Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for August 16th, 2024. Click the artist or album links to find out more. The artist’s names link to their websites and the CD title links go to either Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp or the artist’s site for ordering or downloading. A + sign means although not a featured release, it’s a notable album that’s still worth checking out. Also, this page will be updated as I find out about other new releases so check back again.
Pony Bradshaw
Thus Spoke The Fool (Black Mountain Music)
After moving around for the first half of his life, James “Pony” Bradshaw settled in Appalachia nearly 20 years ago, and he’s spent much of that time learning more about the region, and the people, near his Mineral Bluff home. That first-hand education and curiosity led to two albums for Bradshaw, 2021’s Calico Jim and 2023’s North Georgia Rounder. Now, he has a third collection of stories. Thus Spoke the Fool continues Pony Bradshaw’s habit of telling odd stories from different angles, backed by music that seems like it was plucked right out of that Blue Ridge air. Bradshaw makes the point that his songs aren’t strictly biographical, but rather stories of the small but vibrant world around him. While North Georgia Rounder bordered on Southern jammy-ness at points, the music on Thus Spoke the Fool is overall tighter, with its brief solos and excellent musicianship fitting into the concise construct of Bradshaw’s songs. (edited from Americana Highways review)
Also new this week…
Ray LaMontagne – Long Way Home (Liula Records)
Shelby Lynne – Consequences of the Crown (Monument Records) +
Muscadine Bloodline – The Coastal Plain (Stancaster Records)
Jason Charles Miller – Knives in the Dark (One Opportunity Records)
Ashley E. Norton – Call of The Wild (independent)
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys – Wanderers Like Me (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) +
Ben Sollee – Long Haul (sonaBLAST! Records)
Dan Tyminski – Live at the Ryman (8 Track Entertainment)
Bella White – Five for Silver (Rounder Records) +
Jontavious Willis – West Georgia Blues (Strolling Bones Records)
Coming out soon … Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Wild Ponies, The Cactus Blossoms, Sunny Sweeney, Caleb Caudle, The Deslondes, Colin James, India Ramey, Shemekia Copeland, Charlie Peacock, Jerry Douglas, Hannah Juanita, The Boxmasters, Lisa Morales, JP Harris, Amy Helm, Billy Strings, Donavon Frankenreiter and more!
