Tag: premiere

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Seldom Scene, Swearingen & Kelli, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

You’ve reached the end of the week! For a little treat, how about a few brand new songs and music videos? You Gotta Hear This!

If you’re looking for bluegrass, we’ve certainly got it this week– Chris Jones & The Night Drivers share their first recording of a Tom T. Hall original, “Mama Bake a Pie (Daddy Kill a Chicken),” since their dear friend and Bluegrass Hall of Famer passed away a few years ago. Plus, bluegrass legends Seldom Scene preview their upcoming album, Remains to Be Scene, with a new single, “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains.” And, wrapping up our bluegrass trifecta, banjo player Max Wareham pays tribute to NHL team the Boston Bruins with an excellent shredding instrumental tune, “The Black & Gold.”

From elsewhere across the roots music landscape, duo Swearingen & Kelli offer “Break Me Down,” a powerful acoustic number with plenty of grit, slide guitar, and blues influence. Plus, don’t miss Justin Wells’ new music video for “Sad, Tomorrow,” a contemplative slow burn of a song that focuses on mental health, melancholy, and forging ahead.

It’s a lovely collection of new roots music to take you into the weekend, and you know what we think – You Gotta Hear This!

Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, “Mama Bake a Pie (Daddy Kill a Chicken)”

Artist: Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Mama Bake a Pie (Daddy Kill a Chicken)”
Release Date: January 17, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “This is an old and lesser-known Vietnam War-era song of Tom T. Hall’s and the first song of his I’ve recorded since his passing a few years ago. I think I didn’t feel ready to until now. He had a unique ability to incorporate bits of humor into a sad story, and this is definitely one of those. This song is vivid and poignant in a way that is vintage Tom T. I was going to record this several years ago, but when I brought it up to Tom T. and Dixie, they wrote ‘Hero in Harlan’ that very day to give me something new to do instead.” – Chris Jones

Seldom Scene, “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains”

Artist: The Seldom Scene
Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland
Song: “Last of the Steam-Powered Train”
Album: Remains to Be Scene
Release Date: January 14, 2025 (single); March 14, 2025 (album)
Label: Smithsonian Folkways

In Their Words: “This song was written by Ray Douglas Davies and recorded by the rock group The Kinks in the 1960s. The Scene has always looked outside the box for material, and we thought this one fit the bill.” – Lou Reid

Swearingen & Kelli, “Break Me Down”

Artist: Swearingen & Kelli
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Break Me Down”
Release Date: January 24, 2025
Label: Gone Rogue Music

In Their Words: “I wrote this song a few years back, but it never really got its due. I was also really obsessed with slide guitar at that time. It’s a little gritty, and when Jayne added her vocals on top, I thought, ‘Ok, this is exactly what this song needs.’ I love the discovery process of writing and recording. Sometimes it takes a while to find the exact combination of sounds with an arrangement to tell the story the way you really want to.” – AJ Swearingen

Track Credits:
AJ Swearingen – Guitars, drums, percussion, bass, vocals
Jayne Kelli – Vocals, organ

Max Wareham, “The Black & Gold”

Artist: Max Wareham
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “The Black & Gold”
Album: DAGGOMIT!
Release Date: January 17, 2025 (single); February 21, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “Sports and music might have more in common than we think – this tune is a tribute to the Boston Bruins’ legendary ’22-’23 season, during which they broke most NHL records. Musically, the A part was inspired by Bill Emerson and the B part is a nod to the style of banjo legend, Rudy Lyle.” – Max Wareham

Track Credits:
Max Wareham – Banjo
Laura Orshaw – Fiddle
Chris Henry – Mandolin
Chris Eldridge – Guitar
Mike Bub – Bass
Larry Atamanuik – Snare

Justin Wells, “Sad, Tomorrow”

Artist: Justin Wells
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
Song: “Sad, Tomorrow”
Album: Cynthiana
Release Date: January 15, 2025 (single); February 20, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “The title of the song comes from a story Nicole Kidman told Marc Maron on Maron’s podcast, WTF. Kidman talked about how she often took her characters home with her, acting in front of a mirror. Her young child had grown accustomed to seeing and hearing her mother work on these roles. A day or so after Kidman’s father died, she was grieving at home, and her kid heard this. Her kid asked ‘Mom, why are you crying?’

“‘Well, I’m crying because I’m sad, because Papaw died.’

“Her child, accustomed to seeing her Mom go in and out of emotions while working on her acting, replied, ‘Well, are you gonna be sad tomorrow?’

“I wanted to write this song about that feeling of helplessness you have when a friend is struggling with depression, when the only thing you can do sometimes is just be there. I ended up asking my dear friend Adam Lee to help me finish it, which was considerably apropos, because we’d both been each other’s therapist through lockdown, when we were kinda losing our minds. Considering all of the above, the song carries an even bigger weight because it’s one of the last songs that my friend Robby Cosenza played on before he passed. Robby was a Lexington icon, playing on hundreds of albums including a Ringo Starr record as well as my debut album, Dawn in the Distance, and he was instrumental in helping me get my legs under me when I started my solo career.” – Justin Wells

Photo Credit: Seldom Scene by Jeromie Stephens; Swearingen & Kelli by Daniel Shippy.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Sister Sadie, Golden Shoals, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

As usual, it’s Friday and we’ve got a handful of videos and tracks you gotta hear this week!

Kicking us off, bluegrass and old-time duo Golden Shoals offer their fresh, topical take on a classic from the American songbook with “New White House Blues.” Then, singer-songwriter Heather Maloney brings us along through a “Labyrinth in the Weeds,” a nostalgic track about the circuitous, non-linear quality of grief and loss.

GRAMMY-nominated bluegrass supergroup Sister Sadie return to the round-up with a new single, “If I Don’t Have You,” a Dani Flowers-penned love song that’s as good as love songs get – because it keeps it simple. To wrap up this edition, Evan Westfall (who you may know from CAAMP), debuts a fascinating and ethereal instrumental, “SISDM,” that’s timeless and modern all at once.

They’re all right here, on BGS, and you know what we think– You Gotta Hear This!

Golden Shoals, “New White House Blues”

Artist: Golden Shoals
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee / Vancouver, British Columbia
Song: “New White House Blues”
Album: The Dream and the Hunger
Release Date: January 17, 2025 (single)

In Their Words: “At the center of a Venn diagram featuring history, politics, and bluegrass music is a special kind of nerd. ‘White House Blues’ has always been a favorite of mine and I wanted to dive deeper into the story behind the McKinley assassination. The culprit, Leon Czgolsz (who is unnamed in ‘White House Blues’), was disillusioned by the inequity of the Gilded Age, and felt his actions would usher in a revolution for the working class. He truly was the Luigi Mangione of his day. The consequent presidency of Teddy Roosevelt looks like a win for the common man, but that idea is a house of cards. The motives of these assassins resonate with me, but these moments highlight this fact: without collective action, true and lasting change will never come. Through this 10-verse murder ballad, we pay tribute to Charlie Poole’s initial recording of ‘White House Blues’ by gradually speeding up, which builds tension and atmosphere.” – Mark Kilianski

Heather Maloney, “Labyrinth in the Weeds”

Artist: Heather Maloney
Hometown: Northampton, Massachusetts
Song: “Labyrinth in the Weeds”
Album: Exploding Star
Release Date: January 31, 2025
Label: Signature Sounds

In Their Words: “This song is an ode to one of my earliest and most favorite memories at my childhood home, which was at the edge of the Appalachians in northwest New Jersey. My dad would let the grass in the field grow until late summer. When it came time to mow, he didn’t cut it down all at once– he’d weave through on the John Deere, making a sort-of maze for us kids and we’d follow behind.

