Record Store Day Americana and Country Releases 2026: When the Vinyl Spins and the Stories Begin

Record Store Day 2026 Logo

There’s a kind of magic that happens on a cool spring morning when the sun hasn’t quite warmed the sidewalks and the smell of fresh coffee mixes with the tang of old vinyl. It’s Record Store Day — that once-a-year celebration of grooves and ghosts — and this year, the date is Saturday, April 18, 2026. On that morning, independent record stores across the country will throw open their doors, and at the stroke of opening hour, lovers of sound will line up like they’re waiting for the doors of the Ryman Auditorium circa 1975 — all hope, heart, and beat-up boots.

This year’s Record Store Day offerings are rich with history, surprise, and serious vinyl heartbeat. From deep catalog treasures to first-ever pressings and special editions, 2026’s list reads like the soundtrack to an epic road trip through sound.

See the full list.

13th Floor Elevators – We Are Not Live – reprise of the 1968 album ‘Live’ by the 13th Floor Elevators. Spurned at the time for being billed as “Live” when in fact it was a compilation of previously recorded studio masters, outtakes and alternate mixes. The “very loud” crowd noise was overdubbed and was actually taken from a boxing match and wholly inappropriate for the purpose. Now, almost 60 years on, the album masters are available, in their original sequence, without the crowd noise, to be enjoyed in their full psychedelic splendor.

The Blasters – Rare Blasts: Studio Outtakes And Movie Music 1979-1985 – Rare Blasts is a compilation of outtakes and movie music tracks from the roots-rock Americana band’s 1980s studio albums. The 14-track collection was compiled as part of the sold out 5-LP box set, An American Music Story, released for RSD 2025. The LP features highly collectible tracks from their studio recordings many never available previously on vinyl. Includes liner notes from L.A. music writer Chris Morris. Pressed on cobalt blue vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day.

Jeff Buckley – Live À L’Olympia – This live album captures Jeff Buckley and band across two nights in Paris July 6th & 7th during his 1995 European tour in support of the release of his Grace album. Captured at the legendary Olympia, it found Buckley before a rapturous French crowd performing half of the songs from his beloved debut album ( including favorites like “Lover, You Should Have Come Over” and “Hallelujah”) plus covers as varied as the MC5’s “Kick Out The Jams,” a Led Zeppelin parody and songs made famous by Nina Simone and Edith Piaf. In addition, the album features an additional live performance of Buckley and Alim Qasimov in a competitive Qawwali singing duet from a festival of sacred music also captured that year in France. Originally released in 2001, this marks the album’s first time on vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day.

Kaitlin Butts – Yeehaw Sessions – Kaitlin Butts: Yeehaw Sessions is a 12” black vinyl release combining two of Kaitlin’s Eps, never before released on vinyl.

Brandi Carlile – Live At Easy Street Records Vol II – Nearly two decades after recording her first live album at Seattle’s Easy Street Records, Brandi Carlile returned to the iconic record store for Brandi Carlile Live at Easy Street Records Vol. II. Celebrating her 8th studio album, Returning To Myself, the show marked a full-circle moment for the 11x Grammy Award winner. Joined by The Hanseroth Twins and SistaStrings, Carlile played to a full house and was met with an outpouring of love from fans who celebrated her return to the city where it all began.

Tyler Childers – Live From Dinosaur World – A 7” single featuring live renditions of “Bitin’ List” and “Dirty Ought Trill” performed during the release weekend of Tyler Childers’ critically acclaimed album Snipe Hunter, exclusive to indie record stores for Record Store Day 2026.

Crosby, Stills & Nash – The Solo Albums – The landmark debut solo albums from David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash after the overwhelming success of the Crosby, Stills & Nash and ‘Deja Vu’. This set also includes an LP of rarities from demos and sessions for all three albums.

