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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 album, 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.

The Hackles are Kati Claborn (vocals/guitar/banjo/clarinet) and Luke Ydstie (vocals/guitar/bass/keys) of Blind Pilot, and Halli Anderson (vocals/violin) of River Whyless and Horse Feathers. In 2017, Halli moved from Asheville to Astoria, Oregon, serendipitously just houses away from Kati and Luke. Their musical lives were already intertwined, Blind Pilot and River Whyless having toured together, but their newfound proximity led to collaboration on several fronts. Get to know this exciting new experimental folk trio!

With inspiration ranging from Green Day to Duran Duran to Tony Rice to Nirvana, Grateful Dead, David Grisman and beyond, the Trio, which features violinist Lyndsay Pruett and drummer Hunter Deacon joining Stickley and his guitar prowess, is making waves with their unique sound. They are certainly one of the pinnacles of Asheville’s music scene. Stickley says, “The Trio feels fresher and hotter than ever, we’ve hit our stride in terms of creating tunes that are uniquely us and that’s a really exciting place to be musically.”

Banjoist Greg Cahill founded this band back in 1975, and though they hail from Chicago, this latest album is comprised of all Canadian songs. Leonard Podolak (The Duhks), April Verch, Pharis & Jason Romero, and a few Americans join them for songs from Bruce Cockburn, Fred Eaglesmith, Gordon Lightfoot, and others.

We have two albums in a row of new Bluegrass covers for New Tunes at 2 this week. First up: this more Newgrass-oriented collection, from one of our favorites. The band is joined by Billy Strings, Oliver Wood, and Darol Anger on this tribute they pay to festival favorites they’ve played over the years from the likes of Dylan, Garcia/Hunter, David Bromberg, Link Wray, and Doc Boggs.

It might sound contradictory, but the latest one from Iris DeMent is both jubilant and tragic, hopeful and dire. As Pitchfork magazine says, “Workin’ on a World is like a parade on a stormy day, a celebration beneath increasingly ominous skies”. What a wondrous thing it is to have one of the Midwest’s – one of the nation’s – greatest songwriters back with a whole album of new original material: her first in over a decade. Those familiar with her might also know her husband is singer/songwriter Greg Brown, who has some songwriting contributions here. Brown’s daughter, Pieta Brown, co-produced the album with Richard Bennett and Jim Rooney.

Welcome to Natalie’s 9th full-length album, and first since 2014. An eclectic album, produced by Merchant, it features two duets sung with vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis (Resistance Revival Chorus), contributions from the Celtic folk group Lúnasa and Syrian virtuoso clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, and horn arrangements by jazz trombonist Steve Davis. There are lush orchestrations throughout by seven composers including: Gabriel Kahane, Stephen Barber, Colin Jacobson, and Megan Gould. “Keep Your Courage” comprises nine original songs by Merchant as well as an interpretation of “Hunting the Wren” by Ian Lynch of the Irish band Lankum.

We first got to know Parker’s songwriting with his 2014 self-titled album, with greats like “Truck Stop Gospel”. His Oklahoma Americana roots are still there, but check out his new forays into synth-rock and Afrobeat, too. “This record is all over the place and chaotic because that’s kind of how it feels out here right now,” he says.

It’s a radically different direction for Henry and Rupert Stansall, the brothers from Scunthorpe, England. Their love of noir and neo-western films shows through on this cinematic new album, which will be released on June 2nd. Incidentally, they play each and every instrument heard here!

Legendary soul singer Bettye LaVette’s latest album is a tribute to Georgia great Randall Bramblett, whom we sure love here at ‘NCW. “I think he’s the best songwriter I’ve heard in the past 30 years,” LaVette said of Bramblett. “And I just discovered him eight years ago.” Better late than never, Bettye!