Tag: You Gotta Hear This

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Jack Van Cleaf, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Our second round-up of new music and premieres for the month of May is here already!

Starting us off, California bluegrass outfit AJ Lee & Blue Summit have dropped a new track, their excellent cover of a Gillian Welch classic, “Tear My Stillhouse Down,” with Lindsay Lou joining in on harmonies. Kyle Ray takes us to the beautiful, contemplative riverbanks in Kentucky with an early listen to his ripping bluegrass-y track, “River Song,” which will arrive right in time for wading season.

For a bit of old-time, the Lonesome Ace Stringband have a delightfully quirky tune, “Carpet Beetle,” with a funky visualizer video to match. Danceable, poppy, and soulful, it’s old-time that’s modern and timeless, both. Plus, you can catch a music video for “Hikikomori,” a song about emotions and isolation from country/neo-folk phenomenon Jack Van Cleaf’s new album, JVC, which is out today.

It’s all right here on BGS! You know what you gotta do? You Gotta Hear This.

AJ Lee & Blue Summit, “Tear My Stillhouse Down”

Artist: AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Hometown: Santa Cruz, California
Song: “Tear My Stillhouse Down”
Release Date: May 9, 2025
Label: Signature Sounds

In Their Words: “My mom showed this song to me when I was really young and I’ve loved it ever since. I’m a lifelong fan of Gillian Welch and this has always been one of my favorite songs of hers. We’ve covered this song for years in the band and have found that audiences from coast to coast love it when we play it live. It’s a popular jam song in the campgrounds at our favorite festivals. I think of this song as Appalachian rock and roll!” – AJ Lee

“Gillian adds to the best of authentic stories from history with this song. Country music, traditional American music, bluegrass, folk – it all pulls from and sings about every real aspect of life. Death, addiction, love, poverty, fun, murder. This song is about falling prey to a cycle of creation, consumption, and distribution of a potent poison that you know only really has one way of ending. Popcorn Sutton would love this one, without a doubt.”  – Scott Gates

Track Credits:
AJ Lee – Mandolin, vocals
Lindsay Lou – vocals
Scott Gates – Guitar, vocals
Jan Purat – Fiddle, vocals
Sully Tuttle – Guitar, vocals
Sean Newman – Bass, vocals

The Lonesome Ace Stringband, “Carpet Beetle”

Artist: The Lonesome Ace Stringband
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Song: “Carpet Beetle”
Release Date: May 9, 2025

In Their Words: “John and I wrote this tune last year. I showed up with a two-part tune that was sort of like the A/B of ‘Carpet Beetle,’ but was way more note-y and pretty. Once we started playing it, it felt too ‘precious,’ at least for the mood we were in that day. We deconstructed the melody significantly, removing about half the notes in the A part, and added a bit of ugly drama. We did the same with the B part, but left the ‘prettiness’ of the melody intact. Then, we came up with a really evil chord progression for the C part. Soon, we were in paradise. Someone told us that the A part makes you feel icky, the B part makes you want to dance, and the C part makes you want to break things – I tried to reflect that in the video. We were thrilled to have Alan Mackie (bass) on this session and you can see real footage of us all recording the track live in the studio at the end of the video. The title comes from a household pest that John and I were both struggling with at the time of the composition, but that we now have under control.” – Chris Coole

Track Credits:
Chris Coole – Banjo
John Showman – Fiddle
Alan Mackie – Bass

Video Credit: Editing by Chris Coole

Kyle Ray, “River Song”

Artist: Kyle Ray
Hometown: Barren County, Kentucky
Song: “River Song”
Release Date: May 16, 2025

In Their Words: “‘River Song’ came to me in a quiet moment of reflection – looking back on my life, looking ahead, and doing my best to find peace in the present. Anyone who grew up in the South knows there’s always that one place you go to think. For me, it was the river. I tried to capture those thoughts and emotions in this song – what it felt like to sit by the water, surrounded by silence, and make peace with everything in my life. Just me, that river, and the Lord.” – Kyle Ray

Track Credits:
Kyle Ray – Lead vocals, songwriter
Alan Hester – Background vocals, producer
Malcolm Lyon – Banjo
Simon Holden-Schrock – Mandolin

Jack Van Cleaf, “Hikikomori”

Artist: Jack Van Cleaf
Hometown: Encinitas, California
Song: “Hikikomori”
Album: JVC
Release Date: May 9, 2025
Label: Dualtone Records

In Their Words: “I first came across the word ‘Hikikomori’ on a visit to my mom’s house.  She had something called ‘The Box of Emotions,’ a deck of cards featuring colorful, abstract images alongside definitions of obscure emotional states.  ‘Hikikomori,’ written on a black card, described a particular kind of social isolation that felt consistent with the depressive slump I had fallen into after graduating from college, which is what a lot of the record was born out of.” – Jack Van Cleaf

Track Credits:
Jack Van Cleaf – Lead vocals, songwriter
Aaron Krak – Drums
Shaker Hunt Pennington – Bass
Ethan Fortenberry – Acoustic guitar, baritone guitars, electric guitar
Austin Burns – Electric guitar
Annika Bennett – Background vocals

Video Credit: Directed by Joey Brodnax.

Photo Credit: AJ Lee & Blue Summit by Trinity Maxon; Jack Van Cleaf by Joseph Wasilewski.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From EZRA, Lonesome River Band, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Okay, we say it every week, but really– You Gotta Hear This! Our weekly premiere and new music roundup includes bluegrass, the blues, Americana, indie, bebop influences, and so much more.

LA’s American Mile kick us off with a music video for “Waiting on a Sunday,” which is equal parts roots rock and alt country – into Tom Petty vibes? This one’s for you! The song was inspired by a mundane gas station encounter on a silent pandemic Sunday. Singer-songwriter Meir Levine also launches “I Wish It Was Over,” an indie rock-tinged Americana track with poppy textures that considers closure, moving on, and looking ahead.

Unfortunately, two of our string bands below have the blues this week! EZRA, a talented new acoustic quartet with bluegrass roots and a stacked roster of pickers, bring us a performance video for “Basically a Blues,” where they turn a typical 12-bar blues progression inside out and upside down with acrobatic, virtuosic picking. Plus, Lonesome River Band’s new single, “Blues,” is an Adam Wright-written song featuring Rod Riley on Telecaster. That track is from their upcoming project, Telegrass, and we’re receiving the message loud and clear.

Singer-songwriter Mac Cornish covers Danny O’Keefe’s “The Road” with a deliciously retro, twangy ’70s sound that’s appropriately melancholic and full of life, too. Elsewhere in our roundup, you’ll hear Julia Sanders, who’s also inhabiting grief, sadness, and nostalgia in a video for her new single, “Star Stickers,” during which her listeners will certainly be able to picture glow-in-the-dark decorations stuck haphazardly to their childhood ceilings.

Make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom, though, as you won’t want to miss “Foxology” from Tokyo’s Thompson the Fox, an exciting newgrass quartet with an uncommon lineup: banjo, bass, drums, and xylophone. It’s fantastic music, bebop and jazz influences leading to sonic surprises around every twist and turn of the original melody. When this one arrived in our inboxes, we were immediately charmed and entranced. You will be, too.

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

American Mile, “Waiting on a Sunday”

Artist: American Mile
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Song: “Waiting on a Sunday”
Album: American Dream
Release Date: May 2, 2025 (single); June 6, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “When I was writing ‘Waiting on a Sunday,’ I was on a couch in Vermont. It was silent and my thoughts were the only thing around. It was 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, and I walked to the gas station up the street, ’cause nothing was coming to me in that silence. There was a lady at the gas pump trying to wrestle her kids into the car and pump gas at the same time. I thought I recognized her from high school, so I helped her pump her gas while she dealt with her kids. She told me a little bit about her life and the struggles of being a single mom; she was heading to church that morning. It all kind of flooded into my mind at that point and I wrote most of the lyrics that day. I thought to myself, ‘We’re all in a way waiting for a Sunday,’ whatever that means to us.” – Eugene Rice

Mac Cornish, “The Road”

Artist: Mac Cornish
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “The Road”
Release Date: May 1, 2025

In Their Words: “‘The Road’ by Danny O’Keefe has been one of my favorite songs for years, because of Danny’s melancholic but beautiful lyrics about life on the road. Danny’s writing in general has always been important to me, but as time has passed and I’ve toured more, this song keeps resonating with me more. I started covering it with my backing band about a year ago and it quickly became a staple in our set and a favorite of our audiences. This past December we went into the studio and recorded the whole thing to tape, really trying to emulate the early ’70s sounds of this song, but also give our own spin on it. Our two acoustic guitars lay as the foundation for our version of the song. The bass and drums drive the song forward, but never distract from the delicate Travis picking. The pedal steel weeps through the whole song, emphasizing certain lyrics and complementing the vocal melody. I’m proud of my take on this ’70s classic and am excited to add my name to the list of artists who have covered this song.” – Mac Cornish

