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With ‘Love is Why,’ Powers’ first self-penned full-length album since 2018, the New England-based artist explores the universal emotion of love and its huge influence on our decisions. In particular, she examines love in the context of holding on or letting go through human loss and grieving. The album’s original songs were written during the pandemic and after Powers lost her father, whom she calls “my best friend.” “I wrote the songs from a place of loss and grieving and went from there,” she says. “Writing the songs was hard but a necessary part of healing. At the end of the day, all the songs were written from a place of love for humanity and the need to spread the message that love is essential.” ‘Love is Why’ was recorded in February 2021 at Dagotown Recorders in Boston. Produced by drummer Marco Giovino (Robert Plant, Tom Jones, Norah Jones), guest artists include Anne and Regina McCrary, Bo Ramsey, Luther Dickinson, and a duet of Greg Allman’s “Please Call Home,” with Paul Thorn. Fans of Shannon McNally should get to know Kerri Powers!

Tricks & Treats all day long...

Dylan LeBlanc often finds himself flirting with the edge -- or “dancing on a razor,” as he calls it. A verdict vagabond since he was a little boy tossed between Texas, Louisiana and Alabama, LeBlanc thrives on the precipice, never staying in one place for too long. It is that nomadic spirit that drew him not only to a life as a touring musician, but also to the beast that titles his newest record: ‘Coyote.’ This is LeBlanc’s fifth studio album and his first full-length LP to be self-produced. Recorded at the iconic FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL, it boasts an ensemble of world-renowned session players including Fred Eltringham (Ringo Starr and Sheryl Crow), pianist Jim "Moose" Brown (Bob Seger), and bassist Seth Kaufman (Floating Action from Black Mountain!). Though ‘Coyote’ covers familiar ground for LeBlanc, living on the edge of danger and its many consequences, the album is both semi-autobiographical and an concept album centered on the evocative character of Coyote, a man on the run in pursuit of an ever elusive freedom from his past.

Following the Strays release earlier this year, Price has earned nominations for Artist of The Year, Album of The Year, and Song of The Year (“Change of Heart”) at this year’s Americana Honors & Awards, tying for the most nominations of any single artist in 2023. Price is joined by Strays producer Jonathan Wilson, as well as new collaborators including Buck Meek of Big Thief, plus singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ny Oh. Together they dive deeper into the sacrifices it takes to find freedom, the grit it takes to make it, and the consequences that come with all of it.

The 69-year-old bluesman has a new album paying tribute to his home state of Louisiana (particularly North Louisiana). “It’s amazing to realize how much of an impact Louisiana has had on the world’s music,” says Dan Auerbach, who collaborated with Finley for the 4th time. “And Robert embodies all of that. He can play a blues song. He can play early rock and roll. He can play gospel. He can do anything, and a lot of that has to do with where he’s from.” Instead of the typical strategy of writing songs beforehand, they conceived most everything in the studio. Auerbach leads the band that includes Finley’s daughter and granddaughter on backing vocals.

“If someone asked me to tell them who I am, I’d give them this record,” shares Lila Blue, twenty-three years old and incredibly mature, musically and philosophically. A survivor of sexual abuse and rape, they impressively process and express their healing, growth and self-realization through song. “Grief and growth sit side by side, and I am occupying both,” Lila says. “I felt like I'd been writing to an ‘other,’ without realizing that ‘other’ is the person I wanted to become. I’ve been actualizing my own healing, manifesting the person I am today.” Listen for some of their key influences: Greek mythology, Fiona Apple, Ani DiFranco, the Indigo Girls, …and Patti Smith’s memoir “Just Kids”, which Lila read at age 9.

Anyone who knows the Nashville downtown music scene can figure out that Daniel Donato’s career was literally raised there: he grew up busking on Broadway, before playing regular gigs at Robert’s Western World with the Don Kelly Band. His 2nd album is some Cosmic Country indeed. As No Depression writes in their review, “The vibes are high, the psych-rock is countrified, and the guitar-playing is swaggering and confident.” Get to know what might be considered WNCW’s next favorite new act!

He’s a co-frontman of the Sons of Fathers and has worked with the Tex-Mex border-blending David Beck’s Tejano Weekend, and in addition to his songwriting and bass-playing skills, he’s known as an emerging producer for Texans and others.

It’s the 22nd album from John Darnielle and his band Mountain Goats, but this one is a sequel to their 2002 album All Hail West Texas. It’s the story of Jenny, her ranch house, the people for whom that house is a place of safety, and the west Texas town that is uncomfortable with it existence. Produced by Grammy-winning producer/engineer Trina Shoemaker.

He’s pushing 80… And like Willie Nelson, Bobby Rush, and a few others his age, he’s been more prolific than ever in the studio. This one, somewhere around his 45th studio set (not including compilations, live albums, and Them-fronting ’60s work) finds the troubadour reaching back to his rock & roll/rockabilly roots with 19 covers of classics, obscurities, and should-have-been hits from decades prior.