow-up but shifted her focus in 2016, when she and her partner, multi-instrumentalist Sam Howard (Molly Tuttle, Joy Williams) welcomed their son, Woodson. After the release and subsequent tours supporting The Wailin' Jennys' 2017 album, Fifteen, Moody was ready to try again; then the pandemic hit. "The way these things happen is funny, though," she shares with PopMatters. "Somehow, it feels right to have waited until now. For one thing, a handful of the songs that ended up on the record weren’t written until more recently.”
Moody brought together her favorite musicians for the recordings, enhanced by the rich echo-chamber reverb of the legendary Nashville studio. Musicians including Howard, who plays upright bass and provides backing vocals, her older brother Richard Moody (“He’s played on every record I’ve ever made”), Jennys’ touring member Anthony da Costa, (guitars), Jason Burger (drums), Kai Welch (Keyboards); Russ Paul (pedal steel), Adrian Dolan (string arrangements) and duet partner Joey Landreth on “The Spell of the Lilac Bloom.” The result is a transcendent collection of ten deeply powerful and personal songs that reflect Moody’s inner world and wanderings. Wanderer explores the emotional journey of motherhood, the joy and pain of life, the mysterious and complicated dance of love, and ultimately the longing we all feel for home, wherever that might be.
From the first note, the listener is immersed in a lush and intimate world, welcomed by sounds at once classic, mysterious, and enchanting. From the restless, nostalgic energy of "Seventeen," a true life story of unrequited love and an homage to Moody’s hometown of Winnipeg, to the jaw-droppingly beautiful duet with fellow Canadian roots music standout Joey Landreth on "The Spell of the Lilac Bloom," the album takes the listener on a mesmerizing journey through time and space. The climactic title track, "Wanderer," embodies the true spirit of love and belonging that we all seek in its repeated final chorus, “love is calling you home.”
TRACK LISTING:
1. Already Free
2.Twilight
3.The Spell Of The Lilac Bloom (featuring Joey Landreth)
4.Seventeen
5.Michigan
6.The Way Lovers Move
7.Coyotes
8.North Calling
9.Wanderer
10.Comin’ Round The Bend
RUTH MOODY BAND TOUR:
May 21 Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head
May 22 Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
May 23 Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
May 25 New York, NY – Joe’s Pub
May 26 State College, PA – State Theatre
May 28 Evanston, IL – SPACE
May 29 Milwaukee, WI – Vivarium
May 30 Cincinnati, OH – Ludlow Garage
Jul 11-14 Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Festival
*More dates to be announced soon
Revered guitarist/songwriter Chris Smither has released the second single, "All About The Bones," today on all streaming outlets; it's the title track of upcoming album out May 3 on Signature Sounds Records. The song is classic Smither, highlighting his rumbling baritone, foot stomps, wry lyrics and Delta-blues style picking. PopMatters writes, "'All About The Bones' is peak Chris Smither, a song that seems at once both a revelation and not unlike the return of a long-awaited friend." The folk blues icon has also shared a performance video for the song where he's backed by longtime colleague David “Goody” Goodrich (electric guitar, electric diddley bow, percussion), Zak Trojano (drums, percussion), Chris Cheekus (baritone sax) and Betty Soo (vocals).
“This is about as solid as it gets, and rest assured, even this won’t last forever," Smither says of the song. "It’s a theme that surfaces many times in the album, the search for the essence, the inner framework that holds everything together, which we hope will be lasting, and like everything, is transitory. S’OK, I can live with it.”
STREAM/PURCHASE THE SINGLE HERE WATCH THE PERFORMANCE VIDEO HERE PRE-SAVE PRE-ORDER ALL ABOUT THE BONES HERE
The sound and imagery on All About The Bones is as elemental as the inky black shadows cast by a shockingly bright moon. The listener is welcomed into some gothic mansion on an imaginary New Orleans street, and there in the lamplit parlor confronts the band, a minimalist skeleton crew: Smither’s inimitable propulsive guitar and rumbling baritone are joined seamlessly to producer Goodrich’s carpetbag of instruments, Zak Trojano’s rock-steady, primal drumming, Betty Soo’s diaphanous harmony vocals, and the flat, mournful flood of Jazz legend Chris Cheek’s saxophone. Smither and David Goodrich have been refining their musical conversation for decades, both in the studio and onstage, and by now, their bond verges on the telepathic.
After six decades of sharpening his knife as a songwriter, Smither can damn near conjure anything with a flick of his wrist. God and the Devil are opened here. Mortality is too. Politics, consciousness, renewal, family, vulnerability, surrender… Smither has sat with these topics like so many Zen koans, for so long, that every line is a pearl.
Smither turns 80 this year, but his tour schedule, including dates at the Iridium in New York City, Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock and two nights at McCabe's in Los Angeles, shows he has no intention of slowing down. (Scroll down for complete dates.)
TOUR DATES:
# with special guest Peter Mulvey
% with special guest Betty Soo
SA MAR 23 Eastham, MA - First Encounter Coffeehouse
SA MAR 30 Charleston, WV - Clay Center’s Walker Theater/Woody Hawley Concerts
FR APR 12 Elkton, MD - Elkton Music Hall
SA APR 13 Blairstown, NJ - Roy’s Hall
SU APR 14 Tuckerton, NJ - Lizzie Rose
TH APR 18 Concord, NH - Capitol Center for the Arts (Cloudbelly opens)
FR APR 19 Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center
SA APR 20 Brunswick, ME - Concerts for a Cause
WE MAY 01 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Music Hall
TH MAY 02 Nashville, TN - Bluebird Cafe
SA MAY 04 Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic
FR MAY 17 Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for Arts #
SA MAY 18 Boston, MA - City Winery Boston #
SU MAY 19 Portsmouth, NH - 3S Artspace #
SA MAY 25 Pomeroy, OH - Fur Peace Ranch #
WE MAY 29 Washington, DC - The Hamilton #
TH MAY 30 Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live #
FR MAY 31 Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios #
SA JUN 01 Northampton, MA - Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity #
TH JUN 06 Annapolis, MD - Ram’s Head On Stage #
FR JUN 07 New York City, NY - Iridium #
TH JUN 20 Madison, WI - The Bur Oak %
FR-SA, JUN 22 - 23 Effingham, IL - Moccasin Creek Festival
FR JUN 21 Evanston, IL - SPACE %
TH JUL 11 Berkeley CA - Freight and Salvage
FR JUL 12 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe’s
SA JUL 13 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe’s
WE JUL 17 Eugene, OR - Shedd Institute
TH JUL 18 Portland, OR - Alberta Rose Theatre
TUE JUL 23 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
Celebrated Nashville-based artist Lindsay Lou came out of a period of loss and change with a deeply personal album, Queen of Time, her debut for Kill Rock Stars. The album follows Lou on a path of heartbreak, discovery and resilience after going through a divorce, the pandemic lockdowns and the death of her beloved grandmother. Queen of Time was produced by Dave O'Donnell (Sheryl Crow, Heart, James Taylor) and mixed by Tucker Martine (First Aid Kit, Madison Cunningham) and features a Who's Who's of Lou's friends from the Americana and bluegrass community: Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Sierra Ferrell, Jerry Douglas, Molly Tuttle, Greensky Bluegrass, Peter Rowan, and Leftover Salmon.
Queen of Time garnered praise in Rolling Stone ("Lindsay Lou is poised to be the next bluegrass queen," Relix, PBS, The Bluegrass Situation and Under the Radar, among others. The title track explores the continued theme of duality. Lou explains."Sometimes you feel like the queen of time, and sometimes you feel like a wishing well. The truth is you're always both and all of it at once. It can feel overwhelming, but self-knowledge is the ultimate power."
The daughter of a coal miner and millwright, and the granddaughter of a teacher gone Rainbow Gathering healer, Lou honed her honest and resonant style with her bluegrass-inspired band, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, and Michigan supergroup, Sweet Water Warblers (Rachael Davis, May Erlewine), excavating elements of bluegrass, folk, Americana, and soulful pop for their emotional depths.
Named among NPR’s “12 Best Live Performances” in 2015, Lou has long been beloved as a live performer, from Telluride Bluegrass Festival to Stagecoach, Celtic Connections to Australia’s National Folk Festival, and a “Can’t Miss Act” at AmericanaFest—not to mention acclaim from PBS, No Depression, Billboard, Holler, Paste, and The Bluegrass Situation, among other outlets. But on Queen of Time, Lou captures a new arc of haloed beauty, becoming unattainable in her own way—a vibrant, powerful woman who can share herself with the world, and yet define a mystic sense of inner self as well.
TOUR DATES
# dates with The Wood Brothers
Sat, Mar 23 Pelham , TN - The Caverns Sessions (PBS)
Wed, Mar 27 Bellingham, WA - Wild Buffalo
Thu, Mar 28 Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern
Fri, Mar 29 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Sat, Mar 30 Bend, OR - Volcanic Theater Pub
Tue, Apr 2 Arcata, CA - Humbrews
Thu, Apr 4 Sacramento CA - Golfield Trading
Fri, Apr 5 Olympic Valley, CA - Wintergrass
Sat, Apr 6 Olympic Valley CA – Wintergrass main band set
Sun, Apr 7 Olympic Valley, CA - Wintergrass
Wed, Apr 10 Sebastopol, CA - Hopmonk
Thu, Apr 11 Berkeley, CA - Freight & Salvage
Fri, Apr 12 Felton CA - Felton Music Hall
Fri, Apr 19 River Fall, WI – River Falls Bluegrass and Brews
Thu, May 2 Richmond, VA - Browns Island #
Fri, May 3 Newton, NJ - Newton Theater #
Sat, May 4 Williamsport, PA - Community Arts Center #
Sun, May 5 Hartford, CT - Infinity Hall #
Tue, May 7 Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts #
Wed, May 8 Keene, NH - Colonial PAC #
Thu, May 9 Nashua, NH - Nashua Center for the Arts #
Fri, May 10 Westerly, RI - The United Theatre #
Sat, May 11 Portsmouth, NH - The Music Hall #
Sun, Jun 16 Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage
Sat, Jun 1 Wellston, MI – Sweet Water Warblers @ Hoxeyville Music Fest
Thu, Jun 20 Nashville, TN - Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman / Co-Bill with Steep Canyon Rangers
Sun, Jun 23 Mt Solon, VA - Red Wing Roots Festival
Thu, Jun 27 Eau Claire, WI - Blue Ox Festival
Sat, Jun 29 Rancho del Rio, CO - YarmonyGrass
Sun, Jun 30 Bueno Vista, CO – Lariat
Thu, Jul 18 Snowshoe, WV – 4848 Festival
Sat, Jul 27 Boyne City, MI - Sweet Water Warblers @ Lavender Hill Farm
Sun, Aug 11 Atla, WI – Targhee Bluegrass Festival
Fri, Sep 13 Las Vegas, NV – Bender Jamboree
Fri, Oct 11 Pelham, TN - CaveFest
A songwriter's songwriter, Iowa folk artist Greg Brown is in a category all of his own, with a body of work stretching back to 1981's The Iowa Waltz (on Minnesota's Red House Records), followed by more than 30 highly-regarded albums. While Brown has retired from music and touring, he collaborated with Minnesota's Ramshackle Press on Ring Around The Moon: A Songbook. The 136-page book is a collection of writings, drawings, and photographs that accompany the lyrics and sheet music to many of Greg’s classic songs and features a foreword by musician Seth Avett, who released an album of Brown's songs in 2022. In addition, Brown has announced four appearances in the Upper Midwest where he'll be reading from the book, telling stories and taking questions from the audience along with playing a few songs.
The son of a rural Iowa preacher, Brown's songs embody a sense of place — he still calls Iowa home, where he lives with his wife, songwriter Iris Dement. Brown was born in the Hacklebarney section of southeastern Iowa and raised by a family that made words and music a way of life. His seasoned songwriting, storytelling, and music are deeply rooted in that place, with songs like "Your Town Now,” "Canned Goods," “Two Little Feet,” and “Spring Wind.” His songs have been covered by many artists including Joan Baez, Seth Avett, Gillian Welch, Willie Nelson, Ani DiFranco and others.
Brown's deep, rumbling vocals, ability to lyrically paint a picture and mastery of so many genres of American music, from folk to early blues to country, make him a true original and hero to newer generations of musicians. No Depression described him as a "Carhartt-clad beatnik, a Midwestern mystic who’s been singing his idyllic ballads that mix pastoral heartland ideals and dark visions of the bleeding red American middle."
Ring Around The Moon: A Songbook will be released on April 30th through Ramshackle Press.
Pre-orders, including limited editions and signed copies, are available through ramshacklepress.org.
GREG BROWN:
April 26 Viroqua, WI - Driftless Books
April 27 Winona, MN - Minnesota Marine Art Museum
May 2 Minneapolis, MN - Electric Fetus
May 3 Iowa City, IA - Prairie Lights Bookstore.
Yarn, headed by songwriter Blake Christiana, is back with a new album, Born, Blessed, Grateful, & Alive, out July 26 via Symphonic Distribution. It's been eight years since the NC-via NYC roots rockers have treated fans to a new studio album. Born, Blessed, Grateful & Alive finds Christiana getting his groove back, and the title reflects accepting — and being grateful — for what you do have. Guests include members of Railroad Earth, Infamous Stringdusters, and others.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "HEART SO HARD" HERE
The songs on Born, Blessed, Grateful & Alive reflect the range of human experience. There’s the laconic country ballad, “I Want You,” which Christiana wrote with his long-time songwriting partner Shane Spaulding, that “loosely follows the plot of the ‘70s Willie Nelson movie, Honeysuckle Rose, about a married touring musician who finds his true love out on the road.” A road song, “Nomad Man,” glitters with ringing finger-picking and soaring steel runs as it evokes the loneliness and solitude of the moving from one place to another, while the soulful “These Words Alone,” with its driving Hammond B3 organ and gospel-inflected harmonies, sonically resembles Van Morrison’s later songs. The rollicking steel guitar on “Down at the Dancehall” introduces a twangy rambler that would be at home on any album by the Flying Burrito Brothers.
Christiana had started performing solo, getting Yarn together for the “Cocaine Bear” in 2023, but it was a chance meeting with producer Damian Calcagne at his New Jersey studio that ultimately brought the band back together.
"We had zero expectations and zero inhibitions about any of what transpired that weekend in his studio,” Christiana shares. “It led to another week up at his studio a few weeks later. In between sessions I found myself writing like crazy."
Ultimately, what was left of Yarn wound up tracking on this recording as well, that would be Yarn’s rhythm section, Robert Bonhomme and Rick Bugel. Also in the studio with us were Mike Robinson and Johnny Grubb (Railroad Earth), Andy Falco (Infamous Stringdusters), Mike Sivilli (Dangermuffin), Heather Hannah, Elliott Peck (Midnight North) and of course Damian Calcagne.
"It seemed right to keep the name Yarn going on this record, we’ve always been evolving, our sound has forever been doing whatever it wants to do. That is Yarn and this is our next chapter."
“No one has any idea why we're here, what we're supposed to be doing here or what comes next, and there are very few things in this life to connect us to one another, other than the fact that we all don't know these things,” he says. "I like to think our music could be one of the places where we can connect.”
TRACK LISTING:
1. Turn Off The News
2. Something's Gotta Change
3. Heart So Hard
4. Play Freebird
5. Traveling Kind
6. I Want You
7. Wake Up
8. Maybe Someday
9. Noman Man
10. These Words Alone
11. Down At The Dancehall
12. Grieve On
TOUR DATES:
SA APR 20 Salisbury, NC - Earth Day Jam 2024
WE MAY 01 Harrisonburg, VA - Clementine
TH MAY 02 Hagerstown, MD - Hub City Vinyl
FR MAY 03 Easton, MD - Avalon Theatre
SU MAY05 Wayne, PA - 118 NORTH
TU MAY 07 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe
WE MAY 08 Buffalo, NY - Sportsmen's Tavern
TH MAY 09 Syracuse, NY - The 443 Social Club & Lounge
FR MAY 10 Blairstown, NJ - Roy's Hall
SA MAY 11 Hoosick Falls, NY - UNIHOG
SU MAY 12 South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
SU MAY 26 Axton, VA - Rooster Walk 2024
SU JUL 21 Erwin, TN - Yarn Camp on The Banks of The Nolichucky
FR, JUL 26 Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater CD release show
SA OCT 26 Troy, VA - The Yarnival 2024
Yarn has released a video for "Turn Off The News," their new single out this Friday, April 26 via all streaming services; check out the premiere today at Americana Highways. Like many of us, Yarn's Blake Christiana was addicted to scanning the latest headlines on his phone. The song exhorts the listener to “turn off the news, shake off the blues – life is short, it’s sweet if you make it.”
