NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND RELEASES "DIRT DOES DYLAN"

Out today, Dirt Does Dylan finds the Dirt Band recording their favorites from Bob Dylan’s catalog with a little 

help from their friends

It’s been a few years since Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Jeff Hanna paid $4 to see Bob Dylan play at his high school auditorium in Long Beach, California, but the fire lit inside of Hanna that night still burns as strong as ever. Hanna and his Dirt Band bandmates have had quite a career of their own since then, introducing folk, bluegrass, and country music—what would later be termed “Americana”—to a whole new generation of fans. Their latest effort, however, is a full-circle return with Dirt Does Dylan, a ten-track album highlighting some of the gems from Dylan’s vast catalog with the help of three new band members: fiddle specialist Ross Holmes; singer-songwriter and bass player Jim Photoglo (who wrote one of the Dirt Band’s biggest hits, “Fishin’ in the Dark”); and Dirt Band founder Jeff Hanna’s son, the absurdly talented singer and guitarist Jaime Hanna. Produced and recorded by Ray Kennedy at Room & Board Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Dirt Does Dylan finds a generation-spanning Dirt Band paying an appropriately great tribute to arguably the greatest songwriter of the 20th century with the help of friends like Jason Isbell, The War & Treaty, Steve Earle, and Rosanne Cash, to name a few.

Track Listing for "Dirt Does Dylan":

1. Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You

2. Girl from the North Country

3. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry

4. Country Pie

5. I Shall Be Released (ft. Larkin Poe)

6. She Belongs to Me

7. Forever Young

8. The Times They Are A-Changin’ (ft. Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, and The War and Treaty)

9. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

10. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)

Catch Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Tour:

May 20 - Papillion, NE - Sumtur Amphitheater

May 21 - Chesterfield, MO - Chesterfield Amphitheatre

May 22 - Louisville, KY - Iroquois Amphitheater

June 9 - Eureka Springs, AR - Eureka Springs City Auditorium

June 10 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater

June 11 - Salina, KS - Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts

June 24 - Grand Junction, CO - Country Jam 2022

June 25 - North Platte, NE - Nebraskaland Days

July 14 - Davenport, IA - Rhythm City Casino Resort

July 15 - Decorah, IA - Winneshiek County Fair

July 16 - Chicago, IL - City Winery

July 21 - Marietta, OH - Peoples Bank Theatre

July 22 - Shipshewana, IN - Blue Gate Performing Arts Center

July 23 - Twin Lakes, WI - Country Thunder Wisconsin 2022

Aug. 3 - McMinnville, OR - Yamhill County Fair & Rodeo

Aug. 4 - Boise, ID - The Egyptian Theatre

Aug. 6 - Bellvue, CO - Mishawaka Amphitheatre

Aug. 12 - Hinckley, MN - Grand Country Nights 2022

Aug. 13 - South West Fargo, ND - Lights Amphitheater

Aug. 18 - Three Forks, MT - Headwaters Country Jam 2022

Aug. 19 - Rexford, MT - Abayance Bay Marina

Aug. 27 - Gilbert, AZ - Higley Center For The Performing Arts

Aug. 28 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre

Sept. 2 - Orange Park, FL - Thrasher-Horne Center

Sept. 3 - Mill Spring, NC - The Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2022

Sept. 17 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

Nov. 4 - Clearwater, FL - Bilheimer Capitol Theatre

For more information on Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, tour dates and Dirt Does Dylan, please visit nittygritty.com. 

To stream or purchase Dirt Does Dylan today, click here.

NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM, "DIRT DOES DYLAN", OUT MAY 20TH

Five-decades-running Americana pioneers Nitty Gritty Dirt Band have already played a major role in the preservation and popularity of folk music—their Will The Circle Be Unbroken album series introduced droves of new fans to folk, country, and bluegrass and earned the band multiple Grammy awards—but now, the long-running group have taken on another American institution near and dear to their hearts; the Bob Dylan songbook. On May 20th, the band will be releasing Dirt Does Dylan, a ten-track album highlighting some of the gems from Dylan’s vast catalog with the help of three new band members: fiddle specialist Ross Holmes; singer-songwriter and bass player Jim Photoglo (who wrote one of the Dirt Band’s biggest hits, “Fishin’ in the Dark”); and Dirt Band founder Jeff Hanna’s son, the absurdly talented singer and guitarist Jaime Hanna. Produced and recorded by Ray Kennedy at Room & Board Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Dirt Does Dylan finds a generation-spanning Dirt Band paying an appropriately great tribute to arguably the greatest songwriter of the 20th century with the help of friends like Jason Isbell, The War & Treaty, Steve Earle, and Rosanne Cash, to name a few.

Today, Billboard premiered the Dirt Band’s cover of “I Shall Be Released,” which Dylan originally recorded with The Band during their infamous Basement Tapes sessions. On this version of the tune, sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell—better known as accomplished blues-rock duo Larkin Poe—lend their perfectly-blended voices and Megan’s lap steel guitar skills to the mix. Carpenter takes the first verse vocals while the Hannas handle guitar duties. Aside from the fine songwriting itself, Jeff Hanna and Megan Lovell’s infectious guitar interplay carries the song from verse to verse, culminating in the song’s final solo section. Fans can watch the band record “I Shall Be Released” in its official music video at this link, check out the previously-released single, “The Times, They Are A-Changin’,” right here, and pre-order or pre-save Dirt Does Dylan ahead of its May 20th release here.

For more information on Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Dirt Does Dylan, please visit nittygritty.com.

