I have heard the future of country music, and the future sounds mighty fine.
Just 21 years old, Colter Wall, blessed with a resonant baritone reminiscent of The Man In Black and songwriting acumen that is drawing deserved praise from icons like Steve Earle, is poised to released his self-titled debut this month. Produced by Dave Cobb, who has spun gold with artists like Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, and Brent Cobb, Wall’s new record belies his age, stocked with songs more easily attributable to someone a little longer in the country much tooth.
And just last week, the name Charlie Worsham came up in a piece I wrote on writer Peter Cooper. Having gained mention here twice in the span of ten days, there must be something to Worsham’s story. All it takes is a listen to prove there is. Ten years Wall’s senior, Worsham recently released Beginning of Things to rave reviews from outlets like NPR Music and Rolling Stone. The graduate of Berklee College of Music also gets high marks in my book for his work with kids, as Worsham recently helped establish a scholarship fund for students interested in the arts in his hometown of Grenada, Mississippi.
Trail Mix is excited to offer up tunes from both of these new rising voices in country music.
Fans of progressive bluegrass, take heed. Trail Mix has you covered with tracks from two of Colorado’s best purveyors of modern string music. Yonder Mountain String Band recently released the sixth volume, and first in nine years, in their live Mountain Tracks series, and Head For The Hills has their new record set to drop next week. You can check up new tracks from each right here this month.
Joshua James is an artist that I am especially excited to welcome to Trail Mix this month. I am engaged in a long running discussion with a good friend about songwriters with the knack for writing vivid, poignant lyrics. Just yesterday, I sent my friend a link to one of James’ songs. It was well received, and James will remain in the discussion for quite some time. Check out “Broken Sparrow” from James’ new release, My Spirit Sister.
And it’s always nice to welcome old friends back to Trail Mix. Pokey Lafarge, whose throwback style has long been a favorite here, returns this month with a track from his new record, Manic Revelations. And Matthew O’Neill, who was profiled here just last year, is also back.
Round our your trip through the mix by listening to new cuts from doubleVee, The Two Tracks, Nick Moran, Raging Fire, threefifty, Humble Tripe, Lindsay Straw, The Resonant Rogues, Todd Adelman & The Country Mile, and The Mastersons.
And stay tuned to the weekly Trail Mix blog. Chats with The Steel Wheels, David Childers, and Eric & Magill are on tap, as is a preview of the annual Gathering In The Gap Music Festival in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.
Remember to show all of the artists who contributed to this month’s Trail Mix some love by spreading the word about the tunes you heard. Get out and buy a record or catch one or two of them live when they come through town. They would surely appreciate it.
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