"I was addicted to news apps on my phone and it was killing me, ruining my mental well being," Christiana explains. "I quit cold turkey and wrote this song. I wanted to write 10 songs called "Turn Off The News" and release them as an album, that’s how strongly I feel about turning off the news. This wound up being the only one I wrote. I think I said all that needed to be said."
PRE-SAVE 'TURN OFF THE NEWS" HERE
PRE-ORDER BORN, BLESSED, GRATEFUL & ALIVE HERE
Born, Blessed, Grateful, & Alive, out July 26 via Symphonic Distribution, is Yarn's first studio album eight years and a fine return to form. The album finds Christiana, now based in North Caroline, getting his groove back, and the title reflects accepting — and being grateful — for what you do have. Along with producer Damian Calcagne, the album brought together Yarn’s rhythm section, Robert Bonhomme and Rick Bugel, along with Mike Robinson and Johnny Grubb (Railroad Earth), Andy Falco (Infamous Stringdusters), Mike Sivilli (Dangermuffin), Heather Hannah, and Elliott Peck (Midnight North).
The songs on Born, Blessed, Grateful & Alive reflect the range of human experience. There’s the laconic country ballad, “I Want You,” which Christiana wrote with his long-time songwriting partner Shane Spaulding, that “loosely follows the plot of the ‘70s Willie Nelson movie, Honeysuckle Rose, about a married touring musician who finds his true love out on the road.” A road song, “Nomad Man,” glitters with ringing finger-picking and soaring steel runs as it evokes the loneliness and solitude of the moving from one place to another, while the soulful “These Words Alone,” with its driving Hammond B3 organ and gospel-inflected harmonies, sonically resembles Van Morrison’s later songs. The rollicking steel guitar on “Down at the Dancehall” introduces a twangy rambler that would be at home on any album by the Flying Burrito Brothers.
For Christiana, it’s all about the song.
“No one has any idea why we're here, what we're supposed to be doing here or what comes next, and there are very few things in this life to connect us to one another, other than the fact that we all don't know these things,” he says. "I like to think our music could be one of the places where we can connect.”
TOUR DATES:
WE MAY 01 Harrisonburg, VA - Clementine
FR MAY 03 Easton, MD - Avalon Theatre
SU MAY05 Wayne, PA - 118 NORTH
TU MAY 07 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe
WE MAY 08 Buffalo, NY - Sportsmen's Tavern
TH MAY 09 Syracuse, NY - The 443 Social Club & Lounge
FR MAY 10 Blairstown, NJ - Roy's Hall
SA MAY 11 Hoosick Falls, NY - UNIHOG
SU MAY 12 South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
SU MAY 26 Axton, VA - Rooster Walk 2024
SA, JUN 22 Charles City, VA - Indian Fields
FR & SA, JUL 19 & 20 Erwin, TN - Yarn Camp on The Banks of The Nolichucky
TU, JUL 23 Emerald Isle, NC - Gaffer's
WE, JUL 24 Emerald Isle, NC - Gaffer's
TH, JUL 25 Charleston, SC - Pour House
FR, JUL 26 Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater CD release show
SA, JUL 27 Charlotte, NC - Whitewater Center
FR, AUG 2 Charlottesville, VA - Fridays After 5
SA, AUG 3 Asheville, NC - AVL Fest
TH, AUG 15 Decatur, GA - Eddies Attic
FR, AUG 16 Nashville, TN - Basement East
SA AUG 17 Loudon, TN - Windy Hill Farm
SA OCT 26 Troy, VA - The Yarnival 2024
Revered folk blues guitarist/songwriter Chris Smither releases his powerful new album, All About The Bones, today on Signature Sounds Records. Melding his spare, assured playing with his gruff vocals and wry, witty lyrics, Smither explores mortality with a collection that cuts to the core of the matter, the bones. Smither's rumbling baritone, percussive foot stomps and Delta-blues influenced picking infuse the songs with the rhythms and imagery of his native New Orleans. Recorded at Sonelab Studios in Easthampton MA by Justin Pizzoferrato (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., the Hold Steady), All About the Bones has a feel that is somehow baroque and austere at once. Smither is backed by longtime colleague David “Goody” Goodrich (electric guitar, electric diddley bow, percussion), Zak Trojano (drums, percussion), Chris Cheek (baritone sax) and Betty Soo (vocals).
"It’s a theme that surfaces many times in the album,"Smither explains of the album's title. "It's the search for the essence, the inner framework that holds everything together, which we hope will be lasting, and like everything, is transitory."
After six decades of sharpening his knife as a songwriter, Smither can damn near conjure anything with a flick of his wrist. God and the Devil are opened here. Mortality is too. Politics, consciousness, renewal, family, vulnerability, surrender… Smither has sat with these topics like so many Zen koans, for so long, that every line is a pearl.
Smither turns 80 this year, but his tour schedule, including dates at the Iridium in New York City, Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock and two nights at McCabe's in Los Angeles, shows he has no intention of slowing down. (Scroll down for complete dates.)
RECENT PRAISE FOR CHRIS SMITHER
“With his signature beat-driven finger-picking, foot-tapping and playful vocal wisdom, Smither and company let the good times roll on this bayou blues, this Cajun dance party exalting his New Orleans beginnings.” —American Blues Scene
“...stands as evidence that he remains one of the most consistent and truthful artists of his time, bridging this and the last century seamlessly and in a way that is never tired or imitative.” —PopMatters
"You might be inclined to overlook Chris Smither when the names of the great singer-songwriters of the last fifty years in the Americana sphere come to mind (Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Steve Earle yes, even Bob Dylan) – you shouldn’t. Smither is a master…" —Americana UK
“'All About The Bones' reveals once again how deftly Smither cuts to the chase in his songwriting, singing, and playing, peeling away layers of cultural cliché to expose the pulsing heart of the matter
that animates human nature.” —Folk Alley
“Chris Smither cuts deep on ‘All About the Bones’…his sage, felicitously worded reflections are as free-flowing as his intricate guitar work.” —No Depression
“There’s irony, wit, scorn, and clever wordplay, as we’d expect from this masterful songwriter.… we remain rather spellbound.” —Glide Magazine
"With the departure of artists such as Guy Clark, Leonard Cohen & especially John Prine someone needed to step up to continue that rich creative tradition. Smither was already there..." —Americana Highways
TOUR DATES:
# with special guest Peter Mulvey
% with special guest Betty Soo
TH MAY 02 Nashville, TN - Bluebird Cafe
SA MAY 04 Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic
FR MAY 17 Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for Arts #
SA MAY 18 Boston, MA - City Winery Boston #
SU MAY 19 Portsmouth, NH - 3S Artspace #
SA MAY 25 Pomeroy, OH - Fur Peace Ranch #
WE MAY 29 Washington, DC - The Hamilton #
TH MAY 30 Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live #
FR MAY 31 Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios #
SA JUN 01 Northampton, MA - Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity #
TH JUN 06 Annapolis, MD - Ram’s Head On Stage #
FR JUN 07 New York City, NY - Iridium #
TH JUN 20 Madison, WI - The Bur Oak %
FR JUN 21 Evanston, IL - SPACE %
FR-SA, JUN 22-23 Effingham, IL - Moccasin Creek Festival
TH JUL 11 Berkeley CA - Freight and Salvage
FR JUL 12 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe’s
SA JUL 13 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe’s
SA JUL 14 Santa Cruz, CA - Kuumbwa Jazz Center
WE JUL 17 Eugene, OR - Shedd Institute
TH JUL 18 Portland, OR - Alberta Rose Theatre
SA-SU, JUL 20-21 Vancouver, BC - Vancouver Folk Fest
MO JUL 22 Salt Spring Island, BC - Pitchfork Social
TU JUL 23 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
TU JUL 30 Fish Creek, WI - Door Community Auditorium
TH AUG 1 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
FR AUG 2 Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
SU AUG 18 Chocorua, NH - The Farmstand
TH SEP 5 Toronto, ON - Hughs Room
WE SEP 11 Columbus, OH - Natalies Grandview
TH SEP 12 Pittsburgh, PA - City Winery
FR SEP 13 Cleveland, OH - Music Box Supper Club
SA SEP 14 Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
SA OCT12 Denver, CO - Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall
TH OCT17 Houston, TX - Mucky Duck
FR OCT18 Houston, TX - Mucky Duck
SA OCT19 Austin, TX - The 04 Center
Today, Ruth Moody is releasing Wanderer, the long-awaited new solo album from the Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Renowned as a founding and current member of Billboard-charting and JUNO-award winning folk trio, The Wailin’ Jennys, Moody employs open-tuned guitars (inspired by her musical heroes, Joni Mitchell and Laura Marling) to provide the backdrop for soaring pedal steel and the otherworldly vocals we've come to expect. Recorded at Sound Emporium in Nashville, the self-penned 10-song album was co-produced by Moody and Dan Knobler (Allison Russell, Lake Street Dive) and mixed by Tucker Martine (Madison Cunningham, First Aid Kit) and is out today on Moody's Blue Muse Records distributed via True North Records. Along with East Coast and Midwest dates featuring Moody's trio, she'll be taping a session with Acoustic Cafe, performing at Winnipeg Folk Festival in July and showcasing at AmericanaFest in Nashville this September.
It's been over a decade since her last solo release, These Wlilder Things, a stunningly beautiful album featuring Mark Knopfler, who subsequently brought Moody to support him on his European tours. She'd always intended to record a follow-up but shifted her focus in 2016, when she and her partner, multi-instrumentalist Sam Howard (Molly Tuttle, Joy Williams) welcomed their son, Woodson. After the release and subsequent tours supporting The Wailin' Jennys' 2017 album, Fifteen, Moody was ready to try again; then the pandemic hit.
Moody brought together her favorite musicians for the recordings, including Howard, who plays upright bass and provides backing vocals, her older brother Richard Moody, Jennys’ touring member Anthony da Costa, (guitars), Jason Burger (drums), Kai Welch (Keyboards); Russ Pahl (pedal steel), Adrian Dolan (string arrangements) and duet partner Joey Landreth (The Bros. Landreth) on “The Spell of the Lilac Bloom.” The result is a transcendent collection of ten deeply powerful and personal songs that reflect Moody’s inner world and wanderings.
From the first note, the listener is immersed in a lush and intimate world, welcomed by sounds at once classic, mysterious, and enchanting. Wanderer explores the emotional journey of motherhood, the joy and pain of life, the mysterious and complicated dance of love, and ultimately the longing we all feel for home, wherever that may be.
RECENT PRAISE FOR RUTH MOODY
"Exquisite ... spellbinding layers of vocals, instruments, and lyrics as it evokes the newness and the
hope of love." —Folk Alley
"a sweeping, swirling mix of nostalgia surrounding young love gone awry and what could have been,
with striking vocals that conjure wistful images of 1960s-era Joni Mitchell.” —PopMatters
“It’s not every day that an album sweeps you off your feet and hits the spot on first listening. Nor does every album have a complete set of songs that take your breath away. Yet, here we have both in this new album, ‘Wanderer‘, from award-winning multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Ruth Moody.”
—Americana UK 9/10
"Moody acknowledges the points when we seem to slip and fall apart completely, just as part of the human condition." —Americana Highways
“[Moody] has her musical needlepoint down to a consummate art” —KLOF Magazine
RUTH MOODY BAND TOUR*
May 21 Annapolis, MD – Rams Head
May 22 Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
May 23 Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
May 25 New York, NY – Joe’s Pub
May 26 State College, PA – State Theatre
May 28 Evanston, IL – SPACE
May 29 Milwaukee, WI – Vivarium
May 30 Cincinnati, OH – Ludlow Garage
May 31 Nashville, TN - Musicians Corner
Jul 11-14 Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Festival
Sep 17-21 Nashville, TN - AmericanaFest showcase
*Fall U.S. Midwest dates to be announced soon
Boston-based acoustic quartet Twisted Pine have a new single, "Lonestar," out now through all streaming outlets via Signature Sounds Records. The fiddle tune, a traveling song written by fiddler/lead singer Kathleen Parks, finds the virtuosic group putting their own spirited, genre-bending take on traditional bluegrass. It's one of three songs the band recorded for their recent PASTE Magazine session at Merlefest in North Carolina. Dobro legend Jerry Douglas joins the band for two of the songs, including their mashup of "The One I Love is Gone" (Bill Monroe) and "El Chepe" (Vulfpeck); watch the entire session HERE.
PASTE praised the single writing "time changes abound, featuring an epic instrumental bridge with room to stretch out, evocative of the Grateful Dead’s deepest space explorations."
Parks shares the inspiration behind the song: "'Lonestar' is one of our most explicitly bluegrass-influenced songs, drawing especially upon the more spiritual and mystical end of the bluegrass spectrum. Bill Monroe used to talk about the influence of the 'Ancient Tones' on his music, which we understood to be a certain mysterious quality or sound or vibe that is as old as the mountains, timeless and universal across humanity. And he would write songs around really heavy themes, like mortality and the afterlife. Sonically and lyrically, we were going for our own modern take on that expansive, cosmic quality he was able to evoke on songs like 'My Last Days on Earth' or 'Walls of Time' which he wrote with Peter Rowan."
Twisted Pine will be back on the road hitting festivals and U.S. markets this summer and fall; look for more news soon and check this space for updates: www.twistedpineband.com
Innovative Boston quartet Twisted Pine share the video for their first official single, "Goosebump Feeling," today at Folk Alley, who praise the song's brilliantly intertwining sections, "spiraling in concentric circles to evoke the eternal return of joy." The song is a taste of what to expect on the band's eclectic new album, Love Your Mind, out October 18 on Signature Sounds Records. The upbeat, catchy single is propelled by fiddler/songwriter/vocalist Kathleen Parks' soaring, impressive vocals, strikingly creative harmonies and the band's virtuosic playing. "Goosebump Feeling" is out on streaming services today via Signature Sounds Records HERE.
Parks shares, "Sometimes life surprises you, and catches you off guard. ‘Goosebump Feeling’ is an upbeat, insistent, and hooky pop song about feeling yourself changing in ways you didn’t expect, of letting go of what you thought you were, and giving into the thrill and exhilaration of what you can be. Tom Petty’s hook-heavy songwriting and vocal delivery was a key influence.”
The free-spirited, kaleidoscopic video was filmed in Toronto; the band enlisted their friend Blake Hannahson to direct. "We wanted to showcase everyone’s freedom through movement. We hope that it captures the playful, indie energy we all aimed for in this track and that the rhythm will take over, encouraging our fans and friends to want to dance too!" Parks says. "During our shoot we even made some new friends at a dance battle in downtown Toronto."
WATCH THE "GOOSEBUMP FEELING" VIDEO HERE and STREAM THE SINGLE HERE
PRE-ORDER LOVE YOUR MIND HERE
Twisted Pine have also released their fall tour and festival dates, including back-to-back stops in Nashville for an AmericanaFest showcase and North Carolina for IBMA. Look for more news soon and check this space for updates: www.twistedpineband.com
TWISTED PINE ON TOUR:
* with Railroad Earth
% with Damn Tall Buildings
JUL 26 Ossipee Valley Music Festival 2024 - Hiram, ME
JUL 27 Ossipee Valley Music Festival 2024 - Hiram, ME
JUL 28 The Word Barn- Exeter, NH
JUL 29 Cotuit Center for the Arts [Tangletuit Outdoor Summer Series] - Barnstable, MA
AUG 12 Chautauqua Amphitheater - Chautauqua, NY
AUG 17 Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots 2024 - Manchester, VT
AUG 31 Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2024 - Mill Spring, NC
SEP 1 Eddie's Attic w/ The Faux Paws - Decatur, GA
SEP 6 Wheatland Music Festival 2024 - Remus, MI
SEP 7 Wheatland Music Festival 2024 - Remus, MI
Sep 20 AmericanaFest - Nashville, TN
Sep 24 IBMA World of Bluegrass - Raleigh, NC
Sep 25 IBMA World of Bluegrass - Raleigh, NC
Sep 28 Boats & Bluegrass Festival - Winona, MN
Oct 18 Iron Horse Music Hall - Northampton, MA
Oct 19 Zenbarn - Waterbury Center, VT
Oct 24 Oxbow Brewery w/ Cilla Bonnie - Portland, ME
Nov 13 XL Live- Harrisburg, PA *
Nov 14 Tarrytown Music Hall - Tarrytown NY *
Nov 15 Bearsville Theatre - Woodstock NY *
Nov 16 The Strand - Providence RI *
Nov 30 The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA %
Dec 4 World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA %
Dec 5 Drom - New York, NY %
Dec 6 Club Cafe - Pittsburgh, PA
Dec 7 The Purple Fiddle - Thomas, WV
Dec 8 The 8x10 - Baltimore, MD - w/ Charm City Junction
Jan 16 Goodwood Gardens & Museum / Florida State University - Tallahassee, FL
Feb 2-9 Fort Lauderdale, FL - Scythian’s String Break Cruise
May 2 Caramoor Center for Music and The Arts - Katonah, NY (in collaboration w/ City Winery)
Roots rockers Yarn return with Born, Blessed, Grateful, & Alive, out today via 333 Entertainment/Symphonic Distribution, and a slew of new tour dates. Blending alt-country and Americana with thoughtful, sometimes wry lyrics, frontman/songwriter Blake Christiana grapples with aging, loss and change. American Blues Scene writes, "The words and music on 'Born, Blessed, Grateful & Alive' reflect the arc of human experience. Finger-picking and pedal steel riffs run the gamut from loneliness to transports of delight."
