Michael Tipton & The Scoundrels

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Tipton.

Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up outside of Kansas City in the small town of Lawson, MO. In my early 20s, I taught art at before and after-school programs in the KCK School District while also touring with a band. We had some successes and had a great following but life happens and the touring came to a hault. At some point I began my journey in Marketing and Sales, working with a couple KC agencies and eventually leading a team.

In 2010, I started a band called Molly Picture Club and we toured, did SXSW showcases, and released 3 albums as well as had some of our music licensed to The Discovery Channel and Keepin’ Up With The Kardashians. During that time, we played a tribute night at RecordBar where the band being attributed was Talking Heads. I am a giant Talking Heads and David Byrne fan, so after we played that night tribute night, I began putting together a Talking Heads tribute band, Found A Job. We are now on year 12 of performing and frequently sell-out venues with a high-energy, choreographed show.

In my career, I went from the agency side to the “client-side”, eventually becoming the COO at Redemption Plus, an international wholesale toy distributor for family entertainment centers. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in a role and it fits so well with my personality and musicianship because it’s all about fun!

During Covid lockdown, I started going back to the music I grew up on: Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Wille Nelson, etc. I began learning songs from the 1940s and 50s. Over a few months, I fell back in love with traditional country music again and began writing songs. I had had a songwriting “drought” of over 4 years at the time, so it was reinvigorating to have this rush of creativity back. I put together a country western band to play my original music with some lifelong friends and up-and-coming musicians from the KC/Lawrence area. I released an album last October and had success in both playing a ton of shows and getting my music on several modern traditional country playlists.

In June, I signed a development deal with a label in Nashville and will be recording in Nashville by the end of the year. My band is called The Scoundrels and has some of the finest musicians in the area. I also host a podcast that puts a spotlight on the incredible country and folk scene here in Kansas City. It’s called “Bottom’s UP: The Country & Western Music of Kansas City.” I’m currently working on a reformat of that podcast to include interviews and storytelling of the scene in our city. This is truly my purpose: To support and connect musicians here in KC and tell the rest of the world about them!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, not at all. There have been ups and downs along the way. I used to busk on the Plaza to be able to afford Christmas gifts for my kids. I ran out of song ideas for years. There were years when I battled a deep depression and lived out in the country, so I was also isolated from my friends.

In starting any project or band, there is always a period when no one is interested. It’s difficult to cut through the noise with music because the number of songs released constantly becomes overwhelming.

I went through a divorce and had to restructure my life. I started therapy and moved out of the country to be closer to my support system. I have 4 kids and raising them has always come with challenges.

The amount of times I have felt that I had to “start over” in life are quite a few, as I suspect it is with most people nowadays. What I have learned from that is how to take responsibility and persevere.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have played, written and recorded music across a variety of genres: folk, electronic, country, funk, pop, punk, and hard rock. The common connection between all those genres, in terms of the music I write or play, is that it’s all very danceable. If folks are not out on the dancefloor, I have failed at my job for the night!

I’m perhaps known most for Found A Job, where I lead a band of 8, paying tribute to Talking Heads. We have an incredible following in KC. I do the singing ala David Byrne and embody his nervous twitches and vocal inflections. My band routinely also hosts dance classes to learn the choreography of the band and provide our fans with a great workout. Found A Job consists of Matt Hayden, drums; Justin Skinner, percussion; Brent Jamison, bass; Katelyn Jamison, vocals; Camry Ivory, vocals, and Ashleigh Guthrie, keys. Even when people aren’t familiar with the band Talking Heads, they get converted to Found A Job’s energy and joyful tribute.

By doing my podcast focusing on the country and western scene in KC, I have gone to over 80 shows in the last 8 months to support other artists. In this way, I’ve been able to meet most of the musicians in that scene, the bar owners, and the other supporters that make our KC scene a thriving one. I might be 1 of 10 people showing up to a gig, but I’ll help you load and unload your equipment (haha!) and get some video on social to help promote the folks I really believe in.

My country and western band The Scoundrels (Michael Tipton & Kate Valliere, The Scoundrels) has some of the most active and talented musicians around and that’s something I really pride myself on: It’s a hot band! Nate Holt on keys, Sam Shoemaker on pedal steel guitar, Mike Alexander and Jace Hughes on electric guitar, Aaron Lewis on bass and Justin Danner on drums. I have been to enough shows around town to know everyone’s setlists, so I curate my band’s choice of covers so we don’t overlap with other bands too much. I go mainly for great songwriting and storytelling songs and that’s given our audience a breath of fresh air in not to hear the same songs that 10 other bands play around town every week.

My album “Out of The Woods” tells my personal emotional journey from a place of darkness and loss to a time of redemption and healing. I named the album as I did because I felt that my emotional journey and artistic journey as a songwriter and storyteller emerged from “the thicket” around the same time, landing me in a really great place to clearly pursue a vision for my songwriting career. My next set of songs are in the works, but I’ve noticed the re-emerging theme of those songs as being centered upon empathy, which is not a point of view people often hear a country artist come from.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Books: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. The way he writes provides an amazing baseline for inspiration in telling stories about real people.

