Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for March 21, 2025. 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.
Kinky Friedman
Poet of Motel 6 (Blue Elan Music)
The storied Echo Hill Ranch, where Kinky Friedman lived for over 40 years, is now the birthplace of his final masterpiece, Poet of Motel 6. This posthumous album showcases the wit, heart, and unflinching humanity that defined Kinky Friedman as one of America’s most iconic storytellers. Joined by Texas royalty like Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Rick Trevino, Amy Nelson, Rodney Crowell, and produced by fellow Rolling Thunder Revue alumni David Mansfield, this record truly lays bare the heart of this Texas bard.Mansfield experienced it firsthand. “Those songs he wrote about people he cared about that had passed on, they were quite elegiac,” says the producer. “He sang beautifully, and at the end he was in tears. He was very emotionally connected when he was doing these vocals.” Poet of Motel 6 marks the final chapter in Kinky Friedman’s extraordinary musical journey. Fans and newcomers alike will discover an album that is as unforgettable as the man who created it. (edited from press release)
also new this week…
John Cowan and Andrea Zonn – The Herculeons (True Lonesome Records)
Kora Feder – Some Kind of Truth (independent)
Lola Kirke – Trailblazer (One Riot Records)
Sam Outlaw – The Nonessential Sam Outlaw (Black Hills)
David Ramirez – All The Not So Gentle Reminders (Blue Corn Music)
Bobby Rush and Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Young Fashioned Ways (Deep Rush Records)
Coming out soon … Palmyra, Janiva Magness, Pug Johnson, Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters, Seth Walker, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Pete Mancini, The Wildwoods, Mason Via, Kassi Valazza, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Shinyribs, Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, Mattie Schell, Willie Nelson, Little Feat and more!