Tracklisting:

 

1. Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You

2. Girl from the North Country

3. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry

4. Country Pie

5. I Shall Be Released (ft. Larkin Poe)

6. She Belongs to Me

7. Forever Young

8. The Times They Are A-Changin’ (ft. Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, and The War and Treaty)

9. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

10. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)

Catch Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on tour:

Apr. 9 - Rama, ON - Casino Rama Resort

Apr. 29 - Chattanooga, TN - Robert Kirk Walker Theatre

Apr. 30 - Hopewell, VA - Beacon Theatre

May 1 - Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFest 2022

May 13 - Lancaster, PA - American Music Theatre

May 14 - New York, NY - City Winery

May 15 - Philadelphia, PA - City Winery

May 19 - Mankato, MN - Vetter Stone Amphitheatre

May 20 - Papillion, NE - Sumtur Amphitheater

May 21 - Chesterfield, MO - Chesterfield Amphitheatre

May 22 - Louisville, KY - Iroquois Amphitheater

June 9 - Eureka Springs, AR - Eureka Springs City Auditorium

June 10 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater

June 11 - Salina, KS - Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts

June 24 - Grand Junction, CO - Country Jam 2022

June 25 - North Platte, NE - Nebraskaland Days

July 14 - Davenport, IA - Rhythm City Casino Resort

July 15 - Decorah, IA - Winneshiek County Fair

July 16 - Chicago, IL - City Winery

July 21 - Marietta, OH - Peoples Bank Theatre

July 22 - Shipshewana, IN - Blue Gate Performing Arts Center

July 23 - Twin Lakes, WI - Country Thunder Wisconsin 2022

Aug. 3 - McMinnville, OR - Yamhill County Fair & Rodeo

Aug. 4 - Boise, ID - The Egyptian Theatre

Aug. 6 - Bellvue, CO - Mishawaka Amphitheatre

Aug. 12 - Hinckley, MN - Grand Country Nights 2022

Aug. 13 - South West Fargo, ND - Lights Amphitheater

Aug. 18 - Three Forks, MT - Headwaters Country Jam 2022

Aug. 19 - Rexford, MT - Abayance Bay Marina

Aug. 27 - Gilbert, AZ - Higley Center For The Performing Arts

Aug. 28 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre

Sept. 2 - Orange Park, FL - Thrasher-Horne Center

Sept. 3 - Mill Spring, NC - The Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2022

All tour dates and ticket information can be found at nittygritty.com/tour.

MERLEFEST ADDS TRAMPLED BY TURTLES, COLIN HAY, THE STEEL WHEELS AND LATE NIGHT JAM HOSTS, HOGSLOP STRING BAND TO ALREADY OUTSTANDING LINEUP

MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the next round of artist additions for MerleFest 2022, which will be held April 28-May 1, 2022. Trampled By Turtles, Colin Hay, and The Steel Wheels will join an already outstanding lineup which includes performances by Emmylou Harris, Greensky Bluegrass, Rissi Palmer, Old Crow Medicine Show, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Allison Russell, We Banjo 3, and more. MerleFest is the annual homecoming of musicians and music fans held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Trampled By Turtles

Colin Hay

The Steel Wheels

Hogslop String Band will be hosting this year’s late night jam. Jam guest artists will be announced in the coming weeks. Additional fan favorites announced today include Barbaro, Big Daddy Love, The Contenders, Damn Tall Buildings, David Childers and The Serpents, Desure, Eli Yacinthe, Jake Blount, Kaia Kater, Nat Myers, Shannon McNally, Shay Martin Lovette, Sister Sadie, Tenille Townes, Time Sawyer, and Tray Wellington.

In addition to those mentioned above, the following artists and bands have previously been announced: Alison Brown, Andy May, Arlo McKinley, Banknotes, Caleb Caudle, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, Darrell Scott, Donna the Buffalo, Dr. Bacon, Happy Traum, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Jerry Douglas, Jim Lauderdale, Joe Smothers, Kruger Brothers, Laura Boosinger, Mark Bumgarner, Mitch Greenhill, Pete & Joan Wernick, Peter Rowan, Presley Barker, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Roy Book Binder, Sam Bush, Scythian, T. Michael Coleman, The Arcadian Wild, The InterACTive Theatre of Jef, The Local Boys, The Waybacks, Tony Williamson, Wayne Henderson, and 49 Winchester.

Tickets for this year’s festival are on sale now and may be purchased at www.MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. Festival vendor and volunteer application windows are now open. Please visit merlefest.org/vendors or merlefest.org/volunteer to sign up.

MerleFest 2022 will host its second annual MerleFest Mega Raffle to support scholarships at Wilkes Community College. Tickets are on sale now. The Mega Raffle drawings will be held during the festival on Sunday, May 01, 2022, at the Raffle/Silent Auction Tent from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Over $170,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. Only 5,000 tickets will be sold, and ticket holders do not have to be present to win. Raffle tickets are $100 each and include two entries to the MerleFest Mega Raffle drawings. To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.merlefest.org/megaraffle.

PAUL THORN'S ECLECTIC "NEVER TOO LATE TO CALL" OUT TODAY

Upcoming tour dates added including Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, and many more

Mississippi’s Paul Thorn has always had one hell of a party trick; his ability to make cohesive, celebrated albums out of every wild idea that hits his mind. And now, Thorn has done it again with Never Too Late To Call. Out today via Thirty Tigers, Never Too Late To Call includes eleven new songs that range from groovy, grateful anthems and a duet with Thorn’s wife about the road bumps of marriage, to moonshine metaphors and James Brown TV appearances. Thorn’s razor wit and personal, humorous touch are on full display on this chill-leaning, wife and daughter-collaborating collection of songs. In a review of Never Too Late To Call, No Depression said, “Even when he brings the family, Thorn still breaks up the joint, gleefully warping minds and amassing converts of all stripes to enlist in his hard-hitting house of worship,” and PopMatters wrote, “​​On Never Too Late to Call, Paul Thorn charmingly delivers a serious message as a Southern gentleman because he gives a damn.” Fans can stream or purchase Never Too Late To Call now at this link, buy a physical copy or new album-centric merchandise here, and check out a full list of Thorn’s tour dates below.

Never Too Late To Call opens with a song called “Two Tears Of Joy,” a slow-burn ode to life that finds Thorn naming all that he’s thankful for without once coming across as cheesy or overly earnest. “It sounds a little corny to say this but I’m a 56-year-old man who has had a really blessed life,” says Thorn about the inspiration behind the tune. “I’m really grateful and thankful for everything I have and for the people I’ve met. ‘Two Tears of Joy’ is another way of simply saying I’m grateful.” A few tracks later, Thorn and his wife Heather singing a duet called “Breaking Up For Good Again.” “If you’re in any kind of long-time relationship you’ll know there will be bumps in the road and sometimes you won’t get along,” says Thorn. The song is beautifully fingerpicked and sung to perfection by the husband and wife duo who’ve been together for long enough to know the song’s ideas well. “We’ve lived this song and had our moments,” they say. Towards the end of Never Too Late To Call listeners are treated to a pair of groovy numbers in “You Mess Around & Get A Buzz” and “Holy Hottie Toddy.” The former a cautionary tale and the latter a call to love everybody inclusively; both feel comfortable—in classic Thorn fashion—but represent the full spectrum of what this new, thoughtfully mature album has to offer.