Born, Blessed, Grateful, & Alive is a fine return to form, capturing the band's rep as a road-seasoned live band. Along with producer Damian Calcagne, the album brought together Yarn’s rhythm section, Robert Bonhomme and Rick Bugel, along with Mike Robinson and Johnny Grubb (Railroad Earth), Andy Falco (Infamous Stringdusters), Mike Sivilli (Dangermuffin), Heather Hannah, and Elliott Peck (Midnight North).
Standout tracks include the laconic country ballad, “I Want You.” A road song, “Nomad Man,” glitters with ringing finger-picking and soaring steel runs as it evokes the loneliness and solitude of the moving from one place to another, while the soulful “These Words Alone,” with its driving Hammond B3 organ and gospel-inflected harmonies, sonically resembles Van Morrison’s later songs. The rollicking steel guitar on “Down at the Dancehall” introduces a twangy rambler that would be at home on any album by the Flying Burrito Brothers.
“No one has any idea why we're here, what we're supposed to be doing here or what comes next, and there are very few things in this life to connect us to one another, other than the fact that we all don't know these things,” he says. "I like to think our music could be one of the places where we can connect.”
STREAM BORN, BLESSED, GRATEFUL & ALIVE HERE
TOUR DATES:
7.26 - Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC
7.27 - US National Whitewater Center - Charlotte, NC
8.2 - Ting Pavilion - Charlottesville, VA
8.3 - Natty Greene's Brewing Co. - Greensboro, NC
8.4 - Avlfest - Asheville, NC
8.15 - Eddie's Attic - Decatur, GA
8.16 - The Basement Nashville - Nashville, TN
8.17 - Windy Hill Farm - Loudon, TN
8.30 - Rhythm and Roots Festival - Charlestown, RI
8.31 - CaptainScotts LobsterDock - New London, CT
9.1 - Summer Concert Series - Frenchtown, NJ
9.6 - Purple Fiddle - Thomas, WV
9.7 - Purple Fiddle - Thomas, WV
10.1 - Pearl Street Warehouse - Washington, DC
10.2 - The Homestead - Morristown, NJ
10.3 - City Winery NYC - New York, NY
10.4 - New Park Brewing - Hartford, CT
10.5 - City Winery Boston - Boston, MA
10.6 - Vinegrass - Truro, MA
10.24 - The Yarnival - Troy, VA
10.25 - The Yarnival - Troy, VA
10.26 - The Yarnival - Troy, VA
It's been a 10-year wait, but Kelley Mickwee's soulful new single, "Force Of Nature," is premiering today at Glide Magazine. It’s the first release from Everything Beautiful, her first solo album in a decade and was co-written with Owen Temple and features David Jimenez on guitar. "I enlisted an amazing cast of characters, from Pumas to Gary Clark Jr. members to Heathens; it was a killer studio band,” Mickwee says. The album was recorded at Church House Studios in Austin, TX and was produced, recorded and mixed by David Boyle.
Mickwee shares: "Wrote this one for this album with my favorite co-writer, Owen Temple. I love the movement in this song. I was spending a lot of time exploring my own astrological chart and recognizing the importance of living in alignment with the phases of the moon. It’s about letting go of what we can’t control, embracing the change in all of the constant movement and acknowledging that we have within us the instinct to survive and persevere."
LISTEN TO "FORCE OF NATURE" HERE | PRE-SAVE HERE
It’s not like Mickwee just up and disappeared after releasing 2014’s You Used to Live Here, her solo debut after spending five years touring and recording with the acclaimed Texas-based Americana band The Trishas (and a handful of years before that in the Memphis duo, Jed and Kelley). She spent several years hosting her own “River Girl Radio” show on Austin’s Sun Radio, and from 2017-2021 performed in front of some of the the biggest audiences of her career as a Shiny Soul Sister in Kevin Russell’s explosively entertaining and wildly popular band Shinyribs. She also sang on a whole bunch of records by friends including Ray Wylie Hubbard, Charley Crockett, Silverada, Owen Temple, and Reckless Kelly, and for the last dozen years (going on 13) has also co-hosted the Red River Songwriters Festival, her annual gathering (and accompanying mini tour) with kindred spirits Susan Gibson, Josh Grider, Drew Kennedy, and Walt Wilkins.
And yet, as busy as she stayed over the past decade, Mickwee’s solo career was noticeably back burnered for much of that time. This was very much by her own volition, for the simple reason that she just missed being part of a team — as she had happily been with Liz Foster, Savannah Welch, and Jamie Lin Wilson until The Trishas decided to go on extended hiatus circa 2013, after they all ended up living in different cities. Mickwee transitioned into going it alone for the first time in her musical life with earnest confidence, self-producing You Used to Live Here, but within a couple of years decided to take another little hiatus — this time from herself. For her, joining Shinyribs was kind of like running away with the circus.
“I just wanted to be part of a band again, to take a break from having to focus on me for a while and just sink into the role of being a background singer,” she says. That “break” was hardly a vacation; she quickly came to find out that singing and dancing her ass off as a Shiny Soul Sister was hard — but it was also a blast.
"It was fun to just be a goofball for awhile, but mostly I was so grateful for that experience because it definitely helped me become a better singer and performer, just pushing myself every night to match (fellow Shiny Soul Sister) Alice Spencer’s power and intensity — not to mention Kevin’s! But as much as I enjoyed the whole ride, at the end of the day I realized I finally wanted to get back to doing my own thing. And this time ... I was ready.”
In the end, three days was all it took to record Everything Beautiful. The songs were all written a fair bit before she hunkered down with Boyle and the rest of the players over those three days in October 2023, and overdubs, mixing, and mastering all took a reasonable amount of time after that. But soup to nuts, the whole project — Mickwee’s second solo album, releasing September 27, 2024 — still came together in well under a year. And a mere 10 years after her first one.
From the opening notes of “Joyful” straight through to the closing title track, Everything Beautiful is as seamless as it is sumptuous, rewarding listeners who tuck in for the full course with not only the finest batch of originals that Mickwee has ever wrapped her whole heart and never-better voice around, but also a collection that all but begs to be heard on a home stereo system — ideally on “wax.” Mickwee credits the album’s rich, organic sound to Boyle’s decidedly old-school engineering and mixing sensibilities.
"People ask me a lot, ‘Where did your singing style come from?’ And a lot of it is from growing up in Memphis,” she admits. "Because not only was that music on the radio there a lot, but I was going out to hear live music in Memphis at a pretty early age, like even in high school, using my fake ID to sneak into clubs, and a lot of those local musicians had a big influence me. So I really tried my best to ‘represent’ by making a record that sounds like a girl from Memphis, because that’s who I am — even though I made that record in Austin, Texas.”
Order Everything Beautiful LPs + vinyl at http://www.kelleymickwee.com/shop
Album pre-order / pre-save HERE
TRACKLISTING:
Joyful
About Time
Verge of Tears
You Lie
Force of Nature
Long Goodbye
Comes Out Wrong
Let’s Run Away
Everything Beautiful
The band:
JJ Johnson - Drums
Scott Davis - Bass
David Jimenez - Electric Guitar
David Boyle - B3 Organ
John Chipman - Percussion
Will Sexton - Additional Electric Guitar
Background Vocal Choir:
Alice Spencer
Courtney Patton
Bruce Hughes
Tony Kamel
Tour Dates:
# full band show
% solo show
SUN, 8/18 Red River, NM - 8750 Fest #
TUE, 9/04 Boerne, TX - Free Roam Brewery %
FRI, 9/13 Kalorama Heights, DC - Lucky Penny Concert Series %
SAT, 9/14 Chester, MD - Macum Creek Concerts %
SUN, 9/15 Fruitland, MD - Delmarvalous Americana Concerts %
MON, 9/16 Annapolis, MD - 49 West (Kelley Mickwee and Mark Douglas Berardo)
THU, 9/19 Nashville, TN - The Nations Bar (Torrez Music Group AmericanaFest Day Party) %
FRI, 9/20 Nashville, TN - Bowery Vault (East Coast Social Club AmericanaFest Day Party) %
FRI, 9/20 Nashville, TN - Basement East "Tribute to 1974"
FRI, 9/27 Austin, TX - Waterloo Records In-store #
SAT, 9/28 Austin, TX – The State Theatre album release show #
THU, 10/03 San Antonio, TX - Sam’s Burger Joint #
FRI, 10/04 Waco, TX - Texas Music Cafe #
SAT, 10/05 Dallas, TX - Poor David’s Pub #
THU, 11/07 Clarksdale, MS - Jason Eady's Way Down in Mississippi Fest 2024
Step inside Austin's renowned Church House Studios to experience the making of "Verge Of Tears," the video for Kelley Mickwee's new single, out today on all streaming services. "I enlisted an amazing cast of characters, from Pumas to Gary Clark Jr. members to Heathens; it was a killer studio band,” Mickwee says. "Verge Of Tears" is the second single from Everything Beautiful, the first solo album in a decade by The Trishas co-founder and longtime 'Shiny Soul Sister' for Shinyribs. The video's retro feel and the song's vintage soul sound — featuring Wurlitzer, electric piano, Hammond organ, and an instantly memorable guitar solo — highlight Mickwee's incredible band at work as she delivers an emotionally charged, powerful vocal backed by her studio "choir."
Mickwee shares, "'Verge Of Tears' is one of my favorite tracks on the record. I wrote this one with my longtime collaborator from Memphis, Jed Zimmerman. I think we can all relate to that feeling of self-doubt, reflection, and just simply being on the verge of tears... looking around this room full of strangers and even friends, knowing no one has any idea what you are really going through."
LISTEN TO "VERGE OF TEARS" HERE
Order Everything Beautiful LPs and vinyl at http://www.kelleymickwee.com/shop.
It’s not like Mickwee just up and disappeared after releasing 2014’s You Used to Live Here, her solo debut after spending five years with the acclaimed Texas-based Americana band, The Trishas (and a handful of years before that in the Memphis duo, Jed and Kelley). She spent several years hosting her own “River Girl Radio” show on Austin’s Sun Radio and performed from 2017 to 2021 in front of some of the biggest audiences of her career as a Shiny Soul Sister in Kevin Russell’s explosively entertaining and wildly popular band, Shinyribs. She also sang on her friends' records, including those of Ray Wylie Hubbard, Charley Crockett, Silverada, Owen Temple, and Reckless Kelly.
"People ask me a lot, ‘Where did your singing style come from?’ And a lot of it is from growing up in Memphis,” she admits. "Not only was that music on the radio there a lot, but I was going out to hear live music in Memphis at a pretty early age, even in high school, using my fake ID to sneak into clubs. A lot of those local musicians had a big influence on me. So I really tried my best to ‘represent’ by making a record that sounds like a girl from Memphis because that’s who I am."
The Band:
JJ Johnson - drums (Tedeschi Trucks, Gary Clark Jr., John Mayer, Black Pumas)
Scott Davis - bass (Hayes Carll, Jamie Lin Wilson, Kelly Willis, Bruce Robison, Band of Heathens, and countless others in the studio/production)
David Jimenez - electric guitar (Carrie Rodriguez's Laboratorio, Montenko, The Last Jimenez)
Trevor Nealon - Wurlitzer, piano (Band of Heathens, Black Pumas, Bruce Robison, Nicki Bluhm)
John Chipman - percussion (Band of Heathens, Marcia Ball, Jon Dee Graham, The Resentments, and many others in the studio)
David Boyle - B3 Organ (Bob Schneider, Elvis Costello, The Scabs, The Mastersons, and more)
Will Sexton - additional electric guitar
Background Vocal Choir:
Alice Spencer
Courtney Patton
Bruce Hughes
Tony Kamel
Tour Dates:
TUE, 9/04 Boerne, TX - Free Roam Brewery %
FRI, 9/13 Kalorama Heights, DC - Lucky Penny Concert Series %
SAT, 9/14 Chester, MD - Macum Creek Concerts %
SUN, 9/15 Fruitland, MD - Delmarvalous Americana Concerts %
MON, 9/16 Annapolis, MD - 49 West (Kelley Mickwee and Mark Douglas Berardo)
THU, 9/19 Nashville, TN - The Nations Bar (Torrez Music Group AmericanaFest Day Party) %
FRI, 9/20 Nashville, TN - Bowery Vault (East Coast Social Club AmericanaFest Day Party) %
FRI, 9/20 Nashville, TN - Basement East "Tribute to 1974"
FRI, 9/27 Austin, TX - Waterloo Records In-store #
SAT, 9/28 Austin, TX – The State Theatre album release show #
THU, 10/03 San Antonio, TX - Sam’s Burger Joint #
FRI, 10/04 Waco, TX - Texas Music Cafe #
SAT, 10/05 Dallas, TX - Poor David’s Pub #
THU, 11/07 Clarksdale, MS - Jason Eady's Way Down in Mississippi Fest 2024
Celebrated Nashville-based artist Lindsay Lou has announced new tour dates extending through the end of 2024 in support of her acclaimed Kill Rock Stars debut, Queen of Time. The additional dates include headlining performances in the Pacific Northwest this September, with support acts Maya de Vitry and Emma Rose. Lou will also make appearances at high-profile festivals such as CaveFest in Pelham, TN, and San Francisco's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Additionally, she will join fellow Nashville artist The Wood Brothers for select November dates and be a featured performer during the Allman Betts Family Revival tour throughout December. (Full tour dates below.)
Queen of Time has garnered widespread praise from outlets like Rolling Stone, Relix, PBS, The Bluegrass Situation, and Under the Radar. The album, produced by Dave O'Donnell (Sheryl Crow, Heart, James Taylor), chronicles Lou’s personal journey through heartbreak, discovery, and transformation following significant life events, including a divorce, the pandemic, and the loss of her beloved grandmother.
Reflecting on the album, Lou notes that Queen of Time "refers not to the duality of the human experience." The daughter of a coal miner and millwright, and granddaughter of a teacher turned healer, Lou honed her distinctive, resonant style with her bluegrass-inspired band, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, and the Michigan supergroup, Sweet Water Warblers (Rachael Davis, May Erlewine). Her music dives into the emotional depths of bluegrass, folk, Americana, and soulful pop, all shaped by her life experiences.
Lou has long been lauded as a live performer, with standout appearances at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Stagecoach, and Australia's National Folk Festival. She was also named one of NPR’s “12 Best Live Performances” in 2015 and dubbed a “Can’t Miss Act” at AmericanaFest. Now, with Queen of Time, Lou’s musical and personal evolution has reached new heights.
Recent Praise for Queen of Time:
- PBS: “Guided by life experiences, Lindsay Lou's sound and songwriting continues to evolve and intertwine her sturdy bluegrass roots with progressive Americana and Folk.”
- Rolling Stone: “You can hear Lou’s transformation on Queen of Time, a confident 11-song document that combines Americana, folk, indie-soul, and Lou’s brand of progressive bluegrass.”
- Under the Radar: “…the elements that most define her music remain deeply personal; her lustrous vocals and resonant storytelling are the most prominent throughlines to her work.”
- American Songwriter: “Ten stunning tracks that thoughtfully dive into an array of complex emotions and experiences.”
- AllMusic: “A lovely, accomplished set of songs that offers compassion and wisdom in the face of adversity.”