Skeeter Davis – The End of the World: The Navy Hoedown Sessions – Skeeter Davis fans are in for a fascinating detour with The Navy Hoedown Sessions, a 50th-anniversary reissue of the 1975 double album that is as much a historical curiosity as it is a musical treat. Originally produced for the U.S. Navy as a recruitment recording, the album was pressed in very limited quantities and has remained almost unheard. Featuring Davis’s signature country-pop sound and some of her greatest hits, these recordings are a true delight. Pressed on pink vinyl for Record Store Day 2026, don’t miss this rare opportunity.

Iris DeMent – The Way I Should (30th Anniversary) – In celebration of the album’s 30th anniversary, Yep Roc Records is pressing The Way I Should on vinyl for the first time. The album is remastered by Mike Westbrook of Material Mastering and is pressed on Summer Sky color vinyl, limited to 1,000 copies worldwide.

Jerry Garcia – Reflections (50th Anniversary) – One of Garcia’s most artistically unified statements of harmony, affirmation, and joy celebrates its golden anniversary with an expanded 3xLP set. Reflections (50th Anniversary Edition) presents the remastered original studio album, recorded with the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band – plus two bonus LPs featuring studio outtakes, jams and four previously unreleased live recordings. The collection is housed in a tri-fold mirror board jacket and pressed in a limited edition of 5,000.

The Jayhawks – 2 Meter Sessions – Never-before-released recordings – Amsterdam 1997 & 2000
for the first time ever on vinyl, the jayhawks present 2 meter sessions – an exclusive record store day 2026 release featuring two amsterdam sessions from 1997 and 2000.

Waylon Jennings & The Waylors – The Balladeer meets the Dukes of Hazzard – During the process of archiving and unearthing Waylon’s lost studio recordings, his son Shooter found the original recordings of lines of the Balladeer for the first two episodes of the Dukes of Hazzard, complete with bloopers and out-takes. Shooter also found the original recordings for the soundtrack to first season of the Dukes, produced by Richie Albright, and featuring Waylon and his smoking backing band.

George Jones – Cold Hard Truth – George Jones’ 1999 return to traditional country music, his first album with Asylum Records. Produced by Keith Stegall, the album features strong, original honky-tonk ballads and raucous tunes, reminiscent of Jones’ classic recordings. Cold Hard Truth is one of Jones’ strongest albums in nearly two decades, offering a consistent, high-quality listening experience. Pressed for Record Store Day on light blue vinyl.

Freddie King – Feelin’ Alright: The Complete 1975 Nancy Pulsations Concert – For the first time ever, experience the full power of Freddie King’s explosive 1975 performance at the Jazz Pulsations Festival in Nancy, France — a never-before-released live set that captures the Texas blues legend at his fiercest. King roars through a high-energy set of blues, funk, and soul-drenched grooves, backed by a razor-sharp band and fueled by his searing guitar tone and powerhouse vocals.

Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris – All The Roadrunning – To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the collaboration album between Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris, All The Roadrunning, is reissued on 2LP smoky marble vinyl as part of Record Store Day 2026.

Little Feat – Little Feat (Deluxe Edition) – Next in the lineup of foundational Little Feat albums to get the Rhino Deluxe treatment is the band’s 1971 self-titled debut album. Releasing as a 2LP vinyl set exclusively for Record Store Day 2026, it includes the original album, AAA-cut from original master tape, alongside a bonus disc of rare previously unreleased alternate versions and outtakes from their early recording sessions.

Joni Mitchell – For The Roses – Joni’s 1972 album, For The Roses, was her first for David Geffen’s Asylum Records. Joni originally had intended the album cover to be art that she created that was illustrative of the song, “For The Roses,” and showed her cynicism to the music business at the time. Geffen vetoed her artwork because he thought it was not a good look to have a horse with roses coming out of its ass! So Joni ultimately compromised to use the Joel Bernstein photo that was ultimately the cover. This special limited edition for Record Store Day restores Joni’s original vision for the cover artwork for the first time. Pressed on rose color vinyl.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – July 16, 1978 – Paradise Theater, Boston, MA – A wild night from the You’re Gonna Get It tour was recorded on 2-track at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA, and broadcast by local rock radio station WBCN-FM.

