We’ll kick off our New Tunes at 2 series this week with some landfill poetry… the latest release from this member of The Deslondes. For years, Riley Downing has collected stories about life’s overlooked moments and under-appreciated people.

Get ready for some “Swampytonkin’” music, as Paige calls it. Raised on a farm near the muddy banks of the Mississippi River, the Austin-based singer-songwriter and pianist is back with her second full-length album, Swampwater. Recorded at Austin’s famed Finishing School and produced by Jonathan Tyler, Swampwater is a raw collection born from personal experiences, navigating love, loss, heartbreak, and grief, before ultimately heading to the honky-tonk to sing the blues away.

The man who warned us about how nasty that Snake Farm sounds (and pretty much is) is close to turning 80! And he says this new album of his, -- his 20th – might be the best one of his that he’s heard. He’s got his road band of drummer Kyle Schneider, bassist John Michael Schoepf, and his guitar-slinging son Lucas as the studio band, with assists from Cody Braun of Reckless Kelly on fiddle and mandolin, Bukka Allen on organ, and guitarist Tobin Dale.

Ruthie Foster and Sun Records have teamed up to release this powerful collection of songs blending soul, blues, gospel, folk, and roots music. Known for her commanding voice and deeply personal songwriting, Foster delivers ten uplifting and heartfelt tracks that explore resilience, gratitude, connection, and personal growth.

The good folks at Record Store Day (https://recordstoreday.com/Home) got to release a limited number of vinyl versions of this back in April; now it’s available for wider release. Here’s what they had to say about it: “Featuring twelve originals, Son Volt's return to the elemental strengths that have long defined their sound—restless guitars, melodic clarity, and songs rooted in the lived experience of American landscapes. Anchored by Jay Farrar’s steady, unvarnished voice, the record balances reflection and resolve, drawing lines between personal memory and the wider currents of history, change, and endurance. The songs move fluidly between stripped-down intimacy and full-band drive, blending folk-rock, country, and electric grit with the confidence of a band that knows exactly who they are. There’s a sense of forward motion throughout the album—never nostalgic for its own sake, but deeply aware of where it’s been. Lyrically, Farrar explores themes of connection, resilience, and place, finding meaning in both the ordinary and the unsettled. This album stands as another chapter in Son Volt’s enduring catalog: honest, grounded, and quietly powerful, reaffirming their role as one of America’s most consistent and thoughtful rock bands.”

Admiral Radio, an award-winning folk/Americana act from South Carolina, is the creative partnership of Coty Hoover and Becca Smith. Named after their old wooden radio, this husband-and-wife team met while waiting tables in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Inspired by the everyday, their songs explore life lessons, the quiet hustle of ordinary life, and the dogged optimism that drives it all. For this 5th new full-length album of theirs, the group has officially signed on with Too Fine Records, the new label by Triple 8 Management (Sierra Ferrell, Kaitlin Butts, Madison Cunningham). They have a string of upcoming shows in our area, beginning Tuesday, September 22nd in Studio B! They play September 23rd at The Evening Muse (Charlotte), September 24th at 185 King Street (Brevard), September 25th at Antlers & Acorns: The Boone Songwriter's Festival, and September 30th at the Albino Skunk Music Festival (Greer, SC).

Before setting to work on her 4th album, I Am Both, the New York-based singer/songwriter Margaret Glaspy assembled a selection of songs that span from fictional vignettes to unguarded self-revelation to empathetic observation of the troubled world around her. Produced by Joe Henry, I Am Both brings Glaspy’s disarmingly direct vocals and eloquent guitar work to a cathartic form of folk-leaning indie rock.

This band, based out of Portland, Oregon (but with Asheville ties too!) has this new album on Bloodshot Records, with themes of kicking old habits, letting go of control, interrogating motives, and fearless open hearts. And we’re sad to report they have announced it will be their last! They’ve stated that “after nearly 20 years of touring, we’ve had to be honest with ourselves about what it takes to sustain this band. Nearly every cost of being on the road—from fuel and flights to food and lodging—has gone up, while artists’ guarantees have remained largely static. At some point, you have to ask whether the way you’ve always done it still makes sense.” They play the Grey Eagle in Asheville on October 8th.

We’re pleased to announce a new album from one of our favorite singer/songwriters, Mary Gauthier! Reckoning will be officially released on September 25th. The nine new songs here exude a sense of urgency during turbulent times, while offering inspiration and hope. They portray characters who arrive at pivotal moments and face choices that ultimately define lives, communities, and even history. Sounds like a Mary Gauthier album, for sure.

It’s understandable if you are not familiar with the name Blaze Foley. A singer/songwriter mostly from Austin, he was killed at age 39, just before the release of his 2nd album. But during his short time on the scene, he impressed peers like Townes Van Zandt and Merle Haggard, and his songs were covered here and there by the likes of John Prine (“Clay Pigeons”) and Lyle Lovett (“Election Day”), and earlier this year, Margo Price (“Oval Room”). Finally, we now have a tribute album worthy of his legacy, featuring the likes of Willie Watson, John Moreland, Lucy Dacus, Phosphorescent, Joshua Ray Walker, and one of his biggest fans, Lucinda Williams.