Wanted! – Notable Americana and Roots Music Releases for 2021

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Lucero – When You Found Me (Jan. 29)

Most of 2020 to right now live music is largely put on hold, but plenty of artists are still finding ways to create. Time off the road and spent at home has meant hardship. but it’s also meant creative ways artists delivered performances to you at home and also time to reflect, write and record new music, which in turn means that fans can expect new albums from some of their favorite country, Americana, bluegrass and folk artists in 2021.

Despite 2020 being the worst year in most of our lifetime some great music still released to take a bit of the edge off.

2021 starts off right with releases from Steve Earle honoring the passing of Justin Townes Earle. We can also look forward to new releases from Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Langhorne Slim, Lucero, Aaron Lee Tasjan and many more.

Then there are yet-to-be-announced release dates for James McMurtry and others. Bookmark and check back to this list as we will update those add other releases as they come in.

Also if you know of a release not on the list feel free to add it in the comments below.

Thanks for keeping up with Twang Nation and here’s to a better 2021!

January
Jan. 1: Kandle & Kendel – ‘Birds’ EP (Neil Young Covers)
Jan. 4: Steve Earle & The Dukes – ‘J.T.’ (digital)
Jan. 8: Barry Gibb – ‘Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1’
Jan. 8: The Divorcees – ‘Drop of Blood’
Jan. 22: Jeremiah Fraites (Lumineers) – ‘Piano Piano’
Jan. 22: Justin Moses – ‘Fall Like Rain’
Jan. 29: Langhorne Slim – ‘Strawberry Mansion’
Jan. 29: Lucero – ‘When You Found Me’
Jan. 29: Pony Bradshaw – ‘Calico Jim’
Jan. 29: John Hurlbut & Jorma Kaukonen – ‘The River Flows’

February
Feb. 5: Aaron Lee Tasjan – ‘Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!’
Feb. 5: Aaron Watson – ‘American Soul’
Feb. 5: Andrew Marlin (of Mandolin Orange) — ‘Witching Hour’
Feb. 17 Jim Keller – ‘By No Means’
Feb. 19: Austin Meade – ‘Black Sheep’
Feb. 19: Spencer Burton- ‘Coyote’
Feb. 19: Andrew Marlin (of Mandolin Orange) — ‘Fable & Fire’
Feb. 19: Catherine Britt – Home Truths
Feb. 19: Ian Fisher – American Standards
Feb. 19: The Dead South – Served Live
Feb. 19: David Olney and Anana Kay – ‘Whispers And Sighs’
Feb. 19: John Paul Keith – The Rhythm of the City
Feb. 19: Veronica Lewis –You Ain’t Unlucky
Feb. 26: Willie Nelson – ‘That’s Life’ (Willie’s second release of Frank Sinatra covers.)
Feb. 26: Clint Roberts – ‘Rose Songs’
Feb. 26: David Huckfelt -‘Room Enough
Feb. 26: Sara Petite – ‘Rare Bird’

March
March 5: Ottoman Turks – ‘Ottoman Turks II’
March 5: Jason Ringenberg (Jason and the Scorchers) – ‘Rhinestoned’
March 5: Graham Wilkinson – ‘Cuts So Deep’
March 12: Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno – ‘Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno’
March 12: Peter Case – ‘The Midnight Broadcast’
March 12:Southern Culture On The Skids – ‘At Home With Southern Culture On The Skids’
March 12 Valerie June – ‘The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers’
March 12 Israel Nash – ‘Topaz’
March 19: Loretta Lynn – ‘Still Woman Enough’
March 19: Austin Meade – ‘ Black Sheep’ (DEBUT)
March 19: Rob Leines – ‘Blood Sweat and Beers’
March 19: Steve Earle & The Dukes – ‘J.T.’ (physical)
March 19: Mike Barnett – ‘+1’
March 19: Melissa Carper – ‘Daddy’s Country Gold’
March 19: Loretta Lynn – ‘Still Woman Enough’
March 19: Mike Barnett – +1
March 19: Sarah King – The Hour
Joe Pug – The Diving Sun (Side A)
March 19: Mandy Rowden – Parachute
March 19: Janet Simpson – Safe Distance
March 21: Allison Russell – ‘Outside Child’
March 25: The Armadillo Paradox – “Out of Gas in Oil Country”
March 26: Sara Watkins – ‘Under the Pepper Tree’
March 26: Esther Rose – ‘How Many Times’

