Tag: Jesse Smathers

You Gotta Hear This: Dallas Burrow, Joy Oladokun and More

Posted on by Editor

Every Friday, BGS shines a light on some of our favorite new tracks in bluegrass, folk, Americana and beyond. Then we ask the artist about the inspiration behind the music and pass their wise words along to you.

This week, we have sibling trio BAILEN, whose magnetic harmonies pull you right in with “Kansas Tornado.” London singer-songwriter Jack Browning found writing inspiration in Kentucky and offers an acoustic rendition of “Muhlenburg County Stars,” while Texas musician Dallas Burrow turned to Joseph Conrad’s classic novel, Heart of Darkness, for a line in “Let It Shine,” along with added sparkle from Kelly Willis on harmony. For Mac Cornish, writing “Wayfaring Woman” helped her get recentered after some ups and downs. You’ll find that this Nashville artist possesses a genuine warmth and country tinge to her voice that is all too rare these days.

In addition, fiddler Hillary Klug incorporates the sounds of her impressive footwork into her music with superb results, as evidenced by “Little Sadie.” Meanwhile, Joy Oladokun blends folk music and African music in “Sage,” a song about self-assurance with a feature from Nigerian superstar Adekunle Gold. Concluding our roundup, acoustic ensemble Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground reimagine Connie Converse’s “The Clover Saloon,” and bluegrass guitarist Jesse Smathers refreshes a deep cut from Miss Dixie Hall titled “Sally in Poor Valley.”

As we say every week, You Gotta Hear This!

BAILEY, “Kansas Tornado”

Artist: BAILEN
Hometown: New York, New York
Song: “Kansas Tornado”
Album: SWIM!!!
Release Date: September 25, 2026

In Their Words: “If you were to ask me what my favorite song I’ve ever written is, lately my answer has been ‘Kansas Tornado.’ Singing this song takes me to the place I’m always searching for as an artist. These days it sometimes feels like the word ‘artist’ has become interchangeable with content creator. In a world of endless social media posts, emails, news, messages, and the constant stream of information thrown at us every day, it’s easy to get swept away by other people’s lives and distractions. They pull us away from noticing the cicadas humming at dusk in Fort Greene Park, a hummingbird tapping at the window, the smell of rain rolling in… or even a tornado on the horizon.

“To me, ‘Kansas Tornado’ is about surrendering to something bigger than yourself. Sometimes that’s the whirlwind of nature. Sometimes it’s the whirlwind of falling in love with someone who suddenly appears in the porch light and carries you away. Either way, it’s about letting yourself be overwhelmed by wonder instead of noise. There’s so much richness we can miss in the constant chatter of modern life. I recently read that people are actually happier when they regularly experience awe, and that idea has really stuck with me.

“We recorded the song in Marlboro, New York, in the Hudson Valley with our friend Lee Falco. Lee’s studio is this old chapel that they converted and we sang the song into one mic and left all the doors and windows open so you could hear the breeze and the birds.

“A few months ago we played a show in Flagstaff, Arizona. After the concert, an astronomer had set up a few powerful telescopes on the concert grounds. He pointed one toward what looked like a faint, hazy patch of the night sky. Through the lens, I saw two galaxies merging right before my eyes. What blew my mind wasn’t just what I was seeing—it was realizing I could have spent my entire life looking at that same patch of sky and never known that incredible dance was happening overhead.” — Daniel Bailen

Jack Browning, “Muhlenburg County Stars (Acoustic)”

Artist: Jack Browning
Hometown: London, England
Song: “Muhlenburg County Stars (Acoustic)”
Album: Painted Skies
Release Date: September 16, 2026
Label: Too Fine Records

In Their Words: “In 2024, I went to Kentucky for the first time on my first-ever US tour, and immediately fell in love with the place and its wonderful people. It was my fiancée and I, and we rented a vehicle that was promised as a ‘Toyota Corolla or similar vehicle’…and received a 3.5 litre Dodge Charger! I guess they both have four wheels, sure! That whole week was a fever dream – I got to befriend some musical heroes of mine, played sold-out shows on a different continent, nearly wrapped the car (and us) around a tree driving through the worst storm I’ve ever witnessed, and more importantly, I was in awe at the lengths my soon-to-be wife would go to supporting me and my career. I always felt too precious and too pressured when trying to put that love for her into words, and this song spilled out and said more than I could ever have if I sat down to consciously write it.” — Jack Browning

Dallas Burrow, “Let It Shine”

Artist: Dallas Burrow
Hometown: New Braunfels, Texas
Song: “Let It Shine”
Album: Modern Day Vagabond
Release Date: September 25, 2026
Label: 40 Below Records

In Their Words: “‘Let It Shine’ wasn’t my song to begin with. An old friend of mine who was kind of a street performer had the first verse and chorus and brought it to me a couple years back. I added the second verse and bridge, and after we worked on it, he said I could have the song and asked that I not give him credit. Pretty gracious really. It’s got this soul country pop gospel thing that is just super catchy. Within the context of the album, we also expand on the idea of having a light to shine that gets introduced in the title track.

“The second verse also includes an allusion to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, a favorite old book of mine, but ultimately, it’s this song’s repeated references to salvation, being a blessing, not dealing with the devil, letting your light shine, that make it kind of a gospel song without saying so, if you ask me. And it just feels good, almost Motown style. I play nylon string guitar on this one, with the great Kelly Willis singing harmonies, Katie Shore on fiddle, Kullen Fox on trumpet, Will Sexton on electric guitar, Mike McClure on steel string acoustic, Adam Odor on bass, Cameron Martin on drums, and we did some fun stuff in production / postproduction with some Rick Rubin-style single-note stuff on grand piano, gang vocals, and of course, the hand claps.” — Dallas Burrow

Mac Cornish, “Wayfaring Woman”

Artist: Mac Cornish
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee and Bay Area, California
Song: “Wayfaring Woman”
Album: Wayfaring Woman
Release Date: September 25, 2026

In Their Words: “‘Wayfaring Woman’ is the title track off my second record and is definitely my favorite song to come out of the album sessions. The instrumentation and groove of the song really captures my love of blending country, folk, and rock, and I think is a perfect example of the direction I’m moving in musically. The lyrics encapsulate where I was at when writing this record, feeling lost within the lifestyle of touring, going out to bars every night, and just constantly moving.

“I wrote it without knowing it would be a sort of letter to myself that something had to change. I needed to find my way home, or back to myself, so I could move past what I was seemingly running from. This desire for balance in my life between the night life, that seems ever entwined to my work life, and the rest of my life I think is a theme of the record. I’m still trying to find a balance where I can be truly centered in myself while pursuing this career and putting myself out there, careerwise and socially/romantically. Any musician knows it’s a hard balance to strike.” — Mac Cornish

Hillary Klug, “Little Sadie”

Artist: Hillary Klug
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Little Sadie”
Album: Dancing Fiddler
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Label: Fiddle Feet Records

In Their Words: “‘Little Sadie’ is one of my personal favorites from Dancing Fiddler because it really captures the idea behind the album. I’ve spent years performing as both an old-time fiddler and buck dancer, but on my previous recordings, the dancing was mostly something audiences experienced visually in videos or at live shows. With this record, I wanted my feet to become part of the music itself.

“On ‘Little Sadie,’ the footwork you see in the video is also part of what you’re hearing on the recording. My dancing provides percussion throughout the track, so rather than dancing to the music, I’m creating music with my feet. My feet are actually one of the instruments in the arrangement. I love the contrast between the dark story of this old traditional song and the rhythmic energy of the dancing. I also really enjoyed finding the vocal character for this one. It ended up becoming a track that represents what I do as a whole—singing and playing old-time music while using my feet as an instrument.” — Hillary Klug

Joy Oladokun, “Sage” (Ft. Adekunle Gold)

Artist: Joy Oladokun
Hometowns: Casa Grande, Arizona, and Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Sage” feat. Adekunle Gold
Album: Hope Is a Heavy Thing
Release Date: September 25, 2026
Label: Concord Records

In Their Words: “‘Sage’ is the sonic marriage of the music that raised me. African music and folk music have been two of my favorite genres my entire life. From Paul Simon and King Sunny Ade, to I’m With Her and Tems, both genres have been foundational to me navigating the world and finding my own artistic voice. Adekunle and I wrote ‘Sage’ at the height of the pandemic about needing to shake off the weight of things we couldn’t control. It’s so easy to rush to want to make a change without being able to acknowledge the grief of things not being as we think they should be. Collaborating with him feels like such a full-circle moment for me.” — Joy Oladokun

“Joy is one of those rare artists who tells the truth so beautifully that you feel it from the first listen. Being part of ‘Sage’ was an honor. This song has been a long time coming and I’m grateful she invited me into her world.” — Adekunle Gold

Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground, “The Clover Saloon”

Artist: Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground
Hometown: Portland, Maine
Song: “The Clover Saloon”
Album: Little Storms
Release Date: October 2, 2026
Label: Adhyâropa Records