Track Credits:
Mac Cornish – Acoustic guitar, vocals
Bailey Warren – Acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Trevor Stellflug – Pedal steel
Jacob Miller – Bass
Hunter Maxson – Drums

EZRA, “Basically a Blues”

Artist: EZRA
Hometown: Oberlin, Ohio
Song: “Basically a Blues”
Album: Froggy’s Demise
Release Date: May 9, 2025
Label: Adhyâropa Records

In Their Words: “‘Basically a Blues’ takes the standard chords used in a 12-bar blues and flips them upside down. All the well-known bluesy harmonies become diminished when doing this, and I found the sound to be fairly intriguing. I especially love the solos and trades that Max [Allard] and Jake [Jolliff] take over this quirky tune and have to give major kudos to Craig [Butterfield] who burns constant 8th notes for the duration.” – Jesse Jones, guitar

Track Credits:
Jacob Jolliff – Mandolin
Max Allard – Banjo
Jesse Jones – Guitar, composer
Craig Butterfield – Double bass

Meir Levine, “I Wish It Was Over”

Artist: Meir Levine
Hometown: Upstate & Brooklyn, New York
Song: “I Wish It Was Over”
Album: Long & Lonely Highway
Release Date: June 6, 2025
Label: First City Artists

In Their Words: “‘I Wish It Was Over’ came in one of those exceedingly rare moments, where I woke up one morning and the song was already fully formed in my head. The song covers a pretty simple message I think, about the things that we can’t seem to let go of, that we seek out just to feel something – even if it’s bad or harmful to us.” – Meir Levine

Track Credits:
Meir Levine – Songwriter, vocals, guitars
Andrew Freedman – Producer, piano, keyboards
Will Graefe – Electric guitars, acoustic guitars
Jeremy McDonald – Bass
Mike Robinson – Pedal steel, guitars
Jordan Rose – Drums

Lonesome River Band, “Blues”

Artist: Lonesome River Band
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Blues”
Release Date: May 2, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “We’ve all had the ‘Blues’ in our lives, but this Adam Wright song sees the ‘Blues’ in a whole different light. It’s a lighthearted break from the sad songs – one that we have a ton of fun with. Featuring our good friend Rod Riley on the Telecaster, it comes from our upcoming Telegrass project.” – Sammy Shelor

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

Julia Sanders, “Star Stickers”

Artist: Julia Sanders
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “Star Stickers”
Album: Dark Matter
Release Date: May 16, 2025

In Their Words: “Usually my songwriting process is the same. I start with a melody and then lyrics start to unfold as the idea of the song becomes more distilled. With this one, the chorus came lyrics, melody, and all, as I was laying in bed getting my daughter to sleep one night. I had been asking myself, ‘What am I avoiding writing about?’ and maybe more than any other theme, was my challenging and painful relationship with my own mother. My mother struggled with mental health her whole life and in her own pain, she hurt those around her. Just before I started working on this album, she was diagnosed with ALS. Her physical decline was very quick and heartbreaking. The grief was heavy, complicated, and messy. Lying in my daughter’s bed that night, watching the yellow-green glow of star stickers on the ceiling, I felt like I was time-traveling – to my own childhood bedroom, needing my mother to be different than she could be, then back to this room, trying hard to be a different kind of mother for my own children, and then to the future, where nothing is known except that none of this lasts.” – Julia Sanders

Track Credits:
Julia Sanders – Vocals, songwriter
John James Tourville – Guitar
Steve Earnest – Baritone guitar
Landon George – Bass
Bryce Alberghini – Drums

Video Credit: Ashlyn McKibben

Thompson the Fox, “Foxology”

Artist: Thompson the Fox
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Song: “Foxology”
Album: The Fox In Tiger’s Clothing, vol. 1: FOX
Release Date: May 3, 2025
Label: Prefab Records

In Their Words: “We’re a Tokyo-based instrumental quartet with a unique lineup – xylophone, banjo, bass, and drums. Each member comes from a different musical background: Rie Koyama (xylophone) from classical music, Tomohito Yoshijima (drums) from jazz, and Akihide Teshima (bass) and I (banjo) from bluegrass.

“Writing tunes for such an unconventional instrumentation always feels like an experiment. I’ve long had the idea that the rapid melodic lines and complex syncopation of bebop would suit the xylophone and banjo. So I wrote this tune with strong influences from Charlie Parker – which is why I named it ‘Foxology.’

“It was a lot of fun coming up with the A section melody that can be played in melodic style on the banjo, so is the B section featuring a double-stop chromatic scale played on the xylophone with four mallets. We hope you enjoy our new album!” – Takumi Kodera, banjo

Track Credits:
Rie Koyama – Xylophone
Takumi Kodera – Banjo, composer
Akihide Teshima – Bass
Tomohito Yoshijima – Drums

Photo Credit: EZRA by Tanya Rosen-Jones; Lonesome River Band by Sandlin Gaither.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Rebecca Porter, Gena Britt, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

This week, our collection of new music and premieres showcases cinematic stories, lush sounds, and the exact correct vibes all across the board.

Kicking us off, bluegrass banjo phenom Gena Britt is releasing her new single, “Goodbye to the Blues,” paying tribute to Lynn Morris as Britt and cohort get the blues and then gets them gone to a marching bluegrass beat. Fellow North Carolinian Aaron Burdett follows in a similar sonic space, painting a literal and metaphorical picture of spring and two little “Honeybees.” Don’t miss the track credits for both, as Britt and Burdett feature some incredible talents like John Meador, Kristin Scott Benson, Carley Arrowood, Jason Carter, and more on these cuts.

There’s excellent modern folk to be found below, as well. Sage & Aera – who you may know from WE DREAM DAWN – sing about freedom being found in surrender on “Let It Rain,” a song with a deep and broad approach to indie string folk. Singer-songwriter Sam Robbins releases his new album today and its title track, which is included here, is “So Much I Still Don’t See,” a sort of troubadour story song that’s observational and political but, most notably, is compassionate.

And you won’t want to miss Rebecca Porter’s new single, “Shadow of Doubt,” which comes today in tandem with the announcement of her upcoming debut album, Roll With The Punches, out August 8. This is gunslinger, black-and-white western film, black-cowboy-hat-wearing country (& western!) that’s effortlessly timeless while overtly contemporary and forward-looking.

From bluegrass to indie folk to good country, You Gotta Hear This!

Gena Britt, “Goodbye to the Blues” 

Artist: Gena Britt
Hometown: Star, North Carolina
Song: “Goodbye To The Blues”
Release Date: April 25, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “I’m so excited about ‘Goodbye to the Blues.’ This amazing band helped me bring this to life in the studio. What an absolute dream band! With the help of one of my best friends Tina Steffey, we were able to pay tribute to the great Lynn Morris’ clawhammer banjo playing from her original cut. I’m a huge Lynn Morris and Marshall Wilborn fan and I hope everyone loves this as much as I do.” – Gena Britt

Track Credits:
Gena Britt –Banjo, lead vocal
John Meador – Acoustic guitar, harmony vocal
Alan Bartram – Upright bass, harmony vocal
Jason Carter – Fiddles
Jonathan Dillon – Mandolin
Tina Steffey – Clawhammer banjo
Tony Creasman – Drums

Aaron Burdett, “Honeybees”

Artist: Aaron Burdett
Hometown: Saluda, North Carolina
Song: “Honeybees”
Release Date: April 25, 2025
Label: Organic Records

In Their Words: “In the summer of 2024 I was talking with my friend Bob, who’s kept bees and has family who does the same, and he said something about noticing ‘two honeybees on my sleeve.’ He was remarking about the time of season and wondering what their deal was. It got me thinking about the ambiguity of any given moment in time. Anything could have brought them there and they could be going on in any number of directions after. I like taking note of noteworthy moments, and any moment can be noteworthy if I look at it in just the right way.” – Aaron Burdett

Track Credits:
Aaron Burdett –Lead vocal, acoustic guitar
Kristin Scott Benson – Banjo
Carley Arrowood – Fiddle
Tristan Scroggins – Mandolin
Jon Weisberger – Upright bass
Wendy Hickman – Harmony vocal
Travis Book – Harmony vocal

Rebecca Porter, “Shadow of Doubt”

Artist: Rebecca Porter
Hometown: Harrisonburg, Virginia
Song: “Shadow of Doubt”
Album: Roll With The Punches
Release Date: April 25, 2025 (single); August 8, 2025 (album)
Label: Holding All The Roses

In Their Words: “The rattle of strums on my 1965 Gibson J-45 and the deep breaths thrust into the air as ‘oohs’ signal a shift and I hope listeners know, ‘Shadow of Doubt’ is a deeply personal song. It details events and relationships that were swept under the rug for years, but despite the cloak of ignorance, the waves of shame and emotional turmoil continued to rage. Ignoring that time only made the internal chaos sharper. I wrote this song to build a new framework and find closure for that pivotal point in my life. No one held my power captive any longer, and the internal chaos that shattered each day was released.