Thorn’s music has always been a reflection of where he’s been or where he is in his life. On Never Too Late To Call, we find mellower Paul Thorn. The wit and the—at times—humorous commentary on life’s existential questions are in evidence, but here there is a peace about his life’s journey. Or, to put it in his words, “I’ve been such a lucky boy. I’m crying two tears of joy.”

In addition to releasing Never Too Late To Call, Thorn has announced a slew of new tour dates including stops in Chicago, Atlanta, and a release-day show tonight at Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY. A list of upcoming dates can be found below and all scheduled (and rescheduled) dates and ticket information can be found at paulthorn.com/tour.

Catch Paul Thorn On Tour:

Aug. 6 - Pawling, NY - Daryl’s House
Aug. 7 - Philadelphia, PA - City Winery
Aug. 8 - Lancaster, PA - Long’s Park Amphitheater
Aug. 11 - Annapolis, MD - Ram’s Head
Aug. 12 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere
Aug. 13 - Union Hall, VA - The Coves Amphitheater
Aug. 14 - Bristol, VA - Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Aug. 15 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
Aug. 25 - Chicago, IL - City Winery
Aug. 26 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
Aug. 27 - Louisville, KY - Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
Aug. 28 - Goshen, IN - Ignition Music Garage
Aug. 29 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
Sept. 10 - Columbus, OH - Athenaeum Theatre
Sept. 11 - Jasper, IN - Astra Theatre
Sept. 12 - Kent, OH - Kent Stage
Sept. 14 - Boston, MA - City Winery
Sept. 16 - Millville, NJ - Levoy Theatre
Sept. 17 - Richmond, VA - Tin Pan
Sept. 19 - Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFest
Sept. 20 - Greenville, SC - Radio Room
Sept. 23 - Birmingham, Al - Lyric Theatre
Sept. 24 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
Sept. 25 - McMinnville, TN - Cumberland Caverns Volcano Room
Oct. 7 - Little Rock, AR - Revolution Music Room
Oct. 9 - Weiner, AR - Arkansas Rice Festival
Oct. 15 - Baton Rouge, LA - Manship Theatre
Oct. 17 - Tomball, TX - Main Street Crossing (solo acoustic)
Oct. 18 - Tomball, TX - Main Street Crossing (solo acoustic)
Oct. 19 - Tomball, TX - Main Street Crossing (solo acoustic)
Oct. 21 - San Antonio, TX - Sam’s Burger Joint
Oct. 22 - Greenville, TX - Texan Theater
Oct. 23 - Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre
Nov. 3 - Sutter Creek, CA - Sutter Creek Theater
Nov. 4- Tuolumne, CA - Black Oak Casino
Nov. 5 - Petaluma, CA - Mystic Theatre
Nov. 6 - Berkeley, CA - Cornerstone
Nov. 7 - Felton, CA - Felton Music Hall
Nov. 9 - Portland, OR - Alberta Rose Theatre
Nov. 10 - Seattle, WA - Triple Door
Nov. 11 - Eugene, OR - Soreng Theater at The Hult Center
Nov. 12 - Grants Pass, OR - Rogue Theatre
Nov. 17 - Morro Bay, CA - The Siren
Dec. 4 - Sparta, NC - Muddy Creek Music Hall
Dec. 5 - Saluda, NC - The Purple Onion

For tickets and more 2022 tour dates, please visit paulthorn.com/tour.

Never Too Late To Call Track Listing:

Two Tears Of Joy
It’s Never Too Late To Call
Sapalo
Breaking Up For Good Again
What I Could Do
Here We Go
Apple Pie Moonshine
Sapphire Dream
You Mess Around & Get A Buzz
Goodbye Is The Last Word
Holy Hottie Toddy

 

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL TO RELEASE STUDIO ALBUM "HALF A HUNDRED YEARS" FEATURING WILLIE NELSON, EMMYLOU HARRIS, GEORGE STRAIT, LEE ANN WOMACK, LYLE LOVETT AND MORE

There’s no mistaking the pride in the voice of long time Asleep at the Wheel front man, Ray Benson, when he sings “Start the jam, roll one up, and ice another beer. I’ll tip my hat and raise a toast to half a hundred years.” The revelrous, to put it lightly, refrain of “Half A Hundred Years” is the icing on the birthday cake for Benson and his band who are ringing in their 50th anniversary with a brand new album on October 1st, 2021. Sharing a name with this first single, Half A Hundred Years is a nineteen-track celebration of Asleep At The Wheel’s half-century-long career, filled out by a number of world-class friends of the band; a guest-list testament to Asleep at the Wheel’s reputation as a cornerstone of American music for the last 50 years. Greats like Willie Nelson, George Strait, Emmylou Harris, Lee Ann Womack, and Lyle Lovett appear throughout Half A Hundred Years on a host of classic and destined-to-be-classic Western Swing and Country tunes. Fans can listen to “Half A Hundred Years” here and pre-order or pre-save "Half A Hundred Years" ahead of its release on Home Records in partnership with Thirty Tigers here.

“I went over to the ACL stage to see Jamey Johnson,” says Benson, recalling the spark that led to this new song. “I told him ‘Ya know it’s Asleep at the Wheel’s 50th anniversary!’ He looked at me and said, ‘That’s Half a Hundred years!’” Benson knows a great song title when he hears one, so he went home and got to writing. “I was trying to get across the sacrifices you have to make in 50 years on the road and the other positive side of it. The great experiences, the places I’ve been, and all the amazing people I’ve had the opportunity to meet and play music with.” The sentiment comes across swimmingly, with a grooving rhythm section and incredibly tight horn arrangements dancing around Benson’s familiar, friendly voice.

