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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.

See if you can find any common threads among these three eclectic artists and their latest singles.

Blackbirding is a reclamation-driven Black country soul album that roams the Gettysburg battlefield to create songs that dismantle myths and assumptions about what happened there -- and to explore the reasons why, like slavery, the Civil War has never really ended.

Rooted in classic country but shaped by a wide range of influences, Bowlin writes with an honest focus on love, family, faith, and the challenges of navigating life’s changes.

Thomm explores Jungian psychology on this newest album of his, which also has a companion hardback book version -- Ring-A-Bellin' (out April 3). It's heady, yes, but given Thomm's mechanical German mind, it's digestible. We enjoyed hosting him in Studio B last Thursday, when he talked about it with Joe Greene (available for viewing on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wncw887)

Birchwood is one of the strongest innovators in contemporary blues today, and this new album of ten original songs is a good confirmation of that. As for what it sounds like, well, the title says it all!

England’s James Hunter provides tight, timeless R&B and Soul with his band; we love each and every album of his! A former guitarist and backup vocalist for Van Morrison, James has a track on this new one featuring his former boss, on this, his first album on Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound record label.