“This track captures the essence of Roll With the Punches. The record details snapshots of my life in song, framed through our interpretation and creative inspiration of western cinema. A fervent exploration of roots’ tones and instrumentations. Much like the rugged characters in western films, the album unfolds through tough moments of enlightenment, self-reflection, and perseverance. Within the walls of ‘Shadow of Doubt,’ listeners navigate uncomfortable truths including some of my darkest moments and ultimately realize that even while bloody or bruised, it is still possible to soar.” – Rebecca Porter

Track Credits:
Rebecca Porter – Acoustic guitar, vocals, songwriter
Ben Bailey – Baritone guitar, electric guitar
Ben Schlabach – Bass
Scott Whitten – Drums
Perry Blosser – Fiddle
Danny Gibney – Keys
Jason Summer – Pedal steel
Jacob Briggs – Percussion

Sam Robbins, “So Much I Still Don’t See”

Artist: Sam Robbins
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “So Much I Still Don’t See”
Album: So Much I Still Don’t See
Release Date: April 25, 2025

In Their Words: “‘So Much I Still Don’t See’ is the title track and my favorite song on the album. It’s really the culmination of the whole album. It’s written about the quiet inequalities in this country that I’ve always known were there, but have seen so much more clearly as I’ve been touring over the past few years.

“It is a political song, but it’s a subtle one – I didn’t want this one to bash you over the head, I wanted it to be akin to a conversation with a friend. The more I’ve travelled, the more people and cultures I’ve seen that are so different from mine, I’ve seen how little I know. To me, this is the essence of the entire album.” – Sam Robbins

Sage & Aera, “Let It Rain”

Artist: Sage & Aera
Hometown: Waldron, Kansas
Song: “Let It Rain”
Album: Love Undoubtedly Underlies Everything
Release Date: April 25, 2025 (single); August 10, 2025 (album)
Label: MATRKA

In Their Words: “This is a song about resilience, not through striving but through surrender. There is a point in life when surrender is the only door to freedom. This door usually appears when our suffering reaches some inescapable peak. Even if we are only allowed a fleeting glimpse, this glimpse, more often than not, is transformative by nature. In this way, suffering is our greatest teacher. I don’t claim to capture the unspeakable beauty of such things through song but I will continue to try.

“‘Let It Rain’ began sometime around 2013, while I was still in Colorado playing with Elephant Revival, and at least a year before we (Sage & Aera) began playing as WE DREAM DAWN. These recordings are from 2016-2020 when WE DREAM DAWN grew to include GRAMMY Award winning Steven Vidaic, Mark Levy, and Darren Garvey. Currently we are touring as an acoustic duo to support this epic passion project of a record called Love Undoubtedly Underlies Everything.” – Sage Thomas Cook

Track Credits:
Sage Thomas Cook – Acoustic Guitar, vocals, production
Aera Fox – Bass guitar, moog, vocals
Steven Vidaic – Keys, backup vocals, mixing
Mark Levy – Drums
Darren Garvey – Percussion
Mike Yach – Mastering

Photo Credit: Gena Britt by Laci Mack; Rebecca Porter by Heather Goodloe.

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

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

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

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

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

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

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

Bri Bagwell, “Border Girl”

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

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

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

Jack Barksdale, “A Funny Song”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kenny Feinstein, “Old Richmond Prison”

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

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

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

Graham Sharp, “Living Like Thieves”

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

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

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

Jesse Smathers, “Good Time Get Together”

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

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

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

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

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Liam St. John with Molly Tuttle, the Faux Paws, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Hop aboard another edition of our weekly roundup of new music and premieres!

This time, we’re grabbing a ride on a Greyhound with blues rocker Liam St. John and Molly Tuttle for a special live performance video of “Greyhound Bus Blues” that’s a truly lovely roots duet. There are a few more stops for this bus, though, so hold on! Next, the Faux Paws take us to New York City and while that city (never) sleeps they cover Jimmy Martin’s “Night,” a new single and video, shot by Dylan Ladds.

Trad bluegrass innovators Chris Jones & the Night Drivers turn a familiar idiom on its head with “Plenty Ventured,” their latest single which drops today. And, Jones’ fellow Canadian Jadea Kelly brings an endlessly smooth and soulful original Americana song that sets a peaceful and calm tone for the weekend, entitled “Friday.” It’s a special track you can find on the deluxe issue of her most recent album, Weather Girl.

Don’t miss up-and-coming bluegrass and folk string band the Wilder Flower from the mountain-y portions of the North and South Carolina line. They close out our round-up this week bringing us back to Molly Tuttle, who with Jon Weisberger wrote “Every Time the Rain Comes Pouring Down.” The Wilder Flower successfully make the song their own.

It’s a perfect musical journey, all right here on BGS. You know what you gotta do? You Gotta Hear This!

The Faux Paws, “Night”

Artist: The Faux Paws
Hometown: Springfield, Vermont
Song: “Night”
Album: No Bad Ideas
Release Date: May 9, 2025
Label: Great Bear Records / Free Dirt

In Their Words: “When Andrew unearthed this great Jimmy Martin tune we all knew the groove hidden within would be well-served by our treatment. It slaps from the first note. We linked up with great filmmaker Dylan Ladds and all decided to head to New York to shoot this video. Jimmy may not have been thinking about ‘night’ in the city that never sleeps, but we love how open the lyrics of this song are and sometimes the loneliest place being surrounded by 23 million people, right?

“We’re really excited to release this along with the single from our upcoming record and tour all spring and summer to some of our favorite towns and festivals!” – Chris Miller, banjo, sax

Video Credits: Dylan Ladds, Filmed at Epiphany Recording Studios, Long Island City, New York.

Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, “Plenty Ventured”

Artist: Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Plenty Ventured”
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “This twist on the old proverb ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ popped into my head pretty much out of the blue. The idea of putting too much effort or resources into a lost cause is certainly relatable, whether it’s in love or work or some other part of life. We’ve all been there at some point or another. Once I started working on it, it lent itself to a bluesy feel, and it really clicked for us in the studio. Mark Stoffel came up with the little melodic variation that starts the song.” – Chris Jones

Track Credits:
Chris Jones – Acoustic guitar, lead vocal, harmony vocal
Mark Stoffel – Mandolin
Grace van’t Hof – Banjo, harmony vocal
Marshall Wilborn – Bass
Carly Arrowood – Fiddle 

Jadea Kelly, “Friday”

Artist: Jadea Kelly
Hometown: Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Song: “Friday”
Album: Weather Girl (deluxe)
Release Date: October 12, 2024 (album); April 11, 2025 (deluxe release)

In Their Words: “This is a very simple, feel-good song about staying in and doing absolutely nothing on a Friday night. Since removing alcohol from my life two-and-a-half years ago and entering my late thirties, the weekend has a different mood and intention. It’s sacred, quiet, and filled with self-care. I also feel that the pandemic forcibly reintroduced us to home time in a new way. And I love it!” – Jadea Kelly

Track Credits:
Jadea Kelly – Vocals, songwriting
Peter Von Althen – Drums
Jim Bryson – Production, instrumentation

Liam St. John, “Greyhound Bus Blues” (featuring Molly Tuttle)

Artist: Liam St. John
Song: “Greyhound Bus Blues” (featuring Molly Tuttle)
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Label: Big Loud Rock

In Their Words: “Life as an artist is beautiful. It is unpredictable, it is incredibly fulfilling, and it is full of highs and lows. But there are moments in your career as an artist that act as pillars of affirmation. Moments that let you know you’re on the right track. For me, there are a few pillars: The first time I played a headline show where the crowd screamed every lyric with me. When I signed to Big Loud records. When I found out Molly Tuttle was going to feature on my song ‘Greyhound Bus Blues.’

“When I got the call that Molly was going to feature on this song, I could hardly believe it. I’m such a fan of her work and I admire her so much as a songwriter, singer, and musician. She elevates ‘Greyhound Bus Blues’ to another level with her world-class flat-picking and GRAMMY-winning bluegrass vocals. Collaborating with Molly, both in the studio and for the live recording, was a master class in combining professionalism and adoration of music.” – Liam St. John

Video Credit: Sean O’Halloran

The Wilder Flower, “Every Time the Rain Comes Pouring Down”

Artist: The Wilder Flower
Hometown: Brevard, North Carolina / Pickens, South Carolina
Song: “Every Time the Rain Comes Pouring Down”
Release Date: April 13, 2025

In Their Words: “As a group of developing songwriters, we couldn’t be more proud to release a song written by two distinctive stylists and heroes of ours. It blurs genre and generational lines, with the feel of fiddling ballads and bluegrass rhythm that colors our group. It’s a deeply emotional number that we connected with after the first listen. We’d like to thank Jon Weisberger and Molly Tuttle for the opportunity to take their work & make it our own.” – Danielle Yother

Photo Credit: The Faux Paws by Dylan Ladds; Liam St. John and Molly Tuttle courtesy of the artist.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Tim O’Brien, Joe K Walsh, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

This week our roundup of premieres and new music is a special, “Oops! All Bluegrass!” edition of the weekly series. But still with plenty of variety herein.