In Their Words: “I came across this song when looking for an uptempo song to round out this record. If you’re familiar with Connie Converse’s version, you know it’s not generally played like this! But I heard it working in this manner, tried it with the band, and the rest is history. I think the subject matter lends itself well to the occasionally frenetic nature of bluegrass, and that’s one of the big things that caught my ear and made me think this could work. Everyone sounds so great and it’s so fun to sing this with Brittany. I’m so stoked about the video that Jeff Liu did for this song, I love his animation style and he did a great job bringing both the story and our band to life!” — Ethan Setiawan

Jesse Smathers, “Sally in Poor Valley”

Artist: Jesse Smathers
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Sally In Poor Valley”
Release Date: September 25, 2026
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “I thought immediately when first hearing ‘Sally In Poor Valley’ years ago that it would lend itself to a full stringband rendition. Iconic songwriter Dixie Hall wrote a lyric that fits the bill to a T with its tongue-in-cheek mountain poetry. It’s full of humorous and romantic imagery of ‘Sally’: a true, hard-working mountain girl who is eager to win the heart of the narrator by cooking, keeping the house warm, and even whispering sweet nothings to his mule. Its lighthearted lyric encourages a smile and its forward-driven melody will likely keep dancers on their feet. I hope everyone enjoys ‘Sally in Poor Valley.'” — Jesse Smathers

Photo Credits: Carley du Menil (Dallas Burrow), Graham Tolbert (Joy Oladokun)

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From The Grascals, Mary Bragg, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

From stalwart bluegrass groups to stellar singer-songwriters, You Gotta Hear This!

To start us off in our weekly roundup of premieres and new music, singer-songwriter Mary Bragg is announcing a brand new upcoming album, Secrets To Strangers. Coming October 16, the project will be released by Single Lock Records; an apropos first single, “What Do I Do,” boasts a guest appearance from Single Lock’s John Paul White. Below, watch a brand new music video for the track, a passionate, soulful Americana song that’s existential, yes, but also aspirational. The production is a lovely vehicle for Bragg’s poetic and insightful lyric-smithing.

For a bit of country string band twang, check out a new song and video from the Talking Hearts, an absolutely stacked genre-blending group based in Boston. “You Didn’t Make Me Cry,” written and sung by fiddler Rachel Rosenberg, is a danceable ’90s-style track that turns a bad situation into a great song. Isn’t that what country does best? The Talking Hearts also include Dan Bui, Alex Formento, Mike Harmon, Zach Meyer, and Sophie Wellington filling out the rest of the band.

Two beloved veteran bluegrass groups unveil new music today, too. GRAMMY nominees the Grascals have a brand new album, Not That Gone, that’s available everywhere today. To celebrate, we’re sharing “Farmer’s Blues,” which features Marty Stuart guesting on the song contributing mandolin and vocals. It’s a track written by Stuart and the mighty, legendary Merle Haggard. Deliciously lonesome, it’s one perfect for taking your sweetie out to the dance floor for a waltz. Or, if you’re posted up at the bar alone, for a tear in your beer. Then, the iconic Lonesome River Band are launching a new single, “Walking Back to Bluefield.” Straight-ahead bluegrass kicked off by Sammy Shelor’s sparkling banjo, it’s a traveling song with just a bit of a crooked beat to keep you marching in time. Though it was written about Vermont, as Jesse Smathers explains to BGS, the Southeastern-based LRB plot the journey back to Bluefield through North Carolina and the Virginias for their rendition instead. (And yes, that’s bluegrass Telecaster shredding it up on there!)

Don’t miss Ella Hooper’s new single, too. Or shit might go down! “When The Shit Went Down” is Good Country all the way from Australia, where Hooper is a treasured musician, artist, and personality. With a splash of surf rock and a dash of Laurel Canyon, it’s a perfect song to queue up on your driving playlist next to “You Didn’t Make Me Cry” and “Walking Back to Bluefield.” Hooper’s upcoming album, Overnight Success, is a love letter by the singer-songwriter to country and Americana. You can hear the love, for sure. There’s also a honky-tonk tune from the Roseline, with “Tooth and Claw” adding an unexpected country texture to the Lawrence, Kansas-based band’s new album, 86 Gumption, released today. When you can drink a beer to a song that takes its title from a Tennyson poem, that’s reason enough to kick off the weekend early. There’s plenty to enjoy in our weekly roundup – You Gotta Hear This!

Mary Bragg, “What Do I Do” Feat. John Paul White

Artist: Mary Bragg
Hometown: Swainsboro, Georgia
Song: “What Do I Do” Featuring John Paul White
Album: Secrets To Strangers
Release Date: August 7, 2026 (single/video); October 16, 2026 (album)
Label: Single Lock Records

In Their Words: “This song comes from wrestling with uncertainty in those moments when you can’t tell what’s real anymore. When you don’t have the answer, so you let yourself sit in the question, reverberating like an existential broken record. How did we get here? What can I do about it? I wanted the song to feel like an honest conversation about the state of the world and an angsty call to action for all of us. Is our failure inevitable or can we change the narrative?” – Mary Bragg

Track Credits:
Chad Gamble – Drums
Zac Cockrell – Bass
John Paul White – Acoustic guitars, vocals
Jay Gonzalez – Electric guitar
Sol Philcox-Littlefield – Electric guitar
Ben Tanner – Organ
Mary Bragg – Vocals, songwriter

Video Credits:
Alex Berger – Producer
Jacob Anderson – Director of Photography, editor

The Grascals, “Farmer’s Blues” with Marty Stuart

Artist: The Grascals
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Farmer’s Blues” with Marty Stuart
Album: Not That Gone
Release Date: August 7, 2026 (album)
Label: Billy Blue Records

In Their Words: “I was scrolling on TikTok and a video of Marty Stuart and Merle Haggard singing the ‘Farmer’s Blues’ came on, and the song instantly grabbed me that it would be a perfect fit for the Grascals on our new album. Everyone in the band was on board with recording it, which got us thinking it would it be really cool to have Marty join us in the studio to be a special guest. We were thrilled when Marty agreed, and having him sing harmony and play mandolin makes this version even more special. He also shared a great story about writing and recording the song with Merle. Marty said Merle listened to it and told him, ‘This is a great song, but it would be better if that one word was changed to work instead of walk.’ They changed the lyric from ‘I walk the fields’ to ‘I work the fields,’ and it’s amazing how one simple word made such a meaningful difference. Knowing that story gave us an even greater appreciation for the song and its history. It’s a real honor to record a song from two legends like Marty Stuart and Merle Haggard, and to have Marty himself be part of our version of ‘Farmer’s Blues’ is something we’ll always be proud of.” – Jamie Johnson, The Grascals

Ella Hooper, “When The Shit Went Down”

Artist: Ella Hooper
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Song: “When The Shit Went Down”
Album: Overnight Success
Release Date: August 5, 2026 (single); October 2, 2026 (album)
Label: MGM

In Their Words: “This song is pretty truthful, pretty unvarnished, hence the use of my plain language in the chorus. I feel like I’m opening up my journal here, and most of my lyrics do start as a journaling practice – one the best things I’ve ever done for my mental health. When I showed this song to Clare, my producer who’s since become a good friend, it was a bonding moment. She got emotional and I got emotional. We both knew it would be tricky but worth it if we could find the right way to share this perspective. It was tricky because heavy subject matter can so easily get overcooked and feel heavy-handed; we wanted to capture the relentlessness, the motion of what I went through. A sonic version of ‘show me don’t tell me.’ The beautiful band on this track just got it, too—especially Jon Estes on bass and Lauren Horbal on drums. When they laid down the rhythm bed it unlocked the right amount of sway and bounce, which let me be more impassioned with the vocals, ’cause I knew it wouldn’t be ‘Too Much.’ My Dad was actually the most finely attuned listener and critic, and his voice is always in my head when I’m recording saying things like, ‘Don’t put a hat on a hat’ and ‘Trust the listener.’ Our love language was music so it feels pretty rewarding to incorporate and honor them in my music now.” – Ella Hooper

Track Credits:
Lauren Horbal – Drums, percussion
Jon Estes – Bass
Trevor Bahnson – Acoustic guitars, electric guitars
Jordie Lane – Electric guitar, organ
LOLLIES – Synths, background vocals
Ella Hooper – Vocals, songwriter

Lonesome River Band, “Walking Back to Bluefield”

Artist: Lonesome River Band
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Walking Back to Bluefield”
Release Date: August 7, 2026
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “‘Walking Back to Bluefield’ was penned by a favorite singer-songwriter of mine, Bob Amos. I’ve been a fan of Bob’s since his days with Front Range. I was listening through material for us to record and this immediately perked my ear up. Its ‘backstep’ and reel-like melody are as catchy as its lyric. It does stick with the classic bluegrass pattern of the happiest-sounding songs having a lonesome lyric. The fella in this song is down on his luck and has a long way back home to Bluefield after losing his job and love interest. However I can’t help but smile while singing about it.