Robert Plant – Saving Grace: All That Glitters… with Suzi Dian – Saving Grace: All that Glitters… is a continuation of Plant’s Saving Grace album and his beautiful collaboration with Suzi Dian and their band. It features four new studio recordings.

John Prine – Found Dogs – A newly curated archival release celebrating the 30th anniversary of Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings. Drawn from the original recording sessions and demos from the era, Found Dogs collects alternate versions, acoustic performances, and five previously unreleased tracks, offering a rare look into Prine’s songwriting and studio process during a pivotal period of his career.

John Prine – BBC Sessions – John Prine recorded live for BBC radio. Featuring solo performances of songs from his first two albums. First official release. 1-LP 140g black vinyl.

Son Volt – Sound Signal Serenades – Son Volt’s latest album, Sound Signal Serenades, released on Sky Blue Opaque vinyl as a special version for Record Store Day 2026. Featuring twelve originals, Son Volt’s return to the elemental strengths that have long defined their sound—restless guitars, melodic clarity, and songs rooted in the lived experience of American landscapes. Anchored by Jay Farrar’s steady, unvarnished voice, the record balances reflection and resolve, drawing lines between personal memory and the wider currents of history, change, and endurance.

Bruce Springsteen – Live From Asbury Park 2024 – Available for the first time on vinyl, hear Bruce Springsteen’s electrifying homecoming performance in Asbury Park at the 2024 Sea.Hear.Now festival. Spanning over three hours of powerhouse performances in front of 35,000 people, this 5LP set features Springsteen at his dynamic best, backed by the legendary E Street Band. Spanning Springsteen’s iconic catalog, this record includes hits such as “Thunder Road” and “Dancing in the Dark,” plus songs that Springsteen wrote just down the road from this stage, including “Blinded By The Light” and “Growin’ Up.”

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros – Global A Go-Go – Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the second album by Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros with a limited splatter color vinyl pressing. Features some of his most well-known songs from the Mescaleros era, including “Mondo Bongo,” “Johnny Appleseed,” and “Bhindi Bhagee.”

Various Artists – My Soul Is Lost: Unknown & Forgotten Rural American Musicians – Old-time music compiled by R. Crumb and John Heneghan from their own almost five thousand 78 rpm records in his collection.

Jerry Jeff Walker – Navajo Rug (35th Anniversary) – In celebration of its 35th Anniversary, Jerry Jeff Walker’s Navajo Rug is now available on vinyl for the first time, exclusively for RSD. A fan favorite, the LP features extended liner notes and tracks like “Navajo Rug,” “If I’d Loved You Then,” and Jerry Jeff’s ode to one of his favorite baseball players, “Nolan Ryan (He’s A Hero To Us All).” Pressed on exclusive deep orange vinyl.

Listen up: Madeline Hawthorne – “Where Did I Go Wrong” (Single Review)

Photo Credit: Dan Bradner
Photo Credit: Dan Bradner

Hawthorne says she’s happily married and I’ll take her word for it.

But she’s done a dang good job portraying a troubled woman. Sure her newest cut, “Where Did I Go Wrong,” marks off many country music cliches – a broken heart, sitting in the bar pining on what went wrong – with her Miranda Lambert-belt meets Bonnie Raitt-bluesey swagger she sends the tune into another dimension.

She was obsessed with music since her childhood on the East Coast, Madeline planted roots in Bozeman, MT during college and never turned back. She honed her talents through countless backup and band gigs before going solo amid the Global Pandemic- which put her then band, Hawthorne Roots, on the skids. Balancing Americana, roots, folk, and rock, she introduced herself on the 2021 LP, Boots, co-produced by Brad Parsons and Tyler Thompson in Pittsburgh. In between, she shared the stage with everyone from Jason Isbell, Lukas Nelson, Josh Turner, and Kip Moore to Sierra Hull, John Craigie, and Nathaniel Rateliff.”