Kicking us off, Infamous Stringdusters fiddler Jeremy Garrett unveils “Fly Away to Your Love,” a driving and bluesy modern take on how love can take command of your life, drawing inspiration from Romeo and Juliet. Garrett’s labelmates, Montana-based bluegrass band the Lil Smokies, continue with the theme of love, romance, and sacrifice with “Lay it Down for Love” – because investing in love always pays off.

Guitarist Cameron Knowler showcases “Mule at the Wagon” an acoustic guitar trio number from his new album CRK, which releases today and text paints the beautiful – and stark – Yuma, Arizona, its surrounding states, deserts, and the plains. Plus, mandolinist and professor Joe K. Walsh launches his new album, Trust and Love, today so we’re highlighting a lovely and vibey instrumental, “Oatmeal,” that he appropriately wrote over breakfast.

Bluegrass legend, multi-instrumentalist picker and singer-songwriter Tim O’Brien announces his upcoming album, Paper Flowers, today as well. The lead track from the project, “Lonesome Armadillo,” was written with folk icon Tom Paxton and O’Brien’s partner Jan Fabricius, who features across the new album. It’s a funny tale of a backyard critter trap and a surprise armored four-legged prisoner. Meanwhile, supergroup Sister Sadie bring us a devastating and heartfelt song, “Let the Circle Be Broken,” about interrupting cycles of generational trauma and finding redemption in ourselves and support systems. Written by Sadies Deanie Richardson and Dani Flowers with in-demand songwriter and artist Erin Enderlin, the track is moving and deeply resonant.

Each week of new music is its own adventure, but this roundup feels particularly superlative. You know what we think– You Gotta Hear This!

Jeremy Garrett, “Fly Away to Your Love”

Artist: Jeremy Garrett
Hometown: Drake, Colorado
Song: “Fly Away to Your Love”
Album: Storm Mountain
Release Date: March 28, 2025 (single); June 27, 2025 (album)
Label: Americana Vibes

In Their Words: “When troubles may come, in any relationship, the idea is to persevere – to overcome with grace. The hope of love eternal, or at least a love that stands the test of time. And in the end, like Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet, if it can’t be, then there is no hope of anything better. So, will it command your life? Is dying in hopes to be with the one you love better than life itself without that someone? Fly away to your love is a modern take, written in an old-time way, encompassing that passion and story in a song.” – Jeremy Garrett

Track Credits:
Jeremy Garrett – Lead vocal, fiddle
Chris Luquette – Guitar
Ryan Cavanaugh – Banjo
Travis Anderson – Bass

Cameron Knowler, “Mule at the Wagon”

Artist: Cameron Knowler
Hometown: Yuma, Arizona
Song: “Mule at the Wagon”
Album: CRK
Release Date: April 4, 2025
Label: Worried Songs

In Their Words: “‘Bull at the Wagon’ is a fiddle tune I sourced from The Lewis Brothers, a great old New Mexico-via-Texas string band with a sweet tooth for rambunctiousness. I changed ‘bull’ to ‘mule’ because, well, I’ve had a few donkey encounters out in West Texas, not far from where the Lewises cut their four sides for the Victor label in 1929. It’s one of those titles that popped into my life at the damndest times – while playing tunes with Frank Fairfield in Los Angeles, performing at a border crossing party in Terlingua, Texas, and visiting with Norman Blake at his home in Rising Fawn, Georgia. To my ear, its melody moves past some of the stylized landscape found in American traditional music these days; maybe it’s the way the four chord asserts itself in the second part, or the way the five chord lands so starkly and dominantly in the third; this mix of quick and static passages is highly generative for arranging and improvising.

“I wanted to see what this tune would yield in a lilting, sort of pastoral setting, so I called my talented friends Jordan Tice and Robert Bowlin who graciously agreed to record it with me at The Tractor Shed in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Jordan tuned to open G (capo 2), I played out of standard (capo 2), Robert in standard with no capo. Mr. Bowlin and I are playing our old Gibson J-35s and Jordan is using his Preston Thompson OM. The performance found on CRK is one of the first takes.” – Cameron Knowler

Track Credits:
Robert Bowlin – Guitar
Cameron Knowler – Guitar
Sean Sullivan – Engineer
Jordan Tice – Guitar, producer

The Lil Smokies, “Lay It Down for Love”

Artist: The Lil Smokies
Hometown: Montana
Song: “Lay It Down for Love”
Album: Break of the Tide
Release Date: April 4, 2025
Label: Americana Vibes

In Their Words: “The greatest honor of my life is to have spent it fully immersed in music. That’s not to say it hasn’t come without cost. Words can’t carry the weight of the sacrifices required, though I’ve enjoyed trying to explain. All I know is that the loss and doubt I’ve faced has given me a more beautiful life than I ever imagined when I set out on this path. I wouldn’t change a thing. ‘Lay it Down for Love’ was written in some of the darkest days of my life, when there was no evidence that my wagers would come back to me. Today I hear it as a reminder that those days come and go, but investing in love always pays off.” – “Rev,” Matthew Rieger

Track Credits:
Andy Dunnigan – Dobro, vocals
Matthew Rieger – Guitar, vocals
Jake Simpson – Fiddle, guitar, vocals
Jean Luc Davis – Bass
Sam Armstrong Zickefoose – Banjo

Tim O’Brien & Jan Fabricius, “Lonesome Armadillo”

Artist: Tim O’Brien & Jan Fabricius
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Lonesome Armadillo”
Album: Paper Flowers
Release Date: June 6, 2025
Label: Howdy Skies

In Their Words: “There’s an awful lot of talk about migrants invading from the south, but nobody’s talking about armadillos. After we started trippin’ over little holes in our yard, Jan baited a raccoon trap, focused the security camera on it, and then we drove to Memphis to play a show. On the set break, we saw we’d caught the hard-shelled offender, but after the show we saw that he’d arched his back, bent the trap, and escaped. We told Tom Paxton about it the next week and he said, ‘Let’s tell his story.’

“Jan and I started weekly co-writing sessions with Tom in the spring of 2023 and twelve of the fifteen songs on our June 6th release, Paper Flowers, come from those Wednesday afternoon Zooms. It’s our first real collaborative project and a narrative of Jan’s and my life together runs through the record – from courtship to growing old together, with a road trip, the armadillo, and a granddaughter’s wedding in between.” – Tim O’Brien

Track Credits:
Larry Atamanuik – Drums
Mike Bub – Bass
Jan Fabricius – Mandolin, vocal, songwriting
Mike Rojas – Accordion
Justin Moses – Resophonic guitar
Tim O’Brien – Guitar, vocal, songwriting
Tom Paxton – Songwriting

Sister Sadie, “Let the Circle Be Broken”

Artist: Sister Sadie
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Let The Circle Be Broken”
Release Date: April 4, 2025

In Their Words: “Dani Flowers, Erin Enderlin, and myself wrote ‘Let the Circle Be Broken’ right after my Dad passed away. He was an abusive man who verbally, emotionally, and sexually abused me for most of my 18 years living at home with him. When I confronted him as an adult, he said that it had been done to him as a child. This song is about that generational trauma and abuse that keeps getting passed down. The continuing of that trauma and abuse stops with me. It doesn’t go any further. It was such a healing and therapeutic experience to write this with Dani and Erin. The recording session for this was so emotional for me. I felt like I was talking to my Dad at the end during the instrumental fade. He was there and he heard me. That circle is officially now broken.” – Deanie Richardson, fiddle

“Deanie, Erin, and I wrote this song about generational trauma, which each of us have experienced different levels of. This song is about how we’ve decided that these cycles that have been repeated over and over in our families end with us. I was born into a family of some of the worst types of people to ever exist in this world and it is sometimes so hard to sit with the fact that you come from a line of people who are capable of doing such awful things to others — to you. While I can’t say the same for many of my family members, I can say for sure that my children will never experience from me what I experienced from my mother and what she experienced from hers and what she experienced from hers.” – Dani Flowers, vocals

“The song ‘Let The Circle Be Broken’ touches us all within this band because of its very personal nature. We feel it every time we perform it on stage. Deanie, Dani, and Erin wrote an incredible song that touches the audience. It’s not uncommon to look out and see tears streaming down people’s faces. As a creator, it’s very overwhelming.” – Gena Britt, banjo

“I resonate so deeply with the message of ‘Let The Circle Be Broken’ and I find myself a little emotional every time we play it. As someone who is actively working to heal my own generational family trauma, seeing the strong women around me working to do the same makes me feel hopeful, grateful and connected.” – Rainy Miatke, mandolin

“I think ‘Let The Circle Be Broken’ is a beautifully written song that a lot of people need to hear. It has a very important message about stopping generational messes and I cry almost every time we play it. I love Deanie so much and I know this song means so much to her, as it does to all of us. ‘Let The Circle Be Broken’ I think could mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, too, and that’s the sign of a fantastic song. Dani Flowers, Deanie Richardson, and Erin Enderlin crafted an amazing piece of art.” – Jaelee Roberts, vocals

