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Roots Culture Redefined

WATCH: Vandoliers, “Howlin'”

Artist: Vandoliers
Hometown: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Song: “Howlin'”
Album: The Vandoliers
Release Date: August 12, 2022
Label: Amerikinda Records/Soundly Music

In Their Words: “In 2019, I wrote ‘Howlin” while my family dog cried by the door waiting for my mom and dad to come home. It took no time at all before I had a complete song of lyrics depicting the pain of loss and a friend long gone. I love this song in its innocence, and the simplicity of ‘I miss you.’” — Joshua Fleming, Vandoliers

WATCH: G. Love, “Mississippi” (Acoustic)

Artist: G. Love
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Song: “Mississippi”
Album: Philadelphia Mississippi
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Label: Philadelphonic Records/Thirty Tigers

In Their Words: “‘Mississippi’ is a contemporary blues/hip-hop song which lyrically reflects the images and thoughts brought on by the state and historic culture of Mississippi. It’s both a celebration of the blues’ rich musical history and a condemnation of the dark history of racism, Jim Crow and slavery which played such a terrible part in the history of Mississippi and our country as a whole. Here I perform solo guitar and harmonica, singing the lyrics of bluesman Alvin Youngblood Hart and my own lyric, set over a driving riff in the key of E.” — G. Love

With Measured Emotion, John Moreland Hypnotizes on “Ugly Faces”

John Moreland continues pushing into his own sound, which seems to be this unique, creative blend of singer-songwriter sadness, striking instrumentalism, and modern production techniques. All three of those prime ingredients are on full display with the opening track from Birds In the Ceiling, a new album arriving on July 22 on Old Omens/Thirty Tigers. The lead single is titled “Ugly Faces” and it sets the expectation nicely for what promises to be a record that stands out. Measured emotion, concise playing, and entrancing production make the song fly by. Clocking in at just under three and a half minutes, “Ugly Faces” is by no means too short or too long, but Moreland’s hypnotizing ability makes it feel like it lasts no longer than a minute. Be on the lookout for a tour to support Birds In the Ceiling set to kick off in July.

WATCH: Riley Pearce, “Nostalgia”

Artist: Riley Pearce
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Song: “Nostalgia”
Album: The Water & The Rough
Release Date: June 10, 2022
Label: Nettwerk

In Their Words: “‘Nostalgia’ was born from a camping trip my brother and I took to Jurien Bay, a few hours north of Perth where we used to holiday as kids. We both hadn’t been for years, and it was a nice little nostalgia trip, reminiscing about the times and how things had changed with the town and with ourselves.” — Riley Pearce

WATCH: Brandi Carlile, “You and Me On the Rock”

Artist: Brandi Carlile
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Song: “You and Me On the Rock”
Album: In These Silent Days
Label: Low Country Sound/Elektra Records

In Their Words: “This song is for my wife, Catherine. When life changed during quarantine and everything that I identify myself by went away, I was left with a question of ‘is what I’ve built my life on really a solid foundation?’ I wrote this song and realized that even the most intensely self-identifying things can go away, but what my life is really built on, which is faith and my family, it’s a rock, and it’s solid.” — Brandi Carlile

WATCH: Sierra Ferrell, “Years” (John Anderson Cover)

Artist: Sierra Ferrell
Hometown: Charleston, West Virginia
Song: “Years”
Album: Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson
Release Date: August 5, 2022
Label: Easy Eye Sound

In Their Words: “I grew up listening to John Anderson on country music radio, so I was honored…almost like a pinch yourself moment, when I was asked to contribute to this album. ‘Years’ is such a great song, and it spoke to me from the first time I heard it. The lyrics and John’s unmistakably haunting voice immediately flooded my brain with that universal truth…that life is so precious and so brief. I felt called to that song, and I’ve always thought that if you feel a song in your bones, you can bring it to life. From that point, everything becomes almost effortless.” — Sierra Ferrell

Editor’s Note: Read our BGS interview with John Anderson.

LISTEN: Circus No. 9, “The Scaffold Song” (Feat. Aoife O’Donovan)

Artist: Circus No. 9
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “The Scaffold Song”
Album: Circus No. 9
Release Date: July 1, 2022
Label: Bonfire Music Group

In Their Words: “We were originally scheduled to record this album in spring 2020 — obviously, that didn’t happen. Time was on our side, however, as the postponing of the recording session allowed track vocalist/banjoist Matthew Davis to bring in this song during one of our Covid Zoom hangouts. We’re all big fans of Crooked Still, and wanted to give the song that treatment. We’re honored to be joined by our friend (and Crooked Still founder) Aoife O’Donovan on harmony vocals alongside John Mailander on fiddle. We thought this song would be the perfect ending to this new record — and we hope you all enjoy!” — Thomas Cassell, Circus No. 9

LISTEN: The Local Honeys, “Throw Me in the Thicket When I Die”

Artist: The Local Honeys
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
Song: “Throw Me in the Thicket (When I Die)”
Album: The Local Honeys
Release Date: July 15, 2022
Label: La Honda Records

In Their Words: “This song is about giving back to the place that has provided nourishment to the belly, the heart, and the soul. The place that raised you and me. A wish to pass on without the tufts and frills that so often decorate a ceremonious death. This song is for those who wish to give themselves back to the earth, in the purest form, and to live eternally in the place you call home.”

WATCH: Molly Tuttle, “Grass Valley” (Live) Feat. Jack Tuttle

Artist: Molly Tuttle
Hometown: Palo Alto, California
Song: “Grass Valley” (Live) feat. Jack Tuttle
Album: Crooked Tree
Release Date: April 1, 2022
Label: Nonesuch Records

In Their Words: “My dad took me to the Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley, California, when I was 10 years old and it changed my life. It was my first time going to a music festival and the songs that I heard on stage and jammed in the campground stuck with me for years to come. When I was writing the songs for Crooked Tree I kept going back to those earliest musical memories. I decided to close my album with a song about Grass Valley to give context to the music that I make now. I hope you enjoy this special version of ‘Grass Valley’ that I filmed with my dad! Happy Father’s Day weekend!” — Molly Tuttle

LISTEN: Freedy Johnston, “Madeline’s Eye”

Artist: Freedy Johnston
Hometown: Kinsley, Kansas
Song: “Madeline’s Eye”
Album: Back On the Road to You
Release Date: September 9, 2022
Label: 40 Below Records

In Their Words: “‘Madeline’s Eye’ was inspired by my hearing the B.W. Stevenson hit ‘My Maria’ on the overhead music somewhere. A smash hit. That’s where the musical feel is borrowed from. I’m just doing my part for the environment by recycling the groove. The lyric is your typical human/android love story. A love for the ages. The kind of love for which there really is an instruction manual and a tool kit. She’s starting to think, ‘Maybe I am a machine’ and ‘Why do I keep setting off metal detectors?’ I am sure Dr. Sigmund could analyze the heck out of the writer of this song.” — Freedy Johnston