It’s A Long Story- Willie Nelson. This is autobiography and it’s got some really amazing stories in it.

My Years with Bob Wills – Al Stricklin. A biography of one of the most original minds and talents in country music. This is written by his bandmate Al Stricklin (I got a signed copy off of Amazon somehow!) and really show the BTS generosity of Bob Wills.

Podcasts: Cocaine & Rhinestones – amazing stories about country music history. My Friend, The Serial Killer because murder (lol), and Disgraceland.

Contact Info:

Website: www.michaelbtiptonmusic.com
Instagram: @michaelbtiptonmusic
Facebook: @michaeltiptonmusic
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-b-tipton/
Youtube: @michaelbtiptonmusic
soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/MERRR8i8WiatetMNA
Other: Found A Job insta and facebook handle: @foundajobkc - VoyageKC

Michael B. Tipton’s latest offering, “The Field,” serves as the poignant conclusion to his album—a musical journey that leads listeners out of the woods and into a realm of redemption. With its evocative blend of slide guitar, fiddle, and field recordings of nature’s chorus, Tipton crafts a narrative of warmth and emotion against a backdrop of simplicity and sincerity.

A seasoned American singer-songwriter with over 26 years of experience, Tipton’s music traverses genres with remarkable ease, from folk and country to electronic and indie rock. His compositions, adaptable to various musical styles, reflect a depth of emotion and storytelling prowess that resonates with audiences nationwide. Notably, Tipton’s music has found placements on popular TV shows, further solidifying his reputation as a masterful storyteller.

Inspired by the music of his upbringing—artists like Asleep At The Wheel, Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, and Willie Nelson—Tipton experienced a creative resurgence after a prolonged period of songwriting drought. The result is “Out of The Woods,” a collection of heartfelt songs slated for release in the fall of 2023. Rooted in personal experience and enriched by Tipton’s storytelling, the album marks a significant milestone in his musical journey.

For Tipton, “Out of The Woods” holds a dual significance, symbolizing both a thematic motif within the lyrics and a literal emergence from the acoustic depths of the forest. Collaborating with longtime friends and new acquaintances from the KC music scene, Tipton breathes life into his album, infusing each track with authenticity and resonance.

“The Field,” as the final track on the album, encapsulates Tipton’s journey of revival and renewal. With warm, emotive vocals and a simple yet effective arrangement, the song beckons listeners to reflect on their own paths toward redemption. As the field recordings of insects and frogs envelop the closing notes, Tipton leaves his audience with a sense of closure and completion—a fitting end to a remarkable musical odyssey. - Wax Viny Records

We were lucky to catch up with Michael Tipton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I would say the most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far has been my solo album that was released in 2023 and the subsequent formation of my band, The Scoundrels.

Back in 2020, when we were all on lockdown, I had the time to get back in to the music I grew up on, which was largely western swing and traditional country music. I went on a deep dive of several records I had not listened to in decades and from that, a creative spark was ignited. I began learning the guitar parts to some of the songs I had been listening to, learning new chord patterns and a style that I had not previously played. Simultaneously, I was preparing to move out of my rural home and as a part of that, went through boxes upon boxes of newspaper clippings from my youth: I raised cattle and was involved in 4-H from first grade through my senior year in high school and I had a bunch of photos that brought me back to pre-internet life on the farm. I also came across all the old band news articles and photos across the many years I have been playing music.

I began reflecting on the parts of my upbringing and experiences from “the road” with bands, which turned that creative spark in to a fire. I knew I wanted to put together a project that paid personal tribute to both the past and the future, musically. I knew I wanted it to be rooted in traditional country music. I had no idea where to begin on that as I had never pursued this type of project on my own: I had always been a part of a band with multiple people inputting the direction from the start. So, this was mine to own and could be a great starting point for myself to distinguish a change in direction musically and lyrically for me.

After I moved back to Kansas City, I started digging around for live music that aligned with my interests. I began going out to see bluegrass and traditional country acts around the area, just to feed the fire and get me familiar with the community of people making that type of music. What I found, over time, was that there is a treasure trove of talent in Kansas City in the form of folk, country, bluegrass and roots musicians. I fell head over heels in love with that community and wanted to be a part of it.

As I began writing songs for this project, I found the stylistic approach was so different than any other type of music I had played before (rock, electronic, funk) so many of my first attempts at writing country songs were pretty bad! as an artist, sometimes you treat your creations like they are a baby to you and you don’t ever throw things out, even if they’re bad. Realizing this, I took an approach to my songwriting that was more objective than before, yet I had these really personal stories I wanted to share, so that was a juxtaposition I had never been in before and it was challenging to keep pushing myself to fine tune the music and re-do the lyrics and alot of times, just scrap the whole damn thing and start on another idea.

This became a very intentional and meaningful dive into the craft of songwriting. I watched endless hours of performances and attended songwriting webinars and events. I had to admit to myself that I had about 1/2 of the understanding I needed to really achieve what I wanted to do, so I kept learning.

I ended up writing 7 songs that I thought were solid and told good stories so then I booked time at a studio (Weights & Measures Soundlab in KC) to start laying down the basics. During that time, I reconnected with two of my childhood friends who had spent years playing music and touring with and they were game for tackling some country music. We played a couple of small shows and I brought in other musicians that I had met through attending other live music events the years previous.