Track Credits:
Deanie Richardson – Fiddle
Gena Britt – Baritone banjo
Dani Flowers – Lead vocal
Jaelee Roberts – Harmony vocal
Mary Meyer – Mandolin, piano
Maddie Dalton – Upright bass, harmony vocal
Seth Taylor – Acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Dave Racine – Drums, percussion

Joe K. Walsh, “Oatmeal”

Artist: Joe K. Walsh
Hometown: Portland, Maine
Song: “Oatmeal”
Album: Trust and Love
Release Date: April 4, 2025
Label: Adhyâropa Records

In Their Words: “There are so many tunes that I love that are comprised of an entirely (or almost entirely) diatonic melody which has been harmonized with non-diatonic chords. Some favorite examples are ‘Moon River,’ ‘Someone to Watch Over Me,’ David Grisman’s ‘Dawg’s Waltz,’ Pat Metheny’s tune ‘James,’ and Matt Flinner’s tune ‘Fallen Star.’ I’ve taught a tune-writing ensemble at Berklee for many years, with the idea that each of member of the ensemble writes and presents a tune every week, and I like to use this idea as a prompt for the students. This tune was one I wrote over breakfast in response to this prompt one morning before heading to Boston for school.” – Joe K. Walsh

Track Credits:
Joe K. Walsh – Mandolin
Rich Hinman – Pedal steel
Zackariah Hickman – Bass
John Mailander – Fiddle
Dave Brophy – Drums

Photo Credit: Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius by Scott Simontacchi; Joe K. Walsh by Natalie Conn.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Balsam Range, Bold Forbes, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

The last Friday of March brings a weekly new music roundup that includes bluegrass, folk, Americana, and more!

Kicking us off, Boston-based Autumn Hollow have a new single, “After All of This Is Gone,” a jangly, deep-pocketed rocker that reflects on the new reality we all find ourselves living in – or perhaps coping with through abject denial – after the COVID pandemic. Bold Forbes also unveil the first half of an A Side/B Side single release, “Make Away,” a song that’s string band and folk revival combined, but in a twangy, modern sonic package.

Blue Cactus call on their friends Brit Taylor and Russ Pahl for “Bite My Tongue,” a track and accompanying music video that takes on inequalities, patriarchy, and injustice (with a danceable groove!). Susto Stringband also bring us a video on their album release day, “Double Crown.” It’s got an old-timey line up of instruments, but a decidedly pop sensibility, and it celebrates community – that is, their favorite neighborhood honky-tonk haunt in Asheville, the eponymous Double Crown.

We’ve got plenty of bluegrass herein, as well. Jaelee Roberts has a brand new single, which was co-written by two of her mentors, Tim Stafford and the late Steve Gulley. “Heavy As A Stone In Her Heart” floored Roberts with its lyrics and raw emotion and she just knew she had to cut it. Kristy Cox has a brand new music video for her new single, too, which features John Meador – who recently announced his departure from Authentic Unlimited to perform in Vince Gill’s touring band. Cox and Meador team up to great success on “In My Dreams,” which of course includes plenty of dreamy harmonies. Don’t miss North Carolina powerhouses Balsam Range with a new track, as well. “When It Comes to Loving You” was written by Daniel Salyer and Jeff McClellan, features Don Rigsby, and is built around Balsam’s classic, driving sound.

There’s plenty of excellent roots music to enjoy. You Gotta Hear This!

Autumn Hollow, “After All of This Is Gone”

Artist: Autumn Hollow
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “After All of This Is Gone”
Album: Say No More
Release Date: March 28, 2025 (single); May 2, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “‘After All of This Is Gone’ reflects on the lingering impact of the pandemic and the rush to return to normal. As a teacher who returned to in-person work early, I saw how quickly the conversation shifted away from what we had all been through. There was little acknowledgment of the lasting changes – only an expectation to move forward. This song serves as a reminder that the effects of that time didn’t simply disappear and that it’s important to recognize how they continue to shape us.” – Brendan Murphy

Balsam Range, “When It Comes To Loving You”

Artist: Balsam Range
Hometown: Haywood County, North Carolina
Song: “When It Comes to Loving You”
Release Date: March 28, 2025

In Their Words: “The wait is over! From the first time I heard Daniel Salyer’s demo of ‘When It Comes to Loving You,’ I knew it would make a great Balsam Range song and I believe it has! It’s our first new single since the release of our last album, Kinetic Tone, in December 2023, and I couldn’t be more excited for music fans to hear it. With a cool groove and lyrics that are so well put together, I truly hope you all enjoy it as much as we do creating it. Me, Tim, Marc, and Alan are so excited to be joined by the great Don Rigsby on tenor vocal and fiddle. There will be no mistaking when you hear his powerful voice. Thanks to Daniel Salyer and Jeff McClellan for a great song!” – Caleb Smith

Track Credits:
Caleb Smith – Acoustic guitar, lead vocal
Tim Surrett – Bass, harmony vocal
Marc Pruett – Banjo
Don Rigsby – Fiddle, harmony vocal
Alan Bibey – Mandolin

Bold Forbes, “Make Away”

Artist: Bold Forbes
Hometown: New York City, New York
Song: “Make Away”
Release Date: March 27, 2025

In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Make Away’ after a dinner party I attended in Austin, Texas, some years back. I left the party feeling like ‘this is why one stays alive,’ but also I somehow mistrusted this feeling. What kinds of lives and labor went into producing the food we ate that night, how fragile was the peace that allowed us to meet so joyously and cavalierly, and how long would it last?

“I traveled to the central valley of California on a road trip the summer before – where so much of that night’s food came from – and the rows and rows of crops seem to stretch forever in all directions away from you on that flat, hot road. Billboards line the highway with propaganda advertisements from the farm owners lobbying for more water from the state, with photographs of ‘family farmers’ – inevitably blond, white, crisp-collared people. Of course, very few of the thousands of workers working the rows of crops fit that description: people being criminally underpaid for doing the hardest work in the country and then being rhetorically savaged every day by this country’s citizens who profit and benefit from this work.

“What does it mean to take pleasure in the daily indulgences of life in a society organized in this way? Could the daily sweetness of life ever merge with the struggle for a better, more just world? ‘Make Away’ is a song that prays for an answer to these questions.” – Nick Bloom

Track Credits:
Nick Bloom – Rhythm guitar, lead vocals, songwriter
Reid Jenkins – Fiddle, vocals
David Halpern – Bass, vocals, guitar

Blue Cactus, “Bite My Tongue”

Artist: Blue Cactus
Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Song: “Bite My Tongue”
Album: Believer
Release Date: April 25, 2025
Label: Sleepy Cat Records

In Their Words: “‘Bite My Tongue’ is a call to continue raising our voices and speaking out against injustice until we are finally heard. While we’ve certainly made progress, the fight for equality is far from over. What I will say, and what this song is ultimately saying, is that the power has always been and will always be with the people; if it didn’t, they wouldn’t be trying to ban protests. Special thanks to Brit Taylor for singing with us on this song and to Russ Pahl for the guitar duet Mario’s always dreamed of.” – Steph Stewart

Track Credits:
Steph Stewart – Vocals, acoustic guitar, songwriter
Mario Arnez – Vocals, electric guitar
Brit Taylor – Vocals
Whit Wright – Pedal steel, producer
Russ Pahl – Electric guitar
Jonathan Beam – Bass
Ryan Connors – Keys
Taylor Floreth – Drums, percussion

Kristy Cox, “In My Dreams” (Featuring John Meador)

Artist: Kristy Cox
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee, by way of Adelaide, Australia
Song: “In My Dreams” (feat. John Meador)
Album: Let It Burn
Release Date: May 31, 2024
Label: Billy Blue Records

In Their Words: “I’m excited to release this new song and video with my friend John Meador for our song, ‘In My Dreams.’ I had a lot of fun writing and recording this track and love where Steve Kinney took the concept for the video.” – Kristy Cox

Jaelee Roberts, “Heavy As A Stone In Her Heart”

Artist: Jaelee Roberts
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Heavy As A Stone In Her Heart”
Release Date: March 28, 2025

In Their Words: “The first time I heard the demo of ‘Heavy As A Stone in Her Heart’ I was absolutely floored by the lyrics, melody, and raw emotion and knew without a doubt that I had to record it. Slow, sad songs that tell a story always speak to me most and this one absolutely stole my heart and broke it, too. ‘Heavy As A Stone in Her Heart’ is extra special to me because it was written by two of my favorite songwriters and singers that are also my mentors – Tim Stafford and Steve Gulley. I have looked up to Tim and Steve my entire life and I feel so grateful that this song made its way to me! ‘Heavy As A Stone In Her Heart’ came together so beautifully in the studio with a very stripped-down arrangement and without harmony vocals with the intention of focusing on the depth and feeling of the lyrics and I hope that it resonates with all of you the way it does with me. I so wish that Steve was still here with us but I know he’s listening from Heaven and this song is dedicated to him and his musical legacy.” – Jaelee Roberts

“I’m so glad that Jaelee Roberts is releasing ‘Heavy As A Stone In Her Heart’! Steve Gulley and I wrote this song back in 2007 and I know Steve would be absolutely thrilled at the news and to hear the song done so beautifully. Jaelee is a special talent and I can’t think of anyone who could have done a better job with this song.” – Tim Stafford

Track Credits:
Jaelee Roberts – Vocals
Byron House – Bass
Cody Kilby – Acoustic guitar
Andy Leftwich – Mandolin
John Gardner – Drums
Ron Block – Acoustic guitar

Susto Stringband, “Double Crown”

Artist: Susto Stringband
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “Double Crown”
Album: Susto Stringband: Volume 1
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Label: New West Records

In Their Words: “This song is a tribute to one of our favorite dive bars in Asheville called The Double Crown. When we were living in Asheville, my wife Caroline and I would often go to The Double Crown for Western Wednesdays, where they feature lots of honky-tonk and adjacent genres of music. She’s from Texas, so it was fun for her to get a little slice of home when we’d go there on Wednesday nights to listen to the music, drink Lonestar, and two step a bit.