“Being in Vermont, Bob wrote this song with different geography in mind. However, we had a neat discussion how the song could easily be referring to locations within a few hours from where Lonesome River Band is based in the Southeast. He’s losing his job at a Burlington, North Carolina, textile mill and making his way back home to Bluefield, West Virginia. I hope everyone gets a kick out of ‘Walking Back to Bluefield’!” – Jesse Smathers, lead vocalist, guitarist 

Track Credits:
Sammy Shelor – Banjo, harmony vocal
Jesse Smathers – Acoustic guitar, lead vocal
Mike Hartgrove – Fiddle
Adam Miller – Mandolin, harmony vocal
Kameron Keller – Upright bass
Rod Riley – Electric guitar

The Roseline, “Tooth and Claw”

Artist: The Roseline
Hometown: Lawrence, Kansas
Song: “Tooth and Claw”
Album: 86 Gumption
Release Date: August 7, 2026

In Their Words: “‘Tooth and Claw’ may be the most traditional country song we’ve ever recorded and is certainly a bit of an outlier on this album. I’ve always wanted to include a classic honky-tonk heater on an album but never quite had the… gumption hehe. The spritely arrangement is juxtaposed by the pure despondency of the lyrical content. Fun facts: The phrase ‘red of tooth and claw’ should actually be ‘red IN tooth and claw’ which appears in the famous Tennyson poem. I sang it wrong and that’s on me. Also, there’s a very special guest appearance on pedal steel – Mr. Lynn Piller, who is our drummer’s dad! Multi-generational jams!” – Colin Halliburton, The Roseline

Track Credits:
Colin Halliburton – Acoustic guitar, vocals
Bradley McKellip – Electric guitar
Heidi Gluck – Bass, keys, vocals
Jim Piller – Drums
Lynn Piller – Pedal steel

The Talking Hearts, “You Didn’t Make Me Cry”

Artist: The Talking Hearts
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “You Didn’t Make Me Cry”
Album: Memory Lane
Release Date: August 4, 2026 (single); October 9, 2026 (album)

In Their Words: “I always tell people going through a hard time that if they write a country song about it they’ll probably, even instantly, feel better. It’s the musical version of turning lemons into lemonade – you start out with a bad situation and end up with a great song. I wrote this one after a fateful weekend trip to NYC to visit someone who (surprise!) did not turn out to be who I thought. That’s the thing about romance from a distance. The distance can make it easy for someone to hide behind lies, but, once discovered, it’s also easy enough to leave ’em behind. At the time, I was just strumming it alone on guitar in my one-bedroom apartment, thinking things over. ‘You Didn’t Make Me Cry’ came to life as a ’90s country-style anthem when I brought it to this magical crew, my best buds and musical soulmates.” – Rachel Rosenberg

Track Credits:
Rachel Rosenberg – Fiddle, lead vocals
Zach Meyer – Mandolin, harmony vocals
Sophie Wellington – Guitar, harmony vocals
Alex Formento – Pedal steel
Dan Bui – Upright bass
Mike Harmon – Drums

Video Credits:
Pat Piasecki – Director, editor, camera
Chris Dempsey – Camera

Photo Credit: The Grascals by Laci Mack; Mary Bragg by Alex Berger.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Full Cord, the Arcadian Wild, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

It’s another excellent lineup for our weekly collection of premieres and just-released music! You Gotta Hear This…

Earlier this week, the Arcadian Wild announced their upcoming album, Make It Out Alive (set for release in August), with a brand new single “Cool To Know You.” Poppy and lush, its deep and vibey production style brings in varied roots influences reminding of Nickel Creek and indie-pop all at the same time, held together with a bluegrassy mandolin chop. Plus, watch a video from geologist-musician-songwriter Benny Bleu, who’s shared “March of the Mollusk” with us today. Old-time with plenty of modern twists, it’s an entrancing instrumental number inspired by the ceaseless march of time, the steady drip of existence spending or being spent. The melody – and rhythms – have that delicious “neverending song” feel, where each subsequent section of the tune has you craving to return back to the start and do it again.

Benson, husband-and-wife bluegrass and string duo Wayne and Kristin Benson, release their brand new album today, Double Dose. We’ve shared a few tracks from the project over the weeks and months in the run up to today; to celebrate release day, we’re shining a spotlight on “Banjo Radio Bounce,” a swingin’ bluegrass instrumental with a title paying tribute to bluegrass radio and streaming service BanjoRadio. Also in bluegrass, long-running Michigan band Full Cord release a new track today featuring their friend, peer, and fellow Michigander Billy Strings. The band tell us a bit about the inspirations behind “Hubris Comes to Town” below. Strings and the stalwart MI band sound great.

Jesse Smathers, who you may know from the Lonesome River Band, has more excellent solo music to share today. A new single, “Gambler’s Last Game,” is another truly timeless number from the young artist and picker. Smathers, born and raised in the old-time and bluegrass rich territory of Southwest Virginia, is one of the most compelling up-and-coming creators who can collapse time with his songs. And he can effortlessly code switch between bluegrass, old-time, string band, and more styles from the primordial ooze that birthed this genre. Not many can.

You’ll also want to watch and enjoy a new animated music video featuring a song by artist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Elena Moon Park and animation by Xuan. “Nothing Is Ordinary” is a song celebrating just how extraordinary every single little detail of life really is. It’s built on a prominent sense of gratitude wrapped with a bouncy, charming vibe – and paired with a music video that perfectly encapsulates its message. It’s beautiful and certainly captures “the grand and the mundane,” both of which are extraordinary in their ways.

We hope you enjoy these songs and videos. You Gotta Hear This!

The Arcadian Wild, “Cool To Know You”

Artist: The Arcadian Wild
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Cool To Know You”
Album: Make It Out Alive
Release Date: May 27, 2026 (single); August 14, 2026 (album)

In Their Words: “I have known my best friend Carly since I was 3 months old. She is truly a sister that was gifted to me. She is the coolest girl I know, and she makes me cool just by knowing her. We live very far away from each other now and we have to work really hard to stay in touch and spend time together, but it is always worth the effort. This song came out of me after she was having a tough time and I couldn’t physically be there for her, so I wanted her to know that she is seen, she is loved, and I’m a better and cooler person for knowing her.” – Bailey Warren

“We’ve typically just captured intimate acoustic performances in our past work and it was fun to remove some limitations in the studio and really give it a full send approach. It felt like we gave ourselves permission to build an actual pop song from the ground up. Drums?! Electric guitar?! Mandolin overdubs?! What?! It was a delightful process of playful discovery, and we had a blast with our producer, Micah Tawlks, putting it all together.” – Lincoln Mick

Benson, “Banjo Radio Bounce”

Artist: Benson
Hometown: Boiling Springs, South Carolina
Song: “Banjo Radio Bounce”
Album: Double Dose
Release Date: May 29, 2026
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: Kristin: “‘Banjo Radio Bounce’ from our album, Double Dose, honors our good buddy Kyle Cantrell, who launched BanjoRadio around the time we recorded it. Obviously, if this is the title of the station, you know I’m gonna be a fan!” – Kristin Scott Benson

“‘Banjo Radio Bounce’ is a tune I wrote originally on electric mandolin. When Kristin heard the demo, she thought it would work well for banjo – and it did!” – Wayne Benson

Track Credits:
Wayne Benson – Mandolin
Kristin Scott Benson – Banjo
Jon Stickley – Acoustic guitar
Samantha Snyder – Fiddle
Jon Weisberger – Bass

Benny Bleu, “March of the Mollusk”

Artist: Benny Bleu
Hometown: Hemlock, New York
Song: “March of the Mollusk”
Album: When I Am a Fossil
Release Date: May 29, 2026 (video); June 5, 2026 (album)
Label: Circus Tent Records

In Their Words: “Even when I released this song as a solo banjo piece I had this drum groove in the back of my head. We all march forward whether we like it or not. Who sets our cadence? Climate change will march on whether we believe in it or not. Future generations on this planet will live simpler lives. With less stuff. They’ll live more local lives. Now that’s not necessarily all bad. To me, that sounds like the kinda place where folk and acoustic music will fit right in.” – Benny Bleu

Track Credits:
Benny Bleu – Banjo
Huck Tritsch – Drums
Eric Heveron-Smith – Bass
Gus Tritsch – Fiddle

Video Credits: Filmed at Ironwood Studio, Springwater, New York.
Filmed by Mike Martinez. Audio by Benny Bleu.

