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Mylie Durham IV, known to friends and associates as Lee, started on drums in Hyattsville, MD punk and jazz bands in high school, and then getting serious with soul/hip hop/Mid-Atlantic funk outfit, The Mighty Heard. He’s become known as a terrific collaborator and sonic curator in the DC area, and you have likely heard snippets of his work in sound beds on NPR. It’s an impressive convergence of diverse instruments, moods, and guest artists on this all-instrumental collection from Honest Lee (his DJ name), certain to appeal to fans of the Menahan Street Band and Adrian Quesada, and fellow DC act Thievery Corporation.

One of the most talked about releases around here the past couple of months has been this heartfelt recreation of Bob Dylan’s famous 1966 concert in which he plugged in for an all-electric 2nd set, stunning the audience and prompting cries of “Judas!”. Cat Power (Chan Marshall) has had the honor of meeting with Mr. Dylan a time or two, and we now have the pleasure of enjoying this faithful recreation of music history. Fun fact: Dylan didn’t actually perform this concert at the Royal Albert Hall, though! He was at Manchester Free Trade Hall, but the famous bootleg was mislabeled.

Melissa McKinney writes and sings songs about the trauma and pain that every person inevitably experiences in their lives, as a cry for hope, healing, and inspiration to others. She is a resident artist at LEAF Global, the co-founder of the WTF (Women To the Front!) Music Festival, a board member of AVL Fest, and an Asheville small business owner. This new album of blues and rock was released this week.

Richmond, VA singer and guitarist Justin Golden has some refreshing new arrangements of some traditional standards here. Whether you call it country blues, piedmont blues, or something else, he’s got the genuine sound and feel down.

The Raleigh band of singer/songwriter Dave Wilson, multi-instrumentalist John Teer, bassist Greg Readling, and drummer Dan Hall continue to expand their sound and boundaries, in addition to their great canon of songs. Mandolin and banjo are blended with harmonium and lo-fi drum machine on this new album recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Studios, and they’re joined by vocalist Maya de Vitry, fiddler John Mailander (Bruce Hornsby, Billy Strings) and drummer Jamie Dick (Watchhouse, Rhiannon Giddens.)

We’ve got a New Year’s prediction… of what some of the fine Americana albums of 2024 will sound like. Check out three of the new singles we’ve received.

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.

"Defies categorization. No fearlessly flexes her muscles across pop, country, rock, folk, bluegrass, and all the gray areas in between. Her songs are earnestly melodic but narratively complex, catchy but soul-stirring." Now at the forefront of a new vanguard of genre-defying artists, Lizzie No has toured with Iron & Wine, Son Little and Adia Victoria, and collaborated with Pom Pom Squad and Domino Kirke, displaying an undeniable indie influence that allows them to move frequently and seamlessly between overlapping musical circles.

Discover the latest from some of ‘NCW’s favorites: Bruce Hornsby and the chamber ensemble yMusic collaborated on Hornsby’s 2019 album “Absolute Vision” and have now announced a new project, which is being released under the name BrhyM — it’s an album called Deep Sea Vents and will be out at the beginning of March. Norah Jones announces the release of her 9th album, “Visions”, on March 9th, with producer/multi-instrumentalist Leon Michels. And North Florida swamp blues-rock act JJ Grey & Mofro are hitting the road in support of their forthcoming album “Olustee”, which will include a stop in Charlotte on April 18th

Get to know this 2nd release from the group ISMAY, that intentionally transcends traditions and blurs boundaries. Avery Hellman, the Bay Area native behind ISMAY’s unique sound, says it was heavily influenced by the California ranch where they spent most of their 20s working the land. "My mom bought the ranch when I was 19 years old," Hellman remembers. "Environmental restoration was very important to her, and I was with her every step of the way, working to develop the ranch, raise cattle, replant creeks, and tend to the sheep. The perspective of my songwriting is very rooted in ranch life." The rural California landscape creates rich visual backdrops for the songs. Fun facts: 1. Hellman’s grandfather is philanthropist Warren Hellman, who founded San Francisco’s famed Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. 2. “Desert Pavement” was recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Studio, with Watchhouse’s Andrew Marlin as producer and multi-instrumentalist.