Tag: Song Premiere

LISTEN: Alyssa & Wayne Brewer, “Golden Ring”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner
Artist: Alyssa & Wayne Brewer
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Song: “Golden Ring”
Album: Alyssa and Wayne Sing George and Tammy
Release Date: July 14, 2023
Label: SGM (Stretch Grass Music) Records
In Their Words: “Collectively, ‘Golden Ring’ is our favorite George & Tammy duet that we’ve loved singing together through the years. That made it a very fitting choice for the first single with it also being their biggest #1 hit song and most identifiable duet! We are so proud to have included it on our debut album. If that wasn’t already a dream come true, we recently had the pleasure of meeting one of the gentleman, Rafe Van Hoy, that wrote this song at one of our performances in Nashville, TN. We hope you enjoy it and that it transports you into country music’s euphoric golden era as it does us every time that we are blessed to perform it together.” – Alyssa & Wayne Brewer
“I love Alyssa and Wayne Brewer’s new recording of ‘Golden Ring!’ So proud to have this wonderful couple put their golden touch to my song. A lot of people have done different versions for sure, but theirs is a great new and fresh take that also retains the classic elements with absolutely awesome vocal performances. Not an easy challenge to live up to the originals for sure, but they nailed it!” – Rafe Van Hoy, “Golden Ring” songwriter

Photo Credit: Katie Kauss

LISTEN: Martin Simpson & Thomm Jutz, “Come All You Fair And Tender Ladies” (feat. Cara Dillon)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Martin Simpson & Thomm Jutz
Hometown: Sheffield, England & Nashville, TN
Song: “Come All You Fair And Tender Ladies” (featuring Cara Dillon)
Album: Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs Of Mary Sands And Jane Gentry
Release Date: September 29, 2023
Label: Topic Records

In Their Words: “‘Come All You Fair And Tender Ladies’ is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs that I know. It is one of the better-known songs from the Sharp collection that is still sung on both sides of the Atlantic. Depending on where it is sung and by whom, different shades of meaning are illuminated – only a truly great song has this quality. We ran through this song twice in Cara’s kitchen, then headed upstairs to her studio and recorded it in one take. I have been a fan of Cara’s singing for a long time. Playing this song with her and Martin Simpson, one of the greatest guitarists on the planet, has been a highlight of my musical life.” – Thomm Jutz

“I’ve long considered that ‘Come All You Fair And Tender Ladies’ was one of the brightest jewels of Anglo-American folk songs. It has a bitter lyrical intensity and an exquisite and poignant melody which serves it so well. This setting and performance was the work of no time in recording terms, but it is three lifetimes worth of musical and personal experience, which allowed it to be captured with such ease. I loved working with Thomm on Nothing But Green Willow, and Cara Dillon is simply one of the finest singers of traditional song, as she demonstrates here.” – Martin Simpson

Photo Credit: Booney Crawford

LISTEN: Jen Ambrose, “Plenty Of Nothin’ To Do”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Jen Ambrose
Hometown: Elmira, NY
Song: “Plenty Of Nothin’ To Do”
Album: Plenty Of Nothin’ To Do
Release Date: July 7, 2023 (single); October 6, 2023 (album)

In Their Words: “An evergreen blues tune and tempo, a smoking and biting band, and a voice as smooth as molasses. A winning recipe and you all are not ready to be swept away from it. ‘Plenty Of Nothing Nothing To Do’ is the second single from the homonym album, a feel good song to get over that nasty heartbreak.
“The level of catchiness is over the roof, thanks to the biting guitar riffs from the mind of Ken Orsow, co-writer on the album, and the lyrics, sung with a Shania-Twain-arrogance.” – Jen Ambrose

Photo Credit: Craig Alan

LISTEN: Jeremy Garrett, “How Low” (feat. Bonnie Sims)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Jeremy Garrett
Hometown: Loveland, Colorado
Song: “How Low” (featuring Bonnie Sims)
Release Date: July 7, 2023
Label: Organic Records

In Their Words: “‘How Low’ is a cover of a solo artist named José Gonzalez. He describes the song as being about ‘mindless consumerism.’ I fell in love with the vibe this song encompasses and had a vision to see what it would be like to produce the song as a bluegrass-type ensemble piece. I brought in a couple of special guests for this one — Bonnie Sims of Taylor and Sims, Everybody Loves An Outlaw, and Big Richard is my singing partner (and she tears it up!) I also had Ryan Cavanaugh guest on banjo. I hope you dig it!” – Jeremy Garrett

Photo Credit: George Trent Grogan, Mountain Trout Photography

LISTEN: The Two Tracks, “Canyon Wren”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The Two Tracks
Hometown: Sheridan, Wyoming
Song: “Canyon Wren”
Album: It’s a Complicated Life
Release Date: August 25, 2023