Full Cord, “Hubris Came to Town” Featuring Billy Strings

Artist: Full Cord
Hometown: Grand Haven, Michigan
Song: “Hubris Came to Town” (featuring Billy Strings)
Release Date: May 29, 2026

In Their Words: “‘Hubris Came to Town’ is a song that has many inspirations. Its structure and harmonic interest are similar to a song I wrote 11 years ago called ‘Downtown.’ The chorus has the vocal harmonies, chords, and darkness from the likeness of System of a Down, while the jam section is lightly inspired by Béla Fleck’s “Charm School.” Rhythmically inspired by the second movement of Shostakovich’s 10th string quartet. The lyric content could be construed as age-old rhetoric about anyone in your life that has these certain qualities. This is the kind of music I like to write for bluegrass, in an effort to put my own stamp on the genre with (primarily) harmonic interest and edgy lyrics. With Billy Strings and the band absolutely ripping throughout the entire song, it now has the aggressive demeanor I intended. All the guys in Full Cord made this version of the song what it is and I am very pleased with the track.” – Brian Oberlin

Track Credits:
Brian Oberlin – Mandolin, lead vocals, songwriter
Chase Potter – Fiddle, harmony vocals
Todd Kirchner – Bass
Eric Langejans – Guitar, harmony vocals
Max Allard – Banjo
Billy Strings – Guitar

Elena Moon Park, “Nothing Is Ordinary”


Artist: Elena Moon Park
Hometown: Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Song: “Nothing Is Ordinary”
Album: Nothing Is Ordinary
Release Date: May 29, 2026
Label: Adhyâropa Records

In Their Words: “This song, the title track of my new album, celebrates the idea that everything around us is magical, while also being oh-so common. We wake up and hear a bird song; in the evening stars appear in the sky. Nothing is ordinary, yet everything is ordinary. Or perhaps, everything is extraordinary. When I embrace this thought, I remember that my greatest joy is in noticing both the grand and the mundane, and listening to the stories around me. Inspired by a piece of art made by my friend Kristiana Pärn and accompanied by a truly magical video by Xuan, the song features an eclectic group of musical friends who encourage us to find our own stories and sing them out loud.” – Elena Moon Park

Track Credits:
Elena Moon Park – Vocals, jarana, Omnichord
Brett Parnell – Guitar, pedal steel
Nathan Koci – Horns, trumpet
Colin Brooks – Drums
Yoshi Waki – Bass
Michael Bellar – Synths
John Foti – Vocals
Sonia De Los Santos – Vocals
Devin Greenwood – Sounds
Chorus: Philippa, Roger and Marianna Thompson, Lyla, Ezra and Sruly Lazaros, Shai Fuller, Jay and Tearin Kim

Video Credits: Written, directed, and animated by Xuan.

Jesse Smathers, “Gambler’s Last Game”

Artist: Jesse Smathers
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Gambler’s Last Game”
Release Date: May 29, 2026
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “‘Gambler’s Last Game’ was written by my talented pal Mason Via and myself. The modern-day ballad tells of a traveling gambler whose true love won’t settle down with him, so he heartbreakingly stays on the go. This tune was stripped down to the instrumental accompaniment of only Hunter Berry’s fiddle and Corbin Hayslett’s banjo. They did a tremendous job, weaving in and out of each other’s waltzing rhythm with their note selections. Ballad singing and fiddle and banjo interplay is such an important part of string band music tradition. Though this is a new song, its story, form, and melody was approached the same way I tackle learning songs that are 200 years old. It truly transports me to another time. I hope everyone is similarly transported hearing ‘Gambler’s Last Game.'” – Jesse Smathers

Track Credits:
Jesse Smathers – Vocal
Hunter Berry – Fiddle
Corbin Hayslett – Low-tuned banjo

Photo Credit: Full Cord by Karuna Photo; the Arcadian Wild by Shelby Mick.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Tenille Townes, Mac Cornish, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

It’s Friday and it’s new music time! We’ve got a few things on the slate that you simply gotta hear.

Starting us off, quickly rising bluegrass up-and-comer 16-year-old Asher Brinson gives us a sneak preview of his upcoming single, “Midnight Hurricane,” the title track for an album the young songwriter and picker has set for release in early April. “Midnight Hurricane” features Sierra Hull on mandolin and Lindsay Lou on vocals – and Brinson more than holds his own among the talented roster on the track.

Also in bluegrass sounds, Jesse Smathers turns the clock and calendar back to the primordial musical ooze before bluegrass with his rendition of “Take A Drink On Me.” The track was inspired by Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, with whom Smathers shares a hometown. As the artist and mandolinist puts it, “This tune is a prime example of early popular dance music” – the kinda stuff that inspired the earliest bluegrass artists like Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, and many others. In the hands of Smathers and his band, it’s a bluegrass song fit for any era.

There’s Good Country to enjoy below, as well. Mac Cornish unveils a new track, her cover of Ian & Sylvia’s “Trucker’s Cafe.” You can almost catch the glint of bright sunshine off a chromed truck stop diner listening to the tune, lush with pedal steel and honky-tonkin’ guitar. The boot scootin’ track was recorded in Nashville and produced by Andrija Tokic.

To round us out, Tenille Townes returns to the site with “The Acrobat,” a contemplative and resonant song featuring another of our favs, Lori McKenna. “When you’re barely hanging on it’s easy to let go,” Townes sings, her voice rich with emotion and conviction. The song is the title track for Townes’ upcoming album, set for release in April, and is a fitting nexus point for the LP. “After losing my way for a while,” Townes shares with BGS, “this song felt like such an important anchor for this album.” You can watch the brand new music video for “The Acrobat” below.

Take a scroll and enjoy your listen – You Gotta Hear This!

Asher Brinson, “Midnight Hurricane”

Artist: Asher Brinson
Hometown: Newport, North Carolina
Song: “Midnight Hurricane”
Album: Midnight Hurricane
Release Date: March 6, 2026 (single); April 3, 2026 (album)

In Their Words: “When Chris Henry and I got together to write, I told him I was having an ‘off’ day and he said to let it flow – say whatever was on my mind. Those thoughts became the first line of ‘Midnight Hurricane.’ Growing up on the North Carolina coast, hurricanes have always just been a part of my life. And it seemed like they always hit at night! Midnight is quiet, but your thoughts aren’t, and hurricanes are like that — all of your feelings hitting at once. It’s a love story wrapped in chaos and after the storm, there’s a calm that makes you appreciate what’s steady and real. With Sierra Hull on mandolin and Lindsay Lou on vocals, this song instantly became one of my favorites. I feel like they both added just the right touch. While hurricanes unfortunately bring destruction, they also have a way of bringing people and communities together… to uplift each other, support, and rebuild.” – Asher Brinson

Track Credits:
Asher Brinson – Guitar, lead vocal
Cory Walker – Banjo
Jason Carter – Fiddle
Christopher Henry – Bass, baritone vocal
Sierra Hull – Mandolin
Lindsay Lou – Tenor vocal

Mac Cornish, “Trucker’s Cafe”

Artist: Mac Cornish
Hometown: Currently Nashville, Tennessee, but grew up in the Bay Area, California
Song: “Trucker’s Cafe”
Release Date: February 27, 2026

In Their Words: “This single is a cover of the Ian & Sylvia song, ‘Trucker’s Cafe.’ The song is from their 1969 record, Great Speckled Bird, which they also used as the name of their newly formed band, including the likes of Buddy Cage and David Briggs. Ian and Sylvia are a huge influence on me because of their blending of folk, rock ‘n’ roll, and country – especially on this album and this song. The song is a subversive take on the trucking country fad of the 1960s and ’70s, taking the perspective of a heartbroken truck stop diner waitress. The vocals are distinctly folk with their vibrato and falsetto, but the instrumentation is all rockin’ country goodness with walking bass and ripping pedal steel. I’ve always said that the best year in music was 1969. This is one of the many songs I absolutely love from that year in music and it only felt right to record a cover and honor my influences. My cover was recorded in October of 2025 at the Bomb Shelter in Nashville, TN and was produced by Andrija Tokic.” – Mac Cornish

Track Credits:
Mac Cornish – Vocals, acoustic guitar
Charlie Fuerstch – Electric guitar
Jeff Taylor – Piano
Cooper Dickerson – Pedal steel
Jack Lawrence – Bass
Dave Racine – Drums

Jesse Smathers, “Take A Drink On Me”

Artist: Jesse Smathers
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Take A Drink On Me”
Release Date: February 27, 2026
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “Though my familial roots are deeply planted in Western North Carolina, I was raised in Eden, NC – the home of Charlie Poole. I spent my youth picking and competing at the Charlie Poole Festival there. The festival was held at Morehead Park, on the same grounds where the cotton mill Poole used to work at once stood. I heard the music of Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers ringing throughout my childhood. He, along with his bandmates, were some of the most prominent precursors to bluegrass stylings that came nearly 20 years later. Tales of Poole, Posey Rorer, and Norman Woodlief are still being told today, as you would expect, with larger-than-life personalities and musicians.

