Suzanne Santo and Butch Walker Duet on New Song “Better Than That”

 
Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Suzanne Santo will release her solo debut album Ruby Red on August 11th. Best known as one-half of Americana duo HONEYHONEY, Santo steps out on her own for the first time and, more than 10 years into an acclaimed career, turns a new corner. Today, she released a third song from the album titled “Better Than That,” an elegant stripped-down ballad featuring a stunning duet with multi-platinum Grammy nominee Butch Walker who also produced the record.

“I’ve never worked with a more selfless, motivating, and positive force who cares, first and foremost, about the music,” Santo told L.A. Weekly. “It’s not about him. I think that more often than not, producers or collaborators don’t coalesce as well. You get a little ego in the room. I just never felt that, not for one second. I’ve had great experiences, but this one is the best one.”
 
Ruby Red is caught halfway between the dark swoon of pop-noir, the raw rasp of soul music, and the honest punch of Americana. It’s an album about love, life, and lust in the modern world. A moody, fierce, melody-driven 11-song offering, Ruby Red ranges from Southern-gothic anthems to slow-burning soul ballads to explosive rockers, all anchored around Santo’s voice: an electrifying, elastic instrument that’s capable of both vulnerability and ferocity.

 Check out the leaad single “Ghost In My Bed“

Before they collaborated on Ruby Red, Santo made multiple appearances on Butch Walker’s latest album Stay Gold. She joined him on the road, too, singing harmonies and playing violin, guitar, and banjo during a nationwide tour in 2016. During breaks in her touring schedule, she began diving into a different type of songwriting, looking to diverse albums by Erykah Badu, David Bowie, Townes Van Zandt, and the Alabama Shakes for inspiration. For years, she’d always been somebody else’s bandmate. This was a time to explore her own identity. To write her own music. To ignore genres and defy expectations. To determine what, exactly, she wanted to say, and find out the best way to deliver it.
 
“This record is so fucking sexy, I can’t deal,” stated Butch Walker. “Proud to have been in the room when these songs were going down. Put it on and turn out the lights.“

Following album release shows in August in LA and NYC, Suzanne will join former Old Crow Medicine Show co-founder Willie Watson on tour this Fall, kicking off in Louisville and hitting Chicago, Washington DC, and Philadelphia among many others.

Tour Dates:
08/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater
08/23 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
09/21 – Tahlequah, OK @ Medicine Stone Festival
10/13 – Louisville, KY @ Galaxie Outer Space*
10/14 – Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark*
10/15 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bluebird*
10/17 – Newport, KY @ Southgate Revival House*
10/18 – Chicago, IL @ Old Town School of Folk Music*
10/19 – Cleveland, OH @ Music Box Supper Club*
10/20 – Lexington, KY @ The Burl*
10/21 – Columbus, OH @ the Basement*
10/23 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd*
10/25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade*
10/26 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge*
10/27 – Hudson, NY @ Club Helsinki*
10/28 – Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt*
10/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle*
 
* w/ Willie Watson

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New Single From Emerging Artist Aaron Lee Tasjan

Praised as “a study in sturdy, [Tom] Petty-esque hooks” by NPR Music, Aaron Lee Tasjan’s new single “Till The Town Goes Dark” is a standout track from his critically acclaimed debut album SilverTears.

They state, “The lo-fi and occult clip features detectives, hippies, gypsies, cats, and a banana phone, all of which effectively capture the alternative energy of the mid-tempo Americana track.” 

SilverTears emerged as a breakthrough album of 2016 with year-end accolades such as NPR Music’s “Best 50 Albums of 2016,” American Songwriter’s “Top 50 Albums of 2016,” Rolling Stone’s “10 Best Country Videos of 2016,” and many more.

