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It’s the first album of new material in six years for Colin Meloy and his band of fellow Oregonians. To quote Stereogum, it “feels like a career summary of everything the Decemberists are and have been, juxtaposing stripped-down folk and buoyant pop songs against lengthy monoliths on a 68-minute double album that ends with a 20-minute retelling of the legend of Joan of Arc.”

We first got to know Swedish singer-songwriter Julia Logan in 2022 with her beautiful, dreamy folk-pop album Everly Foreverly. She grew up on a small Swedish island outside of Stockholm, but she also spent a few of her teenage years in southern California, where her mother’s from, and she learned the guitar from a local hippie. We feel fortunate to offer you an extra-early preview of this album before it becomes available in November. This one, like her previous one, was made in close collaboration with First Aid Kit’s producer, Daniel Bengtson.

With twenty-three albums and several million miles under the West Texas native’s belt, Driven to Drive is Ely’s first road album, featuring a collection of songs inspired by his travels of different eras of his illustrious career which spans five decades. The new LP was self-produced by Ely and stitches together recordings over several decades at Spur Studios, his home recording facility outside of Austin. Of course we also love him for being one-third of the iconic Texas-based trio The Flatlanders along with Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Dan Bern. And it wasn’t just the Covid pause, either, though that contributed to his absence. “In the middle of the pandemic, Jonathan Plaut (from the Boston-based band Jane’s Great Dane) suggested I come out to Connecticut and record some songs with them. I hadn’t been in a room with other musicians for over a year! Those sessions let to a second session, some months later, and eventually, Starting Over.” In addition to his music, Bern is a painter, the author of several books, and has his own podcast and internet radio station.

We’re pleased to see a new one from this roots-rock trio in a number of years. Blake Christiana, drummer Robert Bonhomme, and bassist Rick Buge are back with this album that blends alt-country and Americana with thoughtful, sometimes wry lyrics. Born, Blessed, Grateful, & Alive is a fine return to form, capturing the band's rep as a road-seasoned live band. Along with producer Damian Calcagne, the album also features Mike Robinson and Johnny Grubb (Railroad Earth), Andy Falco (Infamous Stringdusters), Mike Sivilli (Dangermuffin), Heather Hannah, and Elliott Peck (Midnight North).

Over the last few years of taking the bluegrass, jamband, and live music worlds by storm, Billy Strings has been awarded Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards, Artist of The Year at the 2023 and 2022 Americana Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year at the 2023, 2022, and 2021 International Bluegrass Music Awards, Best New Headliner at the 2022 Pollstar Awards and Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic at the 2021 Pollstar Awards among several other accolades. Now comes his first live album release!

It’s his first album in six years for this somewhat reclusive New England singer/songwriter, and the first on his own Liula Records label. Black Mountain’s own Seth Kaufman, of Floating Action fame, served as multi-instrumentalist, co-producer, and mixer/engineer! Also present are Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle, a.k.a. The Secret Sisters.

Eastern Kentucky’s Leah Blevins will release her sophomore album All Dressed Up -- her first for Easy Eye Sound -- on March 20th. Produced by Dan Auerbach and recorded in Nashville, the album blends Blevins’ timeless vocals and songwriting with the enchanting spirit of the South and contemporary storytelling.

This might be the most musically adventurous and ambitious album of the bluesman’s long and storied career. The album contains thirteen original songs written by him or co-written with his Grammy-nominated producer Glen Scott, plus a cover of the title track, written by iconic singer-songwriter Janis Ian - whom Bibb has known since they were at high school together in New York in the ’60s - and Fred Koller. The album was recorded and mixed at Scott’s in Uppsala, Sweden, and features a stellar cast of musicians, including UK-based guitar virtuoso Robbie McIntosh (Paul McCartney, John Mayer). Eric Bibb has been nominated for a Grammy three times… Might this be the one that nets him a win? Either way, it’s a wonderful way to wrap up our celebration of Black History Month.