“One night in particular we were crossing the street to get to Double Crown and we just started making up a song about it. We finished it later on, but to this day the opening lines of this song remind me of crossing the street with her in the moonlight with the music coming from the bar and a bunch of folks (and dogs) crowded outside waiting to get in, or waiting at the window for drinks. The place had such a magical vibe for us that night, and I’m so glad we captured it in a song.

“When we started working on the Susto Stringband album, I showed the tune to Clint (of Holler Choir) and Ryan (our producer) and they figured it would be very fitting to include it on the record, given that the whole project was born in Asheville and the song is not only a tribute to the double crown, but the whole scene Caroline and I found ourselves in when we lived there.” – Justin Osborne, Susto Stringband

“Justin really captures the essence of our local favorite bar, The Double Crown, in its truest form with this song, in my opinion. Western Wednesday is hosted there each week and has become an Asheville cultural staple. The images referenced in the lyrics –two-stepping and romances, both fleeting and permanent – are vivid and very real. The sweetness of the melody pairs perfectly with the sentiments I feel about this bar. I’m very proud to be a part of this representation of a time and place that holds so much personal relevance for me.” – Clint Roberts, Holler Choir

Photo Credit: Balsam Range courtesy of the artist; Bold Forbes by Julia Discenza.

 

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Andy Leftwich, Carter & Cleveland, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Okay but really, You Gotta Hear This! Our weekly premiere and new music roundup is simply packed with entirely legendary bluegrass in this edition of the column.

Kicking us off, award-winning husband-and-wife duo Benson – made up of Kristin Scott Benson and Wayne Benson – offer their rendition of a Harley Allen song, “Things Have Changed,” with Dustin Pyrtle lending a perfect lead vocal to the track. The Seldom Scene, an iconic bluegrass band for now more than 50 years, release their brand new album today. We’re celebrating Remains to Be Scene by highlighting “Hard Travelin’,” a Woody Guthrie-written number that you, like Ron Stewart, may recognize from Flatt & Scruggs’s discography.

Fiddle is represented in force this week, too, with fiddler and multi-instrumentalist Andy Leftwich racing through an original, “Highland Rim,” with Cody Kilby, Matt Menefee, and Byron House along for the ride. Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland are releasing their debut duo album today as well, so we’ve cued up “In the Middle of Middle Tennessee” from that stellar project. Written by Darrell Scott, it features Carter’s tasty baritone and country star Charlie Worsham (who has strong bluegrass roots) on harmony.

To round out our collection this week, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers preview their new bluegrass gospel album, Thankful and Blessed, set for release next week on March 21. “He Sees the Little Sparrow Fall” is a superlative example of the gospel and sacred traditions in bluegrass, a little concentrated dose of Friday revival for the end of your work week.

Every single track herein is bluegrass of the highest quality, so you know what we’re going to say… You Gotta Hear This!

Benson, “Things Have Changed”

Artist: Benson
Hometown: Boiling Springs, South Carolina
Song: “Things Have Changed”
Release Date: March 14, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “We’re excited for this song to finally come out. We love the lead vocal by Dustin Pyrtle and the sentiment of ‘Things Have Changed’ is universal. It seems things do change so fast these days. Downtown Nashville is different every time I go! But even in small towns, you feel it, both physically and relationally with the people who live there. I love the line, ‘I’m sort of glad that Mom and Dad ain’t around.’ That melancholy embodies the mood of this guy who goes back home and feels an overall sense of loss. Wayne and I love to play this slower tempo on mandolin and banjo. He gets to tremolo and I get to play fun chord-based banjo. I always enjoy playing this kind of banjo backup.” – Kristin Scott Benson

“I’ve always loved Harley Allen and certainly do love this song. Dustin Pyrtle seemed like the perfect singer to reach out to and man did he ever deliver the goods on this one!” – Wayne Benson

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

Carter & Cleveland, “In the Middle of Middle Tennessee”

Artist: Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee (Jason); Charlestown, Indiana (Michael)
Song: “In the Middle of Middle Tennessee”
Album: Carter & Cleveland
Release Date: March 14, 2025
Label: Fiddle Man Records

In Their Words: “This is a fun song that transports me to a place in my mind where I’d love to be – stuck in the middle of Middle Tennessee. Special thanks to Charlie Worsham for singing with me on this track. It’s one of the highlights of the entire record for me! I never had the chance to meet Darrell Scott’s cat, Bobtail, but somehow, I feel like I’ve seen him before. Thank you, Darrell, for writing this song about him!” – Jason Carter

Track Credits:
Jason Carter – Lead vocal, fiddle
Michael Cleveland – Fiddle
Charlie Worsham – Harmony vocal
Sam Bush – Mandolin
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Bryan Sutton – Guitar
Cory Walker – Banjo
Alan Bartram – Bass

Andy Leftwich, “Highland Rim”

Artist: Andy Leftwich
Hometown: Carthage, Tennessee
Song: “Highland Rim”
Release Date: March 14, 2025
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “I’ve always loved the intensity of a fast-paced instrumental and we hold nothing back on this one. Named after a raceway close to home where I grew up, I thought this one perfectly described the rush that you get from going fast. I wanted a song on this new project where we can go absolutely bananas and I feel like we captured it on this one!” – Andy Leftwich

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

Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, “He Sees the Little Sparrow Fall”

Artist: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Hometown: Xenia, Ohio
Song: “He Sees The Little Sparrow Fall”
Album: Thankful and Blessed
Release Date: March 21, 2025
Label: Billy Blue Records

In Their Words: “It’s so easy to sing a song of gratitude and celebration when we consider the beauty of creation. Our friend, songwriter Conrad Fisher, lives in a gorgeous valley surrounded by the mountains of Pennsylvania. No matter where we look around the world, seeing God’s magnificent beauty in creation is easy and worthy of our praise. A new song with an old-time flavor and a universal message opens our new album, ‘He Sees the Little Sparrows Fall.’” – Joe Mullins

Track Credits:
Joe Mullins – Vocal, banjo
Adam McIntosh – Lead vocal, guitar
Chris Davis – Vocal, mandolin
Jason Barie – Fiddle
Zach Collier – Bass

The Seldom Scene, “Hard Travelin'”

Artist: The Seldom Scene
Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland
Song: “Hard Travelin'”
Album: Remains to be Scene
Release Date: March 14, 2025
Label: Smithsonian Folkways

In Their Words: “This song comes from a Flatt & Scruggs album of the same title, circa 1963. Written by Woody Guthrie, the song was first recorded in 1947. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Flatt & Scruggs and this is one of my favorites from the early 1960s when they were still plowing bluegrass, but using material from a broad range of writers.” – Ron Stewart

Photo Credit: Andy Leftwich by Erick Anderson; Carter & Cleveland by Emma McCoury.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From David Starr, Darren Nicholson, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

For our final New Music Friday of February and as we look ahead to March, here are a half dozen brand new songs and videos you simply gotta hear.

Kicking us off, JD Clayton reminds himself and all of us that the speed of the internet, the news cycle, and social media is too damn fast. His new video reminds us of the power of “Slow & Steady” with a glitzy and gritty alt-Americana sound. A modern blues picking icon David Starr brings a new video for “Hole In The Page” as well, writing the book on lost love, lessons learned, and a liberal dose of longing with wailing organ and plenty of licks. Rounding out our videos this week is a frolic by Miss Georgia Peach, “Dusty,” that was inspired by her independent Maine Coon cat, Dusty Springfield, but ultimately celebrates autonomy and agency soundtracked by Americana meets Southern rock.

From the bluegrass realms, Darren Nicholson and band perform an original that Darren penned with Charles Humphrey (Songs From the Road Band). The pair regard their number, “Any Highway,” as a “modern classic” – and we think you’ll agree when you’ve heard this propulsive traveling song. Nicholson’s labelmate, Jaelee Roberts, can be found with a new track below, too. This gospel selection, “He’s Gone,” was written by Kelsi Harrigill (formerly of Flatt Lonesome) and features special guest vocalists Ricky Skaggs, Sharon White, and Cheryl White Jones joining Roberts.

