LISTEN: Moonsville Collective, “Helen Highway”

Artist: Moonsville Collective
Hometown: Whittier, California
Song: “Helen Highway”
Album: A Hundred Highways
Release Date: January 26, 2024 (single); April 12, 2024 (album)
Label: Rock Ridge Music

In Their Words: “Friendships are often forged on some highway to nowhere. We left Pappy & Harriet’s, said goodbye to our wives, and drove across the country chasing the rookie leagues. We cried together, got sideways together, white-knuckled the narrow road in Kentucky through a storm so mean we all just sat quietly, hoping to come through with our teeth intact. This group of guys – we spent five to seven years together or so – we loved each other’s wild. Years gone now, we don’t run together quite as much – and this is an ode to friendships that never die on you.” – Corey Adams


Photo Credit: Sagia Silva

STREAM: Victoria Bailey, ‘A Cowgirl Rides On’

Artist: Victoria Bailey
Hometown: Orange County, California
Album: A Cowgirl Rides On
Release Date: October 6, 2023
Label: Rock Ridge Music

In Their Words: A Cowgirl Rides On is my most vulnerable and honest piece to date. I am so proud of this record and of everyone who brought it to life. It started with a few heartbreak songs and a few gospel songs and it turned into an intertwined piece of those two things exactly: An unexpected breakup and what I grasped onto to get me through, my faith and the Gospel. I wanted this record to feel as raw as the songs felt to write, so we went into the studio and recorded live with a string band, all in one room together, and everyone poured a lot of love into each recording. You can hear it so clearly listening to the record. It’s perfect-imperfections, and just some good ol’ classic country storytelling. I cant even envision this project coming to life without my good friend and producer of the record, Brian Whelan (also a co-writer on a few of the tracks). I hope this record takes listeners to a goodfeeling place some sort of western, bluegrass dream – and brings them comfort even in the slightest way. Enjoy.” – Victoria Bailey


Photo Credit: Stefanie Lee Johnson