Concurrently, a friend of mine and I had gone into the studio to mix and album that was “lost” almost 12 years prior, so I got back into the swing of editing song parts, listening closely for nuances in the recordings and so on. I feel like if I hadn’t done that piece, which was not related to the country project, the recording of my solo album would’ve been much more difficult. It’s funny how the Universe drops things in your lap that later you look back on and say “Whoa- I really needed that information for the future.”

Once songs began getting recorded, I started to realize that each song I had written had a little tie-in with one or two other songs in the set I was recording. I began really looking at how I could tell a larger story from the whole set of songs and what order those needed to be played in to tell it correctly. Once that clicked in my brain, the title “Out of the Woods” was established for the album and I began making sure the instrumentation across the album was diverse and supported the storytelling as a whole.



As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a longtime musician. When I was in second grade, I was asked what I wanted to be when I grow up and I said “rock star!” Music is just a part of my DNA. I played in bands in high school and college and then right after college, began playing with a band we named Tabla Rasa, which lasted for 6-7 years and we spent many hours on the road and playing for people across the Midwest. It was my first taste of success in music.

I play guitar, harmonica, sing and have enough knowledge of piano, mandolin and now some banjo to be dangerous. Back in 2012, I started a Talking Heads tribute band in Kansas City. We are called Found A Job and we have a great fanbase here! we play Knuckleheads, Lemonade Park, The Ship, and Recordbar typically. It’s comprised of 8 people and it’s a high-energy choreographed performance we put on. In addition, I play the country music I’ve written, along with some traditional and modern traditional cover songs in Michael Tipton & The Scoundrels.

I also host a podcast called “Bottom’s Up: The Country & Western Music of Kansas City” where I share the songs and scene happenings of the folk, roots, country and western community! You can find it on Spotify currently, but will be relaunched on all platform in early 2025.



Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My mission is to be a respected part of the Kansas City musical legacy. The folks playing music today in all genres that reside in Kansas City get to be a part of that legacy and it’s not something I take for granted. I want to be a part of Kansas City re-defining itself as a live music destination for people all over the country. If I can do that through a podcast, my own music, connecting artists from other cities to KC artists or just inviting people to and attending shows by KC artists, then I am upholding a legacy that started back in the Prohibition Era with the legendary jazz musicians that made KC a hotspot for music. That, to me, is worth the time and effort I put into my own art.



What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
There are a couple of things. One, it’s seeing people connect with the music and lyrics at a live show. Getting folks out on the dance floor. This is the most rewarding part of what I have done over the last 20 years. The second, is that I meet the coolest people! Whether they are fans of Found A Job that I meet after a show or other musicians I get to work with. I feel like, especially in the last 3-4 years, I have met and been able to collaborate with some of the most interesting and talented people I’ve ever had the pleasure of rubbing elbows with. It’s made such an impact on my life on in so many ways and I’m really grateful for this experience I get to have.

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.michaelbtiptonmusic.com
Instagram: @michaelbtiptonmusic
Facebook: @michaeltiptonmusic
Youtube: @michaelbtiptonmusic
Soundcloud: @michaelbtiptonmusic
Other: tik tok: @michaelbtiptonmusic - Canvas Rebel

It can’t be emphasized enough just how busy the next five weeks will be when it comes to album releases. In the 15-year history of Saving Country Music, nothing has been experienced like this before. It’s not just the volume of releases, which is incredible and record-setting in itself. It’s also how this run will include some of the most important and anticipated albums to be released all year.

Been a little frustrated with 2023’s album output so far? That’s because the lion’s share of great albums from the year very well could be coming out all at once. Just from the albums Saving Country Music has screened, there are 24 albums coming out Sept. 8th, 29 albums coming out Sept. 15th, 15 albums coming out on Sept. 22nd, 22 albums coming out on Sept. 29th, and 18 albums coming out on Oct. 6th.

That’s 108 albums in five weeks, and that doesn’t even include albums that didn’t pass the screening process, some mainstream country releases, or albums that are just not on SCM’s radar at the moment for whatever reason. All the more important that folks pay attention to what’s happening each week as we get through this gauntlet of releases, that way you don’t miss that one special album that speaks to you.

Below find some of the top recommended releases, then below that a complete list of the releases on each day, followed by the always fun “Rumor Mill” where interesting tidbits about potential upcoming releases are compiled.

Hint: Bookmark this page, and come back each Friday to stay up-to-date with releases. This list will be updated regularly under the “confirmed releases” heading as new albums are announced, though older albums won’t be removed from the list so people can look back at what they might have missed.

PLEASE NOTE: No artist or album was overlooked, snubbed, or disregarded here. If you know about an album to be released that you believe is of interest to country and roots music, please feel free to share the information below in the comments section for the benefit of everyone.


Tyler Childers – Rustin’ In The Rain – September 8th

Rustin’ In The Rain was recorded in the home studio of Tyler’s pedal steel player and guitarist James Barker above his garage. The new album was produced by Tyler and his backing band The Food Stamps, who along with Barker includes bassist Craig Burletic, drummer Rod Elkins, Chase Lewis on keys, CJ Cain on acoustic guitar, and fiddle/guitarist “The Professor” Jesse Wells.