Follow Lindsay Lou:
Website: LindsayLouMusic.com
Instagram: @lindsayloumusic
Facebook: @lindsayloumusic
2024 Tour Dates:
(* denotes support with The Wood Brothers, # denotes performances with the Allman Betts Family Revival)
September 2024
6 - Hotchkiss, CO @ Big B’s
7 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes Ballroom
10 - Durango, CO @ Animas City Theatre
11 - Flagstaff, AZ @ The Orpheum
13 - Las Vegas, NV @ Bender Jamboree
14 - Felton, CA @ Brewgrass Festival
16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
17 - Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club
19 - Spokane, WA @ The District
20 - Missoula, MT @ Zootown Arts Community Center
21 - Bozeman, MT @ The Rialto
October 2024
4 - San Francisco, CA @ Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
5 - Eureka Springs, AR @ Hillberry Music Festival
11 - Pelham, TN @ CaveFest
17 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
18 - Marquette, MI @ Ore Dock Brewing
22 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
23 - Evanston, IL @ SPACE
November 2024
13 - Winston-Salem, NC @ The Ramkat *
14 - Bristol, TN @ Paramount Bristol *
15 - Roanoke, VA @ Venue TBA *
16 - Bethesda, MD @ The Strathmore *
17 - Phoenixville, PA @ The Colonial Theatre *
19 - Harrisburg, PA @ XL Live *
20 - Toronto, ON @ The Concert Hall *
22 - Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre *
December 2024
1 - Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre #
3 - Olmsted Falls, OH @ Palace Theatre #
4 - Buffalo, NY @ Kleinhans Music Hall #
5 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre #
6 - Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre #
7 - New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre #
8 - Huntington, NY @ The Paramount #
9 - Tysons, VA @ Capital One Hall #
11 - Sarasota, FL @ Van Wezel PAC #
12 - Charleston, SC @ Gaillard Center #
13 - Danville, KY @ Norton Center for the Arts #
14 - Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory #
15 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater #
16 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium #
17 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre #
18 - Denver, CO @ Paramount Theater #
20 - Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort & Casino #
21 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore #
For more information, visit LindsayLouMusic.com.
Country traditionalist JP Harris is hitting the road hard this fall for his Bloodshot Records debut, JP Harris Is A Trash Fire, produced by JD McPherson. Harris is also respected fixture of several scenes around his adopted hometown of Nashville, TN — you can find him working on Nashville's historic homes, riding and fixing old motorcycles, or picking through scrap piles for useable refuse. In a musical landscape of period-correct reproduction, “outlaw” internet posturing, and flavor-of-the-month variants on country, JP Harris Is A Trash Fire burns bright as a dumpster in a Walmart parking lot on a moonless night; some will fear it, some will gravitate to its acrid warmth, and most will have no idea what to make of the situation.
JP’s historic restoration carpentry has continued to be a baseline for his relationship to music; the yin to his yang, the Burt to his Ernie, the Dolly to his Porter. It was through this concurrent line of work that he met another twice-initialed singer with a penchant for old Americana music, obscure film, and overly elaborate ethnic meal preparations: one JD McPherson. The two became fast friends and would eventually, through many twists, turns, false starts, and biblically-proportionate plagues, enter a modest studio in Nashville to record JP Harris Is A Trash Fire.
Over the course of nine months in 2023, they recorded a sometimes lush, sometimes sparse, and sometimes jarring country album of Harris’ originals, loudly and violently squelching any attempt to pigeon-hole a song into any subgenre of country music. Only albums by Lee Hazelwood and an obscure folk album Waylon Jennings made when his hair was still short were allowed to be mentioned in reference. Featuring the guest vocals of Erin Rae, The Watson Twins, Shovels & Rope, and producer JD McPherson himself, the record is equal parts satire, reflection, and apology to those that would listen.
Harris has been steadily elbowing the definitive boundaries of “country music” wider with every album, both sonically and lyrically, and his latest piece of self described “Avant-Country” is no exception. Even within the rapidly growing world of “underground” country music, Harris still considers himself an outsider, content to inhabit a gray area where punk rock ethos, folk art aesthetic, and the workingman’s ballad mingle.
Self-taught in pretty much everything, Harris left his home in Montgomery, AL at age 14, spending most of his teenage years traveling by freight train, thumb, or foot before landing in rural northern New England. It was there Harris honed the many trades he’d learned: sheepherder, logger, heavy equipment operator, farm laborer, restoration carpenter, and sometimes as contraband handler, while his musical palette expanded beyond the punk rock of his youth to include the Early American Folk Canon of blues, old time, and early country recordings.
Moving to Nashville in 2011, Harris would go on to record 2014’s Home Is Where The Hurt Is,” 2018’s Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing, and 2021’s Appalachian banjo-centric side project album, Don’t You Marry No Railroad Man,” under the moniker "JP Harris’ Dreadful Wind & Rain." With JP Harris Is A Trash Fire, Harris found himself on venerable roots label Bloodshot Records with possibly his finest record to date! The reaction has been enough to have him put down his carpentry tools, trade his carpentry van for a tour vehicle and hit the road with a full band. Trust us, you won't want to miss it.
Watch:
JP HARRIS "House-broke Tiger On a Leach" documentary
Stream/ Purchase JP Harris Is A Trash Fire
JP HARRIS ON TOUR
FR 10/25: Lafayette LA // Blackpot Festival & Cookoff
TH 11/7: Raleigh NC // The Pourhouse
FR 11/8: Lancaster PA // West Art
SA 11/9: Trumansburg NY // Sweet Land Farm
SU 11/10: Brooklyn NY // Skinny Dennis
TU 11/12: Kingston NY // Tubby’s
WE 11/13: Hudson NY // Half Moon
TH 11/14: Gloucester MA // The Cut
SA 11/16: Brattleboro VT // The Stone Church
SU 11/17: Providence RI // Alchemy
TU 11/19: Hagerstown MD // Hub City Vinyl
WE 11/20: Elkton MD // Elkton Music Hall
TH 11/21: Richmond VA // Star Hill Beer Hall
SA 11/23: Floyd VA // Dogtown Roadhouse
SU 11/24: Charlotte NC // The Thirsty Beaver
TH 12/12: Eunice LA // Lakeview Park w/ Kelli Jones and The Cajun Allstars
FR 12/13: Austin TX // Sagebrush
SA 12/14: San Antonio TX // The Lonesome Rose
WE 12/18: Houston TX // Danelectro’s
TH 12/19: Ft. Worth TX // Tulips supporting Greyhounds
SA 12/21: Kansas City MO // Knuckleheads
SU 12/22: Tulsa OK // Mercury Lounge
MO 12/23: Little Rock AR // Whitewater Tavern w/ Dylan Earl
For the past 16 years, the 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of dedicated live music fans from around the world to hear original songwriters spanning multiple genres perform their songs. The beach resort towns along Scenic Highway 30A on the Gulf of Mexico become a music mecca featuring 25+ venues presenting over 120 songwriters and 200+ solo, band, and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of January 16 – 20, 2025.
30A Songwriters Festival will celebrate its 16th year with performances on the main stage at presenting partner Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach with headline performances by renowned artists MELISSA ETHERIDGE, AMOS LEE, THE JAYHAWKS, THE DEVON ALLMAN PROJECT, MAGGIE ROSE, and SECRET SISTERS.
The festival welcomes these artists for the first time to 30A: CHARLIE STARR & BENJI SHANKS (BLACKBERRY SMOKE), NATALIE HEMBY, BRANDY CLARK, CHUCK PROPHET & HIS CUMBIA SHOES, LINDSAY LOU (BAND), BRETT DENNAN, the STEWS, LANGHORNE SLIM, CHRIS KNIGHT, JOSH JOPLIN GROUP, WILLI CARLISLE, BEE TAYLOR (BAND), JONTAVIOUS WILLIS, JOSH ROUSE, PAUL MCDONALD & THE MOURNING DOVES, TYLER RAMSEY, ANDREA VON KAMPEN, JILL SOBULE, BURRIS, KYLE DAVIS, JADA CATO, BETH BOMBARA, MALLORY JOHNSON, JESSICA SHARMAN, DAVID BORNÉ, ANNA GRACE.
Returning to perform two shows each throughout the weekend are songwriting legends DARRELL SCOTT, LIVINGSTON TAYLOR, WILL KIMBROUGH, ELLIS PAUL, SHAWN MULLINS, VICKI PETERSON & JOHN COWSILL, JOHN PAUL WHITE, TOMMY PRINE, RUTHIE FOSTER, HAYES CARLL, HOLLY WILLIAMS, JOHN FULLBRIGHT, BLACK OPRY REVUE, LILLY HIATT, SUSAN WERNER, CHUCK CANNON, JEFF BLACK, DAN BERN, GRIFFIN HOUSE, CHARLIE MARS, RANDALL BRAMBLETT, JEFFREY STEELE, STEVE POLTZ, KELLY WILLIS, BOB SCHNEIDER, MARY GAUTHIER, CERTAINLY SO, DAVID RYAN HARRIS, CHRIS STILLS, EMERSON HART, JOHN DRISKELL HOPKINS, ADAM HOOD, ABE PARTRIDGE, CHASTITY BROWN, COUSIN CURTIS, WILL HOGE, RYANHOOD, with more to come.
We are pleased to announce the following additional confirmed artists: SARAH CLANTON, JACK BARKSDALE, ELIOT BRONSON, MIKE KINNEBREW, LIZ LONGLEY, GRAYSON CAPPS, CAT RIDGEWAY, LILLY WINWOOD, CAITLIN CANNON, BRADLEY COLE SMITH & NELSON NOLAN, JENNIFER LYNN SIMPSON, SARA HELLS, THE SAND OLE OPRY WITH MIKE WHITTY and many more.
Many More Artists Will Be Announced Over the Next Few Weeks—Stay Tuned
Melissa Etheridge – Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 Grammy Awards show. For several years, her popularity grew around such memorable originals as “Bring Me Some Water,” “No Souvenirs” and “Ain’t It Heavy,” for which she won a Grammy® in 1992. Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, Yes I Am (1993). The collection featured the massive hits, “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second Grammy® Award for Best Female Rock Performance. In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, Your Little Secret, which was distinguished by the hit single, “I Want to Come Over.” Her astounding success that year led to Etheridge receiving the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996. Etheridge has toured with her band extensively this year including co-headlining bills with Indigo Girls and Jewel. We welcome her and her band to headline the 16th Annual 30A Songwriters Festival.
Amos Lee - With a laid-backed style, dusty, evocative voice and acoustic Americana sound, Philadelphia-native Amos Lee straddles a range of genres in his quest to connect honestly and emotionally with his audience. Along with his acclaimed albums such as Mission Bell and Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song, and his gold-selling 2005 eponymous debut album, Amos Lee, the artist is well known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, from Paul Simon to Zac Brown Band. “My favorite time in music is probably 1970-75. Still Bill by Bill Withers, Harvest by Neil Young, John Prine’s first album, James Taylor’s One Man Dog—I hope I can bring the same sort of spirit I hear on those records,” he says. From old-timey to reverential, soul to Appalachian, funk and jazz – his musical career has been spent exploring the American songbook’s capacity to hold and express his emotional tides. Lee’s sharp ear and soulful approach to songwriting has resulted in a rich catalog of contemporary, classic songs beloved by his growing audience. “Sweet Pea,” “Windows Are Rolled Down,” and “Colors” are a few jumping off points for an artist who is well worth the deep dive. On his eleventh studio album, Transmissions, singer-songwriter Lee continues to expand his sonic range while sharpening his closely observed lyrics that squarely address death, aging, and love. We are thrilled to welcome Amos Lee this January for his debut performance on the 30A Songwriters Festival mainstage.
The Jayhawks - The incredible harmonies and distinctive arrangements of The Jayhawks set them apart from the rest of the Minneapolis music scene that emerged in the 1980s. Over the course of almost 4 decades, 11 albums, countless memorable live shows and enough personal drama to fill a couple of Behind the Music episodes, this beloved band soared to heights few ever achieve while winning the hearts and minds of numerous critics, fans and peers in the process. After releasing 2 Indie albums in the 80s, The Jayhawks had become a driving force and inspiration behind the growing Americana movement in the early 1990s. Combining the talents of singer-songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, The Jayhawks released their major label debut, the acclaimed Hollywood Town Hall (1992) on the Def American label. This was followed by Tomorrow the Green Grass (1995), which produced the alternative radio hit single “Blue.” When Olson left to pursue a solo career, Louris singularly took over the songwriting role in The Jayhawks creating the band’s enduring sound on some of their best selling and well-received albums including Sound of Lies (1997), Smile (2000) and Rainy Day Music (2003). Louris continues to write and tour with the longtime core group of Marc Perlman, Karen Grotberg, and Tim O’Reagan. Paging Mr. Proust (2016), was produced in Portland with Peter Buck and Tucker Martine and found the band moving in several new exciting directions. The band’s 10th studio album, Back Roads And Abandoned Motels, was released in the summer of 2018, featuring Jayhawks versions of songs that Gary Louris had previously written with other artists, plus 2 new compositions. In July 2020, The Jayhawks released their latest album, XOXO, that features songwriting and lead vocal contributions from all 4 core members. The Jayhawks have made music in 4 different decades and are as vital now as they were in 1985. They definitely have earned their reputation as a true American treasure.
Charlie Starr & Benji Shanks ( Blackberry Smoke) - Charlie Starr, lead vocalist and guitarist for American rock band Blackberry Smoke, will be joined by longtime friend and musician, Benji Shanks, for an acoustic performance. Starr is a native of Lanett, Alabama and was born into a musical family. Playing guitar became one of Starr's passions, in addition to writing and singing. In December 2017, he was named as one of Music Radar's top 23 guitarists, a list that includes "rock guitar gods" including Keith Richards of Rolling Stones, Slash of Guns N' Roses, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, amongst others. Blackberry Smoke is in the midst of a landmark year following the release of their new album, YOU HEAR GEORGIA. The album debuted as the best-selling Americana/Folk album in the country on May 28th 2021. It entered at #1 on the Billboard Top Americana/Folk Albums chart with resounding praise from fans and critics. Starr and Shanks will be performing intimate, acoustic arrangements of songs Starr has penned as well as some of their favorite songs by other artists.
Maggie Rose - Hailed for her "multi-genre talents" by Billboard and deemed a "star" by Rolling Stone, acclaimed singer-songwriter Maggie Rose has released her ambitious new album No One Gets Out Alive. Hearkening back to early '70s Laurel Canyon, the music deals in both dark and uplifting themes- disillusionment in relationships, ageism, female empowerment and living in the moment, among them, with Maggie's big, soulful voice taking center stage. Maggie successfully straddles the worlds of pop, rock, soul, Americana and folk, unencumbered by genre specifics. Recorded with a dream team including members of Jason Isbell's 400 Unit, Alabama Shakes and Gregg Allman's band, the record was produced by GRAMMY-Award winner Ben Tanner, mixed by Bobby Holland and arranged by conductor Don Hart (Phish, Lyle Lovett). A respected fixture of the Nashville community, Maggie has played the iconic Grand Ole Opry over 100 times and marquee festivals including Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, and Newport Folk Fest. A true road warrior, she has shared the stage with the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Heart, Joan Jett, Eric Church, Gov't Mule, The Mavericks, Fitz & The Tantrums, St. Paul & The Broken Bones and The Revivalists among others. In her first appearance at 30A, Maggie will set the headline stage on fire and follow it with a marquee evening performance - do not miss her!
Secret Sisters - Since their 2010 self-titled debut, The Secret Sisters have brought their spellbinding harmonies to songs that untangle the thorniest aspects of life and love and womanhood. In the making of their new album, Mind, Man, Medicine, Alabama-bred siblings Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle found their songwriting transformed by a newfound sense of self-reliance and equanimity, threading their lyrics with hard-won insight into the complexities of motherhood, commitment, compassion, and self-preservation in an endlessly chaotic world. Centered on a kaleidoscopic sound that boldly blurs the edges of country-folk, the duo’s fifth full-length ultimately confronts many of modern life’s harshest challenges while leading the listener toward a more open-hearted state of mind. The Festival is happy to bring back the Secret Sisters to 30A, this time to both the headline stage and for an evening performance.
The 30A Songwriters Festival production team transforms amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios into unique music venues with state-of-the-art sound systems with capacities ranging from 100 to 1000 seats indoors and 6,000 outdoors. WMOT, based in Nashville, will again interview and record select artists at the Festival for its World Cafe sessions aired throughout the year in conjunction with WXPN in Philadelphia.
The 30A Songwriters Festival is co-produced by Russell Carter Artist Management and the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton, and net proceeds from the Festival support the CAA's mission to advance the Arts in Walton County, Florida.
"I have had the good fortune to see Melissa Etheridge with her band several times on tour this summer with the Indigo Girls," comments Russell Carter, President of Russell Carter Artist Management and Festival Co-Producer. "Melissa is one of the greatest female rock n roll vocalists ever, and her lean mean band is perfectly tuned to support her immense writing and performing talent." Carter continues, “can I say how happy I am to get the Jayhawks to swing south all the way from Minneapolis to the panhandle to perform on the main stage - I know they are a favorite of many loyal 30A fans who have requested them for years: “I’m Going To Make You Love Me,” “Waiting For the Sun,” “Blue” and that’s just a start. We welcome the Jayhawks - arguably the best living, working Americana band in the country!”
“The Songwriters Festival stands apart in South Walton as the sole cultural event that brings most of the South Walton communities together, in harmony, to produce a four-day, around-the-clock presentation of extraordinary music." says Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County President & CEO and Festival Co-Producer Jennifer Steele. “From Thursday, January 16th through Monday, January 20th, the 30A corridor will be full of music fans enjoying wall-to-wall music venues, world-class musicians, and fabulous food & wine. If you haven’t experienced this immersive melodic experience, join us in 2025."