From day one, Benson and Asleep at the Wheel set out to bear a torch and carry the roots of American popular music into the future. 50 years later, and they’re still walking that same road. This is most evident in their cover of Bob Wills’ classic “Take Me Back To Tulsa,” the first Bob Wills song Asleep at the Wheel recorded way back in 1972. This time around, the band is joined by fellow Bob Wills and Western Swing aficionados, George Strait and Willie Nelson. Benson jokes, “To me it doesn’t get more Texan than George, Willie, and Asleep at the Wheel doin’ a Bob Wills classic!” And he’s not wrong, though Asleep at the Wheel doing their classic “The Letter That Johnny Walker Read” with Lee Ann Womack—the very next track on Half A Hundred Years—is a close contender. Additionally, three original members of Asleep at the Wheel—Chris O’Connell, Leroy Preston, and Lucky Oceans—returned after 4o years to lend their voices and musicianship to a number of tracks on Half A Hundred Years.

When it’s all said and done, Half A Hundred Years is a reminder for one to take ownership and care of the things they love, just as Ray Benson has cherished, polished, built, and rebuilt Asleep at the Wheel, and to some extent, the history and future of Western Swing music—even when the odds were stacked against him. “The one reason that I kept going,” Benson says, “is that every week a fan would come up and be so appreciative, saying, ‘Don’t ever stop. You’re the only band that goes out on the road and does this old, cool music.’ That’s when I knew it was more than just a living–that I was blessed with caretaking a form of music.”

"Half A Hundred Years" Track List:

Half A Hundred Years

It’s The Same Old South feat. Chris O’Connell

I Do What I Must feat. Leroy Preston

There You Go Again feat. Lyle Lovett

My Little Baby feat. Chris O’Connell

Paycheck To Paycheck feat. Leroy Preston

Word To The Wise feat. Bill Kirchen

That’s How I Remember It feat. Chris O’Connell

The Photo feat. Leroy Preston

I Love You Most Of All (When You’re Not Here) feat. Lucky Oceans

The Wheel Boogie

Take Me Back To Tulsa feat. George Strait and Willie Nelson

The Letter That Johnny Walker Read feat. Lee Ann Womack

Bump Bounce Boogie Feat. Chris O'Connell, Elizabeth McQueen, & Katie Shore

Miles And Miles Of Texas

Get Your Kicks On Route 66 Feat. Leroy Preston, Johnny Nicholas, & Ray Benson

Marie Feat. Willie Nelson

Spanish Two Step Feat. Johnny Gimble And Jesse Ashlock

The Road Will Hold Me Tonight Feat. Emmylou Harris And Willie Nelson

GRAYSON JENKINS ALWAYS COMES BACK TO HOPE ON NEW ALBUM "TURNING TIDES"

A proud Kentuckian—by birth and now, by choice—Grayson Jenkins sings his stories with a shrewd sincerity, a hopeful resignation, and a canny insight into the ways of the world; a world that found him, like many others, putting his life and career on hold for the last year and a half. But now that the world is turning again, Jenkins is ready to unshelve a treasure trove of songs with Turning Tides, a full-length album due out August 27th. Jenkins delivers candor and vulnerability with his signature resonant baritone; powerful enough to fill large halls but still tender enough to cradle his lyrics and deliver them straight into listeners’ hearts. Today, Jenkins’ shared for album-opener, “Mockingbird,” a bright pop-inflected track whose joyous, rollicking vibe belies the sadness of the story it tells: the end of a relationship, the persistent lingering memories of a lover, and the difficult determination to move on. The Bluegrass Situation caught up with Jenkins to learn more about the tune and its origin. “I had just broken up with my girlfriend of four years and was a bit of a mess,” he said. “I decided to go camping in my van and to see Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan in Milwaukee. The first line for this song came from a bird that was chirping non-stop by my van one morning. I couldn’t get it to leave, kind of like her memory. It was a good trip but I didn’t come back with anything but a broken heart, toll tickets, a sunburn, and this song.” Fans can listen to “Mockingbird” right here and pre-order or pre-save Turning Tides ahead of its August 27 release.

Although Jenkins started recording the album in 2019 and finished it by summer 2020, he held off putting it out during the pandemic, and holding onto the album has been “kind of a life vest of music,” he says. Jenkins calls the album a labor of love, saying, “We recorded the bones of the songs in five days, and then over the course of several months I added to it.” The album features an all-star cast of Kentucky musicians, including Jesse Wells (Tyler Childers), who co-produced the album with Jenkins and played electric guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. With the help of Wells, Jenkins recruited Miles Miller (Sturgill Simpson) for drums and Kenny Miles (Wayne Graham) for bass to round out the core recording group.

The album’s title track rides in on a Dick Dale-like guitar lick before shimmering slide guitar runs provide a bed for Jenkins’ slow-burning vocals; the song evokes the uncertainty that dark times bring and the glimmering rays of anticipation that change brings. With sonic echoes of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “The Ballad of Curtis Loew,” “Turning Tides” cannily rockets from the instrumental bridge into a bright major key. Jenkins points out that for him the primary meaning of the song is “hope and optimism. Like a lot of folks, I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety. Coming out of those hard times is one of the greatest feelings in the world and this song was written about that.” In the end, Jenkins feels just like the character from the song: “Ready for the sun to shine and the tide to turn.”

Like “Turning Tides” and “Mockingbird,” the songs on Turning Tides all tell captivating stories of love and loss, heartbreak and hope. For Jenkins, the arc of the album follows transitions in his own life—moving into music full-time, emerging into a post-pandemic phase of life, leaving behind one relationship and starting another—and offers perspectives on the changes we all experience in our lives as we move from sadness to joy, from self-denial to self-discovery, from darkness to light.