You won’t want to miss a new single from new acoustic-infused Colorado string trio Salomé Songbird, who debut the lovely and contemplative “I’m Alright.” It’s a bit of a musical mantra, pushing through darkness and precipitous mental health to find strength with mandolin, violin, and guitar lending bluegrass and old-time touches.

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

JD Clayton, “Slow & Steady”

Artist: JD Clayton
Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Song: “Slow & Steady”
Album: Blue Sky Sundays
Release Date: February 28, 2025
Label: Rounder Records

In Their Words: “‘Slow & Steady’ is about a young carefree couple taking life easy in the summertime, living in the moment, fully content with living the slow life. My generation is crippled by depression and anxiety with me chief among them. We’re addicted to our phones and the attention we receive from strangers on the internet. I can’t go more than five minutes without checking to see if someone texted me or shared my post. I don’t want this for my life anymore. I want to change. I know things can be better! ‘Slow & Steady’ is more than a song, it’s a mindset. It’s a movement. I’m going to love and live in each moment. Slow and steady, easy does it. This is going to be the greatest summer of our lives.” – JD Clayton

Video Credits: Drifters Productions
Directed by Hannah Gray Hall.
Director of Photography – Ryan Mclemore

Miss Georgia Peach, “Dusty”

Artist: Miss Georgia Peach
Hometown: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Song: “Dusty”
Album: Class Out The Ass
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Label: Rum/Bar Records

In Their Words: “Technically, this song is about our feral, gorgeous Maine Coon cat, Dusty Springfield. The song practically wrote itself, following the opening hook, ‘Dusty’s goin’ out tonight,’ which came to me as she ran in looking perfectly happy and unworried after being gone for a number of days. The lyrics are for any wild independent beauty who can’t or won’t be tamed and knows what’s best for herself. She’s going out all night, doing exactly what she feels like doing, and despite your worries, she knows what’s what. She is mysterious and unknowable and incredibly fascinating. The music conveys love and frustration, confusion and devotion. The one left [at] home is the one going crazy and trying to figure out what’s going on, not experiencing the adventure Dusty is having. The video puts it in the context of a teenage girl living with her grandma in the country, testing her boundaries, wondering when her life will start. Like most teens, I felt trapped at home, ditching school and running wild at night with my friends. I was home in the morning and for dinner, but the in-between times were mine.” – Miss Georgia Peach

Track Credits:
Miss Georgia Peach – Vocals
Ruyter Suys – Guitar, backing vocals
Blaine Cartwright – Guitar
AJ Srubas – Fiddle
Mark Hendricks – Bass
Travis Ramin – Drums
Heather Parrish – Backing vocals

Video Credits: Directed and shot by Miss Georgia Peach.
Edited by Wendy Norton, Norton Video.

Darren Nicholson, “Any Highway”

Artist: Darren Nicholson
Hometown: Canton, North Carolina
Song: “Any Highway”
Release Date: February 28, 2025

In Their Words: “‘Any Highway’ is one of the first songs I ever wrote with Charles R. Humphrey III. Not only is it one of my favorites, but the No Joke Jimmy’s always had this one in the set list, so I felt I needed to get a good studio recording of it. It’s a story of a man who is so heartbroken by a free-spirited young lady he feels compelled to leave immediately. No plan, no direction, he just knows he has to go elsewhere. Sometimes, the best way to get over a heartache is by just getting to a place where you don’t have to stare it in the face it anymore.” – Darren Nicholson

“‘Any Highway’ is the first song Darren and I wrote. We had met years ago in Alaska while playing in separate bluegrass bands together. I was, and still am, a long time admirer of Darren’s singing, picking, and larger-than-life personality. These are qualities I look for in co-writers. In my opinion, the song itself is a historical fiction account of ‘the one that got away.’  The song style pays tribute to the bluegrass greats that perfected the hard-driving slick style of playing. I think it’s a really cool song, and it’s been the start of a fruitful co-writing friendship with Darren. ‘Any Highway’ is a modern day classic!” – Charles Humphrey III

Track Credits:
Darren Nicholson – Mandolin, lead vocal
Zach Smith – Upright bass
Colby Laney – Acoustic guitar
Deanie Richardson – Fiddle
Kristin Scott Benson – Banjo
Tony Creasman – Drums
Kevin Sluder – Harmony vocal
Jennifer Nicholson – Harmony vocal

Jaelee Roberts, “He’s Gone”

Artist: Jaelee Roberts
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “He’s Gone”
Release Date: February 28, 2025

In Their Words: “As the songs were coming together for my new album, I was still in need of a gospel song to record so I reached out to my very dear friend and mentor, Kelsi Harrigill, to see if she had written anything recently. She sent a few songs to me that I really liked but none of them felt like ‘the one.’ However, a few days later while she was vacuuming, she was inspired to write the song ‘He’s Gone’ and I knew after the first listen it was absolutely the one for me to record. This gospel song tells the incredible story of how Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again. ‘Praise God the tomb’s empty, He’s Gone.’

“I am so happy that I got to record this special song and thrilled to be joined by amazing musicians: Ron Block (banjo), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Cody Kilby (guitar), Andy Leftwich (mandolin), Justin Moses (dobro), and Byron House (bass/producer). To top it off and make a dream come true, three very special people in my life came to the studio to sing with me – Sharon White Skaggs, Cheryl White Jones, and Ricky Skaggs. I feel very blessed and honored to have their voices on ‘He’s Gone.’ I love this song so much and I am thankful for the message of ‘He’s Gone’ and I hope that each of you will love it, too.” – Jaelee Roberts

Salomé Songbird, “I’m Alright”

Artist: Salomé Songbird
Hometown: Colorado
Song: “I’m Alright”
Release Date: February 28, 2025

In Their Words: “Broadly, ‘I’m Alright’ is about being stuck someplace and needing to escape. It is full of imagery from every place I’ve ever been desperate to leave. There are a lot of references to following the sun or heading west, which would be a return home in my mind. On a personal level, this song is about suicide. I hope anyone listening who is also feeling that kind of darkness feels a little less alone. There is always someone who wants to help you and there is always another door that’s not that one.” – Joy Adams, songwriter, mandolin, vocals

“‘I’m Alright’ is a song that has been an important part of finding our voice and an audience that voice resonates with during live performance over the last couple years. I’m glad it’s now one of the first songs we’re releasing as a band.” – Bryan Dubrow, guitar

Track Credits:
Joy Adams – Songwriter, vocals, mandolin
Ariele Macadangdang – Vocals, violin
Bryan Dubrow – Guitar

David Starr, “Hole In The Page”

Artist: David Starr
Hometown: Cedaredge, Colorado
Song: “Hole In The Page”
Album: Must Be Blue
Release Date: January 24, 2025 (song); February 28, 2025 (video)
Label: Quarto Valley Records

In Their Words: “I am so excited to share my first release with Quarto Valley Records! It’s kind of ironic, because this song was the last song written for the album that happened by accident. The idea came about because of something I misheard on a radio show, thinking they said ‘hole in the page,’ which got the wheels turning. While I can’t remember what they actually said, I am so grateful for that spark of creativity. It’s funny that this song then turned into being the one to kick off the rest of the project. I love the energy of the track and that it packs a punch. Jason Lee Denton and I have collaborated on a number of videos together and I knew he would knock this one out of the park. I love the direction he took, it is the perfect visual representation of the song!” – David Starr

Track Credits:
David Starr – Acoustic guitar, vocals
Greg Morrow – Drums
Jeff King – Electric guitar
Mark Prentice – Bass, keyboards
Michelle Nicolo Prentice – Background vocals
Joe Starr – Electric guitar

Video Credits: Jason Lee Denton, Solar Cabin Productions

Photo Credit: David Starr by Jason Lee Denton; Darren Nicholson by Jeff Smith.

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From Sister Sadie, Big Country Bluegrass, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Your weekly dose of brand new music is here! Check out this Friday’s roundup of track, song, and video premieres from bluegrass, Americana, country, folk, and beyond.

From the bluegrass camp, Southwest Virginia string band Big Country Bluegrass bring us their new track, “Heading for the Mountains,” which they pulled from the catalog of fellow Virginians, the Bluegrass Kinsmen, from just over the mountains. Plus, supergroup Sister Sadie return with another new single, “Do What You Want,” which was co-written by band members Dani Flowers and Deanie Richardson as well as Music Row songwriter and artist Erin Enderlin.

Chicagoan Chris Walz debuts his new number, “Alabama Bound,” a solo blues outing that references a classic recording by Long Cleve Reed and Little Harvey Hull while still putting his own spin on it. From the country and honky-tonkin’ realms, Pug Johnson bemoans a “Hole in Me” with an acoustic performance of that new track that’s full of hurt and tinges of Texas. Plus Iowa-based Katie and the Honky Tonks give the direction to “Mind Your Business” – especially when it comes to social media. Check out a new video from The Mallett Brothers Band, too, featuring stunning views of their Maine home turf and cameos from their own “Dogs and Horses.”