Adds Carter, "There is a direct correlation between the success of the 30A Songwriters Festival and the richness of cultural arts experiences led by the Cultural Arts Alliance, including an Art in Public Spaces program (murals and sculptures), the Underwater Museum of Art, a professional theater, arts education, the Flutterby Children's Arts Festival, and the ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival."
Festival Weekend Passes are currently available at www.30asongwritersfestival.com. VIP tickets that include premium seating and complimentary gourmet food and drinks in the VIP tent on Saturday and Sunday afternoons are also available. For a full description of each ticket package including VIP mainstage and full weekend transportation packages for groups of 2 up to 12, visit www.30asongwritersfestival.com.
The 30A Songwriters Festival is presented by Grand Boulevard with additional support from Visit South Walton, WaterColor Inn and Resort, and ASCAP.
About the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County
The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that fosters the inclusive and collaborative advancement of the Arts and envisions a thriving Walton County where everyone experiences the power of the Arts. As the creative core of our community for 30 years, the CAA provides accessible opportunities for all forms of art, every variety of maker, all levels of learners and art lovers. Through support for and presentation of creative and educational programs and services, the CAA strives to connect the people of Walton County to a broader view, critical exploration and answers only the Arts have the power to provide. Members of the CAA receive a 10% discount off weekend passes and admission to an exclusive performance on Wednesday, January 12th. Call (850) 622-5970 to become a member and take advantage of the discount. www.culturalartsalliance.com.
About Russell Carter Artist Management
Russell Carter Artist Management is a full-service artist management firm that has worked with national recording artists since 1990 currently including Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins, Matthew Sweet, and Abe Partridge. Prior to forming RCAM, Russell Carter practiced entertainment law in Atlanta for ten years. He has been a board member of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) in Florida from 2012-2024. RCAM, based in the 4th Ward in Atlanta, books, promotes, and co-produces the 30A Songwriters Festival with the CAA and co-produces the Opelika Songwriters Festival in Alabama with the Sound Wall.
About Grand Boulevard
There is always something new and entertaining to do at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. The award-winning mixed-use center consistently offers the finest in shopping, dining, lodging and entertainment along the Emerald Coast. With a diverse mix of both first-to-market national brands and locally-owned retail stores and restaurants, there is something for everyone at this popular Town Center. Grand Boulevard is a Howard Group and Merchants Retail Partners property. Visit GrandBoulevard.com.
Acoustic innovators Twisted Pine are back with a bold new direction and an exuberant collection of songs that dares you to Love Your Mind. Their new single, "After Midnight (Nothing Good Happens),” captures late-night festival fun with all its tempting choices -- campfires!! cold beer! jams! — and entered the Americana Radio singles chart this week. The video, shot on location at bluegrass/roots music festivals in Maine and Vermont, premiered at The Bluegrass Situation.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "AFTER MIDNIGHT (NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS)" HERE
STREAM/ ORDER LOVE YOUR MIND HERE
The band — Kathleen Parks on fiddle and lead vocals, Dan Bui on mandolin, Chris Sartori on bass, and Anh Phung on flute — will release their joyous third LP, Love Your Mind, on October 18 on Signature Sounds. With two strong front women, Parks and Phung, the lyrics often have a feminist bent. The new album straddles Americana, jazz, funk and bluegrass, all done on acoustic instruments. From the effervescent pop of “Goosebump Feeling” to a Frank Zappa cover (“Peaches En Regalia), Twisted Pine continue to expand their sound. The LP is full of buoyant pop and delicate folk, hootenanny twang and old-school R&B grooves, plus plenty of thoughtful, intense, and playful lyrics.
Co-produced by the band and longtime-collaborator Dan Cardinal (Aoife O'Donovan, Darlingside, Josh Ritter) at his studio Dimension Sound in Boston, the album is the sound of Twisted Pine now — experimental production, fearless songwriting featuring input from each member, finely-crafted collaborative arrangements, playing that is sometimes virtuosic, always visceral. The sound of a band that demands you Love Your Mind.
Look for more news soon and check this space for updates: www.twistedpineband.com
TWISTED PINE ON TOUR:
* with Railroad Earth
% with Damn Tall Buildings
Oct 18 Iron Horse Music Hall - Northampton, MA w/ Ali McGuirk
Oct 19 Zenbarn - Waterbury Center, VT w/ Queen City Cut-ups
Oct 20 Oct 20 Billsville House Concerts - Manchester VT [sold out]
Oct 24 Oxbow Brewery w/ Cilla Bonnie - Portland, ME
Oct 25 Stage One at Fairfield Theatre - Fairfield CT w/ Goodnight Blue Moon
Nov 13 XL Live- Harrisburg, PA *
Nov 14 Tarrytown Music Hall - Tarrytown NY *
Nov 15 Bearsville Theatre - Woodstock NY *
Nov 16 The Strand - Providence RI *
Nov 30 The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA % w/ Ali McGuirk, Presented by WBUR
Dec 4 World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA %
Dec 5 Drom - New York, NY %
Dec 6 Club Cafe - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Maya de Vitry
Dec 7 The Purple Fiddle - Thomas, WV
Dec 8 The 8x10 - Baltimore, MD - w/ Charm City Junction
Jan 16 Goodwood Gardens & Museum / Florida State University - Tallahassee, FL
Feb 2-9 Fort Lauderdale, FL - Scythian’s String Break Cruise
May 2 Caramoor Center for Music and The Arts - Katonah, NY (in collaboration w/ City Winery)
The Sound of Muscle Shoals, Grammy-winner Mike Farris’ first album since 2018’s Silver & Stone, marks a pilgrimage to the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Overseen by award-winning executive producer Rodney Hall (son of the iconic producer and record man Rick Hall), the album is a culmination of Farris’ musical influences and life lessons. Captured in a location deeply meaningful to him, the record was created in collaboration with members of the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and other session stalwarts of the area’s storied recording scene — including Clayton Ivey (keys), Will McFarlane, Kelvin Holly, Wes Sheffield (guitars), Jimbo Hart (bass), and Justin Holder (drums). Together, they bottled lightning, conjuring the intrinsic magic of the "Muscle Shoals Sound" and wrapping it around Farris’ heartfelt, hardscrabble blue-eyed soul vocals and songwriting.
Today, Farris releases the first single from the album, "Heavy On The Humble," which premiered at American Blues Scene. They write: “’Heavy On The Humble’ reminds us of life’s quiet, enduring beauty – with all its wear and tear. The song evokes echoes of nostalgia, with strong melodies and an unmistakable groove that draws on the artist’s country roots.”
STREAM/PURCHASE "HEAVY ON THE HUMBLE"
PRE-ORDER CDS AND COLORED VINYL HERE / DIGITAL PRE-SAVE HERE
The Sound of Muscle Shoals showcases Farris at his finest, intertwining gospel and rock ‘n’ roll, faith and fire, the spiritual and the earthly. As Rolling Stone Country described, his voice is “supersized, filled with the electricity of Saturday night and the godly grace of Sunday mornings.”
The album’s theme reflects on life’s lessons — hard-learned and hard-earned — and moving forward. “Ease On” revisits Farris’ early life growing up in Franklin County, Tennessee. “We didn’t have much, and life always felt like a struggle. For many years, I found it hard to go back there,” Farris admits. “But in a way, 'Ease On' pulled the curtain back and allowed me to take stock of where I came from and how I got here.”
The mantra of “ease on” continues in “Bird in The Rain.”
“That song came to me, like many songs do, early in the morning around the kitchen table," Farris recalls. "When I left New York to move back to Tennessee, it was partly because I realized I couldn’t write the songs I needed to write up there. I had to get back home and feel the soil under my feet. 'Bird in The Rain' is proof of that. And 'Sunset Road' is about the futility of worry. That’s it in a nutshell. I have a sneaking suspicion that some of my songs are written directly at me, via the Great Spirit.”
“Bright Lights” was the last song written for the album. Farris explains, “The idea behind the song is that the musician's life is way more complicated than just what you see once the songs reach the stage. It takes thousands of hours alone, working on the craft — countless ups and downs, self-doubt, big moments that fill you with hope, and low moments that test every ounce of your mettle. It’s a deep, mysterious road we travel, one that only a relative few are crazy enough to endure, and it demands everything. In the end, it’s all we know. It’s all I’ve ever done, and I wouldn’t trade it for all the riches in the world.”
Farris is bringing his legendary Holiday Soul Review to select shows in the Southeast (see below). Look for 2025 tour dates to be announced soon, and check for updates at www.mikefarris.com.
TRACKLISTING
Ease On
Heavy On The Humble
Swingin’
I’ll Come Runnin’
Bird In The Rain
Slow Train
Bright Lights
Learning To Love
Her
Before There Was You & I
Sunset Road
Following an overwhelmingly successful run of Summer 2024 co-headline dates, Grammy Award-winning folk-rock duo Indigo Girls will reunite with Grammy Award-winning rock icon Melissa Etheridge for their 2025 'Yes We Are' Co-headline Tour. The two will join forces starting this summer, hitting over 30 stops across North America. The tour kicks off on July 25th at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO, continues down the West Coast, and spans the Midwest throughout August. In September and October, the tour will head to states along the East Coast and South, wrapping on October 12th at the Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix, AZ. This extensive joint run adds to both Etheridge’s and Indigo Girls’ growing roster of exciting 2024 and 2025 dates, giving fans even more opportunities to catch these legendary artists on the road.
Tickets for all dates go on sale Thursday, December 12, at 10 AM local time. Artist presales for both Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge will be available on Tuesday, December 10, at 10 AM local time and run until Wednesday, December 11, at 11:59 PM local time. For tickets and additional information, please visit IndigoGirls.com and MelissaEtheridge.com. Scroll down for all announced dates.
The Indigo Girls recently joined Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr., Billy Strings featuring Sierra Hull and Zach Top, Eve Monsees, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Brandy Clark, Rufus Wainwright, The Mavericks, Ángela Aguilar, Cam, and Lloyd Maines & the ACL All-Stars for the PBS special Austin City Limits Celebrates 50 Years: A Special Anniversary Taping, which will air in April 2025.
Their acclaimed film documentary, Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All, is currently available on demand and streaming on Netflix. Directed by Alexandria Bombach, the film premiered to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival and has since received accolades from both the film and music press.
The Indigo Girls’ music was also featured in the jukebox musical romance Glitter & Doom. Directed by Tom Gustafson (Were the World Mine, Frameline32), Glitter & Doom tells the tale of a whirlwind summer romance through inventive reimaginings of classic Indigo Girls songs. The film features a star-studded queer supporting cast, including Lea DeLaria, Tig Notaro, Kate Pierson (The B-52s), RuPaul's Drag Race alum Peppermint, and even a cameo from Amy and Emily themselves.
Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Melissa Etheridge has been one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. Her most recent studio project, One Way Out, was released on September 17, 2021. Etheridge also published her memoir Talking to My Angels (HarperCollins), which debuted at #9 on the New York Times Bestseller list.
The pairing of Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge offers music lovers an exceptional opportunity to spend a night immersed in world-class singing and songwriting.
Indigo Girls + Melissa Etheridge 2025 Co-billed Tour Dates
Fri, Jul 25 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sat, Jul 26 Sandy, UT - Sandy Amphitheater
Mon, Jul 28 Troutdale, OR - Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
Tue, Jul 29 Redmond, WA - Marymoor Live
Fri, Aug 1 Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater
Sat, Aug 2 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley
Sun, Aug 3 Murphys, CA - Ironstone Amphitheatre
Thu, Aug 7 Paso Robles, CA - Viña Robles Amphitheatre
Fri, Aug 8 Lincoln, CA - The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino
Sat, Aug 9 Costa Mesa, CA - OC Fair - Pacific Amphitheatre Concert Series
Sat, Aug 16 Fort Wayne, IN - The Embassy Theatre\
Sun, Aug 17 Chicago, IL - Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park
Tue, Aug 19 Milwaukee, WI - BMO Pavilion
Wed, Aug 20 Des Moines, IA - Des Moines Civic Center
Thu, Aug 21 Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theatre
Sat, Aug 23 Lincoln, NE - Pinewood Bowl Theater
Sun, Aug 24 St. Paul, MN - Minnesota State Fair
Tue, Aug 26 Detroit, MI - Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Sat, Aug 30 Bangor, ME - Maine Savings Amphitheater
Sat, Sep 13 Fredericton, NB - Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival
Fri, Sep 19 Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion
Sat, Sep 20 Huntsville, AL - Orion Amphitheater
Mon, Sep 22 Columbus, OH - Mershon Auditorium
Tue, Sep 23 Louisville, KY - Iroquois Amphitheater
Thu, Sep 25 Greensboro, NC - White Oak Amphitheatre
Fri, Sep 26 Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Tue, Oct 7 Manhattan, KS - McCain Auditorium at Kansas State University *
Wed, Oct 8 Grand Prairie, TX - Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie
Thu, Oct 9 San Antonio, TX - The Espee
Sat, Oct 11 Albuquerque, NM - Route 66 Casino *
Sun, Oct 12 Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Financial Theatre
*On-sale for select date to be announced. Current presale and on-sale timelines do not apply.
For the past 16 years, the 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of dedicated live music fans from around the world to hear original songwriters spanning multiple genres perform their songs. The beach resort towns along Scenic Highway 30A on the Gulf of Mexico become a music mecca featuring 30 venues presenting over 130 songwriters and 300+ solo, band, and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of January 16 – 20, 2025.
30A Songwriters Festival will celebrate its 16th year with performances on the main stage at presenting partner Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach with headline performances by renowned artists MELISSA ETHERIDGE, AMOS LEE, THE JAYHAWKS, THE DEVON ALLMAN PROJECT, MAGGIE ROSE, and SECRET SISTERS.
The festival welcomes these artists for the first time to 30A: KATIE PRUITT, CHARLIE STARR & BENJI SHANKS (BLACKBERRY SMOKE), NATALIE HEMBY, BRANDY CLARK, THE dBs, CHUCK PROPHET & HIS CUMBIA SHOES, TYLER RAMSEY, LINDSAY LOU (BAND), BRETT DENNAN, The STEWS, LANGHORNE SLIM, CHRIS KNIGHT, JOSH JOPLIN GROUP, WILLI CARLISLE, BEE TAYLOR (BAND), JONTAVIOUS WILLIS, JOSH ROUSE, PAUL MCDONALD & THE MOURNING DOVES, ANDREA VON KAMPEN, JILL SOBULE, BURRIS, KYLE DAVIS, JADA CATO, BETH BOMBARA, MALLORY JOHNSON, JESSICA SHARMAN, DAVID BORNÉ, ANNA GRACE.
AND THESE SHOWCASING ARTISTS:
Shawn Mullins, Livingston Taylor, Gary Louris, Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill, John Paul White, Jeffrey Steele, Lilly Hiatt, Dan Navarro, Kim Richey, Ruthie Foster, Black Opry Revue, the Josh Joplin Group, Tommy Womack, John Fullbright, Susan Werner, The Stews, The Pink Stones, Darrell Scott, Hayes Carll, Holly Williams, Emerson Hart, David Ryan Harris, Chris Stills, Nigel Wearne, Chuck Cannon, Robby Hecht, Nora Jane Struthers, Cousin Curtiss, Steve Poltz, Kelly Willis, Bob Schneider, Mary Gauthier, Kristy Lee, Certainly So, Tommy Prine, Amy LaVere & Will Sexton, Adam Hood, Abe Partridge, Will Hoge, Ryanhood, Brian White, Karyn Williams, Will Kimbrough, Ellis Paul, Jeff Black, Dan Bern, Griffin House, Garrison Starr, John Driskell Hopkins, Charlie Mars, Randall Bramblett, Levi Lowrey and Wyatt Durrette (Yesterday’s Wine), Gurufish, Donnie Sundal, Boukou Groove, Alice Peacock, Jaimee Harris, Larry Mitchell, Katie Martin, Pete Muller, Josh Osborne, Jonathan Singleton, Gordie Sampson, Austin Jenckes, Tia Sellers, Hannah Dasher, Gina Venier, Gavin Lucas, Paul Sikes, Brent Anderson, Tony Lane, Kyle Sturrock, Mary Bragg, Martha’s Trouble, Diane Durrett, Florence Dore, Alice Wallace, The Krickets, Rachel Laven, Spencer LaJoye, Ethan Hulse, Jessica Willis Fisher, Sarah Clanton, Jack Barksdale, Eliot Bronson, Hayley Reardon, Mike Kinnebrew, Liz Longley, Harrison Prentice, Sara Jean Kelley, Antje Duvekot & Colin Forhan, Scott Crompton, Wildlife Specials, Alexa Rose, Whitehorse, Colton Bowlin, Cat Ridgeway, Lilly Winwood, Bradley Cole Smith & Nelson Nolan, Caitlin Cannon, Wyatt Espalin, Kurtis John, Casey LeVasseur, Anna Shinholster, Hannah Thomas, The Saunders Boyz, Jennifer Lynn Simpson, Sara Hells, Rogers, The Sand Ole Opry with Mike Whitty, Sammi Accola, Gileah Taylor, Kyle LaMonica, Dion Jones & The Neon Tears, Theo Von, Adam Klein.