Childers says of the album via press release, “This is a collection of songs I playfully pieced together as if I was pitching a group of songs to Elvis. Some covers, one co-write, and some I even wrote in my best (terrible) Elvis impersonation, as I worked around the farm and kicked around the house. I hope you enjoy listening to this album as much as I enjoyed creating it. Thank you. Thank you very much.” (read more)


Ashley McBryde- The Devil I Know – September 8th

What we have come to know about Ashley McBryde is that she’s not going to cater her songs or her sound to whatever the popular flavor of the day happens to be. She’s more interested in staying true to herself, wherever that takes her.

“‘Y’all are too country,’” Ashley McBryde says, mocking her critics. “We leaned into that – more country it is. ‘Y’all are awfully rock leaning for a country artist.’ Is that so? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. ‘Last thing y’all need is another tender, finger pickin’ song.’ Oh? Tender makes you uneasy, cowboy? I hear you. Let’s see how much more tender we can be. We listened to all those opinions and said, ‘I hear you. I understand what you’re saying.’ But sadly, there’s no room on the record for your opinion. We’ll do what we want.” (read more)


Nick Shoulders – All Bad – September 8th

Nick Shoulders is the singing, yodeling, whistling, mulleted and mustachioed country music weirdo freak of our time. “My musical upbringing at home was mostly learning owl calls, whistling along with cardinals, whooping and hollering with all my little friends out in the woods,” he says. “All that primitive yodeling I did as a kid ended up turning into a physical skill set that became so important to my singing without me even realizing.”

All Bad is Nick’s defiant expression against the despair of our day, hoping to “honestly interpret the grim political and social reality we exist in,” as he puts it. “Every one of these songs is carved from some of the hardest experiences we’ve ever had. The hope is that people will recognize something of their own lives in those stories and feel understood and seen.”


Logan Ledger – Golden State – September 8th

For many, Logan Ledger is on the short list of the greatest modern singers in the country and roots space. Though that might sound like hyperbole to some, it’s not to those who’ve heard him sing. Though T Bone Burnett took Ledger under his wing and produced his debut album, Ledger became one of the COVID-era refugees where his self-titled debut (April 3rd, 2020) couldn’t have come at a worse time.

But now he’s back with a new album produced by Shooter Jennings. Ledger might not be exclusively country, but his unique sound and stellar voice deserves to draw a large audience. “There have been so many changes over the past few years; parts of me have died and I’m never going to get them back,” Ledger says. “I feel like I’m a new person now, mostly for the better, but there’s still that question of what to do now and what happens next.”


Willie Nelson – Bluegrass – September 15th

It’s quite remarkable when you consider that Willie Nelson reached the ripe old age of 90 in April, has released nearly 100 original albums of one sort or another, but this is the first time he’s veering into the bluegrass realm.

Once again produced by long-time collaborator Buddy Cannon, top-shelf bluegrass greats Rob Ickes (dobro), Dan Tyminski (mandolin), Aubrey Haynie (fiddle), Ron Block (banjo), Josh Martin (acoustic guitar), Barry Bales (upright bass), Seth Taylor (mandolin) and Bobby Terry (acoustic guitar, gut string guitar) collaborate to bring Willie Nelson songs to life within the bluegrass genre. (read more)


Margo Cilker – Valley of Heart’s Delight – September 15th

Oregon’s favorite and fastest-rising songwriter is back with a new album on Fluff and Gravy Records, produced by drummer and songwriter Sera Cahoone just like Cilker’s fan favorite debut, Pohorylle from 2021. Also performing on the album is of course Margo’s sister Sarah singing harmonies, and the Pacific Northwest’s version of Hank Williams, Caleb Klauder.

“I wrote these songs surrounded by the wild landscapes of the Northwest, but I was leaning toward the place I’d come from,” says Cilker. “I felt cut off from my family and the valley that held them. I spent hours thinking about my sense of belonging. I’d traveled through many places and then, when the travel stopped, I ruminated on where I had ended up. Where were you when the music stopped? I was in Enterprise, OR. And there in Enterprise, my mind drifted back to the Valley of Heart’s Delight.”


Travis Tritt – Country Chapel – September 15th

Produced by Dave Cobb at Georgia May Studio in Savannah, Georgia, and to be released by the Gaither Music Group, Country Chapel will be Travis Tritt first foray into Gospel music in album form. The 10-song album will include recognizable Gospel classics such as ‘Wayfaring Stranger,” as well as originals written by Travis Tritt. Other songwriters include Aaron Raitiere, Dallas Frazier, and Kris Kristofferson’s “Why Me.”

The album takes listeners back to Travis Tritt’s childhood roots in the church. Gospel is one of the building blocks of country music, and it’s one of the building blocks of Travis Tritt. After many years of avoiding the studio, Tritt made his comeback with 2021’s Set In Stone, also produced by Dave Cobb.