April
April 9: Parker Millsap – ‘Be Here Instead’
April 16: Triston Marez – ‘Triston Marez’
April 20: Coleman Williams – “Son of Sin”
April 23: Todd Snider – ‘First Agnostic Church of Hope And Wonder’
April 30: Ashley Monroe – ‘Rosegold’
April 30: Ronnie Milsap – ‘A Better Word for Love’

May
May 7: Ted Russell Kamp – ‘Solitaire’
May 7: Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram & Jon Randall – ‘The Marfa Tapes’
May 7: Travis Tritt – ‘Set in Stone’
May 14: Alan Jackso – ‘Where Have You Gone’
May 14: The Steel Woods – ‘All of Your Stones’
May 28: Ashley McBryde – ‘Never Will: Live From a Distance’ EP
May 28: Blackberry Smoke, – ‘You Hear Georgia’
May 28: Rider & Rolling Thunder – ‘On the Banks of the Tennessee’

June
June 4: Turner Cody & The Soldiers of Love – ‘Friends in High Places’
June 18: Amy Helm – ‘What the Flood Leaves Behind’
June 11: Oak Ridge Boys – ‘Front Porch Singin”
June 11: Cory Grinder and the Playboy Scouts – ‘Honky Tonkin’ Beauty Supreme’
June 18: Rory Feek – ‘Gentle Man’
June 25: JP Harris – ‘Dreadful Wind and Rain’

July
July 9: The Flatlanders – ‘Treasure of Love’

August
August 27: Jason Eady – ‘To The Passage of Time’
August 27: Summer Dean – ‘Bad Romantic’

TBA

Steve Earle and The Dukes To Release ‘So You Wannabe an Outlaw’ This Summer

Steve Earle & The Dukes - So You Wannabe an Outlaw

Legendary ‘Hardcore Troubadour’ Steve Earle and the current version of his backing country rock band The Dukes – – guitarist Chris Masterson, fiddle player Eleanor Whitmore, bassist Kelly Looney, and new members drummer Brad Pemberton and pedal steel player Ricky Ray Jackson – will release ‘So You Wannabe an Outlaw’ on June 16 on Warner Bros. Records.

Musician, songwriter, actor and author Steve Earle’s first album for Warner Bros. Records since 1997’s ‘El Corazón’, explores his Texas country songwriting roots and features collaborations with Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush, Billy Joe Shaver and Miranda Lambert.

This is not the first time Earle and Miranda Lambert have collaborated. Sort of. Lambert gave co-writer’s credit to Steve Earle after the similarities to his song “I Feel Alright” and her song ‘Kerosene’ from her debut album was raised. It’s reported that Lambert admitted to unconsciously copying the melody and structure, saying “I didn’t purposefully plagiarize his song — but unconsciously I copied it almost exactly. I guess I’d listened to it so much that I just kind of had it in there.”

“There’s nothing ‘retro’ about this record,” Earle says. “I’m just acknowledging where I’m coming from.” So You Wannabe an Outlaw is the first recording he has made in Austin, TX. Earle has lived in New York City for the past decade. “Look, I’m always gonna be a Texan, no matter what I do,” he says. “And I’m always going to be somebody who learned their craft in Nashville. It’s who I am.”

‘So You Wannabe an Outlaw’ is an homage to outlaw music and is dedicated to the late Waylon Jennings. “I was out to unapologetically ‘channel’ Waylon as best as I could.” Earle says. “This record was all about me playing’ on the back pick-up of a ’66 Fender Telecaster on an entire record for the first time in my life. The vocal part of it is a little different. I certainly don’t sound like Waylon Jennings. I moved to Nashville in November of 1974, and right after that Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger came out. I was around when Waylon was recording Dreaming My Dreams. Guitar Town (Earle’s 1986 chart-topping, Grammy Award-winning debut album) wound up being kind of my version of those types of songs,” Earle recalls.

The album was produced by Richard Bennett and recorded at Arlyn Studios in Austin.

Earle hasn’t always embraced his alt.country past preferring to guide his career into more of a folk direction. “….Outlaw” appears to be a return to form. Is this a crass attempt to cash in on the resurgence of classic country spearheaded by the success of Chris Stapleton and early Sturgill Simpson? Who cares? Easrlevwas a pivotal figure in laying the groundwork that allowed those artists to build a career. I, for one, say welcome home!