“I remember how it felt so viscerally; the smell of the grass, the crunch under my feet, and especially the giddy feeling of losing sight of him when he rounded a new corner. After he died this actually came to mind. I had a sense that my dad, who was always making a game out of things, had just rounded another kind of new corner I couldn’t yet see past. It was a comforting thought and the inspiration for the song.” – Heather Maloney

Sister Sadie, “If I Don’t Have You”

Artist: Sister Sadie
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “If I Don’t Have You”
Release Date: January 10, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “I don’t write too many love songs. Most of the songs in my catalog are admittedly pretty depressing. But ‘If I Don’t Have You’ is just that – a love song about loving someone so much that everything you’ve ever wanted or hoped to accomplish now pales in comparison to the need you have to be with that person.” – Dani Flowers

“Dani Flowers came to me with this sweet melody and the first two lines of this song. We finished it that day. This is my favorite kind of love song; simple melody and simple lyrics. It doesn’t get much better than Dani’s angelic voice singing about how going through life and experiencing the most amazing things wouldn’t mean half as much ‘If I Don’t Have You.'” – Deanie Richardson

Track Credits:
Dave Racine – drums
Deanie Richardson – fiddle
Gena Britt – banjo
Mary Meyer – mandolin, piano
Maddie Dalton – Upright bass
Seth Taylor – Acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Dani Flowers – Lead vocals
Jaelee Roberts – Harmony vocal

Evan Westfall, “SISDM”

Artist: Evan Westfall
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Song: “SISDM”
Album: Is This Our Exit?
Release Date: January 8, 2024 (single); January 24, 2024 (album)
Label: Super Sport Records

In Their Words: “This song came together by accident after I started tuning my guitar with no direction and stumbled into the tuning of EBEF#BD#. This song title is a reference to an essay by the Columbus-based poet Hanif Abdurraqib about the transition from summer to fall. You can really feel that shift in seasons here in Ohio, the excitement that comes with the fresh start of something like a new school year or football season, even though that season ends up in bare trees and cold grey skies. It’s a hopeful melody, but overly dramatic.” – Evan Westfall

Track Credits:
Evan Westfall – Guitars, banjo, drums
Dan Alvarez – Guitars, banjo, bass, drums
Jordan Dunn-Pilz – Guitars, drums

Photo Credit: Golden Shoals by Mike Dunn USA; Sister Sadie by Allister Ann.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Olivia Ellen Lloyd, Kora Feder, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Happy New Year! Our very first New Music Friday of 2025 brings our very first premiere roundup of the new year, too. We’re so excited to dive into another 12 months’ worth of superlative Americana, country, folk, bluegrass, old-time, and more.

Don’t miss a brand new track from critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Kora Feder, who debuts “Rambling Man” from her upcoming album, Some Kind of Truth. Her voice shines, crystalline and pure above a warm and crisp folk-rock-meets-Americana backing track. It’s a song about gender, wanderlust, expectations, and inhabiting agency – freedom.

Next, West Virginian (via Brooklyn) folk artist Olivia Ellen Lloyd brings us a lyric video for the title track for her highly anticipated 2025 record, Do It Myself. Staying within our coincidental theme of agency and autonomy, “Do It Myself” celebrates Lloyd’s self determination and self possession with her particular agnostic West Virginian blend of roots genres and styles. It’s indie, folk, Americana, country, and string band all wrapped up into one tidy, charming musical package.

To wrap up our first premiere collection of the year, don’t miss our latest Good Country Goodtime session from our debut GC variety show in Los Angeles last September. The latest installment of our exclusive clips from the show features “garage country” artist and songwriter Aubrie Sellers offering her stellar take on a country classic, “Make the World Go Away.” That voice!

You can find all this incredible music below and, honestly – You Gotta Hear This! Happy new year, happy new music.

Kora Feder, “Rambling Man”

Artist: Kora Feder
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Song: “Rambling Man”
Album: Some Kind of Truth
Release Date: January 3, 2025 (single); March 18, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Rambling Man’ is about self confidence as quiet rebellion. It’s about gender and beauty standards, about the feeling of achieving freedom from expectation and self-suppression. It’s the kind of song that can fuel a solo drive or inspire barefoot dance sessions in the kitchen. I hope that it is as empowering to listen to as it was to make.” – Kora Feder

Track Credits:
Paul Mayer – Piano, drums
Justin Farren – Guitar, bass, pads
Written by Kora Feder
Mixed by Justin Farren
Mastered by Eric Broyhill

Olivia Ellen Lloyd, “Do It Myself”

Artist: Olivia Ellen Lloyd
Hometown: Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Song: “Do It Myself”
Album: Do It Myself
Release Date: January 3, 2025 (single); March 21, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “When I sing this song, I think of the Rilke poem, ‘Archaic Torso of Apollo.’ To me, that poem summarizes how art can move someone into action, and how we can be perceived by our creations just as we perceive them. I had memorized that poem over a decade ago for a speech class in undergrad, and on the day I sat down to write ‘Do It Myself,’ the last lines, ‘For here there is no place that cannot see you. You must change your life,’ came to me like a meditation.

“At many points over the almost two-year process of making this record, I had no idea how I was going to take the next step, pay for the next expense, or reach the next milestone. But I had a song that insisted that I could, I would – do it myself. So I kept moving, slowly at times, until it was complete. And every so often, at various stages of creating this album, I would play this song – first the bounce, then the rough mix, then drafts of the final mix – and dance around my apartment in Brooklyn. As if to remind myself that I could do it. Even if I didn’t know how (yet).” – Olivia Ellen Lloyd

The Good Country Goodtime: Aubrie Sellers

On September 27, Good Country and BGS debuted our brand new variety show, the Good Country Goodtime, at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles. The inaugural show was hosted by country and bluegrass singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks and featured appearances by artists Victoria Bailey and Aubrie Sellers as well as a hilarious set by comedian and actor Kurt Braunohler. Backing up the talent was our first class Goodtime house band led by the Coral Reefers’ Mick Utley.

For our second installment in our series of clips from the September edition of the show, “garage country” artist and singer-songwriter Aubrie Sellers offers an incredible cover of a country classic, “Make the World Go Away.” Sellers is a fascinating roots artist with a deep and broad country and Americana pedigree. Her music combines so many genres – indie, folk, rock and roll, grunge, and blues blend effortlessly with bona fide old country chops and pop-meets-countrypolitan glamor. But here, on the Dynasty Typewriter stage, her rendition of the indispensable Hank Cochran-penned hit is remarkably simple and down-to-earth.

Read more here.

Photo Credit: Kora Feder by Anna Barber; Olivia Ellen Lloyd by Aaron May.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From John McCutcheon, Scroggins & Rose, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Our last premiere roundup before the holidays – and therefore, our last of the year! – is full of country, folk, new acoustic, and more. Here are the songs and videos you gotta hear.

In the country camp, check out “Don’t You Dare” by singer-songwriter Ben Chapman from his upcoming Anderson East-produced project, Downbeat, which releases today. Plus, Joel Timmons (of Sol Driven Train, Maya de Vitry, and more) brings a heaping helping of his Psychedelic Surf Country with a fun, true-to-life track, “Guitars, Guns, and Pickup Trucks” that features fiddle by the award-winning bluegrass ringer Jason Carter.

A. Lee Edwards continues in a country vein with “Moving Up to the Mountains,” inspired by his and his wife’s own journey moving from Charlotte, North Carolina, up into Nantahala National Forest. And, Ramona and the Holy Smokes debut a brand new video for “Til It’s Over,” a redemptive song with a music video inspired by the stories of Vivian Cash and Johnny Cash.

Folk legend John McCutcheon is included below, as well, with a new song “Here” written at the vital Highlander Center in East Tennessee that’s all about being present in the moment. Meanwhile, new acoustic, bluegrass-meets-classical duo Scroggins & Rose premiere their out-of-this-world single, “Space Samba,” from their upcoming January release, Speranza. 

It’s all right here on BGS and You Gotta Hear This! Happy holidays and we’ll be back with plenty more new music in 2025.

