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Eric D. Johnson, a.k.a. Fruit Bats, says this new album centers around a mountain from which one might take in a commanding view of one’s surroundings. “But the mountain that gives us this vantage point,” Johnson says in this case, “is made out of the trash that we’ve created, the collective weight of the past and where it’s taken us.” Thus, the foundation of this album’s name. The album was recorded with no click tracks, no comped vocals, and minimal overdubs, and with frequent collaborator Thom Monahan returning to provide additional production and The Landfill’s final mix. -
This third album from Bella White is a body of work steeped in the life-altering magic of its origins. The Calgary-born singer/songwriter left her home on Vancouver Island and moved to New Orleans, where she soon became happily enmeshed in the city’s vibrant indie-rock scene. As she immersed herself in the unfettered, open-hearted creativity of her newfound musical community, the 25-year-old lifelong musician began assembling a suite of songs that stretch far beyond her bluegrass roots and arrive at a moodier, more audacious breed of folk/Americana. Bella comments, “This album was a real labor of love and so empowering to make—it validated that I trust myself and trust my vision, and now I just want to keep doing it my way and keep working with people I believe in.”
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As our friends with the band have stated, this album is the culmination of what happens when you join art, music, and a sense of place. The songs certainly speak to their Western NC bluegrass roots, many of which we’ve been getting to know with our “Goin’ Across the Mountain” and “Mountain Mornings” listeners the past few months. -
Following his Middle album from last year, which we enjoyed spinning, and millions of new Instagram and TikTok followers (and about as many songs in the fields under power lines), Jesse Welles releases his sixth studio album, Masks Off. It’s the culmination of his work, as he came to prominence by performing songs in the Arkansas wilderness where he was raised and where he currently resides. “These songs were highlights of the past year, and they sort of speak to the moment we’re at,” he states. “I’m not trying to tell folks how to think or get a reaction. All I do is write my lyrics, make my records, and cross my fingers.” Jesse plays in Asheville on July 25th. -
“I Built You a Tower is the proper embrace of their earlier sound, where Death Cab craft emotionally frank character studies, build earworm hooks without overthinking it, and sound more self-assured as a group. The band was once again forced to work through “loss and grief,” says front-man Benjamin Gibbard of the Seattle-based band, but it’s how they address it that lets the music breathe with life. ” – Pitchfork -
We’re looking forward to the full-length albums coming this summer from these three greats. We’ll hear a song of gratitude from Ruthie Foster’s Just Say Yes album coming out August 28th on Sun Records; the title track from Nashville-by-way-of-Pennsylvania singer/songwriter and former Stray Bird Maya de Vitry; and the first single from Boone native Maura Shawn Scanlin, who has a wonderful Celtic-based fiddle album coming July 22nd that also features John Doyle and Duncan Wickel. -
If you know Sturgill Simpson, then you know Johnny Blue Skies. He got the name from a bartender when he was just getting started singing open mics (can you imagine seeing him back then?!) As Pitchfork describes this, “The album threads disco stabs through country rock and political lyrics, a soundtrack for the best party at the end of the world.” -
The old-time, bluegrass, & folk band from Boone and now the world over is back. Their latest has a theme that’s right on time for our 250th anniversary of the USA, with songs like “Howdy Do America”, “Last American Waltz”, “Rainbow Stew”, and “Revolution Now”. Guests include Del McCoury, Jesse Welles, and Molly Tuttle. -
This band formed 15 years ago, forging a mix that often sparks our interest here at WNCW: cosmic Americana and psychedelic country-rock. Their new album lives up to its name. -
Our introduction to country singer Joshua Ray Walker was his wonderful trilogy of albums Wish You Were Here (2019), Glad You Made It (2020), and See You Next Time (2021). After his serious cancer diagnosis and intense treatment in 2023, he began releasing a second trio, beginning with the rather light-hearted, surprisingly whimsical Jimmy Buffett-inspired Tropicana, followed by Stuff, which envisioned the world from the perspective of the inanimate objects we leave behind us. Now he completes trio #2 with a return to his honky-tonk roots with Aint Dead Yet, which he describes as “my most autobiographical record yet.” -
We’ve enjoyed playing the music of Grey DeLisle here the past few years, and she has another career as a Comic Con icon. Les Greene is the voice of Little Richard in the recent “Elvis” movie and Grammy-nominated soundtrack. The two met in 2024, and as DeLisle says, "As soon as I heard Les Greene sing for the first time, I went home that very night and wrote us a duet!” Grey & Greene was produced by rockabilly veteran and multi-instrumentalist James Intveld, who co-wrote three of the songs with DeLisle. They describe their latest project as “this warm and vibrant slice of real, flesh and blood rock n’ soul (that) is a balm to our battered ears (and psyches).” -
We are excited to welcome Andrew Sa to Studio B in the 2:00 hour