VENUES INCLUDE: AJ’s Grayton Beach, ANR at Camp Creek Inn, Beach Happy Cafe, Bud & Alley's Waterfront Restaurant & Bar, Caliza in Alys Beach, Central Square Records, Corcoran Reverie, Drive the Coast, Fish Out of Water (FISH), Fonville Press, Grand Boulevard (Main Stage), Grayton Beer Taproom, Havana Beach Bar & Grill at The Pearl, Raw & Juicy at Hibiscus (Grayton Beach) Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Hotel Effie - The Lobby Bar, Hyatt Place - The Placery, LaCo, North Beach Social, Old Florida Fish House, Pickle’s, Raw & Juicy (Alys Beach), Red Fish Taco, Rosemary Beach Town Hall, Seaside Lyceum, The Bay, The Big Chill, The REP Theatre, and WaterColor Lakehouse.
SPONSORS INCLUDE: Americana Music Association, ASCAP, Blue Green Landscaping, Capital City Bank, Cathead Distillery, Centennial Bank, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Corcoran Reverie, CPC Office Technologies, Destin Jeep Rentals, Douglas Elliman, Driftwood Wine & Spirits, Emerald Coast Luxury Transportation, Emerald Coast Magazine, Epic Western, Fisher's Flowers, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Grand Boulevard, Grayton Beer Company, Hwy 331.com, Latitude Margaritaville, Nutrl, William Burns Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Naumann Group Real Estate, National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, Odd Pelican, Ohana Day School, Panache Tent & Events, Panama City Golf Carts, Rosemary Beach Realty | Smith & Southern Collective, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, The Sorting Table, The Sound Wall / Opelika Songwriters Festival, Visit South Walton, Word of South, and 30A Company.
LODGING PARTNERS INCLUDE: 30A Beach Girls, Alys Beach, Camp Creek Inn, Courtyard by Marriott Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Hibiscus Coffee & Guest House, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Homeowner’s Collection, Hotel Effie, Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard Residence Inn Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Company, Rosemary Beach Inn, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, The Court, The Pearl Hotel, WaterColor Inn & Resort, and Vacasa.
About 30A:
The 30A Songwriters Festival production team transforms amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios into unique music venues with state-of-the-art sound systems with capacities ranging from 100 to 1000 seats indoors and 6,000 outdoors. WMOT, based in Nashville, will again interview and record select artists at the Festival for its World Cafe sessions aired throughout the year in conjunction with WXPN in Philadelphia.
The 30A Songwriters Festival is co-produced by Russell Carter Artist Management and the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton, and net proceeds from the Festival support the CAA's mission to advance the Arts in Walton County, Florida.
"I have had the good fortune to see Melissa Etheridge with her band several times on tour this summer with the Indigo Girls," comments Russell Carter, President of Russell Carter Artist Management and Festival Co-Producer. "Melissa is one of the greatest female rock n roll vocalists ever, and her lean mean band is perfectly tuned to support her immense writing and performing talent." Carter continues, “can I say how happy I am to get the Jayhawks to swing south all the way from Minneapolis to the panhandle to perform on the main stage - I know they are a favorite of many loyal 30A fans who have requested them for years: “I’m Going To Make You Love Me,” “Waiting For the Sun,” “Blue” and that’s just a start. We welcome the Jayhawks - arguably the best living, working Americana band in the country!”
“The Songwriters Festival stands apart in South Walton as the sole cultural event that brings most of the South Walton communities together, in harmony, to produce a four-day, around-the-clock presentation of extraordinary music." says Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County President & CEO and Festival Co-Producer Jennifer Steele. “From Thursday, January 16th through Monday, January 20th, the 30A corridor will be full of music fans enjoying wall-to-wall music venues, world-class musicians, and fabulous food & wine. If you haven’t experienced this immersive melodic experience, join us in 2025."
Adds Carter, "There is a direct correlation between the success of the 30A Songwriters Festival and the richness of cultural arts experiences led by the Cultural Arts Alliance, including an Art in Public Spaces program (murals and sculptures), the Underwater Museum of Art, a professional theater, arts education, the Flutterby Children's Arts Festival, and the ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival."
Festival Weekend Passes are currently available at www.30asongwritersfestival.com. VIP tickets that include premium seating and complimentary gourmet food and drinks in the VIP tent on Saturday and Sunday afternoons are also available. For a full description of each ticket package including VIP mainstage and full weekend transportation packages for groups of 2 up to 12, visit www.30asongwritersfestival.com.
The 30A Songwriters Festival is presented by Grand Boulevard with additional support from Visit South Walton, WaterColor Inn and Resort, and ASCAP.
About the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County
The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that fosters the inclusive and collaborative advancement of the Arts and envisions a thriving Walton County where everyone experiences the power of the Arts. As the creative core of our community for 30 years, the CAA provides accessible opportunities for all forms of art, every variety of maker, all levels of learners and art lovers. Through support for and presentation of creative and educational programs and services, the CAA strives to connect the people of Walton County to a broader view, critical exploration and answers only the Arts have the power to provide. Members of the CAA receive a 10% discount off weekend passes and admission to an exclusive performance on Wednesday, January 12th. Call (850) 622-5970 to become a member and take advantage of the discount. www.culturalartsalliance.com.
About Russell Carter Artist Management
Russell Carter Artist Management is a full-service artist management firm that has worked with national recording artists since 1990 currently including Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins, Matthew Sweet, and Abe Partridge. Prior to forming RCAM, Russell Carter practiced entertainment law in Atlanta for ten years. He has been a board member of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) in Florida from 2012-2024. RCAM, based in the 4th Ward in Atlanta, books, promotes, and co-produces the 30A Songwriters Festival with the CAA and co-produces the Opelika Songwriters Festival in Alabama with the Sound Wall.
About Grand Boulevard
There is always something new and entertaining to do at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. The award-winning mixed-use center consistently offers the finest in shopping, dining, lodging and entertainment along the Emerald Coast. With a diverse mix of both first-to-market national brands and locally-owned retail stores and restaurants, there is something for everyone at this popular Town Center. Grand Boulevard is a Howard Group and Merchants Retail Partners property. Visit GrandBoulevard.com.
Them Coulee Boys kick off the new year with an upbeat new single, "Up Close," showcasing the band's playful side. The second release from the band's upcoming album, No Fun In The Chrysalis, the song "embraces the whimsy and 'throw caution to the wind' attitude that comes with attraction — if you can fall, you can fall fast," says songwriter Soren Staff. "Put simply, it’s a song about making out.” The album, their fifth, finds the band reunited with Grammy-winner Brian Joseph (Bon Iver, Kathleen Edwards, Sufjan Stevens). Recorded at The Hive Studios in their hometown of Eau Claire, WI, No Fun In The Chrysalis captures the authentic, unpredictable energy, four-part harmonies and dynamic compositions that Them Coulee Boys have become known for as a live band.
LISTEN TO "UP CLOSE" HERE / AVAILABLE ON STREAMING SERVICES HERE
PRE-ORDER THE LP HERE
"'Up Close' is a bouncy, tongue-in-cheek groove that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” says Staff. "Born of a legitimate flirt from me to my partner, the song centers around the line, 'you know I love the way you look up close,' referencing that I became more attracted to her the closer I looked. I was speaking to physical distance, but I like to think it also applies to the emotional distance. The ‘closer' we got, the more in love we felt.
“Musically it pairs a backbeat groove with both electric mandolin and electric banjo, keeping the mood light and bouncy, mirroring the lyrics," he says. "The song turns when the fingerpicked acoustic guitar starts the bridge, its ascending riff building to a cacophony. Piano, mandolin, banjo, and bass all descend on the jam, building to a crescendo, signifying the intimacy of physical attraction that builds — finally — to acting on that impulse."
With four full-length albums and an EP behind them, including 2019’s Die Happy (produced by Trampled By Turtles’ Dave Simonett on Lo-Hi Records) and 2021’s Namesake (produced by Grammy-winner Brian Joseph), the band has garnered international attention and earned press in American Songwriter, Ditty TV, Folk Alley, and The Bluegrass Situation, as well as tours with Trampled By Turtles and a spot on the songwriter’s Cayamo Cruise. In 2020, they were named Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Band to Watch and are gearing up for a busy 2025 on the road.
Catch Them Coulee Boys on tour and check this space for updates: www.themcouleeboys.com
TOUR DATES:
FR, Jan 24 Whitewater Music Hall - Wausau, WI
SA, Jan 25 Ore Dock Brewing Company - Marquette, MI
TH, Jan 30, Fesler-Lampert Arts Series - Fairbault, MN
FR, Jan 31 Sacred Heart Music Center - Duluth, MN
FR, Feb 7 Appleton Beer Factory - Appleton, WI
SA, Feb 8 Winter Roots Festival - La Crosse, WI
TH, Mar 13 The Music Box - Rockford, IL
FR. Mar 14 The Coterie - Kokomo, IN
SA, Mar 15 Whiskey City's Liberty Theater - Lawrenceburg, IN
SU, Mar 16 Woodland's Tavern - Columbus, OH
WE, Mar 19 Riverside Revival - Nashville, TN
TH, Mar 20 Blue Strawberry - St. Louis, MO
FR, Mar 21 Kenny Westside Pub - Peoria, IL
SA, Mar 22 The Bend Theater - West Bend, WI
FR, Apr 25 Turf Club - St. Paul, MN
SA, May 3 Stoughton Opera House - Stoughton, WI
SA, May 10 Greer Spring, SC - Skunk Music Festival
FR, May 30 Trempealeau Hotel - Trempealeau, WI
SA, May 31 Trempealeau Hotel - Trempealeau, WI
TH, Jun 26 Blue Ox Music Festival - Eau Claire, WI
Grammy-winner Mike Farris’ upcoming release, The Sound of Muscle Shoals, finds the Nashville artist releasing his first album jointly through legendary Alabama imprint Fame Records and Mississippi's Malaco Records. For his follow-up to 2018’s Silver & Stone, Farris made the pilgrimage to Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama for an album overseen by award-winning executive producer Rodney Hall (son of legendary producer and record man Rick Hall). The album is the culmination of all of his musical influences and life lessons learned, captured in a location that holds deep meaning for him.
“Working with Mike Farris on This album has been an incredible journey—his soul, grit, and passion embody everything that makes this music timeless," says Hall. "Capturing that spirit in the place where it all began and releasing it on FAME Records is a full-circle moment for Muscle Shoals music. This album is not just a tribute to the sound; it’s a living, breathing testament to its future.”
The Sound of Muscle Shoals, produced by Farris, will be released digitally, on CD and on limited-edition red vinyl. Today, Farris is releasing a lyric video for "Heavy On The Humble," the first single from the album, which premiered at PopMatters.
“I think there are some great musical moments on it,” Farris tells PopMatters. “Muscle Shoals still has its roots grounded, and I feel like that’s where I needed to be to be making my kind of music these days. My surroundings have a great effect on me. It feels like some kind of magical and deep vortex.”
Recorded in creative collaboration with members of the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and other session stalwarts of ‘The Shoals’ recording scene — Clayton Ivey (keys), Will McFarlane, Kelvin Holly, Wes Sheffield (guitars), Jimbo Hart (bass), and Justin Holder (drums) — they captured lightning in a bottle, conjuring up the intrinsic magic of the "Muscle Shoals Sound" and wrapping it around Farris’s heartfelt and hardscrabble blue-eyed soul vocals and songwriting.
The Sound of Muscle Shoals finds Farris at his best, intertwining the threads of gospel and rock ‘n’ roll, of faith and fire, the spiritual and earthly, bringing what Rolling Stone Country described as his “supersized voice filled with the electricity of Saturday night and the godly grace of Sunday mornings.”
Look for 2025 tour dates to be announce soon and check this space for updates: www.mikefarris.com
TRACKLISTING:
Ease On
Heavy On The Humble
Swingin’
I’ll Come Runnin’
Bird In The Rain
Slow Train
Bright Lights
Learning To Love
Her
Before There Was You & I
Sunset Road
TOUR DATES:
* solo shows
MAR 7 Florence AL- Flobama
MAR 8 Nashville TN- 3rd & Lindsley
MAR 16 Cincinnati OH- Ludlow Garage *
MAR 18 Ann Arbor, MI- The Ark *
MAR 19 Evanston, IL- SPACE *
MAR 21 Kansas City, MO- Knuckleheads *
MAR 22 St. Louis, MO- City Winery *
MAR 23 Madison WI- The Bur Oak *
MAR 24 Milwaukee WI- SHank Hall *
MAR 28 Decatur, GA- Eddie's Attic *
Grammy-winner Mike Farris returns to his rural upbringing in Tennessee with his new single, "Ease On," out on streaming services today. Blending vintage rock and soul with driving electric piano, it's the second single from The Sound of Muscle Shoals, Farris' first album since 2018’s Silver & Stone. "Ease On" channels a Sticky Fingers-era Stonesy vibe, with Farris's powerhouse vocals supported by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and other stalwarts of ‘The Shoals’ recording scene—Clayton Ivey (keys), Will McFarlane, Kelvin Holly, Wes Sheffield (guitars), Jimbo Hart (bass), and Justin Holder (drums).
Produced by Farris, with FAME Studios’ Rodney Hall as executive producer, they captured lightning in a bottle, conjuring up the intrinsic magic of the "Muscle Shoals Sound" and wrapping it around Farris’s heartfelt and hardscrabble blue-eyed soul vocals and songwriting.
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO FOR "EASE ON" HERE
PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE THE SOUND OF MUSCLE SHOALS HERE
"'Ease On' is a song I’ve had for quite a while," Farris says. "It details my early life growing up in Franklin County, TN. We didn’t have much, and life always felt like a struggle. For many years, I found it hard to go back there. I’ve never been one to look back for long—my life has always been about moving forward and maintaining that momentum. But in a way, 'Ease On' pulled the curtain back and allowed me to take stock of where I came from and how I got here."
The Sound of Muscle Shoals finds Farris at his best, intertwining the threads of gospel and rock ‘n’ roll, faith and fire, the spiritual and the earthly—bringing to life what Rolling Stone Country described as his “supersized voice filled with the electricity of Saturday night and the godly grace of Sunday mornings.”
Farris will return to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Friday, April 4; scroll down for tour dates.
PREVIOUS PRESS
"With a supersized voice filled with the electricity of Saturday night and the godly grace of Sunday mornings." — Rolling Stone Country
"…a collection of originals and covers that are deeply soulful and definitely uplifting." — NPR World Café Live
"There aren’t many current male singers who use their voices to soar, float, and deliver material with the spiritual commitment of Mike Farris." — American Songwriter Magazine
"Farris is enthralling onstage." — No Depression
"Mike Farris has enough heart, soul, and power to light up a city. He mixes up the elements and turns them into something new, beautiful, and uniquely his own." — Buddy Miller
"Mike Farris sings blue-eyed soul to soothe the spirit." — Associated Press
"Mike Farris is a soul man…way cool!" — Marty Stuart
MIKE FARRIS ON TOUR
(Solo shows indicated with an asterisk)
MAR 7 – Florence, AL – Flobama
MAR 8 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley
MAR 16 – Cincinnati, OH – Ludlow Garage *
MAR 18 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark *
MAR 19 – Evanston, IL – SPACE *
MAR 21 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads *
MAR 22 – St. Louis, MO – City Winery *
MAR 23 – Madison, WI – The Bur Oak *
MAR 24 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall *
MAR 28 – Decatur, GA – Eddie's Attic *
APR 4 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
THE HERCULEONS, a new project by esteemed Nashville music veterans John Cowan (New Grass Revival, The Doobie Brothers) and Andrea Zonn (James Taylor, Vince Gill) are releasing their debut album, John Cowan & Andrea Zonn Are The HercuLeons today via True Lonesome Records. The album is an eclectic mix of Americana, singer-songwriter and classic rock styles, propelled by longtime friends Cowan and Zonn's seamless, powerhouse vocals and decades of experience. Produced with Wendy Waldman, guests include Michael McDonald, Darrell Scott, John Hall, John McFee, Bill Payne and Reese Wynans. (The band name was inspired by their live shows and one of Cowan’s favorite musicians — Cowan praised his new band members' "herculean” performances and changed the spelling as a nod to his musical idol, Leon Russell.)