Ben Chapman, “Don’t You Dare”

Artist: Ben Chapman
Hometown: Lafayette, Georgia
Song: “Don’t You Dare”
Album: Downbeat
Release Date: December 13, 2024
Label: Hippie Shack

In Their Words: “It’s a simple but rough-edged love song about two lovers sitting on their back porch, thinking of how good they have it and how they’ll never know a love stronger than what they have at the moment. It’s a song for that once-in-a-lifetime, growing old together while sitting in rocking chairs type of love, true love. I wrote this song with my long-time cowriter and girlfriend, Meg McRee. It was one of those songs that just found us. We didn’t even have to go looking. The whole thing took us about 20 minutes to write, and we both knew it was such a special song. Most of the time, the best songs come to you when you least expect it, and in this case, it couldn’t be truer.” – Ben Chapman

Track Credits:
Gregg Garner – Bass
Darren Dodd – Drums & percussion
Anderson East – Electric guitar, mellotron, organ
Ben Chapman – Acoustic guitar & vocals
Meg McRee – Backing vocals

A. Lee Edwards, “Move Up to the Mountains”

Artist: A. Lee Edwards
Hometown: Franklin, North Carolina
Song: “Move Up to the Mountains”
Album: Interpreting Heart Sounds, Vol.I
Release Date: December 13, 2024 (single); February 28, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Move Up to the Mountains’ in the late ’90s after moving from the Virginia mountains to Charlotte. The song came out of feeling stuck in the grind of city life and wanting to escape to the peace and simplicity of the mountains. Inspired by the Bob Dylan line, ‘He not busy being born is busy dying,’ it’s about longing for something different. In 2017, after 22 years in Charlotte, my wife and I made that move to the Nantahala National Forest. The song reflects that desire to leave the chaos behind and find a quieter, more meaningful way of life.” – A. Lee Edwards

Track Credits:
A. Lee Edwards – Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead vocal
Matt Royal – Electric bass, backing vocal
Amanda Neill – Electric piano, backing vocal
Tom Mayo – Drums
Matthew Smith – Pedal steel

John McCutcheon, “Here”

Artist: John McCutcheon
Hometown: Smoke Rise, Georgia
Song: “Here”
Album: Field Of Stars
Release Date: December 13, 2024 (single); January 10, 2025 (album)
Label: Appalseed

In Their Words: “I well remember writing ‘Here.’ I was conducting one of my Songwriting Camps at the Highlander Center in East Tennessee. I knew the protagonist in the song well. I had seen him in a lot of my friends and, even occasionally, in myself. Mostly, in those times when creativity and drive give way to a kind of ambition that causes you to lose perspective and purpose. I wanted to start with simple, childhood dreams: that special sandwich, summer vacation. By the time he’s at the altar, he’s sure his dreams have come true, only to realize that he’s still unsatisfied and anxious… failing to simply be present. The pandemic really focused my meditation practice and led me to this song, I guess.

“Interestingly, this was the last song to make the ‘cut’ for the album. And here it is as the opening track. I owe it entirely to my stellar band of brothers (JT Brown, Jon Carroll, Pete Kennedy, ‘Jos’ Jospé, and Stuart Duncan) who’ve become my studio band. I purposely send them bare-bones demos and we jointly create the arrangements live in the studio. They gave this song whatever spark it needed to open this collection.” – John McCutcheon

Track Credits:
John McCutcheon – Vocal, guitar
Jon Carroll – Harmony vocals, piano, organ
JT Brown – Harmony vocals, bass
Pete Kennedy – Electric guitar
Robert “Jos” Jospe – Drums
Stuart Duncan – Fiddle

Ramona and the Holy Smokes, “Til It’s Over”

Artist: Ramona and the Holy Smokes
Hometown: Charlottesville, Virginia
Song: “Til It’s Over”
Album: Til It’s Over (EP)
Release Date: November 22, 2024

In Their Words: “‘Til It’s Over’ is a song about knowing a relationship is doomed but not being ready to let go. I wrote this song after I had a terrible fight with someone I was dating at the time. I saw all the red flags and basically chose to keep going until the relationship self-destructed rather than being brave and ending it as soon as I knew it wasn’t right for me. I have done this more than I would like to admit, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

“The music video was inspired by the life of Vivian Cash, Johnny Cash’s first wife. I really feel history has done her dirty, most notably by her portrayal in the 2005 film, Walk the Line. I tried to honor her in a number of ways in the video with nods to her Catholicism, her amazing fashion sense, and her strength while her family was falling apart. ‘Til It’s Over,’ couched in the context of her life, becomes a much sadder song. Divorce was against her religious beliefs and even though she was basically abandoned, she loved Johnny Cash until she died. In our video, she reclaims her agency by picking up a guitar and writing her own song, but this is our way of wrapping up our version of the story with a redemptive moment.

“This video was directed by the incredible Elizabeth Culbertson, who also directed Marley Hale’s ‘Dear Girl’ music video. We worked together on creating the visual differences between the two time periods in the video (the 1950s and 1960s), with Elizabeth focusing on light and color, while I focused on hair, makeup & wardrobe. Our concept was incredibly ambitious, and Elizabeth’s cinematography elevates the work from run-of-the-mill music video to full-on cinema. ‘Til It’s Over’ also stars fellow musician Red McAdam as country singer ‘Red McAdams,’ who knocks his first dramatic performance out of the park. Neither Red nor I had ever acted on camera before, and I think we both showed up with our A-game and convincingly captured love gone wrong.” – Ramona Martinez

Scroggins & Rose, “Space Samba”

Artist: Scroggins & Rose
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Song: “Space Samba”
Album: Speranza
Release Date: January 10, 2025
Label: Adhyâropa Records

In Their Words: “‘Space Samba’ began, like many of our pieces, as a fragment recorded in our voice memos. From there, it grew into one of the most playful compositions on Speranza. We took the syncopated rhythm and expanded it into a dancing melody and contrasted it with a spacious, flowing second theme that we thought evoked the image of astronauts floating at a Hawaiian-themed party in space – hence the name. This whimsical retro-futurist imagery guided us as we worked to intertwine the different rhythms and the melodies together into a cohesive piece. By experimenting with standalone patterns and interlocking parts, we developed a tune that combines the energy of a cosmic dance party with moments of suspense. The result captures not only the joy of movement but also the quiet, frozen beauty of space, the urgency of space shuttle alarms, and – of course – more dancing.” – Scroggins & Rose

Joel Timmons, “Guitars, Guns, and Pickup Trucks” (Featuring Jason Carter)

Artist: Joel Timmons
Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
Song: “Guitars, Guns, and Pickup Trucks” (featuring Jason Carter)
Album: Psychedelic Surf Country
Release Date: December 13, 2024 (single); February 7, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “Before I met my future father-in-law, I was warned by my girlfriend, Shelby Means, about ‘the list.’ It was my first visit out to Wyoming to meet her parents and she told me he would pepper me with a series of questions to gauge my suitability. On the truck ride out to their property from the airport he began the inquisition, marking my responses with his finger on an imaginary scoreboard. Over the years, I’ve learned that this tough-guy routine and good-natured teasing was a sign of endearment and sort of a cowboy love language, but at the time I was intimidated. Mr. Means has a favorite expression: ‘A man can never have too many guitars, guns, or pickup trucks.’ That felt like a country song that needed to be written. In a nation that feels so politically and culturally polarized, I hope this song encourages the listener to look for common ground with the other side. Jason Carter’s brilliant fiddle and rich baritone vocals give the recording some real country swagger.” – Joel Timmons

Track Credits:
Joel Timmons – Vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mouth harp
Jason Carter – Harmony vocals, fiddle
Shelby Means – Harmony vocals, background vocals
Brett Resnick – Pedal steel
De Marco Johnson – Organ
Ethan Jodziewicz – Electric bass
Mark Raudabugh – Drums, percussion

Photo Credit: John McCutcheon by Irene Young; Scroggins & Rose by Lenny Gonzalez.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Hanneke Cassel, Zoe & Cloyd, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

This week, our premiere roundup is full of brand new music videos and performance videos for your viewing pleasure.