Charles Wesley Godwin – Family Ties – September 22nd

Do you feel that? It’s that distinctive tingling deep in your bones that you get whenever you know one of your favorite music artists is on the precipice of something monumental. This feeling accompanies the news of Charles Wesley Godwin’s mammoth upcoming 19-song major label debut called Family Ties due out on Big Loud Records.

The prolific release of new songs comes after a time when Godwin was initially stonewalled and unsure what to write about. “I had to get back to the basics,” Godwin says. “I decided I was going to write about my life and my family. It’s where my heart was guiding me: to be super personal and dig right into the weeds of my life … All it was was just a matter of time and continued grinding.” (read more)


Brent Cobb – Southern Star – September 22nd

Brent Cobb continues to be one of the brightest stars in the independent country music crown. His songwriting elevates the craft for everyone else. He delivers everything with an authentic Georgia drawl and charm enveloped in a sound that defines country soul in the modern era. Whenever Brent Cobb sings, you best shut your mouth and listen.

“Sometimes, there ain’t shit going on down here,” says Cobb, laughing. “But since there’s nothing else to do, you learn to be laid back. You learn to use your imagination, and you wind up imitating your surroundings. These songs sound like the place that inspired them.” (read more)


Charley Crockett – Live From The Ryman – September 29th

On Monday, November 14th, 2022, Charley Crockett took the stage at the Ryman Auditorium for his first ever headlining performance at the Mother Church to a sold-out crowd, and put on a show for the ages. Saving Country Music can attest to this, because yours truly was in the audience. It felt like a very rare evening with all the stops pulled out to make it perfect. Now we know why.

We’re used to Charley Crockett releasing albums at a two-per-year clip as one of the hardest working men in country music. As 2023 droned on, you knew it would be sooner than later that something new would be on the way from him. Now we know that something will be Live From The Ryman to be released as both an album and a concert film. The mostly complete set from the Ryman show will include 23 total songs. (read more)


Ross Cooper – Lightning Heart – September 29th

A real deal rodeo cowboy who turned in his spurs for a guitar, if you’re looking for authenticity in today’s plastic cowboy country space, look towards Ross Cooper. He gets you super excited for his new release by calling out all of the “all hat, no cattle” cowboys in Nashville with his song “Everybody Wants To Be A Cowboy.”

“I’m a cowboy, and that’s always been a huge part of my ethos, and it’s absolutely inspired my songwriting, but at my core, I’m a writer and storyteller,” Cooper says. “It’s the part of me that has endured and makes me feel like I have a purpose. It’s so hard for me to pick a favorite on this album. Every song is a page out of my life that I’m excited to share with people.”


Tony Jackson – I’ve Got Songs To Sing – September 29th

For years now, the voice of Tony Jackson has been one of the greatest untapped resources in country music just waiting to be exploited. How and why it’s been over six years since he last released an album, and he hasn’t resonated to a wider national audience just yet feels like a travesty. With the right cadre of songwriters and players behind him, he could be explosive in country music.

Lucky for us, that’s exactly what has materialized. Appearing on the album will be a who’s who of great country music pickers, including guitarists “Cousin” Kenny Vaughan and Brent Mason, steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar, fiddler Jenee Fleenor, and a bunch of other top name pickers and players. Songwriters contributors include Jamey Johnson, Mo Pitney, Erin Enderlin, Bobby Tomberlin, and more. Randy Travis and Rhonda Vincent also appear. (read more)


Billy Don Burns – I’ve Seen A Lot of Highway – October 6th

When broaching the subject of forgotten Outlaws who’ve gone criminally underrated by the callous country music industry, Billy Don Burns has to to be right near the top of the list. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck, Hank Cochran, Mel Tillis, Sammy Kershaw, Whitey Morgan, Cody Jinks, Colter Wall, and Connie Smith among others, as well as working as a producer for Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck.

The country industry may have forgotten ol’ Billy Don, but his fellow artists most certainly haven’t, including the new crop of Outlaw-style country artists that look up to him as a patron saint. That is why he’ll be joined by Cody Jinks, Shooter Jennings, Whey Jennings, Wes Shipp, and The Storey Boys on his new upcoming album. (read more)


The Steel Woods – On Your Time – October 6th

Though The Steel Woods are notorious for putting on hard charging Southern rock shows that at times veer into the metal range, it’s the lyricism that gives fans of the band ample themes to explore. On Your Time with loosely follow the trajectory of another character named Uncle Lloyd who was first introduced on their debut album via a song of the same name. “Uncle Lloyd” was written by Darrell Scott, so it will be interesting to see how the band develops that song into a deeper narrative.

Joining singer/guitarist Wes Bayliss and guitarist Tyler Powers is bassist Johnny Stanton and drummer Isaac Senty. All three of the previous albums by The Steel Woods earned high marks for songwriting, musicianship, and originality while remaining grounded in Southern rock roots. We should expect On Your Time to be no different. (read more)


John R. Miller – Heat Comes Down – October 6th

There are a lot of artists these days inspired by Tyler Childers. There’s only a select few that have inspired Tyler Childers themselves. One such soul is John R. Miller who worked as a musician for hire for years and made lots of friends along the way. “A well-travelled wordsmith mapping out the world he’s seen, three chords at a time,” is how Childers considers him.