Hawthorne’s new album ‘Tales From Late Nights & Long Drives’ (which contains this single) is due out everywhere on June 14 and was produced by the famed Ryan Hadlock (Zach Bryan, The Lumineers, Vance Joy) and recorded at Bear Creek Studios near Seattle, WA.

Official Site | Preorder

Son Volt Continue To Inspire And Challenge On Electro Melodier Set For Summer Release

Son Volt  -  Electro Melodier

It’s been a couple of years since Alt.country stalwarts Son Volt last release, Union and Jay Farrar and company have not been idle in these pandemic times. Their tenth studio album will be released July 30th and will feature Son Volt’s current lineup of Mark Spencer, Chris Fame, Mark Patterson and Andrew DuPlantis..

The title, Electro Melodier, is taken from the names of two vintage amplifiers from the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, and will feature more intimate and socio-political musings from Farrar, who originally set out to make a nostalgic record that paid tribute to the music of his youth.

“I wanted to concentrate on the melodies which got me into music in the first place,” Farrar said in a statement. “I wanted politics to take a back seat this time, but it always seems to find a way back in there.”

The first cut from Electro Melodier is “Reverie,” (below) a song of hope and sepia memories laced with organ swells and chiming guitar.

Pre-order Electro Melodier.

The follow-up to 2019’s acclaimed release Union, Electro Melodier finds band founder Jay Farrar’s unparalleled songwriting as poignant and intelligent as ever. Electro Melodier touches on the thought-provoking issues that impact us all, including the pandemic, love, and the inevitable passing of time. The current political divide makes its appearance on the album as well. “I wanted to concentrate on the melodies which got me into music in the first place,” says Farrar. “I wanted politics to take a back seat this time, but it always seems to find a way back in there.”

“Livin’ in the USA” echoes protest songs of old, highlighting both the breakdown of our culture and planet. “Share a little truth with your neighbor down the block, We’ve all got fossil fuel lungs while we run out the clock,” Farrar sings. “The Globe” reverberates with the tensions that arise with the fight for equality. “People climbing skyward stairs, Deciders of their fate, You can see it everywhere, Change is in the air…” The sentimental “Diamonds and Cigarettes,” featuring vocals by country singer Laura Cantrell, lovingly pays homage to his wife, while “Lucky Ones” is a weary tale of gratitude.

Electro Melodier features band members Mark Spencer (piano, organ, acoustic slide, lap steel, backing vocals) Andrew DuPlantis (bass, backing vocals), Chris Frame (guitar) Mark Patterson (drums, percussion). Son Volt will take Electro Melodier on the road with select tour date in summer and fall. See below and for tickets go to https://sonvolt.net/.

Farrar started Son Volt in 1994 after leaving the seminal group Uncle Tupelo, whose No Depression album helped define the alt-country and Americana genre. Son Volt’s debut Trace was heavily lauded and remains a defining document of the ’90s alt-country movement. Two decades later, the group continue to decidedly capture the times while breaking new musical ground on Electro Melodier.

Chris Thile & Folk Alliance Int’l: 10 Collaborations for COVID Relief

Folk Alliance International commissioned ten musical collaborations between U.S.-based and global artists, applying their exceptional talent to address this moment in history, presented in partnership with Chris Thile.

The first is out today, featuring John Paul White and Rose Cousins (below) Each will be available via the FAI YouTube channel every two weeks. The whole project also asks folk fans to contribute to FAI’s COVID-relief Village Fund and each video features Thile speaking on its importance at the close of each video. Fans can donate to the Village Fund.

Marty Stuart Readies New Acoustic Album ‘Songs I Sing In The Dark’

The legendary Marty Stuart will soon release ‘Songs I Sing In The Dark,’ an acoustic 20-song album comprised of 20 “Obscure songs, old favorites” as Stuart describes them in the introductory video below, and was recorded just outside of Nashville.