Fiddler and composer Hanneke Cassel kicks us off with an exciting, dance-ready remix of “Dot The Dragon’s Eyes” that celebrates the 10th anniversary of her album by the same name. Then Zoe & Cloyd bring a touching and heart-wrenching number, “Linemen,” inspired by their experiences in Asheville post-Hurricane Helene and set to stunning footage of the flooding’s destruction.

Don’t miss two sessions, too! Judy Blank continues our special encore series of Rootsy Summer Sessions captured earlier this summer with a two-song performance from Falkenberg, Sweden. And the hilarious troubadour Robbie Fulks shares “I Just Lived a Country Song” during our inaugural Good Country Goodtime variety show held earlier this fall. We’re so excited to bring you clips and sessions from that special show while we look ahead to more Goodtimes in 2025.

It’s all right here on BGS, and You Gotta Hear This!

Hanneke Cassel, “Dot The Dragon’s Eyes” (Eric Wright Remix)

Artist: Hanneke Cassel
Hometown: Somerville, Massachusetts
Song: “Dot The Dragon’s Eyes” (Eric Wright Remix)
Release Date: December 6, 2024

In Their Words: “I released my tune ‘Dot The Dragon’s Eyes’ on an album by the same name in 2013. I was trying to think of a way to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the album and realized 2024 was the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Lunar calendar. I had been wanting to work with Eric Wright (cellist from the acoustic string band, The Fretless, and member of the electronic band, Speaker Face) so I asked him to do a dance remix tune.

“From 2002 to 2012, I traveled to Shanghai every spring as a retreat – to visit friends, play fiddle at migrant schools, orphanages, and other events, and to perform a concert in the Shanghai Arts District. These were transformative years for me – personally and musically – and after one visit I wrote the tune ‘Dot The Dragon’s Eyes.’ The title comes from a Chinese story that describes putting the finishing touches on something (dotting the eyes!) to bring it to life. The music video that goes along with this remix attempts to paint a picture of one of those days in Shanghai – complete with dumplings, karaoke, walks in the park, and more.” – Hanneke Cassel

Zoe & Cloyd, “Linemen”

Artist: Zoe & Cloyd
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “Linemen”
Release Date: December 6th, 2024 (video)

In Their Words: “‘Linemen” was born from an honest, immediate experience. After 16 days with no power in our neighborhood following Hurricane Helene, we heard that linemen had been up on the narrow, washed out, backside dirt road near our homes assessing the situation. This road is still the only way into our neighborhood after flooding destroyed our bridge over Cane Creek on September 27. On the night of October 12, there was much anticipation and anxiety regarding the feasibility of power restoration amid so much damage. Our neighbor down on the creek, Doug Norton, a songwriter himself, sent us some lyrics that came to him after a ‘muse visit.’ We were all ‘sharing the same moment,’ to quote Doug. From his words, we were inspired to create this song.” – John Cloyd Miller

Video Credit: Mountainwater Films

The Good Country Goodtime: Robbie Fulks, “I Just Lived A Country Song”

On September 27, Good Country and BGS debuted our brand new variety show, the Good Country Goodtime, at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles. The inaugural show, hosted by country and bluegrass singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks, featured comedy, country, and performances by musicians Victoria Bailey and Aubrie Sellers, comedian and actor Kurt Braunohler, and our all-star Goodtime house band led by the Coral Reefers’ Mick Utley.

Dynasty Typewriter is one of LA’s premier spaces for comedy, music, podcasts, improv, and so much more. The very first Good Country Goodtime was captured by the venue’s state-of-the-art cameras and we’re so excited to begin sharing exclusive sessions pulled from our debut edition of the show with our readers and fans. To kick off the new series, we’re highlighting our impeccable host for the evening, Robbie Fulks.

More here.

Rootsy Summer Sessions: Judy Blank

While much of the U.S. – and really, much of the Northern Hemisphere – has been plunged into the frigid throes of winter, let’s stroll back to balmy summer and to Falkenberg, Sweden. During Rootsy Summer Fest ’24 our videographer friends at I Know We Should were once again on hand to capture a few special live performances of artists and musicians from the festival lineup. Earlier this year, we featured an entire series of sessions from Rootsy Summer Fest ’23 (view those videos here), so we’re especially pleased to bring you these special encore performances captured this August.

For our latest session, we’re excited to introduce our BGS audience to indie-folk artist Judy Blank. Born and raised in the Netherlands – though now based in Nashville, Tennessee – Blank has her own sort of transatlantic style, combining textures and tones from Music City, Los Angeles, Europe, and beyond. Pop sensibilities combine with a raw earthiness that feels authentic and grounded, while simultaneously polished and highly conceptualized.

Watch the full performance here.

Photo Credit: Hanneke Cassel courtesy of the artist; Zoe & Cloyd by Valerie Eidson.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Sarah Klang, Jaelee Roberts, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Who needs Black Friday when you have New Music Friday? We’ve got your doorbusters right here, in our weekly premiere roundup!

This week, from the bluegrass realm, we have two new tracks from labelmates Benson and Jaelee Roberts. Check out “Down That Road” from husband-and-wife-duo Benson, featuring bluegrass veterans Kristin Scott Benson and Wayne Benson – with vocals by Keith Garrett. Plus, Jaelee Roberts pays tribute to ’80s and ’90s bluegrass with a loving homage to the Lonesome River Band with her cover of “Looking For Yourself.”

Also in our premiere collection, we have a brand new lyric video for “Go to the Sun,” a new single from Swedish folk-pop singer-songwriter Sarah Klang all about going from a dark place to one of hope. To wrap us up this week – and this month! – don’t miss our exclusive two-song Tønder Session with Ugandan-Texan roots artist Jon Muq.

It’s all right here on BGS and You Gotta Hear This!

Benson, “Down That Road”

Artist: Benson
Hometown: Boiling Springs, South Carolina
Song: “Down That Road”
Release Date: November 29, 2024
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “‘Down That Road’ is a great song. I love to play banjo on tunes with this lilting groove. Wayne and I are both huge Keith Garrett fans and we love his vocal delivery on this one. The song conveys a vulnerability and he did a great job capturing that.” – Kristin Scott Benson

Track Credits:
Kristin Scott Benson – Banjo
Wayne Benson – Mandolin
Cody Kilby – Guitar
Kevin McKinnon – Bass
Tony Creasman – Drums
Dustin Pyrtle – Harmony vocal

Sarah Klang, “Go To The Sun”

Artist: Sarah Klang
Hometown: Gothenburg, Sweden
Song: “Go to the Sun”
Album: Beautiful Woman
Release Date: November 29, 2024 (single); February 7, 2025 (album)
Label: Nettwerk Music Group

In Their Words: “‘Go to the Sun’ is one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written. This song represents going to better places, be it in your mind or physically traveling to those places. It’s about a person’s mental state going from a dark place to one of hope. It’s about escaping from the day-to-day and finding your way.” – Sarah Klang

Jaelee Roberts, “Looking For Yourself”

Artist: Jaelee Roberts
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Looking For Yourself”
Release Date: November 29, 2024
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “I absolutely love the ’80s and ’90s eras of bluegrass music and ‘Looking For Yourself’ (originally recorded by the Lonesome River Band) completely embodies that vibe. I’ve been a LRB fan my entire life and this song has always jumped out at me while listening to that classic album, so I decided that ‘Looking For Yourself’ should be the first bluegrass cover song that I’d record. Andy Leftwich, Cody Kilby, Ron Block, Byron House, John Gardner, and Grayson Lane are absolutely awesome and made this track go from dream to reality for me! Speaking of Grayson Lane, I just have to say how happy I am to have him singing harmony with me on this. We have known each other since we were born (literally) and he is one of my favorite singers and his voice on ‘Looking For Yourself’ was the icing on the cake. I hope y’all will enjoy my spin of one of my favorite bluegrass songs and that you’ll listen to it loud and sing along at the top of your lungs!” – Jaelee Roberts

Track Credits:
Jaelee Roberts – Vocals, harmony vocals
Byron House – Bass
Cody Kilby – Acoustic guitar
Andy Leftwitch – Mandolin, fiddle
John Gardner – Drums
Ron Block – Banjo
Grayson Lane – Harmony vocals

Tønder Session, Jon Muq

Earlier this year, during the waning days of summer, our videographer friends at I Know We Should traveled to Denmark to capture a handful of special sessions with Americana and roots artists performing at Scandinavian music festivals. For our next installment in this mini-series, we’re excited to feature singer-songwriter Jon Muq performing during his time at premier Danish music event, Tønder Festival.

