Artist: Robert Ellis
Hometown: Lake Jackson, Texas
Song: “On the Run”
Album: Yesterday’s News
Release Date: May 21, 2023
Label: Niles City Records
In Their Words: “There’s this stretch of Interstate 10 somewhere near Bakersfield, Texas. There’s a gas station there. It’s the only one for miles in any direction. You more or less have to stop if you want to make it to the next town. I’m getting gas as quickly as I can, nervously scanning the horizon. I have to keep going. Just keep going. I get back in the car and drive.” — Robert Ellis
Leftover Salmon retreated to the high country of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for this year’s WinterWonderGrass festival and shared a few of their songs with us: “High Country” and “Woody Guthrie,” a cry to the Dust Bowl Troubadour about an ever-changing landscape and a new way of life.
Artist: Abe Partridge
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
Song: “Young Love (Alabama Skies)”
Album: Love In the Dark
Release Date: May 12, 2023
Label: Baldwin Country Public Records
In Their Words: “This is a song I wrote about a post-high school, summer-long relationship I had that went deep quickly and ended about as fast. It’s about that kind of love that really only happens in your youth. People identify with it. Folks find ways to tell me their ‘young love’ stories. I tried to capture what it was like to be a kid losing his love to life … growing up, and going different directions.” — Abe Partridge
Artist: Jordan Smart
Hometown: Ludlow, Kentucky
Song: “Lonely Is the Wheel”
Editor’s Note: Jordan Smart is the winner of the 2023 Gems in the Rough contest, hosted by GemsOnVHS, for his submission of “Apple Don’t Fall.” He will be supporting Tommy Prine on tour dates from June through October.
In Their Words: “I entered the Gems in the Rough contest a couple times before and had never placed. This year I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to submit or not and actually didn’t get my submission in by the time they had planned to close submissions. Apparently there was an error and they reopened submissions so I figured what the heck. I didn’t expect much from it, and especially did not expect to win. Third time’s a charm I guess. I was able to get down to Nashville the day after receiving the news to shoot videos with GemsOnVHS and Western AF. The song featured here is one I wrote a couple of years ago during quarantine, a love song of sorts. You can expect it to be on my next album later this year.” — Jordan Smart
Denver’s own Clay Street Unit were kind enough play for us when they came over to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for this year’s WinterWonderGrass festival, sharing two songs from their debut EP A Mighty Fine Evening. Watch their live performances of “Weight of the World” and “1200 Miles” right here on BGS.
Artist: The Milk Carton Kids
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “North Country Ride”
Album: I Only See the Moon
Release Date: May 19, 2023
Label: Far Cry Records in Partnership with Thirty Tigers
In Their Words: “My wife’s Uncle Peter died in November 2021. He was a beautiful guy. The funniest person in the room and — more than anyone else I have ever met — genuinely interested in other people’s creativity. Pure joy, and tenacious — he gave us many laughs and many tears. I wrote ‘North Country Ride’ for Peter. Joey helped me finish it, and provides singular rhythm + harmony on our studio rendering here and whilst on stage (Thanks, Joey). Love you Unky, see ya in the stars.” — Kenneth Pattengale, The Milk Carton Kids
AJ Lee and Blue Summit perform their version of Darrell Scott’s “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” live from WinterWonderGrass in Steamboat Springs, CO.
The Lone Bellow treat us to three live harmony-rich performances of tracks from their 2022 album Love Songs for Losers, recorded live at WinterWonderGrass in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Utah’s Pixie and the Partygrass Boys eat fascists and sing of unending love in two newly released live sessions – “These Chickens Eat Fascists” and “Club Thing” – recorded at this year’s WinterWonderGrass festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Artist: Mike Mizwinski, better known simply as Mike Miz
Hometown: Nashville now, via Northeast Pennsylvania (Pittston)
Song: “Wander Blue”
Album: Only Human
Release Date: April 14, 2023
Label: Blackbird Record Label
In Their Words: “‘Wander Blue’ was the last song written for the album. The inspiration of this song came from the idea that struggle, heartache, and pain, can sometimes lead to a path of humility and a more meaningful life purpose. I was doing a lot of self-reflecting, thinking about how my ego sometimes got the best of me, and how I was the only one who couldn’t see it. It was also written fast, in about an hour with my co-writing partner Boo Ray. I must also give credit to Laur Joamets, who rearranged the entire song right before it was about to be recorded. At the time I wasn’t thrilled about his changes, I felt too close to the way I wrote it, but in the end he was absolutely right and I’m so glad I listened to his input. This song is a true live-to-tape production. It’s a seven-piece band playing live in the studio, no edits, no overdubs, no metronome, and a completely live vocal take untouched in post production.” — Mike Miz