From the genre-blending fringes of indie, folk, and Americana comes Anne Harris’ new artful video for “I Feel It Once Again,” a broad and lush track that centers on violin and is built around a haunting guitar riff. Also, singer-songwriter Luke Sital-Singh delivers a truly unique sound with “Little River,” a song about learning to ride the flow of life wrapped up in an indie-folk-pop package that defies categorization while still feeling down to earth and real.

There’s a little bit of something for roots music lovers of all stripes here. You know what we think… You Gotta Hear This!

Big Country Bluegrass, “Heading for the Mountains”

Artist: Big Country Bluegrass
Hometown: Independence, Virginia
Song: “Heading for the Mountains”
Album: Carry Me Back To The Bluegrass
Release Date: February 21, 2025 (single); March 28, 2025 (album)
Label: Rebel Records

In Their Words: “Back in 1989 when I heard the Bluegrass Kinsmen perform this song, I immediately loved it! When it came time to look for music for this album, I dusted off my recording and played it for the band. They loved it too and so here we are. ‘Heading for the Mountains,’ an upbeat song, is a great fit for Eddie Gills’ distinctive tenor and makes for a memorable duet when Teresa Sells joins him on the chorus. And like the chorus says, ‘the city life is not for me.'” – Tommy Sells

Track Credits:
Eddie Gill – Guitar, co-lead vocal
Teresa Sells – Guitar, co-lead vocal
Tommy Sells – Mandolin
Daniel Martin – Banjo
Billy Hawks – Fiddle
Tony King – Upright bass

Anne Harris, “I Feel It Once Again”

Artist: Anne Harris
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Song: “I Feel It Once Again”
Album: I Feel It Once Again
Release Date: February 21, 2025 (video); February 25, 2025 (single); May 9, 2025 (album)
Label: Rugged Road Records

In Their Words: “A while back I unearthed a guitar riff that my friend, blues artist/producer Dave Hererro, had sent me. It had been sitting in my inbox for a long time but I hadn’t got around to listening to it.

“One day I was sorting through my inbox and finally listened down to it and I was immediately swept up by that haunting riff; in one sitting I wrote the lyrics and arranged a song around Dave’s sketch. It was one of those rare instances for me where I felt as if I was channeling the song.

“The song is about the resurfacing of grief during the night, when the veil is thin. It reveals itself at a time when the mind begins ruminating over all that stays hidden during the light of day.” – Anne Harris

Track Credits:
Anne Harris – Vocals, violin
Colin Linden – Guitars
John Dymond – Bass
Jerry Roe – Drums

Video Credits: Stan Miskiewicz – Video producer, director, director of photography
Ara Krossovitch – Dancer

Pug Johnson, “Hole In Me”

Artist: Pug Johnson
Hometown: Beaumont, Texas
Song: “Hole in Me”
Album: El Cabron
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Label: Break Maiden Records / Thirty Tigers

In Their Words: “A simple honky-tonk hurting song with a Texas shuffle and fiddles to boot! I pulled from some past experience and tried to take the Willie approach by saying a lot with very little. I think it is the most country thing I’ve ever done, and it’s one of my favorites on the record.” – Pug Johnson

Track Credits:
Pug Johnson – Vocals, guitars
Paul “Sweet P” Walker – guitars
Jason Baczynski – Drums
Josh Hoag – Bass
Caleb Melo – Pedal steel
Jan Flemming – Keys
Patricia Badgett – Backup vocals
Cody Braun – Fiddle

Video Credits: Directed by David Allison and Joel Malizia.
Produced by Pilot Moon Films.

Katie and the Honky Tonks, “Mind Your Business”

Artist: Katie and the Honky Tonks
Hometown: Waterloo, IA
Song: Mind Your Business
Album: Ain’t No Shame
Release Date: February 28, 2025 (single); June 27, 2025 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Mind Your Business’ came into fruition after years of participating in the social media game. From witnessing one meaningless argument over the internet to the next. We all have opinions, but what entitles us to think our opinion is 1) correct, and 2) needs to be spoken publicly? Minding our own business is something we all could do a little more of, myself included. Like the song says, if it ain’t hurtin’ anyone then why don’t you just let me have my fun? I think that’s a mantra that we could all live by.” – Katie Jo

Track Credits:
Katie Jo – Vocals, acoustic guitar
Brian McCarty – Bass, backing vocals
Bryan Hendrickson – Lead guitar, lap steel, backing vocals
Luke Jerry – Drums
Danny Mitchell – Hammond B3

The Mallett Brothers Band, “Dogs and Horses”

Artist: The Mallett Brothers Band
Hometown: Portland, Maine
Song: “Dogs and Horses”
Album: Higher up in the Hills
Release Date: April 4, 2025

In Their Words: “‘Dogs and Horses’ is a song that came from my real life, trying to balance the drastically different lifestyles of a touring musician and a working farm. My wife runs a horse farm here in Maine, where we keep anywhere from 13-18 horses on the property. Hay needs to be put away every season, fences always break, water systems need maintenance, etc. Meanwhile, I spend over 100 days a year in a van traveling to gigs and have to play catch-up when I get home. The song is about supporting each other and building an unconventional life that suits us both. This music video was filmed at our farm; the dogs and horses are actually our dogs and horses and it was fun to capture a day in life when the grass was still green. The counterpoint to the farm shots was our annual show at the State Theatre here in Maine, which is one of the coolest shows we get to play. Our friend CC at Just One Look Media did a great job with the video, and it was a lot of fun to shoot

“This is the only track on the record to have a special guest, featuring the legendary Chuck Leavell of the Allman Brothers Band and Rolling Stones fame on keys. We were lucky to be a part of the Maine episode of his PBS show America’s Forests With Chuck Leavell, and we were very excited when he agreed to contribute to this song. His parts added the perfect finishing touch and really brought it to another level.” – Luke Mallett

Sister Sadie, “Do What You Want”

Artist: Sister Sadie
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Do What You Want”
Release Date: February 21, 2025

In Their Words:  “‘Do What You Want’ came from Dani Flowers, Erin Enderlin, and myself sitting around talking about life. How hard it can be. How we have so many expectations put on us, especially being women. How we are all divided. No matter what you do, someone is going to have something good or bad to say about it. So don’t worry about what everyone thinks. ‘Just Do What You Want.’ This was a very fun and somewhat therapeutic song to write. Maddie Dalton, being the youngest in the band, was the perfect voice for this one.” – Deanie Richardson, fiddle

“I absolutely love this song and I’m super happy I’m the one that got to sing it. I relate to it as I’m sure so many other people do too. I’m just excited for the whole world to hear it.” – Maddie Dalton, bass and lead vocals

“’Do What You Want’ was a really fun song to write. We’re all just tiny dots on a planet, spinning around a sun, in a gigantic galaxy for a tiny blip of time. When I zoom out and look at it that way, it makes the things I spend so much time worrying about seem pretty silly. This song is about keeping that perspective.” – Erin Enderlin, co-writer

Track Credits:
Deanie Richardson – Fiddle, gang vocals
Gena Britt – Banjo, gang vocals
Maddie Dalton –Upright bass, lead vocals
Jaelee Roberts – Harmony vocals
Dani Flowers – Harmony vocals
Mary Meyer – Mandolin, piano
Seth Taylor – Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, gang vocals
Dave Racine – Drums, gang vocals, percussion
Jon Weisberger – gang vocals

Luke Sital-Singh, “Little River”

Artist: Luke Sital-Singh
Hometown: London, England, United Kingdom
Song: “Little River”
Album: Fool’s Spring
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Label: Nettwerk Music Group

In Their Words: “‘Little River’ is a song about learning to flow with life no matter what is happening to you. I was inspired by a quote from meditation teacher Stephan Bodian: ‘You’re not sitting on the bank of the river, waiting for a better moment to float past. You are the river itself – filled with being, filled with infinite potential.’ This idea became a guiding theme in my life as I was making this record.” – Luke Sital-Singh

Chris Walz, “Alabama Bound”

Artist: Chris Walz
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois (since 1988)
Song: “Alabama Bound”
Album: All I Got and Gone
Release Date: February 28, 2025 (single); March 14, 2025 (album)
Label: Chris Walz Music

In Their Words: “I’ve heard various versions of ‘Alabama Bound’ for years. The one I recorded is inspired by a version done by two guitar players and singers named Long Cleve Reed and Little Harvey Hull. The duet recording was put out on the box set The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records. I tried to make this two-guitar-and-vocal duet into a solo piece. There are so many versions of this song that the point of origin is hard to pin down, although Jelly Roll Morton claimed to have written it in 1905. The Kate Adams in the song was a Mississippi riverboat line. Jackson is in Central Mississippi and McComb is south of there about 80 miles. Half the time, the song title is ‘Don’t You Leave Me Here,’ taken from the recurring line that ends with, ‘Just leave a dime for a beer.’ Times have changed.” – Chris Walz

Photo Credit: Sister Sadie by Allister Ann; Big Country Bluegrass by Brenda Killon.