Born and raised in Uganda, Jon Muq has made waves since relocating to Austin, Texas, and leaving his mark on the American roots music scene. Earlier this year he released his debut full-length album, Flying Away, on Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound. That’s the project from which Muq’s first selection is pulled. On a waterside boardwalk with a marshy backdrop, Muq offers “Bend,” a song about resiliency, flexibility, and connection, and “Hello Sunshine,” another track from Flying Away – one just perfect for August in Denmark.

Watch the full performance here.

Photo Credit: Sarah Klang by Fredrika Eriksson; Jaelee Roberts by Eric Ahlgrim.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms, Wilson Banjo Co., and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

It’s a wall-to-wall picture show this week in our premiere round-up! Pop some popcorn, grab some Mike & Ikes, sit back, and enjoy our quintuple feature of new music videos and live sessions from bluegrass, country, and string band artists and groups.

First, the Burnett Sisters Band showcase a lonesome and heart-wrenching number, “Sorrow, Grief and Pain,” with familial harmonies and songwriting by guitarist Geary Allen. Then, we have Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms performing “Most Lonely Day,” a track from their brand new album, Gold in Your Pocket, that keeps our lonesome, introspective, and emotive video trend going. That vibe is artfully maintained next by bluegrass outfit Wilson Banjo Co., who bring their music video for “Black Wedding Dress” featuring a brand new singer for the group, Brandi Colt.

To cap this week’s collection, we have two final installments for two video series we’ve been running for the last few weeks here on BGS. Our partner series of AEA Sessions with our friends at AEA Ribbon Mics concludes with a handful of songs by singer-songwriter Zach Meadows, and Rachel Sumner wraps up her Traveling Light Sessions with a performance of “Radium Girls (Curie Eleison),” the standout track from her recent album, Heartless Things. 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show right here on BGS! You gotta see this – and of course, You Gotta Hear this!

The Burnett Sisters Band, “Sorrow, Grief and Pain”

Artist: The Burnett Sisters Band
Hometown: Johnson City, Tennessee
Song: “Sorrow, Grief and Pain”
Release Date: October 10, 2024
Label: Pinecastle Records

In Their Words: “You get ‘Sorrow, Grief and Pain’ when you combine hard-driving traditional bluegrass with Marty Robbins-style country music. When folks would ask us what we were working on, we simply called it a ‘Bluegrass Western.’ Written by our very own guitar player Geary Allen and born at lightning speed, the song tells a story of lost love with a perilous end. The triple fiddles carry the protagonist through a whirlwind of emotions as Anneli Burnett’s piercing lead vocal strikes at the heart of anybody with ears to listen. We loved working with Rebecca Jones on the making of this music video and she did a fantastic job at bringing the song’s emotion alive in her work. We hope our listeners enjoy hearing and watching ‘Sorrow, Grief and Pain’ as much as we enjoyed making it.” – Geary Allen, songwriter, guitar

Track Credits:
Geary Allen – Guitar, banjo, harmony vocals
Anissa Burnett – Fiddle, harmony vocals
Anneli Burnett – Fiddle, mandolin, lead vocals
Sophia Burnett – Bass
Dan Boner – Fiddle

Video Credit: Rebecca Jones

Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms, “Most Lonely Day”

Artist: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms
Hometown: Orcas Island, Washington
Song: “Most Lonely Day”
Album: Gold in Your Pocket
Release Date: November 15, 2024
Label: Free Dirt Records

In Their Words: “Have you ever had one? This song is written as a cautionary tale and is reflective on how things could be bad. Some of these experiences I’ve had, some of them I don’t want to have, as I have already watched my friends go through them. Be thankful for the good things that you have in your life and for the things that are working well.” – Caleb Klauder

Track Credits:
Caleb Klauder – Vocals, mandolin, acoustic guitar
Reeb Willms – Vocals, acoustic guitar
Joel Savoy – Fiddle
Chris Scruggs – Tic tac bass
Walter Hartman – Drums
Dirk Powell – Piano

Video Credits: Filmed by Beehive Productions at the Floyd Country Store in Floyd, Virginia. Recorded live by Joe Dejarnette.

Wilson Banjo Co.,  “Black Wedding Dress”

Artist: Wilson Banjo Co.
Hometown: Westminster, South Carolina
Song: “Black Wedding Dress”
Release Date: October 22, 2024
Label: Pinecastle Records

In Their Words: “‘Black Wedding Dress’ was a great lead single for the new lineup of Wilson Banjo Co. and for the EP releasing in January. The storyline maintains the dark, edgy undertone that our unique brand of bluegrass has had for the last ten years, while also providing a wide open platform for our fresh new vocalist to the band, Brandi Colt, to show off her range.

“Avrim Topel wrote such a compelling story song and the band had a blast recording and performing it for the video. I couldn’t be happier with the way the band members have dialed in to each other, the music and show just feel next level. We really hope y’all will enjoy it as much as we do!” – Steve Wilson

Track Credits:
Steve Wilson – Banjo
Jaime Carter – Bass, harmony
Brandi Colt – Vocal
Andrew Crawford – Guitar
Adam Bachman – Resonator guitar
Darren Nicholson – Mandolin

Video Credits: Bonfire Recording Studio

AEA Sessions: Zach Meadows, Live at Americanafest 2024

Artist: Zach Meadows
Hometown: From Orlando, Florida; currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee
Songs: “Three White Crosses,” “Cardinal Song,” “Marianne,” “Texas Two Step”

In Their Words: “Since moving to Nashville, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some incredibly talented folks. Having just put out my debut record, Road to Nowhere, getting the chance to share some of my journey through music with AEA and play a bit of the album live with Brandon Bell in the room, who was absolutely so instrumental in helping to bring this record to life, was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.” – Zach Meadows

More here.

Rachel Sumner, “Radium Girls (Curie Eleison)” (Traveling Light Sessions)

Artist: Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “Radium Girls (Curie Eleison)” (Traveling Light Sessions)
Album: Heartless Things 
Release Date: November 21, 2024 (video); May 10, 2024 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Radium Girls (Curie Eleison)’ is based on a true, terrible piece of United States history – one that I didn’t learn about in any history book. It tells the story of the Radium Girls, young factory workers poisoned by the very material they were told was safe, and their courageous fight for justice. The title juxtaposes scientific progress with a plea for mercy, tying the legacy of Marie Curie to the tragic consequences of her discoveries.

“Performing this song with Traveling Light keeps the arrangement stark and intimate to let the haunting resonance of the story come through. This video is particularly special to me, because I had the chance to play a guitar that one of my songwriting heroes, Josh Ritter, has used to record many of his own epic story songs. It felt like a beautiful connection to the power of storytelling.” – Rachel Sumner

More here.

Photo Credit: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms by Tristan Paiige; Wilson Banjo Co. by Ethan Burkhardt.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Andy Leftwich, Leeann Skoda, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

For New Music Friday, we’ve got a healthy handful of new videos, tracks, and releases from your favorites artists in folk, country, bluegrass, old-time, and beyond.