Turning Tides Tracklist:

Mockingbird

Nowhere Nights

Turning Tides

Jackson

Low Down Lady

Dear Katie

Picket Fences

Kennedy Road

Turning Tides (Acoustic)

Sweet Yesterday

 

PAUL THORN GROOVES ON NEW ALBUM "NEVER TOO LATE TO CALL" OUT AUGUST 6 - SINGLE "HERE WE GO NOW" AVAILABLE NOW

Listen to “Here We Go” and pre-save "Never Too Late To Call" here

For years now, Mississippi-native songwriter, singer, and guitar slinger Paul Thorn has breathed in everything life has thrown his way and exhaled a song, somehow always relatable to anyone who listens. Through a well-documented, quintessentially southern, both sides of the tracks upbringing—he’s the son of a preacher and nephew of a once-pimp, a former professional boxer with a winning record, an accomplished painter, and even a seasoned skydiver—Thorn has honed a reputation as a writer with razor wit and an intensely personal yet gently humorous catalog of songs. The difference with Thorn’s new album "Never Too Late To Call" is the inspiration behind his new songs. In contrast with earlier work that riffed on short-term love affairs—as well as “kissing the right one good-bye”—the writing on Thorn’s latest release features music from a man who is with the “right one” and is happy to be there. Available on August 6th via Thirty Tigers, "Never Too Late To Call" was recorded at Sam Phillips Studio in Memphis and produced and engineered by Grammy-winning wunderkind Matt Ross-Spang. It includes eleven new songs that range from groovy, grateful anthems and a duet with Thorn’s wife about the road bumps of marriage to moonshine metaphors and James Brown TV appearances.

On June 2, fans were treated to the first taste of music from "Never Too Late To Call", “Here We Go.” Thorn’s late sister Deborah—about whom the album’s title track is written—had a twin sister, Charlotte, who she left behind when she died. “Charlotte is a devout Christian and firmly believes that they’ll be reunited in a better place and will never be apart again,” says Thorn. Like most of his songs, this one also has a broader meaning. “Anyone that has someone they love knows it’s a joy and privilege,” he says. “This song is about having somebody.”  

"Never Too Late To Call" opens with a song called “Two Tears Of Joy,” a slow-burn ode to life that finds Thorn naming all that he’s thankful for without once coming across as cheesy or overly earnest. “It sounds a little corny to say this but I’m a 56-year-old man who has had a really blessed life,” says Thorn about the inspiration behind the tune. “I’m really grateful and thankful for everything I have and for the people I’ve met. ‘Two Tears of Joy’ is another way of simply saying I’m grateful.” A few tracks later, Thorn and his wife Heather singing a duet called “Breaking Up For Good Again.” “If you’re in any kind of long-time relationship you’ll know there will be bumps in the road and sometimes you won’t get along,” says Thorn. The song is beautifully fingerpicked and sung to perfection by the husband and wife duo who’ve been together for long enough to know the song’s ideas well. “We’ve lived this song and had our moments,” they say. Towards the end of Never Too Late To Call listeners are treated to a pair of groovy numbers in “You Mess Around & Get A Buzz” and “Holy Hottie Toddy.” The former a cautionary tale and the latter a call to love everybody inclusively; both feel comfortable—in classic Thorn fashion—but represent the full spectrum of what this new, thoughtfully mature album has to offer.

Thorn’s music has always been a reflection of where he’s been or where he is in his life. On "Never Too Late To Call", we find mellower Paul Thorn. The wit and the - at times - humorous commentary on life’s existential questions are in evidence, but here there is a peace about his life’s journey. Or, to put it in his words, “I’ve been such a lucky boy. I’m crying two tears of joy.”

Never Too Late To Call Track Listing:

 

1. Two Tears Of Joy

2. It’s Never Too Late To Call

3. Sapalo

4. Breaking Up For Good Again

5. What I Could Do

6. Here We Go

7. Apple Pie Moonshine

8. Sapphire Dream

9. You Mess Around & Get A Buzz

10. Goodbye Is The Last Word

11. Holy Hottie Toddy

JAMESTOWN REVIVAL RELEASES "FIRESIDE WITH LOUIS L'AMOUR" EP

Purchase or stream Fireside With Louis L’Amour

When the recording process of their new EP, "Fireside With Louis L’Amour", was all said and done, Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance of Jamestown Revival took on the challenge of distilling a half-dozen tales from "The Collected Short Stories of Louis L’Amour, Volume 1: Frontier Stories" from 30-page adventures down to three and a half minute songs. Their tune “Bound for El Paso” comes from L’Amour’s “The Gift of Cochise,” “Fool Me Once” was inspired by “The Man from Bitter Sands,” and so on. Longtime fans of Jamestown Revival haven’t had to listen very hard to hear L’Amour’s influence on Clay and Chance, but this is the first time they have tipped their hats directly to America’s beloved frontier storyteller. The whole of Fireside With Louis L’Amour—six songs in total—was directly inspired by individual stories from L’Amour’s Volume 1 collection, allowing listeners to trace the precise roots of Jamestown Revival’s newest release.

“They say that L’Amour was the master of the short story and we would humbly agree. In 30 pages he manages to draw you in, make you invest in the characters, and oftentimes hit you with a twist that you truly didn’t expect,” say Clay and Chance. “The songs on Fireside With Louis L’Amour are our attempt to put a musical spin on some of Louis’ short stories found on The Collected Short Stories of Louis L’Amour, Volume 1: Frontier Stories. It’s been challenging and incredibly rewarding.” To have the family of L’Amour on board was just icing on the cake for Jamestown Revival. “On top of that, it’s been an absolute honor to have the blessing of Louis’ son, Beau, and the L’Amour estate. We hope these songs inspire you to pick up The Collected Short Stories of Louis L’Amour and read the true inspiration behind the music,” they say, before adding, “We also feel it’s worthwhile to mention these songs should be best enjoyed sitting next to a fire with a nip of whiskey in the glass.”

Garden & Gun premiered the live performance video of album-opener, “Bound for El Paso.”

“If you’re a L’Amour fan, you’ll no doubt recognize what’s been distilled from story to song,” said Cowboys & Indians Magazine. “And you’ll love what happens when two Texans get a hold of America’s storyteller and let their imaginations and harmonies run.”

Fireside With Louis L’Amour Track Listing:

1. Bound for El Paso

2. Fool Me Once

3. The Ballad of Four Prisoners

4. The Killing Type

5. Beyond the Ridge

6. Prospector's Blues

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL KICKS OFF 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH NEW EP, "THE BETTER TIMES"

New May and June, in-person tour dates announced

EP out May 28th

“Everything this act has ever released is simply spectacular.” 

