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Out this month is this new album from 3-time Grammy winner Ben Harper, no doubt one of our favorite musicians at WNCW. This one can be described as more subdued, introspective, even minimalist, compared to his previous albums. Accompanied by mostly just his acoustic guitar or piano, he considers these 11 new songs part of a family: each one a close relative to the next in terms of the stories they tell.

For those not familiar with Fruit Bats, it’s mostly the songwriting, singing and musicianship of Eric D. Johnson, who has also been busy lately with the trio Bonny Light Horseman. This is the 10th Fruit Bats full length, and the first in which Johnson has produced it (along with Jeremy Harris.) Rounding out Fruit Bats on this one is Josh Adams on drums, percussion, pump organ, and synth; David Dawda on bass, Frank LoCrasto on pianos and synths, and Josh Mease on guitars, synths, and bass.

If you’ve ever heard Tommy’s talent, on record or especially live, you’ll see why the great Chet Atkins considered him “one of the best guitar players I’ve ever seen.” He’s back with another collection with assorted favorites of ours accompanying him, including Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle, and Little Feat! There are four strong original tunes here, but the Australian can also be considered one of the greatest performers of Americana standards too, with versions of songs made famous by Doc Watson, Merle Haggard, Roy Book Binder, Jethro Burns, and Jimmie Driftwood among others. Tommy was one of the most revered performers at MerleFest last week, with his own set and as a guest during Little Feat’s set.

Get to know this terrific new name on the Americana music scene. She cites Joni Mitchell and John Prine as primary influences, but another one is likely her father, a VA/NC native who played in a Jimmy Martin cover band in Calgary throughout her childhood. "Sometimes the minute you hear a voice, you know it's for the ages. That's how Canadian Bella White, the daughter of a Virginia bluegrasser, enters the picture. Making her second album now, at 22, White is poised for a major breakthrough. This is her origin story." (NPR)

Here’s a terrific collection of new Bluegrass recordings from Aaron “Frosty” Foster (guitar), Troy Boone (mandolin), Brady Wallen (banjo), Daniel Greeson (fiddle), and Aaron Ramsey (bass). It was recorded in Morganton, NC (including Aaron’s Attic) during the pandemic to keep them busy and active. Sadly, Frosty, an active member of the ETSU music scene, died in February of 2021. Troy used the process of mixing and mastering the project to work through the grief of Frosty’s passing.

Formed in 2019, The Panhandlers consists of singers/songwriters Josh Abbott, John Baumann, William Clark Green and Flatland Cavalry’s Cleto Cordero. “The Tough Country record is a reflection of the term itself,” shares Baumann. “It’s rugged, desolate in places, sweeping in others, while being beautiful and heartfelt at the same time. It’s a collection of works that the four of us came together to make happen – not only for ourselves as artists and friends but for the people who have supported us from the beginning. The album is an homage to our origins and to all of the legendary musicians and songwriters who came before us from the inspiring land of West Texas.”

It’s an openhearted manifesto following a scary hospitalization Wax suffered due to what doctors considered to be a heart attack. The band blends rhythms of traditional Mexican music with amber pop hues and rock riffs. Produced by Dan Molad (Lucius, Coco, JD McPherson)

Get to know this terrific new name on the Americana music scene. She cites Joni Mitchell and John Prine as primary influences, but another one is likely her father, a VA/NC native who played in a Jimmy Martin cover band in Calgary throughout her childhood. "Sometimes the minute you hear a voice, you know it's for the ages. That's how Canadian Bella White, the daughter of a Virginia bluegrasser, enters the picture. Making her second album now, at 22, White is poised for a major breakthrough. This is her origin story." (NPR)

New Braunfels, Texas native Dallas Burrow has a lot of great stories, particularly about music legends like Townes Van Zandt. One of his favorite stories to tell is about a night in Nashville in the early 70s, when Burrow’s father, Mike Burrow, was hosting Richard Dobson, John Lomax III, and Van Zandt at a pub he ran with his siblings on Elliston Place near the old Exit/In. After a late night shutting down the bar, the foursome hit an after party, where Van Zandt insisted they all become blood brothers to ensure they’d be forever cosmically linked. Everyone agreed, and perhaps through some mystical, intangible power that often propels so much music, Van Zandt’s style has been transfused into Burrow more than any other artist. And now that you know a bit of this story, you know a lot about the feel of these great new songs from Dallas – all but one of which were written by him (including co-writes with Charley Crockett and Jonathan Tyler). This one, like all of this week’s New Tunes at 2 albums, will be released on June 16th.

We are so grateful to Tim and Jan (Fabricius) O’Brien for spending a day in Studio B with us last year, and letting us release that WNCW fundraiser CD of their songs during our Spring Fund Drive! Now we’re grateful as well for this new one, set for release on June 16 on Howdy Skies Records. Thirteen inspired new originals about a bear, a fish, lambs, horses, and some people too — a grave digger, a neighbor, and even Walter Cronkite. Cup of Sugar is a feel-good summer release. But while the songs are playful and sprinkled with humor, there's plenty to chew on just below the surface. Tim wrote/co-wrote every song on the album. (Co-writers include Ronnie Bowman, Jonathon Byrd, Shawn Camp, Jan, and Thomm Jutz.) Cup of Sugar finds multi-instrumental O’Brien backed by his loyal band mates Mike Bub, Shad Cobb and his wife, supplemented by Jamie Dick on drums, Mike Rojas on keyboards, Russ Pahl on steel guitar, and Cory Walker on banjo. Bluegrass icon Del McCoury lends his signature guitar and tenor vocal on “Let the Horses Run.”