Don’t miss new songs like Penny & Sparrow’s single “Jeopardy” and Helene Cronin’s take on mortality and togetherness, “Visitors.” Also, bluegrass outfit Seth Mulder & Midnight Run bring a Yellowstone-inspired cowboy number, “Looking Past the Pain (The Cowboy Song).” LA-based singer-songwriter Leeann Skoda debuts “Easy” in our round-up, as well, a new track with plenty of grit – and ’90s rock influences.

Plus, we’ve got a bevy of new music videos! Andy Leftwich performs an instrumental rendition of the gospel classic, “Talk About Suffering,” with an excellent trio. Check out the Hannah Connolly-crafted special live performance for “Worth the Wait,” a song from her most recent album, Shadowboxing. And old-time multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Evie Ladin picks “Walking Up Georgia Row” with fiddler Kieran Towers, celebrating her upcoming project, Ride the Rooster 2.

That’s not all, either! Earlier in the week, the second-to-last installments of the AEA Sessions (featuring Tony Arata this time) and Rachel Sumner’s Traveling Light Sessions (featuring her original “3000 Miles”) premiered on BGS. So you can check out those great performances below, too, and watch for the final edition in each series next week.

All of that musical goodness is right here on BGS – and You’ve Gotta Hear This!

Hannah Connolly, “Worth the Wait” (Live)

Artist: Hannah Connolly
Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Song: “Worth The Wait” (Live Performance)
Album: Shadowboxing
Release Date: November 8, 2025

In Their Words: “‘Worth the Wait’ is a song about time, distance, and love. This video was captured last fall in Vienna, when my husband Eric and I were able to be on tour together. I was opening a few shows for his band Young the Giant’s tour and our friend and the band’s photographer, Lupe Bustos, filmed it when we had the afternoon off at the hotel. This song came out of missing Eric while he was on tour, so it was special to be able to capture it while we were traveling together. I’m grateful we were able to record a version of it in such a natural, unplugged form.” – Hannah Connolly

Video Credit: Filmed by Guadalupe Bustos.

Helene Cronin, “Visitors”

Artist: Helene Cronin
Hometown: Dallas, Texas / Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Visitors”
Album: Maybe New Mexico
Release Date: November 29, 2024 (single); March 7, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “I got together to write with Cameron Havens and Ben Roberts last year. Ben had the idea of ‘Visitors.’ I immediately loved it, because I like songs that tell the truth. That truth being, we all got here the same way, we’re all leaving the same way, and it’s what we do with the time in between those events that’s most important. How do we treat each other? How do we care for this ‘place made of stardust and gold’ where we’ve landed? What really matters: possessions, time, relationships?

“But the song avoids being preachy, speaking from a level playing field. No one is above anyone else. ‘We all got a seat at the table, pull up a chair, there’s room for plenty more.’ I like the inclusiveness of that; it’s an invitation I want to be part of.

“When I sing this song, I envision a huge, ever-expanding supper table where all are welcome, none are left out in the cold. Shouldn’t we just remember our manners? Wipe your feet and c’mon in!” – Helene Cronin

Track Credits:
Helene Cronin – Lead vocal
Bobby Terry – Acoustic guitar, pedal steel
Paul Eckberg – Drums, percussion
Matt Pierson – Bass
Charlie Lowell – Mellotron, keys
Caitlin Anselmo & Matt Singleton – Background vocals
Mitch Dane – Production, engineering, mixing
David Diel – Production assistant
Sputnik Sound, Nashville – Studio
Mastered by Kim Rosen, Knack Mastering.

Evie Ladin & Kieran Towers, “Walking Up Georgia Row”

Artist: Evie Ladin featuring Kieran Towers
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland to Oakland, California
Song: “Walking Up Georgia Row”
Album: Riding the Rooster 2
Release Date: November 19, 2024
Label: Evil Diane Records

In Their Words: “Six years and one pandemic to the day since Riding the Rooster came out – my popular first edition of clawhammer banjo/fiddle duets with 17 different fiddlers around the country. Riding the Rooster 2 features 17 new and different fiddlers, from old-time stars like Bruce Molsky and George Jackson to bluegrass maven Laurie Lewis, Cajun master David Greely, and excellent fiddlers known deeply in their old-time subcultures around the world.

“Having released many records of my original songs, this project sits firmly in the wheelhouse of my upbringing and ongoing community. My favorite thing in this milieu is to sit down with a fiddler and launch fast into some crooked tune I’ve never heard. Every cell kicks in and the experience is much like I imagine riding a rooster to be – visceral, in the moment, somewhat off-the-chain. ‘Walking Up Georgia Row’ is a raging duet with London fiddler Kieran Towers, recorded in a cow pasture at the Crossover Festival in England. Kieran and I met at Clifftop in West Virginia, playing in the very early morning hours before he had to head back to the UK, and it was a joy to reconnect a few years later, and invite him to be a part of this record. Also, this tune and the album are being released while I’m on a packed two-week tour of the UK, with only one fiddler, Sophie Wellington.” – Evie Ladin

Andy Leftwich, “Talk About Suffering”

Artist: Andy Leftwich
Hometown: Carthage, Tennessee
Song: “Talk About Suffering”
Release Date: November 15, 2024
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “Life can deliver some hard blows and no one is exempt from troubles and trials. We read in Matthew 11:28 where Jesus said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ He offers us peace in the middle of our storm and a confidence knowing we don’t have to walk through it alone. As bad as it can seem sometimes, there is always something to hold onto. We talk about suffering here below, but let’s keep following Jesus.” – Andy Leftwich

Track Credits:
Andy Leftwich – Fiddle, mandolin
Byron House – Upright bass
Cody Kilby – Acoustic guitar

Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, “Looking Past the Pain (The Cowboy Song)”

Artist: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run
Hometown: Sevierville, Tennessee
Song: “Looking Past the Pain (The Cowboy Song)””
Album: Coming On Strong
Release Date: November 15, 2024 (single); Spring 2025 (album)
Label: Rebel Records

In Their Words: “I had just finished binge-watching Yellowstone and felt inspired to write a cowboy song. However, I wanted the song to feel personal and unique and the best way to do that was to draw from my own experiences with a touch of imagination. Growing up in North Dakota, I spent a lot of time around horses, training with my grandfather, competing in 4H and horse shows. After college, I moved back to North Dakota and worked at a camp as a horse trainer and ranch hand. That experience rekindled my passion for working with horses – a passion that almost became my career instead of music. So, it only made sense that I would eventually write about that lifestyle. Once I had a solid foundation for the song, I knew it had potential but I wanted it to be perfect. I reached out to my good friend Seth Waddington from The Waddington Brothers. He helped me refine it, giving the lyrics that old-school cowboy feel I was after.” – Seth Mulder

Track Credits:
Seth Mulder – Mandolin, lead vocal
Colton Powers – Banjo, tenor vocal
Chevy Watson – Guitar, baritone vocal
Tyler Griffith – Upright bass
Max Silverstein – Fiddle

Penny & Sparrow, “Jeopardy”

Artist: Penny & Sparrow
Hometown: Florence, Alabama / Waco, Texas
Song: “Jeopardy”
Album: Lefty
Release Date: November 15, 2024
Label: I Love You / Thirty Tigers

In Their Words: “‘Jeopardy’ is about knowing someone perfectly. It goes beyond tracking their needs & preferences & peccadillos. It grows into a kind of loving memorization where you can almost see the future. Whether it’s romantic, friendly, or familial, there’s something gorgeous about that kind of ‘knowing someone.'” – Penny & Sparrow

Leeann Skoda, “Easy”

Artist: Leeann Skoda
Hometown: Los Angeles, California / Phoenix, Arizona
Song: “Easy”
Album: Now I See Everything
Release Date: November 15, 2024

In Their Words: “I channeled some anger into this song. When I wrote it, I was feeling resentful of the time and energy I’ve spent trying to be easygoing because I thought it was the only acceptable way for me to be in the world. It’s how so many women feel or have felt. There’s this dichotomy because the song feels “easy” and almost light to me. I think it came out that way because it’s cathartic and freeing to put these feelings into music. Like a lot of my songs, there is plenty of ’90s rock influence in this one.” – Leeann Skoda

Track Credits:
Leeann Skoda – Vocals, guitar
Brad Lindsay – Guitar
Nick Bearden – Bass
Ed Benrock – Drums
Brian Whelan – Background vocals
Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Andy Freeman at Studio Punchup! in Nashville.
Background vocals recorded by Aaron Stern at Verdugo Sound.
Mastered by Gentry Studer.