-Billboard

Fifty years ago—before Americana or outlaw or cosmic country ever had a name—Ray Benson and his band Asleep at the Wheel were carrying the torch of some of America’s favorite music into the future with fiery live shows, droves of followers, and a mainstream swing sound all their own. Fast forward five decades to find Benson and crew still bearing that torch, albeit with quite a few more fans and albums under their belt. To begin the celebration of its 50th anniversary, Asleep at the Wheel is releasing some new music ahead of a quick jaunt through Texas and Missouri this June—an appetizer of sorts for what’s to come from their momentous anniversary year. On May 28th, the band will release a three-song EP dubbed The Better Times, produced by Benson for Bismeaux Records. Benson takes the lead vocal on the title track, a hopeful original written while riding out the pandemic. Asleep at the Wheel vocalist and fiddler Katie Shore sings “All I’m Asking,” a rousing request to get back together, written by Band of Heathens’ Ed Jurdi and Gordi Quist. Meanwhile, Benson and Shore harmonize on “Columbus Stockade Blues,” a traditional tune arranged in the spirit of Willie Nelson and Shirley Collie’s 1960s version.

Once The Better Times is out in the world, Asleep at the Wheel will be hitting the road to celebrate—not just the EP, but the fact that they’re able to tour again—with a run of shows that will take them from Texas’s legendary Gruene Hall on May 29th, up through Texas to Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri, and back down to College Station to end the run on June 20th. A full list of tour dates can be found below and ticket information can be found online at asleepatthewheel.com/tour.

Additionally, Asleep at the Wheel fans are highly encouraged to stay tuned as the band gets further along into their 50th anniversary year—2021 has more exciting announcements in store.

Catch Asleep at the Wheel On Tour:

May 29 - Gruene Hall - Gruene, Texas

June 3 - Birdsong Amphitheater - Stephenville, Texas

June 5 - Starlight Ranch Event Center - Amarillo, Texas

June 6 - Cactus Theater - Lubbock, Texas

June 10 - Rose Music Hall - Columbia, Missouri

June 11 - The Sheldon - St. Louis, Missouri

June 19 - Buck’s Backyard - Buda, Texas

June 20 - Rudder Auditorium - College Station, Texas

SCOTT SEAN WHITE BUILDS A FOUNDATION ON HIS SONG CRAFT AND HIS TRUTH WITH DEBUT ALBUM "CALL IT EVEN" SET FOR RELEASE APRIL 23

Hear “Dad’s Garage And Mama’s Kitchen” today

For a songwriter who can produce such magical, poignant, and moving songs, it’s probably no coincidence that Scott Sean White now makes his home in a place called Poetry, Texas. Like Guy Clark and Lori McKenna, White is a writer’s writer. “Some songwriters spend precious time struggling to find their truth and make it rhyme,” says fellow Texas troubadour and songwriting legend, Jack Ingram. “Others just pick up their guitar and tell it. Scott Sean White is one of the others.” Ingram is just one in a long list of songwriters and artists who praise White’s songcraft—Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members Tom Douglas, Tony Arata, and Doug Johnson are all outspoken fans as well. “I think God gives us art to penetrate the scar tissue on our hearts to make us feel something again,” says Douglas. “[White] uses artistry and craft for that very purpose.” Needless to say, they are all thrilled to see White send his tunes off for the world to hear.

On April 23rd, White will release his debut full-length album Call It Even; an unadulterated eleven song collection of tunes in which White soulfully invests himself with each new song, delivering them in his life-worn, warm, and vibrant vocals that compel listeners to feel exactly what he’s feeling. Today, Cowboys & Indians premiered the album’s first single, “Dad’s Garage And Mama’s Kitchen,” a vivid and nostalgic portrait of the yin and yang of mom and dad. In the article, Cowboys & Indians writes “If you don’t mind your heartstrings being tugged at and maybe a few tears rolling down your cheeks, you’ll surely appreciate the sentimental and strong new song.” Watch the video for “Dad’s Garage And Mama’s Kitchen” at this link and pre-order or pre-save Call It Even right here.

Call It Even is chock full of every-day-life crafted into song. The jaunty “Crazy ‘Til It Works” illustrates White’s canny ability to tell a tale filled with serendipitous twists and turns to find the just-right word or phrase to describe the unexpected character of life. One day, banging around on his guitar, “not even trying to write a song,” White came up with this line about a couple who gets “married by Elvis in a drive-thru chapel in Vegas.” As he recalls, “It was interesting. I thought to myself, ‘Hmmm, I wonder what that’s about?’ Sounded like a cool, crazy couple who probably didn’t have a chance in hell of making it. So I started running down that road, telling this couple’s story as it unfolded in my head.” White and Jared Hard ended up finishing this bluegrass rambler about just that and the ways that some of the stuff we do in life seems crazy at the time but ends up working.

The lush spaciousness of “Humankind”—with its gospel-inflected piano—movingly tells the stories of two people for whom human kindness provided a balm for their pain. The idea for the song came from White’s co-writer Helene Cronin who saw a hashtag—#Humankind—on the internet. On the day they wrote the song, he says, “she had an idea about how to set it up with something like ‘nothing helps human pain, like human... kind.’ We ended up adjusting that wording by the time we got done but that was the thought that sparked it all. It is one of my most favorite songs my name has ever been on. And possibly...the most impactful.”

Even though Scott Sean White tells his own stories of heartbreak and hope in his emotionally riveting songs, he’s telling everyone else’s stories, too, and in every one of his songs, there’s a glimpse at the ways that everybody’s lives have sometimes fallen apart and been stitched together again by the silver threads of love.

Call It Even Track List:

Call It Even

Crazy But True

Crazy ‘Til It Works

Humankind

Dad’s Garage And Mama’s Kitchen

The Broken Part

Famous

Leaves, Branches, and Trunks

Right Reasons (For Kaiya)

God’s Not Me

When I Go

OUTLAW COUNTRY ROCKER WARD DAVIS RELEASES NEW FULL LENGTH ALBUM “BLACK CATS AND CROWS”

“Call it real, call it authentic, call it actual country music with an actual soul. Whatever you want to call it, know this, they don’t make guys like Ward Davis on today’s Music Row.”

 - American Songwriter

 

“It’s an outstanding country-rock album that will leave fans wanting more from this songwriter coming into his own.” 