“Whenever I’ve got a lot of thoughts bouncing around my head, alchemizing that energy into something creative helps take the gravity out of them and quiets them down for a while,” says Miller. “For me this album is largely about anxiety in many forms: the things that cause it, what it causes in turn, and the moments of clarity in between. Listening back to it now, most of the songs seem like they’re trying to answer the questions I’ve been asking myself.” (read more)


Jason Hawk Harris- Thin Places – October 6th

With his debut album Love & The Dark from 2019, Jason Hawk Harris quickly established that he wasn’t your run-of-the-mill country artist. A thoughtful songwriter with a compositional mind due to his education in classical music, he brought a completely unique set of tools and perspectives to the genre that resulted in critical acclaim for his Bloodshot Records release.

But if there has ever been an artist snake bit by circumstances, it’s been Jason Hawk Harris. The pandemic put a crimp in his capability to tour behind his debut album. A tornado struck when he was trying to make his followup. Bloodshot Records went under, leaving him without a musical home. But he found glimmers of hope amid Thin Places, and that became the inspiration for his new album. (read more)


John Baumann – Border Radio – October 6th

Austin-based singer/songwriter John Baumann is considered one of the best current songwriters from the Lone Star State. Along with his solo career, his music has been showcased in the Texas Country supergroup The Panhandlers, and he’s also had Kenny Chesney record one of his songs. Commonly evoking geography in his writing, Border Radio will be welcomed by Baumann fans.

“I hope the listener can transport themselves out of their lives and go somewhere else in a cinematic way,” Baumann says about the album. “I hope listening to this album is like going to the movies. It’s about experiencing something else, somewhere else.”


Jessi Colter – Edge of Forever – October 27th

The First Lady of Outlaw Country readies her first album in six years produced by Margo Price and mixed by her son Shooter Jennings. The widow of Waylon and a participated in Wanted: The Outlaws, Jessi Colter is back with an inspired 10-song set that also features an appearance by her daughter Jenni Eddy Jennings from her marriage to Duane Eddy. Margo Price’s backing band played on the studio sessions.

“When the force of nature that is Jessi Colter rolled into my life and picked me up in her Mercedes convertible, I knew I was in for a wild ride,” says Margo Price. When I felt lost, I could call on her and she would pray for me – with me. Jessi has such a strong faith, it’s inspiring to be near her.“


Chris Stapleton – Higher – November 10th

While much of the mother brain of country music is muddied up by polarizing opinions on folks like Morgan Wallen and Jason Aldean, Chris Stapleton just keeps soldiering forward as one of the most consistent and successful artists in mainstream country music, even if his sounds veers more into Southern rock and soul.

That’s not always a bad thing though, and this is evidenced by the new song “White Horse,” which accompanies the announcement of the new album. Higher was co-produced by Chris Stapleton and wife Morgane Stapleton with Dave Cobb at Nashville’s RCA Studio A, just like all of Stapleton’s albums since his meteoric rise from the songwriting class in 2015. (read more)


Blackberry Smoke – Be Right Here – February 16th, 2024

“We always track live together, but this time we had all our amps and drums and everything in the same room,” says frontman, guitarist, and primary songwriter Charlie Starr. “It’s just as natural and as real as possible. The last album was very raw too, but with this one I remember different times I would say, ‘I think we should redo that,’ and Dave was like, ‘No, leave it that way. That way it’s magical.’”

If there is a theme to the upcoming album, it is to “Be right here” in the moment and live life to the fullest, because you never know when it might end. You can hear this in the debut song from the album, the funky and sludgy “Dig A Hole” co-written by Charlie Starr and keyboardist Brandon Still. “We each have a finite amount of time on this earth, so you probably want to make the most of it. Eventually for all of us, they are going to dig a hole, so make it count.” (read more)

OTHER ANTICIPATED/CONFIRMED RELEASES
September 8th

(Sept. 5th ) Scott Southworth – Comin’ Round To Honky Tonk Again
(Sept. 6th) Idanha – Slow Horses, Bad Whisky & Good Friends
Logan Ledger – Golden State
Ashley McBryde – The Devil I Know
Allison Russell – The Returner
Steep Canyon Rangers – Morning Shift
The String Cheese Incident – Lend Me A Hand
Nick Shoulders – All Bad
Joan Osborne – Nobody Owns You
A Song For Leon: A Tribute to Leon Russell
Goldpine – Two (Americana)
Lillie Mae & Family – Festival Eyes
Jobi Riccio – Whiplash
Pat Boone – Country Jubilee
The Handsome Family – Hollow
Creed Fisher – This Ain’t The Hamptons
Shannon Clark & the Sugar – This Old World
Drayton Farley – Kudzu Wild EP
Billy Keane – Oh, These Days
Tyler Childers – Rustin’ In The Rain
Katie Curley – Penny For My Heartbreak
Ben James – Wonderland
The SteelDrivers – Tougher Than Nails
Blue Water Highway Band – Year of the Dragon
Bill and the Belles – To Willie from Billy (Willie Nelson tribute)
Once More: Teddy Thompson & Jenni Muldaur Sing The Great Country Duets