JOHN COWAN & ANDREA ZONN ARE THE HERCULEONS; STREAM HERE
AVAILABLE TO STREAM/ PURCHASE HERE
Today, The Bluegrass Situation is offering a full-album stream in their weekly 'You Gotta Hear This' round-up with longtime friends Cowan and Zonn sharing the way the project came together:
“For me, the making of this record was not about career, revenue streams, or anything else," Cowan says. "I had been singing with, around, and listening to Andrea Zonn for 20 years. Like most of us, we were stranded during the pandemic. This record was truly born out of our combined desire to once and for all record our voices singing together.”
Zonn agrees, adding: “Like John, I was only too happy to make an entire record with one of my favorite singers, musicians, and humans. With the help of our dear friend [producer] Wendy Waldman, we began exploring ideas, crafting a sound, and pursuing a collection of songs that spoke to our creative and spiritual centers. We’re so thrilled to be sending out into the world, at long last.”
The HercuLeons created a buzz during their Nashville residency at 3rd & Lindsley and wowed the audience at their AmericanaFest 2024 show, which featured the duo backed by a group of Nashville's finest: Jody Nardone (piano), Andy Peake (drums), Paul Kramer (multi-instrumentalist), and Tom Britt (lead guitar).
Before Cowan and Zonn leave on tour -- Cowan as a longtime member of The Doobie Brothers and Zonn as violinist / vocalist with James Taylor, the HercuLeons will debut at the Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday, April 16.
Roots rockers Yarn returned with a roar with their acclaimed 2024 album, Born, Blessed, Grateful & Alive, the North Carolina via NYC's first new album in eight years. With a renewed commitment to touring, frontman/songwriter Blake Christiana regrouped with the band's original rhythm section, Robert Bonhomme and Rick Bugel and hit the road, including an official showcase at Nashville's AmericanaFest and their annual Yarnival Festival. Live Yarn: Vol. 1 was recorded during Yarn's set at the Rooster Walk Music Festival in May 2024 in Axton, VA and features some of the band's most storied and favorite collaborators: Josh Shilling of Wynonna Judd and Mountain Heart fame, Joel Timmons ,Russell Clarke and Ward Buckheister of Sol Driven Train, alongside Isaac Hadden and Caitlin Krisko.
The album was mixed by Joel Weldon Willis (Charlotte, NC) and mastered by Fred Kevorkian (Brooklyn, NY) and will be released digitally, on CD and vinyl on May 2 through Symphonic Distribution.
Christiana says, "This set felt special from the first note. We've chosen live takes from seven fan favorites from our extensive catalog along with tracks from our 2024 tour dates."
Yarn is Blake Christiana, Andrew Trongone, Rick Bugel and Robert Bonhomme.
PRE-SAVE YARN: VOL. 1 HERE | ORDER ON VINYL HERE
TOUR DATES:
4.9 - Clementine - Harrisonburg, VA
4.10 - The Southern Cafe and Music Hall - Charlottesville, VA
4.11 - Elkton Music Hall - Elkton, MD
4.12 - The Abbey at ABC - Harrisburg, PA
4.14 - Higher Ground - Burlington, VT
4.16 - Sportsmens Tavern - Buffalo, NY
4.17 - Funk 'n Waffles Syracuse - Syracuse, NY
4.18 - Roy's Hall - Blairstown, NJ
4.19 - Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn, NY
5.8 - 2025 Spring Skunk Fest - Greer, SC
5.9 - Eddie's Attic - Decatur, GA
5.10 - Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC
5.16 - Bowstring - Wilmington, NC
5.17 - Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC (co-bill mashup with Perpetual Groove)
5.22 - Rooster Walk - Axton, VA
5.24 - Kerrville Folk Festival - Kerrville, TX
5.25 - Rooster Walk - Axton, VA
6.5 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT
6.6 - Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival - Palisade, CO
6.7 - Indiewood Festival - Englewood, CO
6.19 - Bottom of The Hill - San Francisco, CA
6.20 - Friday Night Live - Cloverdale, CA
6.21 - Crystal Bay Casino - Lake Tahoe, CA
6.24 - Hidden Hall - Seattle, WA
6.25 - Jack London - Portland, OR
6.28 - Big Ponderoo - Sisters, OR
10.16 - 10.18 - Yarnival V - Axton, VA
Grammy Award-winning folk-rock duo Indigo Girls are one of the featured acts on the long-running PBS TV series Austin City Limits. The brightest stars in the show's history return to the ACL stage for a celebration a half-century in the making, including the Indigo Girls, Chris Stapleton, Gary Clark Jr., Lyle Lovett, Billy Strings, Rufus Wainwright, Indigo Girls, Brandy Clark, Cam and The Mavericks. The 2-hour special features backstage artist interviews and rare gems pulled from the ACL archive and premieres Friday, April 4 at 9pm on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App (check local listings). The link to the full episode will be streaming live at PBS.org that same evening at 9:00 pm ET and will be available to stream by anyone for 90 days.
Indigo Girls will make their first appearances ever with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra this spring with three shows at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center Thursday - Saturday, May 29 - 31. The NSO will be conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez. They've added select shows in June as a trio with Katie Pruitt supporting. They'll also headline the River Roads Festival on July 5 in Prussia, PA alongside festival founder Dar Williams, Milk Carton Kids, Sunny War, and more.
The Indigo Girls will be touring as a 7-piece band for their extended fall 'Yes We Are' co-headline tour reuniting them with Melissa Etheridge. The two will join forces starting this summer to hit over 30 stops across the North America, kicking off on July 25th at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO, down the West Coast and across the Midwest throughout the month of August. September and October will then see the two hit states along the East Coast and South, all before wrapping on October 12th at the Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix, AZ (followed by three Indigo Girls' dates that needed to be rescheduled). This extensive joint run will add to both Etheridge’s and Indigo Girls’ growing roster of exciting dates for 2024 and 2025, giving fans even more opportunities to catch these legendary artists on the road. The pairing of Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge offers music lovers an exceptional opportunity to spend a night immersed in world-class singing and songwriting.
For tickets and additional information, please visit IndigoGirls.com and MelissaEtheridge.com. Scroll down for all announced dates.
Indigo Girls Tour Dates
# Katie Pruitt opens
Thu, May 29 Nashville, TN - Schermerhorn Symphony Center w/NSO
Fri, May 30 Nashville, TN - Schermerhorn Symphony Center w/NSO
Sat, May 31 Nashville, TN - Schermerhorn Symphony Center w/NSO
Sat, Jun 21 Johnstown, PA - First Summit Arena #
Mon, Jun 23 Cleveland, OH - Temple Live (Cleveland Masonic) #
Tue, Jun 24 Wheeling, WV - The Capitol Theatre #
Wed, June 25 Richmond, VA - Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (SOLD OUT) #
Thu & Fri, Jun 27 & 28 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall (TWO NIGHTS) #
Sat, Jul 5 King of Prussia, PA - Heuser Park Indigo Girls headline River Roads Festival alongside festival founder Dar Williams, Milk Carton Kids, Sunny War, and more
Indigo Girls + Melissa Etheridge 2025 Co-billed Tour Dates
Fri, Jul 25 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sat, Jul 26 Sandy, UT - Sandy Amphitheater
Mon, Jul 28 Troutdale, OR - Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
Tue, Jul 29 Redmond, WA - Marymoor Live Wed, Jul 30 Remond, WAW - Marymoor Live
Fri, Aug 1 Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater
Sat, Aug 2 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley
Sun, Aug 3 Murphys, CA - Ironstone Amphitheatre
Tue, Aug 5 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley Thu, Aug 7 Paso Robles, CA - Viña Robles Amphitheatre
Fri, Aug 8 Lincoln, CA - The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino
Sat, Aug 9 Costa Mesa, CA - OC Fair - Pacific Amphitheatre Concert Series
Sat, Aug 16 Fort Wayne, IN - The Embassy Theatre
Sun, Aug 17 Chicago, IL - Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park
Tue, Aug 19 Milwaukee, WI - BMO Pavilion
Wed, Aug 20 Des Moines, IA - Des Moines Civic Center
Thu, Aug 21 Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theatre
Sat, Aug 23 Lincoln, NE - Pinewood Bowl Theater
Sun, Aug 24 St. Paul, MN - Minnesota State Fair
Tue, Aug 26 Detroit, MI - Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Wed, Aug 27 Canandaigua, NY - Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands PAC: CMAC
Sat, Aug 30 Bangor, ME - Maine Savings Amphitheater
Sat, Sep 13 Fredericton, NB - Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival
Thu, Sep 18 Buffalo, NY - Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B
Fri, Sep 19 Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion
Sat, Sep 20 Huntsville, AL - Orion Amphitheater
Mon, Sep 22 Columbus, OH - Mershon Auditorium
Tue, Sep 23 Louisville, KY - Iroquois Amphitheater
Thu, Sep 25 Greensboro, NC - White Oak Amphitheatre
Fri, Sep 26 Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Tue, Oct 7 Manhattan, KS - McCain Auditorium at Kansas State University
Wed, Oct 8 Grand Prairie, TX - Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie
Thu, Oct 9 San Antonio, TX - The Espee
Sat, Oct 11 Albuquerque, NM - Route 66 Casino
Sun, Oct 12 Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Financial Theatre
Grammy-winner Tim O'Brien is back with a new album he collaborated on with Jan Fabricius, Paper Flowers, out June 6 on Howdy Skies Records. Today, they shared the album's first single, "Lonesome Armadillo," with The Bluegrass Situation. The song recalls classic cowboy songs of yore as he shares the story of a lonesome armadillo who longs for his home back in Amarillo. (Yes, there is yodeling!). It's one of 12 songs written by O'Brien, Fabricius, and folk artist Tom Paxton for the project.
O'Brien shares the song's inspiration with The Bluegrass Situation: "There’s an awful lot of talk about migrants invading from the South, but nobody’s talking about armadillos," O'Brien deadpans. "After we started trippin’ over little holes in our yard, Jan baited a raccoon trap, focused the security camera on it, and then we drove to Memphis to play a show. On the set break we saw we’d caught the hard-shelled offender, but after the show we saw that he’d arched his back, bent the trap, and escaped. We told Tom Paxton about it the next week and he said, ‘Let’s tell his story.’"
STREAM/ PURCHASE "LONESOME ARMADILLO" HERE
PRE-ORDER/ PRE-SAVE PAPER FLOWERS HERE
Paper Flowers will be O'Brien's first true collaboration and duo album with Fabricius, with Paxton co-writing 12 of the album's 15 original songs. It was recorded at Cowboy Arms in Nashville with Tim on guitar and vocal and Jan on mandolin and vocal, along with longtime collaborators Mike Bub (bass), Mike Rojas (accordion), Justin Moses (resophonic guitar), and Larry Atamanuik (drums).
"Jan and I started weekly co-writing sessions with Tom in the spring of 2023 and 12 of songs on our album come from those Wednesday afternoon Zooms. It's our first real collaborative project, and a narrative of Jan’s and my life together runs through the record, from courtship to growing old together, with a road trip, the Armadillo, and a granddaughter’s wedding in between."
While Tim O’Brien might operate a bit under music business radar, but he’s been an essential part of the fabric of the folk, bluegrass, Americana, and songwriter scenes for the past 50 years. Since his emergence as singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter with the iconic 1980’s bluegrass group Hot Rize, the West Virginia native has continued down a diverse and constantly evolving musical pathway. In the process he’s written songs for people like Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks, released rootsy classics like Red on Blonde and The Crossing and earned a few Grammy awards. He was recently tapped to join Steve Martin and Alison Brown for a new single, "5 Days Out, Two Days Back."
"I’m mighty excited for Tim O’Brien’s beautiful, introspective new record “Paper Flowers”. Along with partner Jan Fabricius, Tim weaves an even more heartfelt song cyclethan usual, full of soulful balladry and thoughtful notions of love, loss, and learning. Run out, get you a copy, and crank up one of the prettiest sounding new records to come out of Nashville this year." — Ketch Secor, Old Crow Medicine Show
TOUR DATES:
04-16-2025 Nashville, TN — The Station Inn
04-18-2025 Maplewood, MO — Focal Point
04-24-2025 Houston, TX — Mucky Duck
04-26-2025 Dale, TX — Old Settlers Music Festival
05-14-2025 Nashville, TN — The Station Inn
05-15-2025 Corrales, NM — Historic Old San Ysidro Church
05-16-2025 Santa Fe, NM — San Miguel Mission
05-17-2025 Aztec, NM — Tico Time Bluegrass Festival
05-18-2025 Aztec, NM — Tico Time Bluegrass Festival
05-25-2025 Cumberland, MD — DelFest
05-29-2025 Bozeman, MT — Pilgrim Church
05-30-2025 Missoula, MT — Long Staff House
Tami Neilson has been called a "fire-breathing R&B belter" (Rolling Stone) and a "full-tilt badass" (Saving Country Music), electrifying peers and fans worldwide with her powerful, emotive voice and riveting stage presence. Today, Tami is releasing "You're Gonna Fall," the first single from NEON COWGIRL, her hotly-anticipated follow up to Kingmaker. "You're Gonna Fall" pairs Tami with fellow retro rocker JD McPherson for a country noir song that calls to mind the classic '60s Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazlewood duets; it will be featured on an upcoming episode of the global TV hit The Brokenwood Mysteries, available on Acorn TV in the States. Other guests on the album include McPherson, Ashley McBryde, Grace Bowers, Shelley Fairchild and Neil Finn.
"I was sitting on my friend Nicole Atkins’ front porch in Nashville, eating pizza while she smoked a cigarette and talked music biz shorthand at the speed of a tiny tornado. She asked me who my dream collaborators would be, I said I would love to work with JD McPherson. She said, 'No way, he’s one of my best friends! He lives in Oklahoma, but he’s actually in town this week, producing Jessica Simpson at RCA studios down the road, let me text him!' It was almost midnight. He responded saying he was just wrapping up and was tired and heading back to his hotel to get some sleep. She then responded with a video clip of me performing at the Ryman, winked at me and said, 'Just wait…' Her phone pinged with a text from him, 'Bring cigarettes.' We met up and chatted about our love of Nancy & Lee and country noir. So, when I wrote this song for the beloved NZ murder mystery TV series, 'The Brokenwood Mysteries,' I immediately asked him if he would be the Lee to my Nancy and he kindly said yes. Another bit of magic whipped up in Nashville by the Neon Cowgirl." — Tami Neilson
NEON COWGIRL will be released on July 11 on Outside Music, with Tami and her band joining Willie Nelson, and then Willie and Bob Dylan, on this year's Outlaw Festival tour. She will also be playing Merlefest, Willie's Fourth of July Picnic, and a few dates at The Grand Ole Opry. In June, Tami will hit Europe for shows in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Her huge, glorious voice and powerful live performances have won the admiration and support of some of country music's biggest names and fans worldwide. Check this space for tour dates: https://www.tamineilson.com/tour
TOUR DATES
*Outlaw Music Festival Tour 2025
THU 10 APR - Brandon, MS @ Brandon Amphitheater
SUN 13 APR - Macon, GA @ Atrium Health Amphitheatre
TUE 15 APR - Gautier, MS @ @ The Sound Amphitheater
WED 16 APR - Huntsville, AL @ Orion Amphitheater
FRI 18 APR - Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry
FRI 25 APR - Wilkesboro, NC @ MerleFest
WED 25 JUN - Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater*
THU 26 JUNE - Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry
FRI 27 JUN - Memphis, TN @ Radians Amphitheater @ Memphis Botanic Garden *
SAT 28 JUN - Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater *
SUN 29 JUN - Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena *
TUE 1 JUL - Oklahoma City, OK @ Lucky Star Amphitheater *
FRI 4 JUL - Austin, TX @ Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic
SAT 5 JUL - Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion *
SUN 6 JUL - Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *
Grammy-winner Tim O'Brien and his partner Jan Fabricius will have a new single, "Hungry Heart," out this Friday, May 2 on their own Howdy Skies Records. The song, the second single from their new album, Paper Flowers, out June 6 on Howdy Skies Records, is premiering at Bluegrass Today, who write that "'Hungry Heart' reaches back to an earlier time, before modern communications technology allowed us to stay in such close proximity, at least in digital fashion."
O'Brien says that the duet is dedicated to hard working mothers everywhere. 'Hungry Heart' paints the picture of a family seated around the kitchen table, sharing a long-distance call from dad in the days long before speaker phones, let alone cell phones," he says. "You can almost see the curly cable stretching from the wall, as the receiver passes from mom to sister, and sister to brother. Conjuring the lonesome feeling of a father calling in from wherever he earns a living for his wife and children, the track features shared lead vocals and close harmony.”