- Farce The Music

Kicking off with a blaze of harmonized electric guitars sounding like when the Allman’s Elizabeth Reed checked into the Eagles’ Hotel California, Ward Davis’ new album Black Cats and Crows doesn’t waste a second on formalities. Out today on Thirty Tigers, Black Cats and Crows is triumph on all fronts. A muscly country-rock record filled with murderous story songs, heartbreaking vulnerability, and that unmistakable voice—Davis’s weathered croon, barrel-aged then left out in the sun—are all brought to life through Davis’s and producer Jim “Moose” Brown’s care for their craft and disdain for sterility. Ahead of its release, Black Cats and Crows garnered praise from No Depression who said “Davis’ skills as a songwriter were defined long before this record through his work with others, but his soulful vocals and multi-instrumental capabilities allow him to shine as a performer as well,” and Rolling Stone, who noted that the new album “highlights Davis’ introspective songwriting and his evocative piano stylings.”

Without listening to a note of Black Cats and Crows, the company kept in the liner notes alone—co-writers Cody Jinks, Kendell Marvel, and Shawn Camp—will tip off any discerning music fan on how respected Davis is as a songwriter. Of course, his own songwriting history precedes him too, having written tunes for the likes of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Trace Adkins. “This is my coping mechanism. I know music is a coping mechanism for a lot of people,” Davis says. “It’s important that it’s crafted well, but it’s also important that it’s honest so that people can relate to it and get something out of it.” But it’s not just songwriters that have taken notice. Among the world-class musicians who took part in the recording of Black Cats and Crows, a name not too often thrown around in the world of country music appears; Anthrax’s Scott Ian, who guested on the ominous murder ballad, “Sounds of Chains.”


In addition to the guitar-driven tunes, several songs on Black Cats and Crows also remedy the often-overlooked role of the piano in outlaw music. A fine pianist who shrugs off any praise of his own playing, Davis looks up to the slip-note stylings of master Floyd Cramer. “He would do these little flickers with the keys that aren’t complicated but really create a sound,” Davis says. “I mimic him a lot.” Kicking off with piano and fiddle, “Threads” lays a weary heart bare, while the beautifully written “Good to Say Goodbye” traces the push and pull that ensues when it’s time to go. “Good and Drunk” is a lesson in songwriting, heartbreaking and real. “That was a hard one to write,” Davis says. “It was a bad day. I came home from a tour with Sunny Sweeney, and my ex-wife had packed up everything and put the boxes in the garage. I was sitting there alone, hungover, wanting a whiskey drink, and I realized I didn’t know where the whiskey was. But I had my legal pad out. So, I started writing this song.”


Davis mines his own worries and pain for a song without ever forgetting the other person who will eventually listen to it. “I want people to know these songs mean something to me,” he says. “I hope they mean something to them. Maybe they’ll hear something that’ll make them feel better.”


Black Cats and Crows Track Listing:


Ain’t Gonna Be Today
Black Cats and Crows
Threads
Sounds of Chains
Get To Work Whiskey
Colorado
Book Of Matches
Heaven Had A Hand
Where I Learned To Live
Papa And Mama
Lay Down On Love
Nobody
Good To Say Goodbye
Good And Drunk

WARD DAVIS TO RELEASE NEW FULL LENGTH ALBUM “BLACK CATS AND CROWS” ON NOVEMBER 20

Kicking off with a blaze of harmonized electric guitars sounding like when the Allman’s Elizabeth Reed checked into the Eagles’ Hotel California, Ward Davis’s new album Black Cats and Crows doesn’t waste a second on formalities. Out November 20th on Thirty Tigers, Black Cats and Crows is triumph on all fronts. A muscly country-rock record filled with murderous story songs, heartbreaking vulnerability, and that unmistakable voice—Davis’s weathered croon, barrel-aged then left out in the sun—are all brought to life through Davis’s and producer Jim “Moose” Brown’s care for their craft and disdain for sterility. 

Yesterday, Rolling Stone premiered “Black Cats and Crows,” the album’s title track and first single calling it, “an ominous piano ballad in which Davis questions why the deck is stacked against him." Fans can listen to “Black Cats and Crows” now and pre-order Black Cats and Crows here.

Without listening to a note of Black Cats and Crows, the company kept in the liner notes alone—co-writers Cody Jinks, Kendell Marvel, and Shawn Camp—will tip off any discerning music fan on how respected Davis is as a songwriter. Of course, his own songwriting history precedes him too, having written tunes for the likes of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Trace Adkins. “This is my coping mechanism. I know music is a coping mechanism for a lot of people,” Davis says. “It’s important that it’s crafted well, but it’s also important that it’s honest so that people can relate to it and get something out of it.” But it’s not just songwriters that have taken notice. Among the world class musicians who took part in the recording of Black Cats and Crows, a name not too often thrown around in the world of country music appears; 

Anthrax’s Scott Ian, who guested on the ominous murder ballad, “Sounds of Chains.”

 

In addition to the guitar-driven tunes, several songs on Black Cats and Crows also remedy the often-overlooked role of piano in outlaw music. A fine pianist who shrugs off any praise of his own playing, Davis looks up to the slip-note stylings of master Floyd Cramer. “He would do these little flickers with the keys that aren’t complicated but really create a sound,” Davis says. “I mimic him a lot.” Kicking off with piano and fiddle, “Threads” lays a weary heart bare, while the beautifully written “Good to Say Goodbye” traces the push and pull that ensues when it’s time to go. “Good and Drunk” is a lesson in songwriting, heartbreaking and real. “That was a hard one to write,” Davis says. “It was a bad day. I came home from a tour with Sunny Sweeney, and my ex-wife had packed up everything and put the boxes in the garage. I was sitting there alone, hungover, wanting a whiskey drink, and I realized I didn’t know where the whiskey was. But I had my legal pad out. So, I started writing this song.” 

 

Davis mines his own worries and pain for a song without ever forgetting the other person who will eventually listen to it. “I want people to know these songs mean something to me,” he says. “I hope they mean something to them. Maybe they’ll hear something that’ll make them feel better.”