“I often imagine this scene: walking down Morgan Road in Spray (one of three small communities that made up Eden) in 1926 as a bystander and hearing the centric bounce of Piedmont Mill music in the distance. As I approach, I witness the North Carolina Ramblers sitting on a stoop sharing tunes and a jug of the best white liquor that the area along the NC/VA line is so notorious for. That sight is exactly what came to mind when recording this tune and what comes to mind when I hear it back. This tune is a prime example of early popular dance music. Hunter Berry on fiddle masterfully captured the necessary musical essences all while integrating his own spontaneous and playful liveliness. The same can be said of Corbin Hayslett who mixed in popping Charlie Poole banjo techniques. Whether it’s a Coke, glass of tea, a beer, or a jar of Shooting Creek’s finest, all you rounders get ready to party and ‘Take A Drink On Me’!” – Jesse Smathers

Track Credits:
Jesse Smathers – Guitar, lead vocal
Hunter Berry – Fiddle
Corbin Hayslett – Banjo
Nick Goad – Mandolin, harmony vocal
Joe Hannabach – Upright bass
Patrick Robertson – Harmony vocal

Tenille Townes, “The Acrobat” featuring Lori McKenna

Artist: Tenille Townes
Hometown: Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Song: “The Acrobat” featuring Lori McKenna
Album: The Acrobat
Release Date: February 27, 2026 (single); April 10, 2026 (album)

In Their Words: “There’s an underlying whisper in this song saying you don’t have to make yourself smaller anymore, and it is my greatest hope that someone hearing this could believe it’s true. I have been navigating a return to self season in my life and reclaiming the belief that I don’t have to contort myself to fit what anyone else needs. After losing my way for a while, this song felt like such an important anchor for this album. Writing this song through the lens of a character helped me to hold enough distance from myself to be able to write the truth, and name the quiet damage that comes from performing, instead of just being.

“Lori McKenna has been a compass influence for me and it’s an honor to have her singing on this song we wrote together. I love how she enters the recording on the line about the fortune teller with all her knowledge, because Lori has been that voice of wisdom for me for years through her songs. The honesty in her lyrics and the way her voice holds emotional tension has given me permission to explore that kind of vulnerability in my own writing. I’m grateful for our friendship, and for the opportunity to share a love for the craft of a song with someone I am still so inspired by.” – Tenille Townes

Photo Credit: Tenille Townes by Madison Rensing; Mac Cornish by Mandi Fountain.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Jack Schneider, Elexa Dawson, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Bluegrass and folk, Americana and country – it’s another excellent serving of new music in our weekly roundup!

Beloved long-running bluegrass group Lonesome River Band have a new single out today, “Square Dance Friday Night,” which you can hear below. Written by LRB member and artist-songwriter Jesse Smathers, it’s the perfect track for New Music Friday whether or not a square dance is in your future – and of course, one should be. You’ll also find a preview of an upcoming track from singer-songwriter Elexa Dawson, “Roots Grow,” in our collection. Drawing on connections to land and ecology, it’s a string-Americana examination of the cycles of life; it readily shows how and why Dawson can often be found on the folk charts.

Don’t miss Kentucky’s Nicholas Jamerson joined by Rachel Baiman on his new song, which drops today. “How Sunday Feels” is more than apt in its vibey, grooving observations of toxicity and duplicity in religion and belief systems. Impeccable guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jack Schneider, who’s a delightful collapser and combiner of genres and eras, also debuted a new single this week as well.  Check out”Stone’s Throw Away,” a Barbara Keith cover that fits Schneider – and his upcoming album, Streets Of September –downright perfectly, shining with an indie-folk gilt.

We also have a special video treat this week, as we’re picking up and sharing a few performance videos from singer-songwriter Rachel McIntyre Smith from her Honeysuckle Friend Sessions series, which has been running on her social media and YouTube channel since October. Starting today and continuing over the next several weeks, we’ll share a series of three Honeysuckle Friend Sessions by McIntyre Smith and her musical friends and collaborators celebrating her recent EP. This edition features Smith in duet with Rebecca Lee Daniels offering a lovely rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors.”

Wherever you like your roots music to grow, there’s always a superb song just a stone’s throw away in our weekly roundup. You Gotta Hear This!

Elexa Dawson, “Roots Grow”


(Click to listen)

Artist: Elexa Dawson
Hometown: Emporia, Kansas
Song: “Roots Grow”
Album: Stay Put
Release Date: August 15, 2025 (single); September 12, 2025 (album)
Label: Turns Out Records

In Their Words: “‘Roots Grow’ is a celebration of the cycles of life. It can’t be all ‘love and light’ all the time. When times get hard, I look to the world around me, to the trees and animals, and I see lots of things that thrive in darkness. I think we can channel that energy and get through the dark times facing us with the help of the tree folk, who are a lot older and smarter than we are.” – Elexa Dawson

Track Credits:
Elexa Dawson – Vocals, acoustic guitar
Melissa Tastove – Vocals, shaker, djembe
Peter Oviatt – Vocals, shaker, claps, Juno 6 Polyphonic synth, banjo
Kelby Kimberlin – Bass
John Depew – Claps, mandolin
Sarah Bays – Melodica

Nicholas Jamerson, “How Sunday Feels” featuring Rachel Baiman

Artist: Nicholas Jamerson
Hometown: Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Song: “How Sunday Feels” featuring Rachel Baiman
Album: The Narrow Way
Release Date: August 8, 2025 (single); September 12, 2025 (album)
Label: Cloverdale

In Their Words: “This song was inspired by some keyboard warriors who use religion as a weapon of condemnation, rather than a tool of liberation from their own ego. Universally, I hope anyone who’s using their beliefs, whether religious, political, or philosophical, as a shield to judge and harm others will hear this song and maybe stop and think before speaking so critically about others.” – Nicholas Jamerson

Track Credits:
Nicholas Jamerson – Vocals, acoustic guitar, songwriter
Rachel Baiman – Fiddle, vocals, songwriter
Josh Oliver – Electric guitar, organ
Steve Haan – Bass
Mark Raudabaugh – Drums

Lonesome River Band, “Square Dance Friday Night”

Artist: Lonesome River Band
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Square Dance Friday Night”
Release Date: August 8, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “‘Square Dance Friday Night,’ written by our bandmate Jesse Smathers, is a story of years gone by in rural America. Growing up in the 1970s, I played so many square dances and gatherings attended by the unique characters described in this song. So many friendships were built in the VFW halls and community centers that lasted forever. Music and dancing was the main source of entertainment for working class folks and it was the way to end the week with celebration!” – Sammy Shelor

“The tie between playing music and dancing is a huge part of the culture along the Appalachian mountains. Growing up, I remember cutting my teeth playing music for dancers at local venues along the North Carolina/Virginia line. It has always been a beautiful community event. ‘Square Dance Friday Night’ is your invitation to a night full of fun and tells of some of the interesting characters you may meet while there.” – Jesse Smathers

Track Credits:
Sammy Shelor – Banjo
Jesse Smathers – Acoustic guitar, lead vocal, songwriter
Mike Hartgrove – Fiddle
Adam Miller – Mandolin, harmony vocal
Kameron Keller – Upright bass
Rod Riley – Electric guitar

Rachel McIntyre Smith, “Coat of Many Colors” featuring Rebecca Lee Daniels (Honeysuckle Friend Sessions)

Artist: Rachel McIntyre Smith with Rebecca Lee Daniels
Hometown: Oliver Springs, Tennessee
Song: “Coat of Many Colors”
Latest Album: Honeysuckle Friend (Deluxe)
Release Date: August 13, 2025 (video); June 27, 2025 (deluxe EP)

In Their Words: “Rebecca Lee Daniels is one of my favorite singer-songwriters, so I was thrilled when she agreed to be part of my series, the Honeysuckle Friend Sessions. Since moving to Nashville, she has become one of my closest friends in the music scene. We chose this song because we are both East Tennessee girls who love Dolly Parton. I think we recorded this in just one or two takes, because it’s such a go-to song for both of us. I’m so excited for BGS to partner with me on three sessions in this series. Keep an eye out in two weeks for another Honeysuckle Friend Session right here on BGS as part of ‘You Gotta Hear This.'” – Rachel McIntyre Smith

“It’s so meaningful to sing with one of my closest friends and collaborators – on my favorite Dolly Parton song, no less! Rachel and I share a common thread with Dolly in that we’re all three Appalachian women raised in the foothills of East Tennessee. As an artist who writes and releases Appalachian- and bluegrass-centric music, being featured in BGS is more meaningful than I can put into words and I’m so grateful to Rachel for the opportunity!” – Rebecca Lee Daniels

Track Credits:
Rebecca Lee Daniels – Guitar, vocals
Rachel McIntyre Smith – Vocals

Video Credit: Filmed and edited by Rachel McIntyre Smith.

Jack Schneider, “Stone’s Throw Away”

Artist: Jack Schneider
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Song: “Stone’s Throw Away”
Album: Streets Of September
Release Date: August 6, 2025 (single); September 19, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “My mission as a singer-songwriter is not to just perform my own compositions, but to preserve the music that inspires me, especially the hidden gems that deserve to find their way out into the world.

