Charley surprised everyone with this new release, recorded in Clovis, NM, back at the end of April, less than a month after he’d released his *other* new 2026 album Age of the Ram, on Island Records. Age of the Ram had wrapped up his trilogy of albums about the American West. Label contract disputes forced it to be pulled from circulation, but it's now available digitally again thanks to a new deal with Atlantic Outpost, which Charley considers a win: “Sometimes you need to fight. Goliath vs Goliath. On this 250th birthday for America, I’m reminded that freedom is something you continue to fight for. A war that never ends. Today, we win one battle. Clovis is out on the 4th of July weekend on Atlantic Outpost. Let’s ride.” Co-produced by Shooter Jennings. Charley performs in Charlotte on September 24th.

Ruthie Foster and Sun Records have teamed up to release this powerful collection of songs blending soul, blues, gospel, folk, and roots music. Known for her commanding voice and deeply personal songwriting, Foster delivers ten uplifting and heartfelt tracks that explore resilience, gratitude, connection, and personal growth.

This band, based out of Portland, Oregon (but with Asheville ties too!) has this new album on Bloodshot Records, with themes of kicking old habits, letting go of control, interrogating motives, and fearless open hearts. And we’re sad to report they have announced it will be their last! They’ve stated that “after nearly 20 years of touring, we’ve had to be honest with ourselves about what it takes to sustain this band. Nearly every cost of being on the road—from fuel and flights to food and lodging—has gone up, while artists’ guarantees have remained largely static. At some point, you have to ask whether the way you’ve always done it still makes sense.” They play the Grey Eagle in Asheville on October 8th.

The man who warned us about how nasty that Snake Farm sounds (and pretty much is) is close to turning 80! And he says this new album of his, -- his 20th – might be the best one of his that he’s heard. He’s got his road band of drummer Kyle Schneider, bassist John Michael Schoepf, and his guitar-slinging son Lucas as the studio band, with assists from Cody Braun of Reckless Kelly on fiddle and mandolin, Bukka Allen on organ, and guitarist Tobin Dale.

Strong positive reviews for this new one! “After 40 years, Gary Louris keeps taking that leap himself — chief songwriter, lead vocalist, the guy anchoring those three-part harmonies since day one, still finding new hope to land on.” (Charlies Trail, Americana Highways) “As a devout Jayhawks fan, one who has spent countless hours with the band’s discography, it wouldn’t be fair to call this album a return to form. The band has spent 40 years weaving in and out of myriad popular music moments, from alt-country to baroque pop, Gram Parsons to Brian Wilson, never losing their form. But there is a “bringing it all back home” feeling on the band’s 12th long-player, Sanctuary Park. (Ryan Traster, New Noise Magazine)

We like what the Folk Alley folks -- whose radio show we air Tuesday nights/Wednesday mornings at Midnight -- have to say about it: “If you’re still grooving to the dusty, Bacardi-scented party that started with 2021’s ‘In the Blossom of Their Shade’ and continued on past dusk via ‘Rhumba Country’ three years later, don’t stop: Pokey LaFarge is back with a new record, the mood’s still loose, and his lyrics are as wry and winking as ever. But something deeper is burbling under the surface of Rent Money, 11 unadorned tracks that mark LaFarge’s first full-length release on his own label, Boxer Boy Records. …As LaFarge acknowledges in press materials, these songs serve as a rumination on a country with a growing wealth gap and a restive population, one where pressed vinyl seems essential even when the price of everything keeps going up.”

Ask most any of WNCW’s programming hosts to name an especially dynamic, exciting bluegrass band on the scene these days, and AJ Lee & Blue Summit is likely to rank near, if not at, the top of the list. The latest album from this California band is a collection of covers from the likes of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gillian Welch, Bob Dylan, and Emmylou Harris. This one also includes guest appearances from Jerry Douglas, Lindsay Lou, and Trey Hensley, among others. They play the Grey Eagle in Asheville on October 23rd and the Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte on the 24th!

It’s an immersive all-women salute to many of the leading ladies in bluegrass, thanks to Lindsay Lou. The pickers and singers here include Molly Tuttle, Bronwyn, Laurie Lewis, Gena Britt, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, Sierra Hull, Alison Brown, Maddie Witler, Tatiana Hargreaves, and Phoebe Hunt. They cover songs written by the likes of Dorothy Skaggs (Ricky Skaggs’ mother), Jean Richie, Ole Belle Reed, Kate Wolf, and Joyce Morris and Jimmie Stanley (Ralph Stanley’s wife).

The good folks at Record Store Day (https://recordstoreday.com/Home) got to release a limited number of vinyl versions of this back in April; now it’s available for wider release. Here’s what they had to say about it: “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. The songs move fluidly between stripped-down intimacy and full-band drive, blending folk-rock, country, and electric grit with the confidence of a band that knows exactly who they are. There’s a sense of forward motion throughout the album—never nostalgic for its own sake, but deeply aware of where it’s been. Lyrically, Farrar explores themes of connection, resilience, and place, finding meaning in both the ordinary and the unsettled. This album stands as another chapter in Son Volt’s enduring catalog: honest, grounded, and quietly powerful, reaffirming their role as one of America’s most consistent and thoughtful rock bands.”

Billy Strings -- So Much For Goodbyes