September 15th

(Sept. 13th) Billy Droze – Billy The Kid
Margo Cilker – Valley of Heart’s Delight
Alex Hall – Side Effects of the Heart
John Surge and the Haymakers – Almost Time
Pierce Edens – A Life In Trade
Briscoe – West of It All
Bahamas – Bootcut
Brothers Osborne – Self-Titled
Stephen Wilson Jr. – son of dad
Brian Setzer – The Devil Always Collects
Wheeler Walker Jr. – RAM
Travis Tritt – Country Chapel (Gospel)
Willie Nelson – Bluegrass
Alyssa & Wayne Brewer – Alyssa and Wayne Sing George and Tammy
Pierce Edens – A Life in Trade
Needtobreathe – Caves
Sarah Jane Scouten – Turned To Gold
Van Planting – Orange Blossom Child
Marc Miner- Last Heroes
Viv and Riley – Imaginary People
Cruz Contreras (Black Lillies) – Cosmico
Bonnie and Taylor Sims – Self-Ttiled
Cory Ashbury – Pioneer
D Boone Pittman – Resurrection Noise
Tyler Booth – Keep It Real
Jim Lauderdale & The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys – Long And Lonesome Letting Go
Jess Klein – When We Rise
Lady Apple Tree – Self-Titled (EP)
Buxton – A Family Light (reissue)
International Treasures – Together, We Are The International Treasures (Sept. 17th)

September 22nd

Colbie Caillat – Along The Way
Rachael Kilgour – My Father Loved Me
David Borné – Genesis
Brent Cobb – Southern Star
Charles Wesley Godwin – Family Ties
Josh Travis – Few of Days and Full of Trouble
Buddy and Julie Miller – In The Throes
Emily Ann Roberts – Can’t Hide Country
Whey Jennings – Just Before The Dawn EP
More Than a Whisper: Celebrating The Music of Nanci Griffith (Various Artists)
The Dryes – Raisin’ Beers & Hallelujahs
Rachel Kilgour – My Father Loved Me
Lydia Loveless – Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again
Shadrick Wilde- Forever Home
Jake Stringer – Just Happy To Be Here
Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks – Longing For Oblivion
Veronique Medrano – MexiAmericana

September 29th

Restos – Ain’t Dead Yet
John P. Strohm – Something To Look Forward To
Natalie Price – Self-Titled
Lindsay Lou – Queen of Time
Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham – Birdsong
Ross Cooper – Lightning Heart
Dale Hollow – Hack of the Year
Hellroys – Half Acre
Jerry Joseph – Baby, You’re The Man Who Would Be King
The Howdies – Howdies All Around
Jack Browning – Red Eye Radio
Wilco – Cousin
Owen Temple – Rings On A Tree
Meredith Lane – Greyhound
Boy Named Banjo – Dusk
Tony Jackson – I’ve Got Songs To Sing
Lindsay Lou – Queen of Time
Jade Eagleson – Do It Anyway
Country Side of Harmonica Sam – Back To The Blue Side
Miles & Mafale – Be Brave (folk)
Jason Isbell – Southeastern: 10th Anniversary Edition
My Brothers, My Sister – My Sister, My Brother II (Garrison Starr and Sean McConnell)
Martin Simpson And Thomm Jutz – Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs of Mary Sands and Jane Gentry

October 6th

Reba McEntire – Not That Fancy
John Baumann – Border Radio
Tre Burt – Traffic Fiction
Billy Don Burns – I’ve Seen a Lot of Highway
Charlie Mars – Times Have Changed
Darius Rucker – Carolyn’s Boy
The Steel Woods – On Your Time
Good Lovelies – We Will Never Be The Same
Ida Mae – Thunder Above
Victoria Bailey – A Cowgirl Rides On
Ed Sweeney – A Sunday Drive
C. Albert Blomquist – Hug Your Neck
EmiSunshine and the Rain – Sideshow
Jason Hawk Harris – Thin Places
P.J.M. Bond – In Our Time
Lisa Brokop – Who’s Gonna Fill Their Heels?
Arielle Silver – Watershed
Martin Zellar – Head West
Alex Miller – Country EP
John Morgan – Remember Us EP
Chris Jones and the Night Drivers – Pages In Your Hand (bluegrass)
Mouths of Babes – World Brand New (folk)
Summerlyn Powers – The Hive EP
Lily & Madeleine – Nite Swim (folk pop)

October 13th

(Oct. 11th) Mamma Coal – Dance Hall Crush
(Oct 12th) Jesse Rasanen – Roadie
The Bones of J.R. Jones – Slow Lightning
Lonesome Ace Stringband – Try To Make It Fly
Margo Price – Strays II
Riley Green – Ain’t My Last Rodeo
Marty Bush – Cowboy Chords
Michael B. Tipton – Out Of The Woods
Kelly Hunt – Ozark Symphony
Terra Lightfoot – Healing Power
Maggie Baugh – Dear Me
The Carolyn Sills Combo – On The Draw
Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus – Big Red Gibson (folk rock)
Joel Thetford – Live at Sun Tiki Studios
Charlie Worsham – Compadres (Collaborative EP)
Lynyrd Skynyrd – FYFTY (4-album box set)