Never one to shy away from life on the road, Tasjan has been touring extensively since the release of Silver Tears with appearances that include support for Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams, The North Mississippi Allstars, Shovels & Rope, and St. Paul & the Broken Bones, as well as notable sets at Cayamo, Luck Reunion, Stagecoach, and Bonnaroo. Tasjan’s summer tour will continue with performances at both Newport Folk Festival and FloydFest, followed by the End of the Road Festival, Electric Picnic Festival, and multiple headlining shows in the UK.

PURCHASE SILVER TEARS

In September, he will play a showcase at Nashville’s Americanafest in celebration of his “Emerging Artist of the Year” nomination for the Americana Music Association’s 2017 Honors & Awards, as well as make an appearance at Pilgrimage Music Festival along with Justin Timberlake, Eddie Vedder, Ryan Adams and more.  

Tour Dates:

July 28 – Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Fest
July 29 – Floyd, VA @ FloydFest
July 30 – Floyd, VA @ FloydFest
August 4 – Huntsville, AL @ Tangled String Studios
August 10 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Colorado Classic
September 1 – London, UK @ End of the Road Festival
September 3 – Laois, IE @ Electric Picnic
September 4 – London, UK @ The Islington
September 5 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Gullivers
September 7 – Glasgow, UK @ King Tuts Wah Wah Hut
September 12-17 – Nashville, TN @ Americanafest
September 23 – Franklin, TN @ Pilgrimage Festival (ASCAP Shady Grove Stage)
September 24 – Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Festival
September 29 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
September 30 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
October 2 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
October 3 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
October 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
October 29 – Birmingham, AL @ Vulcan Aftertunes Series

ARTIST LINKS

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A Sound Recommendation: Jessica Lea Mayfield

photo credit: Ebru Yildiz

 

Jessica Lea Mayfield

Genre:  Singer-Singwriter

Origin:  Kent, Ohio

 

Jessica Lea Mayfield is a 28 year old guitarist, singer and songwriter who was born in Kent, Ohio she grew up touring with her families Newgrass/Bluegrass band “One Way Rider” and at the age of 8 years old, they relocated to Nashville, where when they weren’t touring regionally they played 4 shows a day, 7 days a week. They lived and traveled on a 1956 tour bus that had once been owned by Bill Monroe that he had christened as the “Bluegrass Breakdown.”

She credits her joining of “One Way Rider” and her interest in music to discovering her favorite bands by watching music videos on MTV and VH-1 in the late 90s.

“After seeing the video for the Foo Fighters, ‘My Hero,’ I can remember, even at age 6 or 7
thinking…THIS, this is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life!”

At age 15, she recorded her first album “White Lies” in her brother’s bedroom, printing only 100 copies. One of those copies fell into the hands of Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. After an introduction, Mayfield and Auerbach hit the studio, recording her debut album “With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt.” and later her sophomore album “Tell Me.”

Her favorite genres are 90s alternative and 70s/80s Bluegrass, with influences such as: Elliott Smith, The Stone Temple Pilots, Doyle Lawson And Quicksilver and the aforementioned Foo Fighters.

PRE ORDER SORRY IS GONE

Jessica’s highly anticipated new release, Sorry Is Gone, drops on September 29 via ATO Records and is now available for pre-order.

Check out the title track below:

Fall tour dates have also been confirmed.

TOUR DATES:

October 12—Columbus, OH—Rumba Cafe*

October 13—Lakewood, OH—Mahall’s 20 Lanes*

October 14—Pittsburgh, PA—Club Cafe*

October 15—Toronto, ON—The Rivoli*

October 17—New York, NY—Baby’s All Right*

October 19—Boston, MA—Great Scott

October 20—Philadelphia, PA—Boot & Saddle

October 21—Washington, DC—Songbyrd

October 23—Charlottesville, VA—The Southern

October 24—Carrboro, NC—Cat’s Cradle Back Room

October 25—Knoxville, TN—The Open Chord

October 26—Asheville, NC—The Altamont

October 27—Atlanta, GA—The Earl

October 28—Charlotte, NC—Stage Door Theater

November 3—Nashville, TN —The Basement East

November 8—Indianapolis, IN—Hi-Fi

November 9—Chicago, IL—The Empty Bottle

November 10—Milwaukee, WI—The Back Room at Colectivo

November 11—Minneapolis, MN—7th Street Entry

November 12—Madison, WI—The Frequency

November 14—Davenport, IA—The Raccoon Motel

November 15—Des Moines, IA—Vaudeville Mews

November 16—Kansas City, MO—The Riot Room

November 17—St. Louis, MO—Off Broadway

November 18—Louisville, KY—Zanzabar

*with support from Mal Blum

ARTIST LINKS

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Singer-Songwriter Brian Dunne On Tour In Support of New Album

Brian Dunne

Genre:  Folk/Americana

Origin:  New York City

New York City-based Americana singer-songwriter Brian Dunne is hitting the road in celebration of his new album, Bug Fixes & Performance Improvements, which was just released in May.  The tour run includes shows with The Stray Birds, Pat McGee, and Lilly Hiatt.   

Dunne’s first single from the album, “Don’t Give Up On Me,” premiered in February on SiriusXM’s Coffee House, and the second single, “You Got Me Good,” was released in April.  

“I made this record to play live,” says Dunne.  “I wrote these songs while traveling around the country and nothing is better than bringing the music back to its natural habitat.”

Produced by Dunne himself and engineered by Andrew Sarlo (Big Thief, Nick Hakim), Bug Fixes & Performance Improvements is flush with twang and heart, with more than a passing nod to folk and Springsteen-esque everyman rock in its Americana goodness.  

PURCHASE BUG FIXES & PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS

“The record didn’t really take shape until I came up with ‘Don’t Give Up On Me’ one afternoon, sitting at my living room table,” says Dunne. “It seemed to sum up my mission statement for the whole record.  It’s about the devotion to maintaining your idealism as the world makes you more cynical.  It’s about putting your chips back on the table after you’ve suffered a big loss.  And if you have to lose again, lose in a big way.  I love that idea.”

Dunne grew up in upstate New York, and after graduating from the Berklee College of Music he made his way to New York City where he settled in Brooklyn.  In 2012, he released The Brooklyn Bridge EP.  That was followed in 2015 by his album Songs From The Hive, his musical nod to The Band and Bob Dylan, which garnered the attention of outlets like No Depression and Daytrotter.  

Tour Schedule:

Jul 24 – Nectars, Burlington, VT (w/The Stray Birds)

Jul 25 – Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY (w/The Stray Birds)

Jul 27 – 20 Front Street, Lake Orion, MI (w/Pat McGee)

Jul 28 – Seven Steps Up, Spring Lake, MI (w/Pat McGee)

Jul 29 – City Winery, Chicago, IL (w/Pat McGee)

Aug 01 – Thirty One West, Newark, OH

Aug 04 – Tally Ho Theatre, Leesburg, VA

Aug 05 – Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD

Aug 12 – Norton Chapel, Gloucester, MA

Aug 18 – Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, Lyons, CO      

Aug 19 – Philadelphia Folk Festival, Philadelphia, PA          

Aug 28 – Club Café, Pittsburgh, PA (w/Lilly Hiatt)

Aug 29 – Boot & Saddle, Philadelphia, PA (w/Lilly Hiatt)                                      

Sep 05 – Jammin Java, Vienna, VA (w/Lilly Hiatt)

Sep 10 – Boulton Center, Bay Shore, NY (w/Stephen Kellogg)

Sep 16 – Little C Music Festival, Canton, OH

Sep 30 – Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY

Oct 13 – Me And Thee, Marblehead, MA

Oct 28 – Next Stage, Putney, VT (w/The Mammals)

“His schooling is firmly grounded in Hank Williams, Neil Young, and Ryan Adams. And as you would expect from an artist whose sound takes in such references, his debut record Songs From The Hive is a record of folky Americana and heartbreaking country.” – Songwriting Magazine