AEA Sessions: Tony Arata, Live at Americanafest 2024

Artist: Tony Arata
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia
Songs: “When I Remember You,” “Here I Am,” “The Dance,” “Getting Older”

In Their Words: “My hometown is Savannah, Georgia, but I grew up on nearby Tybee Island, which I always claim as my hometown. Jaymi and I have been in Nashville since 1986.

“The shoot was done in one of my favorite places I’ve ever worked – Bell Tone Studios in Berry Hill (Nashville, Tennessee), and could not have been easier nor more relaxed. I know I met you, Julie, for the first time that day, but you made me feel like an old friend. And though I’m not a gear-head, the mics were super cool! Thank you for making and representing great stuff. And I love Roger Nichols, my only hope is that he never realizes how talented he is, because he might be hard to live with! He is a truly brilliant musician/engineer/producer/human.” – Tony Arata

More here.

Rachel Sumner, “3000 Miles”

Artist: Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “3000 Miles” (Traveling Light Sessions)
Album: Heartless Things 
Release Date: November 14, 2024 (video); May 10, 2024 (album)

In Their Words: “‘3000 Miles’ is an autobiographical song that traces my journey from the deserts of California to Boston, the place I now call home. Growing up, the Mojave felt confining to me and I always sensed that I’d need to leave to find myself. This song is a rambler’s road song, shaped by years of searching. However, it took the stillness of lockdown to finally finish it – when I couldn’t travel anywhere. That pause gave me the chance to look back and make sense of all the miles I’d put behind me.” – Rachel Sumner

More here.

Photo Credit: Andy Leftwich by Erick Anderson; Leeann Skoda by Anna Rochelle Imagery.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Sister Sadie, Jordan Tice, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Music is a balm, isn’t it? We’re finding that to be especially true in this week’s edition of our premiere round-up, You Gotta Hear This!

Check out a brand new country track from singer-songwriter Phillip Lammonds. Californian-turned-Nashvillian Jake Neuman and his band the Jaybirds brought us a new video for “Saved” off their recent EP, Little Bitty Town, too. Plus, bluegrass supergroup Sister Sadie keep the country vibes going – with a delicious ’90s bent and bluegrass instrumentation – on their brand new single, “Make Me Stay or Make Me Go.”

You’ll also find guitarist, singer-songwriter, and composer Jordan Tice previewing his new song, “Mean Old World,” which drops on Tuesday, November 12, and announces his upcoming album, Badlettsville. In addition, Rachel Sumner’s Traveling Light Sessions video series continues with a live trio performance of “Head East.”

Also don’t miss Kim Richey performing a short set of songs as part of the AEA Sessions captured at Americanafest earlier this year – it’s the latest in our series partnering with AEA Ribbon Mics.

It’s all right here on BGS and, indubitably, You Gotta Hear This!

Phillip Lammonds, “Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong”

Artist: Phillip Lammonds
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong”
Release Date: November 11, 2025

In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong’ when I was thinking back to being a kid really digging into the sounds that came from my papa Parton’s wooden upright RCA radio. I sat criss-cross applesauce on countless summer afternoons, just glued to the tones and the sorcery of it all, wondering where the songs came from. How’d they get in that box? Fast forward a half a lifetime or so, I’m still scratching my head. Anyway, the craft in all this has taught me one thing: songs are like fish, they swim around until you catch ’em!” – Phillip Lammonds

Jake Neuman and the Jaybirds, “Saved”

Artist: Jake Neuman and The JayBirds
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Song: “Saved”
Album: Little Bitty Town
Release Date: November 8, 2024 (video); June 14, 2024 (EP)
Label: Peacedale Records

In Their Words: “‘Saved’ was the first song I wrote when I moved to Nashville. I remember having the first line or so on paper and feeling like I had something, so I immediately went to my number one writing partner – Amanda McCaslin of McCaslin Blue – and asked her what she thought. We spent the afternoon pacing around the yard and putting a line or two down every few minutes until we put something together that I am really proud of.” – Jake Neuman

Video Credit: Directed by Greg D Griffith

Sister Sadie, “Make Me Stay or Make Me Go”

Artist: Sister Sadie
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Make Me Stay or Make Me Go”
Release Date: November 8, 2024
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “‘Make Me Stay or Make Me Go’ brings to mind everything I loved about ’90s country. This was written by three of my favorite writers: Jessi Alexander, Al Anderson, and Gary Nicholson. This song screams sawing fiddles and a good ole line dance. Who didn’t love country music in the ’90s? I feel like it’s creeping around the corner again, too; at least I hope it is. This is all of us Sadies tipping a hat to the country music we love so much with our bluegrass instrumentation and some very talented friends to help.” – Deanie Richardson, fiddle

Track Credits:
Jaelee Roberts – Lead vocal
Deanie Richardson – Fiddle
Gena Britt – Banjo, harmony vocal
Dani Flowers – Harmony vocal
Maddie Dalton – Upright bass
Mary Meyer – Mandolin
Seth Taylor – Acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Dave Racine – Drums, tambourine
Russ Pahl – Pedal steel guitar
Catherine Marx – Hammond B3 organ

Jordan Tice, “Mean Old World”

Artist: Jordan Tice
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Mean Old World”
Album: Badlettsville
Release Date: November 12, 2024 (single)
Label: Padiddle Records

In Their Words: “‘Mean Old World’ is about the inevitable loss and change that life brings. I wrote it rather quickly while watching my neighbors through the windows as they loaded a U-Haul truck to move out. Something about watching material objects being put into boxes signifying the end of an era of someone’s life really struck a chord with me and I was able to live in the feeling long enough to get this song out. That flood of emotion that occurs when a temporal event marks the end of a chapter you will never return to is a familiar sensation that I’ve felt when I’ve moved myself, while I’ve watch my hometown of Nashville knocked down and changed, and when I’ve lost loved ones and had relationships end. Hope it gives you a good cry.” – Jordan Tice

Track Credits:
Jordan Tice – Guitar, vocals,
Aoife O’Donovan – Harmony vocals
Andrew Marlin – Harmony vocals
Patrick M’Gonigle – Fiddle, mandolin
Paul Kowert – Bass
Sean Sullivan – Recording, mixing,
Mark Goodell – Aoife O’Donovan vocal recording
Mike Monseur – Mastering

AEA Sessions, Kim Richey, Live at Americanafest 2024

Artist: Kim Richey
Hometown: Zanesville, Ohio
Songs: “Chapel Avenue,” “Angels’ Share,” “The Absence Of Your Company,” “Take The Cake”

In Their Words: “I really enjoyed working with the gang at [AEA] Ribbon Mics. The mics are great and the folks are wonderful to work with.” – Kim Richey

“Kim is a treasure. Every song is like a masterclass in songwriting and her voice invites you right into tableaus her songs create.” – Julie Tan, AEA Ribbon Mics

More here.

Rachel Sumner, “Head East” (Traveling Light Sessions)

Artist: Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “Head East” (Traveling Light Sessions)
Album: Heartless Things 
Release Date: November 7, 2024 (video); May 10, 2024 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Head East’ is our next release from Heartless Things (Traveling Light Sessions). It has an extra special place in my heart, because it was the first song I ever wrote. Thirteen years ago, I moved to Boston from the Mojave Desert in California (where I grew up) and felt such a connection with the city and a feeling of possibility that I got there – a feeling I didn’t find in my hometown. This song was a plea to my younger brother to get out and find his good fortune elsewhere, just as I had.