This summer, Earle will lead his fourth annual songwriting intensive, Camp Copperhead, in upstate New York from June 26-30, 2017. The all-inclusive, four-day music vacation and fully immersive learning experience will take place at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY, about half an hour west of Woodstock. Primary instructor Earle will be joined this year by special guest instructors Jackie Greene and Dar Williams. Details can be found at http://camp-copperhead.com/.

The album is available for pre-order today via Amazon. Those who pre-order will receive an instant download of the album track “Lookin’ For A Woman.”

The track listing for ‘So You Wannabe An Outlaw’:

So You Wanna Be An Outlaw (feat. Willie Nelson)
Lookin’ For A Woman
The Firebreak Line
News From Colorado
If Mama Coulda Seen Me
Fixin’ To Die
This Is How It Ends (feat. Miranda Lambert)
The Girl On The Mountain
You Broke My Heart
Walkin’ In LA (feat. Johnny Bush)
Sunset Highway
Goodbye Michelangelo

Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks (covers):
Ain’t No God In Mexico (Billy Joe Shaver)
Sister’s Coming Home/Down At The Corner Beer Joint (Willie Nelson)
The Local Memory (Willie Nelson)
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way (Waylon Jennings)

Camp Copperhead:

06/26    Big Indian, NY              Camp Copperhead
06/27    Big Indian, NY              Camp Copperhead
06/28    Big Indian, NY              Camp Copperhead
06/29    Big Indian, NY              Camp Copperhead
06/30    Big Indian, NY              Camp Copperhead

Steve Earle and The Dukes’ upcoming tour dates are as follows:

07/01    New Braunfels, TX        Whitewater Amphitheater w/Ryan Bingham
07/02    New Braunfels, TX        Whitewater Amphitheater w/Ryan Bingham
07/03    Houston, TX              House of Blues
07/04    Austin, TX               Willie Nelson’s Picnic
07/06    Dallas, TX               House of Blues
07/07    Jackson, MS              Duling Hall
07/08    Memphis, TN              Minglewood Hall
07/09    Knoxville, TN            Bijou Theatre
07/11    Asheville, NC            Orange Peel
07/13    Charleston, SC           Charleston Music Hall
07/14    Durham, NC               The Carolina Theatre
07/15    Mount Solon, VA          Natural Chimeny’s Park / Red Wing Roots Music Festival
07/16    Charleston, WV           Culture Center / Mountain Stage w/ Larry Groce – Radio Show
07/18    Alexandria, VA           The Birchmere
07/20    Cincinnati, OH           Taft Theatre
07/21    Nashville, TN            Ryman Auditorium  (w/ Lucero)
07/22    Marietta, GA             Peoples Bank Theatre
07/23    Kent, OH                 Kent Stage
07/25    Chicago, IL              Old Town School of Folk
07/26    Chicago, IL              Old Town School of Folk
07/28    Mahnomen, MN             Shooting Star Casino-Mustang Lounge
07/29    Clear Lake, IA               Surf Ballroom
07/30    Apple Valley, MN          Minnesota Zoo-Weesner Family
08/01    Omaha, NE                   Slowdown
08/03    Aspen, CO                    Belly Up Aspen
08/04    Boulder, CO                  Boulder Theater
08/05    Salt Lake City, UT        The State Room
08/07    Alb, NM                   Kimo Theatre
08/08    Tucson, AZ                Rialto Theatre
08/10    Solana Beach, CA         Belly Up
08/11    W. Hollywood, CA         The Troubadour
08/12    W. Hollywood, CA         The Troubadour
08/14    Portland, OR                 Revolution Hall
08/15    Seattle, WA                  Neptune Theatre
08/16    Boise, ID                      Egyptian theatre
08/18    Billings, MT                  Zoo Montana
08/19    Deadwood, SD              Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel
09/07    Orlando, FL                  The Plaza Live
09/08    Ft. Lauderdale, FL         Parker Playhouse (w/ Los Lobos)
09/09    Clearwater, FL              Capitol Theatre
09/10    St. Augustine, FL          St. Augustine Amphitheatre (w/ Los Lobos)
09/16    Fredericton, NB             Harvest Jazz + Blues Festival
09/26    Winnipeg, MB, CAN      Burton Cummings Theatre
09/27    Regina, SK, CAN          Casino Regina
09/28    Calgary, AB, CAN         Grey Eagle Resort & Casino
09/29    Enoch, AB, CAN           River Cree Resort & Casino

The album is available for pre-order today via all digital retailers. Those who pre-order will receive an instant download of the album track “Lookin’ For A Woman.”

