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Blues Hall of Fame inductee and 6-time Blues Music Award winner, Joe Louis Walker stretches out into soul, funk, and New Orleans 2nd line, too on WEIGHT OF THE WORLD. No wonder NPR describes him as “a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues.”

Ontario’s Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet have pivoted from a blues and rock sound to their love of classic country on this one. They chose the universality and simplicity of the genre’s storytelling to address the challenges that the pandemic of these past couple years has brought on, like heartbreak and loyalty. Luke and Melissa have picked up five consecutive JUNO Award nominations in three different genre categories; there’s no reason why this great one won’t net them #6!

Casey Penn has won numerous awards and accolades for her songwriting, and this new bluegrass album features some great pickin’ from the likes of Justin Moses, Jason Roller, and Kevin Grant. Also heard here are harmony vocals from Tim Raybon, Mike Rogers, Val Storey, Larry Cordle, and Carl Jackson. We’ve aired a couple of singles from this, now we can debut the whole album. This new one from our friends at Mountain Fever Records is available on Feb. 10th.

Ickes’s Dobro and Hensley’s exquisite six-string guitar playing are what they’re most known for, but their singing and songwriting is not to be overlooked, either. Check out this set of 12 songs, 5 of which they co-wrote with GRAMMY award-winning producer Brent Maher (The Judds, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson). In classic Nashville fashion, the threesome hashed out some 30 songs before picking the dozen that would make up LIVING IN A SONG. Paying homage to the troubadours that shaped the Nashville sound, the duo made the conscious decision to lean the music in a classic country direction stylistically, with elements of Americana and bluegrass thrown in for good measure.

We first got to know this New Zealand singer, wildly popular back home, through a collaboration with Canadian duo Kacey & Clayton. He’s not known for sunny, ‘80s synth-inspired sounds, but that’s what he delivers here, with his high tenor that might evoke that of Roy Orbison. Marlon has lately been on world tour with Lorde, and learning the Maori language of his homeland…Perhaps those influences show themselves here, too?

The banjo player for Leftover Salmon lives on a beautiful piece of property in the Colorado mountains. During the pandemic, between touring being shut down and a young Thorn addition to the family, he spent a lot of time just working on banjo tunes outside his home. A few foxes live nearby, and one of them kept paying him a visit, apparently drawn to the sweet melodies he was making. Online videos of the pair’s encounters went viral, and now we have this album of 15 tracks! Picture a gorgeous Colorado sunrise, and “Foxy” sitting nearby, as you dig these tunes.

This 3rd album from Seth Appelbaum and his 10-piece orchestra resonates like the soundtrack to a scene from an imaginary movie. The music could score a romantic drama, an action thriller, or a modern twist on a classic film noir. Mid-century exotica, 60’s pop orchestral hits, and more. Quality headphones and sound systems will get put to good use with this one.

Zach Chance and Jonathan Clay grew up together as friends in Magnolia, Texas, and they have that brotherly-duo sound in their harmonies with their band Jamestown Revival. We’ve enjoyed getting to know their unique blend of Southern Americana and rock in their past three or so albums, and this brand-new EP of theirs is certainly one of the best Holiday collections of 2022! Julian will spin tunes from it on Thursday evening, spicing up the 8 O’clock hour with four choice cuts (and maybe some nutmeg and cinnamon.) Fun fact: the cover photo is a genuine family photo from (one of their) Grandma’s house, circa 1970!

Singer Irene Kelley has her 4th bluegrass album, mostly recorded in Madison, TN save for contributions from the Kruger Brothers in North Wilkesboro, NC. Other great guests here include Mike Bubb on bass, Aubrey Haynie on fiddle, Adam Steffey and Jessie Brock on mandolin, Matt Menefee and Scott Vestal on banjo, Cody Kilby and Josh Williams on guitar, and Ronnie Bowman and Brooke & Darin Aldridge on harmony vocals. Plus about a dozen others!