“Discovering Barbara Keith, who wrote and originally performed ‘Stone’s Throw Away,’ was serendipitous. I was in New York record-shopping with guitar historian Maple Byrne and it was he who stumbled upon a copy of Barbara Keith’s self-titled record. He insisted that I check it out, so I bought it at his recommendation. When I listened, it was almost spiritual how deeply Barbara’s songs moved me, specifically ‘Stone’s Throw Away,’ because of the line, ‘Georgia never looked so good as it does in Tennessee.’ Every now and then someone else’s words align with your own lived experience and this song is a perfect example of that for me.

“Recording it on my new record was also serendipitous. I had made a 4-track cassette demo of this song at one point, purely for my own amusement, and when my producer Matt Andrews (Gillian Welch, Dawes) came across the demo in a folder, we put it in the mix. Matt, never having heard the original version, liked how well it connected to the narrative theme of the other songs we’d selected. I am thrilled with how it turned out. Above all I am just hopeful to be able to draw more people’s attention to the music of Barbara Keith. She is incredible and I hope this version of her song does it the justice that it deserves.” – Jack Schneider

Track Credits:
Jack Schneider – Electric guitar, lead vocal
Camille Thornton – Electric guitar, vocal harmony
Wendy Moten – Vocal harmony
Dominic Billett – Drums
Jared Manzo – Bass
Matt Andrews – Organ

Photo Credit: Jack Schneider by Annie Loughead; Elexa Dawson by Lifeleak Visuals.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From The Brothers Comatose, Goldpine, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

It’s a golden weekly roundup of new music and premieres! You Gotta Hear This.

Kicking off the collection, San Francisco-based bluegrassers the Brothers Comatose unveil “25 Miles,” a single from their upcoming album, Golden Grass. The full project arrives in September, but you need not journey that far to hear “25 miles,” which is available everywhere today. Listen below.

Then, Nashville Americana duo Goldpine keep the shimmering, golden aura going with “Space,” a blend of futurism and roots music about craving a break from the rat race and the “real world.” Goldpine’s brand new album, Three – their third, indeed – releases today, so we’re happy to spotlight a track from the project in celebration.

Alaskan bluegrass and country artist Josh Fortenbery shows off his new, expanded sound with “City Lights,” a song – and accompanying music video – about aging, opportunity, and anxiety that’s twangy and danceable even wrapped up in existential pondering. Plus, Mountain Home Music Company recording artist Jesse Smathers declares “If It Ain’t Broke (Don’t Fix It)” in his latest single, a tongue-in-cheek number that you’re sure to find hilarious and top notch.

To close us out on New Music Friday, Duluth, Minnesota’s Ross Thorn brings us “Baby, That’s All I Need.” With a folky sound and backed by lovely finger-picked guitar, the song is about empathy and, as Thorn puts it, “…Seeing the divine in everything, and seeing the divine in yourself.” It’s a perfect bookend for this week’s roundup.

We appreciate you joining us each week for new music. Because you know what we think – You Gotta Hear This!

The Brothers Comatose, “25 Miles”

Artist: The Brother Comatose
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Song: “25 Miles”
Album: Golden Grass
Release Date: July 16, 2025 (single); September 12, 2025 (album)
Label: Swamp Jam Records

In Their Words: “’25 Miles’ was born out of a late-night drive from the SF Bay Area to LA, up and over the Grapevine, and a feeling that most of us know all too well: the weight of the world pressing down as we’re trying to outrun it. It’s about restless energy, being burned out and broke, with only dreams and close friends guiding you to your destination.

“It was written during a time of uncertainty and mental noise, and explores the tension between responsibility and freedom, and momentum and stillness.

“The line, ’25 miles to go and we’re running out of gas,’ is a metaphor for the transitional moments when you’re not quite sure where you’re headed, but you know you can’t turn back. There’s a subtle ache and a longing to escape not just a place, but also pressure, expectation, and the past. It’s about how getting lost is part of the plan, and survival sometimes looks like singing too loud with the windows down.” – Ben Morrison

Josh Fortenbery, “City Lights”

Artist: Josh Fortenbery
Hometown: Juneau, Alaska
Song: “City Lights”
Album: Tidy Memorial
Release Date: July 11, 2025 (single); October 10, 2025 (album)
Label: Muskeg Collective

In Their Words: “This melody has been kicking around since I was in high school and I’ve returned to it and slowly tweaked the lyrics over the years. It definitely captures the expansion in my sound since the last record, but also highlights that internally, I feel as lost as ever. My anxiety around aging is pretty new – I think I’m finally recognizing that some doors are closed or closing, and I’m trying to decide if I’m still having fun.

“I worked with a videographer in Juneau, David Rossow, to visually capture the feeling of standing still in a small town while the world moves rapidly past. We probably weirded out some tourists walking in slow motion while singing the song at .2 speed, but it definitely shows off my local haunts and the local life that sometimes haunts me.” – Josh Fortenbery

Track Credits:
Josh Fortenbery – Vocals, guitar
Erik Clampitt – Pedal Steel
Kat Moore –Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3
Sam Roberts – Bass
Todd Vierra – Drums
Kennedy Jo Kruchoski – Vocals
Taylor Dallas Vidic – Vocals

Video Credits: Directed by David Rossow.

Goldpine, “Space”

Artist: Goldpine
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Space”
Album: Three
Release Date: July 11, 2025

In Their Words: “We spend a lot of time on the road these days… it’s just become our regular life now. It seems like we drive so much, and do so much computer work, and are on the move so often that we just really cherish our breaks and time off. ‘Space’ is kind of like a stream of consciousness song about the desire for a break from the real world stuff. It’s a space-aged dreamy Americana tune with futuristic sounds and a rockin’ guitar solo. This tune was recorded from a compilation of live takes from shows on the road last year and mastered by engineer Dave McNair (Shovels & Rope, Brandi Carlile). We really captured the raw live performance feel on this tune, which is what we specialize in.” – Goldpine

Jesse Smathers, “If It Ain’t Broke (Don’t Fix It)”

Artist: Jesse Smathers
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “If It Ain’t Broke (Don’t Fix It)”
Release Date: July 11, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “This tune was fun as could be to write and record. ‘If It Ain’t Broke (Don’t Fix It)’ is a common saying most folks have heard. I know I’ve heard it my whole life. However, the family in this tune must not be up to speed on the old idiom. This tune is a tongue-in-cheek reminder that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – just leave well enough alone.” – Jesse Smathers

Track Credits:
Jesse Smathers – Guitar, lead vocal
Hunter Berry – Fiddle
Corbin Hayslett – Banjo
Nick Goad – Mandolin, harmony vocal
Joe Hannabach – Upright Bass

Ross Thorn, “Baby, That’s All I Need”

Artist: Ross Thorn
Hometown: Duluth, Minnesota
Song: “Baby, That’s All I Need”
Album: Fitting In
Release Date: July 11, 2025 (single); August 8, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “I began writing this one morning after I went for a walk in the graveyard, a swim in Lake Superior during a storm, and came home to see a robin in the yard. It’s a song about radical empathy, seeing yourself in everything, seeing the divine in everything, and seeing the divine in yourself. We recorded the song live at the fabled Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. To me, the song feels like John Prine collaborated with the rooster from the old Robin Hood cartoon (AKA Roger Miller), with a blend of honesty, humor, and some good old-fashioned whistling.” – Ross Thorn

Track Credits:
Ross Thorn – Vocals, acoustic guitar
Clark Singleton – Bass
Cassandra Sotos – Violin, vocals
Jacob Mahon – Banjo, vocals
Ian Hopp – Drums
Kyle Orla – Acoustic guitar, vocals

Photo Credit: The Brothers Comatose by Jessie McCall; Goldpine by Raechel Curtis.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From BEATrio, Graham Sharp, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

From banjo geniuses to borderless country and folk, this time, our weekly new music and premiere roundup has a little bit of everything!

Kicking us off, BGS Podcast Network host and singer-songwriter Bri Bagwell, who’s behind the Only Vans podcast, brings us a lovely fresh country track called “Border Girl.” It’s about how close we all really are to each other, and how the culture, communities, and music of our neighbors really do rub off on all of us. From across the state line in Texas, Jack Barksdale accomplishes the complex through simplicity with “A Funny Song,” which is equal parts satirical and contemplative in an ethereal indie-folk package.

Virginian Jesse Smathers offers up his version of a Randall Hyton number, “Good Time Get Together,” and with the roster of bluegrass pickers he had join him in the studio for the recording, it surely must have been the titular good time get together just to make the single. Plus, Kenny Feinstein steps away from his band Water Tower for just a moment to release a bluegrass single under his own name, “Old Richmond Prison,” a “fast waltz” about mistakes, consequences, and redemption.