In Their Words: “I started writing ‘Canyon Wren’ as a series of two poetic pieces inspired by pictures from our place in Baja, Mexico, one of which is the cover of the single. From our place there, the sun rises over distant mountains and shines right into the faces of breaking waves along the Pacific coast. You check the surf while the arroyos and hillsides buzz with the sound of birds. The canyon wren is one of those birds. Often there can be fog, or dew hanging in the air – an elusive hint of moisture in this otherwise dry place. We love the calm, quiet, empty feel of those mornings as the landscape wakes up and I tried to capture a bit of that scene, and our time spent down there. Julie and I love empty, wild places as much as we love the busy life of performing music. I was musically inspired by the laid back, chill vibes of early J.J. Cale records, which I’ve listened to a lot over the years while driving through Baja, and tried to channel that sound into this track.” – Dave Huebner

Photo Credit: Jenae Neeson

LISTEN: The Chuck Wagon Gang, “I Will Not Cry Today”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The Chuck Wagon Gang
Hometown: The current members are pretty scattered, but The Chuck Wagon Gang originated in Fort Worth, Texas
Song: “I Will Not Cry Today”
Album: Come Go With Me
Release Date: June 30, 2023
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “Our main focus for this Chuck Wagon Gang recording was to find new songs. We had received several from writer Tami Pockstellar, who had written ‘Two Gardens’ from our previous project. Tami’s lyrics and melodies capture the freshness we were searching for, and ‘I Will Not Cry Today’ is a perfect example. It was challenging but fun to add this exciting bluegrass-styled song. I really believe these lyrics will be uplifting to listeners because they encourage us to keep pressing on, no matter the situation we find ourselves in.” – Shaye Smith, The Chuck Wagon Gang

“’I Will Not Cry Today’ was a great opportunity to feature The Chuck Wagon Gang as a trio and bring in some bluegrass-styled accompaniment, which the group wanted to feature on this album. The bluegrass world has always had a kinship with the music of the original Chuck Wagon Gang and it was special to be able to blend the two worlds together on this new song for the Gang.” – Jeremy Stephens, producer

Photo Credit: Jared Pyfer

LISTEN: Christian Parker, “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Christian Parker
Hometown: Canton, New York
Song: “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”
Album: Sweethearts
Release Date: August 18, 2023

In Their Words: “I first heard this song by Bob Dylan on an acoustic guitar. But I was hooked when I listened to the opening pedal steel guitar from The Byrds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo album. This song has been in my repertoire for decades, and it felt like I was recording an old friend! Tracer James’ interpretation of Lloyd Green’s pedal steel guitar perfectly opens the Sweethearts tribute. Earl Poole Ball played piano on the original album; hearing him on this tribute is a testament to his influence on the 1968 classic album! ‘You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere’ is the opening track on the Sweethearts album, and it sounds like a train leaving the station and moving on down the tracks.” – Christian Parker

Photo Credit: Morgan Elliott

LISTEN: JD Graham, “West Virginia”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: JD Graham
Hometown: Yukon, Oklahoma
Song: “West Virginia”
Album: A Pound Of Rust
Release Date: June 23, 2023

In Their Words: “Growing up in rural Oklahoma, I was surrounded by all things oil field. I used to watch my friends roughneckin’ the rigs before they were old enough to buy smokes. By the the time they were 18, they were chasin’ money and workin’ 80 hours a week or more. The relationships they had with friends and lovers took a back seat. Years later the regret set in and they started to look back at what they missed. The character in this song wants another chance at the love he left behind and wonders if she has moved on.” – JD Graham 

Photo Credit: Alex Chacon

LISTEN: Dale Ann Bradley, “Kentucky Gold” (feat. Sam Bush)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Dale Ann Bradley
Hometown: Middlesboro, Kentucky
Song: “Kentucky Gold” (featuring Sam Bush)
Album: Kentucky For Me
Release Date: June 23, 2023
Label: Pinecastle Records

In Their Words: “‘Kentucky Gold’ is a great story about determination, faith, and a desire to be in the race despite all the doubts and opinions of others. It’s about just taking your place and giving it all you’ve got, while at the same time, keeping in mind not to let the odds be a factor in your right to be at the race. We’re really happy with how this song came out and it was an honor to have Sam Bush on it. We’re excited for everyone to hear the full album when it drops. The title is Kentucky For Me and it’s a tribute to my home state. We also have a great lineup of guest artists who joined us.” – Dale Ann Bradley

Photo Credit: Pinecastle Records

LISTEN: Eliza Gilkyson, “Here Comes the Night”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Eliza Gilkyson
Hometown: Taos, NM
Song: “Here Comes the Night”
Album: Home
Release Date: June 23, 2023
Label: Realiza Records

In Their Words: “With the encroaching reality of global warming and extreme natural disasters I find comfort in knowing that the Earth is more resilient than human beings at their worst. Even if I don’t live to see things turn around after they fall apart, I do feel hopeful about the Earth’s supreme thrust to create life in all its myriad forms. I wrote this song just to conjure up some courage to get my emotional ‘sea legs’ in the light of what’s coming within my lifetime, and to find some element of redemption in all of it. Musically, I wanted to keep it all upbeat rather than gloomy, to convey a combination of apprehensive and hopeful feelings. My brother Tony Gilkyson delivered just the kind of twang-and-grit guitar to accomplish that, and I think it pairs well with Don Richmond’s cascading mandolin parts.” – Eliza Gilkyson

Photo Credit: Robert Jensen