“For this song, Kat Wallace trades her fiddle for the tenor guitar, and Mike Siegel adds a sublime third-part harmony that makes the chorus feel like heaven. ‘Head East’ has had many lives and arrangements, but this one is quite possibly my favorite.” – Rachel Sumner

More here.

Photo Credit: Sister Sadie by Allister Ann; Jordan Tice by Cameron Knowler.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Ashby Frank, Morgan Harris, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

There are many kinds of music perfect for fall, but, in our humble opinion, almost none are better suited to the season than bluegrass, old-time, and country. (For instance, check out our playlist of Country Songs For Fall via Good Country.) Being that our latest premiere round-up falls directly between Halloween and the sad end of Daylight Savings Time, it’s apropos and then some that You Gotta Hear This is full of tunes perfect for autumn.

Mandolinist and songwriter Ashby Frank brings his version of “Blue Night,” a jam session classic that he’s performed for decades. Guitar picker Morgan Harris debuts her gorgeous video for a bluegrass and old-time standard, “Lonesome Road,” that has seemingly endless variations and versions out there. Harris’s is a stunner, drawing on a ’60s era recording of Addie Leffew.

Country and Americana singer-songwriter Garrett Owen releases his new album, Memoriam, today, so we’re celebrating the occasion with his track, “Punchline,” a deliciously melancholy and introspective number built on excellent guitar playing. Plus, Boston-based string band The Ruta Beggars “power waltz” through their new song, “Taking My Time,” with a video shot in the woods and ankle-deep in a stream.

To round out our perfectly (accidentally) fall-themed collection of premieres, don’t miss Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light debut their new Traveling Light Sessions series with “Bygone Times” from Sumner’s Heartless Things. And, Nashville country artist and songwriter Gabe Lee continues our AEA Sessions partner series with AEA Ribbon Mics – with special guests Lucciana Costa and Rachel Coats of King Margo.

It’s all right here on BGS… You Gotta Hear This!

Ashby Frank, “Blue Night”

Artist: Ashby Frank
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Blue Night”
Release Date: November 1, 2024
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “I’ve been performing ‘Blue Night’ on stage since my Mashville Brigade days and still include it on most shows these days with my own band. It’s a staple song in the jam scene and there have been so many great versions recorded throughout the years since it was written and originally recorded by the great Kirk McGee. When I was doing pre-production for this new record, I started looking for a more traditional sounding up-tempo song, only to realize that I have been performing ‘Blue Night’ for 20 years – and the only recordings of my version are live videos floating around the internet. So it made perfect sense to record it. I am so thrilled about the version we wound up with in the studio. It has a certain in-your-face modern vibe, but also sounds like traditional bluegrass at the same time. I’m so excited for everyone to hear it!” – Ashby Frank

Track Credits:
Ashby Frank – Mandolin, vocals
Seth Taylor – Acoustic guitar
Travis Anderson – Bass
Matt Menefee – Banjo

Morgan Harris, “Lonesome Road”

Artist: Morgan Harris
Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
Song: “Lonesome Road”
Album: Alone Will Tell
Release Date: November 1, 2024

In Their Words: “This arrangement of ‘Lonesome Road’ takes inspiration from the playing of Addie Leffew, a Tennessee banjo player who was recorded by Peter Hoover in the early 1960s. You can find a million different variants of this song throughout the recorded history of American folk music, but her version hooked me with its stark, ambiguous tonality and the way the usually repeated vocal refrain at the end of each line becomes a purely instrumental echo. Addie’s version became a jumping off point as I moved it over to the guitar (re-tuning to mimic the modal ‘sawmill’ tuning of her banjo) and started exploring the different opportunities that yielded. This performance was recorded live in a friend’s barn in Fort Collins, Colorado.” – Morgan Harris

Video Credit: Erik Fellenstein

Garrett Owen, “Punchline”

Artist: Garrett Owen
Hometown: Kaufman, Texas
Song: “Punchline”
Album: Memoriam
Release Date: November 1, 2024

In Their Words: “In truth, I wish it had nothing to do with my personal experience. I started writing this when I was realizing just how isolated I let myself get, when I’d been taking care of my grandmother as a full-time job and the pandemic had been going on for a couple years. Lyrically, the song looks at the danger of leaning on the comforting words of others. In reality, ‘you’ll be alright’ doesn’t solve problems. Friends are not therapists. And it’s important to be able to self soothe your way through dark, dark feelings because there won’t always be someone available to talk to. Some wounds don’t heal, but feelings usually pass.” – Garrett Owen

Track Credits:
Garrett Owen – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, rhythm & chord melody electric guitar, piano
Taylor Tatsch – Vocal harmonies, lead electric guitar, shakers, auxiliary rhythm
Daniel Creamer – Keys, piano, bass, drums, organ, synths

The Ruta Beggars, “Taking My Time”

Artist: The Ruta Beggars
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “Taking My Time”
Album: Big Noise
Release Date: November 8, 2024 (single);
Label: Skyline Records

In Their Words: “In bluegrass, there’s a long standing tradition of ‘power-waltzes’ – as we like to call them in The Ruta Beggars. One of our favorites is ‘I Live In The Past’ by Bill Monroe; when we heard it, we knew we needed one of these turbo three-quarter-time tanks in our repertoire. Thus, ‘Taking My Time’ was born. At shows, we often dare our audiences to waltz along to our too-fast-to-be-danced-to tune and leave them huffing and puffing and chuckling with delight.

“But what is the meaning of the song to which these folks dance so gleefully? The third verse of ‘Taking My Time’ makes an allusion to the famous folk song and story of ‘The Oxford Girl’ (also called ‘The Knoxville Girl,’ which is the title by which I came to know the story, via a Louvin Brothers recording). The line in that song, ‘They’re going to hang me up so high, between the earth and sky’ has a haunting beauty to it that we wanted to emulate in the lyrics of our composition. We Ruta Beggars hope that ‘Taking My Time’ can be seen as our nod to the Father of Bluegrass and an exploration of a small corner of the murder ballad’s vast lore.” – The Ruta Beggars

Video Credit: Director and Videography – Adam Hribar

Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light, “Bygone Times” (Traveling Light Sessions)

Artist: Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “Bygone Times” (Traveling Light Sessions)
Album: Heartless Things 
Release Date: October 31, 2024 (video); May 10, 2024 (album)

In Their Words: “In May, I released my sophomore record, Heartless Things, containing ten original songs with highly lush studio arrangements (think woodwinds, strings, keys, vibraphone!). However, that’s not how these songs are heard live! When touring, I bring my string trio Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light on the road with Kat Wallace on fiddle and Mike Siegel on bass. We gather ’round a single mic and magic happens as we fill out songs that have many shifting textures and moods with just three instruments and voices. We wanted to capture this magic on film, so we spent one day in the studio re-recording the entire Heartless Things album, but as you’d hear it at a live show. And so the Heartless Things (Traveling Light Sessions) was created! This is ‘Bygone Times,’ a song about the restless moments before sleep when your mind wanders down the dangerous ‘what could have been’ road.” – Rachel Sumner

More here.

AEA Sessions: Gabe Lee, Live at AmericanaFest 2024

Artist: Gabe Lee
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Songs: “Drink The River,” “Alright Ok,” “Beverly,” and “Eveline” featuring Lucciana Costa and Rachel Coats of King Margo

In Their Words: “Gabe is a fresh voice with an old soul. Just listening to him is like dropping the needle on an old album at the end of the day. Feels like coming home.” – Julie Tan, AEA Ribbon Mics

More here.

Photo Credit: Ashby Frank by Melissa DuPuy; Morgan Harris by Renee Cornue Studio.