Banjo virtuosity brings us home, first with BEATrio featuring Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, and Antonio Sánchez blending styles, sonics, and banjo, harp, and percussion on “Walnut and Western.” Not quite jazz, folk, jam band, or string band alone, the instrumental draws from seemingly endless inspirations, combining each with expertise and ease. The track is, of course, infinitely charming, raucous, and fascinating. Five-string aficionado Graham Sharp (who you’ll know from Steep Canyon Rangers) releases his brand new solo album today, How Did We Do It. We’re sharing “Living Like Thieves” from that project, an original which features Jerry Douglas, Lyndsay Pruett, Michael Ashworth, and more trotting towards a getaway while having a good time and with a vacation in mind.

It’s all worth a spin, that’s for sure! You know what we’re going to say– You Gotta Hear This!

Bri Bagwell, “Border Girl”

Artist: Bri Bagwell
Hometown: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Song: “Border Girl”
Release Date: April 18, 2025

In Their Words: “I am from the border of New Mexico, Mexico, and Texas. My hometown of Las Cruces, New Mexico, is a very beautiful blend of people and cultures. I believe a lot of people feel that they ‘belong’ to different places, straddling a line between ethnicities and geographical influences that shape who they are. Instead of wrestling with the idea of feeling very deeply rooted in Hispanic culture without having it in my blood, I always have embraced the idea that where I am from seeped into the fiber of my being, and that is a beautiful thing. Being from the border of all of these places created a girl who sings in Spanish every night, loves both Selena and George Strait, and knows that the Rio Grande is just a divider for map (and not for a heart).

“My boyfriend Paul Eason really took to this song after I wrote it and recorded all of the instruments and my vocals in our home studio in New Braunfels, Texas. It features harmonies by Lyndon Hughes from The Wilder Blue, and receives a big reaction at shows when I play it live. I think people really relate to the idea of loving where you are from and embracing all of your geographical and cultural influences!” – Bri Bagwell

Jack Barksdale, “A Funny Song”

Artist: Jack Barksdale
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Song: “A Funny Song”
Album: Voices
Release Date: April 25, 2025 (single); June 13, 2025 (album)
Label: Truly Handmade Records

In Their Words: “I’m really interested in ways to inspire nuance and complexity with songwriting, which can be a surprisingly tough task. Somewhat counterintuitively, the way I tried to achieve that complexity in ‘A Funny Song’ is through simplicity. Sometimes if you strip something back to its simplest form and try to understand it through that point of view, you can gain a deeper understanding of it or, at least, a good foundation for future understanding. It’s not the final destination, but it’s good start. In this song, I used that same framework to try and understand some of, what you might call ‘the big questions.’

“This song borders on satire and works in pretty much the same way as satire, where the substance isn’t really in what’s being said, but in the listener’s reaction to what’s being said. Ultimately, I’m not trying to simplify ‘the big questions’ by telling a black-and-white story. I’m trying to create more nuanced thought around these questions in the minds of listeners, whether they agree or disagree with what the song has to say.” – Jack Barksdale

Track Credits:
Jack Barksdale – Vocals, acoustic guitar, songwriter
Diana Burgess – Cello
Jared Reynolds – Uke Bass

BEATrio (Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez), “Walnut and Western”

Artist: BEATrio (Béla Fleck, banjo; Edmar Castañeda, harp; and Antonio Sánchez, drums)
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Walnut and Western”
Album: BEATrio
Release Date: April 16, 2025 (single); May 16, 2025 (album)
Label: Béla Fleck Productions

In Their Words: “Here’s a tune I have had for many years that’s been looking for a home and the right band. I am positive that this is the best setting it could have, and thrilled that I waited! Antonio and Edmar knew exactly what to do. This project kind of reminds me of the early days of the Flecktones, when audiences would go, ‘How is this supposed to work?’” – Béla Fleck

Kenny Feinstein, “Old Richmond Prison”

Artist: Kenny Feinstein
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Song: “Old Richmond Prison”
Album: Kenny Feinstein
Release Date: April 18, 2025 (single); TBA (album)

In Their Words: “There’s something magical about siblings making music together. The way Jake and Carter work together reminds me of Ralph and Carter Stanley – it’s like they share a musical language that only brothers can understand.

“The song is about mistakes, consequences, and redemption – themes I’ve grappled with in my own life. There’s a universality to the story that I think anyone can relate to, whether it’s the weight of regret or the hope for a second chance. Water Tower will always be my home base, but this album is a chance to explore the music that shaped me as an artist. It’s a love letter to the sounds and stories that have been with me through every high and low.” – Kenny Feinstein

Graham Sharp, “Living Like Thieves”

Artist: Graham Sharp
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “Living Like Thieves”
Album: How Did We Do It
Release Date: April 18, 2025
Label: Enchanted Barn

In Their Words: “For me, this tune is about being in tune with the moment, paying attention to the magic when you find it. I was sitting at friend’s one afternoon thumbing through this melody and it seemed to capture the time and place (‘The prettiest thing that I know right now/ Is these little chords and the way they move/ The only place that I wanna be/ Is where I’m playing them for you”). I leaned on a recollection of an afternoon several years ago on vacation with my sweetie for the first verse. I’ve always loved Earl Scruggs’ banjo style in open D Reuben tuning and it happened to fit this song really well. Having Flux and this group of Western NC all stars on the track brought the whole thing together and made it sing!” – Graham Sharp

Track Credits:
Graham Sharp – Banjo, vocals
Ryan Stigmon – Guitar
Michael Ashworth – Bass
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Lyndsay Pruett – Fiddle
Drew Matiluch – Mandolin

Jesse Smathers, “Good Time Get Together”

Artist: Jesse Smathers
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Good Time Get Together”
Release Date: April 18, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “When I first ran across this old Randall Hylton tune, I knew it was something that I wanted to record. I sought out the lyrics and Wanda Dalton, Randall’s sister, wrote them out for me. I truly cherish this tune and its uplifting melody and message. When I think of my friends, loved ones, and heroes that have gone on, it is a beautiful and consoling thought to think of the music making that will happen once we get to heaven. It will truly be a ‘Good Time Get Together’!” – Jesse Smathers

Track Credits:
Jesse Smathers – Guitar, lead vocal
Hunter Berry – Fiddle
Corbin Hayslett – Banjo
Nick Goad – Mandolin, harmony vocal
Joe Hannabach – Upright bass
Patrick Robertson – Harmony vocal
Dale Perry – Harmony vocal

Photo Credit: BEATrio (Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez) by Shervin Lainez; Graham Sharp by Nathan Golub.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Cristina Vane, Shelby Means, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Now, our premiere roundup is pretty stellar each and every week – if we do say so ourselves – but this week feels especially excellent!

Below, you’ll find a slew of bluegrass song and video premieres. First, check out “Paris” by Aaron Burdett (a longtime rootsy singer-songwriter and recent addition to the Steep Canyon Rangers), who took an offhand comment about one of the world’s most-visited cities and turned it into a song. Greensboro, North Carolina, string duo Chatham Rabbits bring a track from their brand new album, Be Real With Me, which released today; it’s called “One Little Orange.”

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Jesse Smathers – who you may know from the Lonesome River Band – releases his solo debut today, as well. It’s his version of “Sleepy Eyed John” that draws inspiration from his friend, banjo player Gene Parker. Plus, Grammy Award winner and in-demand bluegrass bassist Shelby Means is also stepping into the spotlight with her first-ever solo music, “Streets of Boulder,” a burning heartbreak track which features her Golden Highway bandmates Molly Tuttle, Kyle Tuttle, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, and even more names you’ll recognize.

In a similar sonic space, Cristina Vane previews the title track for her upcoming album, Hear My Call, with an official video for the song. It’s an old-timey number built around clawhammer banjo with a tinge of blues and a dash of Americana – and it also features the inimitable Molly Tuttle. Folk duo Edie Carey & Sarah Sample can be found below as well, returning to their late 2024 release, Lantern in the Dark: Songs of Comfort and Lullabies, with a new video for its title track, “Lantern.”

To round us out, just in time for Valentine’s Day Hudson Mueller shines on his new track, “Love Is Love,” which celebrates love in all its forms and no matter who may be its recipient or subject. And Jeremy Dion has a bit of adoring tunnel vision on “All I See Is You,” a song with a video that celebrates all of the love and loved ones in his life.

It’s a full slate of impeccable roots songs and videos! You know what we think… You Gotta Hear This.