Stuart will be sharing one tune each month alongside a personal statement about the song’s importance, both personally and in the context of country music history of which Stuart is a participant as well as a student. Whether that means that the album will then be formally released after all 20 songs have been shared once per month which would be October 2022 (!) is unknown as I was unable to find an official release date

About ‘Songs I Sing In The Dark,’ the five-time Grammy winner says “The title tells the story. I have a long line of songs that range from obscure, originals, to old favorites from various musical worlds that I often sing to myself when I’m alone,” He continues. “Until recently, I had never formally made a list of all the titles. When I did, I saw in those titles so many great songs that need to be remembered and passed down. There was a mighty congregation of names of profound songwriters whose presence and lyrics are to be cherished. And, looking into those songs I could hear the music of those brilliant musicians, arrangers, and singers who brought those tunes to life, and gave the world reason to love them. In the wake of these revelations, I was inspired to finally go to work on the idea of Songs I Sing in the Dark.”

“I love the restless wisdom in the words, and those words are shadowed by a lonesome melody that is served up from the blue side of town,” says Stuart. “As the pandemic raged on, ‘Ready for the Times to Get Better’ became my personal theme song. I can’t seem to quit playing it. Several months later, I’m still at it. The title proclaims what every soul on planet earth undoubtable feels. It is the perfect country song and I consider it an honor to sing such words.”

Songwriter Allen Reynolds penned the first release “Ready for the Times to Get Better.” The song was originally cut by Crystal Gayle for the 1976 album ‘Crystal,’ and it went on to become a Number One hit for her.

In December of 2020, the Country Music Association announced Stuart would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the Modern Era Artist category along with Dean Dillon and Hank Williams Jr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1AXPIPf7NM

2021 Grammy Awards – Country, Americana, Bluegrass and Folk Nominees

2021 GRAMMY Awards

Nominees for the 2021 Grammy Awards were announced with Miranda Lambert dominating the Country Music Categories (3). The Queen of Americana Lucinda Williams has 2 and ties with The Secret Sisters (Laura Rogers & Lydia Rogers) and John Prine’s last composition , “I Remember Everything, which has been nominated in two categories Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song.

The Grammy Awards for roots music takes place before the televised preceding the 2021 GRAMMY Awards show, the 63rd GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony will take place Sunday, March 14, at noon PT, and will be streamed live internationally via GRAMMY.com.

The 2021 GRAMMY Awards show performer lineup will include performances from Texas’ own neo-soul newcomers Black Pumas, Brandi Carlile, Mickey Guyton, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert and more.

Here are the country and roots music nominees:

Best Country Solo Performance:
“Stick That in Your Country Song,” Eric Church
“Who You Thought I Was,” Brandy Clark
“When My Amy Prays,” Vince Gill
“Black Like Me,” Mickey Guyton
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“All Night,” Brothers Osborne
“10,000 Hours,” Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
“Ocean,” Lady A
“Sugar Coat,” Little Big Town
“Some People Do,” Old Dominion

Best Country Song:
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert (Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, songwriters
“The Bones,” Maren Morris (Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins & Laura Veltz, songwriters
“Crowded Table,” The Highwomen (Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna, songwriters)
“More Hearts Than Mine,” Ingrid Andress, (Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis & Derrick Southerland, songwriters)
“Some People Do,” Old Dominion (Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Matthew Ramsey & Thomas Rhett, songwriters

Best Country Album:
Lady Like, Ingrid Andress
Your Life Is a Record, Brandy Clark
Wildcard, Miranda Lambert
Nightfall, Little Big Town
Never Will, Ashley McBryde

Best American Roots Performance:
“Colors,” Black Pumas
“Deep in Love,” Bonny Light Horseman
“Short and Sweet,” Brittany Howard
“I’ll Be Gone,” Norah Jones & Mavis Staples
“I Remember Everything,” John Prine

Best American Roots Song:
“Cabin,” The Secret Sisters (Laura Rogers & Lydia Rogers, songwriters)
“Ceiling to the Floor,” Sierra Hull (Sierra Hull & Kai Welch, songwriters)
“Hometown,” Sarah Jarosz (Sarah Jarosz, songwriter)
“I Remember Everything,” John Prine (Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters)
“Man Without a Soul,” Lucinda Williams (Lucinda Williams, songwriter)

