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RT is back with a new one! From his co-founding of Fairport Convention in the 60s, through his work with Linda Thompson in the 70s and string of spectacular solo releases since then, he’s remained a favorite of ours here at WNCW. This 12-song set was produced by Thompson and recorded in Woodstock, NY. Ship To Shore follows his 2018 studio album 13 Rivers and his 2021 memoir Beeswing: Losing My Way and Finding My Voice 1967-1975 which was published by Algonquin Books. . “I liked the idea of having a strong base to work from and reaching out from there,” he says. “And I think of my base as being British traditional music, but there’s also Scottish music, there’s Irish music. There’s jazz and country and classical. As far as I’m concerned, once you establish your base, you can reach out anywhere. It’ll still be you ringing through, wherever you decide to go musically.”

A new Americana singer/songwriter on the scene, Jack McKeon is originally from Chatham, NY, but moved to Nashville in 2021 to pursue his passion. Check out this debut album Talking to Strangers, which showcases his impressive songwriting set to bluegrass and Americana. He’s in our area for an in-the-round show at The Grey Eagle in Asheville this Friday at 5:30pm with Caitlin Cannon and Wyatt Espalin, and will join Martin in the Air Studio here for a live interview Friday morning at 11!

The acclaimed trio of Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson, and Josh Kaufman has just released their new double album Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free via Jagjaguwar Records. They describe their latest as an ode to the blessed mess of our humanity. Confident and generous, it is an unvarnished offering that puts every feeling and supposed flaw out in the open.

In addition to his work with brother Chris and “brother” Jano Rix in the Wood Brothers, and his previous time fronting King Johnson, Oliver Wood has done some solo work, and this is his newest one since his 2021 debut. He recruited some familiar names to help, like Seth Walker, Ric Robertson, Katie Pruitt, Tania Elizabeth, and Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin. Jano co-produced this one with him, with a good bit of spontaneity. “I wanted to get outside my box and embrace the uncertainty of what’s out there. I wanted weird guitar tones. I wanted more percussion and less drums. Once we began experimenting and doing whatever inspired us, the pressure melted away and I felt liberated.”

We got to know this supergroup-you-haven’t-yet-heard-of in 2022 with their debut, “The Very Best of Fantastic Cat.” This one’s even better! Individually, each member boasts their own impressive resume along with appearances everywhere from the New York Times and the Tiny Desk to Bonnaroo and Cayamo. NPR said Anthony D’Amato “sings and writes in the tradition of Bruce Springsteen or Josh Ritter.” Paste declared Don DiLego's latest album a "stunner.” Rolling Stone called Brian Dunne’s new record “the sleeper album of the year” and praised Mike Montali’s band, Hollis Brown, as “the soundtrack for a late night drive through the American heartland." As their press package says, think CSNY if none of them were famous, or The Traveling Wilburys if none of them were famous, or the Eagles if they really didn’t get along.

Introducing some soul-jazz-funk musicians that may need no introduction: guitarist Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), organist Robert Walter (The Greyboy Allstars), bassist Chris Stillwell (The Greyboy Allstars), and drummer Zak Najor (Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and formerly Greyboy Allstars). They first met in the UK in 1996, and have played with each other in various formations over the years since. Now we have this official collaboration of 8 great grooves, courtesy of Color Red Records, released on July 26th.

It can be a workout trying to keep up with Americana’s most prolific songwriter! But for those who’ve lost count this is his 37th, and it’s filled with 11 wonderful new originals, performed by the band he’s been out on tour with lately. That tour recently included MerleFest (his “Favorite Place”?) and SkunkFest in our area. This new one is out on Sky Crunch Records, and destined to be an Americana favorite at year’s end.

Do you remember Madeleine Peyroux’s wondrous 2004 classic Careless Love, which evoked the Parisian streets where she came of age as a singer, and seamlessly blended originals alongside sublime covers from the likes of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen? Well she’s back with her 9th studio album, and back in top form, with themes on this album ranging from the confessional to the political, from whimsy to yearning. In every note, Peyroux digs deep, making for another sensuous, sinewy, deeply rich release.

Jeff Tweedy and Wilco are big fans of the LP: the “long play”, full album release of a dozen or so songs that capture some semblance of where they’re at at the time of recording, whether with an actual theme, or just a vibe. So it’s a bit unusual to see a new EP of just 6 songs, which are previously unreleased tracks from the Cousins sessions. There’s a bit of a summertime theme here. Enjoy!

With her honest, emotional lyrics, here equally honest, emotional vocal delivery, and her wonderful band of Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitars), Rick Cooper (bass/vocals), Evan Martin (drums/vocals), and Kevin Williams (keys/vocals), it’s no wonder Amanda Anne Platt has kept Asheville in the national music spotlight these past dozen or so years. Get to know this new one on Mule Kick Records, which will be officially released on August 9th.