Aaron Burdett, “Paris”

Artist: Aaron Burdett
Hometown: Saluda, North Carolina
Song: “Paris”
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Label: Organic Records

In Their Words: “I like shiny things, new things. I always think that new thing is going to make something different. It does, but just for a few moments, and then I’m the same and everything around me is the same. There wasn’t any real change, I only distracted myself briefly. ‘Paris’ is a song about yearning, looking outside of oneself, and hoping there’s more out there in some exotic place. It might be the next town down the road or the big city two states over, or maybe even somewhere across the mountains and an ocean. I hear a longing in this song now, but I also hear hope. My bandmate Barrett said ‘I’ve got a feeling about Paris’ a couple years ago during a soundcheck at the Bijou Theater in Knoxville, and when I heard that, I did what I do and I wrote it down. That line grew into this tune.” – Aaron Burdett

Track Credits:
Aaron Burdett – Vocals, acoustic guitar
Kristin Scott Benson – Banjo
Carley Arrowood – Fiddle
Tristan Scroggins – Mandolin
Jon Weisberger – Upright bass

Edie Carey & Sarah Sample, “Lantern”

Artist: Edie Carey & Sarah Sample
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado (Edie) and Sheridan, Wyoming (Sarah)
Song: “Lantern”
Album: Lantern in the Dark: Songs of Comfort and Lullabies
Release Date: October 18, 2024 (album); February 14, 2025 (video)
Label: Groundloop Records

In Their Words: “Written by our friends and Nashville songwriters Dustin Christensen and Jill Andrews, ‘Lantern’ was a song that Sarah brought to the table. Sarah and Dustin are longtime friends from the Salt Lake music scene and he played a major role as a musician and harmony arranger on our first album in 2014. We both fell in love with the melody, the message, and the harmony possibilities for this tune. It’s a song that says, ‘I’ve got you, no matter what.’ The ascending bridge sounds like someone stepping out of wreckage after a disaster, blinking their way back into the light: ‘Shadows falling / Sirens calling / I’ll be holding on to you.’ We didn’t originally intend for the album title to come from this song, but it was the perfect symbol for what we wanted this record to be: a light in the dark for when you’re feeling lost; a beacon to guide you back to the familiar and remind you that you’re never alone along the way.” – Edie Carey & Sarah Sample

Track Credits:
Edie Carey – Vocals, baritone acoustic
Sarah Sample – Vocals, acoustic
Dustin Christensen – Acoustic
Maren Gayle – Keys

Video Credits: Directed by Rachel DeWeber.

Chatham Rabbits, “One Little Orange”

Artist: Chatham Rabbits
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Song: “One Little Orange”
Album: Be Real With Me
Release Date: February 14, 2025

In Their Words: “My maternal grandfather Ronald holds a mythic place in my mind. He died from years of drug and alcohol abuse when I was just a kid. I only have one memory of him and it’s what I wrote the song about. I think it’s only natural to want to know more about your blood relatives as you get older. My genetics and personality are tied to those that came before me and I want to know as much about them as possible. My grandfather is no different. This is a song about trusting the limited memory you have, accepting that you’ll have to live from stories instead of the real thing, and recognizing that people can be both troubled and full of life.” – Sarah McCombie

Jeremy Dion, “All I See Is You”

Artist: Jeremy Dion
Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
Song: “All I See Is You”
Album: Bend in the Middle
Release Date: October 18, 2024 (album); February 14, 2025 (video)

In Their Words: “This is my favorite video to make so far and it welcomes the viewer all the way into my personal life. Since ‘All I See is You’ is a love song, I wanted to provide an unvarnished view of my own current experiences of love. Viewers will see some beautiful shots of nature juxtaposed with recently captured images of my home, my daughter, my husband, my dog, and some of my closest friends. It gives me warm fuzzies every time I see it and I hope it has the same effect on everyone.” – Jeremy Dion

Track Credits:
Jeremy Dion – Guitar, lead vocals
Kate Farmer – Backing vocals
Christian Teele – Percussion
Bradley Morse – Bass
Kyle Donovan – Guitars
John McVey – Guitars
Enion Pelta-Tiller – Fiddle

Video Credits: Shot and produced by Daniel Herman, Mineral Sound.

Shelby Means, “Streets of Boulder” (Featuring Molly Tuttle, Kyle Tuttle)

Artist: Shelby Means
Hometown: Folly Beach, South Carolina
Song: “Streets of Boulder” (Featuring Molly Tuttle, Kyle Tuttle)
Release Date: February 14, 2025

In Their Words: “I wrote this song in college. It was my first attempt to write a heartbreak song and it became the first original song I performed in a band. In 2008, I was asked by my professor of world music to assemble a bluegrass band to represent the United States at an International Folk Music contest in Nitra, Slovakia. I formed High Altitude Bluegrass band and taught them ‘Streets of Boulder.’ Courtney Hartman, Sterling Masat, Reid Buckley, and my brother, Jacob Means, played in that band and helped create the instrumental line that is repeated throughout the song.

“I really wanted Jacob to play mandolin on this recording and he did a great job in the studio with Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton, Ron Block, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes. I invited Molly Tuttle and Kyle Tuttle to sing harmonies with me and we spent one afternoon in a hotel room with Ethan Standard, our front-of-house engineer, recording the harmony vocals. That room sounded pretty darn good! After a few years of touring together we have developed a unique vocal blend and I think it suits this song perfectly. ‘Streets of Boulder’ has been performed live a handful of times with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway over the 2024 Down the Rabbit Hole tour.” – Shelby Means

Track Credits:
Shelby Means – Lead vocal, bass, songwriter
Bryan Sutton – Guitar
Jacob Means – Mandolin
Ron Block – Banjo
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – Fiddle
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Molly Tuttle – Harmony vocals
Kyle Tuttle – Harmony vocals

Hudson Mueller, “Love is Love”

Artist: Hudson Mueller
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Song: “Love is Love”
Album: Welcome to Earth
Release Date: February 14, 2025 (single); March 28, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “This is a love song – but not just about the romantic kind we typically celebrate on Valentine’s Day. It’s about radical inclusivity. We each get to define love for ourselves and decide who it applies to. Love can extend to neighbors, friends, and even those who may not look, think, or believe as we do. This song was inspired by my friends Bird and Carsten. We were lucky enough to attend two of their three wedding celebrations (parties) in New York and Germany. Each was a beautiful tribute to the bond between two incredible souls who just happened to share the same gender. Initially, the song leaned more into its LGBTQ+ theme, with a verse about Carl and Steve, Joan and Janet. But in the end, that felt a little too on the nose. Still, the sentiment remains: ‘Find the place where your love ends and then extend love just a little bit more.'” – Hudson Mueller

Jesse Smathers, “Sleepy Eyed John”

Artist: Jesse Smathers
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Sleepy Eyed John”
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “My friend Gene Parker, the legendary banjo player of Lost & Found legacy, inspired my version of ‘Sleepy Eyed John.’ Originally written by Kentucky fiddler Tex Atchison and made a hit by country singer Johnny Horton, I wanted to give this fun, bouncy number a suitable mountainous string band flavor. I hope you enjoy listening to it, as much as I did picking and singing it!” – Jesse Smathers

Track Credits:
Jesse Smathers – Guitar, lead vocal
Hunter Berry – Fiddle
Corbin Hayslett – Banjo
Nick Goad – Mandolin, harmony vocal
Joe Hannabach – Upright bass
Patrick Robertson – Harmony vocal
Dale Perry – Harmony vocal

Cristina Vane, “Hear My Call”

Artist: Cristina Vane
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Hear My Call”
Album: Hear My Call
Release Date: February 21, 2025

In Their Words: “‘Hear My Call’ was written on tour and is the title of my album as well, because I feel that it reflects this refocused sense of purpose and intention I was channeling both in my life and in the writing of this record. It’s an assertion, a shift from my constant role of observer to someone with something to say herself. Molly Tuttle sings and plays guitar on the track and she lends such a stunning flair to it, I’m so grateful for her mastery!” – Cristina Vane

Photo Credit: Cristina Vane by Stacie Huckeba; Shelby Means by Hunter McRae; 

LISTEN: Jesse Smathers, “Sing Darling Sing”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Jesse Smathers
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Sing Darling Sing”
Release Date: September 22, 2023

In Their Words: “I believe that simple melodies and simple stories relate across generations and all walks of life. That’s the true beauty of string music: its relatability. This song was composed with that aspiration.

“Being raised in piedmont North Carolina, family roots in Western Carolina, and now living in Southwest Virginia, string music always surrounded me and the tunes that always struck a chord were the fun melodic tunes, and happy songs. ‘Sing Darling Sing’ is just that, a happy tune with a loving story.

“I am so very proud of this recording, musically and personally, for it draws inspiration from my own marriage as well as relationship examples I see set by older generations. I hope the music and imagery takes the listener to a simpler and scenic time when life didn’t move as fast, and communication wasn’t at our fingertips. However, the young man in the tale is chomping at the bit to marry the girl of his dreams, the day can’t come quick enough and nothing’s gonna stop him!” – Jesse Smathers

Track Credits: 
Jesse Smathers – Guitar/ Lead Vocal
Nick Goad – Mandolin/ Harmony Vocal
Corbin Hayslett – Banjo
Hunter Berry – Fiddle
Joe Hannabach – Bass

Photo Credit: Laci Mack