PRE-SAVE "HUNGRY HEART" HERE
PRE-ORDER/ PRE-SAVE PAPER FLOWERS HERE
Paper Flowers is O'Brien's first true collaboration and duo album with Fabricius, with folk great Tom Paxton co-writing 12 of the album's 15 original songs. It was recorded at Cowboy Arms in Nashville with Tim on guitar and vocal and Jan on mandolin and vocal, along with longtime collaborators Mike Bub (bass), Mike Rojas (accordion), Justin Moses (resophonic guitar), and Larry Atamanuik (drums).
"Jan and I started weekly co-writing sessions with Tom in the spring of 2023 and 12 of songs on our album come from those Wednesday afternoon Zooms. It's our first real collaborative project, and a narrative of Jan’s and my life together runs through the record, from courtship to growing old together, with a road trip, the Armadillo, and a granddaughter’s wedding in between."
While Tim O’Brien might operate a bit under music business radar, but he’s been an essential part of the fabric of the folk, bluegrass, Americana, and songwriter scenes for the past 50 years. Since his emergence as singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter with the iconic 1980’s bluegrass group Hot Rize, the West Virginia native has continued down a diverse and constantly evolving musical pathway. In the process he’s written songs for people like Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks, released rootsy classics like Red on Blonde and The Crossing and earned a few Grammy awards. He was recently tapped to join Steve Martin and Alison Brown for a new single, "5 Days Out, Two Days Back."
"The album is just wonderful! I am proud to be a part of it. All I want is to carry on with this. Yodel on!" —Tom Paxton
"I’m mighty excited for Tim O’Brien’s beautiful, introspective new record “Paper Flowers”. Along with partner Jan Fabricius, Tim weaves an even more heartfelt song cyclethan usual, full of soulful balladry and thoughtful notions of love, loss, and learning. Run out, get you a copy, and crank up one of the prettiest sounding new records to come out of Nashville this year." — Ketch Secor, Old Crow Medicine Show
TOUR DATES:
5/14 The Station Inn - Nashville TN
5/15 Historic Old San Ysidro Church – Corrales, NM
5/16 San Miguel Mission - Santa Fe NM
5/17 Tico Time Bluegrass Festival – Aztec, NM
5/18 Tico Time Bluegrass Festival – Aztec, NM
5/25 DelFest - Cumberland MD
5/29 Pilgrim Church - Bozeman MT
5/30 Long Staff House - Missoula MT
6/11 The Station Inn - Nashville TN
6/20 Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride CO
6/21 Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride CO
8/14 Tin Pan - Richmond VA
8/15 The Barns at Rose Hill - Berryville VA
8/16 Philadelphia Folk Festival - Harleysville PA
4/28 Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD
8/23 Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championship – Lawrence KS
8/24 Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championship – Lawrence KS
8/28 Atwood Music Hall - Madison WI
8/29 The Parkway Theatre - Minneapolis MN
8/30 Jackpine Jamboree - Birnamwood WI
8/31 Jackpine Jamboree - Birnamwood WI
9/17 The Station Inn - Nashville TN
9/20 Frostburg MD - FSU Appalchian Festival
9/26 Washington’s Foco - Fort Collins CO
9/27 Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall - Denver CO
9/28 Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall - Denver CO
10/3 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco CA
10/4 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco CA
10/5 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco CA
10/11 CaveFest at The Caverns - Pelham TN
Canadian native and New Zealand musical royalty Tami Neilson has released the second single from her upcoming album release Neon Cowgirl. "Borrow My Boots" is an exuberant, high-octane track celebrating female empowerment and giving a sister a leg up. It's written by Tami and Nashville powerhouses Ashley McBryde and Shelly Fairchild who are both featured on the track alongside guitar prodigy Grace Bowers. To accompany the release, Tami has shared a fun, behind-the-scenes video of her Grand Ole Opry debut, including video clips from her performance in the official video for "Borrow My Boots." Watch here. The Grand Ole Opry has released a video performance of the four of them tearing it up live performing the song at Tami's Opry debut. Watch the video HERE.
STREAM / PURCHASE "BORROW MY BOOTS" HERE
PRE-SAVE/ PRE-ORDER NEON COWGIRL HERE
Tami shares how the single came together:
"After getting to perform on an absolute dream show with an all-star lineup singing the music of Patsy Cline at the Ryman, I woke up the next morning to a DM from one of my favourite country stars, Ashley McBryde. She’d been on the line up and after seeing me perform, she had immediately dug into my catalogue of music and wrote to me to lift me up and encourage me, saying she was a fan. A few weeks later, she tagged me in a post of her getting ready for the red carpet of the CMAs, playing “Careless Woman” as her hype song! A couple months after that, she asked for permission to create a t-shirt with my photo on it and a line from that song, “I Wanna Be Her When I Grow Up” so she could wear it around town as she hosted CMA Fest and champion my music.
That’s how you say, “Hey Sister, you can borrow my boots.”
So, when I had a song idea about women supporting and empowering each other, she was the first person who came to mind. I asked if she would do a long-distance writing session and she invited powerhouse songwriter and artist Shelly Fairchild to join us and “Borrow My Boots” was born, and recorded on the album the next week. I met Grace Bowers back when she was 15 and had just moved to Nashville and I asked her to play her first paid gigs with me at Americanafest - we had to hide her backstage because she wasn’t old enough to be in the venues. She’s rocketing to stardom now and after playing with everyone from Dolly and Slash, to rocking the Grammys, I didn’t know if she’d have time for a little guitar solo on my album. Not only did she contribute a blistering solo, she changed her flights in the middle of a tour to join me, Ashley and Shelly to perform this song at my debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.
That’s how you say, “Hey Sister, you can borrow my boots.” — Tami Neilson
NEON COWGIRL will be released on July 11 on Outside Music, with Tami and her band joining Willie Nelson, and then Willie and Bob Dylan, on this year's Outlaw Festival tour. She will also be playing Willie's Fourth of July Picnic, and will return to the Grand Ole Opry stage in June. Also in June, Tami will hit Europe for shows in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Her huge, glorious voice and powerful live performances have won the admiration and support of some of country music's biggest names and fans worldwide. Check this space for tour dates: https://www.tamineilson.com/tour
TOUR DATES
*Outlaw Music Festival Tour 2025
THU 19 JUN - Paris, France @ New Morning
FRI 20 JUN - Sint-Niklaas, Belgium @ De Casino
FRI 20 JUN - SAT 21 JUN - Grollo, Netherlands @ Holland International Blues Festival 2025 WED 25 JUN - Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater*
THU 26 JUNE - Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry
FRI 27 JUN - Memphis, TN @ Radians Amphitheater @ Memphis Botanic Garden *
SAT 28 JUN - Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater *
SUN 29 JUN - Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena *
TUE 1 JUL - Oklahoma City, OK @ Lucky Star Amphitheater *
FRI 4 JUL - Austin, TX @ Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic
SAT 5 JUL - Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion *
SUN 6 JUL - Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *
Grammy-winner Tim O'Brien is back with a new album he collaborated on with Jan Fabricius, Paper Flowers, out June 6 on Howdy Skies Records. Paper Flowers will be O'Brien's first true collaboration and duo album with Fabricius, with folk great Tom Paxton co-writing 12 of the album's 15 original songs. It was recorded at Cowboy Arms in Nashville with Tim on guitar and vocal and Jan on mandolin and vocal, along with longtime collaborators Mike Bub (bass), Mike Rojas (accordion), Justin Moses (resophonic guitar), and Larry Atamanuik (drums).
"Jan and I started weekly co-writing sessions with Tom in the spring of 2023 and 12 of songs on our album come from those Wednesday afternoon Zooms. It's our first real collaborative project, and a narrative of Jan’s and my life together runs through the record, from courtship to growing old together, with a road trip, the Armadillo, and a granddaughter’s wedding in between."
While Tim O’Brien might operate a bit under music business radar, but he’s been an essential part of the fabric of the folk, bluegrass, Americana, and songwriter scenes for the past 50 years. Since his emergence as singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter with the iconic 1980’s bluegrass group Hot Rize, the West Virginia native has continued down a diverse and constantly evolving musical pathway. In the process he’s written songs for people like Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks, released rootsy classics like Red on Blonde and The Crossing and earned a few Grammy awards. He was recently tapped to join Steve Martin and Alison Brown for a new single, "5 Days Out, Two Days Back."
"The album is just wonderful! I am proud to be a part of it. All I want is to carry on with this.
Yodel on!" —Tom Paxton
"I’m mighty excited for Tim O’Brien’s beautiful, introspective new record “Paper Flowers”.
Along with partner Jan Fabricius, Tim weaves an even more heartfelt song cycle than usual, full
of soulful balladry and thoughtful notions of love, loss, and learning. Run out, get you a copy, and crank up one of the prettiest sounding new records to come out of Nashville this year."
— Ketch Secor, Old Crow Medicine Show
TOUR DATES:
5/29 Pilgrim Church - Bozeman MT
5/30 Long Staff House - Missoula MT
6/11 The Station Inn - Nashville TN
6/20 Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride CO
6/21 Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride CO
8/14 Tin Pan - Richmond VA
8/15 The Barns at Rose Hill - Berryville VA
8/16 Philadelphia Folk Festival - Harleysville PA
8/17 Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD
8/23 Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championship – Lawrence KS
8/24 Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championship – Lawrence KS
8/28 Atwood Music Hall - Madison WI
8/29 The Parkway Theatre - Minneapolis MN
8/30 Jackpine Jamboree - Birnamwood WI
8/31 Jackpine Jamboree - Birnamwood WI
9/17 The Station Inn - Nashville TN (Official AmericanaFest showcase)
9/20 Frostburg MD - FSU Appalchian Festival
9/26 Washington’s Foco - Fort Collins CO
9/27 Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall - Denver CO
9/28 Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall - Denver CO
10/3 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco CA
10/4 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco CA
10/5 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco CA
10/11 CaveFest at The Caverns - Pelham TN
11/12 The Station Inn – Nashville, TN
11/15 New Folk Old Folk Festival - Fischer TX
Grammy-winner Tim O'Brien and Jan Fabricius, his wife and musical partner, are releasing their first true collaborative album, Paper Flowers, today on Howdy Skies Records. The duo enlisted folk great Tom Paxton, who co-wrote 12 of the album's 15 original songs. While the album chronicles "their story," the songs range from humorous — a Texas armadillo finds himself in their Nashville yard and is not a fan of Music City — to autobiographical; Tim sent Jan paper flowers when they were first courting, as paper flowers last forever. They recorded the album at Cowboy Arms in Nashville with Tim on guitar and vocal and Jan on mandolin and vocal, along with longtime collaborators Mike Bub (bass), Mike Rojas (accordion), Justin Moses (resophonic guitar), and Larry Atamanuik (drums).
"Jan and I started weekly co-writing sessions with Tom in the spring of 2023 and 12 of songs on our album come from those Wednesday afternoon Zooms. It's our first real collaborative project, and a narrative of Jan’s and my life together runs through the record, from courtship to growing old together, with a road trip, the Armadillo, and a granddaughter’s wedding in between."
While Tim O’Brien might operate a bit under music business radar, but he’s been an essential part of the fabric of the folk, bluegrass, Americana, and songwriter scenes for the past 50 years. Since his emergence as singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter with the iconic 1980’s bluegrass group Hot Rize, the West Virginia native has continued down a diverse and constantly evolving musical pathway. In the process he’s written songs for people like Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks, released rootsy classics like Red on Blonde and The Crossing and earned a few Grammy awards. He was recently tapped to join Steve Martin and Alison Brown for a new single, "5 Days Out, Two Days Back."
STREAM/ PURCHASE PAPER FLOWERS HERE
RECENT PRAISE FOR PAPER FLOWERS
O’Brien possesses a warm, reassuring baritone and his and Fabricius’s voices fit together hand-in-glove when they duet." —Bluegrass Unlimited
"The married musicians contemplate the passage of time through semi-autobiographical lyrics and surprising compositions...this is a highly listenable set that can go to unexpected places."
—Wall Street Journal
"The album is just wonderful! I am proud to be a part of it. All I want is to carry on with this. Yodel on!"
—Tom Paxton
"Vocally, O’Brien has never sounded better and likewise that goes for Paper Flowers too. Fabricius lends stellar harmony vocals." —The Rocking Magpie
"I’m mighty excited for Tim O’Brien’s beautiful, introspective new record ‘Paper Flowers.’ Along with partner Jan Fabricius, Tim weaves an even more heartfelt song cycle than usual, full of soulful balladry and thoughtful notions of love, loss, and learning. Run out, get you a copy, and crank up one of the prettiest sounding new records to come out of Nashville this year."
— Ketch Secor, Old Crow Medicine Show
TOUR DATES:
6/11 The Station Inn - Nashville TN
6/20 Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride CO
6/21 Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride CO
8/14 Tin Pan - Richmond VA
8/15 The Barns at Rose Hill - Berryville VA
8/16 Philadelphia Folk Festival - Harleysville PA
8/17 Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD
8/23 Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championship – Lawrence KS
8/24 Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championship – Lawrence KS
8/28 Atwood Music Hall - Madison WI
8/29 The Parkway Theatre - Minneapolis MN
8/30 Jackpine Jamboree - Birnamwood WI
8/31 Jackpine Jamboree - Birnamwood WI
9/17 The Station Inn - Nashville TN (Official AmericanaFest showcase)
9/20 Frostburg MD - FSU Appalchian Festival
9/26 Washington’s Foco - Fort Collins CO
9/27 Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall - Denver CO
9/28 Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall - Denver CO
10/3 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco CA
10/4 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco CA
10/5 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco CA
10/11 CaveFest at The Caverns - Pelham TN
11/12 The Station Inn – Nashville, TN
11/15 New Folk Old Folk Festival - Fischer TX
Tami Neilson has been called a "fire-breathing R&B belter" (Rolling Stone) and a "full-tilt badass" (Saving Country Music), electrifying peers and fans worldwide with her powerful, emotive voice and riveting stage presence. A native Canadian who lives with her family in New Zealand, Tami grew up on the road, traveling North America in a motor home with her family band, The Neilsons. Today, she reaches into her own history with her latest single "Foolish Heart," a song inspired by Roy Orbison. She met the late legend as a baby when her father's band supported him on tour. The song's lush string arrangements and soaring vocals call to mind the epic, countrypolitan sound of some of Orbison's '60s hits and was performed and recorded live in one take in one room. Tami is also releasing an accompanying video for "Foolish Heart," also recorded in one take.
STREAM/ PURCHASE "FOOLISH HEART" HERE
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "FOOLISH HEART" HERE
"I grew up with a photograph of Roy Orbison cradling me in his arms, tucked into the pages of my baby book," she recalls. "I was just an infant when my Dad played a venue with him. When he met him backstage afterward, he asked if Roy would mind holding his new daughter while he snapped a photo of us. Roy’s face lit up with delight and he happily complied. I like to think of this moment as my true christening. A tiny dusting of his magic falling onto my bald little baby head, a seminal moment of musical destiny. Driving past his old house in Nashville, I felt a deep sadness, reflecting on the tragedy and heartbreak that plagued him in his short life and this song poured out of me. I named the demo 'Orbiting Orbison' — that’s as close as we can get to reaching his greatness."
The video is meant to evoke the loneliness of the performing life — the life the audience never sees. "I wanted to capture a true-to-life moment that performers experience after they walk off stage from the applause and connection of thousands of people to being completely alone in silence as we remove the layers of artifice," Tami explains. "It’s how we all feel when we can remove our brave faces and allow ourselves to fall apart and release the pain we carry. This is one take, made completely by humans, with their foolish hearts beating in their chests."
NEON COWGIRL will be released on July 11 on Outside Music and features guests JD McPherson, Ashley McBryde, Grace Bowers, Shelly Fairchild and Neil Finn. Tami and her band joining Willie Nelson, and then Willie and Bob Dylan, on this year's Outlaw Festival tour. She will also be playing Willie's Fourth of July Picnic, and a few dates at The Grand Ole Opry. This month, Tami will be in Europe for shows in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Her huge, glorious voice and powerful live performances have won the admiration and support of some of country music's biggest names and fans worldwide. Check this space for tour dates: https://www.tamineilson.com/tour
TOUR DATES
*Outlaw Music Festival Tour 2025
WED 25 JUN - Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater*
THU 26 JUNE - Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry
FRI 27 JUN - Memphis, TN @ Radians Amphitheater @ Memphis Botanic Garden *
SAT 28 JUN - Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater *
SUN 29 JUN - Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena *
TUE 1 JUL - Oklahoma City, OK @ Lucky Star Amphitheater *
FRI 4 JUL - Austin, TX @ Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic
SAT 5 JUL - Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion *
SUN 6 JUL - Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *
