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
JaeleeRoberts, “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.
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
Here’s a flock of brand new songs and videos you gotta hear! This week, our premiere round-up includes Americana, fiddle tunes, percussive dance, good country, string band excellence, and more.
Don’t miss new tracks like “Second Best,” from Americana singer-songwriter and Steep Canyon Rangers vocalist Aaron Burdett, and “China Camp,” a fiddle tune written by Paul Shelasky and performed by Amy Kassir with Jake Eddy and more. Also, Wisconsin’s own Them Coulee Boys drop “I Am Not Sad,” a song that grapples with mental health from their upcoming 2025 album, No Fun In The Chrysalis.
We’ve got some superlative videos this week, as well! Percussive dancer and folk musician Nic Gareiss dances us through a gorgeous, queer rendition of a Gillian Welch song, “Back Turn and Swing,” and alt-folk trio Palmyra have brought a live field recording of “Fried,” a song from their brand new EP, Surprise #1. Meanwhile, Eilen Jewell pays tribute to Loretta Lynn and spotlights the progress and regression of the last 50 years of reproductive rights activism with a cover of “The Pill.”
To wrap us up, we don’t want you to miss the latest AEA Session, premiered in partnership with AEA Ribbon Mics on BGS earlier this week. This edition of the series features Brit Taylor & Adam Chaffins, performing live at Americanafest last month.
It’s all right here on BGS and, certainly, You Gotta Hear This!
Aaron Burdett, “Second Best”
Artist:Aaron Burdett Hometown: Saluda, North Carolina Song: “Second Best” Release Date: October 25, 2024 Label: Organic Records
In Their Words: “You might say ‘Second Best’ was a song 30 years in the making. I’ve had this line from an old David Wilcox song rattling around in my head since the ’90s. It always struck me as a phrase that could be interpreted in many different ways. So I eventually started playing with that idea and bouncing it off various scenes and situations. A year or so ago I landed on the one (or two) that ended up in the recording, along with the original Wilcox line that inspired the chorus. Some songs arrive quickly, and some arrive much more slowly!” – Aaron Burdett
Artist:Nic Gareiss Hometown: Lansing, Michigan Song: “Back Turn and Swing” Release Date: October 25, 2024
In Their Words: “When I heard Gillian Welch’s song ‘Back Turn and Swing,’ I was immediately drawn to the way it brings the listener into the scene of a dance event: musicians tuning up, someone cooking potluck food to pass around, the excitement in the air, folks eager to get up onto the floor. The lyrics evoke the feeling of the square and contra dances I grew up attending in the rural Midwest. At the same time, as a non-binary queer person, I feel bodily unease around how the song sets up the dualistic gender of the attendees.
“Many folk dances these days have adopted expansive and inclusive dance calls, like using ‘larks and robins,’ ‘lefts and rights,’ etc. (shoutout to Michigan’s Looking Glass and Ten Pound Fiddle contra dances, Detroit’s queer square dance, Asheville’s Old Farmer’s Ball, and Brooklyn’s Gayli). Yet I’m still compelled to check beforehand that the caller – the authoritarian voice at the front of the hall telling people what to do with their bodies – is onboard with same-sex couples dancing together or trans and genderqueer people expanding these roles. This past summer a partner and I were at a dance when someone in their 20s asked us mid-set, ‘Who is the man?’ This reminded me that there’s still work to do; inclusivity still requires advocacy and allyship to help all feel welcome in the dynamism of the dance floor.
“Speaking of dynamic, as a child I saw John Hartford and was both astonished and inspired by the soundscapes he could create; dance, music, and song all embodied in one person. I aspire towards that dance-as-music in this video, where I added a few lyrics to the last verse.” – Nic Gareiss
Video Credits: Filmed by Blake Hannahson. Audio mixed by Jaron Freeman-Fox.
Eilen Jewell, “The Pill”
Artist:Eilen Jewell Hometown: Boise, Idaho Song: “The Pill” Album:Butcher Holler: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn Release Date: October 22, 2024 (single); November 15, 2024 (album) Label: Signature Sounds
In Their Words: “The amazing thing about ‘The Pill’ is that it still feels edgy today, nearly 50 years after its original release. Loretta infused it with so much sassy defiance that, even now, when I sing it live and reach the phrase ‘now I’ve got the pill,’ some fans pump their fists while others clutch their pearls. It still strikes a nerve, a testament both to how effective this song is and how little progress we’ve made in this country in terms of reproductive rights.
“Loretta still holds the prestigious record for the singer of more banned radio hits than all other male country artists in the twentieth century combined. And ‘The Pill’ was the most banned of all of her songs, which is saying a lot. By recording and performing it live, I hope to do my part to spread the word about the importance of public access to family planning as an integral part of a woman’s right to the pursuit of happiness. It’s hard to believe this fight is still going on, but until it’s over I’ll be here for it.” – Eilen Jewell
A note from the artist: A percentage of sales from “The Pill” will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
Video Credits: Bill Hurley at The Fallout Shelter in Norwood, Massachusetts
Amy Kassir, “China Camp”
Artist:Amy Kassir Hometown: Durham, North Carolina. Currently lives in San Rafael, California. Song: “China Camp” Album:Bread and Butter Release Date: October 25, 2024
In Their Words: “‘China Camp’ is a great tune by the legendary California fiddler Paul Shelasky. I first heard it on the 1983 Good Ol’ Persons record, I Can’t Stand to Ramble, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. While so many tunes on my album are ‘bread and butter’ fiddle tunes I grew up playing in North Carolina, I wanted to include a tune that represents the rich musical legacy of California, which has been my home for the last 10 years. I’m so thankful Paul gave me his blessing to record this tune.
“This recording features Jake Eddy on guitar and banjo, Korey Kassir on mandolin, and Carter Eddy on bass. It’s such an exciting tune to play, and we had a lot of fun bringing it to life.” – Amy Kassir
Palmyra, “Fried”
Artist:Palmyra Hometown: Richmond, Virginia Song: “Fried” Album:Surprise #1 (EP) Release Date: October 24, 2024 Label: Oh Boy Records
In Their Words: “As we have ventured into playing bigger stages and festivals, our sound has expanded significantly. While the core of Palmyra remains the three of us, we’ve been experimenting with a larger four-piece sound, as heard on the recorded version of ‘Fried’ on our new EP, Surprise #1, with Oh Boy Records. ‘Fried’ is our most ambitious acoustic experiment, starting with a drum set and a hypnotic repetitive guitar lick. Recording the song acoustically with one microphone in a field was a fun way for us to find the core of the tune. It was a challenge to see how many elements we could strip away and still keep the groove. We like to call ‘Fried’ our ‘jam band’ song, and we hope even this field recording gets you on your feet.” – Palmyra
Track Credits: Written by Sasha Landon, Mānoa Lewis Bell, and Teddy Chipouras. Sasha Landon – Mandocello, voice Teddy Chipouras – Guitar, voice Mānoa Bell – Upright bass, voice Jake Cochran – Drums
Video Credit: Elliott Crotteau
Them Coulee Boys, “I Am Not Sad”
Artist:Them Coulee Boys Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin Song: “I Am Not Sad” Album:No Fun In The Chrysalis Release Date: October 29, 2024 (single); February 28, 2025 (album) Label: Some Fun Records
In Their Words: “‘I Am Not Sad‘ is the last song on the record and captures the theme of accepting change this record focuses on. I’ve struggled with my mental health my whole life, dealing with depression, anxiety, and issues with self worth. I’ve embraced those issues in my songwriting, hoping to shine a light on things that we all go through from time to time. We have plenty of songs that talk about these issues, but this one is the first that accepts them.
“The song is built around the phrase ‘I am not sad anymore, at least not today.’ It’s a celebration of the happiness in the moment, while acknowledging that there’s times when it’s harder. It’s about being thankful for the good times, and letting them stack up on one another for when the bad times come. It’s a declaration, a moment of catharsis, while knowing that it won’t always be like that.
“Sonically it starts sparsely, with elements of the band being added with each verse, like confidence growing in one’s self as you begin to believe. It’s self-assured, with strummed mandolin and piano a backdrop for growth. When the bridge lyrically introduces the idea that these positive feelings might not last, the musical interlude represents the choice to embrace that realization. An ethereal, almost dream-like backdrop sets up the catharsis of the last verse. When the last verse hits, it invites all the good feelings back for a triumphant jam. It’s loud and snarls in the face of the hard times. It’s meant to soar and it does.” – Soren Staff
AEA Sessions: Brit Taylor & Adam Chaffins, Live at AmericanaFest 2024
Artist: Brit Taylor & Adam Chaffins Hometown: Hindman, Kentucky (Brit), Louisa, Kentucky (Adam); now, both call Nashville home. Songs: “Little Bit at a Time,” “Holding On Holding Out,” “Trailer Trash,” “The Best We Can Do Is Love,” and “Saint Anthony”
In Their Words: “It was fun playing and talking about new songs on some incredible sounding AEA gear with Brit Taylor on the Bell tone sessions!” – Adam Chaffins
“Brit and Adam’s songs are personal, yet universal. They are warm in person and it’s clear they spend a lot of time together singing, playing, and writing. Their vocals weave and intertwine so effortlessly.” – Julie Tan, AEA Ribbon Mics
We’ve reached the end of the week and we’ve got your new music covered this Friday! Our premiere round-up is completely full with excellent new songs and videos from a variety of artists who work in a variety of roots styles.
Check out new music videos from folks like singer-songwriter Sadie Campbell performing “Getting Older,” a subtly spooky tune from High Horse entitled “Tombstone Territory,” country outfit Loose Cattle bring us “The Shoals,” on which they are joined by none other than Patterson Hood, and “Afro-Appalachian” artist Mon Rovîa’s lyric video for “Winter Wash 24” is colorful and engaging.
You’ll also find brand new music from folks like JD Clayton, who sings about being disappointed by a friend on “Let You Down,” Benny Sidelinger processes a difficult season of life on “Lilacs,” and roots rockers Clarence Tilton call on their pal Marty Stuart for their latest, “Fred’s Colt.”
To cap it all, we debuted our new video series, the AEA Sessions, with our partners at AEA Ribbon Mics earlier this week with an incredible performance by our longtime friend, Gaby Moreno. You can watch that debut session below, as well.
It’s all right here on BGS and, you know the routine – You Gotta Hear This!
Sadie Campbell, “Getting Older”
Artist:Sadie Campbell Hometown: British Columbia-raised, Nashville-based Song: “Getting Older” Album:Metamorphosis Release Date: October 11, 2024 (single); October 25, 2024 (album) Label: Glory War Records
In Their Words: “In a sea of filters, fillers, and constant pressure to look young, ‘Getting Older’ is my reminder to embrace myself where I am, as I am, to be proud of every wrinkle on my face, that my body was well-earned through laughter and learning, and not everyone gets the privilege to grow older. This video is meant to symbolize the many different versions we can be throughout our lives — and that it’s really about perspective. The photo can be the same, but through a different lens, you see a different image. Just like how we see ourselves. If we can change the lens, and the way we perceive ourselves, the picture we see often changes, too.” – Sadie Campbell
Video Credits: Filmed and edited by Justin Alexis at That Good Graphic.
JD Clayton, “Let You Down”
Artist:JD Clayton Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas Song: “Let You Down” Release Date: October 11, 2024 Label: Rounder Records
In Their Words: “‘Let You Down’ was born in a coffee shop in East Nashville called Cafe Roze. I sat next to a new friend who would later become my bass player. We had an itch to hit the town and get dinner at an unfamiliar restaurant, but to our surprise every establishment the waitress recommended was closed that day. After about the fourth restaurant it became a humorous bit. It immediately began pouring rain outside. Although the waitress meant nothing by it, I teased that she was letting us down. On my drive home that day I sang ‘sometimes people let you down’ in my voice memo. It immediately hit me and I was flooded with feelings of an old friend that had actually let me down and meant it. I then had my sweet little song. But it needed more. It wasn’t until the day of recording that I dreamed up a huge instrumental break to highlight all of my band members and bring their skills to life. On a Thursday at Sound Emporium studio on Belmont Boulevard, my band cut ‘Let You Down’ and it became in my own humble opinion a certified banger. I’m certainly biased, but I truly love the song and its flow of story to emotionally charged musical outrage.” – JD Clayton
Track Credits: Written by JD Clayton. JD Clayton – Vocals, acoustic guitar, background vocals, harmonica Bo Aleman – Electric guitar Lee Williams – Bass guitar Kirby Bland – Drums, percussion Hank Long – Piano, Wurlitzer, organ
In Their Words: “After coming off tour with the Jacob Jolliff Band, I had all this inspiration that I wanted to bring to a High Horse instrumental composition. The basic elements of ‘Tombstone’ come from some of the ideas in Jolliff’s music and influence from Grant Gordy/Mr. Sun recordings. And, from a practice of sending around a melodic part that I learned in an earlier Persian Music Ensemble at NEC to the band. Not only was this an academic sort of exploration for me, but it was also a great opportunity to show off some of the special skills everyone in the band has as instrumentalists. Some of my favorite solos on the record happen on this recording and it has some of our best band cohesion! After performing the piece for one of its first times in Hancock, New Hampshire we were still looking for a title when we happened upon a short dirt road named Tombstone Territory. Given the spooky vibe of the tune, that seemed to fit just perfectly!” – G Rockwell, composer, guitarist
Track Credits: G Rockwell – Guitar Carson McHaney – Fiddle Karl Henry – Cello Noah Harrington – Bass
Video Credits: Video, editing, recording, and mixing by Micah Nicol
Loose Cattle, “The Shoals” featuring Patterson Hood
Artist:Loose Cattle Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana Song: “The Shoals” Album:Someone’s Monster Release Date: October 8, 2024 (single); November 1, 2024 (album) Label: Single Lock Records
In Their Words:“‘The Shoals’ gives me faith good men are actually listening, since Michael pulled the lyrics from several years of my private ‘Mad As Hell/Not Gonna Take It Anymore’ rants. It’s a song about what happens when we stop twisting into pretzels trying to please everyone else and start speaking uncomfortable truths to power. Historically, there’s a long tradition of accusing women who speak uncomfortable truths aloud of possession or witchcraft, so it felt especially fitting to cast Patterson Hood as a river ‘demon’ egging on the narrator.” – Kimberly Kaye
“I started writing the song during my first stay in the Shoals some years ago, on a banged up old guitar I’d just bought there. Better writers than me have tried and failed to explain the mysterious way that stretch of the Tennessee River has sung so much unforgettable music into being. All I can say is the song kind of wrote itself there and I just tried to copy it down. And ever since, from having an original Swamper’s son tell me “hell yeah” that he wanted to sing the part of a River Demon for us, to finding the record the perfect home at Single Lock Records, has just seemed meant to be. After a hell of a lot of work, of course.” – Michael Cerveris
Track Credits: Music and lyrics by Michael Cerveris. Kimberly Kaye – Vocals Michael Cerveris – Acoustic and electric guitars, harmonies René Coman – Bass Doug Garrison – Drums Rurik Nunan – Fiddle, harmonies Jay Gonzalez – Farfisa organ Patterson Hood – Vocals, guitar
Mon Rovîa, “Winter Wash 24”
Artist:Mon Rovîa Hometown: Liberia-born, Tennessee-based Song: “Winter Wash 24” Album:Act 4: Atonement Release Date: October 11, 2024 (single); January 10, 2025 (EP) Label: Nettwerk Music Group
In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Winter Wash 24’ while touring with Josiah and the Bonnevilles in March ’24. The theme of cognitive dissonance weighed heavily on my mind amidst everything happening in the world. Outside Seattle, I saw tanks covered in tarps treated with winter wash and the image moved me to write. The song explores how we often distance ourselves from the struggles of others when they don’t directly affect us. My goal is to raise awareness of these shared struggles, because empathy is a crucial force for change. As a refugee, I’m deeply inspired by the work of the IRC (International Rescue Committee) and am donating the song’s proceeds to support their vital efforts.” – Mon Rovîa
Benny Sidelinger, “Lilacs”
Artist:Benny Sidelinger Hometown: Wayne, Maine (famous for a bumper sticker that says “Where the hell is Wayne, ME?”) Song: “Lilacs” Album:Cherry Street Release Date: October 25, 2024
In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Lilacs’ during a particularly difficult period of my life. However, there were many joyous things happening at the time too. My then-fiancée was pregnant with our lovely daughter Tulsi and we were living in a gorgeous historical farmhouse on the Skagit River, yet I was dealing with the aftermath of a difficult divorce and was temporarily isolated from my two older kids. The juxtaposition of tragedy and joy during that time are the basis of the song. For a while, I thought I might lose my mind, but somehow I managed to hold on to a thread of sanity. Eventually I was reunited with my kids and moved on to much easier chapters of life. At the same time, we had a spring with an incredible amount of rain and there was concern that the river might overflow the dikes, which would have flooded our house. Yet, just as I managed to not go crazy, the dikes held and a catastrophic flood was avoided. So, as they say: ‘I wrote a song about it.'” – Benny Sidelinger
Track Credits: Benny Sidelinger – Vocals, guitar, Dobro Michael Thomas Connolly – Bass, telecaster, vocals Aida Miller – Vocals Jason Haugland – Drums
Clarence Tilton, “Fred’s Colt” featuring Marty Stuart
Artist:Clarence Tilton Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska Song: “Fred’s Colt” featuring Marty Stuart Album:Queen of the Brawl Release Date: October 11, 2024 (single)
In Their Words: “We asked Marty to get involved with ‘Fred’s Colt’ as we had met and opened for him a couple times in our hometown, [Omaha]. Marty agreed and played his famous pull-string telecaster, the original guitar of Clarence White of the Byrds. It’s a guitar we were well acquainted with, as we are huge Clarence White fans. Marty’s voice seemed perfect for the second verse of this song, which recounts the potentially sordid history of a strange family heirloom – an old Civil War-era Colt pistol. Marty not only lent us his voice for a verse and his guitar wizardry for a solo, but even added parts throughout that we did not realize were missing. Marty Stuart is a national treasure, and we are so honored and excited that he spent a day with our tune and did what only he can do!”
Track Credits: Words and music by Chris Weber. Chris Weber – Rhythm electric guitar, acoustic guitar intro, vocals Marty Stuart – Electric guitar (Telecaster), first solo, second verse vocals Corey Weber – Electric guitar throughout, second solo Paul Novak – Acoustic guitar Craig Meier – Bass Jarron Storm – Drums, percussion, vocals
AEA Sessions: Gaby Moreno, Live at AmericanaFest 2024
Artist:Gaby Moreno Hometown: Los Angeles, California Songs: “New Dawn,” “Solid Ground,” and “Luna de Xelajú”
In Their Words: “It was a wonderful experience performing a few songs for AEA at Bell Tone during AmericanaFest. The sound quality and the energy in the room were unforgettable.” – Gaby Moreno
“Gaby is charismatic and energetic. She lights up a room when she walks in and when she performs, it’s electrifying.” – Julie Tan, AEA Ribbon Mics
We’re excited to kick off October with a mighty New Music Friday and our first edition of You Gotta Hear This for the month.
You’ve simply gotta check out new music videos from folks like Darin & Brooke Aldridge (who pay tribute to Byron Berline with a track featuring Vince Gill), Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle (who’ve brought us a charming animated music video), Claire Hawkins (who wrote her selection, “Oh Daisy,” while living in France), and Rachel McIntyre Smith teams up with Janelle Arthur to premiere her Honeysuckle Friend Sessions with a live cover of “Strawberry Wine.”
Plus, Darren Nicholson premieres his bluegrass track, “Windows Have Pains,” and singer-songwriter, vocalist, and bassist Adam Chaffins feels capable of anything on “Little Bit At A Time.” Our longtime friends Jamie Drake and Justin Wade Tam have teamed up on a brand new single as well, entitled “Free.”
To wrap up, don’t miss our final Yamaha Session in our latest series with the brand. It features Jack Schneider performing his original song, “Don’t Look Down.”
It’s all right here on BGS and You’ve Gotta Hear This!
Darin & Brooke Aldridge, “A Million Memories (A Song For Byron)”
Artist:Darin & Brooke Aldridge Hometown: Cherryville, North Carolina Song: “A Million Memories (A Song For Byron)” Album:Talk of The Town Release Date: October 4, 2024 (video) Label: Billy Blue Records
In Their Words: “We’ve all had people in our lives who have believed in us, loved us, taught us, and guided us, hoping that we could see in ourselves what they have always seen. It isn’t just about teaching and shaping someone, it’s about helping them discover what they can do from within themselves. For us, it is one of our greatest joys to invest time and encouragement to those who come behind us. It is one way to pay forward the gifts given to us from our own heroes and mentors, to help bring out the best in younger people in the same ways someone did for us.
“We were reminded of these truths the first time we heard ‘A Million Memories (A Song for Byron).’ It was written by our friend Vince Gill in honor of fiddler extraordinaire Byron Berline, who was one of Vince’s closest mentors and dearest friends. Byron invited a young Vince to play banjo and guitar in his band, Byron Berline and Sundance, in the late ’70s, and took the clearly talented Gill under his wing. They remained close until Byron’s death in 2021.
“We’re incredibly honored to share the music video for ‘A Million Memories (A Song for Byron).’ As the song is extra special to us, for the meaning behind it and having the chance to sing it with a special mentor and friend. We will always treasure this opportunity to make ‘A Million Memories.’ We hope the video brings back cherished memories to those that watch the video and hear this incredible song.” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Track Credits: Darin Aldridge – Vocal, mandolin, guitar Vince Gill – Vocal Brooke Aldridge – Vocal Mark Fain – Acoustic Bass Stuart Duncan – Fiddle Brent Rader – Percussion, piano
Video Credit: Produced and directed by Jenny Gill.
Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle, “Vagabond’s Lament”
Artist:Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Song: “Vagabond’s Lament” Album:Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle Release Date: October 24, 2024
In Their Words: “‘Vagabond’s Lament’ is an homage to so many places we know so well. The personification of each location lets the song read as a lost-love song in a way, which is a fun take on the visuals the tune lays out for the audience. It’s also a fun one to play; upbeat rhythm and driving solos get the crowds moving.
“One thing this ‘Vagabond’s’ showcases for the group is our affinity for harmony. It’s a real throwback to the sounds I personally grew up with – rich, churchy voices, the breathy ritardando at the end of the tune followed by a four-part harmonic crescendo into the final phrase, and that driving stomp of a beat. This tune really wraps up so much of what we do into three and a half minutes.
“The song fits perfectly with the overall mood and atmosphere of the album; old-time influence with modern flair. It’s a toe-tapping number that could be a hundred years old if you heard it on AM radio, which fits our style nicely. It’s something that will appeal to folkies and bluegrassers alike.” – Casey Campbell, drummer, vocalist
Track Credits: Produced and engineered by Alex Lusht at Mind Ignition Studios in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mixed and mastered by Alex Lusht. Bill Baldock – Bass, guitar, vocals, banjo Scott Risner – Mandolin, vocals, banjo Matt Wabnitz – Guitar, vocals Casey Campbell – Drums, vocals
Video Credits: Animation by Evan Hand; Fiddle and final image by Alex Hand.
Adam Chaffins, “Little Bit At A Time”
Artist:Adam Chaffins Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee via Louisa, Kentucky Song: “Little Bit At A Time” Release Date: October 4, 2024
In Their Words: “I started writing ‘Little Bit at A Time’ with Adam Wright in the fall of 2020, socially distanced on my front porch on a chilly, rain-drizzled day. The song was pretty much finished, but we both felt it was missing some more truth. The next summer, I went on a trip to the Colorado Rockies with some new friends, and, on a whim, we decided to hike a 14,000-foot mountain before the sun came up. I still remember the surreal feeling of standing on that peak after scrambling over boulders and hiking for hours to get to the top. The air was so thin above the treeline and the surroundings felt otherworldly. It was one of the most emotionally jarring events of my life. On the steep hike back down, I felt as if I were leaving a trail of lies behind me with each step. I had just totally surpassed any physical feat I ever thought I was ever capable of, making a monumental truth out of a lifetime of lies I had told myself. I felt capable of anything. In the fall of 2021, I got married and found the truth in love. I now have some new perspectives in life and, perhaps, the missing pieces to that song about delayed gratification.” – Adam Chaffins
Jamie Drake & Justin Wade Tam, “Free”
Artist:Jamie Drake & Justin Wade Tam Hometown: Los Angeles, California (Jamie Drake); Nashville, Tennessee (Justin Wade Tam) Song: “Free” Album:So Many Melodies Release Date: October 4, 2024 Label: Soundly Music
In Their Words: “‘Free’ was written over a Zoom session in 2021 as pandemic restrictions were beginning to lift. We talked about how this historical time had affected us — how the idea of ‘connection’ had taken on a whole new meaning and how we as humans had become more disconnected from ourselves and from nature in the process. For most, the need to stay connected to technology had become imperative as well as required; a reality that continues today. Maintaining a healthy relationship with our screens is an extremely difficult balancing act. ‘Free’ is a bit of a wake up call to remind us to take a break when we feel the call, to get back into nature and live in a more balanced way, connected to each other in the present moment instead of the narrative on our screen.” – Jamie Drake & Justin Wade Tam
Track Credits: Written by Jamie Drake and Justin Wade Tam. Justin Wade Tam – Vocal, acoustic guitar Jamie Drake – Vocals, acoustic guitar Juan Solorzano – Electric guitars Ross McReynolds – Drums Alec Newnam – Bass Produced, engineered, and mixed by Jordan Lehning. Mastered by Casey Wood. Additional engineering by Reid Sorel.
Claire Hawkins, “Oh Daisy”
Artist:Claire Hawkins Hometown: New York City, New York Song: “Oh Daisy” Release Date: October 4, 2024 (video)
In Their Words: “‘Oh Daisy’ was one of the first songs I wrote during my time as an artist-in-residence in France. That time abroad really inspired me to think about my own hometown and what it means to identify as a New Yorker. In writing ‘Oh Daisy,’ I thought back to my earliest memories of wanderlust as a child growing up in New York City. Children see the world through such a different lens and it was interesting to explore how much my worldview has evolved, thanks to the time I’ve gotten to spend with different cultures around the world. When it came time to shoot the music video, I really wanted to capture a certain light-hearted free-spiritedness, but balance it with a feeling of internal conflict. Working with Meg, I think we were able to reflect the challenge of the comforts of home fighting against the curiosity that pulls us away from what we know.” – Claire Hawkins
Track Credits: Written and performed by Claire Hawkins. Produced by Hana Elion.
Artist:Rachel McIntyre Smith & Janelle Arthur Hometown: Oliver Springs, Tennessee (both Rachel and Janelle) Song: “Strawberry Wine” (Deana Carter cover) Release Date: October 5, 2024
In Their Words: “The Honeysuckle Friend Sessions are a companion video series to go along with my latest EP,‘Honeysuckle Friend.‘ In this series, I invite my friends who are talented musicians to cover a song with me. I was over the moon when Janelle Arthur said that she would join me for this series! Having the opportunity to sing with Janelle was such a cool experience because we are both from the same hometown (Oliver Springs, TN) and I have admired her and her artistry since I was really young. I grew up watching her perform, voting for her on ‘American Idol,‘ and listening to all her music. Her voice is incredible, and so is she. I love ‘Strawberry Wine’ by Deana Carter, so I was very happy when Janelle suggested it. I especially love the incredible riff that Janelle so effortlessly sings at the end of the song!“ – Rachel McIntyre Smith
“Rachel is so talented and dedicated to her craft. I was excited to collaborate and finally get to sing with my hometown girl! ‘Strawberry Wine‘ is such a classic and just felt like the right song to sing for this series.“ – Janelle Arthur
Track Credits: Written by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison.
Video Credit: Filmed and edited by Rachel McIntyre Smith.
Darren Nicholson, “Windows Have Pains”
Artist:Darren Nicholson Hometown: Haywood County, North Carolina Song: “Windows Have Pains” Release Date: October 4, 2024 Label: Mountain Home Music Company
In Their Words: “What can I say? I love sad songs. I have since I was a small child. In an odd way, sad songs bring me comfort and happiness. I’m drawn to things that evoke emotion. When I first heard these words as a kid, I loved them. I never forgot how the hook and spirit of the song impacted me as a listener. The song was originally written by Wes Buchanan and all these years later, Mark Bumgarner and myself got down and dirty and wrote an additional verse to complete the song for us. I love this one. If you like ole timey music and enjoy your hurtin’ – this one’s for you.” – Darren Nicholson
Track Credits: Darren Nicholson – Mandolin, octave mandolin, lead vocal, harmony vocal Tony Creasman – Drums Kristin Scott Benson – Banjo Zach Smith – Upright Bass Deanie Richardson – Fiddle David Johnson – Acoustic guitar, Dobro Jennifer Nicholson – Harmony vocal
Yamaha Sessions: Jack Schneider, “Don’t Look Down”
For his second Yamaha Session, Schneider picks up his Yamaha FS9 R acoustic guitar to perform “Don’t Look Down,” an original song from his 2022 album, Best Be On My Way. While the studio version features Schneider’s longtime friend, Liv Greene, the track certainly shines solo in this context, as well.
Gentle fingerstyle picking gives way to tender vocals, text painting a long-suffering image with an ultimately hopeful tinge. It’s a song about keeping your chin up, literally and figuratively. Written during the turmoil of the pandemic, the message in the lyrics is certainly not one of toxic positivity, making the moral within them even more resonant. It’s easy to tell Schneider is not just speaking to his listeners, but also to himself.
Quality over quantity is sometimes what it’s all about. This week’s edition of our premiere round-up is small but mighty, with brand new tracks and videos from a stellar collection of roots musicians.
To kick us off, singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd brings us a properly spooky video for her track, “Call Your Wife,” which was filmed at an abandoned amusement park in West Virginia. The song is about anger and shame, growth and change, running away and getting caught back up in it again, too. It’s an excellent lead in to spooky and scary season, that’s for sure.
Next, our friends Nefesh Mountain have a gorgeous new fall-tinged video for an original song, “Regrets In The Rearview,” that features an all-star lineup of bluegrass legends. It’s a paean to gratitude, to living life for the moment, and celebrates finding peace – and a home – in movement and change. We think it’s the perfect song to put on for your drive to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard.
To wrap us up, California roots duo Two Runner – made up of Paige Anderson and Emilie Rose – perform “Late Dinner” live from a cozy front porch. They combine old-time, bluegrass, Americana, folk, and more into their own exemplary sound, which highlights the slightly melancholy story just perfectly.
It’s an apropos musical triptych for fall, for golden hour, for sipping some hot cider or cozying up beneath a blanket as the autumn rain falls outside. And, you know what we think… You Gotta Hear This!
Juliet Lloyd, “Call Your Wife”
Artist:Juliet Lloyd Hometown: Washington, D.C. Song: “Call Your Wife” Album:Carnival Release Date: October 25, 2024
In Their Words: “It’s funny to me that the most carnival-sounding song on the entire album is not the title track – it’s this one. ‘Call Your Wife’ was inspired by an anonymous text message that I got in the middle of the night. I had released another single from the album, ‘Pretty,’ a few weeks before, and it was a really personal song that parsed through my complicated feelings about an old relationship that I’ve mostly run from in the 20 years since. The text message said I wasn’t being fair to the guy in the song– and all of a sudden I was 18 again, feeling afraid and ashamed. And then I got angry.
“Todd Wright (who co-wrote and produced) and I managed to channel those feelings into a track that goes to a really unexpected place. It starts sweetly threatening and builds to a really satisfying, vengeful final chorus. I love the unhinged banjo and bass lines that kick in in the second verse. After we finished the track, I knew I wanted a video to match the vibe. The song and video for me are really about using art to process, to heal, and to connect with anyone else who has ever felt like they couldn’t speak up and confront their gaslighters and abusers.” – Juliet Lloyd
Track Credits: Written by Juliet Lloyd & Todd Wright. Video Credits: Produced by Mind in Motion. Directed by Joshua Land and Victor Fink. Featuring Todd Wright and Steve Quintilian. Colleen Laffey, Zachary Buckley, Abigail Sussman – Production assistants Shot at Lake Shawnee Abandoned Amusement Park in Rock, West Virginia.
Nefesh Mountain, “Regrets In The Rearview”
Artist:Nefesh Mountain Hometown: New York, New York Song: “Regrets In The Rearview” Album:Beacons Release Date: September 25, 2024 (single); January 2025 (album) Label: Eden Sky Records
In Their Words: “We’ve spent the last number of years on the road, getting the band out there as much as possible, all with our now 3-year-old daughter, Willow! Needless to say, it can be hard to balance touring with writing sometimes, but when we finally sat down in early 2024 to write new material, dozens of songs just poured out of us. We spent those early months feverishly creating, composing, and refining our vision and voice for this next iteration of the band. The result of this musical alchemy is Beacons; our new double LP containing eight Americana songs with our electric band on disc one, and 10 more on the bluegrass-oriented disc two.
“We feel eternally grateful and beyond lucky to have become close with our heroes over the years and while our own band makes up much of the two discs, we also called on our friends Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Rob McCoury and Mark Schatz to bring this song to life! This particular song also marks an incredibly special first for us – our older daughter Millie is on it, beautifully singing the third part in the chorus and duetting with mom on verse four.” – Eric Lindberg
“‘Regrets In The Rearview’ kicks off the bluegrass half of Beacons and is a tune all about gratitude and living in the moment. It’s our own personal reminder to stay present and keep moving forward instead of dwelling too much on the past. It’s about finding some peace with the struggles we have, and we wanted to channel the blissful freedom we feel when we’re out there hitting the road.” – Doni Zasloff
Track Credits: Written by Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff. Doni Zasloff – Vocals Eric Lindberg – Vocals, guitar Stuart Duncan – Fiddle Jerry Douglas – Dobro Sam Bush – Mandolin Rob McCoury – Banjo Mark Schatz – Bass
Video Credits: Shot in and around the communities surrounding Woodstock, New York. Directed and conceptualized by Lindberg and Zasloff along with Rafael Roy & Kelin Verrette with All Solid Things.
Two Runner, “Late Dinner”
Artist:Two Runner Hometown: Nevada City, California Song: “Late Dinner” Album:Late Dinner Release Date: September 13, 2024 Label: Gar Hole Records
In Their Words: “‘Late Dinner’ is a song for all the people who have been ghosted and let down. That feeling of yearning for the perfect relationship dinner where everything feels glowy-warm amongst the candle light. I was cheated on/ghosted in a somewhat new relationship and cooked dinner that night yearning for the person to be there and wishing things were different. This song is a reminiscence about that time and hopefully relates to those who have made the ‘late dinner’ without the person ever showing up.” – Two Runner, Paige Anderson and Emilie Rose
Track Credits: Written by Paige Anderson. Performed by Paige Anderson and Emilie Rose. Video Credits: Filmed, recorded, mixed, and edited by Nick Futch.
Photo Credit: Nefesh Mountain by Rafael Roy & Kelin Verrette; Juliet Lloyd by Anna Haas.
Our weekly premiere round-up kicks off this fine Friday with a new video from singer-songwriter Kelley Mickwee from her upcoming release; it’s the title track and her favorite song from her upcoming album, “Everything Beautiful.”
We continue with some bluegrassy old-time from duo Golden Shoals, showcasing “Milwaukee Blues,” a staple on their set lists and at their live performances. And, fellow bluegrass artist and songwriter Mason Via brings us his brand new single co-written with Charlie Chamberlain entitled, “Falling.”
To wrap up the week in premieres, don’t miss two new BGS-produced video sessions that hit the site this week. First, the latest in our Yamaha Sessions featuring shredder Trey Hensley, followed up by a bonus DelFest Session from Mountain Grass Unit celebrating their new EP, which dropped today.
It’s all right here on BGS and frankly, You Gotta Hear This!
Kelley Mickwee, “Everything Beautiful”
Artist:Kelley Mickwee Hometown: Austin, Texas Song: “Everything Beautiful” Album:Everything Beautiful Release Date: September 27, 2024 Label: Kelley Mickwee Music
In Their Words: “My favorite track on the record. A love song, which are rare and hard for me to write. This one started as a poem, sitting on my back porch one late afternoon as the dragonflies swarmed the yard and the hummingbirds fought over the feeder. I was all of a sudden just overcome with such deep love in my heart. Sent some words to my dear friend, Seth Walker, and he put this beautiful melody to it before I even woke up. It’s the first song we have written together of what I hope is many more to come.” – Kelley Mickwee
Golden Shoals, “Milwaukee Blues”
Artist:Golden Shoals Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Song: “Milwaukee Blues” Release Date: September 27, 2024
In Their Words: “‘Milwaukee Blues’ has been a staple of our live show for years. It’s got a fun, silly vibe, but it’s about the very real perils of hoboing in the 1920s. That smiling on the outside/crying on the inside dichotomy is one of the most fascinating things about bluegrass and old-time music. Though we focus more on our original songs, our early tours were always based around fiddler’s conventions – Mt. Airy, Galax, Clifftop, etc. Playing old fiddle tunes and songs is how we started to forge our own sound and how we met our dearest musical pals. We’ve released collaborative old-time albums before (Milkers and Hollers and Tune Hash), but this is our first time stripping it down to the duo. We usually do one or two of these tunes at each show and we wanted to get them down for posterity, and for the old-time fans! Tracks will continue to trickle out over the next year, culminating in a full 14-track album.” – Mark Kilianski
Mason Via, “Falling”
Artist:Mason Via Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Song: “Falling” Album:Mason Via Release Date: September 20, 2024 (single) Label: Mountain Fever Records
In Their Words: “I co-wrote this song with Charlie Chamberlain, who’s known for his work on several Songs From The Road Band albums. We initially crafted this track as a companion piece to ‘Melt in the Sun,’ another song on the upcoming record. Originally, we intended for it to be recorded with my psychedelic electric side project as a rock and roll party anthem. It wasn’t planned for this bluegrass album, but after bassist and dobro player Jeff Partin singled it out as his favorite from the extensive list of songs I shared with him and the producer, I decided to include it at the last minute. I’m glad we included it because it blends that distinctive Mountain Heart newgrass drive with lyrics that are perfect for getting people moving.” – Mason Via
Track Credits: Written by Mason Via & Charlie Chamberlain. Mason Via – Lead vocals, guitar Aaron Ramsey – Mandolin Jason Davis – Banjo Jim Van Cleve – Fiddle Jeff Partin – Bass, Dobro Kyser George – Guitar Brooks Forsyth – Baritone harmony Nick Goad – Tenor harmony
Yamaha Sessions: Trey Hensley, “Can’t Outrun the Blues”
Our Yamaha Sessions continue, highlighting the top-notch Yamaha FG series of acoustic guitars and the killer musicians who utilize them. This time, we’re back with guitarist, singer-songwriter, GRAMMY nominee, and reigning IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Trey Hensley. For his second session in the series, he performs a growling original, “Can’t Outrun the Blues,” that highlights the grit and attack of his custom Yamaha FG9 R, resonant and bold in open E.
Hensley’s techniques are bluegrass through and through, with clarity and athleticism to his flatpicking that stand out even among his incredibly talented contemporaries. The ‘grassy skeletal structure behind his approach to the instrument is merely a springboard into other textures and styles. Here, in a modal and bluesy number, you can certainly hear the influence rock and roll, down home and contemporary blues, Southern rock, and country chicken pickin’ have on Hensley’s own writing and composition.
DelFest Sessions: Mountain Grass Unit, “Lonesome Dove”
For a special bonus edition of our DelFest Sessions from earlier this year, we return to Cumberland, Maryland and the banks of the Potomac River for an encore performance by bluegrass four-piece, Mountain Grass Unit. On September 20, the group will release a brand new EP, Runnin’ From Trouble, which features this original number, “Lonesome Dove,” as the lead track. In fact, at the time of the session’s taping, the band had just recorded the song a week prior.
“We had an amazing time at the riverside DelFest Session performing our new song, ‘Lonesome Dove,'” said mandolinist Drury Anderson via email. “Watching people float down the river while we recorded made the experience even more special. It was an honor to be part of such a unique series!”
There’s something for everyone in this week’s premiere round-up!
From the bluegrass realm, check out a new, suitably spooky track from southwest Virginia mainstay Amanda Cook, a vocal trio number from the fellas of Sideline, and Twisted Pine have a brand new music video for a song all about bluegrass festival fun, “After Midnight (Nothing Good Happens).”
From elsewhere on the genre map, check out tracks debuting from singer-songwriter Bailey Bigger, Swedish artist Sarah Klang has an Americana-flavored number featuring Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats, and Emily Frembgen declares she’s “Hard 2 Love.”
Don’t miss a lyric video for the title track from American Idol winner Lee DeWyze’s brand new album, Gone For Days, as well. It’s all right here on BGS and You Gotta Hear This!
In Their Words: “‘Nancy Jo’ was a more recently written song this year. I wrote it in memory of my grandmother, who represents to me all the women in my life who have sacrificed their own dreams for the inevitable love for those around them. It’s a bittersweet, give-and-take feeling to experience and watch take over the amazing women in our lives, and something I think we can all relate to universally. The duality of my grandmother was beautiful to me. She had so many regrets, dreams she never got to take a real shot at, and hopes, yet so much gratitude, love, and confidence in the path she did choose in this life. She loved her life and brought so much joy and presence to those around her. But we would dream together every time I sat with her in the kitchen. When I reach for my life and my future, it’s not just my hands, it’s all the women in my ancestry, standing behind me, pushing me further.
“This song was highly influenced, musically, by the dream pop movement of the ’90s. My dad gave me his CDs by The Sundays that he wore out in college, and I fell in love instantly with their dreamy guitar tones and Harriet’s voice just painting the canvas with her melodies. I wanted to create a similar production with clear inspiration behind this song, and dream pop is a genre I’ve been itching to explore in my own sound as I get creative with guitar pedals and melodies.” – Bailey Bigger
Amanda Cook, “Devil’s Looking Glass”
Artist:Amanda Cook Hometown: Fancy Gap, Virginia Song: “Devil’s Looking Glass” Album:Restless Soul Release Date: September 18, 2024 (single); October 18, 2024 (album) Label: Mountain Fever Records
In Their Words: “I love a spooky song and when Troy Boone (our mandolin player) let me hear his demo of ‘Devil’s Looking Glass,’ I knew I was going to be hooked. Troy’s vivid lyrics make the story feel so real that it’s almost like a true legend coming to life. As Troy shared, he wrote ‘Devil’s Looking Glass’ in high school, drawing inspiration from the rock formation above the Nolichucky River near his childhood home and crafting a haunting song based on a local curse story.” – Amanda Cook
Track Credits: Written by Troy Boone. Amanda Cook – Lead vocal Carolyne Van Lierop – Banjo Troy Boone – Mandolin Brady Wallen – Guitar Josh Faul – Bass George Mason – Fiddle
Lee DeWyze, “Gone For Days”
Artist:Lee DeWyze Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Song: “Gone For Days” Album:Gone For Days Release Date: September 13, 2024 Label: Mavelle Records
In Their Words: “‘Gone For Days’ for me reflects on how someone can feel lost, but through that – inspired and transformed by their environment. Ultimately, for me, it’s a story of growth and rebirth. To an extent, it captures my own personal experience of stepping into the unknown when choosing to make the decision to head to Bristol, Tennessee and make this album.
“My hope is that this song can serve as an anthem for those who navigate the dark, and seek their own path. I want ‘Gone For Days’ to offer reassurance that even in the darkest moments, there’s a way forward.
“It was one of the last songs I wrote for this album – and while working with the amazing musicians out in Bristol and taking in the energy of where I was, it dawned on me it wasn’t just a song, it was a documentary for my journey and a snapshot of the profound changes I was experiencing.” – Lee DeWyze
Track Credits: Written by Lee DeWyze. Lee DeWyze – Vocals, acoustic guitar Phil Faconti – Electric guitar Dave Eggar – Cello, string arrangement Noah Denton – Bass Jordan Katz – Horns Mike Stephenson – Drums, percussion Blake Collins – Mandolin
Video Credit: Lee DeWyze
Emily Frembgen, “Hard 2 Love”
Artist:Emily Frembgen Hometown: New York City Song: “Hard 2 Love” Album:No Hard Feelings Release Date: September 13, 2024 Label: Don Giovanni Records
In Their Words: “I made ‘Hard 2 Love’ at Excello Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with my producer Hugh Pool. We recorded it and most of the other tracks on No Hard Feelings live with Keith Robinson on drums, Bruce Martin on piano, and Charles Dechants on bass. Melody Stolpp came in later to record back up vocals. The song owes a lot to Lucinda Williams’s ‘Blue,’ which is often playing in my head. I’m so fascinated with these super simple yet emotionally impactful songs. Lucinda’s ‘Blue’ and ‘Lonely Girls,’ Lou Reed’s ‘Pale Blue Eyes,’ Sondheim’s ‘Losing My Mind.’ My relationship with my father informs this and many of the songs on this album as it has greatly informed the way I exist in the world. This is a cathartic song for me to sing and I hope it’s cathartic for other people. It’s hard to love and to be loved, at least for some of us.” – Emily Frembgen
Track Credits: Emily Frembgen – Vocals Hugh Pool – Guitar Keith Robinson – Drums Bruce Martin – Piano Charles Dechants – Bass Melody Stolpp – Backup vocals
Sarah Klang, “Last Forever” featuring Fruit Bats
Artist:Sarah Klang Hometown: Gothenburg, Sweden Song: “Last Forever” featuring Fruit Bats Release Date: September 13, 2024 Label: Nettwerk Music Group
In Their Words: “It’s a song about the feeling of being ‘the bad one’ in the relationship. Or maybe even that you are ‘the bad one.’ And you love someone who insists on seeing the best in you, and constantly fights on, even though you behave badly. I didn’t really have any idea that it could be a duet until Eric suggested it. He asked me to write down some of my dream artists to duet with, and of course I wrote his name as #1 on the note. Luckily he said yes!
“This collaboration was an eye-opener to me, because it immediately opened two creative worlds: suddenly there were two perspectives and that is very new for me to have. To get to work with someone I admire so much was a dream come true, and I felt like it made me a stronger writer too.” – Sarah Klang
“When Sarah and her writing partner, Theo Stocks, brought this sketch in, I was already all in on it going on the album. The opening line: ‘I’ve got two issues with you, and one of them is that you love me…’ just devastated me out of the gate. The song starts off as a lilting waltz, then turns into a chugging, desperate rock anthem and fades off into the sunset. When they suggested I sing a verse, I was honored and intimidated. I love that each verse comes from a different perspective – and then ends on intertwined stories about lovers trying to figure out the balance of life.” – Eric D. Johnson, Fruit Bats
Sideline, “Is It True”
Artist:Sideline Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina Song: “Is It True” Release Date: September 13, 2024 Label: Mountain Home Music Company
In Their Words: “It’s really awesome to watch a band take an older song and make it into their own without completely dissecting the original. When Steve brought this one to the table, it was obvious that it was a Sideline song. We applied our drive and energy to it and let the lyrics do the rest of the work. It is also one of the very few – if any – Sideline songs with a trio throughout the whole song, and Bailey nailed the lead part. High-powered and exciting!” – Skip Cherryholmes, guitar and vocals
“What caught my attention about this song was that it is one of the rare cases where the verses have harmony all the way through, and the choruses are sung solo. Typically, it’s vice versa.” – Steve Dilling, banjo and vocals
Track Credits: Skip Cherryholmes – Guitar, vocals Steve Dilling – Banjo, vocals Bailey Coe – Lead vocal Kyle Windbeck – Upright bass Nick Goad – Mandolin, vocals Matt Flake – Fiddle
Twisted Pine, “After Midnight (Nothing Good Happens)”
Artist:Twisted Pine Hometown: Boston, Massachusettes & Toronto, Ontario, Canada Song: “After Midnight (Nothing Good Happens)” Album:Love Your Mind Release Date: September 17, 2024 (single); October 18, 2024 Label: Signature Sounds
In Their Words: “Every summer, music fanatics assemble their camping gear and instruments and gather together in a field somewhere for that most peculiar of community events: the bluegrass festival. As a band, many of our formative and milestone experiences have taken place at festivals. We’ve learned a lot of lessons – good and bad. This song is our ode to the festival experience. It’s about a universal thought process that happens every night at festivals around the world, ‘Should I be trying to get some sleep right now? Or should I stay up, and pick, and see where the night takes me?’ It’s definitely a coin toss, and depending on how you feel you might regret the late night the next morning, but either way, it makes for a memorable night, and you look forward to what next year’s fest will bring
“The details of the song are based on true events and everyone’s festival vibe. Chris likes to wander around looking for hot dogs; Kathleen croons country ballads in the moonlight; Anh typically stays out until the sun comes up; Dan posts up at the center of the old-time jam on bass. And there’s always that dude at the jam trying to get laid so in our song we named him Dirty Pete.
“Shot on location at two of the very best festivals in our part of the country: the Ossipee Valley Music Festival and Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots, ‘(Nothing Good Happens) After Midnight’ should be a familiar sentiment for BGS readers. See y’all next year!” – Twisted Pine
Track Credits: Written by Kathleen Parks, Dan Bui, and Anh Phung. Kathleen Parks – Lead vocals, fiddle Chris Sartori – Bass Dan Bui – Mandolin Anh Phung – Flute, background vocals Ethan Robbins – Guitar
Video Credit: Directed, filmed, and edited by Jay Strausser, Jay Strausser Visuals
Photo Credit: Twisted Pine by J. Chattman; Lee DeWyze by Kalin Gordon Photography.
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