Black Cats and Crows Track Listing:

Ain’t Gonna Be Today

Black Cats and Crows

Threads

Sounds of Chains

Get To Work Whiskey

Colorado

Book Of Matches

Heaven Had A Hand

Where I Learned To Live

Papa And Mama

Lay Down On Love

Nobody

Good To Say Goodbye

Good And Drunk

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL PARTNERS WITH AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FOR FIVE DECADE CAREER RETROSPECTIVE ON OCTOBER 31

All of the greats were ahead of their time; Archimedes, Nikola Tesla, The Beatles. The Grateful Dead meshed string band music and rhythm & blues to create an entirely new scene and the Rolling Stones carried a rock and roll torch into stadiums and onto television screens worldwide, but in the world of Americana music and Texas’s cosmic outlaw country, there was one group telling old stories and rallying new fans well before those genres even had a name—Asleep at the Wheel. On October 31st, ACL Presents: 50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel, a special retrospective of the band’s appearances on public television’s beloved Austin City Limits program will premiere nationwide on PBS. From performing on the series’ very first episode to modern-day collaborations with legends like Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett (in total, the band has appeared on eleven episodes), Asleep at the Wheel have woven a 50-year thread through Texas and American music history, and Austin City Limits played a quite the part in it. Fans can experience the journey right from the beginning this Halloween when ACL Presents: 50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel airs; more information including a full broadcast schedule is available at acltv.com.

ACL Presents: 50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel is only the kickoff of a coming year-long celebration of the band’s five-decade milestone. This past week, Asleep at the Wheel’s fearless leader and founder Ray Benson took part in “Thriving Roots,” AMERICANAFEST’s virtual conference, announcing the coming special and screening an hour-long interview and documentary produced by the Texas Music Office for all digital festival attendees to enjoy. Additionally, Benson and Asleep at the Wheel are currently being featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Outlaws and Armadillos exhibit and as part of the Whitliff Collection at Texas State University’s museum.

Fans, new and old, should stay tuned in to asleepatthewheel.com in the coming months because Benson and Asleep at the Wheel are just getting started with their big celebration. 

 

ACL Presents: 50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel setlist:

“The Letter That Johnny Walker Read” - 1976

"Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” - 1978

“Get Your Kicks on Route 66” - 1996 

"Roly Poly" ft. The Texas Playboys - 1993

“Hesitation Blues” ft. Willie Nelson - 2009

“Nothing Takes The Place of You” - 1976

“Blues for Dixie” ft. Lyle Lovett - ACL Hall of Fame 2015

“Let Me Go Home Whiskey” - 1976

“After You’ve Gone” ft. Willie Nelson, Freddy Powers, and Johnny Gimble - 1981

“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love ”- 2015

“Boogie Back to Texas” - 1988 

“Milk Cow Blues” - 2015

“Miles and Miles of Texas” - 1996, 2002, and 1980

“Choo Choo Boogie” - 1978, 1988, and 1996

“Pancho and Lefty” ft. Willie Nelson - 2009

“Take Me Back to Tulsa” ft. The Avett Brothers and Vince Gill - 1996, 2015, 1978, and 1976

“Cotton Eye Joe” - 1980

WILLIE NELSON AND FAMILY, ALISON KRAUSS AND MORE TO PERFORM AT MERLEFEST 2020

MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the initial lineup for MerleFest 2020, which will be held April 23-26. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “For over 30 years, one of the major factors that has built and sustained MerleFest has been the quality of the artists and performances that our guests see over the 4-day festival,” says Ted Hagaman, Festival Director. “People truly feel that the festival is a great value and that is why music fans and families return year after year. We feel that the 2020 lineup again reflects the diversity and quality of performers, and we look forward to another successful festival in April.” The complete lineup for MerleFest 2020 will be announced over the next few months.

Today’s lineup announcement includes Willie Nelson & Family, Alison Krauss, The Jerry Douglas Band, Sam Bush, Jim Lauderdale, Kruger Brothers, The Waybacks, Scythian, Donna The Buffalo, Peter Rowan and the Free Mexican Airforce, Tommy Emmanuel, Shinyribs, Charley Crockett, Darrell Scott, The Steel Wheels, Robbie Fulks, Amythyst Kiah, Cordovas, Alison Brown, Andy May, “B” Townes, Banknotes, Bill & The Belles, Bryan Sutton, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, Chatham Rabbits, Che Apalache, The Cleverlys, Creole Stomp with Dennis Stroughmatt, David Holt, Fireside Collective, Flattop, Happy Traum, Hogslop String Band, InterACTive Theatre of Jef, Irish Mythen, Iron Horse Bluegrass, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Jody Carroll, Joe Smothers, Ken Crouse, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Los Texmaniacs, Mark Bumgarner, Mary Flower, Mitch Greenhill, Pete & Joan Wernick, Piedmont Bluz, Presley Barker, Rev. Robert Jones, Roy Book Binder, Sierra Ferrell, String Madness, T. Michael Coleman, Tony Williamson, Wayne Henderson, The Moore Brothers, The Williams Brothers, and Wyld Fern.

Tickets for next year’s festival go on sale November 12, 2019, and may be purchased at www.MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. MerleFest offers a three-tiered pricing structure and encourages fans to take advantage of the extended early bird discount. Early Bird Tier 1 tickets may be purchased from November 12 to February 16, 2020; Early Bird Tier 2 tickets from February 17 to April 22. Remaining tickets will be sold at the gate during the festival.

New for MerleFest 2020 is “The Patio at MerleFest.” This ticket-upgrade includes comfortable seating in a covered area with great views of the Watson and Cabin stages, access to the friends and family seating area (formerly named VIP), a deluxe air-conditioned mobile bathroom unit, snacks and beverages, and live video displays from the Watson and Cabin stages. Fans wanting to gain access to this exciting new addition to MerleFest should act quickly, as seating is limited.

MerleFest would also like to remind potential participants that the entry period for 2020’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is still open. Now in its 28th year, CASC is an extraordinary opportunity for songwriters to have their original songs heard and judged by a panel of Nashville music industry professionals, under the direction of volunteer contest chairperson, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale. Aspiring songwriters may submit entries to the contest using the online entry form at MerleFest.org or by mailing entries to MerleFest/CASC, P.O. Box 120, Wilkesboro, NC, 28697. All entries received during October and November will receive an early-entry discount price of $25 per entry, while submissions received in December and January will require a $30 fee per entry. All lyrics must be written in English and no instrumental entries will be accepted. The deadline to enter is February 1, 2020.