Best Americana Album:
Old Flowers, Courtney Marie Andrews
Terms of Surrender, Hiss Golden Messenger
World on the Ground, Sarah Jarosz
El Dorado, Marcus King
Good Souls Better Angels, Lucinda Williams

Best Bluegrass Album:
Man on Fire, Danny Barnes
To Live in Two Worlds, Vol. 1, Thomm Jutz
North Carolina Songbook, Steep Canyon Rangers
Home, Billy Strings
The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 1, Various Artists

Best Folk Album:
Bonny Light Horseman, Bonny Light Horseman
Thanks for the Dance, Leonard Cohen
Song for Our Daughters, Laura Marling
Saturn Return, The Secret Sisters
All the Good Times, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Teague Brothers Share Video Of Evan Felker Performing “7 & 7,” “Good Lord Lorrie” And More

Teague Brothers  and Evan Felker

Great news Turnpike Troubadours fans! footage of Evan Felker surfaced yesterday afternoon showing him taking the stage with the Teague Brothers Band at a charity benefit for Eric Neal at the Pipkin Ranch in Beaumont, TX.

Neal was diagnosed with Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma in 2018, and has since had surgery to amputate his right leg, in addition to having multiple rounds of chemo/radiation as well as surgery on his back. Recently, the deep soft tissues tumor was also found in the lining of the brain.

The benefit was held to raise money for Eric, and the Teague Brothers Band was the musical entertainment for the event. They then interrupted their set to welcome a very special guest… Evan Felker.

This is the first time we’ve seen Evan take the stage in nearly two years, since Turnpike announced their indefinite hiatus back in May of 2019.

Teague Brothers frontman John Teague shared the following regarding the performance:

“Yesterday, February 27, 2021, was truly amazing to be apart of. Eric you are consistently in our thoughts and prayers. I’m proud to call you a friend and it was an absolute pleasure to be there. What a community we have.
Evan Felker of the The Turnpike Troubadours was a true gentleman and performed beautifully for Eric. A dream come true to everyone in the room. Godspeed Eric & Shelby Neal.”

Even if the Turnpike Troubadours never reunite it’s great to see Felker looking and sounding healthy and happy.

And best to Eric Neal. Here’s how you can help him and his family while he continues his fight.

PayPal : rehatcher16@gmail.com
Venmo: @rachel-touchet

John Prine Indy Label ‘Oh Boy’ Records Celebrates 40 Years

USA’s second oldest artist-owned independent label (if you know the first drop it in the comments section) and the oldest in Nashville—celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with a series of special releases and events. Founded in 1981 by legendary singer, songwriter and musician, John Prine, along with his longtime manager, Al Bunetta, Oh Boy has gone on to release more than fifty audio and video recordings and continues today as a vital part of Nashville’s independent music community with the recent signings of emerging artists Tré Burt, Arlo McKinley and Kelsey Waldon.

Of his initial inspiration to start the label, Prine has shared, “Every time I’d go to a little concert hall or a club, I was filling it up. So I thought, ‘Why not make music just for those people.’ And that’s when I talked to Al about starting Oh Boy. I’m really proud of it. As time’s gone by and people starting independent record companies has kind of become the thing, it’s great that we’ve stayed afloat for this many years.”

Prine’s widow and President of Oh Boy, Fiona Whelan Prine shares, “As long as there are people who want to listen to good music, who will value the singer-songwriter than we will keep on going.”
To commemorate the milestone, Oh Boy will share a new documentary series chronicling the label’s rich history and legacy via their YouTube page. Watch the official trailer below.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Prine’s landmark self-titled debut album. Featuring iconic songs such as “Hello In There,” “Paradise,” “Sam Stone” and “Angel From Montgomery,” John Prine was inducted into the Recording Academy’s “Grammy Hall of Fame” in 2014 and was recently named #149 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list. In celebration of the occasion, Oh Boy will release a special anniversary edition of the album later this year with much more to be announced.

Additionally, throughout the year, Oh Boy will roll out several new releases from their catalogue—including new music from Tré Burt, a special edition John Prine 7-inch box set, Fair & Square on vinyl and new material from Dan Reeder—as well as exclusive new merchandise, special curated playlists, outdoor pop-up events and more. Moreover, each week this year, the label will celebrate a different album or artist from their extensive catalogue. The series kicks off this Wednesday, February 24 highlighting The Bis-Quits.
Special exclusive commemorative merchandise as well as all the new releases to come will be available throughout the year at www.ohboy.com.

Heartworn Highways To Be Shown Nationwide via Kino Marquee Starting Feb. 5th

HEARTWORN HIGHWAYS

In the mid-‘70s, filmmaker James Szalapski traveled to Texas’ Hill Country and Tennessee to capture musical white lightening in a bottle. From high school gymnasiums, trailer homes, recording studios to a liquor-fueled Christmas guitar pull in Guy and Susanna Clarks dining room, now legendary performers – Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Young, David Allan Coe, a 19-year-old Steve Earle and many others are shown crafting a genre by looking towards country music’s folk roots and away from Music Row’s glitz.

Musical highlights include Clark’s brilliant “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” Steve Earle’s stirring “Mercenary Song” and Townes Van Zandt’s gut-wrenching “Waiting Around To Die.” (see videos below)

Though filmed in the late 70’s the full documentary was not released theatrically until 1981 and has been notoriously difficult to watch in its entirety. If you’ve never seen it in its entirety now you’ll have a chance. Starting Feb 5 Heartworn Highways will be in Virtual Cinemas nationwide via Kino Marquee.

Visit Kino Marquee here

Guy Clark – “Desperados Waiting For A Train”:

Steve Earle – “Mercenary Song”:

Townes Van Zandt – “Waiting Around To Die”

Cream of the Crop – Twang Nation Top Americana and Roots Music Picks of 2020

Let’s be real, the fact that anything good came out of the hellscape that is 2020 is a miracle.
The worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 left a mark on everyone not least of all the music industry. Many folks faced the daunting inability to earn a living on the road. Unbowed and resourceful they quickly moved to perform streaming shows, sometimes with little more than a smartphone and a prayer, and a virtual tip jar and made the best of it.

That said after 17 years I’ve decided to put the blog on hiatus.I have been battling health issues for some time. Thank those of you that have reached out with words of advice and encouragement.

The roots of this music cannot be denied and have been around longer than most of us have been breathing and will continue, as long as there is a heart broken or somebody with a paycheck looking for a good time, it will be here long after our last breath. And I will be listening and sharing on occasion for those open minded enough that they won’t be forced into a particular ideology to be deemed worthy of wearing some bands t-shirt.

17 yers of discovering records with a hungry and vibrant community, blistering, sweating beer live shows reveled in, the occasional brush with the legitimate music industry that believed a blogger made me some authority (suckers!) tons of friends made and enough memories for 10 lifetimes. Some of you might care less as many times I was on the unpopular side of the mob and was called out publicly instead of engaged with in good faith. Some of you might think this is a bummer. I hear you and wish it were different.

Enough of the kvetching. Below are my list of best albums of 2020. I applaud these artists, in no particular order, looked into the abyss of 2020 and made something beautiful in response. Special shout-out to newcomer Alma Russ. Her amazing instrumental talent and winning trill are the reason I wanted to share new finds with others folks holding lop-sided taste.

Adios and here’s to joyful mongrels.

Baron

Tessy Lou Williams, ‘Tessy Lou Williams’

Katie Pruitt, ‘Expectations’

Alma Russ, “Next Town”

Zephaniah OHora, ‘Listening To The Music’

Colter Wall, ‘Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs’

Charley Crocket, ‘Welcome To Hard Times’

Rachel Brooke, ‘The Loneliness In Me’

John Baumann, ‘Country Shade’

Joshua Ray Walker, ‘Wish You Were Here’

Chris Stapleton, ‘Starting Over’