“A pure, expressive voice and a fondness for lonesome steel guitar” – CMT Edge

ARTIST LINKS:

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AngloFiles: New Release From Britain’s Soulful Pop Rocker Matt Wills

Matt Wills

Cigarettes & City Lights

Label:  Virgin

Britain’s Matt Wills is a soulful vocalist with a bent toward atmospheric folk-pop. Originally from Kent, Wills first began writing songs at age 13. However, it was after he moved to London to attend drama school at age 16 that he began attracting attention with his mix of bittersweet love songs and dance-oriented pop.

In 2014 he released his debut EP, She Has No Name, featuring the single “Aeroplanes.” The following year he delivered another EP, the four-song Lost and Found. Originally a digital-only release, the EP was also given a limited vinyl run for Record Store Day. In 2016, Wills returned with the single “Hurricane.”

His debut album Cigarettes & City Lights is now available.  

PURCHASE CIGARETTES & CITY LIGHTS

Listen to the first single Wallflower

 

 

NEW MUSIC: First single from Jesse Terry’s Forthcoming New Album Stargazer

 

New England-based singer/songwriter Jesse Terry has announced the release of his new album Stargazer on September 15, 2017. His fourth full-length album and follow-up to 2013’s Stay Here With Me, Stargazer is Terry’s most ambitious album to date, a lushly orchestrated collection of timely new songs centered around finding hope in a seemingly hopeless time, picking resilience over recrimination, and optimism over oblivion.

Listen to the lead single “Woken The Wildflowers”

Begun while on holiday in New Zealand in the wake of the 2017 Women’s March,  “Woken The Wildflowers” is a tribute to the renewal of American ideals made manifest that day. “Those are the American values that we read about in grade school – equality, justice, decency, freedom, truth – and I loved seeing millions of people across the world standing up for those beliefs,” said Terry. “I wanted to honor that in a song.”

Be sure to catch Jesse in a city near you.

Tour Dates:

07/21 – Westerly, RI @ The Westerly Armory
07/30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ SongSpace
08/04 – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest
08/06 – King of Prussia, PA @ Concerts Under the Stars
08/11 – Westport, CT @ Levitt Pavilion Westport
08/16 – Cambridge, MA @ Club Passim
08/17 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Caffe Lena
08/23 – New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
08/26 – Yorktown Heights, NY @ Blue Spruce Concerts
09/07 – Worthington, OH @ Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza
09/08 – Avon Lake, OH @ Barnegie Hall/The Barn
09/09 – Port Clinton, OH @ The Listening Room
09/10 – Spring Lake, MI @ Courtyard Concerts
09/13 – Nashville, TN @ AmericanaFest
09/14 – Nashville, TN @ AmericanaFest
09/15 – Huntersville, NC @ Homefront Music Series
09/16 – Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic
09/17 – Huntsville, AL @ Huntsville Strings
10/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ Aster Cafe
10/27 – Three Oaks, MI @ The Acorn Theater
10/28 – Lake Orion, MI @ 20 Front Street
10/29 – East Lansing, MI @ Lakehouse
11/01 – Mohegan Lake, NY @ The Winery at St. George
11/02 – Cambridge, MA @ Sonia’s Nightclub
11/03 – Newton Square, PA @ Burlap and Bean
11/04 – Summit, NJ @ Mondo
11/05 – Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java
11/08 – Knoxville, TN @ the Open Chord
11/09 – Asheville, NC @ The Altamont Theatre
11/11 – Chattahoochee Hills, GA @ Chatt Hills Music/Serenbe Inn
11/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Music Shop

ARTIST LINKS:

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A Sound Recommendation — Aisha Badru

 

 

Aisha Badru

Genre:  Singer-Songwriter

Origin:  New York

From writing songs on a guitar in the solitude of a bedroom, to traveling to promote her debut of her self-released EP ‘Vacancy’ in 2015, Aisha Badru, 23, uses the combination of soft vocals and vivid lyrics to create a distinct sound that serves as stepping stones to draw listeners into her world.

Aisha soon caught attention of the ad world when her beautifully moving song “Waiting Around” was selected for a Volkswagen viral campaign.

 

Listen to her first single “Mind On Fire”

“This song is a step back from my usual reflections on love. It’s about the revolutionary spirit that dwells inside all of us that often gets smothered underneath the mundane obligations and limitations imposed by society that keep our heads down and our attention focused on the small details of our lives which in turn holds us back from correcting the flaws that exist in the current state of the world and prevents us from truly being free”  Aisha Badru

ARTIST LINKS :

WEBSITE        FACEBOOK      TWITTER    INSTAGRAM

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Single from Kenny Wayne Shepherd

“Diamonds & Gold,” the new single from Lay It On Down, five-time Grammy nominee and critically acclaimed guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s forthcoming ninth album.

CHECK OUT THE PREMIERE HERE

Lay It On Down is due August 4 on Concord Records. Recorded at Echophone Studios in Shepherd’s hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana and produced by Shepherd with Marshall Altman (Matt Nathanson, Natasha Bedingfield, Kate Voegele), the album was largely recorded live in the studio to analog tape.

Shepherd’s band on Lay It On Down features his long-time lead vocalist Noah Hunt, the rhythm section from Shepherd’s supergroup side project The RIDES, Chris Layton (drums) and Kevin McCormick (bass), and keyboardist Jimmy McGorman. “I’m proud of the album we have delivered to the fans and I think they’ll be excited by what they hear,” notes Shepherd. “The band we’ve assembled did a fantastic job bringing these songs to life and conveying the musical message to the listener. Now we are looking forward to bringing this new music to the live show to watch it develop even more.”

Shepherd further discusses the writing/recording process in the new album’s video trailer:

Shepherd will celebrate the album’s release with a U.S. tour that kicks off August 9 in Westbury, NY.  
TOUR DATES

August 9 Westbury, NY – The Space at Westbury
August 10 Albany, NY – The Egg
August 11 Northfield, OH – Hard Rock Live
August 12 Peoria, IL – Riverfront Park
August 14 Annapolis, MD – Rams Head on Stage 
August 15 Annapolis, MD –Rams Head on Stage
August 16 Morristown, NJ- Mayo Performing Arts Center
August 18 Portland, ME – Aura
August 19 Northampton, MA  – Calvin Theatre
August 20 Derry, NH – Tupelo Music Hall
August 22 Bar Harbor, ME – Criterion Theatre
August 23 Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
August 25 Harrisburg, PA – Whitaker Center
August 26 –E. Providence, RI – Bold Point Park
August 27 Beverly, MA – Cabot Theatre
September 1 Milwaukee, WI – Harley Davidson Museum
September 8 Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre
September 9 Redwood City, CA – Fox Theatre
September 10 Guerneville, CA – Russian River Jazz Festival
September 15 Cottonwood, AZ – Thunder Valley Rally
September 16 Las Vegas, NV – Tropicana Theater
September 18 Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
September 19 Des Moines, IA – Hoy Sherman Place
September 21 Wichita, KS – The Cotillion Ballroom
September 22 Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre
September 23 Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond Festival
October 14 Merrillville, IN – Star Plaza Theatre

Radney Foster Announces New CD + Book Duo

Legendary artist Radney Foster announced his latest project–a CD/book combo titled For You To See The Stars will be released on September 15. The collection of short stories, released via Working Title Farm, will be Foster’s very first print publication. The record (Devil’s River Records) marks Foster’s eleventh studio album and will feature nine new songs, along with a special re-recording of his top single, “Raining on Sunday.”

While it’s evident that Texas has always been an inspiration for his music, in For You To See The Stars, Foster explores various landscapes, both physical and emotional, from the story of a retired spy in New Orleans, to the tale of a Dallas lawyer wandering the Rocky Mountains in search of redemption, to a post apocalyptic parable of a world in endless war.

The beauty of this CD/book combo lives within Foster’s extensive imagery, which not only further expands the meaning behind Foster’s songs, but gives the reader a look at the thought process behind his songwriting. “For me, the goal of writing is always to touch that one person so much that they wonder how I got a peek into their living room–how I understood exactly what they felt. More than just rhyming or having a pretty melody, I try to express a part of the human condition that can make someone want to laugh, cry, make love, or all of the above.”

Foster has written eight number one hit singles, including his own “Nobody Wins,” and “Crazy Over You” with duo Foster & Lloyd. His discography contains countless cuts by artists ranging anywhere from country (Keith Urban, The Dixie Chicks, Luke Bryan, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) to contemporary (Marc Broussard, Hootie & The Blowfish, Kenny Loggins, Los Lonely Boys).

For You To See The Stars is Foster at his classic storytelling best, both as a seasoned singer/songwriter and a soulful writer of prose. Although both components stand alone as separate pieces of art– they are meant to be enjoyed together for a reason. When coupled, the book and CD give fans a deeper insight into the subconscious of Foster’s storytelling. Journalist Peter Cooper puts it best, “Radney Foster writes with uncommon depth of emotion, humor, empathy, and clarity. I’m going to ask him how he does it, and if he tells me I’ll let you in on his secret. Until then, it’s best that we read, wonder, and revel.”

Pre-order the album and book here.

Tour Dates:

July 20, 22, 23 – Fort Garland, CO – Fir Summit Amphitheater
July 28 – Beacon, NY – Towne Crier Cafe
July 30 – Woodbridge, NJ – Music on Main Street
Aug. 5 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Pavillion
Sept. 1 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum
Sept. 7 – Big Rapids, MI – Ferris State University
Sept. 8 & 9 – Remus, MI – Wheatland Music & Arts Festival
Sept. 13- Nashville, TN – Grimey’s (Americana Fest)
Sept. 14-17 – New Orleans, LA – Southern Independent Bookseller’s Association
Sept. 19 – New York City – Joe’s Pub
Sept. 20 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton
Sept. 22 – Amesbury, MA – Amesbury Harvest Fair & Country Music Festival
Sept. 26 – Waterloo – Austin, TX
Sept. 28 – Austin, TX – Stateside at the Paramount
Sept. 29 & 30 – Houston, TX – The Mucky Duck
Oct. 1 – Kemah, TX – Galveston Bay Songwriters Festival
Oct. 5 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler
Oct. 6 – San Antonio, TX – Sam’s Burger Joint
Oct. 7 – Port Aransas, TX – Cinnamon Shores Subdivision
Oct. 14 + 15, Nashville, TN – Southern Festival of Books
Oct. 17 – Nashville, TN – Parnassus Books
Oct. 18 – Columbus, OH – Natalie’s
Oct. 20 – Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk Music
Oct. 21 – Wheeler Arts Center – Indianapolis, IN
Oct. 24 – Sylva, NC – City Lights Bookstore
Oct. 25 – Boone, NC – Foggy Pine Books
Oct. 26 – Claremont, NC Library benefit
Oct. 28 – Nashville, TN – City Winery
Nov. 1 – Washington DC – The Hamilton
Nov. 16 – Charleston, SC – The Woofle Street Playhouse
Nov. 17 – Asheville, NC – Isis Music Hall
Nov. 18 – Duluth, GA – Red Clay Theatre
Nov. 19 – Birmingham, AL – Moonlight on the Mountain
Nov. 29 – Kenney, TX – The Kenney Store
Nov. 30 – Beaumont, TX – Courville’s
Dec. 1 – Baton Rouge, LA – The Red Dragon
Dec. 2 – Houston, TX – The Mucky Duck