October 20th

Jonah Tolchin – Dockside
Chris Shiflett – Lost At Sea
Alice Gerrard – Sun to Sun
Last Birds – Endless Turn of Day Into Night (folk)
Harvest Thieves – As The Sparks Fly Upward
Pert Near Sandstone – Waiting Days
Robert Rex Waller Jr. – See The Big Man Cry
Dylan LeBlanc – Coyote
Remy Sher – The Things You’ll Forget
Skinny Lister – Shanty Punk
Jon Byrd – All Your Mistakes
Bandelier – Westhope
Stephanie Urbina Jones & The Honky Tonk Mariachi – Manuel’s Destiny
Craig Morgan – Enlisted EP
Tommy Karlas – What Matters To Her (Oct. 21st)

October 27th

Jared Dustin Griffin – Battle Cry Mercy
Aaron Watson – Cover Girl (cover songs with women)
Sean Burns – Lost Country
Old Californio – Metaterranea
Various Artists – A Tribute to The Judds
Luke LeBlanc – Places
Jessi Colter – Edge of Forever
Willy Tea Taylor – The Great Western Hangover
Swearingen & Kelli – Build Myself Up From The Ground
Kerri Powers – Love Is Why
Caleb Lee Hutchinson – Southern Galactic
Nora Jane Struthers – Back To Cast Iron
Flatland Cavalry – Wandering Star
David Adam Byrnes – Country Gonna Be Alright
Anton O’Donnell – Tomber Sur PRW
Jon Pardi – Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi
Tommy and The Ohs – Box Truck Boogie
Honey Island Swamp Band – Custom Deluxe
Joshua Ray Walker – I Opened For The Killers And All I Got Was Appendicitis Live EP
Bryan Ruby – Diamonds Are Forever EP
C.m. Jones- Hurry Up and Lose EP (folk)

November 1st

Jay Bragg- Light It Up

November 3rd

Lee Gallagher and The Hallelujah – The Falcon Ate The Flower
Bonnie Montgomery – River
Danielle Howle – Current
Jaime Wyatt – Feel Good
Colin Cutler – Tarwater
Jimmy Buffett – Equal Strain On All Parts
Our Man In The Field – Gold On The Horizon
Ben Gage – Two Singing Songs
Cody Johnson – Leather
Heather Anne Lomax – The Doman Tracks
Al Backstrom – Analog Guy
Stars of Cascadia – Self-Titled
Shooter Jennings and the Werewolves of London Do Zevon (Warren Zevon Tribute)
Brett Kissel – West Album (Part of ‘Compass’ Project)
Mark Joseph – Palisade Peach
Willie Nelson – Willie Nelson’s Greatest Hits
Sylvia Tyson – At The End Of The Day (folk)
Nick Veine and Ben Traverse – Me Grief and Tears to Smother (Irish Folk)
Gwen Levey and the Breakdown – Not The Girl Next Door EP

November 10th

(Nov. 8) – Eugene Tyler Band – Low It Goes (bluegrass)
Vincent Neil Emerson – The Golden Crystal Kingdom
Daniel Donato – Reflector
Chris Stapleton – Higher
The Resonant Rogues – Self-Titled
Ray Scott – Billboards & Brake Lights
Terry Klein – Leave The Light On
Todd Snider – Crank It, We’re Doomed
Ned Hill – Thousand Watt Town
Fish Fisher – Nashvillain
Kristen Grainger & True North – Fear of Falling Stars (bluegrass)
Sterling Drake – Live From The Station Inn
John Moreland – Live at Third Man Records
Lila Blue – Sweet Pea (folk)

November 14th

Johnny Cash – The Life in Lyrics (Book)

November 17th

John Vincent III – Songs From The Canyon
Dori Freeman – Do You Recall
Vinnie Paolizzi – Self-Titled
Jared Dustin Griffin – Battle Cry Mercy
Low Water Bridge Band – Back to the Valley
Lauren Watkins – Introducing: The Heartbreak
Jim Mitchell – Repeat Offender
Jeremy Squires – Riddle of Stars
Ashley Ray – Animal
Dolly Parton – Rockstar
Gregory Dwane – Nostalgia For Nothing
Wyatt Flores – Life Lessons
IV and the Strange Band – Hang Dog
Luther Dickinson – Magic Music for Family Folk (kids folk)
Josh Radnor – Eulogy: Volume I
Joel Thetford – Open Road EP
Matt Ward – The Way I Was Meant To Be (Live EP)

November 21st

The Wilder Blue – Super Natural

November 24th

(Nov. 23rd) – Jordan Nix – Dirge
Michael Lane – Memories (folk)
Amos Lee – Honeysuckle Switches: The Songs of Lucinda Williams
Beggars Canyon – Volume II

November 29th

Sean Jewell – Back to P.A. (banjo, old-time)

December 1st

Zach Russell – Where The Flowers Meet The Dew
Emmett Morris – Emerald EP
Balsam Range – Kinetic Tone (bluegrass)

December 8th

(Dec. 7th) – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski – Keep On Keepin’ On
Uncle Lucius – Like It’s The Last One Left - Saving Country Music