Emmylou Harris To Release “Wrecking Ball” Special Package Reissue

Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball

American Songwriter reports that Nonesuch Records will reissue Emmylou Harris’ acclaimed 1995 album Wrecking Ball as a three-disc set. The reissue will contain a remastered version of the original album, which snagged the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1996. There will also be a bonus CD of recently unearthed demos and outtakes.

The reissue will also include a documentary DVD “Building the Wrecking Ball,” featuring studio footage and interviews with Harris and producer Daniel Lanois, as well as album contributors Steve Earle and Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and Neil Young, who wrote the title song.

Last month Harris celebrated her collaboration with Rodney Crowell, “Old Yellow Moon,” by winning the Grammy for Best Americana Album

In October of 2013 Emmylou Harris and Daniel Lanois, joined by Jim Wilson, Brian Blade and Malcolm Burn, performed “Wrecking Ball” in it’s entirety at the Marathon Music Works in Nashville. (see video below)

The Wrecking Ball reissues is slatted for release on April 8

In celebration of the reissue, Harris will hit the road with Lanois this spring. Check out tour dates below.

Disc 1

1. “Where Will I Be?” (Daniel Lanois)
2. “Goodbye” (Steve Earle)
3. “All My Tears” (Julie Miller)
4. “Wrecking Ball” (Neil Young)
5. “Goin’ Back to Harlan” (Anna McGarrigle)
6. “Deeper Well” (David Olney, Lanois, Emmylou Harris)
7. “Every Grain of Sand” (Bob Dylan)
8. “Sweet Old World” (Lucinda Williams)
9. “May This Be Love” (Jimi Hendrix)
10. “Orphan Girl” (Gillian Welch)
11. “Blackhawk” (Daniel Lanois)
12. “Waltz Across Texas Tonight” (Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris)

Disc 2 – Deeper Well: The Wrecking Ball Outtakes

1. Still Water 3:55
2. Where Will I Be (alternate version) 4:14
3. All My Tears 3:21
4. How Will I Ever Be Simple Again 3:36
5. Deeper Well 2:18
6. The Stranger Song 5:21
7. Sweet Old World (alternate version) 5:56
8. Gold 3:16
9. Blackhawk (alternate version) 4:40
10. May This Be Love (acoustic) 2:15
11. Goin’ Back to Harlan 2:35
12. Where Will I Be (alternate version) 2:13
13. Deeper Well 3:06

Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball Tour Dates:

April 3 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
April 5 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
April 7 Royal Oak, MI The Royal Oak
April 8 Chicago, IL The Vic
April 11 Washington, DC The Lincoln Theatre
April 12 Brooklyn, NY TBA
April 13 Boston, MA The House of Blues
(additional tour dates to be announced)

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival – Saturday 10/1 Recommendations

Saturday is where things really take off. On Friday the main Banjo stage would have been a fine place to park your blanket to get the most for your musical enjoyment and Saturday is also the case.   Greensky Bluegrass, Alison Brown, Earl Scruggs, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings and Steve Earl. The last few years  The Arrow Stage has been the place for Texas performers and this Saturday follows that theme –   featuring The Band of Heathens, Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses, Reckless Kelly and The Flatlanders (Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock) The crowning jewel of this day is the legendary Kris Kristofferson & Merle Haggard performing together on the Star Stage at 2:20.
Banjo Stage
11:00am Greensky Bluegrass
12:00pm Alison Brown
2:45pm Earl Scruggs
4:15pm Gillian Welch
5:45pm Steve Earle & the Dukes (& Duchesses) featuring Allison Moorer

Rooster Stage
11:00am The Wronglers with Jimmie Dale Gilmore
1:35pm Guy Clark & Verlon Thompson
2:50pm Patty Griffin
4:15pm Punch Brothers
5:45pm Robert Earl Keen

Star Stage
12:30pm Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
2:20pm Kris Kristofferson & Merle Haggard

Towers Of Gold Stage
11:40am Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Arrow Stage
12:15pm The Band of Heathens
2:55pm Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses
4:25pm Reckless Kelly
5:45pm The Flatlanders feat. Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock